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HMS Dominica (1810)

March 16, 2024

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Dominica.

HMS Dominica was the French letter of marque schooner Duc de Wagram, which the British captured in 1809 in the Leeward Islands and took into the Royal Navy in 1810. The American privateer Decatur captured her in 1813 in a notable single-ship action. However, Majestic recaptured her in 1814. She was wrecked in 1815

Decatur captures Dominica
History
France
NameDuc de Wagram
NamesakeLouis-Alexandre Berthier
Launchedc.1805 (Chesapeake Bay)
NotesPrivateer
United Kingdom
NameHMS Dominica
Acquired1809 by capture; purchased and registered 1810
Captured5 August 1813
France
NameDominique
NamesakeDominica
AcquiredAugust 1813 by capture
CapturedMay 1814
NotesPrivateer
United Kingdom
NameHMS Dominica
Acquired22 May 1814 (by capture)
FateWrecked 15 August 1815
General characteristics
Typeschooner
Tons burthen20325⁄95 (bm)
Length89 ft 6+1⁄2 in (27.292 m) (overall); 71 ft 8+5⁄8 in (21.860 m) (keel)
Beam23 ft 1 in (7.04 m)
Depth of hold9 ft 3+3⁄4 in (2.838 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planSchooner
Complement
  • British service: 88 (including a sergeant, corporal and 13 Royal Marines)[1]
  • American letter of marque: 38
Armament
  • French privateer: 14 guns
  • British service: 12 x 12-pounder carronades + 2 x 6-pounder bow chasers[a]
  • American letter of marque: 4 x 6-pounder guns

Origins edit

Dominica was originally built in the Chesapeake area as a 14-gun, three-masted schooner in around 1805.[b] Then in 1809 she was armed at Guadeloupe as the letter of marque Duc de Wagram.[5] The British captured her in 1809 and Admiral Lord Alexander Cochrane had her surveyed in Antigua. The results were so good that he purchased her for the Royal Navy.

British Service edit

Between November 1810 and June 1811 Dominica underwent refitting at Deptford. In May 1811 Lieutenant Robert Hocking commissioned her for the Irish Sea and the Channel. Then on 23 November he sailed her to the West Indies.[6]

In August 1812 Dominica captured three merchant vessels. The first was the Indiana (7 August), which was sailing to San Juan, Porto Rico, with a cargo of flour and lard. The second was the Endeavour (26 August), which was sailing to Norfolk, Virginia, with molasses and rum. The third was the Amphitrite (also 26 August), sailing to New London with rum, coffee, sugar, and the like.[7]

On 11 November 1812, Hocking and Dominica captured the American privateer Providence, of Providence, Rhode Island, at 19 degrees latitude and 63 degrees 15 minutes longitude after an "anxious chase of ten hours". She had a crew of 60 men and was pierced for 12 guns but had thrown all but four overboard during the chase. She had been cruising for 30 days but had made no captures.[8]

Capture edit

Lieutenant George William Barrette took command later in 1812. On 5 August 1813 Dominica was escorting the packet ship Princess Charlotte when she encountered the American privateer Decatur under the command of Captain Dominique Diron.

Main article: Capture of HMS Dominica

Decatur was more lightly armed, though more heavily manned, and prevailed in the fight. The British lost 18 men killed, 42 wounded, and 70 captured, including the wounded, with Barrette being among the killed. (One of the wounded was an 11-year-old ship's boy, wounded in three places.[9]) The Americans had five men killed and 15 wounded. The court martial on 3 January 1815 of the surviving officers and men of Dominica acquitted them for her loss.

The British agent at Charleston, South Carolina, wrote a letter suggesting that the cause of the loss was "to be attributed entirely to the Want of Knowledge of and Experience in the Management of a Schooner, on the part of Captain Barrette... and the Vessel herself being extremely difficult to Work."[1] The same agent also reported that Decatur's crew was of French origin, "chiefly, if not all, Blacks, and Mulattoes" and that on boarding they had behaved with utmost cruelty, slaughtering the wounded on deck.[1] A letter from the Judge of the District Court stated that the prisoners had been treated with the utmost humanity.[1] The same letter described Dominica as little damaged by shot because she had been taken by boarding. Dominica was recommissioned in Charleston as the French letter of marque Dominique.[10]

Recapture edit

On 22 May 1814 Majestic recaptured Dominica.[11] At the time of her recapture, Dominica was sailing under a letter of marque, had a crew of 36 men under the command of Beusen, master, and was armed with four 6-pounder guns. She was carrying a cargo of rice, tobacco, wine, and naval stores.[12] The re-captured Dominica went into Halifax.[13] Majestic shared the prize money for the capture with Doterel (or Dotterell) and Morgiana.[14][c]

Fate edit

Lieutenant Robert Gibson recommissioned her on the Halifax station in October 1814. Lieutenant Richard Crawford replaced him in 1814. On 15 August 1815, Dominica was escorting a convoy to the West Indies when she was wrecked on the reefs off Bermuda.[15][16]

Notes edit

  1. ^ A letter from the District Court of South Carolina, the prize court, describes her armament as consisting of fourteen 12-pounder carronades, a 32-pounder carronade amidships, a brass 4-pounder gun, and a 32-pounder cannon.[1] Another account keeps the two 6-pounder guns and twelve 12-pounder carronades, but concurs with respect to the 32-pounder and the 4-pounder.[2]
  2. ^ Her plans have been reproduced in Cocker's Charleston Maritime Heritage (p. 163) and in Chapelle.[3][4]
  3. ^ A first-class share of one distribution of the prize money for the Dominica was worth £9 4s 0d; a sixth-class share, that of an ordinary seaman, was worth 1s 4d.[14]

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Dudley & Crawford (1992), pp. 213–7.
  2. ^ Maclay (1900), pp. 311–9.
  3. ^ Chapelle (1967), pp. 200–202.
  4. ^ Demerliac (1999), p. 323, №2764.
  5. ^ Chapelle (1967), p. 195.
  6. ^ Winfield (2008), p. 364.
  7. ^ Naval Chronicle, Vol.30, p. 241.
  8. ^ "No. 16673". The London Gazette. 24 November 1812. p. 2367.
  9. ^ Naval Chronicle, Vol. 34, p. 295.
  10. ^ Demerliac (1999), p. 315, №2686.
  11. ^ "No. 16924". The London Gazette. 9 August 1814. p. 1610.
  12. ^ Naval Chronicle, Vol. 32, p. 256.
  13. ^ Lloyd's List, 12 August 1814 [1] - accessed 24 November 2013.
  14. ^ a b "No. 17404". The London Gazette. 3 October 1818. p. 1778.
  15. ^ Gosset (1986), p. 96.
  16. ^ Hepper (1994), p. 154.

References edit

  • Chapelle, Howard Irving (1967). The search for speed under sail, 1700-1855. Norton. ISBN 978-0-85177-280-6.
  • Demerliac, Alain (1999). La Marine de la Révolution: Nomenclature des Navires Français de 1792 A 1799 (in French). Éditions Ancre. ISBN 2-906381-24-1.
  • Dudley, William S.; Crawford, Michael J., eds. (1992). Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History. Vol. 3. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-945274-06-3.
  • Gosset, William Patrick (1986). The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. Mansell. ISBN 0-7201-1816-6.
  • Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
  • Maclay, Edgar Stanton (1900). A History of American Privateers. New York: Sampson, Low, Marston & Co.
  • Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-86176-246-7.

March 16, 2024
dominica, 1810, other, ships, with, same, name, dominica, dominica, french, letter, marque, schooner, wagram, which, british, captured, 1809, leeward, islands, took, into, royal, navy, 1810, american, privateer, decatur, captured, 1813, notable, single, ship, . For other ships with the same name see HMS Dominica HMS Dominica was the French letter of marque schooner Duc de Wagram which the British captured in 1809 in the Leeward Islands and took into the Royal Navy in 1810 The American privateer Decatur captured her in 1813 in a notable single ship action However Majestic recaptured her in 1814 She was wrecked in 1815Decatur captures DominicaHistoryFranceNameDuc de WagramNamesakeLouis Alexandre BerthierLaunchedc 1805 Chesapeake Bay NotesPrivateerUnited KingdomNameHMS DominicaAcquired1809 by capture purchased and registered 1810Captured5 August 1813FranceNameDominiqueNamesakeDominicaAcquiredAugust 1813 by captureCapturedMay 1814NotesPrivateerUnited KingdomNameHMS DominicaAcquired22 May 1814 by capture FateWrecked 15 August 1815General characteristicsTypeschoonerTons burthen20325 95 bm Length89 ft 6 1 2 in 27 292 m overall 71 ft 8 5 8 in 21 860 m keel Beam23 ft 1 in 7 04 m Depth of hold9 ft 3 3 4 in 2 838 m PropulsionSailsSail planSchoonerComplementBritish service 88 including a sergeant corporal and 13 Royal Marines 1 American letter of marque 38ArmamentFrench privateer 14 guns British service 12 x 12 pounder carronades 2 x 6 pounder bow chasers a American letter of marque 4 x 6 pounder guns Contents 1 Origins 2 British Service 3 Capture 4 Recapture 5 Fate 6 Notes 7 Citations 8 ReferencesOrigins editDominica was originally built in the Chesapeake area as a 14 gun three masted schooner in around 1805 b Then in 1809 she was armed at Guadeloupe as the letter of marque Duc de Wagram 5 The British captured her in 1809 and Admiral Lord Alexander Cochrane had her surveyed in Antigua The results were so good that he purchased her for the Royal Navy British Service editBetween November 1810 and June 1811 Dominica underwent refitting at Deptford In May 1811 Lieutenant Robert Hocking commissioned her for the Irish Sea and the Channel Then on 23 November he sailed her to the West Indies 6 In August 1812 Dominica captured three merchant vessels The first was the Indiana 7 August which was sailing to San Juan Porto Rico with a cargo of flour and lard The second was the Endeavour 26 August which was sailing to Norfolk Virginia with molasses and rum The third was the Amphitrite also 26 August sailing to New London with rum coffee sugar and the like 7 On 11 November 1812 Hocking and Dominica captured the American privateer Providence of Providence Rhode Island at 19 degrees latitude and 63 degrees 15 minutes longitude after an anxious chase of ten hours She had a crew of 60 men and was pierced for 12 guns but had thrown all but four overboard during the chase She had been cruising for 30 days but had made no captures 8 Capture editLieutenant George William Barrette took command later in 1812 On 5 August 1813 Dominica was escorting the packet ship Princess Charlotte when she encountered the American privateer Decatur under the command of Captain Dominique Diron Main article Capture of HMS Dominica Decatur was more lightly armed though more heavily manned and prevailed in the fight The British lost 18 men killed 42 wounded and 70 captured including the wounded with Barrette being among the killed One of the wounded was an 11 year old ship s boy wounded in three places 9 The Americans had five men killed and 15 wounded The court martial on 3 January 1815 of the surviving officers and men of Dominica acquitted them for her loss The British agent at Charleston South Carolina wrote a letter suggesting that the cause of the loss was to be attributed entirely to the Want of Knowledge of and Experience in the Management of a Schooner on the part of Captain Barrette and the Vessel herself being extremely difficult to Work 1 The same agent also reported that Decatur s crew was of French origin chiefly if not all Blacks and Mulattoes and that on boarding they had behaved with utmost cruelty slaughtering the wounded on deck 1 A letter from the Judge of the District Court stated that the prisoners had been treated with the utmost humanity 1 The same letter described Dominica as little damaged by shot because she had been taken by boarding Dominica was recommissioned in Charleston as the French letter of marque Dominique 10 Recapture editOn 22 May 1814 Majestic recaptured Dominica 11 At the time of her recapture Dominica was sailing under a letter of marque had a crew of 36 men under the command of Beusen master and was armed with four 6 pounder guns She was carrying a cargo of rice tobacco wine and naval stores 12 The re captured Dominica went into Halifax 13 Majestic shared the prize money for the capture with Doterel or Dotterell and Morgiana 14 c Fate editLieutenant Robert Gibson recommissioned her on the Halifax station in October 1814 Lieutenant Richard Crawford replaced him in 1814 On 15 August 1815 Dominica was escorting a convoy to the West Indies when she was wrecked on the reefs off Bermuda 15 16 Notes edit A letter from the District Court of South Carolina the prize court describes her armament as consisting of fourteen 12 pounder carronades a 32 pounder carronade amidships a brass 4 pounder gun and a 32 pounder cannon 1 Another account keeps the two 6 pounder guns and twelve 12 pounder carronades but concurs with respect to the 32 pounder and the 4 pounder 2 Her plans have been reproduced in Cocker s Charleston Maritime Heritage p 163 and in Chapelle 3 4 A first class share of one distribution of the prize money for the Dominica was worth 9 4s 0d a sixth class share that of an ordinary seaman was worth 1s 4d 14 Citations edit a b c d e Dudley amp Crawford 1992 pp 213 7 Maclay 1900 pp 311 9 Chapelle 1967 pp 200 202 Demerliac 1999 p 323 2764 Chapelle 1967 p 195 Winfield 2008 p 364 Naval Chronicle Vol 30 p 241 No 16673 The London Gazette 24 November 1812 p 2367 Naval Chronicle Vol 34 p 295 Demerliac 1999 p 315 2686 No 16924 The London Gazette 9 August 1814 p 1610 Naval Chronicle Vol 32 p 256 Lloyd s List 12 August 1814 1 accessed 24 November 2013 a b No 17404 The London Gazette 3 October 1818 p 1778 Gosset 1986 p 96 Hepper 1994 p 154 References editChapelle Howard Irving 1967 The search for speed under sail 1700 1855 Norton ISBN 978 0 85177 280 6 Demerliac Alain 1999 La Marine de la Revolution Nomenclature des Navires Francais de 1792 A 1799 in French Editions Ancre ISBN 2 906381 24 1 Dudley William S Crawford Michael J eds 1992 Naval War of 1812 A Documentary History Vol 3 Government Printing Office ISBN 978 0 945274 06 3 Gosset William Patrick 1986 The lost ships of the Royal Navy 1793 1900 Mansell ISBN 0 7201 1816 6 Hepper David J 1994 British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail 1650 1859 Rotherfield Jean Boudriot ISBN 0 948864 30 3 Maclay Edgar Stanton 1900 A History of American Privateers New York Sampson Low Marston amp Co Winfield Rif 2008 British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793 1817 Design Construction Careers and Fates Seaforth ISBN 978 1 86176 246 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Dominica 1810 amp oldid 1189299040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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