Jun 27, 2024 - Sale 2675

Sale 2675 - Lot 293

Price Realized: $ 1,875
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
(WAR OF 1812.) William O. Leveque[?]. Log kept by the master of the HMS Sophie, patrolling off Charleston and in the Chesapeake. [76], [72] manuscript pages. Folio, 12 x 7 inches, disbound with all pages excised from their original bindings; loss of a few letters at the inner margins of some pages, penmanship sometimes less than exemplary, minor dampstaining and wear. Various places, 19 March 1813 to 14 March 1814
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Additional Details

The HMS Sophie operated against American commercial shipping during the War of 1812. By the time this log commenced, it had already captured several prizes. Soon after this log commences in March 1813, the Sophie was patrolling off the coast of Savannah and Charleston. Typical entries: "Hove too & boarded American schooner from No Carolina to St. Bartholomew" [1 April 1813] and "At 4 the boats return, having captured 4 schooners" (1 May). A privateer was captured on 22 May: "Strange sail in sight NW, made all sail in chase. At 7 fired several shot at d'o. . . . Took possession of the Amelia, schooner from Washington to Charleston, took out 27 prisoners." Major news concerning crew members is sometimes reported, such as "Died, Mr. Golding, seaman, in consequence of a fall from mast. Committed his body to the deep" (13 April) or several men being punished with 24 lashes on 20 April.

The Sophie's most active period was in and near the Chesapeake Bay from late October through December, when they destroyed or captured numerous American vessels. Three entries from this period read: "Returned with the American schooner Gannet laden with iron from Baltimore to Norfolk. Took her in tow" (30 October); "Shortened sail & captured the Franklin sloop and lost the cotton for being stove boarding her" (15 November); "Sent all the boats away to reconnoiter the River Severn at sunset, the boats returning having set 1 schooner on fire" (30 November).

This log was apparently written in two bound volumes. It collates complete with daily entries from 19 March to 27 June 1813 on partly printed logbook pages; and then from 28 June 1813 to 18 March 1814 entirely in manuscript.

With--a worn certificate signed by the Sophie's captain Nicholas Lockyer, testifying to the service of a Lieutenant Ross, 27 March 1814.