The Enterprize (Enterprise) and Boxer Rare War of 1812 Engraving Michele Felice Corne (c.1752-1845) Painter Ashley Bowen (1728-1813) Engraver This engraving has been used to decorate a creamware pitcher and a snuff box of the period. This rare wood engraving is attributed to Ashley Bowen. Ashley Bowen (17281813) was the first American sailor to write an autobiography.[1] Although Bowen's career as a sailor was not particularly remarkable, his writings are of great value in understanding the life of an average sailor at that time. Bowen was a sailor from the age of 13 to the age of 35. Youth Ashley Bowen was born on January 8, 1728. He grew up in the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, until going to sea at age eleven.[2] Bowen's mother died when he was twelve, and he suffered personal turmoil when his father re-married soon after. At the age of "13 year and three month" Bowen was apprenticed to Captain Peter Hall of Boston.[citation needed] Seafaring years Bowen went to sea as a living from the age of 13 on, suffering cruelly under the harsh beatings of his master. Although repeated escape attempts failed, Bowen was finally able to escape Hall at the age of 17.[citation needed] Finally away from his master, Bowen spent the next eighteen years in the employment of several organizations, including the Royal Navy and British traders. During this time, Bowen made money transporting cargo, serving in the British navy, and trading goods. Bowen was also held prisoner during the Seven Years' War by the French. Family life and giving up the sea In 1758, Bowen married Dorothea Chadwick, who bore him six children during their marriage.[3] At the time, Bowen was 30 years old, and the fact that he had a wife on land made him think of retirement. Eventually, Bowen gave up seafaring at the age of 35, and set up a rigging business in Marblehead, Massachusetts.[4] The business was a moderate success, providing enough income to get by, but never by much. Dorothea died in 1771; the same year, Bowen married Mary Shaw. Shaw died in 1781, and the next year Bowen married Hannah Graves.[5] Bowen's final child was born in 1797. Although Bowen had amassed some wealth through his business and his adventures at sea, as he grew elderly, he was completely dependent upon his children for his upkeep.[6] Bowen died in 1813. Impact of Bowen's life and autobiography Although Bowen did not become a master of his own ship or have notable seafaring adventures for his time, his historical contribution is important. Because Bowen was the first American sailor to write an autobiography, his account gives historians valuable insight into life as an 18th-century sailor. Bowen's autobiography and journal had been an important archival source for scholars and in 1973 it was edited by Phillip Chadwick Foster Smith and published by the Colonial Society of Massachusetts. More recently, in 2006, The Autobiography of Ashley Bowen was published by itself by Broadview Editions, edited with an Introduction by Daniel Vickers. Print Type: Wood Engraving Hand colored Dated: Circa 1812 Origin: American Demensions: S 5 7/8 x 7 7/8" Frame: Marbled Frame Subject: Nautical - War of 1812 Notes & Literature: At the outset of the War of 1812, the American Navy wasnt considered much of a match for the British Navy. And the USS Enterprise was hardly anyones idea of a state-of-the-art warship. But she stunned and gladdened the nation with her capture of the H.M.S. Boxer. At 85-feet in length, Enterprise carried just over 100 seamen, 14 cannon and two long guns. As Teddy Roosevelt wrote in his history of the naval war, American brigs carried far too many guns and men for their size, and not enough to give them a chance with any respectable opponent; and they were almost all ignominiously captured. The single exception was the brig Enterprise. On the morning of September 5, 1813, the Enterprise happened upon the H.M.S. Boxer, a similarly-sized British vessel that had been harassing ships off the coast of Maine and Canada. She was anchored near Pemaquid Point. For the next several hours, the two vessels maneuvered in the waters off Monhegan Island, readying themselves for the battle to come. Along the shoreline, citizens gathered to see what they could as they became aware of the battle shaping up. By 3 p.m. Lieutenant William Burrows had the Enterprise bearing down on the Boxer. On the British ship, Commander Samuel Blyth ordered the ships flags nailed to the mast, demonstrating that he had no intention of striking his colors and surrendering, come what may. The overloaded Enterprise had one striking advantage. Boxer had only a crew of 66 on board, leaving her with far fewer men to operate the guns and keep the vessel under control. At 3 p.m., with superior aiming, the Enterprise damaged the Boxer badly. She lost a mast. And, she lost Commander Blyth, who was killed by a cannon shot. Burrows, too, was mortally wounded, though he would live on to see the end of the fight. As the fighting progressed, four British sailors would abandon their posts, giving the Enterprise and even greater advantage. Within a half hour, the battle was over . Shot through the hull multiple times and unable to maneuver, the Boxer surrendered. Blyths sword was taken to the American ship and presented to Burrows, who ordered it be returned to Blyths family. On shore, it wasnt immediately obvious who had won. Though Henry Longfellow would later make the battle famous in a poem, he likely saw very little of it, as it was so far distant. When the H.M.S. Boxer was finally brought in to Portland Harbor by the Enterprise, the town learned the outcome. On September 9, both captains were laid to rest in Portland, side by side in a funeral that celebrated both of their heroism. Condition Report: Minor foxing toning.
The Enterprize (Enterprise) and Boxer Rare War of 1812 Engraving Michele Felice Corne Painter Able Bowen (1790-1850) Engraver. This engraving has been used to decorate a creamware pitcher and a snuff box of the period. This rare wood engraving is attributed to Able Bowen. Print Type: Wood Engraving Hand colored Dated: Circa 1812 Origin: American Dimensions: S 5 7/8 x 7 7/8" Frame: Marbled Frame Subject: Nautical - War of 1812 Notes: At the outset of the War of 1812, the American Navy wasnï¾t considered much of a match for the British Navy. And the USS Enterprise was hardly anyoneï¾s idea of a state-of-the-art warship. But she stunned and gladdened the nation with her capture of the H.M.S. Boxer. At 85-feet in length, Enterprise carried just over 100 seamen, 14 cannon and two long guns. As Teddy Roosevelt wrote in his history of the naval war, American brigs ï¾carried far too many guns and men for their size, and not enough to give them a chance with any respectable opponent; and they were almost all ignominiously captured. The single exception was the brig Enterprise.ï¾ On the morning of September 5, 1813, the Enterprise happened upon the H.M.S. Boxer, a similarly-sized British vessel that had been harassing ships off the coast of Maine and Canada. She was anchored near Pemaquid Point. For the next several hours, the two vessels maneuvered in the waters off Monhegan Island, readying themselves for the battle to come. Along the shoreline, citizens gathered to see what they could as they became aware of the battle shaping up. By 3 p.m. Lieutenant William Burrows had the Enterprise bearing down on the Boxer. On the British ship, Commander Samuel Blyth ordered the shipï¾s flags nailed to the mast, demonstrating that he had no intention of striking his colors and surrendering, come what may. The overloaded Enterprise had one striking advantage. Boxer had only a crew of 66 on board, leaving her with far fewer men to operate the guns and keep the vessel under control. At 3 p.m., with superior aiming, the Enterprise damaged the Boxer badly. She lost a mast. And, she lost Commander Blyth, who was killed by a cannon shot. Burrows, too, was mortally wounded, though he would live on to see the end of the fight. As the fighting progressed, four British sailors would abandon their posts, giving the Enterprise and even greater advantage. Within a half hour, the battle was over . Shot through the hull multiple times and unable to maneuver, the Boxer surrendered. Blythï¾s sword was taken to the American ship and presented to Burrows, who ordered it be returned to Blythï¾s family. On shore, it wasnï¾t immediately obvious who had won. Though Henry Longfellow would later make the battle famous in a poem, he likely saw very little of it, as it was so far distant. When the H.M.S. Boxer was finally brought in to Portland Harbor by the Enterprise, the town learned the outcome. On September 9, both captains were laid to rest in Portland, side by side in a funeral that celebrated both of their heroism. Condition Report Minor foxing toning.
