HMS Hermes (1811)
Hermes
| |
History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Hermes |
Ordered | 18 January 1810 |
Builder | Milford Dockyard |
Laid down | May 1810 |
Launched | 22 July 1811 |
Completed | 7 September 1811 |
Fate | Grounded in combat and burnt on 15 September 1814 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | 20-gun Hermes-class sixth-rate post ship |
Tons burthen | 5127⁄94 (bm) |
Length |
|
Beam | 31 ft 0 in (9.4 m) |
Depth of hold | 8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) |
Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
Complement | 135 |
Armament | 2 x 9-pounder guns + 18 x 32-pounder carronades |
HMS Hermes was a 20-gun
Napoleonic Wars
Captain Philip Browne (or Brauer) commissioned Hermes in July 1811.[1] Under Browne, Hermes first captured an American vessel laden with stores for the Brest fleet and then two vessels from New York and Baltimore.[2] On 24 September 1811, while near Cape La Hève (Le Havre), Hermes recaptured the Prussian brig Anna Maria which had been bound for London from Lisbon. A privateer managed to escape because of the nearness of the French coast.[3][4]
As the day continued, strong winds drove Hermes off station when near
War of 1812
On 11 February 1812 Hermes captured the American brig Flora.[7] Then on 26 April Hermes captured the American brig Tigress.[8]
Four days later, Hermes and Belle Poule captured the American letter of marque schooner Gipsy (or Gipsey). She was on her way from New York City to Bordeaux with a cargo worth £50,000 when the British vessels captured her in the mid-Atlantic after a three-day chase.[9] Gipsey surrendered twice to Hermes and twice got away again before Belle Poule caught her. Gipsey was of 300 tons (bm) and was armed with twelve 18-pounder carronades and an 18-pounder gun on a pivot mount.
In late autumn 1812, Hermes was sailing off the
In April 1814, Captain the Hon. William Percy took command of Hermes.[1] On 5 August he sailed her, with Carron accompanying, from Havana. They arrived at the mouth of the Apalachicola River eight days later.
Fate
In September 1814, Percy led her in an unsuccessful attack on Fort Bowyer. The Louisiana State Museum has a map of the battle.[13]
The attack took place on 15 September at about 4:30pm. Two of the four British vessels could not get close enough to fire.[14] The fort was more strongly armed than expected, the British fire was ineffective, and a parallel ground attack failed. Furthermore, as she tried to withdraw, Hermes grounded under the guns of the fort.[14] Percy evacuated her crew on boats from Sophie and then set fire to Hermes, which blew up after the fire reached her magazine at around 10pm. In all, Hermes had lost 17 killed in action, five mortally wounded, and 19 wounded. (The medical journal of the Hermes has survived.[15] )
On 18 January 1815, Percy faced a court martial on board Cydnus, off Cat Island on the coast of Mississippi. The court acquitted him of all blame, finding that the circumstances justified the attack and that all involved had behaved with great gallantry.[16]
Notes
Citations
- ^ a b c Winfield (2008), p. 237.
- ^ Marshall (1828), pp. 99.
- ^ a b The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, From July to December 1811, vol. 110, p. 366.
- ^ a b c d e f "No. 16526". The London Gazette. 28 September 1811. pp. 1913–1914.
- ^ "ADMIRALTY-OFFICE – Oct. 1. 1811". Caledonian Mercury. No. 14010. 5 October 1811.
- ^ "Marine List". Lloyd's List (4602). 1 October 1811.
- ^ "No. 16688". The London Gazette. 2 January 1813. p. 34.
- ^ "No. 16689". The London Gazette. 5 January 1813. p. 53.
- ^ Lumley's bibliographical advertiser, (1839) p.120.
- ^ Hubback & Hubback (1906), p. 228.
- ^ a b "No. 16692". The London Gazette. 12 January 1813. p. 106.
- ^ Kert (2015), p. 76, App.2).
- ^ "Plan shewing the attack made by a British Squadron on Fort Bowyer at Mobile Point on the 15 September, 1815". Louisiana State Museum. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ^ a b Hepper (1994), pp. 150–1.
- ^ Medical Journal of HMS Hermes ADM 101/104/3 journal transcript
- ^ Naval Chronicle, (Jan-July 1815), Vol. 33, p.429.
References
- Hepper, David J. (1994). British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650–1859. Rotherfield: Jean Boudriot. ISBN 0-948864-30-3.
- Hubback, J.H.; Hubback, Edith C (1906). Jane Austen's sailor brothers: being the adventures of Sir Francis Austen and Charles Austin. New York: J. Lane.
- Kert, Faye M. (2015). Privateering: Patriots and Profits in the War of 1812. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-4214-1747-9.
- Marshall, John (1823–1835). . Royal Naval Biography. Vol. sub part 2. London: Longman and company.
- The Naval Chronicle. Vol. 33. London: Joyce Gold. 1815.
- Winfield, Rif (2008). British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84415-717-4.