Capture of HMS Boxer
Encyclopedia
The capture of HMS Boxer in 1813 was a naval battle of the War of 1812
, in which the United States Navy
brig USS Enterprise
defeated the Royal Navy
brig
HMS Boxer
. The ship was sold at auction and continued for at least a decade as a merchantman. However, six US Navy ships would eventually carry the name.
of 14 guns with 66 men off Pemaquid Point, Maine
, and closed on the enemy brig. Interestingly, the Boxer was in the area having for a fee escorted an American merchantman with Swedish papers from New Brunswick to the Kennebec River. British
Captain Samuel Blythe prepared for a fight to the finish, nailing one flag to the foremast. On the Enterprise, Lieutenant William Burrows demonstrated similar resolve. He moved one of his two long 9-pounders from the bow to a stern port, asserting: " We are going to fight both ends and both sides of this ship as long as the ends and the sides hold together."
The two brigs opened fire. Captain Blyth was killed during the initial fusillade, and Captain Burrows suffered a mortal wound moments later. The fierce contest ended in 30 minutes with the HMS Boxer
in ruins. The management of the Enterprise devolved on Lieutenant Edward McCall
, while Lieutenant David McGrery found himself in command of the battered HMS Boxer
. The dying Captain Burrows declined to accept Captain Blythe's sword, directing it be sent to the family of the dead British captain. "I am satisfied, I die contented," Captain Burrows exclaimed. McCall went into nearby Portland, Maine with the two ships and the casualties.
A court martial later found that a number of British seamen had deserted their quarters during the action.
during the battle but lived for two more years.
, in the capture of Cayenne
. Blythe was also one of the pall-bearers of our lamented James Lawrence
, when buried at Halifax, Nova Scotia
.
It was his fate now to receive like courtesy at the hands of his enemy. His remains, in company with those of the brave Burrows
, were brought to Portland , where they were interred with military honours.
It was a striking and affecting sight, to behold two gallant commanders, who had lately been arrayed in deadly hostility against each other, descending into one quiet grave, there to mingle their dust peacefully together. "
This battle was referenced by Longfellow in his poem "My Lost Youth":
"I remember the sea-fight far away,
How it thundered o'er the tide!
And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o'erlooking the tranquil bay
Where they in battle died.
And the sound of that mournful song
Goes through me with a thrill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, in which the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
brig USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (1799)
The third USS Enterprise, a schooner, was built by Henry Spencer at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1799, and placed under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw...
defeated the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
brig
Brig
A brig is a sailing vessel with two square-rigged masts. During the Age of Sail, brigs were seen as fast and manoeuvrable and were used as both naval warships and merchant vessels. They were especially popular in the 18th and early 19th centuries...
HMS Boxer
HMS Boxer (1812)
HMS Boxer was a 12-gun built and launched in July 1812. The ship had a short service history with the Royal Navy before the 16-gun USS Enterprise captured her near Portland, Maine in September 1813. She then went to have at least a decade-long commercial career.-Design and construction:The Bold...
. The ship was sold at auction and continued for at least a decade as a merchantman. However, six US Navy ships would eventually carry the name.
Battle
On 5 September 1813, the USS Enterpise of 16 guns with 102 men sighted HMS BoxerHMS Boxer (1812)
HMS Boxer was a 12-gun built and launched in July 1812. The ship had a short service history with the Royal Navy before the 16-gun USS Enterprise captured her near Portland, Maine in September 1813. She then went to have at least a decade-long commercial career.-Design and construction:The Bold...
of 14 guns with 66 men off Pemaquid Point, Maine
Bristol, Maine
Bristol is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,644 at the 2000 census. A fishing and resort area, Bristol includes the villages of New Harbor, Pemaquid, Round Pond, Bristol Mills and Chamberlain. It includes the Pemaquid Archeological Site, a U.S. National...
, and closed on the enemy brig. Interestingly, the Boxer was in the area having for a fee escorted an American merchantman with Swedish papers from New Brunswick to the Kennebec River. British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
Captain Samuel Blythe prepared for a fight to the finish, nailing one flag to the foremast. On the Enterprise, Lieutenant William Burrows demonstrated similar resolve. He moved one of his two long 9-pounders from the bow to a stern port, asserting: " We are going to fight both ends and both sides of this ship as long as the ends and the sides hold together."
The two brigs opened fire. Captain Blyth was killed during the initial fusillade, and Captain Burrows suffered a mortal wound moments later. The fierce contest ended in 30 minutes with the HMS Boxer
HMS Boxer (1812)
HMS Boxer was a 12-gun built and launched in July 1812. The ship had a short service history with the Royal Navy before the 16-gun USS Enterprise captured her near Portland, Maine in September 1813. She then went to have at least a decade-long commercial career.-Design and construction:The Bold...
in ruins. The management of the Enterprise devolved on Lieutenant Edward McCall
Edward McCall
Captain Edward R. McCall was an officer in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.Born in South Carolina, McCall was appointed midshipman 1 January 1808...
, while Lieutenant David McGrery found himself in command of the battered HMS Boxer
HMS Boxer (1812)
HMS Boxer was a 12-gun built and launched in July 1812. The ship had a short service history with the Royal Navy before the 16-gun USS Enterprise captured her near Portland, Maine in September 1813. She then went to have at least a decade-long commercial career.-Design and construction:The Bold...
. The dying Captain Burrows declined to accept Captain Blythe's sword, directing it be sent to the family of the dead British captain. "I am satisfied, I die contented," Captain Burrows exclaimed. McCall went into nearby Portland, Maine with the two ships and the casualties.
A court martial later found that a number of British seamen had deserted their quarters during the action.
Aftermath
Newspapers in the United States rejoiced in "another brilliant naval victory," one of the few American successes during the second summer of the War of 1812. After two days of planning, authorities conducted an impressive state funeral for the two commanders, and they rest side by side in Portland's Eastern Cemetery. Next to them is the comparable grave of Lieutenant Kerwin Waters who suffered mortal wounds as a midshipmanMidshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
during the battle but lived for two more years.
Quotation
" The commander of the Boxer, Captain Samuel Blythe, was killed early in the action by a cannon ball; had he lived he might have defended his ship more desperately, but it is not probable with more success. He was an officer of distinguished merit; having received a sword from government for his good conduct under Sir James L. YeoJames Lucas Yeo
Sir James Lucas Yeo KCB was a British naval commander who served in the War of 1812.Yeo was born in Southampton on 7 October 1782, and joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman at the age of 10. He first saw action as a lieutenant aboard a brig in the Adriatic Sea, and distinguished himself during the...
, in the capture of Cayenne
Cayenne
Cayenne is the capital of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. The city stands on a former island at the mouth of the Cayenne River on the Atlantic coast. The city's motto is "Ferit Aurum Industria" which means "Work brings wealth"...
. Blythe was also one of the pall-bearers of our lamented James Lawrence
James Lawrence
James Lawrence was an American naval officer. During the War of 1812, he commanded the USS Chesapeake in a single-ship action against HMS Shannon...
, when buried at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
.
It was his fate now to receive like courtesy at the hands of his enemy. His remains, in company with those of the brave Burrows
Burrows
Burrows is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created by redistribution in 1957, and formally came into existence in the provincial election of 1958. The riding is located in the northern part of Winnipeg....
, were brought to Portland , where they were interred with military honours.
It was a striking and affecting sight, to behold two gallant commanders, who had lately been arrayed in deadly hostility against each other, descending into one quiet grave, there to mingle their dust peacefully together. "
This battle was referenced by Longfellow in his poem "My Lost Youth":
"I remember the sea-fight far away,
How it thundered o'er the tide!
And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o'erlooking the tranquil bay
Where they in battle died.
And the sound of that mournful song
Goes through me with a thrill:
"A boy's will is the wind's will,
And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."