A |  B |  C |  D |  E |  F |  G |  H |  I |  J |  K |  L |  M |  N |  O |  P |  Q |  R |  S |  T |  U |  V |  W |  X |  Y |  Z

Use quotes like in "Aboukir Bay" to search phrases.
Use * as a wildcard like in "Trafalg*".



ATALANTE Built in 1808, Bermuda.
Lost in 1813.

  • 1807 Frederick HICKEY, 04/1807, to the sloop then being built in Bermuda.
  • 1808 Ditto, Halifax.
    In July 1812 ATALANTE captured a ship of 359 tons bound for Salem from Civita Vecchia laden with wine, brandy and silks and in December she took the American privateer brig TULIP from Philadelphia.
    Reports being spread around that the British ships in Halifax would not fight American frigates prompted the ship's companies of ORPHEUS and ATALANTE to address letters to their officers stressing their loyalty.
    That from ATALANTE in February 1813 had the following signatures: J. Fowler, boatswain's mate; D. Wilson & J. Wilson, capts. maintop; T. Smith & W. Dixon, capts.
    foretop; R. Hillary, gunner's mate; S. Shanks, ship's corporal; D. Boys, ditto, mate; T. Taylor, quartermaster; J. Hear, capt. after-guard; W. Howell, sailmaker; W. Crose, coxswain; R. Bishop, quarter master; T. Balfour, quarter-master's mate; A. Butlin, yeoman of powder room; J. Stevens, sergeant. marines; W. Armitage, corporal of marines.
  • In May 1813 she towed into Halifax five prizes laden with cotton, indigo, etc.
  • She arrived in Halifax on 10 August from the Chesapeake with a report that the Americans had attempted to blow up PLANTAGENET in Lynnhaven Bay using a torpedo.
  • Off New London on Thursday 4 November 1813 HICKEY received orders from Capt. OLIVER to sail to Halifax with despatches and to re-provision.
    On Monday morning the weather became foggy and the following morning she was wrecked off Halifax by running on the Sisters Rocks, or the eastern ledge, off Sambro Is.
    having mistaken guns fired by the BARROSA frigate for the fog-signal guns at the lighthouse on the same island. These guns were normally fired for the guidance of HM ships entering Halifax in thick weather.
    In 12 minutes ATALANTE was torn to bits; the crew swam to the boats, spars, casks, anything that was floating. HICKEY, who was the last to leave, managed to distribute the crew amongst the boats and, after two hours they found a fisherman who piloted them into Portuguese Cove, the boats containing 133 persons.
    The subsequent court martial acquitted Cdr. HICKEY, the officers and the company of all blame.


back  |  intro  |  home  |  contact

© 1995, 2007 Michael Phillips