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The American Privateer Comet
By Terry D. Janes
The following is an interesting story about a little-known part of early American history. Not long ago, I came across an old oil painting being offered for sale by a lady who purchased it from a estate sale in a small town in Iowa. The original owner had been an elderly lady. The seller described it as a "Pirate Ship painting". It was just the canvas, as the original stretchers and frame had disintegrated with age. The photo she provided me was rather poor, but I immediately noticed the US flag on this ship and knew it to be a US Navy ship, rather than a pirate vessel. I also noticed the ship's name, "Comet" on it's stern. I liked it, and the price was right, so I purchased the painting.
I immediately began researching this ship. From the US Navy, I got the following description:
(Sch.: t. 187; l. 90'6"; b. 23'6"; cpl. 120; a. 14 guns) (Meaning she was classified as a schooner, of 187 tons, 90 feet 6 inches long, 23 feet 6 inches beam (wide), carried a crew of 120 and was armed with 14 cannon) The first Comet, a 14-gun schooner, was built in Baltimore during 1810 and commissioned as a privateer 10 July 1812 with T. Boyle as captain. After a cruise in the Caribbean and South Atlantic (25 July 1812-14 February 1813), Comet was blockaded in Chesapeake Bay. Between April and September 1813 she was loaned to the Navy for reconnaissance in the bay area, with Boyle remaining in command as a Sailing Master. The schooner again put to sea 29 October 1813, returning to Beaufort, N.C. Comet took 35 prizes as a privateer.
So, the seller's description of the Comet as a pirate ship was not so far off from the truth after all! The Comet was a Privateer. Built just prior to the War of 1812, she served the then-fledgling US Navy as a legalized pirate against British shipping. The US Navy today doesn't seem to like to discuss this aspect of it's history too much it seems, but nevertheless, during those early days our government did engage in privateering as a means to cripple British sea power in any way they could. The average privateer ship took 6 prize-ships within its career. The Comet's record of 35 prizes has to be the record high!
Captain Thomas Boyle was indeed a remarkable character! Boyle was of an Irish family who had immigrated to the U.S. After further research on him, I am convinced that he was one of the bravest Americans alive during the War of 1812. His contemporaries considered him to be a stable, conservative man, yet as privateer, he took chances that few other sea captains would hazard. In fact, I think he is one of the greatest unsung American heroes of his day. The Comet was his first privateer command. When she became too "shot-up" to continue as a privateer, he took command of the new, faster Chasseur and picked up right where he left off. According to the book, Mobtown Clipper by S.S. Rabl, "If Thomas Boyle and the Comet were the epitome of American Privateers, then Boyle and the Chasseur were its antithesis." In short, Thomas Boyle was the common denominator. The History of American Privateers, By Edgar Stanton Maclay in 1899 devoted an entire chapter to the exploits of Captain Thomas Boyle, the Comet and the Chasseur. Click here to read the chapter! In 1891, the book "A History Of The American People" was published, and includes a section on the Comet!
To learn more about Captain Boyle and the Comet's activities in the War of 1812, click here.
Captain Thomas Boyle Aboard The Comet
As Captain of the Chasseur, Thomas Boyle made himself even more notorious and hated by the British when after capturing seven ships in one day, he sent one home to England to carry his proclamation to the British nation, that he and his one little ship was going to single-handedly institute a blockade of the entire British nation! One little Baltimore clipper against the 1,000 + ship Royal Navy! The audacity of the proclamation had the desired effect, and Boyle became British Enemy Number One! However, try as they might, they never succeeded in bringing this arrogant American to justice. Boyle even sailed to within hailing distance of a Royal Navy base, just to snub his nose at his enemy! Lloyds of London badly wanted to rid the seas of this menace to British shipping. Boyle continued to flaunt the Royal Navy's efforts and continue taking prizes until war's end. What makes the War of 1812 far more important than most Americans realize, is that it was the first time that we as a nation exerted ourselves against the dominating powers of Europe and made them sit up and take notice of this new kid on the block, the U.S.A. Our land forces may not have been so impressive, and our navy was in its infancy, but good American ingenuity and courage took shape, and our nation's privateers badly bled the then greatest naval power in the world, Great Britain.
Boyle's Proclamation
"November 13th, 1814
Whereas it has become customary with the Admirals of Great Britain, commanding small forces on the coast of the UNITED STATES, and particularly with Sir John Borlase Warren and Sir Alexander Cochrane, to declare all ports of the said UNITED STATES in strict and rigorous blockade; without possessing the power to justify such a blockade, or stationing an adequate force to maintain such a blockade:
I do therefore by virtue of the power and authority in me vested (possessing sufficient force) declare all the ports, harbors, bays, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands and sea coast of THE UNITED KINGDOM of GREAT BRITAIN and IRELAND in a state of strict and rigorous blockade.
I do further declare that I consider the force under my command, adequate to maintain strictly, rigorously and effectually the said blockade.
And I do hereby require the respective officers whether Captains, Commanders or Commanding Officers under my command, employed or to be employed on the coasts of England, Ireland and Scotland to pay strict attention to the execution of this my PROCLAMATION.
And I do hereby caution and forbid the ships and vessels of all and every nation in amity and peace with the UNITED STATES from entering or attempting to enter, or from coming out or attempting to come out of any of the said ports, harbors, bays, creeks, rivers, inlets, outlets, islands or sea coasts under any pretense whatsoever.
And that no person may plead ignorance of this my PROCLAMATION, I have ordered the same to be made public in England.
Given under my hand on board the Chasseur, day and date as above,
THOMAS BOYLE
(By command of the Commanding Officer) J. B. STANBURY Secretary"
Besides the oil painting of mine, I have only been able to find a few other images of the Comet in existence. Two images are oil paintings that depict the Comet in battle with the British Hibernia that were painted by British artist, Thomas Whitcombe. The others are pen & ink sketches or woodcuts. My painting of the Comet seems to be only the third in existence.
I located an antique book, entitled "The Cruise of the Comet", by James Otis, published in 1898, which also has artists ink drawings of the Comet. Because this book is now public domain, I will re-publish it here so that others can learn more about this little-known part of early American history. The story is based on the real-life letters written by Stephen Burton, a boy who not only served aboard the Comet, but was also Captain Thomas Boyle's nephew. Click the link below to read this wonderful old book in its entirety:
I located a January 19, 1895 issue of Harper's Weekly which carried an artist's ink rendition of the Comet running the British Blockade of Baltimore Harbor, along with a great story of the Comet by James Barnes, entitled, "The "Comet"-Privateer".
Below, as a background on the War of 1812 for those who need a refresher, or are learning about it for the first time, I offer Rossiter Johnson's wonderful History Of The War Of 1812, published in 1882 and now in the public domain. Each link below represents one chapter of his book. This is one of the finest histories of this war that I have found, and gives details many other books leave out.
The Cause Of The War Of 1812 Between The United States And Great Britain
The Detroit Campaign of The War Of 1812
Fights With The Indians Of The War Of 1812
The Battle Of Queenstown Of The War Of 1812
The War On The Ocean Of The War Of 1812
Minor Battles In The West Of The War Of 1812
War On The Lakes Of The War Of 1812
The Battle Of The Thames Of The War Of 1812
Wilkinson's Expedition Of The War Of 1812
War In The South During The War Of 1812
Naval Battles Of 1813 During The War Of 1812
Peace Negotiations-Campaign Against The Creeks Of The War Of 1812
Brown's Campaign On The Niagara Of The War Of 1812
The Second Invasion Of New York During The War Of 1812
Operations Along The Coast During The War Of 1812
The Washington Campaign Of The War Of 1812
Naval Battles Of 1814 During The War Of 1812
The Hartford Convention Of The War Of 1812
The Campaign Of The Gulf Coast Of The War Of 1812
I located a War of 1812 romantic novel written in 1899, by Cyrus Townsend Brady, Freedom Of The Sea!
I have added a couple images depicting U.S. Navy and U.S. Army uniforms during the War of 1812.
With financial gain being a prime motivator for privateers, I thought that you enjoy seeing what money during the War of 1812 was like!
Another great book covering the War of 1812 is The Fight for a Free Sea: A Chronicle of the War of 1812 By Ralph D. Paine.
I have added a very entertaining novel about the naval war on the Great Lakes during the War of 1812, which was based upon the deeds of a real U.S. Navy officer, Midshipman Paulding.
Former U.S. President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt wrote a magnificent book entitled The Naval War Of 1812, which covers much of the regular U.S. Navy at the time, but also mention's Captain Thomas Boyle while he commanded the privateer Chasseur.
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