HMS Guerriere (1806)

HMS "Guerriere" was a 38-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy. She was originally captured from the French, and was famously commanded by Captain James Richard Dacres when she was captured by the "USS Constitution" in the War of 1812.

Career with the French

ailing with the "Duguay-Trouin"

"Guerrière" served with the French Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. She was with the 74-gun third-rate "Duguay-Trouin" on 24 July 1803, when the latter ship was spotted by a British ship off Cape Picolet. The 74-gun HMS "Elephant", under Captain George Dundas gave chase, and the two ships exchanged several broadsides. The 18-gun sloop HMS "Snake" appeared on the north-west quarter, but the "Elephant", either because of the appearance of "Guerrière" to windward, or for another unexplained cause, failed to maintain her position alongside the "Duguay-Trouin". Consequently, both French ships were able to escape.

The "Duguay-Trouin" and "Guerrière" made for the European coast, eventually making the port of Ferrol, Spain. On 29 August they were spotted by the 38-gun frigate HMS "Boadicea", under the command of Captain John Maitland. Unable to make out what the unknown ships he had sighted were, he gave chase. Before nightfall he had discerned that the ships were enemies, but heavy fog made it impossible to determine their disposition until just after midday on 31 August, where it became clear that one of them was a 74 gunner, and together were more than a match for the "Boadicea". He nevertheless continued to close and tested the Frenchmen's resolve with a broadside. After an ineffectual but vocal reply had revealed to him that the French ships were fully manned and armed, Maitland brought his ship around and began to escape. The French attempted to pursue but were unable to catch the "Boadicea", and eventually returned to their original course.

The two ships arrived off Cape Prior on 2 September, when they were again spotted, this time by a British squadron under the command of Commodore Sir Edward Pellew. The only ship ready and able to pursue the French was HMS "Culloden", under the command of Captain Barrington Dacres. He immediately gave chase and after a chase, managed to close the French and open fire. The "Duguay-Trouin", being the weathermost ship, got first into Corunna. The forts defending the port opened fire on the "Culloden", but she continued to engage the "Guerrière", until almost within the port, at which point she hauled off and returned to the squadron. The "Culloden" suffered four men wounded, whilst the "Guerrière" had suffered considerable damage to her masts and rigging and had lost six men killed and 15, including her captain and first lieutenant, wounded.

Battling HMS "Blanche"

"Guerrière" was despatched from Lorient on 28 March 1806 in company with the frigates "Revanche" and "Syrène", and the brig-corvette "Néarque", with orders to attack and destroy British and Russian whalers in the Arctic, off Greenland. She became separated from the rest of the squadron, but was able to capture and burn several whaling vessels. By 16 July, news of her activities, including a recent sighting off the Faroe Islands reached Captain Thomas Lavie aboard the frigate HMS "Blanche", then off the Shetland Islands. The "Blanche" quickly sailed to the reported area and on 18 July, sighted the "Guerrière". By this point "Guerrière" was carrying 50 guns, to the "Blanche"’s 46.

"Blanche" quickly closed the distance, but "Guerrière", perhaps mistaking the British frigate for one of her squadron, did not initially take action. The "Blanche" opened fire at about 15 minutes past midnight, firing two broadsides before the "Guerrière" could respond. A fierce fight followed, with the "Guerrière" eventually surrendering at half past one that morning, having lost her mizzenmast. "Blanche" had suffered light damage and four men wounded out of her complement of 265. The "Guerrière" had suffered considerable damage to her lower masts, as well as to her hull, both above and below the waterline. Out of her complement of 350, 20 of her officers, seamen and marines had been killed, whilst another 30 were wounded, ten of them seriously. Many of the French crew had been ill below decks during the engagement. The "Guerrière" had been aiming to cripple the "Blanche" by firing to bring down her masts, so that the "Guerrière" might escape. When this failed, the "Guerrière" was eventually worn down and forced to strike.

"Blanche" escorted the "Guerrière" back to Britain, arriving with her prize on 26 July in Yarmouth Roads. The "Guerrière" was commissioned into the Navy, after a repair and refit which brought her to 48 guns. The captain of the "Blanche" was knighted and the first lieutenant was promoted.

As HMS "Guerriere"

"Guerriere" spent 1807 fitting out at Chatham Dockyard, and entered active duty in 1808 under the command of Captain Alexander Skene. She was based out of Jamaica and on 15 February she captured the French privateer brig "Malvina", of Nantes. The "Malvina" was commanded by René Salaun and carried 14 guns and 60 men. She had been travelling with her prize, the British ship "Juliana", which was also retaken.

In July 1808, the master of an American brig claimed the protection of a convoy from Jamaica, which was being escorted by the 64-gun HMS "Veteran". The American travelled with the convoy for part of its journey, but twenty four hours after leaving its protection, he betrayed the strength and course of the convoy to the French. The French privateer cutter "Peraty", under the command of M. Maurison, took up position in the convoy's path, hoping to capture some of the ships. She was surprised by the "Guerrière" and captured after a chase lasting 24 hours. After being taken, she was found to be HMS "Barbara", which had been captured by the French privateer "General Ernouf" on 17 September 1807. After being captured she had been sailed to Charlestown, where she had been refitted. She had sailed again on 10 September, having been furnished with supplies and provisions for three months of raiding.

In 1809 "Guerriere" was under the command of Captain Robert Lloyd, formerly of HMS "Hussar". He was replaced in 1810 by Captain Samuel John Pechell, and in October that year, "Guerriere" sailed to Halifax. Pechell stayed with the "Guerriere" until July 1811, when he returned to his previous ship, HMS "Cleopatra". He was replaced by Captain James Richard Dacres, and in April 1811, she sailed for the Halifax Station.

Fighting USS "Constitution"

During the afternoon of 19 August 1812, Latitude 40.20 N and Longitude 55.00 West about 400 miles S.E. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a sail was sighted on the weather beam bearing down on them. She was soon made out to be a man-of-war and "Guerriere" prepared for action mustering 244 men and 19 boys at quarters. When the enemy hoisted American colours, Captain Dacres permitted the Americans in his crew to quit their guns.

The two ships exchanged broadsides for half an hour before the enemy closed her starboard beam and sent "HMS Guerriere's" mizzen mast overboard. Switching to the other bow, the enemy raked "HMS Guerriere" and swept her decks with grapeshot and musket fire, and then attempted to board. Samuel Grant, master's mate commanding the forecastle, was badly wounded and at about the same time Robert Scott, the master, was shot through the knee and the Captain severely wounded. Captain Dacres ordered Lieutenant Bartholomew Kent to lead the marines and boarders from the main deck towards the forecastle but the two ships parting at that moment meant that they were able to bring some of the bow guns to bear on the enemy. William J. Snow, master's mate, commanded the fore-most main deck guns and John Garby, acting purser, the after quarter deck guns.

The two ships were clear of each other when "Guerriere's" fore and main-masts went over the side leaving her an unmanageable wreck. They managed to clear the wreckage but while they were rolling with the main deck guns under water, the enemy came within pistol range to rake them. At this point Captain Dacres called his remaining officers together and they agreed to strike the colours to avoid further loss of life. Fifteen men were killed, including the second lieutenant, Mr Henry Ready; six mortally wounded, 39 severely and eighteen slightly wounded. Lieutenant Kent was wounded by a splinter early on.

They found that the enemy was the heavy frigate USS "Constitution" under Captain Isaac Hull armed with thirty 24-pounders on the main deck, twenty-four 32-pounders and two bored out 18-pounders on the upper deck. Out of 476 men, nine were killed and thirteen wounded. Captain Dacres was surprised and shocked to find a large proportion of British seamen amongst her crew, a number of whom had joined in the boarding party. The "Guerriere" was too badly damaged to take in, so as soon as the wounded had been taken out, she was set on fire by her captors, and the "Constitution" returned to Boston, Massachusetts. Dacres wrote a report of the action to the commander of the North American Station ,Vice-Admiral Herbert Sawyer. A court-martial was held on board HMS "Africa" at Halifax on 2 October. It found that Captain Dacres was justified in surrendering his ship to save the lives of her remaining crew. The court also found that the masts going overboard was due more to their defective nature than the fire of the enemy. Captain Dacres was later given command of the 38-gun fifth rate HMS "Tiber".

References

*Colledge
*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.
* British Public Record Office, Admiralty 1/502, Part 4, 541-45.
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/war1812/const5.htm Naval Historical Center: Historical Documents]