USS Sylph was a schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. She was built to reinforce Commodore Isaac Chauncey’s squadron on Lake Ontario. The construction of Sylph began on 26 July 1813 at Sackett’s Harbor, New York, under the supervision of shipbuilder Henry Eckford. She was launched on 18 August 1813.
Just three days after her launch, Sylph joined Chauncey’s fleet on Lake Ontario. On 11 September, she engaged in a long-range, running battle with the Royal Navy off the mouth of the Genessee River. During the three and a half hour battle, Sylph and the American squadron suffered no casualties or damage, while the British had one midshipman and three seamen killed, and seven others wounded. One of the British brigs was seriously damaged before the British squadron managed to escape into Amherst Bay.
Sylph saw action again on 28 September when the two fleets clashed in York Bay. However, as she was towing a slower schooner during the engagement, she couldn’t get close to the fleeing British ships. Instead, she fired at them from a distance, contributing to the American victory.
In the following days, bad weather prevented further engagements until 2 October, when the British fleet finally got underway and escaped. Chauncey’s fleet pursued them, and on 5 October, they came across seven vessels. Sylph and her companions captured five of them, one was burned by its crew to prevent capture, and one managed to escape. Among the prizes were the former American ships USS Julia and USS Growler, now known as HMS Confiance and HMS Hamilton, respectively. Following this engagement, the British fleet remained blockaded in Kingston, Ontario, until the end of November when winter weather closed navigation on the lake.
During the winter, both the American and British fleets engaged in a shipbuilding race to strengthen their naval power for the upcoming year. Sylph underwent modifications during this period, being rerigged as a brig and her armament changed to 2 × 9-pounder guns and 16 × 24-pounder carronades.
In the spring of 1814, the British squadron was the first to venture out onto the lake. They captured the American base at Oswego, New York, on 5 May, and then blockaded Sackett’s Harbor until 6 June.
The American fleet, including Sylph, set sail on 31 July and reached the head of the lake. There, Chauncey intercepted the British brig Sir Sydney Smith. He ordered Sylph to sail into shoal water to destroy the brig, but before she could do so, the British vessel’s crew ran her aground and set her on fire.
After the unsuccessful attempt to destroy Sir Sydney Smith, Chauncey’s squadron blockaded the British fleet in Kingston until the end of the navigation season.
With the Treaty of Ghent ending the war in December 1814, there were no further naval operations on the Great Lakes. USS Sylph was laid up at Sackett’s Harbor until 1823 when she was reported to be sunk and decayed. Her hulk was sold before 1825, marking the end of her service in the United States Navy.
Sources
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Marine Review (Cleveland, OH), 27 Apr 1905
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Marine Review (Cleveland, OH), 12 Jan 1899
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By Paddle-Wheel, Sail, and Steam: Abel Neff and His Nephews Captains Ed, Will, and Sam, 1850-1969
