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USS Sylph (1813)
Encyclopedia
USS Sylph was a schooner
in the United States Navy
during the War of 1812
.
She was a schooner built to strengthen Commodore Isaac Chauncey
's squadron on Lake Ontario
. Sylph was laid down on 26 July 1813 at Sackett's Harbor, New York, by Henry Eckford
; and launched on 18 August 1813.
had a midshipman
and three seamen killed and seven wounded. One of their brig
s was seriously damaged before the British squadron escaped into Amherst Bay.
Sylph got into action again on the 28th when the two fleets met in York Bay. However, since she was towing a slower schooner throughout the engagement, she was unable to get close to the fleeing British ships, instead firing at them from a great distance as her contribution to the American victory.
Chauncey broke off the pursuit about mid-afternoon, lest his fleet be endangered by a threatening storm. Bad weather lasted until the evening of the 31st. On 2 October, the British fleet got underway and escaped. Chauncey hunted for the English ships and, on the afternoon of the 5th, came upon seven vessels. The American ship captured five; one other was burned by her crew to prevent capture and one managed to escape. Two of the prizes proved to be HMS Confiance and HMS Hamilton, which were the former American ships and . Thereafter, the British fleet remained in Kingston, Ontario
, where they were blockaded until the end of November when cold weather closed navigation on the lake for the winter.
During the off-season, both fleets engaged in a shipbuilding race in an effort to achieve naval superiority in 1814. During this period, Sylph was rerigged as a brig, and her armament was changed to 2 × 9-pounder and 16 × 24-pounder carronade
s.
In the spring of 1814, the British squadron was first to venture out upon the lake. On 5 May, they captured the American base at Oswego, New York
; and then proceeded to Sacketts Harbor which they blockaded until 6 June.
The American fleet got underway on 31 July and sailed up to the head of the lake where Chauncey intercepted British brig . He ordered Sylph to sail into shoal water to destroy the brig; but, before Sylph could perform the chore, the British vessel's crew ran her aground and burned her.
Chauncey then took his squadron to Kingston where he blockaded the British fleet until winter ended navigation.
The Treaty of Ghent
obviated further naval operations on the Great Lakes. Sylph was laid up at Sacketts Harbor until 1823 when she was reported sunk and decayed. Her hulk was sold before 1825.
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
in the United States 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...
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...
.
She was a schooner built to strengthen Commodore Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey
Isaac Chauncey was an officer in the United States Navy.-Biography:Chauncey, born in Black Rock, Connecticut, 20 February 1779, was appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy from 17 September 1798...
's squadron 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...
. Sylph was laid down on 26 July 1813 at Sackett's Harbor, New York, by Henry Eckford
Henry Eckford (shipbuilder)
Henry Eckford was a Scottish-born shipbuilder, naval architect, industrial engineer, and entrepreneur who worked for the United States Navy and the navy of the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.-Early life:...
; and launched on 18 August 1813.
Service history
Three days later, the new schooner reinforced Chauncey's fleet on Lake Ontario. On the afternoon of 11 September, she began a long-range, running battle off the mouth of the Genessee River. During the three and one-half hour engagement, the American squadron suffered no casualties nor damage while the Royal NavyRoyal 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...
had 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...
and three seamen killed and seven wounded. One of their 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...
s was seriously damaged before the British squadron escaped into Amherst Bay.
Sylph got into action again on the 28th when the two fleets met in York Bay. However, since she was towing a slower schooner throughout the engagement, she was unable to get close to the fleeing British ships, instead firing at them from a great distance as her contribution to the American victory.
Chauncey broke off the pursuit about mid-afternoon, lest his fleet be endangered by a threatening storm. Bad weather lasted until the evening of the 31st. On 2 October, the British fleet got underway and escaped. Chauncey hunted for the English ships and, on the afternoon of the 5th, came upon seven vessels. The American ship captured five; one other was burned by her crew to prevent capture and one managed to escape. Two of the prizes proved to be HMS Confiance and HMS Hamilton, which were the former American ships and . Thereafter, the British fleet remained in 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...
, where they were blockaded until the end of November when cold weather closed navigation on the lake for the winter.
During the off-season, both fleets engaged in a shipbuilding race in an effort to achieve naval superiority in 1814. During this period, Sylph was rerigged as a brig, and her armament was changed to 2 × 9-pounder and 16 × 24-pounder 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.
In the spring of 1814, the British squadron was first to venture out upon the lake. On 5 May, they captured the American base at Oswego, New York
Oswego, New York
Oswego is a city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 18,142 at the 2010 census. Oswego is located on Lake Ontario in north-central New York and promotes itself as "The Port City of Central New York"...
; and then proceeded to Sacketts Harbor which they blockaded until 6 June.
The American fleet got underway on 31 July and sailed up to the head of the lake where Chauncey intercepted British brig . He ordered Sylph to sail into shoal water to destroy the brig; but, before Sylph could perform the chore, the British vessel's crew ran her aground and burned her.
Chauncey then took his squadron to Kingston where he blockaded the British fleet until winter ended navigation.
The Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
obviated further naval operations on the Great Lakes. Sylph was laid up at Sacketts Harbor until 1823 when she was reported sunk and decayed. Her hulk was sold before 1825.