Capture of USS Essex
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Valparaiso, also called the Capture of USS Essex, was a naval action fought during the War of 1812
. It took place off Valparaíso
, Chile
on March 28, 1814, between the frigate
and the sloop
of the United States
Navy
and the frigate and sloop of the Royal Navy
. The British
ships won the battle, and the American vessels were captured.
, were brought to battle north of the Pacific port of Valparaíso
, Chile
. Essex had been raiding the English whaling fleets for a year during the War of 1812
. The British admiralty dispatched two ships, Phoebe of 36 guns and Cherub of 18 guns under Captain James Hillyar
, to go find and capture the American raiders. Essex was cornered in Valparaíso, and in the first meeting between the two ships, Phoebe came exceedingly close to the Essex, as if to start a battle and violate Chilean neutrality. Captain Porter threatened to board Phoebe if it touched one rope of the Essex.
The Essex tried to escape on March 28, and when extremely close to success, she lost a topmast, impairing maneuverability. A few hours later, Hillyar with the Phoebe and Cherub brought Essex and the Essex Junior to battle. For hours, the Essex, armed with carronade
s, cannons with short range, was pounded by the long cannons of Phoebe and Cherub, until the ship was an unmanageable wreck and surrendered. Out of a crew of 154 the Essex suffered 58 dead, 45 wounded and 31 missing The Phoebe had 4 killed and 7 wounded. The Cherub had 1 killed and 3 wounded. David Glasgow Farragut
, a future United States Admiral, was on board the Essex as a midshipman
during this battle.
Essex was later repaired and commissioned into service in the Royal Navy
as HMS Essex. She served for over twenty years before being de-commissioned and sold off in 1837. Herman Melville
criticized Porter's refusal to strike his colors when it became clear the situation was hopeless, instead seeking to "crown himself with the glory of the shambles, by permitting his hopeless crew to be butchered before his eyes." "Nor, by thus continuing to fight, did this American frigate, one iota, promote the true interests of her country."
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. It took place off Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
on March 28, 1814, between the frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
and the sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the frigate and sloop of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ships won the battle, and the American vessels were captured.
Battle
On March 28, 1814, Essex and Essex Junior, commanded by Captain David PorterDavid Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
, were brought to battle north of the Pacific port of Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Essex had been raiding the English whaling fleets for a year during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. The British admiralty dispatched two ships, Phoebe of 36 guns and Cherub of 18 guns under Captain James Hillyar
James Hillyar
Admiral Sir James Hillyar KCB KCH was a prominent British Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century, who is best known for his service in the frigate HMS Phoebe during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812...
, to go find and capture the American raiders. Essex was cornered in Valparaíso, and in the first meeting between the two ships, Phoebe came exceedingly close to the Essex, as if to start a battle and violate Chilean neutrality. Captain Porter threatened to board Phoebe if it touched one rope of the Essex.
The Essex tried to escape on March 28, and when extremely close to success, she lost a topmast, impairing maneuverability. A few hours later, Hillyar with the Phoebe and Cherub brought Essex and the Essex Junior to battle. For hours, the Essex, armed with carronade
Carronade
The carronade was a short smoothbore, cast iron cannon, developed for the Royal Navy by the Carron Company, an ironworks in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. It was used from the 1770s to the 1850s. Its main function was to serve as a powerful, short-range anti-ship and anti-crew weapon...
s, cannons with short range, was pounded by the long cannons of Phoebe and Cherub, until the ship was an unmanageable wreck and surrendered. Out of a crew of 154 the Essex suffered 58 dead, 45 wounded and 31 missing The Phoebe had 4 killed and 7 wounded. The Cherub had 1 killed and 3 wounded. David Glasgow Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
, a future United States Admiral, was on board the Essex as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
during this battle.
Essex was later repaired and commissioned into service in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as HMS Essex. She served for over twenty years before being de-commissioned and sold off in 1837. Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
criticized Porter's refusal to strike his colors when it became clear the situation was hopeless, instead seeking to "crown himself with the glory of the shambles, by permitting his hopeless crew to be butchered before his eyes." "Nor, by thus continuing to fight, did this American frigate, one iota, promote the true interests of her country."