Old English Mill Built From Captured US Ship

Ananova ^ | 9-10-2002

[blam]

Old English mill built from captured US ship

Scientists say a water mill in an English village contains ship timbers dating back to the last time the United Kingdom and US were at war.

Beams used to build Wickham Mill in Hampshire were taken from the USS Chesapeake. The ship was captured by the Royal Navy off Boston in 1813.

To this day, they still bear the signs of cracks and splinter damage caused by cannon fire during fierce fighting in which 93 sailors were killed and 156 wounded.

As well as showing the signs of battle damage they also offered a glimpse into the history of the Chesapeake, which negro plantation slaves helped to build in 1799.

The 1812 war between Britain and the US arose indirectly from the Napoleonic Wars. Resentment over the Royal Navy stopping and searching neutral American ships bound for blockaded ports spilled over into a conflict that lasted three years.

The Star Spangled Banner was written during the war, and the White House was burned by the British.

HMS Shannon engaged the Chesapeake in the coastal waters off Boston. The American commander, Captain James Lawrence, was mortally wounded and his last words "Don't give up the ship" passed into US Navy folklore.

Describing the story, Dr Robert Prescott from the research team at the

University of St Andrew's said: "This was the great age of the frigate. This was where all the dashing young commanders wanted to be. It attracted young hotheads."

After repairs, Chesapeake was sold by the Royal Navy in 1819 for breaking up. The following year, a builder called John Prior bought some of her timber for £3,450 for the water mill. The mill's dimensions reflect those of the ship, which was carefully dismantled so that every last inch of the long timbers could be used.

Speaking at the British Association Festival of Science at Leicester University, Dr Prescott said: "When you go into the mill you can easily be fooled into thinking you are on board a ship. All the beams over your head which hold up the floor above you are gun deck and quarter deck beams from the ship, and all the lintels that span the openings of doors and windows are from the ship."

Story filed: 17:49 Tuesday 10th September 2002

[RightWhale]

Add this to the Mayflower, which is now a barn.

[Burkeman1]

The 1812 war between Britain and the US arose indirectly from the Napoleonic Wars. Resentment over the Royal Navy stopping and searching neutral American ships bound for blockaded ports spilled over into a conflict that lasted three years.

It wasn't just "stopping and searching" US ships headed for Blockaded ports. The British were stopping ANY US ship they saw - confiscating them in some cases- and impressing US citizens and saliors into their navy!

[Cogadh na Sith]

The ship was captured by the Royal Navy off Boston in 1813.

The American commander, Captain James Lawrence, was mortally wounded and his last words "Don't give up the ship" passed into US Navy folklore.

Hmmmmm. They captured it and built a mill out of it....

Kinda takes the inspiration out of the "Don't give up the ship." thing and all.....

[VRWCTexan]

commanded by Captain Stephen Decatur, Jr., the Chesapeake was twice attacked by the British. The first attack by HM Leopard in 1807 helped incite the War of 1812. In June 1813 the Chesapeake was captured by the Royal Navy frigate Shannon outside Boston Harbor. In that famous battle, mortally wounded, Captain James Lawrence reportedly cried, "Tell the men to fire faster and not to give up the ship!" They did give up the ship, however, after a fierce 15-minute battle with great loss of life.

[John H K]

This is one of those cases where textbooks give a sanitized and simplistic history of the cause of the war.

Overwhelmingly, the US merchant marine operated out of New England and that's where most sailors were from. But New England OPPOSED War with Great Britain and opposition to the war was pretty strong there the whole time it lasted; the war was absolutely crippling to trade there.

SUPPORT for the vote on the War was from the "West" at the time...states that didn't have any sailors at all.

The real reason for the war was that we wanted to conquer Canada and the people that most wanted to do it were Westerners. Unfortunately, in the early part of the war the US Army was a total embarassment and other than burning Toronto to the ground (then called "York") the invasion of Canada failed miserably. Washington was burned in retaliation for the burning of York.

[pabianice]

Complete account at

http://www.maritime-scotland.com/shannon.html

[Rebelbase]

"As well as showing the signs of battle damage they also offered a glimpse into the history of the Chesapeake, which negro plantation slaves helped to build in 1799. "

Add the Wickham Mill in Hampshire, England to the list of those being sued for reparations.

[blam]

"Add this to the Mayflower, which is now a barn."

Didn't know that but, that could very well be where Noah's Ark is found. (As another FReeper has already said, maybe you.)

[RightWhale]

That's why old oaken ships were special. If they survived to retirement they could be made into sturdy buildings. Well-aged, seasoned timbers, there's hardly anything better. Not my idea, but the ark would have been made of cedar and parts are probably still around although buried under collapsed city walls or buried in mud from floods in Italy. If the dendrochronological record can be extended far enough back, who knows.

Modern steel ships just don't cut it. At best they are cut up for scrap or end up in the Turkish Navy.

[Congressman Billybob]

Interesting story, but they labeled the ship incorrectly. She was the USF Chesapeake, one of the first six ships authorized by Congress to begin the US Navy. The "F" stands for Frigate.

By shear coincidence, my column this week tells of the authorization and launching of this ship, while focusing on her better-known sister ships, the USF Constellation and the USF Constitution. The latter, "Old Ironsides," is still commissioned in the US Navy and lies at dock in Boston.

The former, the "Yankee Racehorse," was broken up in 1853. She was the first launched, and the first to engage and defeat an enemy vessel. Her first namesake, the US Sloop Constellation lies at dock in Baltimore. Her second namesake, the carrier USS Constellation is on duty today, and as of "Morning Colors," has been flying the union jack of thirteen red and white stripes, a rattle snake, and the words, "Don't Tread on Me."

Click the second link, below.

Congressman Billybob

Click for major article on turnover in the House of Representatives: "Til Death Do Us Part."

Click for latest column: "The Star-Spangled Banner, Part II, & More Lies from the Media"

[Prodigal Son]

Interesting history note. I might have to hop in the car at some point and try to find that mill so I can have a gander.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Not really. The battle of Lake Erie was fought with a flag reading "Don't Give Up The Ship" flying on the flag ship of Oliver Hazard Perry. That flag is on display at the U.S. Naval Academy to this day.

By the way,....we won

Regards,

[Cogadh na Sith]

Thanks, I feel better about that then.

Whew...