9, V^n

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

2.8

I.I

IK '"" —
«?^ Ilitt

ill i!M

2.2

1.8

1.25

1.4

1.6

<4 6" —

►

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

33 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

1980

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

L'Institut a microfilm^ le meiileur exemplaire
qu'il iui a 6X6 possibie de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
una image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mdthode normale de filmage
sont indiqu6s ci-dessous.

D
D
D
D

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

Covers damaged/
Couverture endommag6e

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pelllcul6e

Cover title missing/

Le titre de couverture manque

□ Coloured maps/
Cartes g6ographiques en couleur

□ Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

□

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Relid avec d'autres documents

r~7l Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion

along interior margin/

La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la

distortion le long de la marge int^rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possibie. these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes
iors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas 6X6 filmdes.

□ Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

□ Pages damaged/
Pages endommag6es

I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/

Pages restaur^es et/ou pellicul6es

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages ddcolories, tachet6es ou piqu^es

□ Pages detached/
Pages d6tach6es

□ Showthrough/
Transparence

□ Quality of print varies/
Quality indgale de I'impression

I I includes supplementary material/

Comprend du matdriel supplementaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponibie

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuiMet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6ti filmdes 6 nouveau de fapon 6
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppldmentaires;

r~7| This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Iv I Ce document est fiimd au taux de reduction indiqud ci-dessous.

10X

14X

18X

_v/

22X

26X

30X

12X

16X

20X

24X

28X

32X

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

National Library of Canada

L'exemplaire film6 fut reprodult grSce d ta
g6n6rosit6 de:

Bibliothdque nationale du Canada

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filme ^ beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page witn a printed
or illustrated impression.

Les images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettet6 de l'exemplaire film6, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprim^e sont film6s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires
originnux sont filmds en commenpant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol ^^^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever appli&s.

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams Miustrate the
method:

Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le
cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbole V signifie "FIN".

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Stre
film6s d des taux de reduction diffdrents.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre
reprodult en un seul clichd, il est film6 d partir
de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite.
et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mdthode.

32X

'4..

,^>r:

^^n
\

'.^1

\ :< ^^

/-?§

■fi^

~'i

MINOR WARS OF THE UNITED STATES.

A HISTORY

OF THE

WAR OF 1812-'15

BETWEEN THE

United States and Great Britain.

ROSSITER JOHNSO

ILLUSTRATED.

NEW YORK:

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY,

Publishers.

^«s^^^

CONTENTS.

FAGB
I

CHAPTER I.
Causes ok the War

Franklin's Prediction, i,— British Feeling toward the United
States, 2. — The Unsurrendered Posts, 3. ^Indian Troubles,
4. — Impressment of Seamen, 7. — The Decrees and Orders
in Council, 13.— Declaration of War. 18.

CHAPTER n. *

The Detroit Campaign

First Bloodshed, 21.— Attitude of Political Parties, 22,— Plans
for Invading Canada, 26.— Capture of Michilimackinac, 30.
—Engagements at the River Raisin and Maguaga, 31,— Battle
of Chicago, 32.— Hull's Surrender, 36.

CHAPTER HI.

Fights with the Indians

Tecumseh's Scheme, 38.— Harrison's March to Fort Wayne
39-— Defence of Fort Harrison, 41— Defence of Fort Madi-
son, 43.— Ball's Fight, 44.

CHAPTER IV.'

The Battle of Queenstovvn .(^

F'ght at Gananoqui, 46.— Expediti:,n against Ogdensburtr 47
~" iu°"ivf-^P*'"'^^ ^"^^ War-vesbds, 48.-Cathering of Forces
on the Niagara, 49.— Battle of Queenstown, 50.— Death of
General Brock, 55.

CHAPTER V.
War on the Ocean

The /Ws/,/„^t and the Z,V//.. Be/i, 62.-The /Ws^J^n/ and* Ihe
B,/vu/eni, 64.-HUII s Race, 66.-The Cons/i/u/wu and the
Guen^ere, 68.-Effect of the Victory, 7i.-The lVas/> and
the /'ro/ir, 73.— The [/ni/e,/ Sfa/t-s and the Macedottian, 76
— Vhe Constitution and the /rtz/.?, 79.— Nelson's Prediction

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. PAOB

Minor Battles in tiik Wkst 84

Winchester's Expedition, 84. — Figiit at Frenchtown, 85. —
Massacre at the Raisin, 87. — Siege of Fort Meigs, 90.

CHAPTER VII.

War on tke Lakes 97

The Armaments, 98. — Preliminary Operations, 99. — Expedi-
tion against York, 100. — Death of (leneral l*il<e, i^n. —
Capture of Fort George, 107. — Attack on Sackett's Har-
bor, 112. — Battle of Stony Creek, 118.

CHAPTER VIII.

Battle of the Thames 140

Harrison's Advance, 140. — Proctor's Retreat 141. — Nature of
the Ground, 141. — Disposition of the Indians, 143. — The
Battle, 144. — Death of Tecumseh, 146. — Flight of Proctor,
146. — Results of the Campaign, 148.

CHAPTER IX.
Wilkinson's ExrEnrnoN 149

Armstrong's Plans, 149. — Position of the Troops, 150. — Descent
of the St. Lawrence, 152 — Battle of Chrysler's Field, 154.
— Hampton's Defeat, 159. — Cost of the Campaign, 160. —
Effects on the Niagara Frontier, 161. — Capture of Fort
Niagata, 163. — Destruction of Buffalo and other Villages,
166.

CHAPTER X.
War IN THE South 168

Engagement at Lewistown, 168.- -Fight in Delaware Bay,
169. — Burning of Havre de (jrace, Georgetown, and
PVedericktovvn, 171. — Battle at Craney Island, 172. — Destruc-
tion of Hampton, 176. — Troubles with the Southern Indians,
178. — Fight at Burnt Corn Creek, 179. — Massacre at Fort
Mims, 1S2. — Jackson's Campaign, 183. — Fights at Tallus-
chatches, Talladega, the Hillabee Towns, Autosse, and
Econochaca, 183. — Dale's Canoe Fight, 188.

CHAPTER XL

Naval Ba itles of 1813 194

The Hornet and the Peacock, 195. — The Chesapeake and the
Shannon, 197. — The Argtts and the Pelican, 201. — The En-
ieifrise and the Boxer, 202. — Decatur Blockaded at New
London, 204. — A New Embargo, 206.

-r

CONiENTS.

ao7

CHAPTER XII.

Trivateers

Their Number and Importance, 207.— Jefferson's Opinion
of them, 208.— A London Journal's Prediction, 211.— Some
of their Captures, and some of their Battles, 212.— The )V/«-
kce's Laugiiabie Exploit, 222.

CHAPTER XIII.

Peace Negotiations.— Campaign against the Creeks. ... 223

Condition of Affairs at the Opening of the Third Year, 223.—

Congressional Appropriations, 224— Russian Offers of Medi-

ation, 225. — Jackson's ['reparations, 227. — Battles of Emuc-

fau, Enotachopco, and Horseshoe Bend, 227.

CHAPTER XIV.

Brown's Campaign on the Niagara 231

The March to Buffalo, 231.— Capture of Fort Erie, 232. —
Battle of Chippewa, 234. — Brown's Plans, 238. — Battle of
Lundy's Lane, 240. — Siege of Fort Erie by the British, 245.

CHAPTER XV.
The Second Invasion of New York 251

Fight at La Colic Mill, 251. — Ship-building, 253. — Yeo's Attack
on Oswego, 254. — Affairs at Charlotte and Poultneyville,
255. — Fight at Sandy Creek, 257. — Izard's Failure on the
Niagara, 258. — Expedition against Michilimackinac, 259. —
Prevost's Advance into New York, 260. — Its Purpose, 261. —
Battle of Plattsburg, 265.

CHAPTER XVI.

Operations Along the Coast 268

Capture of Eastport and Castine, 268. — Occupation of Territory
in Maine, 269. — Destruction of the Frigate Adams, 270. — ■
Bombardment of Stonington, 271. — Affairs at Wareham,
Scituate, and Booth bay, 273.

CHAPTER XVII.
The Washington Campaign 274

Ross's Expedition against Washington, 276. — Battle of Bla-
densburg, 278. — Destruction of the Capital, 282. — Capitula-
tion of Alexandria, 283. — Comments of the London Times,
284. — Expedition against Baltimore, 285. — Death of Sir
Peter Parker, 286.— Battle of North Point, 286.— Death of
General Ross, 287. — Bombardment of Fort McHenry, 288.
— How a Famous Song was written, 289.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIII. PACK

Navai, Battles OF 1814 290

Porter's Cruise in the Kssex, 290. — Ills Campaijjn against
the Typees, 296. — Destruction of the Urilish Whaling Interest
in the I'aciCic, 310. — IJattle with the Plinhe and the Cherub,
312. — I'he I'tixcock MvX the Epenier, '})'io. — 'Ihe /fW/ and
the A'tim/ifr, 321. — 'Vhc Hasp and the Atoh, 322. — Destruc-
tion of the General Anustrou}^, 323. — Loss of the T resident,
325. — The Cotislitution Captures the Cyane and the Levant,
325. — The Ilorttet anil the Penguin, 325.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Hartford Convention 326

Attitude of the Federalists, Real and Imputed, 326. — The
Convention at Hartford, 328. — Its Popular Reputation, 330.
. — What General Scott did not say at Chippewa, 330.

CHAPTER XX.

The Campaign on the Gulf Coast 332

British Occupation of Pensacola, 332. — Negotiations with La-
fitte, 333. — Expedition against Mobile, 333. — Capture of
Pensacola, 334. — Defence of New Orleans, 336. — The Battles
before the City, 337. — Defeat of the British, 344. — Losses,

345.

CHAPTER XXI.

Peace 346

The Treaty of Ghent, 346. — Treatment of Prisoners, 348. —
Losses and Gains by the War, 349. — Conclusion, 350.

I'f

PACK

2(;<)

ifjainst
iiteiest
'lierub,
afi and
i;struc-
sitiiHt,
.evant,

A HISTORY OF THE WAR
OF 1812-15.

CHAPTER I.

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

Franklin's Trcdiction— British Feeling toward the United States—
The Unsurrendered Posts — Indian Troubles — Impressment of
Seamen — The Decrees and Orders in Council — Declaration of
War.

It is a singular fact that the deepest resentments
and the most implacable hatreds are not those
which arise from a sense of injuries received, but
from injuries bestowed. The victim of a deliberate
wrong seldom treasures up a purpose of revenge, or
demands anything more than a restoration of his
rights ; but the oppressor always hates those who
have escaped from his oppression.

That wise old philosopher, Ben Franklin, who died
within seven years after the acknowledgment of
our country as a separate nation in 1783, foresaw,
even then, what did not take place till more than
twenty years after his death. He declared that the
war which had just closed in the surrender of Corn-
wallis was only the war of Revolution, and that the
war of Independence was yet to be fought.

■I

CAUSES Of thil war.

[I8I2.

. i

When, in June, 1785, George III. received John
Adams as United States Minister at his court, he
said : "I was the last man in the kingdom, Sir, to
consent to the independence of America ; but, now
it is granted, I sha!' be the last man in the world to
sanction a violation of it." If the King was sin-
cere in this declaration, he must have had — as
Lincoln. said of himself when President — very little
influence with the Administration ; for, almost from
the first, there was systematic disregard of the
rights of the new nation, with an evident purpose
to humiliate her people and cripple their commerce.

It was hard for the British Ministry and British
commanders to realize that those whom they had so
lately attempted to chastise as rebels, that they
might again tax them as subjects, were now, after
their triumph in a long war, and by the terms of a
solemn treaty, entitled to the same privileges on the
ocean, and the same courtesies in diplomacy, that
were accorded to the oldest nation of Europe. They
knew as little of the spirit of the American people
and the mighty destinies within the coming cen-
tury, as of the resources of the vast continent which
lay behind that thin line of civilization along the
Atlantic coast.

This failure to realize, or reluctance to admit, that
the people of America were no longer British sub-

^ I &' I >

i|f

I8l2.]

CAUSES OF THE IV A R.

d John
)urt, he

Sir, to
Lit, now
Aorld to
/as sin-
id — as
ry little
ist from

of the
purpose
nmerce.

British
r had so

t they
^v, after
ms of a
on the

:y, that

. They
people

cen-
hich

jects, and that the United States was an indepen-
lent nation, was forcibly illustrated in England's
lisregard, for thirty years, of an important portion
►f the Tn*aty of 1783. It was there stipulated that
the milit^.ry posts on our western frontier should be
surrendered to our Government. Yet not only did
ihe British forces retain possession of them, but
from them they supplied the Indians with arms and
immunition, and instigated savage hostilities against
the American settlements. Attempts have been
lade to deny this, but the proof is unquestionable.
Lord Dorchester, Governor of Canada, called a
rouncil of the Indian tribes, engaged to supply them
'•th munitions of war, encouraged them to enmity
igainst the United States, and gave them to under-
stand that they would have the co-operaticn of his
rovernment. These facts were published in British
icwspapers, and when the British Minister was
asked to account for them, he could give no satis-
factory answer. In pursuance of this policy, when
^ar broke out, in 18 12, the English commanders
lot only employed Indian allies, but offered and
)aid a regular bounty for American scalps. It
kems incredible that such things could have been
lone, only seventy years ago, by one of the most
mlightened governments on earth. And yet in our
[own day we have seen the performance repeated,

sam

'Uf-

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

[1812.

when the Engh'sh in South Africa armed the native
savages with the best English rifles, that they might
make war upon the peaceful and industrious Boers
of the Transvaal Republic.

But our people had a grievance, of more than
twenty years' standing, which was even more seri-
ous than this. While the frontiersman was con-
tending with British treachery and Indian ferocity,
which combined to hinder the development of our
inland resources, the American sailor — then the best
in the world, as was proved by the result of the war
— was confronted by a monstrous policy intended to
check our growing commerce and recruit the Eng-
lish navy at our expense.

England was at this time the greatest commer-
cial nation in the world. Her merchant ships and
whalers were found on every sea, gathering and dis-
tributing the productions of every land. In herself
she was but an island, not larger than one of our
States — a very beautiful and fertile island, it is true ;
but if her jurisdiction had not extended beyond its
borders, she would have been hardly more impor-
tant than Switzerland or Sweden. But in her colo-
nies and her commerce she was powerful. And now
the finest of those colonies, casting off her authority
in the only successful rebellion ever waged agrinrt
it, were rapidly building up a mercantile marine

[l8l2.

native
might
Boers

e than
re seri-
is con-
irocity,
of our
he best
the war
nded to
le Eng-

ommer-
iips and
ind dis-
herself
of our
is true ;
ond its
impor-
r colo-
nd now
thority
agrinst
marine

1812.]

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

that threatened to rival her own. They had thou-
sands of miles of seacoast, with innumerable fine
harbors ; they had behind them, not a crowded
island, but a virgin continent ; the construction of
their government and society was such that the
poorest man before the mast might not unreason-
ably hope some day to command a ship. With all
this, they were not involved in the wars which were
then distracting Europe.

Being neutrals, of course they enjoyed those ad-
vantages which England has never been slow to
reap when she herself has been a neutral while her
neighbors were at war. Their ships could carry
goods which in any other ships would have been
seized by hostile cruisers. England was now — as
she truly said, in extenuation of her depredations
on American commerce — struggling for her very
existence, against mighty armies led by the ablest
general that had appeared since Alexander. Many
of the most desirable ports were closed to her mer-
chantmen, her entire coast was declared by Napo-
leon to be under blockade ; and it was exasperating
in the last degree to see these misfortunes redound-
ing to the advantage of a people whom she had so
lately treated as rebels and outlaws, whose military
prowess she had affected to despise, until it had dis-
armed her legions and conquered an honorable peace.

CAUSES OF THE PVAH.

[l8i2.

The motive that controlled British policy was
plainly revealed in an editorial article which ap-
peared in the London Independent Whig (January
loth, i8 1 3), after the war had been begun and the
British public had been astounded by the capture of
two or three of their finest frigates. " Accustomed,
as we have hitherto been, to a long and uninterrupt-
ed tide of success upon the watery element, and
claiming an absolute and exclusive sovereignty over
the ocean, to be defeated there, where we securely
rested our proudest hopes and wishes, might reason-
ably be expected to check our insolence and mortify
our pride. In this view of the case, and if we could
not flatter ourselves that it would have the effect of
inducing us to abate somewhat of our unwarrant-
able pretensions, and listen to terms of moderation
and forbearance, our regret would be sensibly dimin-
ished ; since even the misfortune, severe as it is,
might be converted into a great and lasting benefit
to the nation at large. But the mischief will not
confine itself here ; the charm of the invincibility of
the British navy, like that of the Grecian warrior,
being destroyed, the terror that has long preceded
our flag, and commanded the abject homage of sur-
rounding nations, will henceforv/ard be dissipated,
and every maritime power with whom we may be
involved in war will fight with redoubled zeal, ar-

I8l2.]

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

dently and anxiously hoping to lower our ascendency
and establish the freedom of the seas." That was
it exactly ; they were afraid somebody would estab-
lish the freedom of the seas, and at that time the
Americans seemed most likely to do it.

During the Napoleonic wars, in the early years of
the present century, England's navy consisted of
about one thousand vessels. As she was recruiting
this vast squadron by perpetual press-gangs, and
maintaining its discipline by unstinted flogging,
while at the same time the flourishing merchant
marine of the United States Avas paying more lib-
eral wages to men before the mast than could be ob-
tained on the English merchantmen, it might have
been expected that the number of desertions would
only be limited by the number of opportunities to de-
sert. Many of the deserters undoubtedly found em-
ployment on American ships, where British captains
soon established the custom of searching for and
reclaiming them. This was a gross violation of the
sovereignty of the United States, for the deck of an
American vessel is to all intents and purposes
American territory ; yet our Government permitted
it, and only complained of what were considered its
incidental abuses.

The troubles that followed from this beginning
remind us of the fable of the camel and the tailor.

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

[l8l2.

' i I

England's next step was to claim that no British
subject had a right to enter any military or marine
service but the British, and that any who did so
might be taken by British authorities wherever found
— just as if they were deserters.

But presently it appeared that something more
was needed in order to give Great Britain the full
benefit of these assumptions. An English war-vessel
stops an American merchantman on the high sea,
and sends an officer with armed men on board to
inspect the crew and take off any that are British
subjects. The officer selects some of the ablest sea-
men he finds, and claims them. Immediately a
dispute arises ; the seamen say they are American
citizens — or at least not British subjects ; the officer
says they were born subjects of the English king,
and can never throw off their allegiance. Here is
a question of fact, and by all the principles of law
and justice it would devolve upon the officer to
prove his claim. But as the purpose was, not to do
justice, but to recruit the British navy, the admis-
sion of any such principle would hardly answer the
purpose. So the British Government set up the
doctrine that the burden of proof rested with the
accused ; that is, any sailor who was unable to prove
on the spot, to the satisfaction of the boarding
officer, that he was not a British subject, was to be

I8l2.j

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

considered as such, and carried off to serve against
his will on a British ship.

The English naval commanders were now fully
equipped for this new method of .recruiting, and it
soon became the practice for them to board Ameri-
can merchantmen and take off as many of the best
sailors as they happened to be in need of at the time,
with very little reference to their nationality.
Some of the men thus forcibly carried off were re-
leased by order of the Admiralty, on the application
of the American Consul, with the apology that, as
English and Americans spoke the same language
and were of the same race, it was often difficult to
distinguish between them. But as a matter of fact
the sailors thus impressed included men of nearly
every European nationality — Germans, Swedes,
Danes, Portuguese, and even negroes. In 1811 it
was believed that more than six thousand American
sailors were serving under compulsion in the British
navy ; and Mr. Lyman, United States Consul at
London, estimated the number at fourteen thousand.

This was only the natural result of the original
error committed by our Government when it admit-
ted the right to search for and carry away deserters.
And the impressments took place not only on the
high seas but often within the three miles from shore*
to which a maritime country's jurisdiction extends.

'i&

CAUSES OF rUE WAR.

[1812.

and sometimes in the very harbors of the United
States. Coasting and fishing schooners were robbed
of their men, and occasionally fired upon and plun-
dered ; while of larger vessels bound for distant
waters, the crews were sometimes so depleted by a
visit from a British man-of-war that the voyage was
broken up and the ship compelled to return to port.

The greatest of these outrages was the capture of
the Chesapeake, a United States frigate, by the
British man-of-war Leopard, June 23d, 1806. The
Chesapeake, which had just left Hampton Roads for
a cruise, had not been put in fighting trim ; not a
single gun was ready for use. Her commander.
Commodore James Barron, refused to permit a
search for British deserters, and the Leopard there-
upon fired several broadsides into her, when she
struck her flag. Three of her crew were killed, and
eighteen wounded. The Leopard carried away four
of her men, claiming them as deserters ; but it was
afterward proved that three of them were Ameri-
cans, and they were released, while the fourth was
tried and executed at Halifax.

When the Chesapeake returned to Norfolk, Va.,
with the news, it created the greatest excitement
the country had seen since the Revolutionary war.
Indignation meetings were held, and the people
seemed almost unanimous in a desire to plunge at

l8i2.]

CAUSES OF THE IV A R.

once into war. A schooner was sent to England by
our Government, carrying instructions to the Ameri-
can Minister to demand apology and reparation.
These were made, after a fashion ; but the English
(liwcrnment refused to give up the right of search.
President Jefferson, who thought anything, under
any circumstances, was better than war, issued a
>roclamation ordering all British vessels of war then
In United States waters to leave at once.

Meanwhile, England had attempted to revive
diat was known as " the rule of 1756." During
the war of that year she had tried to establish a rule
that neutral nations were not at liberty to trade witu
the colonics of a belligerent power from which, in
limes of peace, they were excluded by the parent
ktate. For instance, if in time of peace France
)ermitted none but her own vessels to trade at the
K rts of certain of her colonies, she should not be
llowed, when at war, to have that trade carried on
r her in vessels belonging to a neutral nation ; and
such vessels attempted it, they should be liable to
pture and confiscation by cruisers of the nation
hich was at war with France. Such a regulation
l)f course belongs to the domain of international
w, and cannot be established by one nation alone,
rule had been frequently disregarded by Eng-
herself, and had never received the sanction of

"^ri

i r

CAUSES OF rilE WAR.

[i8i-.

other powers ; but by orders in council, of Novem
ber 6th, 1793, she secretly instructed her naval com
manders to enforce it against American vessels trad-
ing to the French colonies of the West Indies. The
United States Government sent commissioners to
London, English commissioners were appointed to
meet them, and a treaty of " amity, commerce, and
navigation" was concluded, which was ratified by
both governments in 1795. Yet the capture and
condemnation of American vessels went on almost
as before.

In the early European wars of this century, the
days of paper blockade — a blockade which consists
merely in a proclamation, without the presence of
armed vessels to enforce it — were not yet over, and
on May i6th, 1806, England declared the whole
coast of the Continent, from Brest to the mouth of
the Elbe, to be in a state of blockade. Napoleon
retaliated by issuing from Berlin a counter decree,
dated November 21st, 1806, which declared the
entire coast of Great Britain to be under blockade,
and prohibited any vessel which sailed from a British
port from entering a Continental port. England
then, by orders in council, published November
17th, 1807, prohibited all neutral trade with France
and her allies, except in vessels that had first entered
a British port. As paper and ink were cheap, and

I8I2.]

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

"•Jovem
al com
ds trad-
s. The
Dners to
inted to
:rce, and
lifted by
turc and
n almost

tury, the '\
\ consists
esence of
over, and
he whole
mouth of
Napoleon
;r decree,
lared the
blockade,
a British
England
ovember
th France
st entered
:heap, and

by this time so little was left of the rights of neutrals
that it was hardly worth while to regard them at all,
Napoleon tried his hand at one more decree. Un-
der date of Milan, December 17th, 1807, he pro-
claimed that any vessel which should submit to
search by British cruisers, or pay any tax to the
British Government, should be forfeit as good prize.
These so-called measures of retaliation — which
[became famous as the " orders in council," and the
I" Berlin and Milan decrees" — had very little effect
jtipon the people who were at war, but they laid
some of the heaviest penalties of war upon the one
laritime nation that was at peace with all. Instead
)f resorting to war at once, the United States Gov-
ernment, being as well able as any other to issue a
foolish proclamation, laid an embargo, December
{2d, 1807, upon all shipping in American ports,
)rohibiting exportations therefrom. This measure
tnet with violent opposition in New England, which
^as more largely interested in commerce than any
Other part of the country. The coast of New Eng-
land presented innumerable harbors, and her forests
|vere full of the finest ship-timber, while in agricul-
ture she could not compete with the States having
^cher soils and a less rigorous climate. Cotton-
jppinning was in its infancy, and the manufactures
lat were to employ her water-powers had not been

' I

CAUSES Of- 77/ E WAR.

ri8i2.

developed. She naturally and properly looked to
the carryinjT trade as her best means of livelihood.
The orders in council and the Berlin and Milan de-
crees imposed great risks and unjust restrictions upon
it, but did not altogether destroy it ; the embargo
suppressed it at once.

In March, 1809, Congress repealed the embargo,
and substituted a system of non-importation and
non-intercourse with France and Great Britain.
Voyages to their dominions, and trade in articles
produced by them, were prohibited ; but it was
provided that whenever either of those nations
should reneal its decrees against neutral commerce,
the restriction should be removed as to that nation.

This at last produced some effect, and the French
Government revoked the Berlin and Milan decrees,
the revocation to take effect on the ist of Novem-
ber, 1810 ; the letter of the French Minister com-
municating the fact to the American Minister adding
that it was " clearly understood that the English
orders in council were to be revoked at the same
time." In August of that year, Hon. William
Pinkney, United States Minister at London, laid this
before the British Government, but was told that
the English decrees would be revoked " after the
French revocation should have actually taken
place." This was a most palpable evasion, since it

■ ,-r; _

t^lesl

. uf

tlon>

piac(
le

(l8l3.

I8I2.]

CAUSES OF THE IV A R.

«s

:cd to
ihood.
ian de-
ls upon
iTibargo

Tibargo,
ion and
Britain,
articles
t it was
nations
Drnmerce,
at nation,
e French
|-i decrees,
( Novem-
lister com-
pter adding
e English
the same
William
,n, laid this
.s told that
'• after the
ally taken
on, since it

I is very common for treaties and governmental orders
'^ to contain clauses which render them operative only
% in certain contingencies, and it was the easiest thing
in the world for England to give her revocation pre-
cisely the same form as that of France, when each
would have put the other in force on the date
named. If any further proof had been wanted that
the British Government was determined to suppress
American commerce, at least till her own ships could
resume the carrying trade of the world, it was sup-
plied when in 1812 Lord Castlereagh, Minister for
Foreign Affairs, declared officially that " the decrees
of Berlin and Milan must not be repealed singly
and specially, in relation to the United States, but
must be repealed also as to all other neutral nations ;
and that in no less extent of a repeal ot the French
decrees had the British Government pledged itself
to repeal the orders in council." That is, the rights
pf the United States as a neutral nation were not to
je regarded by England, unless the United States
^uld induce or compel France to regard not only
^ese rights but those of all other neutral nations !
, ,: With this tangle of orders, decrees, and proclama-
^ns, with an important part of the Treaty of 1783
unfulfilled, with unlawful impressments daily taking
^lace on the high seas, and with no disposition on
e part of the chief aggressor to right tnese wrongs,

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

[1812.

it is difficult to see how negotiations could have
been continued longer, or the alternative of war
avoided. On the first day of June, 1812, President
Madison sent a message to Congress, in which he
set forth the facts that necessitated war ; Congress
accordingly declared war on the i8th, and the next
day the President proclaimed it. On the 23d, be-
fore this news was received, England revoked her
orders in council, thus removing one of the griev-
ances, but still leaving those which amply justified
the declaration.

It thus appears that the immediate and specific
causes of the war of 18 12 between the United
States and Great Britain were complex ; but the
general cause, the philosophic reason, was simply
the determined purpose manifested by England to
nullify and render valueless the political indepen-
dence gained by the American colonies in the Revo-
lution.

Since the inauguration of President Jefferson, in
1801, the Government had been in the hands of the
Republicans, and all measures looking toward war
with England were opposed by the party out of
power; — the Federalists. The young reader must
not be confused by the change of names which polit-
ical parties have undergone between that day and
this. The Republican party of Jefferson's day was

I8l2.]

CAUSES OF THE iVAH.

President
which he
Congress
the next
: 23d, be-
voked her
the griev-
y justified

id specific
le United
c ; but the
as simply
n gland to
I indepen-
the Revo-

the predecessor of what is now called the Demo-
cratic party ; while the Republican party of our own
day is to some extent the successor of the Federal
party of that day. Presidents Washington and
Adams were Federalists, or what would now be
called Republicans ; Presidents Jefferson, Madison,
and Monroe were Republicans, or what would now
be called Democrats.

The Federalists in Congress protested against the
declaration of war ; and this protest was repeated in
^ every possible form by the Federal newspapers, by
mass-meetings, in numerous political pamphlets, and
I even in many pulpits. The opposition was espe-
[cially strong in the New England States. The argu-
[ments of those who opposed the war were, that the
[country was not prepared for such a struggle, could
not afford it, and would find it a hopeless undertak-
ing ; that the war policy had been forced upon
Madison's administration by the Republican party,
in order to strengthen that party and keep it in
power ; that if we had cause for war with England,
we had cause for war with France also, and it was
unreasonable to declare war against one of those
Ipowers and not against both. The last argument
was the one most vehemently urged, and the war
[party was denounced and sneered at as making our
iGovernment a tool of P'rance.

I >

I! I

I I

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

[1812.

There was a certain amount of truth in each of
these propositions. The country was very illy pre-
pared for war at all, least of all with the most pow-
eiful of nations. Madison probably had been given
to understand that unless he recommended a decla-
ration of war, he need noi expect a renomination at
the hands of his party. And we certainly had cause
of war with France, whose cruisers had captured or
destroyed many of our merchantuicn. But the
position of the Federalists on this question furnishes
a singular example of the fact that an argument may
sometimes be true in ea i of its parts, and yet in-
correct in its grand concl >sion. It seldom happens
that any people are prepared for a just and defen-
sive war ; they begin their preparations for such a
contest after the neces^ic / is upon them. While a
portion of the Republican party were undoubtedly
actuated by selfish motives, as is the case with sonic
portion of every party, the greater part were un
questionably patriotic, d advocated war because
the\' believed it to be ecessary. The crownini;
argument — that the U cd States had a grievance
against France as well as '.ngland, and should make
war on both if on cither- would have been unan
swerable if it had been a i loral warfare that was in
question. But in military matters it is necessary to
consider what is practicable as well as what is loj,n

pe|
Jia|
no
Vr\
a n

[l8l2.

-acb of

illy pre-

)st pow-

2n given

a decla-

[\ation at

lad cause

ptured or
But the

I furnishes

mentmay

nd yet in-

m happens

find defen-

for such a

While a

|ndoubtedly
with some
t were un-
ar because ^^
e crowning
a grievance
should make
been unau-
that was in :|
necessary to

I what is logi-^

1812.]

CAUSES OF THE ^'Ali.

cal. For our Government to attempt to fight Eng-
land and France at the same time, would have been
simply suicidal. A good general strives to divide
his foes, instead of uniting them. The shrewd
thing to do was, to declare war against one only, and
by saying nothing of any grievance against the
other, make of that other either an ally or a neu-
tral. Then if the war was successful on our part, it
j. would put an end to the outrages complained of, not
only on the part of the nation with whom wc had
fought, but also on that of the other ; or if not, a
war with the second offender would almost neces-
sarily have the same result. The only question was,
with which of those great European powers we
[should attempt to cope in battle. It was not diffi-
[cult to decide. England was by far the greater
offender. Not only had she done more than France
[to cripple our commerce, but she still held military
posts on our frontier which she had solemnly agreed
to give up, and kept the savages in a state of per-
petual hostility to our western pioneers. England
had colonies contiguous to our territory on the
north, which wc might make the battle-ground ;
1 1^' ranee had no territory that would serve us for such
a purpose. England was the power that our people
[had been compelled to fight thirty years before, to
[escape from oppression ; France was the power that

«<1^

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

[1812.

had assisted us in that war. Mr. Madison's Admin-
istration was right in the conclusion that war could
no longer be avoided, if the United States was to
maintain an honorable place among nations ; and
right in the determination to wage it against Eng-
land alone. But for the manner in which it began
and conducted that war, the Administration was
open to the severest criticism.

CHAPTER II.

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

First Bloodshed— Attitude of Political Parties— Plans for Invading
Canada — Capture of Michilimackinac — Engagements at the River
Raisin and Maguaga — Battle ojf Chicago — Hull's Surrender.

It was perhaps characteristic of the conduct of
the war, that the first blood spilled should be
American blood, shed by Americans. This occurred
in a riot, occasioned by high party feeling, and it is
a curious fact that it took place in the same city
where the first blood was shed, also by riot, in the
great war of the Rebellion, half a century later. In
the night of June 22d, three days after the procla-
mation of war, a mob in Baltimore sacked the office
of the Federal Republican, edited by Alexander
Hanson, because he had opposed the war policy.
The mob also attacked the residences of several
prominent Federalists, and burned one of them.
Vessels in thq harbor, too, were visited and plun-
dered. About a month later Hanson resumed the
publication of his paper, and in the night of July
26th the mob gathered again. This had been ex-
pected, and Hanson was ready for them. A large

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

? 'k

number of his friends, including Generals James M.
Lingan and Henry Lee, offered to assist him in
protecting his property. When the rioters burst
into the building, they were at once fired upon, and
one of them was killed and several were wounded.
The authorities were slow and timid in dealing with
the riot ; and when at length a force of militia was
called out, instead of firing upon the mob, or cap-
turing the ringleaders, they arrested Hanson and his
friends, and lodged them in jail. The rioters, thus
encouraged by those whose business it was to punish
them, attacked the jail the next night, murdered
General Lingan, injured General Lee so that he was
a cripple for the rest of his life, and beat several of
the other victims and subjected them to torture.
The leaders of the mob were brought to trial, but
were acquitted !

In this state of affairs, the war party in the coun-
try being but little stronger than the peace party,
the youngest and almost the weakest of civilized
nations went to war with one of the oldest and most
powerful. The regular army of the United States
numbered only six thousand men ; but Congress had
passed an act authorizing its increase to twenty-five
thousand, and in addition to this the President was
empowered to call for fifty thousand volunteers, and
to use the militia to the extent of one hundred

.i4»-

- %

s.-i

l8l2.

iTi in
burst
I, and
nded.
r with
ia was
r cap-
md his
s, thus
punish
urdcred

he was
veral of

;orture.
rial, but

le coun-
e party,
civiUzed
nd most
d States
ress had
cnty-fivc
dent was
eers, and
hundred

1812.]

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

thousand. Henry Dearborn, of Massachusetts, was
made a major-general and appointed to command
the land forces. Against the thousand vessels and
one hundred and forty-four thousand sailors of the
British navy, the Americans had twenty war-ships
and a few gunboats, the whole carrying about three
hundred guns.

But these figures, taken alone, are deceptive ;
since a very large part of the British force was en-
gaged in the European wars, and the practical ques-
tion was, what force the United States could bring
against so much as England could spare for opera-
tions on the high seas and on this side of the Atlan-
tic. In that comparison, the discrepancy was not
so great, and the United States had an enormous
element of strength in her fine merchant marine.
Her commerce being temporarily suspended to a
large degree, there was an abundance both of ships
and sailors, from which to build up a navy and fit
out a fleet of privateers. Indeed, privateering was
the business that now offered the largest prizes to
mariners and ship-owners. Yet so blind was Presi-
dent Madison's Administration to the country's main
strength and advantage, that he actually proposed
to lay up all the naval vesselr, as the only means of
saving them from capture. Of what use it would be
to save from capture war-vessels which were not to

'lit

•(ll

! ' ■

: i

r//E DEmOlT CAMPAIGN.

[1S12.

sail the sea in time of war, he seems not to have
thought. From this fatal error he was saved by the
pluck and foresight of Captains Stewart and Bain-
bridge. Those two officers happened fortunately to
be in Washington at the time, and succeeded in per-
suading the Administration to give up this plan and
order the vessels fitted for sea at once.

War with Great Britain being determined upon,
the plan of campaign that first and most strongly
presented itself to the Administration was the con-
quest of the British provinces on our northern bor-
der. This had been attempted during the Revolu-
tion without success, but none the less confidence
was felt in it now. And it was certainly correct in
principle, though it proved wofully disastrous in the
execution. It is observable that in all recent wars,
the party on whose ground the fighting has taken
place has been in the end the losing party. Thus
the Mexican war in 1846-7 was fought in Mexican
territory, and the Mexicans were defeated. The
Crimean war was fought in Russian territory, and
the Russians were defeated. The war between
France and Austria, in 1859, was fought in Austrian
territory, and the Austrians were defeated. The
Schleswig-Holstein war was fought in Danish terri-
tory, and the Danes were defeated. The war be-
tween Prussia and Austria, in 1866, was fought in

I8I2.]

THE DETROIT CAMPAJG/^.

have
by the

Bain-
tcly to
in per-
an and

i upon,

itrongly

Lhe con-

ern bor-

Revolu-

nfidence

orrect in

us in the

ent wars,

las taken
Thus
Mexican
ed. The
tory, and
between
1 Austrian
ed. The '
inish terri-
^e war be-
; fought in

Austrian territory, and the Austrians were defeated.
The Franco-German war of 1870 was fought in
French territory, and France was defeated. The
Russo-Turkish war of 1877 was fought in Turkish
territory, and the Turks were defeated. The war
of the American Rebellion Mas fought in territory
claimed by the rebels, and they were defeated. It
only needs that a war should continue long enough
for us to see where the battle-ground is to be, and
we can then tell what will be its result. The reason
is obvious. A nation that is strong enough to carry
the war into its enemy's country, and keep it there,
will certainly prove strong enough to win in the
end, unless interference by some other power pre-
vents it ; while a nation that is too weak to keep
war, with all its devastation and ruin, out of its ter-
ritory, must certainly be defeated unless assisted by
some neighboring people. The invaders may, and
probably will, lose the greater number of men in the
pitched battles ; but it is not their harvests that will
be trampled, not their mills that will be burned, not
their bridges that will be blown up, not their homes
that will be desolated, not their families that must
fly for shelter to the caves and the forests. Their
sources of supply are untouched. This principle was
recognized by Scipio, when he declared that the
war with Carthage " must be carried into Africa."

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

i. lit

8, I,

As England claimed to be mistress of the seas,
and practically the claim was almost true, the de-
termination to send our little navy and a fleet of
privateers against her was essentially carrying the
war into English territory. And as this part of the
contest was conducted with skill and valor, it was
gloriously successful.

An invasion of Canada being determined upon,
the first question that necessarily arose was, at what
point that country should first be attacked. To any
one not skilled in military science the most obvious
plan would seem the best — to march as large a force
as possible, without delay, into Canada at the nearest
point. A young officer, Major Jesup, of Kentucky,
sent a memorial to the Secretary of War, in which
he set forth a totally different plan from this. He
proposed that a strong expedition should be fitted
out to capture and hold Halifax, which was then a
city of fifteen thousand inhabitants, with the most
important harbor in the Canadian provinces. As a
precedent, he could refer to the capture of Louis-
burg in 1748. But the Secretary, Hon. William
Eustis, of Massachusetts, spoke of it contemptu-
ously as " a very pretty plan," and set it aside.
Yet it was sound in principle, and if properly carried
out could hardly have failed to secure important re-
sults. In striking an enemy on the flank, it is

I8l2.]

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN,

»7

always desirable to choose that flank by which he
holds communication with his base. A blow on the
other flank may inflict injury, but it only drives him
back toward his base. A movement that cuts him
off from such communication compels him either to
surrender or to fight at great disadvantage Can-
ada's base — for many supplies, and largely for
soldiers — was England. The port of Quebec was
frozen up nearly half the year, and the occupation
of Halifax by an American force would have gone
far toward severing the connection between the prov-
inces and the mother country. That harbor, too,
[was all-important for the refuge and refitting of
[British naval vessels on this side of the Atlantic.

Looking at the matteras purely a military prob-
lem, it was a pity that this brilliant plan was not
idopted. But in a larger consideration it is prob-
fably fortunate for us that it was not. It might
have resulted — indeed, that was contemplated in
I the plan — in leaving the Americans, at the close of
[the war, in possession of Canada. As the structure
iof our government almost precludes the holding of
conquered provinces as such for any length of time,
the Canadas must have soon become States of the
[Republic. But, so far from that being desirable in
[1815, it may be doubted whether even yet the time
[has arrived when it would be wise to incorporate

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

ill

'(■ I

1 ..

I .i

that undesirable population, in a body as they arc,
with the people of the United States.

In planning for the invasion of Canada, the Ad-
ministration counted largely upon a supposed readi-
ness of the Canadians to throw off their allegiance
to Great Britain and join with the United States.
Such expectations have almost never been realized,
and in this instance they were completely disap-
pointed.

In the preceding February, William Hull, Gov-
ernor of the Territory of Michigan, who had rendered
distinguished service in the Revolution, had been
made a brigadier-general and placed in command of
the forces in Ohio, with orders to march them to
Detroit, to protect the Territory against the Ind-
ians, who were becoming troublesome. In June he
was in command of about two thousand men, in
northern Ohio, moving slowly through the wilder-
ness. On the day when war was declared, June
1 8th, the Secretary of War wrote him two letters.
The first, in which the declaration was not men-
tioned, was despatched by a special messenger, and
reached General Hull on the 24th. The other in
formed him of the declaration of war, but was sen:
by mail to Cleveland, there to take its chance < .
reaching the General by whatever conveyance migli:_.|
be found. The consequence was, that he did no: j

[l8l2.

they are,

, the Ad-
sccl readi-
allci^iancc
-d States.
[-1 realised,
tely disap-

HuU, Cov-
ad rendered
^, had been
:ommand o{
rch them to
»st the Ind-
In June l^e
and men, in
the wilder-
Iclared, June
two letters,
[as not men-
issenger, and
he other in-
,ut was sent
ts chance oi
jeyance migi^'^
Lt he did not'

1812.J

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

■ii receive it till the 2d of July. But every British com-
mander in Canada learned the news several days
earlier.

Hull arrived at Detroit on the 5th of July, and set
about organizing his forces. On the 9th he received
from the War Department orders to begin the in-
vasion of Canada by taking possession of Maiden,
fifteen miles below Detroit, on the other side of the
river, if he thought he could do so with safety to his
own posts.

He crossed on the 12th, and issued a proclama-
tion to the Canadian.^. In this he told them that
he came to do no injurs peaceable citizens, who
might remain at their ht s and pursue their usual
occupations in security ; that he neither asked nor
needed their help, but would accept the services of
such as might volunteer ; and that no quarter would
be given to any who adopted Indian modes of war-
fare or were found fighting in company with the
savages who were accustomed to scalp prisoners and
murder non-combatants. After the campaign had
resulted disastrously. General Hull was censured and
ridiculed for this proclamation ; but a copy had been
transmitted to the Secretary of War, and approved
by him ; and indeed, if a proclamation was to be
issued, it is difficult to find any serious fault with
Hull's. The error was in issuing any at all — a

T//£ DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

thing which a general seldom does with any good
effect.

Hull fortified his camp on the east side of the
river, and while waiting for Lis artillery sent out re-
connoitring parties toward F'ort Maiden, and de-
tachments to bring in supplies. As his troops grew
impatient, he called a council of war, explained the
situation to his of^cers, and offered to lead them in
an attempt to carry the ' .t by storm, without wait-
ing for artillery, if they thought their men could be
relied upon for such an enterprise. Colonel Miller
answered that his regiment of regulars could be de-
pended upon for anything they might be ordered to
do ; but the three militia colonels very wisely an-
swere:' tl-'at raw militia could not be expected to
storm a fortified place, unaided by artillery — one
Tif the most hazardous of all military exploits.

So it was decided to defer the p.ttack, and in a few
days came the news that on the declaration of war,
a force of over six hundred — British and Indians —
had promptly moved against the American post at
Micliilimackinac — on the rocky little island of Mack-
inaw, commanding the strait between Lake Huron
and Lake Michigan — and the garrison of sixty-one
officers and men capitulated on the i6th of July.
This disaster to the Americans roused the Indians
to renewed hostility against them, while it propor-

[l8l2.

ly good

of the
out re-
and de-
ps grew
ined the
them in
►ut wait-
:ould be
:l Miller
d be de-
dered to
isely an-
scted to
■y — one
s.
in a few

of war,
ndians —
I post at
Df Mack-
e Huron
ilxty-one
of July.

Indians

propor-

1812.J

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

tionately disheartened Hull, and seems to have been
the first step in the breaking down of his courage.
After a few skirmishes, he recrossed to Detroit on
the /th of August.

Meanwhile the British Colonel Proctor had arrived
at Maiden with reiinforcements, and on Hull's with-
drawal to Detroit he threw a force across the river
to intercept his supplies. This force consisted of a
small number of British regulars and a considerable
number of Indians commanded by the famous Te-
cumseh. Learning that a supply train, accompanied
by a few volunteers, was coming to him and had got
as far as the River Raisin, about thirty-five miles
south of Detroit, General Hull sent out a detach-
ment of about two hundred men, under Major
Thomas B. Van Home, to meet it and escort it to
camp. This detachment was attacked by the Brit-
ish and savages at Brownstown, twenty miles from
Detroit. Van Home was surprised, and retreated
to the edge of a wood. His men behaved badly,
and could not be got into line, another retreat was
ordered, and finally they ran away in confusion,
having lost eighteen killed, twelve wounded, and
seventy missing.

Hull sent out another detachment, of six hundred
men, under Lieutenant-Colonel James Miller, to
open communication with the supply train, which

r//E DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

I 11

was more fortunate. At Maguaga, fourteen miles
from Detroit, they came upon the enemy intrenched
behind a breastwork of logs. The British were
commanded by Major Muir, the savages by Tecum-
seh. Miller at once ordered a bayonet charge, which
his men executed in gallant style. The enemy
were driven from their works, after some hard fight-
ing, and pursued for two miles. They finally
reached their boats, and crossed to Maiden, but
nearly a hundred Indians lay dead on the field, and
the English had lost fifteen killed and forty wound-
ed. The American loss was fifteen killed and sixty
wounded. Instead of pushing on to the River
Raisin, and securing the supplies, Colonel Miller
returned with his command to Detroit.

As the direct road on which all these operations
had taken place lay along the river-bank, in sight
of the enemy and exposed to the fire of his gun-
boats, Hull now sent out a detachment under Colo-
nels McArthur and Cass, to escort the train by a
circuitous route, farther from the river.

During this gloomy state of things at Detroit, a
bloody affair took place on ground that is now
within the city of Chicago. Fort Dearborn stood
at the mouth of Chicago River, and was occupied
by a garrison of about fifty soldiers, with several
families. Captain Nathan Heald, commanding the

[l8l2.

en miles
trenched
isli were
Tecum-
:e, which
enem),
rd fight-
finally
en, but
:;ld, and
wound-
id sixty
; River
Miller

■0

1812.]

r//£ DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

post, had been ordered by General Hull to abandon
it and remove his force to Detroit. With so small
a force, moving more than two hundred miles
through a wilderness in time of war, it was especial-
ly desirable to retain the good will of the Indians.
Captain Heald accordingly called a council of those
who professed to be friendly, told them of his in-
tended movement, and promised to give them all
the property in the fort that he could not take with
him, at which they were greatly pleased. But in
the night, knowing their intemperance and fearing
their treachery, he destroyed all the alcohol, fire-
arms, and gunpowder which he could not take away.
These were the very articles that the Indians most
highly valued, and when, after his departure next
morning (August 15th), they discovered the trick
that had been played them, they were very much
enraged, and hurried on to overtake him. He was
moving slowly southward along the shore of the
lake, when the crest of a low range of sand-hills on
his right was suddenly lighted up with a blaze of
musketry. The savages were there in ambush,
mercilessly firing upon the little caravan. As quick-
ly as possible the wagons were drawn up together,
and the women and children given shelter in and
behind them, while the soldiers stood their ground,
and returned the fire of the Indians. It was a brave

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812,

i ! m\

1 i ^^

and bloody fight, and when some of the men had
fallen the women took up their rifles and fired upon
the savages with all the courage and coolness of sol-
diers. But after heavy losses, the survivors of the
party were compelled to surrender. In the course
of the fight, an Indian had made his way to the
wagons, and, springing into one in which twelve
children had been placed, tomahawked every one of
them. The victorious savages scalped all the
wounded, claiming that they had not been included
in the capitulation, and the bloody trophies were
sold to Colonel Proctor, who had offered a premium
for American scalps.

The fight near Fort Dearborn took place on the
same day that the detachment under Colonels Mc-
Arthur and Cass left Detroit. The next day,
August 15th, the British General Isaac Brock, who
had arrived at Maldena few days before and assumed
command there, formally demanded the surrender
of Detroit. This demand included a plain threat of
massacre in case of refusal. Said Brock in his
letter : " It is far from my intention to join in a war
of extermination ; but you must be aware that the
numerous bodies of Indians who have attached
themselves to my troops will be beyond my control
the moment the contest commences." This is a fine
example of the art of putting things. The reader

'0,

[I8l2.

en had

d upon

of sol-

of the

■i

course

to the

;

twelve

^ one of

•f

all the

icluded

es were

remium

.j'JH

on the

;ls Mc-

-i

t day,

:k, who

i
1

ssumed

rrender

ircat of

■■ ' S

in his

n a war

■^

l8l2.]

T//£ DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

would suppose from Brock's words — ** the Indians
who have attached themselves to my troops" — that
the savages in red skins had insisted on accompany-
ing the expedition in spite of the most strenuous
efforts on the part of the savages in red coats to
shake them off ; whereas Brock had just held a
formal council with the Indians, and regularly
arranged the terms of alliance. Two years later,
when peace was being negotiated, the British com-
missioners spoke of these Indians, not as an irre-
sponsible force, but as regular allies, who must share
in the treaty.

General Hull gave a defiant reply, ordered Mc-
Arthur and Cass to return at once with their de-
tachment, and made admirable arrangements to de-
fend the place. In the afternoon there was an artil-
leiy duel between two twenty-four pounders in the
fort and a British battery at Sandwich on the oppo-
site side of the river.

Brock's force, according to his own testimony,
numbered 1330 men, including 600 Indiafts, and he
had also two ships of war. Hull had present for
duty about 1000 men.* Brock sent a large body of
Indians across the river that night, at -a point five

It is impossible to reconcile the conflicting statements as to the
numbers on either side.

,, f

I;;!!

T//E DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

[1812.

U t

I fi

m 1

miles below the fort, and early in the morning cross-
ed with the remainder of his troops, and at once
marched on the place. Hull had posted his regulars
in the fort, and his militia in the town, where the
stout palings that surrounded the little kitchen gar-
dens gave them an admirable shelter. The two
twenty-four pounders were loaded heavily with grape
and placed so as to command the road by which the
enemy was approaching, in close order, twelve deep.
Never was there a better opportunity to do whole-
sale execution by a single discharge. Everybody was
watching in breathless expectation to see the match
applied and the murderous iron go surging through
those beautiful ranks, when, to the astonishment of
friend and foe alike, a white flag was hung out upon
the wall of the fort. Brock himself was surprised,
when, sending to know what it meant, he learned
that Hull had determined to surrender. The arti-
cles of capitulation were drawn up, and the Amer-
ican general surrendered not merely the fort and its
garrison, but the whole Territory of Michigan, of
which he was Governor. Thus ended this miserable
campaign.

Hull's ofBcers were incensed at his action, and he
was subsequently court-martialled, convicted of
cowardice, and condemned to death ; but the
President pardoned him, in consideration of his

I8I2.J

THE DETROIT CAMPAIGN.

age and his services in the Revolution. The points

tof his defence were : that an army in a situation

llike his, cut off from its supplies, must surrender

[sooner or later ; that if he had given battle, it

Iwould have exposed all the inhabitants of the Ter-

fritory to Indian barbarities; that lis situation was

[the fault of the Administration, rather than his own ;

that his force was inferior to Brock's ; and that his

provisions were nearly exhausted. Benedict Arnold

himself was hardly held in greater contempt by the

American people than was General Hull for years

after his trial. Many believed him to be more

[traitor than coward. This state of feeling was

[largely due to Colonel Lewis Cass — nearly forty

[years later a candidate for the Presidency — who

[hurried to Washington with the news, and greatly

ixaggerated the circumstances that bore against

[Hull. Cass's action in this matter was exceedingly

Idiscreditable. On one point, the important ques-

Ition of supplies, a letter written by him two days

before the surrender was flatly contradicted by his

testimony at the trial. Subsequent investigations,

[if they do not exonerate General Hull, have at least

[greatly modified the blame attached to him.

k "^i

Iji' /

4i.-..

CHAPTER III.

FIGHTS WITH THE INDIANS.

Tecumseh's Scheme — Harrison's March to Fort Wayne — Defence of
Fort Harrison — Defence of Fort Madison — Bail's Fight.

The great Indian leader, Tecumseh, cherished a
design similar to that of Pontiac in the previous
century. He wanted to unite all the northwestern
tribes in an effort to drive the white man out of tlie
country, or at least out of the Northwestern Terri-
tory. For the prosecution of this design the disas-
ters which the Americans had sustained in the fall
of Michilimackinac, P'^ort Dearborn, and Detroit
seemed an auspicious opening, and Tecumseh en-
deavored to follow it up promptly with attacks on
the other frontier posts held by United States
troops. The most important of these were Fort
Wayne, on the present site of Fort Wayne, Indiana,
and Fort Harrison, on the Wabash, above Terre
Haute.

A force of Kentuckians had been gathered in
August and placed under command of General Wil-
liam Henry Harrison, afterward President of the
United States, destined for the reenforcement of

I8l2.]

FIGHTS WITH THE LVDIANS.

Defence of
s Fight.

:herished a
e previous
>rthvvestern
out of the
tern Terri-
i the disas-
in the fall
nd Detroit
cumseh en-
attacks on
ted States
were Fort
le, Indiana,
bove Terre

athered in
General Wil- |
lent of the
)rcernent of -m

Hull at Detroit. But after the news of his surren-
der, it was directed to the relief of Fort Wayne, to
reach which required a long march through the wil-
erness of western Ohio. A journal kept by one of
he soldiers on this march, Elias Darnell, is still
xtant. It contains many amusing and suggestive
necdotes. Under date of September 5th he says :
" General Harrison, having paraded the remain-
ng part of the army in a circle in close order, dc-
ivered a speech to them, stating that he had just
eceived intelligence from Fort Wayne ; that it was
n great danger of being taken by the Indians anv..
British ; he said that we were under the necessity of
Jjiaking a forced march to their relief. Me read
me of the articles of war, and stated the absolute
cessity of such regulations and restrictions in an
my, and if there were any who could not feel will-
to submit to those articles and go on with him,
'^'^ might then return home. One man, belonging
to Colonel Scott's regiment, made a choice of re-
turning home, rather than submit to those terms.
Some of his acquaintances got a permit to escort him
mrt of the way home. Two of them got him upon
rail and earned him to the river ; a crowd followed
ifter ; they ducked him several times in the water,
ind washed away all his patriotism." The danger
rom firearms in the hands of undisciplined volun-

FIGHTS WITH THE INDIANS.

[1812.

»i

teers is shown by these passages ; " One of Captain
McGowen's company was accidentally shot throu<,fh
the body by one of the sentinels." "A man was
accidentally shot through the head by one of the
mounted riflemen." "One of the light horsemen
wounded a man as he was feeding his horse, believ-
ing him to be an Indian." The privations of such
an expedition are well illustrated by this : " \Vc
marched through some first-rate woodland, and
through a prairie of the best quality. It is badly
watered ; the water in the wagon-ruts was the only
drink we could get to cool our scorching thirst, and
but very little of that." And the romantic inci-
dents by this : " The tomb of a chief was discov-
ered ; it was built on the ground with timber and
clay, so that no rain or air could enter. The chief
was laid on his blanket, his head toward sunrise,
his rifle by his side, his tin pan on his breast, with a
spoon in it ; he was ornamented in their style, withj
ear-rings, brooches, etc."

Fort Wayne, which was well provisioned and had |
a garrison of about seventy men, commanded by
Captain Rhea, was besieged by the Indians for twoj
weeks. A portion of General Harmar's expedition]
had been defeated by the savages on this spot!
twenty- two years before. The fort now had fourj
small field-pieces, and was otherwise well equipped.

\ m-w

WM'

I3I2.]

FIGHTS WITH THE liVDIANS.

The Indians at first professed to be friendly, and
tried by all nneans to surprise the garrison. Then
they mounted logs to look like siege guns. But the
wary Captain Rhea was not to be deceived, and on
the approach of Harrison's expedition, September
12th, the besiegers decamped. Their villages and
cornfields in the neighborhood were destroyed.

Fort Harrison was less fortunate than Fort
Wayne. It was commanded by Captain Zachary
Taylor, who was afterward President of the United
States. His force was very small, and had been re-
duced by sickness to about fifteen effective men.
On the 3d of September two young settlers were
killed and scalped near the fort by Indians. The
next day thirty or forty of the savages appeared with
a white flag, asked for admission to the fort, and
wanted something to eat. Taylor had been warned
to expect an attack, was on his guard, and refused
to open the gates. Near midnight a block-house
which formed part of the outer line of fortifications
was found to be on fire. The crowd of savages out-
side was now swelled to several hundreds, and what
with their horrible yelling and the cries of nine
women and children inside the fort, and the rapidly
spreading flames, the little garrison was thrown into
considerable confusion. The destruction of the
block-house would open a gap through which the

FIGHTS WITH THE INDIANS.

[1813.

•! i

Indians would quickly pour in aswiirm, and then woe
to the little band of whites ! But Captain Taylor
never lost his coolness for a moment. He ord'Tcd
the part of the roof of the barracks which was near-
est to the fire to be thrown down, and the end of
the barracks kept wet. The invalids and convales-
cents manned the two bastions and the other block-
house, and kept up a fire on the Indians, to protect
the men who were at work on the roof. This fight
against a double foe was kept up for eight hours ;
and the garrison not only prevented the fire from
spreading, but erected a temporary breastwork to
cover the gap made by the destruction of the block-
house, and thus completely foiled the Indians, who
disappeared next day, driving off as many as possible
of the cattle belonging to the neighboring farmers.
Of the garrison, two men were 1 Ued and two
wounded. For this skilful and gallai. action, Tay-
lor was made a major. A passage in his of^cial re-
port of the affair is interesting, not as having any
bearing on the result, but because by detailing the
experience of two individuals it gives us a vivid idea
of the manner in which such contests were conduct-
ed. He says : " One man lost his life by being too
anxious ; he got into one of the galleys in the bas-
tions, and fired over the pickets, and called out to
his comrades that he had killed an Indian, and,

1 1

f ^'

iiiim \

'ill.

i8ia.]

FIGHTS WITH THE INDIANS.

neglecting to stoop down, in an instant he was shot
dead. One of the men that jumped the pickets re-
turned an hour before day, and, running up toward
the gate, begged for God's sake for it to be opened.
I suspected it to be a stratagem of the Indians to get
in, as I did not recollect the voice ; I directed the
nu.n in the bastion, where I happened to be, to
shoot him, let him be who he would ; and one of
them fired at him, but fortunately he ran up to the
other bastion, where they knew his voice, and Dr.
CMark directed him to lie down close to the pickets,
behind an empty barrel that happened to be there,
and at daylight I had him let in. His arm was broke
in a most shocking manner, which he says was done
by the Indians — which I suppose was the cause of
his returning. The other they caught about one
hundred and thirty yards from the garrison, and cut
him all to pieces."

Fort Madison, which had been built in an exposed
and badly chosen situation on the bank of the Mis-
sissippi, near the site of St. Louis, was attacked on
the 5th of September by more than two hundrecl
Indians, Winnebagos. They approached stealthily,
caught one of the garrison outside of the fort, and
shot and scalped him within sight of his comradcj^
on the walls. Firing was kept up on both sides for
two days, but with little effect. On the 7th the sav-

■I

Rl I

FIGHTS WITH THE IXDIANS.

[r8i2.

■ f'ii

ages displayed on poles the head and heart of the
man they had killed, and later in the day tried to
destroy the buildings by shooting upon the roofs
arrows to which they had tied combustible matter
and set it on fire. As at Fort Harrison, the appear-
ance of fire created a panic among the men ; but the
commander, Lieutenant Hamilton, was equal to the
occasion. He ordered eight old gun-barrels to be
made into syringes, and small holes to be broken
through the roof from the inside. Thrusting up the
syringes through these holes, the men were able in a
few minutes to make the roof as wet as if a heavy
shower had fallen, which completely baffled the de-
sign of the enemy. On the 8th the Indians took
possession of an old stable near the fort, and re-
newed the fight ; but a few cannon-shot were sent
crashing through the stable, while the gun-barrel
syringes did duty as before, and the savages then
v/ithdrew.

Besides these actions at the forts, there were
numerous encounters between small parties of white
men and Indians, in which often great skill and
courage were displayed. One of the most note-
worthy was Colonel Ball's fight. That officer was
descending the bank of Sandusky River with twenty-
two mounted men, when a party of Indians about
equal to their own numbers fired upon them from

[l8l2.

t of the
tried to
he roofs
: matter
; appear-
but the
al to the
ils to be
: broken
g up the
able in a
a heavy
the de-
ans took
, and re-
ere sent
an-barrel
jes then

I8i2.] FIGHTS IVnn THE INDIANS. 4.

ambush. Ball and his men charged into the am-
buscade, drove out the savages, and killed the
chiefs. Ball was dismounted, and struggling with
a gigantic chief, when one of his men came up and
shot the Indian. The remaining Indians then be-
came furious, and gave the signal for no quarter,
i^al s men understood the situation, and fou^^hf
without flinching, till they had killed every one^f
their antagonists. This affair had a wholesom.
effect upon the Indians of that region, and for som^
time the settlers were unmolested.

;re were
of white
kill and
st note-
icer was
twenty-
is about
em from

I 'J

■1

i 1

^ ii

ill

L%^..

CHAPTER IV.

THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

Fight at Gananoqui — Expedition against Ogdensburg — Elliott cap-
tures two War-vessels — Gathering of Forces on the Niagara —
Battle of Queenstown — Death of General Brock.

Hull's surrender by no means put an end to the
design of invading Canada, but neither did it have
any effect in changing the vicious plan of striking
the enemy on the wrong flank.

In the night of September 20th, Captain Benjamin
Forsyth embarked at Cape Vincent, New York, with
about a hundred men, and in the morning landed
near the village of Gananoqui, Canada. Here an en-
gagement took place with about an equal number of
British troops — regulars and militia — at the close of
which the enemy fled, leaving ten men dead on the
field and several wounded and prisoners. Captain
Forsyth then burned the military storehouse — which
was the object of his expedition — paroled the cap-
tured militia, and returned to the American shore
with a few regulars as prisoners of war and a consid-
erable quantity of arms and ammunition. One man
of his party had been killed.

^'im

1812.]

r//£ BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

In retaliation, the Canadians fitted out a much
more formidable expedition against Ogdcnsburg. It
consisted of about seven hundred and fifty men, who
on the 2d of October embarked in forty boats, and
under the escort of two gunboats moved up the St.
Lawrence. At the same time, the British batteries
at Prescott, opposite Ogdensburg, opened fire on
that place, which was returned by an American bat-
tery. The next day was spent in preparations, and
in the forenoon of Sunday, the 4th, the final embark-
ation was made from Prescott, in twenty-five boats
and the two gunboats. As a blind, they proceeded
up the river past Ogdensburg for some distance.
Then suddenly they turned about and bore down
upon that place, while at the same instant the Brit-
ish batteries reopened fire on the village. The
American battery, together with a company of rifle-
men, all under command of General Jacob Brown,
reserved fire till the flotilla was within point-blank
range, and then opened all at once. The fire was
returned, and kept up steadily for an hour. Two of
the boats were so damaged that they had to be
abandoned, and another, with its crew, was cap-
tured. The expedition then returned to Prescott
without having effected a landing on American soil.

In the surrender of Detroit was included the brig-
of-war Adams, which left the Americans with no

rilE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOIVN.

[1812.

u. m

nava! force whatever on the upper lakes. Lieuten-
ant Jesse D. Elliott, of the navy, was sent to Buffalo
to organize a flotilla, and soon after a detachment of
sailors to man it was ordered thither from New
York. In October the Adams, which the British
had renamed Detroit, and a smaller vessel, the 6^?/^-
donia, which had taken part in the capture of Mich-
ilimackinac, came down Lake Erie, and cast anchor
near Fort Erie. Elliott formed a plan for their cap-
ture, and with a force of fifty sailors and fifty sol-
diers embarked in boats at midnight of the 8th.
They rowed silently across the river, and before they
were discovered leaped upon the decks of the ves-
sels, secured the crews, weighed anchor, and headed
for the American shore. As the wind was too light
to carry them up stream, they were obliged to run
down past the British batteries. The Caledonia,
which had a valuable cargo of furs, was run ashore
at Black Rock and secured. The Detroit fought the
enemy's batteries while unsuccessful efforts were
made to tow her beyond their reach. Finally she
drifted ashore at Squaw Island, where her captors
abandoned her, taking away their prisoners. A
party of British soldiers subsequently boarded her,
but were driven off by fire from a battery. In the
course of the day she underwent a heavy fire from
both sides, and in the evening a British party were

I8l2.]

THE BATTLE OF QUEEN STOWN.

prcparinj;^to recover her, when they were anticipated
by an American party who boarded her and set
her on fire. For this exploit, in which half a dozen
of his men were killed, Congress gave Lieutenant
Elliott a vote of thanks and a sword.

These comparatively trifling incidents of border
war were succeeded by one much more serious,
though not more effective. In the summer General
Dearborn had entered into an armistice with Sir
George Prevost, the British commander in Canada,
which set free the enemy's troops on the Niagara
frontier, who were promptly moved against Hull at
Detroit. That campaign being finished, a large part
of them was drawn back to the line of the Niagara,
and when in the autumn a movement in that quarter
was contemplated by the Americans, they were con-
fronted by a considerable force at every point where
a crossing was possible, while General Brock, the
victor of Detroit, was on the ground, commanding
the whole, and ready to concentrate them at any
point that might be attacked. He expected the
crossing to take place at the mouth of the river.

General Stephen Van Rensselaer, commanding all
the forces on the American side of the Niagara, de-
termined to cross from Lewiston, at the foot of the
rapids, seven miles below the great Falls, and seize
Quecnstown. The importance of the place arose

'^^^B

.'^

TJ/E BATTLE OF QUEEN STOWN.

[1812.

1 ''

1 ^'

1 %

ill

|K ,'|

il ;

^1 '

\ -K

^ra

^ \

[WW

• n a

!H .

R^KI

from the fact that it was the terminus of the portage
between Lake Ontario and the upper lakes. At this
point the high ground through Avhich the great
chasm of the river below the Falls has been cut
slopes down to a lower plateau, on which stands the
village of Oueenstown.

The British had one piece of artillery on the
Heights, south of the village, and another on the
bank of the river a mile below. It was believed by-
many that General Van Rensselaer, who had been a
prominent Federalist, was opposed to the war and
purposely delayed moving against the enemy.
Whether this was true or not, the discontent with
his tardiness was so loudly expressed and had begun
so to demoralize his troops, that at last he acknowl-
edged himself compelled by it to move. He had
minute information as to the situation and strength
of each post of the enemy on the western bank of
the river, and could choose his own point for cross-
ing. He had about six thousand troops under his
command — regulars, volunteers, and militia. The
immediate command of the attacking force was
assigned to his cousin, Lieutenant-Colonel Solomon
Van Rensselaer, which occasioned serious dissatis-
faction, because he was only an ofificer of New York
militia, while some of the ofificers who had been or-
dered to join the expedition were commissioned in

I6l2.]

THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOIVN.

the United States regular army, and therefore ranked

him.

Thirteen Lirge boats, capable of carrying 340 men,
with their equipments, were brought on wagons and
launched at Levviston on the loth of October, and
arrangements were made for crossing before daylight
the next morning.

That night a cold, northeast storm set in, and the
troops, who were promptly brought to the rendez-
vous, stood shivering for hours in the rain and dark-
ness, on the river-bank, waiting for the boats, which
did not come. At length day dawned, and the
•crossing had to be postponed. It afterward ap-
peared that the boats had been intrusted to one
Lieutenant Sims, who was said to have taken them
up the river, far beyond the point at which they were
wanted, and then abandoned the expedition. No
sufficient motive has ever been assigned for this ex-
traordinary conduct on the part of the lieutenant.

It has been suggested that he was so incensed at

seeing the command given to an ofificer of militia,
that he was willing to destroy his own reputation, if
he had any, for the sake of frustrating the move-
ment.

Two days later the attempt was renewed. Three
hundred regulars under Lieutenant-Colonel John
Chrystie, and an equal number of militia under

13-

77//;' BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

[1812.

Colonel Van Rensselaer, were to cross the river be-
fore daybreak of the 13th, and storm the Heights of
Queenstown, and the remainder of the troops to
foilovv and reenforce them. Lieutenant-Colonel
Winfield Scott arrived from Buffalo on the even-
ing of the 1 2th, and asked leave to join the expedi-
tion, but was refused. Yet he placed a battery on
Levviston Heights, to protect the troops while they
were crossing.

It was still cold and stormy when the embarkation
took place. All the regulars and a few of the militia
crossed, and ten of the boats returned for a second
load. The other three boats, in one of which was
Chrystie, had missed their way in going over.
' A force of the enemy, under Captain Dennis,
moved down promptly to resist the landing, and
some of the Americans were killed or wounded be-
fore they stepped on shore. Captain John E. Wool,
being the senior offlcer present, assumed the com-
mand, and quickly moved his troops up the bank,
where they formed in line at the foot of the Heights.
The enemy was reenforced almost at the same time,
and attacked the Americans in front and on the right
flank with artillery and musketry. Wool stood his
ground, though he had no artillery, and a short but
bloody fight ensued. Of the ten officers of regulars,
two were killed, and four, including Wool himself,

"mM'

[l8l2.

I8I2.]

THE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

5>5

iver he-
ights of
oops to
Colonel
e even-
expedi-
ttery on
lile they

larkation

le militia

a second

hich was

;r.
Dennis,

iing, and

nded be-

E. Wool,
he com-
,ie bank,
Heights,
me time,
the right
stood his
ihort but
regulars,
himself, -\

severely wounded. The left wing was composed of
the militia. There the fighting was less severe, but
Lieutenant-Colonel Van Rensselaer was so seriously
wounded that he was obliged to withdraw from the
contest and recross the river. The steady and well-
directed fire of Wool's men drove the enemy's left
wing back into the village ; but his right wing,
stationed on the Heights, was unmoved. Annoyed
by the fire from that quarter, the Americans fell
back to the river-bank to re-form, and were soon re-
enforced by another company of regulars.

Receiving leave, rather than orders, from Van
Rensselaer to capture the Heights, Wool placed the
fresh troops on his right, and set out upon the task,
while Lieutenant Lush followed in rear of the
column, with orders to shoot down any man who
faltered. Wool first moved his command southward
along the water's edge, the bank sheltering them
from the sight of the enemy, and then at the point
where the gofge of the river made a sharp edge, as
it were, to the Heights began the ascent, still out
of sight of the battery-men. In many places the
pathway was so steep and rugged that the soldiers
had to use their muskets like alpenstocks, and climb
by seizing the bushes, and " boost " one another.
Wool was foremost in the scramble, and near the top
found a fisherman's path which led to the plateau,

(Hi

ii[

i: '
\

1 i

( 1

i ■

rff£ BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWM.

[l8l2.

and had been left unguarded because it was sup-
posed to be impassable. By this path they gained
the summit, and silently filed out upon the plain to
the rear and right of the British battery.

Meanwhile General Brock, hearing the sounds of
battle, had ridden up rapidly from Fort George at
the mouth of the river, and now stood near this
battery, watching the operations below. A sudden
volley of musketry in the rear startled him, and the
appearance of Wool's column rushing down upon
the battery caused him to retreat down the slope
without waiting to mount his horse, followed by his
staff and the artillerymen, and their entire infantry
support. When the sun rose, a few minutes later, it
shone upon the American flag floating over the cap-
tured works.

Brock sent orders to General Sheaffe at Fort
George to bring up reenforcements, and at the same
time to open an artillery fire on Fort Niagara, on
the opposite bank ; for the British commander had
been all the while of opinion that the movement on
Queenstown was but a feint, and that the real attack
would be made at the mouth of the river. Without
waiting for the reenforcements, Brock placed himself
at the head of the troops that had just been driven
from the Heights, and the troops in the village, and
attempted to recapture the lost position. As the

I8I9.]

THE BATTLE OF QUEEN STOWN.

assaulting force moved up the slope, it bore to the
west, to envelop the left flank of the Americans.
Wool sent a detachment to check this movement ;
but his men were too few, and his whole command
was forced back till it stood with a powerful enemy
in front and a precipice behind it. At this point of
time, a captain raised a white handkerchief on the
point of a bayonet ; but in an instant Wool tore it
down with his own hands, and then, addressing a
few inspiriting words to his men, he persuaded them
to re-form their somewhat broken ranks, and keep
up a steady and effective fire. When their ammu-
nition was nearly exhausted, they made a gallant
bayonet charge which drove the enemy down the
slope.

Brock rallied his troops for a -^ other assault, re-
ceived a few reenforcements, and was just setting
the column in motion when a bullet struck his breast
and he fell mortally wounded. His troops, now
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel McDonell,
rushed forward with the cry of " Revenge the
General !" but to no purpose. Wool's little band
stood firm, and drove back the enemy once more
with serious loss, McDonell being mortally wounded,
and the two officers next in command disabled,
while ten men and an Indian chief remained with
the Americans as prisoners. The troops who had

i 1

THE BATTLE OF QUE ENS TOWN.

[1812.

accomplished this gallant feat were recruits who had
never seen service before, and their leader, now but
twenty-three years of age, had not received a mili-
tary education, but was a bookseller and then a law-
student, until commissioned as a captain.

About ten o'clock reenforcements were sent over
to Wool, and Lieutenant-Colonels VVinficld Scott
and John Chrystie, and General William Wads-
worth, soon followed them. The last-named officer,
who was in plain clothes, modestly made known his
rank, but insisted that the command should be as-
sumed by Scott, whom he heartily and efficiently
supported.* Wool was now, from loss of blood,
obliged to withdraw from the field. Scott had
about six hundred men — three hundred and fifty
regulars and two hundred and fifty militia. He
placed them in position to repel any attack of the
enemy, and at the same time to cover the crossing
of the remaining mihtia, which was to be sent over
to him at once.

All this time General Roger H. Sheaffewas hurry-
ing up from Fort George with troops, in obedience
to thr orders sent to him by Brock in the morning.
Hr arrived on the field, and was ready for action

,e was uncle of General James S. Wadsworth, who was killed in
attle of the Wilderness in 1864. **

I8l2.]

THE BATTLE OE QUEENSTOWN.

5 killed in

about two o'clock. His entire force consisted of
about thirteen hundred soldiers and five hundred

Indians.

The militia on the American shore could overlook
the field of battle, and saw the a[)proach of Sheaffe.
hut when General Van Rensselaer attempted to
move them across the river to the support of their
victorious but hard-pressed countrymen, they re-
fused to stir. The law provides that militia shall
not be compelled to serve beyond the bounds of the
State against their will ; the men fell back upon this
privilege, and all entreaty was in vain. This action
— or non-action — on the part of the militia has sub-
jected them to severe censure, and has uniformly
been attributed to pure cowardice. But while it was
probably not altogether justifiable, there were some
circumstances, not generally mentioned, which par-
tially excuse it. For instance, they knew that,
through gross mismanagement, all the boats, except
one small scow, had been allowed to float off down
the current or be captured by the enemy ; and hence
if they crossed it must be by a small boatload at a
time, instead of in a body.

In spite of this disappointment, Scott resolved to
make the best fight he could with what troops he
had. The first attack was made on his left flank by
the Indians, who were commanded by John Biant,

ffl

C'i

i -1

(

1'
1

TIfJS BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

[l8l2.

a son of the Joseph Brant of Revolutionary fame.
This attack Scott repelled with gallant bayonet
charges ; but when about four o'clock Sheaffe moved
up his whole force, and doubled back the right
flank, the Americans were obliged to retreat. A
few let themselves down the precipice, clambering
from ledge to ledge and from bush to bush, but
when they reached the water's edge there were no
boats to receive them. The greater part retreated
a short distance along the road leading from Queens-
town to the Falls ; but seeing escape was impossi-
ble, they surrendered in a body. To do this, they
had to send a flag of truce through the line of Ind-
ians, and it was three times fired upon before it
finally reached the British commander. The last
time it was borne by Scott in person.

So ended the battle of Queenstown, which was a
very remarkable action, and with better management
might have had a different termination. General
Van Rensselaer, in his of^cial despatches, labored
to create the impression that the refusal of the
militia to cross the stream was the whole cause of
the final disaster, and at the same time he studiously
avoided mentioning the names of the officers — Wool
and Scott — to whom was due the credit for all the
successes and glory of the day.

The Americans, in this series of engagements,

I8l2.]

rilE BATTLE OF QUEENSTOWN.

lost about ninety men killed, a hundred wounde«J,
and nearly a thousand taken prisoners. The British
loss has never been determined. The American
prisoners were sent to Quebec, where twenty-three
Irishmen were separated from the others and sent to
England to be tried for treason, on the ground that
they were British subjects and had been fighting
against their own flag. As soon ag the American
authorities had an equal number of prisoners in their
possession they placed them in close confinement,
and gave notice that their fate would be determined
by that of the twenty-three Irishmen. People who
know nothing of historical experience in such mat-
ters always cry out against any proposal of retalia-
tion, arguing that it will simply result in the murder
of all the prisoners on both sides. As a matter of
fact, when retaliation is promptly and firmly threat-
ened for violation of the laws of war, it always has
the effect of stopping the outrage. And so it proved
in this case ; for twenty-one of the captured Irish-
men lived to return to their adopted country. The
other two died in prison.

During the funeral of General Brock, minute guns
were fired by the Americans on the eastern bank of
the river, " as a mark of respect to a brave enemy."
Ther':' was perhaps no harm in this little bit of sen-
timent, though if the Americans remembered that

I • f, a ]

THE BATTLE OF QUEEN STOVVN.

L181:

two months before, in demanding the surrender of
Detroit, General Brock had threatened to let loose a
horde of savages upon the garrison and town, if he
were compelled to capture it by force, they must
have seen that their minute guns were supremely
illogical, not to say silly. Brownell, in one of his
best poems, expresses the true sentiment for such a
case :

" The Muse would weep for the brave,
But how shall she chant the wrong?
When, for the wrongs that were,
Hath she lilted a single stave ?
Know, proud hearts, that, with her,
'Tis not enough to be brave."

CHAPTER V.

WAR ON THE OCEAN.

The President and the Little Be/t— The President and the Behidera —
Hull's Race — The Constitution and the Giierriere — Effect of the
\'ictory — The l^asp and the Frolic — The United States and the
Macedonian — The Constitution and \\\ejava — Nelson's Prediction.

While the year 1812 brought nothing but disas-
ter to the land forces of the United States, on the
ocean it was fruitful of victories that astonished the
world. It is greatly to the credit of President
Madison that he followed the advice of Captains
Stewart and Bainbridge, in opposition to his entire
Cabinet, to develop and use the navy, instead of
laying it up. That was not only the wise but the
appropriate thing to do. This was pre-eminently a
sailors' war, entered upon chiefly for the purpose of
protecting American seamen from impressment in a
foreign service, and its ultimate result would be a
settlement of the question whether American ships
were to be at liberty to sail the high seas at all, or
whether, as a poet of our day puts it, the Atlantic
Ocean was to be considered merely John Bull's back
yard. It was the wise thing to do, because, if a na-

' .^*ii

' '1 : * "

IVAR OJV THE OCEAN.

[l8l2.

tion determines to go to war at all, it should do it
in earnest ; and the most efTective war is made when
the earliest and most persistent blows arc directed
at the enemy's vital part. Of all Great Britain's
possessions that could be reached by balls or bayo-
nets, her ships at sea were the most important to her.
Canada might be overrun, or even conquered, and
she would hardly feel its loss — or at least she could
exist without it ; but anything that weakened her
navy and deranged her commerce would make every
Englishman feel the penalties of war.

A slight foretaste of what American seamanship
and gunnery might do had been afforded by an affair
that took place a year before the war broke out.
The American frigate President, of forty-four guns,
with Commodore John Rodgers on board, was cruis-
ing off Sandy Hook in May, i8ii, searching for an
Enfjlish frigate that had taken a sailor from an
American brig, when she sighted a strange craft. In
answer to her hail, the stranger fired a shotted gun,
and the shot struck the mainmast. The President
promptly returned the fire, and in a few minutes
broadsides and musketry blazed out from both ves-
sels. As soon as Rodgers perceived the inferiority
of his antagonist, he ordered his gunners to cease
firing ' but no sooner were his guns silent than the
stranger opened again. With another broadside or

pL-

I8l2.]

IV.l/i OA' THE OCEAN.

(>l

two the President completely crippled her, and then
hailed and got an answer. As darkness now came
on, Rodgers lay to for the night, kee'ping lights dis,
played, in case the stranger should need assistance.
In the morning he sent an officer on board, who
learned that she was the British ship Little Belt ;
that she was badly damaged, and had lost thirty-one
men killed or wounded. But she declined receiving
any assistance. On board the President one boy
had been slightly wounded. Each vessel sailed for
home, and each commander told his own story, the
two accounts being widely different. The versio.
here given is that of the American officers. Accord-
ing to the English captain, the President began the
action by firing a broadside into the unoffending
Little Belt. Each government accepted the state-
ment of its own officers, and there the matter rested.

It was this same vessel, the President, tnat fought
the first action of the war. With news of the decla-
ration came orders to Commodore Rodgers, then in
New York, to sail on a cruise against the enemy.
Within one hour he was ready. The Hornet, of
eighteen guns. Captain Lawrence, was ready at the
same time, and the Essex, of thirty-two guns, Cap-
tain Porter, a few hours later.

Information had been received that a large fleet
of English merchantmen had left Jamaica, under

l^VA/i ON THE OCEAN.

[l8l2.

a strong convoy, for England, and on the 2 1st
of June, Rodgers left the port of New York with
his squadron, in search of them. He did not frid
them ; but on the morning of the 23d a sail appeared
in sight, which proved to be the British frigate Bcl-
vidcra, and the President gave chase. About four
o'clock in the afternoon the vessels were within
gunshot, and Rodgers opened fire with his bow-
guns, sighting and discharging the first one himself.
The ball struck the rudder-coat of the Behidera,
and passed into the gun-room. The next shot struck
the muzzle of one of her stern-chasers. The third
killed two men and wounded five. At the fourth
shot the gun burst, blowing up the forecastle deck,
on which Rodgers was standing, and hurling him
into the air. The explosion also killed or wounded
sixteen men. This caused a lull in the action, and
the Behidera s men went back to their guns and re-
turned the fire with considerable effect. The Presi-
dent soon began to forge ahead, when the Behidera
cut loose her anchors, stove her boats and threw
them overboard, started fourteen tons of water, and
thus lightened, managed to escape, and a few days
afterward made the port of Plalifax. The total loss
of the President, killed and wounded, in this action,
was twenty-two ; that of the Behidera, about half
as many.

I8l2.]

IV A /i ON THE OCEAN.

An English privateer was captured by the Hornet
on the 9th of July, and subsequently seven mer-
chantmen, and an American vessel that had been
captured by the enemy was retaken.

When the Bclvidcra carried into Halifax the news
of the declaration of war, and that the American
cruisers were out, a squadron of five vessels, under
Captain Vere Broke in the Shamion, was sent out to
destroy Rodgers. They did not find him, but they
captured several American merchantmen off the port
of New York, and also took, after a smart chase, thp
little brig-of-war Nautilus.

The Essex, which had left port a little later than
the President and Hornet, took several prizes, one of
them being a transport filled with soldiers. She was
chased by the Alert, of twenty guns, and fired upon.
The Essex was armed with carronades, guns not in-
tended for work at long distances. Waiting till the
enemy had come pretty near, she suddenly opened
her broadside, and in eight minutes the Alert struck
her colors.

The great war-game on the ocean began in earnest
when Captain Isaac Hull sailed from the Chesapeake
in July, in the Constitution, a frigate of forty-four
c^uns. On the 17th he came in sight of five vessels,
which proved to be Broke's squadron, and the next
day he was surrounded by them. As the wind was

I,
f ■

■4-

■'m

^..-:i

'^- ■«!

JV.IR OA' THE OCEAN.

[i8l2.

very light, he resorted to " kcdging" to keep out of
reach of them. This consisted in sending a boat
ahead for perhaps half a mile, with a hedge anchor
and lines. The kedge was then dropped, and the
lines carried back to the ship. These being fastened
to the windlass, the crew, by turning it and winding
them up, pulled the vessel up to the anchor. While
this was being done, the boat was going ahead
with another kedge and lines, to repeat the opera-
tion and make it continuous. The flagship of the
British squadron was pretty close in chase when the
American frigate was thus seen to be walking away
from it. The enemy soon found out how the mys-
terious movement was made, and resorted to the
same expedient. But it was not possible to ap-
proach very near by this means, as it would have
brought his boat under the fire of the American's
stern-guns. Captain Hull had cut away some of the
woodwork and run two twenty-four pounders out at
his cabin windows, and also mounted a long gun on
his spar deck as a stern-chaser. Whenever there was
a little wind, every vessel set every stitch of canvas
she could carry, and all the nicest arts of seamanship
were resorted to to gain the slightest advantage.
Eleven ships were in sight most of the time, all par-
ticipating in the contest. An American merchant-
man appeared to windward, and the British vecsels.

I8l2.]

tVAJ? ON THE OCEAN.

not wishing to leave the chase, displayed an Ameri-
can ensign to decoy her within reach of their guns.
Thereupon the Constitution hoisted an English flag,
to v/arn her off. This exciting race was kept up for
three days. In the evening of the second day, it
was evident that a heavy squall was coming up.
Just before it struck the Constitution, all the light
canvas was furled, and the ship was brought under
short sail in a few minutes. When the pursuing
vessels observed this, they began at once to let go
and haul down without waiting for the wind. Pres-
ently the squall came, and with it a rainstorm that
hid the vessels from one another. As soon as this
happened, the Constitution sheeted home and hoist-
ed her fore and main topgallant sails, and while her
pursuers were steering in different directions to avoid
the force of the squall, and believed her to be borne
down by the pressure of the wind, she was sailing
straight away from them at the rate of eleven knots
an hour. When the squall was over, the nearest
vessel of the British squadron was seen to be a long
way astern, and to have fallen off two points to lee-
ward, while the slowest ones were so far behind as
to be almost out of sight. The chase was kept up
during the night, but in the morning was found to
he so hopeless that it was abandoned.
This contest, though a mere race, attended with

' H

''!|' 9

PVAfi ON THE OCEAN.

fl8l2.

m*-*

no fightinj^, no damage of any kind, and only a
negative result, is famous in the annals of the ocean.
It was a fine instance of that superior seamanship
which stood the American sailor in good stead
throughout the war, and contributed quite as much
as his valor to the brilliant victories that rendered
Great Britain no longer the mistress of the seas.

Hull made sail for Boston, and after a short stay
in that port sailed again on the 2d of August. He
cruised along eastward as far as the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, where he captured and burned two
small prizes, and then stood southward. In the
afternoon of the 19th a sail was descried from the
masthead, and the Constitution at once gave chase.
Within an hour and a half she was near enough to
the stranger to see that she was a frigate ; and a lit-
tle later she laid her maintopsail aback and waited
for the Constitution, evidently anxious for a contest.

Hull immediately put Ims vessel in complete trim
for a fight, cleared for action, and beat to quarters.
At five o'clock the English frigate, which proved to
be the Gucrricre, of thirty-eight guns, Captain
Dacres, hoisted three ensigns and opened fire. The
Constitution approached cautiously, so as to avoid
being raked, firing occasionally, but reserving most
of her guns for close action.

After an hour of this, the Gucrricre indicated her

I8I2.J

ll'.iA' O.V THE OCEAN.

reiidincss for a square fight, yard-arm to yard-arm,
and the Constitution set her sails to draw alongside.
The fire from both ships became gradually heavier,
and in ten minutes the mizzen-mast of the Gucrricre
was shot away. The Constitution then passed slowly
ahead, keeping up a constant fire, her guns b^ing
double shotted with grape and round shot, and at-
tempted to get a position across the bows of the
enemy and rake her. But in trying to avoid being
herself raked while gaining this position, she luffed
short, and fell foul of her enemy. At this moment
the cabin of the Constitution took fire from the flash
of the Guerricre' s guns, and for a while it looked as
if she would fare hardly. But by the energy and
skill of Lieutenant B. V. Hoffman, who commanded
in the cabin, the fire was extinguished, confusion
prevented, and a gun of the Guerricre that might
have repeated the mischief disabled.

The instant the vessels came together, each at-
tempted to board the other ; but a close and deadly
fire of musketry prevented. On the American side,
Lieutenant Morris, Master Alwyn, and Mr. Bush,
Lieutenant of Marines, sprang to the taffrail to lead
their men, when they were all shot down. Finding
it impossible to board, the Constitution filled her sails
and shot ahead, and a moment later the Gucrrierc s
foremast fell and carried the mainmast with it. This

ly/t/^ OAT THE OCEAN.

[1812.

' 1

reduced her to a wreck, and as a heavy sea was on
she was helpless. The Constitution hauled off a short
distance, repaired damages, and at seven o'clock
wore round and took a position for raking. An en-
sign that had been hoisted on the stump of the miz-
zen-mast was at once hauled down in token of sur-
render, and the prize was won. A lieutenant sent
on board returned with the news that she was one of
the squadron that had so lately chased the Constitu-
tion.

The victor kept near her prize through the night,
and at daylight the officer in charge reported that
the Gucrricrc had four feet of water in the hold and
was in danger of sinking. Captain Hull therefore
transferred the prisoners to his own vessel, recalled
the prize crew, and set the wreck on fire. In fifteen
minutes the flames reached the magazine, and the
hulk that still remained of the proud English frigate
was blown to pieces.

In this battle the Constitution lost seven men killed
and seven wounded. Her rigging suffered consider-
ably, but her hull was only very slightly damaged.
The Gucrricre lost seventy-nine men killed or
wounded. The location of this battle may be found
by drawing a line directly east from the point of Cape
Cod, and another directly south from Cape Race ;
the point of intersection will be very near the bat-

iiaisiiiji 1;

I8I2.J

PVA/i 0:V THE OCEAN.

tlc-^round. It is a little south of the track of
steamers between New York and Liverpool.

The news of this victory was a startling revela-
tion, on both sides of the Atlantic. In expressing
their contempt for the American navy, the English
journals had especially ridiculed the Constitution, as
" a bunch of pine boards, under a bit of striped
bunting." This bunch of boards had now outsailed
a squadron of eleven British war-vessels, and in a
fight of half an hour had reduced one of their frigates
to a wreck and made her strike her colors. It was
true that the American ship was slightly superior in
number of men and guns ; but this would not ac-
count for the superiority of seamanship, the better
gun-practice, and the enormous difference in losses.
Captain Dacres, who was afterward put on trial for
losing his ship, asserted that he had sent away a
considerable number of his men in prizes ; that he
had several Americans in his crew who refused to
fight against their countrymen, and that he permit-
ted them to go below. But all allowances that
could be made did not change the essential charac-
ter of the victory. Only a short time before, the
London Courier had said, " There is not a frigate in
the American navy able to cope with the Gucrricre."

Captain Hull, who was now in his thirty-eighth
year, had entered the navy at the age of twenty-

-ji

Ir i

WAR ">N THE OCEAN.

Li8t2.

thfee, and had gained distinction in the war with
Tripoli. When he landcu in Boston with his pris-
oners, nearly the whole population of the town
turned out to greet him. Flags and streamers were
displayed on every hand, decorated arches spanned
the streets, and a banquet was spread for him and
his crew. He made a sort of triumphal progress to
New York and Philadelphia, where sinfiilar honors
were paid him, and handsome swords and snuff-
boxes presented to him. Congress voted him a gold
medal, to each of his commissioned officers a silver
medal, and fifty thousand dollars to the crew as
prize money.

In his of^cial report the Captain said : " It gives
me great pleasure to say that, from the smallest, boy
in the ship to the oldest seaman, not a look of fear
was seen. They all went into action giving three
cheers, and requesting to be laid close alongside the
enemy." The London Times said : "it is not
merely that an English frigate has been taken, after
what v/e are free to confess may be called a brave re-
sistance, but that it has been taken by a new enemy,
an enemy unaccustomed to such triumphs, and
likely to be rendered insolent and confident by
them. He must be a weak politician who does not
see how important the first triumph is, in giving a
tone and character to the war. Never before in the

ISI2.]

WA/i ON THE OCEAN.

history of the world did an English frigate strike to
an American ; and though we cannot say that Cap-
tain Dacres, under all circumstances, is punishable
for this act, yet we do say there are commanders in
the English navy who would a thousand times have
rather gone down with their colors flying than have
set their brother officers so fatal an example."

The next naval contest, in the order of time, was
that of the Wasp and the Frolic, one of the bloouiest
of the war. The Wasp, an American sloop-of-war,
of eighteen guns, commanded by Captain Jacob
Jones, was a very fast sailer, and had gone to
Europe with despatches, when the war broke out.
On her return she was refitted with all haste and sent
out on a cruise. In the night of October 17th, about
five hundred miles off Cape Hattcras, she slighted a
fleet of six English merchantmen under convoy of
the Frolic, a brig, of twenty-two guns. Captain
Whinyates. Four of the merchantmen v.erc armed.

The next morning, the sea being somcwliat rough,
the Wasp was put under short canvas and got into
fighting trim, and then bore down upon the Frolic,
which kept herself between her convoy and the
enemy. She also was under short canvas, and her
main-yard was on deck. About half past eleven
o'clock the Wasp came up close on the starboard
side of the Frolic, and broadsides were exchanged at

- i

^1-

^^^n-

|l! -'

IVJ/? ON THE OCEAN.

[1812.

the distance of only sixty yards. The fire of the
Englishman was the more rapid, but that of the
American was the more deliberate and effective. In
a little over four minutes the Wasfs maintopmast
was shot off and with the maintopsan-yard (ell across
the braces, rendering the head-yards unmanageable.
A few minutes later her gaff and mizzen-topgallant-
mast were shot down ; and before the action was
over, every brace and most of the rigging was car-
ried away. The shot of the Wasp was directed
mainly at her enemy's hull, and the firing on both
sides was kept up with great spirit, little or no at-
tempt being made to manoeuvre, and the vessels
gradually approaching each other. At last they were
so near that the American gunners touched the side
of the Frolic with their rammers, her bowsprit
passed over the Wasp' s quarterdeck, and the latter
was brought directly across the Englishman's bows,
in position for raking. Captain Jones ordered a
broadside ; and when it was fired, the muzzles of
two of the guns were actually in the bow ports of
the Frolic, and the discharge swept her from stem
to stern.

As no sign of submission had come from the
enemy, Captain ] nes was about to repeat the rak-
ing, but v/as prevented by the impetuosity of his
crew. A sailor named John Lang, who had once

1812.]

IVAJ? ON THE OCEAN.

been impressed on a British man-of-war, hot for re-
venge, sprang upon the bowsprit of the Frolic, cut-
lass in hand, and was followed by Lieutenant Biddle
and an impromptu boarding-party. They met no
opposition. Two or three officers, wounded and
bleeding, were standing on the after-part of the
deck ; there was a cool-headed old seaman at the
wheel ; and dead and wounded sailors were lying
about in all directions. The officers threw down
their swords, and Lieutenant Biddle sprang into the
rigging and hauled down the British flag. The bat-
tle had lasted forty-three minutes. On board the
Wasp, five men had been killed and five wounded.
The loss on the Frolic has never been ascertained, it
was at least seventy-five. Captain Whinyates, in
his official report, said that not twenty of his m.cn
escaped injury.

The two vessels were separated, and in a few
minutes both masts of the Frolic fell. Arrangements
were made for sending her into Charleston with a
prize crew, while the Wasp should repair damages
and continue her cruise. But before this plan could
even be fairly entered upon, the British shipof-the-
line Poiciicrs, carrying seventy-four guns, hove in
sight, and speedily made prize of both vessels and
took them to Bermuda.

On the same day when this action took place,

]

L .1

til

^VA/^ ON THE OCEAN.

[1812.

■±LjiA

Commodore Stephen Decatur, cruising in the frigate
United States, captured the British packet Sivailow,
which had on board a large quantity of specie. He
continued his cruise eastward, and only a week later
(October 25th), at a point about midway between
the Azores and the Cape Verd Islands, sighted a
large vessel to windward, which proved to be the
English frigate Macedonian, carrying forty-nine guns,
Captain Carden. She was somewhat smaller than
the United States, and had fewer men. Decatur
made up to the stranger ; but she had the advan-
tage of the wind, and for some time managed to keep
out of reach. At length, after considerable manceu-
vring, the distance was shortened, and both vessels
opened fire with their long guns. The gunnery of
the American was superior, and while sustaining little
injury herself she inflicted serious damage upon her
antagonist. At the end of half an hour, the distance
had been still more diminished, so that the carron-
ades were brought into use. A carronade is a short
gun, throwing a com.paratively large ball with not
very great velocity. The size of the ball and its
slower motion cause it to splinter and tear a ragged
hole in th^ side of a ship, wh(^re a smaller shot with
a greater velocity would pass through and make a
smooth round hole, which could easily be plugged
up again.

lSl2.]

WA/i ON THE OCEAN.

As the Macedonian became disabled, she fell off
to leeward, while the United States passed ahead and
to windward, and then tacked and came up under
her lee. The firing, which had been entirely with
artillery, now ceased on both sides. The Macedo-
nian s mizzen-mast was gone, her main and foretop-
masts carried away, her main-yard cut in two, and
her ensign had disappeared. The United States
hailed her, and was answered that she had struck
her colors. She had received a hundred shot in her
hull, most of them in the waist. She went into the
action with three hundred men, of whom she lost
thirty-six killed and sixty-eight wounded. On board
were seven impressed American sailors, two of whom
were killed. On the United States five men were
killed and seven wounded. Her rigging was con-
siderably cut, but otherwise she received very little
injury.

Decatur took his prize to New York, going in by
way of Long Island Sound, where he arrived on
New Year's day, 1813. He was received with a
great ovatirin, and there were banquets, orations,
and public ojoicings unlimited. Congress, follow-
ing the precedent set in the case of Hull, voted a
gold medal to the commander, and a silver one to
each of his commissioned officers.

A member of the British Parliament, making a

* 'I

Ir.

>^ i-

rr^i? OiV T//£ OCEAN.

[1812.

speech concerning this affair, said he " lamented
that, with the navy of Great Britain against that of
America, vvhicii consisted of only four frigates and
two sloops, two of our finest frigates were now in
their possession, captured by only two of theirs.
This was a reverse which English officers and Eng-
lish sailors had not before been used to, and from
such a contemptible navy as that of America had
always been held, no one could suppose such an
event could have taken place."

And the London Independent Whig was con-
strained to say : "A powerful and rival nation is
now rapidly rising in the west, whose remonstrances
we have hitherto derided, but whose resentment we
shall soon be taught to feel ; who for our follies or
our crimes seems destined to retaliate on us the mis-
eries we have inflicted on defenceless and oppressed
states, to share with us the fertile products of the
ocean, and snatch from our feeble and decrepit
hands the imperial trident of the main."

But the cup of English humiliation was not yet
full. The Americans had another able commander,
with a stanch ship and a fearless crew, who now
came in for his turn. This was Commodore William
Bainbridge, who sailed from Boston late in October,
on board the Constitution, the same vessel with
which Hull had conquered the Guerriere, In com-

r m^

. 'i~ t

J_^:^$^

'i'™'

THE CONSTITUIKBAxND Tin

muLStms^

loNSriTUTlCBAND THE JAVA.

>!»(!'

1.4 ;■ i

i i

1 ■ 4

' '' ll

1 f*

1 ''i

1 <!.&

% I

I8I2.]

pany w
guns, c

They
Hornet
to bloci
sailing
Lawrer
brigs,
Englisl

The
29th, o
frigate
Lam be
off the
distant
him.
contest
was he;
vantagi
Constit
wore, c
several
her wh
managi
covete(

The
down I

I8l2.]

fVA/i OAT THE OCEAN.

pany with her sailed the brig Hornet, of eighteen
guns, commanded by Captain James Lawrence.

They cruised southward, and in December the
Hornet was left at San Salvador, or Bahia, Hra/.il,
to blockade an English brig that was on the point of
sailing with a large amount of specie on board.
Lawrence had sent in a' challenge to fight the two
brigs, on even terms, just outside the harbor, but the
English captain declined.

The Constitution continued her cruise, and on the
29th, off the Brazilian coast, sighted the English
frigate Java, carrying thirty-eight guns, Captain
Lambert. Bainbridge tacked and drew the stranger
off the land, which was not more than thirty miles
distant, and when far enough away stood toward
him. The enemy seemed quite as anxious for a
contest, and ::bout two o'clock it began. The firing
was heavy and continuous. The Java had the ad-
vantage of the wind, and attempted to cross the
ConstitxUion s bow, to rake her. But the latter
wore, and avoided it. This manoeuvre was repeated
several times, and at length the Constitntion, though
her wheel had been shot away, making it difficult to
manage the steering-gear, succeeded in getting the
coveted position, and raked her antagonist.

The Java, which had been badly damaged, ran
down upon the Constitution with the intention of

•:i ;

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

!.0

I.I

1 50

^ llllitt

u iik
^ 1^

1.25

1.4

IIM

1.6

<P>1

v^^

c^. ,^'N'.

Photographic

Sdences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

WAR ON THE OCEAN.

[1812.

boarding. But her jibboom became entangled in
the Constitution 5 mizzen-rigging, and she was held
there and raked mercilessly. At this time her bow-
sprit and foremast were shot away.

The two vessels now separated, and after consid-
erable manoeuvring came together again, yard-arm
and yard-arm, and reopened their broadsides. Now
the Java's mizzen-mast tumbled, and her main-mast
was the only stick left standing. The Constitution
then hauled off, and spent an hour in repairing dam-
ages, at the end of which time she wore round and
stood across her antagonist's bow, when the English
colors vvere struck.

The action had lasted an hour and fifty-five min-
utes. The Constitution had lost nine men killed and
twenty-five wounded. Commodore Bainbridge being
slightly wounded. The loss on board the Java was
variously stated ; the lowest estimate made it
twenty-two killed and one hundred and one wound-
ed. Bainbridge said that sixty were killed. Cap-
tain Lambert was mortally wounded. The whole
number on board was four hundred, including Gen-
eral Hislopand his staff and other officers, who were
on their way to the East Indies,

The Java was a complete wreck, and after a day
or two it was determined to blow her up, which was
done after all the prisoners and wounded had been

I8l2.]

IVAJ! OAT THE OCEAN.

carefully removed. She might have been towed
into Bahia ; but Brazil was friendly to Great Britain,
and Bainbridge did not want to trust his prize in a
Brazilian harbor. He, however, landed his prisoners
there, and paroled them.

The Cojistitiition — which received the name of
"Old Ironsides," on account of escaping serious
damage in this action - arrived at Boston in Feb-
ruary. Here the same welcome that had been given
to Hull and Decatur was extended to Bainbridge.
The cities of New York and Albany gave him gold
snuff-boxes, Philadelphia gave him a service of sil-
ver, and Congress voted the usual medals, with fifty
thousand dollars of prize money for the crew.

In the first six months of the war, the little
American navy, for which Congress had done noth-
ing, and from which nothing had been expected,
had six encounters with English cruisers, and in
every one was victorious. These defeats were a sore
trouble to English naval historians, who have ever
since been laboring to explain them away. They have
invented all sorts of ingenious theories to account
for them ; but it has never occurred to them to
adopt the simple explanation that they were defeats,
brought about by superior seamanship and gunnery,
backed up by the consciousness of a just cause, on
the part of the Americans. The favorite explanation

f:l

IVA/f ON THE OCEAN.

has been, that the American so-called frigates were
seventy-four-gun ships in disguise ; that the English
crews were all green hands, and their numbers were
not full at that. A few years later, General Scott
met a^ a dinner in London a young British naval
officer, who superciliously inquired, " whether the
Americans continued to build line-of-battle ships,
and to call them frigates." " We have borrowed a
great many excellent things from the mother coun-
tr)'-," answered Scott, " and some that discredit both
parties. Among the latter is the practice in ques-
tion. Thus when you took from France the Guer-
riere, she mounted forty-nine guns, and you instant-
ly rated her on your list a thirty-six-gun frigate ;
but when we captured her from you, we found on
board the same number, forty-nine guns !"

During this same half year, nearly three hundred
British merchantmen had been captured and brought
into American ports. In this work the little navy
had been assisted by a large number of privateers,
which had sailed from our ports, under letters of
marque, and had not only helped themselves to the
rich spoils of British commerce, but had occasionally
fought with armed cruisers.

These disasters were no more than had been pre-
dicted by Lord Nelson, the greatest of English ad-
mirals. After watching the evolutions of an Ameri-

l8l2.J

tVAK ON THE OCEAN.

can squadron commanded by Commodore Richard
Dale, in the bay of Gibraltar, he is reported to have
said to an American gentleman who was on board
his flagship that "there was in those transatlantic
ships a nucleus of trouble for the maritime power of
Great Britain. We have nothing to fear from any-
thing on this side of the Atlantic ; but the manner
in which those ships are handled makes me think
that there may be a time when we shall have trouble
from the other,"

CHAPTER VI.

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

Winchester's Expedition — Fight at Frenchtown — Massacre at the
Raisin — Siege of Fort Meigs.

At the opening of the year 1813, General William
Henry Harrison, who had won a high reputation by
his victory over the Indians at Tippecanoe in 18 11,
being now in command of the forces in the West,
endeavored to concentrate them for a movement
against the British and savages at Detroit and Mai-
den. An expedition composed mainly of Kentucky
troops, under General James Winchester, was mak-
ing its way northward through Ohio to join him ;
and Leslie Coombs, of Kentucky, accompanied by
a single guide, went through the woods more than a
hundred miles on foot to inform Harrison of their
approach.

When Winchester's expedition reached the rapids
of the Miami, he wa? met by messengers from the
pioneers about the River Raisin, informing him that
the enemy was organizing a movement against the
settlements there, and imploring him to protect
them. A detachment of six hundred and sixty men,

a, '

i8i3]

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

under Colonels Lewis and Allen, was sent forward,
and pushing on with the greatest possible rapidity,
nriarching a part of the way over the frozen surface
of Lake Erie, reached Frenchtown, on the Raisin,
where Monroe, Michigan, now stands, on the i8th
of January.

That place had been occupied a few days before
by a hundred English and four hundred Indians,
who now took the alarm and prepared to resist the
advancing expedition. As he approached the vil-
lage, Colonel Lewis formed his command in columns,
and moved forward in the face of a heavy fire of
musketry and artillery. The enemy was posted be-
hind the houses and garden fences of the village,
which stood on the north side of the river ; and the
Americans, who had no artillery, crossed over on
the ice and at once made a charge. Finding them-
selves attacked vigorously in front and on the left
flank at the same time, the British retreated about
half a mile, and took a new position in the woods,
where they were partly protected by fallen timber.
Colonel Lewis sent a detachment to strike this posi-
tion on its right flank ; and as soon as he heard the
firing there. Colonel Allen attacked it in front. The
enemy retreated slowly, fighting at every step, and
the Americans steadily pressed their advantage till
dark, when they returned to the village and en-

I'l

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

[1813.

camped. They had lost twelve men killed and fifty-
five wounded. The loss of the enemy was not
ascertained, but they left fifteen men dead on the
field where the first engagement took place.

The news of this victory was sent at once to
General Winchester, who came up promptly vvith a
reenforcement of two hundred and fifty men. It
was expected that the place would be attacked by a
heavier British force from Maiden, which was but
eighteen miles distant, and preparations were made
for constructing a fortified camp. But the enemy
came before this could be completed. In the night
of January 2ist, Colonel Henry Proctor, with a force
of about eleven hundred, British and savages, moved
from Maiden, and early in the morning of the 22d
the American sentries were surprised. No pickets
had been thrown out, and the troops were hardly
brought into line when a heavy fire of artillery and
small arms was opened, both in front and on the
flanks, the yells of the savages being heard in the
intervals of the discharges.

The attack in front was met and repelled by a
steady fire, the Americans being considerably shel-
tered by the stout garden fences. On the right flank
the attack was not so well resisted, and that wing
was soon brol.en. It was rallied by Winchester, and
reenforced by Lewis ; but the enemy, seeing his ad-

^-,

iSi3]

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

vantage, followed it up, and the whole wing, reen-
forcements and all, was swept away, the remnant
retreating in disorder across the river.

All efforts to rally the fugitives were vain, and in
a little while the Indians overwhelmed the left wing
also. The disorganized troops of this wing attempt-
ed to escape by a road that led to the rapids of the
Raisin ; but the savages were posted all along behind
the fences, and shot down great numbers of them.
They then took to the woods directly west of the
village ; but here also were savages lying in wait,
and it is said that nearly a hundred were tor^-
hawked and scalped before they had gone as many
yards. One party of nearly twenty men surren-
dered, but all except the lieutenant in command were
at once massacred by their treacherous captors. An-
other party of forty were overtaken after they had
retreated three miles, and compelled to surrender,
when more than half of them were murdered in cold
blood. General Winchester and Colonel Lewis were
captured by the Indians, but Proctor, with some
difficulty, got them under his protection. Colonel
Allen, after trying without success to rally his men,
retreated alone nearly two miles, and there sat
down on a log, being too much enfeebled by wounds
to go farther. An Indian chief came up and de-
manded his surrender, promising protection ; but

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

[7.813,

almost immediately followed two others, who evi-
dently intended to scalp him. Allen killed one of
them with a sinfjle blow of his sword, and was im-
mediately shot by the other.

Meanwhile the centre of the American line could
not be dislodged from its position behind the
fences. It was composed of Kentucky sharpshoot-
ers, and some idea of the havoc they made among
the British regulars may be gained from the fact
that out of sixteen men in charge of one gun thir-
teen were killed. Appalled at such losses, Proctor
bethought him of a cheaper method than continued
fighting. He represented to General Winchester,
now a prisoner in his hands, that unless an immedi-
ate surrender were made, the result would be a com-
plete massacre of the Americans. Winchester's
fears were so wrought upon that he sent, by a flag
of truce, orders to Major Madison to surrender. As
he had no right to give orders of any kind while a
prisoner in the hands of the enemy, Madison refused
to obey, but offered to surrender on condition that
safety and protection should be guaranteed to him
and his men. When Proctor found he could not get
the place in any other way without a great sacrifice
o( his troops, he agreed to the terms proposed, and
the surrender took place.

But no sooner had the gallant little band become

1813]

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

)t get

Icrifice

and

^come

prisoners, than Proctor, like many other British
officers of that day, forgot his promise, and the sav-
•k^ ages began to plunder the prisoners, unhindered by
their English allies. Thereupon the Americans re-
sumed their arms, and by a vigorous bayonet charge
drove off the Indians.

The next day the British force started for Maiden,
taking with it all the prisoners who were able to
march. The badly wounded were left at French-
town, with no guard but a British major and the in-
terpreters. The injured men were taken into the
houses, and attended by two American surgeons.
On the morning of the 23d, about two hundred Ind-
ians who had accompanied Proctor as far as Stony
Creek, and there had a carouse, returned to French-
town, held a council, and resolved to kill all the
prisoners who could not march away with them.
They then proceeded at once to plunder the whole
village, tomahawk the wounded men, and set fire to
the houses. They perpetrated such outrages and
cruelties that most of the historians have shrunk
from detailing them. Many prisoners who managed
to crawl out of the burning buildings were thrown
back into the flames. A few of the strongest were
marched off with the savages toward Maiden ; but
as one by one they became exhausted, they were
mercilessly tomahawked and scalped. These scalps

'\ u

: '

9'>

MINOR BA TTLES IN THE WEST.

[1813.

were carried to the British headquarters, where the
savages received the premium for them.

Of the American force engaged in this affair, three
hundred and ninety-seven were killed, five hund d
and thirty-seven were prisoners, and but thirty-three
escaped. The British are said to have lost twenty-
four killed and a hundred and fifty-eight wounded.
The loss of the Indians is unknown.

After the disaster at the River Raisin, General
Harrison concentrated his remaining troops — twelve
hundred men — and built Fort Meigs, at the foot of
the rapids of the Maumee. This work was on the
right bank of the stream, on high ground, and en-
closed about eight acres. There were several strong
block-houses, and considerable artillery.

General Proctor, with a force of about one thou-
sand British and twelve hundred Indians, and two
gunboats, set out on an expedition against this post
in April. He crossed the lake, ascended the river,
and on the 28th landed about two miles below the
fort, but on the opposite bank. Here he erected a
battery, and subsequently he planted two others,
above the fort but on the left bank, and one below
and very near it on the right bank. The Indians,
commanded by the famous Tecumseh, were landed
on the right bank, to invest the fort in the rear.
The batteries opened fire on the 1st of May, and

i8i3]

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST,

kept it up steadily four days ; but it had very little
effect, owing largely to a traverse twelve feet high
and twenty feet thick which the garrison had con-
structed while the batteries were being erected.
Proctor on the third day demanded a surrender,
with the usual threat of massacre.

Learning that General Green Clay was coming to
liim with a reenforcement of eleven hundred Ken-
tuckians, Harrison had sent word to him to hurry
forward as fast as possible. At midnight on the 4th
of May^ two officers and fifteen men from this force
descended the river and entered the fort, with the
news that Clay was but eighteen miles distant.
Harrison sent orders to him to send eight hundred
of his men across the river at a point a mile and a
half above the fort, thence to march down the left
bank and capture and destroy the enemy's batter-
ies ; the remaining three hundred to march down
the right bank and fight their way through the Ind-
ians to the fort.

The detachment landed on the left bank, com-
manded by Colonel Dudley, moved silently down
upon the British batteries, and then, raising a ter-
rific yell, were upon them before the enemy could
realize that he was attacked. The guns were spiked
and their carriages destroyed ; but instead of cross-
ing to the fort at once, as Harrison's orders direct-

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

[1813.

' 1

w-">

f!i \:.

ed, the victors, flushed with their success, were
drawn into a running fight with some Indians, and
finally fell into an ambush, and all but about a hun-
dred ana fifty were either captured or killed. That
number reached their boats and crossed.

The detachment on the right bank, imder General
Clay himself, had some difificulty in landing, and
lost a few men in fighting its way through the Ind-
ians, but ultimately reached the fort. While these
movements were going on, three hundred and fifty
men of the garrison, under Colonel John Miller,
made a sortie against the battery on the right bank,
captured it, spiked the guns, and returned with
forty-three prisoners.

When Clay's troops reached the fort, they were
joined by another sallying party, and the combined
force moved against the Indians, whom Tecumseh
commanded in person, and drove them through the
woods at the point of the bayonet. Tc^^umseh at-
tempted to move a force of British and Indians upon
their left flank and rear, to cut off their return
to the fort, but this movement was frustrated by
Harrison, who understood Indian warfare quite as
well as the great chief himself.

Proctor's savage allies, disgusled at his want of
success, now began to desert him, and he was
obliged to raise the siege and retreat. This he did

I8i3]

MINOR BA TTLES IN THE WEST.

not do, however, without keeping up his reputation
for treachery and cold-blooded cruelty. His prison-
ers were taken to old Fort Miami, a short distance
down stream, where the savages were allowed to
murder more than twenty of them. Captain Wood,
an eye-witness, says : ** The Indians were permitted
to garnish the surrounding rampart, and to amuse
themselves by loading and firing at the crowd, or at
any particular individual. Those who preferred to
inflict a still more cruel and savage death selected
their victims, led them to the gateway, and there,
under the eye of General Proctor, and in the pres-
ence of the whole British army, tomahawked and
scalped them." It is said that the horrible work was
stopped by Tecumseh, who, coming up when it was
at its height, buried his hatchet in the head of a
chief engaged in the massacre, crying : " For
shame! — it is a disgrace to kill a defenceless pris-
oner !" "In this single act," says the witness who
narrates it, "Tecumseh displayed more humanity,
magi.animity, and civilization fhan Proctor, with all
his British associates in command, displayed through
the whole war on the northwestern frontiers."

The total loss to the Americans in these actions
was eighty-one men killed, two hundred and sixty-
nine wounded, and four hundred and sixty-seven
made prisoners. It is uncertain what the British

•i

^^t^nir

IH'^

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

[1813.

loss was, but it was probably somewhat smaller
than that of the Americans.

In July, Proctor and Tecumseh, with a combined
English and savage force of about five thousand,
returned to Fort Meigs and attc'npted to draw out
the garrison by strategy ; but Harrison was, as usual,
too shrewd for them, and they turned their attention
to Fort Stephenson. This was an oblong stockade
fort, about a hundred yards long and fifty yards
wide, with high pickets, surrounded by a deep ditch
or moat. There was a strong block-house at each
corner. It was on the Sandusky, where the town
of Fremont, Ohio, now stands. The garrison con-
sisted of one hundred and sixty men, commanded by
Major George Croghan.

Th^ British sailed around into Sandusky Bay, and
up the river, while their savage allies marched over-
land and invested the fort in the rear, to prevent
the approach of reenforcements. Harrison believed
the fort to be untenable, and had sent orders to
Croghan to abandon and destroy it ; but these
orders did not reach the Major till retreat had be-
come impossible.

On the 1st of August Proctor sent in a flag of
truce, and demanded an immediate surrender, accom-
panied with the usual threat that if it were refused
the Indians would massacre the entire garrison as

i»i3.]

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

soon as the place was taken. The ensign who met
the flag made answer that Major Croghan and his
men had determined " to defend the fort, or be
buried in it." Proctor opened fire from his gun-
boats and four guns which he had placed in battery
on shore, and bombarded the fort continuously for
two days and nights. As this fire was directed
mainly against the northwest angle, Croghan ex-
pected the main attack to be made at that point,
and prepared for it. Besides strengthening the
walls with bags of sand and bags of flour, he placed
his only gun, a six-pounder, where it would enfilade
the ditch on that side, loaded it with a double
charge of slugs, and masked it.

It was after sunset on the 3d when the storming
parties approached. Two columns passed around
the western side of the fort, to threaten the south-
ern face, while a third, commanded by a Lieutenant-
Colonel Short, approached the northwest angle.
When it was within twenty yards, the Kentucky
'•iflemen gave it a volley that thinned the ranks, but
did not stop its progress. The Lieutenant-Colonel
and a large number of his men scaled the outer line
of pickets, and poured into the ditch. " Now,
then," he shouted, " scale the pickets, and show
the d d Yankee rascals no quarter !"

The next moment, Croghan's single piece of artil-

MINOR BATTLES IN THE WEST.

[1813.

lery was unmasked and fired. It conmpletely swept
the ditch, cutting down nearly every soldier in it,
while a volley of rifle-balls finished the bloody
work. Lieutenant-Colonel Short, who was mortal-
ly wounded, immediately raised his handkerchief on
the point of his sword, to ask for quarter.

Another column of red-coats attempted the task at
which the first had so wofully failed, and the deadly
performance of the howitzer and the rifles was re-
peated. The columns that approached the fort on
the south were driven off by a single volley, and the
battle was ended. In the night the British gathered
up their dead and wounded, and the next morning
they were seen to sail away, leaving behind a quan-
tity of military store.-. They acknowledged a loss
of twenty-seven killed and seventy wounded ; but it
was probably much larger. One American was
killed, and seven wounded.

CHAPTER VII.

WAR ON THE LAKES.

The Armaments — Preliminary Operations — Expedition against York
— Death of General Pike — Capture of Fort George — Attack on
Sackett's Harbor — Battle of Stony Creek.

The importance of the great navigable lakes lying
between the United States and Canada had not been
overlooked by either party to this war. As soon as
it broke out, both began preparations to secure the
ascendency on those waters — which, besides its direct
advantages, would be almost necessary to either in
making invasions around the coasts. A latge por-
tion of the shores on both sides — more especially,
perhap , on the American side — was at that time a
wilderness, and the few open ports would naturally
hold out strong temptations to the enemy.

The chief advantage was with the British, both
because the oldest and largest settlements were on
their side of the lakes, and because they had posses-
sion of the St. Lawrence River, which made it easy
for them to bring up supplies from the seaboard.
The Americans, however, had regularly trained
naval ofKicers in command of their few vessels on

)'1

iyA/i ON THE LAKES.

[1812.

m I

i: I

I'il::!' i>i:

1;;; js

lakes Ontario and Champlain, while the English had
not. The largest American vessel on the lower lakes
was the Oneida, of sixteen guns ; the largest Brit-
ish vessel, the Royal George, of twenty-two. The
cMiemy also had several other vessels, carrying from
a dozen to sixteen guns each, which it would be use-
less to specify, as their names and character were
several times changed during the war. As soon as
hostilities were declared, both sides began building
new ships and arming merchant schooners.

In July, i8j2, the British fleet had made an
attempt to capture the Oneida and a prize schooner,
both of which were at Sackett's Harbor. Lieuten-
ant-Commander VVoolsey anchored the Oneida in
the harbor, where she could command the entrance,
placed half of her guns in a battery on shore, and
easily drove off the enemy's fleet, whose perform-
ance exhibited very little of the character of serious
warfare.

In October, of that year, Captain Isaac Chauncey
arrived at Sackett's Harbor, with authority to organ-
ize a fleet. He brought from New York forty ship-
carpenters and a hundred officers and seamen, and a
sLipi)ly of naval stores. He bought ten or a dozen
schooners, armed them — generally with long swivel
guns — and fitted them up for naval service as well as
their character would admit. These, with the

l8l2.]

PVA/^ ON THE LAKES.

Oneida^ carried forty guns and four hundred and
thirty men.

Chauncey's first exploit with this fleet was to
chase the Royal George into the harbor of Kingston,
and attack the batteries there ; but nothing was ac-
comphshed by it save the capture of two small
prizes. He lost one man killed and eight wounded
— five by the bursting of a gun. About the same
time (November, 1812), an expedition was made to
clear the Canadian shore of batteries at the head of
Niagara River. Four hundred soldiers and sailors,
commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Roerstler and
Captain King, crossed from Black Rock in twenty
boats, assaulted the batteries, and after desperate
fighting captured them. They then spiked all the
guns, burned the barracks, and retreated to the
shore. The usual bad management seems to have
entered into this, as into all the other enterprises of
the sort, and the boats were not at hand for the re-
crossing ; in consequence of which Captain King
and sixty of his men were made prisoners.

Nothing can be done on the lakes in winter, as the
harbors are closed by ice ; but the building of ves-
sels went on, and with the opening of spring General
Dearborn and Commodore Chauncey began opera-
tions which showed no lack of activity and energy,
however well or ill judged they may have been.

« .
4) '

'l,i!

It' I'

■I .

'I It
■if; :*i

ii !i

100

^F^/* OA^ 77/£ LAKES.

[1813.

York (now Toronto) was at this time the capital
of Upper Canada. It was a place ot about twelve
hundred inhabitants, situated on a beautiful land-
locked bay, about two by three miles in extent.
The British were known to have a large vessel
there, the Prince Regent, and to be building another.
Mainly for the purpose of seizing this vessel, and
destroying the one on the stocks, General Dearborn
planned an expedition against York. He had sev-
enteen hundred men available for the purpose, and
Commodore Chauncey had fourteen vessels.

The expedition was organized, and sailed from
Sackett's Harbor on the 25th of April. The winds
were unfavorable, and the passage was somewhat
tedious ; but the fleet arrived off the harbor of York
on the 27th. The intention was to land the troops
by means of boats, at a point about two and a half
miles west of the town, the guns of the fleet cover-
ing the landing, and march at once on the defences
of the place, where General Roger H. Sheaffe was
in command. But the water was rough, and the
boats were driven half a mile farther westvvard,
where they were compelled to land with but little
protection from the vessels.

Here a body of British and Indians, concealed in
the edge of a wood, were ready to receive them.

A column of riflemen, under Major Forsyth, were

18I3.J

IVAA' ON THE LAKES.

lor

in the first boats, and as they approached the shore
the enemy opened upon them with a destructive
fire. Forsyth lost a considerable number of men
before he could land. But his riflemen stood up in
the boats and returned the fire with some effect,"
and he was followed quickly by a battalion of in-
fantry under Major King, and this by the main body
under General Zebulon M. Pike, who was in imme-
diate command of the entire military force. The
fleet at the same time contrived to throw a few
effective shots into the woods, and the landing was
effected without confusion.

The skirmishing party of British and Indians had
been gradually strengthened till, by the time Gen-
eral Pike's forces were on shore, they had an almost
equal force to dispute their passage toward the
town. The enemy were still in the woods, and as
soon as the Americans had been formed in battle
order they advanced. The nature of the ground
made it almost impossible to move or use their artil-
lery ; but the enemy had three pieces, with which
they attacked the flanks of the column. The fight-
ing soon became hot and deadly. There were
charges and counter-charges, one and another part
of either line alternately giving way and rallying
again ; but on the whole the advantage was with the
Americans, and the British were gradually forced

loa

Pf^A/? ON THE LAKES.

[i8t3.

I i i

back into the outer defences. The Indians are said
to have fled from the field early in the action.

The approach to the town, along the shore, was
crossed by numerous streams and ravines, and the
enemy destroyed the bridges behind them as they
retired. Two pieces of artillery were with great
difificulty taken across one of these ravines and
placed where they could be brought to bear on the
enemy.

The orders to the infantry were, to advance with
unloaded muskets and carry the first battery at the
point of the bayonet. This was easily done, as the
enemy only remained long enough to discharge two
or three cannon-shots hastily, and then fell back to
his second battery, nearer the town.

General Pike led the column forward at once to
the second battery, which the enemy also abandoned,
after spiking the guns. Here he discovered that
the barracks, three hundred yards still nearer to the
town, appeared to be evacuated. Suspecting that
there might be some scheme on the part of the
enemy for drawing him into a disadvantageous posi-
tion, where a stand would be made, he halted at the
second battery, and sent forward Lieutenant Riddle
with a few men to find out the true state of affairs.

The Lieutenant found the barracks deserted, and
was about to return with the information, when sud-

ilH

'm.

■4

i8i3]

tVAX OK THE LAKES.

103

denly the ground was shaken by a terrific explosion,
and in a moment the air was darkened by flying
boards, timbers, and stones, bars of iron, shells, and
shot. The magazine, containing five hundred bar-
rels of powder, had been blown up. It was situ-
ated in a little ravine, the bank of which protected
Lieutenant Riddle's party, all of whom escaped.
But a considerable number of the beams and masses
of masonry, passing over their heads, fell within the
battery. General Pike, who had just been removing
a wounded prisoner to a place of safety, at the
moment was seated on a stump, questioning a Brit-
ish sergeant who had been captured in the woods.
As the shower of debris came down within the bat-
tery, the General was crushed to the earth by a sec-
tion of stone wall, and two of his aides and the
wounded sergeant were also struck down — all of
them being fatally injured. By this explosion, fifty-
two Americans were killed outright, and one hun-
dred and eighty wounded. About forty British sol-
diers also, who were near the magazine, were killed.
General Pike being disabled, the command de-
volved upon Colonel Cromwell Pearce, who pushed
on with his troops as soon as possible, though not in
time to prevent the escape of the British General
Sheaffe and all his regulars who remained unharmed.
Sheaffe drew up terms of capitulation, and left

104

IVA/! OJ\r THE LAKES.

[1813.

li<

»!■!

them in the hands of the officer who commanded
the militia. As the Americans approaciicd the
town, they were met by this officer with the offer to
surrender, the capitulation to include the town and
all government stores therein. While the parley
was going on, Shcaffe destroyed most of the military
stores, set fire to the war-vessel that was on the
stocks, and made off, but his baggage and private
papers were captured. Two hundred and ninety
officers and men — of the British navy and militia —
became prisoners and were paroled. General Pike
had enjoined upon his soldiers the duty of protect-
ing private property in the town, and given orders
that marauding should be punished with death.
His wishes were carefully observed ; but the gov-
ernment buildings were burned.

General Pike, when his wound was found to be
mortal, was borne off to the fleet. A little while
afterward the British flag that had floated over York
was brought to him. He asked to have it placed
under his head, and in a few minutes calmly expired.
He was but thirty-four years of age, but had per-
formed valuable services for his country, especially
in the command of two exploring expeditions, one
about the headwaters of the Mississippi, and the
other in what is now western Louisiana and Texas
— of both of which he published accounts.

I8i3j

IVA/l ON THE LAKES,

105

The war-vessel that the Americans expected to
capture at York had left tht harbor two days before
their arrival. The troops abandoned the place, and
on the 1st of May were taken again on board the
fleet, which as soon as the weather would permit,
on the 8th, sailed away. In this expedition the loss
of the American land forces was lourtccn killed and
twenty-three wounded, besides those who suffered
from the explosion of the magazine. In the fleet,
seventeen men were killed or wounded. The British
regulars lost sixty-two killed and ninety wounded ;
the loss of the Indians and militia was unknown.

Two episodes of this battle have been discussed
with considerable warmth. The first is the explo-
sion of the magazine. It is not certain that this
was done purposely. General Sheaffe, in his report,
attributed it to " an unfortunate accident," but two
English historians speak of it with commendation as
a regularly laid plan. American writers who con-
demn it have done so on the ground that, as the
commanding General had made arrangements for a
surrender, the place was virtually surrendered already,
and he therefore had no farther right to destroy life
or even property. Commodore Chauncey probably
gave the correct view of the matter when he wrote :
" I am much inclined to believe that General SheafTe
was correct when he stated that it was accidental.

io6

H'/l/i ON THE LAKES.

[1813

Nor could I condemn the enemy, even if a train had
been laid. It is a perfectly legitimate mode of de-
fence, as every student of history knows ; and why
should we censure the garrison for thus employing
an acknowledged means of defence, to check the
progress of an invader?" If the surrender had not
virtually taken place, it is difficult to see why the
defenders of the town are to be any more blamed
for firing a stone wall at their enemy than they
would have been for firing a thousand bullets.

The other point discussed is the burning of the
government buildings. They were undoubtedly set
on fire, though without orders from headquarters.
U was said that the soldiers were incensed at finding
a human scalp --presumably that of an American,
taken by some Indian, and sold to the British
authorities for the proffered premium — hanging on
the wall of the legislative chamber. This scalp and
the Speaker's mace were sent to Washington,
where the British troops found them when they, in
turn, burned our government buildings a little more
than a year later.

When Chauncey's fleet left the harbor of York, it
sailed due south, and landed the troops at a point
four miles east from the mouth of Niagara River,
where they went into camp. From here a small ex-
pedition was fitted out under Lieutenant Petti-

I8I3-]

fVA/i ON THE LAKES.

I07

^', it
oint
vcr,
ex-
itti-

grew, of the navy, who with a hundred men sailed
in two schooners to the head of Lake Ontario, to
capture a large quantity of stores deposited there.
They landed on the loth of May, drove ofT the
guard, burned the buildings, and brought away the
stores. Chauncey himself, with the remainder of
the fleet, carried the wounded to Sackett's Harbor,
whence he returned on the 25th with provisions,
guns, and a reenforcement of about three hundred
and fifty men.

General Dearborn immediately planned the cap-
ture of Fort George, iust above the village of
Newark, on the western side of the Niagara, two
miles from its mouth. It was arranged that the
troops should be landed on the lake shore, and,
marching southward and eastward, attack the Brit-
ish works from the land side. The enterprise was
admirably planned, and brilliantly executed. The
water at the proposed landing-place was carefully
sounded, and the stations marked with buoys. A
considerable number of boats, to be used in landing
the forces, had been built on the shore of the river,
were launched on May 26th, and immediately drew
the fire of the enemy's batteries.

Before daylight on the morning of the 27th, the
fleet weighed anchor. Five of the vessels took posi-
tions where they could annoy with a cross-fire the

.'*'

108

fVA/i ON THE LAKES,

[1813.

batteries that were within gunshot of the landing-
•place. Others took position for the immediate pro-
tection of the troops, and at the same time Fort
Niagara opened fire on Fort George, which was re-
turned with spirit. All the batteries on the river
joined in the contest, and there was a grand chorus
of artillery firing. The battery immediately oppo-
site Fort George was the most effective, and consid-
erably damaged that work.

The troops were under the personal command
of General Boyd, who had succeeded General Pike.
With him were many most skilful and efficient offi-
cers, some of whom afterward became famous. The
gallant Major Forsyth was there, with his riflemen,
and Colonel Macomb with his artillery. Winfield
Scott, then a colonel, was there, and Captain Oliver
Hazard Perry had hurried down from Lake Erie, to
offer his services and take part in the enterprise.

The preparations for the defence had been quite
as well made as those for the attack. When the
boats loaded with troops approached the shore, a
column of two hundred men, posted in a ravine,
opened a sharp fire on them. The fire was returned
from the boats, which moved on without stopping
for a moment or being thrown into any confusion.
Captain Hindman, of the artillery, was the first man
to land on the enemy's coast ; and many of the

I8i3.]

PFA/i ON THE LAKES.

109

officers and men were so eager to follow him that
they leaped into the water and waded ashore.

The fire of some of the vessels was brought to
bear upon the enemy in the ravine ; and as soon as
the advance column landed, it formed in battle order
and moved forward to the charge. The enemy soon
gave way, but retired slowly, and at the same time a
second and stronger colurnn, which had been posted
in another ravine, half a mile in the rear, moved for-
ward to protect the retreat of the advance guard and
oppose the progress of the Americans.

Ever>'' step thus far had been contested, and the
roar of cannon and rattle of small arms, both on the
water and on shore, had been almost incessant from
the beginning of the engagement. But the blood-
iest work was to come. The combined columns of
British troops, numbering eight hundred or more,
took a strong position at the top of a steep bank.
The advance, under Colonel Scott, moved directly
against this position ; but as his men attempted to
climb the bank in the face of the enemy, they were
mercilessly cut down by a sharp and steady fire.
Three times they tried to reach the top, and three
times were driven back. But when Colonel Moses
Porter's light artillery and a portion of Boyd's bri-
gade had come up to his assistance, Scott was at
length enabled to carry the height.

WAR ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

The victory at this point decided the day. The
flying enemy were pursued as far as the village of
Newark, at which point Scott detached a force to
cut off the retreat westward toward Burlington,
while with the remainder of his troops he pressed on
at once to Fort George. This work had been so
much damaged by the bombardment, and the garri-
son now left in it was so small, that it was easily
captured. As Scott approached it, one of the
magazines was exploded, and a heavy stick of tim-
ber struck him and knocked him from his horse.
Hurrying forward, the soldiers in the advance dis-
covered that trains had been laid for the explosion
of two other magazines, and they were just in time
to put out the matches. When the gates of the fort
were broken open, Scott was the first man to enter,
and with his own hands he hauled down the British
flag. Close behind him was Colonel Moses Porter,
who could not help exclaiming, " Confound your
long legs, Scott, you have got in before me !"

A few prisoners were taken with the fort ; but
Scott, bent upon making his victory complete, made
but a brief halt there, and then hurried on his forces
in pursuit of the retreating enemy. Twice orders
were sent to him to turn back, and both times he
refused to obey them. " Your General does not
know," said he to a lieutenant who brought one of

I3I3-]

JVA/^ ON- THE LAKES.

Ill

these orders, " that I have the enemy within my
j)o\vcr ; in seventy minutes I shall capture his whole
force." Colonel Burn, who ranked Scott, but had
consented to serve under him, had crossed the river
w ith a troop of cavalry, and was v/aiting for another
now in midstream, to land, when with his whole
force he was to join the pursuit. But the fifteen
minutes thus lost in waiting enabled General Boyd
to ride up in person and peremptorily order the pur-
suit discontinued, which of course put an end to it.
Just why the General did this — whether he feared
the victory might be turned into a disaster, or was
only apprehensive that Colonel Scott was getting
too much glory — has never been explained.

In this action, which was over by noon, the
Americans lost one hundred and fifty-three men,
killed or wounded. The British loss, as nearly as
can be ascertained, was two hundred and seventy-
one killed or wounded, and over six hundred un-
wounded prisoners, five hundred of whom were
militia and were paroled.

The British seized the opportunity while Dear-
born and his forces were absent on this expedition
near the western end of Lake Ontario, to make an
attack on Sackett's Harbor, at the eastern. The
importance of that place to the Americans consisted
mainly in the fact that they had established there a

I 12

IVAJi ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

It M

large depot of naval and military stores, and were
building ships.

The expedition sailed from Kingston in four war-
vessels, a brig, two schooners, and two gunboats, all
under command of Sir James Lucas Yeo. The land
forces, commanded by General Prevost, numbered
about a thousand, besides a party of Indians, said
to have numbered three hundred.

About noon of the 28th the squadron appeared off
Sackett's Harbor, and preparations for landing were
made. But after the troops had been in the boats
about half an hour, an order was issued — for some
mysterious reason, which has never been explained —
commanding them all to return to the ships, which
then stood off for Kingston. But while this was
going on, a fleet of nineteen boats was observed
near the south shore, bringing American reenforce-
ments from Oswego to the Harbor. The Indians,
who thought they were there to fight, and could
not understand why they should return to the ships
without firing a gun, disobeyed the order, and pad
died off to attack the Americans in the boats. The
squadron then wore round again, and sent out boat-
loads of troops to the assistance of the Indians, who
irove ashore and captured twelve of the American
boats, after their occupants had escaped to the
woods. The other seven reached the Harbor.

I8i3]

IV^/i ON THE LAKES.

This little affair inspired the British General with
new courage, and he resumed the purpose of land-
ing his whole force for an attack on the village.

But meanwhile the Americans were busily pre-
paring for defence. Lieutenant-Colonel Electus
Backus, who commanded the remnant of regular
troops left at the post, had sent word the evening
before to General Jacob Brown, of the militia, who
had been requested by General Dearborn to take
command in case of an attack during his absence.
A militia force numbering about five hundred was
hastily gathered from the surrounding country, and
added to the small body of regulars and volunteers.
The militia were posted behind a ridge of sand which
had been thrown up west of the village, where their
fire would sweep that part of the shore which offered
the only good landing-place for the enemy. On
their right were posted the volunteers, with a single
piece of artillery. The regulars were formed near
their camp about a mile distant.

Early in the morning of the 29th the enemy land-
ed. As their boats approached the shore, the mili-
tia and volunteers rose and fired into them, and
were fired upon in return by two gunboats that had
been sent to cover the landing. The enemy's boats
then pulled around to the other side of Horse Island,
which is near the mouth of the harbor, landed, and

114

JV^J? ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

marched steadily across the narrow causeway that
connects it with the mainland. As they approached
the ridge, the militia gave them another volley,
and then fled to the woods, abandoning the piece of
artillery. Colonel Mills was killed while trying to
hold them to their work. General Brown, who was
borne away with the fugitives, succeeded in rallying
about eighty of them, whom he posted behind a
huge fallen tree, at the edge of a small open field.
From this cover they gave the still advancing enemy
three or four volleys, and then retreated.

Thus the left of the American line was completely
swept away. The right, composed of volunteers,
gave way more slowly, and retired in good order
along the shore, skirmishing all the way with the
enemy's advance, till they reached and formed in line
with the regulars. They were annoyed on the way
by the enemy's gunboats, which swept portions of
the road with grapeshot ; but on the other hand
the enemy suffered considerably from the fire of
their rifles and from parties of regulars sent out by
Colonel Backus to join in the skirmishing.

The volunteers took position on the left of the
second line of defence. The right was occupied by
dismounted light dragoons, and the centre by regu-
lar infantry and artillery. The enemy, elated, as he
had cause to be, at his first success, came steadily

I8i3.]

WAH ON THE LAKES.

I'S

on to attack this line, and as he approached was
subjected to an artillery fire from a small work called
Fort Tompkins. He struck the right flank of the
Americans, but found it made of different stuff from
militia. Again and again the attempt was made to
force this part of the line ; but the dragoons, com-
manded by Backus in person, stood firm, delivered
their fire with coolness, and drove back the assail-
ants. The fight was kept up for an hour, and at
length the weight of numbers told, and the Ameri-
cans fell back.

A portion of them next took possession of the log
barracks, and here made a third stand. The enemy
came on as gallantly as ever, intent upon driving
everything before him. Colonel Gray, Quarter-
master-General, led the red-coats, and as they came
up to the attack, an American drummer-boy picked
up a musket, levelled it at the Colonel, and shot him
down. Lieutenant Fanning, who had been severely
wounded at York, and was not expected to be on
duty, took charge of a gun. As the enemy ap-
proached, he carefully sighted the piece, and gave
them three rounds of grapeshot in quick succession,
v/hich broke the force of their onset, and they be-
gan to fall back in some disorder. At this moment
Colonel Backus fell mortally wounded.

The officer in charge of the stores had been in-

ii6

IV A A' ON THE LAKES.

1.813.

structed to set fire to them in case the enemy seemed
likely to capture the place. Seeing the probability
of this, he now applied the torch, not only to the
storehouses but also to a new vessel that was almost
rccidy to be launched, and to one that had been re-
cently captured from the enemy.

With the Americans driven to their last strong-
hold, and the smoke from their burning stores roll-
ing over their heads, the day appeared to be irre-
trievably lost. But though the enemy was strong in
good troops, gallantly led, be had a weak spot in
the constitutional timidity of the commander, Sir
George Prevost. And General Brown at this point
of time made a fortunate movement which struck
that weak spot in a most effective way. He had
succeeded in rallying about three hundred of the
militia, with whom he suddenl)^ emerged from the
woods, and made a feint of marching for the boats
by which the expedition had landed. Sir George
took the alarm at once, imagining he was to be
surrounded by a superior force and entrapped.
He therefore issued an order for retreat, and his
victorious forces withdrew to their ships without
securing any result of their victory, or even bearing
off their wounded. A reenforcement of six hundred
men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tuttle, who had
marched forty miles in one day, reached the vil-

18I3.J

WAH ON TJIE LAKES.

lage just as the enemy were pushing off in their
boats.

The Americans succeeded in putting out the fires,
but not till half a million dollars' worth of stores had
been destroyed. The new ship was but little in-
jured, as her timbers were so green they would not
burn readily. The prize vessel was on fire, and she
had considerable powder in her hold ; but Lieuten-
ant Talman, at the risk of his life, boarded her, sup-
pressed the flames, and brought her off to a place of
safety at a distance from the burning buildiiigs.

Sir George, not content with making a needless
fiasco of his expedition, made himself ridiculous by
sending a flag of true to demand the surrender of the
village and the military post, which of course was
refused. He then sent another flag, asking that his
dead and wounded might be properly cared for, and
on receiving assurances that they would, saiiv<2d away
with the whole fleet.

The loss of the Americans in this action was
about one hundred and seventy, killed, wounded, or
missing ; that of the British, about two hundred and
sixty.

A few days after the loss of Fort George, General
Vincent concentrated the British forces at Beaver
Dams, and retreated westward to Burlington Bay,
the head of Lake Ontario, where he intrenched him-

Ii8

ll^A/i O.V THE LAKES.

[1813.

self on the heiylits. General Dearborn, after being
baffled for some time by false information which
Vincent had caused to be conveyed to him, at length
found out where he had gone, and sent the brigades
of Winder and Chandler after him. The Ameri-
cans, following the "ridge road " that skirts the
whole shore of the lake, came up with the enemy's
pickets at Stony Creek, a small stream that crosses
the road at right angles, on the 5th of June. There
Avas considerable skirmishing, and the enemy's pick-
ets were driven in.

General Chandler, with a wise caution thus far
seldom displayed, placed a company of artillery at
the mouth of the creek, three miles from the road,
to cover a landing of boats expected there, with the
rest of his forces took a stronc;^ position on the high
eastern bank of the creek, where the road crosses it,
threw out pickets in all directions, gave Ojders how
the Hne should be formed in case of an akttack, and
ordered that the artillery horses be kept harnessed.

One regiment at first encamped in the low mead-
ows on the western bank, but after nightfall it with-
drew to the heights, leaving its camp-fires burning.
A picket guard that had been posted at a little
chapel a quarter of a mile in advance was left there.

The ofificer in command of the enemy's rear guard
had sent word to General Vincent that the Ameri-

\\>

i8i3.]

kVAA' OAT rilE LAKES.

119

cans were in straggling detachments, and if the first
were attacked at once it could easily be defeated be-
fore the others came up to its support. The Gen-
eral therefore, as he had little chance of further re-
treat, planned a night attack. A little before mid-
night of the 5th he left his camp, at the head of
about a thousand men, and marched stealthily back
by the road he had come, to surprise his foe. The
night was absolutely dark, and the sentinels at the
little chapel were suddenly seized and silently bay-
oneted before they could fire their muskets or make
any outcry. The assassination of pickets is one of
the sickening incidents of war that seldom find men-
tion in the reports of the general or the pages of the
romantic historian, but that cost many a poor fellow
his life without even the pitiful compensation of
what is called glory.

Seeing the camp-fires in the meadow, with no
signs of life among them, the British forces imagined
that the Ai^l^ericans were all asleep and would fall an
easy prey to massacre. They advanced confidently,
and as they reached the deserted fires sprang among
them with a hideous yell — in which part of the per-
formance they were materially assisted by a few
score Indian allies — expecting to see their foes arise
from the ground, and rub their eyes open just in
time to catch the gleam of^the British bayonets and

I20

WAR OiV THE LAKES.

[1813.

savage tomahawks before they were buried in
American flesh.

Instead of this, while they stood dazed among the
waning camp-fires, looking about in vain for some-
body to massacre, the line on the heights blazed out
with musketry and artillery, and the shot tore its
way through the ranks of the red-coats. . But the
English soldier has always been good at obeying
orders, and as soon as this volley revealed the
whereabouts of the Americans, their enemy pressed
on in the face of the fire, climbed the bank, entered
the lines in the darkness, and captured several guns,
the artillerists not being able to distinguish friend
from foe.

Then began a horrible melee, in which nearly
every man fought on his own account, and many of
then', could not tell whether they were striking at
comrades or enemies. Hearing a few shots fired in
the rear of his camp. General Chandler imagined he
was attacked from that direction also, and faced
about a portion of his line, which increased the
dreadful confusion. After this wild work in the
darkness and tumult, the British managed somehow
to retreat, carrying off w'.th them two pieces of artil-
lery, which, however, were afterward recovered.
• When the morning dawned, it was found that the
American commanders, Chandler and Winder, were

1813]

PFAA' ON THE LAKES.

121

both prisoners in the hands of the enemy ; while
the British commander, Vincent, had been thrown
from his horse, lost his way in the woods, and after
floundering about all night was discovered in a most
pitiful and ridiculous plight. Chandler was taken
while trying to manceuvre a British regiment, which
he had stumbled upon in the darkness and mistaken
for one r^ his own.

In this affair the Americans lost one hundred and
fifty-four men, killed, wounded, or missing ; the
British, two hundred and fourteen. The victory, so
far as there was any, must be accorded to the British,
since it broke the advance of the Americans and
caused them to turn back. When they had retreat-
ed as far as Forty-Mile Creek, they were attacked
simultaneously on both flanks — on the land side by
a band of Indians, and on the water side by the fleet
under Sir James Yeo. But they succeeded in re-
pelling both enemies, and returned to Fort George
with the loss only of a part of their baggage, which
was conveyed in boats.

After this, Yeo coasted along the shore and cap-
tured stores in Charlotte, at the mouth of the Gene-
see, and in Sodus, on the bay of that name. As he
met with some resistance at Sodus, and had diffi-
culty in finding the stores, which were hidden, he
burned the buildings there.

122

IVAA' ON THE LAKES.

i^'l '

[1813.

There was a British depot of supplies at Beaver
Dams, about seven miles southwest of Quecnstown
aid the same distance northwest of the Falls.
General Dearborn planned its capture, and on the
236 of June sent against it, from Fort George, an
expedition of five hundred and seventy men, com-
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles G. Boerstler.
The enemy had strong works at Beaver Dams, but
at this time they Avere not very well manned.

The Americans, who had about fifteen miles to
march, started in the evening, with the intention of
surprising and capturing the post in the morning.
But the enemy had been apprised of the movement,
and when the Americans reached the present site of
Thorold they fell into an ambush, where they were
suddenly attacked by four hundred and fifty Indians,
commanded by John Brant (son of the celebrated
Mohawk chief, Joseph Brant) and Captain Kerr.
Though surprised, Boerstler was not confused.
He coolly but quickly formed his men in battle
order, and charged through the woods in the direc-
tion of the attack. To little purpose, however, as
the wily savages, following their usual tactics, fled
before the line of bayonets, and soon attacked the
Americans from another direction, firing from the
thickets and other hiding-places. After keeping up
a desultory contest of this sort for three hours, with

i8i3.]

WA/^ aV r//E LAKES.

123

no prospect of any termination, Boerstler fell back
to a position in an open field, encountering on the
way a body of Canadian militia. Scarcely had he
taken this new position, to wait for reinforcements
which he had asked General Dearborn to send, when
a small detachment of British regulars approached
to reconnoitre. They were commanded by a Lieu-
tenant Fitzgibbon, who had been warned of the ap-
proach of the Americans by a woman who had
walked nineteen miles to tell him.

Seeing that his enemy was somewhat disordered,
and not disposed to take the offensive, Fitzgibbon,
though he had but forty-seven men, conceived the
idea of capturing the whole force by one of those
tricks which are generally supposed to be peculiarly
Yankee. Displaying his little detachment in such a
way as to make it appear to be the advance of a
much larger body of troops, he sent a flag of truce to
Boerstler and boldly demanded an immediate sur-
render, saying that fifteen hundred regulars and
seven hundred Indians were but a short distance in
the rear, and would soon come up. For the truth
of this he gave his word, " on the honor of a British
soldier." Boerstler, supposing escape would be im-
possible, surrendered, on condition that his men
should be paroled and permitted to return to the
United States. A Major De Haren, who had been

•il

124

^VA/^ OAT THE LAKES.

[1813.

■k-^

sent for in all haste by Fitzgibbon, now came up
with two hundred additional troops, and received
the surrender, which included five hundred and
forty-two men, two guns, and a stand of colors.
Major Chapin, who was present, says : " The arti-
cles of capitulation were no sooner signed than they
were violated. The Indians immediately com-
menced their depredations, and plundered the
officers of their side arms. The soldiers, too, were
stripped of every article of clothing to which the
savages took a fancy, such as hats, coats, shoes,
etc." The British commander also violated the
articles by refusing to permit the militia to be
paroled, whereupon many of them rose upon the
guards, overpowered them, and escaped, taking
some of the guards along as prisoners.

This ridiculous affair excited the deepest indigna-
tion throughout the country ; and, in obedience to
public sentiment, the President soon removed Gen-
eral Dearborn from command.

It was hardly more than a fortnight later, July
nth, when Lieutenant-Colonel Bisshopp planned an
attack on Black Rock, a few miles north of Buffalo,
where the Americans had a dockyard and large
storehouses. With about three hundred men, be-
fore daylight of July nth, he crossed the river in
boats, surprised and took possession of the place,

I8I3-]

PVAR ON THE LAKES.

125

and proceeded to burn and plunder as rapidly as
possible. He set fire to the block-houses, the bar-
racks, the navy-yard buildings, and a schooner that
lay at the wharf, and carried off a considerable quan-
tity of stores. But before he could accomplish all
this, General Peter B. Porter had got together a
small force, consisting of regulars, volunteers, mili-
tia, and a few friendly Indians, and vigorously at-
tacked the invaders. A fight of twenty minutes'
duration ended in the precipitate retreat of the
British, who left behind them a captain and nine
men killed or wounded, and fifteen prisoners. After
the boats had pushed off, the Americans renewed
their fire, by which Bisshopp, commander of the ex-
pedition, was killed, and many of his men were either
killed or wounded. The loss of the Americans was
three men killed and three wounded. That of the
enemy is supposed to have been about seventy.
They had carried off four guns, besides spiking all
they left. Bisshopp, who had proved himself an
energetic and skilful ofificer, was a serious loss.

Commodore Chauncey, who was a most meritori-
ous naval commander, though he never made a very
brilliant reputation, was all this summer trying 'to
bring Sir James Yeo to a decisive battle on Lake
Ontario ; but Sir James had a genius for not fight-
ing, and could only be chased to shelter under the

I. '6

IVA/i ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

guns of the British forts. It was said also that his
instructions forbade his fighting except under the
most favorable circumstances. Once there seemed
to be a prospect of a square battle near the mouth
of the Niagara, in August ; but Chauncey's plan
was frustrated by the captains of two of his schoon-
ers, who in disobedience of orders tried to get to
windward of the British line, and were captured.
On the 28th of September there was a partial en-
gagement between the two squadrons ; but from
their unequal sailing, it was only possible to bring
three of the American vessels into action. One of
these was badly crippled, but another handled the
British flagship so severely that she crowded on all
canvas and made off, followed by the entire fleet,
which the Americans could not overtake. On the
5th of October Chauncey gave chase to a squadron
which proved to be seven British gunboats used as
transports. One of them was burned, one escaped,
and the other five were captured, together with
more than two hundred and sixty men. Two of the
prizes were those taken from Chauncey near the
Niagara.

These successes left Lake Ontario virtually in the
possession of the Americans ; and meanwhile the
command of Lake Erie had been gained by a most
brilliant and memorable battle. During the winter

th(
th(

i8i3]

tVAH ON THE LAKES.

127

of 1812-13 two large brigs, intended to carry twenty
guns each, and several gunboats and schooners were
built at Presque Isle (now Erie, Pa.), where there
was a fine harbor. For this work a force of carpen-
ters was sent from New York. The timber of which
they were to construct the vessels was growing in
the woods, and the trees had to be felled and worked
up at once ; there was no time to wait for the wood
to season. All the ironwork, canvas, cordage, and
stores had to be brought from New York or Phila-
delphia, and as there was neither railroad nor canal,
and much of the intervening country was a wilder-
ness, the dif^culties of transportation were very
great. A bar at the mouth of the harbor, on which
there was but seven feet of water, prevented the
British cruisers from sailing in and destroying the
vessels before they were launched.

Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, who, though quite
young, had seen considerable service afloat, was
ordered from the seaboard to take command on
Lake Erie, and arrived at Buffalo in March. His
volunteer service in the attack on Fort George has
been already mentioned. The fall of that work was
followed by the abandonment of Fort Erie, which
released the vessels that had been blockaded by its
guns in the upper part of the Niagara, and early in
June they rendezvoused at Presque Isle.

128

H^A/? OJV THE LAKES.

[1813.

Perry now had his entire force in one harbor, and
pushed on his equipment with the greatest possible
speed. One of the new brigs was made his flagship,
and was named the Lawrence. The bar that had
thus far protected the fleet was now a hindrance to
its sailing, for it could be passed by the larger ves-
sels only in calm weather, and even then they must
be lightened of their guns and heavy stores. The
British commander, Captain R. H. Barclay, was
watching with his entire fleet for Perry to come out.
If, as is supposed, he intended to attack him while
crossing the bar, when he could probably have won
a victory, he lost his opportunity by attending to
pleasure before duty. A gentleman living on the
northern shore of the lake invited him to dinner one
Sunday, and he crossed over with his whole squad-
ron. At the same time the water became smooth,
and Perry, who had been eagerly watching for such
a chance, proceeded to take out his fleet at once.

The Laiurence, which was his heaviest vessel, was
provided with a large scow on each side, and on her
arrival at the bar these scows were nearly filled with
water, and sunk very low. Great beams were then
passed through her port-holes, the ends projecting
over the scows. Piles of blocks were provided for
these ends to rest upon, and then the holes in the
scows were plugged up, and the water pumped out.

« # ,i(

I8i3]

IV A/? O.V THE LAKES.

129

As the scows rose, they lifted the brig with them.
But though her guns had been tai<en out and left on
the beach, as well as all other heavy articles that
could be removed, she still drew too much water to
pass the bar. Another lift was made, which occu-
pied the night, and finally she floated across. The
other brig, the Niagara, was not quite so large, and
was taken over with less difficulty. The lighter
vessels had crossed the bar without assistance ; and
on the approach of the English squadron at eight
o'clock the next morning, it was received with a
cannonade, which, though it did no harm, prevented
Barclay from running in close and seizing the prey
he had been so long watching for. The Laivrcnce s
guns were taken on board as soon as she was afloat
outside, and the broadside was trained to bear on
the enemy.

This was Monday, the 5th of August, and Perry
was now afloat on Lake Erie with ten vessels, carry-
ing fifty-five guns and — after he had received several
reenforcements — about four hundred men. Captain
Barclay had about the same number of men, in six
vessels, carrying sixty-five guns, his flagship being
the Dctj-oit. As soon as the American fleet was
fairly over the bar, the British sailed away up the
lake, and it took Perry a month to find them and
bring them to action. He was at Put-in- Bay, in

130

IVAl! ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

one of the islands near the western end of the lake,
when at sunrise on the morning of September lOth
the British fleet was sighted from the masthead,
bearing down from the northwest, apparently bent
on having a fight.

Perry had given the commanders of his several
vessels careful instructions what to do in case of an
engagement, ending with the remark that " they
could not be out of their proper places if they laid
their enemy close alongside." Within an hour after
the enemy was sighted, the squadron was beating
out of the bay. The wind was from the southwest,
which made it impossible for the Americans to get
the weather-gage, unless by circumnavigating some
of the islands. As there was apparently no time for
this, Perry determined to accept the chances of bat-
tle without that advantage, and accordingly passed
to leeward of the islands. But fortune favored him
unexpectedly, for the wind soon shifted to the
southeast, giving him the weather-gage, which for
vessels armed as his were was very important.

At ten o'clock the British squadron, having failed
in manoeuvres for the weather-gage, hove to, in line
of battle, with their bows to the west and south,
and awaited the approach of their enemy, now about
nine miles distant. One of the smaller vessels was
at the head of the line, and the Detroit^ Batclay's

I8i3.]

It^AX ON THE LAKES.

»3'

flagship, next ; then came another small vessel, and
then the Queen Charlotte^ a large one, and then the
two remaining small ones. The British vessels were
all freshly painted, and had new canvas, presenting
a handsome appearance to the eye of a sailor.

As Perry approached and observed this order, he
formed his own line to correspond with it. He
placed two schooners in the van, one carrying four
guns and the other two ; then his flagship, the
Laivrence ; then the Caledonia, of three guns ; then
the Niagara, of twenty ; and then the other ves-
sels, which, however, as the wind was light, did not
come up very promptly. The orders were, that the
vessels should be but half a cable's length apart.

As he approached the enemy. Perry displayed a
blue flag bearing the words, " Don't give up the
ship."* A few minutes before twelve o'clock, a
bugle was sounded on the British flagship, which
was answered by cheers from all the other vessels in
the line, and followed by the discharge of one of her
long guns, pointed at the Laurence. As the
American was still a mile and a half distant, the
shot fell short ; but this space was being gradually
lessened, and the battle was soon fairly opened.
One of the two schooners in the van replied with a

* For the origin of this motto, see page 199.

■*, ; I

13a

fVAA' ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

long gun, while the Lawrence, being armed with
carronades, bore down upon the British flagship, to
engage her at short range. This she succeeded in
doing, but not without suffering considerably, and the
three largest of the British vessels concentrat heir
fire on her. The two foremost schooners fought
their long guns well ; but as they had been ordered
to keep to windward of the flagship (that is, a little
farther from the enemy) they did not draw off any
of the fire from her. But, after two hours of this,
the Niagara drew ahead of the Caledonia, thus as-
suming the place in the line next to the Lawrence,
and fought most gallantly ; still, this hardly lessened
the fire that was poured into the flagship wk'-^h the
enemy seemed determined to sink. Man " her
spars were shot away, all of her guns on the star-
board side, but one, were rendered useless, and of a
hundred men on board, twenty- two were killed and
sixty-one wounded — a proportion of casualties that
had never been equalled in any similar battle.

The Laivrcncc dropped out of the fight, and Perry
transferred his flag to the Niagara, which pulled
ahead to a position for engaging the Detroit. When
the enemy saw the flag come down, they supposed
they had gained a victory, stopped firing, and
cheered. But the decisive struggle was yet to
come. Captain Elliott, of the Niagara, passed down

I8i3.]

f^AA' ON THE LAKES.

133

the line in a small boat, delivering to the command-
er of each vessel Perry's order 10 close up and at-
tack the enemy at half pistol-shot with grape and
canister. He then remained with and commanded
one of the last vessels in the line, leaving the
Niagara to Perry.

At this time the wind freshened, Perry showed
the signal for close action, an answering cheer
passed along his line, and once more the whole
squadron bore down upon the enemy. Barclay at-
tempted to manoeuvre his vessels so as to bring his
uninjured broadsides to bear ; but his line got into
confusion, and two of the vessels fouled.

Perry took prompt advantage of this. The
Niagara sailed right through the confused British
line, having two of t' ir vessels on one side, and
three on the other — all ithin s.iort range^and de-
livered her deadly broadsides in both directions as
she passed. Then she luffed across their bows, and
raked them, and the cries that came from the Detroit
told that this merciless operation had had its usual
deadly effect. At the same time, the other Ameri-
can vessels came into close action, and their gun?
were served with great rapidity. This destructive
work had lasted about twenty minutes when an
officer of the Queen Charlotte displayed a white
handkerchief on the point of a pike, and four of the

134

fVAH ON THE LAKES.

[i8l3.

1*^

British vessels struck their colors. The other two
attempted to escape, but were overtaken in about
an hour and compelled to surrender.

In this battle, the entire loss of the Americans
was twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded.
Twelve of these were quarterdeck officers. As
more than a hundred out of four hundred on board
had previously been rendered unfit for duty by
dysentery and cholera, the proportion of casualties
to effective men was more than one in three. The
British lost forty-one killed and ninety-four wound-
ed, including twelve officers. Captain Barclay, who
had lost his left arm in a previous engagement, in
this one lost the use of his right.

The masts of the Detroit and Queen Cha7-lotte were
so injured that they snapped off two days later,
from the rolling of the vessels in the bay, while rid-
ing at anchor during a gale.

In a despatch to General Harrison, Perry an-
nounced his victory in words that have become
famous : " We have met the enemy, and they arc
ours : two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one
sloop." Congress voted him a gold medal for his
achievement. As the question of the fighting qual-
ities of the black man has since been considerably
discussed, it is worth noting that in this bloody and
brilliant battle a large number of Perry's men were

I '4

i8i3.]

JV.iA' OAT THE LAKES.

»35

Negroes. Much of the credit of the victory has been
claimed for Captain Jesse D. Elliott, who undoubt-
edly deserved it, and his services were generously
acknowledged in Perry's official report.

Many interesting incidents of this famous action
have been related by different participants. At the
opening of the battle, the English musicians played
the well-known air of" Rule, Britannia ! — Britannia,
rule the waves!" — on which the result of the fight
was a ludicrous comment, proving that an exception
must be made in favor of the waves of Lake Erie.

On the British flagship there was a pet hear, and
when the victors stepped on board they found it
eagerly lapping up the blood from the deck.

The British commander had repeated the silly
performance of nailing his colors to the mast, which
never has any other effect than to sacrifice lives that
might have been saved if the signal of surrender,
when surrender became necessary, could have been
displayed instantly.

On Captain Barclay's vessel were three Indians,
whom he placed in the tops, or cross-trees, with
rifles in their hands, to pick off the American offi-
cers, that kind of work being exactly suited to their
taste. But as the first part of the action was fought
at long cannon-range, beyond the reach of rifle-shot,
they found themselves in danger from numerous

136

tVA/i ON THE LAKES.

[1813.

large balls that went tearing through the rigging,
and at the same time totally unable to murder any-
body on the distant vessels. Indians have always
stood m mortal terror of artillery. So they descend-
ed to the deck ; but here they found it still more
dangerous, and finally the disgusted braves retreated
down the hatchway. When the Americans came on
board, they found them hidden in the hold. This
is probably the only instance of Indians taking part,
or attempting to take part, in modern naval war-
fare. But they have a legend of a great Indian
naval battle that took place on the waters of this
same lake two hundred years before.

The Scnecas — so runs the story — who inhabited
the southern and eastern shores of Ontario and the
St. Lawrence, had declared war against the Wyan-
dots, who inhabited the northern and western
shores. A Wyandot chief, gambling with a Seneca,
had vvon his wife ; but the Seneca refused to give
her up. Shortly afterward she eloped with the
Wyandot, and they escaped to the country of the
Pottawatomies, in Michigan. This was the cause
of the war, which the Senecas began by crossing the
St. Lawrence, surprising a Wyandot village, and
cruelly murdering a large number of the inhabitants.

Finally the whole Wyandot nation fled before their
enemies, passed alone the northern

»g

I8i3.]

fVAA' ON THE LAKES.

137

Ontario, crossed the peninsula north of Lake Erie,
and after great suffering and serious losses escaped
by crossing St. Clair River on cakes of floating ice.

The next summer the Senecas planned a naval ex-
pedition against the Wyandots, to be fitted out at
the eastern end of Lake Erie, near the present site
of Buffalo, pass up the lake and through Detroit
River, and rescue the stolen squaw and exterminate
the tribe. But the Wyandots had early informa-
tion of this design, and several of the tribes in-
habiting the peninsula of Michigan joined with them
in preparations to repel the threatened invasion.

The war-canoes built by the Senecas were " dug-
outs," hewn from the trunks of large trees. The
Wyandots and their allies prepared a fleet of birch-
bark canoes, which were much lighter, swifter, and
more easily manoeuvred, and went down the lake to
meet their enemy. They coasted along the northern
shore as far as North Point, where they waited to
make a reconnoissance. The Wyandot who had
carried off the woman crossed the lake alone,
climbed a tall tree overlooking the rendezvous of the
Senecas, and counted their craft and noted their prep-
arations. Then he passed by a wide circuit around
their encampment, swam the Niagara below the
Fails, and the next day rejoined the fleet of the
allies, to whom he was able to give all necessary in-

i3>

iva/k' on the lakes.

[1813.

formation as to the number and equipment of their
enemy.

They set sail — or rather pulled paddles — at once.
But when in full sight of the Senecas, pretended to
be frightened, and retreated. The Senecas gave a
war whoop, launched their heavy canoes, and pad-
dled after them as fast as possible. When the allies
had thus drawn their antagonists far away from the
shore, they suddenly turned upon them, and a
bloody and merciless battle ensued, which lasted for
several hours. Indian after Indian was cut down,
or gradually hacked to pieces, or knocked ovei board.
Some of the canoes were run down ; others were
grappled together while their occupants fought hand-
to-hand. The lighter boats of the allies were a great
advantage, and finally the Senecas were defeated.
The dead and the badly wounded were then thrown
overboard, while the prisoners were reserved for tor-
ture. One Seneca was found to have concealed
himself in the bottom of a canoe, feigning death
that he might escape captivity. The victors cut off
his nose and ears, and knocked out his teeth, and in
that disgraceful plight sent him home to bear the
news of the disaster to his tribe. On the bank of
Niagara River the captured canoes were piled up for
a funeral pyre, and a hundred of the wounded Sene-
cas were tied and laid upon it. Fire was set to it,

I8i3.]

PVAA' ON THE LAKES.

139

and as one and another escaped when his shackles
were burned off, he was shot down with arrows or
brained with a war-club. When the victims were
all reduced to ashes, the allies celebrated their vic-
tory with a feast and dance, and then returned
home. Such was the legend told by Walk-in-the-
Water, a Wyandot chief, when he heard of Perry's
victory, which he thought was a small affair in com-
parison with the exploit of his ancestors.

By the capture of the British fleet, the lakes were
cleared of the enemy, and but one more movement
was necessary in order to restore to the United
States all that had been lost by Hull's surrender.
How successfully that movement was executed will
be shown in the next chapter.

I
I

CHAPTER VIII.

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

Harrison's Advance — Proctor's Retreat — Nature of the Ground — Dis-
position of tlie Indians — The Battle — Death of Tecumseh — Flight
of Proctor — Results of the Campaign.

The opportunity which General Harrison had
been waiting for had now arrived. He had been
joined by Governor Shelby, of Kentucky, who
brought three thousand five hundred mounted men,
and also by two hundred Indians. His prepara-
tions for an invasion of Canada were complete ;
and Perry's victory not only gave him the necessary
means of transportation, but removed a hostile fleet
that might have prevented his landing an army on
Canadian soil. His troops rendezvoused on the
peninsula near Sandusky ; the total force, including
a few regulars, numbering about five thousand men.

Colonel Richard M. Johnson, with his regiment of
cavalry, was sent to Detroit by land, there to cross
the river. All the other troops, with their equip-
ments, were taken on board Perry's vessels and car-
ried up Detroit River, and landed, on the 27th of
September, at a point three miles below Amherst-
burg. They marched at once on Maiden, and took

K ^

i8i3-]

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

J41

possession of that post without opposition. The
British General Proctor had abandoned it, but not
till he had destroyed the barracks, the stores, and as
much of the fortifications as was possible. Harrison
expected a fight, and had his forces formed in battle
order as they advanced ; but Proctor's purpose was
simply to get out of the way of his enemy, and
escape if possible to Niagara. He had about six
hundred white soldiers who were fit for duty, and a
force of Indians variously estimated at from eight
hundred to fifteen hundred.

Harrison left detachments at Detroit, Amherst-
burg, and Sandwich, and with the remainder of his
force — about three thousand five hundied men — set
out, on the 2d of October, in pursuit of Proctor.
The enemy had retreated along the southern shore
of Lake St. Clair, and thence up the river Thames,
which flows into that lake. Proctor's baggage and
artillery were carried by water, in small vessels ; and
Harrison in his pursuit was materially aided by Cap-
tain Perry, whose boats carried the baggage and
supplies the whole length of the lake and fifteen
miles up the river. At that point Perry left the
water, and served on Harrison's staff.

Four considerable streams crossed the line of re-
treat, and Proctor might have seriously delayed the
pursuit, and perhaps entirely stopped it, by destroy-

142

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

[1813,

ing the bridge over any one of them. He seems not
to have thought of this at the first stream, where
the Americans found the bridge intact. At the
second, a Heutenant and eleven men had been left
with orders to destroy the bridge ; but before they
had accomplished their task, Harrison's advance
guard came up and captured them. The third
bridge, partially destroyed, was defended by a con-
siderable body of Indians ; but a few. shots from two
six-pounders dispersed them, and the structure was
soon repaired. The fourth bridge was likewise
partly destroyed, and guarded by Indians, who were
not so easily driven away. The mounted Kentuck-
ians pushed forward, and had a brisk skirmish with
the savages, in which half a dozen of the whites were
killed or wounded, and thirteen of the Indians were
killed. The enemy then set fire to a large house
near the bridge, a distillery, and three vessels that
were loaded with military stores, and continued his
retreat. As soon as the bridge could be repaired,
Harrison's troops crossed it, extinguished the fire in
the house, and found in it two thousand stand of
arms. Early on the 5th the pursuit was renewed.
The route was still along the Thames, and in the
course of the day the Americans captured two gun-
boats and several batteaux, all laden with provisions
and ammunition.

i8l3]

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

143

By this time, Proctor's Indians were tired of re-
treating, and were determined either to have a fight
of some sort or leave him. About sixty of them
actually deserted, and offered their services to Har-
rison, who declined them — not because he disbe-
lieved in the employment of Indians, for he had
some in his own force, but probably because he
thought it unwise to employ troops of any sort who
recognized no principle and were ready to go from
one side to the other as the fortunes of war might
fluctuate.

Both armies were now on the north side of the
Thames, and Harrison's scouts brought news that
the enemy had formed in line of battle at a point
about two and a half miles from Moravian Town,
four miles in advance of where Harrison then was.
At the place chosen there was a marsh, the edge of
which was about five hundred yards distant from,
the river and parallel with it for two miles. Mid-
way between was a little marsh. The road ran be-
tween the little marsh and the river. The ground
was largely covered with an open growth of forest
trees, but there was no underbrush.

Proctor placed his best English troops, with hig
artillery, in a line stretching from the river to the
little marsh, his cannon commanding the road. Be-
hind this line were his reserves. The Indians, com-

i A

144

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

[1813.

lit

manded by Tecumseh, who was a brigadier-general
in the British scivicc, formed a line between the two
marslies, and a large number of them were thrown
forward in the edge of the great marsh, that they
might fall upon the left flank of the Americans.

Harrison placed his mounted troops in front, and
behind them two thirds of his infantry, while the re-
mainder was thrown back at an angle on the left, to
be able to face the Indians in the marsh. The
mounted men were formed in two columns, all under
command of Colonel Richard M. Johnson, who rode
with '"he left column. The right column was com-
manded immediately by his brother, Lieutenant-
Colonel James Johnson.

At the sound of the bugle, the columns rode for-
ward, slowly and steadily at first. As the right
column came within musket-shot of the enemy, it
received a volley or two, and here and there a
trooper tumbled from his horse. The pace was im-
mediately quickened, and in two minutes a solid
column of a thousand dragoons went crashing
through the British line, cutting down every oppos-
ing soldier within reach of its sabres. The column
immediately re-formed in rear of the enemy's posi-
tion, and repeated the charge, at the same time fir-
ing into the broken ranks, when the entire left wing
was thrown into confusion before the men could fix

1813]

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

«45

their bayonets, and four hundred and seventy of
them, with their officers, surrendered.

On the other wing, as Colonel Richard M. John-
son's column rode up at a charge, the Indians re-
served their fire till they were within a few paces,
and then gave them a destructive volley. Almost
the whole of the advance guard fell before it, and
Colonel Johnson was wounded. Finding that the
ground here, between the two marshes, was unsuit-
able for horses. Colonel Johnson at once ordered
his men to dismount, and for eight or ten minutes
there was hard fighting, at close range, with the rifle.
After charges and counter-charges, the Indians be-
gan to give way. At this moment Governor Shelby
brought up the reserves, and about the same time
Tecumseh fell, and the savages then broke and fled.

The question, who killed Tecumseh, though not
of much importance, has been warmly discussed.
Thomson, one of the earliest authorities for the his-
tory of this war, says : " Colonel R. M. Johnson
had been five times wounded, and in that state, cov-
ered with blood, and exhausted by pain and fatigue,
he personally encountered Tecumseh. The Colonel
was mounted on a white charger, at which, being a
conspicuous object, the Indians had continually
levelled their fire. A shower of bullets had fallen
round him ; his holsters, his clothes, and most of his

146

BATTLE OF THE THAMES.

I1813.

'il

accoutrements were pierced in several places ; and
at the instant when he discovered Tecumseh, his
horse received a second wound. Tecumseh, having
discharged his rifle, sprang forward with his toma-
hawk, and had it already raised to throw, when
Colonel Johnson's horse staggered back, and imme-
diately the Colonel drew forth a pistol, shot the Ind-
ian through the head, and both fell to the ground
together."

When the savages in front were defeated, those
that had been posted in the edge of the great marsh
vanished through the woods.

General Proctor, when he saw his lines broken,
abandoned the field and drove o'T with all possible
speed in his carriage, accompanied by a mounted
body guard. He was conscious that he deserved no
quarter for his cold-blooded massacres, and feared
that if he fell into the hands of American soldiers
he might get his deserts. As a matter of fact.
General Harrison had instructed his men before the
battle that if Proctor was captured he should be
brought in unharmed. A detachment sent in pui
suit of him pressed him so closely that h" ab ''

his carriage, leaving his sword and tiMP
in it, and took to the woods ; whei ac .

mounted and familiar with the couii ly, the could
not overtake him. But though he escaped the

I8i3]

BAT'J'I.E OF J HE J' 11 AMES,

i\mcricans, by his own government he was court-
niartialled, reprimanded, and suspended for six
HKjnths. If he had previously been punished for
viohiting the kiws of war, and an abler and better
man put into his place, this disaster might not have
befallen the British arms. It was not when they
massacred defenceless people, but only when they
lost battles, that the English Government was dis-
satisfied with unsoldier-like conduct in its oflficers.

In this action, the Americans lost about fifty men
killed or wounded. Among the killed was Colonel
Whitley, a soldier of the Revolution, who had vol-
unteered as a private. The British lost about a
hundred and eighty killed or wounded, and nearly
all the remainder were made prisoners. It was sup-
posed that about a hundred and twenty Indians
were killed ; at least thirty-three were left dead on
the field, and an unknown number carried away.
Among the spoils of the victory were several brass
cannon which had been captured with Burgoyne at
Saratoga, surrendered by Hull at Detroit, and now
came a second time into the hands of the Americans.

Harrison destroyed Moravian Town the day after
. the battle, and then marched back to Detroit. Proc-
tor had the good taste to send a flag of truce, re-
questing that the prisoners be humanely treated.
As General Harrison had already given up his own

148

BA TTLE OF THE THAMES.

[1813.

tent to some of the wounded British officers, it is
probable that they were.

By this brief and brilliant campaign, Harrison de-
stroyed the British power in that part of Canada, re-
stored the territory of Michigan to the United
States, killed the great Indian leader who had been
the most dangerous enemy of the Americans in the
West, separated the tribes that had been assisting
the English, and compelled some of them to make
peace on his own terms. At Detroit he discharged
Shelby's volunteers, gave the place a garrison of a
thousand men, restored civil law, and made General
Cass provisional governor of the territory. Three
weeks later, he and the remainder of his troops were
taken on board Perry's fleet and carried to Buffalo.

On the same day that the battle of the Thames
was fought, Commodore Chauncey, in pursuit of
Yeo's fleet on Lake Ontario, captured a cutter and
four transports, on board of which were two hundred
and sixty-four British officers and soldiers.

CHAPTER IX.

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION,

Armstrong's Plans — Position of the Troops — Descent of the St. Law-
rence — Battle of Chrysler's Field — Hampton's Defeat— Cost of
the Campaign — Effects on the Niagara Frontier — Capture of Fort
Niagara — Destruction of Buffalo and other Villages.

The final military operations of this year on the
northern border were the most disappointing, and
on the whole the most disgraceful, of any that had
been undertaken. General John Armstrong had be-
come Secretary of War early in the year, and in
February had submitted a plan, which the President
at once approved, for the conquest of Canada by
means of an expedition against Montreal.

Armstrong had seen service in the Revolution,
and was the author of the anonymous " Newburg
Addresses," which had given Washington so much
trouble. Although he planned the expedition in
February, he allowed the entire summer to go by
before attempting its execution, and it set out in
October, the worst time of year for such an under-
taking. The first requisite for any military move-
ment is, that it shall 'be under the supreme command
of some one man. But the left wing of the army

I'i

150

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

[1813.

which was to make this one was commanded by
General James Wilkinson, at Sackett's Harbor,
while the right wing was under General Wade
Hampton, at Plattsburg, and between these two
officers there was not only no cordial friendship, but
a positive jealousy that rendered it almost impossi-
ble for them to act in concert. Although Wilkinson
was the ranking officer, Hampton maintained that his
own must be considered as a separate and indepen-
dent command, and himself not subordinate to any-
body but the Secretary of War. He thus put in
practice on a small scale a vicious principle whose
advocacy on a vastly larger scale has since given
some of his descendants an unenviable prominence.
So old a soldier as Armstrong should have known
that the first thing necessary to the success of his
scheme was the removal of one or the other of these
officers, and conferring upon some one general the
absolute command of all forces that were to take
part in it. As he had stationed himself and his
War Department at Sackett's Harbor, he perhaps
imagined that he could direct the expedition from
there, and, holding both generals subordinate to
himself, cause the two wings to act in concert. If
so, he was wofully mistaken. A man sixty years of
age, who owned three thousand slaves and was ac-
customed '"^ no check upon his least caprice, who

i8i3]

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

151

now had four thousand troops under his command
— a large number in that war — and was distant a
hundred and fifty miles from his superior, with a
wilderness between, could not be expected to hold
himself subordinate to anybody.

General Wilkinson had removed most of the
troops from Fort George on the Niagara, taking
them down the lake, and he now had a total force
of about eight thousand men. The right wing, un-
der Hampton, n; mbered half as many more. The
final plan was, to move down the St. Lawrence with
Wilkinson's force, while Hampton's moved north-
ward to unite with it at or near the mouth of the
Chateaugua ; the combined force then to strike for
Montreal. Wilkinson rendezvoused his troops at
Grenadier Island, eighteen miles below Sackett's
Harbor, near the point where the waters of the lake
find their outlet in the St. Lawrence. The British
were apprised of the movement, and drew a large
force from the Niagara frontier to Kingston, sup-
posing that was to be the point of attack ; and in-
deed this had been the first intention of the Ameri-
cans. To strengthen this impression on the part of
the enemy, and induce him to hold his forces at
Kingston as long as possible, Wilkinson appointed a
second rendezvous at the mouth of French Creek,
eighteen miles farther down. The command of the

lit

li!

152

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

[1813.

advance was given to General Jacob Brown, who
had successfully defended Sackett's Haibor in May.
On the 1st and 2d of November the British squadron
attacked the advance, but without effecting any-
thing.

On the 5th Wilkinson's entire force moved down
the St. Lawrence. They occupied more than three
nundred boats, which made a procession five miles
long. At Prescott the river was commanded by
British batteries, and to avoid them Wilkinson de-
barked his troops and stores a short distance above
that place, and sent them by land to Red Mill, some
distance below. The boats were run by the batteries
at night, and escaped injury, though under a heavy
fire for a considerable time.

But it was found that the enemy had planted
batteries at several other places, to obstruct and if
possible destroy the flotilla. Colonel Alexander
Macomb was ordered to cross the river with twelve
hundred of the best troops in the army, and, march-
ing down the north bank, abreast of the flotilla,
drive away or capture the gunners. In this task he
was assisted by Forsyth's riflemen, who crossed a
little later. The cavalry and Brown's brigade passed
over next c v.

They found plenty of fighting to do, though of a
desultory kind. There was a battery at nearly

i8i3.]

WILKINSON'S . XP EDITION.

153

every narrow place in the river, and small parties
of the enemy were continually hanging on the rear
of the Americans, firing whenever they found a
chance. Eight miles below Hamilton, Macomb had
a fight with a party strongly posted in a block-house,
and succeeded in driving them out.

Meanwhile General De Rottcnburg, who had
come down to Kingston from Qucenstown, sent a
force of fifteen hundred men, with two schooners
and seven gunboats, to follow the expedition and at-
tack its rear guard at every opportunity. It was
Commodore Chauncey's duty to prevent any British
force from leaving the harbor of Kingston at this
time ; but unaccountably he failed to do it. On the
Qth the American riflemen had a brisk skirmish with
a body of Canadian militia and Indians, and finally
drove them off.

By the loth the Long Rapid was reached, and
Wilkinson put most of his men ashore, that the
boats might shoot the rapid with greater safety.
That evening the British gun-boats came up and
opened a cannonade upon the barges, which for a
time threatened to destroy them. But the Amc-i-
cans took two eightecn-pounders ashore, and im-
provised a battery, with which they soon drove off
the gun-boats.

By this time the enemy's forces were pretty well

M-

f 11

illi

1 54

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

L1813.

united in the rear of the expedition, and the gun-
boats had been brought to act in concert. It was
evident that the Americans could not safely proceed
farther till a battle had been fought.

The troops were encamped on the farm of John
Chrysler, a captain in the British service, a short
distance below Williamsburg. On the morning of
the nth it was found that the enemy had t.iken a
position close in the rear, in battle order, his left
resting on a swamp, and his right on the river, where
his gun-boats were moored. His line was well
placed, and he had three pieces of artillery in posi-
tion. As General Wilkinson was too ill to take the
field, or even rise from his bed, the command of the
American forces devolved upon General John Parker
Boyd. Boyd, now about fifty years of age, had en-
tered the United States service as early as 1786,
but later had been a soldier of fortune in India, rais-
ing and equipping there, at his own expense, a force
of fifteen hundred men, and selling their services to
the highest bidder. Still later he returned to the
United States, and was with Harrison at the battle
of Tippecanoe.

Orders were given to drive back the enemy, and
General Robert Swartwout's brigade dashed into the
woods and routed the British advance, which fell
back upon the main body. The brigade of General

i8i3]

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

155

Leonard Covington suppi.rted Swartwout's, attack-
ing the British right while Swartvvout attacked the
left. It was a cold, raw day, and part of the time there
was snow and sleet in the air. There were charges
and counter-charges, the contending columns alter-
nately advancing and retiring across ploughed fields,
where the men were often up to their knees in mud.
All the romance of war was lacking, while all its dis-
agreeable elements were present in full force. There
were wounds enough, and death enough, and misery
enough, and, as it proved, no decisive or profitable
victory for either side. The Americans had the
greater number of men, but this advantage was fully
counterbalanced by the fact that they were the
attacking party, and there were several deep ravines
which they could not cross with their artillery to
bring it into use, while the British used their own
guns throughout the action.

The attack was spirited and determined, and
seemed likely to succeed ; but after a while the Am-
erican right wing found its ammunition exhausted,
and about the same time the left was discouran-ed
and thrown into some confusion by the fall of Gen-
eral Covington, mortally wounded. The enemy now
massed troops on his right wing, and pressed for-
ward heavily, so that he captured one of the Ameri-
can guns ; a charge of cavalry under Adjutant-

■h^

■^BT, ,

'56

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

[1813.

General Walbach, and the coolness and bravery of
Captain Armstrong Irvine, being all that prevented
him from seizing the others.

For two hours longer the contest swayed to and
fro across the miry fields for the distance of a mile,
till the Americans brought up a reserve of six hun-
dred men under Lieutenant-Colonel Upham, by
which order was restored and the line firmly estab-
lished, to await the next onset of the enemy. But
no further assault was made, and in the night the
Americans retired unmolested to their boats.

This action is sometimes called the battle of Wil-
liamsburg, sometimes the battle of Chrysler's Field.
Both sides claimed the victory, and there has been
much dispute both as to the number of men engaged
and as to the losses. The British probably had a
thousand men, including Indians ; the Americans
seventeen hundred. General Wilkinson reported a
loss of one hundred and two killed, and two hundred
and thirty-seven wounded — one man in five. The
British loss was reported at one hundred and eighty-
eight killed, wounded, or missing — nearly one in
five. Among the American officers who distin-
guished themselves on this field was Lieutenant
William J. Worth, who afterward rose to eminence
as a major-general.

Disregarding the military maxim which forbids an

1S13.I

WILA'/NSOA" S EXPEDITION.

157

invading army to leave an enemy in its rear, Wilkin-
son next day passed down the Long Rapids with
his whole force, and near Cornwall was joined by
General Brown, who had been sent forward to attack
the post at the foot of the rapids. This had been
done by a fight at Hoophole Creek, where about
eight hundred of Brown's men, under the imme-
diate command of Colonel Scott, had defeated an
equal number of the enemy and taken many prison-
ers.

But here a courier arrived at Wilkinson's head-
quarters, bringing a letter from General Hampton,
in which he announced that he would not join the
expedition as ordered, or attempt to invade Canada
any farther.

The truth was, Hampton had moved down the
Chateaugua with about four thousand men, intend-
ing to join Wilkinson. He was opposed by a force
of about one thousand, including Indians, com-
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel De Salaberry. The
active opposition began at a point where the road
passed through a forest. Here the enemy had felled
trees across the line of march, constructed abattis,
and posted light troops and Indians in the woods.
But Hampton sent a regiment to turn the enemy's
flank and occupy the open country in the rear, while
strong working parties opened a new road by a de-

t ■

158

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

[1813.

tour, enabling his whole force to follow, and thus the
first obstruction was skilfully passed.

But eight or ten miles in advance a more formid-
able obstacle was encountered. Here was another
forest, in which the enemy had constructed not only
abattis but timber breastworks, and planted artillery.
The guides assured Hampton that the river, along
whose bank his route lay, was fordable opposite the
enemy's flank. He thereupon formed an elaborate
plan for sending a force to ford the stream above,
march to a point below the enemy, ford again, and
fall on his flank and rear ; while the main body was
to attack in front when the firing was heard. The
detachment was commanded by Colonel Purdy, who
afterward said it " was intrusted to the guidance of
men, each of whom repeatedly assured him [Hamp-
ton] that they wi re not acquainted with the coun-
try, and were not competent to direct such an ex-
pedition ; while at the same time he had a man
who had a perfect knowledge of the country, whom
he promised to send, but which he neglected to
do."

The detachment, which left camp in the evening
of October 25th, crossed the stream, and soon got
lost in a hemlock swamp, where it wandered about
in the darkness, sometimes doubling on its tracks, so
that the two ends of the column would come in con-

1S13.]

IVILAJNSOA" S EXPEDI TlOt^.

«5';

tact with each otlicr and wonder whether they had
met friend or foe. As might have been expected, it
completely failed to find the lower ford.

In the afternoon of the 26th, though nothing had
been heard from the detachment, the main force
moved against the works in front. De Salaberry
boldly threw forward a force to meet it, resting his
left on the river and his right on a thick wootl, in
the edge of which he posted a body of Indians.
The cracking of rifles began at once, and sharp and
persistent fighting ensued. Slowly and steadily the
Americans, under the immediate command of Ge»'>-
eral George Izard, pressed back this advance upon
the main body of the enemy. But at this point the
detachment across the river encountered a detach-
ment of British troops. Purdy's advance guard was
driven back, and then fire was opened upon him by
a concealed body of militia, which threw him into
confusion and caused a disorderly retreat. At the
same time, Hampton was deceived by a ruse of De
Salaberry's, who had placed buglers at several points
in the woods, with orders to sound an advance.
Thoroughly disconcerted, and perhaps frightened by
this failure of his plan, and the supposed onset of a
great force of the enemy, Hampton at once with-
drew his troops and abandoned the attack, falling
back soon afterward to Chateaugua Four Corners.

'i:

1 60

WILKINSON' S liXPKDI TION.

[1813.

%. I

.;B'

111!:

■■;'i'

He had lost about forty men killed or wounded ; the
enemy about twenty-five.

On learning of the defection of Hampton, Wilkin-
son called a council of war, the result of which was
a determination to ascend Salmon River and go into
winter quarters. Thus ended ingloriously one more
of the ill-advised and ill-managed attempts to con-
quer Lower Canada.

The cost of these campaigns had been enormous
to both belligerents. The Americans had spent
about two and a half million dollars in building ves-
sels on lakes Erie, Ontario, and Champlain ; which
was a large sum for that day, and yet was small in
comparison with the incidental cost of maintaining
considerable bodies of troops in idleness through a
whole summer while waiting for the fleets to be
built. It was estimated that the conveyance of each
cannon to Sackett's Harbor had cost a thousand
dollars. The flour for Harrison's army, by the time
it reached the troops, had cost a hundred dollars a
barrel. There were long distances through the wil-
derness of Western New York and Northern Ohio
where supplies could only be carried on packhorses,
half a barrel to a horse, and other horses had to fol-
low with forage for those that were carrying the sup-
plies. Most of the horses were used up by a single
trip. Of four thousand used in carrying provisions

'k.

1813]

ly/Lh'INSON'S I'Xl'EDl J/0,V.

i6i

to Harrison, but ciglit hundred were alive the next
spring. Ill Canada tlie hardships of war rested
licavily upon the people as well as the soldiers. All
tiieir salt had come from the United States, and
what little there was on that side of the border when
communication with this country ceased was held
at a dollar a quart. At Kingston flour was thirty
dollars a barrel. So scarce were provisions of all
kinds, that the Government appointed commission-
ers to determine how much food each family should
be permitted to consume. In the British camps,
lean cattle were killed to prevent their starving to
death, and then the meat was eaten by the soldiers.
In later wars we have often succeeded in shooting
more men, but seldom in producing more misery.

The withdrawal of troops from the Niagara frontier
to take part in Wilkinson's expedition left the de-
fence of that line almost entirely to militia, and the
term for which the militia had been called out ex-
pired on the 9th of December. The next day
General George McClure, who had been left in com-
mand at Fort George, found himself at the head of
but sixty effective men, while the British General
Drummond had brought up to the peninsula four
hundred troops and seventy Indians — released by
the failure of Wilkinson's expedition — and was pre-
paring to attack him.

r*
I

It I

A .1

l62

IVILKhVSON' S EXP EDI TION.

[1813.

:j m

ir.lj-j

McCluro thereupon determined to evacuate the
fort, as the only alternative from capture or destruc-
tion, and remove his men and stores across the river
to Fort Niagara, He also determined to burn the vil-
lage of Newark, that the enemy might find no shel-
ter. The laudable part of this plan was but imperfect-
ly carried out ; he failed to destroy the barracks,
and left unharmed tents for fifteen hundred men,
several pieces of artillery, and a large quantity of
ammunition, all of which fell into the hands of
Drummond's men. But the inexcusable part — the
burning of a village in midwinter, inhabited by non-
combatants who had been guilty of no special of-
fence—was only too faithfully executed. The in-
habitants were given twelve hours in which to re-
move their goods, and then the torch was applied,
and not a house was left standing.

This needless cruelty produced its natural result ;
Drummond determined upon swift and ample retali-
ation. In the night of December i8th, just one
week after the burning of Newark, he threw across
the Niagara a force of five hundred and fifty men.
They landed at Five Mile Meadows, three miles
above Fort Niagara, and marched upon it at once,
arriving there at four o'clock in the morning. Mc-
Clure, vvIjo had received an intimation of the
enemy's intention to devastate the American fron-

I813.J

WILKIN SO A ' 5 EX FED I TION.

'63

tier, had gone to Buffalo ^o raise a force to oppose
him. The garrison of the fort consisted of about
four hundred and fifty men, a large number of whom
were in the hospital. The command had been left
to a Captain Leonard, who at this time was three
miles away, sleeping at a farm-house.

The most elaborate preparations had been made
for the capture of the fort, including scaling-ladders
for mounting the bastions. But the Americans
seemed to have studied to make the task as easy as
possible. The sentries were seized and silenced be-
fore they could give any alarm, and the main gate
was found standing wide open, so that the Ikitish
had only to walk straight in and begin at once the
stabbing which had been determined upon.

The guard in the south-east block-house fired one
volley, by which the British commander. Colonel
Murray, was wounded, rnd a portion of the invalids
made what resistance they could. A British lieu-
tenant and five men were killed, and a surgeon and
three men wounded. Sixty-five Americans, two
thirds of whom were invalids, were bayoneted in
their beds ; fifteen others, who had taken refuge in
the cellars, were despatched in the same manner,
and fourteen were wounded ; twenty escaped, and
all the others, about three hundred and forty, were
made prisoners. Some accounts say also that the

141

'Si

'f^

m '

^■^

111!!

164

/ V ILK IN SON' S EXP EDI I 'ION.

[1813.

women in the fort were treated with great cruelty
and indignity.

On the same morning, General Riall, with a de-
tachment of British troops and five hundred Indians,
crossed from Oueenstown and attacked Lewiston.
The small force of Americans here, under Major
Bennett, fought till they were surrounded, and then
cut their way out through the enemy, losing eight
men. The village was then plundered and burned,
the savages adding all the atrocities characteristic of
their mode of warfare.

Riall next marched his troops through the villages
of Youngstown, Tuscarora, and Manchester (now
Niagara Falls), and plundered and burned them all,
while the terror-stricken inhabitants were butchered
or driven away. Nor was the devastation confined
to the villages. For several miles from the river,
the houses and barns of the farmers were destroyed,
and the women and children either killed or turned
shelterless into the woods and fields.

The bridge over Tonawanda Creek had been de-
stroyed by the Americans, and at this point the
enemy turned back, and soon recrossed the Niagara
to the Canada side.

The alarm at Buffalo brought General Hall, of the
New York militia, to that village, where he arrived
the day after Christmas. He found collected there

I8i3]

WILKINSON' S EXPEDITION.

165

a body of seventeen hundred men, whom it would
have been gross flattery to call a " force." They
were poorly supplied with arms and cartridges, and
had no discipline and almost no organization.
Another regiment of three hundred soon joined them,
but without adding much to their efficiency.

On the 28th of December, Drummond reconnoi-
tred the American camp, and determined to attack
it ; for which purpose he sent over General Riall on
the evening of the 29th with fourteen hundred and
fifty men, largely regulars, and a body of Indians.
One detachment landed two miles below Black Rock,
crossed Canajokaties Creek in the face of a slight re-
sistance, and took possession of a battery. The re-
mainder landed at a point betwben Buffalo and Black
Rock, under cover of a battery on the Canadian
shore. Poor as Hall's troops were, they stood long
enough to fire upon the invaders and inflict consid-
erable loss.

As the enemy landed here and formed in battle
order. Hall with his raw militia attacked both wings
and for a short time made a gallant fight, especially
on the American left, where Lieutenant-Colonel
Blakeslie handled four hundred Ontario county men
remarkably well and disputed the ground with great
firmness. Both sides had artillery, with which the
action was opened. As it progressed, however, the

'.' !

i66

IV I L KIN SON' S EXP EDI TION

[1813.

American line was broken in the centre, and Hall
was compelled to fall back. His subsequent
attempts to rally his men were of no avail, and he
himself seems to have lost heart ; as Lieutenant
Riddle, who had about eighty regulars, offered to
place them in front for the encouragement of the
militia to new exertion, but Hall declined. Riddle
then offered, if Hall would give him two hundred
men, to attempt to save the village from destruction,
anc'' at least to bring away the women and children,
that they might not fall under the tomahawk and
scalping-knife ; but even this the General refused,
and the village was then left to its fate, though Rid-
dle went in with his own men and rescued the con-
tents o'" the arsenal and some other property.

Both Buffalo and Black Rock were sacked and
burned, and no mercy was shown. With but two or
three exceptions, those of the inhabitants who were
not able to run away were massacred, many of them
being first submitted to torture and indignity. It is
related that in Buffalo a widow named St. John
" had the address to appease the ferocity of the
enemy so far as to remain in her house uninjured."
Her house and the stone jail were the only buildings
not laid in ashes. In Black Rock every building was
either burned or blown up, except one log house, in
which a few women and children had taken refuge.

iSi3.]

WILKINSON'S EXPEDITION.

167

Whether they had the peculiar address necessary to
" appease the ferocity of the enemy," or were mere-
ly overlooked, is not recorded. Five vessels lying at
the wharves were also burned.

In this expedition the British lost a hundred and
eight men, killed, wounded, or missing. More than
fifty of the Americans were found dead on the field.
Truly, an abundant revenge had been taken for the
burning of Newark. McClure, who had given the
provocation for these atrocities, was an Irishman,
and the absurdity of his whole course in the matter
seemed calculated to justify the common sarcasms
levelled against his countrymen for want of foresight.

All that the Americans had gained on the northern
frontier during the year 181 3, with the exception of
the territory of Michigan, restored by Harrison's
victor>% had now been lost, and on New Year's day
of 18 14 the settlers along the whole length of the
Niagara — those of them who sur 'ved — were shiver-
ing beside the smouldering embers of their homes.

»-.'! ■

\ .'

r ■ ■]

\'h

CHAPTER X.

WAR IN THE SOUTH.

Engagement at Lewistown — Fight in Delaware Bay — Burning of
Havre de Grace, Georgetown, and Fredericktown — Battle at
Craney Island — Destruction of Hampton — Troubles wMth the
Southern Indians — Fight at Burnt Corn Creek — Massacre at Fort
Mims — Jackson's Campaign — Fights at Talluschatches, Talla-
dega, the Hillabee Towns, Autosse, and Econochaca — Dale's
Canoe Fight.

While these costly and almost useless campaigns
were being- fought at the North, the Southern
States were not without their war experiences,
which in some instances were quite as bloody.
Along the southern Atlantic coast the British had
a great advantage from their heavy war-ships,
which blockaded the harbors, ran into the naviga-
ble inlets, bombarded the towns, and sent parties
ashore to plunder and burn. The militia did what
they could to repel these incursions, and in some
cases, by handling a few pieces of artillery skilfully,
drove off the invaders. Lewistown, on Delaware
Bay, was bombarded in April. The shells fell
short, and the rockets went over the town, but
many of the solid shot went through the houses,
doing considerable damage. In May, a party of

I8i3.]

PFAJ^ IN THE SOUTH.

169

V \\

sailors sent ashore to get water for the squadron
near Lewistown were spiritedly attacked by militia,
and compelled to return to their ships with empty
casks. A fortnight later a party was sent ashore
for provisions, but was driven off by the vigilant
militia before a mouthful had been obtained.

On the 29th of July the British sloop-of-war
Martin grounded in Delaware Bay, and eight gun-
boats and two sloops, commanded by Captain
Angus, went down to attack her. They anchored
within three quarters of a mile, and opened upon
her with all their guns. The frigate Ju ui came to
her assistance, and the cannonade was kept up for
nearly two hours. The British sailors proved to be
very poor gunners, in comparison with the Ameri-
cans. Hardly a shot struck the gun-boats, while
the sloop and the frigate were hulled at almost
every discharge. At length the British manned their
launches, barges, and cutters, to the number of ten,
and pulled off to cut out some of the gun-boats at
the end of the line. Eight of them attacked a sin-
gle gun-boat commanded by Sailing-Master Shead,
who used his sweeps to get his craft nearer the
squadron, from which it had become separated, but
all the while kept firing his twenty-four pounder at
his pursuers, striking one or another of them with
almost every shot. Finding they were rapidly gain-

'Jt!

wmf

W*"

mmm

170

IV A/? IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

it 'HI
i ^''!

iiiiii

•

ing on liim, he anchored and waited for them to
attempt boarding. He gave them two more gun-
fuls, as they drew nigh, with terrible effect, when
the piece became disabled. The barges completely
surrounded the little gun-boat, and there was a des-
perate conflict hand-to-hand. But of course it
could not last long. Shead's crew were soon over-
powered, and the British flag waved triumphantly
over his deck. Seven of the British sailors had
been killed, and twelve wounded, while seven of
Shead's men were wounded.

On the Chesapeake the Americans fared even
worse. Early in the morning of the 3d of May,
the British Admiral Cockburn sent a force in nine-
teen barges to destroy the town of Havre de Grace
and ravage the country between it and Baltimore.
A small battery had been erected for the defence
of the place ; but it was still dark when the enemy
came, and the first notice the inhabitants had
of his approach was given by the balls whistling
through the houses. A panic and stampede en-
sued. But a few men ran to the battery, and fired
at the barges till the British began to land, when
they all joined in the flight, except an old man
named O'Neill, who stood by one of the guns and
continued to load and fire it till, in recoiling, it ran
over his thigh and somewhat disabled him. He

i8i3l

PVA/f IN THE SOUTH.

171

still had strength to get away, armed himself with
two muskets, and tried in vain to rally the militia,
but finally was taken prisoner. He and his com-
panions at the battery had killed three of the
enemy and wound :d two.

As soon as the British forces had landed, fire was
set to the houses not already destroyed by shells,
while the sailors and marines went through them,
smashing furniture, cutting open beds to feed the
flames, insulting women, and spreading terror.
One house only, filled with women, was spared
after a special appeal to the Admiral. A church
just outside of the town was gutted, farm-houses on
the road to Baltimore were plundered, travellers
were robbed, and bridges, furnaces, and mills were
destroyed.

The little villages of Georgetown and Frederick-
town, Maryland, were the next spoil of the Admi-
ral, who led the ravaging party in person. But he
did not succeed in landing till his men in the boats
had suffered severely from the fire of a battery
manned by thirty-five militiamen, which was kept
up steadily for half an hour. Not a house was left
standing in either of the villages, and the enemy
enriched themselves with all the plunder they could
carry away.

About this time Admiral W^arren, who had issued

! , 'i

172

//'.//? IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

from Bermuda a proclamation dcclarinfr New York,
Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, and the whole
of the Mississippi River under blockade —a paper
blockade, at which both Americans and neutrals
laughed — joined Admiral Cockburn, in the Chesa-
peake, and they determined to extend as far as
possible the pillaging and burning of towns on the
coast.

The next one selected v/as Norfolk, Va. But the
approach to the town was commanded by a battery
on Craney Island, and this battery was promptly
manned by a hundred American sailors, under
command of Lieutenant Neale, of the navy, and
fifty marines under Lieutenant Breckenridge. It
was dawn of day on the 22d of June when four
thousand British sailors and marines, in barges,
came in sight of the island ; and when they were
fairly under the guns of the battery, it blazed out.
The pieces were served rapidly and with such pre-
cision that many of the barges were cut clear in
two, and their occupants would have been drowned
had they not been promptly rescued by the others.
The Admiral was in a boat fifty feet long, called
the Centipede, and this was so riddled with shot
that he and his crew had barely time to get out of it
when it sank. Before this merciless and unremit-
ting fire the squadron of barges at length retreated

1813.]

W^//i? IN THE SOUTir.

«73

to the ships. At the same time, a body of eight
hundred soldiers had been put ashore, to attack the
town by land. But for them a force of Virgiiii:i
volunteers, under Colonel Bcatty, were waiting,
with a well-placed battery of six guns. The enemy
had not all landed when the battery opened upon
them, with such effect that they retreated at once.
A part of them took refuge in a house, from which
they fired rockets at the battery-men ; but an
American gun-boat came up and sent a few twenty-
four-pound balls crashing through the house, when
the last of the enemy fled, making their way back
to the fleet as speedily as possible.

Smarting under this defeat, the British command-
ers immediately planned the destruction of Hamp-
ton, eighteen miles from Norfolk, which they ^up-
posed would cut off communication between the
latter place and the upper part of Virginia.

At daylight on the 25th, two thousand five hun-
dred soldiers, commanded by vSir Sydney Beckwith,
were landed several miles below Hampton, and
marched on the town. At the same time, a squad-
ron of boats, commanded by Admiral Cockburn and
protected by the sloop-of-war Mohawk, drew up
before the place and fired in rockets, shells, and
solid shot. The entire garrison of the place con-
sisted of six hundred and thirty-six men, com-

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

_ iia

m m

»5^

S m

2.2
M

1.8

i-4 ill 1.6

S' i)'

>^^

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

174

WAR r: THE SOUTH.

[1813.

manded by Major Crutchfield, who had seven pieces
of artillery.

As Cockburn's barges approached the town, fire
was opened upon them with two twelve-pounders,
which did so much execution that the Admiral
found it discreet to draw off and take position
behind a point of land where the American gunners
could not see him. From this shelter he fired
rockets and shells for an hour, but 30 wildly that
not the slightest damage was effected by them.

Crutchfield sent a company of riflemen, under
Captain Servant, with orders to conceal themseh'es
in the woods near the road where Beckwith's
column would pass in approaching the town, to
annoy and delay it as much as possible. This was
done so skilfully as to inflict considerable loss upon
the enemy ; and when Crutchfield saw that the
barges would not approach the town again till it
was in the possession of Beckwith, he marched with
the greater part of his force to the assistance of the
riflemen, leaving Captain Pryvjr with a few men to
manage the battery and keep off the barges.

Crutchfield's column was fired upon just as the
British column had been, by riflemen concealed in
a wood ; and as he wheeled to charge upon the
hidden foe, he was greeted by a sudden fire from
two six-pounders and a discharge of rockets. The

i8i3.]

IVA/i IN THE SOUTH.

175

enemy*s artillery was so well handled that Crutch-
field's column was broken up, and a portion of it
driven from the field. The remainder made its way
through a defile, all the while under fire, to a junc-
tion with Servant's riflemen. At the same time Cap-
tain Cooper, with what few cavalrymen the Ameri-
cans had, was annoying the enemy's left flank.

Crutchfield kept up the fighting with spirit as
long as possible, but of course was obliged to give
way at last. Captain Pryor and his men held their
ground at the battery, preventing any landing from
the barges, till the enemy's land force came up in
the rear and was within sixty yards of the guns.
He then ordered the artillerists to spike the pieces,
and break through the corps of British marines ap-
proaching in the rear ; which order was at once
obeyed, to the astonishment of the marines, who
failed to hurt or capture a single man. With Cap-
tain Pryor still at their head, the little band plunged
into a creek and swam across, those who had car-
bines or side-arms taking them with them, and
escaped beyond pursuit. Crutchfield in his retreat
was followed for two miles by a strong force, which
failed to overtake him, while he frequently halted
his men behind fences and walls, to deliver a volley
at the approaching enemy and then continue the
retreat.

176

H^A/i IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

f'f!

1 1 i

{•I;-

■

i (

i *

■ ■{

iiil.

In this fight the British had ninety men killed,
and a hundred and twenty wounded. The Ameri-
can loss was seven killed, twelve wounded, and
twelve missing.

The village of Hampton was now at the mercy of
an enemy who showed no mercy, and was immedi-
ately given up to plunder and outrage, which con-
tinued for two days and nights. The town was not
burned, but every house was ruined as to its furni-
ture and decorations, except the one in which the
commanding officers were quartered. Such deeds
were perpetrated by the British soldiers and sailors,
unrestrained by their officers, as had hardly been
paralleled even in Indian warfare. Neither age
nor sex nor innocence was any protection. In one
case an old and infirm citizen was murdered in the
presence of his aged wife ; and when she remon-
strated, a soldier presented a pistol at her breast
and shot her dead. Women with infants in their
arms were pursued till they threw themselves into
the river to escape, children were wantonly killed,
and such shameful scenes were enacted as cannot
even be mentioned in a history written for youth.
The soldiers destroyed all the medical stores, that
were necessary for the care of the sick and wounded.
They also stole a considerable number of slaves
and sent them to the West Indies, not to be liber-

I8i3.]

WAK IN THE SOUTH.

177

atcd, but to be sold and turned into cash. When
they abandoned the town, they went in such haste
that they left behind a large quantity of provisions,
arms, and ammunition, and some of their men, who
were captured next day by Cooper's cavalry.

The indignation aroused by the unhappy fate of
Hampton was such that General Robert R. Taylor,
commandant of the district, addressed a letter to
Admiral Warren, inquiring whether the outrages
were sanctioned by the British commanders, and if
not, whether the perpetrators were to be punished.
The Admiral referred the letter to Sir Sydney Beck-
with, who did not attempt to deny that the out-
rages had been committed as charged, but sa'd that
"the excesses at Hampton, of which General Tay-
lor complains, were occasioned by a proceeding at
Craney Island. At the recent attack on that place,
the troops in a barge which had been sunk by the
fire of the American guns had been fired on by a
party of Americans, who waded out and shot these
poor fellows while clinging to the wreck of the
boat ; and with a feeling natural to such a proceed-
ing, the men of that corps landed at Hampton."
General Taylor at once appointed a court of ioiquiry,
which by a careful investigation found that none of
the men belonging to the wrecked barge had been
fired upon, except one who was trying to escape to

178

PVAA' IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

that division of the British troops which had landed,
and he was not killed ; while, so far from shooting
the unfortunate men in the water, some of the
Americans had waded out to assist them. The
report embodying these facts was forwarded to Sir
Sydney, who never made any reply — which perhaps
is the most nearly graceful thing a man can do
when he has been convicted of a deliberate and
outrageous falsehood.

In the far South a better success attended the
American arms this summer than either on the
Northern border or the Atlantic coast. This was
owing partly to the greater simplicity of the task
that lay before the commanders, and partly to the
greater energy with which they entered upon it,
but chiefly to the difference in the enemy. In
Canada and on the coast, our men contended with
forces largely made up of British regulars, at that
time perhaps the most efficient soldiery in the
world. In Florida and Alabama they contended
indeed with British arms, but they were in the
hands of Indians.

The English agents at Pensacola, with the con-
nivance of the Spanish authorities there — for Flor-
ida belonged to Spain till the United States pu**-
chased it in 1819 — had supplied the Creeks with
rifles, ammunition, and provisions, and sent them

i8i3]

PVAJ^ IN THE SOUTH.

179

on the war-path, not against the American armies,
for there were none in that region, but against the
settlers and scattered posts along the navigable
rivers. A premium of five dollars was offered for
every scalp — whether of man, woman, or child —
which the savages might bring to the British
agency.

The militia of Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee
were called out to meet the emergency, and before
the year was over the Creeks had been made to
suffer a terrible retribution.

As one body of these Indians, commanded by a
half-breed named McQueen, started for the interior,
a militia force under Colonel James Caller set out
to intercept them. On the 27th of July they were
found encamped on a small, low peninsula enclosed
in one of the windings of Burnt Corn Creek. Caller
promptly attacked them, and after a sharp action
routed them. But he called back the pursuing
detachment too soon, the Indians rallied, a part of
the whites fled in panic, and the remainder had a
severe fight with the savages, in which they were
outnumbered and defeated. Caller lost two men
killed and fifteen wounded.

This victory inspired the Indians with new confi-
dence, while it spread terror among the settlers.
The next hostile movement was against Fort Mims,

I''

!i I

•■Mi.

■i iiliii

[80

IVA/l IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

on Lake Tensas, near Alabama River, forty miles
northward of Mobile. This work was a storkade
enclosure of about an acre, which a farmer named
Mims had erected for the protection of his build-
ings and cattle. It was loop-holed for musketry all
round, and at one corner was an uncompleted block-
house. When the alarm of Indian raids had gone
forth, the settlers flocked to Fort Mims from all
sides, and Governor Claiborne sent a hundred and
seventy-five volunteers, under Major Daniel Beas-
Icy, to defend it. The space was so crowded that
it became necessary to extend the stockade, and
another enclosure was made on the eastern side,
but the fence between was left standing. On the
29th of August, a thousand Creek warriors, com-
manded by William Weathersford, a half-breed, ar-
rived within a quarter of a mile of the fort, and con-
cealed themselves in a ravine. Some of them were
seen by two Negroes who had been sent out to
tend cattle ; but when they had given the alarm,
and a scouting party had failed to find any trace of
Indians, they were not only disbelieved, but se-
verely flogged for lying.

After many false alarms, the occupants of the
fort had become incredulous and careless of danger,
their commander perhaps most so of all. On the
30th the gates stood wide open, no guard was set,

,. li:

i8i3.]

fVA/! IN TJJE SOUTH.

i8i

and when the drum beat for dinner the soldiers laid
aside their arms and went to their meal at the mo-
ment when the savages sprang from their hiding-
place and with their well-known yell rushed toward
the stockade. Officers and men sprang to arms at
the frightful sound. Major Beasley, in attempting
to close the outer gate, was knocked dowii and run
over by the foremost of the assailants, many of
whom poured into the outer enclosure, where they
quickly murdered all the whites whom they found.
Beasley himself crawled off in a corner to die, and
the command devolved upon Captain Bailey.

When the Indians attempted to enter the inner
enclosure, they were stopped by a fire through the
loop-holes in the partition. Five of their prophets,
who had proclaimed that their charms and incanta-
tions rendered the American bullets harmless, all
fell dead at the first discharge. This produced a
temporary check, but new swarms of the naked
savages came up, and a desperate fight through the
loop-holes was maintained for several hours. The
soldiers stood manfully at their posts, were as-
sisted by some of the women and boys, and killed
a large number of the Indians, who, on the other
hand, were sure of hitting somebody whenever they
fired into the crowded enclosure. Numbers of the
red-skins were constantly dancing, hooting, and

ill

III'.

L .:;!:■

- 'I

182

W'^/iV /JV THE SOUTH.

[>8i3.

yelling around the fort, many of whom were shot
by the old men of the garrison, who had ascended
to the attic of the largest house and cut holes in
the roof.

The enemy were getting tired of this costly work,
when Weathersford came up, exhorted them to
new efforts, and directed fire-tipped arrows to be
shot into the fort. In a short time the buildings
were in flames, and the miserable inmates, driven
by the heat, were huddled in one corner, when the
Indians burst in and rapidly completed the mas-
sacre. Children were taken by the heels, and their
brains dashed out against the walls ; women were
butchered in a manner unknown since the wars of
the ancient Jews ; a few Negroes were kept for
slaves, but not one white person was left alive—
excepting twelve, who had secretly cut an open-
ing through the stockade and escaped by way
of the lake. Of the five hundred and fifty-three
persons in the fort at noon, at least four hundred
perished before night ; and it was believed that
about as many of the Indians had been killed or
wounded.

The tidings of this massacre of course excited
horror and indignation in every part of the country,
but nowhere met so prompt and practical a re-
sponse as in Tennessee. The Legislature of that

I III i

ISI3]

IVA/l IN THE SOUTH,

183

State called for thirty five hundred volunteers — in
addition to fifteen hundred whom she' had already
enrolled in the service of the general Government —
voted an appropriation of three hundred thousand
dollars, and placed them under command of General
Andrew Jackson.* To General John Cocke was en-
trusted the work of gathering the troops from East
Tennessee, and providing subsistence for the whole.
Fayettevillc was appointed as the general rendez-
vous, and Colonel John Coffee was sent forward to
Huntsville, Alabama, with a cavalry force of five
hundred men, which by the time he arrived thf»*ft
was increased to thirteen hundred.

Jackson reached Fayetteville on the 7th of Octo-
ber, began drilling his men, and on the nth, hear-
ing from Coffee that the enemy was in sight,
marched them to Huntsville — thirty-two miles — in
five hours. For the work in hand, he could not
have asked for better material than these Western
pioneers, who were skilled in wood-craft, who knew
the tricks and manners of the enemy, and were as
fearless as they were cunning. Among them were
Sam Houston and the eccentric and now famous
David Crockett.

The only serious trouble was in forwarding the

* At this time the General was lying helpless at Nashville, from
wounds received in a disgraceful affray.

I I

T'l

I I

184

lyAA' IN TJIK SOUTH.

[1813.

supplies. At the most southerly point on Tennes-
see River, while he sent out the cavalry to fora<;(j,
Jackson drilled the infantry and built Fort Deposit,
intended as a depot for provisions when the rise of
water should allow them to be sent down.

Forty-five miles southward, at the Ten Islands of
the Coosa, friendly Indians were calling for help
against the hostile Creeks. By a week's march, in
which he foraged on all sides and burned several
villages, Jackson reached that place. The enemy
were in camp at Talluschatches (now Jacksonville),
thirteen miles eastward, and on the night of No-
vember 2d Colonel Coffee was sent out with a thou-
sand mounted men and a few friendly Creeks, to
attack them. At sunrise he divided his force into
two columns, the heads of which united near the
place, while the remainder, swinging outward and
forward, made a semicircle about the little town.
Within this, two companies were pushed forward
to entice the Indians from their shelter. This ac-
complished, these companies retreated, and the
whole line opened fire upon the savages and rapidly
closed in upon them. " Our men rushed up to the
doors of the houses," said Coffee in his report,
"and in a few minutes killed the last warrior of
them. The enemy fought with savage fury, and
met death with all its horrors, without shrinking ;m-

[i8.3.

^nnes-
oragc,
jposit,
rise of

1813J

ir^tA' IN THE no U Til.

18s

complaining. Not one asked to be spared, but
fouglit as long as they could stand or sit." About
two hundred Indians were killed, and eighty-four
women and children were made prisoners. The
Americans lost five men killed and forty-one
wounded.

At this point Jackson was joined after a time by
the forces from East Tennessee under General
Cocke, and here he built Fort Strother. But before
Cocke's arrival he learned that a few friendly Ind-
ians in Fort Talladega, thirty miles south, were
completely surrounded by a thousand Creeks, who
would soon reduce them by starvation. The news
was brought by a chief who had disguised himself
in a hog-skin and escaped from the fort by night.

Jackson at once put himself at the head of two
thousand men, and marched to the relief of the lit-
tle fort. On the 9th of November he arrived v/ithin
striking distance of the enemy, when he deployed
his columns, placing the volunteers on the right,
the militia on the left, and the cavalry on the wings.
He adopted precisely the same plan of attack that
CofTee had used at Talluschatches ; but it was not
so completely successful, for two companies of the
militia temporarily gave way, and a part of the cav-
alry had to dismount and fill the gap. Jackson be-
lieved that but for this he should have killed every

> j

I , j

[' il

I: '

iM6

M^A/e IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

one of the thousand hostile Indians before him.
As it was, two hundred and ninety-nine of them
were left dead on the field, while the remainder
were chased to the mountains, and left a bloody
track as they ran. The loss of the whites was
fifteen killed and eighty-six wounded.

The Indians of the Hillabee towns, in wha*: is
now Cherokee county, sent a messenger to Jackson
to sue for peace, through whom he replied that they
could only have it on condition of returning prison-
ers and property and surrendering for punishment
those who had been engaged in the massacres.
But while they awaited an answer, General Cocke,
working his way down the Coosa, sent a force,
under General White, to attack these towns. White
marched rapidly, destroying everything in his path,
and on the i8th of November appeared before the
principal village, which he at once fell upon, and
killed sixty unresisting Indians, and carried back
with him the squaws and children. The Indians,
who supposed all the whites were under Jackson's
command, looked upon this as a piece of treachery,
and became more desperate than ever. For this
unfortunate affair, General Cocke has been severely
blamed ; but he was tried by a court-martial, and
honorably acquitted, while his own published state-
ment makes it clear that he acted in entire good

i »

lSi3.]

PVA/^ IN THE SOUTH.

187

faith. He was as destitute of provisions as Jackson
was, and thought if he pushed on to Fort Strother
it would only double the number of starving soldiers
there.

While Jackson was coming down from the north,
General John Floyd, with nine hundred and fifty
Georgians and four hundred Indians, was coming
from the east. He first found the enemy at Au-
tosse, on the Tallapoosa, thirty miles east of the
present site of Montgomery, where, on the 29th of
November, he attacked them, drove them from
their villages to holes and caves in the river-bank,
burned all their dwellings, and then hunted down
and killed as many of them as possible. At icast
two hundred fell. The whites lost eleven killed
and fifty-four wounded.

General Ferdinand L. Claiborne entered the
country from the west in July, and built small forts
at various points. On the 12th of December he
left Fort Claiborne (on the site of the present town
of that name) with a thousand men, and after
marching more than a hundred miles northeast, he
came on the 23d to an Indian town of refuge, called
Econochaca, on the Alabama, west of Montgornery.
This village was built upon what the Indian proph-
ets assured the tribe was holy ground, which no
white man cpuld set foot upon and live. No path

f^-:*^l

)& if

I i! 'I

,1 !i ;'

I :

ifi

HI,

1 88

/F^A' /A^ ry/£ SOUTH.

[I8I3.

of any kind led to it. Here the women and chil-
dren had been sent for safety ; here, in a little
square, the prophets performed their religious rites,
which are supposed to l,.ave included the burning of
captivt s at the stake. Several captives, of both
sexes, it is said were standing with the wood piled
about them when Claiborne's columns appeared
before the town.

The Indians, who had hurried their women and
children across the river, fought desperately for a
short time, and then broke and fled, many of them
swimming the river and escaping. About thirty
were killed. The whites lost one killed and six
wounded. Claiborne sacked and burned the vil-
lage, and then returned to Fort Claiborne, where
his forces rapidly melted away by the expiration of
their terms of service. Jackson, at Fort Strother,
was in a similar predicament ; and thus closed the
year on the campaign at the South. It had been
attended with many instances of individual bravery
and exciting and romantic adventure, one of the
most famous of which is known as the Canoe Fight,
of which General Samuel Dale was the hero. There
can be no better account of it than Dale's own, as
he related it some years afterward to his friend
Hon. John H. F. Claiborne, who incorporated it in
his " Life of Dale." The General was on his way,

iSi3.]

IV A y^' IN THE SOUTH.

189

November 13th, with sixty men, to attack an Indian
camp on the east side of the Alabama, near what is
now Dale's Ferry. He says :

" I put thirty of my men on the east bank, where
the path ran directly by the river-side. With
twenty men I kept the western bank, and thus we
proceeded to Randon's Landing. A dozen fires
were burning, and numerous scaffolds for drying
meat, denoting a large body of Indians ; but none
were visible.. About half past ten A.M. we dis-
cerned a large canoe coming down stream. It con-
tained eleven warriors. Observing that they were
about to land at a cane-brake just above us, I
called to my men to follow, and dashed for the
cane-brake with all my might. Only seven of my
men kept up wMth me. As the Indians were in the
act of landing, we fired. Two leaped into the water.
Jim Smith* shot one as he rose, and I shot the other.
In the mean time they had backed into deep water,
and three Indians were swimming on the off side of
the canoe, working her as far from the shore as
they could, to get out of the range of our guns.
The others lay in the bottom of the canoe, which
was thirty odd feet long, four feet deep, and three
feet beam, made of an immense cypress-tree, spe-
cially for the transportation of corn. One of the
warriors shouted to Weathersford (who was in the

iff

li-i

! :

■Mi

:|f

190

PV^A' IN THE SOUTH.

[1813.

vicinity, as it afterward appeared, but invisible to
us), * Yos-ta-hah ! yos-ta-hah ! ' ' They are spoiling
us.' This fellow was in the water, his hands on
the gunwale of the pirogue, and as often as he rose
to shout we fired, but ineffectually. He suddenly
showed himself breast-high, whooping in derision,
and said, 'Why don't you shoot?' I drew my
sight just between his hands, and as he rose I
lodged a bullet in his brains. Their canoe then
floated down with the current. I uidered my men
on the east bank to fetch the boats. Six of them
jumped into a canoe, and paddled to the Indians,
when one of them cried out, ' Live Indians ! Back
water, boys ! back water ! ' and the frightened fel-
lows paddled back whence they came. I next or-
dered Caesar, a free Negro fellow, to bring a boat.
Seeing him hesitate, I swore I wou'd shoot him the
moment I got across. He crossed a hurfdred yards
below the Indians, and Jim Smith, Jerry Austill,
and myself got in. I made Caesar paddle within
forty paces, when all three of us levelled our guns,
and all missed fire ! As the two boats approached,
one of them hurled his scalping-knife at me. It
pierced the boat through and through, just grazing
my thigh as it passed. The next moment the
canoes came in contact. I leaped up, placing one
of my feet in each boat. At the same instant the

1813]

IVA/i IN THE SOUTH.

191

foremost warrior levelled his rifle at my breast. It
flashed in the pan. As quick as lightning, he
clubbed it, and aimed at me a furious blow, which
I partially parried, and, before he could repeat it, I
shivered his skull with my gun. In the mean time
an Indian had struck down Jerry, and was about to
despatch him, when I broke my rifle over his head.
It parted in two places. The barrel Jerry seized,
and renewed the fight. The stock I hurled at one
of the savages. Being then disarmed, Caesar handed
me his musket and bayonet.

•'Finding myself unable to keep the two canoes
in juxtaposition, I resolved to bring matters to an
issue, and leaped into the Indian boat. My pirogue,
with Jerry, Jim, and Ccesar, floated off. Jim fired,
and slightly wounded the Indian next to me. I
now stood in the centre of their canoe — two dead
at my feet — a wounded savage in the stern, who
had been snapping his piece at mc during the fight,
and four powerful warriors in front. The first one
directed a furious blow at me with his rifle ; it
glanced upon the barrel of my musket, and I staved
the bayonet through his body. As he fell, the next
one repeated the attack. A shot from Jerry Austill
pierced his heart. Striding over them, the next
sprung at me with his tomahawk. 1 killed him
with the bayonet, and his corpse lay between me

■ I

r)-

d "(il

mam

192

IV A A' IN THE SOUTH.

[1813

III I

and the last of the party. I knew him well — Tar-
cha-chee, a noted wrestler, and the most famous
ball-player of his clan. He paused a moment in
expectation of my attack, but, finding me motion-
less, he stepped backward to the bow of the canoe,
shook himself, gave the war-whoop of his tribe, and
cried out, ' Sam tholocco lana dahmaska, ia-lanes-
tJia — lipso — lipso — lanestha. Big Sam ! I ant a
man — I avi comhig — come on!' As he said this,
with a terrific yell he bounded over the dead body
of his comrade, and directed a blow at my head
with his rifle, which dislocated my left shoulder. I
dashed \\\v. bayonet into him. It glanced round his
ribs, and the point hitching to his back-bone, I
pressed him down. As I pulled the weapon out,
he put his hands upon the sides of the canoe and
endeavored to rise, crying out, * Tar-cha-chee is a
man. He is not afraid to die ! ' I drove my bayo-
net through his heart. I then turned to the
wounded villain in the stern, who snapped his rifle
at me as I advanced, and had been snapping during
the whole conflict. He gave the Avar-whoop, and,
in tones of hatred and defiance, exclaimed, ' I am a
zuarrior — / am not afraid to die.' As he uttered
the words I pinned him down with my bayonet,
and he followed his eleven comrades to the land of
spirits.

lij;/);'

I8i3.]

IVA/^ IN THE SOUTH.

193

" During this conflict, which was over in ten min-
utes, my brave companions, Smith and Austill, had
been struggling with the current of the Alabama,
endeavoring to reach me. Their guns had become
useless, and their only paddle had been broken.
Two braver fellows never lived. Austill's first shot
saved my life.

" By this time my men came running down the
bank, shouting that Weathersford was coming. With
our three canoes we crossed them all over, and got
safely back to the fort."

,3;

1 -i I <■ ■

CHAPTER XI.

NAVAL BATTLES OF 1813.

The Hornet and the Peacock — The Chesapeake and the Shannon — The
Argus and the Pelican — The linter/rise and the Boxer — Decatur
blockaded at New London — A New Embargo.

The brilliant victories achieved on the ocean in

18 1 2 reversed the opinion the Government had en-
tertained as to the value of the navy, and early in

1813 Congress authorized the building of four ships-
of-the-line, six frigates, six sloops-of-war, and as
many vessels on the lakes as the service might re-
quire.

But in the second year of the war the American
sailor did not meet with that uniform success which
in the first year had surprised and confounded the
self-styled Mistress of the Seas. One battle, in
which a noble ship was lost and many lives were
:jacrificed, through drunkenness, was a grievous
mortification to the whole American people. The
commander of the defeated vessel was fortunate
in not surviving the action, as he would probably
have been court-martialled and disgraced.

The first naval engagement of the year took place
in West Indian waters. Lieutenant James Law-

!li

/ I.

-A

^l«€*l..

fiii

« i'--^.:^*'*

mtr

I if

li \

:T *)

11
f
t
c
a
d

P
fi

th
sc
mi

Be
th
as

lil

I8I3.J

NAVAL BATTLES.

»9S

rcnce, in the Hornet, of twenty guns, was cruising
up and clown the coast of Guiana, and had taken a
few prizes, when on the 24th of February he sighted
the Englisii brig Peacock, Captain Peal<e, which also
carried twenty guns. Both vessels were cleared for
action, and at five o'clock in the afternoon bore
down upon each other. They passed within half
pistol-shot ; and as they passed, each delivered the
full broadside of the larboard battery. The Peacock
then put her helm hard up, intending to wear round
and rake the Hornet. But Lawrence quickly imi-
tated the movement, got the better of his antago-
nist, and with all his guns blazing bore down upon
her quarter. lie then closed, and kept up so ter-
rific a fire that in fifteen minutes from the begin-
ning of the action the Englishman not only struck
his colors, but hoisted them in the fore-rigging with
the union down — which is a signal of distress. A
few minutes later, the Peacock's main-mast tumbled.
An officer sent on board to take possession found
that she had six feet of water in the hold, and was
settling rapidly. Captain Peake and four of his
men had been killed, and thirty-three wounded.
Every effort was made to save the wounded men.
Both vessels anchored, for the water here was but
thirty-three feet deep. The prisoners were removed
as fast as possible, while, to keep the Peacock afloat,

' 1

■ i

111

196

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

M:**

;;::.;,.

her guns were thrown overboard, the shot-holes
plugged, and the pumps manned ; but in spite of
all exertions she went down, carrying nine of her
own crew and three of the Hornet' s. Four of the
prisoners lowered the stern boat, which was sup-
posed to be so damaged as to be useless, and pad-
dled ashore in it. Four others climbed into the
rigging of the fore-top, and as this remained above
the surface when the hull touched bottom, they
were saved. On the Hornet one man had been
killed and two wounded by the enemy's fire, and
her rigging was considerably damaged.

As another British war-vessel was not far away,
the Hornet had to be put in fighting trim again with
all speed, which was accomplished within four hours
after the action. As she was crowded with prison-
ers and was short of water, she turned her prow
toward home, arriving at Martha's Vineyard on the
the 19th of March, and proceeding through Long
Island Sound to New York. Congress voted Law-
rence a gold medal, and to each of his commissioned
officers a silver one ; and he was soon promoted to
the rank of captain, and given command of the
frigate Chesapeake, then lying in Boston harbor.
The very next naval battle was the one in which
Lawrence lost his life, lost his ship, and lost a great
part of his reputation.

Ihl:

1813]

NAVAL BATTLES.

197

.ong

Captain Philip Bowes Vcre Broke, commanding
the British frigate Shannon^ of thirty-eight guns,
had been cruising along the New England coast for
some time, looking for prizes, and especially for an
opportunity to retrieve the honor of his flag in an
encounter with some American war-ship of the size
of his own. Lawrence was preparing for a cruise
against the English fleet engaged in the Greenland
whale-fishery ; but when the Shannon appeared in
the offing, June ist, he hastily got his crew to-
gether and went out from Boston to fight her.

Broke had sent in to him a letter containing a
formal challenge to try the powers of the two
ships ; but it did not arrive till the CJiesapeake had
sailed, and Lawrence never received it. One sen-
tence of this letter is very significant, in that it con-
tains the whole germ of the war. " I doubt not
that you, equally confident of success, will feel con-
vinced that it is only by repeated triumphs in even
combats that your little navy can now hope to con-
sole your country for the loss of that trade it can
no longer protect." That was it exactly. Ameri-
can trade, the grudge of British merchants, >^and the
constant object of British hostilities, was to be per-
mitted only so far as American guns were able to
protect it ; and since the American navy, as Captain
Broke said, was little, while England's was large, it

U' i

mmum

198

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

I'i'V

i^,l';!

was confidently believed by his countrymen that this
protection would not ultimately amount to much.

At six o'clock in the evening the vessels came
within cannon-shot of each other, and the Shannon
opened fire at once. But the Chesapeake remained
silent till her whole broadside could be brought to
bear ; then she opened her ports, and for eight
minutes there was a terrific and continuous roar.
Now, as before, the Americans were the better
gunners, and in this broadside firing the advantage
was with the Chesapeake; but accident favored her
antagonist and gave him an opportunity to use the
advantages he possessed in other respects. Two
or three shots that struck the rigging of the Chesa-
peake rendered her for a short time not perfectly
manageable, and her miz.zen-rigging fouled in the
Shannon s fore-chains. This exposed her to a rak-
ing fire, and her upper deck was swept at once by
two of the enemy's guns.

In the broadside firing. Captain Lawrence had
been wounded in the leg, the master was killed, the
first lieutenant was disabled, and the marine officer,
the fourth lieutenant, and the boatswain were mor-
tally wounded. So great a proportion of officers
struck down was a rare accident. To increase the
misfortune, a Negro bugler had been substituted for
the drummer, and when Lawrence ordered the

i8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

199

signal to be sounded for boarding, it was found that
the bugleman had crawled under the launch, and
when he was hauled out he was still so frightened
that he could not sound a note, Lawrence then
passed down verbal orders for the boarders to come
on deck, and at this moment he fell, shot through
the body. As he was carried below, he exclaimed :
"Tell the men to fire faster, and not give up the
ship. Fight her till she sinks I "

But it was too late. The enemy were already on
his deck in great numbers, and after a short and
unorganized resistance his men were overcome and
his ship was captured. The victors considerably
increased the casualties by firing down the hatch-
ways with musketry, in justification of which it is
said that some one had fired up the hatch and killed
a mar'ne.

The havoc in both crews had been frightful for so
short a battle. On the Shannon, twenty-four were
killed and fifty-eight wounded ; on the Chesapeake
forty-seven were killed and ninety-eight wounded.
Nearly one third of all the men engaged in the ac-
tion had been struck. Captain Lawrence died in
four days. His age was but thirty-one. "He had
been greatly admired for his personal bravery, his
courteousness, his regard for the sailors under his
command, and his wonderful nautical skill.

II if

( •!

!•' '

t:i I'l

U..J.

20O

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

In explanation of this defeat, it is said that
Captain Broke had been for weeks giving his men a
special training for such an encounter ; while the
Chesapeake had a heterogeneous crew, a part of them
were new men, and many of the old ones were in
a state of half mutiny from not having received
prize money that was due them. Some of the
ofificers were sick on shore, others were inex-
perienced, and several of the sailors were seen
drunk in the streets of Boston an hour before
they were summoned to go on board as the ves-
sel was weighing anchor. These facts seem to
be well established ; but the explanation does not
make it any the less a British victory. If Broke's
men were under good discipline, while Lawrence's
were not, he is entitled to as much credit for his
achievement as if it had been accomplished through
superior courage or any other means. And Law-
rence, had he not died, might properly have been
censured, or even punished, for going out to fight
under such circumstances, when he could have
waited till he had trained his crew. It was also said
that the sailors entertained a superstitious belief
that the Chesapeake was an unlucky ship. It was
she that had been fired into by the Leopard, in 1807,
when she had not a single gun in condition to re-
turn the shot ; and just before her battle with the

I8I3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

201

SJiannon she had cruised across the Atlantic to the
coast of Africa, and home again by way of the
West Indies, without taking a single prize.

Broke's victory was a grateful salve to England's
pride, so sorely wounded by the naval events of
18 12, and her historians have never tired of dwell-
ing upon it. One of the latest of them devotes
more than eight pages to it alone, while he disposes
of all the other sea-fights of this war in less than
three.

The American brig Argus, of twenty guns, com-
manded by Captain William Henry Allen, after
taking Hon. William H. Crawford to France as the
new United States Minister at the French court,
made a cruise in the English and Irish channels,
where she captured twenty merchantmen. But in
the evening of August 13th she had the misfortune
to capture a vessel loaded with wine. The crew
spent most of the night in transferring the cargo,
and helped themselves liberally to the contents of
some of the casks. Just before daylight, when all
of them were tired out and many were intoxicated,
they completed their misfortune by setting fire to
the prize.

By the light of the burning vessel, the British
brig Pelican, of twenty-one guns, sighted the Argus
and bore down upon her. The Pelican got the

"\l-

202

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

m ii

= •

liiMI

weather-gage, and came within close range. The
Argiis opened with a broadside, and for three quar-
ters of an hour the firing was kept up on both sides
with great spirit. At the end of that time the
American had lost her steering apparatus and most
of her running rigging, while the enemy was lying
under her stern, firing at leisure. Captain Allen
was mortally wounded before the fighting had been
going on five minutes, and his first lieutenant was
disabled a few minutes later. There was now
nothing for the Argus but to surrender. She had
lost six men killed and seventeen wounded ; the
Pelican, three killed and five wounded.

Early in September the American brig Enterprise,
of fourteen guns, commanded by Lieutenant Wil-
liam Burrows, was cruising along the coast of Maine
in search of Canadian privateers, when, on the 5th,
near Penguin Point, within sight of Portland, the
British brig Boxer, of fourteen guns, Captain Sam-
uel Blythe, was encountered. Both vessels prepared
for action, and a few minutes past three o'clock
they had approached within half pistol-shot, when
both opened fire. The wind was hght, the sea
nearly smooth, and the broadsides of the Enterprise
were very effective. Burrows had mounted a long
gun in his poop-cabin, running it out of a window,
and after the first broadside he drew ahead, sheered

!>!Mlihillli

i8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

203

across the enemy's bow, and raked him with this
gun. This was repeated, with other skilful manoeu-
vres, and in forty minutes the Boxer, being hailed,
said she was ready to surrender, but could not haul
down her colors, because they were nailed to the
mast.

One of her officers is said to have sprung upon a
gun, shaken his fiists at the Americans, in a fearful
state of excitement, and shouted " No ! no ! no ! "
adding a few opprobrious epithets, when a superior
officer ordered him down. This exhibition, to-
gether with the ridiculous fact that a ship with her
colors nailed was trying to surrender, brought a
hearty laugh from the American crew, notwith-
standing the shattered spars and bloody decks.

The Enterprise immediately ceased firing, and
took possession of the prize. The American vessel
had suffered very little injury, though her hull was
peppered with grapeshot, a ball had passed through
her foremast and one through her mainmast, and
her upper rigging was considerably cut. She had
lost one man killed and thirteen wounded, three of
them mortally. The Boxer had been hulled repeat-
edly, three balls had passed through her foremast,
some of her guns were dismounted, her top-gallant
forecastle was cut away, and her rigging badly in-
jured. The number of her men that were killed

i ■■

204

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

has never been ascertained ; fourteen were wounded.
The commanders of the two vessels both fell, al-
most at the same moment : Blythe cut in two by
an eighteen-pound ball. Burrows mortally wounded
by a canister-shot. They were buried side by side
in Portland, with the honors of war.

The poet Longfellow, who at that time was in his
seventh year and lived in Portland, alludes to this
battle in his poem entitled " My Lost Youth."

r.t|

'!! :i

" I remember the sea-fight far away,
How it thundered o'er the tide !
And the dead captains, as they lay
In their graves, o'erlooking the tranquil bay
Where they in battle died.

And the sound of that mournful song
" Goes through me with a thrill :
' A boy's will is the wind's will,
A id the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.' "

On the day when the Chesapeake was captured
by the Shannon., three American war-vessels, under
Commodore Decatur — the United States, the Mace-
donian, and the Hornet — were driven into the har-
bor of New London, Conn., by a superior force of
British ships, and so rigorously was the blockade of
the port kept up, that not one of the three got to
sea again during the war. At the same time the
land defences, manned by Connecticut militia, pre

T ^:'

1813.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

80s

vented the blockading squadron from entering the
harbor to attack them. Decatur made many at-
tempts to get out with his fleet, but was always
frustrated by the vigilance of the blockaders, which
he believed was assisted by traitors on shore. He
declared that whenever he planned an escape, the
enemy were warned of his intention by blue lights
burned at the mouth of the harbor ; and from this
circumstance the opprobrious name of ** Blue-
Lights " was applied to the Federal party, which
had opposed the war. It is not unlikely that some-
thing of this sort was done, either by traitors or by
spies in the employ of the blockaders ; but that the
Federal party of Connecticut had anything to do
with it is sufficiently refuted by the fact that the
Connecticut militia, largely Federalists, not only
protected Decatur's vessels when they might have
permitted them to be captured, but rendered some
distinguished services before the war was over, es-
pecially in the gallant defence of Stonington. Still
the Federalists continued to oppose the war, though
in a hopeless minority as to the whole country, and.
like all parties out of power, sharply and unceas-
ingly criticised the Administration. Their criti-
cisms, too, were sometimes based on pretty strong
facts, as, for instance, when they ridiculed the idea
that it was a war for sailors' rights, by quoting an

!lti

206

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

: W

1: M

"■-lis

1 '- iL^'Sil

ini'iH

official circular to collectors of customs which for-
bade them to grant protections to Negro sailors.
Even thus early were some of our politicians imbued
with the notion that the color of a man's skin must
necessarily make a vast difference with his rights
under the government for which he paid taxes and
bore arms.

The freedom of the Massachusetts coast from
blockade was a source of irritation to the more
southerly States ; and when in December, 1813, the
President complained to Congress that supplies
were furnished to British cruisers, and other contra-
band trade was carried on through the ports of the
Bay State, Congress laid a new embargo on the ex-
portation, either by land or water, of any goods,
produce, live stock, or specie. A similar embargo
bill had passed the House of Representatives in
July, but was then defeated in the Senate.

Up to the close of 18 13, the English had cap-
tured from the Americans seven vessels of war,
mounting one hundred and nineteen guns. In the
same time, the Americans had captured from the
English twenty six vessels of war, mounting five
hundred and sixty guns.

CHAPTER XII.

PRIVATEERS.

'I'licir Number and Importance — Jefferson's Opinion of them — A
London Journal's Prediction — Some of their Captures, and some
of their Battles — The Yankee's Laughable Exploit.

In the naval operations of this, as of the preced-
ing year, privateers played an important part. A
large number had been commissioned ; during the
entire war, the whole number set afloat was two
hundred and fifty-one. Fifty-eight of these be-
longed in the port of Baltimore, fifty-five in New
York, forty in Salem, Mass., thirty-one in Boston,
fourteen in Philadelphia, eleven in Portsmouth,
N. H., and ten in Charleston, S. C.

These vessels were commonly small, or of moder-
ate size, and were swift sailers. They carried a few
broadside guns ; but the peculiar feature of their
armament was a long gun, generally an eighteen-
pounder, mounted on the deck and turning on a
swivel, so that it could be instantly pointed in any
direction, no matter what might be the position of
the vessel. This gun was called Long Tom.

These privateers not only captured merchant

Si' :

2o8

PRIVA TEE US.

[1813.

h\ n^

w 11

'y !

1' -III
Ma

liii!;

If?

ships, but even fought with the smaller naval ves-
sels of the enemy, and sometimes conquered them.
And they often had a double character, taking car-
goes of merchandise for distant ports and at the
same time being ready to fight on the way.

There was in 18 12, as there has been since, more
or less sentimental objection to privateering, which
had come down from the days when privateers and
pirates were the same. The argument in favor of
the system was set forth with great clearness by
Thomas Jefferson, in an article published about a
month after the war began. He said :

"What is war? It is simply a contest between
nations of trying which can do the other the most
harm. Who carries on the war ? Armies are formed
and navies manned by individuals. How is a battle
gained ? By the death of individuals. What pro-
duces peace ? The distress of individuals. What
difference to the sufferer is it that his property is
taken by a national or private armed vessel ? Did
our merchants, who have lost nine hundred and
seventeen vessels by British captures, feel any grati-
fication that the most of them were taken by his
Majesty's men-of-war? Were the spoils less rigidly
exacted by a seventy-four-gun ship than by a priva-
teer of four guns ? and were not all equally con-
demned ? War, whether on land or sea, is consti-

i8i3.]

rKlVATEEKS.

209

tilted of acts of Violence on the persons and prop-
erty of individuals ; and excess of violence is the
l^^rand cause that brings about a peace. One man
lij^hts for wages paid him by the Government, or
;i patriotic zeal for the defence of his country ;
another, duly authorized, and giving the proper
pledges for good conduct, undertakes to pay him-
self at the expense of the foe, and serve his country
as effectually as the former, and Government, draw-
ing all its supplies from the people, is in reality as
much aiiccted by the losses of the one as the other,
the efificacy of its measures depending upon the
energies and resources of the whole.

'* In the United States, every possible encourage-
ment should be given to privateering in time of war
with a commercial nation. We have tens of thou-
sands of seamen that without it would be destitute
of the means of support, and useless to their coun-
try. Our national ships are too few to give em-
ployment to a twentieth part of them, or retaliate
the acts of the enemy. But by licensing private
armed vessels, the whole naval force of the nation
is truly brought to bear on the foe ; and while the
contest lasts, that it may have the speedier termi-
nation, let every individual contribute his mite, in
the best way he can, to distress and harass the
enemy and compel him to peace."

t ?.

2IO

PRIVA TEERS.

[1813.

I iU

i %^

The truth is, privateering is the most merciful
part of war ; for it damages the enemy by capturing
property rather than by destroying life, and in so
doing it throws the immediate burden upon the
commercial community behind the armies, who
have to a large extent the power of making war and
peace without personal risk to themselves, and often
exhibit a willingness to sacrifice the lives of soldiers
with the greatest freedom, so long as their own
property is secure. Show them that their property
is not secure in war, and you give them a strong
motive for making peace. In modern times, the
men who are to risk their lives if war arises, gener-
ally have little to say on the question whether
there shall be a war ; while those who are to risk
their ships and cargoes, often have a determining
voice. The greater that risk, the less the probabil-
ity of war.

When the great powers of Europe drew up and
signed the Treaty of Paris in 1856, they abolished
privateering, so far as they were concerned. The
lesser powers of Europe, and some of those on this
continent, accepted the general invitation to join in
the treaty. The United States Government replied
that it would join in it, provided a clause were in-
serted to the effect that private property on the
high seas, if not contraband of war, should be ex-

l8t3.]

PRIVATEERS.

empt from seizure not only by privateers but by the
public armed vessels of an enemy. The great pow-
ers that originally made the treaty refused to insert
any such clause ; thereby confessing that their ob-
ject was not to exempt private property from the
burdens and derangements of war, but merely to
control the mode of its seizure, and to secure for
themselves with their large navies an advantage
over nations that in time of peace have small navies
or none at all. So the United States retains to this
day her right to send out privateers if she becomes
involved in war with any maritime people.

One at least of the London journals, the States-
man, foresaw the danger from privateers in 1812.
When war was threatened, it said : " America can-
not certainly pretend to wage a maritime war
with us. She has no navy to do it with. But
America has nearly a hundred thousand as good
seamen as any in the world, all of whom would be
actively employed against our trade on every part
of the ocean, in their fast-sailing ships of war, many
of which will be able to cope with our small cruis-
ers ; and they will be found to be sweeping the
West India seas, and even carrying desolatiqn into
the chops of the Channel."

All this, and more, the two hundred and fifty pri-
vateers accomplished. They cruised in every sea,

it
M

1 i\i

'^ &,

•ft^

■.t".;

212

PRIVATEERS.

[1813.

and wrought such havoc with British commerce as
had never been known before. Coggeshall's history
of the service enumerates about fifteen hundred
prizes taken by them in the two and a half years of
war, and these were not all of the captures by pri-
vateers alone ; while the government war-vessels,
in their cruises, added considerably to the number.
The fortunes of the privateers were of the most
varied kind. Some of them made long cruises with-
out falling in with a single British merchantman of
which they could make a prize. Others took enough
to enrich every man of the crew. The Surprise, of
Baltimore, took twenty in a single month. The
True-Blooded Yankee was one of the most daring
and most fortunate. On one cruise she took twenty-
seven prizes in thirty-seven days. On the same
cruise she captured a small island on the coast of
Ireland, and held possession of it for six days. She
also took a small seaport town of Scotland, and
burned seven vessels in the harbor. A partial list
of the spoils with which she was laden when she
arrived in a French port, will give some idea of the
business. She had eighteen bales of Turkish car-
pets, forty-three bales of raw silk, weighing six
tons, twenty boxes of gums, twenty-four packs of
beaver skins, one hundred and sixty dozen swan
skins, forty-six packs of other skins, a hundred and

i8i3.]

PRIVATEERS.

213

ninety hides, a quantity of copper, and various
other articles.

The York, of Baltimore, after cruising on the
coast of Brazil and through the West Indies, re-
turned home with prizes valued at $1,500,000.

The Snapdragon, of Newbern, N. C, captured a
brig with a cargo, mainly dry goods, worth half a
million dollars, and got safely into port with her.

The Saucy J k, of Charleston, took the ship
Mentor, with a cargo valued at $300,000, and sent
her into New Orleans ; and a short time afterward
the same privateer took a brig with $60,000 worth
of dry goods.

The Yatikce, in a cruise of a hundred and fifty
days, scoured the whole western coast of Africa,
taking eight prizes, and came home with thirty-two
bales of fine goods, six tons of ivory, and $40,000
in gold dust ; all together worth nearly $300,000.

The Leo, of Baltimore, captured an East India-
man worth two and a half million dollars, which
was recaptured by an English sloop-of-war, though
not till the Leo had taken off $60,000 in bullion.

The Governor Tompkins, of New York, near the
Madeira Islands captured the Nereid, with an as-
sorted cargo valued at $375,000.

The St, I^awrcnee, with a cargo valued at over
$300,000, was captured and sent into Portsmouth,

214

PRIVATEERS.

[1813.

I v4

N. H., where she was proved to be an English ves-
sel, and condemned, though she had professed to
be American.

Perhaps the most valuable single prize taken in
the war was the Queen, captured by the General
Arinstro7tg, of New York. She carried sixteen guns,
and was not taken without a stubborn fight, in which
her captain, first lieutenant, and nine men were
killed. She was valued at nearly $500,000, but on
A.er way mto port was wrecked off Nantucket.

One prize contained wine and raisins valued at
$75,000 ; another, $70,000 worth of cotton ; an-
other, $20,000 worth of indigo ; another, seven
hundred tons of mahogany ; another $70,000 worth
of rum and sugar ; another, $150,000 worth of gums,
almonds, and beeswax ; another, $23,000 in specie,
and still another, $80,000 in specie.

All this looks very much like robbery, and in
truth it was robbery, unless the war, on the part of
the Americans, was justifiable. But it is certainly
more humane to conquer the enemy by robbing his
merchants than by killing his men ; and there can
be no question that the exploits of these privateers
did more to bring the war between England and
the United States to an end, and prevent another
one, than drawn battles, however gallantly fought,
and futile expeditions against Canada.

i8i3.]

PRIVA TEE US.

215

But the exploits of the privateers did not consist
solely in plundering unarmed merchantmen. They
were often pursued and attacked by British men-of-
war, and some of the English packet-ships carried
heavy guns, and would not surrender vvithout a
desperate fight.

The privateer schooner Govcrttor Tompkins, a few
days after the capture of the Nereid in December,
18 1 2, gave chase to what appeared to be a large
merchantman. But she proved to be a frigate in
disguise, and a sudden squall sent the schooner
under her guns before she could change her course.
The frigate opened fire at once, and her first broad-
side killed two men and wounded six. It also blew
up a box of cartridges and set fire to some pistols
and tube-boxes in the companion-way, all of which
exploded and went flying in every direction. The
schooner's little battery returned the fire, but her
principal exertions were to get out of the way of
her powerful antagonist. A chase of two hours en-
sued, during most of which time the vessels were
within gunshot and the firing was kept up. The
Tompkins threw overboard all the lumber from the
deck, and two thousand pounds of shot, and got
out her sweeps, and so escaped. Her captain,
Nathaniel Shaler, said in a letter describing the ac-
tion : " The name of one of my poor fellows who

'HI

V i

it r

iil^i

2l6

PRIVATEERS.

[1813.

was killed ought to be registered on the book of
fame, and remembered with reverence as long as
bravery is considered a virtue. He was a black
man, by the name of John Johnson. A twenty-four-
pound shot struck him in the hip, and took away
all the lower part of his body. In this state the
poor, brave fellow lay on the deck and several times
exclaimed to his shipmates, * Fire away, boys !
neber haul de color down ! ' The other was also a
black man, by the name of John Davis, and was
struck in much the same way. He fell near me,
and several times requested to be thrown overboard,
saying he was only in the way of the others."

Captain Boyle, in the privateer Comet, of Balti-
more, made a remarkable cruise, early in 181 3, on
the coast of Brazil and in the West Indies. On the
14th of January he overhauled a Portuguese brig-of-
war which was convo3nng three English merchant-
men — a ship and two brigs — from Pernambuco.
Boyle informed the captain that he had no right to
do anything of the sort, and that he should pro-
ceed to make prizes of them. As the man-of-war
insisted on protecting them, there was a fight — one
vessel against four, for the merchantmen were
heavily armed. It began at half past eight o'clock
in the evening, and was carried on by moonlight.
Every vessel had on a crowd of canvas. The Comet

l!!i !liu

iSi3.]

PRIVA TEERS.

217

ran alongside the ship and one of the brigs, and
opened her broadside upon both of them. The
man-of-war then fired grape and round shot into
the Comet, which returned the compHmcnt, but
stuck close to the merchantmen. They frequently
separated, to give the man-of-war a chance at the
privateer, when the privateer would pour a whole
broadside into them, and then turn his attention to
the larger antagonist. An hour after midnight, the
ship, which had been badly cut to pieces and ren-
dered unmanageable, struck her flag ; and soon
afterward the two brigs, which had been almost as
badly damaged, surrendered. All this while the
man-of-war was hovering near and exchanging oc-
casional broadsides with the Comet, till the moon
set, and it became dark and squally. One of the
brigs had been taken possession of by Boyle ; the
other and the ship, assisted by the man-of-war,
escaped him and made their way back to Pcrnam-
buco. On the man-of-war the first lieutenant and
five men were killed, and several wounded, the cap-
tain mortally.

On the 25th of the same month, the privateer
Dolphin, Captain W. S. Stafford, cruising off the
coasts of Spain and Portugal, fell in witli a large
ship and a brig, and fought them both. The pri-
vateer carried ten guns, the ship sixteen, and the

!l I

<■ I

'1(1

^i.

:;i

,:.

m \

i! 5!

. \ -

ih!

f ji

•'i

218

PRIVATEERS.

[1813.

-t: ,.'

I
I

■ I'll .l!;'I'l!riBI!

■I ill ill

;: .1 I

III

brig ten. After a spirited action, in which the Dol-
phin lost four men, she captured both of them, and
sent them home to Baltimore. The same privateer,
in November, was attacked just outside of Charles-
ton harbor by five boats from an English man-of-
war. Captain Stafford tore one of the boats to
pieces by a discharge of grape-shot, and as the other
boats had employment enough in saving their un-
fortunate comrades, the attack failed. The man-
of-war then fired a broadside at the Dolphin and
sailed away.

The privateer Lottery, Captain Southcomb, while
at anchor in Chesapeake Bay, February 1 5th, was
captured by nine British barges, in which were two
hundred and forty men ; but not till after a fight of
arj hour and a half, in which the six guns of the
Lottery had made sickening havoc with the men in
the crowded barges. Captain Southcomb was badly
wounded.

On the nth of March the privateer General Arm-
strong, Captain Guy R. Champlin, of New York, en-
countered, off Surinam, what she supposed to be an
English privateer. The Arvtstronghoxo. down upon
her, fired the starboard broadside, wore ship and
gave her the larboard broadside, and was then about
to attempt boarding, but found out that the enemy
was a frigate, carrying twenty-four guns. The bat-

ii; I ^\

i8i3.]

PRIVA TEERS.

219

tie lasted three quarters of an hour, when the Arm-
strong succeeded in getting away. Captain Champ-
lin, badly wounded, lay on the cabin floor, directly
over the magazine, with a pistol in his hand, when
he overheard some talk about striking the colors.
He immediately ordered the surgeon to go on deck
and tell the men that if any one of them dared to
strike the colors, he would discharge his pistol into
the magazine and blow them all up together. In
his log-book he wrote : "In this action we had six
men killed and sixteen wounded, and all the hal-
yards of the headsails shot away ; the fore-mast and
bowsprit one quarter cut through, and all the fore
and main shrouds but one shot away ; both main-
stays and running rigging cut to pieces ; a great
number of shot through our sails, and several be-
tween wind and water, which caused our vessel to
leak. There were also a number of shot in our
hull."

The privateer Young Teaser met a singular fate.
In June she was chased by a British man-of-war.
Her lieutenant had been once captured, and re-
leased on parole, and had gone into the service
again without waiting to be exchanged. When he
saw a probability of another capture^ he seized a
firebrand and ran into' the cabin, and in another
moment the vessel was blown to fragments, and

I I

;5 t

♦>l

1! U I

220

PRIVATEERS.

[1813.

every man on board perished, except seven sailors
who were standing on the forecastle.

The privateer Wcysp, carrying two guns, had a
battle of nine hours' duration, on the 31st of July,
with the British war-schooner Bream, of ten guns.
For the last forty-five minutes the action was at
close quarters, and the IVas/f then surrendered.

In August the privateer Decatur, carrying seven
guns, Captain Dominique Diron, was cruising in
the track of West India traders, when on the 5th
she encountered the English war-schooner Z?^/«/;2z^rtr,
of sixteen guns, and after a bloody battle captured
her. It was at first a running fight, the Dominica
firing frequent broadsides, and the Decatur answer-
ing with her Long Tom and volleys of musketry.
After several futile attempts to board, Captain
Diron succeeded in forcing his bowsprit over the
enemy's stern, and sending the jib-boom through
her mainsail. The next moment, while a part of
his crew kept up the musketry fire, the remainder
rushed on board the Dominica, and a hand-to-hand
slaughter at once began. Men were cut down with
swords, and shot with pistols, till the deck was cov-
ered with the dead and wounded. The English crew
did not surrender till their captain, G. W. Barrettc,
was killed, all the other officers except the surgeon
and one midshipman either killed or wounded, and

'. ,1

I813.J

PRIVA TEERS.

221

igh

nder

and

with

cov-

crew

rcttc,

rgeon

i, and

altogether sixty men disabled. Of the Dirafurs
men, five were killed and fifteen wounded.

The Globe privateer had a desperate fight, on the
3d of November, with two heavily armed packet
brigs. Broadside after broadside was exchanged at
the distance of a few yards, and the brigs were
compelled to strike. But when the Globe hauled
alongside to take possession of one of them, she
raised her colors again and fired a broadside ; after
which both brigs sailed slowly away, while tne Globe,
which had lost twenty-three men, was too badly
crippled to follow.

The privateer Saratoga, of four guns, captured
the English mail packet Morgiana, which carried
eighteen guns, by boarding. There was an obsti-
nate defence, and two of the packet's men were
killed and five wounded, while the Saratoga lost
three killed and seven wounded. During the fight
the mail was thrown overboard.

Near the Canary Islands a British sloop-of-war
decoyed the privateer Grampus under her guns, and
then suddenly opened her ports and gave her a
whole broadside at half pistol-shot. This discharge
killed the captain and one man and wounded sev-
eral others, and damaged the rigging badly, so that
the Grampus escaped with difficulty.

On Monday, the 5th of July, the Yankee, a fishing-

222

PKIVA TEEKS.

Ii8i3.

smack, was fitted out in New York haibor to cap-
ture by stratagem the British sloop-of-war Eagle.
A calf, a sheep, a goose, and three fishermen were
placed conspicuously on the deck, while below were
concealed forty men armed with muskets. She
then sailed down the bay. The Eagle overhauled
her, and ordered her to report to the Commodore.
Suddenly, at the signal word "Lawrence," the
forty men appeared, levelled their muskets across
the deck of the Eagle, and with one volley killed
three of her men and drove the others below. She
struck without firing a gun, and as she was taken
up the harbor she was greeted by the cheers of a
multitude of people who were on the Battery, cele-
brating Independence day.

While an American fishing-smack was thus cap-
turing a British sloop-of-war in the harbor of New
York, on the other side of the ocean the London
Evening Star was just saying: "The American
navy must be annihilated ; her arsenals and dock-
yards consumed. The American merchant-vessels
ought perhaps to be permitted to arm against the
pirates of the Mediterranean or the Ladrones of
China ; but, like certain places of entertainment in
England, they ought to be compelled to exhibit in
large letters, on their main-sails, Licensed to carry
guns, pursuant to a British act of Parliament .'*

l:H:s

CHAPTER XIII.

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. — CAMPAIGN ACArNST THE

CREEKS.

Condition of Affairs at the Opening of the Third Year — Congressional
Appropriations- Russian Offers of Mediation — Jackson's Prepara-
tions — Battles of Emucfau, Enotachopco, and Horseshoe Bend.

At the beginning of the third year of the war
the prospects of the Americans were more discour-
aging than at any previous period. The European
wars had come to an end for the time, Napoleon
having been overthrown at Leipsic, and Great Brit-
ain, with an immense navy and an abundance of
veteran troops, was at Hberty to turn her entire at-
tention upon the enemy across the Atlantic. In-
deed, her fleet on our coast had been gradually in-
creasing for several months, and Admirals Warren
and Cockburn had shown a determination not to
confine their operations to combats of vessel with
vessel, but wherever practicable to send a force
ashore to harass the people, burn their homes, and
carry off their movable property. HarrisoVi's vie
tory was almost the only achievement of the Amer-
ican land forces worth mentioning. The little navy
was as gallant as ever, and had suffered no defeat in

224

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

[1814.

anything like an equal fight, except in the case of
the Chesapeake ; but now it seemed likely to be
overwhelmed by a power that could send against it
a thousand war-ships. Two powerful ones had al-
ready been sent for the special purpose of capturing
one of our cruisers, the Essex, with orders to follow
her wherever she went, and take her at all hazards.
The operations of the privateers had struck the
English nation in its most tender spot, the pocket,
and roused it to a furious determination for ven-
geance ; while the London journals were boldly
talking of schemes for using the opportunity to cut
ofT various slices of our territory.

Though the Federal party had declined in popu-
lar strength, its leaders in Congress opposed the war
as bitterly as ever ; but after considerable debate an
act was passed to increase the regular army to sixty
thousand men, enlisted for five years. A bounty of
a hundred and twenty-four dollars was voted for re-
cruits, and eight dollars to each man who brought
in one. Seven hundred men were added to the
Marine Corps, half a million dollars appropriated for
a floating battery, and a hundred dollars offered for
every prisoner brought home by a privateer. There
was a surplus of a million dollars in the treasury,
and five millions were yet to be paid in from ](xt:^
while the revenue for the ensuing year was c;)t;nK.:.J

IN!:

re-

ight
the

d for
for
here

sury,

1814.]

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

225

at ten millions. The expenditures were estimated at
forty-five millions, and Congress authorized a new
loan of twenty- five millions, and a reissue of ten
millions in treasury notes.

The Russian Government offered its friendly
offices as a mediator for peace, three times in the
course of the war ; but each time the offer was re-
jected by England. Once — in March, 1813 — the
offer was formally accepted on the part of the
United States, and Albert Gallatin and James A.
liayard, who believed the English Government
would accept it as readily, sailed for St. Peters-
burg, to join John Quincy Adams, American Minis-
ter at the Russian Court, in negotiating the peace.
The London Courier probably spoke the sentiments
of a large part of the Fjritish public when it said :

"We hope the Russian me 'iation will be re-
fused. Indeed, we are sure it "11. We have a
love for our naval preeminence that cannot bear to
have it even touched by a foreign hand. Russia
can be hardly supposed to be adverse to the princi-
ple of armed neutrality, and that idea alone would
be sufficient to make us decline the off^r. We
must take our stand, never to commit our naval
rights to the mediation of any power. This is the
flag we must nail to the national mast, and go
down rather than strike it. The hour of concession

'V. I-

■rliii

226

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

[1814.

'•mm

JilllL

■lli 111

and compromise is past. Peace must be the conse-
quence of punishment to America ; and retraction
of her insolent demands must precede negotiation.
The thunder of our cannon must first stril<e terror
into the American shores, and Great Britain must
be seen and felt in all the majesty of her might,
from Boston to Savannah, from the lakes of Canada
to the mouths of the Mississippi."

The English Government declined the offer of
mediation, as before, but expressed a willingness to
nominate plenipotentiaries to make direct negotia-
tions with the American commissioners, suggesting
that the conference be held in London, unless the
Americans preferred Gottenburg, Sweden. This
answer was made in September, 1813, and reached
the United States Government in official form in
November. The President communicated it to
Congress early in January, 1814, and the proposi-
tion was accepted ; Gottenburg being chosen as the
place, and Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell being
added to Messrs. Adams, Bayard, and Gallatin as
commissioners. Their instructions were, to insist on
an absolute discontinuance of the practice of search
and impressment, and to offer, in consideration of
this, an agreement to exclude British seamen from
American vessels, and to surrender deserters.

But the best way to secure an honorable peace —

l8i4.] CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CREEKS.

227

and indeed it will be the only way, until the millen-
nium — is by exhibiting an ability to prosecute suc-
cessful war. With the new appropriations, the Ad-
ministration, while sending its peace commissioners
abroad, prepared for more vigorous war within our
own borders.

After a great deal of trouble with troops who be-
lieved their terms of service had expired, and who
finally marched home in spite of all arguments and
protests. Jackson, who had been made a major-
general, found himself at Fort Strothcr in January,
1 8 14, with nine hundred raw recruits and a few
dozen men who had participated in his autumn
campaign. With these and two hundred Indians he
set out on a raid into the country of the Creeks.

On the 22d, near Emucfau, on Tallapoosa River,
he was attacked by a large force, who made a feint
on his right and then fell heavily upon his left.
The General had anticipated this plan, and strength-
ened his left, so that after a stubborn fight the
enemy were routed and pursued for three miles.

Two days later, on the return march, the troops
were in the act of crossing Enotachopco Creek,
when the Indians attacked again. After' a few
shots, the rear guard retreated in disorder, leaving
not more than a hundred men to face the enemy ;
but these, by determined bravery, and especially

\\k

•i!|i

228

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CREEKS. [1814.

by skilful use of a six-pounder with grape-shot, de-
feated the savages, and pursued them for two miles.
Jackson himself acted as gunner. He lost in this
raid about a hundred men.

In February, Jackson had a new army of five
thousand men, including a regiment of United
States regulars, in which Sam Houston was an en-
sign. The only difficulty now was with supplies ;
but this was enormous. The distance from Fort
Deposit to Fort Strother was only forty miles, but
the roads were so bad that a wagon-train required
seven days to accomplish it, though there was a
horse to every barrel of flour in the load. Nearly
sixty miles southeast of Fort Strother, and the same
distance northeast of Montgomery, is Horseshoe
Bend in the Tallapoosa, enclosing a peninsula of
one hundred acres, which is less than five hundred
feet wide at the neck. Here the Creek warriors, to
the number of a thousand, had encamped and forti-
fied themselves, when Jackson, with nearly three
thousand men, was marching against them, for the
avowed purpose of externiination. The Americans
•reached the place on the morning of March 27th,
and Jackson sent General Coffee with the mounted
men and Indians to cross the stream two miles be
low, countermarch, and take position on the bank
in rear of the village. When he received the signal

i8i4.]

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CREEKS.

229

to
"orti-
ircc
the
icans
27tb,
.ntcd
be
bank
signal

of their arrival, he moved forward with his main
force, and planted two field-pieces to play upon the
breastwork of logs and earth which crossed the neck
of the peninsula. But a two hours' cannonade pro-
duced no effect upon it. Coffee and his Indians
now crossed the river, set fire to the village, and at-
tacked the enemy in the rear. As Jackson saw by
the rising smoke what had been done, he stormed
the breastwork in front, and for a little while there
was desperate hand-to-hand fighting through the
loop-holes. Then the trooj5s, following the exam-
ple of Major L. P. Montgomery and Ensign Hous-
ton, mounted the works, leapt down among the
enemy, and plied the bayonet right and left till the
Indians broke and fled. They neither asked for
quarter nor received it. Whether they hid them-
selves in the thickets or attempted to swim the
stream, they were hotly pursued, hunted out, and
mercilessly shot. A portion found shelter under
tlie bank, where felled timber and a rude breast-
work protected them. . Jackson summoned them to
surrender, promising to spare their lives ; but they
shot his messenger. After he had failed to dis
lodge them either by an artillery fire or a storming
jiarty, his troops set fire to the timber, and shot the
Indians as they were driven out by the flames. At
the close of that day, five hundred and fifty-seven

'»'■ V

23©

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CREEKS,

[1814.

«!^Hl

of the Creeks lay dead on the peninsula. It is be-
lieved that not more than two hundred escaped.
One chief, Manowa, saved himself after he had been
badly wounded, by plunging into the water, holding
himself under by grasping a root, and breathing
through a reed that reached from his mouth to the
surface. After nightfall he rose, swam the stream,
and stole away.

Jackson lost one hundred and thirty-one white
soldiers and fifty-four Chcrokees. Major Montgom-
ery was killed, and Ensign Houston was wounded.

The savagery of this warfare is explained by the
fact that the Creeks were not fighting for any cause
of their own, real or pretended, but only as merce-
naries of the English. In a letter written at this
time, Jackson said: "While we fight the savage,
who makes war only because he delights in blood,
and who has gotten his booty when he has scalped
his victim, we are, through him, contending against
an enemy of more inveterate character and deeper
design. So far as my exertions can contribute, the
purposes, both of the savage and his instigator, shall
be defeated. "

By these battles, the power of the Creeks was
completely broken, Jackson compelled the rem-
nant of the tribe to move north, and that summer
they were fed by the Government.

ood,
ped

ainst
cper
the
shall

CHAPTER XIV.
brown's campaign on the Niagara.

The March to Buffalo — Capture of Fort Erie — Battle of Chippewa-
Brown's Plans — Battle of Lundy's Lane — Siege of Fort Erie by
the British.

Colonel Winfield Scott, who after the fail-
ure of Wilkinson's expedition had spent a large
part of the winter at Albany, arranging with Gov-
ernor Tompkins the plans for the opening year, was
made a brigadier-general in March, and with Gen-
eral Brown put the army at Plattsburg in motion
for the Niagara frontier. Brown soon went to
Sackett's Harbor, leaving Scott to conduct the long
march alone. After passing Utica, the route lay
largely through a wilderness. Where now stands
Rochester, a city of a hundred thousand inhabitants,
there was then but a single log house, and the
scenery about the Genesee Falls, now closely
hemmed in with tall buildings, was picturesque
with forests and lively with rattlesnakes.

The army that assembled at Buffalo consisted of
Scott's and Ripley's brigades of regulars. Porter's
brigade of militia, and Hindman's battalion of reg-

I'l '

ALL.-.

232

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

ular artillery. A camp of instruction was formed at
once, the modern French system being adopted,
and for three months drihing went on every day
with the most rigid regularity. The commanding
General drilled the of^cers in squads, and they in
turn drilled the men ; after which came company
and battalion drills, and finally evolutions in line.
It is said that Scott had but a single copy of the
French work on tactics, on which all his instruction
was based, and this had to be explained to the offi-
cers individually, most of whom were not able to
read French.

Late in June, General Brown reached Buffalo, and
a campaign across the river was planned at once.
Early in the morning of July 3d the troops of Scott
and Hindman crossed the Niagara from Black Rock,
landing below Fort Erie, while Ripley's crossed a
little later and landed above the fort. The work
was invested, and after the exchange of a few shots,
by which four Americans and one man of the gar-
rison were killed, it surrendered. A hundred and
seventy men were made prisoners and sent across
the river.

The main body of the British forces, commanded
by General Riall, was at Chippewa, on the bank of
the Niagara just above the great falls, about six-
teen miles below Fort Erie. A detachment, com-

18I4.]

BRO WN ' S CA MP A IGN,

23:^

manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pearson, had been
thrown forward as a corps of observation nearly to
the fort.

On the 4th of July the Americans marched on
Chippewa. Scott's brigade, starting in the morn-
ing, led the van, and had a running fight the whole
sixteen miles with Pearson's detachment. That
officer afterward remarked that he was surprised at
the vigor of the pursuit, and could not account for
it till he remembered what day it was. When they
arrived at Chippewa River, it was nightfall, and
Pearson crossed it and joined Riall. Scott rested
for the night on the south bank of Street's Creek,
which is two miles south of the Chippewa. These
two streams flow by nearly parallel courses into the
Niagara, and on the plain between them the battle
of Chippewa was fought next day, July 5th. Near
the bank of the Niagara ran the high road. About
a mile west of it was a heavy wood.

The corps of observation pursued by Scott had
destroyed the bridges over the small streams as it
retreated ; and it was assumed by General Brown
that when he approached the Chippewa, the bridge
over that stream would also be destroyed. He
therefore delayed his attack while materials for a
new bridge were prepared, so that when pursuit was
begun it might pot be interrupted. But General

^\\

t '

234

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[i8i4.

Riall, as it proved, so far from contemplating re-
treat, determined to assume the offensive himself.

Early in the day, skirmishing began along the
edge of the wood on the left, by the light troops
and Indians. This at last became so annoying to
the American pickets, that Porter's militia and the
Indians under Red Jacket were moved through the
woods still farther to the left, to flank the enemy's
skirmishers. Scouts carried intelligence of this
movement to Riall, and Porter's force, which began
the action in good order, was soon charged by a
heavy column of British regulars, before which it
broke and fled.

General Brown, who had been at the front watch-
ing this movement, seeing a great cloud of dust on
the left of the British lines, rode in that direction
and found that Riall was pushing forward his whole
force. Then he rode straight for the American rear,
to hasten up Ripley's troops, who were considera-
bly behind those of Scott. Soon after he had
crossed the bridge over Street's Creek, he met Scott,
who was marching over for a dress parade on the
plain. "The enemy is advancing. You will have
a fight," said Brown to Scott as he passed him.

The British were already deployed in the plain,
but hidden from Scott by a fringe of foliage along
the creek. ** Nothing but Buffalo militia!" said

I8l4]

BROW/7' S CAMPAIGN.

235

plain,
along
said

Riall, as the Antierican column came in sight, and
opened his guns upon it. But when he saw them
pass the bridge without wavering under a heavy
fire, and deploy in order of battle, he changed his
mind. " Why, these arc regulars !" he exclaimed.

Towson's battery, of three guns, included in
Scott's command, was planted on the high road,
and the British artillery, nine pieces, had a similar
position some distance to the north. Of Scott's
three battalions. Major Jesup's was thrown out on
the left, Major McNeil's had the centre, and Major
Leavenworth's the right. The firing along the lines
began at once. Seeing that by the retreat of Porter
his force was likely to be flanked on the left, Scott
ordered Jesup to move obliquely in that direction,
and attack the extreme right of the enemy in the
woods, which order Jesup's men executed, under
fire, with precision and success.

The British right wing, in conflict with Jesup,
became detached from the main body, whose right
was thereby left exposed. Scott instantly saw his
advantage and profited by it. He ordered Mc-
Neil's battalion to charge obliquely upon the broken
right of the main body of the enemy, and Leaven-
worth's at the same time to charge obliquely upon
its left ; the two battalions moving as if to unite at
a point behind thp British line. When this mover

!l -1

i:'l

ij:

236

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

In 'i»\

mcnt was made, the opposing lines were within
eighty paces of each other, and the firing had all
the time been increasing in rapidity and destructive-
ness. Two guns of Towson's battery — for one had
been dismounted by a shot from the enemy's —
wheeled into a position from which they could pour
grape and canister through the British ranks, and
their last discharge before the infantry crossed bay-
onets was an enfilading fire that wrought dreadful
havoc.

Thus decimated by the artillery, the enemy's line
soon crumbled and broke into a disorderly retreat
before the steady charge of the infantry. About
the same time Jesup repelled a heavy charge by a
counter charge, and the entire body of Riall's forces
fled with all haste across the Chippewa, Scott's men
following closely and securing some prisoners.

It was a clean victory, gained by hard fighting
and skilful manoeuvring ; and as the battle took
place in a plain where there was scarcely any cover
of any kind for the troops on cither side, the losses
were exceedingly heavy. Just how many men were
actually engaged, is a matter of dispute. But on
the side of the Americans the number appears not
to have been over nineteen hundred, Porter's troops
going out of the action before it was fairly begun,
and Ripley's not arriving in time to take any part.

hting
took
cover
losses
I were
iut on
rs not
troops
begun,
y part.

1814.]

BJiOWN'S CAMPAIGN.

237

The number of Riall's troops in the fight appears
to have been about twenty-one hundred. The loss
of the Americans, in killed, wounded, and missing,
was three hundred and twenty-seven ; that of the
British, five hundred and three. These are the
figures of the official reports, which exclude the
Indians.

Riall did not tarry long to hold his position on
the Chippewa. He soon sent a portion of his troops
to the forts on the lower Niagara, while with the
remainder he retreated to Burlington Heights. His
Indian allies, eighty-seven of whom had been killed,
while they had not taken a single scalp, all deserted
him in disgust.

This first battle of the new campaign on the
Niagara was a great inspiration to the American
people, showing them that American soldiers, if
properly drilled and handled, could face and defeat
the best troops of the British army ; for those un-
der Riall at Chippewa were some of the crack regi-
ments — the Royal Scots, the King's, and the Hun-
dredth. An English writer said: "We have now
got an enemy who fights as bravely as ourselves.
For some time the Americans cut no figure on Umd.
They have now proved to us that they only wanted
time to acquire a little discipline. They have now
proved to us what they are made of, and they are

i"!

■

If;

238

BRO PVN'S CA MP A IGN.

[1814.

the same sort of men as tliosc who captured whole
armies under Ikngoyne and Cornvvallis ; that they
are neither to be frightened nor silenced ; and that
if we should beat them at last, we cannot expect to
do it without expending three or four hundred mill-
ions of money, keeping up all our present taxes,
and adding to their amount, or imposing new taxes.
These are the natural consequences of battles such
as that of Chippewa."

Two days after the battle, the Americans crossed
Chippewa River, and marched on Fort George. On
the way, Colonel Stone, of the New York militia,
burned the village of St. Davids, for which he was
promptly court-martialled and dismissed from the
service. Fort George was invested, and then Gen-
eral Brown sent to Sackett's Harbor to procure
heavy guns for its reduction. But Commodore
Chauncey was ill, and it seems not to have oc-
curred to him that any other officer could command
the fleet for their transportation. So Brown, unable
to procure siege guns, abandoned the siege, and
marched back to Queenstown, whence he sent his
sick across the river, and then prepared for an active
campaign.

His idea was, to move against Burlington "' , -
and capture them, then continue his m.
the northern shore of the lake and en- York

llifiii

x8i4.]

BKOWN-S CAMPAIGN.

239

and
liable
and

It his
ictivf

and thence, still following the lake shore, march on
Kingston. But for the execution of this plan he
relied upon the cooperation of Chauncey's fleet, and
that he soon found he was not likely to have.

On the 24th of July he continued his retreat to
Chippewa, with the hope of drawing out Riall. In
the afternoon of the 25th he received information
that the enemy had thrown a thousand men across
the Niagara, from Qucenstown to Lewiston. Sup-
posing they intended to capture the magazine at
Schlosser and intercept supplies coming from Buf-
falo, General Brown determined to draw them back
if possible by again threatening the forts at the
mouth of the river. With this purpose, he at once
sent forward General Scott with thirteen hundred
men, consisting of the battalions of Colonel Brady
and Majors Jesup, Leavenworth, and McNeil, Tow-
son's artillery, and a detachment of cavalry under
Captain Harris.

This force, starting about five o'clock in the after-
noon, marched down the road to the Falls. As
they approached the house of a widow Wilson, near
fable Rock, several British officers were i^een to
come out, mount hastily, and ride away, but not
till they had reconnoitred, through their field-
glasses, the American column. The widow in-

formed Scott that the officers were Riall and his

'• '\

. i

l[, 'i'

240

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

staff, and that the enemy's advance consisted of
eight hundred regulars and three hundred militia,
with two pieces of artillery ; the truth being that
the force had nearly twice that strength.

Scott pressed forward eagerly, throwing out a
part of his men to the left, and sent back word to
General Brown that the enemy was in front. As
the Americans emerged into a cleared field, they
suddenly found themselves confronted by the Brit-
ish line, eighteen hundred strong, which was drawn
up in Lundy's Lane, a road that starts from a point
near the great Falls and runs westward. In the
centre of the enemy's line was a battery of nine
pieces, which occupied a rounded hillock of gentle
slope just high enough to give it command of the
entire field. Scott saw at once that he was in pres-
ence of a greatly superior force ; but retreat was
almost impossible, and he judged it best to attack
boldly, and trust to Brown for prompt reenforce-
ment. As the Americans deployed in line of battle,
the hostile forces were not more than a hundred
and fifty paces apart, and firing began at once. The
sun was now less than an hour high.

Towson's three guns made a gallant fight, but
corld effect little against the nine guns of the
enemy, which were served rapidly and skilfully.
The British left was east of the road that skirted

1814.]

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

241

the river, and was separated from the rest of the
line l)y a «5|^r..ce of two hundred yards, which was
filled with brushwood. Jesup's and Brady's com-
mands, partly hidden by this brushwood in the twi-
light, attacked the detached wing, and after con-
siderable fighting forced it back upon the centre,
capturing General Riall and several officers of his
staff, after which Jesup and Brady resumed their
place in the line. At the same time, the British
right wing, which was longer than the American
left, was thrown forward in an attempt to envelop
it. To meet this danger, Scott sent McNeil's bat-
talion against it, and after severe fighting, with
heavy losses, the enemy's flanking movement was
frustrated.

Both the messenger sent back by Scott and the
sound of the guns announced to General Brown
what was going on, and he ordered Ripley's brigade
and Porter's volunteers to advance and join in the
action. A.t the report of the first gun, Ripley had
put his men in marching order, and when the word
came to move they moved without a minute's delay.
General Brown rode before them to the battle-field,
and by the time of their arrival it was dark. About
the same time, the enemy also was reenforced.

Ripley's brigade formed on Scott's right, and
joined in the battle, which had not in the least

•\.s

-I -

:>iJ^

' I-

242

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

abated at the departure of daylight. He soon saw
that the strength of the enemy lay in the destruc-
tive battery that crowned the hill in the centre,
and called upon Colonel James Miller, of the Twen-
ty-first Regiment, to take it. " I'll try, Sir," was
the now famous answer of Miller, who at once put
his men in motion toward the battery. They crept
silently up to a fence at the foot of the slope, put
their muckets softly through it, took deliberate aim
at the gunners, who had lighted matches in their
hands, and at a whispered command fired in volley,
shooting down every one of them. Miller's men
then rose, pushed the fence flat upon the ground,
rushed forward, and cleared the hill of the enemy.
Meanwhile Scott's men, obstinately holding their
first position, had kept on steadily firing, receiving
as constant a fire in return, and both inflicted and
suffered heavy loss. McNeil's battalion, having
lost its commander and every one of its captains,
and fired away all its ammunition, retired from the
field ; and a little later, Colonel Brady being dis-
abled, his regiment also retired for a similar reason.
But a considerable number of the men of these two
commands joined themselves to the regiments that
still stood firm, and reentered the fight.

After Miller's capture of the battery, the Ameri-
can line was re-fomied, nearly at right angles to its

i8i4.]

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

243

and
laving
stains,
fm the
jg dis-
eason.
se two
Its that

Lmeri-
to its

former position, facing west, and advanced so as to
hold the ground occupied by the battery. The
enemy also formed a new line, and for two hours
made the most desperate efforts to re-take the guns.
There was constant firing, aim being taken by the
flashes along the opposing lines, and more than
once the bayonets were crossed in bloody hand-to-
hand work in the darkness. It is said that at one
time the continuous blaze of the cannon and small
arms made that part of the field almost as light as
day. During the struggle, both parties were re-
enforced by fresh troops, but Ripley's men firmly
held the ground, repelling every attack, till the
enemy gave it up and retired.

General Brown and General Scott were both
wounded, and the command devolved upon Gen-
eral Ripley, who, an hour after the enemy had re-
tired, withdrew the entire American force from the
field, carrying off the wounded, and before morning
was in camp at Chippewa. As all the artillery
horses had been killed, the guns for which so costly
a struggle had been made were left where they
stood, and of course they fell into the hands .of the
enemy when he returned next morning and en-
camped on the deserted battle-ground. The prin-
cipal reason why the Americans abandoned the field
was, the want of water.

\ ?■

-t r

244

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

The whole number of Americans engaged in this
battle was about two thousand six hundred ; the
whole number of British, about four thousand five
hundred. The American loss was one hundred and
seventy-four killed, five hundred and sixty-five
wounded, and one hundred and five missing — al-
most one third of the entire force. Among the
killed or ' lortally wounded were Colonel Brady and
Majors Leavenworth, McNeil, and McFarland.
The British loss was eighty-four killed, five hundred
and fifty-seven wounded, and two hundred and
thirty-five missing or prisoners. The action has
been called the Battle of Niagara, and the Battle
of Bridgewater, but the most commonly accepted
name is Battle of Lundy's Lane.

Ripley soon afterward destroyed the bridge over
the Chippewa, and retired toward Buffalo. By
Brown's orders, the troops were thrown into Fort
Erie, where they were reenforced, and General Rip-
ley was superseded by General Edmund P. Gaines.

As soon as he was able to move. General Drum-
mond, who had succeeded to the command of the
British forces, marched on Fort Erie. A detach-
ment which he sent across the river to attack Buf-
falo was met and defeated at Black Rock, but a
party in boats captuicd two of Perry's vessels which
were moored under the guns of the fort.

over

Fort

Rip-

ines.

fum-
f the
itach-

but a

1S14.]

BRO WN'S CA MPAIGN.

245

At midnight on the 14th of August, the enemy,
who had been busy for two weeks planting batteries
and occasionally bombarding the works, attempted
to carry them by storm. The Americans were ex-
pecting the attack, and the preparations for making
it were not more careful and elaborate than those
for receiving it. The flints were withdrawn from
the British muskets, both to insure silence in the
approach and because General Drumrnond had
issued a secret order in which he "strongly recom-
mended a free use of the bayonet," and after dark
a great number of scaling-ladders were carried for-
ward and placed in convenient positions. The
Americans had their guns charged with grape and
canister, dark lanterns burning, and every musket
at hand and ready for immediate use. At one bat-
tery, for lack of canister, bags were made of tent-
cloth, filled with musket-balls, and loaded into the

guns.

The storming party was in three columns. That
which assaulted the American left, where Towson's
battery was placed, marched up in the face of a
continuous blaze of artillery and musketry^ and, in
spite of the storm of shot that rolled through it,
tried to scale the defences, and actually crossed bay-
onets with the defenders. But in vain. Four such
assaults were made by this column, and all were

?iii

*!■

1^^ I

24*5

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN,

[1814.

bloodily repelled. The rapidity with which the
guns of the American battery were served, making
an almost constant flash, gave it the name of " Tow-
son's lighthouse."

On the right of the American works a similar as-
sault was made at the same time by another column,
which was met in a similar way. Major Douglass
filled his guns to the muzzle with the bags of mus-
ket-balls, and though his cannoneers could not dis-
tinctly see their enemies, they were so familiar with
the contour of the ground in front that they knew
how to sweep it as effectively as if it had been
broad daylight. Here also the attack failed.

The central column was a little more successful.
The assailants dashed forward with their scaling-
ladders, and mounted the parapet of the main fort,
but were met at the edge by the Americans, who in
a bloody fight hand-to-hand hurled them back.
Three times this was repeated, with the same result.
The column then moved silently around to another
point, put up the ladders again, and mounted so
quickly as to get a foothold within the bastion be-
fore the Americans could rally in sufiicient force at
the new point of attack to prevent them. Their
commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, was
at tlieir head, and repeatedly called out to his men
to "give the Yankees no quarter." Troops were

14.

ng
>w-

as-
m,
ass

lUS-

dis-
/ith
new
)een

3ful.
ling-
fort,
lO in
lack.
:sult.
)ther
d so
1 be-
ce at
rheif
was
men
were

l-U'Bi

I ;i

A V^

■J

tllih

1814.J

BROWN'S CAMPAIGN.

247

rapidly drawn to this point from other parts of the
fort, and here the bloodiest work of the night
was done. The highest ofificers present mingled
personally in the fray. Lieutenant McDonough, an
American, being badly wounded, asked for quarter,
which Drummond refused, at the same time repeat-
ing his order to his men to refuse it in all cases.
McDonough roused himself for one more effort,
seized a handspike, and kept several assailants at
bay, till Drummond disabled him with a pistol-shot.
An American who saw this at once shot Colonel
Drummond through the breast, and followed the
shot with a bayonet- thrust. The Colonel had in his
pocket a copy of General Drummond's secret order,
and the bayonet passed through the sentence in
which "a free use of the bayonet" was recom-
mended.*

At daylight the enemy still held the bastion he
had gained in the night, and several determined at-
tempts to dislodge him failed, though the number
of men he had thrown into it was being continually
reduced by an irregular fire directed upon it. The
British reserve was now brought up to reerfforce the
party in the bastion, while Douglass turned the
guns of his battery so as to sweep diagonally the

* This blood-stained document is now in the possession of the New
York Historical Society. .

■*-^

irj'fi

248

BROIVN'S CAMPAIGN,

[1814.

ground over which it must pass, and Fanning's bat-
tery was aheady playing upon the enemy with con-
siderable effect. But at the moment when the
reserves were ready to make a rush for the bastion,
there was a tremendous explosion, and the platform
of the bastion, with all the men upon it, was hurled
into the air. Masses of earth, stones, broken tim-
bers, and dead and living bodies of men rose two
hundred feet, and in falling were scattered to a
great distance. It was a chest of ammunition that
had exploded ; but how it happened is unknown.
Some of the American officers present believed it
to be purely accidental, others said that Lieutenant
McDonough, lying wounded at the foot of the bas-
tion, being exasperated at the treatment he had re-
ceived, applied the match and sacrificed himself for
the sake of defeating his barbarous foe. The Brit-
ish reserves at once fell back, the contest was aban-
doned, and the shattered columns returned to their
camp. According to General Drummond's official
report, his loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was
nine hundred and five. But as he gives the number
of his killed as only fifty-eight, while the Americans
found two hundred and twenty-two British soldiers
dead on the field, it may be that even his acknowl-
edged total loss of nearly a thousand is an under-
statement. The Americans lost eighty-four, besides

I8I4.J

BKOIVN'S CAMPA1GA\

249

{ for
Brit-
aban-
tlieir
)facial
cT, was
umber
jricans
oldiers

knowl-
under-
Ibesides

forty-five men disabled by the cannonade that pre-
ceded the night assault.

General Gaines set to work at once to rebuild the
ruined bastion and strengthen the whole line of
works, while the enemy, after receiving reenforce-
ments, began a siege by regular approaches. They
soon brought their parallels so close that they were
able to throw shells and hot shot into the fort every
day. One shell descended through the roof of Gen-
eral Gaines's headquarters, and exploded at his feet,
so injuring him that he was forced to give up the
command to General Rrown, and retire to Buffalo.
The Americans in the fort, as well as the besiegers,
had been reenforced, and General Brown planned a
grand sortie to break up the siege works. The
enemy's camp was two miles in the rear, and one
third of his force was thrown forward at a time to
work on the parallels. The Americans secretly
marked out a road through the woods, leading from
their left around to a point close upon the right of
the besiegers. On the 17th of September two col-
umns, of about. one thousand men each, sallied out
from the fort. One column followed the road
through the woods and suddenly burst upon the
British right, while the Ccher marched through a
ravine, against the centre. Before reenforcements
could come from the British camp, the Americans

'r $1

250

JiKO IVN ' S CA MPA IGN,

L1814.

leaped into the siege works, after bloody fighting
overcame all resistance, dismounted the guns and
rendered them useless, exploded the magazines, and
returned to the fort with many prisoners. This
operation cost the Americans five hundred and
twenty men, killed, wounded, or missing, and the
British six hundred and nine.

In the night of the 21st, General Drummond
raised the siege, and retired beyond the Chippewa.
In October the Americans dismantled Fort Erie,
and returned to the eastern shore of the Niagara.

CHAPTER XV.

THE SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

Fight at La Colle Mill — Ship-building — Yeo's Attack on Oswegc
Affairs at Charlotte anil I'oultncyville — Fight at Sandy Creek —
Izard's Failure on the Niagara — Expedition against Michiliniacki-
nac — I'revost's Advance into New Vork — Its Purpose — Battle of
Plattsburg.

In February General Wilkinson had removed his
army from French Mills to Plattsburj^, on Lake
Champlain, and a month later he added one more
to the futile invasions of Canada. At the head of
four thousand men, he crossed the border, March
30th, met a party of British at Odelltovvn, with
whom skirmishing was carried on for three miles
along the road, and found the enemy seriously in
his path at La Colle Mill, on the Sorel, four miles
from Rouse's Point, where about two hundred men
were posted in a stone mill and a block-house, on
either side of La Colle Creek.

Wilkinson brought up two pieces of artillery and
planted them within two hundred yards of the stone
mill. Then he disposed his forces in such a way as
nearly to surround it and cut off the retreat of the
enemy when his guns should knock the walls of the

;|;i

'I
1

t>, 'V

252

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

[1814.

1 I

mi!l zbout their heads. But though the guns were
served with great skill and rapidity for two hours,
the walls would n't budge, and it did not occur to
the enemy to attempt a retreat. On the contrary,
from their secure position they used their rifles so
effectively that Wilkinson's men suffered severely.
Captain McPherson, commanding the battery, was
wounded in the chin, but tied it up with his hand-
kerchief and remained at his post till another shot
broke his thigh, when he was borne oft". His suc-
cessor. Lieutenant Larrabce, was soon shot through
the lungs, when he also was borne to the rear ; and
Lieutenant Sheldon then kept the battery in play
till the close of the fight.

Major Hancock, commanding the enemy, having
received reenforcements that swelled the number of
his men to about a thousand, ordered a sortie, to
capture the battery. His troops suddenly burst
from the mill, and m.ade a rush for the guns. But
this subjected them to a fire from the American in-
fantry, by which they suffered heavily, and they
were obliged to return to the mill and the block-
house. A second and more desperate sortie had
the same result, and the enemy then shut them-
selves up in the house and defied all attempts to
drive them out. As the condition of the roads pre-
vented him from bringing up heavier artillery, VVil-

" : M

I8i4.]

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

253

aving
jer of
to
3urst
But
\\\ in-
they
lock-
had
hem-
:)ts to
s pre-
VVil-

kinson gave up the expedition and returned through
mud, snow, and rain to Plattsburg. The affair had
cost him a hundred and fifty-four men, and inflicted
on the enemy a loss of sixty-orje. The General
asked for a court-martial, and was tried and ac-
quitted ; but this ended his military career. Gen-
eral George Izard succeeded to his command.

Both belligerents were still building ships for ser-
vice on Lake Ontario. The British had a large one
on the stocks at Kingston, and the Americans an
equally large one at Sackett's Harbor. All sorts of
insignificant affairs took place during the spring and
summer along the shores of this lake and Lake
Champlain, effecting nothing, but keeping the peo-
ple in a state of alarm.

On one occasion three boats approached Sackett's
Harbor, carrying two barrels of powder, with which
it was intended to blow up the new vessel on the
stocks. But they were discovered and fired at,
whereupon the crews hastily threw the powder over-
board, fearing it would be exploded by a bullet, and
pulled away.

Finding that he could not destroy the Hew ship.
Sir James Yeo determined to render her useless by
capturing the guns, rigging, and stores intended for
her, which v/ere at Osw^ego. Accordingly he or-
ganized an expedition of about three thousand men,

I, I

' t

■ is

*•

•t^r'

254

SECOND INVASION OF Nli IV YORK.

Li8r4.

the troop? being commanded by General Drum-
mond, and sailed for that place early in May. The
fort at Oswego, an old affair, in a dilapidated con-
dition, was on one side of the river, and the village
on the other. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, com-
manding at the fort, saw the approaching expedition
early in the morning of May 5th. As his force was
too small to be divided, he sent a large number of
tents across the river, and had them pitched in front
of the village. This convinced the enemy that there
was a heavy force on that side of the river, and he
confined his attention to the fort.

The ships bombarded the work, and a force at-
tempted to land by means of boats. But Colonel
Mitchell sent a few men down the shore with one
old gun, and as soon as they came within range it
made such havoc among the boats' crews that they
pulled back to the fleet. One of the boats, sixty feet
long, propelled by three sails and thirty-six oars, was
so shattered that it was abandoned and drifted ashore.

The next day the fleet returned to the attack,
and this time succeeded in landing about two thou-
sand men. Colonel Mitchell, who had been reen-
forced by a small body of militia, gradually retired
before the invaders, making a gallant resistance as
long as it was of any use, and then retreated to a
point several miles up the river, whither most of

I8i4.]

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK

255

; at-
lonel
one
ge it
hey

feet

was
hore.
tack,
thou-

rcen-

ctired

ncc as

1 to a

ost of

the stores had been removed, and destroyed the
bridges behind him. The enemy raised and carried
away the schooner Growlc, which, as it contained
some of the guns for the new vessel, the Americans
had sunk on the approach of the expedition ;
burned the barracks, took whatever he could find
that was movable, and on the 7th sailed away. The
action had cost him two hundred and thirty-five
men, killed, wounded, or drowned. The Americans
had lost sixty-nine.

Five days later a British squadron appeared before
Charlotte, at the mouth of Genesee River. The vil-
lage was guarded by sixty men, with one field -piece.
Word was sent to General Peter B, Porter, who
arrived on the morning of the 13th, just in time to
refuse a demand for the surrender of the place.
Two gunboats then entered the river and bom-
barded the town for an hour and a half, throwing in
shells, rockets, and round shot. The women and
children were removed, a militia force of three hun-
dred and fifty men was collected, and dispositions
were made to capture the boats if they should vent-
ure farther up the river. A second demand for a
sur. "ider, with a threat to land twelve hundred
men and destroy th'^ village, was refused by Porter,
and on the 15th the boats bombarded the place
again for some hours, and then withdrew.

I till' I

■i\

Wrf

< 1'

I' '■''.'.

256

SECOND INVASION OF NE IV YORK.

[1814.

i' 1

In the evening the squadron sent a force on shore
at Poultneyville, where some stores were captured ;
but a small body of militia under General John
Swift soon appeared and drove the enemy precipi-
tately back to their boats.

As Sir James Yeo was blockading Sackett's Har-
bor for the special purpose of preventing the arma-
ment of the new vessel from being carried in, the
wits of the Americans were taxed to get the guns
and cables •■:here. Transportation all the way by
land would have been tedious and costly. The task
was assigned to Captain Woolsey, of the navy. He
caused a story to be circulated, in a way that made
it sure to reach the vigilant enemy, that the guns
were to be trai ^ported by way of Oneida Lake.
They were on nineteen boats, and on the 28th of
May he ran the rapids and arrived at Oswego with
them at dusk. The plan was, to coast along down
the lake as far as Sandy Creek, eight miles from
Sackett's Harbor, run up the creek, and thence
carry them overland. Accompanied by a hundred
and twenty riflemen, under Major Appling, the
flotilla went down the lake by night as far as Big
Salmon River, and in the morning one boat was
missing. At this point a body of Oneida Indians
joined the expedition, and at noon on the 29th it
reached Sandy Creek. The missing boat had gone

iSi4.]

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

257

onto Sackett's Harbor, where — perhaps purposely
— it fell into the hands of the blockaders, to whom
its crew told the whole story of Woolsey's flotilla.
Sir James at once sent a force, in two gunboats and
four smaller craft, to capture it. This expedition
sailed up Sandy Creek on the morning of the 30th,
thinking to make sure prize of the flotilla and its
cargo of guns and cables. But Major Appling had
placed his riflemen in ambush along the bank, and
near the flotilla was Captain Melville with a com-
pany of light artillery and two six-pounders. The
enemy's gunboats opened fire on the flotilla as fast
as they came within gunshot, and a party of troops
was landed. As soon as they were within range of
Appling's rifles, he poured in a deadly fire upon
their flank and rear, while at the same time the ar-
tillery played upon them in front. In ten minutes
the British lost eighteen men killed and fifty
"vounded, when the whole force surrendered. .. ae
captured boats mounted seven guns, and there were
a hundred and sixty-five prisoners. The Americans
had two men wounded. The Indians took no ac-
tive part in the fight.

This affair inflicted so serious a loss upon the
British fleet that it returned to Kingston, and re-
mained there till another ship and more men could
be obtained. The Americans arrived safely at

K r

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

[1814.

i'i

I ■<*

Sackett's Harbor with their guns, and the new
frigate, the Mohawk, was launched on the nth of
June. Chauncey's squadron then consisted of nine
vessels, mounting two hundred and fifty-one guns.

Early in August, General Izard, being ordered to
relieve General Brown in the command on the Niag-
ara frontier, marched from Plattsburg with about
four thousand troops, leaving General Alexander
Macomb in command there with twelve hundred,
including the invalids. After his arrival at Buffalo,
I^ard crossed the Niagara with about eight thousand
men, and set forward to attack Drummond on the
Chippewa. But the British commander, after one
sharp skirmish, withdrew his forces to Fort George
and Burlington Heights. Izard, who lacked the
energy to follow, persuaded himself, in spite of the
almanac, that the season was far advanced, and
retired to Black Rock.

Another American expedition on the upper lakes
was not more satisfactory or creditable in its result.
It was intended for the re-capture of Michilimacki-
nac, the first place taken by the British during the
war. The garrison was strengthened in April, 18 14,
and three months later a detachment sent out from
it captured the American post at Prairie du Chien.

The naval portion of the expedition was entrusted
to Commander Arthur St. Clair, who had five ves-

'Jii

I8i4.]

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

259

r lakes
result,
macki-
ng the
i8i4»
it from
hien.
itrusted
ive ves-

sels which had formed part of Perry's fleet. He
took on board five hundred regular troops and
about the same number of militia, commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Croghan, who had made the
gallant defence of Fort Stephenson the year before,
sailed on the I2th of July, and arrived at Michili-
mackinac on the 26th. There was a difference of
opinion as to the best mode of attack ; St. Clair
was unwilling to attempt it first with his vessels,
because the fort was so far above the water that it
could send a plunging fire upon their decks.

On the 4th of August the troops were landed on
the north side of the island, to attack the fort in
the rear. But Lieutenant-Colonel McDonall, who
commanded it, had drawn out his entire garrison,
and taken up a strong position in the path of the
Americans. His men were behind a small ridge
which formed a natural breastwork, the ground in
front was perfectly clear, and two field-pieces com-
manded it. On each of their flanks was a thick
wood, and in these woods McDonall posted a force
of Indians. Croghan advanced with his militia in
front, and attempted to turn the British left. But
a volley from the Indians in the woods, whom he
had not discovered, killed Major Holmes, wounded
Captain Desha, and threw the American right wing
inlo confusion. Croghan then attacked the enemy's

V. 4

IVl

i ?'

260

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

[1814.

centre, and drove him from his breastwork into the
woods in his rc.ir. But beyond this point it seemed
imMossible to accomplish anything, and the Am-
ericans soon withdrew from the field and reem-
barked. They had lost thirteen men killed, fifty-two
wounded, and two missing. The British loss is
unknown.

But while these insignificant actions were taking
place along the whole length of the lakes, a serious
danger threatened the country at the eastern ex-
tremity of that line, and was averted by a brilliant
victory.

The British troops at the foot of Lake Champlain
had been heavily reenforced by veterans from the
armies that had conquered Napoleon, and Sir
George Prevost, who had been ordered to make an
invasion of New York by the route taken by Bur-
goyne in 1777, seized the opportunity when the
Americans at Plattsburg were weakened by the
absence of Izard and the four thousand men he had
taken with him to the Niagara frontier.

The object of the movement was, to capture and
hold a portion of the State of New York ; so that
when the pending peace negotiations were brought
to a close, it might be stipulated that all territory
should remain with the party in whose possession it
then was, and this would give the English complete

I8i4.]

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK,

261

loutrht

control of the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain, if
not of I akc Ontario also. In accordance with this
purpose, Prcvost issued a proclamation to the inhab-
itants of that sparsely settled region, calling upon
them to renounce allegiance to the United States,
renew their allegiance to Great Britain, and furnish
his troops subsistence. Had his forces been victo-
rious, he would have claimed that this had been
done, and ilie English would then probably have
been successful in their purpose to "change the
boundary of New York."

General Alexander Macomb, who had been left in
command at Plattsburg on the departure of General
Izard, and had been told by that officer that he
must expect to be driven out or made a prisoner by
the enemy, had made up his mind to falsify the
prediction, and exhibited wonderful energy in put-
ting the place into a defensible condition.

Saranac River, after running parallel with the
shore of Lake Champlain for a short distance, turns
sharply to the east and flows into Cumberland or
Plattsburg Bay. On the peninsula thus enclosed,
which is about half a mile wide, the Americans con-
structed three redoubts and two block-houses, one
of them being at the mouth of the river. The
north bank is about thirty feet high ; and the south
bank, which was the one occupied by the Amcri-

ill

ii'

) I

Jl t,

> .1

^62

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

[1814.

cans, about fifty. Macomb had fifteen hundred reg-
ulars, and two thousand militia.

Prevost, with fourteen thousand troops, began
his advance on the 29th of August, crossed the bor-
der on the 1st of September, and thenceforth found
his march impeded somewhat by felled trees and
broken bridges. He was in no great hurry, how-
ever, as he was in advance of the fleet, commanded
by Commodore George Downie,on whose cooperation
he relied. He impressed the horses of farmers
along the route for the transportation of his artil-
lery and supplies, and arrived before Plattsburg on
the 6th, The advance of his right column was as-
saulted by a small body of riflemen under Major
John E. Wool, who inflicted some loss and drove it
back upon the main body. Wool fell back, was
joined by Captain Leonard's battery, made another
stand, inflicted more loss with the artillery, and
again fell back slowly till he crossed the Saranac,
destroying the bridge behind him. The enemy's
left column, approaching by a road nearer the lake,
was annoyed by skirmishers under Lieutenant-Colo-
nel Appling, and by the American gun-boats. Both
bridges were destroyed, and when the enemy's rifle-
posted themselves in several houses on the
.1 bank, these were set on fire bv hot shot.

But the British fleet had not yet come up, and

I8i4.] SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

263

was

and

mac,

'olo-
|r,oth

Prevost, while waiting for it, spent several days in
erecting batteries and perfecting his preparations
for a serious assault. The fleet appeared on the
morning of the nth, and the General gave orders
for an immediate advance.

His men attempted to ford the river at three
places — where the two bridges had been, and at a
point farther up, known as Pike's Cantonment —
their movements being covered by a heavy fire from
the liritish batteries. The troops that actually ad-
vanced to the assault numbered eight thousand,
and they carried an immense number of scaling-
ladders, to enable them to climb the high bank and
afterward surmount the American works.

At the lower bridge, the fire from the forts and
block-houses drove them back. At the upper bridge,
they were prevented from landing by a steady fire
of musketry. At Pike's Cantonment, where the
river was easily fordable, there was only militia to
dispute the pcissage. Yet several attempts to cross
were repelled ; and when finally a body of regulars
succeeded in crossing, the militia rallied and drove
it back again with heavy loss. At this --point of
time the issue of the battle had been decided by
the action on the water.

The American flotilla, commanded by Lieutenant
Thomas Macdonough, was drawn up in line to await

' . i

ffiV

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

^Sf.

:/>

1.0

I.I

1.25

1^ IM IIJIM

^ ii£ lllliio

IIIW

1-4 IIIIII.6

■a.

^9/

o^s

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

.<!^

^^'^

^2\^\

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. M580

(716) 872-4503

■Bj^B.

I,l

t : i

! i S

264

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

[1814.

the attack, in such manner that the British ships could
not enter the bay without being exposed to a broad-
side fire. Macdonough's vessels v/ere all stationed
with their prows to the north, the Eagle, of twenty-
guns, at the head of the line ; then the Saratoga,
flag-ship, of twenty-six guns ; then the Ticonderoga,
of seventeen ; and lastly the Preble, of seven, which
was so near a shoal that the enemy could not pass
around her. Macdonough also had ten galleys or
gun-boats, which he placed inside of his line, oppo-
site the intervals between the larger vessels. The
British flotilla also consisted of four large vessels —
carrying respectively thirty-seven, sixteen, eleven,
and eleven guns — and twelve gun-boats. The
total American force was fourteen vessels, with
eighty-six guns and eight hundred and fifty men ;
the total British force, sixteen vessels, with ninety-
five guns and one thousand and fifty men.

The peculiar thing in Macdonough's preparations,
and the one perhaps whi>_h secured him the victory,
was an arrangement by which he made it possible to
turn his flag-ship almost instantly so as to bring her
broadside to bear on any point. He did this by
iaying a kedge anchor broad off each of her. bows,
and carrying the hawsers to the quarters. Thus by
winding in one or the other of the hawsers the stern
of the ship could be swung one way or the other,

«B

1814.] SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

265

while the cable of the main anchor kept her bow in
one place.

The English line bore down upon the American
in fine style, the first two vessels firing as they ap-
proached. The flag-ship Confiaticc did not open
fire till she had dropped anchor within a quarter of
a mile of her foe.

The Eagle, at the head of the American line,
began firing in a wild way, without orders, before
her shot could reach the enemy. The excitement
was soon felt through the fleet, and was shared
by a young cock which had escaped from his coop
on the deck of the Saratoga. In response to the
boom of the cannon, he flew upon a gun-slide,
flapped his wings, and crowed loudly. The sailors
burst into a hearty laugh, and gave three cheers.
Then a long gun, sighted by Macdonough himself,
was fired, and as the shot raked the deck of the
Confiance, the whole line opened and the battle be-
came general. The first broadside from the Confi-
ance disabled forty men on the Saratoga; for fif-
teen minutes everything was ablaze, and the roar
was continuous. Then the vessel at the head of the
British line struck her colors.

The enemy's shot cut away the Eagle s springs —
ropes fastened either to the anchor or to the cable,
and passed to the quarter, in ordv.'- to sway the ship

si'
'fl

266

SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK:

[1814.

to one side or the other and bring the guns to bear
on any desired point. Her commander, Lieutenant
Henley, then cut his cable, sheeted home the top-
sails, ran down behind the Saratoga, and took a
position between her and the Ticondcroga, anchor-
ing by the stern, which brought the fresh guns of
his larboard battery to bear on the enemy, when
they were served with good effect.

The Preble .was attacked by the enemy's gun-
boats, and driven from her position ; but they were
stopped by the next in line, which they vainly tried
to board. Every gun of the starboard battery — the
side nearest the enemy — on the American flag-ship
was disabled. Then Macdonough proceeded to
"wind ship," that is, to turn the vessel completely
round by winding at the hawsers attached to the
kedges. This was accomplished without accident,
and his gunners, springing to the larboard battery,
poured out fresh broadsides that made dreadful
havoc with the Confiance. The commander of that
vessel attempted to copy Macdonough's mancEuvre,
for her battery on the side presented to the enemy
was also nearly used up, but failed, and two hours
and a quarter after the fight began her colors came
down. The remaining British vessels also surren-
dered, and the victory was complete.

When the tremendous cheer that burst from the

1814.] SECOND INVASION OF NEW YORK.

.67

sailors of the American fleet announced this news,
to friend and foe on shore, Sir George Prevost —
who from the first had relied more upon the fleet
than upon his army — gave up his whole plan, and
made all haste to return to Canada.

In this bloody battle — which defeated what is
known as the second invasion of New York, and
preserved our territory intact — the American fleet
sufi"ered a loss of fifty-two men killed and fifty-eight
wounded. The British, according to their official
report, lost fifty-seven killed, including Commodore
Downie, and seventy-two wounded ; Macdonough
reported their loss at eighty-four killed and a hun-
dred and ten wounded. The British galleys, before
the Americans could take possession of them, drifted
out into the lake, and escaped.

::[i^'
%

;i'

CHAPTER XVI.

OPERATIONS ALONG THE COAST.

Capture of Eastport and Castine — Occupation of Territory in Maine —
Destruction of the Frigate Ada/iis — Bombardment of Stonington—
Affairs at Wareham, Scituate, and Boothbay.

The close of the war in Europe had not only en-
abled the English to strengthen their land forces in
America, but had also liberated many of their war-
ships, and the result was felt all along our coast.
The enemy's purpose to conquer territory which
might be retained after the war, apparent enough
before, was now definitely proclaimed.

In July, Sir Thomas Hardy, commander of the
British fleet before New London, received orders to
capture Moose Island, in Passamaquoddy Bay, and
sailed thither with five ships of war and transports
containing about fifteen hundred troops. The
Americans had here a small fort, garrisoned by
only fifty men, under Major Putnam, who made
no resistance to the enemy, but surrendered at once,
July nth. Sir Thomas then took formal possession
not only of the town of Eastport, which at that
time contained about one thousand inhabitants, but

l8i4.]

OPERATIONS ALONG THE COAST.

269

of the whole island, and issued a proclamation in
which he declared that all the islands in the bay
had been surrendered and were thenceforth British
territory. He gave the inhabitants one week in
which to make their choice, either to swear allegi-
ance to the British Crown or move away. About
two thirds of the people took the oath, supposing
they would thereby be admitted to the privileges of
British citizenship ; but a month later the Provin-
cial Council of New Brunswick ordered that they
should be treated as a conquered province and
placed under martial law. The fortifications of
Eastport were greatly strengthened, the six guns
being increased to sixty, and a large garrison placed
there. But provisions were extremely scarce, the
men deserted in great numbers, and the British offi-
cers were often seen on the ramparts, doing duty as
sentinels.

On the 1st of September, another British force
entered Penobscot River. The small American gar-
rison at Castine blew up the fort and retreated, and
the enemy took possession, and soon issued a proc-
lamation declaring all that part of Maine east of the
Penobscot to be conquered territory. It contained
about forty villages, with an aggregate of more than
thirty thousand inhabitants.

Captain Morris, after a successful cruise, had re-

'III

270

OPERATIONS ALONG THE COAST.

[1814.

cently arrived in the Penobscot with the American
frigate Adams, and taken her to Hampden, thirty-
five miles up the river, for repairs. The British com-
mander sent up an expedition of about a thousand
men to capture her, and Captain Morris made all
possible preparations for defence. He erected sev-
eral batteries on the shore, collected a small force
of militia from the neighborhood, and, as they were
unarmed, put the ship's muskets into their hands.
But on the approach of the British regulars, the
militia ran away ; and Morris, seeing that he could
not save his vessel, sent away his sailors and ma-
rines, who retreated across a bridge over a deep
creek. He and a few men whom he had retained
for the service then set a slow-match to the maga-
zine, and, as their retreat by the bridge had been
cut off, swam the stream and escaped. The frigate
was blown to pieces, and the enemy returned to
Castine with neither prisoners nor plunder. But
they made thenceforth frequent incursions among
the towns of the neighborhood, and freely robbed
the inhabitants of what little property they had that
was worth taking.

The next orders issued to the British Commodore,
Sir Thomas Hardy, were to destroy the town of Ston-
ington, Connecticut ; which he found a very different
task from the capture of Moose Island. With two

1814.]

OPERA TIONS ALONG THE COAST.

271

frigates, a brig, and a bomb-vessel, he appeared before
the town on the 9th of August, and sent in word
that he should begin a bombardment in one hour.
The women and children were hastily removed,
and the men repaired to the defences of the place.
These consisted of a small breastwork and three
pieces of artillery — two eighteen-pounders, and a
six-pounder. A rude flag-staff was erected, and a
small flag nailed to it. Those who had been trained
as artillerists took their places at the guns, and the
remainder, with muskets, were placed behind the
breastwork. Word was sent to General Gushing,
commanding at New London, and couriers on horse-
back rode through the surrounding country to rally
the militia.

It was toward evening when Hardy opened his
ports and fired upon the town every kind of missile
in use at that day — round-shot, grape-shot, canis-
ter, bomb-shells, carcasses, rockets, and stink-pots.
A carcass was a cylindrical cage or framework of
iron, covered with canvas and filled with combusti-
bles, intended to set the buildings on fire. About
eight o'clock, while the bombardment was still
going on, five barges and a launch filled with men
and carrying several guns approached the shore.
The Americans permitted them to come within close
range, and then poured such a fire of grape-shot

»•

272

OPLRATIONS ALONG THE COAST.

[1814.

into them from the two eighteen-pounders that
they were very soon compelled to retire. They
then sailed around to the eastern side of the little
peninsula, where they supposed it was defenceless.
But the Americans dragged the six-pounder across,
and were ready for them. With this gun alone, so
rapidly was it served and so skilfully handled, they
again drove off the fleet of barges.

The bombardment was kept up till midnight, and
next day the fleet was increased by the arrival of an-
other brig. The vessels now took a position nearer the
shore, and the action was reopened. One brig was
anchored within pistol-shot of the battery, at which
it directed its guns. But the old eighteen-pounders
sent several balls through her between wind and
water, compelling her to haul off and repair dam-
ages. The barges made an attempt to land a force,
as on the day before ; but met a similar reception
and once more retired. One of the barges was com-
pletely torn to pieces by the fire of the six-pounder.
The fleet then drifted out of reach of the battery,
but kept up the bombardment at long range during
that and the following day. On the 12th, Sir
Thomas, who had lost twenty-one men killed and
more than fifty wounded, bore up and sailed away.

Of the Americans, six had been slightly wounded,
and one mortally. Of the hundred houses in Ston-

I8.4.J OPERA TIONS ALONG THE COAST. 273

ington, forty had been more or less injured, ten of
them badly, and two or three were entirely de-
stroyed. The enemy had thrown in more than
sixty tons of metal. Colonel Randall, the com-
manding officer, received high praise .or the mann-^r
in which he had conducted the defence, as did also
Lieutenants Lathrop and Hough.

There were smaller affairs of the same nature, at
various points along the New England coast. At
Wareham the enemy landed in safety by means of
a flag of truce, and then burned a large cotton fac-
tory and the vessels at their moorings. At Scituate
also they burned the shipping. But at Boothbay
the militia rallied and drove them off with consider-
able loss. The attempt to land was repeated on
several different days, but every time without sue-
cess.

II!

i!;

iilii

' If

I ,

ill

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

Ross's Expedition against Washington — Battle of Bladensburg —
Destruction of the Capital — Capitulation of Alexandria — Com-
ments of the London Times — Expedition against Baltimore —
Death of Sir Peter Parker — Battle of North Point — Death of Gen-
eral Ross — Bombardment of Fort McIIenry — How a Famous
Song was written.

But these little affairs along the coast were of
small consequence in comparison with what be-
fell the capital of the country. Reheved by the
peace in Europe, the English Government resolved
to prosecute the American war with greater vigor,
and fixed upon the policy of striking at the cities.
Baltimore, Washington, Charleston, Savannah, and
New Orleans were all marked for capture or de-
struction. A powerful British fleet was sent to the
Bermudas, and a large number of veteran troops
transported thither, and the commanders on our
coasts were directed to draw thence such forces as
they might need for their expeditions.

That Washington was likely to be the object of
a hostile demonstration of some kind, was known to
the Administration for months, but no efficient

1814]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

measures were taken to meet it. President Madison
and General Armstrong, Secretary of War, did not
like each other, and neither man was large enough
not to let his personal feelings stand in the way of
the country's interests. When the President urged
that something should be done to avert the danger
that threatened the capital, General Armstrong
opposed the proposition with such abstruse reasons
as that "militia were always most effective when
first called out."

The only effective means of defence consisted of
a small flotilla commanded by Commodore Joshua
Barney, who sailed the waters of Chesapeake Bay
for some weeks, continually annoying the English
fleet. On the 1st of June he had an engagement
with two schooners in the Patuxent, and drove them
off with hot shot. A few days later, he was chased
into St. Leonard's Creek, where he formed his
boats in line of battle across the channel and en-
gaged the enemy's barges, ultimately chasing
them down to the ships. On the loth he was at-
tacked by twenty barges and two schooners ; but
he beat them all off, and so severely handled one
of the schooners, an eightecn-gun vessel, that her
crew ran her aground and abandoned her. On the
26th, with the help of a corps of artillery and a de-
tachment of the marine corps, Barney attacked the

s HI:

2.6

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

whoiu squadron that was blockading him in the St.
Leonard's, and after a fight of two hours compelled
them to raise the blockade.

General Robert Ross, who had served in several
campaigns under Wellington, and was with Sir
John Moore when he fell at Corunna, was selected
by the Duke to command an expedition against
Washington. In July, with three thousand five
hundred men, the f.nest regiments of Wellington's
army, he sailed from Bordeaux for the Chesapeake,
where he arrived in August, and was at once reen-
forced by a thousand marines from Cockburn's
blockading squadron, and a hundred negroes from
the neighboring plantations, who had been armed
and drilled as British soldiers.

The District of Columbia and the adjacent coun-
ties of Virginia and Maryland had recently been
formed into a military district, of which the com-
mand was given to General William H. Winder. His
forces 'Consisted of f. /e hundred regulars and two
thousand militia. On the approach of the enemy,
Maryland and Virginia were hastily called upon for
reenforcements of militia, and nearly three thou-
sand came from Maryland ; but the Virginians,
from delay in receiving their flints, did not move
till the fighting was over.

Ross's expedition ascended the Patuxent, and on

i8i4.]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

the morning of August 19th his troops were de-
barked without molestation at Benedict, on the
western or right bank, torty miles southeast of
Washingto; , He had twenty-seven vessels, and
over four thousand men.

By order of the Secretary of War, Commodore
Barney blew up his little flotilla, and with his five
hundred seamen and marines retreated to Notting-
ham, where General Winder assigned to them the
management of the artillery.

The weather was fearfully hot, and the enemy
proceeded by slow marches, dozens of men falling
and fainting by the way. It was remarked at the
time that their route might have been so impeded
by felling trees, that the weather and the labor
of removing them would have defeated the expedi-
tion. But nothing of the sort was done. Winder
waited in a chosen position at Wood Yard, twelve
miles from the city, to give battle. But Ross
turned to the right after reaching Nottingham,
taking the road to Marlborough, where Admiral
Cockburn joined him with a body of marines and
seamen. The Americans fell back to Battalion Old
Fields, a detachment under Major Peters skirmish-
ing sharply with the advancing enemy, and on the
24th to Bladensburg, six miles from Washington,
where a bridge spanned the eastern branch of the

278

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

Potomac. Here they made a stand, taking a strong
position on the western bank, commanding the
bridge. The President and several members of his
Cabinet were on the field, all interfering more or less
with the military arrangements. Monroe — then
Secretary of State, afterward President — who had
been a staff officer in the Continental army more
than thirty years before, considered himself spe-
cially qualified as a military meddler, and actually
changed the disposition of some of Winder's troops
at the last moment.

It could not be expected that a mass of raw mili-
tia, hastily called together, and hardly know-
ing by whom they were commanded, would stand
long, even in an advantageous position, before the
onset of veteran troops. " Come, General Arm-
strong, ome, Colonel Monroe," said the Presi-
dent, "lev us go, and leave it to the commanding
General." So Mr. Madison and his Cabinet left
the field, and it was not long before the militia fol-
lowed their illustrious example.

The ground on the eastern side of the river,
where the British approached, was low and clear.
On the western it rose in a gradual slope, and along
the stream was fringed with willows and larches.
A body of American riflemen was posted in the
shrubbery that lined the bank. Three hundred

i8i4.]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

279

yards up the slope was a slight earthwork, mount-
ing six guns, supported by two companies of Bal-
timore volunteers. General Stansbury had posted
three regiments to the right of it, but Secretary
Monroe had moved them to a point in the rear of
thfc battery and five hundred yards farther up the
slope. At the top of the hill, one mile from the
bridge, was formed a line consisting of Maryland
militia on the right, Barney's seamen and marines
in the centre, a detachment of regular troops and a
regiment of District militia on the left, with a bat-
tery of six guns and a company of riflemen in front.

The enemy entered the village of Bladensburg
soon after noon of the 24th, and was at once sub-
jected to a fire that compelled him to seek the shel-
ter of the houses. At one o'clock the advance
column rushed at the double quick upon the
bridge, where it met a concentrated fire from the
American batteries and riflemen, and almost en-
tirely melted away. A remnant, however, suc-
ceeded in crossing, deployed at once, and advanced
upon the first line, which fell back and permitted
two guns to be lost.

Elated at this success, the thin line of British
troops threw off their knapsacks and advanced tow-
ard the second line, without waiting for another
column to cross the bridge to their support. When

- -ii-

u .:

l3o

7V//E IVASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

General Winder saw their error, he placed hinnself
at the head of a regiment of Baltimore volunteers,
gave them an effective volley, and then made a
charge, and at the point of the bayonet drove them
down to the very brink of the river, where with dif-
ficidty they maintained their foothold under the
trees till another brigade had crossed the bridge to
their relief.

One regiment of these fresh troops turned the
left of the American lin( and threw in some Con-
greve rockets, which so frightened the militia on
that flank that they broke at once and fled in con-
fusion. The regiment headed by Winder stood
firm till both its flanks were turned, when it retired,
its retreat being covered hy the riflemen.

The enemy then attacked the remainder of the
line, all of which soon p"ave way, except Barney's
men, who kept them in check for half an hour, and
with the fire of four pieces of artillery ploughed
their ranks through and through. But when the
militia broke, the teamsters stampeded, without
stopping to unhitch their horses from the ammuni-
tion wagons. Barney was thus left with but a single
round of ammunition, while the enemy was gradu-
ally gaining a position upon his flank ; and though
many of his men were acting as infantry and
behaved admirably, charging several times with

i8i4.]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

281

great effect, he was obliged to order a retreat. He
himself had been severely wounded, while two of
his principal ofificers were killed, and two others
wounded. He fell into the hands of the enemy,
who took him to their hospital at Bladensburg. In
this action the Americans had lost seventy-seven
men killed or wounded ; the British, more than five
hundred. Ross's entire loss, including deserters,
prisoners, and those who succumbed to the weather,
was said to be nearly a thousand.

But no serious obstacle now stood in the way of
General Ross's purpose to destroy the capital ; and
with that portion of his force which had not been
engaged, he marched thither without the loss of an
hour, arriving at eight o'clock that evening.

The most valuable portion of the public archives
had been removed to a place of safety, and Mrs.
Madison had managed to carry away the original
draft of the Declaration of Independence, a portrait
of Washington that hung in the White House, and
a few other articles which could not have been
replaced. The magazines and shipping at the
Navy Yard had already been fired by order of the
Secretary of War, and everything there was de-
stroyed.

It is said that General Ross offered to spare the
cit}' for a price ; but there was no one at hand who

^ lUt

282

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

1* ■

could treat with him, if the authorities had been in-
clined to purchase its safety. He expected to be
attacked by a more formidable force than that he
had met at Bladensburg, and, as he wrote to Earl
Bathurst, "judging it of consequence to complete
the destruction of the public buildings with the
least possible delay, so that the army might retire
without loss of time," he "without a moment's
delay burned and destroyed everything in the most
distant degree connected with the government."
There was one rotable exception. At the interces-
sion of Dr. Thornton, who superintended the Patent
Office, the building containing that and the Post
Office was spared ; because, as the doctor repre-
sented, it contained great numbers of models and
papers which were of value to the whole scientific
world. The jail, one hotel, and a few dwellings
also escaped. All else, including the President's
house, the public libraries, and the new Capitol—
of which only the wings had been built — was
given to the flames. The commanders of the expe-
dition distinguished themselves personally in this
vandalism. Admiral Cochrane, who had a spite
against the National Intelligencer because of its
strictures upon his marauding exploits along the
coast, caused the office to be sacked and the type
thrown into the street, and with his own hand set

1814.]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

283

the building on fire. Admiral Cockburn is said to
have led his men into the hall of the House of Rep-
resentatives, where he leaped into the Speaker's
chair and shouted, " Shall this harbor of Yankee
democracy be burned ? All for it will say, Aye I"

In the night of the 25th, Ross silently withdrew
from the city, leaving his camp-fires burning, for he
expected and feared pursuit, and marched with all
that remained of his force to Benedict, where they
reembarked.

A division of the enemy's fleet, consisting of eight
vessels, ascended the Potomac to attack the city of
Alexandria. Fort Warburton, a small work in-
tended for its defence, was destroyed by the garri-
son at the approach of the ships, and with no oppo-
sition they passed up and laid the town under their
guns. A parley was had, the result of which was
that the dwellings were left unmolested, the condi-
tion being, "the immediate delivery [to the enemyj
of all public and private naval and ordnance stores ;
of all shipping, and the furniture necessary to their
equipment then in port ; of all the merchandise of
every description, whether in the town or removed
from it since the 19th of the month ; that such
merchandise should be put on board the shipping at
the expense of the owners ; and that all vessels
which might have been sunk upon the approach of

284

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

the fleet should be raised by the merchants and
delivered up with all their apparatus." These con-
ditions, hard as they were, were complied with, and
on the 6th of September the fleet, loaded with
booty, returned down the river. Two batteries on
the shore — at White House and Indian Head,
commanded by Captains Porter and Perry, of the
navy — damaged it considerably as it passed, but
were not able to stop it.

If the importance of General Ross's exploit was
overrated by the Americans, who naturally felt
chagrined that so small an invading force should
have destroyed their capital and momentarily dis-
persed their Government, it was enormously exag-
gerated by the English journals. By confounding
the capital of the country with its metropolis, they
led their readers to believe that the chief city of the
United States had been laid in ashes ; whereas
Washington was but a straggling place of eight
thousand inhabitants, which had been made the
seat of the Federal Government but a dozen years
before. Taking it for granted that what would
have befallen England or France with London or
Paris in the possession of a foreign enemy, had act-
ually befallen the United States, the London Times
proceeded to say: "The ill-organized association
is on the eve of dissolution, and the world is speed-

l8i4]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

a85

ily to be delivered of the mischievous example of
the existence of a government founded on demo-
cratic rebellion." In another issue, October 9th,
18 14, it said : " Next to the anniliilation of the late
military despotism in Europe, the subversion of
that system of fraud and malignity which consti-
tutes the whole policy of the Jeffersonian school,
was an event to be devoutly wished by every man
in either hemisphere who regards rational liberty or
the honorable intercourse of nations. It was an
event to which we should have bent, and yet must
bend, all our energies. The American Government
must be displaced, or it will sooner or later plant its
poisoned dagger in the heart of the parent state."
In a speech in Parliament, Sir Gilbert Heathcote
naively said, " it appeared to him that we feared
the rising power of America, and wished to curtail
it." Which, as the Scottish captain in the stor}
said, was " a verra just remark."

In the night of Augur.t 30th, Sir Peter Parker,
commander of the frigate Menelaus, who had been
blockading Baltimore with that and another vessel,
landed on the Eastern Shore, with two hundred and
thirty men, intending to surprise and capture a
small body of Maryland volunteers at Moorfields.
But the Maryland men were ready for them, and
after a sharp fight of about an hour the British re-

286

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

treated, leaving sixteen of their men killed or
wounded on the field, and bearing away seventeen
others, among whom was Sir Peter, who died al-
most as soon as he reached his ship. Three of the
Americans were wounded.

Rightly conjectuiing that Baltimore would be the
next place at which the enemy would strike, the
people of that city had made haste to provide for
its defence. The fortifications were extended, and
manned by about five thousand men. On the nth
of September, forty British war-vessels appeared at
the mouth of the Patapsco, and that night eight
thousand men, under General Ross, were landed at
North Point, a dozen miles below the city. No re-
sistance was offered till they had marched four miles
up the little peninsula, when they were met by Gen-
eral John Strieker with three thousand two hun-
dred men, including an artillery company with six
small guns, and a detachment of cavalry.

The cavalry and a hundred and fifty riflemen
were thrown forward to feel the enemy. General
Ross, who had declared that he "did n't care if it
rained militia," and had expressed his intention of
making winter quarters in Baltimore, put himself at
the head of his advance guard, and promptly at-
tacked. But as he rode along the crest of a little
knoll, he was shot in the side by an American rifle-

I8i4.]

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

287

man, and before his aides could bear him back to
the boats, he expired.

Notwithstanding the loss of their leader, the
British forces rushed stead' iy forward, drove the
American skirmishers back upon the main line, and
brought on a general engageiaent. The battle
lasted two or three hours with varying fortune, till
a heavy attack on the Amer n left turned it,
when the whole body retreated to an intrenched
position near the city.

The British followed the next day, but found
their enemy strongly placed and reenforced, where-
upon they took advantage of a dark night and re-
traced their steps. They had lost two hundred and
ninety men, killed or wounded, and had inflicted
upon the Americans a loss of two hundred and thir-
teen, including fifty prisoners. This action is known
as the battle of North Point, but has sometimes
been called the battle of Long-log Lane.

While Ross's men were approaching Baltimore
by land, sixteen vessels of the British fleet moved
up the bay, and opened fire upon its immediate de-
fences. The shallowness of the water prevented
them from getting near enough to bombard the
town itself ; but for twenty-four hours they poured
an almost uninterrupted shower of rockets and
shells into Fort Mc Henry, Fort Covington, and the

I.'

288

THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

[1814.

connecting intrcnchnncnts. Most of the firing was
at long range ; whenever any of the vessels came
within reach of the batteries, they were subjected
to a fire that quickly drove them back, and in some
cases sank them. Fort McHenry, garrisoned by
six hundred men under Major George Armistead,
bore the brunt of the attack.

At the dead of night the enemy attempted to
land a strong force above the forts, for an attack in
the rear ; but it was discovered and subjected to a
concentrated fire of. red-hot shot, which speedily
drove it off with serious loss. This practically put
an end to the attempt to take Baltimore, and a few
hours later the fleet withdrew. The loss of the
Americans by the bombardment was four killed and
twenty-four wounded. The loss in the fleet is un-
known.

This bombardment of Fort McHenry gave us one
of our national songs. Francis S. Key had gone
out to the British fle'et in a row-boat, under a flag
of truce, to ask for the release on parole of a friend
who had been made prisoner. Admiral Cockburn,
who had just completed his plans for the attack,
detained him, and in his little boat, moored to the
side of the flag-ship, he sat and watched the bom-
bardment. When the second morning broke, and
he saw that the flag of the fort — which Cockburn

i8i4.] THE WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN.

989

had boasted would " yield in a few hours" — was
still flying, he took an old letter out of his pocket,
and on the back of it wrote the first draft of •' The
Star-Spangled Banner." The flag is now in the
possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

I if

CHAPTER XVIII.

NAVAL BATTLES OF 1814.

Porter's Cruise in the Essex — His Campaign Against the Typees—
Destruction of the British A^haling Interest in the Pacific — Battle
with the Phabe and the Chei-tib — The Peacock and the Epervier —
The Wasp and the Reindeer — The Wasp and the Avon — Destruc-
tion of the General Armstrong — Loss of the President — The Con-
stitution Captures the Cyane and the Levant — The Hornet and the
Penguin.

The naval contests of 18 14 and the winter of
1815 repeated and emphasized the lesson of the first
year of the war ; they were all, with but two excep-
tions, American victories.

The remarkable cruise of the Essex, commanded
by Captain David Porter, begun late in 18 12, ex-
tended along the coast of South America, around
Cape Horn, and throughout almost the entire east-
ern half of the Pacific, ending in a bloody battle in
the harbor of Valparaiso, in March, 18 14. The
prizes taken in the Atlantic were of little value, ex-
cept one. The packet ship Nocton, captured just
south of the equator, had $55,000 in specie on
board, with which Porter subsequently paid off his
men. She was put in charge of a prize crew, and

iSi3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

291

sailed tor the United States, but was recaptured on
the way by a British frigate.

Porter had sailed under orders to meet Commo-
dore Bainbridgc, who had gone to sea with the Con-
stitution and the Hornet. But after failing to find
either of those vessels at three successive rendez-
vous, he determined to carry out a plan-which he
had submitted to the Secretary of the Navy some
time before, for a cruise against the British whalers
in the Pacific. After the usual stormy passage, he
doubled Cape Horn in February, 18 13. His de-
scription of one of the gales shows us that the
greatest dangers undergone by a man-of-war are not
always from the guns of the enemy.

" It was with no little joy we now saw ourselves
fairly in the Pacific Ocean, calculating on a speedy
end to all our sufferings. We began also to form
our projects for annoying the enemy, and had
already equipped, in imagination, one of their ves-
sels of fourteen or sixteen guns, and manned her
from the Essex, to cruise against their commerce.
Indeed, various were the schemes we formed at this
time, and had in fancy immense wealth to return
with to our country. But the wind freshened up to
a gale, and by noon had reduced us to our storm
stay-sail and close-reefed main-top-sail. In the after-
noon it hauled around to the westward, and blew

292

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

with a fury far exceeding anything we had yet
experienced, bringing with it such a tremendous sea
as to threaten us every moment with destruction,
and Jifcpalled the stoutest heart on board. Our
sails, our standing and running rigging, from the
succession of bad weather, had become so damaged
as to be no longer trustworthy ; we took, however,
the best means in our power to render everything
secure, and carried as heavy a press of sail as the
ship would bear, to keep her from drifting on the
coast of Patagonia, which we had reason to believe
was not far distant.

" From the excessive violence with which the
wind blew, we had strong hopes that it would be of
short continuance ; until, worn out with fatigue and
anxiety, greatly alarmed with the terrors of a lee
shore, and in momentary expectation of the loss of
our masts and bowsprit, we almost considered our sit-
uation hopeless. To add to our distress, our pumps
had become choked by the shingle ballast, which,
from the violent rolling of the ship, had got into
them, and the sea had increased to such a height as to
threaten to swallow us at every instant. The whole
ocean was one continual foam of breakers, and the
heaviest squall that I ever experienced had not
equalled in violence the most moderate intervals of
this tremendous hurricane. We had, however, done

I8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLES

293

all that lay in our power to preserve the ship, and
turned our attention to our pumps, which we were
enabled to clear, and to keep the ship from drifting
on shore, by getting on the most advantageap^s tack.
We were enabled to wear but once ; for the violence
of the wind and sea was such as afterward to render
it impossible to attempt it, without hazarding the
destruction of the ship and the loss of every life on
board. Our fatigue had been constant and exces-
sive ; many had been severely bruised by being
thrown, by the violent jerks of the ship, down the
hatchways, and I was particularly unfortunate in
receiving three severe falls, which at length disabled
me from going on deck.

" We had shipped several heavy seas, that would
have proved destructive to almost any other ship.
About three o'clock of the morning of the 3d, the
watch only being on deck, an enormous sea broke
over the ship, and for an instant destroyed every
hope. Our gun-deck ports were burst in, both boats
on the quarter stove, our spare spars washed from
the chains, our head-rails washed away, and ham-
mock stanchions burst in, and the ship perfectly
deluged and water-logged. Immediately after this
tremendous shock, which threw the crew into con-
sternation, the gale began to abate, and in the
morning we were enabled to set our reefed foresail.

294

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813,

In the height of the gale, Lewis Price, a marine,
who had long been confined with a pulmonary com-
plaint, departed this life, and was in the morning
committ.ed to the deep ; but the violence of the sea
was such that the crew could not be permitted to
come on deck to attend the ceremony of his burial,
as their weight would have strained and endangered
the safety of the ship.

" When this last sea broke on board us, one of
the prisoners exclaimed that the ship's broadside
was stove in, and that she was sinking. This alarm
was greatly calculated to increase the fears of those
below, who, from the immense torrent of water that
was rushing down the hatchways, had reason to be-
lieve the truth of his assertion. Many who were
washed from the spar- to the gun-deck, and from
their hammocks, and did not know the extent of
the injury, were also greatly alarmed ; but the men
at the wheel, and some others, who were enabled by
a good grasp to keep their stations, distinguished
themselves by their coolness and activity after the
shock."

Porter touched at the island of Mocha, and after-
ward ran into the harbor of Valparaiso, where he
learned that his arrival in the Pacific was most
opportune ; for there were many American whalers
that had left home before the war began, and knew

'V^/.

<
u
o
o

o
u

O
Q
O

i:l

'IhI ii

iil

n:iu

—

I8i3]

NAVAL BATTLES.

295

nothing of it, while some English whalers, sailing
later, had taken out letters of marque, and carried
guns, and were making prizes of the unsuspecting
Americans.

Porter soon captured a Peruvian privateer, and
two English whalers, and recaptured an American
ship that had been taken by the enemy. One of
the whalers carried six guns, and the other ten.
He placed the entire armament in the faster
sailer, cut away her try-works, and with some other
alterations converted her into a war-vessel, giving
the command of her to John Downes, his first lieu-
tenant. Subsequently a still better ship for the pur-
pose was captured, and the armament was shifted to
that, which was then re-christened Essex Junior.

With these two ships Porter scoured the ocean for
the next six months, and took numerous prizes,
nearly all English whalers, several of which had
armed themselves as privateers. One he loaded
with oil and sent home. Two or three, as he could
spare no more men for prize crews, he disarmed and
allowed to go home in charge of their own crews,
carrying also the other prisoners, all of whom were
paroled. One captain, whom he found cruising as
a privateer without a commission as such, he put in
irons, to be tried as a pirate when the Essex should
return home. In that six months. Porter and

; ,

*;?'.j

296

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

Downcs had captured four thousand tons of British
shipping, taking four hundred prisoners ; and as
they could now hear of no more in that part of the
Pacific, they went in October to the Marquesas
Islands, to refit their vessels and let the crews have
a rest and a run on shore.

There in the beautiful harbor of Nukahiva they
made repairs and wooded and watered at their lei-
sure. Porter formally took possession of the island
in the name of the United States, called it Madi-
son's Island, and the harbor Massachusetts Bay,
and built a fort on the shore, in which he mounted
four guns. Near the fort he constructed a small
village, consisting of six houses, a rope-walk, a
bakery, and other buildings, which he named Madi-
sonville. His " Journal " gives an interesting ac-
count of their life for four or five weeks among the
natives of that romantic and then almost unknown
group. One of the most exciting incidents of it was
a war between two tribes — the Happahs and the
Typees — occupying different parts of the island.
All the tribes of the island except the Typees had
made a sort of treaty of friendship and alliance with
Porter. As he and his men were guests of the Hap-
pahs, and the Typees had begun to treat them as
enemies, Porter felt obliged to join in the war, when
the superiority of the fire-arms over the native

I8i3.]

NA VAL DA TILES.

297

weapons ended it in the disastrous defeat of the
Typees. But this was not accomplished without
severe fighting, in which the Typees exhibited the
most determined courage, and a great degree of mil-
itary skill, making the best of such weapons and
advantages as they had. Porter's campaign in the
Typee valley is one of the most singular episodes in
all the annals of war, and the reader will probably
be interested in some passages from his account of
it, though it has no necessary connection with the
subject to which this volume is devoted.

" We arrived at the Typee landing at sunrise, and
were joined by ten war-canoes from the Ilappahs.
The Essex Jmiior soon after arrived and anchored.
The tops of all the neighboring mountains were
covered with the Taeeh and Ilappah warriors, armed
with their spears, clubs, and slings. The beach was
covered with the warriors who came with the
canoes, and who jo'ned us from the hills. Our
force did not amount to a less number than five
thousand men ; but not a Typee or any of their
dwellings were to be seen. For the whole length of
the beach, extending upward of a quarter of a mile,
was a clear level plain which extended back about
one hundred yards. A high and almost impene-
trable swampy thicket bordered on this plain, and

.1.

298

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

the only trace wc could perceive which, we were
informed, led to the habitations, was a narrow path-
way which winded through the swamp.

" The canoes were all hauled on the beach, the
Taeehs on the right, the Happahs on the left, and
our four boats in the centre. We only waited for
reenforcements from the Essex Junior, our inter-
preter, our ambassadors, and Gattanewa [chief of
the Happahs]. I went on board to hasten them on
shore, and on my return to the beach I found every-
one in arms. The Typces had appeared in the
bushes, and had pelted our people with stones while
they were quietly eating their breakfast.

" I had a man with me who had intermarried with
the Typecs, and was privileged to go among them,
and I furnished him with a white flag and sent him
to tell them I had come to offer peace, but was
prepared for war. In a few minutes he came run-
ning back, and informed me he had met in the
bushes an ambuscade of Typees, who had threat-
ened to put him to death if he again ventured
among them. In an instant afterward a shower of
stones came from the bushes, and at the same mo-
ment one of the Typees darted across the pathway
and was shot through the leg, but was carried off by
his friends.

*' Lieutenant Downes arrived with his men, and I

I813.J

NAVAL BATTLES.

999

ijavc the order to march. We entered the bushes,
and were at every instant assailed by spears and
stones, which came from different parts of the
enemy in ambuscade. We could hear the snapping
of the slings, the whistling of the stones ; the s^-ears
came quivering by us, but we could not perceive
from whom they came. No enemy was to be seen,
not a whisper was to be heard among them.

** We had advanced about a mile, and came to a
small opening on the bank of a river, from the
thicket on the opposite side of which we were as-
sailed with a shower of stones, when Lieutenant
Downes received a blow which shattered the bone
of his left leg, and he fell. The allied tribes sat as
silent observers of our operations ; the sides of the
mountains were still covered with them, and I as
well as the Taechs had no slight grounds to doubt
the fidelity of the Happahs. A defeat would have
scaled our destruction.

** The Indians began to leave us, and all depend-
ed on our own exertions. I directed Mr. Shaw with
four men to escort Lieutenant Downes to the beach,
which reduced the number of my men to twenty-
four. We soon came to a place for fording the
river, in the thick bushes of the opposite bank of
which the Typees made a bold stand. We endeav-
ored in vain to clear the bushes with our musketry.

300

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

The stones and spears flew with augmented num-
bers. I directed a volley to be fired, three cheers to
be given, and to dash across the river. We soon
gained the opposite bank, and continued our march,
rendered still more difficult by the underwood,
which was here so interlaced as to make it neces-
sary sometimes to crawl on our hands and knees.

" On emerging from the swamp, we perceived a
stropf^ and extensive wall of seven feet in height,
raised on an eminence crossing our road, and flanked
on each side by an impenetrable thicket. In an in-
stant afterward we were assailed by such a shower
of stones, accompanied by the most horrid yells, as
left no doubt that we had here to encounter their
principal strength. A tree Vv^hich afforded shelter
from their stones ' enabled me, accompanied by
Lieutenant Gamble, to annoy them as they rose
above the wall to throw at us ; but these were the
only muskets that could be employed to advantage.

" Finding we could not dislodge them, I gave
orders for taking the place by storm. But some of
my men had expended all their cartridges, few had
more than three or four remaining, and our only
safety depended on holding our ground till we could
procure a fresh supply. I despatched Lieutenant
Gamble and four men to the Essex Junior, and from
the time of their departure we were chiefly occupied

I8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

301

in eluding the stones, which came with redoubled
force and numbers. Three of my men were knocked
down by them. As a feint, we retreated a few
paces, and in an instant the Indians rushed on us
with hideous yells. The first and second that ad-
vanced were killed at the distance of a few paces,
and those who attempted to carry them off were
wounded. They abandoned their dead, and precip-
itately retrc^^ed to their fort Taking advantage of
the terror they were thrown into, we marched off with
our wounded, returning to the beach much fatigued
and with no contemptible opinion of the enemy.

" The next day I determined to proceed with a
force which I believed they could not resist, and
selected two hundred men from the Essex, the Essex
Junior, and the prizes. As some of the boats were
leaky, I determined to go by land, over the moun-
tain ridge. We had a fine, moonlight night, and I
hoped to be down in the Typee valley long before
daylight.

" Not a whisper was heard from one end of the
line to the other. Our guides marched in front,
and we followed in silence up and down the steep
sides of rocks and mountains, through rivulets,
thickets, and reed-brakes, and by the sides of preci-
pices which sometimes caused us to shudder. At
twelve o'clock we could hoar the drums beatincf in

ii;

'M,
it

h(,l

1^';

3° 2

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1S13.

the Typee valley, accompanied by loud singing,
and the number of lights in different parts c-f it in-
duced me to believe they were rejoicing, I in-
quired the cause, snd was informed by the Indians
that they were celebrating the victory they had ob-
tained over us, and calling on their gods to give
them rain in order that it might render our bouhie?
[muskets] useless.

"The Indians told us it would be impossible to
descend without daylight ; and when it was light
enough to see down the valley, we were surprised
at the height and steepness. A narrow pathway
pointed out the track, but it was soon lost among
the cliffs. Before I left the hill, I determined by
firing a volley to show the natives that our muskets
had not received as much injury as they had expect-
ed from the rain. As soon as they heard the report,
and discovered our number, which, with the multi-
tude of Indians of both tribes who had now assem-
bled, was very numerous, they shouted, beat their
drums, and blew their war-conchs from one end of
the valley to the other ; and what with the squeal-
ing of the hogs, which they now began to catch, the
screaming of the women and children, and the yell-
ing of tl e men, the din was horrible.

" We descended with great difficulty into the vil-
lage of the Happahs, where everything bore the ap-

I8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

z°:i

pearance of a hostile disposition on their part. I
sent for their chief, and required to know if they
were hostilely disposed. I told him it was necessary
we should have something to eat, and that I ex-
pected his people to bring us hogs a.id fruit, and if
they did not do so, I should be under the necessity
of sending out parties to shoot the hogs and cut
down their fruit-trees, as our people were too
fatigued to climb them. I also directed that they
should lay by their spears and clubs. No notice
being taken of these demands, I caused many of
their spears and clubs to be taken from them and
broken, and sent parties out to shoot hogs, while
others were employed in cutting down cocoanut and
banana trees until we had a sufficient supply. Tiie
chiefs and people now became intimidated, and
brought baked hogs in greater abundance than was
required.

" At daylight next morning the line of march was
formed. On ascending the ridge where we had
passed such a disagreeable night, we halted to take
breath, and view for a few minutes the delightful
valley which was soon to become a scene of desola-
tion. We had a distant view of e'/ery part. The
valley was about nine miles in length, and three or
four in breadth, surrounded on every part, except
the beach, by lofty mountains. The upper part

'-f

it;;

I-

^y^-m

i-M

304

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

was bounded by a precipice many hundred feet in
height, from the top of which a handsome sheet of
water was precipitated, and formed a beautiful river
which ran meandering through the valley. Villages
were scattered here and there ; the bread-fruit and
cocoanut trees flourished luxuriantly and in abun-
dance ; plantations laid out in good order, enclosed
with stone walls, were in a high state of cultivation ;
and everything bespoke industry, abundance, and
happiness. Never in my life did I witness a more
delightful scene or experience more repugnance
than I now felt for the necessity which compelled
me to punish a happy and heroic people.

** A large assembly of Typce warriors were posted
on the opposite banks of the river, and dared us to
descend. In their rear was a fortified village,
secured by strong stone walls. Drums were beating
and war-conchs sounding, and we soon found they
were making every effort to oppose us.

** As soon as we reached the foot of the mountain
we were annoyed by a shower of stones from the
bushes and from behind stone walls. After resting
a few minutes, I directed the scouting parties to
gain the opposite bank of the river, and followed
with the main body. The fortified village was taken
without loss on our side ; but their chief warrior and
another were killed, and several wounded. They

'813.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

305

»-'. > 1

retreated only to stone walls on higher ground, where
they continued to sling their stones and throw their
spears. Three of my men were wounded, and many
of the Typees killed, before we dislodged them.

" Parties were sent out to scour the woods, and
another fort was taken after some resistance ; but
the party, overpowered by numbers, were compelled
to retreat to the main body, after keeping posses-
sion of it half an hour. We were waiting, in the
fort first taken, for the return of our scouting
parties. A multitude of Tayees and Happahs were
with us, and many were on th^ outskirts of the vil-
lage, seeking for plunder. Lieutenant McKnight
had driven a party from a strong wall on the high
ground, and had possession of it, when a large party
of Typees, who had been lying in ambush, rushed
by his fire and darted into the fort with their
spears. The Tayeehs and Happahs all ran. The
Typees approached within pistol-shot, but on the
first fire retreated precipitately, crossing the fire of
McKnight's party, and although none fell, we had
reason to believe that many were wounded. The
spears and stones were flying from the bushes in
every direction ; and although we killed and wounr"-
cd in this place great numbers of them, we were
satisfied that we should have to fight our way
through the whole valley.

■ m

^ m

f*i

::i:l.

3o6

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813

" I sent a messenger to inform the Typees that
we should cease hostilities when they no longer
made resistance, but so long as stones were thrown
I should destroy their villages. No notice was
taken of this message,

" We continued our march up the valley, and met
in our way several beautiful villages, which we set
on fire, and at length arrived at their capital — for
it deserves the name of one. We had been com-
pelled to fight every inch of ground, and here they
made considerable opposition. The place was soon
carried, however, and I very reluctantly set fire to
it. The beauty and regularity of this place were
such as to strike every spectator with astonishment.
Their public square was far superior to any other we
had met with. Numbers of their gods were here de-
stroyed ; several large and elegant new war-canoes
were burned in the houses that sheltered them, and
many of their drums were thrown into the flames.
Our Indians loaded themselves with plunder, after
destroying bread-fruit and other trees and all the
young plants they could find. We had now arrived
at the upper end of the valley, about nine miles
from the beach, and at the foot of the waterfall
above mentioned.

" After resting about half an hour, I directed the
Indians to take care of our wounded, and we formed

I8i3.]

NAVAL BATTLLS.

307

'* I

the line of march and proceeded down the valley, in
our route destroying several other villages, at all of
which we had some skirmishing. At one of these
places, at the foot of a steep hill, the enemy rolled
down enormous stones, with a view of crushing
us to death. The number of villages destroyed
amounted to ten ; and ihe destruction of trees and
plants, and the plunder carried off by the Indians,
was almost incredible. The Typees fought us to
the last, and even at firti harassed our rear on our
return ; but parties left in ambush soon put a stop
to further annoyance.

** We at length came to the formidable fort which
checked our career on our first day's enterprise, and
although I had witnessed many instances of the
great exertion and ingenuity of these islanders, I
never had supposed them capable of contriving and
erecting a work hke this. It formed the segment of
a circle, and was about fifty yards in extent, built
of large stones, six feet thick at the bottom and
gradually narrowing to the top. On the left was a
narrow entrance, merely sufficient to admit one
person's entering. The wings and rear were equally
guarded, and the right was flanked by another forti-
fication of greater magnitude and equal strength
and ingenuity. I directed the Indians and my own
men to put their shoulders to the wall and endeavor

!' :' k

■|''

'*i

3o8

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

to throw it down ; but no impression could be made
upon it. It appeared of ancient date, and time
alone can destroy it. We succeeded in making a
small breach, through which we passed on our route
to the beach, — a route which was familiar to us, but
liad now become doubly intricate from the number
of trees which had since been cut down and placed
across the pathway.

" The chiefs of the Happahs invited me to return
to their valley, assuring me that an abundance of
everything was already provided for us ; and the
girls, who had assembled in great numbers, dressed
out in their best attire, welcomed me with smiles.
Gattanewa met me on the side of the hill as I was
ascending. The old man's heart was full ; he could
not speak ; he placed both my hands on his head,
rested his forehead on my knees, and after a short
pause, raising himself, placed his hands on my
breast, and exclaimed Gattaneiva ! and then on his
own and said Apotee f [Porter] to remind me we had
exchanged names.

" When I reached the summit of the mountain, I
stopped to contemplate that valley which in the
morning we had viewed in all its beauty. A long
line of smoking ruins now marked our traces from
one end to the other, the opposite hills were covered
with the unhappy fugitives, and the whole presented

•ed
ed

1813.J

NAVAL BATTLES.

309

a scene of desolation and horror. Unhappy and
heroic people ! the victims of your own courage and
mistaken pride. While the instruments of your fate
shed the tear of pity over your misfortunes, thou-
sands of your countrymen — nay, brethren of the
same family — triumphed in your distresses.

" The day of our return was devoted to rest.
But a messenger was despatched to the Typees to
inform them I was still willing to make peace, and
that I should not allow them to return to their val-
ley until they had come on terms of friendship with
us, and exchanged presents. They readily consent-
ed to the terms, and requested to know the number
of hogs I should require. I told them I should ex-
pect from them four hundred, which they assured
me should be delivered without delay.

" Flags were now sent from all the other tribes,
with large presents of hogs and fruit, and peace was
established throughout the island. The chiefs, the
priests, and the principal persons of the tribes were
very solicitous of forming a relationship with me by
an exchange of names with some of my family.
Some wished to bear the name of my brother, my
son-in-law, my brother-in-law, etc., and when all
the male stock were exhausted, they as anxiously
solicited the names of the other sex. The name of
my son, however, was more desired than any other,

' f

.■H

'S.I

310

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1813.

and many old men, whose long gray beards rendered
their appearance venerable, were known by the
name of Pickaneence Apotce ; the word * pickaninny '
having been introduced among them by the sailors. "

Captain Porter wa^; undoubtedly sincere in the be-
lief that what he had done was a necessity of war.
But when we consider that it arose simply from the
refusal of a people, standing on their own ground,
to enter into a treaty of amity with strangers whose
language they could not speak, and whose purposes
they did not understand, it looks as if the captain
had imposed a pretty heavy penalty for a small
offence, and given the unfortunate Typces as unfair
treatment as he himself experienced a few months
later in the harbor of Valparaiso.

Meanwhile, Captain Porter had learned that an
English frigate had been sent out to stop his career ;
and as whalers had now become scarce, and he had
taken as many prizes as he could well manage, after
refitting at the Marquesas Islands, he sailed in
search of his enemy. The truth was, Captain James
Hillyar, of the British navy, was looking for him
with tivo ships, the Phoibe and the Cherub, mounting
respectively fifty-three and twenty-eight guns ; and
there is good reason to believe that the Admiralty
had sent him out with stringent orders to find and

^ii

•w

I8I4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

31'

destroy or capture the Essex at all hazards. He
found her at Valparaiso, and blockaded her there
for six weeks. On one occasion the Essex and the
P/icebe almost fouled, through the fault of the latter,
and Porter called away his boarders and in a mo-
ment more would have been on the Englishman's
deck ; but Hillyar protested so earnestly that he
had no intention of attacking in a neutral port, that
he was permitted to withdraw from his suspicious
position. Had Porter been more shrewd and less
chivalrous, he would perhaps have seen that there
was no way to account for the position of the
Phoebe, except on the supposition that Hillyar was
intending to carry the Essex by boarding, had he
not found her commander and crew too ready for
him. That he cared nothing for the neutrality of the
port, was demonstrated by his subsequent conduct.
After vainly offering battle on equal terms, Por-
ter, on the 28th of March, attempted to put to sea.
But his ship was struck by a heavy squall, which
carried away the main-top-mast. Being pursued by
the Phoebe and Chertib, he tacked about, reentered
the harbor, and anchored within pistol-shot of the
shore. Paying not the slightest regard to the neu-
trality of the port, the enemy followed the Essex,
took a position under her stern, and opened fire.
Even under this disadvantage. Porter got three long

■ n

312

NAVA/. BATTLES.

[1814.

guns out at the stern ports, and fought them so
skilfully that in half an hour both the P'lcvbe and the
Cherub drew off for repairs. They next took a posi-
tion on the starboard quarter, out of reach of the
carronades that composed the Essex s broads' '^'^.
and fired at her with their long guns. Undei j
flying jib, the only sail he could set, Porter ran
down upon the enemy, and after a short and intense
action at close range, drove off the Cherub, But
the Phccbc edged away again out of reach of his car-
ronades, and kept up a steady fire from her long
guns. The slaughter on board the Essex was sick-
ening. At one gun, tlirce whole crews were swept
away in succession. Says Ci.ptain Porter, in his
" Journal :" " I was informed that the cockpit, ^^e
steerage, the ward-room, and the berth-deck > \
contain no more wounded ; that the wounded were
killed while the surgeons were dressing them ; and
that, unless something was speedily done to pre-
vent it, the ship would soon sink from the number
of shot-holes in her bottom."

The captain next tried to run her ashore ; but
while she was still nearly a mile from the land, the
wind suddenly shifted. A hawser was bent to the
sheet anchor, and the ship swung round so as to
bring her broadside to bear on the enemy, but the
hawser soon parted. Indeed, she had anchored in

I8i4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

313

the first place with springs on her cables, but the
springs had been repeatedly sho' away.*

With all these misfortunes, the ship took fire, and
as the flames burst up the hatchways Porter ordered
all who could swim to jump overboard and strike
out for the shore, as the boats had been destroyed
by the enemy's shot. The flames were extin-
guished ; but the Essex was now a wreck, deliber-
ately raked by every discharge from her antagonist,
and the colors were struck. The Essex Junior had
been in no condition to assist in the fight, but was
included in the surrender. Out of two hundred and
fifty-five men, Porter had lost one hundred and
fifty-four in killed, wounded, or missing. Hillyar
reported the loss on his two ships as five killed and
ten wounded.

The battle had bee. witnessed by thousands of
people on shore. So near were the vessels to land
a part of the time, that many of the P/ia^bc's shot
struck the beach. The United States Consul, Joel
R. Poinsett, protested to the Chilian authorities

* A " spring " of this sort is a rope, one end of which is attached to
the cable and the other end carried to the after part of the ship, so
ihat by hauling upon it she can be swung round to point hir broad-
side in any desired direction. A high authority — I'arragut — sa\s
one of Porter's serious mistakes in this action was in fastening the
springs to the cable, when they should have been fastened to the
anchor, which would have carried the greater part of them below the
.surface of the water, out of the reach of shot.

. '.Si

'- II

ill

lit;

3'4

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1814.

against the violation of neutrality, and demanded
that the batteries protect the Essex ; but he received
no satisfactory answer, and took the first opportu-
nity of leaving the country. Captain Porter esti-
mated that it had cost the British Government
nearly six million dollars to possess his ship.

Among the crew of the Essex was a midshipman
twelve years old, who subsequently became the
greatest of all naval commanders, David G. Farra-
gut. In his "Journal" he describes vividly the
battle and the part he took in it. Some passages
will be of interest here, as they present pictures sel-
dom found in the descriptions of such contests :

" I well remember the feelings of awe produced in
me by the approach of the hostile ships ; even to
my young mind it was perceptible in the faces of
those around me, as clearly as possible, that our
case was hopeless. It was equally apparent that all
were ready to die at their guns, rather than surren-
der ; and such I believe to have been the determina-
tion of the crew, almost to a man. There had been
so much bantering of each other between the men
of the ships, through the medium of letters and
songs, with an invariable fight between the boats'
crews when they met on shore, that a very hostile
sentiment was engendered. Our flcigs were flying
from every mast, and the enemy's vessels displayed

i8i4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

315

• li

Mtlg

their ensigns, jacks, and motto-flags, as they bore
down grandly to the attack.

" I performed the duties of captain's aid, quarter-
gunner, powder-boy, and in fact did everything that
was required of me. I shall never forget the horrid
impression made upon me by the sight of the first
man I had ever seen killed. He was a boatswain's
mate, and was fearfully mutilated. It staggered
and sickened me at first ; but they soon began to
fall around me so fast that it all appeared like a
dream, and produced no effect on my nerves. I can
remember well, while I was standing near the cap-
tain, just abaft the mainmast, a shot came through
the water-ways and glanced upward, killing four
men who were standing by the side of the gun, tak-
ing the last one in the head and scattering his brains
over both of us. But this awful sight did not affect
me half as much as the death of the first poor fel-
low. I neither thought of nor noticed anything but
the working of the guns.

" On one occasion Midshipman Isaacs came up to
the captain and reported that a quarter-gunner
named Roach had deserted his post. The only
reply of the captain, addressed to me, was, ' Do
your duty, sir.' I seized a pistol and went in pur-
suit of the fellow, but did not find him.

" Soon after this, some gun-primers were wanted.

Ill

■A 1

3i6

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1814.

and I was sent after them. In going below, while
I was on the ward-room ladder, the captain of the
gun directly opposite the hatchway was struck full
in the face by an eighteen-pound shot, and fell back
on me. We tumbled down the hatch together. I
struck on my head, and fortunately he fell on my
hips. As he was a man of at least two hundred
pounds' weight, I would have been crushed to death
if he had fallen directly across my body. I lay for
some moments stunned by the blow, but soon recov-
ered consciousness enough to rush up on deck. The
captain, seeing me covered with blood, asked if I
was wounded, to which I replied, ' I believe not,
sir.' 'Then,' said he, 'where are the primers?'
This first brought me completely to my senses, and
I ran below again and carried the primers on deck.
When I came up the second time, I saw the captain
fall, and in my turn ran up and asked if he was
wounded. He answered me almost in the same
words, ' I believe not, my son ; but I felt a blow on
the top of my head.' He must have been knocked
down by the windage of a passing shot.

" When my services were not required for other
purposes, I generally assisted in working a gun ;
would run and bring powder from the boys, and
send them back for more, until the captain wanted
me to carry a message.

i8r4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

3'7

" I have already remarked how soon I became ac-
customed to scenes of blood and death during the
action ; but after the battle had ceased, when, on
going below, I saw the mangled bodies of my ship-
mates, dead and dying, groaning and expiring with
the most patriotic sentiments on their lips, I became
faint and sick. As soon as I recovered from the
first shock, however, I hastened to assist the sur-
geon. Among the badly wounded was one of my
best friends. Lieutenant J. G. Cowell. When I
spoke to him he said, ' O Davy, I fear it is all up
with me.' I found that he had lost a leg just above
the knee, and the doctor informed mc that his life
might have been saved if he had consented to the
amputation of the limb an hour before ; but when it
was proposed to drop another patient and attend to
him, he replied, ' No, doctor, none of that ; fair
play is a jewel. One man's life is as dear as anoth-
er's ; I would not cheat any poor fellow out of his
turn.' Thus died one of the best officers and brav-
est men among us.

" It was wonderful to find dying men, who had
hardly ever attracted notice among the ship's com-
pany, uttering sentiments worthy of a Washington.
You might have heard in all directions, * Don't give
her up, Logan ! * — a sobriquet for Porter — ' Hur-
rah for liberty ! ' and similar expressions. A young

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1814.

Scotchman named Bissley had one leg shot off close
to the groin. He used his handkerchief for a
tourniquet, and said to his comrades, * I left my own
country and adopted the United States, to fight for
her. I hope I have this day proved myself worthy
of the country of my adoption. I am no longer of
any use to you or to her, so good-by ! ' With these
words, he leaned on the sill of the port and threw
himself overboard.

" Lieutenant Wilmer, who had been sent forward
to let go the sheet anchor, was knocked overboard
by a shot. After the action, his little Negro boy,
Ruff, came on deck and asked me what had become
of his master, and when I imparted to him the sad
news, he deliberately jumped into the sea and was
drowned.

" I went on board the Phoebe about 8 A.M. on the
29th, and was ushered into the steerage. I was so
mortified at our capture that I could not refrain
from tears. While in this uncomfortable state, I
was aroused by hearing a young reefer call out, ' A
prize ! a prize ! Ho, boys, a fine grunter, by
Jove ! ' T saw at once that he had under his arm a
pet pig belonging to our ship, called Murphy. I
claimed the animal as my own. ' Ah,' said he,
' but you are a prisoner, and your pig also.' ' We
always respect private property,' I replied, and as I

l8i4-]

NAVAL BATTLES.

319

had seized hold of Murphy I determined not to let
go, unless compelled by superior force. This was
fun for the oldsters, who immediately sung out, ' Go
it, my little Yankee ! If you can thrash Shorty,
you shall have your pig ! ' * Agreed ! ' said I. A
ring was formed, and at it we went. I soon found
that .xiy antagonist's pugilistic education did not
come up to mine. In fact, he was no match for me,
and was compelled to give up the pig. So I took
Master Murphy under my arm, feeling that I had in
some degree wiped out the disgrace of our defeat."
Porter and his surviving men were paroled, and
the Essex Junior was converted into a cartel, in
which they were sent home to New York. When
she was within about thirty miles of her destina-
tion, she was overhauled by a British war-vessel and
detained all night, which by the terms of the agree-
ment with Captain Hillyar absolved them from their
parole. In the morning Captain Porter with a few
men left the ship in a small boat, unnoticed, and
pulled for shore, landing at Babylon, Long Island,
about sunset. He was immediately made a prisoner
by the militia ; but when he exhibited his commis-
sion, they fired a salute of twenty- one guns and fur-
nished a horse and cart to carry his boat. On reach-
ing Ne\y York, he received a grand ovation, and as
he rode through the streets the people unhitched

<-*«<

320

NA VAL BA TTLES.

[1814.

his horses and drew the carriage themselves. Thus
ended one of the most exciting, varied, and romantic
cruises ever made by a modern sailor.

On the 29th of April the American sloop-of war
Peacock, carrying eighteen guns and commanded by
Captain Lewis Warrington, was cruising off the
coast of Florida when she sighted the British brig-
of-war Epervicr, eighteen guns, convoying three
merchantmen. The two men-of-war hauled up for
action, and after a battle of forty-two minutes the
English flag was struck. The Epervier had lost
twenty-two men killed or wounded, her rigging was
badly cut up, and there was five feet of water in the
hold, more than forty shot having entered her hull.
The Peacock, which was much heavier than her an-
tagonist, had received very little injury, and but two
of her crew were wounded. The prize had $1 18,000
in specie on board. Soon after this the Peacock
cruised in the Bay of Biscay and along the coast of
Portugal, and captured fourteen merchantmen.

Captain Johnston Blakeley, in the Wasp, a sister
ship to the Peacock, sailed from Portsmouth, N. H.,
for a cruise in the chops of the English Channel.
At daylight on the 28th of June he sighted two sail
on the lee beam and one on the weather beam.
Avoiding the former, he made for the latter, which
proved to be the British brig Reindeer, of eighteen

i8i4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

321

guns. There was considerable manoeuvring for the
weather-gauge, but the Englishman succeeded in
keeping it, and by three o'clock had come within
sixty yards. At that short distance she had five
shots at the Wasp, with a shifting carronade, firing
round shot and grape, before the Wasp could bring
a single gun to bear on her. But Blakuky then
made a half-board, and by firing from aft forward
finally brought every gun into use. This was too
heavy for the Reindeer, and she ran into the Wasp
and attempted to board, her crew being led by Cap-
tain Manners in person. But every attempt was re-
pelled by the crew of the Wasp, and when Captain
Blakeley ordered them in turn to board the enemy,
they were on her deck and the British flag was
hauled down in one minute. The whole action had
• lasted but half an hour. The Rei?ideer had lost
twenty-five killed, including her captain, and forty-
two wounded ; the Wasp, five killed and twenty-two
wounded. The upper half of the hull of the Rein-
deer was a complete wreck, and she had to be
burned. A few weeks later, September 1st, the
Wasp,i.a(ter making three prizes, discovered four sail
and bore up for the most weatherly of them. Be-
tween nine and ten o'clock at night the two ships
came close together, and broadsides were exchanged
till the enemy became silent. Blakeley hailed, and

322

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1814.

was answered that she surrendered. She was the
British brig Avon, of eighteen guns. But before
the Americans had taken possession of her, another
British man-of-war came up. The IVasJf made ready-
to engage her ; but before she could do so, two oth-
ers appeared, and she then put up her hehn and ran
off before the wind. It was afterward learned that
the Avo?i had sunk, and her consort with difificulty
rescued the survivors of her crew. In the next twenty
days the Was/> took three prizes, and then, continu-
ing her cruise, was never heard from again.

One of the bloodiest sea-fights of this year took
place in the harbor of Fayal, Azores. The Ameri-
can privateer General Arntstrong, carrying fourteen
guns and ninety men, commanded by Captain Sam-
uel C. Reid, put in there for water on the 26th of
September. A few hours later, three British war-
vessels — the Plantagcnet, Carnation, and Rota —
entered the harbor. It was a neutral port, but they
cared no more for its neutrality than Hillyar had
cared for that of Valparaiso.

In the evening, under a full moon, four armed
boats were sent from these vessels to cut out the
privateer. As they approached her, they were
warned off several times, but paid no attention to it,
and attempted to board. Reid then opened fire on
them, and drove them off with heavy loss. For

I8i4.]

NAVAL BATTLES.

Z^i

rmed
It the

I were
to it,
re on
For

greater security, the Armstrong was hauled up
close to the fort, and moored. The Governor re-
monstrated with Captain Vvin Lloyd, commander of
the English fleet ; to which the captain answered
that he was determined to destroy the privateer, and
if the fort protected her he would bombard the town
till not :i house was left standing.

At midnight the Armstrong was attacked again,
this time by fourteen launches, each carrying about
fifty men. Reid promptly opened his broadside on
them, with terrible effect ; yet two or three of them
succeeded in reaching the vessel, and the crew then
met them with cutlass and pistol, and scarcely a man
in them was left alive. A letter written from Fayal
at the time, by an Englishman, says the officers in
charge of the boats cheered on their men with a
shout of " No quarter !" and that " the Americans
fought with great firmness, but more like blood-
thirsty savages than anything else. They rushed
into the boats, sword in hand, and put every soul to
death, as far as came within their power. Several
boats floated on shore, full of dead bodies."

Next morning, the Carnation sailed in and
engaged the Armstrong ; but after a short action
she was badly cut up and obliged to haul off for
repairs. Several guns on the Armstrong had been
dismounted ; and as Captain Reid now saw that her

324

NAVAL BATTLES.

[1814.

ultimate destruction was certain, he cut away her
masts, blew a hole in her bottom, and went ashore
with his men. Two of the crew had been killed,
and seven wounded. The ascertained loss of the
British was one hundred and twenty killed and
ninety wounded.

After burning the abandoned wreck, Van Lloyd
demanded of the Governor that the gallant little
crew he had failed to capture should be given up to
him as prisoners. This modest request was of
course refused, and Captain Reid and his men then
took possession of an old convent, declaring that
they would defend themselves to the last. But they
were not molested.

The vessel that was despatched to England to
take home the British sailors wounded in this ac-
tion, was not permitted to carry a single letter from
anybody. Indeed, not only this affair, says Cobbett
in his " Letters," but the loss of the Avon, the bat-
tle of riattsburg, and other actions not creditable to
the English arms, were carefully concealed frcm the
English public. At the demand of Portugal, the
Ikitish Government apologized for the violation of
neutrality ; but the owners of the Armstrong never
obtained any indemnity.

This was the last naval action before the declara-
tion of peace ; but as that declaration did not imme-

[i8i4.

1815.]

l^AVAL BATTLES.

325

diately reach the cruisers at sea, three others were
fought. On the 15th of January, 181 5, Commodore
Decatur, in the President, had a prolonged battle
with the frigate Endymion, off Long Island, and
reduced her to a wreck. But two other British
cruisers came up, and he was compelled to surren-
der. He had lost eighty men killed or wounded.
On the 20th of February, the Constitution, Captain
Charles Stewart, off the coast of Portugal, captured
both the Cyanc, of thirty-four guns, and the Levant,
of twenty-one, after a battle of forty minutes, in
which he lost fifteon men, and inflicted a loss of
about forty. The Levant was subsequently recapt-
ured by three English cruisers, while she was in
Port Praya, another neutral harbor. On the 23d of
March, the American brig Hornet, Captain James
Biddle, and the British brig Penguin, Captain Dick-
enson, being almost exactly matched in men and
metal, fought a battle of twenty-two minutes' dura-
tion, off the island of Tristan d'Acunha, at the close
of which the Penguin, having lost forty-two men and
been badly crippled, surrendered. Her commander
was killed, r .le Hornet had one man killed and ten
wounded. This was the last of what the London
Times had fallen into the habit of calling " the pain-
ful events at sea."

!■ 5 !

CHAPTER XIX.

THE HARTFORD CONVENTION.

Attitude of the Federalists, Real and Imputed — The Convention at
Hartford — Its Popular Reputation — What General Scott did not
say at Chippewa.

When a de.tiuctive war had been carried on for
two years, when recruiting was slow, and the Gov-
ernment heavily in debt, and yet no way appeared
but to fight it out, it might have been expected that
harsh criticism of the pohcy of the Administration,
coming from the party that had steadily opposed
the war, would subject that party to the charge of
being unpatriotic and untrue to the Union. It
might also have been expected that an opposition
which had become chronic could not but become in
some respects unjust. So when the Federalists in
1 8 14 were flooding the Legislatures of New England
with memorials on the conduct of the war, they
could hardly restrain themselves from overdrawing
the picture of its failures, or from represcntir he
condition of things before the war '^'

paradisiacal than anybody had sus'
the other hand, they were accn- not j '-'■

i8i4.]

THE IIARTI'ORD CONVENTION.

327

I gland
[, they
•avvincf
ir ' he

rejoicing in defeats of tlie national arms, but of plot-
tin;^ a separation of New En^dand from the other
States, with a view of ultimately making her again
a part of the British Empire. That there were
some Federalists who contemplated a dissolution of
the Union as a possible remedy for certain difficul-
ties, is quite probable, for such views were at that
time not confined to either party. The contingency
of disunion was frequently discussed by men of both
parties. But that anybody seriously contemplated
a reunion with England, there lias never been any
evidence worth considering. The story was gotten
up by the Administration party, in order to ca-c
odium upon the Federalists ; and the occurrence
most freely used to give color to it was the Hartford
Convention, which unfortunately sat with closed
doors, and thus was easily misrepresented as a trea-
sonable gathering.

In the third year of the war the hand of the enemy
had fallen heavily upon the coast of New Eng-
land, and at the same time an unpleasant feeling
had arisen from the refusal of the United States
Government to pay the militia that had been in ser-
vice under State officers. In this crisis, the Legis-
lature of Massachusetts, on the i6th of October, by
a vote of 260 to 90, passed a series of resolutions,
the fifth of which authorized the calling of a con-

323

THE HARTFORD CONVENTION.

[1814.

vention to confer " upon the subject of tneir [the
New England States] public grievances and con-
cerns ; and upon the best means of preserving our
resources ; and of defence against the enemy ; and
to devise and suggest for adoption by those respect-
ive States such measures as they may deem expedi-
ent ; and also to take measures, if they shall think
it propc, for procuring a convention of delegates
from all the United States, in order to revise the
Constitution thereof, and more effectually to secure
the support and attachment of all the people, by
placing all upon the basis of fair representation."
The letter addressed to the governors of other
States set forth the general objects of the proposed
conference to be, " to deliberate upon the dangers
to which the eastern section of the Union is ex-
posed by the course of the war, and to devise, if
practicable, means of security and defence which
may be consistent with the preservation of their
resources from total ruin, and adapted to their local
situation, mutual relations, and habits, and not
repugnant to their obligations as members of the
Union."

In response to this call, a convention of twenty-
six delegates met at Hartford, Conn., December
15th, and sat for three weeks. All sorts of absurd
rumors as to the purpose of the Convention were set

[i8i4.

2ir [the
d con-
ing our
y ; and
espect-
Expedi-
l think
legates
/ise the
» secure
)ple, by
ation."
■ other
roposed
dangers
\ is ex-
evise, if
I which
jf their
eir local
ind not
J of the

twcnty-
ecembcr
f absurd
were set

1814.J

TI/E HARTFORD CONVEN FION.

afloat and the President so far participated in the
vague fears thus excited, or pretended to, as to sta-
tion a reguTient of troops in Hartford

On the 5th of January, 1815, the Convention ad-
journed, and published a long report, wherein were

set^ forth the difBculties that the country labored
under, and methods proposed by the Convention for
adjustn.g the... These were first discussed at
ength, and then summarized in a series of resolu-
lons : That unconstitutional drafts of militia should
be prevented ; that the New England States should
be empowered to defend their own territory against
tbe enemy ; that representatives and direct taxes
should be apportioned among the States according,
to the number of their free inhabitants ; that a two!
third vote of Congress should be required to admit
a new State ; that embargoes for more than sixty
days should be forbidden ; that a two-third Con
gressional vote should be required for the interdic
tion of commercial intercourse, or for the declaration
of offensive war ; that naturalized citizens should
not be ehg,ble to Federal offices ; that the President
should be ineligible for a second term, and should
i^ot be chosen from the same State twice in succes

-n ; and, finally, that if these ends were not at-

tan.ed and peace not concluded, another convention
should be held in Boston in the following June

iji) i

33°

THE HARTFORD CONVENTION.

[1814.

This ought to have been plain enough for any--
body to understand ; and yet allusions to " the old
blue-lights of the Hartford Convention," as a syno-
nym for treason, have come down to our own day.
Ttspopularity as a bugbear has never been exceeded.
So great was its influence in this regard, that it
caused General Scott to remember something which
had never taken place. In his account of the battle
of Chippewa he says : " And now the New England
States were preparing to hold a convention — it met
at Hartford — perhaps to secede from the Union —
possibly to take up arms against it. Scott's bri-
gade, nearly all New England men, were most indig-
nant, and this was the subject of the second of the
three pithy remarks made to them by Scott just be-
fore the final conflict of Chippewa. Calling aloud
to the gallant Major Hindman, he said, ' Let us put
down the Federal Convention by beating the enemy
in front. There's nothing in the Constitution
against that.' "* There can be no question as to
the intrinsic pithiness of this remark ; but if Scott
made it, he must have been somewhat of a prophet,
for the battle of Chippewa was fought on the 5th of
July, and the call for the Convention was not issued
till October. This shows the danger of writing

* Scott's Memoirs, vol. i., page 133.

I8i4.j THE HARTFORD CONVEI^TION. 2>Z\

memoirs half a century after the events of which
they treat.

The great news from the South, and the tidings
of peace, followed so quickly upon the adjournment
of the Convention that its labors went for nou-ht
Its members were subjected to merciless ridicule, "and
the new convention proposed for June was never
held.

CHAPTER XX.

THE CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

British Occupation of Pensacola — Negotiations with Lafitte — Expedi-
tion against Mobile — Capture of Pensacola — Defence of New Or-
leans — The Battles before the City — Defeat of the British — Losses.

Though Pensacola was a Spanish town, in Span-
ish territory, the British forces used it as a station
for fitting out expeditions against Mobile and New
Orleans. Here they gathered arms and munitions
of war ; here their vessels found safe anchorage in a
spacious harbor, where they were afforded every
facility for refitting ; and here the savage allies were
equipped for war and murder. The British com-
mander sent an embassy to Jean Lafitte, at Bara-
taria Bay, offering him a captain's commission,
together with a free pardon for all his gang, and
grants of land to be carved out of such territory as
might be conquered from the United States, on con-
dition that he and his men would assist with their
fleet the expeditions then fitting out. The English
commander also hinted darkly at something which
he called " the blessings of the British constitu-
tion" — probably meaning the abundant bone and
muscle of a Ljef-eater — as an additional inducement

<:xpedi-
iew Or-
l,osses.

Span-
,tation
i New
-litions
re in a
every
s were
com-
Bara-
ission,

.-, and

tory as
on con-
h their

ngl

isi

hich

)nstitu-
Ine and

1814.]

CAMFA/0\V ON THE GULF COAST.

Z^c^T,

ICC

ment

to the famous little Frenchm »n. Lafitte was com-
monly called a pirate, but that was not precisely his
character. He was a receiver of stolen goods cap-
tured by half piratical privateers, which he smug-
gled into New Orleans. But, pirate or no pirate,
he seems to have been too shrewd for the English-
man. He appeared to acquiesce till he obtained
the terms in black and white, and then despatched
the letters to Governor Claiborne of Louisiana,
together with one in which he offered his services in
defending the coast against the British, on condition
that the proscription of himself and his adherents be
terminated by an act of oblivion. The Governor
laid the letters before a council of military and naval
ofificers, who decided that they were forgeries and
Lafitte a scoundrel. Consequently an expedition
under Commodore Patterson was sent against him,
by which his establishment was broken up, nine of
his vessels were seized, and many of his men made
prisoners.

One morning in July, General Jackson was pre-
sented with a new English musket, brought to his
headquarters by a friendly Indian who had received
it from the Creeks at Appalachicola. This told an
alarming story, which the General at once communi-
cated to Governor Claiborne and the Secretary of
War. Of the latter he asked permission to make a

334

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

[1814.

descent upon Pensacola. Before an answer was
received, Jackson was joined by new levies of troops
from Tennessee, which he hurried to Mobile.

On Mobile Point, commanding the entrance to
the bay, stood a ruinous earthwork known as Fort
Bowyer. Major William Lawrence, with a garrison
of one hundred and sixty men, took possession of
this, and proceeded to put it in shape for defence.
On the 1 2th of September, the British landed a de-
tachment of marines and six hundred Indians Oii the
peninsula of which Mobile Point is the extremity,
and a few hours later four war-vessels, under Captain
Percy, appeared at the entrance of the bay. Two
or three days were passed in feeble demonstrations
on the land side, and attempts to sound the chan-
nel ; but on the afternoon of the 15th the fleet
sailed up in line, dropped anchor in the channel,
and opened the battle. For an hour the firing was
incessant ; it ceased for a moment when the colors
of the flag-ship Hcrincs were shot away ; but was
soon renewed, when a chance shot cut the cable of
the Hermes, the current swung her bow-on to the
fort, and for twenty minutes she was raked merci-
lessly. She drifted down the channel and ran
aground, when Captain Percy abandoned her and
set her on fire. Another vessel was crippled and
driven off, and the other two then withdrew.

I8i4.] CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST. 335

The simultaneous assaults of the marines and
Indians had been met and repelled with a few dis-
charges of grape. In this action the garrison lost
four men killed and four wounded ; the British offi .
cial report acknowledged a loss of thirty-two killed
and forty wounded.

Early in November, Jackson, with three thousand
men, marched on Pensacola, where he proposed to
garrison the forts till the Spanish authorities were
able to maintain for themselves the neutrality of the
port. This proposition being rejected by the Span-
ish Governor, Jackson's men charged into the town
and captured a battery, and took possession. That
night Fort Barrancas, commanding the entrance to
the harbor, w^as blown up, and the British vessels
sailed away.

Hurrying back to Mobile, where he feared a sec-
ond attack, Jackson learned of the revelations of
Lafitte and was urged to go to the defence of New
Orleans. He arrived in that city on the 2d of
December, was enthusiastically welcomed, and at
once set to work to prepare it for defence. He
called out the Louisiana militia, appealed to the free
negroes, released and enrolled convicts whose terms
were within two months of expiration, accepted the
services of Lafitte and his men, assigning them to
duty as artillerists, and ordered Coffee with his two

i'j

336

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

[1814.

thousand men to join him from Mobile. While
looking anxiously for new levies from Kentucky and
Tennessee, who were to come by way of the river,
he fortified the city, and proclaimed martial law.

On the loth of December the British fleet entered
Lake Borgne, where on the 14th it defeated and
captured the American gunboats. On the 23d a
body of two thousand four hundred British troops
reached the bank of the Mississippi nine miles below
New Orleans, and with two thousand one hundred
Jackson went down to meet them.

New Orleans was the largest prize which had been
contended for in this war. It was a city of twenty
thousand inhabitants ; and a hundred and fifty
thousand bales of cotton, worth two shillings a
pound, were stored there. But it was not so much
its immediate pecuniary value that tempted the
enemy, as the commercial and strategical importance
of its position, for they expected not only to capt-
ure but to hold it permanently. Lieutenant Gleig,
author of ' The Subaltern," who was connected
with the expedition, after describing the Mississippi
and its tributaries, wrote : " Whatever nation,
therefore, chances to possess this place, possesses in
reality the command of a greater extent of country
than is included within the boundary line of the
whole United States," and the London Tijues, an-

i8l4.]

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

337

nouncing that all the disposable shipping had been
sent from Bermuda to the Mississippi, added that,
" most active measures are pursuing for detaching
from the dominion of the enemy an important part
of his territory."

Wellington's veterans, fresh from their victories
in the Spanish peninsula, were now before the city,
and the inhabitants, knowing how hasty had been
the preparations for defence, trembled for its safety.
The expectation was, that, if captured, it would at
once be sacked.

It was late in the day when Jackson moved to the
attack. He sent Coffee and his Tennesseeans to
gain the right flank and rear of the enemy, while the
rest of his forces were to deploy across the narrow
strip of land between the river and a morass, and
attack in front. The schooner Carolina was ordered
to move down to a point opposite the British left,
and enfilade the position ; her first discharge to be
the signal for the land attack. It was half-past
seven o'clock when she opened the battle with a
broadside that tore through the British camp and
swept down a large number of men. The moon was
young and obscured by clouds, so that there was
almost absolute darkness, except when the flashes of
the guns momentarily lighted up one or another
part of the field.

338

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

[1814.

The two armies soon became intermingled, and,
as one of the participants wrote, " no man could tell
what was going forward in any quarter, except
where he himself chanced immediately to stand ; no
one part of the line could bring assistance to an-
other, because in truth no line existed." The fight-
ing was mostly hand-to-hand ; few of the Americans
had bayonets, but many carried long knives, and
the most ghastly wounds were given and received.
Officers on either side would gather little companies
of men and go out into the darkness to find the
enemy ; but when they had come in contact with an
armed party like themselves, it was often impossi-
ble to say whether they were friends or foes.

After three hours of this bloody work, the Ameri-
cans withdrew to works four miles from the city.
They had lost twenty-four killed, one hundred and
fifteen wounded, and seventy-four missing. Gen-
eral Keane's official report made the British loss
forty-six killed, one hundred and sixty-seven
wounded, and sixty -four missing. Lieutenant
Gleig, in his "Narrative," says, "Not less than
five hundred men had fallen, many of whom were
our finest soldiers and best officers ; and yet we
could not but consider ourselves fortunate in escap-
ing from the toils, even at the expense of so great a
sacrifice." A journal found upon a British officer

18I4.J CAMPAIG.y O.V THE GULF COAST. 3J9

Who was killed in the battle of January 8th. puts the
loss in this action at " two hundred and twenty-four
killed, and an immense number wounded."

Heavy reenforcements of British troops soon ar-
rived, and with them Generals Sir Edward Pakenham
and Samuel Gibbs. Pakenham, a brother-in-law
of the Duke of Wellington, had won considerable
distinction in the Peninsular War. \\c. found the
army before New Orleans in a pitiful plight. It was
encamped on a strip of low and level land, on one
side a broad river where it had no vessels, and on
the other an almost impassable morass. In front
were fortifications that were continually being
strengthened, and of the enemy behind them almos't
nothing was known ; while two armed vessels kept
up day and night an enfilading fire. With all this,
alternate rain and frost left them scarcely a comfort-
able hour.

Pakenham 's first movement was to bring heavy
guns and a furnace across the peninsula by nicrht
and plant them on the levee ; from which on'^the
morning of the 27th he opened a fire with hot shot
and m half an hour had driven the Louisiana up
stream and set the Carolina on fire, so that she was
abandoned and blew up.

O^ the 28th he made a reconnoissance in force.
As the 'eft wing approached the American lines, a

34°

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

[1814,

group of buildings which Jackson's men had filled
with combustibles was fired by a hot shot from one
of his guns, and amid the heat and smoke the Brit-
ish saw before them an impassable ditch, from be-
hind which a few pieces of artillery, handled with
the utmost skill, poured destruction through their
ranks. The right wing found the left of Jackson's
position weak, effected a lodgment within the lines,
and might perhaps have changed the fortunes of the
campaign, had not its leader been instructed that
this was to be a reconnoissance, not a battle.

Pakcnham now resolved upon regular siege opera-
tions, and brought thirty guns from the fleet, which
in the night of the 31st he mounted within three
hundred yards of the American lines. His troops
were encamped in the midst of sugar plantations,
and a considerable portion of his new ramparts was
formed of hogsheads of sugar, set on end.

When day dawned, and the Americans saw thirty
guns frowning down upon them from high bastions
that had risen as if by magic in the darkness, the
sight was rather appalling ; but as soon as fire was
opened upon these apparently formidable works, it
was seen that the balls passed right through the
hogsheads of sugar, and the whole fabric began to
crumble away. There was also a vulnerable ele-
ment in Jackson's works ; for he had used cotton

iSrs.] CAMPAIGIV ON THE GULF COAST. 341

bales as his enemy used sugar, and though the cot-
ton resisted the passage of a ball, it was easily set
on fire, and the bales knocked out of position.

Commodore Patterson had erected a battery on
the opposite bank of the Mississippi, to rake the
ground held by the British, who at the same time
had erected one on the levee to oppose it. For an
hour those guns were all blazing at once ; and when
the firing ceased and the smoke rolled away, it was
found that the British works had been completely
ruined, and seventy of their men killed or wounded ;
the American works were not seriously damaged
but they had lost thirty-four men.

Jackson made haste to throw away his cotton
bales, supply their place with earth, and construct a
second line of works a mile and a half in the rear,
and for a week nervously awaited the ne.xt move of
the enemy. In that week he was joined by nearly
three thousand Kentucky and Louisiana militia ;
but as they were in rags and had scarcely a firelock
among them, they could hardly be considered a
reenforcement. The British were reenforced by two
regiments under General John Lambert.

Pakenham's final plan was to send a heavy force
across the river to capture Patterson's batteries and
turn them upon Jackson's lines, and at the same
time push forward the remainder of his force to as-

342

CAMPAIGN OM THE GULF COAST.

[1815.

sault those lines in front, the advance guard to fill
the ditch with fascines and plant scaling-ladders
against the ramparts. Preparatory to this, it was
necessary to dig a canal across the isthmus, to drag
boats through from Lake Borgne to the Mississippi,
and this occupied his troops nearly six days.

On Saturday, January 7th, Jackson stood upon
the tallest building within his lines, and through a
large spy-glass which a planter had mounted for
him, saw the red-coats making fascines by binding
up sheaves of sugar-cane, and constructing ladders.
A-t the same time, Pakenham was surveying the
fVmerican works from the top of a pine-tree.

The British general intended to make an attack
on both sides of the river simultaneously, before
daylight on the 8th. But there was great difficulty
in navigating the canal, the sides of which had caved
in ; only enough boats were brought through to carry
over five hundred troops, instead of fourteen hun-
dred, and these were delayed several hours. A de-
tachment under Colonel Thornton embarked in
them, but were swept down hy the current and
reached the western shc-e far below the intended
landing-place.

Meanwhile the sun had risen, the fog was rolling
away, Pakenham was impatient, and before Thorn-
ton could get near his enemy he saw the signal

i8i5.] CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

343

rocket which announced the attack. The Ameri-
cans understood the signal quite as well as he did,
and were ready to meet the sLock. One thirty-two
pounder was loaded to the muzzle with musket-
balls. A deserter had told the British commander
that the weak spot in Jackson's line was the ex-
treme left ; true enough when he said it, but now
that spot was strengthened by two thousand Ten-
nessee and Kentucky riflemen. The heaviest attack
was accordingly made at this point, a column of
three thousand men, under General Gibbs, moving
against it. They were to be preceded by an Irish
regiment bearing the fascines and ladders. At the
same time, a column of one thousand moved along
the river road, under the cross-F.re from Patterson's
battery, to attack Jackson's right. These were to
be preceded by a West India black regiment with
the necessary fascines and ladders. Midway be-
tween stood nearly a thousand Highlanders, under
General Keane, ready to support either column, as
circumstances might require. The British had also
a battery of six eighteen-pounders ; and, drawn up
behind all, a considerable reserve.

The battle was what Bunker Hill would have
been if the Americans had had stronger works and
plenty of ammunition. The beautiful British col-
umns moved forward only to be mo\v<:d down. When

344

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

[1815.

the thirty-two pounder discharged its musket-balls,
the head of one column melted away before it, two
hundred men being disabled. Both the Irish and
the Negro regiment failed in their duty, so that
when the main columns arrived at the ditch they
had no means of crossing, and the terribie blunder
had to be remedied under a continuous and wither-
ing fire. The ranks were badly broken. Pakenham,
trying to re-form them, was killed, falling into the
arms of Captain McDougall, the same officer who
had caught General Ross when he fell at North
Point. General Gibbs was wounded mortally ; Gen-
eral Keane seriously. Colonel Dale fell at the head
of the Highland regiment, which was almost entirely
destroyed. It went into the fight with over nine
hundred men, and came out with one hundred and
forty. A major and a lieutenant, with twenty men,
crossed the ditch before the American left, and the
two officers mounted the breastwork. The major
was instantly riddled with bullets ; the lieutenant
demanded the swords of two officers who confronted
him, and was told to look behind him. He turned,
and saw, as he expressed it, that the men he sup-
posed to be following '* had vanished as if the earth
had opened and swallowed them up."

On the American right, the British carried a small
outwork ; but the guns of the main line were turned

i8i5.]

CAMPAIGN ON THE GULF COAST.

345

upon it and cleared it. Of this column, only three
men — a colonel, a major, and a captain — reached
the breastwork, and as they mounted they were all
shot and tumbled into the ditch together.

The action lasted but twenty-five minutes. Seven
hundred of the British were killed, fourteen hundred
wounded, and five hundred prisoners. The Ameri-
cans lost four killed and thirteen wounded ; in the
entire campaign, three hundred and thirty-three.

The force under Thornton, on the western bank
of the river, carried the American works, where but
brief resistance was made, and were pursuing the
retreating militia, when news of the disaster on the
other bank was brought to Thornton, together with
an order to return. He had lost a hundred men,
killed or wounded, and inflicted a loss of but six.

The gth was spent, under an armistice, in burying
the dead and caring for the wounded. General
Lambert then determined to withdraw to the ship-
ping and abandon the enterprise, but was ten days
about it, during which time his troops were annoyed
by incessant cannonading by day and " hunting par-
ties" by night. The British fleet had entered the
Mississippi at its mouth, and from the loth to the
17th bombarded Fort St. Philip, seventy-five miles
below New Orleans, but effected nothing, and on
the 1 8th withdrew.

CHAPTER XXI.

PEACE.

The Treaty of Ghent — Treatment of Prisoners — Losses and Gains
by the Wa"- Conclusion.

Had there been an Atlantic "cable, or even a
transatlantic steamer, with land telegraphs, in thosf:
days, the slaughter before New Orleans might have
been prevented ; for a treaty of peace had been
signed at Ghent on the 24th of December, 18 14.
It made the usual stipulations for the exchange of
prisoners and the return of property, guaranteed
peace to the Indians, and provided for a settlement
by commissioners of questions as to boundary and
the islands in Passamaquoddy Bay, --and it pro-
vided for little else. The negotiations had been
going on for five months, and more than once were
in danger of being broken off on account of the
insolent and supercilious bearing of the English
Commissioners. So says Adams in his diary.

At the outset, the British Commissioners had in-
sisted that the Indians should have a territory set off
to them, as neutral ground between the British
and the American possessions, and that the United
States should have no armament on the great lakes

I8x5.j

PEACE.

347

and no fortifications on their shores, while Canada
was not to be restricted. On the other hand, the
American Commissioners had insisted on formal ab-
rogation of the right of search and impressment.
But all these points were ultimately given up. As
early as June the American Commissioners had
been instructed by the President that they might
omit any stipulation on the subject of impressment,
if it was found indispensably necessary to do so in
order to terminate the war ; and acting under this
instruction they yielded to the argument that, as
Europe was now at peace, there was no longer any
occasion for exercising the right, and therefore no
practical necessity for mentioning it.

The treaty was severely criticised and mercilessly
ridiculed as a meaningless document. It might
have been ansvvered that the Federalists at least had
no right to complain, since they had clamored only
for peace, and the treaty brought t.eace. Better
than this, it might have been answered thrt when a
point has been practically settled by war, it is of
little consequence whether it is conceded on paper ;
since every nation is likely to heed a lesson taught
bX force of arms, and equally likely, when interest
dictates, to abrogate a treaty ; and, whatever might
be said of the campaigns on land, it could not be
denied that American mariners had abundantly vin-

348

PEACE.

[1815.

dicated their right to an unmolested navigation of
the higli seas — a right which British cruisers have
never since interfered with.

There had been no exchange of prisoners during
the war, though many had been paroled, and there
were bitter complaints of the treatment received by-
Americans in British prisons. This was especially
true of those confined at Dartmoor, the most un-
healthful spot in the dreary highlands of Devon-
shire. These men were not only not released, but
were not even informed that peace had been con-
cluded, till three months after the treaty was signed.
There seemed to be a special spite against them be-
cause they were mostly American sailors, who had
audaciously and successfully disputed England's
sovereignty of the seas.

If it be a matter of pride, as an English poetess
appears to think, for a nation to strew its dead over
the face of the globe,* then Great Britain certainly
won fresh laurels in this war ; for her soldiers who
fell in it found graves six thousand miles apart :
in the depths of Lake Erie, about the great falls of
Niagara, and along the Thames and St. Lawrence ;
in the Atlantic, both near the American coast and
almost within sight of their own shores ; in Long

* Wave may not foam, nor wild wind sweep,

Where rest not England's dead. — Mrs. Ileinans.

i8i5.]

PEACE.

349

Island Sound, in the Chesapeake, and beyond the
western edge of civih-zation ; before the defences of
Baltimore and New Orleans, and in the waters of
the South Pacific. And her expeditions had been
especially fatal to their commanders : Gen. Brock
had fallen at Queenstown, Gen. Tecumsch at the
Thames, Ross and Sir Peter Parker before Balti-
more, Pakenham and Gibbs at New Orleans, with
many of lower rank but hardly less responsibility ;
while seven commanders of her men-of-war— Lam-
bert, Downie, Dickenson, Manners, Peake, Barrette,
and Bly the — had all died on their bloody decks. But
by her sacrifice of life and property she had gained
absolutely nothing. She had not acquired a. inch
of territory, or established any principle of inter-
national law, or purchased for herself any new priv-
ilege, or secured any old one. The war had cost
the United States a hundred million dollars in
money, and thirty thousand lives ; and a large por-
tion of both the money and the lives had been
squandered, when with ordinary skill and care they
might have been saved. But she had something to
show for it. If she had not fully relieved her fron-
tier of the atrocities of the Indians, she had at least
cut off their supplies from British sources, and pos-
sessed herself of all the western posts ; she had put;
an end to the systematic violation of her rights on

350

PEACE.

[I8i5-

the ocean, and in so doing had demonstrated the
superiority of American seamanship ; she had com-
pletely established her national independence.

It is lO be hoped that no American youth who
reads this little history will cherish any feeling of
resentment or hatred toward the people whose
fathers were so grievously unjust to ours. The day
for that — if ever there was a day for it — has gone
completely by. England has evidently passed the
zenith of her power and glory ; America is still ris-
ing toward hers, and how great she shall ultimately
become, will be measured mainly by the breadth
and generosity of the American mind. In the past
sixty years we have lived down the most celebrated
sneer in history. Five years after this war, the
Rev. Sydney Smith wrote in th^ Edinburgh Review :
"In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an
American book ? or goes to an American play ? or
looks at an American picture or statue ? What
does the world yet owe to American physicians or
surgeons? What new substances have their chem-
ists discovered, or what old ones have they an-
alyzed ? What new constellations liave been dis-
covered by the telescopes of Americans? What
have they done in mathematics? Who drinks out
of American glasses, or eats from American plates,
or wears American coats or gowns, or sleeps in

i8i5j

PEACE.

American blankets?' Finally, under which of the
old tyrannical governments of Europe is every sixth
man a slave, ', horn his fellow citizens may buy and
sell and torture?" If Mr. Smith were now living,
he might be answered — if it were worth while to
answer him at all — that the most widely circulated
of all novels was written by an American woman ;
that the poet most read in England was an Ameri-
can ; that our two standard dictionaries of the
English language are both American ; that several
Ameiicin magazines count their subscribers in Great
Britain by tens of thousands ; that the world owes
its use of anaesthetics to an American physiciai. ,
that American sculptors, painters, and actors hold
their own with those of other nations ; that America
has the largest telescopes, and the most successful
astronomers ; that American reapers cut the world's
harvests, and American sewing machines make its
garments ; that the telegraph and the telephone are
American inventions ; that the first steamboat was
built in America, and it was an American steamship
that first crossed the Atlantic, while our country
contains more miles of railway than all Europe ;
that those who eat from American plates, eat the
largest and best dinners in the world ; and as for
American glasses, altogether too many people dr'"nk
out of them. Unless we mercifully left his fina.

352

PEACE.

[1815.

question unanswered, we should be obliged to say,
that the United States had gotten rid of slaver}',
while to-day five million British subjects, all within
two days' journey of the throne, tell us they find
themselves virtually slaves.

Yet with all our material and intellectual progress,
we have hardly a right to be proud. For we have
enjoyed peculiar advantages. The Mayfloivcr did
not land her pilgrims on a narrow island, but on
the edge of a great continent. Of that continent
we have the most productive zone, stretching from
ocean to ocean, and a thousand miles in breadth ;
while within that zone our Government has given
us, for the support of educational institutions, as
much land as the entire area of Great Britain and
Ireland. At the same time, we have not been loaded
down with a standing army, an established church,
a vast landed aristocracy, and all the rubbish of
royalty. In America labor receives its highest
wages, and pauperism finds its least excuse. It will
be no special credit to us if we become in the next
half century the most powerful and prosperous and
generous of nations ; but it will be a great shanu: to
us if we do not.

As we read the history of our country's early
struggles, it may help us to avoid any unworthy
feeling of resentment if we bear in mind the fact

18.5.]

PEACE.

353

fact

that there is a wide and peculiar discrepancy of
character between the EngUsli people and the Va\\^-
lish Government. That people, perhaps at pres-
ent the most enlightened on earth, are justly
noted for their innate love of fair play, for
their continual struggles toward liberty, and their
development of the great principles of jurispru-
dence ; but that Government, in its dealings with
other powers, has been for centuries arbitrary, self-
ish, barbarous, and inconsistent to the last degree.
Priding itself upon legitimacy, it has befriended a
bloody usurpation in France, because it hated the
alternative of French republicanism. It has opened
the ports of China with its cannon, for the purpose
of selling there a narcotic drug of which it holds
the monopoly. It boas ed its abolition of the slave
trade ; yet when our country was at war over the
slavery question, its sympathies were all with the
slaveholders. Seventy years ago, as we have seen,
its cruisers cared nothing for the neutrality of any
harbor in which a hostile ship of fewer guns was
riding at anchor ; but twenty years ago it could not
offer its neutral hospitalities too lavishly to priva-
teers that had not a port of their own to hail from
or sail to, and were burning all their prizes at sea
without adjudication. It witnessed the dismember-
ment of Denmark with scarcely a protest, but has

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

i.O

I.I

1.25

- -u

1 2.2
1 20

111=

14 IIIIII.6

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872-4503

/£^.-

l?.r

354

PEACE.

[1815.

sacrificed thousands of English lives to maintain the
Turk in Europe. It has stood for years at the head
of a great conspiracy to keep Russia shut up in the
centre of a continent long after her industrial growth
and commercial importance have entitled her to a
broad and unobstructed outlet to the highway of
nations. It has eateii India into famine, and is
now laying its kleptic fingers on the great island of
Borneo, and apparently making ready to consume
the continent of Africa.

We must blush for these things while we execrate
them ; for we ourselves are Englishmen. That
famous little island, with its green lanes and waving
woodlands, its busy towns and historical hamlets,
was the home of our ancestors, and must ever have
for us the highest romantic interest of any spot on
earth ; and we cannot too warmly sympathize with
those who are still bearing burdens of feudal days,
when the bravery of feudal leadership has long since
passed away. Let us never forget how near of kin
we are to the English people ; but God forbid that
we shouM inherit the vices of the English Govern-
ment, or copy its crimes !

If the story of a war like that we have been read-
ing of teaches anything, it teaches the broad wis-
dom of dealing justly, and the ultimate folly of all
chicanery, violence, and wrong.

'"i^'immaffK^

INDEX

Adams, John Quincy, American
minister at St. Petersburg, 225.

Alexandria, capitulation of, 283.

Alien, Capt. W. H., killed, 202.

Allen, Col.. 85 ; killed, 88.

Alwyn, Master, 69.

Angus, Capt., 169.

Appling, Major, at Sandy Creek,
256 ; at Plattsburg. 262.

Armistead, Major George, in com-
mand at F"ort McHenry, 288.

Armstrong, Gen. John, made Sec-
retary of War. and plans Wilkin-
son's expedition, 149.

Austin, J., in canoe fight, 190, 191.

Autosse, battle of, 187.

Backus, Lieut. - Col. Electus, at

Sackett's Harbor, 113 ; killed. 115.
Bailey, Capt., at Fort Mims, i8i.
Edinbridge, Com. William, 24;

cruise in the Constitution, 78.
Ball, Col., his fight with Indians, 44.
Barclay, Capt. R. H., on Lake

Erie, 128.
Barney, Com. Joshua, in the de-
fence of Washington, 275.
Barrette, Capt. G. W., killed, 220.
Barron, Capt. James, in command

of the Chesapeake, 10.
Bayard, James A., made a peace

commissioner, 225.
Beasley, Major Daniel, killed, 181.
Beatty, Col., at Craney Island, 173.
Beaver Dams, fight at, 122.
Beckwith, Sir S., at Hampton, 173.
Bennett, Major, at Lewiston, 164.
Biddle, Capt. James, 75 ; in the

Hornet, 325.
Bisshopp, Lieut. -Col., attacks Black

Rock, 124 ; killed, 125.
Bissley, a sailor, his heroism, 318.
Black Rock, N. Y., attack on, 124;

fight at, 165, burned ; 166.
Bladensburg. battle of, 278.
Blakely, Capt., in the Wasp, 320.
Biakeslie, Lieut. -Col., at Black

Rock, 165.
Blockades, 12, 172.
Blue-Lights, origin of the term, 205.
Blythe, Capl. Samuel, killed, 204.

Boerstler, Lieut. -Col. C. G., capt-
ures batteries on the Niagara, 99 ;
captured at Beaver Dams, 123.

Boothbay, fight at, 273.

Bounties, 224.

Boyd, Gen. J. P., at Fort George,
108 ; at Chrysler's Field, 154.

Boyle, Capt., in the Comet, 216.

Brody, Col., at Lundy's Lane, 239;
killed, 244.

Brant, John, at Beaver Dams, 122.

Bridgewater, battle of, 244.

British Government, character of,

35,3-54-

Brock, Gen. Isaac, assumes com-
mand at Maiden, 34 ; receives sur-
render of Detroit, 36 ; a* Queens-
town, 54 ; death, 55.

Broke, Capt. Vere, 65 ; captures the
Chesapeake, 179.

Brown, Gen. Jacob, at Ogdensburg,
47; at Sackett's Harbor, 113 ; in
Wilkinson's expedition, 152; his
campaign on the Niagara, 231.

Brownstown, fight at, 31.

Buffalo burned, 166.

Burn, Col., at Fort George, tii.

Burnt Corn Creek, fight at, 179.

Burrows, Lieut. Wm., killed, 204.

Bush, Lieut., 6g.

Caller, Col. James,, in Creek cam-
paign, 179.

Canada, invasion of planned, 26.

Canoe-fight, Dale's, 188.

Carronades described, 76.

Cass, Col. Lewis, in Detroit cam-
pai;;n, 32-37 ; made provisional
governor of Michigan, 14S.

Castine, Me., captured, 269.

Castlereagh, Lord, quoted, 15.

Champlin, Capt. Guy R., his fight
in the Armstrong, 218.

Chandler, Ger.,at Stony Creek, 11 8.

Ciiapin, Maj., at Boaver Dams, 124.

Charlotte, N. Y., stores captured at,"
121 ; bombarded, 225.

Chateaugua, battle of, 157.

Chauncey, Com. Isaac, on Lake
Ontario, 98 ; pursues Yeo, 125 ;
captures four vessels, 148.

356

INDEX.

Chesapeake, fripfate, attacked by the
Leopard, lo.

Chicago, battle of, 33.

Chippewa, battle of, 233.

Chrysler's Field, battle of, 154.

Chryslie, Lieut. - Col. John, at
(^iieenstown, 51.

Claiborne, Gen. F. L., in Creek
ranipaifjn. 187 ; governor of Lou-
isiana, T,},!,.

Clay, Gen. Green, relieves Fort
Meigs, 91.

Clay, Henry, made a peace ccm-
niissioner, 226.

Cochrane, Admiral, in the burning
of Washmgton, 282.

Cockburn, Admiral, ravages the
coasts of the Chesapeake, 170 ; in
the campaign against Washing-
ton, 277.

Cocke, Gen. John, in Creek cam-
paign, 183.

Coffee, Col. John, in Creek cam-
paign, 183 ; at Horseshoe Bend,
228 ; at New Orleans, 335.

Coombs, Leslie, 84.

Cooper, Capt., at Hampton, 175.

Cost of the northern campaigns, 160.

Covington, Gen. L., killed, 155.

Cowell, Lieut. J. G., his heroic
death, 317.

Craney Island, fight at, 172.

Creek Indians supplied with arms
by British agents, 178; Jackson's
campaign against them, 179.

Crockett, David, in Creek cam-
paign, 183.

Croghan, Major, at Fort Stephen-
son, 94 ; at Michilimackinac, 259.

Crutchfield, Major, at Hampton,
174.

D.\CRES, Capt., loses the Guerriere,
70.

Dale, Col., krlled, 344.

Dale, Gen. S., his canoe-fight, 188.

Darnell, Elias, his journal, 39.

Dartmoor, prisoners at, 348,

Davis, John, his heroism, 2x6.

Dearborn, I*"ort, 32.

Dearborn, Gen. Henry, placed in
command of United States army,
23 ; enters into an armistice, 49 ;
on the Niagara, ii8.

Decatur, Com. Stephen, his cruise
in the United Slates, 76 ; driven

into New London, 204 ; in the

President, 325
Decrees, the Berlin and Milan, 12,15.
De Haren, Major, at Beaver Dams,

'23.

Dennis, Capt., at Queen.stown, 52.

Deserters, reclamation of, 7-10.

Desha, Capt., wounded, 259.

Diron, Capt., in the I^ecatur, 220.

Dorchester, Lord, calls a council of
Indians, 3.

Douglass, Major, at Fort Erie, 246.

Downes, Lieut. J., with Porter, 295.

Downie, Com. George, at Platts-
burg, 262 ; killed, 267.

Drummond, Gen., takes revenge for
the burning of Newark, 162 ; be-
sieges Fort Erie, 244.

Drummoiid, Lieut. -Col., at Fort
Erie, 246 ; killed, 247.

Dudley, Col., at Fort Meigs, 91.

E.\STPORT, Me., captured, 268.
Econochaca, battle of, 187.
Elliott, Lieut. Jesse D., his exploit

on the Niagara, 48 ; in battle of

Lake Erie, 132.
Embargo, 13 ; of 1813, 206.
Emucfau, fight at, 227.
Enotachopco Creek, fight at, 227.
Erie, Fort, captured by the Ameri*

cans, 232 ; beseiged by the British,

244.
Erie, Lake, building vessels on, 127 ;

battle of, 130 ; Indian battle on,

136.
Eustis, Hon. Wm., 26.

Fanning, Lieut., at Sackett's Har-
bor, 115.

Farrag'it, David G., in battle of
Essex and Phoebe, 314 ; extracts
from his journal, 314.

Fitzgibbon, Lieut., at Beaver Dams,
123.

Floyd, Gen. John, in Creek cam-
paign, 187.

Forsyth, Capt., at Gananoqui, 46 ;
at York, 100 ; at Fort George, 108 ;
in Wilkinson's expedition, 152.

Fort Wayne, siege of, 40.

Frankhn, Benj., his prediction, i.

Fredericktown, Md., ravaged, 171.

Frenchtown, battle of, 85.

Gaines, Gen., takes command on
the Niagara, 244 ; disabled, 249.

"■'•pi' . I Nj^pfippmni^np'

I.VDEX.

357

Gallatin. Albert, made a peace com-
missioner, 225.
Gamble, Lieut., in Typee campaign,

300.
Gananoqui, fight at. 46.
Gattanewu, llajjpah chief, 298.
George III. quoted, 2.
George, Fort, capture of, 107.
Georgetown, iMd., ravaged, 171.
Ghent, Treaty of, 346-7.
Gibbs, Gen. Samuel, at New Or-
leans, 339 ; killed, 344.
Gleig, Lieut., quoted, 336, 338.
Gray, Col., at Sackett's'Harbor, 115.
Hall, Gen., at Buffalo, 164.
Hamilton, Lieut., at Fort Madison

44-
Hampden, Me., captured. 270.
Hamjjton, Va., destroyed, 17^.
■Hampton, Gen. W., his connection
with Wilkinson's expedition, 150 ;
defeated by De Salaberry, 159.
Hancock, Major, at La Colle, 252.
Hanson, ,\le.\ander, mobbed, 2r.
Hardy, Sir Thomas, his expeditions

on the eastern coast, 268.
Harrison, Fort, fight at, 41.
Harrison, Gen. \Vm. H., in com-
mand in the West, 38, 55, 84 ; his
camiiaign on the Thames, 140.
Hartford Convention, 326.
Havre de Grace destroyed, 170.
Heald, Capt. Nathan, in battle of

Chicago, 32.
Henley, Lieut., at Plattsburg, 266.
Hillabee towns, fight at, 186.
Hillyar, Capt. James, sent out in
search of the Es.sex, 310 ; captures
' her, 313.
Hindmaii, Capt., at Fct George,

ic8 ; in Brown's campaign, 232.
Hislop, Gen., captured, 80.
Holmes Major, killed, 259.
Hoophole Creek, fight at, 157.
Horseshoe Bend, bottle of, 228.
Hough. Lieut., at Stonington. 273
Houston. Sam, in Creek campaiirn
183, 228. ^ ^ '

Hull, Capt. Isaac, his race in the
Constitution, 66; captures the
Uuerriere, 68.
Hull, Gen. William, his campaign,

and surrender of Detroit, 28-37.
Indians, armed for depredation by
the British, 3.

Ii-vine. Cr.pt. Arm.strong. at Chrys-
ler's 1-ield. 156.
Isaacs, Midshipman, -515.
Izard, Gen, (ieorge, on the Cliatcau-
gua, 159; succeeds Wilkinson,
255 ; fiasco on the Niagara, 258.
Jackson, Gen. Andrew, takes com-
mand of Tennessee voliuiteers,
183 ; campaign against the Creeks,
183 ; second campaign agamst the
Creeks 227 ; his campaign on the
Gulf coa.st, 332 ; his victory at
New Orleans, 343.
Jesuj), Major, his' plan to invade
Canada, 26 ; at Chippewa, 235 ;
at Lundy's Lane, 2:59.
Johnson, Lieut.-Col. James, at bat-
tle of the Thames, 144.
Johnson, John, his heroism, 216
Johnson, Col. R. JI.. jn Harrison's
campaign, 140 ; kills Tecumseh,
145.
Jones, Capt. Jacob, sails in the
Wasp, 73.

Ki:ank, Gen., at New Orleans, ui;

wounded, 344.
Kerr, Capt., at Beaver Dams, 122.
Key, Francis S., how he wrote the

" Star-Spangled 1-tanner," 288.
Kmg, Major, at York, loi.
La Colle Mill, fight at, 251.
Lafitte, Jean, in Jackson's cam-
^ Pai«:n, 332.

Lambert, Capt., killed. 80.
Lambert, Gen. John, at New Or-
leans, 341.
Lang, John, his exploit, 74.
Larrabee, Lieut., at La Colle, 2S2.
Lathrop, Lieut., at Stomiigton, 27^
Lawrence, Capt. James, sails m the
Hornet, 79 ; defeats the I'eacock,
195 ; defeated in the Cheshpeake,
197; killed, 199.
Lawrence, Maj. W., at Mobile, -^u.
Leavenworth, Major, at Chiiipewa,
235 ; at Lundy's Lane, 2:59; killed,
244.

Lee, Gen. Henry, assists Hanson

«;'iinst rioters, 22.
Leonard, Capt., at Fort Niagara,

163 ; at Plattsburg, 262.
Lewis, Col., 85.

Lewistown, Del., bombarded, 168.
Lewiston, N. Y., burned, 164.
Lingan, Gen. James M., killed, 22.

3S8

INDEX.

I-oiiff-lop: Lane, battle of, 287.
I.uiuly's Lane, battle of, 239.

McAkiiujr, Col., in Detroit cam-
IJui^rn. .^2.

Mct'lure, (len. Georpe, his perform-
ances on the Niajjara, 101.

McDonall, Lieut. -Col., at Michili-
niaokinac, 259.

.McDonell, Lieut. -Col., at Queens-
town, 55.

MiDonough, Lieut., at Fort Erie,

-47-
Macdonouf^h, Lieut. Thomas, at

riattsburg, 264.
McDougall, Capt., at New Orleans,

.^44-

Mclarland, M.ijcjr, killed, 244.

McHenry, Fort, boniliarded, 287.

McKni{;ht, Lieut., in Typee cani-
l^ais;-!!, .-505.

McNeil, Major, at Chippewa, 2VS ;
;it Luiid)'s Lane, '2^f) ; killed, 244.

Macomb, Cien. Alexander, at I'ort
(ieor^e, T08 ; in Wilkinson's ex-
pedition, 152 ; at Plattsburfj, 261.

Mcpherson, Capt., at La CoUe, 252.

JIadison, l'"ort, fight at, 43.

JLidison, James, President of the
United States, recommends a dec-
laraiion of war, 16 ; at Bladens-
burj;, 278.

Madison, Major, at Frenchtown, 88.

Maf^uaya, fij,dit at. 32.

i^Ialden, Hull's forces at, 29, 30.

Manchester, N. Y., burned, 164.

Maimers, Capt., killed, 321.

Manowa, Chief, his exploit, 230.

Martin, sloop-of-war, fipht with, i6g.

Meij^s, I'ort, siege of, 90.

Melville, Capt., at Sandy Creek,

'■257-
Michilimackinac captured by the

British, 30 ; American expedition

against, 258.
Miller, Col. James, at Maguaga, 31 ;

at Lundy's Lane, 242.
Miller, Col. John, at Fort Meigs, 91.
Mills, Col, killed, 114.
Minis, Fort, mas.sacre at, 179.
Mitchell, Lieut. -Col., at Oswego,

254-

Mobile, battle at, 3,^.

Monroe, Jas., at Hladensbnrg, 278.

Montgomery, ALijor L. P., at Horse-
shoe Rend, 229 ; killed, 230.

Moorf.elds, fight at, 28.5.
Moravian Town destroyed, 147.
Morris, Capt., at Hampden, 2139.
Morris, Lieut., 6g.
Murray, Col., at Fort Niagara, 163.

N.WAL Rapti.ks :

Argus and Pelican, 202.

Armstrong aiul (^ueen, 214 ; and
an F.nglish frigate, 218; de-
stroyed at I'ayal, 322.

Chesa[)eake and Shannon, 197.

Comet against four vessels, 216.

Constitution and (iuerriere, 67 ;
and Java, 79 ; and Cyane and
Levant, 325.

Decatur and Dominica, 220.

Dolphin and two vessels, 217.

Knlerjirise and Poxer, 202.

Lssex and Alert, 65 ; and Phoebe
and Cherub, 310.

Globe against two packets, 221.

Grampus and a sloop, 221.

Hornet and Peacock, 195.

Hornet (another) and Penguin,

.325-
Lake Erie, Perry's victory, 130;

an Indian, 136.
Lottery against barges, 218.
Peacock and ICpervier, 320.
Plattsburg, Macdonough's victory,

263.
President and Belvidera, 64 ; and

Kndymion, 325 ; and Little Bel ,

62.
Saratoga and Morgiana, 221.
Tompkins and a frigate, 215,
L'nited Stales and Macedonian,

75-
Wasp and Avon, 321 ; and Bream,
220 ; and I'rolic, 73 ; and Rein-
deer, 320.
Yankee and Kagle. 222.

Navy, British, si/e of. 23.

Navy, U. S., size of at o]ientng of
war, 23 ; proposal to lay up, 23.

Negro sailors, protection denied to,
206.

Newark, burned, 162.

New London, Conn., American ves-
sels blockaded at, 204.

New Orleans, British forces appear
before, 336 ; first battle, 337 ; sec-
ond battle, 342,

Newspapers, F.ngli.sh, cited, 6, 71, 72,
78, 21;, 222, 225, 284, 285, .vc-

J^DliX.

Niag:ara, battle of, 244.

la'a^'^^' ^'°'"^'*-"^Pl"'«^ncl massacre.
Norlli Point, battle of. 286
Ogdensburg, expedition against,

47-
Old Ironsitles, 81.
O'Neill, at Havre de Grace, 170.
Orders ni Council, 12 16
0^-vvej;o, Veos expedition against,

Pakeniiam, Gen. Sir Edward, in
command before New Orleans
339 ; killed, 3+4.

Parker, Sir Peter, killed, 286.

latterson. Com., sent against La-
fitte, 333 ; at New Orleans, 341

1 eace negotiations, 223

Peake, Capt., killed, 195.

Pearce, Col., at York, 103.

Pearson, Lieut. -Col., at Chippewa,

Percy, Capt., at Mobi>, . 374.
Perry. Capt. (). II., at PynTGeorge,

108 ; e.xplo,is on Lake Erie, 127
^ in I names campaign, 141.
Perry, Capt., commands a battery

on the Potomac, 284.
Pensacola, occupied by Jackson,

PeVtigrew, Lieut., captures stores,
107. '

Pike, Gen Zeb. M., in expedition
against York, loi ; death, 103.

Plattsburg, battle of, 261.

\ onisett, Joel R., United States Con-
sul at Valparaiso, demands pro-
tection for the Essex, 313.

Political parties, explanation, 16.

loiter, Capt. D.ivid, commands a
battery on the Potomac, 284 ; his
cruise in the Pacific, 200

Porter, Col. M., at Fort George loo

Porter Gen. Peter B., at^ bS
Kock, 125 ; in Brown's campaign.
231 ; at Charlotte, 2<;?
Poultneyville, N. Y., fight at, 2s6
Pra.ne du Chien captured. 28

sr-f '..^"0 ^"' ^-^"••^'^. attacks

backetts Harbor, 112; his inva-

sion of New York, 260.
Prisoners, twenty-three of them held

tor trial, 59; treatment of, 148
Privateers, 207 ; Jefferson's opinion

01, 208 ; abolished by the Treaty

359

of Paris, 210; some of their cap-
tures, 2J 2; some of their battles
215. '

Proctor, Col. Henry, i„ Detroit
campaign 31 ; u I'lenchtown, 86 :
II. 1 lianies campaign, 141
I ryor, Capt., at Hampton, "174.
I urdy, Col , on the Chateaugua, 158.
Putnam, Major, at EastportV 26a.
QuEicNSTovvw, battle of, 49.
Race, a celebrated naval, 66
Kaism, massacre at t!je, 8g
Kandall Col., at Stonington, 273.
Ked Jacket at Chippewa, 234. '^
Keid Capt. Samuel C, in Ihe Gen-

eial Armstrong, 322
Wiea, Capt., at Ko>t Vvayne, 40.
Kiall, Gen., burns villages on the
.Niagara ,64; at Chippewa, 232 ;
at^Lundys Lane, 239; captured,

Riot in Baltimore, 21

Ripley, Gen. E. W., succeeds to

coinmand at Lundy's Lane, 243.
Rochester. N. Y. 231

^^62%"' <^"'"-J"hn. "naval battles,

Ross, Gen., his expedition against
Washington 274 ; killed, 28^87.

Kottenberg, Gen. de, attacks VVil-
kinson's expedition, 153.

Ruff, negro boy, drowned, 318.

Rule of 1756, ,1. • '^ •

Russell, Jonathan, made a peace
commissioner, 226.

Russian Government offers media-
tion, 225.

SACK'ETT'sH.ARnoR, attack on, in.
St. < lair. Commander A rth., his ex-

pedition to Michilimackinan, 2^8
St Leonard's Creek, fight in, 27c;."
Salaberry, Lieut. -Col. de, defeats

Hampton, 157.
Sandy Creek, fight at, 256
Scalps, bounty offered for, 3 170,
Scituate, Mass., shipi)ing burned at,

273-
Scott, Lieut. -Col. Winfield, at
yueenstown, 52 ; his repartee 8- •
at I'ort George, 108 ; at ILxjphoIe
^reek, J57; march from Platts-
burg i« Buffalo, 231 ; at Cliippe-

S(>o

INDEX,

wa, 23,^ ; at Luncly's Lane, 239 ;
his bad memory, 330.

Seamen, impressment of, 8-10.

Servant, C'apt., at Hampton, 174.

Sluler, Capt. N., his sea-fight, 215.

Shead, Sail.iig Master, in fight with
sloop Martin, i6g.

Sheatfe, Gen. Roger H.,at Queens-
town, 54 ; at York, 100.

Siielby, Gov., in Harrison's cam-
paign, 140.

Sheldon, Lieut., at La Colle, 252.

Short, Lieut.-CoL, his ideas about
quarter, 95.

Smith, Sydney, quoted, 350.

Sodus, N. Y., burned, 121.

Southcomb, Capt., his fight in the
Lottery, 218.

Springs, definition of, 313, note.

Stafford, Capt. W. S., his cruise in
the Dolphin, 217.

Stansbury, Gen., at Bladensburg,
279.

"Star-Spangled Banner," how it
was written, 288.

Stephenson, Fort, siege of, 94.

Stewart, Capt. Charles, 24 ; in the
Constitution, 325.

Stone, Col., burns St. Davids, ^and
is court-martialed, 238.

Stonington, Conn., bombarded, 270.

Stony Creek, battle of, 118.

Strieker, Gen., at North Point, 286.

Swartwout, Gen. Robert, at Chrys-
ler's Field, 154.

Swift, Gen. J., at Poultneyville, 256.

Talladf.ga, battle of, 185.

Talluschatches, battle of, 184.

Tar-cha-chee, death of, 192.

Taylor, Gen. Robert R., at Hamp-
ton, 177.

Taylor, Capt. Zachary, at Fort Har-
rison, 41.

Tecumseh, at Maguaga, 32 ; his
scheme, 38 ; at Fort Meigs, 92 ;
his rebuke of massacre, 93 ; in
Thames campaign, 144 ; killed,

145-

Thames, battle of the, 140.

Thornton, Col., at N. Orleans, 342.

Thornton, Dr., saves the Patent
Office, 282.

Towson, Capt., in Brown's cam-
paign, 235 ; at Fort Erie, 245.

Tuscarora, In'. Y., burned, 164.

Tuttle, Lieut. -Col., at Sackett's

Harbor, 116.
Typee Valley, Porter's campaign in,

297.

Upmam, Lieut. -Col., at Chrysler's
Field, 156,

Van Hornk, Major Thomas B., at

Hrosviistown, 31.
Van Lloyd apt., at Fayal, 323.
Van Renssciaer, Lieut. -Col. Sol. at

battle of Queenstown, 50.
Van Rensselaer, Gen. Stephen, in

command on the >'''agara, 49.
Vincent, Gen., at Slony Creek, 117.

Wad.sworth, Gen. William, at

Queenstown, 56.
Walbach, Adjt.-Gen., at Chrysler's

Field, 156.
War, its issue determined by the

battle-ground, 24.
Wareham, Mass., raid on, 273.
Warren, Admiral, joins Cockburn

in the Chesapeake, 171.
Warrington, Capt. Lewis, in the

Peacock, 320.
Washington, Ross's campaign

against, 274; burned, 282.
Weathersford, Wm., at I'ort Mims,

180 ; at the canoe-fight, 189.
Whinyates, Capt., loses the Frolic,

73-

White, Gen. in Creek campaign,
186.

Whitley, Col., killed, 147.

Wilkinson, Gen. James, his expedi-
tion toward Montreal, 149 ; his last
invasion of Canada, 2.51.

Wilmer, Lieut., killed, 318.

Winchester, Gen., his expedition, 84.

Winder, Gen. Wm. H., at Stony
Creek, 118; in command before
Washington, 276.

Wood, Capt., quoted, 93.

Wool, Capt. John E., at Queens-
town, 52 ; at Plattsburg, 262.

Woolsey, Lieut. -Com., in the Onei-
da, 98 ; at Sandy Creek, 256.

Worth, Lieut., Wm. J., at Chrys-
ler's F'ield, 156.

Yeo, Sir James Lucas, attacks
Sackett's Harbor, 112; at Char-
lotte and Sodus, 121.

York, expedition against, ico, 122.

Youngstown, N. Y., burned, 164.