Isaac Chauncey

Isaac Chauncey (February 20, 1772 – January 27, 1840) was a United States Navy officer who served in the Quasi-War, the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. In the latter part of his naval career he was President of the Board of Navy Commissioners.

Chauncey, born in Black Rock, Connecticut, to Wolcott Chauncy and Ann Brown. His father was the great-great-grandson of Charles Chauncy, the 2nd President of Harvard College. At 19, he was given the command of the ship Jenny, belonging to Peter Schermerhorn, grandfather of Mrs. Astor, and was appointed a lieutenant in the Navy from September 17, 1798. He fought with gallantry in the West Indies during the Quasi-War with France. In a letter dated 21 July, 1802 he was ordered to take command of General Greene for an anticipated deployment to the Mediterranean during the First Barbary War. In a letter dated 13 August the order was rescinded and he and her crew were transferred to USS New York. He served in the Mediterranean during the First Barbary War; and commanded John Adams (1804–5), On 17 March, 1805 he received permission from the Secretary of the Navy to go on furlough. In a letter dated 27 June he was notified that he would be called back to active service, probably to command Hornet (1805–6), Washington and the Mediterranean Squadron (1815–1820). He was promoted to captain in 1806.

Perhaps his most outstanding service was during the War of 1812 when he commanded American naval forces on Lake Ontario, conducting amphibious operations in cooperation with the United States Army and trying to counter a Royal Navy force under the command of Sir James Yeo stationed there. He also served twice as commandant of the New York Naval Shipyard. Isaac Chauncey played a prominent role in the creation of the navy yard. His service there, began prior to its official designation as a shipyard.

On November 6, 1812, Commodore Isaac Chauncey set out on a raiding expedition to intercept the enemy vessels on their return from Fort George to Kingston. The enemy's force was the Royal George, 26 guns, 260 men; the Earl of Moira, 18 guns, 200 men; the Prince Regent, 18 guns, 150 men; the Duke of Gloucester, 14 guns, 80 men; the Simcoe 12 guns, 76 men; and the Seneca, 4 guns, 40 men. On November 8, Commodore Chauncey fell in with the Royal George and chased her into the Bay of Quinte. On the morning of Nov. 10th he took a small schooner and burnt it, and chased the Royal George into Kingston harbor, and engaged her batteries for an hour and forty-five minutes, but stood off with night coming up. The American loss in this engagement was one killed and three wounded. The next morning, with winds too strong to attack, he turned out and soon came upon the Simcoe. They chased her over a reef of rocks and severely disabled her with shot. Commodore Chauncey returned to Sackets Harbor on the 12th of November with three captured British trading schooners.

In the following week, Commadore Chaunceys fleet made two short cruises and captured three vessels. Two of the vessels were brought into Sackets Harbor and the third was burnt and sunk.

Commodore Chauncey was the commander of the American fleet transporting 1,700 American Regulars with Benjamin Forsyth's Riflemen leading the way. The American raiding force landed on the beach and routed opposing British forces, who suffered several casualties and retreated from the field. The Americans occupied York for a while looting and burning private property. Then all of the Americans boarded Chauncey's vessels and the entire American raiding force withdrew safely.

From around July 30, 1813, to July 31, 1813. Commodore Chauncey with his fleet arrived near Burlington Heights from Niagara during the morning. A force of several hundred troops, including sailors and U.S. Marines, under Lt. Colonel Winfield Scott, debarked. About 150 British troops under Major Maule put up stiff resistance. The Americans seized some prisoners (civilians, possibly militia in the town) and returned to the ships. The American fleet then departed.

One of his most successful operations was taking part of a naval raid by transporting Winfield Scott's force of raiders in the successful raid at York, Upper Canada from July 31, 1813 – August 1, 1813. Isaac Chauncey transported Winfield's American raiding force of 340-500 men to York. The American raiders freed prisoners in jail, made wounded soldiers their captives (on paper), and confiscated British military baggage left there and whatever else they could find. The next day, the American raiders found a hidden bateau and carted off 400 barrels of food. The Americans also took 11 bateaux, 5 cannons, and some flour. Winfield and his American force of raiders set fire to barracks, a wood yard, and a storehouse on Gibraltar Point. Winfield and his force of American raiders withdrew safely aboard Chauncey's ships. The American raiders destroyed some artillery and boats, confiscated supplies and ammunition, and all withdrew back to New York.