Hunting the Essex: A Journal of the Voyage of HMS Phoebe 1813-1814

By Midshipman Allen Gardiner

In February 1813 the British frigate Phoebe set out on a secret mission that would involve sailing halfway around the world to attack American settlements in the Pacific Northwest. The United States, frustrated at the treatment of its shipping by the combatants in the Napoleonic Wars, had finally opened hostilities against the British in the previous June. From the American perspective the War of 1812 began with disasters in its invasion of Canada, but against all expectations the infant US Navy had scored significant victories at sea. The most strategically significant of these was the campaign by the frigate USS Essex, which had almost annihilated the lucrative British whaling trade in the south Pacific. Therefore, Phoebe was diverted to hunt down and destroy this highly successful commerce-raider. After an epic search, Phoebe tracked her prey to neutral Valparaiso where the American frigate was blockaded and,in a very bloody battle, eventually captured. The American captain, David Porter, published a self-serving account of his actions which ever since has mired the battle in controversy, so this British naval eyewitness account is an important counter-balance. It is one of the lesser-known campaigns of a war which is currently celebrating its bicentenary, but its inherent drama inspired the plot of Patrick O'Brian's novel The Far Side of the World, although in its movie adaptation Master & Commander the American frigate is transformed into a French privateer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen and Sword
• Release date: Jun 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781473826670

Reviews for Hunting the Essex

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An Eyewitness Account of HistoryMost Europeans when thinking of the period of 1813 – 1814 are thinking of Napoleon’s long retreat from Russia in 1812 and heading towards his final stand in 1815 at Waterloo. Most forget that Britain was facing problems from the new republic of the USA with a few battles here and there the attempted invasion of Canada and British troops burning down the White House, this time American allies those cheese eating surrender monkeys were otherwise engaged.What is forgotten is that the fledgling USS navy was having some success have scored some pretty amazing victories. The USS frigate the Essex was especially having a lot of success against the British whaling trade in the Pacific and this is the eyewitness account of midshipman Allen Gardiner who was part of a secret operation to hunt and kill the USS Essex aboard HMS Phoebe. As it says on the dust jacket this hunt and chase for the Essex inspired the film Master & Commander. This book has been skilfully edited by John Rieske so that has been transcribed and written in clear English for any reader as well as those with an interest in naval history. There is a wonderful introduction by Professor Andrew Lambert who is Laughton Professor of Naval History at Kings College, London.Gardiner’s journal on HMS Phoebe gives us unique insights into the actual voyage and hunt for the USS Essex and the Battle of Valparaiso Bay. At the same time we get to see the recordings of when they were in port and the various sights and sounds that were experienced by the men on board. As a midshipman the opportunity to go ashore would have been available to Gardiner between England and Peru and back again. He describes a lot of the times he was ashore more than when he was at sea but then that is to be understood as not much happened at sea during the hunt for the Phoebe. He does describe the trip round Cape Horn and the freezing temperatures that was experienced. Like all naval college graduates he describes the ports and land with an excellent knowledge of the history and politics of each country.This is a wonderful little book and is of interest to all those with an interest with not only naval history but of the developing America against the old world. This is a great book to read and there is something to learn for all of us. I would recommend you read the introduction as there are clear explanations by a qualified historian in this area of naval history. A great book, great history and it is setting the record straight!