USS Wasp (1807)

In 1808 Wasp was heavily involved in supporting Jefferson's Embargo, including delivering an army garrison from New York City to Passamaquoddy in June, patrolling Casco Bay, Maine, in the winter of 1808–1809, and remaining at Portland until May, 1809. Until 1809 she was commanded by Master Commandant John Smith.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/essexinstitutehi63esse|title=Essex Institute historical collections.|last=Essex Institute.|publisher=Essex Institute|year=1927|oclc=6140167}} In the final weeks of 1810, she was operating from the ports of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, presumably patrolling the waters along southern Atlantic coast. In 1811, she sailed to Hampton Roads, Virginia, where she and the brig {{USS|Nautilus|1799|2}} joined frigates {{USS|United States|1797|2}} and {{USS|Congress|1799|2}} in forming a squadron commanded by Commodore Stephen Decatur.U.S.Navy, DANFS, Wasp prgh.1

On 9 March 1812 Wasp sailed from New York for France to deliver an Anglo-Irish mercenary named John Henry who had sold intelligence to President Madison indicating Britain's interest in determining if the New England states wished to secede from the union. The correspondence, known as the Henry Papers, helped build outrage in Congress against Britain that led to the declaration of war, however the documents are now widely believed to have been a forgery.{{Cite web |url=http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/history/faculty/roberson/course/1483/suppl/chpX/JohnHenry.htm |title=University of Central Oklahoma - John Henry |access-date=2007-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906075814/http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/history/faculty/roberson/course/1483/suppl/chpX/JohnHenry.htm |archive-date=2006-09-06 |url-status=dead }}

File:The Wasp Boarding the Frolic.jpg

Wasp, under the command of Master Commandant Jacob Jones continued to operate along the coast of the middle states after the United States went to war with Britain in June 1812.Roosevelt, 1883 p.100 On 13 October, she sailed from the Delaware River, two days later she encountered a heavy gale that tore away her jib boom and washed two crewmen overboard. The following evening, Wasp encountered a squadron of ships and, in spite of the fact that two of their number appeared to be large men-of-war, made for them straight away. She finally caught the enemy convoy the following morning and discovered six merchantmen under the protection of a 22-gun sloop-of-war, HMS Frolic.Roosevelt, 1883 pp.104-106U.S.Navy, DANFS, Wasp prgh.3

At half past eleven in the morning of 18 October, Wasp and Frolic closed to do battle. The engagement would be the first and only time Wasp saw combat. The two ships commenced fire at a distance of {{convert|50|to|60|yd|m}}. In a short, sharp, fight, both ships sustained heavy damage to masts and rigging, but Wasp prevailed over her adversary by boarding her. The victory was short lived however. Unfortunately for Wasp, a British 74-gun ship-of-the-line, {{HMS|Poictiers|1809|6}}, appeared on the scene. Frolic was crippled and Wasp{{'}}s rigging and sails were badly damaged. At 4:00 PM Jones had no choice but to surrender Wasp; he could neither run nor fight such an overwhelming opponent.Malcomson, 2006 p.429{{main|Capture of HMS Frolic}}

Wasp was briefly given the name Loup Cervier on her capture.Winfield (2008), p.273.{{efn|Loup cervier is the French name for the Canada lynx.}} She was commissioned in 1813 on the Halifax station under Captain Charles Gill. Captain William William Mends succeeded Gill,

{{cite web|url=http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_ii.pdf|title=NMM, vessel ID 370580|work=Warship Histories, vol ii|publisher=National Maritime Museum|access-date=30 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110802041610/http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_ii.pdf|archive-date=2 August 2011|df=dmy-all}} taking command on 26 February 1813.

In June Loup Cervier was off New London, where she helped blockade the squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur. James Biddle, who had been first lieutenant of Wasp, had become captain of {{USS|Hornet|1805 brig|6}}. He issued a challenge to Mends that their two vessels meet in an engagement. Decatur forbade the engagement until he was sure that it would be an even match. The day after he gave his assent Loup Cervier left New London to patrol elsewhere.Dennie (2009), Vol. 3, pp.400-1.

Thereafter Loup Cervier captured or recaptured four vessels. On 27 June she captured the schooner Little Bill, John Roach master, which had been sailing from St Bartholomew to North Carolina. She was carrying a cargo of sugar and molasses. Little Bill was restored.Essex Institute, Vol. 46, p.318. Another report gives the vessel's name as Little Bell.Lloyd's List, no.4803,[http://www.1812privateers.org/LLOYDS/1813/09-10-1813.jpg] - accessed 2 February 2014.

Then on 28 August Loup Cervier captured the ship Hope, of 468 tons (bm), J. Emery master. Hope was sailing from Lisbon to Newport, Rhode Island, with a cargo of salt. She too was restored.Essex Institute, Vol. 46, p.268.

On 29 October Loup Cervier recaptured the brig John and Mary, T. Collins, master.Essex Institute, Vol. 46, p.272. Lastly, Loup Cervier was one of four British warships that shared in the capture of the sloop Emeline, of 44 tons (bm), O. Adams, master. Emeline was sailing from New York to Rhode Island with a cargo of 240 barrels of flour.Essex Institute, Vol. 46, p.158.

At some point Loup Cervier was renamed Peacock, Hornet having captured and sunk the {{sclass|Cruizer|brig-sloop}} {{HMS|Peacock|1806|2}} in February 1813. Mends was appointed to command of {{HMS|Terpsichore|1785|2}} on 23 March 1814.Mends (1899), p.350. Peacock may then have been briefly under the command of Captain G. Donnett.

{{cite web|url=http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_iii.pdf|title=NMM, vessel ID 372995|work=Warship Histories, vol iii|publisher=National Maritime Museum|access-date=30 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110802041552/http://www.nmm.ac.uk/upload/pdf/Warship_Histories_Vessels_iii.pdf|archive-date=2 August 2011|df=dmy-all}} In April or shortly thereafter Commander Richard Coote of {{HMS|Borer|1812|2}} was promoted to post captain and transferred to Peacock.Naval Chronicle, Vol. 37, p.190.

Peacock was one of the five British warships that on 21 April 1814 captured the Swedish brig Minerva.{{London Gazette|page=1964|issue=16941|date=1 October 1814}} Then on 15 May, Peacock recaptured the Swedish ship Providentia, of four guns, 400 tons, and 17 men. She had been sailing from Amelia Island to Lisbon with a cargo of pine, cedar, etc. when an American privateer had captured her. That same day, Peacock recaptured the Russian ship Hendrick, of eight guns, 80 tons, and 13 men. She had been sailing from Amelia Island to Amsterdam with a cargo of pine and cotton when captured.{{London Gazette|page=1640 |issue=16925|date=13 August 1814}}

Peacock was under Coote's command when she disappeared off the Virginia Capes.Hepper (1994), p.150. She apparently had foundered on 23 July 1814.{{Cite news |title=Ship News |newspaper=The Morning Post|date=2 August 1814 |issue=13581 }}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite journal|last=Smith|first=Joshua|title="'So Far Distant from the Eyes of Authority:' Jefferson's Embargo and the U.S. Navy, 1807-1809," in|journal= New Interpretations in Naval History: Selected Papers from the Twelfth Naval History Symposium|year=1998|pages=123–140}}
• {{cite book |last=Roosevelt |first=Theodore |title=The naval war of 1812 |ref=Roosevelt |year=1883 |publisher=
  G.P. Putnam's sons, New York |pages=541}} [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_Fb1CAAAAYAAJ Url]
• Dennie, Joseph (2009) The Port Folio. (Books LLC). Vol. 3. {{ISBN|978-0-217-30861-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Cooper |first=James Fenimore |title=History of the navy of the United States of America |ref=Cooper |year=1856 |publisher=
  Stringer & Townsend, New York |pages=508 |oclc=197401914}} [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_WK3mWOlYYNsC Url]
• {{cite book |last=Malcomson |first=Robert |ref=Malcomson |title=Historical dictionary of the War of 1812 |publisher=
  Scarecrow Press/Rowman & Littfield, Maryland, 1991 |year=2006 |pages=701 |isbn=978-0-8108-5499-4}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=DRqpoBEEoloC Url]
• Essex Institute, Peabody Essex Museum (1910) Essex Institute historical collections. (Essex Institute Press).
• {{cite book|last=Hepper|first=David J.|year=1994|title=British Warship Losses in the Age of Sail, 1650-1859|publisher=Jean Boudriot|location=Rotherfield|isbn=0-948864-30-3}}
• Mends, Bowen Stilon (1899) Life of Admiral Sir William Robert Mends, G. C. B.: late director of transports. (J. Murray).
• {{cite book |first=Rif|last=Winfield|title=British Warships in the Age of Sail 1793–1817: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates|publisher=Seaforth|year=2008|isbn=978-1-86176-246-7}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w3/wasp-ii.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040321231158/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w3/wasp-ii.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2004 |last=Dept U.S.Navy |title=Wasp |publisher=
  DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER |work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |ref=Trumbull, USN |access-date=18 October 2011}}

• Naval tactics in the Age of Sail
• Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)
• Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)
• List of ships captured in the 19th century
• List of sailing frigates of the United States Navy
• List of sloops of war of the United States Navy
• Bibliography of early American naval history

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Category:War of 1812 ships of the United States

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Category:Vessels captured from the United States Navy

Category:Shipwrecks of the Virginia coast

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