The first Cyane , a frigate, was built in 1796 at Frinsbury, England, for the Royal Navy. She was captured with HMS Levant 20 February 1815 by Constitution after a 40-minute night engagement off Madeira. With Constitution 's second lieutenant Hoffman as prize master, she successfully escaped recapture by a pursuing British squadron 12 March and arrived in America 10 April. She was adjudicated by a prize court and purchased by the Navy.
The American Colonization Society was ready to send out its first voyage to carry black Americans to Africa. The financial problems had been overcome, and despite the opposition of many blacks, hundreds had volunteered to go as colonists back to the land of their origin. Under the leadership of Samuel Bacon, an Episcopal clergyman, the first expedition took place on the ship Elizabeth, a small merchantman. Among the items brought were wagons, wheelbarrows, plows, ironworks for a saw mill and grist mill, two cannons, 100 muskets, 12 kegs of powder, fishing equiptment, and a small barge. President James Monroe had the Secretary of the Navy order an American sloop of war, the U.S.S. Cyane, to convoy the Elizabeth to Africa. Of the 86 black emigrants sailing on the Elizabeth, only about one-third were men, the rest were wives and children. The destination was along the west coast of Africa, where Samuel Crozer, the Society's agent accompanying the voyage, was supposed to purchase land for the new colony. On January 31, 1820 the Elizabeth sailed out of New York harbor to great fanfare and the colonization dream of Finley was brought to reality.
In response to British pressure, American vessels off the coast of West Africa to patrol for slavers. In April, the U.S.S. Cyane, gives chase to vessels in waters off the mouth of the Gallinas River. Six of them turn out to be slavers, fully equipped and American-owned.
Slave ship captains quickly learn to conceal American ownership while the U.S. squadron patrol the region. In 1823, the U.S. withdraws the vessels and breaks off joint efforts with Great Britain.
First group of free blacks sails for what would become Liberia.
The Elizabeth's journey across the Atlantic was smooth and took only six weeks. In fact, the only problem along the way was when the captain's dog and the dog of one of the free blacks got into a fight and the two owners, each blaming the other, nearly resorted to a duel to settle the argument.
Cyane cruised off the west coast of Africa from 1819-20 and in the West Indies from 1820-21 protecting the Liberian colony and suppressing piracy and the slave trade. She cruised in the Mediterranean 1824-25, and on the Brazil Station 1826-27. Laid up at Philadelphia Navy Yard, she sank in 1835 and was raised and broken up the following year.
On the 20th of February last, the island of Madeira bearing about west south-west, distant 60 leagues, we fell in with his Britannic majesty's two ships of war, the CYANE and LEVANT; and brought them to action about 6 o'clock in the evening, both of which, after a spirited engagement of 40 minutes, surrendered to the ship under my command.
Considering the advantages derived by the enemy, from a divided and more active force, as also their superiority in the weight and number of guns, I deem the speedy and decisive result of this action the stronget assurance which can be given to the government, that all under my command did their duty, and gallantly supported the reputation of American seamen.
Enclosed you will receive the minutes of the action, and a list of the killed and wounded on board this ship; also enclosed you will receive for your information, a statement of the actual force of the enemy, and the number killed and wounded on board their ships, as near as could be ascertained.
American loss - 3 killed, 12 wounded
British loss - 35 killed, 42 wounded
Prisoners taken - 313
Minutes of the action between the United States' frigate CONSTITUTION, and his Britannic majesty's ships CYANE and LEVANT, on 20 February 1815
Commences with light breezes from the east, and cloudy weather. At one, discovered a sail tow points on the larboard bow-hauled up and made sail in chase. At 1/4 past one, made the sail to be a ship; at 3/4 past one, discovered another sail ahead; made them out at two PM to be both ships, standing close hauled, with their starboard tacks on board; at 4 PM the weather most ship made signals, and bore up to her consort, than about 10 miles to leeward; we bore up after her, and set lower top-mast, top-gallant, and royal studding sails in chase; at 1/2 past 4, carried away our main royal mast; took in the sails and got another prepared; at 5 PM commenced firing on the chase from our two larboard bow guns; our shot falling short, ceased firing; at 1/2 past five, finding it impossible to prevent their junction, cleared ship for action, then about four miles from the two ships; at 40 minutes after 5, they passed within hail of each other, and hauled by the wind on the starboard tack, hauled up their courses, and prepared to receive us; at forty-five minutes past five, they made all sail close hauled by the wind, in hopes of getting to the windward of us; at 55 minutes past 5, finding themselves disappointed in their object, and we were closing with them fast, they shortened sail, and formed on a line of wind, about half a cable's length from each other. At 6 PM having them under command of our battery, hoisted our colours, which was answered by both ships hoisting English ensigns. At 5 minutes past 6, ranged up on the starboard side of the sternmost ship, about 300 yards distant, and commenced the action by broadsides, both ships returning our fire with the greatest spirit for about 15 minutes, then the fire of the enemy beginning to slacken, and the great column of smoke collected under our lee, induced us to cease our fire to ascertain their positions and conditions.
In about three minutes the smoke clearing away, we found ourselves abreast of the headmost ship, the sternmost ship luffing up for our larboard quarter; we poured a broadside into the headmost ship, and then braced aback our main and mizen topsails, and backed astern under cover of the smoke, abreat the sternmost ship, when the action was continued with spirit and considerable effect, until 35 minutes past 6, when the enemy's fire again slackened, and we discovered the headmost bearing up; filled our topsails, shot ahead, and gave her two stern rakes.
We then discovered the sternmost ship wearing also; wore ship immediately after her, and gave her a stern rake, she luffing to on our starboard bow, and giving us her larboard broadside. We ranged upon her larboard quarter, within hail, and was about to give her our starboard broadside, when she struck her colours, fired a lee gun and yielded.
At 50 minutes past 6, took possession of his Britannic majesty's ship CYANE, captain Gordon Falcon, mounting 34 guns.
At 8 PM filled away after her consort, which was still in sight to leeward. At half past 8, found her standing towards us, with her starboard tacks close hauled, with topgallant sails set and colours flying. At 50 minutes past 8, ranged close alongside to windward of her, on opposite tacks, and exchanged broadsides; wore immediately under her stern and raked her with a broadside. She then crowded all sail and endeavoured to escape by running; hauled on board our tacks, set spanker and flying jib in chase. At half past 9, commenced firing on her from our starboard bow chaser; gave her several shot, which cut her spars and rigging considerably.
At 10 PM finding they could not escape, fired a gun, struck her colours, and yielded. We immediately took possession of his Britannic majesty's ship LEVANT, hon. Captain George Douglass, mounting 21 guns.
At 1 AM the damages of our rigging were repaired, sails shifted, and the ship in fighting condition.
CYANE,22,(1806 Topsham. Captured 1815)
Originally named Columbine She was rated a 22-gun ship and mounted that number of long 9-pounders on her main deck. However she was also armed with eight 18-pounders and two long 6-pounders on her quarter-deck and forecastle.
1807 Capt. Thomas STAINES, 3/07. He added two brass howitzers to her armament and exchanged her 9-pounders for 32-pound carronades. He also increased her complement by twenty to 175 officers, men and boys.
CYANE took part in the operations off Copenhagen in September 1807 and after the capitulation of the Danish navy she was employed in the blockade of Zealand. On 30 November she sailed from Helsinburgh in company with VANGUARD escorting a convoy of merchant ships home to England.
In February 1808 she sailed for the Mediterranean where her boats captured eight merchantmen before, on 22 May, Capt. STAINES captured the last Spanish vessel to be taken before Spain threw in her lot against the French. She was the letter of marque MEDUSA, of 12 guns and 80 men which he took while cruising off Majorca.
On 3 June 1808 Capt. STAINES was invited to Palma Bay to meet the patriotic Junta on the island of Majorca and, after talking with a deputation, he hastened to inform Rear Ad. THORNBROUGH who sent APOLLO to open negotiations.
Until the following spring CYANE was employed assisting patriots on the south coast of Spain. She then came under the orders of Rear Ad. MARTIN who was responsible for the defence of Sicily and on 8 May 18O9 she captured a bombard and drove another vessel ashore near Naples. On the 10th CYANE and ALCESTE attacked a French convoy at Terracina and sank two gunboats, and, on the 14th and 15th, they raided a depot near Monte Circello and brought off a large quantity of timber.
Two days later Capt. STAINES, leaving his detachment of seamen and marines some distance off, captured a Martello tower mounting two heavy guns by pretending to the garrison that powder had been laid to blow them up. When the French soldiers dithered he fired a musket through the keyhole and they all came tumbling out. Another tower was captured in the same way.
On 11 June the admiral sailed from Milazzo in N.W. Sicily in CANOPUS with SPARTIATE, WARRIOR, CYANE and ESPOIR and more than 13O sail of transports and gunboats. His intention was to enter the Gulf of St. Eufemia and divert the attention of the enemy from Lower Calabria where PHILOMEL and four transports were to land two regiments of infantry to destroy shore batteries. It remained calm for several days until, on the 15th, they were joined by nearly 1OO sail of transports, ALCESTE and two Sicilian frigates from Palermo.
While WARRIOR and SUCCESS covered the capture of the islands of Ischia and Procida on the 25th, CYANE and ESPOIR with twelve Sicilian gunboats were detached to the southward to cruise between Procida and Point Miseno to hinder reinforcments reaching the islands. On the 24th Capt. STAINES drove 12 gunboats into the Bay of Pozzuoli and cut out two polacres from under different batteries, one containing troops to reinforce Procida.
The following morning a 42-gun frigate, a 28-gun corvette and the division of gunboats attempted to come out of the bay and force their way to Naples but were driven back by CYANE and her squadron.
On the 26th CYANE sustained the fire of two heavy batteries for two hours and received 23 large shot in her hull. She lost two men killed, Daniel YOUNG, captain of the main-top and John EVANS, boy 2nd class, one, David JONES, master's mate, mortally wounded and six slightly wounded. Later fifteen French soldiers at a battery on Point Mesino surrendered
to CYANE's boats and their guns were destroyed.
On the morning of the 27th CYANE was becalmed under a battery of eight 42-pounders, two ten inch mortars and two howitzers. After two hours Capt. STAINES led a landing party which spiked the guns, threw one of the mortars into the sea, and returned without loss. On the evening of the same day CYANE left her boats and swept up to attack the enemy frigate which was supported by batteries and gunboats as she made her way into Naples, and for an hour and a half she was alone within half pistol-shot - ESPOIR and the gunboats were too far astern to help her. Capt, STAINES had to break off the action when CYANE's powder was exhausted and both vessels were getting too close to the mole at Naples.
Capt. STAINES and Lieuts. James HALL and John FERRIOR were wounded in the action, the first two
dangerously so, and the ship was fought in the later stages by the master, Mr Joseph MILLER.
The captain lost his left arm out of the socket (for which he later received a pension of 3OO per annum) and was wounded in the side, Mr HALL was wounded in the thigh and arm and, although expected to recover, he died at his home in Scarington, Notts, the following summer.
Samuel JONES, seaman, and William BERRY, marine, were killed and, apart from those above, John TAYLOR, midshipman, and 16 men were wounded. All CYANE's masts and yards were damaged by large shot and 19 balls went through the hull; 26 others were found lodged in the sides. Lord COLLINGWOOD, acknowledging the gallantry of CYANE's people in their three days of battle, ordered her home for a refit.
Capt. STAINES returned on 16 October and was knighted on 6 December. He was appointed to HAMADRYAD in April 181O
1811 Capt. F.A. COLLIER, off Cherbourg. Later in the year she was in the Mediterranean. 1812 Capt. Thomas FORREST, West Indies. 1814 ditto Madeira. Later in the year Capt. Gordon FALCON, to Halifax. 1815 ditto, Cork for Newfoundland.
On 20 February 1815 CYANE and LEVANT were about 100 miles east of Madeira. At about one o'clock in the afternoon CYANE tacked towards a strange vessel and challenged her, when she received no reply she assumed the other to be an American frigate, so made haste towards LEVANT. The frigate was the USS CONSTITUTION which had left Boston on 11 December 1814.
Just after 6 o'clock CYANE got on the CONSTITUTION's port bow and LEVANT on the port quarter and all three ships fired broadsides. The action continued for about half an hour during which time CYANE's masts and rigging were so badly damaged that she became unmanageable. When CONSTITUTION ranged alongside her CYANE, with four killed, 13 wounded and five feet of water in the hold, lowered her colours and fired a gun to leeward. The Americans put a Lieut. Hoffman and a
prize crew on board and left her to go in pursuit of LEVANT which managed to fire a broadside into CONSTITUTION but was soon overhauled and captured.
The Americans took their prisoners to St. Jago (Santiago) in the Cape Verde Is. and landed them there, but left in a hurry when British ships were reported, she and LEVANT taking one course and CYANE another. Capt. Sir George COLLIER in LEANDER caught sight of them off Porto Praya on the 11th and succeeded in recapturing LEVANT. CYANE arrived in the North River on 10 April and anchored near the USS CONSTELLATION.
A court martial assembled on board AKBAR at Halifax on 28 June 1815 to consider the conduct of the officers and crew of CYANE. It found that no blame could be ascribed to Capt. FALCON or his crew since they had come up against the superior force of seventeen long 24-pounders which were no match for CYANE's carronades [the carronades, being short range weapons, were ineffective in this battle], and they were hohourably acquitted. The court also praised the crew who, with the exception of John FREDERICK, John VARLEY and Thomas FITZGERALD, resisted the severe pressures of the Americans to wean them from their allegience.
Howard Chapelle, The History of the American Sailing Navy: the Ships and their Development (New York: Norton, 1949)