First Battle of Sackett's Harbor
Encyclopedia
The First Battle of Sacket's Harbor (also spelled as Sackett's) was a naval battle fought on July 19, 1812, between the American
and British
naval forces that resulted in the American forces repelling the attack on their town and the shipbuilding yard located there.
is located on Lake Ontario
in Northern New York State. It was the chief shipbuilding yard for the United States during the War of 1812
. It had a good strategic position on the lake, with abundant resources, and an excellent natural harbor which became the center of military and naval operations for the war's northern theater. Following the first battle, the town and harbor became a large and centralized military complex, with a fortification served by thousands of troops.
On Sunday, July 19, 1812, Captain
Woolsey
, of USS Oneida, discovered from the mast
head of his brig
five enemy vessels sailing up Sacket's Harbor. The British vessels were HMS Royal George
; of twenty-four guns; HMS Seneca; of eighteen guns; HMS Prince Regent
; of twenty-two guns; HMS Earl of Moira, of twenty guns and HMS Simcoe of ten guns. The British had captured a merchant ship carrying flour nearby and sent the men to shore with the demands that the Americans surrender the USS Oneida and the HMS Lord Nelson
, a ship that the Americans had captured and that if a shot was fired at them they would burn the village of Sacket's Harbor. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/hounsfield/1stbattle.html
USS Oneida, under the command of Commodore Chauncey, which attempted to escape the incoming British vessels but failed and returned to the point. The British continued on and dropped anchor. Back at the point Oneida was moored with one broadside of nine guns to the enemy, while the others were taken out and hastily placed on a breastwork along the shoreline, near where a 32-pounder cannon, intended for the Oneida, but found too heavy, had been mounted on a pivot. Below the cannon, a protective mound about six feet high had been constructed.
Alarm guns were fired and expresses were sent to call in the neighboring militia
s. Unfortunately for the Americans, most of the militia did not arrive in time to render assistance, but by the end of the day, some 3,000 local militia had assembled but they did not engage. The British had been misinformed about the defenses of the harbor and assumed there was nothing to be feared in the way of ordnance. The force at that time in town was, besides the crew of the Oneida, a regiment under Colonel
Bellinger. A volunteer company of artillery under Captain Camp, and a the militia.
Captain Woolsey, leaving his brig
in charge of a lieutenant
, took command on shore, the 32-pounder being in charge of William Vaughan a sailing master
, and the other guns under that of Captain Camp. There was no shot in town larger than 24-pound balls, which were used with the aid of patches made of carpet, in the 32-pounder. By the time these arrangements were made, the enemy had arrived within range, nearly in front of the battery
.
The action was commenced, the first shot was fired from the 32-pounder which failed to hit any of the British ships. A shout of laughter was heard from the fleet just after, indicating that the Americans first shot fell too short of target. The British returned a salvo briskly at the American battery and continued for two hours. Most of the British shots were reportedly accurate. The Americans returned fire throughout the bombardment, USS Oneidas broadsides and their 32-pounder inflicted many hits or near hits on the Royal Navy
vessels.
Towards the close of the action, as the flagship
Royal George was maneuvering to fire another broadside, a 24-pound shot struck her stern
and raked her whole length, killing eight men, and doing much damage. Royal George also had severe damage to her top mast and rigging. Other British warships were damaged but the extent is unknown. Upon this the signal of retreat was given and the British fleet bore away for Kingston, Ontario
without ceremony. At this, the band struck up the national tune of Yankee Doodle
, and the troops yelled three cheers of victory.
Jacob Brown
attributed the success of the day to the gallant spirit of officers Woolsey, Bellinger and Camp, in their respective capacities, and especially to the crew of the 32 pounder. William Vaughan, who had commanded the 32 pounder, claimed the honor of having fired the first hostile gun in the war. One of the men at this gun, named Julius Torry, an African-American, better known as Black Julius, and a great favorite in the camp, served at his post with remarkable activity and courage. As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms, the greater part of the troops who were drawn up, were spectators of the engagement.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
naval forces that resulted in the American forces repelling the attack on their town and the shipbuilding yard located there.
Background
Sacket's HarborSackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
is located on Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
in Northern New York State. It was the chief shipbuilding yard for the United States 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...
. It had a good strategic position on the lake, with abundant resources, and an excellent natural harbor which became the center of military and naval operations for the war's northern theater. Following the first battle, the town and harbor became a large and centralized military complex, with a fortification served by thousands of troops.
On Sunday, July 19, 1812, Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Woolsey
Melancthon Taylor Woolsey
Commodore Melancthon Taylor Woolsey was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812 and battles on the Great Lakes. He supervised warship construction at Navy Point in Sackets Harbor, New York, and later had a full career in the Navy.-Biography:Woolsey was born near Plattsburgh,...
, of USS Oneida, discovered from the mast
Mast (sailing)
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall, vertical, or near vertical, spar, or arrangement of spars, which supports the sails. Large ships have several masts, with the size and configuration depending on the style of ship...
head of his brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
five enemy vessels sailing up Sacket's Harbor. The British vessels were HMS Royal George
HMS Royal George
Eight ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Royal George after various members of the House of Hanover. A ninth was renamed before being launched:* HMS Royal George was a 100-gun first-rate ship of the line launched as HMS Royal James in 1675...
; of twenty-four guns; HMS Seneca; of eighteen guns; HMS Prince Regent
HMS Prince Regent
Four ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Prince Regent, after numerous holders of the position of Prince regent: was a 16-gun ship launched in 1812. She was re-rigged as a schooner and renamed HMS Beresford in 1813, re-rigged again as a brig and renamed HMS Netley in 1814 and then HMS...
; of twenty-two guns; HMS Earl of Moira, of twenty guns and HMS Simcoe of ten guns. The British had captured a merchant ship carrying flour nearby and sent the men to shore with the demands that the Americans surrender the USS Oneida and the HMS Lord Nelson
HMS Lord Nelson
Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Lord Nelson, after the Vice-admiral Horatio Nelson, victor of the Battle of Trafalgar:*HMS Lord Nelson was a storeship purchased in 1800 and sold in 1807....
, a ship that the Americans had captured and that if a shot was fired at them they would burn the village of Sacket's Harbor. http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/hounsfield/1stbattle.html
Battle
The first shots were fired by the British at the brigBrig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
USS Oneida, under the command of Commodore Chauncey, which attempted to escape the incoming British vessels but failed and returned to the point. The British continued on and dropped anchor. Back at the point Oneida was moored with one broadside of nine guns to the enemy, while the others were taken out and hastily placed on a breastwork along the shoreline, near where a 32-pounder cannon, intended for the Oneida, but found too heavy, had been mounted on a pivot. Below the cannon, a protective mound about six feet high had been constructed.
Alarm guns were fired and expresses were sent to call in the neighboring militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
s. Unfortunately for the Americans, most of the militia did not arrive in time to render assistance, but by the end of the day, some 3,000 local militia had assembled but they did not engage. The British had been misinformed about the defenses of the harbor and assumed there was nothing to be feared in the way of ordnance. The force at that time in town was, besides the crew of the Oneida, a regiment under Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Bellinger. A volunteer company of artillery under Captain Camp, and a the militia.
Captain Woolsey, leaving his brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
in charge of a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, took command on shore, the 32-pounder being in charge of William Vaughan a sailing master
Master (naval)
The master, or sailing master, was a historic term for a naval officer trained in and responsible for the navigation of a sailing vessel...
, and the other guns under that of Captain Camp. There was no shot in town larger than 24-pound balls, which were used with the aid of patches made of carpet, in the 32-pounder. By the time these arrangements were made, the enemy had arrived within range, nearly in front of the battery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
.
The action was commenced, the first shot was fired from the 32-pounder which failed to hit any of the British ships. A shout of laughter was heard from the fleet just after, indicating that the Americans first shot fell too short of target. The British returned a salvo briskly at the American battery and continued for two hours. Most of the British shots were reportedly accurate. The Americans returned fire throughout the bombardment, USS Oneidas broadsides and their 32-pounder inflicted many hits or near hits on 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...
vessels.
Towards the close of the action, as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
Royal George was maneuvering to fire another broadside, a 24-pound shot struck her stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
and raked her whole length, killing eight men, and doing much damage. Royal George also had severe damage to her top mast and rigging. Other British warships were damaged but the extent is unknown. Upon this the signal of retreat was given and the British fleet bore away for Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
without ceremony. At this, the band struck up the national tune of Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle
"Yankee Doodle" is a well-known Anglo-American song, the origin of which dates back to the Seven Years' War. It is often sung patriotically in the United States today and is the state anthem of Connecticut...
, and the troops yelled three cheers of victory.
Aftermath
On July 24, 1812, GeneralGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Jacob Brown
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
attributed the success of the day to the gallant spirit of officers Woolsey, Bellinger and Camp, in their respective capacities, and especially to the crew of the 32 pounder. William Vaughan, who had commanded the 32 pounder, claimed the honor of having fired the first hostile gun in the war. One of the men at this gun, named Julius Torry, an African-American, better known as Black Julius, and a great favorite in the camp, served at his post with remarkable activity and courage. As there was no opportunity for the use of small arms, the greater part of the troops who were drawn up, were spectators of the engagement.