Yankee Hero Massachusetts Brig [Thomas Tracy] Hero... · Massachusetts Privateer Brig Yankee Hero...

Yankee Hero (1) Commander Thomas Thomas

[ ]Sloop-of-War Brig/Sloop 13 January 1776-20 February 1776Massachusetts Privateer Brig (2) Commander James Tracy

20 February 1776-6 June 1776

Commissioned/First Date: 13 January 1776Out of Service/Cause: 6 June 1776/captured by HM Frigate Milford

Owners: &Jackson, Tracy Tracy of Newburyport, Massachusetts

Tonnage: 120

Battery: Date Reported: 20 February 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside14/Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 22 February 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside14/Total: 14 cannon/ Broadside: 7 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 6 June 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside17/Total: 17 cannon/ Broadside: 8 cannon/Swivels: twelve

Date Reported: 25 June 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside12/Total: 12 cannon/ Broadside: 6 cannon/

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Swivels: six

Date Reported: 25 June 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside18/Total: 18 cannon/ Broadside: 9 cannon/Swivels:

Date Reported: 29 June 1776Number/Caliber Weight Broadside18/Total: 18 cannon/ Broadside: 9 cannon/Swivels: ten

Crew: [ ](1) 20 February 1776: 41 total[ ](2) 6 June 1776: 52 total

Description: Fine, large brig

Officers: (1) First Lieutenant [ ]William Main [ ]Mains , -6 June 1776;(2) Second Lieutenant Robert Tracy, -6 June 1776; (3) PrizeMaster Davis, -6 June 1776

Cruises: (1) Newburyport, Massachusetts to sea and return,[ ] [ ]February 1776- March 1776

(2) Newburyport, Massachusetts to sea, 6 June 1776

Prizes: (1) British Transport Snow James (William Littledale),[ ]February 1776

(2) British Transport Brigantine Sally (Alexander Wilson),off Newburyport, Massachusetts, 16 February 1776

(3) British Transport Brigantine Nelly (John Robinson), inMassachusetts Bay, 26 February 1776

Actions: (1) Action off Cape Ann, 6 June 1776

Comments:

Massachusetts Privateer Brig Yankee Hero was commissioned on 13 January 1776 under Commander



Thomas Thomas1 of Newburyport, Massachusetts.2 Her battery and crew were not stated in herbond, but she was listed as 120 tons (another source indicates 150 tons).3 Jonathan Jackson,Nathaniel Tracy, and Jo £hn Tracy, all of Newburyport, and Thomas, signed her 1000Massachusetts bond. Although the owners were not stated, they were clearly the house of Tracyand Tracy.4

Yankee Hero made at least one cruise under command of Thomas, with some success. The 180 ton5

[ ]British Transport Snow James (William Littledale), from Whitehaven to Boston6 with a cargoof provisions was captured and sent into Newburyport. She must have been captured in earlyFebruary 1776, for she was libeled on 26 February7 with her trial set for 21 March 1776.8 On 16February the Yankee Hero sent into Newburyport a “Bark” of about 300 tons, with a cargo ofcoal, pork and flour. This was the [ British ]Transport Brigantine Sally (Alexander Wilson), boundfor Boston.9 On 26 February 1776, a provision vessel bound to Boston after a short passage fromEngland was captured. This was [ British ]Transport Brigantine Nelly (John Robinson).10 Nelly,200 tons, was out of Whitehaven with a cargo of cheese, coal and provisions. She was sent intoNewburyport.11

A second commission was obtained on 20 February 1776 for the Yankee Hero, this time with JamesTracy as commander. The brig was listed as 120 tons, with a battery of fourteen guns and a crewof forty men. Her £1000 Massachusetts bond was executed by James Tracy, Jonathan Jackson,

1 NDAR, “Public Advertiser, Wednesday, March 5, 1777,” 8: 637-639

2 Allen, Massachusetts Privateers of the Revolution, 329

3 " NDAR, Public Advertiser ", Wednesday, March 5, 1777, 8: 637-639

4 NDAR, “Colony Bond for the Massachusetts Armed Brig Yankee Hero,” 3: 764

5 NDAR, “Advertisement of Libels filed in the Admiralty Court of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex Counties, Massachusetts,”4: 81-82 and 82 note. Identification of captor of the James is incorrect in the note. see also NDAR, “Providence Gazette,Saturday, April 20, 1776,” 4: 1174-1176

6 NDAR, “Captain William Littledale to the Massachusetts Council,” 4: 389

7 NDAR, “Advertisement of Libels filed in the Admiralty Court of Suffolk, Middlesex and Essex Counties, Massachusetts,”4: 81-82 and 82 note

8 The New England Chronicle, Wednesday, March 6, to Thursday, March 14, 1776

9 NDAR, “New England Chronicle, Thursday, February 8 to Thursday, February 22, 1776,” 4: 34-35 and 35 note

10 NDAR, “Providence Gazette, Saturday, March 2, 1776,” 4: 136 and note

11 NDAR, “Boston Gazette, Monday, March 4, 1776,” 4: 157 and note



Nathaniel and John Tracy (all of Newburyport) and John Lee of Marblehead.12 This commissionwas probably obtained before Thomas had returned to port from his cruise in the Yankee Hero.

James Tracy was a relative of Jonathan 'Jackson s wife, and had served in the British navy in some'capacity. He was not born in America, but was a “warm Friend for it s Liberties.”13

By early June 1776 the Yankee Hero was completely fitted out for a six-month cruise14 in the WestIndies, 'Tracy s intended cruising ground.15 However, he had been unable to recruit a full crew inNewburyport.16 He wanted a hundred men, but had only a quarter that number aboard.17 Tracydecided to go round to Boston and complete the crew there.18 He sailed out of Newburyport on 6June under the green and white Pine Tree Flag19 with only twenty-six men, officers included,

12 NDAR, “Colony Bond for the Massachusetts Brig Yankee Hero,” 4: 19; see also Emmons, 169, but Emmons incorrectlyidentifies Yankee Hero’s captor.

13 NDAR, “Jonathan Jackson to Elbridge Gerry,” 7: 969-970

14 NDAR, “Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,” 6: 126-128; “Massachusetts Spy, September11, 1776,” 6: 778-780

15 NDAR, “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582

16 NDAR, “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582; “Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,”6: 126-128; “Massachusetts Spy, September 11, 1776,” 6: 778-780


18 NDAR, “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582; “Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,”6: 126-128

19 NDAR, “London Chronicle, Tuesday, August 13 to Thursday, August 15, 1776,” 5: 724-725



aboard.20 Among the officers were First Lieutenant [ William] Mains21 (or Main),22 SecondLieutenant Robert Tracy23 and Prize Master Davis.24

At dawn on 6 June, HM Frigate Milford was patrolling off Cape Ann. She was a large frigate,armed with twenty-eight 9-pounders, with a crew of 280 men. Her commanding officer, CaptainJohn Burr, was a seasoned and experienced veteran. Milford set easy sail and stood west, her deck

The area around Thacher’s Island. The battle took place to the south and east of Thacher’s.


21 NDAR, “Continental Journal, Thursday, June 13, 1776,” 5: 507-508. His first name is not given in this source, but WilliamMain later commanded the Bilboa Packet in November 1776, and was a native of Newburyport. Claghorn, Naval Officersof the American Revolution, 193






Detail of a postage stamp issued by Paraguay in 1976, showing the fight between Yankee Hero and Milford. The

original painting is by Nowland Van Powell. Note that Yankee Hero is incorrectly shown as flying the “Grand Union”

flag. There is specific testimony that she was flying the “Pine Tree” flag. Accurately shown is the deadly full

broadside being fired by Milford.

officer noting that she was twelve miles ESE of Cape Ann.25 By afternoonthe Yankee Hero was going around Cape Ann and Tracy saw the sails of alarge vessel in the distance. Without a full crew aboard he was reluctant tochase. Soon after the brig overtook two boats, full of armed men, which hadbeen pursuing the vessel. These men informed Tracy that several transportshad been in close to the Cape earlier in the day, and offered to join him ifhe would pursue the stranger. Tracy agreed, and fourteen of the men boardedthe Yankee Hero, sending their boats ashore.26 The brig now set off for thestranger, which was fifteen miles away to the ESE, the wind blowing fromthe

west. Aboard the Milford 'Burr s lookouts noticed the stranger bearing down in chase about 1400.

Burr held to his course, concluding that the chase (if it were American), could be lured closer by

Yankee Hero Spoon: “A

silver teaspoon with the

figure of the privateer

Yankee Hero in bas relief on

the convex surface of the

bowl of the spoon was

manufactured and sold by

an enterprising silversmith

soon after the close of the

Revolutionary war . . .” They

are somewhat worn but

have the figure of a vessel

with the name Yankey Hero

on them . . .” From Currier,

John James, History of

N e w b u r y p o r t , M a s s

1764-1909

25 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M.S. Milford,” 5: 391-392




imitating a merchant vessel.27

When Yankee Hero had closed to within six miles of the stranger he discovered her to be a largeship, and soon after, from her actions, he concluded she was a warship. Yankee Hero immediatelycame about and headed for the distant shore. No one aboard the American thought the warshipcould catch the brig, but the wind died after about ten minutes.28 Aboard the Milford, the masternoted that the chase had tacked at 1500. Yankee Hero was to the southwest of Milford when sheturned away. Burr immediately followed and set all sail.29 Milford caught a fresh south wind andwas coming up very fast, intending to get between Tracy and the shore, thus cutting off theYankee Hero' s retreat. The warship had gotten into the 'brig s wake when the west wind sprangup again. Tracy angled for the shore with the most direct tack possible. The ship pursued. An hourwent by. An agonizing hour of watching the pursuit steadily draw closer. At a distance of halfa mile the warship opened fire with her bow chasers.30 Milford' s master noted that they fired fourshots at 1530 and four more at 1600. An hour later Milford had pulled alongside Yankee Hero.31








“Action between the American brig Yankee hero and the British frigate Milford off cape Ann, 7th June 1776" John Bentham Dinsdale. The Grand

Union flag also appears in this excellent painting.

When the Milford opened fire with her bow chasers, Tracy had his crew reply: with one swivelgun. As Milford closed in, she kept up a constant long range fire (probably ranging shots). Tracyprepared for a desperate fight. When the Milford had closed to within pistol shot on his leequarter, he opened fire with guns, swivels and muskets, and kept firing continually. The frigatesoon pulled alongside: with twelve 9-pounders to the side, forecastle and quarterdeck guns, andMarines in her fighting tops high above the 'brig s decks, Tracy was overmatched and knew it.32

Burr noted that Milford was alongside the Yankee Hero at 1700, when several shots were firedat the frigate, upon which he "came to "Action 33 Milford kept up a rapid and continuous fire. Burrturned his ship into the wind, cutting Tracy off from shore and forcing him to conform or collidewith Milford. First Lieutenant Main was struck and wounded. Yankee Hero was now unable to





fight her lee guns. Tracy quickly backed sail, and ran under the 'frigate s stern to escape. However, Milford sailed quicker and worked just as fast as the brig and soon had her on thebroadside again. Tracy could not evade Burr.34 Milford' s master simply recorded that, at 1730, thebrig wore ship and bore away, Milford following. Milford got alongside within pistol shot, firing“Great Guns and Musquets” for about thirty minutes.35

The two vessels lay a hundred feet apart, yawing back and forth in the wind, for an hour andtwenty minutes, all the while keeping a steady fire upon each other. When the Milford' s foremostguns slackened fire, Tracy saw a glimmer of a chance. He tacked under Milford' s stern again andgot clear of the smoke and fire that hung in a cloud over the water. As he ran clear Tracy sawthat Yankee Hero' s rigging was cut to pieces: yards were flying without braces, sails tattered.Dead and wounded men lay on the deck: it looked as if half the crew were down. Prize MasterDavis had fallen in the last fighting.36

Tracy set his men collecting the wounded and getting them below, and refitting the 'brig s rigging.Milford was now some way off and had no guns bearing at the moment. She soon came aroundand got underway. As the ship came up Tracy sent his men back to the guns, but kept a fewhands at work on the rigging. Hardly had two broadsides been fired when Tracy was hit in thethigh. In a few minutes he could not stand, then he fainted and had to be helped below. Whenhe came to, he was in the Yankee Hero' s cockpit, surrounded by dead and dying men, and the

'brig s guns were silent. Tracy had himself carried to the deck in a chair, to resume the action. Ondeck he fainted again, briefly, then looked around his vessel, and gave the order to surrender.37

The action seemed shorter aboard Milford, her master noting the American surrendered after a halfan hour, about 1800. Burr sent his first lieutenant over to take charge of the prize. The lieutenantreported that Yankee Hero had seventeen guns, twelve swivels, and a crew of fifty-two men. Thelieutenant found twelve wounded and four dead among the prisoners.38 While removing theprisoners, another man died.39






39 NDAR, “Continental Journal, Thursday, June 13, 1776, 5: 507-508



The length of the battle was variously reported as one and three-quarter,40 two41 and two and ahalf hours.42 It might have seemed that long to the Americans, being shot to pieces by Milford' sheavy battery. As for the crew, despite the careful statements of the Americans, which generallyagree to about forty men,43 Milford reported fifty-two prisoners, in addition to four dead.44

The casualty list was reported even more variably. Milford reported four Americans killed andtwelve wounded, but failed to note the mortally wounded man who soon died.45 A more detailedreport notes five killed or died and seventeen wounded.46 Other reports note four47 or five killed48

and eleven or twelve49, thirteen,50 or sixteen51 wounded. The prisoners were well treated by Burr,who had a reputation for abuse of prisoners.52 Milford had one Marine wounded53 and was damagedin her sails and rigging.54

Yankee Hero' s battery was subject to the same variable reporting. She was listed as having twelve

40 NDAR, “David Cobb to Robert Treat Paine,” 5: 576-577

41 NDAR, “Nathaniel Tracy to the Massachusetts Council,” 5: 446-448 and 448 note; “Continental Journal, Thursday, June13, 1776, 5: 507-508

42 NDAR, “Nathaniel Tracy to the Massachusetts Council,” 5: 446-448 and 448 note

43 NDAR, “David Cobb to Robert Treat Paine,” 5: 576-577; “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582; “Essex Journaland New Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,” 6: 126-128; “Massachusetts Spy, September 11, 1776,” 6: 778-780


45 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M.S. Milford,” 5: 391-392; “Continental Journal, Thursday, June 13, 1776, 5: 507-508


47 NDAR, “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582; “Extract of a Letter from Capt. Rogers, of the ship John, datedHalifax, June 29,” 5: 810; “Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,” 6: 126-128; “MassachusettsSpy, September 11, 1776,” 6: 778-780


49 NDAR, “Cotton Tufts to John Adams,” 5: 580-582

50 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from Capt. Rogers, of the ship John, dated Halifax, June 29,” 5: 810; “Essex Journal andNew Hampshire Packet, Friday, August 9, 1776,” 6: 126-128; “Massachusetts Spy, September 11, 1776,” 6: 778-780


52 NDAR, “Continental Journal, Thursday, June 13, 1776, 5: 507-508; “Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Friday,August 9, 1776,” 6: 126-128; “Massachusetts Spy, September 11, 1776,” 6: 778-780


54 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M.S. Milford,” 5: 424 and note



guns and six swivels on 25 June55 or, simply, eighteen guns.56 Another report indicates eighteen gunsand ten swivels (29 June).57

Milford stood to the south at 2100, steering for Nantasket with her prize close behind.58 On 8 Juneshe anchored in the roads and sent thirty-five of the prisoners aboard the flagship of ActingCommodore Banks, HM Frigate Renown.59 On 10 June the Americans began to take steps toarrange an exchange of prisoners. Owner Nathaniel Tracy suggested this in a letter to theMassachusetts Council, which approved at once.60 On 11 June61 a party under a flag of truce visitedthe Renown to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. Banks was willing, but had no authority,stating he would have to contact his superiors before granting an exchange.62 Banks took theopportunity to comment to the Americans that “no men could fight better than ours on board theYankey Hero.”63

Before any further action on a prisoner exchange could take place, the British were driven fromBoston Harbor on 14 June.64 They headed for Halifax and Yankee Hero arrived there on 23 June.65

Massachusetts and the Tracys continued to seek an exchange. On 18 July the Massachusetts Councilcontacted George Washington about an exchange.66 On 9 August it was reported that Tracy andMain were recovering their wounds at Halifax, where all the wounded were. Twelve of the crewhad been kept on the Milford, under pressure to enlist with the British.67 At least three men

55 NDAR, “London Chronicle, Tuesday, August 13 to Thursday, August 15, 1776,” 5: 724-725

56 NDAR, “Journal of Captain Henry Dearborn,” 5: 807-810 and 810 note

57 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from Capt. Rogers, of the ship John, dated Halifax, June 29,” 5: 810


59 NDAR, “Master’s Log of H.M.S. Milford,” 5: 424 and note

60 NDAR, “Nathaniel Tracy to the Massachusetts Council,” 5: 446-448 and 448 note; Also see NDAR, “James Warren toElbridge Gerry,” 5: 490



63 NDAR, “Extract of a letter from Boston, dated June 12,” 5: 491

64 NDAR, “Journal of H.M.S. Renown, Captain Francis Banks,” 5: 524-525; “Dr. Samuel Cooper to John Adams,” 5: 577-579

65 NDAR, “Journal of Captain Henry Duncan, R.N.,” 5: 691

66 NDAR, “Massachusetts Council to George Washington,” 5: 1122-1123




enlisted aboard the Renown, being in the capacity of British sailors on 27 March 1777.68 SecondLieutenant Tracy was kept aboard the Renown.69

The Yankee Hero was eventually tried and condemned. In early August 1776 she was sold for £850to a Loyalist, to be made into a privateer.70 In fact, she was purchased into British service on 15August 1776 as HM Schooner Postillion, armed with ten 4-pounders, and served on theNewfoundland station until 9 September 1779 when she was condemned and sold at Halifax for£450.71

Meanwhile, about the end of July 1776, Tracy and Main were ordered sent to Staten Island inpreparation for an exchange, which, however, did not occur.72 By mid-October 1776 Tracy washoping to be exchanged for Lieutenant John Knight (former commander of the Diligent,73 a hopethat was still being expressed at the end of November 1776.74

Tracy and the other officers from the Yankee Hero were eventually paroled on 4 November 1776,when a cartel arrived at Marblehead from Halifax.75 Tracy had been exchanged by 16 January 1777,when his former employer and kinsman, Jonathan Jackson, solicited a command in the ContinentalNavy for him.76

68 NDAR, "Petition of Ebenezer Cleaveland to the Massachusetts "Council, 8: 209-210. This was a request for exchange ofthe men. The request was approved, and an equal number of prisoners were ordered sent to Newport to effect the exchange

" "on 30 May 1777. NDAR, Journal of the Massachusetts Council, 8: 1044.


70 NDAR, “Extract of a Letter from Halifax, Aug. 25,” 6: 297-298

71 Winfield, Rif, British Warships in the Age of Sail 1714-1795: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. SeaforthPublishing/MBI Publishing, St. Paul, Minnesota: 2007

72 NDAR, “New-England Chronicle, Thursday, September 12, 1776,” 6: 787-788

73 NDAR, “Sir George Collier’s Instructions to Thomas Stone,” 6: 1268-1269

74 NDAR, “Committee of Correspondence of South Hadley to the Massachusetts Council,” 7: 94-95

75 NDAR, “Boston Gazette, Monday, November 11, 1776,” 7: 104-105 and 105 note

76 NDAR, “Jonathan Jackson to Elbridge Gerry,” 7: 969-970



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