The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters

Landsman Robert Buck, who took part in the boats of the Marlborough in the successful expeditions up the rivers of Chesapeake Bay to destroy American stores and works in April and May 1813

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Ap & May Boat Service 1813 [57] (Robt. Buck.) minor edge bruising, otherwise very fine £4000-5000

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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Provenance: Vernon Henstridge, May 1990.

Ap & May Boat Service 1813 [57 issued] - this clasp occurs with three varieties of engraved date, ‘29 April’, ‘Ap & May’, and ‘April & May’. It is probable that early applicants received the ‘29 April’ clasp before the conflict with another boat service action of that date was realised. Some 21 medals known, including examples in the National Maritime Museum (4), and the Patiala Collection (Sheesh Mahal Museum, India).

Robert Buck is confirmed as a Landsman in the Marlborough for this boat service action. He was born in Somerset and joined the Marlborough on 1 March 1812, as a Landsman, aged 21. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman from 1 July 1813, and continued in Marlborough until 27 September 1813, after which he is on the books of the ‘Naval Establishment, Lakes of Canada, and St Lawrence,’ until 27 June 1815. He was then in Queen Charlotte until dismissed from the service on 27 September 1815. Sold with copied muster roll and record of service.

In April 1813, Rear-Admiral Sir George Cockburn resolved, with a small squadron of boats, to endeavour to cut off the supplies of the Americans and to destroy their stores and public works, situated on the rivers at the head of Chesapeake Bay. On the evening of 28 April, having with him the brigs Fantome and Mohawk, with the Dolphin, Racer and Highflyer tenders, he anchored in the entrance of the Elk river, and with the boats of this small squadron, and those of his flagship, the Marlborough 74, and of the Maidstone, Dragon and Statira frigates, proceeded up the river to destroy some military stores at French Town. In the boats were one hundred and fifty marines and five artillerymen. The next morning the boats arrived within gunshot of French Town, and were fired on by a six-gun battery. The marines were landed and the American militia abandoned the battery and fled into the nearby woods. The guns of the battery were disabled and a large quantity of stores together with five vessels lying in the river were destroyed, but private property was not molested.

On their way back, the boats were fired on when passing a large village called Havre-de-Grace, which determined the Admiral that he should make that his next place of attack. The marines embarked ay midnight on 2 May, and after a pull of six miles arrived at the battery defending the town, which mounted six guns and immediately opened fire on the boats. The marines pushed for the shore and landed, whereupon the Americans deserted their battery and retreated. A nearby canon foundry was then advanced upon and destroyed, with five twenty-four pounders mounted for its protection, and thirty other guns ready for use or in progress of construction. Another division of boats, meanwhile, destroyed five vessels and large stores of flour up the Susquehanna. During these operations private property was respected, unless the owners offered resistance, and all supplies required by the British were paid for at full value.