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AMERICA
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(74) |
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Built in 1810, Blackwall.
Target in 1864. |
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- 1811 Capt. Josias ROWLEY was appointed to command AMERICA on his return from the Indian Ocean with dispatches from Vice Ad. BERTIE and sailed for the Mediterranean.
On 9 May 1812, in company with LEVIATHAN and ECLAIR in the Gulf of Genoa, she fell in with a convoy of eighteen sail of the enemy which took shelter under the batteries of Languillia. The following morning, under the direction of Lieut. RICHARDSON, the boats landed about 250 marines from the two larger ships. A party of marines under Capt. Owen RM of LEVIATHAN was detached to carry a battery of five 24 and 18-pounders to the eastward while the main body under Capt. Rea RM of AMERICA advanced under a heavy fire of grape to take the battery adjoining the town. The ECLAIR swept in and her fire cleared the beach before a large force of seamen brought off sixteen of the convoy and burnt one, the rest being too badly damaged. The success was marred by a stray shot hitting the AMERICA's yawl in which ten marines and one of the crew were drowned.
One sergeant of marines and two private marines were killed in the attack. - On the night of 30 November 1813 AMERICA and TERMAGNANT anchored at Milazzo and joined EDINBURGH, FURIEUSE and MERMAID.
AMERICA grounded as she entered the port but was got off without much difficulty The following day they embarked 1,000 men of the Italian levy under Lieut. Col. Catanelli, sailed the following evening and arrived off Via Reggio on 9 December.
Capt. ROWLEY detained ARMADA and IMPERIEUSE off Corsica to assist with the landing which took place as soon as the ships anchored. While the Italians took the surrender of Lucca a detachment of 40 marines from AMERICA captured a castle to the northward which the Mr BAZALGETTE, the first lieutenant, destroyed with a few barrels of gunpowder.
Capt. ROWLEY was about to sail and rejoin Vice Ad. PELLEW when firing was seen ashore as some 600 cavalry and infantry from the Livorno and Pisa garrisons attacked. They were soon routed and the Lieut. Colonel proposed that his troops should be carried along the coast to intercept the enemy as they retreated towards Livorno.
AMERICA and the other ships arrived in Livorno Roads the following day towing the troops in a number of country vessels and troops and marines were landed in heavy seas to the north of the town.
AMERICA's pinnace was swamped and Lieut. MOODY and two seamen, George WHITE and William FORD, her only casualties, were drowned. Mr NAW, Lieut. WYBURY and the remainder of the crew were only saved with great difficulty.
The enemy troops numbered more than 700 men and a charge of their cavalry was received with great coolness by the marines who opened to let them through, killing all but 14 (another report says seven) as they passed.
The survivors, except for one officer, were shot by the marines in the rear and a detachment of the Italian levy. The remainder of the enemy were routed when they were charged by the marines leaving more than 250 killed, wounded and prisoner. The first division of fifty of the AMERICA's marines were led by Mr William SOMERVILLE, mate of that ship, and the remainder of the AMERICA's by Lieut. Monk MASON.
Although there were no more than 2,000 enemy troops within 60 miles and the AMERICA's launch commanded by Mr TREMLETT, master's mate, had passed the bar laden with ammunition stores for reducing the town, it was decided to evacuate the force. The wounded were taken off first to be treated in AMERICA by Mr BROMLEY and then the prisoners, ammunition and guns were shipped in the boats by Messrs. BREARY and SOMERVILLE. During the following night all the troops and the naval force had been embarked. AMERICA returned to Port Mahon.
It was later ascertained that the attackers had suffered from excessive caution, the commander of Livorno had resolved to surrender the town the following day.
MURAT took it later without firing a shot. - Early in 1814 Capt. ROWLEY with his squadron and transports sailed from Palermo to carry Sir William Bentinck's army for the reduction of Genoa.
The first landing was made well to the eastward where, on 30 March, the forts around La Spezia surrendered to a force of seamen under Capt. DUNDAS of EDINBURGH. The main force was landed at Recco, about 10 miles east of Genoa, on 13 April and pushed on towards the town. The troops launched their attack at daylight on the 19th., assisted by gun and mortar vessels and the ship's boats with carronades. As the flotilla opened fire, seamen and marines from the squadron landed and the defenders deserted their batteries which were immediately turned on them.
When Sir Edward PELLEW arrived with several line-of-battle ships the French Commandant decided to capitulate. A 74-gun ship found on the stocks was launched and, laden with the frames of a similar vessel, was escorted to England by AMERICA in the autumn. - 1816 Out of commission at Plymouth.
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