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SYLPH
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(18) |
Sloop
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Built in 1812, Bermuda.
Lost in 1815. |
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- Although rated an '18' she was armed with sixteen 24-pounder carronades, two long 12-pounders and two 12-pound carronades.
- 1814 George DICKINS.
Halifax.
On 26 August SYLPH joined DRAGON, ENDYMION and BACCHANTE and 10 transports and sailed for the Metinicus Islands off Maine.
Here they were joined by BULWARK, TENEDOS, RIFLEMAN, PERUVIAN and PICTOU. - On the evening of 31 August 1814 SYLPH, PERUVIAN and the transport HARMONY, accompanied by a boat from DRAGON, embarked marines, foot soldiers and a detachment from the Royal Artillery, to move up the Penobscot river.
(Royal Artillery: 20 men with a 5.5 inch howitzer and commanded by Lieut. Garston - Marines: 80 from DRAGON commanded by Captain Captain Carter.
- Soldiers: Companies from 29th., 62nd and 98th. regiments under Captains Gell and Caker, Majors Riddell, Keith and Crosdaile and Captain M'Pherson.
A rifle company of the 7 Bat.
of the 60th. regiment under Captain Ward.
The whole under Lieut. Col. Ward of the 60th.)
The expedition was commanded by Captain Robert BARRIE of DRAGON who embarked in SYLPH, and their objective was the US frigate ADAMS, mounting twenty-six 18 pounders, which had taken refuge some 27 miles up stream at Hamden.
(see RIFLEMAN) Here she had landed her guns and fortified a position on the bank with fifteen 18-pounders commanding the river.
The total enemy force in the area was reckoned to be about 1400 men. - In thick foggy weather it took 2 days to follow the winding channel up river.
One of the enemy was killed and several wounded in exchanges with troops on the eastern bank.
A British force of 150 was landed 3 miles below Hamden to drive back the American picquet and advance on the ADAMS, the vessels in the river keeping station with them.
The Americans were thrown into confusion by a rocket attack and burned the ADAMS before retreated up the road to Bangor where they later surrendered.
Eleven ships were captured and six destroyed and Brigadier General BLAKE and 191 other ranks were paroled to take no further part in any fighting.
On the British side one seaman from the DRAGON was killed and several soldiers wounded. - SYLPH was bound for the SUPERB off New London with dispatches for Ad. HOTHAM from the Delaware when, during thick weather on the dark night of 17 January 1815, SYLPH, standing to the northward under close reefed topsails, struck the Southampton Bar at Shinecock Bay (or Canoe Place) at the east end of Long Island, five miles west of the town. She was beaten over and driven close to the shore but, because of the height of the surf it was impossible to get to the vessel.
Her people were safe in the tops and on the rigging until the sea suddenly capsized the ship and broke her in two drowning the majority of them in the strong undertow.
The purser, William B. PARSONS, and two seamen were saved clinging to pieces of wreckage and three more were saved from the wreck by a boat.
They were all later taken to New York as prisoners of war.
Admiral HOTHAM thanked the local inhabitants for their humane treatment of the survivors. - The officers lost with SYLPH were: Capt. George DICKENS; Lieuts. C. D. BROWN and George BURR; J. STILT, surgeon; William MIRTLOE, master; William BOYD, gunner; James MARSHALL, carpenter; Andrew M'GREGOR, boatswain; Archibald LUNDIE, master's mate; James SERVICE,J. O'HALLORAN and T. F. WILLOUGHBY, midshipmen; W. H. FOX, captain's clerk.
Also lost were 97 seamen and marines.
The bodies were buried at Patchogue, Fife Island, Southampton and Islip.
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