The first Essex was launched 30 September 1799 by Enos Briggs, Salem, Mass., at cost of $139,362 subscribed by the people of Salem and Essex County, Mass. On 17 December 1799 she was presented to the United States and accepted by Captain Edward Preble.
With the United States involved in naval action against France on 6 January 1800 Essex, Captain Edward Preble, departed New York in company with Congress to rendezvous with and convoy merchant ships returning from Batavia, Dutch East Indies. Congress was dismasted only a few days out, and Essex was obliged to continue her voyage alone, making her mark as the first U.S. man-of-war to double the Cape of Good Hope, both in March and in August 1800 prior to successfully completing her convoy mission in November.
Captain William Bainbridge commanded Essex on her second cruise whereon she sailed to the Mediterranean with the squadron of Commodore Richard Dale. Dispatched to protect American trade and seamen against depredations by the Barbary Powers, the squadron arrived at Gibraltar on 1 July 1801 and spent the ensuing year convoying American merchantmen and blockading Tripolitan ships. Following repairs at the Washington Navy Yard in 1802, Essex resumed her duties in the Mediterranean under Captain James Barron in August 1804. She participated in the successful attack on the town of Derne on 27 April 1805 and remained in these waters until the conclusion of peace terms in 1806.
Returning to the Washington Navy Yard in July, she was placed in ordinary until February 1809 when she was recommissioned for sporadic use in patrolling American waters and a single cruise to Europe. When war was declared against Britain on 18 June 1812, Essex, commanded by Captain David Porter, made a successful cruise to the southward. On 11 July near Bermuda she fell in with seven British transports and by moonlight cut out and seized one of them. On 13 August she encountered and captured the sloop HMS Alert after an engagement. By September when she returned to New York, Essex had taken 10 prizes.
Essex sailed in South Atlantic waters and along the coast of Brazil until January 1813 when Captain Porter undertook the decimation of English whale fisheries in the Pacific. Although her crew suffered greatly from a shortage of provisions and heavy gales while rounding Cape Horn, she anchored safely at Valparaiso, Chile, on 14 March, having seized schooners, Elizabeth and Nereyda in course. The next 5 months brought Essex 13 prizes, including Essex [a British whailing schooner] Junior, (ex Atlantic) who cruised in company with her captor to the Island of Nukahiva for repairs.
In January 1814 Essex sailed into neutral waters at Valparaiso, Chile, only to be trapped there for 6 weeks by the British frigates, Phoebe and Cherub. Porter determined to gain the open sea, but a heavy squall crippled Essex forcing her return to the harbor. The enemy, disregarding the neutrality of the harbor, proceeded to attack the disabled ship. The engagement which followed was one of the most remarkable in naval history. For 2½ hours, Essex resisted with intrepidity the enemy's superior fighting power; however, the loss of 155 men forced the gallant frigate to surrender.
Essex was repaired by the British, sent to England, and in 1833 served as a prison ship at Kingston, Jamaica. On 6 June 1837 she was sold at public auction.
Built in Salem in 1799, copper clad, keel 118 feet, breadth 37 feet.
One of Salem's most famous ships was the U.S. Frigate Essex, the only warship Salem's shipyards ever produced. The 850-ton frigate was the largest ever built in Salem and was constructed entirely from Essex county materials by master shipbuilder, Enos
Briggs The 32-gun Essex was built from a $75,000 [note the disparity in building costs from the previous account] subscription raised by Salem merchants and citizens as a donation to the fledgling American navy.
The copper fittings were provided by Paul Revere of Boston, while the figurehead and fancy wookword were provided by Salem's Samuel McIntire.
Although launched in 1799, the Essex saw no combat until the war of 1812. In 1814, at the neutral harbor of Valparaiso, Chile, in a final battle, two Britsh warships continued to fire upon the Essex even after she had struck her colors. The captured Essex was reduced to a shattered hulk and almost one quarter of the crew killed.
USS Essex, a thirty-two gun frigate built in 1799 by the merchants of Salem, was known around the world for her speed and graceful lines, achieving a brilliant series of dramatic firsts for the young American Navy.
She became the first U.S. war ship to round the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean.
Thirteen years later, the Essex became the first American man-of-war to round the Horn into the Pacific, where her crew fought-and lost-one of the bloodiest sea battles in U.S. History. A list of her commanders- Edward Preble, William Bainbridge, James Barron, and David Porter-reads like a who's who of the early American Navy. David Farragut served as a midshipman before achieving fame as the first rear admiral of the US Navy.
The Essex's most important role, however was in promoting and protecting the interests of the United States throughout the world. By the late 1790s, the young country was emerging from its colonial dependence on Europe into a global commercial presence and a budding world power in its own right. Its future growth depended on international trade, and that trade depended, in turn, on unimpeded access to the sea.
The history of the Essex is both a stirring nautical adventure and an engaging look at an important turning point in the history of the young American nation.
We formerly mentioned the sailing, on the 27th October, 1812, of the United States 32-gun frigate Essex, Captain David Porter, from Delaware bay, on a cruise in the Pacific, conjointly with the Constitution and Hornet. Not finding either of these at the
appointed rendezvous, Captain Porter resolved to proceed alone round Cape Horn, and on the 14th of March, 1813, having previously captured the British packet Nocton and taken out of her eleven thousand pounds sterling in specie,
arrived at Valparaiso, on the coast of Chile.
Captain Porter here refitted and provisioned his frigate, and then cruised along the coast of Chile and Peru, and among the Galapagos islands, until October; by which time he had captured twelve British whale-ships [primarily schooners].
Two of these ships Captain Porter, having taken several American seamen out of a Peruvian corsair and decoyed several British seamen out of the prizes, armed and manned as cruisers. One of them, late the Atlantic, but newly-named the Essex-Junior, was
mounted with twenty guns, ( ten long 6-pounder and ten 18-pound carronades,) and manned with a crew, officers included, of ninety-five men; and lieutenant John Downes, who had command of her, taking under his charge the Hector,
Catherine, and Montezuma, proceeded with them to Valparaiso.
On the return of the Essex-Junior from this service, the Essex, with the remaining three prizes, (three having been sent to
America, and two given up to the prisoners, ) steered for the island of Nooaheevah, one of the Marquesas. Here Captain Porter completely repaired the Essex; and, sailing thence on the 12th of December, in company with the Essex-Junior, returned, on or about the 12th of January, 1814, to Valparaiso.
On the 8th of February, at seven in the morning, the British 36-gun frigate Phoebe, Captain James Hillyar, accompanied by the 18-gun
ship-sloop Cherub, Captain Thomas Tucker, when standing in towards the harbour of Valparaiso, in the quest of the Essex and the three ships which Captain Porter was represented to have armed, discovered the Essex-Junior off the port, and, shortly afterwards, the Essex herself and two of her three prizes, (the Montezuma and Hector,) at anchor within it.
At a quarter past eleven the Phoebe spoke the Essex, and at half past anchored, in company with the Cherub,
at no great distance from her.
On the 9th, at eight o'clock in the morning, Captain Porter began his attempts upon the loyalty of the Phoebe's
seamen, by hoisting at his fore-topgallant-mast-head a white flag, with the motto: "Free Trade and Sailor's Rights". This, in a little while, the Phoebe answered with the St. George's ensign and the motto: "God and
Country, British Sailor' Best Rights: Traitors Offend Both." On this the crew of the Essex manned her rigging and gave three cheers, which the Phoebe's crew presently returned.
On the 12th. Captain Porter's motto mania returned, and the Essex hoisted a flag inscribed with the words,
"God, Our Country, and Liberty: Tyrants Offend Them". On the 15th, at seven in the morning, the Essex-Junior was towed out of the harbour. At eight the Phoebe and Cherub weighed and stood after her; and at noon the Essex-Junior, finding she could not escape, returned to the anchorage, passing ahead of the Phoebe within pistol-shot.
On the 23rd, when the two British ships were cruising in the bay, the Essex weighed and stood
out, but in about an hour resumed her station in the harbour. On the 27th, at about three quarters past six in the evening, when the Phoebe was about four miles west-north-west of the anchorage, and the Cherub about six
mile north-by-west of her, the Essex and Essex-Junior got under way with a light breeze from the westward, and stood out towards the British frigate. The latter, on seeing them approach, backed the main topsail and hoisted her colours: by a mere accident, now, a gun went off from the Phoebe's windward side, which was at once interpreted by Captain Porter into a challenge. At twenty minutes past seven, as the Phoebe was in the act of wearing to bring her starboard guns to bear, the Essex and
Essex-Junior hauled to the wind on the starboard tack, and the former fired one gun to-windward. Soon after this little flourish, Captain Porter and his lieutenant stood for the anchorage, followed by Captain Hillyar under all sail.
Beyond a second attempt of the Essex-Junior to escape, made and frustrated on the 3rd March, nothing further of consequence happened until the 28th of the month, when the Essex put in practice a wee-concerted plan of freeing herself from the further annoyance of her watchful enemy. It was the intention of Captain Porter, as he himself states, to allow the Phoebe
and the Cherub to chase the Essex-Junior out of the bay, in order to afford to the Essex-Junior the opportunity of getting to sea; and the two American ships, having escaped, were to effect their junction at the Marquesas. The wind being, as it usually is, to the southward, any scheme that would draw the two British ships to the north-east or the lee side of the bay,
could not fail to favour the escape of the two American ships. Accordingly, from about midnight to past one o'clock in the morning on the 28th, a quantity of blue-lights and rockets were burnt and thrown up in the north-east and in the
north.
The Phoebe and Cherub, as may be supposed, chased in those directions; but, finding no answer returned to the lights they hoisted, Captain Hillyar suspected who were makers of the signals, and again hauled to the wind. daylight found the two American ships at their moorings, and the two British ships rather too close to them, to justify the former in attempting in their escape. A fresh south-south-east wind now blew, and so increased towards three o'clock in the afternoon, that at that hour the Essex parted her larboard cable and dragged her starboard anchor out to sea.
Sail was presently set upon the ship; and Captain Porter, seeing a prospect of passing to windward of his two opponents, began to chuckle at his good fortune in having been blown out of the harbour. Just, however, as the Essex was rounding the point at the west end of the bay that would have set her free, a heavy squall struck the ship and carried away her main top mast. The Essex now
bore-up, followed by both British frigates, and at about forty minuets past three anchored within half a mile of the shore in a small bay about a mile to eastward of Point Caleta; having one of her motto-flags at the fore, and the other at the mizen top-gallant-mast-head, with two American ensigns, one at the mizen-peak, and the other lashed in the main rigging.
Not to be outdone in decorations, the two British ships hoisted their motto-flags, along with a handsome display of ensigns and union jacks. At four o'clock, when the Phoebe was standing towards the starboard quarter of the Essex, at
about a mile distant, a squall from the land caused the ship to break off, and prevented her from passing, as had been Captain Hillyar's intention, under the American frigate's stern.
At ten minutes past four, having fetched as near as the wind would permit, the Phoebe commenced firing her starboard
guns, but with very little effect owing to the great distance. In five minutes more the Cherub, who lay on the Phoebe's starboard quarter, opened her fire; the Essex returning the fire of both ships with three long 12-pounders run out of her stern ports. At half past four the two British ships, being very near the shore, ceased firing, and wore round on the larboard tack.
While the Phoebe was wearing, a shot from the Essex passed through
several folds of her mainsail as it hung in the brails, and prevented it from being reset in the strong wind which was then blowing. Her jib-boom was also badly wounded, and her fore, main, and mizen stays shot away. Having, besides increasing her distance by wearing, lost the use of her jib, mainsail, and main stay, the Phoebe was now at too great a distance to fire more than one or two random shots.
At forty minutes past four the Phoebe tacked towards the Essex; and Captain Hillyar soon afterwards informed Captain
Tucker, by hailing, that it was his intention to anchor, but that the Cherub must keep under way.
On closing the Essex, at thirty-five minutes past five, the Phoebe recommenced a fire from her bow
guns; which was returned by the former, the weather at this time nearly calm. In about twenty minutes the Essex hoisted her flying jib, cut her cable, and, under her foresail and fore-topsail, endeavoured to run on shore. This
exposed her to a tolerably warm cannonade from the Phoebe; but the Cherub, owing to the baffling winds, was not able to get near. Just as the Essex had approached the shore within musket-shot, the wind shifted from the land, and paid her head down upon the Phoebe. This not being very comfortable to Captain Porter, the Essex let go an anchor. and
came-to within about three quarters of a mile of the shore. The object now was to get the specie and other valuables in the ship removed on shore; and, as the boats of the Essex had been nearly all destroyed, it was considered fortunate that lieutenant Downes was present with three boats from the Essex-Junior.
A portion of the British subjects belonging to the crew took this opportunity of effecting their escape; and others, alarmed by Captain
Porter's report that "flames were bursting up each hatchway," flames, of which not a trace afterwards could be discovered, leaped overboard to endeavour to reach shore.
In the midst of all the confusion, at about twenty minutes after six, the Essex hauled down her numerous flags, and was taken
possession of just in time to save the lives of the sixteen of her men, who were struggling in the waves: thirty-one appear to have perished, and between thirty and forty reached the shore.
The damages of the Phoebe were trifling. she had received seven 32-pound shots between wind and water, one 12-pound shot about three feet under water. Her main and mizen masts, and her sails and rigging, were rather seriously injured.
Out of her crew of 278 men, and twenty-two boys, total 300, the Phoebe had her first lieutenant and three seamen killed, four seamen and marines severely, and three slightly wounded. The Cherub's larboard fore-topsail sheet was shot away, and replaced in five minutes: several of her lower shrouds were cut through, also the main topmast-stay, and most of the running rigging; and three or four shots struck her hull. One marine killed, her commander severely, and two marines slightly wounded, was all the loss which that ship sustained; making the total loss on the British side, five killed and ten wounded.
The damages of the Essex were confined to her upper works, masts and rigging. Out of a crew of 260 men. (at the least,) and five
lads or boys, the Essex, as far as is borne out by proof, (the only safe way where an American is concerned,) had twenty-four men killed, including one lieutenant, and forty-five wounded, including two acting-lieutenants and the master. But Captain Porter, thinking by exaggerating his loss, both to prop up his fame and account for the absentees of his crew at the surrender, talks of fifty-eight killed and mortally wounded, thirty-nine wounded severely, and twenty-seven slightly.
How then did it happen, that twenty-three dead (lieutenant Wilmer had been previously knocked overboard and drowned) were all
that were found on board the Essex, or that were reported as killed to the British? As only forty-two wounded were found on the Essex, and only three were acknowledged to have been taken away by lieutenant Downes, what became of the remaining twenty-one? The loss, too, as we have given it, is quite as much as from the damages of the Essex one might imply she had sustained. But it is Captain Porter who has made these extraordinary statements; therefore no more need be said about them. For having done what was done, no
merit is claimed by the two British captains. They had heard so much of the American prowess, that they expected little short of being blown out of the water; and yet, after the Essex had struck, the Phoebe, with out assistance of the Cherub, was ready to tackle with another American frigate of the same force. On 31st ofMay the Phoebe and Essex set
sail for England, and on the 13th of November, having stopped some time at Rio-Janeiro, anchored in Plymouth sound.
Let us now endeavour to trace what became of the twelve whale-ships captured by the Essex. On the 25th of July, 1813, Captain Porter
despatched home the Georgiana, armed with 16 guns, manned with a lieutenant and about forty men, laden with a "full cargo of spermaceti oil, which would be worth, in the United States, about 100,000 dollars." She was captured in the West Indies, by the Barossa (42). The Policy, laden also with a full cargo of oil, was retaken by the Loire, and the
New-Zealander, having on board "all the oil of the other prizes", by the Belvidera. The Rose and Charlton were given up to the prisoners. The Montezuma, it is believed, was sold at Valpariaso. The Hector and Catherine, with their cargoes, burnt at sea. The Atlantic, afterwards called the Essex-Junior, was disarmed by the orders of Captain Hillyar, and sent to America as a cartel. The Sir Andrew Hammond was retaken by the Cherub; the Greenwich burnt at sea by the
orders of the American officer in charge of her; and the Seringapatam taken possession of by her American crew. The mutineers carried her to New South Wales; whence she was brought to England, and delivered to her owners, on payment of salvage
Thus have we the end of all the "prizes taken by the Essex, in the Pacific, valued at 250,000 dollars", and, as another item
on the debit side of the account, the Essex herself now rates as a 42-gun frigate in the British navy- .
From the official reports of Capt. David Porter USN and Capt. James Hillyar RN.
The progagonists:
Essex,32. Built at Salem in 1799. 860 bm. Forty 32
pdr carronades, six long 12 pdrs.
Essex Junior ex Atlantic prize. Ten
18 pdr carronades, ten short six pdrs.
Phoebe,36. Built at Deptford in
1795. 926 bm. Thirty-two long 18 pdrs., sixteen 32 pdr carronades, one howitzer
and six 3 pdrs in the tops.
Cherub,18. Built at Dover in 1806. 424
bm. eighteen 32 pdr carronades, eight 24 pdrs and two long 9 pdrs.
Armament
details from Capt. Porter. He petitioned several times to have twenty-six of
Essex`s original long 12 pdrs. returned to her.
Letter from Capt. Porter to the Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
Essex Junior, July 3d, 1814 - at sea.
SIR,
I sailed from
the Delaware on 27 October 1812 and repaired with all diligence (agreeable to
the instructions of Commodore Bainbridge) to Porto Praya, Fernando de Noronho
and Cape Frio, and arrived at each place on the day appointed to meet him. On my
passage from Porto Praya to Fernando I captured his Britannic majesty`s packet
Nocton; and after taking out about £11,000 sterling in specie, sent her under
command of lieutenant Finch, for America. I cruized off Rio de Janiero and about
Cape frio, until the 12 January 1813, hearing frequently of the commodore, by
vessels from Bahia. I here captured one schooner, with hides and tallow. I sent
her into Rio. The Montague, the admiral`s ship, being in pursuit of me, my
provisions getting short, and finding it necessary to look out for a supply, to
enable me to meet the commodore by the 1st April off St. Helena, I proceeded to
the Island of St. Catharine`s (the last place of rendezvous on the coast of
Brazil) as the most likely to supply my wants, and at the same time, afford me
that intelligence necessary to enable me to ellude the British ships of war on
the coast, and expected there.
I here procured only wood, water and rum, and a
few bags of flour; and hearing of the commodore`s action with the Java, the
capture of the Hornet by the Montague,and of considerable augmentation of the
British force on the coast, several being in pursuit of me, I found it necessary
to get to sea as soon as possible. I now, agreeable to the commodore`s plan,
stretched to the southward, scouring the coast as far as Rio de la Plata. I
heard that Buenos Ayres was in a state of starvation, and could not supply our
wants, and that the government of Montevideo was inimical to us.The commodore`s
instructions now left it completely discetionary with me what course to pursue,
and I determined on following that which had not only met his approbation, but
the approbation of the then Secretary of the Navy.
I accordingly shaped my course for the Pacific; and after suffering greatly from short allowance of provisions, and heavy gales off the Horn, (for which my ship and men were ill provided). I arrived off Valparaiso on 14 March 1813. I here took in as much jerked beef and other provisions as my ship would conveniently stow, and ran down the coast of Chili and Peru. In this track I fell in with a Peruvian corsair, which had on board 24 Americans, as prisoners, the crews of two whale ships, which she had taken on the coast of Chile. The captain informed me that, as allies of Great Britain, they would capture all they should meet with, in expectation of a war between Spain and the United States. I consequently threw all his guns and ammunition into the sea, liberated the Americans, wrote a respectful letter to the viceroy, explaining the cause of my proceedings, which I delivered to her captain. I then proceeded for Lima, and recaptured one of the vessels as she was entering the port. From thence I shaped my course for the Gallapagos Islands, where I cruized from the 17th April until 3rd October 1813; during this time I touched only once on the coast of America, which was for the purpose of procuring a supply of fresh water, as none is to be found among these islands, which are, perhaps, the most barren and desolate of any known. While among this group I captured the following British ships, employed chiefly in the spermaceti whale fishery, viz.
Letters of Marque
Tons Men Guns Pierced for
Montezuma 270 21 2
Policy 273 25 10 18
Georgiana 280 25 6 18
Greenwich 338 25 10 20
Atlantie 355 24 8 20
Rose 220 21 8 20
Hector 270 25 11 20
Catharine 270 29 8 18
Seringapatam 350 31 14 26
Charlton 274 21 10 18
New Zealander 259 23 8 18
Sir A. Hammond 301 31 12 18
--- --- ---
3369 302 107
As some of these ships were captured by boats and others by prizes, my officers and men had several oportunities of showing their gallantry.
The Rose and the Charlton, were given up to the prisoners; the Hector, Catharine and the Montezuma I sent to Valparaiso, where they were laid up; the Policy, Georgiana and New Zealand I sent for America; the Greenwich I kept as a storeship to contain the stores of my other prizes, necessary for us and the Atlantic, now called the Essex Junior, I equipped with 20 guns and gave the command of her to lieutenant Downes.
Lieutenant Downes had conveyed the prizes to Valparaiso, and on his return brought me letters informing me that a sqadron under Commodore James Hillyard, consisting of the frigate Phoebe, of 36 guns had sailed on 6 July for this sea. The Racoon and Cherub had been seeking me for some time on the coast of Brazil, and, on the return from their cruize joined the squadron sent in search of me in the Pacific. My ship, as it may be supposed, after being near a year at sea, required some repairs to put her in a state to meet them; which I determined to do, and bring them to action, if I could meet them on near equal terms. I proceeded now, in compant with the remainder of my prizes to the island of Nooaheevah or Madison`s Island, lying on the Washington group, discovered by a Captain Ingraham of Boston. Here I caulked and completely overhauled my ship, made for her a new set of water casks, her old ones being nearly decayed, and took on board from my prizes, provisions and stores for upwards of four months, and sailed for the coast of Chile on 12 December 1813. Previous to sailing I secured the Seringapatam, Greewich and Sir A. Hammond under the guns of a battery which I erected for their protection; after taking possession of this fine island for the United States, and establishing the most friendly intercourse with the natives, I left them under charge of Lietenant Gamble, of the marines, with 21 men, with ordwrs to repair to Valparaiso, after a certain period.
I arrived on the coast of Chile, on the 12th January 1814; looked into Conception and Valparaiso, found at both places only three English vessels, and learnt that the squadron which sailed from Rio de Janiero had not been heard of since their departure, and was supposed to be lost in eneavouring to double Cape Horn.
I had completely broken up the British navigation in the Pacific; the vessels which had not been captured by me, were laid up and dare not venture out. I had afforded the most ample protection to our own vesels, which were, on my arrival, very numerous and unprotected. The valuable whale industry there is entirely destroyed, and the actual injury we have done them may be estimated at two and a half millions of dollars, independant of the vessels in search of me. They have supplied me amply with sails, cordage, cables, anchors, provisions, medicines, and stores of every description; and the slops on board them have furnished clothing for the seamen. We had, in fact, lived on the enemy since I had been in that sea, every prize having proved a well found store ship for me. I had not yet been under the necessity of drawing bills on the department for any object, and had been able to make considerable advances to my officers and men on account of pay. For the unexampled time we had kept the sea, my crew had continued remarkably healthy.I had but one case of the scurvy, and had lost only the following men by death, viz.: Johnm S. Cowan, lieutenant; Robert Miller, surgeon; Levi Holmes, O.S; Edward Sweeny, do; Samuel Groce, seaman; James Spafford, gunner`s mate; Bejamin Geers, John Rodgers, quarter gunners; Andrew Mahan, corporal of marines; Lewis Price, private Marine. .............
Captain James Hillyar sailed from England in March 1813 with orders to destroy the American fur establishment on the banks of the Columbia River, but at the island of Juan Fernandez he received intelligence that the Essex had for some time being preying on British commerce in the South Seas and that several of her prizes had been armed to assist her. Raccoon and Cherub, both sloops of war, joined him at Rio de Janeiro and accompanied him around Cape Horn. At the Gallapagos Islands Hillyar sent Raccoon to carry out his original task at the Columbia River and, with the Cherub in company, set out to search the coast of Chile.
I had now done all the injury that could be done the British commerce in the Pacific, and still hoped to signalize my cruize by something more splendid, before leaving that sea. I thought it not improbable that commodore Hillyar might have kept his arrival secret, and believing he would seek me at Valparaiso, as the most likely place to meet me. I determined to cruize about that place, hoping to be compensated by the capture of some merchant ships, said to be expected from England.
The Phoebe, agreeable to my exectations, came to seek me at Valparaiso, where
I was anchored with the Essex; my armed prize, the Essex Junior, on the look out
off the harbour. But, contrary to the course I thought he would pursue, Hillyar
brought with him the Cherub sloop of war.
On getting their provisions on
board they went off the port for the purpose of blockading me, where they
cruized for near six weeks; during which I endeavoured to provoke a challenge
and frequently, but ineffectually to bring Phoebe alone to action. Commodore
Hillyar seemed determined to avoid a contest with me on nearly equal terms, and
from his extreme prudence in keeping both his ships ever after constantly within
hail of each other, there were no hopes of any advantages to my country from a
longer stay in port. I therefore decided to put to sea the first opportunity
which should offer; and I was the more strongly inmduced to do so, as I had
gained certain intelligence, that the Tagus,58, and two other frigates had
sailed for that sea in pursuit of me. I had reason to expect the arrival of the
Racoon, from the north-west coast of America. A rendezvous was appointed for the
Essex Junior and every arrangement made for sailing, and I intended to let them
chase me off, to give the Essex Junior a chance of escaping, On the 28 March,
the day after this determination was formed, the wind came to blow fresh from
the southward, when I parted my larboard cable and dragged my starboard anchor
directly out to sea. Not a moment was to be lost in getting sail on the ship.
The enemy were close in with the point forming the west side of the bay; but on
opening them, I saw the prospect of passing to windward, when I took in my
top-gallant-sails, which were set over single-reefed-topsails, and braced up for
this purpose; but on rounding the point, a heavy squall struck the ship, and
carried away her main top-mast, precipitating the men who were aloft into the
sea, who were drowned.
Both ships now gave chase to me, and I endeavoured, in my disabled state, to regain the port; but finding that I could not recover the common anchorage, I ran close into a small bay, about three quarters of a mile to leeward of the battery, on the east side of the harbour, and let go my anchor within pistol-shot of the shore, where I intended to repair my damages as soon as possible. The enemy continued to approach, shewed an evident intention of attacking us, regardless of the neutrality of the place where I was anchored; and the caution observed in their approach to the attack of the crippled Essex, was truly ridiculous, as was their display of their motto flags and the number of jacks at all their mast heads. I, with as much expedition as circumstances would admit of, got my ship ready for action, and endeavoured to get a spring on my cable, but had not succeeded when the enemy, at 54 minutes past 3 P.M. made his attack, Phoebe placing herself under my stern , and the Cherub on my starboard bow; but the Cherub soon finding her situation a hot one, bore up and ran down under the stern also, where both ships kept up a hot raking fire. .........
Letter from Capt. Hillyar of HMS Phoebe to John Wilson Crocker. Valpariaso Bay, March 30 1814
Sir, I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty, that a little past three o`clock on the afternoon of the 28th instant, after nearly five months anxious search, and six weeks still more anxious look-out for the Essex and her companions, to quit the port of Valparaiso, we saw the former under weigh, and immediately. accompanied by the Cherub, made sail to close with her; on rounding the outer point of the bay, and hauling her wind for the purpose of endeavouring to weather us, and escape, she lost her main-top-mast, and afterwards, not succeeding in an effort to reach the limits of the port, bore up and anchored so near the shore (a few miles to the leeward of it), as to preclude the possibility of passing a-head of her with out risk to his Majesty`s ships. As we drew near, my intention of going close under her stern was frustrated by the ship breaking off, and from the wind blowing extremely fresh, our first fire, commencing a little after four, and continuing about ten minutes, produced no visible effect. Our second, a few random shot only, from having increased our distance by wearing, was not apparently more successful, and having lost the use of our main-sail, jib, and mainstay, appearences were a little inauspicious; on standing again towards her, I signified my intention of anchoring, for which we were not ready before, with springs, to Capt. Tucker, directing him to keep under weigh, and take a convenient station for annoying our opponent. On closing the Essex at thirty-five minutes past five, the firing recommenced, and before I gained my intended position, her cable was cut and a serious conflict ensued; the guns of his Majesty`s ship gradually becoming more destructive, and her crew, if possible, becoming more animated, which lasted until twenty minutes past six; when it pleased the Almighty Disposer of Events to bless the efforts of my gallant companions, and my personal, very humble one, with victory.
I had got 5 long twelve pounders out of the stern ports, which were worked with so much bravery and skill, that in half an hour we so disabled both that in half an hour we so disabled both as to compel them to haul off to repair damages. In the course of this firing I had, by the great exertions of Mr Edward Barnwell, the acting sailing master, assisted by Mr Limscott, the boatswain, succeeded in getting springs on our cable three different times; but the fire of the enemy was so excessive, that before we could get our broadside to bear, they were shot away, and thus rendered useless to us.
My ship had received many injuries and several had been killed and wounded; but my brave officers and men, notwithstanding the unfavourable circumstances under which we were brought to action, and the powerful force opposed to us, were no ways discouraged; all appeared determined to defend their ship to the last extremity, and to die in preference to shameful surrender. Our gaff with the ensign had been shot away but FREE TRADE AND SAILOR`S RIGHTS, continued to fly at the fore. Our ensign was replaced by another and one was made fast in the mizen rigging. The enemy soon repaired his damages for a fresh attack. He now placed himself with both his ships on my starboard quarter, out of reach of my carronades, and where my stern guns could not be brought to bear. He there kept up a most galling fire, which was out of my power to return, when I saw no prospect of injuring him without getting under weigh and becoming the assailant.
My top-sail sheets and haul-yards were all shot away as well as the jib and fore-top-mast stay sail haul-yards, and that being the only sail I could set, I caused it to be hoisted, my cable to be cut and ran down on both ships, with the intention of laying the Phoebe on board. The firing on both sides was now tremendous. I had let fall my fore-topsail and foresail, but the want of tacks and sheets had rendered them almost useless to us; yet we were enabled, for a short time to close with the enemy and although our decks were now strewn with dead, and our cockpit filled with wounded - although our ship had been several times on fire, and was rendered a perfect wreck, we were still encouraged to a hope to save her, from the curcumstance of the Cherub being compelled to haul off. She did not return to close action, though she apparently had it in her power to do so, but kept up a distant firing with her long guns.
The Phoebe, from our disabled state, was enabled, however, by edging off, to choose the distance which best suited her long guns, and kept up a tremendous fire on us, which mowed down my brave companions by the dozen. Many of my guns had been rendered useless by the enemy`s shot, and many of them had their whole crews destroyed. We manned them again from those which were disabled, and one gun in particular was three times manned; 15 men were slain at it in the action! but strange as it may appear, the captain of it escaped with only a slight wound. Finding that the enemy could now choose his distance, and, as the wind for the moment seemed to favour the design, I determined to endeavour to run her onm shore, land my men and destroy her. We had approached within musket shot of the shore when the wind shifted from the land and payed our head down on the Phoebe. My ship was now totally unmanageable yet, as her head was towards the enemy I still hoped to be able to board him.
At this moment Lieut. Cdr. Downes came aboard (from Essex Junior), to receive my orders, under the impression that I should soon be a prisoner. Finding that my last attempt at boarding would not succeed I directed him to return to his own ship. The slaughter on my ship had now become horrible; the enemy continued to to rake us, and we unable to bring a gun to bear. I therefore directed a hawser to be bent to the sheet anchor, and the anchor to be cut from the bows to bring her head round. This succeeded. We again got our broadside to bear, and as the enemy was much crippled and unable to hold his own, I have no doubt he would soon have writed out of gun-shot before he discovered we had had anchored, had not the hawser unfortunately parted. My ship had taken fire several times during the action, but alarmingly so forward and aft at this moment; the flames were bursting up each hatchway, and no hopes were entertained of saving her; our distance from the shore did not exceed three-quarters of a mile, and I hoped many of my brave crew would be able to save themselves, should the ship blow up, as I was informed the fire was near the magazine, the explosion of a large quantity of powder below, served to increase the horrors of our situation. Our boats were destroyed by the enemy`s shot; I therefore directed those who could swim to jump overboard, and endeavour to gain the shore. Some reached it, some were taken by the enemy, and some perished in the attempt; but most preferred sharing with me the fate of the ship.
We who remained, now turned our attention wholly to extinguishing the flames; and when we succeeded, went again to our guns, where the firing was kept up for some minutes, but the crew had by this time become so weakened, and they all declared to me the impossibility of making further resistance, and entreated me to surrender my ship to save the wounded, as all attempts at opposition must prove ineffectual, almost every gun being disabnled by the destruction of their crews.I now sent for the officers of divisions to consult them; but what was my surprise to find only acting lieutenant Stephen Decator M`knight remaining, who confirmed the report respecting the condition of the guns on the quarter deck - those on the spar-deck were not in a better state. Lieut. Wilmer, after fighting most gallantly throughout the action, had been knocked overboard by a splinter, while getting the sheet anchor from the bows and was drowned. Acting Lieutenant John G. Cowell had lost a leg, Mr Edward Barnwell, acting sailing master, had been carried below, after receiving two severe wounds, one in the breast and one in the face' and acting lietenant William Odenheimer had been knocked overboard from the quarter, an instant before, and did not regain the ship until after the surrender.
I was informed that the cockpit, the steerage, the wardroom and the birth deck, could contain no more wounded; and that the wounded were killed while the surgeons were dressing them. The enemy, from the smoothness of the water, and the impossibility of our reaching him with our carronades, and the little apprehension that was excited by our fire, which had now become much slackened, was now able to take aim at us as a target. In fine I saw no hopes of saving her, and at twenty minutes after 6PM gave the painful order to strike the colours. Seventy five men, including officers, were all that remained of my whole crew, after the action, capable of doing duty, and many of them severely wounded, some of whom have since died. The enemy still continued his his fire and my brave, though unfortunate companions were still falling about me. I directed an opposite gun to be fired, to show them we intented no further resistance; but they did not desist; four men were killedat my side, and others in diffent parts of the ship. I now believed he intended to show us no quarter, and that it would be as well to to die with my flag flying as struck, and was on the point of again hoisting it, when, about ten minutes after hauling the colours down, he ceased firing.
My Friend Captain Tucker, an officer worthy of their Lordship`s best attention, was severely wounded at the commencement of the action, but remained on deck until it terminated, using every exertion against the baffling winds and occasional calms which followed the heavy firing, to close near the enemy; he informs me, that his officers and crew, whose loyalty, zeal and discipline, I entertain the highest opinion, conducted themselves to his satisfaction.
I have to lament the deaths of four of my brave companions, and one of his; with real sorrow I add, that my first lieutenant, Ingram, is among the number; he fell early, - is a great loss to his Majesty`s service; the many manly tears which I observed this morning, while performing the last mournful duty at his funeral on shore, more fully evinced the respect and affection of his afflicted companions, than any eulogium my pen is equal to. Our lists of wounded are small and thereis only one for whom I am under anxiety.
The defence of the Essex, taking into consideration our superiority of force, the very discouraging circumstance of her having lost her main-top-mast, and having been twice on fire, did honour to her brave defenders and most fully evinced the courage of Captain Porter, and those under his command. Her colours were not struck until the loss in killed and wounded was so awfully great, her shattered condition so seriosly bad, as to render further resistance unavailing.
I was much hurt on hearing that her men had been encouraged,when the result of the action was evidently decided, some to take to their boats and others to swim on sure; many were drowned in the attempt; sixteen were saved by the exertions of my people; and others, I believe between thirty and forty, effected their landing. I informed Capt.Porter, that I considered the latter, in point of honour, as my prisoners; he said the encouragementwas given when the ship was in danger from fire and I have not pressed the point. The Essex is completely stored and provisioned for at least six months, and although much injured in her upperworks, masts and rigging is not in such a state as to give the slightest cause of alarm, respecting her her being able to perform a voyage with perfect safety; our main and mizen masts and main yard are rather seriously wounded; these, with a few shot holes between wind and water, which we can get at without lightening, and a loss of canvas and cordage, which we can partly replaced from out well-stored prize, are the extent of the injuries his Majesty`s ship has sustained.
We have been unfortunate, but not disgraced; the defence of the Essex has not been less honourable to her officers and crew, than the capture of an equal force, and I now consider my situationless pleasant than that of commodore Hillyar, who in violation of every principle of honour and generosity, and regardless of the rights of nations, attacked the Essex in her crippled state within pistol shot of a neutral shore; when for six weeks I had daily offered him fair and honourable combat, on terms greatly to his advantage: the blood of the slain must be on his head and he has yet to reconcile his conduct to Heaven, to his conscience and the world. The annexed extract of a letter from commodore Hillyar, which was written previously to his returning me my sword, will show his opinion of our conduct.
My loss has been dreadfully severe ; 58 killed or have since died of their wounds, and among them is lieutenant Cowell; 39 were severely wounded, 27 slightly, and 31 are missing; making in all 154 killed wounded and missing.
The loss in killed and wounded has been great with the enemy; among the former is the first lieutenant of the Phoebe and of the latter Captain Tucker of the the Cherub, whose wounds are severe. Both the Essex and the Phoebe were in a sinking state, and it was with difficulty they could be kept afloat until anchored in Valparaiso next morning. The shattered state of the Essex will, I believe, prevent her ever reaching England, and I also think it will be out of their power to repair the damages of the Phoebe, so as to enable her to double Cape Horn. All the masts and yards of Phoebe and Cherub are badly crippled and their hulls much cut up; the former had eighteen 12-pounder shot through her below her water line, some three feet under water. Nothing but the smoothness of the water saved both the Phoebe and Essex.
Soon after my capture, I entered into an agreement with commodore Hillyar to disarm my prize, the Essex Junior, and proceed with the survivors of my officers and crew in her to the United States, taking with me her officers and crew. He consented to grant me a passport to secure her from further capture.
In justice to commodore Hillyar, I must observe that (although I can never be reconciled to the manner of his attack on the Essex, or his conduct before the action) he has, since our capture, shown the greatest humanity to my wounded, (whom he permitted me to land, on condition that the United States should bear the expenses,) and has endeavoured, as much as lay in his power, to alleviate the distresses if war by the most generous and delicate deportment towards my officers and crew; he gave orders that tjhe property of every person should be respected; which orders, however, were not as strictly attended to as might be expected; beside being deprived of books, charts etc. both myself and officers lost many articles of our clothing, some to considerable account. I should not have considered this last circumstance of sufficient importance to notice, did it not mark a striking difference between the navy of Great Britain and that of the United States, highly credible to the latter.
By the arrival of the Tagus, a few days after my capture, I was informed that besides the ships which had arrived in the Pacific in pursuit of me, and those still expected, that others were sent to cruize for me in the China Seas, off New Zealand, Timor and New Holland, and that another frigate was sent to the river la Plate. To possess the Essex it has cost the British government near six millions of dollars, and yet, sir, her capture was owing entirely to accident; and if we consider the expedition with which navy contests are now decided, the action is a dishonour to them. Had they brought their ships boldly into action, with a force so very superior, and having the choice of position, they should either have captured or destroyed us in one fourth the time they took about it.
During the action our consul general, Mr Poinsett, called upon the governor of Valparaiso, and requested him to use the batteries to protect the Essex. This request was refused, but he promised that if she should succeed in reaching the common anchorage, that he would send an officer to the British commander and request him to cease firing, but declined using force under any circumstances, and there is no doubt that there is perfect understanding between them. This conduct, added to other assistance to the British, and their friendly reception after the action, and the strong bias of the faction which govern Chile in favor of the English, as well as their inhospitality to the Americans, induced Mr Poinsett to leave the country. Finding some difficulty in the sale of my prizes, I have taken the Hector and the Catharine to sea and burnt them with their cargoes.
I exchanged lieutenant M`Knight, Mr Adams and Mr Lyman and eleven seamen, for
part of the crew of the Sir Andrew Hammond; and sailed from Valparaiso on 27
April, where the enemy were still patching up their ships to put them in a state
for proceeding to Rio de Janeiro.
I have the honour to be etc.
D.PORTER
Captain Hillyar
List of Killed and Wounded in his Majesty`s Ships undermentioned, in
Action with the United States Frigate Essex, on the 28 March 1814
Phoebe. 4 killed - Lieut. William Ingram and able seamen Thomas Griffiths,
Dennis Murphy and William Knowles. 7 wounded.
Cherub 1 killed - marine William Derbyshire. 3 wounded.
There has not been found a ship`s book or paper of any description (charts
excepted) on board the Essex, or any document relative to the number serving in
her previous to the action. Captain Porter informs me that he had upwards of two
hundred and sixty victualled; our prisoners, including 42 wounded, amount to
161, 23 were found dead on her decks, three wounded were taken away by Capt.
Downes, of the Essex, jun. a few minutes before the colours were struck, and I
believe 20 or 30 reached the shore; the remainder were killed or drowned.
JAMES HILLYAR
Valparaiso April 4th 1814.
SIR,
Taking into consideration the immense distance we are from our respective countries,
the uncertainty of the future movements of his Majesty`s ships under my command,
which precudes the possibility of my making a permanent arrangement for
transporting the officers and crew of the late Essex to Europe; and the fast
approaching season which renders a passage round Cape Horn in some degree
dangerous; I have the honour to propose for your approbation the following
articles, which I hope, the government of the United States as well as that of
Great britain, will deem satisfactory; and request, that should you conceive
them so, you will favour me with the necessary bond for their fulfilment.
1st. The Essex Junior to be deprived of all her armament and perfectly neutralized; to be equipped for the voyage solely, and wholly at the expense of the American government; and to proceed witha proper American officers and crew (of which I wish to be furnished with a list. for the purpose of giving the necessary passport) to any port in the United States of America, that you may deem most proper.
2d. Yourself, the officers, petty officers, seamen and marines, etc. composing your crew, to be exchanged immediately on their arrival in America with an equal number of British prisoners of similar rank; yourself and officers to be considered on their parole of honour intil you and their exchange shall be effected.
In case of the foregoing articles being accepted, the Essex Junior will be
expected to prepare immediately for her voyage, and to proceed on it before the
expiration of the present month. Should any of the wounded, at that period, be
found incapabe of removal, from not being sufficiently advanced in their
recovery, the most humane attention shall be paid to them; and they shall be
forwarded home by the first favourable conveyance that may offer.
I have the
honour to be etc.
JAMES HILLYAR
Valparaiso April 4th 1814
SIR,
I have received a paper signed by you, dated yesterday, stating that you had exchanged certain wounded prisoners, making part of mt crew, for the captain and crew of the prize ship
Sir Andrew Hammond, which paper I have taken the liberty to return to you, and
protest in the most strongest terms against such an arrangement.
In the
first place, the wounded and helpless individuals therin named, do not wish such
an exchange; one died last night and others expect to share his
fate.
Secondly, should I from my circumstances be separated from them, which
would be more likely to be the case than if they remained prisoners, their
situation would be more deplorable than it is at present.
Thirdly this arrangement has been made without my consent, and on terms far from offering
equal advantages to the United States.
I have the honour to be etc.
D. PORTER.
HMS Phoebe, Valparaiso, April 4th 1814
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
today`s date, protesting at the arrangement I made in the paper you returned,
and to express a regret that my wish, which was to alleviate and not increase
the afflictions of your wounded officers and crew, has failed of being
gratified. I am sorry you thought proper to mention the dead and dying, as I so
fully explained to you this morning, that in the event of the loss of any, other
names would be added to the list. I shall now direct captain David Porter to
consider himself a prisoner of war on his parole; but as I have ordered the
people to go on board the Essex to work, under the impression that no
difficulties would arise, I will liberate in exchange for them an equal number
of prisoners, as their names, being seamen, shall be found to follow each other
on your ship`s books, and give up also two mates or midshipmen, for the two
mates of the English party.
I hope this may prove satisfactory to your
government and self.
I am yours etc.
JAMES HILLYARD
Valparaiso, April 5th 1814
SIR,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your several favours of yesterday`s date.
The conditions offered by you for our return to the United States are perfectly
satisfactory to me; and I entertain no doubts of their being equally so to my
country. I therefore do not hesitate to pledge my honour (the strongest bond I
can give) that every article of the arrangement shall, on our part, be fully
complied with. A list of the Essex Junior`s crew shall be furnished you as soon
as it can be made out, and her disarmament effected with all possible despatch.
I have the honour to be etc.
DAVID PORTER
Valparaiso, April 5th 1814
SIR,
The arrangement which you have suggested respecting the exchange of the seamen of the Sir Andrew Hammond, for an equal number of the seamen of the late US frigate Essex, as they stand on the list furnished you, is perfectly satisfactory. It will be a great satisfaction
for the three oficers who accompany the Essex to know, that after your object in
taking them with you shall be effected, there will be no difficulty in their
proceeding immediately to the United States; I take the liberty therefore to
suggest that they might be exchanged for captain William Porter and his three
mates. This will be an accomodation to all parties and reconcile the officers so
exchanged to a separation from their friends.
I have the honour to be etc.
DAVID PORTER
Lieut. McKnight and master`s mate Lynan, mentioned in the last paragraph of Capt. Porter`s letter on the previous page, were taken out of the Swedish brig Adonis in the Atlantic on October 9th 1814 by the American sloop Wasp. Wasp was never seen again after that meeting and presumably foundered. Essex was taken into the Royal Navy and remained out of commission at Plymouth until she became a convict hulk at Kingstown in January 1823. She was sold for breaking up in July 1837. Phoebe was not recommissioned either after she returned to Plymouth and she became a slop-ship (clothing store) there in October 1826 and was sold in May 1841.