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Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
Johnston Blakely Johnston Blakely b. near Seaford, County Down, Ireland, October 1781
d. Atlantic Ocean, near France?, after 9 October 1814
Thursday, 3 November 1814 Resolution, expressive of the sense of Congress relative to the capture of the British sloop Reindeer, by the American sloop Wasp. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Johnston Blakely, of the sloop Wasp, a gold medal, with suitable devices, and a silver medal, with like devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and also a sword to each of the midshipmen and the sailing master of the aforesaid vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British sloop of war, Reindeer, on the twenty-eighth of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; in which action determined bravery and cool intrepidity, in nineteen minutes, obtained a decisive victory by boarding. 3 Stat. 246-247 Destroyers are named after sailors. Not states or countries, but the people who lived and died on decks and in the spaces. We sailed a ship named Blakely, after a Captain and an Admiral. We were the third ship to do so, after TB-27 and DD-150. The heroes and victories are part of our legacy. We carried the exploits of two men and two ships where every we went, because we carry a name. We carried the mystery of the named lost with Captain Blakely when he sailed the Wasp for the Spanish Main in 1814 and was never heard from again. We carry the danger of a name, a danger very real to the crew of the DD-150 when she was torpedoed near Martinique in 1942. We carried the names of these ships and these men, the crew and Captain of our Blakely.
Captain Johnston Blakely was born in County Down, Ireland in October 1781. He came to the United States in 1783. His name was alternately spelled Blakely and Blakeley. Having lived in Wilmington with his family since the age of two, Johnston Blakely entered U.N.C. in 1797. He served as President of the Phi Society in February of 1798, but withdrew from college when his father suffered severe business reverses, and joined the Navy. In 1800 he received his appointment as a Midshipman. He served in the frigate President during the quasi-war with France and had command of the sloop Enterprise early in the war of 1812. He sailed in the Mediterranean under
Steven Decatur, and later, through the influence of William Gaston (#18), was transferred to New Hampshire. In 1813, he was given his first, and only, command; a new ship, the "Wasp," which was described by one of her officers as "a beautiful ship, one of the finest sea boats in the world." With a crew of 173, and 29 guns, she was ordered to disrupt shipping in British waters. After capture of the privateer Fly, he took command of the new 18 gun sloop-of-war Wasp. He sailed her from Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 1 May, 1814 for the English Channel. "A brave and discreet officer--as cool and collected in action as at table," Blakely led the "Wasp" to at least 15 victories and was awarded a Congressional medal for capturing the ship, "Reindeer." Only twice was the "Wasp" damaged enough to port for repairs. In September of 1814, the "Wasp" captured the "Atalanta," but as its nationality was unclear, Blakely put it under the command of his midshipman, Geisinger, and directed it to Savannah, Georgia. The "Wasp" was never heard from again. On 28 June he captured HMS Reindeer (18 guns) in a severe fight that earned him a gold medal from Congress. his commands were the sloops Enterprise and Wasp. He captured over thirteen ships, most of them in enemy waters. He was last seen October 9 1814 by the Swedish brig Adonis. The mystery of the disappearance of the Wasp has never been solved. Captain Johnston Blakeley received the
Congressional Gold Medal for his victory over the HMS Reindeer June 28 1814.
The 19 gun Avon was captured 1 September but Blakely was unable to take possession before a superior enemy force appeared to save the survivors. Avon was so badly damaged that she sank. There were 13 other captures in enemy waters. The last known one came 21 September when Blakely made a prize of the 8 gun dispatch brig Atlanta which was brought to Savannah Georgia on 4 November.
Wasp and her brave commander sailed into oblivion, he last recorded appearance was on 9 October 1814 when she was boarded the Swedish brig Adonis. She has never been heard from since.
The Battle of the USS Wasp and HMS Reindeer
On June 28th, 1814 the Wasp took on her most powerful opponent to date. The Reindeer (382 tons, 21 guns and a crew of 118) and the Wasp met in the English Channel. Here is the minutes of the action between the United States' S. Wasp, and H. B. M. S. Reindeer,
on the 28th of June, 1814, lat. 48, 36, N. long. 11, 15, W. At 4, A. M. light breezes and cloudy; at 4 after 4 discovered two sails, two points before the lee beam, kept away in chase. shortly after discovered one sail, on the weather beam; altered the course and hauled by in
chase of the sail to windward. at 8 sail to thw windward bore E.N.E. wind very light; at 10 the stranger sail bearing E. by N. hoisted an English ensign and pendant, and displayed a
signal at the main (blue and yellow diagonally) Meridian light airs and clouds, at half past 12, P.M., the enemy shewed a blue and white flag, diagonally, at the fore, and fired a gun, at 1h. and 15 m. called all hands to quarters and prepared for action. at 1h. and 22 m. believing we could weather the enemy, tacked ship and stood for him. at 1h. and 50 m. the enemy tacked ship and stood from us. at 1h. and 56 m. hoisted our colors and fired a gun to windward. which was answered by the enemy with another to winward, at 2h. 20 m. the enemy still standing from us--set the royals, 2h. 23m. set the flying jib. 2h. 29m. set the upper staysails. 2h. 32m. the enemy having tacked for us, took in the staysails. 2h. 47m. furled the royals. 2h. 51m. seeing that the enemy ? be able to weather us, tacked ship, 3h. 3m. enemy hoisted his flying jib; brailed up our mizen, 3h. 15m. the enemy on our weather quarter, distant about 60 yards, fired his shifting guns, a 12 pound carronade at us loaded with round and grape shot from his top gallent fore castle, 3h. 17m. fired the same gun a secound time. 3h. 19m. fired a third time. 3h. 21m. fired it a fourth time. 3h. 24m. a fifth shot, all from the same gun. Finding the enemy did not get sufficiently on the beam to enable us to bring our guns to bear, put the helm a-lee and at 26 minutes after 3, commenced the action with the after carronade on the starboard side, and fired in succession. 3h. 4m. hauled up the ? 3h. 40m. the enemy having his larboard bow in contact with our larboard quarter endeavered to board us, but was repulsed in every attempt. 3h. 44m. orders were given to board in turn, which were promptly executed. When all resistance immediately ceased, at 3h. 45m. the enemy hauled down his flag.
Letter to Secretary on the Navy from Johnston Blakeley List of killed and wounded on board the United States' sloop of war the Wasp, Johnston Blakeley, esquire, commander, in action with his Britannic majesty's sloop of war the Reindeer, on the 28th June, 1814.
Killed--Timothy Stevens, Thomas R. Peel, seamen; Joseph Vurse, Thomas Knight, John Brown, 2d, o. seamen.
Wounded--Henry S. Langdon, midshipman, dangerously; Frank Torean, do. do.; John Swett, master's mate, slightly; William Thompson, boatswain's mate, severly; John Dick, qr. master, do.; Nathl. Seamann, seaman, do.; Jotham Perkins, do. dangerously (since dead); William Preston, do. slightly; Charles Green, do. dangerously (since dead); Charles Clinton, do. slightly; Andrew Passenger. do. severly; John Rowe, do. slightly; Joseph Atkins, do. dangerously (since dead); Robert Lowther, do, slightly; Morrel Roberts, do. do. Robert Javis, a. seaman, severly; Henry Herbert, do. dangerously; Simon Cassalis, do. severly; John C. Thurston. do. dangerously; Caleb Wheedon, do. severly; John Ball, boy, dangerously (since dead)
Killed 5
Wounded 21 List of killed and wounded on board his Britannic majesty's sloop of war the Reindeer, in action with the United States' sloop of war the Wasp, on the 28 June, 1814. Killed-- William Manners, esq. commander; John Thos. Barton, and 23 petty officers and seamen.
Wounded-- Thos. Chambers, 1st lieut.; Richard Jones, master and forty petty officers and seamen.
Killed 23
Wounded: Dangerously 10 Severely 17 Slightly 15 Whole number wounded, 42 N.B. More than half the wounded were in consequence of the severity and extent of their wounds, put on board a Portuguese brig called the Lisbon Packet, on the third day after the action, to wit, 1st July, bound to Plymouth, England.
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