A naval engagement between USS Essex and HMS Alert took place on 13 August 1812, in which the light frigate, USS Essex, 32 (commanded by Capt. David Porter, USN) encountered and captured the British sloopAlert, 20 (Captain T.L.P. Laugharne). With "so trifling a skirmish" Porter later said, Alert became the first American capture of the war.
The duel itself lasted a mere eight minutes, during which Essex fired only one broadside. Porter kept his gunports closed making Laugharne believe that Essex was a merchantman. This gave confidence to Laugharne in maneuvering his ship within pistol shot range of Essex, which in turn ran out her carronades and devastated Alert.
In keeping with the chivalrous practice of the times, Porter then allowed Laugharne to sail his ship to Newfoundland so he could disembark his crew, after which he was honor-bound to surrender the Alert to American authorities in New York.[2]
Alert remained in United States service until 1829.
A shipment of 3rd pattern Brown Bess sea service muskets was found aboard Alert, which went towards arming the American Marines at the Washington and Boston Navy Yards. They were preferred for their larger caliber, longer bayonets, and shorter barrels.
Referencesedit
^"National Museum of the United States Navy". from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
^Gruppe, Henry E. (1979). The Frigates. The Seafarers. Time-Life Books. pp. 111, 112. ISBN9780809427178.
April 11, 2024
essex, alert, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 20. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources USS Essex vs HMS Alert news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message USS Essex vs HMS AlertPart of the War of 1812USS Essex captures the crippled HMS AlertDate13 August 1812LocationAtlanticResultAmerican victoryBelligerentsUnited States United KingdomCommanders and leadersDavid PorterT L P LaugharneStrength1 Frigate 36 guns 1 1 Sloop 20 guns Casualties and losses1 Sloop and cargo captured A naval engagement between USS Essex and HMS Alert took place on 13 August 1812 in which the light frigate USS Essex 32 commanded by Capt David Porter USN encountered and captured the British sloop Alert 20 Captain T L P Laugharne With so trifling a skirmish Porter later said Alert became the first American capture of the war The duel itself lasted a mere eight minutes during which Essex fired only one broadside Porter kept his gunports closed making Laugharne believe that Essex was a merchantman This gave confidence to Laugharne in maneuvering his ship within pistol shot range of Essex which in turn ran out her carronades and devastated Alert In keeping with the chivalrous practice of the times Porter then allowed Laugharne to sail his ship to Newfoundland so he could disembark his crew after which he was honor bound to surrender the Alert to American authorities in New York 2 Alert remained in United States service until 1829 A shipment of 3rd pattern Brown Bess sea service muskets was found aboard Alert which went towards arming the American Marines at the Washington and Boston Navy Yards They were preferred for their larger caliber longer bayonets and shorter barrels References edit National Museum of the United States Navy Archived from the original on 8 February 2010 Retrieved 27 February 2010 Gruppe Henry E 1979 The Frigates The Seafarers Time Life Books pp 111 112 ISBN 9780809427178 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USS Essex vs HMS Alert amp oldid 1078816240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
