La Argentina

[shipstamps]

Navy Day in the Argentine is May 17 and the special commemorative postage stamp issued this year (1963) for the occasion depicts Bouchard's vessel, the frigate La Argentina. Bouchard's role in the Argentine Navy was rather similar to that of Cochrane in the Chilean Navy. He was an Argentinian of French descent and became a French naval officer in the opening years of the 19th century, distinguishing himself as a privateer fighting against the British who were doing their best to destroy the Napoleonic Empire at that
time
When the Argentine proclaimed its independence Bouchard transferred his allegiance to the land of his birth. He was appointed second in command of Admiral Brown's fleet and distinguished himself in many actions. In 1815, in the roadstead of Callao, as Cochrane did five years later, he captured a Spanish frigate and fitted her out as a privateer. From then onwards his life was dedicated to harassing the power of Spain, not only in South American waters but all round the world. His voyages spread away as far as the Philippine Islands and he also operated on the coast of Mexico. He captured about 25 Spanish vessels and returned to the Argentine in a blaze of glory. In return for these services the Argentine Government presented him with an estate, which was to be eligible for passing on to his descendants. SG1093

[aukepalmhof]

1815 Built in Spain as a transport vessel, as the CONSECUENCIA.
23 January 1816 the CONSECUENCIA a transport vessel of the Spanish Navy was captured by the Argentinean privateers HERCULES under command of William Brown and HALCON (the correct name is HALCON, some sources use FALCON English spelling) under command of Hipólito Bouchard off the coast of Peru, and taken as a prize to Argentina.
After arrival Hipólito Bouchard asked for his share of the prize and was given command over the CONSECUENCIA, she was renamed Al ARGENTINA.
Displacement given between 464 and 677 tons. Dim. 40 x 6.25 x 2.10m. (mean draught).
Crew around 180
Armament (disagrees also between sources): as given as 34 or 42 guns.

Log Book vol. 25 page 205 has the following story written by Mr. Alain Roman on Bouchard. You can find his portrait on the stamp of Argentina 1980 sg 1675, also on the stamp is depict La ARGENTINA. Two other stamps of Argentina depict the same vessel.

Hiólite Bouchard was born (Provence –France) on 15 January 1780. A few months after his birth his family moved to St Tropez, a village which became very famous in the fifties due to artists and showbiz stars who settled there.

Bouchard was a sailor and took part in the invasion of Malta (by General Bonaparte in 1798). In 1802 he sailed with General Leclercs army to Haiti. After his return to France, he contracted to the American Merchant Navy. Around 1810 he was in Argentina and was fighting with the Argentineans against the Spanish power (at that time Argentina was still a Spanish colony.)

At the Battle of San Nicolas on 2 March 1811 he was in command of the sail frigate 25 DE MAYO (also on an Argentinean stamp of 1975 6p sg1479). The battle was a complete disaster for the Argentineans, 2 of their 3 vessels were sunk and the last, the frigate 25 DE MAYO under command of Bouchard was taken.

But on 28 February 1813 Bouchard was the hero of a new battle with the Spaniards at San Lorenzo and in the Rio de la Plata, thereafter he was granted Argentine citizenship.

From 1815 he organized two privateering campaigns along the west coast of America north and south and also in Pacific waters always against the Spaniards.

Between 1815 and 1816 he was in command of the corvette HALCON.

Unquote.

Then he got command of the La ARGENTINA. He set sail on 09 July 1817 from Argentina with a letter of marquee for a voyage circumnavigated the globe to harassing Spanish merchant ships wherever he found them, when they arrived at Madagascar, on request of the English Resident he captured four slave vessels. Then he set sail for Makassar Straits where he was attacked by five pirate ships, Bouchard crew was diminished by scurvy, but he could repel the attack.
During the first months of 1818 he blockaded Manila port in the Philippines, during this time he took 16 Spanish ship and sunk them.

He sailed farther and took many prizes, his crew steadily diminishing due to scurvy.
On 18 August 1818, the La ARGENTINA dropt her anchor in Hawaii, she found there a formerly Argentinean privateer the CHACABUCO sometimes named SANTA ROSA or SANTA ROSA DE CHACABUCO which was deserted by her mutinous crew and sold to King Kamehamcha by them for a quantity of rum and sandalwood, (the rum was already gone), he got the ship back. And the Kingdom of Hawaii (at that time it was better known as the Sandwich Islands) was the first country to recognize the independence of Argentina. It signed a treaty of friendship and mutual defence with Hipólito Bouchard.


The La ARGENTINA together with the CHACABUCO arrived in the middle of October 1818 apparently near dark in Monterey Bay. Lower California. The La ARGENTINA remained in the middle of the bay. The CHACABUCO under command of the Englishman Peter Corney sailed so far in the bay before dropping his anchor that the guns of fort El Castilo could only reach the highest parts of the masts.
During the night Corney did not identify himself. The next morning when the first light arrived and he could make out his targets he commenced firing on the main buildings of the city. But a second gun position unknown to Corney returned fire effectively trapping the CHACABUCO. When sailing from her position to saver waters she would be under the fire of El Castillo. The CHACABUCO was damaged near the waterline and Corney ordered a surrender, after which the firing stopped. On board of the CHACABUCO all the armament was shipped to the undamaged side, raising the damaged side out of the water. Then they left the vessel in boats, but not for the safety of the shore but they joined the crew of the La ARGENTINA, which was still hove to in a position safely out of the range of the guns of El Castillo.

The La ARGENTINA sailed about 2.5 miles to the west and landed 400 men and two well-mounted cannons. They passed behind El Castillo, and capturing it. Bouchard destroyed El Castillo’s guns and ransacked the town. They repaired the damaged CHACABUCO and sailed out of the bay, they burned a ranch north of Santa Barbara en burned also some parts of the Mission San Juan Capistrano before sailing south.
They attacked San Juan, Santa Barbara and some smaller towns with success. Blockade in 1818 Acapulco y Sonsonate, were he met more resistance from Spanish forces, the Spaniards know that the ship of Bouchard were in the area.

Bouchard sailed from the Californian coast with a southerly course. In Central America he attacked the port of Realejo, taking several ships and cargoes.

On 9 July 1819 they anchored at Valparaiso, but they were not so welcome, the ships of Bouchard were taken by the Chilean fleet under command of Admiral Cochrane and the booty confiscated. Bouchard and his officers were taken prisoner.
Bouchard at least was freed from prison by a decree of 9 October 1819.
The La ARGENTINA was re-taken by the Argentinean Coronel (or Colonel) Necochea by boarding, and the ship was handed back to Bouchard..
Bouchard re-armed the frigate again all the armament was taken from board after Cochrane took the vessel.
During the voyage more than 25 Spanish ships were taken or burned, she did re-take the Argentinean privateer CHACABUCO, she showed the flag of Argentina around the world, the recognition of Independence from foreign governments., the possession for a short time of Spanish territory in California, the distraction of military Spanish forces in the area. And some control over Pacific waters.
The profit of this voyage for owner and commander were zero.

Then a lawsuit arose between Bouchard and the owner of the La Argentina, Mr. Dr. Vicente A Echevarria.
In 1821 Bouchard wanted to buy the La ARGENTINA, but the deal fell through.

Then the La ARGENTINA was a unit of the fleet of the so-called Expedicion a Intermedios to liberate ports in Chile and Peru from the Spaniards.
She sailed under command of Bouchard and again with the name CONSECUENCIA as Transport #11 with on board the Granaderos a Caballo (Grenadiers Cavalry) of San Martin. They were the most famous regiment in Argentina, today the regiment still exist and is used to guard the Government House in Buenos Aires.

In 1822 after the campaign of Piso (Pisco) returned to Valparaiso, the condition of the frigate was then so bad, that she was not more seaworthy.
1822 Sold in Valparaiso for firewood.

Bouchard after this campaign was given by Peru the command of the 50 gun frigate PRUEBA.
In 1829 he became an admiral of the Peruvian Navy.
04 January 1837 he was murdered at his Peruvian estate.


Argentina 1963 4p sg1093, scott747.. 1973 70c sg1425, scott1006 and 1980 500p sg1675, scott1269.

Sources. A Puntes sobre buques de la Armada Argentina by Admiral Arguindeguy, and translated by Mr. Mario F. Rosner. Log Book Volume 25 page 205/06. Monterey County Historical Socity website. Navicula.