USS Rattlesnake (1813)

USS ''Rattlesnake'' was the brig ''Rambler'' built in Medford, Massachusetts, in 1812 that the United States Navy purchased in July 1813. ''Rattlesnake'' captured numerous British merchant vessels before captured her in mid-1814. The Royal Navy apparently purchased her at Nova Scotia, but there is no record of her subsequent career.

Career

Captain Benjamin Rich sold his brig ''Rambler'' to Amos Binney, the agent for the United States Navy on 3 July 1813 for $18,000, exclusive of armament.

''Rattlesnake'' sailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire 10 January 1814, under the command of Master Commandant John O. Creighton, and sailed with cruising the Caribbean. The two ships took three prizes prior to their separation in response to the appearance of a heavily gunned British ship on 25 February.

''Rattlesnake'', fleeing back to friendlier waters, put into Wilmington, North Carolina on 9 March. Together, ''Rattlesnake'' and ''Enterprise'' had taken five prizes:

*Brig ''Rambler'', which had been sailing from Cap-Français to St Thomas with a cargo of coffee before the Americans captured and burnt her;
*A Spanish brig, retaken from , that arrived in Wilmington;
*Swedish ship ''Societe'', Martison, master, had been bound to St Amelia and went into St. Marys, Georgia;
*''Mars'', a privateer, of Nassau, arrived at Wilmington; and
*Schooner ''Eliza'', which had been sailing from Nassau to Pensacola.

''Rattlesnake'' was soon back at sea under the command of Lt. James Renshaw. She apparently captured some eight merchant vessels in the eastern Atlantic, north of the equator. On 31 April she captured , but released her after having taken off the most valuable part of her cargo. On 31 May ''Rattlesnake'' encountered a British frigate, but escaped by throwing all but two of her guns overboard. She then captured two more merchant vessels.

In June she captured and destroyed ''John'', Geddes, master, which had been sailing from Liverpool to Oporto. Before 11 July she captured and destroyed ''Crown Prince'' of Poole, Street, master, which had been sailing from Newfoundland to Alicante.

''Rattlesnake''s depredations ended (arguably) on 22 June when the 50-gun British frigate ''Leander'' captured her off Cape Sable, the southern point of the island of the same name which lies off Nova Scotia. ''Leander'' was renowned for her speed, especially in the heavy weather conditions on the day of ''Rattlesnake''s capture.

The letter from Captain George Collier of ''Leander'' is dated 11 July and states that ''Rattlesnake'' was armed with 22 guns, all of which she had thrown overboard during the chase, and that she had a crew of 131 men.

The records of the Vice admiralty court at Halifax give the date of capture as 11 July, which is more consistent with the letter reporting the capture than is 22 June. It is also more consistent with the report in ''Lloyd's List'' that ''Rattlesnake'' went into Halifax on 13 July.''Lloyd's List'', 9 August 1814.
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The Vice admiralty court reported the name of ''Rattlesnake''s master as J. Renshaw, and describes her as a brig of 280 to 300 tons (bm), of 14 guns and 130 men.

In any case, the Halifax Dockyard reported on 31 July 1814 that the Royal Navy had purchased ''Rattlesnake''. However, no further record exists.

See also

* List of ships captured in the 19th century
* Bibliography of early American naval history

Citations

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rattlesnake (1813)
Ships built in Medford, Massachusetts
Brigs of the United States Navy
Captured ships
Privateer ships of the United States
1812 ships
Brigs of the Royal Navy