On 1 September 1814, during the War of 1812, the Sloop-of-War USS Wasp, commanded by Johnston Blakely, sank the British Brig Sloop Avon south of Ireland. During the night, after exchanging broadsides with Wasp’s crew and about to be boarded by the enemy by boat, she sighted what was HMS Castilian closing in and drew away, leaving HMS Avon on fire. Castilian picked up Avon’s survivors.
Read more about USS Wasp:
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w3/wasp-v.htm --
Learn more about the War of 1812 on the NHHC Website:
http://www.history.navy.mil/special%...812/index.html --