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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 85

(x) The Silver Medal awarded to Vice-Admiral J. R. Dacres, who commanded the successful attack on the French-held port of Samana in 1807 (an act which earned him a £100 sword from the Lloyd's Patriotic Fund) but who was later to be defeated, whilst in command of the frigate H.M.S. Guerriere, in a single-ship action against the heavy American frigate U.S.S. Constitution

Silver Medal, 72mm including ring suspension, the obverse featuring a depiction of Victory bearing a branch of laurel leaves, impressed RD. below, the reverse engraved in decorative script: Presented to James R. Dacres Esq. Captain of H.M.S. Bacchante for his gallant action 16th February 1807, lightly polished, contained within a fitted leather case, good very fine

James Richard Dacres was born on 22 August 1788 at Lowestoft, younger son of Captain (later Vice-Admiral) James Richard Dacres and Eleanor Blandford Pearce. Somewhat confusingly, both father and son bore exactly the same name and eventually attained the same rank through many years of gallant and distinguished service in the Royal Navy. Young James entered the 'senior service' in 1796 at the tender age of eight years old, as a First-Class Volunteer aboard his father's old ship, the 64-gun H.M.S. Sceptre: seeing much service from such an early age, by 1806 he had command of the 24-gun former French corvette H.M.S. Bacchante on the Jamaica Station.

An active and enterprising officer, after capturing the French schooner Dauphin off St. Domingo on 14 February 1807 Dacres joined Captain William Furlong Wise (in command of the 44-gun H.M.S. Mediator) for an attack on the port and fortifications at Samana, known for being a haven for privateers. Perhaps the best account of the resulting action comes from Dacres's own pen, in the report he subsequently wrote and which was published in the London Gazette:

His Majesty's Ship Bacchante, at Sea,
February 25, 1807.
Sir,
Having captured the French National Schooner as mentioned in my Letter of the 16th Instant, which I found was well known in Samana, (that Nest of Privateers), and having consulted with Captain Wise, of the Mediator, whom I fell in with off the Mona, under similar Orders to myself, cruizing for the Annoyance of the Enemy, (whose Vessels are principally Privateers in these Seas), I took him under my Orders, and arrived at a Determination to send the captured Vessel in, under her former Colours, to disguise this Ship as a Prize, and the Mediator as a Neutral, which Stratagem so completely deceived them, that we got through the intricate Navigation of the Harbour, and anchored within Half a Mile of the Fort, before the Enemy discovered their Mistake, and opened their Fire upon us from the Fort, which I have the Pleasure to acquaint you, Sir, after a heavy Cannonade of Four Hours from the Ships, was carried by Storm, by the Seamen and Marines of both Ships, landed under the Command of Captain Wise, assisted by Lieutenants Baker, Norton, and Shaw. We found in the Harbour an American Ship, and an English Schooner, Prizes to the Vessels aforementioned, and Two French Schooners then fitting for Sea as Cruizers. I am concerned to say, the Mediator suffered considerably; the Fire of the Enemy being chiefly directed against her, but not so much as might be expected from the commanding Situation of the Fort, which was manned, principally by the Crews of the Privateers. The Behaviour of the Officers and Men of both Ships was such as always distinguishes British Seamen, and great Credit is due to the Masters for carrying the Ships through so difficult a Navigation, which caused this Enterprize to be so completely successful.
The Fort and Cannon were destroyed by Lieutenant Gould when we evacuated the Place on the 21st Instant. The Enemy's Loss must have been considerable, though we could not ascertain the Number, from their retreating to the Woods.
Included is the Return of Killed and Wounded.
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. R. Dacres, jun. (London Gazette, 25 April 1807 refers).

Both Dacres and Wise were subsequently awarded a sword to the value of £100 by Lloyd's Patriotic Fund, with Dacres's bearing the inscription: 'From the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's to James Richard Dacres Esqr. Capt. of H.M.S. Bacchante for his Gallant Conduct in the Capture of the French National Schooner Dauphin and the Destruction of the Fort and Cannon in the Harbour of Samana on 16th February 1807 effected by the Bacchante in company with H.M.S. Mediator as Recorded in the London Gazette of the 25th of April'

Despite this great success, upon returning home Dacres was unsuccessful in obtaining a new command and went on half-pay until March 1811, when he was appointed to command the 38-gun frigate H.M.S. Guerriere on the North-American Station. Assigned to Captain Philip Broke's squadron of four frigates and a ship-of-the line, after escorting a convoy Guerriere was detached from the squadron and ordered to sail for Halifax to refit. On 19th August, whilst on the way to Canada, Dacres fell-in with the heavy American frigate U.S.S. Constitution commanded by Captain Isaac Hull: unfortunately for the British they were totally outclassed in size, weight of broadside and condition by their opponents and, in a short single-ship action, Guerriere became totally dismasted and Dacres wounded in the back by a musket ball. Incapable of effective manoeuvre and at the mercy of the Constitution, Hull sent one of his officers across to Guerriere to ask if the British had surrendered. Dacres is supposed to have replied: "Well, Sir, I don't know. Our mizzen mast is gone, our fore and main masts are gone - I think on the whole you might say we have struck our flag." Taken prisoner with the rest of his crew, Dacres was chivalrously allowed by Hull to keep his sword - but the American commander did apparently take possession of Dacres's hat in order to settle a bet as to whose ship was superior. Guerriere was found to be in such poor condition that she was blown up before Constitution sailed away, her hold full of captured British sailors.

Thankfully Dacres's wound healed swiftly and he was only briefly a prisoner-of-war before being exchanged and returned to Halifax. Being subsequently tried by court-martial for the loss of his ship, he was honourably acquitted for doing his utmost despite being outclassed before the battle had even begun. The defeat did nothing to hamper his prospects of promotion: immediately appointed to command the 38-gun frigate H.M.S. Tiber, he continued to see active service after the Napoleonic Wars and was promoted Rear-Admiral on 28 June 1838 before being made Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope Station in August 1845, in which capacity he had involvement in the Seventh Xhosa War. Further elevated Vice-Admiral in March 1848, Dacres died at Catisfield Lodge, Hampshire, on 4 December 1853 at the relatively young age of 65.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£400 to £600

Starting price
£320