This passage was taken from the chapter “Impressed into the British Navy’ in James Durand: An Able Seaman of 1812, His Adventures on “Old Ironsides” and as an Impressed Sailor in the British Navy, ed. George S. Brooks (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1926), pp. 47–64. The Life and Adventures of James R. Durand, During a Period of Fifteen Years, From 1801 to 1816: In Which Time He Was Impressed on Board the British Fleet, and Held in Detestable Bondage for More Than Seven Years; Including an Account of a Voyage to the Mediterranean, “Written by Himself” was originally published by E. Peck & Co., of Rochester, New York, in 1820.
“HMS Macedonian vs. USS United States, 1812”
This passage is from Thirty Years from Home or A Voice from the Main Deck, 15th ed., by Samuel Leech (Boston: Tappen, Whittemore and Mason, 1843), pp. 122–53. Leech spent six years in the British and American navies. He was captured in the British frigate Macedonian, and afterward entered the American Navy Later he was then taken in the United States brig Syren by the British ship Medway.
“An Unjustifiable and Outrageous Pursuit, 1812–1813”
Life on the Ocean; or, Twenty Years at Sea: Being the Personal Adventures of the Author, by George Little, was first published in 1843. The sections reprinted here, chaps. 17, 18, 19, and part of 20, were taken from the 3d ed., (Boston: Waite, Pierce, 1845).
Little was released from Dartmoor prison at the end of the war. Later, his days as a merchant captain sailing from Baltimore were cut short by blindness. He became increasingly committed to temperance and Christianity, and the publication of his memoirs, Life on the Ocean, was at least in part to champion these causes.
“A Yankee Cruiser in the South Pacific, 1813,” and “Showdown at Valparaiso, 1814”
These passages were taken from Journal of a Cruise Made to the Pacific Ocean by Captain David Porter in the Unites States Frigate Essex, in the Years 1812, 1813, and 1814, 2 vols., 2d ed. (New York: Wiley and Halsted, 1822). “A Yankee Cruiser in the South Pacific, 1813,” is from vol. 1, chap. 5, “Run Down the Coast of Chile and Peru; Arrive at the Galapagos Islands,” pp. 108–26, and chap. 6, “The Gallipagos Islands; Prizes,” pp. 148-54. “Showdown at Valparaiso, 1814,” is from vol. 2, chap. 18, “Events at Valparaiso, Previous to the Capture of the Essex,” pp. 143–77.
“We Discussed a Bottle of Chateau Margot Together, 1812–1815”
This passage originally appeared as chap. 12 of Naval Adventures During Thirty-Five Years’ Service, vol. 1, by Lieutenant W. Bowers, R.N. (London: Richard Bentley 1833), pp. 272–302.
Selected Bibliography
CHANDLER, DAVID G. DICTIONARY of the Napoleonic Wars. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.
Clowes, William Laird. The Royal Navy, vols. 4 and 5. London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company, 1899–1890.
Davies, David. Fighting Ships: Ships of the Line, 1793–1815.London: Constable, 1996.
Falconer, W. A. A New Universal Dictionary of the Marine. Modernized and enlarged by William Burney. London: 1815. (Reprint. London: Macdonald and Jane’s, 1974.)
Harvey, A. D. English Literature and the Great War with Trance: An Anthology and Commentary. London: Nold Jonson Books, 1981.
Hattendorf, John B., et al, eds. British Naval Documents, 1204–1960. London: Navy Records Society, 1993.
Heinl, Robert Debs, Jr. Dictionary of Military and Naval Quotations. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1966.
Henderson, James, CBE. The Frigates: An account of the lesser warships of the wars from1793 to 1815. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1970.
Hill, Richard. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Royal Navy. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
King, Dean, with John B. Hattendorf. Harbors and High Seas: An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O’ Brian. New York: Henry Holt, 1996.and J. Worth Estes. A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales. New York: Henry Holt, 1995.
Lloyd, Christopher. Captain Marryat and the Old Navy. London: Longmans, Green, 1939.
Lord Cochrane: Seaman—Radical—Liberator: A Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane,10th Earl of Dundonald. London: Longmans, Green, 1947.
Long, David F. Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1780–1843. Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, 1970.
Maclay, Edgar Stanton. A History of American Privateers. New York: 1899. (Reprint. New York: Burt Franklin, 1968.)
Manning, Captain T. D., and Commander C. R Walker. British Warship Names. London: Putnam, 1959.
Pivka, Otto von. Navies of the Napoleonic Era. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1980.
Price, Anthony. The Eyes of the Fleet: A Popular History of Frigates and Frigate Captains 1793–1815. London: Hutchinson, 1990.
Steel, David. Steel’s Naval Chronologist of the War. London: C. & W. Galabin. (Reprint. London: Cornmarket Press, 1969.)
Werstein, Irving. The Cruise of the Essex: An Incident from the War of 1812. Philadelphia: Macrae Smith, 1969.
Index
A | B | C | D | E
F | G | H | I | J
K | L | M | N | O
P | Q | R | S | T
U | V | W | Y | Z
ACHATES, HMS, 397
Achille, L’ (French ship), 183
Achilles, HMS, 213
Adair, Captain, 172, 181, 182
Adamant, HMS, 109n
Adams, D. P., 388, 390
Adams, Mate, 314
Agamemnon, HMS, 55
Aigle (French ship), 215, 224, 230
Ajugia, Cape, 357
Alcide, HMS, 30, 33, 54-55, 202, 203
Aldrich, Mr., 308
Aerr, HMS, 33, 38, 373, 392
Alexander, HMS, 38
Allemand, Adm. Lacharie Jacques Theodore, 212, 225
Allen, Mr. Henry, 209
Allen, Vice-Counsel, 94, 94n, 95, 97-100
Almyer, Captain, 297
Amazon, HMS, 217, 220, 297
Amelia, HMS, 199, 218, 220, 221, 222
America, HMS, 36, 38
American privateers, 319, 320-44, 395-96
American Revolution, xxvii
American seamen, 37, 45
impressment of, 290-99, 303-4
American ships, on coast of Peru and Chili, 350
Amethyst, HMS, 217, 220
Amitié, L’ (French ship), 129
Andrews, Capt. George, 202
Apollo, HMS, 46n
Appleby, Thomas, 258
Aquilon (French ship), 226, 228
Arathusa, HMS, 297
Archer, Mr., 318
Arethusa, HMS, 9
Argo (merchant vessel), 13
“Arthur O’Bradley” (song), 42
Atkinson, Mr., 173
Atlantic (British whale-ship, later Essex Junior), 367, 382
Auchinlick, Midshipman, 257, 258
Audacious, HMS, 16
“Audacious Cruise of the Speedy, The” (Cochrane), 120-36
Austria, declares war on France, 222
Authentic Narrative of the Death of Lord Nelson (Beatty), 183
Ave Maria (Spanish ship), 132
Avranches, France, 265
Azores (Western Islands), 339
Babet (French ship), 10
Bainbridge, Comm. William, 380, 380n
Baird, Gen. Sir David, 188, 235, 245, 245n
Baker, John, 196
Ball, Captain, 109
Bandy (ship’s cook), 8
Barbadoes, 294
Barclay (American whale-ship), 345, 346, 349, 352-54, 356-60, 365
Barfleur, HMS, 73, 71, 79, 120, 235
Barnwell (Barnewall), Edward, 379, 385, 387, 388
Barrère de Vieuzac, 31n
Barrosa Ridge, 257n
Bartowe, M. W., 379
Basque Roads action, xxvii, 213, 215, 216, 218-21
Bastia, Corsica, 54-63, 123
Batavian Republic (Netherlands), 44, 156
Battle in the Aix Roads, 212, 226-33,
map, 227
Bat
tle of Blenheim (1704), 58n, 80
Battle of Camperdown (1797), 87
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797), xxiv, xxv, xxvi, 64-87, 169, 180
map, 74-75
Battle of Copenhagen (1801), 169
Battle of Corunna (1809), xxiv, xxv, xxvii, 216n, 234-54
Battle of Malplaquet (1709), 58n
Battle of Oudenarde (1708), 58n
Battle of Rammiles (1706), 58n
Battle of the Nile (1798), 119, 169
Battle of Trafalgar (1805), 18n, xxiv, 156, 159-68, 233
and death of Nelson, 169-84
map, 163
Nelson’s signal for, xxiii, 161, 161n, 171
Battle of Vimiera, Portugal, 233
Battle of Waterloo, 253, 405
Baugh, Capt. Thomas Folliott, 202
Baxter, Captain, 361
Bay of Bengal action, xxv, 108, 109-19
Bay of Biscay, 212, 335
Beagle, HMS, 225
Beamish, Lieut. George, 276-77
Beamish brothers, 285
Beatty, William, xxvi, 168, 169-84
Beaulieu La Loup, Captain, 111
Bedford, Capt. William, 213
Beecher, Lieut., 18, 24-25
Belle Caroline, La (French brig), 131
Bellette, HMS, 203
Bellona, HMS, 222
Belson, Colonel, 257n
Belvidere, HMS, 322, 323
Bentham, Gen. Samuel, 88n
Bentinck, Capt. George William, 30, 30n
Beresford, Commodore, 218, 219, 226
Beresford, Sir J., 219
Berkeley, Adm. Sir George Cranfield, 28, 28n
“Bermuda in the Peace” (Hall), 139-56
Bermuda Islands, 142, 234
Berry, Lieutenant, 77, 82
Berwick, HMS, 36
Bethune, Drinkwater, xxv, xxvi, 64-87
Bickerton, Sir Richard, 187, 289
Bien Aimé, HMS, 3-5, 8
Bitche citadel, 278-84, 278n
Black Eyed Susan, HMS, 91
Black Joke (air), 39
Black Joke (American privateer), 323
Blackwood, Captain, 170, 171
Blanche, HMS, 53, 88, 89, 91
Blanco, Mr., 370
Blenheim, HMS, 28n, 71, 73
Bligh, Capt. John, 219, 228
Bligh, Lieutenant, 178, 181
Bombay, India, 7-8
Bonaparte, Joseph, 233
Bond, Capt. Francis, 87-94, 90n, 98-100, 102-7
Bonne Citoyenne, La, HMS, 69, 71
Bordo (prisoner), 217
Bostwick, M. W., 388
Bowen, Capt. James, 189
Bowers, Lieut. William, 395-406
Boycott, Lieutenant, 27
Brenton, Captain, 30n, 188
Brest, France, 260
Bridport, Baron, 18n. See also Alexander Hood
Britain
declares war on France (1803), 156
Napoleon’s desire to invade, 183
Spain declares war on (1804), 156
and War of 1812, 299
Britannia, HMS, 76, 79
British Fleet, 12n, 16
ships on the coast of Peru and Chili (list), 350-51, 381
and Trafalgar, 18n See also Channel Fleet
Brown, Lieutenant, 174
Brown, Mate William, 314-15
Brunswick, HMS, 27, 27n, 51
“Bryan O’Lynn” (comic song), 42-43
Bucentaur (Spanish ship), 170, 173
Buchan, Mr., 106
Bulford, Lieut. John, 312
Bulkley, Mr., 176, 177
Burgh, General de, 57, 60, 63
Burke, Mr., 175, 176-77, 178, 180
Burley, Mr., 50
Burrard, Gen. Sir Harry, 233
Cadiz, Spain, 35, 36
bombardment of, 87
Caesar, HMS, 16, 19, 213, 216, 217, 220-24, 226, 230, 232
Calcutta (French ship), 216-17, 221, 226, 228, 231
Calder, Capt. Robert, 70, 85, 86, 159
Caledonia, HMS, 213, 222, 230
Callao, Peru, 354-55
Calypso (French ship), 220, 221
Cambrian, HMS, 142, 275
Cameron (French pilot), 217
Cape Finister, 105-6
Capel, Thomas Bladen, 234
Captain, HMS, 54, 55, 69, 73, 76-83, 82n
Car (Ker), Captain, 219
Card, John, 306
Carden, Capt. John Surman, 303, 311-12, 316
Carreras, 391
Carrington, Lord, 188
Carslake, Lieutenant J., 285
Cartagena, Spain, 324-25
Carysfort, HMS, 13n
Cassard (French ship), 230, 231
Castor, HMS, 13, 28
Catharine, HMS, 381, 390
Cazy, Squire, 95
Cerberus, HMS, 46n
Chance, HMS, 118
Channel Fleet, 299
and Basque Roads, 213, 218
and blockade of France, 212
and French Revolutionary War, 10
and Glorious First, 11-13, 13n, 14, 17-20
Chantrell, Lieut. Billy, 35, 37, 40
Charles (American whale-ship), 345-6, 349
Charlton, HMS, 381
Chatham, Lord, 204
Chatham Island, 359-60
Chatterton, George, 52n
Cherub, HMS, 367, 369-79, 382-85, 389
Chesapeake action (1781), 12n
Chevalier, Mr., 179
Childers, HMS, 192-93, 195-97, 199, 200, 201-12
Chilean Revolution, 391
Chili (Chile), coast of, 350-51, 354, 381, 391
Christian, Adm. Sir H., 189
Christina (Danish galliot), 210
Churchill, Lord, 311, 312
Cintra negotiations, 233
Clark, Mr., 225
Cleveland, HMS, 230
Clorinde (French ship), 256-57, 260, 289
Cochrane, Adm. Sir Alexander, xxv, xxvi, 120, 223, 225, 229, 232-33, 293, 394
Cochrane, Hon. Archibald, 136
Cochrane, Lieut. Thomas, 119, 120-36
Cockburn, Captain, 56, 65, 66-67
Collingwood, Admiral Lord, 8, 161, 164, 171, 172, 178, 179, 184
Collingwood, Captain, 76, 77
Collingwood, Midshipman, 182
Colossus, HMS, 71, 72, 76
Combined Fleets, 170, 183
Comenia River fort, 97
“Commence the Work of Destruction” (Dillon), 12-32
Commerce de Marseilles (French ship), 33, 33n
Committee of Thirty (Corsica), 59
Concord, HMS, 9
Conflict, HMS, 222, 225
Conn, Lieutenant, 256, 259-61, 274, 284, 285
Consitt, Seaman, 26, 30n
Constitution (French privateer), 123
Constitution, USS, 289, 290, 332, 343, 344, 352, 380n
Cook, Capt. James, 111, 111n
Cook (Cooke), Capt. Edward (of La Sybille), 111, 111n, 116, 117, 117n, 118
Cooper, Boy, 309
Coral reefs, 143-44, 145, 146
Cordova, Adm. Don Jose de, 63, 66, 73
Cornwallis, Adm. Sir William, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18n
Cornwallis, Lord, Charles, 1st Marquis, 4
Corsica, 54, 56-63
Corunna, Spain, 156, 233, 234. See also Battle of Corunna
Cosby, Vice-Admiral P., 33, 34
Covington, Gunner, 89
Cowan, Lieut. John S., 383
Cowan, Midshipman, 354, 364
Cowell, John G., 361, 387, 388
Cowey, Mr., 223
Croker, John Wilson, 311
Crump, Mr., 36
Culloden, HMS, 71, 72, 73, 80
Culverhouse, Lieutenant, 65, 68, 69
Curtis, Sir Roger (later Baronet), 29, 29n, 289
“Daddy” (midshipman), 151-55
Daedalus, HMS, 108n, 109
Dallas, George M
., 399, 399n
Dalrymple, Gen. Sir Hugh, 233
“Damn ’em, Jackson, They’ve Spoilt My Dancing” (Jackson), 255-89
Danish, 169, 206-8
Dann, John, xxvi
Davies, Lieutenant, 224
Davis, Captain, 112, 117, 118
Davis, Lieutenant, 229
“Death of Lord Nelson, The” (Beatty), 169
Decatur, Comm. Stephen, 303, 311, 316, 318, 387
Defence, HMS, xxvi, 195, 12-32
Defiance, HMS, 215, 218-19, 220, 221, 222
Delancey, Col. Sir William Howe, 253-54, 253n
Demerara, 156
Demourisque (merchant ship), 14
Devonshire, Midshipman, 271, 272, 274
Diadem, HMS, 56, 58, 73, 77
Dickson (Dixon), Lieut. John, 27, 27n
Diego Garcia Island, 4-5
Dillon, Lady, 187
Dillon, Sir John Joseph, xxvi
Dillon, Sir William Henry, xxv-xxvi, xxvii, 12-32, 185-212
Dillon, William Mervyn, 188
Discipline
and cat-’o-nine-tails, 159
and impressed Americans, 292
and mast-head, 153
and swearing, 7
Discovery, HMS, 111
Dixon, Admiral, 352
Donalson, Boatswain, 89
Donegal, HMS, 215, 218, 219, 220, 221
Dotterel, HMS, 218, 220, 221, 225
Douglas, Mr., 111, 116
Douglas, Admiral B., 198-99
Douglas, Sir Andrew, 30
Downes, Lieut. John, 347, 349, 360, 361, 364, 367-68, 369, 379, 382, 383, 386, 393
Dragon, HMS, 213
Drake’s Island, 291
Dreadnought, HMS, 213, 232
Dromo (American ship), 335
Dryad, HMS, 297
Dubosc, Captain, 40
Ducker, Boatswain, 37-38, 42
Duckworth, Adm. Sir John, 373, 375
Duncan, Admiral, 87
Duncan, Mr., 34
Dunciad, The, 38n
Durand, James, xxvii, 289, 290-99
Duzenbery, Samuel L., 379, 388
East India Company, 44, 45, 47n, 48, 48n, 117n, 118, 344, 364
Eastwick, Robert, xxv, xxvi, 107, 108-19
Ecce Homo (Spanish ship), 129
Edgar, Lieutenant, 34, 40, 42
Edmonds, Lieut. Thomas, 195n
Egmont, HMS, 54, 58, 76
Egyptienne, V (French privateer), 91
Ehrman, John, 47n
Elba Island, 56
Elizabeth (British ship), 216
Elliot, Mr., 30, 30n
Elliot, Sir Gilbert, 54, 56n, 57, 59-60, 63-70, 80, 81, 83, 84, 86, 87
Ellis, Jack, 229
Emerald, HMS, 217, 220, 221, 225