Action of 1813/07/29, 29th July 1813

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Action of 1813-07-29

29th July 1813
Part of : The War of 1812 (1812 - 1814)
Previous action : Action of 1813-06-20 20.6.1813
Next action : Argus vs Pelican 14.8.1813
 

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

 
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Junon (38) 1810-1817
British 38 Gun
5th Rate Frigate
James SandersBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1792-1814
Martin (18) 1809-1817
British 18 Gun
Unrated Sloop
Humphrey Fleming SenhouseBritish
Naval Sailor
Service 1797-1841
 

United States of America

 
Delaware Flotilla,
Samuel AngusAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1824
Ship NameCommanderNotes
Buffalo (5) 1813-1816
American 5 Gun
Unrated Block Sloop
Samuel AngusAmerican
Naval Sailor
Service 1799-1824
Fleet Flagship
Camel (4) 1813-1816
American 4 Gun
Unrated Sloop
 
Gunboat No. 121 (1) 1813-1813
American 1 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
 7 killed and wounded Captured
Gunboat No. 125 (1) 1813-1813
American 1 Gun
Unrated Gunboat
L. MoliereAmerican
Naval Sailor
 

Notes on Action


DescriptionTRN6
On that occasion the Junon did little better than the gunboats; but she had her revenge a month later. On July 29th she was in Delaware Bay with the ship-sloop Martin, 18, Commander Humphrey Fleming Senhouse, when the latter grounded on the outside of Crow's Shoal. The frigate anchored within supporting distance; and shortly afterwards the two ships were attacked by a flotilla of ten American gunboats. Besides the usual disadvantages of gunboats, these particular ones suffered under an additional handicap, for their powder was so bad that all of the officers had joined in a solemn protest to the Navy Department, and had stated that it was unfit for service. The flotilla kept at a distance which permitted an hour's cannonading with no damage to anybody, their own shot failing to reach even the brig, while those of the frigate occasionally passed over them. During the firing, gunboat No. 121, Sailing-Master Shead, drifted a mile and a half away from her consorts. This gave the British an opportunity, of which they took prompt advantage. They made a dash for No. 121 in seven boats, containing one hundred and forty men, under the command of Lieutenant Philip Westphal. Mr. Shead anchored, and made an obstinate defence; but at the second discharge of his long-gun the carriage was almost torn to pieces, and he was reduced to the use of small-arms. The British boats advanced steadily, firing their boat carronades and musketry, and carried the gunboat by boarding, though not without a loss of three killed or mortally wounded, and four wounded, while seven of the twenty-five members of the gunboat's crew suffered likewise.
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