Royal Marines Artillery Rocket Detachments

The Royal Marine Artillery used Congreve rockets in several engagements during the War of 1812.

First used during the Napoleonic Wars men from the Royal Marine Artillery had become experts in their use, and the navy had converted HMS Galgo and Erebus into rocket ships.

An Illustration from the book: A Treatise on the General Principles, Powers, and Facility of Application of the Congreve Rocket Systemby Sir William Congreve, (1827). (Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green), Paternoster Row, London, 1827

Two battalions of Royal Marines were sent to North America in 1813 and supporting each battalion was a rocket detachment, each with an establishment of 25 men, commanded by lieutenants Balchild and John Harvey Stevens.

Both rocket detachments were embarked aboard the transport vessel Mariner.

A view of the Battle of Fort Oswego, fought on 6 May 1814 between the British, commanded by Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo, R.N. (1782-1818) and the Americans, commanded by George Edward Mitchell (1781-1832), resulting in a British victory.

The British used the Congreve rocket on U.S. soil for the first time in an attack on Lewes, Delaware, on 6 and 7 April 1813. The town was bombarded for 22 hours

Rockets were used in the engagements at Fort Oswego and Lundy's Lane (Niagra).

A third battalion of Royal Marines arrived in North America in 1814, with an attached rocket detachment commanded by Lieutenant John Lawrence, which subsequently participated in the Chesapeake campaign.

Congreve rocket, from schematic by Sir William Congreve, dated 1814.

During this campaign, the British used rockets at the Battle of Bladensburg to rout the militia (which led to the burning and surrender of Washington, D.C.), and at the Battle of North Point.

Related Royal Marines 'Dits':

1. North American Wars

Research/ Further Reading:

• Wikipedia - Congreve Rocket