OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 701 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Bio History -- Know Your Ohio ["Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <032501bf0af6$0e5446e0$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History -- Know Your Ohio -- Ohio in war 1812-- pt 13 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: kathi kelley To: Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 2:47 AM Subject: Bio History -- Know Your Ohio -- Ohio in war 1812-- pt 13 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley Sept 15,1999 ********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley ********************************************** Ohio in War of 1812 -- part 13 Capture of the USS Cheseapeake Letter from Lieutenant George Budd, USN, to the Secretary of the Navy Sir; The unfortunate death of Captain James Lawrence, and Lieutenant Augustus C. Ludlow, has rendered it my duty to inform you of the capture of the late United States' frigate CHESAPEAKE. On Tuesday, June 1st, at 8 AM , we moored ship, and at meridian got under way from President's Roads, with a light wind from the southward and westward, and proceeded on a cruise. A ship was then in sight in the offing, which had the appearence of a ship of war. and which, from information received from pilot boats and craft, we believed to be the British frigate SHANNON. We made sail in chase and cleared ship for action. At half past 4 PM, she hove to with her head to the southward and eastward. At 5 PM, took in the royals and top-gallant sails, and at half past 5, hauled the courses up. About 15 minutes before 6 PM, the action commenced within pistol shot. The first broadside did great execution on both sides, damaged our rigging, killed, among others, Mr White the sailing master, and wounded Captain Lawrence. In about 12 minutes after the commencement of the action, we fell on board of the enemy, and immediately after, one of our arm chests on the quarter-deck was blown up by a hand-grenade thrown from the enemy's ship. In a few minutes, one of the Captain's aids came on the gun-deck to inform me that the boarders were called. I immediately called the boarders away, and proceeded to the spar-deck, where I found that the enemy had suceeded in boarding us, and gained possession of our quarter-deck. I immediately gave orders to haul on board the fore-tack, for the purpose of shooting the ship clear of the other, and then made an attempt to regain the quarter-deck, but was wounded and thrown down on the gun-deck. I again made an effort to collect the boarders, but in the meantime the enemy had gained complete possession of the ship. On my being carried down in the cockpit, I there found Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlow, both mortally wounded, the former had been carried below, previously to the ship's being boarded; the latter was wounded in attempting to repel the boarders. Among those who fell early in the action, was Mr Edward J. Ballard, the 4th Lieutenant, and Lieutenant James Broom, of marines. I herein enclose you a return of the killed and wounded, by which you will perceive that every officer,upon the charge of the ship would devolve, was either killed or wounded, previously to her capture. The enemy report the loss of Mr. Watt, their first Lieutenant, the purser, the Captain's clerk, and 23 seaman killed; and Captain Broke, a midshipman, and 56 seaman wounded. The SHANNON, had , in addition to her full complement, an officer and 16 men belonging to the BELLE POULE, and a part of the crew belonging to the TENEDOS. ******************************************* Midshipman William Berry, USN report Washington, July 30, 1813 I consider myself bound to lay before you , what came under my knowledge, while on board the Chesapeake, as well as on board the Shannon. After the enemy had completely possession of the ship, Midshipman Randolph and Flushman were ordered from the fore ad main-top. In coming down the shrouds, Lieutenant Faulkner, [the British officer] said to his men, kill those damned rascals. Then, immediately several muskets were discharged at them, but without effect. My station was in the mizon-top, where I had the opportunity of seeing their actions. I was looking on deck, when I saw one of the Chesapeake's men crawling along attempting to get below, with one of his legs off. One of the enemy stepped up to him with his cutlass, and immediatey put an end to his existance. Lieutenant Faulkner looked up in the mizen-top, pointed at me, and said to his men, go up, three of you, and throw that damned yankee overboard. They immediately rushed up, seizing me by the collar, now said they, you damned Yankee, you shall swim for it, attempting to throw me overboard, but I got within the rigging, when one of them kicked me in the breast, which was the cause of my falling. Being stunned by the fall, I lay some time senseless, and when I came to, I was cut over the head with a cutlass, which nearly terminated my existance. Eleven of our midshipmen were confined in a small place, nine feet by six, with an old sail to lie on, and a guard at the door, until a day or two before our arrival at Halifax, and likewise eleven of us upon five rations, and some days only one meal. Our clothes were taken on board of the Shannon. Lieutenant Wallis, the commanding officer on board , would not let us take our clothes below with us, but pledged his word and honour as an officer, we should receive our clothes. But we discovered next morning that their midshipman had on our clothes and side-arms. We were conversing together respecting our clothes, one of their midshipmen overheard our conversation, and made a report to the Lieutenant commanding. He then sent word to us, that if we said anything more about the clothes, he would put us in the forehold with the men. We expected to receive our clothes when we arrived in port, but I assure you, sir, nothing was ever restored. Other rascally things occurred, which our officers will, when they return, make known to the public, disgraceful to a civilized nation. If your request could have been made sooner, I should have felt gratified in making a fuller statement. *********************************************** To be continued in part 14 --The USS ESSEX-- ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 23:45:05 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <032c01bf0af6$2f6453c0$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History -- Know Your Ohio -- War of 1812 -- Part 18 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: kathi kelley To: Sent: Monday, September 20, 1999 12:27 PM Subject: Bio History -- Know Your Ohio -- War of 1812 -- Part 18 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley Sept 20,1999 *********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley *********************************************** War of 1812 -- Part 18 Dr Usher Parsons was one of the American physicians in Perry's fleet. His account of the battle and its aftermath was published in the New England Journel of Medicine, October, 1818. Besides being an exciting and interesting account it is one of the few written by physicians concerning any of the United States' early wars. ***********************************************Our force employed in this action consisted of nine vessels with about six hundred officers and men, and had been out of port four weeks, either cruising or lying at anchor in Put-In-Bay, a safe harbour among a cluster of islands near the head of the lake. The crews left port in good health, but shortly after we were visited wth an epidemic, which spread through the fleet, attacking about twenty to thirty in a day. It answered the description of bilious remittent fever, was short of duration, except in a few instances, in which it degenerated into a typhus, and in only one instance proved fatal. So rapid were the recoveries, that, above two hundred cases, only seventy eight were reported unfit for duty on the day previous to the action. Thirty one of these were on board the LAWRENCE and about the same number on board of the NIAGARA, their whole crews being about one hundred and forty men each. About 12 o'clock, on a clear pleasant day, we met the enemy. The action soon became general and was severly felt; especially on board the LAWRENCE, the flag ship; two of the enemies largest vessels engaging her, at a short distance, for nearly two hours; part of which time the men fell on board of her faster than they could be taken below. The vessel being shallow built afforded no cock-pit or place of shelter for the wounded; they therefore received on the ward room floor, which was about on a level with the surface of the water. Being only nine or ten feet square, this floor was soon covered, which made it necessary to pass the wounded out into another apartment, as fast as the bleeding could be stanched either by ligatures or tourniquet. Indeed this was all that was attempted for their benefit during the engagement, except that in some instances division was made of a small portion of flesh, by which a dangling limb that annoyed the patient, was hanging from the body. Several, after receiving this treatment, were again wounded, among whom was midshipman Lamb, who was moving from me with a tourniquet on the arm when he received a cammonball in the chest; and a seaman brought down with both arms fractured, was struck by a cannonball in the chest; and a seaman brought down with both arms fractured, was afterwards struck by cannonball in both lower extremities. An hour's engagment had so far swept the deck, that new appeals for surgical aid were less frequent; a remission at this time , very desireable both to the wounded and myself; for the repeated request of the Commodore, to spare him another an had taken me the last one I had to assist in moving the wounded, in fact many of the wounded themselves took the deck again at this critical moment. Our prospects neverless darkened, every new visitor from the deck bring tidings still more dismal than the last, till finally it was announced that we had struck. The effect of this on the wounded was distressing in the extreme; medical aid was rejected and a little else could be heard from them than " sink the ship"-- "let us all sink together". But this state of despair was short. The Commodore, who was still unhurt, had gone on board the NIAGARA and, with the small vessels bearing down upon the enemy, soon brought down the flags of their two heaviest ships, and thus changed the horrors of defeat into shouts of victory. But all the wounded were not permitted to mingle in the joy. The gallent Brooks, and some others were no more. They were much to exhausted by their wounds, to survive the confusions that immediately preceded this happy transition. This action terminated shortly after three o'clock and, of about one hundred men reported fit for duty in the morning, twenty one were found dead, and sixty three wounded. The wounded arteries occupied my first attention, all which, except where amputation was required, were rendered secure before dark. Having no assistant [the surgeon on board with me being very sick] I deemed it safer to defer amputating till morning, and in the mean time suffered the touniquets to remain on the limbs. Nothing more was done through the night than to administer opiates and preserve shattered limbs in a uniform position. At daylight a subject was on the table for amputation of the thigh, and at eleven o'clock all amputations were finsihed. The impatience of this class of the wounded, to meet the operation, rendered it necessary to take them in the same succession in which they fell. The compound and simple fractures were next to attend to, then luxations, lacerations, and contusions, which all occupied my time till twelve o'clock at night. The day following I visited the wounded of the NIAGARA, who had lain till that time with their wounds undressed. I found the surgeon sick in bed with hands too feeble to execute the dictates of a feeling heart. Twenty one wounded were mustered, most of whom were taken on board the LAWRENCE and dressed, and afterwards such as were lying in like manner on board the small vessels. In the course of the evening the sick were prescribed for, which was the first attention I had been able to render them since the action. The whole number of wounded in the squadron was ninety six. Of these, twenty five were cases of compound fracture; viz; of the arm, six; of the thigh, four; of the leg, eight; of the shoulder, three; of the ribs, three; and skull, one. Of simple fractures, there were four cases; viz. of the thigh, leg, arm, and ribs. Grapeshot wounds, large and small were thirty seven. There were two cases of concussion of the brain; three of the chest, and two of the pelvis. The contusions, large and small, were ten, and sprains, six. Of the whole number, three died; viz; Midshipman Claxton with compound fractures of the shoulder, in which part of the clavicle, scalpula, and humerus was carried away; a seaman with a mortification of the lower extremity, in which there had ben a compound fracture, and another fracture of the skull, where a part of the cerebral substance was destroyed. The compound fractures of the extremities were much retarded in their cure, by the frequent displacement of the bones, by the motion of the ship in rough weather, or by some other unlucky disturbance of the limb. In this way the bones in one case did not unite, until after forty days had elapsed, and in two or three cases, not until after twenty five days. The delay of amputations already mentioned had no effect on the success of the operations. Every case did well. There were not more than two singular wounds, or such as would be unlikely to occur in any sea engagement. In one of these cases a grapeshot four times as large as a musketball, passed under the pyramidal muscle, without injuring the peritoneum. In the other, a cannister shot twice the size of a musketball entered the eye, and on the fifth or sixth day was detected at the inside angle of the lower jaw and cut out. In its passage it must have fractured the orbitar sphenoid bone, and passing under the temporal arch, inside the coronal process of the lower jaw, must have done great injury to the temporal muscle, and other soft parts, lying in its way. The recovery of so great a proportion of the wounded may in a great measure be attributed to the following causes; first to the purity of the air. The patients were ranged along the upper deck, with no other shelter from the weather than a high awning to shade them. They continued in this situation for a fortnight, and when taken on shore, were placed in very spacious apartments, well ventilated. Secondly, to the supply of food best adapted to their cases, as fowls, fresh meat, milk and eggs and vegetables in abundance. The second day of action, the farmers on the Ohio shore brought along side every article of the above description, that could be desired. Thirdly, to the happy state of mind which victory occasioned. The observations which I have been able to make on the wounded of these engagements have convinced me that this state of mind has greater effect than has generally been supposed; and that the surgeon on the conquering side will always be more sucessful, then the one, who has charge of the vanquished crew. Lastly, to the assistance rendered me by Commodore Perry and Mr. Davidson. The latter getleman was a volunteer soldier among the Kentucky troops and engaged to serve on board the fleet during the action. After the action he rendered the wounded every aid in his power, continuing with them three months, And the Commodore seemed quite as solicitious for their welfare as he could be possibly felt for the success of the battle. ********************************************* More to follow-- ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 23:47:06 -0400 From: "Maggie Stewart" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <033501bf0af6$770df820$0300a8c0@local.net> Subject: Fw: Bio History-- Know your Ohio -- Ohio in war of 1812-- pt 14 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: kathi kelley To: Sent: Friday, September 17, 1999 5:22 PM Subject: Bio History-- Know your Ohio -- Ohio in war of 1812-- pt 14 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley Sept 17, 1999 *********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Know your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley *********************************************** Ohio in war of 1812-- part 14 Cruise of the USS ESSEX Capt David Porter, USN US Frigate Essex. at sea July 2, 1813 to the Secretary of the Navy-- Sir; On the 23rd of March last, I sailed shaping my course to the northward, and on the 26th of the same month fell in with the Peruvian corsair ship NEREYDA, mounting 15 guns. She had, a few days before, captured two American whale ships, the crews of which [amountng in number to 24 men ] were then detained prisoners on board her, and they could assign no other motive for the capture, then that they were the allies of Great Britain, and such should capture all American vessels they could fall in with, therefore, to prevent in future such vexatious proceedings, I threw all her armament into the sea, liberated the Americans, and dismissed the NEREYDA. I then proceeded with all possible dispatch for Lima, to intercept one of the detained vessels, which had parted with the NEREYDA only three days before, and I was so fortunate as to arrive there and re-capture her on the 5th of April, at the moment she was entering port. This vessel [the ship BARCLAY, Capt Gideon Randall, of New Bedford ] I took under my protection, and have had her with me ever since. From Lima I proceeded to the Gallapagos Islands, where I captured the following British ships; MONTEZUMA--270 Tons , 21 men, 2 guns. POLICY -- 275 Tons, 26 men, 10 guns. GEORGIANNA -- 280 Tons, 25 men, 6 guns. ATLANTIC -- 351 Tons, 24 men, 8 guns. GREENWICH -- 338 Tons, 25 men, 10 guns. The GEORGIANNA being reputed a very fast sailer, and apparently well calculated for a cruiser. I mounted 16 guns on her, and gave the command of her to that excellant officer, Lieutenant John Downs, with a compliment of 42 men; appointing midshipman W.H. Hadaway acting Lieutenent on board her, and sent her on a cruise. Lieutenant Downs joined me at Tumbez, near Guyaquil, on the coast of Peru, on the 24th of June, after capturing 3 prizes, to wit; HECTOR --270 Tons, 25 men, 11 guns. CATHERINE-- 270 Tons, 29 men, 8 guns. Rose -- 220 Tons, 21 men, 8 guns. The 1st had two men killed and six badly wounded in her rencontre with the GEORGIANNA, and the ROSE was dscharged [ after being deprived of her armament ] with all the prisoners captured by the GEORGIANNA, as they amounted to nearly double their crew; she was furnished with a passport to proceed to St Helena. My own prisoners I liberated on parole at Tumbez. I found by experience that the GEORGIANNA did not deserve the character given of her sailing. I therefore shipped her officers and crew to the ATLANTIC, and mounted on her 20 guns, with a compliment of 60 men, and appointed Midshipman R. Dashiell acting sailing master on board of her. To this vessel I gave the name of the ESSEX, JUNIOR. I also fitted up the ship GREENWICH, as a store-ship, nd mounted on her 20 guns, placing her under the command of Lieutenant Gamble, of the Marines. On board her, I have put all the provisions and stores of my other prizes, except a supply of three and a half months for each, an have by this means secured myself a full supply of every necessary article for seven months. I had hoped to dispose of my other prizes at Guyaquil; the governors in Peru, however, are excessively alarmed at my appearance on the coast, as my fleet amounts now to nine sail of vessels, all formidable in their appearance, and they would, if they dare, treat us with hostility little short of declared enemies. I have given to Mr. John G. Cowel, sailing master, an appointment to act 3d Lieutenant; midshipman John S. Cowan to act 4th Lieutenant, and midshipman Odenheimer as sailing master. I beg, sir, that the appointment of those officers, as well as of Lieutenant S.D M"Knight, who is acting second Lieutenant, and those serving on board the ESSEX JUNIOR, may be confirmed by the department. I have given to Mr. M.W. Bostwick, my clerk, the appointment of acting midshipman, not that he is desirous of coming forward in th Navy in that line, but I had hoped by this means to introduce him to the notice of the department, as i shall take the liberty to recommend him strongly as a suitable person to hold the appointment of purser. Doctors Richard R. Hoffman, and Alexander M. Montgomery, two gentlemen of great merit, who have volunteered their services with me at the commencement of hostilities, have received acting appointments from me, the first as surgeon to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Doctor Miller; the other as surgeon's mate. To the great care and attention of those gentlemen, may, in a considerable degree, be attributed the extraordinary health of the crew; and as they are both desirious of joining the navy, I hope their appointments may be confirmed. I have also appointed my Marine officer and chaplain to the command of prizes. They all enter with cheerfulness into their new duties; and if the expedition should not prove successful, it will not be, I am persueded owing to our want of activity or vigilence; and of this you must be satisfied, as for the last eight months we have been constantly at sea, with the exception of 23 days, and yet, sir, we have enjoyed extaordinary health and spirits; no symptom of the scurvy having yet appeared in the ship, nor have we, at this moment, more than two on the sick list; and their diseases are more owing to the infirmities of old age than any other causes. Indeed, sir, when I compare my present situation with what it was when I doubled Cape Horn, I cannot but esteem myself fortunate in an extraordinary degree. There my ship was shattered by tempestuous weather, and destitute of everything; my officers and crew half starved, naked, and worn out my fatigue. Now sir, my ship is in prime order, abundantly supplied with everything necessary for her. I have a noble ship for a consort of 20 guns, well manned; a store-ship of 20 guns well supplied with the best of everything we may want,and prizes which would be worth in England two millions of dollars; and what renders the comarison more pleasing, the enemy has furnished all. Excuse me sir, for not making known my present intentions, as this letter may not reach you. It, however, may be satisfactory to you to know how I intend to dispose of my prizes; let it suffice to say that I shall endeavor to [cypher]. British letters of marque are numerous in these seas, and, were it not for my arrival, our whale fishers would have been much harressed; but they now find it necessary to keep together for mutual protection. I expect to be [cyphen] but shall be [cyphen]. *********************************************** To be continued in part 15-- More letters. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #701 *******************************************