LETTERS Privateers vs. Letters of Marque As always, I enjoyed the Autumn issue of Sea Histo ry, especially the continuing series on the Warofl812 by Wi ll iam H . White. I do take issue, however, with yo ur characteriza tion of the schooner Lynx as a privateer (photo caption, page 14) . While the new Lynx is an impressive and beautiful vessel, the history of the original vessel is being misrepresented. Although referred as such in the article and again on page 30, Lynx was not, in fact, a true privateer. She was never intended to serve as one, never attempted to rake a prize, and indeed never took one. Lynx was always intended as a letter of m arque or blockade runner. Ir was in that capaciry she sailed o n her one successful voyage to France, and it was in that capaciry that she was captured in the C hesapeake while awaiting ano ther opportuniry to dash across the Atlantic. Although blockade runners often took out privateering commissions, there were several important distinctions between privateers and letters-of-marque vessels, which sailed from US pons during the War of 1812. Priva teers were intended to take prizes; letters of marque were intended to carry cargo. Privateers "cruised" in search of enemy merchant vessels; letters of m arque sailed from port to port. Privateer crews served for a share of prizes taken; letters-of-marq ue crews served for a set wage. Privateers seized wealth from their enemies by taking their ships and cargoes; letters of marque m ade money off civilians by exploiting wartime shortages. The difference between privateers and letters of m arque during this conflict is not som e modern distinction but was clearly drawn at the time, as anyo ne who has studied contemporary documents will confirm . A better cho ice of a modern vessel to illustrate this article might have been the Pride of Baltimore. Like Lynx, she is a modern representation of the Baltimore clipper-sryle topsail schooners that were so successful during the war-both as priva teers and letters-of- marque. Unlike Ly nx, Pride represents a historic vessel that was indeed a genui ne privateer-Chasseur. The better-than-fiction exploits of Tom Boyle and Chasseur are detailed in many books, including Fred H opkins's Tom Boyle: Master Privateer (Tidewater Publishers, 1976). A less-spectacular choice to illustrate a
SEA HISTORY 13 7, WINTER 2011-12
privateering vessel from the War of 1812 Perks of Membership would have been my humble Fame, a C he- Membership in the National Maritime Hisbacco boat that sent the first two prizes of torical Sociery has d imensionalized my life, the war in to Salem , Massachusetts. Fame launching me on a maritime omnib us and made som e twenry captures while embark- revealing enrichmems beyo nd imagination. ing on mo re priva teering cruises (12) than I have joined crews of the Kalmar Nyckel any other American privateer of the war. (Wilmington, DE) and the A.] Meerwald For more information, visit SchoonerFame. (Bivalve, NJ), sailed aboard the Woodwind com. A representation of Fame conducts (Annapolis, MD) in the Great C hesapeake public sails and private charters our of her Bay Schooner Race (at almost sixteen knots hi sto ric home port of Salem. and the Pride ofBaltimore II sailing just off CAPTAIN MICHAEL RuTSTEIN our stern), experienced a personal tour of Salem, Massach usetts the Charles W Mo rgan (Mystic, CT) generously provided by the legendary Matthew Stackpole, and lunched with the author of Eagle Memories Thanks for a memory-jogging article abo ut Shipwrecked, Dave Horner-all in less than yo ur experience aboard the USCG Barque a year! My NMHS cloiso nne lapel pin and Eagle. I was fortunate enough to make two the pride I experience whenever anyone cruises in the Eagle: our "short" cruise to notices it and asks about it emboldens me Bermuda in 1954 (returning thro ugh to invo lvement never imagined ... .I virtuHurricane Carol) and the "long" cruise in ally become "NMHS M an," with powers 1955 to Glasgow, Le H avre, Lisbon, and beyond (well, yo u get the idea). Funchal, Madeira. The latter was notable to LLOYD CO LLI NS Washington, DC me because my father had visited Funchal in the New York State Schoolship Newport in 1924, under the command of Felix RiN ews from South Street I read Peter Sranford's excellent article esenberg. You can imagine the enjoyable hours Dad and I spent comparing itiner- about the difficult prob lems facing what aries, experiences and (especially!) square- I still th ink of as the South Street Seaport rigged ship handling. N ow I'm off to the Museum. Fro m what I have read , it apHouston Maritime Museum for a program pears that through the effo rts of a number about shipwrecks in the G ulf of Mexico. of dedicated people, the Seaport and its Thanks again for what you do. sh ips wil l be saved and will beco me a part PETER 0. HERB ERT of the Museum of the C iry of New York. Housto n, Texas The Save our Seaport gro up deserves to be
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