Another Account of Naval Skirmish Off Pelham During the War of 1812

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The War of 1812 was fought from June 18, 1812 to February 18, 1815 between the United States and the United Kingdom (as well as certain of the U.K.'s North American colonies and Native American allies).  Long Island Sound from Gardiners Island on the East to Hell Gate on the West was strategically important as a principal transportation waterway leading to New York City.  Thus it should come as no surprise that there were naval engagements, naval skirmishes, and captures of prizes in the waters off Pelham during 1813 and 1814. 

I have written before about Pelham and the War of 1812.  For examples, see: 

Bell, Blake A., The War of 1812 Reaches Westchester County, The Westchester Historian, Vol. 86, No. 2, pp. 36-47 (Spring 2012). 

Mon., Oct. 10, 2016:  More About British and American Naval Activities Off the Coast of Pelham During the War of 1812.

Mon., Mar. 30, 2009:  Orders Issued from Pelham During the War of 1812. 

Thu., Nov. 09, 2006:  Accounts of Two Witnesses to Skirmish That Occurred Off the Shores of New Rochelle and Pelham in the War of 1812. 

Fri., Jun. 16, 2006:  Period News Reports Shed Some Light on Pelham During the War of 1812.

Today's Historic Pelham article provides yet another account of British and American naval activities off the coast of Pelham during the War of 1812.  The account was published in the September 24, 1813 issue of The Advertiser, published in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.  

During early September, 1813, British naval vessels moved into Long Island Sound off the shores of Connecticut and New York's Westchester County.  Commodore Lewis already had assembled a small flotilla of about thirty small U.S. Navy gunboats stationed in New York City.  

Though America was at war with the British, the appearance of the British Navy in Long Island Sound was “unexpected."  See British Squadron in the Sound, New-York Spectator, Sep. 11, 1813, Vol. XV, No. 1618, p. 2, col. 2.  According to one newspaper account, for a distance of twenty miles along both sides of the Sound the militia “everywhere crouded [sic] to the shore to prevent the enemy from landing and to protect the exposed property of their fellow citizens."  Id.

On Monday, September 6, 1813, the British frigate Acasta, the sloop of war Atalanta and several “tenders” left anchorage in Gardiners Bay and moved westward in Long Island Sound toward New York City.  See Depredations in the Sound, N.Y. Herald, Sep. 11, 1813, Issue No. 1229, p. 3, col. 3.  The Panic-stricken crews of American vessels in their paths sailed for dear life, attempting to flee the naval vessels and avoid capture as war "prizes."  Among such ships were the many “coasters,” barges, and market boats that regularly traveled up and down Long Island Sound to supply New York City with butter, cheese, vegetables and more.  See id. 

Many of the little vessels were too slow to escape the British Navy.  The first to be captured was the packet Amazon under the command of Captain J. Conklin.  See Latest from the Enemy's Squadron, in the Sound, Voice of the Nation, Sep. 11, 1813, Vol. 1, No. 13, p. 3, col. 1.  Among the passengers on board were “several ladies, Mr. John Slesson, Mr. John Graham, a lieutenant in the U. States army, and Mr. Stephen Ketchum”.  See id.  A second ship escaped by heading to shallow waters near “Hog Island” (today’s Travers Island on the border between Pelham and New Rochelle).  See id.  At about sundown, the British captured five more sloops off Lloyd’s Neck”.  See id.  According to one account, the British “succeeded in capturing almost every sloop that was then out” including many of the coasters that supplied the City with butter, cheese and vegetables.  See Depredations in the Sound, supra.  According to the report, at one point British barges made it to City Island in the Town of Pelham and "were seen in possession of about 30 sail of vessels."  (See below.)

At the time, Pelham residents and other citizens who lived on both sides of Long Island Sound from New York City to Connecticut and even beyond were under arms, ready to meet a British invasion.  A company of flying artillery stationed in New York City was sent northeast to New Rochelle to help repel any such invasion.  

At about 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 9, the American flotilla approached the British ships in Long Island Sound.  According to one account, the American gunboats positioned themselves across the Sound stretching from Huckleberry Island (just off the shores of New Rochelle and Pelham) to Sands Point.  Wilson, George N., The Invasion of New Rochelle in 1813, The Westchester Historian, Vol. 40, No. 2, p. 27 (Apr. May Jun. 1964).  The same account notes:  

“Each gun boat carried a crew of thirty-six men.  On a carriage on the main deck, each carried one twenty pound long gun, and some of them also had a howitzer.  They were forty five feet long, usually rowed or towed, as they carried no sails.  One must realize that these gun boats were no match for the frigate or the sloop of war.  A frigate was the largest fighting ship afloat at that time; it was a three masted, fore and aft rigged vessel of broad beam, mounting forty-four guns on two decks.  The sloop of war was single masted fore and aft, of broad beam, mounting eighteen to thirty-two guns on one deck.”  Id., pp. 27-28. 

After the American ships maneuvered into position, a British sloop of war hoisted sails and approached Huckleberry Island.  Id., p. 28.  One of many naval skirmishes of the War of 1812 was about to begin, just off Pelham and New Rochelle shores. 

As the sloop sailed within range, the American gunboats opened fire.  A cannonade followed, with guns blasting and echoing across the shores of Pelham.  

Clearly the skirmish was minor in the scheme of things.  One newspaper account described the entire engagement as follows:  “our flotilla approached so near to one of the British vessels, as to exchange several shot with her.”  British Squadron in the Sound, supra.  However, according to the same account, the American ship that exchanged shots with the British was “unwilling to hazard a contest” and withdrew eastward. Id. A modern analysis of the engagement published in The Westchester Historian in 1964 described the skirmish as a “naval engagement” that consisted of a “cannonade going for a few hours.”  The Invasion of New Rochelle in 1813, supra.  Yet another account suggests that the engagement lasted about an hour.  See Lindsley, Charles E., Pelham [Chapter XVII] in History of Westchester County, New York, Including Morrisania, Kings Bridge, and West Farms, Which have Been Annexed to New York City, Vol. I, pp. 705-06 (Scharf, Thomas, ed., Philadelphia, PA: L. E. Preston & Co., 1886).

The newspaper account of the engagement published in The Advertiser and quoted in full below described the skirmish off the shores of Pelham as follows:

"the flotilla of gun boats, 30 in number, under Commodore Lewis, passed thro [sic] Hurl-gate [i.e., Hell Gate] on Thursday to Sand's Point where, after manoeuvering against a strong tide, they commenced firing at 2 and half miles distance.  A frigate supposed to be the Acasta then drew out with the apparent intention of bring the flotilla to close action; but which the gun boats were obliged to avoid, owing to the wind being too high to admit of fighting to advantage; and after exchanging 20 or 30 shots, the flotilla came to anchor, and the frigate joined her consorts.  The latest accounts of the enemy say that they have returned to the eastward."  (See below.)

While most in Pelham have heard of the Battle of Pelham on October 18, 1776 during the Revolutionary War, few have heard of the naval skirmish off the Shores of Pelham on September 9, 1813 during the War of 1812.  Pelham, it seems, long has been at the crossroads of history. . . . 

British Warship During War of 1812 Like Those that Prowled the 

Waters Off Pelham and New Rochelle. NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

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Below is another brief account of the skirmish off the shores of Pelham in 1813.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.  

"NEW-YORK, Sept. 11.

We are sorry to announce, that two Frigates and a sloop of War have come down Sound within about 20 miles of this city, off Maroneck [i.e., Mamaroneck], and have made many prizes of coasting, wood and market boats.  Indeed it is said that their barges had been down to City Island about 16 miles from this city, and that on Tuesday they were seen in possession of about 30 sail of vessels, and that they had landed near Rye and taken off about 80 sheep.  The inhabitants from Haerlem to Stamford are under arms, and a company of flying artillery have gone from this city to New-Rochelle; also the flotilla of gun boats, 30 in number, under Commodore Lewis, passed thro [sic] Hurl-gate [i.e., Hell Gate] on Thursday to Sand's Point where, after manoeuvering against a strong tide, they commenced firing at 2 and half miles distance.  A frigate supposed to be the Acasta then drew out with the apparent intention of bring the flotilla to close action; but which the gun boats were obliged to avoid, owing to the wind being too high to admit of fighting to advantage; and after exchanging 20 or 30 shots, the flotilla came to anchor, and the frigate joined her consorts.  The latest accounts of the enemy say that they have returned to the eastward."

Source:  NEW-YORK, Sept. 11, The Advertiser [Wilkes-Barre, PA], Sep. 24, 1813 p. 3, col. 2 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).  

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