War of 1812 -Civil War Bosun Starter Cane

[kanemono]

Here is an early Bosun's starter cane. The stick is 30" long and the Boxer or Bulldog head is cast brass. There is a anchor and a USN carved into the stick. From the carving and casting the stick seems to be early to mid 19th century. My guess is that the ship was "Boxer" since Bulldog does not fit the time. The first Boxer in American history was actually Her Majesties British Ship" (HMS) Boxer, a Brig of 14 guns with a keel measuring 98 feet in length and just over 28 feet in breadth. The HMS Boxer, commanded by Captain Blyth, was sailing off the coast of Portland, Maine on September 5, 1813, when she was met by the USS Enterprise, commanded by Lieutenant William Burrows. The fight that ensued was heroic for both ships, and in the end Boxer's crew surrendered her to U.S. forces.
The first, the newly refurbished HMS Boxer (renamed the USS Boxer) was launched on May 17, 1815, with a new array of fourteen 32-pound cannons and two long 9-pound cannons. She was first Commanded by Lieutenant John Porter who sailed her to the Mediterranean to join Commodore Perry's squadron.
The second Boxer was the first USS Boxer built from the keel up. Constructed as a schooner, the second Boxer -sister ship to the fourth Enterprise - was launched on November 22, 1831, at the Boston Navy Yard. The ship was 88 feet long, 23 feet wide, had a battery of 10 guns and cost the U.S. Navy $30,697.00 to build. The USS Boxer served the U.S. Navy for 17 years, sailing the seas of the world until decommissioning in 1848.
The third Boxer, an English-built iron "side-wheeled" steamer, was originally known as the Tristam Shanty, that measured 222 feet in length and 23 feet in width. The Tristam Shanty was used by the Confederate military to run blockades the United States had established during the Civil War. However, she was captured by USS Kansas on May 15, 1864 then purchased by the U.S. Navy from the Boston Prize Court and commissioned into service as the "USS Boxer" on August 12, 1864. These ships seem to be the period of the stick but the head could also be a bulldog. Everything is a guess but it is fun to envision a piece that was on an American Naval vessel during the "War of 1812".

Dick

 

[mikeg]

nice cane.

[sigsaye]

Just asking, why do you call this a "Starter"? I know "Starters" we're short length of braided hemp line used to "Start" slow or lagging Sailors. These disappeared after the abolishment of flogging in 1846. Just saying, to me, it looks like a really cool carved cane that had belonged to a former Sailor. BTW, I want one!

[kanemono]

I think the length is too short to be a cane and it never seems to have had a tip. Canes were also used to "start" the crew. Thanks for looking.

Dick