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USC Argus (1803)

Page history last edited by Mark Gutis 2 years, 7 months ago

 

Argus , 16 Gun brig

 

Details

Nationality United States of America
Authorised 1803-Feb-28 B052
Laid Down 1803-May-12 W012
Named 1803-Jun-04 W012
Launched 1803-Aug-21 W012
Shipyard Boston MA W012
Constructor Edmund Hartt W012
Rate Brig  
In Service 1803-Aug-21 W012
Out Service 1813-Aug-14 W012
Fate Captured W012

 

 

Dimensions

Gun Deck Keel Beam Depth Draught Burthen Displacement Source
94' 6"   28' 2" 12' 8"   299   W012

 

Armament

Date Crew Guns Deck B/S Weight Source
1803 142 18 2 x 12, 16 x 24C 204 W012
1813-Aug-14 127 20 2 x 12, 18 x 24C 228 W004
1813-Aug-14 102 20 2 x 12, 18 x 24C 228 B044

 

Commanders

Date From Date to Name Source
1803-Sep 1803-Nov Lieutenant Stephen Decatur W012
1803-Nov   Lieutenant Isaac Hull W012
1812   Arthur Sinclair B044
1813-Jul-24 1813-Aug-14 William Henry Allen W004

 

Officers

Date From Date To Rank/Position Name Source
1803   Lieutenant Joshua Blake B052
1803   Lieutenant Sybrant van Schaick B052
1803   Sailing Master Samuel B Brooks B052
1803   Midshipman William G Stewart B052
1803   Midshipman John Pettigrew B052
1803   Midshipman Samuel G Blodget B052
1803   Midshipman Pascal Paoli Peck B052
1803   Midshipman George Mann B052
  1813-Aug-14 First Lieutenant William H Watson B044
  1813-Aug-14 Second Lieutenant William Howard Allen B044

 

Service record

1803-May-12 Laid down as Merrimack W012
1803-Jun-04 Renamed Argus W012
1803-Sep-08 Sailed from Boston W012
1803-Sep-18 Put into Newport RI W012
1803-Sep-28 Left Newport bound for the Mediterranean W012
1803-Nov-01 Arrived in Gibraltar W012
1804 Cruised the western Mediterranean W012
1804-Mar Ordered to join the rest of Commodore Preble's squadron off Tripoli W012
1804-Apr-30 Took a small sloop prize B052
1804-Jun-19 Arrived off Tripoli in company with the Constitution and Enterprise W012
1804-Jun Went to Syracuse to escort a supply vessel back to Tripoli W012
1804-Jul-07 Resumed blockade off Tripoli W012
1804-Aug-09 Approached Tripoli on a reconnaisance mission with Commodore Preble on board, was hit below the waterline by a single shot W012
1804-Sep-04 Part of the escort for the fire ship Intrepid's attack on Tripoli W012
1805-Apr-27 Participated in the attack on Derna W012
  Took part in a series of defensive actions in a shore bombardment role W012
1805-Jun-11 Left Derna W012
1805 Returned to the United States W012
1805-Jul-13 Arrived at the Washington Navy Yard and laid up in ordinary W012
1807 Refitted and recommissioned she began cruising on the Atlantic coast until 1813 W012
1812-Oct-08 Left New York in company with the President, United States and Congress B044
1812-Oct-12 Left the three frigates for a solo cruise, taking 6 prizes B044
1813-Jan-03 Returned to port B044
1813-Jun-18 Left New York bearing the honorable William H. Crawford, the United States minister to France W012
1813-Jun Took a single prize on the journey B044
1813-Jul-11 Arrived in L'Orient W012
1813-Jul-14 Put to sea W012
1813-Jul Cruised the English Channel and Irish Sea W012
1813-Aug-14 Encountered and taken by the British brig Pelican after a brief engagement W012

 

Actions & Battles

Date   Source
1813-Aug-14 action against the Pelican

 

Notes

 

  •  

  • The cost of building the Argus was $37,428. (B044)

     

  • In the action against the Pelican the Argus lost 10 men killed, including her captain and 13 Wounded. (W012)

     

  • The Argus had captured and burnt many vessels off the Irish coast, including eleven off the Shannon. He captured several in the Bristol Channel when, in a thick fog, he found himself among the Leeward Island fleet. Although the crews he took prisoner praised his good conduct towards them, one Irish cattle dealer on board the Diana & Betsy, prize, complained that he burnt 27 head of cattle with the vessel after slaughtering three for his own crew. (W004)

     

 

Sources

W004 Ships of the Old Navy
W012 Dictionary of American Fighting Vessels
B044 The Naval War of 1812 - Vol I Theodore Roosevelt
B052 Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs Gardner W. Allen

 

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