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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

USS Porcupine (I)

Schooner:
  • Built in 1812-13 by Adam and Noah Brown at Presque Isle, PA. as part of Commodore Oliver H. Perry's Lake Erie Fleet
  • Launched, in spring of 1813
  • Commissioned USS Porcupine, Acting Master George Tenant in command
  • Porcupine took part in the Battle of Lake Erie, 10 September 1813
  • She was subsequently utilized as a hospital ship for captured wounded seamen
  • While lying at anchor with USS Ohio and USS Somers at the head of the Niagara River 12 August 1814, she was attacked by six or eight boats manned by English seamen and Canadian militia. Ohio and Somers were captured, but Porcupine escaped
  • Porcupine was then laid up at Erie until 1819, when she refitted and was turned over to the Collector of Revenue at Detroit on 2 June
  • She returned to the Navy, 2 August 1821, remaining inactive until sold 8 August 1825
  • She was used as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes until 1873
  • Final Disposition, having been found unseaworthy in 1873, she was beached on the sands of Spring Lake, near Grand Haven, MI.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 60t.
    Length unknown
    Beam unknown
    Depth of Hold unknown
    Draft unknown
    Speed unknown
    Complement 25
    Armament
    one 32-pdr
    three 12-pdrs
    Propulsion sail
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    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Porcupine I
    098696301    		 253k
    Schooners USS SOMERS, USS OHIO, and USS PORCUPINE Attacked by British Boats Near Fort Erie, August 1814

    On 18 August 1814, the three United States armed schooners USS Somers, USS Ohio, and USS Porcupine, each with 35 men commanded by a lieutenant, being stationed close to Fort Erie, then in the possession of the Americans for the purpose of flanking the British army in their approach against it. Captain Dobbs of HMS Charwell, with a detachment of 75 seaman and marines from his vessel and from HMS Netley, LT. C. Radcliffe, lying opposite to Fort George resolved to attempt their capture or destruction. For this purpose, the seamen carried the captain's gig upon their shoulders from Queenstown to Frenchman's Creek, 20 miles. From this spot by the aid of LTCOL Nichol, 5 bateaux as well as the gig, were got across through the woods to Lake Erie, 8 miles. The Somers and Phio were presently carried and the third would certainly have fallen had not the cables been cut which caused her to drift to leeward among the rapids. American losses, 1 seaman killed and 3 officers and 4 seamen wounded. British losses, LT. Radcliffe and one seaman killed and four seaman wounded.
    U.S. National Archives Photo # USN 902811 from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command collection    		 Robert Hurst
    Porcupine (I)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
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    Last Updated 25 February 2022