The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters

Able Seaman George Moffitt, who served aboard the Seahorse in the expedition up the Potomac river in August 1814, and in the boats of the same vessel in the attack on American gun-boats on Lake Borgne in December 1814

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, The Potomac 17 Aug 1814 [104], 14 Dec Boat Service 1814 [205] (George Moffitt.) with original ribbon, good very fine £6000-8000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Collection

Provenance: Acquired privately in 1990 and not previously offered at auction.

The Potomac 17 Aug 1814 [104 issued] - including 6 officers and 29 men of the Seahorse.

14 Dec Boat Service 1814 [205 issued] - including 4 officers and 19 men of the Seahorse.

George Moffitt is confirmed on the rolls as an Able Seaman on board the Seahorse frigate for both actions. He was born in Newcastle and was aged 24 when he joined the Seahorse.

Expedition up the Potomac river

Of the many expeditions up the bays and rivers of the United States during the war with America, none equalled in brilliancy of execution that up the Potomac to Alexandria. This service was entrusted to Captain James Alexander Gordon, of the 38-gun frigate Seahorse, having under his orders the 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Euryalus, bomb-ships Devastation, Ætna, and Meteor, rocket-ship Erebus, and a small tender, or despatch-boat. On the 17th, at 9.15 a.m., the squadron got under way from the anchorage at the entrance of the Potomac, and, without the aid of pilots, began ascending the intricate channel of the river leading to the capital of the United States. On the 18th the Seahorse grounded, and could only get afloat again by shifting her guns to the tenders in company. That done, and the guns returned to their places, the squadron again stood up the river. On the 25th, while passing the flats of Maryland point, a squall struck the squadron, the Seahorse had her mizenmast sprung, and the Euryalus, just as she had clewed up her sails to be in a state to receive it, had her bowsprit and the head of her foremast badly sprung, and the heads of all three topmasts fairly wrung off. Such, however, was the state of discipline on board the ship, that in 12 hours, the Euryalus had refitted herself, and was again under way ascending the river.

On the 27th, in the evening, after each of the ships had been aground not less than 20 times, and each time obliged to haul themselves off by main strength, and after having for five successive days, with the exception of a few hours, been employed in warping a distance of not more than 50 miles, the squadron arrived abreast of Fort Washington. The bomb-ships immediately began throwing their shells into the fort, preparatory to an attack the next morning by the two frigates. On the bursting of the first shell, the garrison was observed to retreat, but, supposing some concealed design, Captain Gordon directed the fire to be continued. At 8 p.m. however, all doubts were removed by the explosion of the powder magazine, which destroyed the inner buildings. On the 28th, at daylight, the British took possession of the fort, and of three minor batteries, mounting altogether 27 guns, chiefly of heavy calibre. The guns had already been spiked, and their complete destruction, with the carriages, was carried out by the seamen and marines of the squadron. These forts were intended for the defence of Alexandria, the channel to which the British began immediately to buoy. While Captain Gordon was still negotiating the terms of the surrender, the Fairy, which had fought her way up the river, arrived on the 31st with orders for Captain Gordon’s return. The squadron departed down river the same day taking 21 sail of prizes.