USS Wasp (1814)

The fifth USS "Wasp" was a sloop-of-war that served in the U.S. Navy in 1814 during the War of 1812.

"Wasp" was a ship-rigged sloop-of-war constructed in 1813 at Newburyport, Massachusetts, by Cross & Merrill. She was commissioned early in 1814, Master Commandant Johnston Blakeley in command. She remained at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, until late spring awaiting sailing orders and, upon receipt of them, put to sea on 1 May 1814 for a war cruise to the western approaches to the English Channel.

"Wasp" captured her first vessel, the 207-ton barque "Neptune", on 2 June 1814, embarked her crew as prisoners, and burned the prize at sea. On 13 June 1814, she took "William", a 91-ton brig, and burned her as well. "Wasp" encountered the 131-ton armed brig "Pallas" on 18 June 1814, captured her, apparently without resistance, and scuttled her. Her fourth victim, 171-ton galiot "Henrietta", which she took on 23 June 1814, was given up to the prisoners "Wasp" had thus far taken. On 26 June 1814, "Wasp" captured and scuttled the 325-ton ship "Orange Boven".

On 28 June 1814, "Wasp" came upon the 21-gun sloop-of-war HMS "Reindeer" some 225 miles west of Plymouth, England, and brought her to battle. The fight lasted only 19 minutes, but during that brief span of time the two ships traded a murderous fire of grape and solid shot. Several times, "Reindeer's" crew tried to board "Wasp", but the American crew repulsed them on each occasion. In the end, "Wasp's" own ship's company boarded "Reindeer" and carried the day. "Wasp" suffered six hits in her hull, and some of her rigging was shot away, but she remained sailable. After taking prisoners on board, setting fire to "Reindeer", and watching "Reindeer" explode, "Wasp" set course for L'Orient, France. En route, she took two more prizes, the 112-ton brig "Regulator" on 4 July 1814 and the 151-ton schooner "Jenny" on 6 July 1814. Not long thereafter, she entered L'Orient for repairs, provisions, and care for her wounded.

"Wasp" remained in L'Orient until she again put to sea on 27 August 1814. On 30 August 1814, she captured the brig "Lettice" and, on 31 August 1814, took another, "Bon Accord". Early in the morning of 1 September 1814, she encountered a convoy of 10 ships escorted by the 74-gun ship-of-the-line HMS "Armada". "Wasp" made for the convoy and singled out the brig "Mary", which she quickly took as a prize, carrying off "Mary's" crew as prisoners and burning her. The American sloop then attempted to take another ship in the convoy, but "Armada" chased her off.

That evening, she spied another sail on the horizon and gave chase. By 2130, she had the brig under her lee bow and opened fire. The enemy returned fire until 2200 at which time her battery seemed to cease fire. When "Wasp" did the same and called for the stranger's surrender, the British ship answered with another cannonade. "Wasp" again opened fire on the ship, now known to have been the 18-gun, 477-ton brig HMS "Avon". Some broadsides later, "Avon's" guns fell silent once more, and "Wasp" repeated the call for surrender. "Avon", at this point a battered hulk, had no choice but to comply.

However, just as "Wasp" began to lower the boat for the prize crew, the lookout sighted another enemy brig standing toward the two adversaries. "Wasp's" crew manned their battle stations immediately in hope of taking the newcomer as well. Just then, two more British ships appeared on the horizon; and "Wasp" was forced to give up the destruction of "Avon" and see to her own salvation. The lead British ship, however, failed to engage "Wasp"; instead, she hauled in close to "Wasp's" stern and loosed a broadside into the American's rigging which damaged sails, sheets, and braces considerably and then came about to rendezvous with the other two ships following her and the sinking "Avon". Although the Americans didn't know it at the time, "Avon" sank soon after "Wasp" left her.

The American warship continued her ravages of the British merchant marine. On 12 September 1814, she encountered "Three Brothers", a brig, and scuttled her. On 14 September 1814, she sank the brig "Bacchus". On 21 September 1814, an eight-gun brig, HMS "Atalanta", ran afoul of "Wasp", and she, too, suffered the ignominy of capture. Deemed too valuable to destroy, "Atalanta" was placed under the command of Midshipman Geisinger and was sent home to the United States. She entered Savannah, Georgia, safely on 4 November 1814.

From the time "Wasp" and "Atalanta" parted company, nothing was heard from "Wasp". She was last seen by a Swedish merchantman bound from Rio de Janeiro to Falmouth, England, about three weeks after the "Atalanta" capture and was said to be headed for the Caribbean. "Wasp" apparently sank in a storm.

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