- HMS Sceptre (1802)
HMS "Sceptre" was a 74-gun
third-rate ship of the line of theRoyal Navy , built by Dudman ofDeptford after a design by SirWilliam Rule . She was launched onDecember 11 1802 atDeptford . OnJune 20 1803 , after a shakedown period, she came intoPlymouth for a refit, sailing again onJune 28 under the command of Captain A. C. Dickson to join the Channel fleet.In July 1803, she sailed for the East Indies station. On
December 21 1803 , in the easternIndian Ocean , "Sceptre" and "Albion" captured the French ship "Clarisse", 12 and her crew of 157 men. In 1804, Captain Joseph Bingham, formerly of "St. Fiorenzo", assumed command of "Sceptre". OnNovember 11 1806 , HMS "Sceptre" and "Cornwallis" under Captain Johnston made a dash intoSt. Paul's Bay, Isle of Bourbon , and attacked the shipping there, which consisted of the frigate "Sémillante", three armed ships and twelve captured British ships. (The eight ships that had been earlier taken by "Sémillante" were valued at one and a half million pounds.) However, what little breeze there was soon failed, and the two ships found it difficult to manoeuvre and were unable to recapture any prizes.In 1808, "Sceptre", in company with "Cornwallis", engaged and destroyed "Sémillante", together with the shore batteries that she sought to protect. She served for six years in the East Indies before transferring to the Caribbean.During the passage from England Captain Ballard trained his crew in the use of the
broadsword . This later proved of value when they were used ashore. He arrived offMartinique with "Alfred" and "Frejus" under his orders, to find that four Frenchfrigate s had captured and burnt "Junon", belonging to the Halifax squadron, about 150 miles to the windward ofGuadaloupe .On
December 18 , "Sceptre", "Blonde", "Thetis", "Freija", "Castor", "Cygnet", "Hazard", "Ringdove", and "Elizabeth" proceeded to attack two of the enemyfrigate s, "Seine" and "Loire", anchored inAnse à la Barque ("Barque Cove") about nine miles to the northwest of the town ofBasse-Terre . "Blonde", "Thetis" and the threesloop s bore the brunt of the attack but forced the French to abandon their ships and set fire to them. Captain Cameron, who was killed in the attempt, landed with the boats of "Hazard" and destroyed the shore batteries. "Sceptre" and "Cornwallis", much affected byscurvy , retired toMadagascar for their crews to recuperate. "Sceptre" then returned home in 1808 accompanied by two homeward-bound Danish East Indiamen captured by Captain Bingham off theCape of Good Hope ."Sceptre" was paid off but, after repair and refitting, was recommissioned by Captain Bingham and joined Sir Richard Strachan in the expedition to the
Scheldt in 1809. Towards the end of January 1810 "Sceptre" escorted a division of the troops destined for the attack on Guadaloupe from St. Lucia to the Saintes. While other troops were landed on the island he created a diversion off Trois-Rivières before landing his troops and marines betweenAnse à la Barque andBasse-Terre . Until the surrender of the island, Captain Ballard commanded the detachment of seamen and marines attached to the army. "Sceptre" visited most of the West Indian islands before sailing from St. Thomas in August with the homebound trade.She arrived at Spithead on
September 25 1810 and was docked and refitted. "Sceptre" was employed in the Channel watching the enemy in Brest and theBasque Roads until January 1813. In 1813, Captain C. Ross, took command of "Sceptre" as the flagship of Rear Admiral (Blue) Sir George Cockburn for operations against theUnited States . OnJuly 11 1813 , "Sceptre", with "Romulus", "Fox", "Nemedis", and "Conflict", and the tenders "Highflyer" and "Cockchafer", anchored off theOcracoke bar, in the Outer Banks ofNorth Carolina . They had on board detachments of troops under the orders of Lieutenant Colonel Napier. An advanced division of the best pulling boats commanded by Lieutenant Westphall and carrying armed seamen and marines from "Sceptre" attacked the enemy's shipping. They were supported by Captain Ross with the rocket-boats. The flat and heavier boats followed with the bulk of the 102nd Regiment and the artillery.The only opposition came from a
brig , "Anacondo", 18, and aprivateer schooner , "Atlas", 10, which were the only armed vessels in the anchorage. When they were attacked by Lieutenant Westphall and some rockets, the brig was abandoned and the schooner struck. The troops took possession ofPortsmouth Island andOcracoke Island without opposition. Her final years were spent in the Channel in the blockade of the French fleet. In 1815, "Sceptre" was decommissioned at Chatham. After a period in the fleet reserve, she was finally broken up at Chatham in 1821.References
*Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
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