USS Alligator was a sloop in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. The U.S. Navy purchased Alligator in 1813 (or 1812) at New Orleans, Louisiana. Commissioned as a tender at New Orleans, she served on that station under the command of Captain Robert Hatch until late in 1814 when the British captured her at the Battle of Lake Borgne.
Service
After the capture of Pensacola on 7 November 1814 Major General Andrew Jackson arrived at New Orleans on 1 December to make preparations for the defense of that city. He organized with Master Commandant Daniel Patterson of the U.S. Navy to send a flotilla to Lake Borgne to guard and defend against the approach of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and his fleet.
Lieutenant Thomas Jones commanded the American flotilla of five large gunboats, which had about 180 men for the crews. The gunboats were armed with 24 and 32-pounder long guns, 6 and 12-pounder carronades, and swivel guns. Among the flotilla was the sloop-rigged Alligator with a long 6-pounder and two 12-pounder carronades with its crew of 20 men.
On 12 December after most of the British fleet arrived east of New Orleans, Cochrane sent commander Nicholas Lockyer with a flotilla of about 42 open ship's boats and barges armed with a carronade apiece, three unarmed gigs and upwards of 1,000 bluejackets and Royal Marines to attack Jones' flotilla. By mid-morning on 13 December Jones had observed a large flotilla of longboats leaving the British fleet, which he supposed were disembarking troops. At 2pm he realised the British were approaching his gunboats. Being lightly armed it fell in little time. The remainder of the British flotilla now formed a long line at 10:00am, in cannon range of the gunboats. At 10:39am
See also
- List of sailing frigates of the United States Navy
- Naval tactics in the Age of Sail