Uniform Found on the Ship "Nereid"

I found this enquiry in the Spring 1994 issue of the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, which was sent in by Rene Chartrand, I thought maybe somebody in this society might be able to help?


The correspondence of Calender Irvine, The Commissary General of Purchases of the U.S. Army during the American War of 1812-1815, has a rather curious item on 14 March 1814. He writes at "this moment being informed that in the Cargo of the prize Ship "Nereid", offered for sale on the 4th of next month, there are 2,000 blue coats faced with buff, 2,000 pairs of blue overalls and a quantity of other clothing and material calculated for an army purpose."

The "Nereid was a 280 ton, 10 gun ship out of London, bound for Buenos Ayres, when captured by the American privateer "Governor Tompkins," which also captured two other ships. All three ships had belonged to a convoy and had been "separated in a gale".

Would any member have more information on this convoy and to whom were these uniforms intended? ( if you do let me know so that I can tell Rene and also print it in E.D. ...T.D.H.)


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