Nautical Research Journal 193
1. Tompions protect Victory’s 24-pounder cannon muzzles. Before the plugs were inserted, some captains ordered that oil and loose shot be poured into the muzzles to minimize the eff ects of weather damage. All photographs by the author, ©2018, Ron Neilson
HMS Swan: “Crush those seditious
rebels!”—A diorama, Part 1 By Ron Neilson
More than a year aſt er British North America’s colonials infuriated and embarrassed Parliament and King George III with the Boston Tea Party incident (December 16, 1773) but well before the impending “rebel actions” of Lexington and Concord, Fort Ticonderoga and the Battle of Bunker Hill—the vice- admiral commanding the North American Squadron of the Royal Navy, Samuel Graves, reported from New York harbor to the Secretary for the Provincial Offi ce in Whitehall: “Last Monday November 28 arrived from Rhode Island, his Majesty’s Ship King Fisher, commanded by Capt. James Montagu. T is ship is appointed to relieve his Majesty’s Ship Swan, commanded by Capt. James Ayscough, who will in a few days sail to join us at Boston.”
Aboard his anchored fl agship Preston (50), Admiral Graves further advised the First Lord of T e Admiralty, Lord Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich, on December 15, 1774: “Since the Swan has been under Orders to repair to Boston, Capt. James Ayscough has made several Seizures, which have detained him at New York ’till this time, and he has just informed
2. T e author explaining to members of his model club his thoughts for creating set sails. Swan is in an early rigging stage. T e open framing below the waterline will disappear in the diorama’s water.
me that he is quite ready to depart and will sail for Boston with the fi rst fair Wind.”
T ree weeks later, aſt er arriving at Boston Harbor on January 6, 1775, Graves issued new, urgent orders to Capt. Ayscough of HMS Swan: “You are hereby required and directed to proceed to Sea in his Majesty’s Ship under your Command with all convenient Dispatch and cruize upon the Coast of the Provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire between Casco Bay and Cape Anne to protect his Majesty’s faithful Subjects trading according to Law, and to distress and annoy the Rebels by all means in your Power according to the Orders herewith delivered.”
In the early winter of 1775, the strategic situation for the Royal Navy’s forces off the northernmost coasts
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