Historic Forrest LogoStar Sangle Banner1812 U S ArmyDiscovery and GodspeedWilliam Thomas ForrestCivil War CannonSail of Susan Constance

British Blockade of the Chesapeak Bay, Febraury 1813

The schooner Charles, Capt. Colton, of and from New York, bound to Savannah, was captured on the 30th ult by the Junon frigate; after taking out the cargo, the Charles was destroyed.  Captain Colton was put on shore in Princess Anne county, about 12 miles from this place.
The squadron in our bay were on Friday composed of the following vessels;
San Domingo, Adm. Warren 74
Dragon, Capt. Collier 74
Statira, Stackpole 38
Junon, Saunders 38
Maidstone, Burdett 36
Syren schooner.
These were joined on Saturday by the
Belvidera, Capt. Byron 36
Lauristinus, Gordon 24

On Thursday, 8 boats were manned by squadron and proceeded within 5 or 6 miles of Old Point Comfort, where they discovered the Constellation frigate, warping up Elizabeth river.  If the wind and tide had served, it was the intention of Admiral Warren to have attempted to cut out the Constellation.

.

Source: Norfolk newspaper, February 8, 1813.


Helpful Information

The USS Constellation was blockaded in the Elizabeth River between Norfolk, VA and Portsmouth, VA for the rest of the War of 1812. The British Navy blockaded the Chesapeake bay from February 1813 to the end of the War of 1812. During the blockade the British anchored their ships in what is now called Lynhaven Roads, but during the war of 1812 this natural ship anchorage was called Lynhaven Bay.