The Burning of the Ships - 1814
Dublin Core
Title
The Burning of the Ships - 1814
Subject
Bicentennial quilt; ships; War of 1812; Essex, Connecticut
Description
During the war of 1812, part of the British fleet was detailed to cruise Long Island Sound in order, among other things, to blockade New London Harbor. The commander of that fleet suspected the ship-owners of Essex of having a conspiracy to destroy his vessels, thereby raising the blockade. Thus, on the evening of April 7, 1814, he sent six ships, carrying approximately 200 men, up the river, providing them with cannon, torches, and other materials for burning Essex shipping.
The British force arrived in Essex waters about four o'clock in the morning on April 8th, having had both wind and tide against them, and attacked the town without warning. The troops proceeded to burn nearly every ship they could find at the various boatyards, in the harbor, and at both the upper and lower coves. Destroyed were five ships, four schooners, eight sloops, four brigantines, one pleasure craft, and a work shop, all at an estimated value of $160,000.
By 10:00 a.m., the assignment was finished and the British left the area and started to move downriver again. However, the wind again had shifted and, rather than sailing into it on this trip also, they anchored and waited until evening. During the day, the militia from Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex began to gather on the shore and about sunset opened fire with a cannon on the British, who, by this time, appeared to have been grounded. Under cover of darkness the troops took to barges and rowed down the river, the militia men continuing their fire upon them and killing eleven.
The square depicts the burning of a brigantine at dawn on April 8, 1814, with the spring colors of the Lyme hills in the background.
The British force arrived in Essex waters about four o'clock in the morning on April 8th, having had both wind and tide against them, and attacked the town without warning. The troops proceeded to burn nearly every ship they could find at the various boatyards, in the harbor, and at both the upper and lower coves. Destroyed were five ships, four schooners, eight sloops, four brigantines, one pleasure craft, and a work shop, all at an estimated value of $160,000.
By 10:00 a.m., the assignment was finished and the British left the area and started to move downriver again. However, the wind again had shifted and, rather than sailing into it on this trip also, they anchored and waited until evening. During the day, the militia from Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex began to gather on the shore and about sunset opened fire with a cannon on the British, who, by this time, appeared to have been grounded. Under cover of darkness the troops took to barges and rowed down the river, the militia men continuing their fire upon them and killing eleven.
The square depicts the burning of a brigantine at dawn on April 8, 1814, with the spring colors of the Lyme hills in the background.
Creator
McCulley, Anne
Publisher
Essex Historical Society
Date
1976
Contributor
Little, Matthew W.
Rights
Essex Historical Society
Format
Digital Image, Adobe pdf
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
Quilt_38
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
During the war of 1812, part of the British fleet was detailed to cruise Long Island Sound in order, among other things, to blockade New London Harbor. The commander of that fleet suspected the ship-owners of Essex of having a conspiracy to destroy his vessels, thereby raising the blockade. Thus, on the evening of April 7, 1814, he sent six ships, carrying approximately 200 men, up the river, providing them with cannon, torches, and other materials for burning Essex shipping.
The British force arrived in Essex waters about four o'clock in the morning on April 8th, having had both wind and tide against them, and attacked the town without warning. The troops proceeded to burn nearly every ship they could find at the various boatyards, in the harbor, and at both the upper and lower coves. Destroyed were five ships, four schooners, eight sloops, four brigantines, one pleasure craft, and a work shop, all at an estimated value of $160,000.
By 10:00 a.m., the assignment was finished and the British left the area and started to move downriver again. However, the wind again had shifted and, rather than sailing into it on this trip also, they anchored and waited until evening. During the day, the militia from Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex began to gather on the shore and about sunset opened fire with a cannon on the British, who, by this time, appeared to have been grounded. Under cover of darkness the troops took to barges and rowed down the river, the militia men continuing their fire upon them and killing eleven.
The square depicts the burning of a brigantine at dawn on April 8, 1814, with the spring colors of the Lyme hills in the background.
The British force arrived in Essex waters about four o'clock in the morning on April 8th, having had both wind and tide against them, and attacked the town without warning. The troops proceeded to burn nearly every ship they could find at the various boatyards, in the harbor, and at both the upper and lower coves. Destroyed were five ships, four schooners, eight sloops, four brigantines, one pleasure craft, and a work shop, all at an estimated value of $160,000.
By 10:00 a.m., the assignment was finished and the British left the area and started to move downriver again. However, the wind again had shifted and, rather than sailing into it on this trip also, they anchored and waited until evening. During the day, the militia from Saybrook, Westbrook and Essex began to gather on the shore and about sunset opened fire with a cannon on the British, who, by this time, appeared to have been grounded. Under cover of darkness the troops took to barges and rowed down the river, the militia men continuing their fire upon them and killing eleven.
The square depicts the burning of a brigantine at dawn on April 8, 1814, with the spring colors of the Lyme hills in the background.
Original Format
Cloth fabric, quilting square, handicraft art
Collection
Citation
McCulley, Anne, “The Burning of the Ships - 1814,” Essex Library Association digital quilt, accessed May 12, 2024, https://bicentennialquilt.omeka.net/items/show/38.