This memoir by a British seaman who fought in the War of 1812 provides valuable insights into the history of that war, illuminates the experience of the forecastle in the age of the fighting sail, and tells the story of an interesting life. Leech began his career at sea at the age of 12, worked as a "powder monkey" at the age of 14 on the Macedonian during the War of 1812, was taken into Boston as a prisoner of war, and escaped to live in America. He later served as a seaman in the US Navy, and was taken prisoner off the west coast of Africa by a British ship. By the time he was 20, he had deserted several times and found religion in Connecticut. Lacks a subject index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A Voice from the Main Deck: Being a Record of the Thirty Years' Adventures of Samuel Leech (CLASSICS OF NAVAL LITERATURE)

Biographies & Memoirs

Leech, Samuel

Crawford, Michael J.

Leaders & Notable People

Naval Inst Pr

Samuel Leech's memoirs of his adventures at sea represent one of the few articulate accounts of life in the sailing navy by an ordinary seaman. Just twelve years old when he left home, the young Leech had a romantic view of seafaring which was soon dashed by the crushing reality of life aboard the Macedonian. Indeed, his reflections on floggings, excessive drinking, the press gang and autocratic rule of captains provide a colorful backdrop to the main narrative. The memoirs are made doubly fascinating because Leech contrived to fight in the War of 1812 on both sides, being captured by the Americans after the battle with the USS United States, and to his surprise he found the American navy little better, witnessing constant floggings and capricious command.

A Voice from the Main Deck: Being a Record of the Thirty Years Adventures of Samuel Leech (Sailor's Tales)

History

Military

Duckworth Pub

Suppose you had a sailor who served honorably and well in two different navies-that were on opposite sides of the same war-and then wrote a book about it? Samuel Leech was once a young sailor in the Royal Navy. That's not terribly extraordinary, until you add... That he served aboard the HMS Macedonian when she fought, and was captured by, the USS United States; and was made an American prisoner of war. That he then joined the U.S. Navy and was aboard the USS Syren when she fought, and was captured by, HMS Medway; and he was made a British prisoner of war. And finally, that he was the ONLY seamen to write an account of his experiences with both navies, on opposite sides, in the War of 1812! But it doesn't stop there. Leech was also an astute observer. His vivid description of the carnage aboard the Macedonian in her encounter with the United States is a classic; and his comparison of the way seamen were treated by both navies is penetrating. Indeed, those insights have become the source of many historian's views that this disparity in treatment was one of the main reasons that American ships were so successful during the War of 1812. But above all, Leech writes with a human touch that draws you into his world. When you are finished reading, you literally feel like you were there with him and that you somehow know the man. It is one of the most extraordinary books in all of nautical literature, now brought back into print by Fireship Press.

Thirty Years from Home: A Seaman's View of the War of 1812

Historical

Fireship Pr

I heard the shot strike the sides of our ship; the whole scene grew indescribably confused and horrible; it was like some awfully tremendous thunder-storm, whose deafening roar is attended by incessant streaks of lightning, carrying death in every flash and strewing the ground with the victims of its wrath: only, in our case, the scene was rendered more horrible than that, by the presence of torrents of blood which dyed our decks.. This was Samuel Leech’s first experience of naval warfare. He was a powder monkey aboard the HMS Macedonian when it was attacked forced to strike its colors by the USS United States in the war of 1812. Leech provides a fascinating account of life as a sailor in the War of 1812 and through early nineteenth century. It is a remarkable account of a man who until the conflict with the USS United States had fought British Navy but after that battle changed allegiance to the United States and continued sailing with her navy for a further four years. He provides brilliant insight into the contrasts that he saw between the US Navy and the British Navy during this time. He became notable as one of very few who wrote an account of his experiences. His book was first published in 1843 and he passed away in 1848. This edition is illustrated by Ivan Aivazovsky, a Russian Romantic painter who is considered one of the greatest masters of marine art.

A Voice from the Main Deck: Being a Record of the Thirty Years' Adventures of Samuel Leech

Independently published

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