The War of 1812 Magazine
Issue 4: September 2006
War of 1812 Notes and Queries
The editors of the War of 1812 Magazine invite queries but
please note that we cannot answer questions relating to genealogy. Those
interested in such matters are directed to the many websites that specialize
in this type of research.
1008. Armament of British and American Frigates
In Edward Maclay's book, History of the United States Navy, from
1775 to 1893 (2 vols, New York, 1894), the author
advances some interesting theories while comparing the armament
of British and American frigates during the War of 1812. These
theories are in a lengthy note on pp xii-xiii of Volume 1..
First, Maclay claims that American roundshot was commonly less than
its nominal weight, about 7% according to Maclay quoting Theodore Roosevelt.
Second, the author states that the Guerriere and Java,
both being captured from the French by the RN, were still armed with
French ordnance constructed on the French calibre which is 1.1 lbs to
the English/American lb. Maclay claims that, when they fought USN warships, both
British frigates were armed with French 18-pdrs which fired a shot weighing
19.5 British/American lbs. which compared well with the American 24-pdr.
which, allowing 7% underweight as Maclay does in all his frigate vs.
frigate calculation fired a shot weighing only 22.5 lbs
I have some problems with these statements. Given the manufacturing
tolerances of the time, particularly in the USA which did not have the
strict inspection rules of the Board of Ordnance in Britain, there might
have been some variation in actual shot weights but I doubt that it
can be said that there was a consistent 7% underweight in American roundshot.
To claim that British vessels were armed with larger French guns strikes
me as utterly ridiculous, given the problems in ammunition re-supply.
In addition, French calibres did not include an 18-pdr gun, their system
was 4, 8, 12, 16 and 26-pdrs.
Any comment on these claims?
Donald E. Graves
1009. Fencible Regiments
Would someone explain to me exactly what a "fencible regiment"
is?
Joe Kavanagh
Answer to Question 1009.
The term 'fencible" is derived from the term "defence."
During the Napoleonic period, fencible regiments were units of the British
army raised for limited or local service as opposed to universal or
global service. Most of the fencible units created in Britain in the
1790s were disbanded by 1803 but, in the colonies, they continued in
existence. Other than the limitation of service, fencible regiments
were exactly the same as regular regiments, with the same pay, training,
uinforms, weapons and equipment.
Seven fencible regiments and a small unit served
in British North America during the War of 1812: the Canadian Fencibles,
the Newfoudland Fencible, the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, the
Nova Scotia Fencibles and the New Brunswick Fencibles. Although nominally
raised in each colony (the Canadian Fencibles being originally recruited
in Lower Canada and the Glengarry Light Infantry in Upper Canada) they
later took their recruits where they could find them.
In 1809, the New Brunswick Fencibles volunteered
for "general service" and were brought onto the establishment
of the infantry of the line.as the 104th Regiment of Foot. They were
replaced by a new unit termed the New Brunswick Fencibles. The
104th, however, never served outside North America.
The Michigan Fencibles were a small unit raised
in the American northwest and upper Great Lakes area during the war.
They never achieved regimental strength.
It should be noted that the Canadian Voltigeurs,
although they are often mistakenly described as such, were not a fencible
regiment.
|
