Two Enemy Captains’ Joint Burial in Portland
Two enemy ships met off the Maine coast in 1813, and both young captains died in the clash.
The USS Enterprise under 28-year-old William Burrows fought the HMS Boxer led by 29-year-old Samuel Blyth in a fierce 30-minute battle.
Blyth died instantly from a cannonball while Burrows took a musket ball but stayed on deck until victory. Afterward, Portland did something rare – it held a joint funeral for both men.
The enemies were buried side by side in Eastern Cemetery with full honors.
Today, their shared grave site in Portland’s Eastern Cemetery stands as a powerful reminder of honor even in wartime.
Two Young Navy Captains Faced Off Near Maine’s Coast
Bill Burrows took over USS Enterprise at just 28, ready to make his mark after fighting in the Barbary Wars. His British rival, Sam Blyth, only 29, led HMS Boxer with a solid track record under Sir James Yeo.
Their ships matched up well – Enterprise had 14 big guns with 102 men, while Boxer carried 12 similar guns with 66 sailors. Boxer made money helping American smugglers with fake Swedish papers up the Kennebec River.
Enterprise patrolled Maine waters to keep coastal traders safe from British ships.
Ships Spotted Each Other On A Clear September Morning
On September 5, 1813, Enterprise saw Boxer sitting near Pemaquid Point while checking on reports of attacks on merchant ships.
Burrows spotted the British warship and chose to fight, moving away from shore for better movement. Blyth showed he meant business by nailing British flags to his masts, making clear he wouldn’t give up.
Burrows moved one of his big guns from front to back, telling his crew they would “fight both ends and both sides of this ship. ” The captains spent six hours carefully setting up their attack.
First Cannon Volley Claimed Both Ship Captains
At 3:15 PM, the ships got within close range and fired powerful shots at the same time. Blyth shouted “Great God, what shots!” before a cannonball tore through his body, killing him on the spot. The same blast knocked down Boxer’s main mast, making it hard to steer.
Soon after, a musket ball from Boxer hit Burrows’ thigh, causing a deadly wound. Burrows stayed on deck despite bleeding heavily, wanting to keep leading the battle.
American Ship Gained The Upper Hand Through Better Maneuvering
Edward McCall took over Enterprise as Burrows grew weaker from blood loss. David McGrery stepped up to lead the damaged Boxer after Blyth died.
Enterprise moved smartly to fire directly into Boxer’s front at close range, causing huge damage to the British crew.
Boxer’s ropes and supports got shot away, with its masts nearly gone and water filling the bottom of the ship. Boxer became a total wreck with no doctor on board to help the growing number of hurt sailors.
Boxer Surrendered After Thirty Minutes Of Fierce Fighting
After 30 minutes of battle, McGrery talked with his officers and decided to give up.
The flags nailed to the main mast got shot away, but colors still flew on the front mast as the British called for mercy.
The final count showed how fierce the fight was – Boxer lost 20-25 men dead and 14 wounded, while Enterprise had 2 dying and 12 others hurt.
The dying Burrows got Blyth’s sword but refused it, asking instead that it go to the British captain’s family. Burrows told his men “I am satisfied, I die contented” before dying eight hours after the battle ended.
Damaged Vessels Limped Into Portland Harbor Together
Enterprise towed the badly damaged Boxer toward Portland, with both ships barely staying afloat. Captain Lemuel Moody watched them arrive from Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill.
American doctors treated wounded sailors from both countries despite the ongoing war. Boxer barely stayed above water because of all the damage to its hull and masts.
News of the American win spread quickly through town, but focus soon shifted to planning something unusual – a joint funeral for enemy commanders.
Portland Citizens Organized A Funeral For Both Enemy Captains
Town leaders spent two days planning a state funeral honoring both fallen captains.
They made the rare choice to bury enemy captains side by side with full military honors, showing unusual wartime respect. Local craftsmen made mahogany coffins for both men, paid for by their respective sides.
British officers who survived arranged for a proper tombstone over Blyth’s grave. Local papers praised the victory while noting the respect shown to the fallen British captain.
Ceremonial Boats Carried The Fallen To Shore
On September 9, 1813, flag-covered coffins traveled from ships to Union Wharf in special boats. Guns fired salutes every minute during the solemn rowing ceremony.
A military escort including two infantry companies and Enterprise crew members met them at the wharf. Workers placed the coffins on hearses for the trip through Portland’s streets.
Crowds lined the route to see the rare sight of a joint funeral for enemy commanders.
Former Enemies Marched Together Through Portland Streets
The big procession moved through Portland with full military display. British prisoners walked alongside American forces in a show of mutual respect.
The route ended at Second Parish Meetinghouse for a funeral service.
Writer Washington Irving later called it a “striking and affecting sight” of former enemies honoring each other.
Historian Henry Adams noted that no event in the war “touched the feelings of the people more deeply” than this display of battlefield respect.
Captains Found Their Final Rest Side By Side
The captains were buried next to each other in Eastern Cemetery with full military honors. Burrows at 28 and Blyth at 29 lay as equals despite fighting on opposite sides just days before.
British officers placed a carved tombstone over Blyth’s grave. Samuel M. Burrows of New York later put up an American monument to Burrows. Their burial site looks out over Portland harbor where their ships fought their final battle.
Teenage Midshipman Joined The Captains Two Years Later
On September 25, 1815, 18-year-old Midshipman Kervin Waters died from battle wounds after suffering for two years.
Waters had been mortally injured in the original fight but lingered in severe pain with remarkable patience. Young men of Portland cared for him throughout his ordeal and paid for his monument.
Workers buried Waters next to both captains, completing the trio of war casualties.
His sister later sent $300 to Portland’s fire relief fund in 1866, showing a lasting connection to the city that honored her brother.
Visiting Eastern Cemetery, Maine
Eastern Cemetery at 224 Congress Street in Portland offers free entry to explore where American Lieutenant William Burrows and British Commander Samuel Blyth were buried together after their 1813 naval battle deaths.
The cemetery features underground tombs from 1795 and gravestones dating to 1717. Spirits Alive guided tours run daily June through mid-October for $10 per adult.
Buy tickets on Eventbrite or bring exact cash. Dogs aren’t allowed on the grounds.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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