USS Peacock was a sloop-of-war in the United States Navy that served in the War of 1812 and later the United States Exploring Expedition. Peacock ran aground and broke apart on the Columbia Bar without loss of life in 1841.
Construction Funding for creating the Peacock was authorized by an act of Congress on 3 March 1813. Its keel was laid down at the New York Navy Yard on 9 July by Adam and Noah Brown and launched on 19 September.
War of 1812 Peacock served in the War of 1812 and captured 20 ships. She performed three cruises under the command of Master Commandant Lewis Warrington. On 12 March 1814, Peacock departed New York with supplies to the naval station at St. Mary's, Georgia. In late April the Peacock captured the 18-gun brig HMS Epervier near the Bahamas. The prize was sent to Savannah, Georgia, where the United States Navy took her into service as USS Epervier. She began her second cruise on 4 June, departing from Savannah and proceeding to the Grand Banks and along the coasts of Ireland and Spain, capturing 14 British merchant ships. Whilst sailing between St Andrews and Greenock the barque Willam was captured and scuttled by Peacock on 14 August. On 2 September, off the coast of Africa, Peacock captured the merchantman Duck, cutting down her mast and sinking her. The crew of the Duck were left in the Canary Islands. Peacock returned via the West Indies to New York, arriving there in October 1814. The third voyage of Peacock began on 23 January 1815, after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent. She departed New York along with the Hornet and Tom Bowline. The Peacock rounded the Cape of Good Hope and sailed into the Indian Ocean. Throughout June in the Sunda Strait of the Dutch East Indies the Peacock captured three merchantmen, Brio del Mar of Batavia, Union of Calcutta, and the Venus. The pepper and gold dust cargo on the Union was seized. The goods stored in the Venus, including specie, opium, and bale goods, were thrown overboard. The crew of Peacock burnt the Brio del Mar and Union and converted the Venus into a cartel to carry her prisoners. Venus was sent to Batavia, arriving there about 11 July 1815. Because the captures occurred after the formal end of the conflict, the Phoenix and Star insurance companies of Calcutta applied to the U.S. government for compensation. In 1820, the United States Congress agreed to pay £12,000 for the Union and £3,000 for the Breo de Mar.
Last action of the War of 1812
On 30 June 1815 the Peacock captured the British East India Company brig HCS Nautilus in the Straits of Sunda during the final naval action of the war. The vessel was under the command of Bombay Marine officer Lieutenant Charles Boyce, who informed Warrington that the war had ended. Warrington claims to have suspected a ruse, although the journals of his officers note his knowledge about the Treaty of Ghent prior to encountering the Nautilus. When Boyce refused to surrender, Peacock opened fire on Nautilus. Three Europeans and three Indian lascars were killed, while Boyce and five lascars were wounded. American casualties amounted to between four and five men wounded. When Boyce provided documents proving that the Treaty of Ghent ending the war had been ratified, Warrington released his victims. At no point did Warrington inquire about the condition of any injured aboard the Nautilus. The Peacock returned to New York on 30 October 1815. A court of inquiry in Boston a year later exonerated Warrington of all blame. In his account on the incident, Warrington reported that the British casualties had only been lascars.
Post-war activities On 13 June 1816 the Peacock left New York for France with the Honorable Albert Gallatin and party aboard. She pulled into Havre de Grâce on 2 July. The Peacock proceeded to join the Mediterranean Squadron, where she remained until 8 May 1821, when she departed for home. The Peacock then went into ordinary at the Washington Navy Yard on 10 July 1821.
Combating Caribbean piracy On 3 June 1822, the Peacock became the flagship of Commodore David Porter's West India Squadron, which was tasked with rooting out piracy in the Caribbean. In an expedition alongside the U.S. Revenue Marine schooner Louisiana and Royal Navy schooner HMS Speedwell, the Peacock broke up a pirate establishment at Bahia Honda Key throughout 28–30 September. Four vessels were captured, two were burnt, while the other two were staffed with prize crews and sailed to New Orleans. Eighteen of the captured pirate crew members were sent to New Orleans for trial. The Peacock captured the schooner Pilot on 10 April 1823 and another sloop on the 16th.
Disease Cases of "malignant fever" were reported among crew members of Peacock in September 1822, which eventually necessitated a recess from anti-piracy activities. The Peacock pulled into Norfolk, Virginia, on 28 November 1822. The frigate USS Macedonian had recently lost 74 crew members to the disease before returning to Norfolk. The symptoms per Dr. Travett included bleeding in the mouth, nose, eyes, and the gastrointestinal tract. This caused vomit containing blood, hence the Spanish name for the disease, "vómito negro", "black vomit". On 31 October 1822, Captain Stephen Cassin wrote to Secretary of the Navy, Smith Thompson, confirming the yellow fever outbreak on the Peacock.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
