Coffins of the brave : lake shipwrecks of the War of 1812 / edited by Kevin J. Crisman ; with Walter Rybka, Kenneth Cassavoy, Christopher R. Sabick, LeeAnne Gordon, Sara Hoskins, Erich Heinold, Jonathan Moore, Christopher Amer, Eric Emery, Erika Washburn, and Arthur B. Cohn
Edition
First edition
Published
College Station : Texas A & M University Press, 2014
Ed Rachal Foundation nautical archaeology series in association with the Institute of Nautical Archaeology and the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation
Introduction / Kevin J. Crisman -- The naval war of 1812 on the upper lakes / Kevin J. Crisman -- "We have met the enemy and they are ours": the US Navy brig Niagara / Walter Rybka -- "Cast away on the Canadian shore": the British brig General Hunter / Kenneth Cassavoy -- "A perfect masterpiece of workmanship": His Majesty's hired transport schooner Nancy / Christopher R. Sabick -- Echoes of a naval race: the Royal Navy schooners Tecumseth and Newash / LeeAnne Gordon, Sara Hoskins, and Erich Heinold -- The naval war of 1812 on Lake Ontario / Kevin J. Crisman -- Fore-and-afters at fifty fathoms: the wrecks of Hamilton and Scourge / Jonathan Moore -- "Anticipated laurels": the US brig Jefferson / Kevin J. Crisman -- Frontier frigates and a three-decker: wrecks of the Royal Navy's Lake Ontario squadron / Jonathan Moore -- "Smaller vessels are of no less consequence": the Browns Bay vessel / Christopher Amer -- The naval war of 1812 on Lake Champlain / Kevin J. Crisman -- "Lt. Cassin says there is a new boat near Vergennes": the US schooner Ticonderoga / Kevin J. Crisman -- "A perfect willingness to see the enemy on fair terms": the US Navy row galley Allen / Eric Emery -- "A remarkably fine looking vessel": the Royal Navy brig Linnet / Erika Washburn -- "It has again become necessary to add to our force on Lake Champlain": the US Navy brig Eagle / Kevin J. Crisman -- "I never see anything in this world like it!": the archaeological legacy of a naval battle / Arthur B. Cohn and Kevin J. Crisman -- Conclusions: "Coffins of the brave": two hundred years later / Kevin J. Crisman -- Appendix A. Principal dimensions, armament, and broadside weight of the ships built at Kingston in 1814 -- Appendix B. Prince Regent (Kingston) sailing qualities report, 1815 -- Appendix C. Principal timber scantlings (in inches) and wood species of the ships built at Kingston in 1814 -- Glossary
Summary
In Coffins of the Brave: Lake Shipwrecks of the War of 1812, archaeologist Kevin J. Crisman and his fellow contributors examine sixteen different examples of 1812-era naval and commercial shipbuilding. They range from four small prewar vessels to four 16- or 20-gun brigs, three warships of much greater size, a steamboat hull converted into an armed schooner, two gunboats, and two postwar schooners. Despite their differing degrees of preservation and archaeological study, each vessel reveals something about how its creators sought the best balance of strength, durability, capacity
