Sharpshooter, 1846
Type: Gunvessel ; Armament 9
Launched : 25 Jul 1846 ; Disposal date or year : 1869
BM: 503 tons ; Displacement: 625 tons
Propulsion: Screw
Machinery notes: 202 hp
Notes:

Jan, 1846, Sharpshooter, 6, iron steamer, Ditchburn and Mare, quarter built, at Blackwall.

15 July 1848 Experimental Squadron departed from Portsmouth - see St Vincent for article from the Morning Chronicle dated 17 Jul 1848

20 Dec 1848 Steam gun vessel. Portsmouth.

18 Jun 1850 detained in lat. 28� 3' S., long. 42� 50' W., the Brazilian slave schooner Malteza, 98 tons, which was subsequently condemned.

20 Jun 1850 detained off Cape Frio the Brazilian slave schooner Conceicao, 84 ft. long, 24 ft. broad, 11 ft. deep., which was subsequently condemned.

23 Jun 1850 detained the Brazilian slave brigantine Polka, 114 tons, from under a battery in the River Macah�, South East Coast of America, and, though fired at, escaped without casualty - see p. 392 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow - the date of detention is as given in the London Gazette.

11 Jul 1850 detained in Lat. 21� 12' S. Long. 40� 28' W., the Brazilian slave brigantine Julia, 52 ft. long, 14 ft. broad, 10 ft. deep., and subsequently condemned.

Sep 1850 Off Brazil employed in anti-slavery patrols.

2 Oct 1850 detained, in lat. 13� 38' S. long. 38� 37' W., the slave brig Felicidade, 128 tons, and set her on fire, and then sank her by using the vessel as a target for her gunners. This was the Sharpshooter's 6th capture in a little more than 3 months.

6 Apr 1851 was at Morro San Paulo when the the Conflict arrived. Departed for Bahia with despatches and instructions to then cruise off the coast with a view to intercepting any vessels carrying slaves.

13 Jun 1851 the commanding officer of the Cormorant, not being authorised to arrest Sardinian vessels involved in the slave trade, with the assistance of Lieut. Bailey of the Sharpshooter, who was suitably authorised, detained the Sardinian schooner Valoroso, Geo. Batta. Bonsignore, master, 3� miles NNW of Santa Cruz Fort, and ESE of the Island of Paya. Whilst much of the evidence available at that time wouldn't have been sufficient for a court at Genoa to condemn the schooner, statements were taken from the prospective crew of the Valoroso, found on board the tug Sarah, most of whom gave evidence in the form of statements tying the Flor do Mar, Sarah and Valoroso together.

22 Jul 1851 detained 2 miles NNE of Busios the Brazilian slave brig Piratinim / Piratenim, the property of Joao da Costa Gomes Freitas, with 102 slaves on board, 2 miles NNE of Busios, bound from Bahia to Santos. The slaves have been landed at Rio de Janeiro and put on board the slave receiving ship Crescent. The Piratinim was not in a state to be sent for adjudication and once measured was destroyed. Prize money due was abated by expenses incurred during the detention of the Sardinian schooner Volorosa.

26 Jul 1851 at Rio de Janeiro.

17 Aug 1851 whilst cruising in Gaurios Bay found the Locust there, having previously discovered that a Brazilian schooner, which had been involved in the slave trade and had been scuttled in the Tejucas River had now been raised and was being got ready for sea. The following morning the boats of the Sharpshooter and Locust crossed the bar and came up with the schooner at 6 a.m., but on seeing the boats the master and crew deserted ashore with the schooner's papers and any colours she may have had. As it wasn't possible to get her over the bar she was burnt.

13 Sep 1853 at Rio de Janeiro ; the Flag Officer on the Brazil Station, R.Adm. Henderson, reports that the Sharpshooter and Bonetta will be cruising again shortly on anti-slavery duties once they have fixed some minor defects and watered and provisioned their vessels.

15 Nov 1853 Has lately been employed on the coast cruising between Pernambuco and St. Catherine's.

Jan 1854 once she has fixed some defects, including her bowsprit having become badly sprung, and victualled etc., she is to proceed to Bahia to investigate rumours that the slave trade may be reviving in the region.

2 Jan 1858 departed England for anti-slavery duties on the West Coast of Africa.

28 Mar 1858 Bights Division, on the West Coast of Africa: following a visit by the Flag Officer he stated that there is no doubt that the vigilance of our cruisers alone has prevented the shipment of large numbers of slaves from the lagoons communicating with Whydah. The increase of the squadron has been most advantageous, and the cruizers, under Commander Aplin's judicious guidance, have been so far, I hope, completely successful. The squadron at present consists of the Hecla, Trident (to be relieved by Ardent,) Triton, Sharpshooter, Pluto, and Brune. l have stated that there is no doubt that the Slave Trade in the neighbourhood of Whydah is checked only by our cruizers; in proof of this I may mention that all the reports from British residents show that the demand for slaves in the interior markets has much increased, that the slave-hunts from Abomey and from Abbeokuta have been revived, and that three undoubted slavers, with two suspected vessels, are at this moment on the coast. These are, the Marshall, and the Hanover, both under American colours ; and the Don Juan, Spanish brig lately purchased, it is said, by slave-dealers, off Appi, watched by the Trident. There is also reason to suspect the American barque Firefly, boarded by the Pluto on the 10th of March last, and a Portuguese schooner. I have written to the American Commander-in-chief pressing him to station an American ship of war in the Bights.

14 Jan 1859 at anchor off Quittah, received news of a slaver being at Whydah and departed.

15 Jan 1859 arrived off Whydah and anchored, a brigantine was sighted to windward.

17 Jan 1859 the fog having lifted and it being calm sent two whale boats to search a brigantine Name Unknown, supposed El Dorado, in Lat. 6� 16' N., long. 2� 3' E., off Whydah, which was sighted to windward again, and standing off the land. Having no flag, and her master being ashore with the papers, she was brought in and searched and it was found that she was fully fitted for the slave trade and was detained and sent to Sierra Leone for adjudication by the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, and on 16 Mar 1859 sentenced to be forfeited.

7 Dec 1860 arrived off Pongas where 2 boats were sent up to the mission at Fallangia and found all quiet in respect of the slave trade.

1860 West Coast of Africa.