USS Rattlesnake

Description

• The model is 100% hand built by artisans from scratch using “plank on bulkhead” construction method
• Rosewood, mahogany, teak and other exotic woods are carefully selected to build the model
• Highly complex rigging with varied thread gauge, hundreds of blocks and deadeyes.
• Figurehead, cannons, anchors, bell, propeller and other fitting made from brass or metal
• Hand-painted to match the actual tall ship.
• Solid wood base and brass name plate included.

USS Rattlesnake was a brig built in Medford, Massachusetts as a privateer and purchased by the United States Navy in 1813. She sailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire 10 January 1814, under the command of Master Commandant John O. Creighton, and sailed with Enterprise cruising the Caribbean. The two ships took three prizes prior to their separation which was forced by a more heavily gunned British ship on 25 February.

USS Rattlesnake, fleeing back to more friendly waters, put into Wilmington, North Carolina on 9 March. together, Rattlesnake and enterprise had taken five prizes:

Brig Rambler, which had been sailing from Cap-Français to St thomas with a cargo of coffee before the Americans captured and burnt her;
A Spanish brig, retaken from HMS Belvidera, which arrived in Wilmington;
Swedish ship ‘”Societe, Martison, master, had been bound to St Amelia and went into St Marys;
Mars, a privateer, of Nassau, arrived at Wilmington; and
Schooner Eliza, which had been sailing from Nassau to Pensacola.

USS Rattlesnake was soon back at sea under the command of Lt. James Renshaw. She apparently captured some eight merchant vessels in the eastern Atlantic, north of the equator. On 31 May she encountered a British frigate, but escaped by throwing all but two of her guns overboard. She then captured two more merchant vessels.

In June she captured and destroyed the John, Geddes, master, which had been sailing from Liverpool to Oporto. Before 11 July she captured and destroyed the Crown Prince of Poole, Street, master, which had been sailing from Newfoundland to Alicante.

USS Rattlesnake’s depredations ended (arguable) on 22 June when the 50-gun British frigate HMS Leander captured her off Cape Sable, the southern point of the island of the same name which lies off Nova Scotia. Poor weather negated any slight edge in speed and gave the advantage to the heavier frigate.

The letter from Captain George Collier of Leander is dated 11 July and states that USS Rattlesnake was armed with 22 guns, all of which she had thrown overboard during the chase, and that she had a crew of 131 men.

The records of the Vice admiralty court at Halifax give the date of capture as 7 July, which is more consistent with the letter reporting the capture than is 22 June. It is also more consistent with the report in Lloyd’s List that USS Rattlesnake went into Halifax on 13 July.

In any case, the Halifax Dockyard reported on 31 July 1814 that the Royal Navy had purchased the vessel. However, no further record exists.