For other ships with the same name, see HMS Dolphin.
HMS Dolphin was the 12-gun American privateer schooner Dolphin that Admiral John Borlase Warren's squadron captured on 13 April 1813 and that the Royal Navy took into service. As HMS Dolphin she participated in boat actions on 29 April and 5 May 1813 for which the Admiralty issued a clasp for the Naval General Service Medal. Her ultimate fate is currently undocumented.
Dolphin capturing Hebe, 1813
History
United States
Name
Dolphin
Owner
John Hollins, John Smith Hollins, Michael McBlair, Lemuel Taylor, Samuel Smith & James A. Buchanan
Dolphin had been an American privateer and had carried Baltimore's privateering commission No. 2.[3] Under Captain W.S. Stafford, on 26 July 1812 she captured a British vessel valued at US$18,000, and in August she captured the schooner Fanny, valued at a similar amount.[4] In the same month she captured the schooner James, which she sent into port, and destroyed several doggers.[4] Next she captured and sent into Baltimore the John Hamilton, of 10 guns and 30 men, laden with several hundred tons of mahogany.[4]
She had had an unsuccessful cruise of two months before on 25 January 1813 she captured Hebe, of 16 guns and 40 men, and the brig Three Brothers, of ten guns and 25 men.[5] Captain W.A. Brigham of Hebe was wounded by a musket ball and later injured by a powder explosion. Dolphin had four men wounded and the British eight to 10 (accounts differ), including Brigham.[6][a]HMS Shannon recaptured Hebe six days later, before she could reach America.[8]Dolphin returned to Baltimore on 13 February.
In all, as a privateer, Dolphin had captured 11 British vessels. One had been burned at sea and another (Hebe) recaptured. However, nine had been brought safely back to the United States.[6]
A British cutting out party of 17 boats under the command of Lieutenant James Polkinghorne was able to work its way 15 miles up the Rappahannock River. There they found four American vessels laying becalmed and out of range of each other.[6] The British captured all four on 3 April 1813:
Dolphin, Captain W. S. Stafford, 12 guns and 100 men
The British first captured Arab, which put up a strong fight and caused them the heaviest losses of the day.[6] The British then captured the next two with no resistance from Lynx and little from Racer.[6]Dolphin resisted for two hours before surrendering. Polkinhorne reported that he had lost two men killed and eleven wounded, including himself, and he received a promotion to commander for his part in the action.[6] American newspapers at first claimed that the British had lost 50 men, later reporting that British losses were two boats sunk with nineteen killed and forty wounded.[9] Stafford placed his losses at six killed and ten wounded.[6] The others lost five more wounded.[6] Subsequently the British took Racer, Lynx, and Dolphin into service. It was difficult for the British to free Arab and though they eventually succeeded, the vessel was apparently badly damaged and was not commissioned for British service. She was taken to Halifax where the Vice-Admiralty Court condemned her.[10]
British serviceedit
Dolphin retained her name and became a tender commanded by Lieutenant George Hutchinson. On 29 April 1813, boats from Dolphin, together with boats from Fantome, Mohawk and Highflyer and Racer, which had not yet been renamed, went up the Chesapeake Bay to Frenchtown to destroy five American ships and stores; they also purchased provisions for the squadron from the locals. This took until 3 May 1813 to complete. On the way back, a battery fired on the British from the shore; a landing party destroyed the battery. The Admiralty would later issue the clasp "April & May Boat Service 1813" for the Naval General Service Medal for the action.[11]
The rest of Dolphin's service career and what became of her at the end of the war is unknown.
Notesedit
^The discussion in Maclay suggests that Dolphin captured both vessels in a joint action. Other reports suggest that Dolphin first captured Hebe and later captured Three Brothers.[7]
Coggeshall, George (1856). History of the American Privateers, and Letters-Of-Marque. New York: New York, the author.
Dudley, William S. (1992). The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History. Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center.
Gardiner, Robert; National Maritime Museum (Great Britain) (1998). "War on the High Seas". The Naval War of 1812. Chatham pictorial histories. Chatham. ISBN978-1-86176-063-0.
Garitee, Jerome R. (1977). The Republic's private navy: the American privateering business as practiced by Baltimore during the war of 1812. Conn. p. 150. ISBN0819550043. OCLC 464329695.
Scott, Sir James (1834). Recollections of a naval life, Volume 3. London, England: R. Bently Publishing.
Scharf, J. Thomas (1881). History of Baltimore City and County, from the earliest period to the present day: including biographical sketches of their representative men. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts.
Vice-Admiralty Court, Halifax (1911). American vessels captured by the British during the revolution and war of 1812. Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute.
December 20, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see HMS Dolphin HMS Dolphin was the 12 gun American privateer schooner Dolphin that Admiral John Borlase Warren s squadron captured on 13 April 1813 and that the Royal Navy took into service As HMS Dolphin she participated in boat actions on 29 April and 5 May 1813 for which the Admiralty issued a clasp for the Naval General Service Medal Her ultimate fate is currently undocumented Dolphin capturing Hebe 1813HistoryUnited StatesNameDolphinOwnerJohn Hollins John Smith Hollins Michael McBlair Lemuel Taylor Samuel Smith amp James A BuchananHomeportBaltimore MarylandFateCaptured April 1813United KingdomNameHMS DolphinAcquiredBy capture 3 April 1813Commissioned11 July 1813Honours andawardsNaval General Service Medal with clasp April amp May Boat Service 1813 1 FateUnknownGeneral characteristicsTypeSchoonerTons burthen161 bm 2 Complement100Armament2 9 pounder guns 10 12 pounder carronades 2 Contents 1 Privateer 1 1 Battle of Rappahannock River 2 British service 3 Notes 4 Citations 5 ReferencesPrivateer editDolphin had been an American privateer and had carried Baltimore s privateering commission No 2 3 Under Captain W S Stafford on 26 July 1812 she captured a British vessel valued at US 18 000 and in August she captured the schooner Fanny valued at a similar amount 4 In the same month she captured the schooner James which she sent into port and destroyed several doggers 4 Next she captured and sent into Baltimore the John Hamilton of 10 guns and 30 men laden with several hundred tons of mahogany 4 She had had an unsuccessful cruise of two months before on 25 January 1813 she captured Hebe of 16 guns and 40 men and the brig Three Brothers of ten guns and 25 men 5 Captain W A Brigham of Hebe was wounded by a musket ball and later injured by a powder explosion Dolphin had four men wounded and the British eight to 10 accounts differ including Brigham 6 a HMS Shannon recaptured Hebe six days later before she could reach America 8 Dolphin returned to Baltimore on 13 February In all as a privateer Dolphin had captured 11 British vessels One had been burned at sea and another Hebe recaptured However nine had been brought safely back to the United States 6 Battle of Rappahannock River edit Main article Battle of Rappahannock River A British cutting out party of 17 boats under the command of Lieutenant James Polkinghorne was able to work its way 15 miles up the Rappahannock River There they found four American vessels laying becalmed and out of range of each other 6 The British captured all four on 3 April 1813 Arab Captain D Fitch seven guns and 45 men Racer Captain D Chaytnor six guns and 36 men Lynx Captain E Taylor six guns and 40 men Dolphin Captain W S Stafford 12 guns and 100 menThe British first captured Arab which put up a strong fight and caused them the heaviest losses of the day 6 The British then captured the next two with no resistance from Lynx and little from Racer 6 Dolphin resisted for two hours before surrendering Polkinhorne reported that he had lost two men killed and eleven wounded including himself and he received a promotion to commander for his part in the action 6 American newspapers at first claimed that the British had lost 50 men later reporting that British losses were two boats sunk with nineteen killed and forty wounded 9 Stafford placed his losses at six killed and ten wounded 6 The others lost five more wounded 6 Subsequently the British took Racer Lynx and Dolphin into service It was difficult for the British to free Arab and though they eventually succeeded the vessel was apparently badly damaged and was not commissioned for British service She was taken to Halifax where the Vice Admiralty Court condemned her 10 British service editDolphin retained her name and became a tender commanded by Lieutenant George Hutchinson On 29 April 1813 boats from Dolphin together with boats from Fantome Mohawk and Highflyer and Racer which had not yet been renamed went up the Chesapeake Bay to Frenchtown to destroy five American ships and stores they also purchased provisions for the squadron from the locals This took until 3 May 1813 to complete On the way back a battery fired on the British from the shore a landing party destroyed the battery The Admiralty would later issue the clasp April amp May Boat Service 1813 for the Naval General Service Medal for the action 11 The rest of Dolphin s service career and what became of her at the end of the war is unknown Notes edit The discussion in Maclay suggests that Dolphin captured both vessels in a joint action Other reports suggest that Dolphin first captured Hebe and later captured Three Brothers 7 Citations edit No 20939 The London Gazette 26 January 1849 p 247 a b Men of Marque website 1 accessed 16 March 2012 Gardiner amp National Maritime Museum Great Britain 1998 a b c Scharf 1881 p 105 Coggeshall 1856 pp 128 9 a b c d e f g h Maclay 1968 pp 465 7 Lloyd s List 4747 No 16861 The London Gazette 22 February 1814 p 413 James 1834 Vol 3 p 95 U S vessels adjudged at Halifax Dudley 1992 p 339 References editCoggeshall George 1856 History of the American Privateers and Letters Of Marque New York New York the author Dudley William S 1992 The Naval War of 1812 A Documentary History Vol 2 Washington D C Department of the Navy Naval Historical Center Gardiner Robert National Maritime Museum Great Britain 1998 War on the High Seas The Naval War of 1812 Chatham pictorial histories Chatham ISBN 978 1 86176 063 0 Garitee Jerome R 1977 The Republic s private navy the American privateering business as practiced by Baltimore during the war of 1812 Conn p 150 ISBN 0819550043 OCLC 464329695 Scott Sir James 1834 Recollections of a naval life Volume 3 London England R Bently Publishing Maclay Edgar Stanton 1968 A History of American Privateers New York Franklin Scharf J Thomas 1881 History of Baltimore City and County from the earliest period to the present day including biographical sketches of their representative men Philadelphia L H Everts Vice Admiralty Court Halifax 1911 American vessels captured by the British during the revolution and war of 1812 Salem Mass Essex Institute Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Dolphin 1813 amp oldid 1167078666, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
