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In Company by Peter Rindlisbacher. HMS St Lawrence followed by Prince Regent, and Star commanded by Commander Alexander Dobbs |
When students in Ontario are taught about the War of 1812, they typically learn about events such as the Battle of Queenston Heights (1812), the Battle of Crysler's Farm (1813) and the Battle of Lundy's Lane (1814); or individuals such as Isaac Brock, Tecumseh, Laura Secord, and Richard Pierpoint. Far less attention is paid to the activities of the Royal Navy on the Great Lakes, apart from their disastrous loss to the Americans at the Battle of Lake Erie (1813).
One person who experienced the War of 1812 as a Royal Navy officer on the Great Lakes was Alexander Dobbs. Alexander Thomas Dobbs was likely born in Dublin, Ireland about 1784, the fourth son of Francis Dobbs (1750-1811) and Jane Stewart (1873-1828). Francis Dobbs was an Irish barrister, author, poet, and parliamentarian who was opposed to the 1800 Act of Union with Great Britain.
Alexander Dobbs joined the Royal Navy in 1799 as a midshipman aboard the frigate Santa Margarita. He received his commission as a lieutenant at the age of 20. While a passenger on the Thetis bound for Barbados, he helped repel an attack by the French privateer Le Buonaparte.
After serving in the West Indies on the Epervier, he was invalided home suffering from yellow fever. After his recovery he served on a number of different vessels including Confiance, Topaze, Northumberland, and Leviathan. Dobbs saw action in both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815).
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Leviathan, Imperieuse, Curacoa, and Eclair attacking two towns on the coast of Genoa, June 27th 1812 |
In April 1812, Dobbs led an attack using Leviathan's boats on several French vessels moored near Frejus on the Côte d'Azur, capturing four merchant vessels and damaging a privateer. Two months later, Dobbs participated in the destruction a French convoy which had assembled at Alassio and Laigueglia on the Gulf of Genoa. In his report of the action, Captain Patrick Campbell made special mention of Alexander Dobbs:
I feel much indebted to Lieutenant Dobbs, first of this ship, for his judicious arrangement in disembarking, embarking, and covering the marines, as they advanced to the different batteries.
In the spring of 1813, the Admiralty sent Commodore Sir James Lucus Yeo (1782-1818) and a contingent of 465 officers and men to Canada. Among the officers was Lieutenant Dobbs who had briefly served under Yeo on the Confiance. Yeo's contingent arrived at Kingston, Upper Canada in May 1813. Shortly after arriving in Kingston, Dobbs was promoted to acting commander and given command of the HMS Earl of Moira.
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| Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo |
Later that month, Moira supported the British assault at the Second Battle of Sackett's Harbour, an unsuccessful attempt to capture the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on Lake Ontario.
In June 1813, Moira transported elements of the 8th Regiment of Foot to 40 Mile Creek on the Niagara Peninsula following the British victory at the Battle of Stoney Creek.
Moira was with Yeo's squadron when it briefly engaged the American fleet near the mouth of the Genesee River on 11 Sep 1813.
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Enemy in Sight by Peter Rindlisbacher. HMS Wolfe followed by the Royal George, Melville, and Moira |
On 28 Sep 1813, Moira again saw action when Yeo's squadron engaged the American squadron, commanded by Commodore Isaac Chauncey, south of York. Moira was fourth in the line of battle. During the battle an exchange of broadsides with the American flagship, USS General Pike, severely damaged Yeo's flagship, HMS Wolfe. Commander William Mulcaster of the Royal George maneuvered his ship between the Pike and Wolfe, allowing Wolfe to disengaged. Meanwhile Moira and Melville engaged other ships of the American squadron.
Once Wolfe was clear and heading west towards the head of Lake Ontario, the rest of Yeo's ships turned and followed. Chauncey ordered his fleet to chase down the British squadron, but an east wind and faster ships allowed Yeo to escape with his squadron intact. At the end of the lake, Yeo formed a battle line close into shore. Chauncey, recognizing that maneuvering his ships would be risky and dangerous, broke off the pursuit. The engagement would later be facetiously dubbed the "Burlington Races."
In his report of the battle, Yeo wrote:
[When] the main and mizzen topmasts of this ship were shot away, by which she became unmanageable on the wind, I put the squadron before the wind for a small bay at the head of the lake where he [Chauncey] would have been under the necessity of engaging on more equal terms. this however he declined ... and on approaching the bay, he hauled off, leaving us in this state perfectly unmolested to refit the squadron.In early November 1813, Moira was part of an detachment that bombarded American forces staging at French Creek on the south bank of the St Lawrence River opposite Grindstone Island. While American artillery forced the British to withdraw, the forces that had gathered at French Creek would later be defeated at the Battle of Crysler's Farm.
In January 1814, HMS Earl of Moira was renamed HMS Charwell. Dobbs remained in command.
On 14 Feb 1814, Alexander was promoted to Commander. Three days later he married Mary Magdalen Cartwright, daughter of Kingston merchant Richard Cartwright, and granddaughter of James Secord. The marriage was noted in the journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur of the 104th Regiment of Foot:
Captain Henry Alexander Stewart Dobbs RN, a prime Sailor and Gentleman, having invited our rector, the Reverend Mr. Stuart to attend for the occasion, He was united in marriage to dear rattle, Mary Cartwright, the daughter of Colonel Cartwright ... at Eight o'clock this evening. The happy couple were to have gone to Montreal for their honeymoon but a rumour of an Attack coming to ear this morning ... no leave could be thought of.On 4 May 1814, Yeo's squadron of eight vessels, 900 sailors, 400 marines, and an additional 550 soldiers weighed anchor and sailed for Oswego. The Battle of Fort Oswego on 6 May 1814 saw Charwell firing its long guns as it escorted the bateaux and gunboats towards the beach. The British captured the fort, and over two thousand barrels of flour, pork, salt, and ordnance stores were brought back to the ships offshore.
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| Storming Fort Oswego. Toronto Public Library |
In June 1814, Dobbs was given command of HMS Star, a brig launched at Kingston on 20 July 1813. At the time of her launch she was christened HMS Lord Melville, but was renamed HMS Star in January 1814. Star measured 21.8 metres in length with a beam of 7.5 metres and a draught of 3.0 metres. The initial complement of 98 was composed of 60 officers and crew and 38 Royal Marines. When Dobbs assumed command, Star was armed with two 18-pounder long guns and twelve 32-pounder carronades.
In July, Commander Dobbs was placed in charge of a detachment sent to support the British Army in the Niagara Peninsula. The detachment, consisting of the Star, Charwell, Magnet, and Netley, ferried soldiers and supplies from York across Lake Ontario to Fort George and Fort Niagara. |
| Plan of the Mouth of the Niagara River. Brock University Archives |
Star arrived at York on 17 July and rendezvoused with Charwell which had arrived two days earlier. On the evening of 23 Jul 1814, the Star and Charwell sailed from York with a detachment of 400 officers and men from the 2nd Battalion, 89th Regiment of Foot. The next day, Netley, commanded by Lieutenant Charles Radcliffe, ferried Lieutenant General Drummond across to Niagara. Drummond would go on to command British forces at the Battle of Lundy's Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie.
On 3 Jul 1814, 3500 American soldiers commanded by Major General Jacob Brown crossed the Niagara River and captured Fort Erie, then advanced north and defeated the British at the Battle of Chippawa two days later. On 25 Jul 1814, during one of the bloodiest battles of the War of 1812, the British and Americans met again at the Battle of Lundy's Lane. Although the battle was a stalemate, the Americans, having suffered hundreds of casualties, withdrew back to Fort Erie.
Following the Battle of Lundy's Lane, Dobbs detachment carried wounded and prisoners from Niagara to York. Dobbs noted in a report to Commodore Yeo: "These brave fellows came out of the Hospitals, and requested me to carry them over to join their Gallant Comrades.”
On 5 Aug 1814, Magnet was intercepted by Chauncey's squadron while carrying munitions from York to Niagara. Her captain, Lieutenant George Hawkesworth, beached Magnet near Four Mile Creek to the west of the mouth of the Niagara River. Hawkeworth salvaged what he could, then destroyed Magnet and her remaining cargo in an explosion that was heard and felt in York, 48 kilometres across the lake. Having failed to capture Magnet, the Americans then blockaded Dobbs detachment in the mouth of the Niagara River.
Dobbs reported on the destruction of the Magnet in a letter to Commodore Yeo dated 7 Aug 1814:
I have the honor to inform you that the American Squadron made their appearance off this place yesterday.
The Charwell, Netley and Magnet Sailed from York on the 5th with Troops and Stores the two former got safe in her on the morning of the 6th but the Magnet being by some unfortunate circustance to leeward was obliged to run on Shore and on the approach of the American Squadron she was blown up by Lieutenant Hawksworth who reports to me that all the Stores were saved. I hope Sir you will not think that I have been their Guardian too long. The Situation of General Drummond's Army required some risque to be had for their Support.Following the Battle of Lundy's Lane, General Drummond's forces slowly advanced on Fort Erie. The construction of siege lines and batteries began on 4 August but was hampered by fire from three American schooners anchored in the Niagara River: Ohio, Somers, and Porcupine. American forces had controlled Lake Erie for almost a year since the Battle of Lake Erie on 10 Sep 1813. With Drummond's approval, Dobbs devised a plan to board and capture the schooners.
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| Ohio, Somers, and Porcupine off Fort Erie |
Porcupine, meanwhile, cut its anchor cables and was able to escape. The American's suffered one killed and 70 captured, while the British suffered two killed and four wounded. One of the dead was Lieutenant Charles Ratcliffe, captain of the Netley, who was killed as he tried to scale the stern of the Ohio.
In his report to Commodore Yeo, Dobbs wrote:
Having succeeded in getting my gig and five Batteaux across from the Niagara River to Lake Erie, a distance of Eight Miles by land—I last night attacked the Three Enemy’s Schooners that had anchored close to Fort Erie—for the purpose of flanking the approaches to that fort.— Two of them were carried sword in hand in a few minutes, and the third would certainty have fallen—had the Cables not been cut, which made us drift to Leeward of her, among the Rapids— The schooners taken are the Ohio & Somers, Commanded by Lieutenants, and each mounting Three long twelve pounders, with a complement of 35 men each— My Gallant Friend Lieutenant Radcliffe and One Seaman fell in the act of boarding, which, with four wounded is our whole loss. The Enemy had One man killed and Seven wounded among the latter is Lieutenant Conklin commanding the Squadron as well as two of his Officers. The Steady and gallant conduct of the Officers, Seamen and Marines employed on this Service, was such as to have insured me success against a greater force—and has called forth a very handsome General order from His Honor Lieutenant General Drummond— I beg leave particularly to mention Mr. Grindred Mate of the Star—and Mr. Hyde, mate of the Charwell, not only for their gallant conduct in the Attack, but for their skill in bringing the Vessels, into this River, through Shoals, and Rapids, and under a constant and heavy fire—Two days later, Dobbs volunteered to help recapture Fort Erie. His small detachment of marines and sailors were bolstered by reinforcements seemingly eager for action:
...the forty Seamen [were so anxious] to join use that they actually marched from Fort George to this place in one day, distance of 32 miles requesting the officers not to stop them on the road... General Drummond having determined to attack Fort Erie and having expressed a wish for the assistance of the (navy) instantly offered to lead them on the assault...Lieutenant Le Couteur of the 104th Foot was not so eager. After an artillery barrage on the 13th did little damage he wrote:
[The fort] was an ugly Customer for fifteen hundred men to attack Six thousand, it was said, placed behind breastworks and ramparts, with guns and a blockhouse bristling in every direction. The fort was of irregular form, with demi-bastions that flanked the ditches. The faces were of earth, but the embrasures seemed to me to be of masonry — at any rate our fire, instead of affecting a breach, seemed to me and others to ran the earth harder.General Drummond planned a three-pronged attack to take place in the early hours of August 15. Dobbs and his men were assigned to the column commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Drummond of the 104th Regiment of Foot. The column, composed the flank companies of the 104th Foot and the 41st Foot, a detachment of Royal Artillery, and Dobbs's sailors and marines, was tasked with assaulting the northeast bastion.
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| Map showing Fort Erie and the British siege lines.
The northeast bastion is on the right side of the star fort. |
Lieutenant Colonel's Drummond's column penetrated the abatis surrounding the fort and entered the ditch, then used scaling ladders to climb into the bastion. The attackers then tried to charge through a two metre wide gap between the bastion and a stone barrack block, but were driven back by American fire. A second attempt also failed. At some point Drummond was killed. American attempts to retake the bastion were also futile.
When American artillery began firing at the bastion, the British artillery detachment turned one of the captured guns in the bastion about and returned fire. Seconds after their second shot, a massive explosion destroyed the entire bastion and much of the adjacent barracks block. It is believed that sparks or burning debris from the muzzle flash may have fallen through cracks in the wooden floor of the bastion and ignited the powder magazine below. British casualties were extensive.
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| Repulsion of the British at Fort Erie by E. C. Watmough, 1840 |
Dobbs provided more details in his report to Commodore Yeo:
... and were soon in the thick of it. I was knocked down close the the Fort, and never got into it but the brave Officers and Men under my Command most Nobly did, and never left it till an explosion took place which drove all out, and an Order was given to Retreat. Our losses have been very severe: ten Seamen and eleven Marines killed, fifteen Seamen and eighteen Marines Wounded and Missing. I fear a number of the latter were blown up. Lieut. Stevenson, Mr. Harris Master and myself were wounded. Mr. Hinde, Masters Mate, had his thigh broke and was left in the ditch where I fear he must have perished. If there is any inaccuracy in this I trust you will excuse it, as my head aches so intolerably I can scarce hold it up.
In his reply, Commodore Yeo informed Dobbs that he, “does not wish the Seamen and Marines under your command to be employed in any general attack of the army unless under very particular circumstances."
Drummond lifted the siege on September 21 and the British withdrew to the Chippewa River. A few weeks later Lieutenant Le Couteur made this entry in his journal:
... walked to the Heights among the Chestnut woods, and felled a tree to get at the chestnuts which we gathered in plenty at the expense of our fingers, to send Capt. Dobbs, RN, who declared if we did not send Him a bag full, He would not give us passage to Kingston.Dobbs apparently got his chestnuts as he invited Le Couteur to dinner at his father-in-law's in Kingston on October 28.
On October 20, the American blockade of the mouth of the Niagara River had ended with the arrival of larger ships of Yeo's squadron. This included Yeo's new flagship, the 112-gun first rate HMS St Lawrence. After ferrying reinforcements and supplies ashore, Dobbs returned to Kingston with the Star, Charwell, and Netley. Dobbs made two additional runs to Niagara that fall, finally returning to Kingston on December 9.
The American's abandoned Fort Erie on November 5 and retired back across the Niagara River.
The War of 1812 ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on 24 Dec 1814 but it took several weeks for news of the peace to reach Upper Canada. In late December, Dobbs was given command of the Royal Navy station at Ile aux Noix on the Richelieu River south of Montreal, however, once it became known that the war was over he was transferred to Quebec and became the Royal Navy's agent for transports.
Little is known about Dobbs career following the war. On 4 June 1815, he was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, and on 12 Aug 1819 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Dobbs died at Milan, Lombardy in 1827. His will, dated, 15 Feb 1827 and proved 8 Aug 1828, shows that at the time of his death he was on half-pay, owned property in Canada, and was "late of Torquay in the County of Devon."
Mary Cartwright likely returned to Kingston after Alexander's death where she died on 4 Jan 1839. Alexander and Mary had no children.
Sources:
Armstrong, Benjamin. "Daring Moves on the Niagara. Naval History Magazine, Volume 27, Number 5 (September 2013).
Cruickshank, Ernest. The Siege of Fort Erie. Welland, Ontario: Lundy's Lane Historical Society, 1905 http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/BUA/BUA0027064871T.PDF
Graves, Donald E. "William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie," Canadian Military History, Vol. 1., Iss. I, Article 4. https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol1/iss1/4/
Le Couteur, John (1994). Merry Hearts Make Light Days: The War of 1812 Journal of Lieutenant John Le Couteur, 104th Foot. Donald E. Graves, Editor. Ottawa: Carleton University Press
Malcolmson, Robert. Lords of the Lake: The Naval War on Lake Ontario. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 1998.
Malcolmson, Robert. "Dobbs and the Royal Navy at Niagara." Fortress Niagara. Issue 1 (June 2000)
Marshall, John. "Alexander Dobbs, Esq." Royal Naval Biography, Vol. 1. London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1823.
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Biography/Dobbs,_Alexander
Crawford, Michael J. (Ed.). The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, Vol. 3. Washington: Naval Historical Center. 2002. p. 588-9.
Williamson, Robert. "The Burlington Races Revisited: An Analysis of an 1813 Naval Battle for Supremacy on Lake Ontario." Canadian Military History, Vol. 8, Issue 4. https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1271&context=cmh
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