The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2, by
Joel Tyler Headley
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Title: The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2
Author: Joel Tyler Headley
Release Date: April 4, 2012 [EBook #39369]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND ***
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THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND.
[Illustration: Com. Porter in the Bay of Novaheevah.]
THE SECOND WAR
WITH
ENGLAND.
BY J. T. HEADLEY,
AUTHOR OF "NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS," "WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS,"
"THE OLD GUARD," "SCOTT AND JACKSON," ETC. ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
NEW YORK:
CHARLES SCRIBNER, 145 NASSAU STREET.
1853.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for
the Southern District of New York.
C. W. BENEDICT,
STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER,
12 Spruce Street, N. Y.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
CHAPTER I.
THE CREEK WAR.
Jackson's first service -- Is appointed commander-in-chief
of the Tennessee forces -- Co-operation of other states --
Jackson enters the Creek nation -- Difficulties of his
position -- General Coffee's expedition -- Relieves Fort
Talladega -- Battle of -- Stormy condition of his army --
Quells a mutiny -- Abandoned by his troops -- Quells a
second mutiny -- His boldness -- A third mutiny suppressed
-- Left with but a hundred followers -- Clairborne's
movements -- Arrival of reinforcements -- Makes a diversion
in favor of General Floyd -- Battle of Nutessee -- Battle of
Emuckfaw -- Ambuscade of the Indians -- Gallantry of General
Coffee -- Battle of the "Horse Shoe" -- The war ended --
Jackson's character, 11
CHAPTER II.
Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex -- Arrival at
Valparaiso -- Capture of British whalers and letters of
marque -- Essex Junior -- Marquesas Islands -- Description
of the natives -- Madison Island -- War with the Happahs --
Invades the Typee territory -- Tedious march -- Beautiful
prospect -- Fights the natives and burns down their towns --
Sails for Valparaiso -- Blockaded by two English ships --
Attempts to escape -- Is attacked by both vessels -- His
gallant defence -- His surrender -- Returns home on parole
-- Insolence of an English Officer -- Porter escapes in an
open boat and lands on Long Island -- Enthusiastic reception
in New York, 45
CHAPTER III.
Plan of the third Campaign -- Attack on Sackett's Harbor --
Attack on Oswego -- Woolsey transports guns to Sackett's
Harbor -- Capture of the detachment sent against him --
Expedition against Mackinaw -- Death of Captain Holmes --
Complete failure of the expedition, 67
CHAPTER IV.
Brown takes command of the army at Niagara -- Crosses the
river into Canada -- Battle of Chippewa -- Brilliant charge
of the Americans -- Desperate battle of Niagara -- Conduct
of Ripley -- The army ordered to Fort Erie -- General Gaines
takes command, 74
CHAPTER V.
Siege of Fort Erie -- Assault and repulse of the British --
Brown takes command -- Resolves to destroy the enemy's works
by a sortie -- Opposed by his officers -- The sortie --
Anecdote of General Porter -- Retreat of Drummond -- Conduct
of Izard, 101
CHAPTER VI.
British plan of invading our sea ports -- Arrival of
reinforcements -- Barney's flotilla -- Landing of the enemy
under Ross -- Doubt and alarm of the inhabitants -- Advance
of the British -- Destruction of the Navy Yard -- Battle of
Bladensburg -- Flight of the President and his Cabinet --
Burning and sacking of Washington -- Mrs. Madison's conduct
during the day and night -- Cockburn's brutality -- Sudden
explosion -- A hurricane -- Flight of the British -- State
of the army -- Character of this outrage -- Rejoicings in
England -- Mortification of our ambassadors at Ghent --
Mistake of the English -- Parker's expedition -- Colonel
Reed's defence -- The English army advance on Baltimore --
Death of Ross -- Bombardment of Fort McHenry -- "The star
spangled banner" -- Retreat of the British, and joy of the
citizens of Baltimore, 114
CHAPTER VII.
Macomb at Plattsburg -- American and English fleets on Lake
Champlain -- Advance of Prevost -- Indifference of Governor
Chittenden -- Rev. Mr. Wooster -- Macdonough -- The two
battles -- Funeral of the officers -- British invasion of
Maine -- McArthur's expedition, 147
CHAPTER VIII.
The Navy in 1814 -- Cruise of Captain Morris in the Adams --
Narrow escapes -- The Wasp and Reindeer -- Cruise of the
Wasp -- Sinks the Avon -- Mysterious fate of the Wasp -- The
Peacock captures the Epervier -- Lieutenant Nicholson, 165
CHAPTER IX.
Third Session of the XIIIth Congress -- State of the
Treasury -- The President's Message -- Dallas appointed
Secretary of the Treasury -- His scheme and that of Eppes
for the relief of the country -- Our Commissioners at Ghent
-- Progress of the negotiations -- English protocol -- Its
effect on Congress and the nation -- Effect of its
publication on the English Parliament, 174
CHAPTER X.
HARTFORD CONVENTION.
Attitude of New England -- Governor Strong -- Views and
purposes of the Federalists -- Anxiety of Madison --
Prudence of Colonel Jesup -- Result of the Convention --
Fears of the People -- Fate of the Federalists, 191
CHAPTER XI.
General Jackson appointed Major-General -- Hostility of
Spain -- Gallant defence of Fort Bowyer -- Seizure of
Pensacola -- Jackson at New Orleans -- Approach and landing
of the British -- Jackson proclaims martial law -- Night
attack on the British -- Jackson entrenches himself -- First
attack of the British -- Second attack -- Final assault --
The battle and the victory -- Jackson fined by Judge Hall --
Arrival of the Treaty of Peace -- Great rejoicings --
Delegates of the Hartford Convention -- Remarks on the
treaty, 199
CHAPTER XII.
Cruise of the Constitution -- Action with the Cyane and
Levant -- Chased by a British fleet -- England's views of
neutral rights and the law of nations -- Her honor and
integrity at a discount -- Singular escape of the
Constitution -- Recapture of the Levant under the guns of a
neutral port -- Lampoons on the English squadron for its
contemptible conduct -- Decatur -- Capture of the President
-- The Hornet captures the Penguin -- Chased by a ship of
the line -- Narrow escape -- Cruise of the Peacock -- Review
of the American Navy -- Its future destiny, 236
CHAPTER XIII.
PRIVATEERS.
Character and daring of our privateers -- Skill of American
seamen -- Acts of Congress relative to privateering -- Names
of ships -- Gallant action of the Nonsuch -- Success of the
Dolphin -- Cruise of the Comet -- Narrow escape of the
Governor Tompkins -- Desperate action of the Globe with two
brigs -- The Decatur takes a British sloop of war -- Action
of the Neufchatel with the crew of the Endymion -- Desperate
defence of Captain Reed against the crews of British
squadron -- The Chasseur captures a British schooner of war
-- Character of the commanders of privateers -- Anecdote, 258
CHAPTER XIV.
DARTMOOR PRISON.
Impressed Americans made prisoners of war -- Treatment of
prisoners -- Prison Ships -- Dartmoor prison -- Neglect of
American prisoners -- Their sufferings -- Fourth of July in
Dartmoor -- Brutal attack of the French prisoners -- Fresh
arrivals -- Joy at the news of our naval victories --
Sufferings of the prisoners in winter -- American Government
allows them three cents per diem -- Moral effect of this
notice of Government -- Napoleon's downfall -- Increased
allowance of Government -- Industry of prisoners -- Attempts
to escape -- Extraordinary adventure of a lieutenant of a
privateer -- Number of prisoners increased -- A riot to
obtain bread -- Dartmoor massacre -- Messrs. King and
L'Arpent appointed commissioners to investigate it --
Decision -- The end, 279
Tax-tables, 301
Index, 313
HISTORY OF THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND.
CHAPTER I.
THE CREEK WAR.
Jackson's first service -- Is appointed commander in-chief
of the Tennessee forces -- Co-operation of other states --
Jackson enters the Creek nation -- Difficulties of his
position -- General Coffee's expedition -- Relieves Fort
Talladega -- Battle of -- Stormy condition of his army --
Quells a mutiny -- Abandoned by his troops -- Quells a
second mutiny -- His boldness -- A third mutiny suppressed
-- Left with but a hundred followers -- Clairborne's
movements -- Arrival of reinforcements -- Makes a diversion
in favor of General Floyd -- Battle of Nutessee -- Battle of
Emuckfaw -- Ambuscade of the Indians -- Gallantry of General
Coffee -- Battle of the "Horse Shoe" -- The war ended --
Jackson's character.
Allusion has been made to Jackson's campaign against the Creeks, but I
purposely omitted an account of its progress, preferring to go back
and make a continuous narrative. Although embracing a portion of two
years, it composed a single expedition, and forms a whole which loses
much of its interest by being contemplated in parts. After the
cowardly surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, in the commencement of
the war, Jackson offered his services to the government, and
solicited the post which was assigned to Winchester. Disappointed in
this, he repaired, at the order of the Secretary of War, to Natchez,
to assist Wilkinson, then stationed there, to repel the attacks of the
enemy should they advance up the Mississippi. But no danger from an
attack in that quarter appearing, he was directed to disband his
troops. Refusing to do this, on account of the number of sick in camp,
many of them sons of his neighbors and friends, he became involved in
a quarrel both with Wilkinson and his own officers. He, however,
carried out his measures and led his men back in safety to their
homes.
[Sidenote: 1813.]
Here he remained idle till the massacre at Fort Mimms, the news of
which, together with the rising of the Indians all along our southern
frontier, burst like a sudden thunder-clap on the neighboring States.
Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, flew at once to arms. On
the 17th of September a mass meeting assembled at Nashville, which
with one voice nominated Jackson commander-in-chief of the troops of
the State. Ten days after, the nomination was confirmed by the
Legislature, and 200,000 dollars voted to carry on the war. Jackson
immediately issued a stirring appeal to the people, in which, after
describing the state of things, he urged them to assemble to his
standard with all speed, saying, "Already are large bodies of the
hostile Creeks marching to your borders, with their scalping-knives
unsheathed to butcher your women and children: time is not to be lost.
We must hasten to the frontier, or we shall find it drenched in the
blood of our citizens." At this time he was suffering from a disabled
arm which had been mutilated in an encounter with Benton, and was
unable to be present at Fayetteville, the rendezvous, on the 4th of
October; but he sent an address to be read to the troops, and rules
regulating the police of the camp. Although too feeble to take the
field, he, three days after, with his arm in a sling, put himself at
the head of the army. The next evening, a dispatch arrived from
Colonel Coffee, who had been previously sent forward with a large
detachment to Huntsville, thirty-two miles distant, stating that a
body of nearly a thousand Indians were on their way to ravage the
frontiers of Georgia, and another party approaching Tennessee. The day
after came a second express confirming the report. By nine o'clock the
following morning, Jackson put his army of twenty-five hundred men in
motion, and at eight in the evening reached Huntsville, making the
thirty-two miles in eleven hours. Finding that the rumor was without
foundation, he proceeded leisurely to Ditto's Landing, where Col.
Coffee with his regiment was encamped. Here he paused to wait for
supplies, and survey his position.
With promptness on the part of those co-operating with him, he saw
that the hostile Creeks could be crushed with one blow; for on the
west of their settlements were six hundred Mississippi volunteers and
the 3d regiment of regular infantry, six hundred strong, under Colonel
Russel; on the east were twenty-five hundred Georgia militia,
commanded by General Floyd; while from the north, five thousand
volunteers and militia--twenty-five hundred from East Tennessee, under
Generals Cocke and White, and the same number from the western section
of the State--were moving down on the devoted tribes. This army of
five thousand Tennesseans was under his own command, the western half
of which he led in person. There were, besides this formidable array,
a few posts held by small detachments, and a few hundred friendly
Indians, most of them Cherokees. When these separate armies should
close around the hostile settlements, encircling them in a girdle of
fire, it was universally believed that the war would be over.
While Jackson remained at Ditto's Landing, waiting anxiously for the
supplies which Generals Cocke and White had promised to forward, he
dispatched General Coffee, with six hundred picked men, to destroy
Blackwarrior town, a hundred miles south.
At length, being urged by the earnest appeals of friendly Indians, who
were in daily danger of being cut off by the Creeks, he, on the 19th,
started for Thompson's Creek, where he had ordered the provisions,
which he supposed were near at hand, to be stopped. Cutting his way
through the heavy forests, and dragging his artillery over steep
mountains, he at length, after a painful march of two days, reached
the place of depôt but no provisions had arrived. Instead of supplies,
came a letter from General White, who was at Lookout Mountain in the
Cherokee country, stating that no flour could be spared from that
post. His position was now becoming painful and critical. Standing in
the centre of the wilderness, on the borders of the enemy's country,
with his little band around him, he saw no alternative but to retreat,
unless he ran the risk of starving in the forest. But to abandon his
design, would leave the friendly Indians at the mercy of their
enemies, an act not only cruel in the extreme, and utterly repugnant
to his nature, but which would furnish a fatal example to the other
friendly tribes, whose alliance it was of the highest importance to
secure. Prudence would have dictated a retreat, but Jackson had never
yet turned his back voluntarily on a foe, and he resolved, at all
hazards, to proceed. Sending off expresses to Generals Cocke and
White, and to the Governors of Tennessee and Georgia, and the American
agents in the Choctaw and Cherokee nations, he issued a stirring
address to his troops, in which he promised them that the "order to
charge would be the signal for victory." In urging on them the
importance of coolness, and presence of mind, in every emergency, even
in "retreat," he adds,
"Your general laments that he has been compelled, even incidentally,
to _hint_ at a retreat, when speaking to freemen and to soldiers.
Never, until you forget all that is due to yourselves and your
country, will you have any practical understanding of that word. Shall
an enemy, wholly unacquainted with military evolutions, and who rely
more for victory on their grim visages, and hideous yells, than upon
their bravery or their weapons--shall such an enemy ever drive before
them, the well-trained youths of our country, whose bosoms pant for
glory, and a desire to avenge the wrongs they have received? Your
general will not live to behold such a spectacle; rather would he rush
into the thickest of the enemy, and submit himself to their
scalping-knives; but he has no fear of such a result. He knows the
valor of the men he commands, and how certainly that valor, regulated
as it will be, will lead to victory."
Cut off from supplies, locked up in the wilderness, through which
swarmed thousands of savages eagerly watching his advance, with only
six days' rations of meat and two of flour, he issued this bold and
confident address, and then gave orders for the army to march.
Arriving at Ten Islands, he erected Fort Strother, to serve as a
depôt, and to cover his retreat. In a letter to Governor Blount, from
this place, he says,--
"Indeed, sir, we have been wretchedly supplied,--scarcely two rations
in succession have been regularly drawn, yet we are not despondent.
While we can procure an ear of corn apiece, or anything that will
answer as a substitute for it, we shall continue our exertions to
accomplish the object for which we were sent."
Here, being informed that General White was only twenty-five miles
distant up the river, he sent him a despatch to hasten, at once, to
the fort. In the mean time, General Coffee, who had returned
successful from his southern expedition, was sent to attack a large
body of Indians at Tallushatchee, some thirty miles distant. With nine
hundred men, this gallant officer advanced, and succeeded in
completely surrounding them; and though the savages fought desperately
to the last, but few escaped. A hundred and eighty warriors lay
stretched around the ashes of their dwellings. Among the slain, was a
mother, on whose bosom her infant boy was found, struggling in vain to
draw nourishment from the lifeless breast. When he was brought to
camp, Jackson endeavored to persuade some of the female captives to
take care of him, but they all refused, saying, "His relations are
all dead, kill him too." He then ordered some sugar to be given him,
and sent him to Huntsville, where he could be properly cared for. He
afterwards adopted him, gave him a good education, and placed him at a
saddler's to learn a trade. The latter was accustomed to spend every
Sunday at the Hermitage, with his adopted father, who was strongly
attached to him. But he always pined for the free, wild life of his
race. The close air of the shop and the drudgery of an apprentice did
not agree with him, and he soon after sickened. He was then taken home
to the Hermitage, where he lingered some time, and died.
At length, on the 7th of November, an Indian runner arrived in camp,
stating that Fort Talladega, about thirty miles distant, was
surrounded by the hostile Red-sticks, and if he did not hurry to its
relief, the friendly Indians, who had taken refuge in it must be
massacred. The runner had scarcely finished his message when the order
to march was issued, and in a few minutes the columns were in motion.
It was midnight, and through the dim cathedrals of nature, lighted
only by the stars of heaven, Jackson led his two thousand men towards
the Talladega. Eight hundred of these were mounted riflemen, who
presented a picturesque appearance, as they wound slowly along the
rough forest path underneath the autumnal woods, each with unceasing
watchfulness, piercing the surrounding gloom, and every hand grasping
a trusty rifle. Their heavy tramp frightened the wild beasts from
their lairs, and awoke strange echoes in the solitude. Now straining
up steep ascents, and now swimming deep rivers, the fearless and
gallant band pressed forward. In three columns, so as to prevent the
confusion that might arise from a sudden surprise, it forced its
difficult way through the forest, and at night arrived within six
miles of the besieged fort. Here Jackson halted, and sent forward two
friendly Indians and a white man, to reconnoitre. About eleven o'clock
they returned, and reported the enemy in great force, and within a
quarter of a mile of the fort. No time was to be lost, and though the
troops had been without sleep, and constantly on the strain for
twenty-four hours, another night, and a battle, lay between them and
repose.
It was four o'clock of a cool November morning, when the three columns
again moved forward. Advancing with the utmost caution and quietness
to within a mile of the Indian encampment, they halted, and formed in
order of battle. Two hundred and fifty of the cavalry, under
Lieut.-Col. Dyer, were left in the rear of the centre to act as a
reserve, while the remaining four hundred and fifty were ordered to
push forward to the right and left on either side, until the heads of
their columns met beyond the hostile encampment, and thus completely
encircle it. The two brigades of Hall and Roberts, occupying the right
and left, were directed to advance, while the ring of cavalry was
steadily to contract, so as to shut in every savage and prevent
escape. At eight o'clock, Colonel Carroll boldly charged the position
in front of him, and carried it; he then retreated, in order to draw
the Indians in pursuit. They charged after him with such terrific
whoops and screams, that a portion of General Roberts' brigade, on
whom they were rushing with uplifted tomahawks, broke and fled. This
made a chasm in the line, which Jackson immediately ordered Colonel
Bradley to fill with his regiment, that for some reason, known only to
the latter, had lagged behind, to the great detriment of the order of
battle. But not only had he proved a laggard in the approach, but he
refused to fill the chasm, as ordered by his commander, and the latter
was compelled to dismount his reserve and hurry them forward. As these
steadily and firmly advanced, and poured in their volleys, the
panic-stricken militia recovered their courage and resumed their
places in the line. In the mean time, the encircling cavalry came
galloping, with loud hurrahs, towards the centre. The next moment the
forest rang with the sharp reports of their rifles. In fifteen minutes
the battle was over, and the terrified savages were wildly skirting
the inner edge of this circle of fire, seeking, in vain, an avenue to
the open forest beyond. Turned back at every step, they fell like the
autumn leaves which the wind shook around them. At length they
discovered a gap, made by the neglect of Colonel Bradley and the delay
of a portion of the cavalry, which had taken too wide a circuit, and
poured like a torrent that has suddenly found vent, through it. The
mounted riflemen wheeled and streamed after; and the quick, sharp
reports of their pieces, and the receding yells rising from the
forest, told how fiercely they pressed on the flying traces of the
foe. The savages made straight for the mountains, three miles distant,
fighting as they went. The moment they bounded up the steep acclivity
they were safe, and the wearied horsemen turned again to the camp.
Their way back was easily tracked by the swarthy forms that lay
stretched on the leaves, showing where the flight and pursuit had
swept. Of the thousand and more who had composed the force of the
enemy, more than half were killed or wounded. Three hundred were left
dead on the spot where they had first fought. The loss of the
Americans in killed and wounded, was ninety-five.
The friendly Indians, who had been so long shut up without a drop of
water, in momentary expectation of being massacred, listened to the
uproar without, with beating hearts; but when the battle was over,
they rushed forth with the most frantic cries of joy, and leaped and
shouted around their deliverers in all the wildness of savage delight.
They crowded around Jackson as if he had been their deity, toward whom
they could not show too much reverence.
The refusal of General White to march to Fort Strother, left the
feeble garrison of the latter in a perilous state. If it should fall,
Jackson's whole line of retreat would be cut off; and he, therefore,
with deep pain, was compelled to stop in his victorious progress, and
return to the fort. On his arrival, he found that no supplies had
reached it, and that the soldiers, half-starved, were bordering on
mutiny. General Cocke, from the first, seemed resolved to withhold all
aid from Jackson, lest he himself should be eclipsed in the campaign.
[Sidenote: Nov. 11.] This officer directed his movements against the
Hillabee towns. General White, with the mounted men, succeeded in
destroying the place, killing and capturing three hundred and sixteen
warriors.
[Sidenote: Nov. 18.]
Jackson, however, endeavored to keep alive the spirits and courage of
his troops, and distributed all his private stores to the feeble and
wounded. Having nothing left for himself and staff, he repaired to the
bullock-pen, and from the offals cut tripe, on which he and they lived
for days, in the vain hope of receiving the long-promised supplies.
One day, as he sat at the foot of a tree, thinking of the hard
condition of his men, and planning how he might find some relief from
the increasing difficulties that pressed so hard upon him, one of the
soldiers, observing that he was eating something, approached, and
asked for a portion. Jackson looked up with a pleasant smile, and
said, "I will, most cheerfully, divide with you what I have;" and
taking some acorns from his pocket, he handed them to the astonished
and mortified soldier. His solicitude for the army did not expend
itself in words, for he shared with the meanest soldier his privations
and his wants, while many of his subordinate officers possessed
abundance. He let the latter enjoy the rations to which they were
legally entitled, but himself scorned to sit down to a well-supplied
table, while the army was perishing with want.
This state of things, of course, could not last long. The soldiers
believed themselves neglected by the State for whose safety they were
fighting; else why this protracted refusal to send them provisions?
The incipient discontent was fed and aggravated by several of the
officers, who were getting tired of the campaign, and wished to return
home, till at last it broke out into open revolt. The militia
regiments, _en masse_, had resolved to leave. Jackson received the
communication with grief and indignation. He felt for his poor,
half-starved men, but all his passionate nature was roused at this
deliberate defiance of his authority. The militia, however, did not
regard his expostulations or threats, and they fixed on a morning to
commence their march. But as they drew out to take their departure,
they found, to their astonishment, the volunteers paraded across the
path, with Jackson at their head. He ordered them to return to their
position, or they should answer for their disobedience with their
lives. They obeyed; but the volunteers, indignant that they had been
made the instrument of quelling the revolt, and anxious as the others
were to get away, resolved next morning to depart themselves. To their
surprise, however, they saw the militia drawn up in the same position
they had occupied the day before, to arrest the first forward movement
that was made. This was a dangerous game to play with armed men, and
would not bear a second trial.
The cavalry, on the ground that the country yielded no forage for
their horses, were permitted to retire to the neighborhood of
Huntsville, where they promised to wait the orders of their commander.
In the mean time, Jackson hearing that provisions were on the way,
made an effort to allay the excited, angry feelings that existed in
the army, and so, on the 14th of November, invited all the field and
platoon officers to his quarters, and after informing them that
abundant supplies were close at hand, addressed them in a kind and
sympathizing manner, told them how deeply he felt for their
sufferings, and concluded by promising, if provisions did not arrive
within two days, to lead them back himself to Tennessee. But this kind
and conciliatory speech produced no effect on a portion of the army,
and the first regiment of volunteers insisted on abandoning the fort.
Permission to leave was granted, and Jackson, with chagrin and
anguish, saw the men whom he refused to abandon at Natchez, forsake
him in the heart of the forest, surrounded by hostile savages.
The two days expiring without the arrival of provisions, he was
compelled to fulfill his promise to the army, and preparations were
made for departure. In the midst of the breaking up of the camp, he
sat down and wrote a letter to Colonel Pope, the contractor, which
exhibits how deeply he felt, not merely this abandonment of him, but
the failure of the expedition. He says in conclusion:
"I cannot express the torture of my feelings, when I reflect that a
campaign so auspiciously begun, and which might be so soon and so
gloriously terminated, is likely to be rendered abortive for the want
of supplies. For God's sake, prevent so great an evil."
As the baggage-wagons were loaded up, and the men fell into marching
order, the palpable evidence of the failure of the project on which
he had so deeply set his heart, and the disgrace that awaited his
army, became so painful, that he could not endure the sight, and he
exclaimed in mingled grief and shame,
"If only two men will remain with me, I will never abandon the post."
"You have one, General!" exclaimed Captain Gordon, of the spies, who
stood beside him.
The gallant captain immediately began to beat up for volunteers, and
it was not long before a hundred and nine brave fellows surrounded
their general, swearing to stand by him to the last.
The latter then put himself at the head of the militia, telling them
he should order them back, if they met provisions near by. They had
gone but ten or twelve miles, when they met a hundred and fifty beeves
on their way to the fort. The men fell to, and in a short time were
gorging themselves with half roasted meat. Invigorated by their
gluttonous repast, most of them consented to return. One company,
however, quietly resumed its journey homeward. When Jackson was
informed of it, he sprang into his saddle, and galloping a quarter of
a mile ahead, where General Coffee with his staff and a few soldiers
had halted, ordered them to form across the road, and fire on the
first man that attempted to pass. As the mutineers came up and saw
that living barrier before them, and in front of it the stern and
decided face of their commander, they wheeled about, and retraced
their steps. Jackson then dismounted and began to mingle among the
men, to allay their excitement, and conciliate their feelings. While
he was thus endeavoring to reduce to cheerful obedience this
refractory company, he was told, to his utter amazement, that the
other portion of the army had changed their mind, and the whole
brigade was drawn up in column, and on the point of marching homeward.
He immediately walked up in front of it, snatched a musket from the
hands of a soldier, and resting it across the neck of his horse, swore
he would shoot the first man who attempted to move. The soldiers stood
and looked in sullen silence at that resolute face, undecided whether
to advance or not, when General Coffee and his staff galloped up.
These, together with the faithful companies, Jackson ordered to form
behind him, and fire when he did. Not a word was uttered for some
time, as the two parties thus stood face to face, and gazed on each
other. At length a murmur rang along the column--rebellion was
crushed, and the mutineers consented to return. Discontent, however,
prevailed, and the volunteers looked anxiously forward to the 10th of
December, the time when they supposed the term of their enlistment
expired. They had originally enlisted for twelve months, and counting
in the time they had been disbanded, after their return from Natchez,
the year would be completed on that date. But Jackson refused to allow
the time they were not in actual service. Letters passed between the
officers and himself, and every effort was made on his part to allay
the excitement, and convince the troops of the justice of his demands.
He appealed to their patriotism, their courage, and honor, and finally
told them if the General Government gave permission for their
discharge, he would discharge them, otherwise they should walk over
his dead body before they stirred a foot, until the twelve months'
actual service was accomplished. [Sidenote: Dec.] Anticipating
trouble, he wrote home for reinforcements, and sent off officers for
recruits.
In the mean time, the 10th of December drew near, and every heart was
filled with anxiety for the result. A portion of the army was resolved
to _take_ their discharge, whether granted or not. It was not a sudden
impulse, created by want and suffering, but a well-considered and
settled determination, grounded on what they considered their rights.
The thing had been long discussed, and many of the officers had given
their decided opinion that the time of the men actually expired on the
10th. Jackson knew that his troops were brave, and when backed by the
consciousness of right, would be resolute and firm. But he had made up
his mind to prevent mutiny, though he was compelled to sacrifice a
whole regiment in doing it.
At length, on the evening of the 9th, Gen. Hall entered the tent of
Jackson, and informed him that his whole brigade was in a state of
revolt. The latter immediately issued an order stating the fact, and
calling on all the officers to aid in quelling it. He then directed
the two guns he had with him, to be placed, one in front and the other
in the rear, and the militia on the rising ground in advance, to check
any movement in that direction, and waited the result. The brigade
assembled, and were soon in marching order. Jackson then rode slowly
along the line, and addressed the soldiers. He reminded them of their
former good conduct, spoke of the love and esteem he had always borne
them, of the reinforcements on the way, saying, also, that he expected
every day, the decision of the government, on the question of their
discharge, and wound up by telling them emphatically, that he had done
with entreaty,--go they should not, and if they persisted, he would
settle the matter in a very few minutes. He demanded an immediate and
explicit answer. They persisted. He repeated his demand, and still
receiving no answer, he ordered the artillerists to prepare their
matches, and at the word "Fire!" to pour their volleys of grape-shot
into the closely crowded ranks. There he sat, gazing sternly down the
line, while the few moments of grace allowed them, were passing
rapidly away. The men knew it was no idle threat. He had never been
known to break his word, and that sooner than swerve one hair from his
purpose, he would drench that field in blood. Alarmed, they began to
whisper one to another, "Let us go back." The contagion of fear
spread, and soon the officers advanced, and promised, on behalf of the
men, that they would return to their quarters.
As if to try this resolute man to the utmost, and drive him to
despair, no sooner was one evil averted than another overtook him. He
had, by his boldness, quelled the mutiny; but he now began again to
feel the horrors of famine. Supplies did not arrive; or in such scanty
proportion, that he was compelled, at last, to discharge the troops,
and, notwithstanding all the distressing scenes through which he had
passed to retain them, see them take up their line of march for home,
leaving him, with only a hundred devoted followers, shut up in the
forest.
[Sidenote: Dec. 23.]
While these things were passing, General Clairborne, with his
volunteers, passed up the east side of the Alabama, and piercing to
the towns above the Cahawba, gave battle to the Indians under their
great leader, Weathersford, and defeated them, with the loss of but
one man killed and seven wounded. Destroying their villages, he
returned to Fort Clairborne. [Sidenote: 1814.] Jackson remained idle
till the middle of January, when he was gladdened by the arrival of
eight hundred recruits. Not deeming these, however, sufficient to
penetrate into the heart of the Creek country, he resolved to make a
diversion in favor of General Floyd, who was advancing from the east.
[Sidenote: Dec. 29.] This officer, leaving his encampment on the
Chattahouche, and advancing into the Indian territory along the
southern bank of the Talapoosa River, came on the morning of the 29th
upon the town of Autossee, where a large number of Indians were
assembled. Having marched since one o'clock in the morning, he took
the savages by surprise. They however rallied and fought desperately,
retreating only before the fire of the artillery. Two towns, within
sight of each other, were soon in flames. Several hundred of the enemy
were killed and wounded, while the loss of the Americans was but
sixty-five. Among the wounded was General Floyd, who was struck by a
shot while gallantly leading on his command. Hearing that a large
number of Indians were encamped on the Emuckfaw Creek, where it
empties into the Tallapoosa River, Jackson marched thither, and on the
evening of the 21st of January, arrived within a short distance of
their encampment. The Indians were aware of his approach, and resolved
to anticipate his attack. To prevent a surprise, however, Jackson had
ordered a circle of watch-fires to be built around his little band.
The men stood to their arms all night; and just before daylight a wild
yell, which always precedes an attack, went up from the forest, and
the next moment the savages charged down on the camp. But, the instant
the light of the watch-fires fell on their tawny bodies they were
swept with such a destructive volley, that they again took shelter in
the darkness. At length, daylight appeared, when General Coffee
ordered a charge, which cleared the field. He was then directed to
advance on the encampment with four hundred men, and carry it by
storm. On his approach, however, he found it too strong for his force,
and retired. Jackson, attacked in return, was compelled to charge
repeatedly, before the savages finally took to flight. Many of their
bravest warriors fell in this short conflict; while, on the American
side, several valuable officers were badly wounded, among them General
Coffee, who, from the commencement to the close, was in the thickest
of the fight.
Notwithstanding his victory, Jackson prudently determined to retreat.
He had gained his object; for in drawing the attention of the Indians
to his own force, he had diverted it from that under Gen. Floyd.
Besides, his horses had been without forage for two days, and would
soon break down. He, therefore, buried the dead on the field where
they had fallen; and, on the 23d, began to retrace his footsteps.
Judging from the quietness of the Indians since the battle, he
suspected they were lurking in ambush ahead. Remembering also what an
excellent place there was for a surprise at the ford of Enotochopeo,
he sent men in advance to reconnoitre, who discovered another ford
some six hundred yards farther down the stream. Reaching this just at
evening, he encamped there all night, and the next morning commenced
crossing. He expected an attack while in the middle of the stream,
and, therefore, had his rear formed in order of battle. His
anticipations proved correct; for no sooner had a part of the army
reached the opposite bank, than an alarm-gun was heard in the rear. In
an instant, all was in commotion. The next moment, the forest
resounded with the war-whoop and yells of the savages, as they came
rushing on in great numbers. As they crowded on the militia, the
latter, with their officers, gave way in affright, and poured
pell-mell down the bank. Jackson was standing on the shore
superintending the crossing of his two pieces of artillery, when his
broken ranks came tumbling about him. Foremost among the fugitives was
Captain Stump; and, Jackson, enraged at the shameful disorder, aimed a
desperate blow at him with his sword, fully intending to cut him down.
One glance of his eye revealed the whole extent of the danger. But
for Gen. Carroll, who, with Capt. Quarles and twenty-five men, stood
nobly at bay, beating back with their deliberate volleys the hordes of
savages, the entire rear of the army would have been massacred. But,
over the din and tumult, Jackson's voice rang clear and steady as a
bugle-note, as he rapidly issued his orders. The gallant and intrepid
Coffee, roused by the tumult, raised himself from the litter on which
he lay wounded, and casting one glance on the panic, and another upon
the little band that stood like a rock embedded in the farther bank,
leaped to the ground, and with one bound landed in his saddle. The
next moment, his shout of encouragement broke on the ears of his
companions as he dashed forward to the conflict. Jackson looked up in
surprise as that pale face galloped up the bank, and then his rage at
the cowardice of the men gave way to the joy of the true hero when
another hero moves to his side, and he shouted, "We shall whip them
yet, my men! _the dead have risen, and come to aid us_." The company
of artillery followed, leaving Lieutenant Armstrong and a few men to
drag up the cannon. When one of the guns, at length, reached the top
of the bank, the rammer and picker were nowhere to be found. A man
instantly wrenched the bayonet from his musket, and rammed home the
cartridge with the stock, and picked it with his ramrod. Lieutenant
Armstrong fell beside his piece; but as he lay upon the ground, he
cried out, "My brave fellows, some of you must fall; but save the
cannon." Such heroism is always contagious; and the men soon rallied,
and charging home on the savages, turned them in flight on every side.
After burying his dead and caring for the wounded, Jackson resumed his
march; and, four days after, reached Fort Strother in safety. Nearly
one-eighth of his little army had been killed or wounded since he left
the post, and he now dismissed the remainder, who claimed that the
time of their enlistment was expired; and quietly waited till
sufficient reinforcements should arrive for him to undertake a
thorough campaign into the Creek country.
[Sidenote: Jan. 27.]
Four days after this, General Floyd again advancing into the Creek
country, was attacked just before daylight by a large body of Indians,
who rushed on him with terrible impetuosity. Determined on victory,
they advanced within thirty steps of the artillery, and would have
taken it but for the uncommon coolness and bravery of the subordinate
officers. At length a charge of bayonet sent them flying in all
directions. The cavalry then charged, and the horses rushing furiously
forward, to the sound of bugles, completed the terror of the savages,
who disappeared like frightened deer in the surrounding forests,
leaving thirty-seven dead on the field.
Reinforcements soon began to come in to Jackson; for his bravery and
success awakened confidence, and stimulated the ambition of thousands,
who were sure to win distinction under such a leader; and, by March,
he found himself at the head of four thousand militia and volunteers,
and a regiment of regular troops, together with several hundred
friendly Indians. While preparing to advance, mutiny again broke out
in the camp. He determined this time to make an example which should
deter others in future; and a private, being tried and convicted, was
shot. The spectacle was not lost on the soldiers, and nothing more was
heard of a revolt.
Having completed all his arrangements, Jackson, with four thousand
men, advanced, on the 16th of March, into the Creek country. At the
junction of the Cedar Creek with the Coosa River, he established Fort
Williams, and left a garrison. He then continued his march, with some
two thousand five hundred men, towards his previous battle-ground at
Emuckfaw. About five miles below it, in the bend of the Tallapoosa,
the Indians, a thousand strong, had entrenched themselves, determined
to give battle. They were on sacred ground; for all that tract between
the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, known as the "hickory ground," their
prophets had told them the white man could never conquer. This bend
contained about a hundred acres, around which the river wrapped
itself in the form of a horse-shoe, from whence it derived its name.
Across the neck leading to this open plain, the Indians had erected a
breastwork of logs, seven or eight feet high, and pierced it with a
double row of port-holes. Behind it, the ground rose into an
elevation; while still farther back, along the shore, lay the village,
in which were the women and children. Early in the morning of the
25th, Jackson ordered General Coffee to take the mounted riflemen
together with the friendly Indians and cross the river at a ford
below, and stretch around the bend, on the opposite bank from the
village, so as to prevent the fugitives from escaping. He then
advanced in front, and took up his position, and opened on the
breastwork with his light artillery. The cannonade was kept up for two
hours without producing any effect. In the mean time, the friendly
Indians attached to General Coffee's command had swam the river and
loosened a large number of canoes, which they brought back. Captain
Russell's company of spies immediately leaped into them, and, with the
friendly Indians, crossed over and set the village on fire, and with
loud shouts pressed towards the rear of the encampment. The Indians
returned the shout of defiance, and, with a courage and steadiness
they seldom exhibited, repelled every effort to advance.
The troops under Jackson heard the din of the conflict within, and
clamored loudly to be led to the assault. He, however, held them back,
and stood and listened. Discovering, at length, by the incessant
firing in a single place, that the Americans were making no progress,
he ordered the drums to beat the charge. A loud and thrilling shout
rolled along the American line, and, with levelled bayonets, the
excited ranks precipitated themselves on the breastwork. A withering
fire received them, the rifle-balls sweeping like a sudden gust of
sleet, in their very faces. Not an Indian flinched, and many were
pierced through the port-holes; while, in several instances, the
enemy's bullets were welded to the American bayonets. The swarthy
warriors looked grimly through the openings, as though impervious to
death. This, however, was of short duration, and soon the breastwork
was black with men, as they streamed up the sides. Major Montgomery
was the first who planted his foot on the top, but he had scarcely
waved his sword in triumph above his head, when he fell back upon his
companions, dead. A cry of vengeance swelled up from his followers,
and the next moment the troops rolled like a sudden inundation over
the barrier. It then became a hand-to-hand fight. The Indians refused
to yield, and with gleaming knives and tomahawks, and clubbed rifles
and muskets, closed in a death grapple with their foes. Civilization
gave the bold frontiersmen no advantage here--it was a personal
struggle with his swarthy rival for the mastery, where they both
claimed the right of possession. The wild yell of the savage blended
in with the stem curse of the Anglo-Saxon, while high and shrill over
the clangor and clash of arms, arose the shouts of the prophets, as
dancing frantically around their blazing dwellings, they continued
their strange incantations, still crying victory.
At length one was shot in the mouth, as if to give the lie to his
declarations. Pressed in front and rear, many at last turned and fled.
But the unerring rifle dropped them along the shore; while those who
endeavored to save themselves by swimming, sunk in mid-stream under
the deadly fire of Coffee's mounted men. The greater part, however,
fought and fell, face to face, with their foes. It was a long and
desperate struggle; not a soul asked for quarter, but turned, with a
last look of hate and defiance, on his conqueror. As the ranks grew
thin, it ceased to be a fight, and became a butchery. Driven at last
from the breastwork, the few surviving warriors took refuge in the
brush and timber on the hill. Wishing to spare their lives, Jackson
sent an interpreter to them, offering them pardon; but they proudly
refused it, and fired on the messenger. He then turned his cannon on
the spot, but failing to dislodge them, ordered the grass and brush to
be fired. Driven out by the flames, they ran for the river, but most
of them fell before they reached the water. On every side the crack of
the rifle told how many eyes were on the fugitives. Darkness at last
closed the scene, and still night, broken only by the cries of the
wounded, fell on the forest and river. Nearly eight hundred of the
Indians had fallen, five hundred and fifty-seven of whom lay stark and
stiff around and in that encampment. The loss of the Americans, in
killed and wounded, was about two hundred.[1]
[Footnote 1: An incident occurred after the battle, which presented in
striking contrast the two opposite natures of Jackson. An Indian
warrior, severely wounded, was brought to him, whom he placed at once
in the hands of the surgeon. While under the operation, the bold,
athletic warrior looked up, and asked Jackson in broken English, "Cure
'im, kill 'im again?" The latter replied, "No; on the contrary, he
should be well taken care of." He recovered, and Jackson pleased with
his noble bearing, sent him to his own house in Tennessee, and
afterwards had him taught a trade in Nashville, where he eventually
married and settled down in business. When that terrible ferocity,
which took entire possession of this strange, indomitable man in
battle, subsided away, the most gentle and tender emotions usurped its
place. The tiger and the lamb united in his single person.]
The tired soldier slept on the field of slaughter, around the
smouldering fires of the Indian dwellings. The next morning they sunk
the dead bodies of their companions in the river, to save them from
the scalping-knives of the savages, and then took up their backward
march to Fort William.
The original design of having the three armies from Tennessee,
Georgia, and Mississippi, meet in the centre of the Creek nation, and
thus crush it with one united effort, had never been carried out, and
Jackson now resolved alone to overrun and subdue the country. Issuing
a noble address to his troops, he, on the 7th of April, set out for
the Indian village of Hoithlowalle. But he met with no opposition; the
battle of Tohopeka had completely prostrated the tribe, and the war
was virtually at an end. He, however, scoured the country, the Indians
everywhere fleeing before the terror of his name. On his march, he
sent orders to Colonel Milton, who, with a strong force, was also
advancing into the Creek country, to send him provisions. The latter
returned a cavalier refusal. Jackson then sent a peremptory order, not
only to forward provisions, but to join him at once with his troops.
Colonel Milton, after reading the order, asked the bearer what sort of
a man Jackson was. "One," he replied, "who intends, when he gives an
order, to have it obeyed." The colonel concluded to obey, and soon
effected a junction with his troops. Jackson then resumed his march
along the banks of the Tallapoosa; but he had hardly set the leading
column in motion, when word was brought him that Colonel Milton's
brigade was unable to follow, as the wagon-horses had strayed away
during the night, and could not be found. Jackson immediately sent
him word to detail twenty men to each wagon. The astonished colonel
soon found horses sufficient to draw the wagons.
The enemy, however, did not make a stand, and either fled, or came in
voluntarily to tender their submission. The latter part of April,
General Pinckney arrived at Fort Jackson, and assumed the command, and
General Jackson returned to Tennessee, greeted with acclamations, and
covered with honors. In a few months peace was restored with all the
Southern tribes, and the machinations of England in that quarter
completely frustrated.
There is nothing in the history of our country more remarkable than
this campaign, and nothing illustrates the genius of this nation more
than it and the man who carried it triumphantly through. Rising from a
sick couch, he called the young men of every profession to rally to
the defence of their country. Placing himself at the head of the brave
but undisciplined bands that gathered at his bidding, he boldly
plunged into the untrodden wilderness. Unskilled in the art of war,
never having witnessed a battle since he was a boy, he did not
hesitate to assume the command of an army without discipline, and
without knowledge of the toils and difficulties before it. Yet with it
he crossed broad rivers, climbed pathless mountains, and penetrated
almost impassable swamps filled with crafty savages. More subtle and
more tireless than his foes, he thwarted all their schemes. With
famine on one side and an army in open mutiny on the other, he scorned
to yield to discouragement, and would not be forced by the apparently
insurmountable obstacles that opposed his progress, from his purpose.
By his constancy and more than Roman fortitude, compelling adversity
at length to relent, and quelling his rebellious troops by the terror
of his presence and his indomitable will, he at last, with a smile of
triumph, saw his columns winding over the consecrated grounds of the
savages. Soon his battle-shout was heard rising over the crackling of
burning villages. Kings, prophets, and chieftains fell before him; and
crushing towns, villages, and fortresses under his feet, he at last,
with one terrible blow, paralyzed the nation for ever.
Indian warfare, though exhibiting none of the grand movements of a
well-appointed battle, often calls out equally striking qualities, and
requires more promptness and self-possession, and greater mental
resources in a commander. Especially with such an army as Jackson had
under him, the task he accomplished was Herculean, and reveals a
character of vast strength and executiveness. That single man,
standing up alone in the heart of the wilderness, and boldly facing
his famine-struck and rebellious army, presents a scene partaking far
more of the moral sublime than Cromwell seizing a rebel from the very
midst of his murmuring band.
His gloomy isolation for a whole winter, with only a few devoted
followers, reveals a fixedness of purpose and grandeur of character
that no circumstances can affect. Inferior to the contagion of fear,
unaffected by general discouragement, equal in himself to every
emergency, he moves before us in this campaign the embodiment of the
noblest qualities that distinguish the American race.
Jackson, with his undisciplined, mutinous, and starving army in the
southern wilderness, does not seem to belong to the same race as Hull,
Dearborn, Wilkinson and Izard on the northern frontier. Contrast the
difficulties that surrounded him with those that embarrassed them, and
how pitiful do their apologies and excuses sound. Had he been in
Dearborn's place, the first campaign would have placed Canada in our
possession.
CHAPTER II.
Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex -- Arrival at
Valparaiso -- Capture of British whalers and letters of
marque -- Essex Junior -- Marquesas Islands -- Description
of the natives -- Madison Island -- War with the Happahs --
Invades the Typee territory -- Tedious march -- Beautiful
prospect -- Fights the natives and burns down their towns --
Sails for Valparaiso -- Blockaded by two English ships --
Attempts to escape -- Is attacked by both vessels -- His
gallant defence -- His surrender -- Returns home on parole
-- Insolence of an English Officer -- Porter escapes in an
open boat and lands on Long Island -- Enthusiastic reception
in New York.
An expedition similar in its unity to that of Jackson's, and hence
requiring a connected narrative, was carried forward by Captain Porter
during the year 1813 in the Pacific Ocean. When Commodore Bainbridge
sailed from Boston with the Constitution and Hornet, Porter, then
lying in the Delaware with the Essex, was ordered to join him at Port
Praya in St. Jago, or at Fernando Noronha. [Sidenote: Oct. 26, 1812.]
The capture of the Java by the Constitution, and of the Peacock by the
Hornet, caused a change in the plans of Bainbridge, and Captain
Porter, not finding him or the Hornet at either of the two places
mentioned, or off Frio, a rendezvous afterwards designated by the
Commodore, he was left to cruise where he thought best. [Sidenote:
Dec. 12.] While searching for these vessels, he captured an English
government packet with $55,000 in specie on board, and sent her home.
[Sidenote: Jan. 1813.]
At length, after revolving various schemes in his mind, he took the
bold resolution to go alone into the Pacific, where we had not a depôt
of any kind, or a place in which a disabled vessel could be refitted,
while all the neutral ports were under the influence of our enemy, and
make a dash at the British fishermen. The vessels employed in these
fisheries he knew were invariably supplied with naval stores, etc.,
and he resolved to live on them. This original and daring cruise was
no sooner decided upon than he turned his prow southward, and was soon
wrapt in the storms that sweep Cape Horn. [Sidenote: Jan. 28.] Again
and again beaten back, as if to deter him from his hazardous course,
he still held on, and at length, after a most tempestuous and toilsome
passage, took the breezes of the Pacific and stretched northward.
[Sidenote: March 5.] His provisions getting short, and being in want
of some new rigging, he determined to run into Valparaiso. On his
arrival at that port he found, to his astonishment and delight, that
Chili had declared herself free of Spain, and his reception was kind
and courteous. Here he learned, also, that Peru had sent out cruisers
against American shipping, which, together with British letters of
marque, threatened to make destructive work with our whalers. He
therefore remained only a week in port, and then steered northward. On
the 25th he captured one of the Peruvian cruisers, which, with an
English vessel, had seized two American whalers a few days before.[2]
Four days after, he recaptured the Barclay, one of the American
vessels taken by the Peruvians, and the British letter of marque.
Looking into Callao to see if any thing had arrived from Valparaiso
since he left, he cruised from island to island till the latter part
of April without making any prizes. At length, on the morning of the
29th, three sail were discerned and chase was immediately made for the
nearest, which soon struck. She was a British whaler with fourteen
hundred barrels of oil on board. It having fallen calm when the Essex
was yet eight miles distant from the other vessels, he was compelled
to resort to his boats to effect their capture. One of these, the
Georgiana, Captain Porter equipped as a cruiser, with sixteen guns,
and put her under the command of Lieutenant Downes, who soon started
on a cruise of his own.
[Footnote 2: The Peruvian Government supposed that Spain, as the ally
of England, would make common cause with her on this continent, and so
to be beforehand, fitted out cruisers against our commerce in the
Pacific.]
[Sidenote: June 24.]
These two vessels joined company again at Tumbez, the Essex in the
mean time having captured two large British vessels, and the Georgiana
three. The Atlantic, one of those taken by Porter, being a much larger
and faster ship than the Georgiana, Lieutenant Downes was transferred
to her, and she was christened Essex Junior. On the last day of June
this little fleet of nine sail put to sea, and on the 4th of July
fired a general salute with the enemy's powder. A few days after, the
Essex Junior parted company, steering for Valparaiso with all the
prizes but two in company. Porter continued his cruise with the
Georgiana and Greenwich, and on the 13th captured three more vessels.
The Greenwich behaved gallantly in the action, closing courageously
with the largest vessel, a cruiser, while the Essex was led away in
chase of the first. Porter soon after captured another whaler, when,
being joined by the Essex Junior, bringing information that the
Chilian government was assuming a more unfriendly attitude towards the
Americans, he resolved to proceed to the Marquesas to refit, and
return home. Having made the vessels of the enemy answer for a naval
depôt, he now sought the bay of an island inhabited by savages, where
unseen he could prepare to retrace his voyage of ten thousand miles.
He made the Marquesas Islands on the 23d of October. Winding among
them to find a hiding-place secure as possible against English war
vessels that he heard had been sent out to capture him, he at length
dropped anchor in the sequestered bay of Novaheevah and took
possession of it in the name of the United States, naming it Madison
Island. In a short time the native women came swimming off naked to
the ship in crowds, and as they climbed up the vessel's sides, the
sailors, astonished at the novel spectacle, threw them their
handkerchiefs to cover their persons. Though swarthy, many of them
possessed beautiful forms and handsome features. Apparently wholly
unconscious of those feelings of modesty which seem innate in the sex,
they received with pride the advances of the men, and in a short time
every petty officer had chosen his wife, and the long and tedious
confinement on ship-board was exchanged for unbridled license.
A year before, Porter had sailed from the United States alone, with
only a few months' provisions on board, and in the mean time had taken
thirteen vessels and four hundred prisoners. With but a single
imperfect chart to direct him, he had boldly threaded the islands of
the Pacific, and swept it of nearly all the enemy's ships. His journal
of this long cruise reads more like a romance than a logbook, and
seems to belong to that class of literature in which Robinson Crusoe
and Captain Kidd figure as heroes. That frigate dropping down the
Delaware in October, the autumn previous, and now riding at anchor,
with a large fleet about her, in a deserted bay amid the Marquesas
Islands, presents a striking contrast, and shows what a single brave,
energetic, and skillful officer can accomplish.
In a short time those quiet waters resounded with the hammer of the
workmen, and were filled with the stir and activity of a civilized
port.
The nations were at first friendly, but those occupying the valley
where Porter had landed being at war with another tribe, the Happahs,
they insisted that he should make common cause with them against their
enemies. This, at last, for the sake of peace, he was compelled to do,
and sent a party of sailors, under Lieutenant Downes, to assist them
in their invasion of the enemy's territory. The hostile tribe had
assembled to the number of three or four thousand, but Downes soon
scattered them and returned with five dead bodies, which his allies
brought back in triumph, slung on poles.
In the mean time Captain Porter built a small village, consisting of
several houses, a bakery, and rope-walk, and erected a fort which he
mounted with four guns.
At length the Typees, a warlike tribe, succeeded in exciting the
friendly tribes to hostilities, and a plan was rapidly maturing to
murder the American crews. Presents and requests to induce them to
maintain a peaceful attitude, only increased their arrogance, and
Porter at last resolved to make them feel his power. Accompanied by
thirty-five sailors he advanced into their country, but the natives
avoided a combat and retired into the mountain fastnesses. The next
day he took nearly his whole crew and boldly entered the mountains,
whose bald tops swarmed with thousands of savages. But to his
surprise, he suddenly came to a wall seven feet high flanked with
impenetrable thickets. Behind this the Typees made a bold stand, and
hurled stones and arrows against their assailants. The volleys of the
Americans produced but little effect, and Porter discovering at length
that his ammunition was nearly exhausted, sent Lieutenant Gamble to
the boats for more, while he, with only nineteen sailors, maintained
his position. On the return of Gamble it was thought best to retreat,
and the whole took up their backward march. The savages, elated with
their victory, pressed forward in pursuit, when Porter gave them a
volley which killed two and wounded several more. Coming to a river,
the Americans heard the snapping of slings in the thickets on the
bank, and immediately after, a shower of stones fell among them, one
of which fractured the leg of Lieutenant Downes. Weary and
disappointed, they at length reached the boats. Here they rested till
night, when they were again ordered forward. The moon shone bright as
this little column slowly and painfully climbed the heights, from
whose summits arose the yells and songs of the savages. As the party
advanced, the sterile region grew more dreary and broken, and the
prospect ahead more disheartening. Now wading foaming torrents, and
again creeping along dizzy precipices, the astonished sailors,
unaccustomed to such labors, became exhausted, and many dropped down
amid the rocks unable to proceed further. At length the summit, from
which the valley of the Typees could be seen, was reached. But in the
mean time the sky had become overcast, the moon was obscured, and the
guide declared it would be impossible to descend in the darkness. They
therefore laid down, where they were, to wait for morning.
Those American sailors reposing on the top of the Typee mountain, in
that remote and almost unknown region, presented a novel spectacle. An
impenetrable gloom hung over the valley beneath, the sky spread like a
pall above them, while the dull, heavy roar of the Pacific, as its
billows broke in the darkness far below them, added to the strangeness
and romance of the scene. At length the gathering storm burst, and the
rain fell in torrents. It was a tropical shower--one of those deluges
of the skies, and in a few moments the little band was flooded with
water. Porter, fearing the ammunition would all be spoiled, bade
every man protect it with the utmost care. The Typees, assembled in
the valley below to the number of four or five thousand, appeared to
entertain the same expectations, for they began to shout and beat
their drums in exultation.
At length the long wished for day dawned--the storm had ceased, and as
the light crept down the sides of the mountain, a scene of surpassing
beauty presented itself. A valley nine miles long and three broad, lay
spread out before them, inclosed on every side by high mountains. At
the farther extremity arose a lofty precipice, over whose brink a
torrent rushed in a flying leap, and falling in foam at the base,
formed a stream, which, after winding tranquilly through the green and
lovely valley, passed, by an opening in the mountains, into the
Pacific, that, far away, rolled and glittered in the early dawn. All
over this sequestered plain were scattered the breadfruit and cocoa
trees, while picturesque villages of bamboo dotted it in every
direction. Amid these, immense crowds of swarthy men were moving, and
animals grazing, giving life and animation to the strange and
beautiful panorama.
Firing a volley, to let the enemy know his powder was not destroyed,
Porter began the difficult descent. The tortuous course he was
compelled to pursue made the journey long and tedious, and that night
he encamped in a village of friendly natives. The next morning he
moved on the Typee towns. The natives at first closed bravely with
him, but frightened by the musketry they soon retreated, followed by
the sailors. Retiring from village to village, they at last took
refuge in a strong fortress, against which small arms could have no
effect. Porter then began the work of destruction, and soon nine
villages were wrapt in fire. As the flames and smoke rolled up from
the plain, he began his backward march to the ships. At sunset he
stood again on the mountain where he had reposed the night before, and
looked down on the valley, but it was now a scene of desolation. The
smoke curling slowly up from the ruins revealed where the Typee towns
had stood, while around the smouldering ashes the inhabitants were
gathered in consternation and despair.
Porter reached his boats in safety, having marched sixty miles in all.
The sailors, unaccustomed to such land duty, were completely broken
down with the fatigue and exposure.
This novel expedition succeeded in humbling the hostile tribes, and
Porter had no further trouble with them while he remained.
The burning of these villages furnished the English papers a subject
for the exercise of their philanthropy. An act of self-preservation by
which a few empty wigwams were destroyed, aroused the humanity of
those who could see no cause of complaint in the conflagration that
lighted up the Niagara river from Buffalo to the falls, and kept the
Chesapeake in a glow from burning farm-houses and villages.
[Sidenote: Dec. 12, 1813.]
Leaving behind him three prizes under the protection of the fort he
had erected, Porter set sail for Valparaiso, where he arrived the 12th
of January. Although it was evident that the sympathies of the Chilian
government had changed, and were now entirely with the English, he
determined to wait at that port for the Phoebe, an English ship, which
he understood had been sent out on purpose to capture him. She at
length arrived, but not alone--the Cherub, a sloop of war bearing her
company. These vessels bore flags with the mottoes on them "God and
our country--British sailors' best rights--traitors offend them."
Porter immediately hoisted at his mizen, "God, our country and
liberty; tyrants offend them." The Essex could doubtless have made
good her voyage home, but Porter in capturing merchantmen and whalers
had done nothing in his own view to distinguish himself, and he longed
to grapple with this English ship of war. But the vast superiority of
these two vessels to his own and the Essex Junior, forbade a combat
unless he was forced into it.
When the Phoebe, commanded by Captain Hillyar, came into port she
passed close to the Essex with her men at quarters. Porter hailed
her, saying the vessels would get foul, and requesting the officers in
command to keep off. The English captain declared he had no intention
of provoking an action, but his conduct arousing the suspicion of
Porter he summoned the boarders. In the mean time the English vessel
being taken aback, passed her bows directly over the decks of the
Essex, and she lay exposed to a raking broadside from the latter, and
was for the time completely at her mercy. There is scarcely a doubt
that Captain Hillyar had orders to attack the Essex wherever he found
her, even if in a neutral port, and if the positions of the two
vessels had been reversed he would not have hesitated to demolish the
American frigate. The whole proceeding justified Porter in such a
construction, and his broadsides should have anticipated those of the
enemy, which soon after left him a wreck.
The English ships having taken in supplies, cruised outside for six
weeks, completely blockading the Essex. Porter saw that his vessel
could outsail the enemy, but he was not anxious to escape. He wished
if possible, notwithstanding his inferiority in men and weight of
metal, to engage the Phoebe alone. In this Captain Hillyar would not
gratify him. Once Porter got within range and opened his fire on the
Phoebe, but her gallant commander, though his vessel was a thirty-six,
while the Essex was a thirty-two, and his crew mustered one hundred
more men, refused the challenge and dropped nearly three miles astern
to close with her consort, the Cherub. This enraged Porter, for
Hillyar had hove to off port, and fired a gun to windward, which could
be interpreted in no other way than as a challenge.
The former so understood it, and immediately got under way, when his
adversary retired. Hillyar afterwards declared that the gun to
windward was a signal to the Cherub. It was doubtless a ruse practiced
to decoy the Essex into a chase till she could be assailed by both
vessels at once. There can be only one of two explanations to
Hillyar's conduct in this affair; he either was afraid to meet the
American frigate, though the latter was inferior in force, or his
instructions were not to hazard a single engagement.
Finding that his adversary was determined to avoid him, unless he
could close with both his vessels at the same time, and hearing that
other British cruisers were on the way, Porter resolved to put to sea,
and by tempting Captain Hillyar in pursuit, give the Essex Junior, a
slow sailer, an opportunity to follow. So on the 28th of March the
wind blowing fresh, he stood out of port. For awhile every thing
promised a safe exit, and an open sea, where he would have defied the
enemy. But in doubling the Point of Angels to clear the harbor, a
squall struck the vessel, carrying away her main-top-mast, and with
it several men, who were drowned. Unable to go to sea in this crippled
condition, and unable also to beat back to his former anchorage, he
passed to the north-eastern side of the harbor and dropped his anchor
within three miles of the town, a mile and a half from the Castello
Viego, and close in shore. He was on neutral ground, as much so by the
law of nations, as if under the guns of the castle, and where, in the
same circumstances, at the present day, no nation on the globe would
dare fire into an American frigate; and yet Captain Hillyar moved down
on her with both his vessels, chose his position, and opened his
broadsides. Only one of two measures was therefore left to the
American commander--strike his flag at once, or fight his ship to the
last. To conquer he knew was impossible, still he could not give up
his vessel without an effort, and he sternly ordered the decks cleared
for action.
The two English vessels, although they had chosen their own position,
were in a short time so cut up by the deadly aim of the gunners of the
Essex that they hauled off for repairs.
The state of affairs having got wind, thousands of spectators
assembled on the surrounding heights to witness the combat. Porter's
situation was well nigh hopeless, but he was one of those few men whom
desperate circumstances only stimulate to greater exertions. Fortune,
as if envious of his long success, seemed determined to crush him. Yet
he resolved that what adverse fate got out of him, should be on terms
that would cover him with more glory than ordinary success could
possibly do.
Captain Hillyar having completed his repairs, again took his position
where the Essex could not bring a gun to bear. Porter finding himself
a mere target on the water, determined if possible to board the
Phoebe. But his sheets and halyards had been so shot away that not a
sail could be set, except the flying jib. Giving this to wind and
cutting his cable, he drove slowly down on his foes, and when he got
them within range of his carronades, opened a terrible fire. The
cannonade on both sides was incessant and awful. The Essex on fire,
almost a wreck, and swept by the broadsides of two vessels, still bore
steadily down to close, but the Cherub hauled off, while the Phoebe,
seeing the advantage she possessed with her long guns, when out of the
reach of carronades, kept edging away. It was a painful spectacle to
behold, that crippled, dismantled ship, bravely limping up to grapple
with her powerful adversary, and that adversary as slowly moving off
and pouring in the while a ceaseless, murderous fire. Hulled at almost
every shot, her decks ripped up and strewed with the dead, her guns
torn from their carriages and rendered useless, it was evident that
noble frigate could not be fought much longer. Still Porter would not
strike his flag, and he resolved to run his vessel ashore and blow her
up. Her head was turned towards the beach, and he had got within
musket-shot of it, when the wind suddenly veered and blew him back on
the Phoebe and under her raking broadsides. Foiled in his first
effort, he now for a moment hoped to get foul and board the enemy, but
she kept away, raking the Essex as she retired. The scene on board the
frigate at this time was horrible. The cock-pit was crowded with the
wounded--men by the dozens were mowed down at every discharge--fifteen
had successively fallen at one gun, and scarcely a quarter deck
officer was left standing. Amid this scene of carnage and desolation,
Porter moved with a knit brow and gloomy heart. As he looked at his
crippled condition and slaughtered crew, he felt that he must submit,
but when he turned his eye to the flag of his country, still
fluttering at the mizen, he could not give the order to strike it. The
sympathies of the thousands of spectators that covered the hill-top
were with him--as they ever are with the brave. The American consul
hastened to the governor of the city and claimed the protection of the
batteries for the Essex, but in vain. It had, no doubt, been all
arranged beforehand between the authorities and the British commander.
Every thing, even the elements of nature, seemed combined against
this single ship. As a last resort, Porter let go his sheet anchor,
which brought the head of his vessel round so that his broadsides
again bore. A gleam of hope lighted up for a moment the gloom that
hung over his prospects, and walking amid his bleeding crew, he
encouraged the few survivors to hold on. The broadsides of the two
vessels again thundered over the bay, telling with frightful effect on
both vessels. But this last forlorn hope was snatched from the fated
frigate--the hawser parted in the strain, and she drifted an
unmanageable wreck on the water--while, to complete the horror of the
scene, the flames burst from the hatchways and rolled away towards the
magazine. Finding that his doom was now inevitably sealed, for his
boats had all been shot away, Porter ordered those of his crew who
could swim to jump overboard and make for the shore, three-quarters of
a mile distant. Some reached it, while the remainder who made the
attempt were either drowned or picked up by the enemy's boats. He
then, with the few who preferred to share his fate, extinguished the
fire, and again worked the guns that could be brought to bear. It was,
however, the last feeble effort of a dying giant. The enemy could now
fire more leisurely, and the water being smooth, he soon made a
perfect riddle of the Essex. The crew at last entreated their
commander to surrender--the contest was hopeless--the cock-pit,
ward-room, steerage, and berth-deck could contain no more wounded, who
were constantly killed while under the surgeon's hand. Of the
carpenter's crew not one remained to stop the shot-holes, through
which the water was pouring in streams, and the entire vessel was a
wreck. Porter would have sunk with his flag flying, but for the number
of wounded who would thus perish with him. For their sakes he finally
consented to surrender, and ordered the officers of the different
divisions to be sent for, but to his amazement only one was left to
answer his call,[3] while out of two hundred and fifty-five men only
seventy-five were left fit for duty. This unexampled and murderous
combat had lasted nearly two hours and a half, and he gave the
melancholy order to lower the flag. The enemy not at first observing
it, kept up his fire. Porter, thinking it was his intention to give no
quarter, was about to hoist his flag again, and go down with it
flying, when the firing ceased.
[Footnote 3: This was Stephen Decatur M'Knight. Lieut. Wilmer, after
fighting gallantly, was knocked overboard and drowned. The other
officers were badly wounded, and one, Lieut. Cowell, died soon after.]
A ship was never fought more bravely or skilfully, and Porter, though
compelled to surrender, earned imperishable renown, and set an example
to our navy, which if followed, will ensure its success, and cover it
with glory.
Captain Hillyar's conduct after the victory, was distinguished by a
courtesy and delicacy rarely witnessed in English commanders at that
time. But he was blameworthy in attacking a ship in a neutral port,
and it would not take many such victories to ruin his reputation. The
whole transaction shows what little respect England paid to the laws
of neutrality. The national heart was exceedingly shocked at the
violation of those laws by Napoleon when he seized the Duke D'Enghien,
but she could give orders, the execution of which did not cause the
death of merely one man, but more than one hundred brave spirits, on
neutral territory. The authorities of Valparaiso were also guilty of a
base act in not defending the rights of their own port, and extending
the protection required by the laws of nations to the American vessel.
[Sidenote: 1814.]
The Essex Junior was transformed into a cartel, and the prisoners sent
in her to the United States, on parole. She arrived off Sandy Hook the
5th of July, and though provided with passports from Captain Hillyar,
to prevent a recapture, she was overhauled and detained by the British
ship Saturn. Captain Nash, the commander, at first treated Porter very
civilly, endorsed his passports, and allowed the vessel to proceed.
Standing on the same tack with the Essex, he kept her company for two
hours, when he ordered the former to heave to again, and her papers
brought on board for re-examination. Porter was indignant at this
proceeding, but he was told that his passport must not only go on
board the Saturn, but the vessel itself be detained. He remonstrated,
declaring that it was in direct violation of the contract entered into
with Captain Hillyar, and he should consider himself a prisoner of
Captain Nash's, and no longer on parole, and at the same time offered
to deliver up his sword. On being told that the vessel must remain
under the lee of the Saturn all night, he said, "then I am your
prisoner, and do not feel myself bound any longer by my agreement with
Captain Hillyar." He withdrew his parole at once, declaring he should
act as he saw fit. The English captain evidently suspected some Yankee
trick was at the bottom of the whole proceeding, and as it usually
happened during the war, suspicion was aroused at precisely the wrong
times. English vessels had been so often duped by Yankee shrewdness
that they were constantly on the alert, and hence to be safe, often
committed blunders of a grave character. Porter, whether treading the
quarter-deck of his own vessel or a prisoner of war, was not a man to
be trifled with, and as a British officer had treated him basely, he
determined to be free of the obligations that galled him, at all
hazards, and the next morning finding that he was off Long Island, and
that Captain Nash had no idea of releasing him, he ordered a boat
lowered, into which he jumped with an armed crew, and pushed off. As
he went down the vessel's side, he told Lieutenant Downs to say to
Captain Nash, "that he was now satisfied that _most British naval
officers were not only destitute of honor, but regardless of the honor
of each other_; that he was armed and should fight any force sent
against him, to the last, and if he met him again, it would be as an
enemy." Keeping the Essex Junior between him and the British vessel,
he got nearly out of gun-shot before he was discovered. The Saturn
immediately gave chase, but a fog suddenly rising, concealed the boat,
when Porter changed his course and eluded his pursuers. Lieutenant
Downs, taking advantage of the same fog endeavored to escape with his
vessel, but the Saturn suspecting his movements, opened her guns,
which brought him to. Porter heard the firing, and kept off in an
opposite direction, and by rowing and sailing, alternately, for nearly
sixty miles, in an open boat, at length reached Babylon, on Long
Island. The people there discredited his story. Suspecting he was an
English officer in disguise, they began to question him, and he was
compelled to show his commission before they would let him go. When
their doubts were at length removed, every attention was lavished upon
him, and he started for New York. His arrival was soon spread abroad,
and as the carriage that contained him entered the city the horses
were snatched away, and the people seizing it, dragged him through the
streets with huzzas and shouts of welcome.
Porter had lost his ship, but not his place in the heart of the
nation, nay he was deeply and forever fixed there. His cruise had been
a great triumph, notwithstanding its disastrous close. The boldness
and originality of its conception--the daring and gallant manner in
which he had carried it out--the spirit and desperation with which he
had fought his ship against a superior force, were themes of universal
eulogy, and endeared him to the American people.
CHAPTER III.
Plan of the third Campaign -- Attack on Sackett's Harbor --
Attack on Oswego -- Woolsey transports guns to Sackett's
Harbor -- Capture of the detachment sent against him --
Expedition against Mackinaw -- Death of Captain Holmes --
Complete failure of the expedition.
While Porter was slowly approaching our coast, on his return from the
Pacific, events on our northern frontier were assuming an entirely
different aspect from that which they had worn for the last two years.
In the spring, just before and after Congress adjourned, small
expeditions on both sides were set on foot; one, on our part, to
Mackinaw, to aid in carrying out Armstrong's plan for the summer
campaign. This, like all the previous plans looked to the same result,
the details being varied apparently for the sole purpose of appeasing
the people, who it was thought, would not allow a repetition of those
manoeuvres which had ended in such signal disgrace. It was therefore
proposed, first to humble the Indians in the north-west, by capturing
Mackinaw, and thus hold the key of that whole region, so valuable for
its fur trade, and then march an army from the east of Lake Erie to
Burlington Heights, and seize and fortify that position till the
co-operation of the Ontario fleet and the troops at Sackett's harbor
could be secured, when a rapid advance might be made on Kingston, and
after its reduction, on Montreal. The Secretary clung to the conquest
of Canada with a tenacity that deserved success, but this plan also
utterly failed, and the progress of the campaign brought about results
widely different from those anticipated. That part of it looking to
the seizure of Mackinaw, was placed under the direction of Colonel
Croghan and Major Holmes, with whom Captain Sinclair, recently
appointed to the command of the upper lakes, was to co-operate with a
portion of his fleet--the other portion to aid in the expedition
against Burlington Heights. Major Holmes had at first been appointed
by the Secretary to command the land forces, but Colonel Croghan,
stationed at Detroit, and senior officer during Colonel Butler's
absence, denied the right thus directly to appoint him, insisting that
the commission should go through his hands. A correspondence followed,
which delayed the expedition till the third of July. In the mean time,
a British force, under Colonel McDowell, had visited and reinforced
all the posts on the northern lakes, penetrating even beyond Mackinaw.
While Holmes and Sinclair were detained till Colonel Croghan and the
Secretary could settle a question of etiquette, the English, who had
again acquired the ascendancy on Lake Ontario, by building more ships,
made an attack on Sackett's Harbor. Being repulsed, Sir James Yeo then
sailed for Oswego, to destroy materials for ship building, etc., which
he supposed to be assembled there. He arrived on the 5th of May, and
began to bombard the place. The American garrison at the fort,
consisted of three hundred men under Colonel Mitchell, with five guns,
three of which were almost useless. The place contained at that time,
but five hundred inhabitants. The schooner Growler being in the river,
and exposed to certain capture, was sunk, and her cannon transferred
to the fort, situated on a high bank east of the town.
Finding that the bombardment produced no effect, a large body of
troops, under General Drummond, was sent forward to carry the fort by
storm. The fifteen barges that contained them were led on by
gun-boats, destined to cover the landing. These no sooner came within
range of the artillery on shore, than a spirited fire was opened on
them, repulsing them twice, and finally compelling the whole flotilla
to seek the shelter of the ships. The next day the fleet approached
nearer shore, and commenced a heavy cannonade which lasted three
hours. Under cover of it, General De Watteville landed two thousand
troops, and advanced in perfect order over the ground that intervened
between the water and the fort. The soldiers and marines of the
Growler fought bravely, but Colonel Mitchell seeing that resistance
was hopeless, retired, scourging the enemy as he withdrew, with
well-directed volleys, and strewing the ground with more than two
hundred dead and wounded. He fell back to Oswego Falls, where the
naval stores had all been removed, destroying the bridges as he
retired. Foiled in their attempt to get possession of the stores, the
British, after having raised the Growler, retired to Sackett's Harbor,
and blockaded it, resolving to intercept the supplies, guns, etc.,
that were ready to be sent forward. Lighter materials could be
transported by land, but the guns, cables, and anchors, &c., destined
for two vessels recently built at Sackett's Harbor, could reach there
only by water, from Oswego, whither they had been carried by way of
the Mohawk river, Woods' creek, Oneida lake, and the Oswego river.
Captain Woolsey, a brave, skillful and energetic officer, who had been
appointed to take charge of their transportation, caused a rumor to be
spread that he designed to effect it through Oneida lake. [Sidenote:
May 28.] But soon as the British fleet left Oswego, he dropped down
the river with fifteen boats, loaded with thirty-four cannon and ten
cables. Halting at Oswego till dark, he then pulled out into the
lake. A detachment of a hundred and thirty riflemen accompanied him,
while a body of Oneida Indians marched along the shore. The night was
dark and gloomy--the rain fell in torrents, drenching sailors and
soldiers to the skin, while the waves dashed over the boats, adding to
the discomforts and labors of the voyage. It was a long and tedious
pull along the scarcely visible shores, on which swayed and moaned an
unbroken forest.
The next day at sunrise the fleet of boats reached Big Salmon river,
with the exception of one, which kept on, under the pretence of going
direct to Sackett's Harbor, and fell into the hands of the blockading
squadron, giving it information of the approach of the others.
Woolsey, knowing that he could not run the blockade, had resolved to
land his guns at Big Sandy creek and transport them by land eight
miles distant, to Sackett's Harbor. Having reached the mouth of the
creek in safety, he ascended two miles and landed. In the mean time
Sir James Yeo had dispatched two gun-boats, with three cutters and a
gig, in search of him. Finding the fleet had ascended Big Sandy creek,
Captains Popham and Spilsbury, who commanded the expedition, followed
after. The soldiers and marines were landed a mile or more below where
Woolsey was unloading, and moved forward, keeping parallel with the
gun-boats, which incessantly probed the thickets, as they advanced,
with grape shot. Major Appling, who commanded the American riflemen,
placed them and his Indian allies in ambush about half a mile below
the American barges. Allowing the enemy to approach within close
range, he suddenly poured in a destructive volley, which so paralyzed
them that they threw down their arms and begged for quarter. All the
boats, officers, and men were taken, making a total loss of a hundred
and eighty-six men.
The guns were then carried across to Sackett's Harbor, and the new
ship Superior armed, which so strengthened Chauncey's force that Sir
James Yeo raised the blockade and sailed for the Canada shore.
[Sidenote: July 3.]
At last the expedition against Mackinaw got under way. Two war brigs,
the Lawrence and Niagara, together with several smaller vessels,
carrying in all nine hundred men, began slowly to traverse the inland
seas from Detroit to Mackinaw. Nothing but canoes and batteaux had
hitherto floated on those scarcely known waters, with the exception of
a single schooner or sloop, which made an annual solitary trip to the
extreme north-western posts to carry supplies. More than a thousand
miles from the ocean, and lifted nearly six hundred feet above it,
those vast seas rolled their waves through unbroken forests. This was
the first fleet that ever penetrated those solitudes, through which
roamed unscared beasts of prey, and from whose further margin
stretched away those immense prairies that go rolling up to the base
of the Rocky Mountains. Amid unknown rocks and shoals--feeling its way
along narrow channels--at one moment almost grazing the sand-bars with
its keels, and the next moment floating over water nearly a thousand
feet deep--now traversing groups of beautiful islands, and anon
skirting the bases of precipices, on whose summit waved forests that
had stood undisturbed since the birth of time--that little fleet crept
on towards its destination. Its progress was so slow that Colonel
McDowell, commanding at Mackinaw, had ample time to make preparations
for defence.
Captain Sinclair, on his arrival, refused to advance against the fort,
for its batteries looked down on his decks from a hundred feet in the
air. A land attack was therefore resolved upon and carried into
execution. [Sidenote: Aug. 4.] But the dense woods, filled with sharp
shooters, through which the troops were compelled to force their way,
rendered the movement a complete failure. Captain Holmes, a gallant
officer, was shot by an Indian boy. A black servant of Colonel Croghan
immediately covered the body with leaves, to prevent mutilation by the
Indians, and the next day it was recovered. The troops were
re-embarked, and the discomfitted fleet turned homeward. Overtaken by
a storm in Lake Huron, all their boats were destroyed, and the vessels
themselves narrowly escaped being wrecked. A detachment having
destroyed six months' supplies at the mouth of the Natewasaga river
destined for Mackinaw, two schooners were left to blockade the place.
[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] Mackinaw, thus cut off from all communication
with the provinces, would be starved out and compelled to surrender.
But to complete the disaster of this unfortunate enterprise, four
batteaux, with a fleet of small boats from Mackinaw, surprised and
captured one of the schooners, the Tigress. Lieutenant Woolsey then
took command of her, and the next morning, with American colors
flying, stood steadily down on the Scorpion until he ranged alongside,
when he fired all his guns at once, and running aboard, took the
unsuspecting vessel without a struggle.
Thus ended an expedition, romantic from the scenery through which it
passed, but comparatively useless in its results, and costing more
than it was worth, even if it had been successful.
CHAPTER IV.
Brown takes command of the army at Niagara -- Crosses the
river into Canada -- Battle of Chippewa -- Brilliant charge
of the Americans -- Desperate battle of Niagara -- Conduct
of Ripley -- The army ordered to Fort Erie -- General Gaines
takes command.
[Sidenote: July 3.]
On the same day the expedition to Mackinaw sailed from Detroit, the
army which had been concentrated at Buffalo during the winter, crossed
the Niagara, in its third campaign against Canada. Brown, who had been
made Brigadier-General for his gallant conduct at Sackett's Harbor,
was afterward promoted to the rank of Major-General and given the
command of the army destined to act on the Niagara frontier. Two
regular brigades, commanded by Scott and Ripley, and a brigade of
volunteers and militia, with a few Indians, under General Porter,
composed his force. He was directed to carry out that portion of the
Secretary's plan which looked to the possession and fortification of
Burlington Heights, previous to a descent on Kingston and Montreal.
First, he was to seize Fort Erie, risk a combat with the enemy at
Chippewa, menace Fort George, and then, if Chauncey's fleet could
co-operate with him, advance rapidly on Burlington.
The two regular brigades had been subjected for three months to a new
and most rigid discipline. The system of tactics hitherto in use, had
been handed down from the Revolution, and was not, therefore, adapted
to the improved mode of warfare. Scott, here, for the first time,
introduced the French system. He drilled the officers, and they, in
turn, the men. So severe and constant was this discipline, that, in
the short space of three months, these brigades became intelligent,
steady, and invincible as veterans.
[Sidenote: July 3.]
The preparations being completed, the army crossed the Niagara river,
and took Fort Erie without a struggle. The main British army, under
General Riall, lay at Chippewa, towards which Scott pressed, heading
the advance, with his brigade, chasing before him for sixteen miles, a
detachment commanded by the Marquis of Tweesdale, who said he could
not account for the ardor of the pursuit until he remembered it was
the 4th of July, our great anniversary. At dark the Marquis crossed
the Chippewa, behind which lay the British army. This river enters the
Niagara nearly at right angles. Two miles farther up, Street's Creek
joins the Niagara also, and behind it Gen. Brown drew up the American
forces. Those two miles of interval between the streams was an open
plain, skirted on one side by the Niagara river and on the other by a
forest.
In the morning Gen. Brown resolved to advance and attack the British
in their position. The latter had determined on a similar movement
against the Americans, and unbeknown to each other, the one prepared
to cross the bridge of Chippewa, and the other that of Street's Creek.
The battle commenced in the woods on the left, and an irregular fight
was kept up for a long time between Porter's brigade and the Canadian
militia stationed there. The latter were at length driven back to the
Chippewa, when General Riall advanced to their support. Before this
formidable array, the American militia, notwithstanding the noble
efforts of General Porter to steady their courage, broke and fled.
General Brown immediately hastened to the scene, merely saying to
Scott as he passed on, "The enemy is advancing, you will have a
fight." The latter, ignorant of the forward movement of Riall, had
just put his brigade in marching order to cross the creek for a drill
on the level plain beyond. But as the head of the column reached the
bank, he saw the British army drawn up in beautiful array in the open
field, on the farther side, while a battery of nine pieces stood in
point blank range of the bridge over which he was to cross. Swiftly
yet beautifully the corps of Scott swept over the bridge and deployed
under the steady fire of the battery. The first and second battalions
under Majors Leavenworth and McNeil, took position in front of the
left and centre of the enemy, while the third, under Jessup, obliqued
to the left to attack their right, stationed in the woods, and which
threatened to outflank the American line. It was a bright, hot July
afternoon, the dusty plain presented no obstacle behind which either
party could find shelter, and the march of the steady battalions over
its surface led on by bands of music, playing national airs, presented
one of those stirring scenes which make man forget the carnage that is
to follow. The heavy monotonous thunder of Niagara rolled on over the
discharges of artillery, while its clouds of spray rising from the
strife of waters, and glittering in the sunbeams, contrasted strangely
with the sulphurous clouds that heaved heavenward from the conflict of
men beneath.
Both armies halting, firing, and advancing in turn, continued to
approach until they stood within eighty yards of each other. Scott who
had been manoeuvering to get the two battalions of Leavenworth and
M'Neil in an oblique position to the British line, at length
succeeded, the two farther extremities being nearest the enemy. Thus
the American army stood like an obtuse triangle of which the British
line formed the base. While in this position, Scott, wishing to pass
from one extremity to the other and being in too great a hurry to go
back of the lines _around_ the triangle, cut directly across, taking
the cross fire of both armies, as he spurred in a fierce gallop
through the smoke. A loud cheer rolled along the American line as they
saw this daring act of their commander. Riding up to Towson's battery,
he cried out, "a little more to the left, captain, the enemy is
there." This gallant officer was standing amid his guns, enveloped in
smoke, and had not observed that the British had advanced so far that
his fire fell behind them. Instantly discovering his mistake, he
changed the direction of his two remaining pieces and poured a raking,
destructive fire through the enemy's ranks, blowing up an ammunition
wagon, which spread destruction on every side. At this critical
moment, Scott rode up to M'Neil's battalion, his face blazing with
excitement, and shouted, "The enemy say that we are good at long shot
but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon the Eleventh _instantly to
give the lie to that slander--Charge_."
Just as the order "charge," escaped his lips, came that destructive
fire from Towson's battery. The thunder of those guns at that critical
moment, was to Scott's young and excited heart like the shout of
victory, and rising in his stirrups and swinging his sword aloft, he
cried, "CHARGE, CHARGE THE RASCALS." With a high and ringing cheer,
that gallant battalion moved with leveled bayonets on the foe. Taking
the close and deadly volleys without shrinking--never for a moment
losing its firm formation, it struck the British line obliquely,
crumbling it to pieces, as it swept on and making awful havoc in its
passage.
Leavenworth did the same on the right with like success, while Jessup
in the woods, ignorant how the battle was going in the plain, but
finding himself outflanked, ordered his troops "to support arms and
advance." They cheerfully obeyed and in the face of a most deadly fire
charged home on the enemy, and obtaining a better position poured in
their volleys with tremendous effect. From the moment these charges
commenced, till the enemy fled, the field presented a frightful
spectacle. The two armies were in such close proximity, and the
volleys were so incessant and destructive, and the uproar so terrific
that orders could no longer be heard. But through his two aids
Lieutenants Worth and Watts, who galloped to and fro, and by their
presence and gestures transmitted his orders in the midst of the
hottest fire, Scott caused every movement to be executed with
precision, and not an error was committed from first to last.
The enemy fled over the Chippewa, tore up the bridge and retired to
his encampment.
The sun went down in blood and the loud voice of Niagara which had
been drowned in the roar of battle, sounded on as before, chaunting a
requiem for the gallant dead, while the moans of the wounded loaded
the air of the calm summer evening.
Nearly eight hundred killed and wounded, had been stretched on the
earth in that short battle, out of some four thousand, or one-fifth of
all engaged.[4] A bloodier battle, considering the numbers, was scarce
ever fought. The British having been taught to believe that the
American troops would give way in an open fight, and that the resort
to the bayonet was always the signal of victory to them, could not be
made to yield, until they were literally crushed under the headlong
charge of the Americans.
[Footnote 4: The British were 2100 strong. American troops actually
engaged, 1900.
British killed 138. Wounded and missing 365. Americans killed 68.
Wounded and missing 267.]
Gen. Brown, when he found that Scott had the whole British army on his
hands, hurried back to bring up Ripley's brigade; but Scott's
evolutions and advance had been so rapid, and his blow so sudden and
deadly, that the field was swept before he could arrive.
M'Neil's battalion had not a recruit in it, and Scott knew when he
called on them to give the lie to the slander, that American troops
could not stand the cold steel, that they would do it though every man
perished in his footsteps.
Maj. Leavenworth's battalion, however, embraced a few volunteers, and
among them a company of backwoodsmen, who joined the army at Buffalo a
few days before it was to cross the Niagara.
An incident illustrating their character, was told the writer's father
by Maj. Gen. Leavenworth himself. Although a battle was expected in a
few days, the Major resolved in the mean time to drill these men.
Having ordered them out for that purpose, he endeavored to apply the
manual; but to his surprise, found that they were ignorant of the most
common terms familiar even to untrained militia. While thus puzzled
with their awkwardness, Scott rode on the field, and in a sharp voice
asked Maj. Leavenworth if he could not manage those soldiers better.
The Major lifting his chapeau to the General, replied, that he wished
the General would try them himself. The latter rode forward and issued
his commands--but the backwoodsmen instead of obeying him, were
ignorant even of the military terms he used. After a few moments'
trial, he saw it was a hopeless task, and touching his chapeau in
return to Leavenworth, said, "Major, I leave you your men," and rode
off the field. The latter, finding that all attempts at drill during
the short interval that must elapse before a battle occurred, would
be useless, ordered them to their quarters. On the day of the battle
he placed them at one extremity of the line, where he thought they
would interfere the least with the manoeuvres of the rest of the
battalion. He said that during the engagement, this company occurred
to him, and he rode the whole length of his line to see what they were
about. They were where he had placed them, captain and all, obeying no
orders, except those to advance. Their ranks were open and out of all
line; but the soldiers were cool and collected as veterans. They had
thrown away their hats and coats, and besmeared with powder and smoke
were loading and firing, each for himself. They paid no attention to
the order to fire, for the idea of "shooting" till they had good aim
was preposterous. The thought of running had evidently never crossed
their minds. Fearless of danger, and accustomed to pick off squirrels
from the tops of the loftiest trees with their rifle-balls, they were
quietly doing what they were put there to perform, viz., kill men, and
Maj. Leavenworth said there was the most deadly work in the whole
line. Men fell like grass before the scythe. Not a shot was thrown
away--ten men were equal to a hundred firing in the ordinary way.
The American army rested but two days after the battle, and then
advanced over the Chippewa, Scott's brigade leading. The British
retreated to Burlington Heights, near the head of Lake Ontario.
Thither Brown resolved to follow them. But on the 25th, while the army
was resting, preparatory to the next day's battle, word was brought
that a thousand English troops had crossed the river to Lewistown, for
the purpose, evidently, of seizing our magazines at Fort Schlosser,
and the supplies, on the way to the American camp, from Buffalo. In
order to force them to return, Brown resolved immediately to threaten
the forts at the mouth of the Niagara river, and in twenty minutes,
Scott, with a detachment of twelve hundred men, was on the march. He
had proceeded but two miles, when he came in sight of a group of
British officers on horseback, evidently reconnoitering. The force to
which they belonged lay behind a strip of wood, which prevented him
from seeing it. Supposing it, however, to be the fragments of the army
he had so terribly shattered at Chippewa, he ordered the march to be
resumed. But as he cleared the road he saw before him an army of two
thousand men drawn up in order of battle. He paused a moment at this
unexpected sight, and his eye had an anxious look as it ran along his
little band. To retreat would endanger the reserve marching to his
relief, and destroy the confidence of the troops. Besides, Scott never
had, and never has since, learned _practically_, what the word
"retreat" meant. He determined, therefore, hazardous as it was, to
maintain the unequal contest till the other portion of the army
arrived. Despatching officers to General Brown with directions to ride
as for life, he gave the orders to advance. The sun, at this time, was
but half an hour high, and unobscured by a cloud, was going to his
lordly repose behind the forest that stood bathed in his departing
splendor. Near by, in full view, rolled the cataract, sending up its
incense towards heaven, and filling that summer evening with its voice
of thunder. The spray, as it floated inland, hovered over the American
army, and as the departing sunbeams struck it, a rainbow was formed,
which encircled the head of Scott's column like a halo--a symbol of
the wreath of glory that should adorn it forever.
The British, two thousand strong, were posted just below the Falls, on
a ridge at the head of Lundy's Lane. Their left was in the highway,
and separated from the main body by an interval of two hundred yards,
covered with brushwood, etc. General Drummond had landed a short time
before with reinforcements, which were rapidly marching up to the aid
of Riall. Scott, however, would not turn his back on the enemy, and
gallantly led in person his little army into the fire. His bearing and
words inspired confidence, and officers and men forgot the odds that
were against them. Major Jessup was ordered to fling himself in the
interval, between the British centre and left, and turn the latter.
In the mean time the enemy discovering that he outflanked the
Americans on the left, advanced a battalion to take them in rear. The
brave McNeil stopped, with one terrible blow, its progress, though his
own battalion was dreadfully shattered by it. Jessup had succeeded in
his movement, and having gained the enemy's rear, charged back through
his line, captured the commanding general, Riall, with his whole
staff. When this was told to Scott, he announced it to the army, and
three loud cheers rang over the field. A destructive discharge from
the English battery of seven pieces, replied.
It was night now, and a serene moon rose over the scene, but its light
struggled in vain to pierce the smoke that curtained in the
combatants. The flashes from the battery that crowned the heights, and
from the infantry below, alone revealed where they were struggling.
Scott's regiments were soon all reduced to skeletons--a fourth of the
whole brigade had fallen in the unequal conflict. The English battery
of twenty-four-pounders and howitzers, sent destruction through his
ranks. He, however, refused to yield a foot of ground, and heading
almost every charge in person, moved with such gay spirits and
reckless courage through the deadliest fire, that the troops caught
the infection. But the British batteries, now augmented to nine guns,
made frightful havoc in his uncovered brigade. Towson's few pieces
being necessarily placed so much lower, could produce but little
effect, while the enemy's twenty-four-pounders, loaded with grape,
swept the entire field. The eleventh and twenty-second regiments,
deprived of their commanders, and destitute of ammunition were
withdrawn, and Leavenworth, with the gallant ninth, was compelled to
withstand the whole shock of battle. With such energy and superior
numbers did the British press upon this single regiment, that it
appeared amid the darkness to be enveloped in fire. Its destruction
seemed inevitable, and in a short time one-half of its number lay
stretched on the field. Leavenworth sent to Scott, informing him of
his desperate condition. The latter soon came up on a gallop, when
Leavenworth pointing to the bleeding fragment of his regiment, said,
"Your rule for retreating is fulfilled," referring to Scott's maxim
that a regiment might retreat when every third man was killed. Scott,
however, answered buoyantly, cheered up the men and officers by
promising victory, and spurring where the balls fell thickest,
animated them by his daring courage and chivalric bearing to still
greater efforts. Still he could not but see that his case was getting
desperate, and unless aid arrived soon, he must retreat. Only five or
six hundred of the twelve hundred he at sunset had led into battle,
remained to him.
General Brown, however, was hurrying to the rescue. The incessant
cannonading convinced him that Scott had a heavy force on his hands;
and without waiting the arrival of a messenger, he directed Ripley to
move forward with the second brigade. Meeting Scott's dispatch on the
way, he learned how desperate the battle was, and immediately directed
Porter with the volunteers to hurry on after Ripley, while he, in
advance of all, hastened to the field of action. The constant and
heavy explosions of artillery, rising over the roar of the cataract,
announced to the excited soldiers the danger of their comrades; and no
sooner were they wheeled into marching order than they started on a
trot along the road. Lieut. Riddle, who was off on a scouring
expedition in the country, paused as he heard the thunder of cannon,
and waiting for no dispatch, gave orders to march, and his men moving
at the _charge de pas_, soon came with shouts on the field. At length
the head of Ripley's column emerged into view, sending joy through
those gallant regiments, and a loud huzza rolled along their line.
Brown, seeing that Scott's brigade was exhausted, ordered Ripley to
form in advance of it. In the mean time, Drummond had arrived on the
field with reinforcements, swelling the English army to four thousand
men. At this moment there was a lull in the battle, and both armies
prepared for a decisive blow. It was evident the deadly battery on
the heights must be carried, or the field be lost, and Brown, turning
to Colonel Miller, asked him if he could take it. "I WILL TRY, sir,"
was the brief reply of the fearless soldier, as he coolly scanned the
frowning heights. Placing himself at the head of the 21st regiment, he
prepared to ascend the hill. Major M'Farland with the 23d was to
support him. Not having arrived on the field till after dark, he was
ignorant of the formation of the ground or the best point from which
to commence the ascent. Scott, who had fought over almost every foot
of it since sunset, offered to pilot him. Passing by an old church and
grave-yard, that showed dimly in the moonlight, he took the column to
the proper place, and then returned to his post. In close order and
dead silence the two regiments then moved straight for the battery. It
was by their heavy muffled tread that General Drummond first detected
their approach. But the moment he caught the dark outlines of the
swiftly advancing columns he turned his battery upon them with
terrific effect. The twenty-third staggered under the discharge, but
soon rallied and pressed forward. Smitten again, it reeled backward
down the hill; but the twenty-first never faltered. "Close up, steady,
men!" rung from the lips of their leader, and taking the loads of
grape-shot unshrinkingly into their bosoms, they marched sternly on,
their bayonets gleaming red in the fire that rolled in streams down
the slope. Every explosion revealed the whole hill and that dark
column winding through flame and smoke up its sides. At length it came
within range of musketry, when the carnage became awful; but still on
through the sheets of flame, over their dead comrades, this invincible
regiment held its stubborn course towards the very vortex of the
battle. The English gazed with amazement on its steady advance. No
hesitation marked its movement; closing up its ranks after every
discharge, it kept on its terrible way, till at last it stood face to
face with the murderous battery, and within a few steps of the
gunners. A sudden flash, a deafening explosion, and then "_Close up,
steady, charge_," rung out from the sulphurous cloud that rolled over
the shattered regiment, and the next instant it swept with a thrilling
shout over guns, gunners, and all. The struggle became at once close
and fierce,--bayonet crossed bayonet,--weapon clashed against
weapon,--but nothing could resist that determined onset. The British
were driven down the hill, and the remnants of that gallant regiment,
together with M'Farland's, which had again rallied, formed between the
guns and the foe. Ripley then moved his brigade to the top of the
hill, in order to keep what had been so heroically won.
Stung with rage and mortification at this unexpected defeat, Drummond
resolved to retake that height and his guns, cost what it might; and
soon the tread of his advancing columns was heard ascending the slope.
With their uniforms glittering in the bright moonlight, the excited
troops came on at the charge step, until within twenty yards of the
American line, when they halted and delivered their fire. "Charge"
then ran along the line, but the order had scarcely pealed on the
night air before they were shattered and torn into fragments by the
sudden and destructive volley of the Americans. Rallying, however,
they returned to the attack, and for twenty minutes the conflict
around those guns was indescribably awful and murderous. No sounds of
music drowned the death-cry; the struggle was too close and fatal.
There were only the fierce tramp and the clash of steel,--the stifled
cry and wavering to and fro of men in a death-grapple. At length the
British broke, and disappeared in the darkness. General Ripley again
formed his line, while Scott, who had succeeded in getting a single
battalion out of the fragments of his whole brigade, was ordered to
the top of the hill.
In about half an hour the sound of the returning enemy was again
heard. Smote by the same fierce fire, Drummond with a desperate effort
threw his entire strength on the centre of the American line. But
there stood the gallant twenty-first, whose resistless charge had
first swept the hill; and where they had conquered they could not
yield. Scott in the mean time led his column so as to take the enemy
in flank and rear, and but for a sudden volley from a concealed body
of the enemy, cutting his command in two, would have finished the
battle with a blow. As it was, he charged again and again, with
resistless energy, and the disordered ranks of the British for the
second time rolled back and were lost in the gloom. Here Scott's last
horse fell under him, and he moved on foot amid his battalion. Jessup
was also severely wounded, yet there he stood amid the darkness and
carnage, cheering on his men. The soldiers vied with the officers in
heroic daring and patient suffering. Many would call out for muskets
as they had none, or for cartridges as theirs were all gone. On every
side from pallid lips and prostrate bleeding forms came the reply,
"take mine, and mine, my gun is in good order, and my cartridge box is
full." There was scarcely an officer at this time unwounded; yet, one
and all refused to yield the command while they could keep their feet.
Jessup's flag was riddled with balls, and as a sergeant waved it amid
a storm of bullets, the staff was severed in three places in his hand.
Turning to his commander he exclaimed as he took up the fragments,
"Look, colonel, how they have cut us." The next moment a ball passed
through his body. But he still kept his feet, and still waved his
mutilated standard, until faint with loss of blood he sunk on the
field.
After being driven the second time down the hill, the enemy for a
while ceased their efforts, and sudden silence fell on the two armies,
broken only by the groans of the wounded and dying. The scene, and the
hour, combined to render that hill-top a strange and fearful object in
the darkness. On one side lay a wilderness, on the other rolled the
cataract, whose solemn anthem could again be heard pealing on through
the night. Leaning on their heated guns, that gallant band stood
bleeding amid the wreck it had made. It was midnight--the stars looked
quietly down from the sky--the summer wind swept softly by, and nature
was breathing long and peacefully. But all over that hill lay the
brave dead, and adown its sides in every direction the blood of men
was rippling. Nothing but skeletons of regiments remained, yet calm
and stern were the words spoken there in the darkness. "_Close up the
ranks_," were the heroic orders that still fell on the shattered
battalions, and they closed with the same firm presence and dauntless
hearts as before.
It was thought that the British would make no further attempts to
recover their guns, but reinforcements having arrived from Fort
George, they, after an hour's repose and refreshment, prepared for a
final assault. Our troops had all this time stood to their arms, and
faint with hunger, thirst, and fatigue, seemed unequal to a third
conflict against a fresh force. But as they heard the enemy advancing,
they forgot their weariness and met the onset firmly as before. But
this time the ranks of the enemy did not yield under the fire that
smote them--they pressed steadily forward, and delivering their
volleys as they advanced, at length stood on the summit of the hill,
and breast to breast with the American line. The conflict now became
fearful and more like the murderous hand-to-hand fights of old than a
modern battle. Battalions on both sides were forced back till the
ranks became mingled. Bayonet crossed bayonet and men lay transfixed
side by side. Hindman, whose artillery had been from the first served
with surpassing skill, found the enemy amid his guns, across which he
was compelled to fight them.
The firing gave way to the clash of steel, the blazing hill-top
subsided into gloom, out of which the sound of this nocturnal combat
arose in strange and wild confusion.
Scott, charging like fire at the head of his exhausted battalion,
received another severe wound which prostrated him--but his last words
to Leavenworth were, "_Charge again!_" "Charge again, Leavenworth!" he
cried, as they bore him, apparently dying, from that fierce foughten
field. General Brown, supported on his horse, and suffering from a
severe wound, was slowly led away. Jesup was bleeding from several
wounds; every regimental officer in Scott's brigade was killed or
wounded. _Only one soldier out of every four stood up unhurt._ The
annals of war rarely reveal such a slaughter in a single brigade, but
it is rarer still a brigade has such a leader. The ghosts of regiments
alone remained, yet before these the veterans of England were at last
compelled to flee, and betake themselves to the darkness for safety.
Sullen, mortified, and badly wounded, Drummond was carried from the
field, and all farther attempts to take the hill were abandoned. The
Americans, however, kept watch and ward, around the cannon that had
cost them so great a sacrifice, till near daybreak, when orders were
received to retire to camp. No water could be obtained on the heights,
and the troops wanted repose. Through the want of drag-ropes and
horses, the cannon were left behind. This was a sad drawback to the
victory, and Major Ripley should have detailed some men to have taken
at least the lightest ones away. Trophies won with the blood of so
many brave men were worth more effort than he put forth to secure
them.
A bloodier battle, in proportion to the numbers engaged, was never
fought than this. Nearly eight hundred Americans, and as many English,
had fallen on and around that single hill. It was literally loaded
with the slain. Seventy-six officers were either killed or wounded
out of our army of some three thousand men, and not a general on
either side remained unwounded.
Among the slain was young Captain Hull, son of the General who had so
shamefully capitulated at Detroit. This young officer, who had fought
one duel in defence of his father's honor, and struggled in vain to
shake off the sense of disgrace that clung to him, told a friend at
the opening of the battle, that he had resolved to fling away a life
which had become insupportable. When the conflict was done, he was
found stark and stiff where the dead lay thickest.
It would be impossible to relate all the deeds of daring and gallantry
which distinguished this bloody engagement. Almost every man was a
hero, and from that hour England felt a respect for our arms she had
never before entertained. The navy had established its reputation
forever, and now the army challenged the respect of the world. The
timorous and the ignorant had been swept away with the old martinets,
and the true genius of the country was shining forth in her young men,
who, while they did not despise the past, took lessons of the present.
Scott at this time, but twenty-eight years of age, had shown to the
country what a single youth, fired with patriotism, confident in his
resources, and daring in spirit, could accomplish. His brigade, it is
true, had been almost annihilated, and nothing apparently been
gained; but those err much who graduate the results of a battle by the
number taken prisoners or the territory acquired. Moral power is
always more valuable than physical, and though we are forever
demanding something tangible to show as the reward of such a great
effort and sacrifice, yet to gain a national position is more
important than to take an army. Thus while many think that the battle
of Niagara, though gallantly fought, was a barren one, and furnished
no compensation for the great slaughter that characterized it, yet
there has been none since that of Bunker Hill, more important to this
country, and which, directly and indirectly, has more affected its
interests. It probably saved more battles than if, by stratagem or
superior force, General Brown had succeeded in capturing Drummond's
entire army.
Brown and Scott both being disabled, the command devolved on Major
Ripley, who retired behind the Chippewa, and the defences recently
erected by the British. Scott's last wound was a severe one. A musket
ball had shattered his shoulder dreadfully, and for a long time it was
extremely doubtful whether he ever recovered. He suffered excruciating
pain from it, and it was September before he ventured to travel, and
then slowly and with great care. His progress was a constant ovation.
The young and wounded chieftain was hailed on his passage with salvos
of artillery, and shouts of freemen. He arrived at Princeton on
commencement day of Nassau Hall. The professors immediately sent a
delegation requesting his attendance at the church. Leaning on the arm
of his gallant aid-de-camp, Worth--his arm in a sling, and his
countenance haggard and worn from his long suffering and confinement,
the tall young warrior slowly moved up the aisle, and with great
difficulty ascended the steps to the stage. At first sight of the
invalid, looking so unlike the dashing, fearless commander, a murmur
of sympathy ran through the house, the next moment there went up a
shout that shook the building to its foundations.
Passing on to Baltimore, then threatened with an attack by the
British, he finally so far recovered as to take command in the middle
of October of the tenth military district, and established his
headquarters at Washington City.
General Brown was indignant with General Ripley for leaving the cannon
behind, and peremptorily ordered him to reoccupy the heights of
Lundy's Lane at daybreak, and remain there till the dead were buried
and the guns removed. He however did not commence his march till after
sunrise, and then being told that the enemy were in possession of the
heights, he halted, and finally retired to Chippewa.
This officer, on whom the command had devolved since the battle,
seemed from the first opposed to all the movements. When the army was
about to cross the river against Riall, he not only strongly condemned
the proceeding, but even offered his resignation, which was not
accepted. By his neglect to remove, or attempt to remove the captured
guns, which had cost such a heroic struggle, and his after delay to
return and take them, it would seem as if he were offended that such
brilliant results had followed a course which had met with his strong
disapprobation. He was an able officer and a brave man, yet his heart
was not in this movement of Brown's, consequently he did not go into
combat with the enthusiasm of Scott, Miller, and Jesup, nor feel so
elated by the victory.
Soon after, a rumor was spread that Drummond was marching on the
American camp. Although occupying a strong position, Ripley
immediately ordered a retreat to the ferry opposite Black Rock, with
the intention of recrossing the river into the limits of the United
States. This sudden determination, founded on a mere rumor, can hardly
be accounted for, except on the supposition that he could not be
contented till the army was back to the place it started from, and
whence it never would have moved had he been commander-in-chief. He
was prevented from carrying out this purpose by the earnest
remonstrances of McCrea and Wood, who scorned to flee so ignominiously
from the field of their fame. Ripley then left the army and hastened
to Buffalo, to obtain Brown's consent to the measure. The wounded hero
was enraged that the commanding officer should contemplate such a
virtual confession of defeat--rebuked him, and ordered the division to
remain at Fort Erie, and fortify and defend it to the last extremity.
He also sent a dispatch to General Gaines, commanding at Sackett's
Harbor, to repair at once to the army at Fort Erie, and take command
of both.
CHAPTER V.
Siege of Fort Erie -- Assault and repulse of the British --
Brown takes command -- Resolves to destroy the enemy's works
by a sortie -- Opposed by his officers -- The sortie --
Anecdote of General Porter -- Retreat of Drummond -- Conduct
of Izard.
[Sidenote: Aug. 3.]
Gaines, immediately on his arrival at Fort Erie, set about
strengthening the works, so that when Drummond actually invested it,
he found it in a good state of defence.
In the mean time, the English commander hearing that Brown's magazine
had been removed from Schlosser to Buffalo, dispatched Colonel Tucker
to the latter place, with twelve hundred men, to seize them. But Brown
anticipating such a movement, had stationed Major Morgan, with a
battalion of riflemen, at Black Rock, to meet and repel it. This
vigilant and gallant officer thwarted every attempt of the British to
advance, and compelled them reluctantly to return.
A night expedition sent to cut out three small American vessels at
anchor in the river, succeeded better--two of them being surprised and
captured.
[Sidenote: Aug. 13.]
Having completed his trenches and erected his batteries, Drummond, on
the 13th, opened his fire. Shot and shells were incessantly hurled all
that and the succeeding day against the fort without materially
weakening its strength. The British commander then resolved to carry
it by assault. The garrison was composed of about 2500 men, while the
force under Drummond was estimated at four thousand. As night
approached, and the cannonading ceased, General Gaines observed a
commotion in the British camp, and suspecting that preparations were
making for an assault, ordered one third of the garrison to stand to
their arms all night.
Drummond had resolved to assail the works in three separate strong
columns, of from twelve to fifteen hundred men each, moving
simultaneously against three separate points. One against Towson's
battery, occupying the extreme north-east angle of the fortifications;
a second against the right, and the third full on the fort itself. The
day had been stormy, with torrents of rain deluging the earth, and the
night set in dark and dismal. The watch fires of the enemy's camp
could scarcely be discerned through the gloom, and dead silence
reigned over both encampments. Hour after hour wore slowly away, till
midnight came, and yet no sound but the moaning of the wind as it
swept over the water and the woods, broke the stillness.
At length about two o'clock in the morning, the muffled tread of the
advancing columns was distinctly heard in the darkness. The one
directed against Towson's batteries near the water, came first within
range, when a tremendous fire opened upon it. In an instant, the whole
scenery was lit up by the blaze of the guns, which threw also a red
and baleful light over the serried ranks, pressing with fixed bayonets
to the assault. Although Towson kept his batteries in fierce play, and
sheets of flame went rolling on the doomed column, it kept resolutely
on till it approached within ten feet of the infantry. But its
strength was exhausted; it could stagger on no farther; and first
wavering, it then halted, and finally recoiled. Rallied to a second
attack, it advanced with loud shouts, only to be smitten with the same
overwhelming fire. Encouraged to a third effort, it swerved from the
direct assault, and endeavored to wade around an abattis of loose
brushwood, that stretched from the batteries to the shore. Pressing
forward, up to their arm-pits in the water, some few reached the
enclosure within, but only to perish, and the remainder retreated. The
column advancing against the right battery, commanded by Douglas, was
allowed to approach within fifty yards, when such a rapid and wasting
fire was poured upon it, that it recoiled in confusion. The central
column, led on by Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, pressed firmly and
rapidly through the fire of Hindman's guns, applied their ladders to
the walls, and began to mount. Repulsed, they made a second and third
desperate effort to reach the parapets, but without success. Stubborn
and brave, this officer was resolved not to abandon the attempt, and
favored by the darkness, led his troops quietly along the ditch to a
point where no assault was expected, and applying his ladders, mounted
to the top of one of the bastions. Enraged by his successive repulses,
and maddened by the slaughter of his troops, this intrepid but brutal
leader no sooner gained the parapet than he cried out "give the damned
Yankees no quarter." The latter instantly closed on him with a
sternness and ferocity that made that single bastion swim in blood.
Carrying out his own inhuman orders, Drummond shot Lieutenant
Macdonough as he lay prostrate and wounded, bravely beating off the
soldiers who refused his cry for quarter. The next instant the
barbarous act was avenged by a soldier, who shot him dead in his
footsteps. The troops, however, courageously maintained the advantage
they had gained, till daylight, when some cartridges in a stone
building near by, catching fire by accident, exploded with a
tremendous concussion, lifting the platform of the bastion from its
bed, and hurling the shattered and affrighted occupants of it to the
ground. A disorderly flight followed, and the British troops withdrew
to their encampment.
General Drummond, however, did not abandon the siege, but sat down
before the fort with a stronger determination than ever to reduce it.
General Gaines being wounded by a shell, now retired to Buffalo,
leaving Ripley in command. When the state of affairs was reported to
General Brown, he saw at once that another and heavier assault would
soon be made, and though his wounds were yet unhealed, repaired to the
fort, and assumed the command. [Sidenote: Sept. 2.] The brave Jessup
with his arm in a sling, and still suffering from his wounds,
volunteered his services, and every preparation was made for a
desperate resistance.
Owing to the sickness of Commodore Chauncey the co-operation expected
from the fleet had entirely failed, so that the brilliant victories of
the summer, on the Niagara frontier, had not advanced the original
plan of the campaign, and the American army instead of marching to
Burlington Heights, and thence on Kingston, was compelled to stand on
the defensive. Commodore Chauncey was a gallant and skillful
commander, and had reduced his crews to a state of discipline rarely
equaled. But he lay sick in Sackett's Harbor till the 2d of July, and
then was carried on board his ship. His arrival near [Sidenote: Aug.
5.] Niagara was too late to be of any service to the army shut up in
Fort Erie, and he cruised in the lake, blockading Yeo in Kingston, and
striving in vain to bring him to an engagement. It was no fault of his
that Ontario was not signalized by a victory equal to that on Lake
Erie.
General Izard, after sitting on the court-martial of Wilkinson, was
appointed to take command of the northern army at Plattsburg.
[Sidenote: May 4.] He was an accomplished officer, but like his
predecessors, too much of a martinet to effect any thing with
irregular troops. He fell a victim to military rules, which, in the
changing, disorderly army under his command, could not be applied. Cut
adrift from them he knew not what to do. A thoroughly-educated
officer, he became a slave to his knowledge, and without the genius to
create resources, or skill to mould and apply the materials that
surrounded him, he made matters worse by grumbling. Quarrels, duels
among the officers, desertion, the mixture of black and white
recruits, misrule, and bad appointments, discouraged and disgusted him
with the army he commanded. In the mean time, the arrival of fresh
troops from England rendered some movement necessary, and Izard, at
the head of seven thousand men, such as they were, was ordered to
Sackett's Harbor, to plan an attack on Kingston, if circumstances
rendered it prudent, or succor General Brown. Leaving three thousand
under Macomb, at Plattsburgh, he with the remainder took up his sulky
and discontented march for Sackett's Harbor, where he arrived on the
13th of September. Three days previously, Brown wrote him from Fort
Erie, imploring his assistance, saying unless it was rendered
speedily, the fate of his army was doubtful. The accounts, however,
which he received of the dilatory manner in which Izard marched, and
of the feelings he entertained, left him no hope from that quarter,
and he said, "We must, if saved, do the business ourselves." He fell
back on himself, and his little band resolved to defend the fort to
the last, against whatever force might be brought against it. Weak
from his wounds, he yet toiled day and night to strengthen his
defences. Neither his sickness, nor the torrents of rain that fell
almost daily, could deter him from exertion, and by his energy and
bearing he diffused an air of cheerfulness and confidence amid and
around those entrenchments, which are always the forerunner of great
deeds. Having ascertained what formidable preparations were making to
press the siege, he resolved not to wait their completion, but with
one bold sortie overwhelm the batteries of the enemy and destroy their
works. A council of officers was called, to whom he submitted his
plans. Their decision was adverse, which chagrined him much; he was
also annoyed to find himself opposed by his next in command. He,
nevertheless, was determined to carry out his purpose, and said to
Jesup, "We must keep our own counsels; the impression must be made
that we are done with the affair; _but as sure as there is a God in
heaven the enemy shall be attacked in his works, and beaten, too, as
soon as all the volunteers shall have passed over_." These were
rapidly coming in at the call and efforts of General Porter, who was
worthy to command them, and with whom they knew no disgrace could
occur.
General Brown having made himself perfectly acquainted with the
position and designs of the enemy, quietly matured his own plans.
Drummond's army, four thousand strong, was encamped in an open field
surrounded by a forest, two miles distant from his entrenchments in
order to be out of reach of the American cannon. One-third of this
force protected the artillerists in completing their batteries and the
workmen in digging trenches and erecting blockhouses.
Two batteries were at length completed and a third nearly
finished--all mounted with heavy cannon, one being a sixty-eight
pounder--before the sortie was made. For four days previous Brown
tried the effect of his artillery upon these works, and during the
whole of the thirteenth and fourteenth a tremendous cannonading was
kept up in the midst of a pelting storm. The two succeeding days the
firing continued at intervals, interspersed with conflicts between the
pickets. [Sidenote: Sept. 17.] The next day at noon, an hour when such
an attempt would be least expected, Brown resolved to make a sortie
with nearly the whole of his disposable force, capture the batteries,
spike the cannon, and overwhelm the brigade in attendance before the
other two brigades, two miles distant, could arrive. The assault was
to be made in two columns. The left composed of Porter's volunteers,
Gibson's riflemen, a portion of the 1st and 23rd regiments of regulars
and some Indians was directed to march along a road which had been cut
through the woods, while the gallant Miller with the first brigade was
to move swiftly along a deep ravine that run between the first and
second batteries of the enemy, and the moment he heard the crack of
Porter's rifles, mount the ravine and storm the batteries. It was a
dark and sombre day--the clouds flew low, sending down at intervals
torrents of rain and giving to the whole scenery a sour and gloomy
aspect. But everything being ready, Brown, about ten o'clock, opened
with his artillery, and for two hours it was an incessant blaze and
roar all along the line of the entrenchments. Its cessation was the
signal for the two columns to advance. General Ripley commanded the
reserve, while Jesup with a hundred and fifty men held the fort
itself. Porter with his column surprised and overthrew the enemy's
pickets, and began to pour in rapid volleys on his flank. Miller no
sooner heard the welcome sound than he gave the order to charge. In an
instant the brigade was on the top of the bank, and without giving the
enemy time to recover from their surprise the troops dashed forward on
the entrenchments in front of them. Though assailed so unexpectedly
and suddenly the enemy fought gallantly to save the works which had
cost them so much labor. The contest was fierce but short. Carrying
battery after battery at the point of the bayonet, the victorious
Americans pressed fiercely on till all the batteries and the labor of
nearly fifty days were completely in their possession. Ripley then
hastened up with the reserve to form a line for the protection of the
troops while the work of destruction went on; while executing the
movement he was wounded in the neck and carried back to the fort.
In the mean time, Drummond aroused by the first volleys, had hurried
off reinforcements on a run. Pressing forward through the rain, urged
to their utmost speed by the officers pointing forward with their
swords to the scene of action, they, nevertheless, arrived too late to
prevent the disaster. In an hour the conflict was over; yet in that
short space of time the work of demolition had been completed. In the
midst of incessant volleys and shouts and the rallying beat of the
drum, heavy explosions shook the field and magazines and block houses
one after another blew up, spreading ruin and desolation around.
In that short combat more than four hundred of the enemy had fallen,
and nearly as many more been taken prisoners. The American loss was
three hundred killed and wounded; among the slain, however, were the
gallant Wood and Gibson. The bayonet and sabre were wielded with
terrible effect in the strife.
General Porter in passing with a few men from one detachment to
another, during the engagement, suddenly found himself in the presence
of sixty or eighty British soldiers drawn up in the woods, and
apparently not knowing what to do. Thinking it better to put a bold
face on the matter, he ran up to them, exclaiming, "That's right, my
good fellows, surrender and we will take care of you!" and taking the
musket out of the hands of the first and flinging it on the ground he
pushed him towards the fort. In this way he went nearly through the
first line, the men advancing unarmed in front. At length a soldier
stepped back and presented the point of his bayonet to General
Porter's breast, and demanded _his_ surrender. A scuffle ensued, and
some officers coming to the rescue of the soldier Porter was flung
upon the ground and his hand cut with a sword. On recovering his feet
he saw himself surrounded by twenty or thirty men, shouting to him to
surrender. He very coolly told _them_ to surrender, and declared if
they fired a gun he would have the whole put to the sword. In the mean
time a company of American riflemen coming up, fired upon the English.
After a short fight the whole were killed or taken prisoners.
Having accomplished his work, Brown retired in good order within the
fort. Drummond, weakened by nearly one-fourth of his force, and the
labors of so long a time being destroyed, raised the siege and retired
behind the Chippewa.
General Izard, who was to fall on his rear, did not reach Lewistown
till the 5th of October. [Sidenote: Oct. 14.] At length, forming a
junction with Brown's troops, he moved forward, and sat down before
Drummond encamped, behind the Chippewa. His army, six thousand strong,
was deemed sufficiently large to capture the enemy, and this event was
confidently expected to crown the Canadian campaign. [Sidenote: Oct.
21.] But after some faint demonstrations, not worth recording, he
seven days after retired to Black Rock, preparatory to winter
quarters. Although pressed by the Secretary of War to attack the
enemy, he declined, and having spent the summer in grumbling, went
sullenly into winter quarters, thus closing the list of inefficient
commanders, which threatened for awhile never to become complete.
While Izard was thus ending a military career in which he had gathered
no laurels, Macomb, whom he had left at Plattsburgh, doomed as he said
to destruction, had crowned himself with honor, and shed lustre on the
American arms.
CHAPTER VI.
British plan of invading our sea ports -- Arrival of
reinforcements -- Barney's flotilla -- Landing of the enemy
under Ross -- Doubt and alarm of the inhabitants -- Advance
of the British -- Destruction of the Navy Yard -- Battle of
Bladensburg -- Flight of the President and his Cabinet --
Burning and sacking of Washington -- Mrs. Madison's conduct
during the day and night -- Cockburn's brutality -- Sudden
explosion -- A hurricane -- Flight of the British -- State
of the army -- Character of this outrage -- Rejoicings in
England -- Mortification of our ambassadors at Ghent --
Mistake of the English -- Parker's expedition -- Colonel
Reed's defence -- The English army advance on Baltimore --
Death of Ross -- Bombardment of Fort McHenry -- "The star
spangled banner" -- Retreat of the British, and joy of the
citizens of Baltimore.
But while these events were passing around Niagara--in the interval
between the assault on Fort Erie by Drummond and the successful sortie
of Brown--a calamity overtook the country, which fortunately resulted
in producing more harmony of feeling among the people, and
strengthened materially the administration. Washington was taken and
sacked by the enemy. The overthrow of Napoleon and his banishment to
Elba, enabled England to send over more than 30,000 troops, which were
soon on our sea-board or in the British Provinces. New England no
longer remained excluded from the blockade, and the whole Atlantic
sea-board was locked up by British cruisers. The Constitution, the
year previous, after a cruise in which she captured but a single war
schooner and a few merchantmen, was chased into Marble Head, from
whence she escaped to Boston. The blockading of our other large ships,
and the destruction of the Essex about the same time in the Bay of
Valparaiso, had left us without a frigate at sea. The Adams, a sloop
of twenty-eight guns, was the largest cruiser we had afloat.
Hitherto the enemy had been content with blockading our seaports, and
making descents on small towns in their neighborhood, but as the
summer advanced, rumors arrived of the preparation of a large force,
destined to strike a heavy blow at some of our most important cities.
To meet this new danger the President addressed a circular letter to
the States, calling on them to hold in readiness 93,500 militia.
Fearing that Washington or Baltimore might be the points at which the
enemy would first strike, the tenth military district was erected, as
mentioned before, and General Winder, recently released by exchange,
given the command of it.
The whole sea-board was in a state of alarm--even Massachusetts caught
the infection, and preparations were immediately made to defend her
seaports and protect her coast. The militia of the different States
were called out--Governor Barbour, of Virginia, garrisoned Norfolk,
the intrenching tools were busy night and day around Baltimore,
Providence voted money for fortifications, Portland shipmasters formed
themselves into a company of sea fencibles, and gun-boats were
collected in New York and all the great northern ports. The notes of
alarm and preparation rang along the coast from Maine to Louisiana,
and before the mysterious shadow of the gigantic coming evil, party
animosities sunk into insignificance. Released from her Continental
struggle, England, with her fleets that had conquered at Aboukir,
Trafalgar, and Copenhagen, and her troops fresh from the fields of
Spain, had resolved to fall upon us in her power, and crushing city
after city, leave us at length without a seaport, from the Merrimack
to the Mississippi. Even the brilliant victories of Chippewa and
Lundy's Lane could not dispel the terror inspired by this gathering of
her energies.
But the first serious demonstration was made in the Chesapeake. To act
against the fleet a flotilla was placed there under the charge of
Captain Barney, a bold and skillful officer. Constantly on the alert,
he would dash suddenly out of the Patuxent River, and roughly handling
the light vessels of the enemy that approached the shallow waters,
compel them to take refuge under the guns of the frigates. But the
river at length became blockaded, and the flotilla was compelled to
run up into Leonard's Creek. From the 1st to the 26th of June,
frequent skirmishes took place, in which Captain Barney exhibited a
daring, skill and prudence combined, which proved him to be an able
commander. On the 26th he attacked the British vessels in the river,
and after a sharp cannonade of two hours, drove them into the bay, and
broke up the blockade.
[Sidenote: Aug. 14.]
At length Admiral Cochrane arrived from Bermuda, in an eighty gun
ship, bringing with him three thousand troops, commanded by General
Ross. Entering the Chesapeake he joined Rear Admiral Cockburn, who by
this timely reinforcement found himself in command of twenty-three
vessels of war. This imposing fleet stood slowly up the waters of the
Chesapeake, sending consternation among the inhabitants of Washington
and Baltimore. [Sidenote: Aug. 21.] Cockburn, designed by nature for a
freebooter, was admirably fitted for the work he had designed to do.
Landing four thousand five hundred troops at Benedict, he began to
advance up the Potomac. Barney, acting under instructions he had
received, immediately took four hundred men and fell back to the Wood
Yard, where he joined what was called the army. He had left five or
six men in each boat, to blow them up, should the enemy advance. That
night, about one o'clock, the President, with the Secretaries of War
and Navy, visited Winder's camp, and next morning reviewed the troops.
The camp was in confusion. Citizens and soldiers intermingled--each
giving his opinion of the course to be pursued--disordered ranks and
loud and fierce talking--the utter absence of the quiet demeanor and
military precision characteristic of a regular army, gave to the one
assembled there the appearance of a motley crowd on a gala day.
General Smith and Barney, however, seemed to understand themselves,
and were anxious to advance and attack the enemy.
At the first appearance of the fleet Winder had sent off for the
militia, but none had yet arrived. Six hundred from Virginia were
reported close at hand--fourteen hundred from near Baltimore had
reached Bladensburg, whither, also, was marching a picked regiment
from the city itself, led by Pinckney, recently our Embassador to
England. The whole country was filled with excited men, hurrying on
foot or on horseback from one army and place to another--some without
arms and others in citizens' dress, with only swords or pistols. The
President and Cabinet were also in the saddle, riding by night and
day, yet all without definite object. Rumor had swelled the invading
force to twelve thousand men, but whether its destination was
Washington, Baltimore, or Annapolis, no one could tell.
While affairs were in this excited, disorderly state around
Washington, great uncertainty reigned in the British camp. It was a
hot day when the troops landed, and the sight of neat farm-houses,
rich fields, and green pastures, seemed to increase the lassitude
occasioned by their long confinement on ship-board, rather than
invigorate them, and it required the exercise of rigid authority and
unceasing care to keep them from straggling away to the cool shelter
of trees. Weighed down with their knapsacks and three days'
provisions, and sixty rounds of ball cartridge--without cavalry, and
with only one six-pounder and two three-pounders drawn by a hundred
seamen, this army of invasion took up its slow and cautious march
inland on Sunday afternoon, and reached Nottingham that night.
[Sidenote: Aug. 21.] They found the village wholly deserted--not a
soul was left behind, while the bread remaining in the ovens, the
furniture standing just as it had last been used, showed that the
flight had been sudden and the panic complete.
At this time the object of the expedition was the destruction of
Barney's flotilla, which had so harassed and injured the lighter
vessels of the fleet.
Next morning at eight o'clock the army took up its line of March, and
soon entered a cool, refreshing forest. But they had traversed scarce
half its extent, when Ross was filled with anxiety and alarm by
frequent and loud explosions, like the booming of heavy artillery, in
the distance. Officers were immediately hurried off to ascertain the
cause, who soon returned with the welcome and unexpected intelligence
that the Americans were blowing up their own flotilla.
The first and chief object of the invasion being secured, Ross halted
his column at Marlborough, only ten miles from Nottingham, and sent
for Cockburn, who, with a flotilla, was advancing up the river "_pari
passu_," to advise with him what course to pursue. The admiral
proposed to march on Washington. To this Ross at first objected, for
to pierce a country of which he was ignorant fifty miles, with no
cavalry or heavy artillery, seemed a rash undertaking, especially
when, in a military point of view, success would accomplish
comparatively nothing. Cockburn, however, who had been on the coast
longer, and through informants residing in the city, had become
acquainted with its defenceless state, persuaded him that its capture
would be easy, and the results glorious. The taking of a nation's
capital certainly seemed no mean exploit, while the heavy ransom the
government would doubtless pay to save its public buildings, would
compensate Cockburn for lack of prize money at sea.
It was not, however, till next noon that the army, preceded by a
company of a hundred blacks, composed of fugitive slaves, began to
advance. After making a few miles, it halted for the night.
The Secretary of War had insisted from the first that Washington was
not the point threatened, and still adhered to that opinion. He could
not conceive that an experienced commander would select as the first
object of attack a town of some nine hundred houses, scattered over a
surface of three miles, and destitute of wealth, while the opulent
cities of Baltimore and Annapolis lay so near. This, too, was the
opinion of many others, creating great confusion, and preventing the
selection of strong positions, where successful stands could have been
made.
While the British were thus slowly advancing, General Winder was
riding hither and thither, now making a reconnoissance in person, now
posting to Washington to rouse the Secretary of War out of his
lethargy, or hurrying on foot back again to his army, doing every
thing but restoring tranquillity and order. Confusion in the
camp--disorder in the ranks--consternation among the inhabitants, and
gloom and doubt in the cabinet, combined to render the three days the
British were marching on Washington, a scene of extraordinary
excitement and misdirected efforts.
[Sidenote: Aug. 24.]
At length, videttes and scouts, coming in quick succession, announced
that the British army was approaching Bladensburg, where General
Stansbury, with the Baltimore militia, was encamped. There was not a
breath of air, and the column staggered on through a cloud of dust,
and under a sweltering August sun. The soldiers, exhausted, reeled
from the ranks and fell by the road side, while many others could
scarcely drag their weary limbs along. The American troops were busy
cooking their dinner when the drums beat to arms, announcing the
approach of this much dreaded army.
When the news reached Winder, he immediately transmitted an order to
Stansbury to give battle where he was, and hastened thither with the
main army, arriving just before the action commenced. Barney, who had
been stationed with five hundred men at the bridge over the eastern
branch of the Potomac, with directions to blow it up should the enemy
approach by that route, no sooner heard of his advance on Bladensburg,
than he earnestly requested to repair thither with his brave seamen.
He chafed under the inaction to which he was doomed, talking in a
boisterous manner, half to himself and half to others, lashing the
generals with the bluntness and truth of a sailor, saying, loud
enough to be heard by the President and his cabinet standing near, it
was absurd to leave him there with five hundred men to blow up a
bridge which any "d----d corporal could better do with five." At
length permission was given him to join the army, when he leaped on a
horse, and ordering his seamen to follow, galloped to Bladensburg. The
advance was already engaged, and he immediately sent back to his men
to hurry up, and soon the brave and panting fellows appeared on a trot
and took their stand beside their commander. The President and his
cabinet galloped thither also, but retired at the commencement of the
action, not before, however, Monroe, Secretary of State, had tried his
hand at military evolutions, and altered the order of battle.
Instead of taking advantage of patches of woods, thickets, etc., where
inexperienced militia would have fought well, this heterogeneous army
of five or six thousand men was arranged in the form of a semi-circle
on the slope that makes up westward from the eastern branch of the
Potomac, here a shallow stream and crossed by a wooden bridge. The
British, supposing of course, that the position was chosen because it
commanded a narrow bridge, the passage of which is always so difficult
in the face of batteries, never dreamed the river could be forded, and
therefore never attempted it. Ross, who from the top of the highest
house in the neighborhood surveyed the American army, was disconcerted
at the formidable appearance it presented--posted on such a commanding
eminence with heavy artillery,--and would doubtless have retreated but
for the greater danger of a retrogade movement with his exhausted
troops.
The American army was arranged in three lines like regiments on a
parade, connected by the guns that could pour no cross fire on the
assailing column. The latter advancing steadily, throwing Congreve
rockets as they approached, so shook the courage of the militia that
it required but the levelled gleaming bayonet to scatter them like
sheep over the field. Many of the officers were brave men and strove
to arrest the panic, but in vain. Pinckney with a broken arm rode
leisurely out of the battle, his heart filled with rage and
mortification at the poltroonry of those under his command.
The details of the engagement are useless--there was a show of
resistance and some well sustained firing for awhile; but the whole
battle, so far as it can be called one, was fought by Barney. He had
planted four guns, among them an eighteen pounder, so as to sweep the
main road, and quietly sat beside them on his bay horse, allowing the
column to come within close range before he gave orders to fire. The
first terrible discharge cleared the road. Three times the British
endeavored to advance in front, and as often were swept to destruction
by that battery. At length they were compelled to abandon the attempt,
and taking shelter under a ravine filed off to the right and left and
assailed Barney in flank and rear. Driving easily before them the
regiments whose duty it was to protect the artillery, they moved
swiftly forward. Barney's horse had been shot under him and he
himself, prostrated by a wound, lay stretched in the road. Seeing that
the battle was lost, he bade his seamen cut their way through the
enemy and escape. Reluctant at first to obey him, they at last fled,
and their gallant commander was taken prisoner. A few such determined
men would have saved Washington from the flames.
The six hundred Virginians who had hastened to the rescue never joined
the army at all. Having arrived without arms, they slept in the House
of Representatives all night and were not equipped next day till the
battle was over.
The _retreat_ became a wild and shameful flight. No other stand was
made, and the fugitive army fled unpursued in squads hither and
thither. It was a regular stampede. The fields and roads were covered
with a broken and flying multitude. President, secretaries of war and
navy, attorney-general and all were borne away in the headlong
torrent; and though the enemy had no cavalry to pursue, and the
infantry were too tired to follow up their success, the panic was so
complete and ridiculous that our troops never stopped their flight
except when compelled to pause from sheer exhaustion. Fatigue, not the
interval they had put between themselves and the enemy, arrested their
footsteps. Only fifty or sixty had been killed on our side, while the
British had lost several hundred, a large portion of whom fell under
the murderous discharges of Barney's battery.
After the shouts and derision of the enemy had subsided with the
disappearance of the last fugitive over the hills, the tired army
instead of advancing to Washington reposed on the field of battle.
Winder endeavored to rally the troops at the capital for another
defence, but not a sufficient number could be found to make a stand,
and with curses and oaths the rabble rout streamed along the road to
Georgetown, presenting a picture of demoralization and insubordination
that formed a fit counterpart to their poltroonry.
The first arrival of the fugitives, officers and citizens, riding
pell-mell through the streets, carried consternation into the city,
and the inhabitants, some on foot, some in carts or carriages, rushed
forth, and streaming on after the frightened militia completed the
turbulence of the scene.
Cockburn and Ross leaving the main army to repose itself, took a
body-guard and rode into Washington. No resistance was offered--a
single shot only was fired, which killed the horse of General Ross.
The house from which it issued was formerly occupied by Mr. Gallatin.
In a few moments it was in flames. Halting in front of the capitol,
they fired a volley at the edifice and took possession of it in the
name of the king.
The troops were then marched in, and entering the Hall of
Representatives, piled together chairs, desks and whatever was
combustible, and applied the torch. The flames passing from room to
room, soon wrapped the noble library, and bursting forth from the
windows leaped to the roof, enveloping the whole edifice in fire and
illuminating the country for miles around. The house of Washington and
other buildings were also set on fire. The remaining British force,
lighted by the ruddy glow that illumined the landscape and the road
along which they were marching, entered the city to assist in the work
of destruction. In the mean time, the navy-yard was set on fire by
order of the secretary of war, mingling its flames and explosions with
the light and roar of the burning capitol. The gallant officer in
command of it had offered to defend it, but was refused permission.
Whether the refusal was discreet or not, one thing is certain, the
enemy could have accomplished no more than the destruction of the
materials collected there, and it was not worth while to save them the
labor.
The capitol being in flames, Ross and Cockburn led their troops along
Pennsylvania Avenue to the President's house, a mile distant, and soon
the blazing pile beaconed back to the burning capitol. The Treasury
building swelled the conflagration, and by the light of the flames
Cockburn and Ross sat down to supper at the house of Mrs. Suter, whom
they had compelled to furnish it. Pillage and devastation moved side
by side through the streets, while to give still greater terror and
sublimity to the scene, a heavy thunder storm burst over the city.
From the lurid bosom of the cloud leaped flashes brighter than the
flames below, followed by crashes that drowned the roar and tumult
which swelled up from the thronged streets, making the night wild and
appalling as the last day of time.
To bring the day's work to a fitting close, Cockburn, while the
heavens and surrounding country were still ruddy with the flames,
entered a brothel and spent in lust and riot a night begun in
incendiarism and pillage.
[Illustration: Burning of Washington.]
While these things were transpiring in the city, the President and his
Cabinet were fleeing into Virginia. During the battle of
Bladensburg, Mrs. Madison had sat in the Presidential mansion,
listening to the roar of cannon in the distance, and anxiously
sweeping the road, with her spy-glass, to catch the first approach of
her husband, but saw instead, "groups of military, wandering in all
directions, as if there was a lack of arms or of spirit, to fight for
their own firesides." A carriage stood waiting at the door, filled
with plate and other valuables, ready to leave at a moment's warning.
The Mayor of the city waited on her, urging her to depart, but she
bravely refused, saying she would not stir till she heard from her
husband. At length a note from him, in pencil-marks, arrived, bidding
her flee. Still delaying, till she could detach a portrait of
Washington, by Stuart, from the wall, her friends remonstrated with
her. Finding it would take too long to unscrew the painting from the
walls, she seized a carving-knife, and cutting the canvas out, hurried
away. At Georgetown she met her husband, who, with his Cabinet, in
trepidation and alarm, was en route for Virginia. Just as the flames
were kindling in the capitol, the President, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Rush, Mr.
Mason, and Carroll, were assembled on the shores of the Potomac, where
but one little boat could be found to transport them over. Desponding
and sad, they were rowed across in the gloom, a part at a time, and
mounting their horses, rode hurriedly and sadly away. Mrs. Madison
returned towards Georgetown, accompanied by nine troopers, and stopped
ten miles and a half from the town. Trembling from the anxiety and
fright of the day--separated from her husband, now a fugitive in the
darkness--oppressed with fears and gloomy forebodings, she sat down by
an open window, and through the tears that streamed from her eyes,
gazed forth on the flames of the burning city, and listened with
palpitating heart to the muffled shouts and tumult that rose in the
distance.
Before daylight, she, with her lady companions, started for a place of
rendezvous appointed by her husband, sixteen miles from Georgetown.
The 25th of August dawned gloomily over the smouldering city, and the
red sun, as he rolled into view, looked on a scene of devastation and
ruin. From their drunken orgies, negroes and soldiers crawled forth to
the light of day, roused by the reveille from the hill of the capitol,
and the morning gun that sent its echoes through the sultry air.
Rising from his debauch, Cockburn sallied forth to new deeds of shame.
The War office, and other public offices, among them the building of
the National Intelligencer, were set on fire, and the pillage and riot
of the preceding day again sent terror through the city. The gallant
admiral seemed refreshed rather than enervated by the plunder,
conflagration and debauch of the night that had passed, and brilliant
and witty as the day before, "was merry in his grotesque rambles about
Washington, mounted on a white, uncurried, long switch-tail brood
mare, followed by a black foal, neighing after its dam, in which
caricature of horsemanship that harlequin of havoc, paraded the
streets, and laughed at the terrified women imploring him not to
destroy their homes. "Never fear," said he, "you shall be much safer
under my administration than Madison's." "Be sure," said he to those
who were destroying the types of the National Intelligencer, "that all
the C's are demolished, so that the rascals can no longer abuse my
name as they have done."[5]
[Footnote 5: Vide Ingersoll, vol. II, page 189.]
In the midst of this wanton destruction and barbarian licentiousness,
two events occurred calculated to sober even a more brutal man than
he. A detachment had been sent to destroy two rope-walks, at a place
called Greenleaf's point, a short distance from the city. After they
were burned, an officer threw the torch with which the buildings had
been lighted, into a dry well near by. But this well had been made for
a long time the repository of useless shells, cartridges and
gunpowder. The unextinguished torch ignited this subterranean
magazine, which exploded with a violence that shook the earth, and
sent dismembered bodies and limbs, mingled with fragments of iron,
and dust and smoke, heavenward together. When it cleared away, nearly
a hundred officers and men were seen strewed around, some killed,
others presenting torn, misshapen masses of human flesh. The sad
procession, carrying the mutilated and dead back to the city, had
scarcely reached it before the heavens became dark as twilight, and
that ominous silence which always betokens some dreadful convulsion of
nature fell on the earth. The air was still, and the burning dwellings
around shed a baleful light over the faces of men, on which sat terror
and perplexity. This portentous silence was broken by the rush and
roar of a hurricane, that swept with the voice and strength of the
sea, over the devastated city. Flashes of lightning rent the gloom,
and the thunder rolled and broke in deafening crashes over head. The
flames leaped up into fiercer glow, under the strong breath of the
tempest; private dwellings that had escaped the incendiary's torch
were stripped of their roofs, and the crash of falling, walls and
shrieks of terrified men and women fleeing through the streets,
imparted still greater terror to the appalling spectacle. The British
army, on the Capitol hill, was rent into fragments before it, and
scattered as though a magazine had exploded in its midst. Thirty
soldiers, besides many of the inhabitants, were overwhelmed in the
ruins.
Fleeing before this same hurricane, Mrs. Madison approached the tavern
designated by the President as the place where he would meet her, but
was refused admittance by the terrified women within, who had also
fled thither, because she was the wife of the man who had involved
them in those horrors of war, made still more terrible by the
visitation of God. He, in thus turning day into night, had evinced his
displeasure, and foretold his judgments; and not until an entrance was
forced by the men, would they allow her a shelter from the storm.
There her husband, the fugitive President of the republic, drenched
with rain, hungry and exhausted, joined her in the evening. Provided
with nothing but a cold lunch, he retired to his miserable couch, not
knowing what tidings the morning would bring him.
In the mean time General Ross, chagrined at the part he had been
compelled to play--filled with self-reproaches at the wanton
destruction of a public library, was anxious and unquiet at the
non-arrival of the boats that had accompanied him to Alexandria. In
constant fear of an uprising of the people of the country, he was
eager to get back to the ships. As soon therefore as night set in, he
resolved to commence his retreat. To prevent pursuit, an order was
issued prohibiting the appearance of a single inhabitant in the street
after eight o'clock. At nine, in dead silence, and with quick step,
as though stealing on a sleeping foe, the advance column took up its
march and passed unnoticed out of the city. The camp fires on the hill
of the capitol were kept blazing, and piled with fuel sufficient to
preserve them bright till near morning, in order to convey the
impression that the army was still there, and at a late hour the rear
column followed after, and silently and rapidly traversed the road to
Bladensburg. Not a word was spoken, not a man allowed to step out of
his place. Arriving on the ground which had been occupied by other
brigades, they found it deserted, but the fires were still blazing as
though the encampment had not been broken up. Approaching the field of
Bladensburg, they saw in the white moonbeams the whiter corpses of the
unburied dead, who had been stripped of their clothing and now lay
scattered around on the green slope and banks of the stream where they
had fallen. The hot August rain and sun had already begun to act on
the mutilated flesh, and a horrible stench loaded the midnight air.
Stopping there for an hour, to enable the soldiers to hunt up their
knapsacks thrown aside the day before, Ross again hurried them
forward, and kept them at the top of their speed all night. If the
column paused for a moment, the road was instantly filled with
soldiers fast asleep. Men were constantly straggling away, or falling
into slumbers, from which even the sword could with difficulty prick
them, and the army threatened to be disorganized. It therefore became
necessary to halt, and the order to do so had scarcely passed down the
line before every man was sound asleep, and the entire army in five
minutes resembled a heap of dead bodies on a field of battle. Resting
here under the burning sun until midday, Ross then resumed his march
and reached Marlborough at night, and the next day proceeded leisurely
back to the ships.
The raid had been successful--Washington was sacked. Two millions of
property had been destroyed--the capitol, with its library--the
President's house--the Treasury and War, Post offices, and other
public edifices, burned to the ground, together with five private
dwellings, thirteen more being pillaged. These, with the destruction
of the office of the National Intelligencer, two rope-walks, and a
bridge over the Potomac, constituted the achievements of this
redoubtable army of invasion.
The English press, which had teemed with accounts of Napoleon's
barbarity, and the English heart, which had heaved with noble
indignation against the man who could rob the galleries of conquered
provinces to adorn those of Paris, had no word of condemnation or
expression of anger for this wanton outrage, but on the contrary,
laudations innumerable. Napoleon had marched into almost every capital
of Europe without destroying a library or work of art, or firing a
dwelling. With his victorious armies he had entered city after city,
and yet no Vandalism marred his conquest. The palaces of kings, who
had perjured themselves again and again to secure his downfall, had
never been touched, and yet he was denounced as a robber and
proclaimed to the world a modern Attila. But an English army, warring
against a nation that spoke the same language, and was descended from
the same ancestors, could enter a city that had made no defence--had
not exasperated the conquerors by forcing them to a long siege or
desperate assault, and, without provocation, burn down a public
library, the unoffending capitol and presidential mansion, state
offices, and even private dwellings. Incredible as this act appears,
the greater marvel is how the English nation could exult over it. An
American victory tarnished by such barbarity and meanness, would
overwhelm the authors of it in eternal disgrace. And yet, a popular
so-called historian of England, in narrating this transaction, says it
was "one of the most brilliant expeditions ever carried into execution
by any nation." An army of some four thousand regulars put to flight
five or six thousand raw militia, and, with the loss of a few hundred
men, marched into a small unfortified town, occupied as the capital of
the United States, and like a band of robbers, set fire to the public
Library, Arsenal, Treasury, War office, President's house, two
rope-walks and a bridge; and such an affair the historian of Lodi,
Marengo, Austerlitz, and Waterloo,--of the terrible conflicts of the
peninsular, and the sublime sea-fights of Aboukir and Trafalgar, calls
"one of the most brilliant expeditions carried into execution by any
nation."
"Ille crucem, scelenis pretium tulit, hic diadema."
The news was received in England with the liveliest demonstrations of
joy. The Lord Mayor of London ordered the Park and Tower guns to be
fired at noon, in honor of a victory, which he pompously declared was
"worth an illumination." The official account was translated into
French, German and Italian, and scattered over the continent. Mr. Clay
and Mr. Russell were in the theatre at Brussels when the news arrived.
The secretary of the legation, Mr. Hughes, had overheard an English
officer in the lobby saying--"We have taken and burned the Yankee
capital, and thrown those rebels back half a century"--and going to
their box told them there were reasons why they should leave the
theatre, which he would disclose at their hotel. He had observed some
of the British legation present, and the announcement of such tidings
would be embarrassing to the American embassy. They were exceedingly
annoyed by the news, especially next morning, when the English
embassadors sent them a paper giving an account of the act; and they
returned, mortified, to Ghent. It was received on the continent,
however, with marked disapprobation. Even a Bourbon paper, in Paris,
declared that notwithstanding the atrocities charged on Napoleon, he
had never committed an act so degrading to civilized warfare as this.
The vessels designed to coöperate with the movement on Washington,
reached Alexandria the same evening the British army left the former
place, and after levying a contribution on the inhabitants, seizing
twenty-one merchant vessels, sixteen thousand barrels of flour, a
thousand hogsheads of tobacco, and whatever else was valuable,
departed. In their descent, they were harassed by Porter and Perry
from the shore, but the guns of the latter were too light to effect
much damage. Commodore Rodgers also hovered with fire ships around
their flight, but it was too rapid to allow the concentration of a
sufficient force to arrest them.
Armstrong, the Secretary of War, following the example of President,
Cabinet, Generals and army, galloped away from the disastrous field of
Bladensburg, and took refuge in a farm-house. The fugitive President
and the fugitive Secretary at length met, and returned together to
Washington. The entrance of the latter to the capital was the signal
for the indignant outburst of the entire population. The militia
officers of the District refused to obey his orders in the future,
and a committee of the citizens waited on the President, demanding his
dismissal from the post of Secretary of War. It was suddenly
discovered that he was wholly to blame for the conduct of the troops
at Bladensburg. Borne away by the popular current, which he was
thankful was not directed against himself, Madison requested Armstrong
to retire for awhile to Baltimore. [Sidenote: Sept. 3.] The latter
obeyed, but immediately sent in his resignation, in which he paid the
President the compliment of having, as he declared, shamefully yielded
to the "humors of a village mob." Monroe, Secretary of State, was
appointed to discharge his duties, and a proclamation was issued
calling an early meeting of Congress.
The British government never committed a greater blunder than when it
sanctioned the sack and burning of Washington. Estimating its
importance by that which the capitals of Europe held in their
respective kingdoms, her misguided statesmen supposed its overthrow
would paralyze the nation and humble the government into submission.
But there was scarcely a seaport on our coast, whose destruction would
not have been a greater public calamity. Besides, the greater its
value in the eyes of the people, the more egregious the mistake.
Judging us by the effeminate races of India, or the ignorant
population of central Europe, who are accustomed to be governed by
blows, they imagined the heavier the scourging, the more prostrated by
fear, and more eager for peace we should become. But resistance and
boldness rise with us in exact proportion to the indignities offered
and injuries inflicted. With a country, whose vital part is no where
fixed, but consisting in the unity of the people, can shift with
changing fortunes from the sea-coast even to the Rocky Mountains, its
heart can never be reached by the combined forces of the world. This
republic can never die but by its own hand. In a foreign war, our
strength can be weakened only by sowing dissensions. Outrages which
inflame the national heart, or local sufferings that awaken national
sympathy serve only to heal all these, and hence render us
impregnable. Thus, when Mr. Alison, in closing up his account of this
war and speaking of the probabilities of another, advises the sudden
precipitation of vast armies on our shore as the only way to insure
success, he exhibits a lamentable ignorance of our character. An
outrage or calamity at the outset, sufficiently great to break down
party opposition, and drown all personal and political contests in one
shout for vengeance, rolling from limit to limit of our vast
possessions, would endow us with resistless energy and strength. The
attacks on Baltimore and New Orleans teach an instructive lesson on
this point. In the latter place, where a veteran army of nine
thousand men were repulsed by scarcely one-third of its force, now an
army of two hundred thousand would make no impression.
The sack of Washington furnishes a striking illustration of the effect
of a great public calamity on this nation. One feeling of wrath and
cry for vengeance swept the land. A high national impulse hushed the
bickerings and frightened into silence the quarrels of factions, and
the President and his Cabinet never gained strength so fast as when
the capitol was in flames, and they were fleeing through the storm and
darkness, weighed down with sorrow and despondency.
At the same time this expedition against Washington was moving to its
termination, Sir Peter Parker ascended the Chesapeake to Rockhall,
from whence he sent out detachments in various quarters, burning
dwellings, grain, stacks, outhouses, etc. On the 30th, he landed at
midnight, to surprise Colonel Reed, encamped in an open plain with a
hundred and seventy militia. It was bright moonlight, and as the
column advanced it was received with a steady and well-directed fire.
At length the ammunition failing, this brave band was compelled to
fall back. The enemy at the same time retreated, carrying with them
Sir Peter Parker, mortally wounded with buck shot.
On the return of these several expeditions, it was resolved to make a
grand and united attack on Baltimore, that nest of privateers. On the
6th of September, the whole fleet, consisting of more than forty sail,
moved slowly up the Chesapeake, carrying a mixed, heterogeneous land
force of five thousand men. Six days after, it reached the Patapsco,
and landed the troops at North Point. The first object of attack was
fort M'Henry, situated about two miles from Baltimore. The capture of
this, it was thought, would open a passage to the city. Having put
their forces in marching order, General Ross and Cochrane moved
forward towards the intrenchments erected for the defence of
Baltimore, while the vessels of war advanced against the fort.
After marching four miles, the leading column of the army was checked
by General Stricker, who with three thousand men had taken post near
the head of Bear Creek. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the two
companies of Levering and Howard under Major Heath and Captain
Aisquith's rifle company, fought gallantly. General Ross, hearing the
firing rode forward, and mingled with the skirmishers, to ascertain
the cause of it, when he was pierced by the unerring ball of a
rifleman, and fell in the road. His riderless horse went plunging back
towards the main army, his "saddle and housings stained with blood,
carrying the melancholy news of his master's fate to the astonished
troops." Stretched by the road side, the dying general lay writhing in
the agonies of death. He had only time to speak of his wife and
children, before he expired. He was a gallant, skillful and humane
officer, and his part in the burning of Washington, must be laid to
his instructions rather than to his character.
The command devolved on Colonel Brooke, who gave the orders to
advance. General Stricker defended his position firmly, but at length
was compelled to fall back on his reserve, and finally took post
within half a mile of the intrenchments of the city. This ended the
combat for the day. The next morning Colonel Brooke recommenced his
march, and advanced to within two miles of the intrenchments, where he
encamped till the following morning, to wait the movements of the
fleet.
In the mean time, Cochrane had moved up to within two miles and a half
of the fort, and forming his vessels in a semi-circle, began to
bombard it. These works, under the command of Major Armstead, had no
guns sufficiently heavy to reach the vessels, which all that day threw
shells and rockets, making a grand commotion but doing little damage.
At night, Cochrane moved his fleet farther up, and opened again. The
scene then became grand and terrific. It was dark and rainy, and amid
the gloom, rockets and shells, weighing, some of them, two hundred
and fifty pounds, rose heavenward, followed by a long train of light,
and stooping over the fort burst with detonations that shook the
shore. Singly, and in groups, these fiery messengers traversed the
sky, lighting up the fort and surrounding scenery in a sudden glow,
and then with their sullen thunder, sinking all again in darkness. The
deafening explosions broke over the American army and the city of
Baltimore like heavy thunder-claps, calling forth soldiers and
inhabitants to gaze on the illumined sky. The city was in a state of
intense excitement. The streets were thronged with the sleepless
inhabitants, and the tearful eyes and pallid cheeks of women, attested
the anguish and fear that wild night created. As soon as Armstead
discovered that the vessels had come within range, he opened his fire
with such precision that they were compelled to withdraw again,
content with their distant bombardment. At length a sudden and heavy
cannonade was heard above the fort, carrying consternation into the
city, for the inhabitants believed that it had fallen. It soon ceased,
however. Several barges, loaded with troops, had passed the fort
unobserved, and attempted to land and take it in rear. Pulling to the
shore with loud shouts, they were met by a well-directed fire from a
battery, and compelled to seek shelter under their ships.
During this tremendous bombardment Francis Key lay in a little vessel
under the Admiral's frigate. He had visited him for the purpose of
obtaining an exchange of some prisoners of war, especially of one who
was a personal friend, and was directed to remain till after the
action. During the day his eye had rested eagerly on that low
fortification, over which the flag of his country was flying, and he
watched with the intensest anxiety the progress of each shell in its
flight, rejoicing when it fell short of its aim, and filled with fear
as he saw it stooping without exploding, within those silent
enclosures. At night, when darkness shut out that object of so much
and intense interest, around which every hope and desire of his life
seemed to cling, he still stood straining his eyes through the gloom,
to catch, if he could, by the light of the blazing shells, a glimpse
of his country's flag, waving proudly in the storm. The early dawn
found him still a watcher, and there, to the music of bursting shells,
and the roar of cannon, he composed "The Star-Spangled Banner."[6]
[Footnote 6: The scene and the occasion which called forth this
beautiful ode, have helped to make it a national one. It requires but
little imagination to conceive the intense and thrilling anxiety with
which a true patriot would look for the first gray streak of morning,
to see if the flag of his country was still flying, while the heart
involuntarily asks the question--
"O, say, can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming--
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses;
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream?
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."]
In the morning, Broke not deeming it prudent to assail those
intrenchments, manned by brave and determined men,[7] while the
heights around bristled with artillery, resolved to retreat. Waiting
till night to take advantage of the darkness, he retraced his steps to
the shipping.
From the extreme apprehensions that had oppressed it, Baltimore passed
to the most extravagant joy. Beaming faces once more filled the
streets, and the military bands, as they marched through, playing
triumphant strains, were saluted with shouts. The officers were feted
and exultation and confidence filled every bosom.
[Footnote 7: Senator Smith, who had been appointed general, commanded
the 10,000 militia who manned the works.]
CHAPTER VII.
Macomb at Plattsburg -- American and English fleets on Lake
Champlain -- Advance of Prevost -- Indifference of Governor
Chittenden -- Rev. Mr. Wooster -- Macdonough -- The two
battles -- Funeral of the officers -- British invasion of
Maine -- McArthur's expedition.
The gallant defence of Baltimore was still the theme of every tongue,
when tidings from our northern borders swelled the enthusiasm to the
highest pitch, and extinguished for a moment the remembrance of the
barbarities committed at Washington.
The day before the British landed at North Point and received their
first shock in the death of General Ross, the double battle of
Plattsburg was fought.
Izard, when he started on his tortoise-like march, to the relief of
Brown, left Colonel Macomb in command of three thousand men, not more
than half of whom were fit for service. Their defeat he considered
certain, and the result would have justified his prognostications,
had Macomb, like him, sat down to brood over his troubles and gaze
only on the difficulties that beset the army, till his confidence was
gone and his energies paralyzed. But he was made of sterner
stuff--difficulties only roused and developed him. Were the well men
under his command few? then his defences must be the stronger, and the
labor of those able to work, the more constant and exhausting.
Calling on New York and Vermont for militia, he toiled night and day
at the works, and soon found himself strongly intrenched.
In the mean time, Prevost, at the head of a disciplined army of twelve
thousand men, began to advance on Plattsburg. The ulterior design of
this invasion of the States has never been disclosed. It is hardly
possible that the British General meditated a movement similar to
Burgoyne's, hoping to reach Albany. The object may have been to get
entire command of Lake Champlain; and, pushing his land forces as far
as Ticonderoga, there wait the development of events on the sea-coast,
or by conquests along the northern boundary, create a claim to the
lakes, to be enforced in the negotiations for peace.
Prevost marched slowly, cumbering the road with his heavy baggage and
artillery trains as he advanced, and did not arrive at Plattsburg
till the 7th of September.
This town is situated on the Saranac River, a deep and rapid stream,
crossed at the time by several bridges. Abandoning that portion of it
on the north shore, as untenable, Macomb withdrew his forces to the
southern bank. Prevost, after a sharp action with the advance of the
American army, was allowed to erect his batteries at his leisure. It
took him four days to complete his works, or rather that time elapsed
before the arrival of the British fleet.
[Sidenote: Sept. 1.]
In the mean time Macomb had sent an express to Governor Chittenden, of
Vermont, telling him that Prevost had commenced his march on
Plattsburg, and beseeching him to call out the militia to his aid. But
this Federalist Governor, acting on the rebellious doctrine of
Massachusetts, coldly replied that he had no authority to send militia
out of the State. On the 4th, Macomb sent another express saying the
army was approaching, that his force was too small to resist it, and
begging for assistance. General Newell, more patriotic than the
Governor, offered to take his brigade over to the help of Macomb, but
the former would not sanction the movement by his authority, though he
advised him to beat up for volunteers. With every feeling of
patriotism deadened by the poison of the spirit of faction--every
generous sentiment and sympathy apparently extinguished--deaf to the
piteous plea rising from a neighboring town, he coldly entrenched
himself behind a party dogma, and let the ruin and devastation sweep
onward. The cannonading on the 6th, by Majors Appling and Wool, who
gallantly attacked the enemy's advance, did not rouse him from his
apathy.
One can hardly imagine that the call he issued for volunteers before
the battle, and the stirring proclamation he made afterwards under the
pressure of popular enthusiasm, emanated from the same person.
The people, however, did not require to be stimulated into patriotism
by their executive. As that sullen thunder came booming over the lake,
it stirred with fiery ardor the gallant sons of that noble State, who
never yet turned a deaf ear to the calls of their country, and before
whose stern and valorous onset the enemy's ranks have never stood
unbroken. Spurning the indifference of their Governor, and trampling
under foot his constitutional scruples, they flew to their homes, and
snatching down their muskets and rifles, and giving a short adieu to
their families, rushed to the shore, and soon the lake was covered
with boats, urged fiercely forward by strong arms and willing hearts
towards the spot where the heavy explosions told that their brave
countrymen were struggling in unequal combat. The face of young Macomb
lighted with joy as his eye fell on those bold men, and a heavy load
was taken from his heart.
Among those who had previously volunteered, was the Rev. Benjamin
Wooster, of Fairfield, Vermont. Responding to the call of Governor
Tompkins, he put himself at the head of his parishioners and repaired
to the American camp, where he endured all the privations of a common
soldier. The aged members of his church and the women, when they saw
him draw up his little flock on the village green, prior to their
departure for the scene of conflict, assembled in the church and sent
for him, saying, "We shall see you no more--come, go to the house of
God and preach us a last sermon, and administer to us the holy
sacrament for the last time." But fearing the effect of so touching an
interview on his own decisions, he refused. Sending them an
affectionate farewell, he embraced his weeping family, kissed his
babes, and gently untwining their arms from his neck, turned away. On
the day of battle this brave old shepherd led his fearless flock into
the fire, with the serenity of a good man doing his duty.
During the summer the English at the northern, and the Americans at
the southern portion of the lake, had been busy in building ships to
contest the supremacy of this sheet of water, whose head pierces so
deep into the bosom of New York. The latter had at length assembled a
flotilla consisting of four vessels--the largest carrying twenty-six
guns--and ten galleys, the whole under the command of Macdonough.
After some skirmishing, this little fleet, which early in the season
lay in Otter Creek, was got into the lake and steered for Plattsburg
Bay, to assist Macomb in his defence of the town. This bay opens to
the southward, and instead of piercing the main land at right angles,
runs north, nearly parallel with the lake itself. A narrow tongue of
land divides it from the main water, the extreme point of which is
called Cumberland Head. Just within its mouth, and nearly opposite
where the turbulent Saranac empties into it, Macdonough anchored his
vessels. [Sidenote: Sept 20.] Between him and the main land was a
large shoal and an island which effectually blocked the approach of
vessels on that side.
The English fleet sent to attack him, consisted, also, of four
vessels--the largest mounting 32 guns--and 13 galleys. The American
force, all told, was 14 vessels, mounting 86 guns and carrying 850
men, while that of the English was 17 vessels, mounting 96 guns and
carrying 1000 men. The largest, the Confiance, "had the gun deck of a
frigate," and by her superior size and strength, and her 30 long
twenty-fours, was considered a match for any two vessels in
Macdonough's squadron. Captain Downie, who commanded the British
fleet, joined his gun boats at the Isle au Motte on the 8th of
September, where he lay at anchor till the 11th. In the mean time,
Prevost, whose batteries were all erected, remained silent behind his
works waiting the arrival of the fleet before he should commence his
fire.
During those sleepless nights, and days of agitation, young Macdonough
lay calmly watching the approach of his superior foe, while Macomb
strained every nerve to complete his defences. Fearless, frank and
social, the young General moved among his soldiers with such animation
and confidence, that they caught his spirit, and like the Green
Mountain boys and yeomanry of New York at Saratoga, resolved to defend
their homes to the last.
[Sidenote: Sept. 11.]
At length, on Sunday morning, just as the sun rose over the eastern
mountains, the American guard boat, on the watch, was seen rowing
swiftly into the harbor. It reported the enemy in sight. The drums
immediately beat to quarters, and every vessel was cleared for action.
The preparations being completed, young Macdonough summoned his
officers around him, and there, on the deck of the Saratoga, read the
prayers of the ritual before entering into battle, and that voice,
which soon after rung like a clarion amid the carnage, sent
heavenward, in earnest tones, "Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come
and help us, for thou givest not always the battle to the strong, but
canst save by many or by few." It was a solemn and thrilling
spectacle, and one never before witnessed on a vessel of war cleared
for action. A young commander who had the courage thus to brave the
derision and sneers which such an act was sure to provoke, would fight
his vessel while there was a plank left to stand on. Of the deeds of
daring done on that day of great achievements, none evinced so bold
and firm a heart as this act of religious worship.
At eight o'clock the crews of the different vessels could see, over
the tongue of land that divided the bay from the lake, the topsails of
the enemy moving steadily down. These had also been seen from shore,
and every eminence around was covered with anxious spectators. The
house of God was deserted, and the light of that bright Sabbath
morning, with its early stillness, flooded a scene at once picturesque
and terrible. On one side was the hostile squadron, coming down to the
sound of music--on the other, stood the armies on shore in order of
battle, with their banners flying--between, lay Macdonough's silent
little fleet at anchor, while the hills around were black with
spectators, gazing on the strange and fearful panorama.
As the British approached, Macdonough showed his signal, "_Impressed
seamen call on every man to do his duty_." As vessel after vessel
traced the letters, loud cheers rent the air.
The English vessels, under easy sail, swept one after another round
Cumberland Head, and hauling up in the wind, waited the approach of
the galleys.
[Illustration: Battle of Lake Champlain.
Position of the two squadrons.]
As Macdonough lay anchored with his vessels in line north and
south--his galleys on their sweeps forming a second line in rear--the
English fleet, as it doubled the head, was compelled to approach with
bows on. The Eagle was farthest up the bay, the Saratoga second,
Ticonderoga third, and Preble fourth. The impressive silence which
rested on the American fleet was at last broken by the Eagle, which
opened her broadsides. Startled by the sound, a cock on board the
Saratoga, which had escaped from the coop, flew upon a gun slide and
crowed. A loud laugh and three hearty cheers acknowledged the
favorable omen, and spread confidence through the ship. Macdonough,
seeing the enemy were at too great distance to be reached by his guns,
reserved his fire, and watched the Confiance standing boldly on till
she came within range. He then sighted a long twenty-four himself and
fired her. The heavy shot passed the entire length of the deck of the
Confiance, killing many of her men and shivering her wheel into
fragments. This was the signal for every vessel to open its fire, and
in a moment that quiet bay was in an uproar. The Confiance, however,
though suffering severely, did not return a shot, but kept on till she
got within a quarter of a mile, when she let go her anchors and swung
broadside to the Saratoga. Sixteen long twenty-fours then opened at
once with a terrific crash. The Saratoga shook from kelson to cross
trees under the tremendous discharge. Nearly half of her crew were
knocked down by it, while fifty men were either killed or wounded, and
among them Lieutenant Gamble. He was in the act of sighting a gun,
when a shot entered the port and struck him dead. The effect of this
first broadside was awful, and the Saratoga was for a moment
completely stunned. The next, however, she opened her fire with a
precision and accuracy that told fatally on the English ship. But the
latter soon commenced pouring in her broadsides so rapidly that she
seemed enveloped in flame. The Eagle could not withstand it, and
changed her position, falling in nearer shore, leaving the Saratoga to
sustain almost alone the whole weight of the unequal contest. She gave
broadside for broadside, but the weight of metal was against her, and
she was fast becoming a wreck. Her deck soon presented a scene of the
most frightful carnage. The living could hardly tumble the wounded
down the hatchway as fast as they fell. At length, as a full broadside
burst on the staggering ship, a cry of despair rang from stem to
stern, "the Commodore is killed!--the Commodore is killed!" and there
he lay on the blood-stained deck amid the dead, senseless, and
apparently lifeless. A spar, cut in two by a cannon shot, had
fallen on his back and stunned him. But after two or three minutes he
recovered, and cheering on his men, took his place again beside his
favorite gun that he had sighted from the commencement of the action.
As the men saw him once more at his post, they took new courage.
But a few minutes after, the cry of "the Commodore is killed," again
passed through the ship. Every eye was instantly turned to a group of
officers gathered around Macdonough, who lay in the scuppers, between
two guns, covered with blood. He had been knocked clean across the
ship, with a force sufficient to have killed him. Again he revived,
and limping to a gun, was soon coolly hulling his antagonist. Maimed
and suffering, he fought on, showing an example that always makes
heroes of subordinates.
At length every gun on the side of his vessel towards the enemy was
silenced, but one, and this, on firing it again, bounded from its
fastenings, and tumbled down the hatchway. Not a gun was left with
which to continue the contest, while the ship was on fire. A
surrender, therefore, seemed inevitable. Macdonough, however, resolved
to wind his ship, so as to get the other broadside to bear. Failing in
the first attempt, the sailing-master, Brum, bethought him of an
expedient, which proved successful, and the crippled vessel slowly
swung her stern around, until the uninjured guns bore. The Confiance,
seeing the manoeuvre, imitated it, but she could not succeed, and lay
with her crippled side exposed to the fire of the Saratoga.
In a short time not a gun could be brought to bear. Further resistance
was therefore useless, and she surrendered. She had been hulled a
_hundred and five times_, while half of her men were killed and
wounded. Captain Downie had fallen some time before, and hence was
spared the mortification of seeing her flag lowered.
The Eagle, commanded by Capt. Henley, behaved gallantly in the
engagement, while the Ticonderoga, under Lieutenant Cassin, was
handled in a manner that astonished those who beheld her. This
fearless officer walked backward and forward over his deck,
encouraging his men, and directing the fire, apparently unconscious of
the balls that smote and crashed around him. His broadsides were so
incessant, that several times the vessel was thought to be on fire.
The surrender of the Confiance virtually terminated the contest, which
had lasted two hours and a quarter; and as flag after flag struck the
galleys took to their sweeps and escaped.
In the midst of this tremendous cannonade, came, at intervals, the
explosions on shore. The first gun in the bay, was the signal for
Prevost on land, and as the thunder of his heavy batteries mingled in
with the incessant broadsides of the contending squadrons, the very
shores trembled, and far over the lake, amid the quiet farm-houses of
Vermont, the echoes rolled away, carrying anxiety and fear into
hundreds of families. Its shore was lined with men, gazing intently in
the direction of Plattsburgh, as though from the smoke that rolled
heavenward, some tidings might be got of how the battle was going.
To the spectators on the commanding heights around Plattsburgh, the
scene was indescribably fearful and thrilling. It was as if two
volcanoes were raging below--turning that quiet Sabbath morning into a
scene wild and awful as the strife of fiends. But when the firing in
the bay ceased, and the American flag was seen still flying, and the
Union Jack down, there went up a shout that shook the hills. From the
water to the shore, and back again, the deafening huzzas echoed and
re-echoed. The American army took up the shout, and sending it high
and clear over the thunder of cannon, spread dismay and astonishment
into the heart of the enemy's camp.
The American loss in killed and wounded, was one hundred and ten, of
whom all but twenty fell on board the Saratoga and Eagle--that of the
English was never fully known, though it was supposed to be nearly
double.
The force of Macomb was so inferior, and the most of the volunteers
were so recently arrived, that from the first he was advised to
retreat, a course that Wilkinson and Dearborn and Izard would
doubtless have taken, and defended it by rules laid down in books on
military tactics. But Macomb had resolved to fight where he stood. The
two forts of Brown and Scott, which he had erected and named, he
designed should be symbolical of the defence he would make, and the
battle he would fight.
After the British batteries had been in fierce operation for some
time, throwing shells, hot shot and rockets in a perfect shower upon
the American ranks, three columns of attack were formed--two pressing
straight for the bridges, the planks of which had been taken up, and
the third for a ford farther up the river. The last was repulsed by
the volunteers and militia. The other two steadily approached the
bridges, but the artillery rained such a tempest of grape shot on the
uncovered ranks of one, and the pickets and rifles so scourged the
other, that they were driven back to their intrenchments for shelter.
After Macdonough's victory, their fire slackened, not only from
discouragement, but from the destructive effect of the American
gunnery on their batteries, and at nightfall ceased entirely. As soon
as it became dark, Prevost ordered a retreat. So rapidly and silently
was it conducted, that the army had advanced eight miles before Macomb
knew of it. He immediately ordered a pursuit, but this day of strife
had ended in a storm of wind and rain, and it was soon abandoned.
Prevost lost two hundred and fifty in killed and wounded, many of whom
were left on the ground, drenched and beat upon by the storm. These he
commended to the humanity of Macomb, and continued his rapid flight to
the St. Lawrence. That British fleet, shattered and torn, lying at
anchor under the guns of Macdonough, in the bay, and the army of
twelve thousand men streaming through the gloom and rain, panic
stricken, lest the feeble force behind should overtake it, present a
striking contrast to their prospects in the morning, and show how
changeful is fortune. Downie heard not the shout of victory, for he
lay stiff and cold in the vessel he had carried so gallantly into
action, and Prevost did not long survive his defeat.
So large a hostile force had never before crossed the Canada line,
while no such sudden and terrible reverse of fortune had befallen the
feeblest expedition. Two such victories on one day, were enough to
intoxicate the nation. The news spread like wildfire, and shouts and
salvos of artillery, and bonfires, hailed the messengers, as they sped
the glad tidings on. The campaign was closing gloriously. Instead of
the defeats and failures of the last year, there were Chippewa and
Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie, crowned by the victories of Baltimore and
Plattsburgh. The news of the two last, approaching from different
directions, set the land in a glow of transport, and lifted it from
despondency and gloom to confidence and bright expectations.
The Thursday following the battle of Champlain was devoted to the
burial of the officers killed in the naval action. As the procession
of boats left the Confiance, minute guns were fired from the vessels
in the harbor. The artillery and infantry on shore received the dead
and bore them to the place of burial, while the cannon of the forts
responded to those from the fleet, blending their mournful echoes over
the fallen in their prime and manhood. The clouds hung low and gloomy
over lake and land, and the rain fell in a gentle shower, imparting
still greater loneliness to the scene. On this very day, while friends
and foes were thus paying the last tribute of respect to the fallen,
Baltimore was shaking to the huzzas of the inhabitants, at the news
that the British fleet was sailing down the bay, baffled and
disappointed.
[Sidenote: Sept 1.]
Simultaneous with these two invasions of our territory, a British
force was sent against Machias. The misfortune which befel the Adams,
sloop-of-war, compelling her to take refuge at Hampden, in the
Penobscot river, caused a change in the movements of the expedition,
and it did not stop to take Machias, but seized Castine and Belfast,
on the Penobscot bay, then pushed on with a sloop of war and small
craft carrying in all 700 men, to capture this vessel. [Sidenote:
Sept 9.] Machias was then seized, and all the country east of
Penobscot taken possession of. [Sidenote: July 14.] The islands in
Passamaquoddy bay had been seized and occupied two months previous.
Our whole maritime coast was still threatened, and every seaport of
any magnitude, was fortifying itself when Congress assembled again.
The only other military movement of note during this fall, was an
expedition which set out from Detroit, under the command of General
McArthur. It consisted of 700 mounted men, seventy of whom were
Indians, and for secresy, daring and skill was not surpassed during
the war. Its object was to prevent the enemy from molesting Michigan
during the winter, and if successful in its operations, eventually
attack Burlington Heights, and form a junction with Generals Brown and
Izard. This body of seven hundred bold and well-mounted borderers,
left Detroit the 22d of October, and plunged at once into the
wilderness. [Sidenote: Oct 22.] The long and straggling column would
now be seen wading along the shallow shores of the lake, and then be
lost in the primeval forest, to reappear on the bank of deep rivers,
from whose farther shore the wilderness again spread away. The bivouac
by night in the autumnal woods, or on the bank of a stream, presented
a fine subject for a painter. Their seven hundred horses tied to the
trees around, only half relieved by the ruddy fire that strove in
vain to pierce the limitless gloom--the lofty trunks of trees receding
away like the columns in some old dimly-lighted cathedral--the hardy
and rough-looking frontiersmen, stretched with the half-clad savages
around the fire--the sentinels scarcely discernible in the distance,
all combined to form a picture which has a charm even for the most
civilized and refined.
It was, however, no holiday march--expedition was necessary to
success, and the horses were kept to the top of their endurance.
Straining up acclivities, floundering through swamps, struggling with
the rapid currents of rivers, this detachment succeeded in penetrating
more than two hundred miles into the enemy's country, and to within
twenty-five miles of Burlington Heights. It marched more than four
hundred miles, one hundred and eighty of it through an unbroken
wilderness, defeated five hundred militia strongly posted, killed and
wounded twenty-seven men, and took a hundred and eleven prisoners, and
returned with the loss of but one man. [Sidenote: Oct 17.] In the
discipline he maintained, the health of the troops, and their safe
return, McArthur showed himself a skillful and able commander, while
his subordinates deserve the highest commendation.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Navy in 1814 -- Cruise of Captain Morris in the Adams --
Narrow escapes -- The Wasp and Reindeer -- Cruise of the
Wasp -- Sinks the Avon -- Mysterious fate of the Wasp -- The
Peacock captures the Epervier -- Lieutenant Nicholson.
During the season of almost uninterrupted success on land and on our
inland waters, we had but few vessels at sea, the greater part being
blockaded, but those few nobly sustained the reputation won by the
navy in the two previous years. The Guerriere 44, the Independence 74,
and the Java 44, were launched during the summer, but remained in
their docks till the close of the war. In the January previous Captain
Morris, commanding the Adams, which had been cut down to a sloop of
war, got to sea and took a few prizes. In the spring he captured an
East Indiaman, but while taking possession of her an English fleet
hove in sight, which compelled him to abandon the prize and crowd all
sail to escape. Succeeding in throwing off his pursuers he gave chase
to the Jamaica fleet which had passed him in the night, but failed in
every attempt to cut out a vessel. [Sidenote: July 3.] Continuing
eastward he at length made the Irish coast, but was soon after chased
by an English frigate and pressed so closely that he found it
necessary to throw overboard his anchors and two guns. This sacrifice,
however, did not increase materially the distance between him and his
adversary, and after dark, it falling a dead calm, Capt. Morris and
his first Lieutenant Wadsworth, both of whom were on board the
Constitution when first chased by the English fleet, got out their
boats and by towing all night, succeeded in gaining two leagues by
daylight. As soon as the commander of the English frigate discovered
the trick that had been played him, he crowded all sail and kept in
the wake of the Adams till ten at night, when the latter altering her
course, escaped.
But the ocean being filled with the enemy's cruisers, this persecuted
solitary vessel was soon chased again by two frigates, for twenty-four
hours, and only got off at last by the aid of a friendly fog. In
August, however, she went ashore off the coast of Maine, while
attempting to run the English blockade, as mentioned in the preceding
chapter, and was so injured that Morris run her into the Penobscot
River, where he was compelled to burn her to prevent her capture by
the British.
The Wasp put to sea, from Portsmouth, the first of May, and giving her
canvass to the wind steered boldly for the English Channel. Leaving
the British fleet blockading our ships at home, her commander, Captain
Blakely, sought the English coast, resolved to strike at the enemy's
commerce assembling there from every sea. It required constant
watchfulness and great prudence to cruise on such dangerous ground as
this, and had not all suspicion of an enemy in that quarter been
removed, she would doubtless have been captured. The unexampled daring
of the act alone saved her.
On the 28th of June Blakely gave chase to a sail, which proved to be
the English brig of war Reindeer, commanded by Captain Manners. The
latter, though inferior in strength, showed no disinclination to
close, and came down in gallant style. As they approached, the
Reindeer by using a shifting twelve-pound carronade, was able to fire
it five times before Blakely could get a gun to bear. At first within
sixty, and afterwards within thirty yards, the crew stood for twelve
minutes this galling fire without flinching. But when at length a
favorable position was obtained, the broadsides of the American was
delivered with such awful effect, that Captain Manners saw at once his
vessel would be a wreck unless he run her aboard; and setting his
sails he drove full on the Wasp. As the vessels fell foul he called
to his men to follow him, and endeavored to leap on the deck of his
antagonist. But coolly, as on a parade, the crew of the latter
steadily repulsed every attempt to board.
Captain Manners had been wounded early in the action, but still kept
his feet, and just before boarding was struck by a shot which carried
away the calves of both his legs. In this mangled condition he gave
the orders to board, and leaping into the rigging of his own vessel in
order to swing himself on that of his adversary, he was struck by two
musket balls which entered the top of his head and passed out through
his chin. Waving his sword above his head he exclaimed, "Oh, God!" and
fell lifeless on the deck.
After the enemy had been repulsed three times, the Wasp boarded in
turn, and in one minute the conflict was over. The English vessel was
literally a wreck, and had lost in killed and wounded sixty-seven out
of one hundred and fifteen, constituting her crew, or more than half
of her entire number. The Wasp had but five men killed and twenty-two
wounded. [Sidenote: July 8.] Captain Blakely took his prize into
L'Orient, where he burned her to prevent recapture. Up to this time he
had taken eight merchantmen. [Sidenote: Aug. 27.] Remaining here till
the latter part of August, he again set sail, and on the 1st of
September cut out a vessel loaded with guns and military stores from
a fleet of ten sail, convoyed by a seventy-four. Endeavoring to repeat
the saucy experiment he was chased away by a man-of-war. The same
evening, however, making four sail, he in turn gave chase to one,
which immediately threw up rockets and fired signal guns to attract
the attention of the other vessels. But Captain Blakely held steadily
on, crashing along under a ten knot breeze, and as he approached the
stranger fired a gun and hailed. His fire being returned he poured in
a destructive broadside. Notwithstanding the swell was heavy and the
night dark, his fire was terribly effective. For a night action it was
remarkably short, and in forty minutes the enemy struck. But as the
boat was about being lowered to take possession of her, Blakely saw
beneath the lifting smoke a brig of war within musket-shot, and two
more vessels rapidly closing. Ordering the boat to be run up again
quickly, and the men to hasten to their posts, he filled away and
catching the wind dead astern was soon out of sight. [Sidenote: Sept.
1.] The enemy gave him one broadside and then turned to the captured
vessel, whose guns of distress were echoing loudly over the sea. She
soon sunk. This vessel was afterwards ascertained to be the Avon, of
eighteen guns.
Continuing his cruise, Blakely took three more vessels, among them a
valuable prize, the Atalanta, of eight guns, which was immediately
dispatched to the states.
[Sidenote: Sept. 22.]
This was the last direct tidings ever received from the gallant Wasp.
Various rumors were afloat concerning her fate, but nothing certain of
her after cruise, or the manner in which she was lost, was ever known.
One report stated that an English frigate had put into Cadiz badly cut
up by an American corvette, which had sunk in the night time, and so
suddenly, that her name could not be ascertained. This was thought at
first to be the Wasp, but no confirmation of this report being
received, it was discredited. The spirited conduct of this little
vessel had made her a great favorite with the nation, and a deep
sympathy was universally felt for her mysterious fate.[8] Years passed
by, when an incident occurred which awakened a fresh interest in her.
Two officers on board the Essex, when she was captured at Valparaiso,
had gone to Rio Janeiro, but were never after heard from. Inquiries
were made by friends in every direction, but in vain. At last it was
ascertained that they had taken passage in a Swedish brig for England,
from which they had been transferred to the Wasp. The commander stated
that on the 9th of October he was chased by a strange sail, which
fired several guns, when he hove to and was boarded. The boarding
officer, ascertaining there were two American officers on board, took
them with him to his own ship. On their return, they told the Swedish
captain that the strange sail was the Wasp, and they had determined to
accept a passage in her. They did so, and nothing more was ever heard
of them.
[Footnote 8: She had been built to take the place of the vessel
captured by the Poictiers, after she had taken the Frolic. She did not
disgrace the name and character she bore.]
This was sixteen days after the prize left her, and, according to the
Swedish brig's reckoning, she was at the time nearly a thousand miles
farther south, and where she very naturally might be. Added to this
was another rumor, which seemed to throw still more light on her fate.
Soon after her rencontre with the Swedish vessel, it was said that two
English frigates chased off the southern coast an American
sloop-of-war, and while in pursuit were struck with a heavy squall.
After the squall was over, the sloop was no where to be seen. If the
rumor be true, that vessel was no doubt the Wasp, for we had no other
sloop-of-war in those seas at that time. Besides, when met by the
Swedish brig, she was evidently bound in that direction, and should
have arrived off the coast about the time mentioned in the rumor.
Nothing is more probable than that she capsized and went down, while
carrying a press of sail to escape her pursuers.
At all events, whatever was her fate, the sea never rolled over a
more gallant commander and crew. Watchful, full of resources,
indefatigable and fearless, Captain Blakely was the model of a naval
commander, and had he lived would no doubt have reached the highest
rank in his profession.
[Sidenote: March, 1814.]
The Peacock, Captain Harrington, also started on a cruise in the
spring, steering southward. On the 29th of April she made three sail,
which proved to be merchantmen under convoy of the Epervier, a large
brig-of-war. The former took to flight, while the latter bore up to
engage. At the first fire the forward sails of the American were so
cut up that they became nearly useless. There was, consequently, but
little manoeuvering; the vessels moved off together, and a steady
discharge of broadsides settled the contest. The force and weight of
metal in this case were nearly equal, but the superior gunnery of the
American was soon manifest, for in forty-two minutes the Epervier was
so riddled that she had five feet of water in the hold. In this
condition she struck, and with great difficulty was kept from sinking.
Twenty-two of her crew were killed and wounded, while not a man in the
Peacock was killed, and only two wounded. A hundred and eighteen
thousand dollars in specie were found on board of her.
Lieutenant Nicholson was sent home with the prize. He reached the
American sea board in safety, but while running along the coast,
steering for Savannah, was chased by an English frigate, and escaped
capture only by one of those artifices so common among Yankee sailors.
The wind being light, he crept close along shore, and kept in shoal
water where the frigate dared not approach. The commander of the
latter observing this, manned his boats and sent them forward in
pursuit. The prize had but seventeen officers and men all told, and
hence could make no serious resistance if boarded. As the boats came
steadily on under sweeps, the fate of the Epervier appeared to be
sealed, but Nicholson, putting the best face on the matter, took down
his trumpet and thundered out his orders to yaw and pour in a
broadside. The boats hesitated on hearing this dangerous command, and
finally withdrew, leaving the prize a safe passage to the Savannah.
[Sidenote: May 1.]
Three days after, the Peacock also came in. The latter, however,
remained in port but a short time, and again set sail, sweeping the
seas to the bay of Biscay.
Her cruise was conducted with great prudence and sagacity, and she
returned in October, having captured fourteen merchantmen.
CHAPTER IX.
Third Session of the XIIIth Congress -- State of the
Treasury -- The President's Message -- Dallas appointed
Secretary of the Treasury -- His scheme and that of Eppes
for the relief of the country -- Our Commissioners at Ghent
-- Progress of the negotiations -- English protocol -- Its
effect on Congress and the nation -- Effect of its
publication on the English Parliament.
[Sidenote: Sept. 19.]
During the agitation and excitement preceding the bombardment of Fort
McHenry, and the battles of Champlain and Plattsburg, the members of
Congress were slowly gathering to the ruined Capital, and two days
after Brown's gallant sortie from Fort Erie, assembled in the Patent
Office, the only public building left standing by the enemy.
Notwithstanding the glorious victories that had marked the summer
campaign, a gloom rested on Congress. The Government, indeed,
presented a melancholy spectacle, sitting amid the ashes of the
Capital, while the fact could not be disguised that the Commissioners
at Ghent gave no hope of peace. The war seemed far as ever from a
termination, while England, released from the drains on her troops,
navy and treasury, by the Continental war, was evidently making
preparations for grander and more terrible exhibitions of her power.
Her forces were gathering and her fleets accumulating upon our coast
for the avowed purpose of demolishing our seaports, burning up our
shipping, destroying our cities, and carrying a wide-spread desolation
along our shores. To meet the expenses required to resist these
attacks, a vast accession of funds was necessary, and yet the Treasury
was worse than empty. The effort to borrow, in August, the paltry sum
of six millions, a part of the $25,000,000 voted, had proved
unsuccessful, not half the amount being taken and that at less than 80
per cent. In May previous over nine millions and a half had been
obtained at from 85 to 88 per cent, and yet while victories were
illustrating our arms, not $3,000,000 would now be taken, and the
offers for that all below 80 per cent.
As the Treasury accounts stood at the close of the second quarter of
the year 1814, Mr. Campbell, the Secretary, estimated that nearly
twenty-five millions of dollars would be necessary to meet the
expenditures of the remaining two quarters. The public revenue during
that time would be nearly five millions, which the two loans and four
millions of Treasury notes would swell to a little over thirteen
millions, leaving about eleven millions to be obtained by some process
or other. A foreign loan of six millions was recommended.
Added to this the currency was thoroughly deranged. New banks had set
a vast amount of paper afloat, while the specie was all drained off to
pay for British goods, which surreptitiously got into the country. The
banks of the District of Columbia suspended payment with the British
invasion, and the panic spreading northward, there commenced a run
upon the banks which in turn stopped payment, until out of New
England, a large bank could scarcely be found that had not suspended.
The expense of maintaining such a vast army of militia as was kept on
foot, called for enormous disbursements, and many saw national
bankruptcy in the future should the war continue.
The burning of Washington furnished the President, in his message, an
excellent occasion for making an appeal to the people. He was not
constrained to fall back on the justice of the war, and persuade the
nation that the invasion of Canada was both right and politic. The war
had become defensive--men must now fight, not for maritime rights, not
march to distant and questionable ground, but standing on their own
hearth-stones, strike for their firesides and their homes. The Indian
barbarities at the west, which inflamed to such a pitch of rage the
Kentuckians, had been repeated by a civilized nation, and in speaking
of them and the enemy, the President said: "He has avowed his purpose
of trampling on the usages of civilized warfare, and given earnest of
it in the plunder and wanton destruction of private property. *** His
barbarous policy has not even spared those monuments of the arts and
models of taste with which our country had enriched and embellished
its infant metropolis. From such an adversary, hostility in its
greatest force and worst forms may be looked for. The American people
will face it with the undaunted spirit, which in our Revolutionary
struggle, defeated his unrighteous projects. His threats and
barbarities instead of dismay, will kindle in every bosom an
indignation not to be extinguished but in the disaster and expulsion
of such cruel invaders."
The ardor and indignation of the people were easily roused, but these
did not bring what just then was most needed, _money_.
[Sidenote: Sept.]
Campbell having resigned his place as Secretary of the Treasury,
immediately after sending in his report, Alexander Dallas was
appointed in his place, who brought forward a scheme for relieving the
Government. Eppes, from the Committee of Ways and Means, also offered
a project. He proposed to lay new taxes to the amount of eleven and a
half millions, and make a new issue of Treasury Notes, redeemable
after six months. Dallas agreed with him in the amount of taxes, but
recommended also the creation of a National Bank with a capital of
fifty millions, five of it in specie and the residue in government
stock. This would regulate the currency by furnishing a circulating
medium, and constitute a basis on which loans could be obtained.
Bills were also brought in regulating the army.
In the mean time unfavorable news arrived from our embassy at Ghent.
They had been compelled to wait some time for the English
Commissioners, spending the interval in a round of amusements and
entertainments furnished by the people of Ghent and General Lyons,
commanding the British troops in that place. At length, on the 7th of
August, the Secretary of the English legation called at the American
hotel, to arrange the place and day for commencing negotiations. No
one but Mr. Bayard was in at the time, and he seeing no breach of
diplomatic etiquette in the proposal of the English Secretary to meet
next day at the hotel of the English legation, assented. But the other
members when they returned and were told of the arrangements that had
been made, were indignant. "What!" said Mr. Adams, "meet the English
Ministers who have kept us here so long waiting the condescension of
their coming, in the face of all Ghent--meet them at their bidding at
their own hotel, to be the laughing stock of the city, of London, and
of Europe?" "Never!" added Mr. Gallatin, "never!" Mr. Bayard replied,
that the promise had been made, and they stood pledged. "No," said Mr.
Adams, "_you_ may be, but we are not."
[Sidenote: Aug. 8.]
Another place was therefore agreed upon, and the negotiations
commenced. The city was filled with men, watching their progress, not
only statesmen, but speculators eager to take advantage of the change
in the price of stocks, which rose and fell with the wavering
character of the proceedings.
After expressing the pacific feelings of their government, the English
ministers stated the three points which would probably arise, and on
which they were instructed:
1. The right of search to obtain seamen, and the claim of his
Britannic Majesty to the perpetual allegiance of his subjects, whether
naturalized in America or not.
2. The Indian allies were to have a definite boundary fixed for their
territory.
3. There must be a revision of the boundary line between the United
States and the adjacent British colonies.
The question of the fisheries, it was intimated, would also come up.
The American legation replied, that they had instructions upon the
first and third propositions, but not on the second, nor on the
subject of the fisheries. They also were instructed to obtain a
definition of blockade, and to consider claims for indemnity in
certain cases of seizure. After some discussion, the American embassy
inquired if the pacification and settlement of a boundary for the
Indians was a _sine qua non_. The reply was, yes. It was then asked if
it was intended to preclude the United States from purchasing lands of
the Indians, whose possessions clearly lay within the limits of their
territory. An affirmative answer was given. The native tribes were to
be kept simply as a barrier between the possessions of the two
countries. On being told that no instructions had been given on this
point, the English embassy expressed great surprise, and declared that
they could do nothing until farther advices from their government. A
messenger was therefore despatched to England that night, and the two
embassies, after meeting next day to arrange a protocol, adjourned
till the decision of the English cabinet could be received.
Nine days after, Lord Castlereagh, elated with his success as English
minister to the headquarters of the allied armies, on their way to
Paris,--exulting over the downfall of Napoleon, and representing in
himself the intoxication of the English people at the overthrow of
their rival--haughty, unscrupulous, and overbearing, swept into Ghent
with a train of twenty carriages, on his way to the great Congress of
Vienna, where European diplomacy, in all its monstrous deformity and
rottenness, was to be exhibited to the world.
The next day the embassies met, and the reply of the English
government was rendered. In the first place, the Indian boundary
question was declared a _sine qua non_. The question then arose, what
would become of the hundreds of American citizens residing at that
time within the limits thus to be drawn. The reply was, they must
shift for themselves.
In the second place, the entire jurisdiction of the northern lakes,
extending from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior, where our squadrons were
riding victorious, must be surrendered to the British government, the
United States not being permitted to erect even a military post on the
southern shore, on their own soil, nor keep those already established
there. As a backer to this insolent demand, the legation affirmed that
the United States ought to consider it moderate, since England might
justly have claimed a cession of territory within the States. Beyond
Lake Superior, the question of boundary was open to discussion.
Another item in this protocol required the surrender of that part of
Maine over which a direct route from Halifax to Canada would
necessarily pass. When asked what they proposed to do with those
islands in the Passamaquoddy Bay, recently captured by the English,
they replied, these were not subjects of discussion, belonging, of
course, to Great Britain. They farther informed the American Legation
that this extraordinary and magnanimous offer, on the part of his
majesty, was not to remain open for any length of time--that if delay
was demanded till instructions could be received from across the ocean
on the one single question of Indian boundary, it would be considered
withdrawn, and the English government feel itself at liberty to make
other and less generous demands, as circumstances might indicate.
To such arrogant claims but one answer could be given, and Gallatin,
in sending them home, wrote that all negotiations might be considered
at an end, and that no course was left for the United States but "in
union and a vigorous prosecution of the war." Mr. Clay accepted an
invitation to visit Paris, and Mr. Adams prepared to return to St.
Petersburgh.
While this news was slowly traversing the Atlantic in the cartel John
Adams, the victories of Brown, Macomb, and Macdonough, were
electrifying the nation.
[Sidenote: Oct. 10.]
On the 10th of October the President transmitted a message to
Congress, with the despatches received from Ghent, and the protocol of
the English legation. Their reading was listened to with breathless
silence, and as the extraordinary claims set forth by England became
one after another clearly revealed, the astonishment of the members
exceeded all bounds, and they gazed at each other incredulously. The
Federalists were paralyzed with disappointment. The party had never
received such a blow since the commencement of the war. Their
arguments were prostrated. They had always represented England as
desirous of peace, fighting only because she was forced to by a
reckless, unprincipled administration and party. Towards the nation at
large she cherished no hostile feelings, and entertained no ultimate
sinister designs. But the mask was now snatched away, and she stood
revealed in all her arrogance and injustice. If any thing more than
the ravages on our coast was needed to bind the nation together in one
determined effort, it was furnished in these despatches. As the news
spread on every side, the passions of men were kindled into rage.
What, burn up our victorious war-ships on those great mediterraneans,
the command of which had been gained by such vast expenditures and
such heroic conduct--abandon forts standing on our own soil, around
which such valiant blood had been shed? "Never, never," responded from
every lip.
Scarcely less excitement was produced by the discussion of the Indian
boundary question. Stripped of its false pretences, it looked solely
to the prevention of all settlement on our part, of the North-western
territory, and designed to bar us forever from acquiring possessions
in that quarter. To give some show of fairness to the transaction, it
was proposed that both countries should be restricted from purchasing
the land of the Indians, but leave the market open to the whole world
beside. In short, that vast territory, including a large portion of
Ohio, all of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, must not only be
surrendered by us, but placed under the complete control of the
British government, whose ships of war were alone to sail the waters
that washed its northern limits, and whose fortifications were to awe
the inhabitants that occupied it. Never before had the cry of war rung
so loudly over the land, and the nation began to prepare for the
approaching conflict with an earnestness and determination that
promised results worthy of itself and the cause for which it
struggled. The Federalist journals came at last to the rescue,
declaring that the terms offered were too humiliating and degrading to
be entertained for a moment. Only one paper in Boston was besotted
enough to assert that they were honorable and ought to be accepted.
Congress, after the reception of this protocol and the accompanying
despatches, took a different tone, and when the question of ways and
means for the coming year was taken up, a spirit was exhibited, that
since the declaration of war, had never been witnessed in its
deliberations. The fear and hesitation which were weighing it down,
vanished, and it began to assume the character and exhibit the
qualities belonging to it, but which the spirit of faction had kept in
abeyance. The Legislatures of the different states responded to the
sentiments of the commissioners--declaring that the terms proposed
were insulting and disgraceful, and called for a vigorous prosecution
of the war. New York voted a local force of 12,000 men, and Virginia
followed her example.
It was a grand stroke of policy, on the part of the administration, to
fling those despatches at once into Congress and thus before the
nation. Their sudden publication took the British Ministry by
surprise, for it exposed their extraordinary demands to the whole
realm, and they remonstrated against such undiplomatic conduct.
Before the Convention of Ghent the English press ridiculed
concessions, declaring that punishment must be inflicted on the
Americans, and they be chastised into humility and supplication. The
war with us was a Lilliputian affair compared to the struggles out of
which England had come victorious, and the Convention was not looked
upon so much as the meeting of Commissioners to adjust things
amicably, as furnishing the opportunity for the American government to
make a request to have hostilities cease. But the disasters to
Drummond, at Fort Erie, to Prevost at Plattsburgh, and the utter
demolition of the British fleet on Champlain, together with the
repulse from Baltimore, acted as a condenser on much of this vapor.
[Sidenote: Nov. 4.] The vast expenditures wasted on the Canadian
frontier were now all to be renewed, newer and stronger armies were to
be transported to our shores, and when the Prince Regent opened
Parliament he plainly hinted that it would be well to avoid all this,
if possible. The arrival of the despatches which the President had
laid before Congress, containing the protocol of the English Embassy,
created a deep sensation in both houses of Parliament. The claims set
up by the English government were loudly denounced by many of the
members, and it was soon apparent that if the war was pressed to make
them good, a large opposition party would be formed, not only in
Parliament but in the country. Sixty manufacturing towns sent in
petitions for peace. Cobbett, who had all along defended the conduct
of the United States, was unsparing in his flagellations of the
British government, and of those papers that advocated the war.
While the war question was passing through these phases in England,
and on the continent, Congress was preparing to call out the whole
resources of the country. But a second despatch received from Ghent,
stating that negotiations were resumed and that the British
government had receded from the Indian boundary question, awakened
lively hopes that peace would be secured.
But the energy with which Congress had entered on the question of ways
and means, began to expend itself in party strife. Monroe's plan for
raising a standing force of 80,000 men to serve for two years; a bill
authorizing the enlistment of minors; and Dallas' National Bank
scheme, to relieve the finances of the country, after fierce
discussions and many modifications, one after another fell to the
ground. In the mean time, the treasury was compelled to subsist on the
issue of Treasury notes, which as business paper were worth only 78
per cent.
[Sidenote: Dec. 15.]
New tax bills were soon after passed--laying taxes on carriages
according to their value; 20 cts. per gallon on distilled spirits;
increasing a hundred per cent. the tax on auction duties, and 50 per
cent. on postage. Heavy duties were also placed on most goods of
domestic manufacture, with the exception of cotton, and a direct tax
of six millions was levied on the nation.
As time passed on, and no farther tidings was received from Ghent,
Congress again took up and finally passed the bill for the enlistment
of minors. The Legislatures of Connecticut and Massachusetts
immediately passed acts requiring the judges of these respective
states to discharge on habeas corpus all enlistments made under the
provisions of the bill, and to punish with fine and imprisonment all
who engaged in it, and removed minors out of the state to prevent
their discharge.
These acts of Congress, however, did not avail to help the government
out of the troubles that were once more gathering thick about it.
Everything was at a stand still for lack of funds--even the recruiting
service got on slowly. In the mean time, negotiations for peace did
not wear a very encouraging aspect, while the gain of the Federalists
in some of the states, in the recent elections, and the Hartford
Convention, helped to swell the evils under which the administration
labored.
The conscription scheme would not work in many of the states, and
resort was had to the old system of raising 40,000 volunteers for
twelve months, and the acceptance of as many more for local defence.
[Illustration: Painful March of Volunteers.]
The administration then turned its attention to the navy, the pride
and glory of the country, and a bill was passed Congress authorizing
the equipment of twenty small cruisers. Under its provisions two small
squadrons of five vessels each, one to be commanded by Porter and the
other by Perry, had been set on foot, whose object was to inflict on
the British West Indies the havoc and destruction with which the enemy
had visited our coast. But it was difficult to obtain seamen, as most
of those who had enlisted during the last year had been sent to the
northern lakes to serve on fresh water--a duty always unpalatable to a
sailor. Our vessels of war being blockaded, we had no occasion for
seamen on the coast, and could find employment for them on the lakes
alone. Crowningshield, who had succeeded Jones as Secretary of the
Navy, actually recommended a conscription of seamen.
In the mean time, Great Britain had concentrated in Canada a larger
force than she had ever before assembled there, ready to march on
the states, while Cockburn, in possession of Cumberland island,
threatened the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina with the same
ravages that marked his course in the Chesapeake. Added to all this,
a heavy force was known to be on its way to New Orleans, which the
government had neglected to defend, and hence expected to see fall
into the hands of the enemy. The prospect was black as night around
the administration--not a ray of light visited it from any quarter
of the heavens. Funds and troops and ships had never been so scarce,
while overpowering fleets and armies were assembling on our coasts
and frontiers. [Sidenote: Jan. 17, 1815.] In the midst of all this,
as if on purpose to drive the government to despair, Dallas came out
with a new report on the state of the Treasury, in which he informed
it that the year had closed with $19,000,000 of unpaid debts, to
meet which there was less than $2,000,000 on hand, and $4,500,000
of taxes not yet collected. The revenue was estimated at
$11,000,000, of which only one million was from imports, the rest
from taxes. While he thus exhibited the beggared condition of the
Treasury, he informed the administration that fifty millions would
be needed to meet the expenditures of the coming year, and gravely
asked where it all was to come from. The government looked on in
dismay, and to what measures it would have been compelled to resort
for relief it is impossible to say; but in reviewing that period one
shudders to contemplate the probable results of another year of war,
and another Hartford Convention. But like the sun suddenly bursting
through a dark and ominous thundercloud, just before he sinks
beneath the horizon, came at length the news of the great victory at
New Orleans, and the conclusion of peace at Ghent. Never before was
an administration so loudly called upon to ask that public thanks
might be offered for deliverance from great perils.
CHAPTER X.
HARTFORD CONVENTION.
1814.
Attitude of New England -- Governor Strong -- Views and
purposes of the Federalists -- Anxiety of Madison --
Prudence of Colonel Jesup -- Result of the Convention --
Fears of the people -- Fate of the Federalists.
While Government was thus struggling to avert the perils that every
day grew darker around it, and the negotiations at Ghent were drawing
to a conclusion, serious events were occurring in the New England
States.
Although the ravages of the enemy along our coast during the summer,
and our victories at the north in autumn, together with the insulting
demands of England, had seriously weakened the Federalist power, and
brought it into still greater disrepute with the mass of the people,
and passing events admonished delay, still they resolved to carry out
a favorite plan of calling a Convention of the disaffected States, to
consult on the best mode of defending themselves, and of forcing the
administration into the adoption of their measures, and to take steps
towards amending the Constitution. New England had all along denied
the right of the General Government to call out the militia, except
for the defence of the States in which they resided, and demanded the
control of her own troops, and consequently of a large portion of her
own revenue. Heavy complaints were also made against the direct taxes
levied, and many refused to ride in coaches, or use those things
taxed, thus placing themselves beside the revolutionary patriots, and
making the General Government resemble England in its oppression.
Massachusetts, with Governor Strong as its Executive head, took the
lead in all movements designed to carry out these projects.
Resolutions had passed the Legislature, raising an army of ten
thousand men, and a million of money to support it. This army was to
be officered by Governor Strong, and its movements directed by
Federalist councils. Such a large force, raised not to aid the
administration to carry on the war, but for selfish ends, naturally
awakened the gravest fears, and the President saw in it the first step
towards armed opposition. All this may be defensible, but the gallant
sons of Kentucky, with their gray-haired but chivalrous Governor at
their head, streaming through the northern forests, to drive back from
the feeble settlements of Ohio the savage hordes that were laying
them waste, and Governor Strong, bidding the militia of his State stay
at home and take care of themselves, present a contrast so widely
different, that no sophistry can make them appear equally patriotic
and unselfish.
[Sidenote: Oct. 18.]
In order to bring the whole eastern section into similar measures, and
to give union to the opposition, a resolution was passed calling a
Convention of the New England States, to meet at Hartford, December
15th, to deliberate on the best method of defence against the enemy,
and to take measures for procuring amendments to the Constitution,
which the Federalists had ascertained, since the war began, to be a
most worthless instrument. The letter accompanying this resolution
being laid before the Connecticut Legislature, seven delegates were
appointed to the Convention, to meet the twelve sent from
Massachusetts; Rhode Island sent four, making in all twenty-three, to
which three County delegates from New Hampshire were added. Vermont
refused to have any thing to do with the matter. These resolutions did
not pass without violent opposition in each of the Legislatures.
Holmes, of Massachusetts, openly declared his suspicions that
Massachusetts designed to head a combination for the dissolution of
the Union. The raising of an army of ten thousand men, not subject to
the orders of the General Government, confirmed his fears, and gave a
practical character to opinions hostile to the confederacy.
Harrison Gray Otis and John Cabot, were leaders of the Massachusetts
delegation.
[Sidenote: Dec. 15.]
No body of men ever assembled under such universal execration and
odium as did these delegates. Except the few Federalist journals in
New England, the entire press of the nation denounced them, one and
all, as traitors.
George Cabot being elected President, and Timothy Dwight, Secretary,
the Convention proceeded to deliberate on the momentous questions they
had proposed to discuss, with closed doors. Madison was in trepidation
and could speak of nothing but the Convention, and sent Colonel Jesup
to watch it. To prevent his design from being suspected, he directed
this gallant officer to make Hartford a recruiting station.
Jesup had had interviews with Governor Tompkins, to ascertain what aid
he could afford in case it became necessary to resort to force. He was
satisfied that the treasonable designs of the delegates had been much
exaggerated, but he wished to be prepared for any emergency, and
having arranged his plans, quietly awaited the result of their
deliberations. He was in constant correspondence with Monroe,
Secretary of War, and did much towards allaying the fears of the
President, and promised if open treason exhibited itself, to crush it
and its authors, with one decisive blow. Ingratiating himself with
some of the delegates of the Convention and with the authorities of
Hartford by his conciliatory and agreeable manner; and winning the
respect of all by his prudent conduct, he soon became convinced that a
resolution for disunion, if offered, could not be carried.
At length, after three weeks of secret session, this dreaded
Convention, on whose mysterious sittings the eyes of the nation had
been turned, adjourned, and every one waited with anxiety to hear the
decision to which it had come. The shadowy forms of disunion and
treason had so long been seen presiding over its labors, that some
monstrous birth was expected. But nature moved on in her accustomed
courses, and no shock was felt by the republic, and instead of a shell
flung into the Union, rending it asunder, there appeared a long and
heavy document containing the collective wisdom of these twenty-six
men. After going over the transgressions of the administration, from
first to last, it passed to the defects of the Constitution. It
modestly remarked that the enumeration of all the improvements of
which this instrument was susceptible, and the proposal of all the
amendments necessary to make it perfect, was a task which the
Convention had "not thought proper to assume." After paying this
flattering testimony to the grand and glorious intellects who framed
the Constitution, it proceeded to mention six amendments on which
there should be immediate action. The first related to the
apportionment of representation among the slave States. The second to
the admission of new States, restricting the powers of Congress in
this respect, in order to keep down western influence. The third, to
the right to pass restrictive and embargo acts, and carry on offensive
war. The fifth, to exclude foreigners from holding places of honor,
trust or profit under Government, and the last to limiting the
Presidential office to one term.
Resolutions and recommendations in accordance with these sentiments,
were sent to the separate states represented in that Convention.
Delegates were also appointed to repair to Washington to remonstrate
with the President, some say to threaten him, and insist on his
resignation. No treason appeared in all this, but the serious
discussion of the question of disunion in the preamble, and the
hypothetical cases put, in which such a step would be justifiable,
showed that it had been mooted and seriously entertained by some of
the members.
The tone of the paper was bad, egotistical, and mutinous. It
endeavored to arraign the states of New England against the
government--urged them to resist forcible drafts and conscriptions,
and raise armies of their own to co-operate each with the other in
time of need.
This exposé, however, did not satisfy the Democrats, who insisted that
some deep-laid scheme was back of all this--that the secret records of
the Convention would disclose blacker transactions than had yet seen
the light, and from that time on, those twenty delegates have been
stigmatized as traitors. They, on the other hand, have defended
themselves from the aspersion, and declared that they were governed by
the highest patriotic motives and love to the union.
The truth lies, doubtless, somewhere between these extremes. The error
of the accusers consists in making one, or two, or more delegates
represent the Convention. There probably were men present whose
political animosities had carried them so far beyond the limits of
reason, that they would rather dissolve the union than live two years
longer under the sway of Madison and his party. These views might have
been expressed, but the Convention, in refusing to endorse them, was
not responsible for them.
But laying all this aside, there is no doubt that the Convention was
called to organize one section of the republic against the other, and
it depended on circumstances entirely to what extent that opposition
should go, and what form it took. This may not be treason, and yet be
nearly akin to it. It depends very much on the simple question whether
the evils contemplated, as justifying open opposition, are _real_ or
_imaginary_. A deliberate effort to ruin New England and deprive her
of her constitutional rights, would certainly justify secession. All
this the Federalists believed the government had done, and that party
tyranny and oppression could no farther go. The light evils under
which they suffered had become so magnified, in the heat of party
strife, that many were prepared to act precisely as others would do
under real wrongs.
The obloquy that has fallen upon that Convention was merited. The time
it chose for its session, when the country was staggering under the
weight of a war which, however unjustifiably begun, it could not then
close with honor or justice, and the lordly tone it assumed to
Congress--the cold and unpatriotic feelings that characterized its
deliberations, merit the deepest condemnation. Under a change of
fortunes and a continuance of the war, it might, and probably would,
have grown into a shape of evil. As events turned out, it has proved a
blessing, for it stands as a beacon, warning all leaders of party
factions of their fate, who, in national distress, cripple the
government, and, by their hostility, help the enemy to inflict sorer
evils and deeper disgrace upon a common country. It also shows how
local interests, views, and feelings, however magnified at the time by
peculiar circumstances, are derided or forgotten, in a movement that
affects the fate of a hemisphere.
THE INVASION.
CHAPTER XI.
General Jackson appointed Major-General -- Hostility of
Spain -- Gallant defence of Fort Bowyer -- Seizure of
Pensacola -- Jackson at New Orleans -- Approach and landing
of the British -- Jackson proclaims martial law -- Night
attack on the British -- Jackson entrenches himself -- First
attack of the British -- Second attack -- Final Assault --
The battle and the victory -- Jackson fined by Judge Hall --
Arrival of the Treaty of Peace -- Great Rejoicings --
Delegates of the Hartford Convention -- Remarks on the
treaty.
In the mean time, great anxiety was felt for the fate of New Orleans,
towards which an imposing armament was hastening, bearing a veteran
army fresh from the victorious fields of Spain. England had loaned
this army to feudalism in Europe for the overthrow of free principles
there, and intoxicated with success, resolved to use it to carry out
here the same tyrannical system which has ever since been covering her
with infamy and for which the final day of reckoning has not yet
arrived.
Jackson had been appointed Major-General in place of Harrison, who
resigned, and given the command of the southern army to which was
entrusted the protection of the coast near the mouth of the
Mississippi. Pensacola, then under Spanish authority, was the resort
of British emissaries, who stirred up the surrounding savages to
massacre and bloodshed, and he determined as a first step to take
active measures against it. [Sidenote: August.] He sent Captain Gordon
to reconnoitre the place, who reported, on his return, that he had
seen a number of soldiers and several hundred savages in British
uniform under drill by British officers. Jackson immediately
despatched this report to government. Under such a palpable violation
of treaty stipulations there was only one course to be pursued, and
Gen. Armstrong, the Secretary of War, issued an order authorizing
Jackson to attack the town. This order was made out; but, by some
mysterious process, was so long in getting into the post-office, that
it never reached its destination till the 17th of January the next
year. Jackson waited patiently for the sanction of his government to
move forward, not wishing that his first important step as
Major-General in the regular army should meet the disapproval of those
who had entrusted him with power. But a proclamation, issued by a
British officer named Nicholls, and dated Pensacola, calling on all
the negroes and savages, nay, even the Americans themselves, to rally
to the British standard, put an end to his indecision.
In the mean time, Nicholls made an attempt on Fort Bowyer, a small
redoubt, garrisoned by one hundred and twenty men, and defended by
twenty pieces of cannon. This fortress commanded the entrance from the
Gulf to Mobile. [Sidenote: Sept. 12.] To capture it, four British
ships, carrying ninety guns, and a land force of over seven hundred
men were despatched from Pensacola. On the 15th, the ships took up
their position within musket-shot of the fort, and opened their fire.
The land force, in the mean time, had gained the rear, and commenced
an attack. Major Lawrence, with the brave little garrison under his
command, met this double onset with the coolness of a veteran.
Scattering the motley collection under Nicholls, with a few discharges
of grape-shot, he turned his entire attention to the vessels of war.
Being in such close range, the cannonading on both sides was terrific.
The incessant and heavy explosions shook that little redoubt to its
foundations; but at the end of three hours, the smoke slowly curled
away from its battered sides, revealing the flag still flying aloft,
and the begrimed cannoniers standing sternly beside their pieces.
After the firing of the enemy ceased, the ship Hermes was seen
drifting helplessly on a sand-bank, while the other vessels were
crowding all sail seaward. The former soon after grounded within six
hundred yards of the fort, whose guns opened on her anew with
tremendous effect, and she soon blew up. Out of the one hundred and
seventy who composed her crew, only twenty escaped. The other ships
suffered severely, and the total loss of the enemy was one ship
burned, and two hundred and thirty-two men killed and wounded, while
only eight of the garrison were killed. Nicholls effected his retreat
to Pensacola, where the governor received him as his guest, and threw
open the public stores to the soldiers. On the flag-staff of the fort
were "entwined the colors of Spain and England," as if on purpose to
announce that all neutrality was at an end.
These things coming to Jackson's ear, he resolved to delay no longer
but get possession of the town and fort at once, "peaceably if he
could, forcibly if he must." [Sidenote: Nov. 6.] He immediately
hastened to Fort Montgomery, where he had assembled four thousand men,
and putting himself at their head, in four days encamped within two
miles of the place, and despatched a flag to the Spanish governor,
disclosing his object and purpose. The messenger was fired upon from
the fort, and compelled to return. Jackson's fiery nature was
instantly aroused by this insult, yet remembering that he was acting
without the sanction of government, he resolved still to negotiate.
Having, at length, succeeded in opening a Correspondence with the
governor, he told him that he had come to take possession of the
town, and hold it for Spain till she was able to preserve her
neutrality. The governor refusing entirely to be relieved from his
charge, Jackson put his columns in motion and marched straight on the
town. At the entrance, a battery of two cannon opened on his central
column; but these being speedily carried by storm, together with two
fortified houses, the troops, with loud shouts, pressed forward, and
in a few minutes were masters of the place. The Spanish governor no
sooner saw the American soldiers with loud hurrahs inundating the
streets, than he rushed forward imploring mercy, and promising an
immediate surrender. Jackson at once ordered the recall to be sounded,
and retired without the town. The commandant of the fort, however,
refused to surrender it, when Jackson ordered an assault. The former
wisely averted the approaching blow by lowering his flag. The British
fled, taking with them their allies, four hundred of whom being
negroes, were carried to the West Indies, and sold for slaves.
Having thus chastised the Spanish governor, and broken up the plans
laid to renew the Indian war, Jackson took up his march for New
Orleans, against which he had no doubt the large force that had left
the eastern coast was directed. He established his headquarters there,
on the first of December; and three days after, the news that a large
British fleet was approaching the coast, spread through the city. The
report was soon confirmed, and Jackson, whom danger always
tranquilized, while it filled him with tenfold energy, began to
prepare for the approaching shock.
New Orleans, numbering at that time only thirty thousand inhabitants,
was but recently purchased from France, and the population, being
composed mostly of those in whose veins flowed Spanish and French
blood, did not feel the same patriotic ardor that animated the Eastern
cities. Many were known to be hostile, and were suspected of carrying
on treasonable correspondence with the enemy. Feeling that he had but
a slender hold on the city, and knowing that secret foes watched and
reported all his movements, Jackson was compelled to act with extreme
caution.
This hostility, as it were, in his own camp, added immensely to the
embarrassments that surrounded him. But calm, keen, resolute,
tireless, and full of courage, he soon inspired the patriotic citizens
with confidence. Resources they had not dreamed of, sprang up at his
bidding. But it needed all the renown he had won, and all his personal
influence, to impart the faintest promise of success.
He had brought only a portion of his troops with him from Pensacola.
But no sooner did he arrive, than he inspected narrowly the inlets,
bayous, and channels, marked out the location of works, ordered
obstructions raised, and then called on the different States to send
him help. A thousand regulars were immediately ordered to New Orleans,
while the Tennessee militia, under General Carrol, and the mounted
riflemen, under General Coffee, hastened as of old, to his side.
Concealing as much as possible the weakness of his force, and the bad
appointments of many of the soldiers, he strained every nerve to
increase the means of defence. The French inhabitants forgot their
hostility to the Americans in greater hate of the English, while many
others, who, hitherto, had taken little or no interest in the war,
roused by the sudden danger that threatened them, flew to arms. The
free negroes and refugees from St. Domingo, formed themselves into a
black regiment, and were incorporated into the army. Jackson's energy
and courage soon changed the whole current of feeling, and, day and
night, the sounds of martial preparation echoed along the streets of
the city. The excitement swelled higher and higher, as the hostile
fleet gradually closed towards the mouth of the Mississippi. But one
thought occupied every bosom--one topic became the theme of all
conversation. Consternation and courage moved side by side; for while
the most believed Jackson to be invincible, others, carefully weighing
the force of the armament approaching, could not but anticipate
discomfiture and destruction. Nor was this surprising; for a fleet of
more than eighty sail, under the command of Admiral Cochrane, carrying
on their decks eleven thousand veteran troops, led by men of renown,
was advancing on the city. Besides this formidable land force, there
were twelve thousand seamen and marines. The facts alone were
sufficient to cause anxiety and alarm; but rumor magnified them
fourfold. To resist all this, New Orleans had no vessels of war, no
strong fortresses, no army of veteran troops. General Jackson, with
his undisciplined and half-armed yeomanry, alone stood between the
town and destruction. He was not ignorant of the tremendous force
advancing against him; but still he was calm and resolute. To the
panic-stricken women, who roamed the streets, filling the air with
shrieks and cries of alarm, he said, "_The enemy shall never reach the
city._"
New Orleans, situated on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, was
accessible not only through the various mouths of the river, but also
with small vessels through lakes Borgne and Ponchartrain, and was
therefore a difficult place to defend, for no one could tell by what
way, or by how many ways the enemy would approach. Jackson saw that he
would be compelled to divide his forces in order to guard every
avenue. In the mean time, while he watched the approaching force, he
kept his eye on the city. The press did not manfully sustain him, and
the legislature, then in session, looked upon his actions with
suspicion, if not with hostile feelings. Although a native of another
State, and having no personal interest in the fate of the place, whose
authorities treated him with coldness, he nevertheless, determined to
save it at all hazards, and while apparently bending his vast energies
to meet an external foe, boldly assumed the control of the municipal
authority, declared martial law, and when Judge Hall liberated a
traitor whom he had imprisoned, sternly ordered the Judge himself into
confinement.
[Sidenote: Dec. 9.]
At length, the excited inhabitants were told that the British fleet
had reached the coast; sixty sail being seen near the mouth of the
Mississippi. Commodore Patterson immediately despatched Lieutenant
Jones with five gun-boats to watch its motions. This spirited
commander, in passing through Lake Borgne, discovered that the enemy,
instead of approaching direct by the river, was advancing up the
lakes. In hovering around them to ascertain their designs, he
unfortunately got becalmed, and in that position was attacked by forty
barges, containing twelve hundred men. Notwithstanding he had under
him less than two hundred men, he refused to surrender, and gallantly
returned the fire of the enemy. For a whole hour he stubbornly
maintained the unequal conquest; but, at length, after killing nearly
double his entire force, he was compelled to strike his flag.
The British had now complete control of lakes Ponchartrain and Borgne,
and advancing up the latter, entered a canal, and finally effected a
landing on the levee, about eight miles from the city. This levee acts
as a bank to keep the river from the inland, which is lower than the
surface of the water. It varies in width from a few hundred yards to
two or three miles, and is covered with plantations. Thus, now almost
like a causeway, and again like an elevated plateau, it stretches away
from the city, with the river on one side, and an impassable swamp on
the other.
The forts that commanded the river were, by this manoeuvre of the
enemy, rendered comparatively useless, and an open road to the city
lay before him. Jackson no sooner heard that the British had effected
a landing, than he determined at once to attack them before their
heavy artillery and the main body of the army could be brought
forward. On the 23d, therefore, a few hours after they had reached the
banks of the Mississippi, his columns were in motion, and by evening
halted within two miles of the hostile force. His plans were
immediately laid--the schooner of war, Caroline, commanded by
Commodore Patterson, was ordered to drop quietly down the river, soon
after dark, and anchor abreast the British encampment. General Coffee,
with between six and seven hundred men, was directed to skirt the
swamp to the left of the levee, and gain, undiscovered, the enemy's
rear; while he himself, with thirteen hundred troops, would march
directly down the river along the highway, and assail them in front.
The guns of the Caroline were to be the signal for a general attack.
She, unmolested, swept noiselessly down with the current, gained her
position, dropped her anchors, and opened her fire. The thunder and
blaze of her guns, as grape-shot and balls came rattling and crashing
into the camp of the British, were the first intimation they received
of an attack. At the same time, Generals Coffee and Jackson gave the
orders to advance. Night had now arrived, and although there was a
moon, the fast-rising mist from the swamps and river mingling with the
smoke of the guns, so dimmed her light that objects could be discerned
only a short distance, save the watch-fires of the enemy, which burned
brightly through the gloom. Guided by these, Coffee continued to
advance, when suddenly he was met by a sharp fire. The enemy, retiring
before the shot of the Caroline, had left the bank of the river, not
dreaming of a foe in their rear. Coffee was taken by surprise; but
this brave commander had been in too many perilous scenes to be
disconcerted, and ordering the charge to be sounded, swept the field
before him.
Again and again the British rallied, only to be driven from their
position. At length they made a determined stand in a grove of orange
trees, behind a ditch which was lined with a fence. But the excited
troops charged boldly over the ditch, fence, and all, and lighting up
the orange grove with the fire of their guns, and awakening its echoes
with their loud huzzas, pressed fiercely after the astonished enemy,
and forced them back to the river. Here the latter turned at bay, and
for half an hour, maintained a determined fight. But being swept by
such close and destructive volleys, they at length clambered down the
levee, and turning it into a breastwork, repelled every attempt to
dislodge them.
In the mean time, Jackson had advanced along the river. Guided by the
guns of the Caroline, and the rockets of the enemy, that rose hissing
from the gloom, he pressed swiftly forward. He had given directions to
move by heads of companies, and as soon as they reached the enemy, to
deploy into line, which was to be extended till it joined that of Gen.
Coffee, thus forcing the British back upon the river, and keeping them
under the guns of the Caroline. But, instead of doing this, they
formed into line at the outset. The levee being wide where the march
commenced, no inconvenience was felt from this order; but, as it grew
narrower, the left wing was gradually forced in, and being a little in
advance, crowded and drove back the centre, creating confusion and
arresting its progress. The whole, however, continued to press
forward, and soon came upon the enemy, entrenched behind a deep ditch.
Jackson, perceiving the advantage of their position, ordered a charge
at once. The troops marched up to the edge of the ditch, poured one
destructive volley over, then leaped after. The British retired behind
another, and another, only to be again forced to retreat. At length,
Jackson halted; the enemy had withdrawn into the darkness, the
Caroline had almost ceased her fire, while but random volleys were
heard in the direction of Coffee's brigade. He knew not where to renew
the conflict, while the rapidly increasing fog shrouded everything
in still greater darkness and uncertainty. Finding, too, that his left
wing had got into inextricable confusion, and that a part of Coffee's
troops were in no better condition, he determined to withdraw.
While these things were passing on the banks of the Mississippi, and
gloom and uncertainty hung over New Orleans, our commissioners at
Ghent were wrapt in pleasant slumbers, for the next day was to witness
the signature of a treaty of peace between the two countries, when
the ravages of war should give place to the peaceful pursuits of
commerce.
Jackson had laid his plans with skill, and entertained no doubt of
success; and but for the fact that the Caroline commenced her fire a
little too early, and that the after false movement of his left wing
prevented the rapid advance of the centre, he no doubt would have
slain or captured nearly the whole three thousand opposed to him. But
night attacks are always subject to failure through mistakes caused by
the darkness, especially if the movements are at all complicated. A
sudden, heavy onset, overturning every thing before it--a single,
concentrated blow, like the fall of an avalanche--are best fitted for
the night.
Still, Jackson did not despair of success, and determined at daybreak
to renew the attack. But it was soon ascertained, from prisoners and
deserters, that by morning the enemy would be six thousand strong,
making a disparity against him he could not hope to overcome. He
therefore fell back to a deep ditch that stretched from the
Mississippi, across the entire levee, to the swamp. Behind this he
arrayed his troops, resolved, since nothing else could be done, to
make there a determined stand. In his unsuccessful assault, he had
lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, two hundred and forty men;
while the enemy had been weakened by nearly double that number.
Jackson's first plan having failed, all his hopes now rested on a
successful defence of his position. The gun-boats had been destroyed,
leaving the lakes open to the hostile fleet. All the passes to the
city had been guarded in vain. Through an unimportant and almost
unknown canal, the enemy had passed unmolested, and landed where
nothing but undisciplined troops lay between him and the city. Too
strong to be assailed, the British could now complete their
arrangements and array their strength at leisure. Undismayed, however,
and unshaken in his confidence, Jackson gathered his little band
behind this single ditch, and coolly surveyed his chances. He knew the
history and character of the troops opposed to him; he knew also how
uncertain untrained militia were in a close and hot engagement. Still
he resolved to try the issue in a great and desperate battle. No
sooner was this determination taken, than he set about increasing the
strength of his position with every means in his power. He deepened
and widened the ditch; and where it terminated in the swamp, cut down
the trees, thus extending the line still further in, to prevent being
outflanked. The gallant Coffee was placed here, who, with his noble
followers, day after day, and night after night, stood knee-deep in
the mud, and slept on the brush they piled together to keep them from
the water. Sluices were also opened in the levee, and the waters of
the Mississippi turned on the plain, covering it breast-deep. The
earth was piled still higher on the edge of the ditch; while cotton
bales were brought and covered over to increase the breadth and depth
of the breastwork.
With a will unyielding as fate itself, tireless energy, and a frame of
iron to match, Jackson no sooner set his heart on a great object, than
he toiled towards it with a resolution--nay, almost fierceness--that
amazed men.
Night and day the soldiers were kept at work, the sound of the spade
and pickaxe never ceased, while the constant rolling of wheels was
heard, as wagons and carts sped to and from the city. Jackson, with
his whole nature roused to the highest pitch of excitement, moved amid
this busy scene, its soul and centre. Impervious to fatigue, he worked
on when others sank to rest; and at midday and midnight, was seen
reviewing his troops, or traversing the trenches to cheer the
laborers; and for four days and nights scarcely took a moment's rest.
In addition to the breastwork he was rearing on the east bank, he
ordered General Morgan to take position on the right bank, opposite
his line, and fortify it. To prevent the ships from ascending the
river to co-operate with the army, he dispatched Major Reynolds to
obstruct and defend the pass of Barataria--the channel through which
they would in all probability attempt to approach.
In the mean time, the British were not idle. They had deepened the
canal through which they had effected a landing, and thus, assisted by
the high waters of the Mississippi, been able to bring up larger
boats, loaded with the heavy artillery.
On the third day, a battery was observed, erected opposite the
Caroline, which, after the good service she did in the night attack,
had floated to the opposite shore, where she continued to annoy the
enemy. Jackson knew her perilous position, but there had been no wind
sufficiently strong to enable her to stem the rapid current; and, on
the morning of the 27th, the battery opened on her with shells and
red-hot shot. She was soon in a blaze; and the crew, seeing the
attempt to save her useless, escaped to the shore. Soon after, she
blew up.
[Sidenote: Dec. 28.]
The next day, Sir Edward Packenham ordered an attack on the American
works. The columns advanced in beautiful order, and at the distance of
half a mile opened their batteries, and, with bombshells and
congreve-rockets, endeavored to send confusion among the American
militia. But the guns of the latter were admirably served, and told
with great effect on the exposed ranks of the enemy. The Louisiana
sloop of war, that lay opposite the American line, swung her broadside
so as to bear on the advancing columns, and raked them with such a
deadly fire that the assault was abandoned, and the army returned to
camp, with the loss of over a hundred men, while that of the Americans
was but seven killed and eight wounded. But among the slain of the
latter was Colonel Henderson of the Tennessee militia, a man deeply
lamented.
Events were now evidently approaching a crisis; and the anxiety and
interest deepened daily and hourly. To add to the weight which already
pressed the heart of Jackson, he was told that the legislature had
become frightened, and was discussing the propriety of surrendering
the city. He immediately sent a dispatch to Governor Clairborne,
ordering him to watch its proceedings, and the moment such a project
should be fairly formed, to place a guard at the door of the chamber,
and shut the members in. In his zeal and warm-hearted patriotism, or
through misconception of the order, the governor, making sure work of
it, turned the whole of them _out_ of doors. Just before the execution
of this high-handed measure, a committee of the legislature waited on
Jackson, to inquire what he designed to do if compelled to abandon his
position. "If," he replied, "I thought the hair of my head could
divine what I should do, I would cut it off forthwith. Go back with
this answer: say to your honorable body that if disaster does overtake
me, and the fate of war drives me from my line to the city, _that they
may expect to have a warm session_." To one who asked him afterwards
what he would have done in such an emergency, he said, "I would have
retreated to the city, _fired it_, and _fought the enemy amid the
surrounding flames_." A more heroic speech never fell from the lips of
a commander. New Orleans in flames and Jackson charging down its
blazing streets, would have been one of the most frightful exhibitions
furnished in the annals of the war.
[Sidenote: Jan. 1, 1815.]
The British, after the attack of the 28th, occupied their whole time
in landing heavier cannon. Having completed their arrangements, they
resolved to make another attempt on the American works. The New Year
opened with a heavy fog, which shrouded the whole plain and British
encampment from sight. But, from its mysterious bosom, ominous,
muffled sounds arose, which were distinctly heard in every part of the
American line, and the troops stood to arms. At length, as the sun
gathered strength, the fog lifted and parted--dimly revealing the
whole plain. No sooner did the enemy, who had advanced their batteries
within six hundred yards of the American intrenchments, see the long,
black line of the latter, stretching through the haze, than a
tremendous burst of artillery shook the solid levee on which it
stood. A flight of Congreve rockets followed, crossing and recrossing
the heavens in every direction, and weaving a fiery net-work over the
heads of the astonished but undaunted Americans. The first heavy
explosion sent Jackson to the lines; and luckily for him it did; for
the British having been shown by a spy the house which he occupied,
they directed a battery upon it, and in a few minutes it was riddled
with balls. The American artillery replied, and it was a constant roar
of cannon till noon, when most of the English batteries being beaten
down or damaged, they ceased their fire. One, near the river,
continued to play on the American works till three o'clock, when it
also became silent, and the enemy, baffled at every point, retired
sullenly to his camp.
The two armies, each expecting reinforcements, now rested for a week
from decisive hostilities. In the mean time, Jackson continued to
strengthen his works and discipline his men. A Frenchman having come
to him to complain of damage done to his property, the latter replied
that, as he was a man of property, he knew of no one who had a better
right to defend it, and placing a musket in his hands, ordered him
into the ranks.
During this week of comparative repose, New Orleans and the two
hostile camps presented a spectacle of the most thrilling interest.
The British army lay in full view of the American lines, their white
tents looking, amid the surrounding water, like clouds of sail resting
on the bosom of the river. At intervals were heard the sharp and
rattling volleys of the pickets of the two armies, as they came in
collision, while the morning and evening gun sent their stern
challenge over the plain. There was marching and countermarching,
strains of martial music, and all the confused sounds of a camp, when
preparations are making for a grand and decisive blow. To the farmers,
merchants, mechanics, and youths, who lay within the American
intrenchments, the scene and the thoughts it awakened were new. Behind
them stood their homes; before them, the veterans of Spain, whom, in a
few days, they were to meet in final combat.
In the city, the excitement kept increasing; but after the first
battle, the patriotism of the population received a new impulse. In
the night attack many of the troops had lost all their clothing except
that which they wore on their backs, and hence soon began to suffer.
No sooner was this known to the ladies than their fair hands were in
motion; and in a short time the wants of the soldiers were supplied.
In the mean time the long-expected Kentucky troops, upwards of two
thousand strong, arrived. Courier after courier had been sent to hurry
their march; and the last day had been one of incredible toil and
speed. Only five hundred of them, however, had muskets; the rest were
armed with fowling-pieces, and such weapons as they could lay hands
on. Nor were there any means of supplying them, so that the accession
of strength was comparatively trifling. Gen. Lambert, too, had
reinforced the British with several thousand veteran troops.
A canal in the mean time had been widened through the levee, by which
boats were transported to the Mississippi for that portion of the army
which was destined to act against the fortifications on the west bank,
commanded by General Morgan. A long siege was out of the question, and
now nothing remained to be done but to advance at once to the assault
of the American intrenchments, or abandon the expedition. The latter
alternative was not to be contemplated; and, on the night of the 7th,
Jackson, surveying the encampment through his glass, discovered
unmistakeable evidence that the enemy was meditating an important
movement. The camp was in commotion; the boats which had been dragged
through the canal, and now lay moored to the levee, were being loaded
with artillery and munitions of war, and every thing betokened a hot
to-morrow. Coffee still held the swamp on the left; Carroll, with his
Tennesseans, the centre; while Jackson, with the regulars under him,
commanded in person the right, resting on the river. Behind Carroll
were placed the Kentuckians, under General Adair--in all, less than
four thousand effective men. [Sidenote: Jan. 8.] This was the position
of affairs as the Sabbath morning of the 8th of January began to dawn.
The light had scarcely streaked the east, when the inhabitants of New
Orleans were startled from their slumbers by an explosion of cannon
that shook the city. The battle had opened. Under cover of the night,
heavy batteries had been erected within eight hundred yards of the
American intrenchments, and, the moment the fog lifted above them,
they opened their fire. Directly after, a rocket, rising through the
mist near the swamp, and another answering it from the shore,
announced that all was ready. The next moment, two columns, each four
or five thousand strong--one moving straight on Carrol's position, the
other against the right of the intrenchments--swept steadily and
swiftly across the plain. Three thrilling cheers rose over the dark
intrenchments at the sight, and then all was still again.
The levee here was contracted to four hundred yards in width, and as
the columns, sixty or seventy deep, crowded over this avenue, every
cannon on the breastwork was trained upon them by Baratarian, French
and American engineers, and the moment they came within range, a
murderous fire opened. Frightful gaps were made in the ranks at every
discharge, which were closed by living men only the next moment to be
re-opened.
The Americans stood with their hands clenched around their muskets and
rifles, gazing with astonishment on this new, unwonted spectacle. The
calm and steady advance under such an incessant and crushing fire,
carried with it the prestige of victory. As they approached the ditch,
the columns swiftly, yet beautifully deployed, and under the cover of
blazing bombs and rockets, that filled the air in every direction, and
stooped hissing over the American works, pressed forward with loud
cheers, to the assault. Nothing but cannon had spoken till then from
that low breastwork; but as those two doomed columns reached the
farthest brink of the ditch, the word "Fire!" ran along the American
line--the next moment the intrenchments were in a blaze. It was a
solid sheet of flame rolling on the foe. Stunned by the tremendous and
deadly volleys, the front ranks stopped and sunk in their footsteps,
like snow when it meets the stream. But high over the thunder of
cannon were heard the words of command, and drums beating the charge;
and still bravely breasting the fiery sleet, the ranks pressed
forward, but only to melt away on the brink of that fatal ditch.
Jackson, with flashing eye and flushed brow, rode slowly along the
lines, cheering the men, and issuing his orders, followed by loud
huzzas as he passed. From the effect of the American volleys, he
knew, if the troops stood firm, the day was his own, and with stirring
appeals and confident words he roused them to the same enthusiasm
which animated his breast and beamed from his face. The soldiers of
Gen. Adair, stationed in the rear of Carrol, loaded for those in
front, so that there was no cessation to the fire. It was a constant
flash and peal along the whole line. Every man was a marksman, every
shot told, and no troops in the world could long withstand such a
destructive fire. The front of battle, torn and rent, wavered to and
fro on the plain, when Packenham galloped up, and riding bravely
through the shaking ranks, for a moment restored order. The next
moment he reeled from his saddle mortally wounded. Generals Gibbs and
Keane, while nobly struggling to rally the men, were also shot down,
and the maddened columns turned and fled. Lambert, hastening up with
the reserve, met the fugitives, and endeavored, but in vain, to arrest
the flight. They never halted till they reached a ditch four hundred
yards distant, into which they flung themselves to escape the
scourging fire that pursued them. Here he at last rallied them to
another charge. The bleeding column, strengthened by the reserve,
again advanced sternly but hopelessly, into the deadly fire, and
attempted to deploy. It was a last vain effort--it was like charging
down the mouth of a volcano, and the troops again broke and fled,
smote at every step by the batteries.
Col. Kennie led the attack against the redoubt on the right, and
succeeded in entering, but found there his grave. Driven forth, the
troops sought safety in flight; but the fire that pursued them was too
fatal, and they threw themselves into a ditch, where they lay
sheltered till night, and then stole away under cover of the darkness.
The ground in front of the American intrenchments presented a
frightful spectacle. It was red with the blood of men. The space was
so narrow along which the enemy had advanced, that the dead literally
cumbered the field.
The sun of that Sabbath morning rose in blood, and before he had
advanced an hour on his course, a multitude of souls "unhouseled,
unanneled," had passed to the stillness of eternity. New Orleans never
before witnessed such a Sabbath morning. Anxiety and fear sat on every
countenance. The road towards the American encampment was lined with
trembling listeners, and tearful eyes were bent on the distance to
catch the first sight of the retreating army. But when the thunder and
tumult ceased, and word was brought that the Americans still held the
intrenchments, and that the British had retreated in confusion, there
went up a long, glad shout--the bells of the churches rang out a
joyous peal, and hope and confidence revived in every bosom.
The attack on the right bank of the river had been successful, and but
for the terrible havoc on the left shore, this stroke of good fortune
might have changed the results of the day. The fort, from which Gen.
Morgan had fled, commanded the interior of Jackson's entrenchments,
and a fire opened from it would soon have shaken the steadiness of his
troops. But Col. Thornton, who had captured it, seeing the complete
overthrow of the main army, soon after abandoned it.
The Americans, with that noble-hearted generosity which had
distinguished them on every battle-field, hurried forth soon as the
firing had ceased, to succor the wounded, who they knew had designed
to riot amid their own peaceful dwellings. "Beauty and booty," was the
watchword in an orderly-book found on the battle-field; and though
there is not sufficient reason to believe that the city would have
been given over to rapine and lust, yet no doubt great excesses would
have been tolerated. The recent conduct of the English troops on the
Atlantic coast, where no such resistance had been offered to
exasperate them, furnished grounds for the gravest fears.
The British in this attack outnumbered the Americans more than three
to one, and yet the loss on the part of the latter was only
_thirteen_ killed and wounded--seventy-one, all told, both sides of
the river--while that of the former was nearly two thousand, a
disparity unparalleled in the annals of war.
The British were allowed to retreat unmolested to their ships, and the
sails of that proud fleet, whose approach had sent such consternation
through the hearts of the inhabitants, were seen lessening in the
horizon with feelings of unspeakable joy and triumph. All danger had
now passed away, and Jackson made his triumphal entry into the city.
The bells were rung, maidens dressed in white, strewed flowers in his
path, the heavens echoed with acclamations, and blessings unnumbered
were poured on his head.
But as there had been foes and traitors to the American cause from the
first appearance of the British fleet, so there were those now who
stirred up strife, and by anonymous articles published in one of the
city papers, endeavored to sow dissensions among the troops. It would,
no doubt, have been better for Jackson, in the fulness of his triumph,
and in the plenitude of his power, to have overlooked this. But these
very men he knew had acted as spies while the enemy lay before his
entrenchments, causing him innumerable vexations, and endangering the
cause of the country, and he determined as martial law had not yet
been repealed, to seize the offenders. He demanded of the editor the
name of the writer of a certain article, who proved to be a member of
the legislature. He then applied to Judge Hall for a writ of habeas
corpus, which was granted, and the recreant statesman was thrown into
prison. Soon after, martial law being removed, Judge Hall issued an
attachment against Jackson for contempt of court, and he was brought
before him to answer interrogatories. This he refused to do, and asked
for the sentence. The judge, still smarting under the remembrance of
his former arrest by Jackson, fined him a thousand dollars. A burst of
indignation followed this sentence, and as the latter turned to enter
his carriage, the crowd around seized it, and dragged it home with
shouts. The fine was paid immediately; but in a few hours the outraged
citizens refunded the sum to the general. He, however, refused it,
requesting it to be appropriated to a charitable institution. Judge
Hall by this act secured for himself the fame of the man who, to
figure in history, fired the temple of Delphos.
The arbitrary manner in which Jackson disposed of the State
legislature and judges of the court, became afterwards the subject of
much discussion, and during his political life the ground of heavy
accusations. If the question be respecting the _manner_ in which he
assumed arbitrary power, it is not worth discussing. But if, on the
other hand, the assumption of it at all is condemned, then the whole
thing turns on the necessities of the case, and whether that use was
made of it which the general good and not personal feelings required.
That it was necessary, no one can doubt. He had a right, also, as
commander-in-chief of the army in that section, to whom the defence of
the southern frontier had been intrusted, to force the civil power
into obedience to the orders of the general government. He was to
defend and save New Orleans, and if the civil authority proved
treacherous or weak, it was his duty to see that it did not act
against him while plainly in the path of his duty. New Orleans so
considered it; and six years after, the corporation appropriated fifty
thousand dollars to the erection of a marble statue of him in the
city. Congress thought so, when, thirty years after, it voted the
repayment of the fine, with interest, from the date it was inflicted,
and notwithstanding the whole matter was made a party question, it
will not stand as such in history.
Jackson remained in New Orleans till March, when he was relieved by
General Gaines. On taking leave of his troops, who, by their cheerful
endurance of hardships and their bravery, had become endeared to him,
he issued an address full of encomiums on their conduct, and
expressions of love for their character. He concluded by saying,
"Farewell, fellow--soldiers! The expression of your General's thanks
is feeble; but the gratitude of a country of freemen is yours--yours
the applause of an admiring world." What a contrast does this man,
covered with the laurels of his two recent campaigns, present to the
captive boy in the revolutionary struggle whose hand was brutally
gashed by a subordinate British officer, because he refused to black
his boots! This world has changes. The lad with his eye to the
knot-hole at Camden watching the defeat of the American army with
anguish, and the hero gazing proudly on the flying columns of the
veteran troops of the British empire, are the same in soul--but how
different in position! They say, "Time sets all things even." In
Jackson's case, the wrongs done to his family by an oppressive nation,
and the outrages he himself had received, were terribly avenged.
[Sidenote: Feb. 11.]
At length the joyful tidings of peace reached our shores. The British
sloop of war Favorite, chosen for her name, arrived at New York under
a flag of truce, bearing an American and British messenger, with the
treaty already ratified on the part of England. The unexpected news
acted like an electrical shock on the city. It was late on Saturday
night when the announcement was made, but in an incredible short space
of time the whole city was in an uproar. That blessed word PEACE
passed tremulously from lip to lip, and as if borne on the viewless
air, was soon repeated in every dwelling. In a few minutes the
streets were black with the excited, heaving multitudes, whose frantic
shouts rolled like the roar of the sea through the city. In every
direction bonfires were kindled, and as flash after flash leaped forth
to the clouds, the deafening acclamations that followed, attested the
unbounded joy of the people. Expresses were immediately hurried off
north and south, and as the swift riders swept meteor-like through
village after village, shouting "PEACE" as they sped on, the
inhabitants sallied forth to hail the glad tidings with shouts. All
day Sunday that electrical word "PEACE" passed like an angel of mercy
over the towns and hamlets between New York and Boston. It swept like
a sudden breeze through the congregations gathered for worship in the
house of God. It imparted new fervor to the minister at the altar, and
swelled the hymn of thanksgiving from tearful worshippers to its
loudest, gladdest note. "PEACE," like a dove folded its wings on the
thresholds of thousands of homes that night, turning the wintry
fire-side into a scene of unbounded thankfulness and joy.
Although news had never been carried over the country with such
rapidity since the battle of Lexington and Concord, it did not reach
Boston till Monday morning. The bells were at once set ringing, but
their clamorous tongues were well nigh silenced by the louder
rejoicings of the people. Messengers were immediately dispatched in
every direction, sending the glad tidings on. Men forgot their
employments--politicians their animosities in the general
congratulation. The sea ports were suddenly gay with flags and
streamers, and the song of the sailor blended with the sound of the
hammer and the hum and stir of commerce. Men forgot to ask on what
terms peace had been obtained--the joy at its unexpected announcement
obliterated for the time all other thoughts and considerations.
At Washington the pleasure was more subdued, for the politicians there
knew that after the first enthusiasm had subsided every one would ask
what were the terms of the treaty.
But although the administration had provoked Fortune beyond all
forbearance, she seemed resolved not to desert it, and brought, nearly
at the same time, the news of the victory of New Orleans, to solace
the national pride for an indefinite and unsatisfactory treaty.
The delegates from the Hartford Convention arrived in Washington just
in time to hear the confirmation of the victory and the peace, and
without delivering their message, stole quietly back to New England,
lighted by illuminated cities and towns, and stunned by acclamations,
on their way. Their enemies were too full of happiness to attack them,
still the National Advocate of New York, edited by Mr. Wheaton, could
not refrain from indulging in a little pleasantry at their expense,
and inserted an advertisement: "Missing--three well-looking,
respectable men, who appeared to be travelling towards Washington, and
suddenly disappeared from Gadzby's hotel, Baltimore, on Monday evening
last, and have not since been heard from. They were observed to be
very melancholic on hearing the news of peace, and one of them was
heard to say, '_Poor Caleb Strong_,' &c. "Whoever will give any
information of these unfortunate, tristful gentlemen to the Hartford
Convention, will confer a favor on humanity." The National
Intelligencer copied it, stating that those gentlemen had been seen in
Washington, but their business was not known. One of them, however,
was heard to groan, "_Othello's occupation's gone_."
But after the first excitement passed away, men began to inquire in
what way, and on what conditions, the government had delivered the
country from the evils of war, and crowned it with the blessings of
peace.
We had apparently gained nothing. Our quarrel rested mainly on two
points--first, the right of blockade as claimed and exercised under
the orders in Council, and the right of impressment, as practiced on
the high seas; yet no limits had been prescribed to the former, and
no guarantees given against the latter. These great points of dispute
were left untouched, and by the treaty the two countries stood
precisely as they did at the commencement of the war; all (conquered
territory on either side was to be restored) with the exception that
for the surrender of a useless right--the navigation of the
Mississippi--England deprived us of the valuable privilege heretofore
conceded, of catching and curing fish on the coast of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. The title to the islands in the Passamaquoddy bay--the exact
course of the boundary line running from the Atlantic coast to the
river St. Lawrence--the line thence to the Lake of the Woods--were to
be referred to three separate commissions, and in case of their
disagreement, to some friendly power for final adjustment. The
question of fisheries in the seas bordering on the British provinces,
and the boundary line west of the Lake of the Woods were left without
any provision for their settlement.
One would naturally think that a treaty which in its stipulations thus
silently passed over the very questions in dispute, and for which so
much valiant blood had been shed and such a loss of life and treasure
endured, would have been met with open condemnation, or at least with
sullen acquiescence. On the contrary, however, its ratification was
signalized by public rejoicings, and the most extravagant
manifestations of delight. The astonishing victory at New Orleans
required us to be generous, and a nation which had thus vindicated its
rights on sea and land, could afford to drop an unpleasant subject
just where the discussion had begun. Such seemed to be the general
feeling. At first sight, this settlement of the difficulties between
the two countries appeared contemptible. Abstractly considered it was,
and if we had been a weak nation, sinking into degeneracy, it would
have proved so.
But in judging of it we must remember that treaty stipulations in
continental diplomacy, like flags of truce in Mexico, depend almost
entirely on circumstances whether they are regarded or not, and hence
the _circumstances_ are more important than written stipulation.
European treaties, like European diplomacy, have in the past, served
only to illustrate the duplicity and faithlessness of monarchs. The
question is, how events in their progress have settled the
difficulties, as _fate_ settles them, and not as commissioners.
Now it was evident, both to the English and American commissioners,
that articles on neutral rights and the impressment of seamen, were
useless. Our navy and privateers had disposed of those questions, for
ever. Our broadsides furnished better guaranties than strips of
parchment, adorned with impressions of regal seals.
It was the fact that those two great causes of hostility, violation of
neutral rights and impressment of seamen, were practically and
permanently disposed of, which reconciled the nation to their omission
in the treaty. Our people pay no attention to forms, only so far as
they sanction their just claims. In this view, the acquiescence in the
treaty, instead of exhibiting humility and fear on our part, indicate
quite the reverse. Nothing can be more erroneous than to suppose that
because those rights, for the protection of which we had gone to war,
were not mentioned in the treaty, we therefore had concluded to waive
them. On the contrary, we consented to leave them unnoticed, _because_
we knew we had _obtained_ them forever. No one in England or the
United States doubted that these were definitely settled, and those
who sneeringly ask "what we gained by the war?" make the letter
equivalent to the spirit, a form more important than a fact. The
simple truth is, we got what we fought for, and it exhibits a narrow
spirit to say, that because it was not engrossed on parchment it
amounted virtually to nothing.
CHAPTER XII.
Cruise of the Constitution -- Action with the Cyane and
Levant -- Chased by a British fleet -- England's views of
neutral rights and the law of nations -- Her honor and
integrity at a discount -- Singular escape of the
Constitution -- Recapture of the Levant under the guns of a
neutral port -- Lampoons on the English squadron for its
contemptible conduct -- Decatur -- Capture of the President
-- The Hornet captures the Penguin -- Chased by a ship of
the line -- Narrow escape -- Cruise of the Peacock -- Review
of the American Navy -- Its future destiny.
Naval warfare did not cease with the peace, for it was a long time
before all our cruisers received notice of it.
The old Constitution, when Bainbridge gave up the command of her in
1813, was put on the stocks to undergo repairs, and did not get to sea
again till 1814, when, under the command of Captain Stewart, she
cruised southward, without meeting any vessel of her own size.
[Sidenote: 1814.] She took the Nector, a war schooner of fourteen
guns, and a few merchantmen, and returned to Boston. On the 17th of
December she again put to sea, and cruised off the coast of Portugal.
[Sidenote: Feb. 20, 1815.]
Not meeting with the enemy, Captain Stewart, on the 20th of February,
1815, stood off south-west towards Madeira, and in the afternoon made
two strange sail. He immediately started in pursuit of the nearest,
hoping to overtake her before she could join her consort. The moment,
however, the stranger discovered the Constitution, he stood away under
every stitch of canvass he could spread. The Constitution also "set
studding sails alow and aloft," and under a perfect cloud of canvass,
bowled along at a tremendous rate. At length the main royal mast of
the latter gave way in the strain, which gave the stranger so much the
advantage that he effected a junction with his consort. The two then
hailed each other, "came by the wind, hauled up their courses," and
cleared for action. They were the Cyane, carrying thirty-four guns,
and the Levant, twenty-one--the crew of the former numbering one
hundred and eighty men, the latter one hundred and fifty-six.
They manoeuvered for some time to get to the windward, but finding
this impossible they awaited the approach of the American, who had now
set his colors. It was a bright moonlight night, and the two English
vessels presented a beautiful spectacle, as they lay rising and
falling on the long swell, gallantly turned at bay. As the
Constitution approached, they cheered, and fired their broadsides. No
answer was given. In stern and ominous silence the invincible frigate
moved on, and ranging up about three hundred yards distant from the
Cyane, delivered her broadside. So ready and eager were the men to
fire, that when the order was given, the whole broadside was like the
report of a single gun. She had taken her position to windward, and so
as to form with the two vessels nearly an equilateral triangle, and in
this masterly position flung her heavy metal against both alike. From
the first gun the action became fierce and the cannonading incessant.
After the lapse of fifteen minutes the fire of the enemy slackened,
and Captain Stewart, unable to see their whereabouts, from the cloud
of smoke that enveloped his ship, ordered the cannonading to cease
till it passed off. In three minutes it lifted and rolled away before
the wind, and he saw that the vessels had changed their position, the
Levant being abeam, while the Cyane was evidently endeavoring to cross
his wake and give him a raking fire. Instantly delivering a broadside
to the vessel abeam, he by one of those sudden and prompt movements on
which the fate of a vessel or an army often turns, threw his mizen and
main sails flat aback, "shook all forward," let fly his jib sheet, and
backed so swiftly astern[9] that the vessel was compelled to tack or
be raked herself. While doing this the other ship attempted to cross
his bows for the same purpose. The Constitution was again too quick
for her, for as if by magic the yards swung round to the hearty "Yo,
heave oh!" of the sailors--the sails filled, and bowing to the breeze,
she shot ahead, compelling the vessel to ware under a tremendous and
raking broadside, which cut her up so terribly that she had to run out
of the action to repair damages. He had scarcely delivered this
crushing blow when he was told the largest ship was waring. He
instantly gave orders to ware also, and crossing the enemy's stern,
raked her as he passed. He then ranged up alongside, when she struck,
and Lieutenant Hoffman was put in command of her.
[Footnote 9: Vide Cooper.]
The Levant, in the mean time, having repaired her rigging, hauled up
again to seek her consort, when she met the Constitution coming down.
She immediately bore away, receiving as she did so, a raking
broadside. The Constitution followed in her wake, firing, and
following so close that the ripping of the enemy's planks, as the shot
tore through them, could be distinctly heard on her decks. This, of
course, could not be endured long, and a gun was soon fired to
leeward, in token of submission.
The loss of the enemy, in this action, was between sixty and seventy,
while that of the Constitution was only fifteen. The latter, however,
was hulled thirteen times, showing very accurate firing by moonlight.
The masterly manner in which Captain Stewart handled his vessel, so
that, large and unwieldy as she was, he thwarted every manoeuvre to
rake him, and raked both his enemies successively, proved him to be a
thorough seaman and an able commander.
[Sidenote: 1815.]
The Constitution proceeded with her two prizes to Port Praya, in St.
Jago, where she arrived the 10th of March. The next day while
Lieutenant Shubrick was walking the quarter-deck, he heard one of the
prisoners, a midshipman, exclaim: "There is a frigate in the offing!"
This was followed by a low subdued reprimand from an English captain.
Shubrick's suspicions were awakened, and he looked earnestly seaward.
A heavy fog lay close on the water, diminishing into a haze as it left
the surface, so that the spars of a ship could be seen, while her hull
was obscured. Through this he saw the dim outlines of the sails of a
large vessel, evidently standing in, and immediately went below and
reported the circumstance to Captain Stewart. The latter ordered him
to call all hands and make ready to go in chase of her. Shubrick had
scarcely given the orders when he saw the sails of two other vessels
above the fog. Stewart gave them one glance and saw immediately they
were heavy men-of-war. Though in a neutral port, and by the law of
nations safe from attack, he was well aware that it would not avail
him. So low had the honor of the English nation sunk in the estimation
of independent States, that weak neutral powers knew they would not
be allowed to afford the protection which it was their right and duty
to extend, while our naval commanders had ceased to expect the
recognition of those rights, guarantied by the usage of civilized
governments. Captain Stewart immediately signalled the Cyane and
Levant to put to sea, and cutting his own cables, not waiting even to
take in his boats, he ordered the sails sheeted home. In ten minutes
the gallant frigate was standing out of the roads, followed by her
prizes.
This silent declaration that men could no longer rely on the honor and
good faith of his majesty's officers, in respecting the law of nations
or the rights of neutral powers, was one of the most cutting rebukes
that could have been uttered. It was well that Captain Stewart rated
these qualities so low, or he doubtless would have been attacked and
overcome, though, under the guns of the battery of the port. No doubt
the Constitution would have fought worthy of her old renown, and like
the Essex, in the Bay of Valparaiso, gained more honor in her death
than in her life.
As Stewart stood out to windward, the three vessels, which he
afterwards learned to be the Leander and Newcastle of 50, and the
Acasta of 40 guns, crowded all sail in chase. Stewart then cut adrift
his cutter and gig, towing astern, and set every sail that would draw.
Under the north-east trades that were then blowing, the Constitution
was soon rushing along at a tremendous rate, outsailing all her
pursuers but the Acasta. But Stewart, perceiving that the Cyane was
steadily losing ground, and if she kept her course must evidently be
captured, made signal for her to tack, which was instantly obeyed. Not
a vessel, however, was detached in pursuit, as he had expected, but
the whole three kept on after the Constitution and Levant. In an hour
and a half the Newcastle got within gun-shot, and began to fire by
divisions, rending the fog with flame, but leaving the Constitution
unharmed. A half an hour after, Stewart, who with his glass in his
hand had incessantly walked the quarter-deck, watching the movements
of the enemy and their progress, saw that the Levant, if she held her
course, would soon be captured, made signal for her to tack also.
The foam rolled with a seething sound from the bows of the
Constitution as she rushed rapidly through the water, but it was
evident that the Acasta, which had fallen in her wake, could outsail
her. An engagement with this vessel was apparently inevitable, and
unless Stewart could prolong the chase till she was drawn so far from
the others as to enable him to close with and carry her before they
came up, he must be taken. But to his astonishment the whole three
turned in pursuit of the Levant, leaving him to sail away unmolested.
[Sidenote: April 10.]
The Cyane, in the mean time, had disappeared in the fog, and finding
that she was shut out of view, changed her course, and escaping the
enemy, finally arrived safely in New York. The Levant, however, was
not so fortunate. Seeing herself closely pressed, she put back to
port, and though receiving the enemy's fire, stood on till she
anchored within 150 yards of the shore, and under the very guns of a
powerful battery. Disregarding her position which rendered her
inviolable, the three vessels continued to approach, firing as they
did so, throwing their shot even into the town, doing considerable
damage. Lieutenant Shubrick, finding that the battery would not
protect him, and that the enemy had no intention of respecting the
neutrality of the port, struck his flag. The firing, however,
continued for some time after.
The English officer, when he came on board to take possession of her,
supposed she was an American vessel, but to his great chagrin found
that the whole squadron had succeeded, after a chase of several hours,
in recapturing a prize in a neutral port.
"Old Ironsides" swept proudly onward over the ocean, remaining
unconquered to the last, the glory of the navy and the boast of the
land.
The news of the victory over the Cyane and Levant, and the after
chase, reached New York from St. Bartholomews, without giving the
results, and it was feared for a time that she had fallen into the
hands of the enemy. When her safety was ascertained the exultation was
great, for she was a great favorite, and had become deeply fixed in
the affections of the people. As she came sweeping up Boston harbor,
crowds gathered to the shore, answering with deafening cheers the
thunder of her guns, as they broke over the bay.
The abandonment of this frigate by the whole English squadron, to
chase a single ship, furnished the occasion of many witticisms,
levelled against the English officers. They reported that they lost
her in a fog, but if either vessel had kept on alone, Captain Stewart
would have been careful not to have been lost, and when a safe
distance from the others had been obtained, allowed himself to be
easily overtaken.[10]
[Footnote 10: One "SQUIB" represented King George as walking his lawn
one morning, anxiously waiting to hear the success of this squadron,
which he had sent out expressly to capture the Ironsides, when the
three captains of the vessels that chased her presented themselves.
King George, in his peculiar manner, asks:--
"with sparkling eyes,
'Hey! hey! what news? what news? hey! hey! he cries--
His Majesty to hear, was all agog;
When Stuart--Collins--Kerr--with crimsoned face
Thus spake--'We gave the Constitution chase,
And, oh! great sire, we lost her in _a fog_!'
"'Fog! fog! _what fog? hey! Stuart, what fog? say!_
_So then the foe escaped you, Stuart? hey!_'
'Yes, please your Majesty, and hard our fate'--
'But why not, Stuart, _different courses steer_?'
Stuart replied, (impute it not to fear,)
'WE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT NOT TO SEPARATE.'"]
[Sidenote: 1815.]
The President, that did not get to sea till the middle of January, or
just before the news of peace was received, was more unfortunate.
Commodore Rodgers, during the summer, had been transferred from that
vessel to the Guerriere, and Decatur took the command. The latter,
with the United States and Macedonian, had been blockaded, as before
stated, all summer at New London, where he had challenged Captain
Hardy to meet him ship with ship, or to make a match between the
United States and Macedonian, and the Endymion and Statira.
Although he took command in the summer, he did not go to sea till
mid-winter, when with the Hornet, which had run the blockade at New
London in November, the Peacock, and store ship Tom Bowline, he
prepared for a long cruise to the East Indies. [Sidenote: Jan. 14.]
The President dropped down to Sandy Hook on the night of the 14th, but
in attempting to cross the bar struck, and lay thumping for an hour
and a half before she swung clear. She was evidently damaged by the
shock, but Decatur thought it best to keep on, as a heavy storm the
day before had driven the blockading squadron southward.
Before daylight, next morning, he discovered a sail ahead, and two
hours later two more, and when daylight made more distant objects
visible, four vessels were seen, crowding all sail in chase. The
President was heavily laden for a long voyage, which with the damage
she had received on the bar, impeded very much her sailing. Still,
with a stiff breeze, she might have distanced her pursuers, for with
the wind light and baffling, the nearest vessel, the Majestic, a
razee, was thrown astern. But the Endymion, forty, the next nearest
vessel, evidently outsailed her, and was fast closing. Decatur then
called all hands to lighten the ship. The anchors were cut away,
provisions, cables, spars, boats, and every thing on which hands could
be laid were thrown overboard, and the sails kept wet from the royals
down, to hold the tantalizing wind. It was impossible in such hasty
unloading to keep the vessel trim, and while it was being done she
very probably sailed slower than before. The wind, however, was so
light, that both frigates made slow headway, and it was not till the
middle of the afternoon that the Endymion closed sufficiently to open
her fire. The President answered with stern guns, and a running fight
was kept up till five o'clock, when the former was within half
gun-shot and on the quarter of the latter, which, of course, could not
bring a gun to bear. Decatur, in this position, bore the fire of the
frigate for half an hour, when he resolved to carry her by boarding,
and escape. But the Endymion kept her advantageous position, so that
he could not carry his bold and gallant resolution into effect, and
as a last resort he determined at dusk to close, and so cripple her
before the rest of the vessels arrived, that she must abandon the
pursuit. Coming up abeam he poured in his broadsides, and for two
hours and a half, running free all the time, the two vessels kept up a
close and heavy cannonade. At half-past eight the Endymion was
completely dismantled, while the President was under royal studding
sails, and able to choose her own position. Twenty minutes more would
have finished the English frigate, for she was too much cut up to be
manageable; but the other vessels were now close at hand, and the
President hauled up to resume her course. In doing this the vessel was
exposed to a raking broadside, but not a gun was fired. She then
crowded all sail, but at eleven o'clock was overhauled by the Pomone
and Tenedos and Majestic, the former of which poured in a broadside
within musket shot. Resistance, in the President's crippled state was
hopeless, and the flag was struck. Decatur surrendered his sword to
the commander of the Majestic, nearly four hours before the Endymion
came up, and yet the captain of the latter claimed the victory, and to
this day the arrogant assertion finds endorsers in England. One vessel
goes out of an action with royal studding sails set and surrenders to
a superior force, so far from the spot where it took place that it
requires nearly four hours steady sailing for the other to get up,
and yet the latter is declared the victor![11]
[Footnote 11: Mr. Alison asserts that the President was completely
beaten before the arrival of the other vessels.]
This absurd pretence, however, was completely set at rest by a
document signed by the officers of the Pomona, and published at
Bermuda, whither the fleet sailed. After giving the details of the
chase, they say the running fight between the President and Endymion
ceased "at half-past eight, the Endymion falling astern--Pomona
passing her at half-past eight. At eleven, being within gun-shot of
the President," &c. "At _three-quarters_ past twelve the Endymion came
up," &c.
Both these vessels were dismasted in a hurricane before reaching
Bermuda, six days after. The Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline, put to
sea and sailed for the island of Triston d'Acunha, the place of
rendezvous appointed by Decatur. The Peacock and Tom Bowline arrived
first. The Hornet having parted company in chase of a vessel, did not
come in till the 23d of March. [Sidenote: 1815.] Just as she was about
to anchor, the watch aft sung out "Sail ho!" The sails were
immediately sheeted home again, and the Hornet bore swiftly down
towards the stranger. The latter did not shun the combat, but coming
to, set her colors and fired a challenge gun. The vessel was the
Penguin, of the size and metal of the Hornet, with some additional
equipments, which made her of superior force. There was not the
difference of a dozen men in the crews. A more decisive single combat
could not have been arranged, if the sole purpose of it had been to
test the seamanship and real practical superiority of the American
navy, for the Penguin had been fitted up and sent out for the sole
purpose of encountering and capturing the Wasp, a heavier and newer
vessel than the Hornet.
There was no manoeuvring--from the first gun to the last, it was a
steady broadside to broadside engagement, the vessels gradually
drifting nearer as they fired. The Hornet was wrapped in flame from
stem to stern, so incessant were her discharges, and in fifteen
minutes the commander of the Penguin, finding that he would soon be a
total wreck, put up his helm to board, and surged with a heavy crash
full on the Hornet's quarter. The first lieutenant immediately called
on his men to board, but they would not follow him. The American crew
then wished to board, in turn, but Captain Biddle, seeing that his
guns were rending the enemy in pieces, restrained their ardor, and
recommenced firing. The sea was heavy, and as the two vessels rose and
fell together on the huge swell, the strain was so great that the
Penguin carried away the Hornet's mizen rigging and spanker boom, and
swung round against her quarter. While in this position, an English
officer cried out that he surrendered. Captain Biddle then ordered the
firing to cease, and leaping on the taffrail, inquired if the vessel
had struck. Two marines on the enemy's forecastle levelled their
pieces at him and fired--the ball of one entering his neck, inflicting
a painful wound. Enraged at this treacherous act, the crew of the
Hornet poured in a sudden volley of musketry, which stretched the two
marines dead on the deck. In the same moment the vessels parted, the
Hornet forging ahead, carrying the enemy's bowsprit and foremast with
her. The latter then wore, and was about to pour in a raking
broadside, when twenty men rushed to the side of the ship, lifting up
their hands and calling for quarter. It was with the greatest
difficulty Captain Biddle could restrain his men, so excited were they
at the attempt on their commander's life.
The loss of the Penguin in this short action was forty-two killed and
wounded, while the Hornet had but a single man killed and only ten
wounded. Among the latter was Lieutenant (since Commodore) Conner,
who, though helpless and bleeding, refused to leave the deck till the
enemy struck. This disparity shows in a striking manner the superior
gunnery of the American navy.
The Penguin was dreadfully cut up, and Captain Biddle, unable to man
her, scuttled and sunk her. Converting the Tom Bowline into a cartel
to take the prisoners to St. Salvador, he, with Captain Harrington of
the Peacock, waited the arrival of the President. But these two
commanders soon received information which convinced them that Decatur
had, in all probability, fallen into the hands of the enemy.
[Sidenote: April 13.] They, therefore, soon as the time fixed by him
had expired, proceeded on the original cruise, steering for the Indian
Seas. On the 27th, the Peacock, which was ahead, made signal that a
strange vessel was in sight, when all sail was set in chase. At night
it fell calm, but a stiff breeze arising with the sun, the chase
recommenced and continued till near three o'clock, when the Peacock,
about six miles ahead, appeared to be moving cautiously, as if
suspicious that all was not right. From the first, the chase was
supposed to be a homeward bound East Indiaman, as they were now in the
track of those vessels. The sailors of the Hornet were consequently
very much elated with the prospect of so rich a prize, declaring that
they would carpet the berth deck with India silk, and murmuring that
the Peacock sailed so much faster, as she would have the first chance
at the plunder.
These pleasant anticipations suffered a sudden collapse when the
Peacock, at half-past three, signalled that the stranger was an enemy
and a line-of-battle ship. Notwithstanding the danger, there was
something inconceivably ludicrous in the blank consternation that fell
on the ship, exhibited in rueful countenances, the long-drawn whistle
or laconic emphatic expression. The next moment, however, all was
bustle and confusion--quick and sharp orders rung over the vessel, she
was hauled upon the wind, and made off as fast as wind and sail could
bear her. The Peacock, being a very fast sailer, soon left the enemy
behind. Not so with the Hornet; although she spread every yard of
canvass that would draw, it was evident by eight at night the
man-of-war was gaining on her. An hour after all hands were turned to
to lighten the ship. An anchor and cable first went over with some
heavy spare spars and rigging. The ward-room was then scuttled to get
at the kentledge, twelve tons of which were thrown overboard. Still
the enemy gained, and his huge proportions loomed threateningly
through the gloom, filling the crew of the gallant little Hornet with
the keenest anxiety. It was a state of painful suspense to Captain
Biddle and his officers, and they watched with sinking hearts the
steady approach of their formidable foe. At day dawn he was within
gun-shot, and soon after, hoisting to the mizen-top-gallant-mast
English colors and a rear-admiral's flag, he opened with his bow
guns. Captain Biddle then ordered the remaining anchors cut away, the
cables heaved overboard, together with more kentledge, shot,
provision, the launch and six guns. The firing was kept up for four
hours, most of the shot overreaching the Hornet. Perceiving at length,
that his firing deadened the wind, and hence his headway, the enemy
ceased it at 11 o'clock, and soon again began to overhaul the chase.
Captain Biddle then gave the reluctant order to throw over all the
remaining guns but one, with the muskets, cutlasses, etc., in short,
every thing above and below that could lighten the ship. Still his
formidable antagonist steadily gained upon him, and at noon was within
three quarters of a mile, when he opened with round and grape shot and
shells, which dashed the spray about the little Hornet, yet most
marvellously missed her. The water was smooth and it seemed that every
shot would strike, yet only three hit the vessel. At this critical
period of the chase the excitement of the crew was intense--the sails
were watched with the keenest solicitude, while the sailors were
ordered to lie down on the quarter deck to trim the vessel. It was
impossible that the Hornet's spars and sails could long escape this
close and incessant cannonade; and Captain Biddle, knowing that the
first mishap to either must be the signal to strike his flag, called
his fatigued crew about him, and after commending their good conduct
in the long chase, expressed the hope they would still behave with the
propriety which had always marked their character, now that their
capture was almost certain. Those gallant tars saw the quivering lip
of their noble commander when he spoke of capture, and scarcely a dry
eye was seen on deck. He resolved, however, not to cease his efforts
so long as a ray of hope remained, and held on his sluggish course
amid the raining shot, his eye now turned aloft to see if the rigging
and spars were still safe, and now towards the horizon that, to his
delight, was getting black and squally.
At length, after enduring this firing for two hours, expecting every
moment to be crippled, he saw with irrepressible joy the wind change
to a favorable quarter and freshen. His vessel then began to creep
away from his pursuer. As the distance increased between them, joy and
hope lighted up the countenances of all on board the Hornet, and the
gathering squalls and rising sea were hailed as deliverers. At sunset
the man-of-war was three miles astern. In the intervals of the squalls
his huge proportions could be seen all night long against the sky,
still crowding sail in pursuit. But the Hornet was now running nine
knots an hour, and by daylight had gained so much that the stranger,
a few hours after, abandoned the chase.
Her escape seemed miraculous; for when the man-of-war opened his fire
the second time upon her he was as near as the United States ever got
to the Macedonian before the latter was a total wreck.
Without guns or shot, stripped of every thing, Captain Biddle retraced
his steps and reached New York the last day of July.
The Peacock continued her course and cruised for some time in the
straits of Sunda, where she made three captures. On the last of June
she encountered the Nautilus, of 14 guns, which after a single
broadside surrendered. Learning from the commander of the latter that
peace had been declared, Captain Warrington immediately restored the
vessel.
This was the last vessel captured during the war, and the combat
between the Hornet and the Penguin was the last regular action. Thus
our little navy commenced and closed its career with a victory. In
fact its history had been reports of victories. So constant and
astounding had they become, that for a long time before the war closed
England ceased to publish official accounts of her naval defeats. In
the first flush of indignation at these reverses on the sea, the
English repelled with scorn the implication that they had at last
found a successful rival. Excuses and reasons for them were ample,
and fairer experiments were demanded before so humiliating a thought
should be entertained. Our ships, they said, were falsely rated, and
in those first single contests the equality was merely nominal, not
real. The ignorant and conceited maintained their arrogant, boastful
tone to the end; but as the war advanced the more reflecting felt that
the repeated victories gained by us could not be swept away by
assertions that the world would not reason as they wished it to, and
were compelled to admit that their "moral effect was astounding." Well
it might be. We know of nothing in the annals of civilized warfare
compared to the boldness and success of our little navy during the
war. The battles of the Nile and Trafalgar, which had covered the
English fleets with glory, had been for years ringing over our land.
Flushed with victory and confident of success, they bore down on our
coast. With only a handful of ships to offer against this overwhelming
force, our commanders nevertheless stood boldly out to sea, and flung
their flags of defiance to the breeze. The world looked with amazement
on the rashness that could provoke so unequal a strife; but while it
waited to hear that our little navy was blown out of the water, the
news came of the loss of the Guerriere. Report after report of
victories gained by us, followed with stunning rapidity. "The English
were defeated on their own element," was the universal exclamation,
and her indisputed claim to the seas was broken forever. The courage
that could bear up against such fearful odds and pluck the wreath of
victory from the English navy, has covered the commanders of that time
with abiding honors. Our rights were restored--our commerce
protected--and the haughty bearing of England towards us chastized
from her forever. The British flag had been lowered so often to the
"stars and stripes," that respect and fear usurped the place of
contempt and pride.
The true reasons of our success are to be found in our superior
gunnery and the greater aptitude of the Americans for the sea. We are
a maritime people, and have since outstripped England in the peaceful
paths of commerce as much as we outmanoeuvred, outsailed, and beat her
in the war. Whether the ships of the two countries dash side by side
in fraternal feeling through the heavy floes of the northern seas, or
in a spirit of rivalry press together across the Atlantic, or sweep
where the monsoons blow, ours still lead those of England. The
elements of such a maritime nation as ours is destined to be, have
never existed since the creation. Let the rate of progress which her
commerce has maintained for the last thirty-five years be as a rule to
gauge where she will be thirty-five years hence, and the mind is
amazed at the result.
CHAPTER XIII.
PRIVATEERS.
Character and daring of our Privateers -- Skill of American
seamen -- Acts of Congress relative to privateering -- Names
of ships -- Gallant action of the "Nonsuch" -- Success of
the Dolphin -- Cruise of the Comet -- Narrow escape of the
"Governor Tompkins" -- Desperate action of the Globe with
two brigs -- The Decatur takes a British sloop of war --
Action of the Neufchatel with the crew of the Endymion --
Desperate defence of Captain Reed against the crews of a
British squadron -- The Chasseur captures a British schooner
of war -- Character of the commanders of privateers --
Anecdote.
Notwithstanding the navy won such laurels during the war, the chief
damage done to British commerce was inflicted by our privateers. A
history of that period is therefore incomplete without a record of
their acts. Nothing ever brought out the daring seamanship, skill,
fertility of resource and stubborn bravery, so characteristic of our
sailors, as the management of those private armed vessels. Scarcely
was war declared before they began to shoot one after another from
out our ports, and disappeared in the distant horizon. Trade being
prostrated, merchants fitted up their idle ships with picked crews and
skillful commanders, and sent them forth to vex the enemy's commerce.
Our vessels at that time, as now, being swifter sailers than the
English, these bold rovers asked only an open sea and a gale of wind
to outstrip their pursuers, or overtake those in flight. Their sails
were seen skirting the horizon in every direction--now saucily looking
into the enemy's ports to see what was going on there, and again
sweeping boldly through the English channels. They seemed
ubiquitous--every pathway of commerce was familiar to them, and they
passed from sea to sea, appearing and disappearing with a suddenness
and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes one of these light armed
vessels would slyly hover about a whole fleet of merchantmen, convoyed
by a stately frigate, under whose guns they clustered for protection,
until a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly dash
into their midst like a hawk into a brood of chickens, and seizing
one, man her and be off before the frigate could sufficiently recover
from its astonishment at such audacity to attempt pursuit. It
sometimes occurred that she would find herself alongside a frigate
which she had mistaken for a large merchantman, when a seamanship and
coolness would be exhibited in the effort to get clear, seldom
witnessed in the oldest naval commanders. If unable to escape she
would gallantly set her colors and fight a hopeless, yet one of the
most desperate battles that occur in maritime warfare. The way in
which these ships were handled, the daring manner they were carried
into action, and the desperation with which they were fought
astonished the English, who had never witnessed any thing like it on
the sea. Sweeping waters covered with British cruisers, with scarcely
a safe neutral port to enter in case of distress--shut out from their
own harbors by blockade, they were compelled to exercise the most
unceasing watchfulness, and keep in a state of constant preparation.
It was a gallant sight to witness one of these little cruisers,
apparently surrounded by an enemy's squadron, and yet dashing through
its midst, fly away before the wind, while the water around was driven
into foam by the shot that sped after her. Their conduct and success
throughout the war, revealed the vast resources at the command of our
navy. We have only to build ships, not educate sailors. Our commerce
pierces to every clime, and our fisheries extend beyond the Arctic
Circle; and, hardened by exposure and taught by experience and perils,
our sailors are thoroughly trained in all the duties of their calling.
Crews that the commanders of men-of-war might well be proud of, are
at this moment afloat in every part of the world. On mere call we
could man the navies of Europe with well instructed men. One great
difficulty with the French navy is, that during war she has no where
to go for recruits. Her sailors require a long training, while ours
have been trained from boyhood.
Privateering has been denounced as unworthy of civilized nations, but
if the object of maritime warfare be to destroy the enemy's commerce,
it is difficult to see why a private armed vessel should not be
commissioned to do it as well as a national one. If it be plundering
private property on the high seas, so is the capture of merchantmen by
men-of-war. The sailors in both are stimulated by the same motives,
viz., prize money. If maritime war was to be carried on between
national vessels alone, and commerce be left untouched, there would be
little use for a navy. Ports are blockaded to injure commerce and
weaken the resources of the enemy; so are fleets of merchantmen
captured, supplies cut off and nations distressed for the same
purpose. And if this is to be done, it seems hardly worth quarrelling
about who shall do it.
Our fleet was so small at the commencement of the war, that the
balance of injury and loss would have been heavy against us, but for
our privateers. Our large vessels were soon blockaded in port, and the
contest on the seas was for some time almost wholly carried on by
privateers, and of the more than two thousand vessels captured during
its progress, the greater part was taken by them. A single privateer
would slip through a blockading squadron, stand out to sea, and in a
few weeks destroy vessels and seize property to the amount of
millions. At one time they cruised so daringly in the English waters,
that sixty dollars was paid in England to insure five hundred across
the Irish Channel. Some of them fought British national vessels and
captured them, while it scarcely ever happened that an American
privateer struck to an English vessel, when there was any
approximation to an equality of force. Of the twenty-three naval
engagements during the war, where either one or both were national
vessels, the Americans were victorious in seventeen. A similar success
marked the contests of private armed vessels.
In 1800, the act regulating privateers gave to them the entire prize
captured, but in March, 1812, another act was passed appropriating two
per cent. to collectors, to be used as a fund for the support of the
widows and orphans of those who fell in combat. This was afterwards
modified so as to allow the disabled the benefit of the fund. On the
19th of July the act Was amended, and two per cent. placed in the
hands of the Secretary of the Treasury, and privateersmen put on the
pension list with the navy. A few days after a bill passed the House,
allowing twenty-five dollars bounty for every prisoner taken. This was
increased the next session to one hundred dollars.
[Sidenote: Aug. 2.]
The success attending our privateersmen, and the injury they inflicted
on the enemy, gave them such a prominence in the country, that
Congress increased as far as possible the inducements to fit out
letters of marque, and in 1814 reduced the legal duties on goods
captured by privateers thirty-three and a third per cent., and
afterwards withdrew all claim of the government to prizes and their
cargoes.
Privateersmen had earned all these privileges for themselves by their
activity, adroitness, and bravery; they had become the terror of the
British commerce, and while England, proud of her naval strength, was
blockading our entire coast, they were sweeping down upon her
merchantmen in the chops of her own channels.
The names of many of these vessels were very characteristic of the
American sailor. "Catch me if you can," "True blooded Yankee," "Right
of Search," "Bunker Hill," "Viper," "Rattlesnake," "Scourge," "Spit
Fire," and "Teazer," exhibited not only the spirit that animated the
commanders, but were well calculated to irritate and enrage the
officers of English vessels of war, especially as their conduct
corresponded so well with the titles they bore.
In September, about three months after the war was declared, the
"Nonsuch" privateer, of Baltimore, carrying only twelve pound
carronades and eighty or ninety men, while cruising off Cape Vincent,
fell in with an English ship carrying sixteen 18 and 24 pound
carronades and two hundred men, and a schooner with six four pounders
and 60 men. Notwithstanding this overwhelming disparity of force, the
privateer determined to uphold the name she bore, and setting American
colors bore gallantly down on the ship. Ranging up within close musket
shot, she poured in her broadsides and volleys of musketry for three
hours and a half, and maintained the unequal contest till her guns
were all disabled and only musketry could be used. The vessels instead
of taking advantage of the crippled condition of the ship, to capture
her, were so amazed at her audacity and the desperate manner in which
she was fought, that they turned and fled. The Nonsuch lost
twenty-three killed and wounded in this engagement.
Not long after, in the same waters, the Dolphin, of Baltimore, with
only ten guns and sixty men, attacked at the same time a ship of
sixteen guns and forty men, and a brig of 10 guns and twenty-five men,
and captured them both.
In December of this year the privateer Comet, fourteen guns, started
on a cruise southward, and on the 14th of January gave chase to four
sail, which were afterwards ascertained to be three English
merchantmen, one carrying fourteen and the other two, ten guns,
convoyed by a Portuguese brig-of-war mounting twenty thirty-twos, and
having a crew of one hundred and sixty-five men. The privateer hailed
the Portuguese, when the latter sent a boat aboard with her commander.
In the conversation that followed, Captain Boyle, of the privateer,
declared he should take those merchantmen if he could. The Portuguese
commander replied, he must prevent him, though he should be sorry to
have any thing disagreeable happen. The American reciprocated his good
wishes, but told him he was afraid something unpleasant might occur if
he undertook to interfere with his proceedings.
It was dark when the Portuguese captain withdrew, and the Comet
immediately crowded sail for the merchantmen, followed closely by the
brig of war. Coming up with them, Captain Boyle began to pour in his
broadsides. The vessels keeping heavy head way, firing as their guns
bore, he was compelled to fight under a cloud of canvass. Now shooting
ahead, he would tack, and come down on the enemy in a blaze of fire.
But with every broadside, the Portuguese poured in his own. Captain
Boyle, intent on capturing the English vessels, paid no attention to
the latter, except occasionally to give him a passing salute. At
length he compelled every vessel to strike, and succeeded in taking
possession of and manning one. But the moon having gone down, and dark
clouds, indicating squalls, rising over the heavens, the vessels got
separated, except the privateer and man-of-war, which kept exchanging
occasional broadsides till two in the morning. By daylight all
succeeded in getting off, though dreadfully cut up, with the exception
of the one manned the night before, which was safely brought into port
through the squadron blockading the Chesapeake. This bold marauder
afterwards engaged a ship of eight hundred tons burthen and carrying
twenty-two guns, and maintained the contest for eight hours before he
could be beaten off.
The Governor Tompkins was another daring and successful cruiser,
inflicting heavy damages on the English commerce. Her log book would
read like a romance. [Sidenote: Jan. 1, 1813.] One morning as the sun
rose over the sea, Captain Shaler saw in the distance three vessels
and immediately gave chase. The wind was light and he approached
slowly, examining the strangers narrowly. One of them appeared to be a
large transport, so heavy that he was questioning the propriety of
attacking her, especially as the other two were evidently determined
to stand by her. Boats were rapidly passing to and fro, filled with
men, and though the large vessel lay to, quietly waiting the approach
of the privateer, she had studding-sail booms out as if prepared for a
running fight. Her conduct looked suspicious, and while the captain of
the Tompkins was deliberating whether to engage or haul off, a sudden
squall struck his vessel carrying her directly under the guns of the
stranger, which to his amazement he discovered to be a frigate. He had
English colors flying, but instead of endeavoring with them to deceive
the enemy till he could claw off, he hauled them down, and setting
three American ensigns, poured a broadside into the man-of-war. The
latter returned it with stunning effect, his balls crashing through
the timbers, blowing up cartridges, tube boxes, etc., and strewing the
quarter-deck with ruin. The Tompkins not daring to tack in the squall,
kept on before the wind, passing the frigate and receiving its fire as
she flew on. The frigate pursued, and sailing nearly as fast as the
privateer, for a time made the water foam about him. But the latter by
throwing over shot, lumber, etc., gradually drew ahead, and the wind
dying away, Captain Boyle, with the aid of sweeps, got at dark beyond
reach of the shot.
About the same time the Globe had a desperate engagement off Madeira
with two brigs, one of eighteen and the other of sixteen guns,
compelling one to strike, though she afterwards made her escape.
In August of this year, a gallant action was fought between the
privateer Decatur, Capt. Diron, and a war schooner of the British
navy. The Decatur had six twelve-pound carronades and one
eighteen-pounder, and mustered 103 men. The schooner was thoroughly
appointed, carrying _twelve twelve-pound carronades_, two long sixes,
a brass four, a _thirty-two pound carronade_ and eighty-eight men.
She, therefore, had but fifteen men less than her antagonist, while
she threw more than twice the weight of metal. But, notwithstanding
this overwhelming superiority of force, and though a packet
accompanied the schooner whose conduct in the engagement could not be
foretold, Captain Diron hoisted American colors to the peak, and
closed at once and fiercely with the enemy. He knew from the outset
that in a broadside to broadside engagement the Dominica, from her
great superiority in metal, would soon sink him, and he determined to
board her. The latter detected his purpose and bore away, pouring in
her broadsides. Both commanders exhibited great skill in manoeuvering
their ships; one to board, the other to foil the attempt. The schooner
succeeded in firing three broadsides before the privateer could close.
Captain Diron, who had previously got up all the ammunition, etc.
which he wanted from below, and fastened down the hatches, the moment
he saw from his course that the schooner could not avoid a collision,
ordered the drums to beat the charge. Loud cheers followed, and the
next moment the two vessels came together with a crash, the jib-boom
of the Decatur piercing the main-sail of the enemy. In an instant they
were lashed together. The fire from the artillery and musketry at this
time was terrible. In the midst of it the crew of the Decatur sprang
with shouts on the enemy's decks, when it became a hand-to-hand fight
with pistols and cutlasses. The crew of the latter fought desperately,
but at length, every officer being killed or wounded, with the
exception of one midshipman and the surgeon, and only twenty-eight out
of the eighty-eight left standing, the colors were hauled down. The
combat, which lasted an hour, was one of the most bloody, in
proportion to the number engaged, that occurred during the war.
[Sidenote: 1814.]
The privateer Neufchatel was another lucky ship. Once getting becalmed
off Gray Head, within sight of the Endymion, she was attacked by the
boats and launches of the latter containing over a hundred men. The
Neufchatel carried 17 guns, but had at the time of the attack only
thirty-three men and officers included. Although it was dark the
captain observed the approach of the boats, five in number, and opened
his fire upon them. They, however, steadily advanced till they reached
the ship, when they attempted to board on bows, sides, and stern
simultaneously.
The action lasted twenty minutes, when one boat having sunk, another
being emptied of its crew, and the others drifting away, apparently
without men, the firing ceased. At its close the privateer found on
her deck more prisoners than she had men in the combat. But few of the
assailants ever reached the frigate again.
[Sidenote: Nov. 24.]
In November of this year the Kemp privateer sailed out of Wilmington
and two days after was attacked by a fleet of six small vessels,
carrying in all forty-six guns and a hundred and thirty-four men.
Enveloped in the fire of six vessels this gallant privateer maintained
the unequal combat for half an hour, and finally succeeded in
scattering them, when she fell on them in detail and carried three by
boarding. She then ranged alongside the largest brig and poured in her
broadsides and volleys of musketry. In fifteen minutes the latter
struck. In an hour and a half the whole were taken, but while the
prizes were being secured two hoisted sail and got away. The other
four were secured and brought into port, the result of a six days'
cruise.
[Sidenote: 1814.]
But the most desperate engagement probably during the war took place
this year, between the privateer brig, General Armstrong, and the
crews of an English squadron in the port of Fayal. This brig,
carrying only seven guns and ninety men, entered that port to obtain
water, and her commander, Captain Reid, seeing no sail on the horizon,
dropped his anchor. A few hours after, the British brig Carnation came
in and anchored near her. Soon after the Plantaganet, 74, and the Rota
frigate arrived. Captain Reid, knowing how little regard English
officers paid to the laws of neutrality, became very solicitous about
the safety of his ship, and applied to the authorities of the place to
know what course he should pursue. They told him he need entertain no
fear, as the English officers knew the rights of a neutral port too
well to molest him. Captain Reid, however, suspected it would be
otherwise, and kept a close watch on the movements of the enemy. About
nine o'clock in the evening, it being broad moonlight on the bay and
not a breath of air breaking its glittering surface, he saw four boats
rowing rapidly and silently towards him. When they came within hail he
called out to know their purpose. The latter making no reply and
keeping steadily on, he bade them stand off. They paid no heed to his
repeated orders, and were about to board when he gave the command to
fire. After a short but fierce contest the assailants were driven off
and returned to their vessels. The news soon spread, and the
inhabitants with the governor gathered on the shore to see the battle.
About midnight fourteen launches, filled with four hundred men, were
seen to put off and steer straight for the privateer. Captain Reid,
who, in the mean time, had cut his cable and moored close in shore,
knew he could not save his vessel; but indignant at this violation of
the laws of neutrality he determined the enemy should pay dear for the
conquest, and the moment the boats came within range opened a
tremendous fire upon them. They staggered under it, but returning it
with spirit continued to press on. But as they got nearer, the carnage
became awful. Every gun on board that privateer seemed aimed with the
precision of a rifle, and the discharges were so rapid and incessant
that it was with the utmost efforts the boats could be pushed on at
all. The dead cumbered the living, and the oars were continually
dropping from the hands of the slain, crippling and confusing all the
movements. At length, however, they succeeded in reaching the brig,
and cheered on by their officers, shouting "no quarter," began to
ascend the sides of the ship. In a moment its black hull was a sheet
of flame rolling on the foe.
Shrieks and cries, mingled with oaths and execrations, and sharp
volleys of musketry rang out on the night air, turning that moonlight
bay into a scene of indescribable terror. The bright waters were
loaded with black forms, as they floated or struggled around the
boats. The Americans fought with the ferocity of tigers and the
desperation of mad men. Leaping into the boats they literally
massacred all within. Several drifted ashore full of dead bodies--not
a soul being left alive of all the crew--others were sunk. Some were
left with one or two to row them. Overwhelmed, crushed and
discomfitted, the remainder abandoned the attempt and pulled slowly
back to the ships, marking their course by the groans and cries of the
wounded that floated back over the bay. Only three officers, out of
the whole, escaped, while scarce a hundred and fifty of the four
hundred returned unwounded to their vessels. A hundred and twenty were
killed outright. The loss could scarcely have been greater had the
enemy fought a squadron equal to their own.
Our Consul, after this, dropped a note to the Governor, who
immediately sent a remonstrance to Van Lloyd, commander of the
Plantagenet, saying that the American vessel was under the guns of the
castle and entitled to Portuguese protection. To this Van Lloyd
replied, that he was resolved on the destruction of the vessel, and if
the fort undertook to protect her, he would not leave a house standing
on shore.
The next day the Carnation hauled in alongside and opened her
broadsides on the privateer. Reid, still grimly clinging to his
vessel, returned the fire, and in a short time so cut up his
antagonist that he hauled off to repair. That little brig, half a
wreck, lying under the walls of the castle fighting that hopeless
gallant battle, vindicating her rights against such fearful odds, with
none who dare help her, presented a sublime spectacle.
At length his guns being dismounted, Captain Reid ordered his men to
cut away the masts of the ship, blow a hole through her bottom, and
taking out their arms and clothing, go ashore. Soon after the British
advanced and set her on fire. Van Lloyd then made a demand on the
Governor for Captain Reid and his crew, threatening in case of refusal
to send an armed force and take them. Fearing that the Governor would
not be able to prevent their arrest, this gallant band retired to an
old convent, knocked away the drawbridge, determined to defend
themselves to the last. The English commander had no desire to place
his crews again under the deadly aim of those daring men, and
abandoned the project.
The American loss in this engagement was only two killed and seven
wounded. Thus dearly did England pay for this violation of the laws of
a neutral port. That brig, cruising successfully to the close of the
war, could not have inflicted so heavy damage on the enemy as she
caused in her capture.
The gallant bearing and patriotic feeling that marked these little
cruisers are worthy of record, while the hair-breadth escapes--the
tricks employed to entice merchantmen within their reach--the wit and
humor exhibited in hailing and answering the hails of vessels--the
saucy and irritating acts committed on purpose to provoke--the
good-natured jokes they cracked on those they had first outwitted,
then conquered, would make a most characteristic and amusing chapter
in American history.
Captain Boyle, of the Chasseur, took great delight in provoking
frigates to chase him, and when they abandoned the pursuit as
hopeless, he would affect to chase in turn, teazing and insulting his
formidable adversaries, who tried in vain to cut some spar out of the
winged thing in order to lessen her fleetness. Cruising along the
English coast, this vessel had some very narrow escapes. While here
the captain overhauled a cartel, and sent by it a proclamation with
orders to have it stuck up in Lloyd's coffee house, declaring the
whole British Empire in a state of blockade, and that he considered
the force under him sufficient to maintain it.
This was probably one of the finest private armed vessels afloat
during the war. Buoyant as a sea-gull, she sat so lightly and
gracefully on the water, that it seemed as if she might, at will, rise
and fly. Fleet as the wind, she was handled with such ease that the
enemy gazed on her movements with admiration.
[Sidenote: Feb. 26, 1815.]
Her last exploit was the capture of his majesty's schooner St.
Lawrence, carrying fifteen guns. The latter was on her way to New
Orleans, with some soldiers, marines, and gentlemen of the navy as
passengers. The Chasseur had only six twelve-pounders and eight short
nine pound carronades, having been compelled a short time before, when
hard pressed by an English frigate, to throw over nearly all her
twelve pound carronades. Captain Boyle had no suspicion of the true
character of the vessel when he gave chase, for her ports had been
closed on purpose to deceive him. He therefore stood boldly on till he
got within pistol-shot, when the schooner suddenly opened ten ports on
a side and poured in a destructive fire. At the same time the men who
had been concealed under the bulwarks leaped up and delivered a volley
of musketry. Captain Boyle, discovering what a trap he had been
beguiled into, determined at once to stay in it, and ranging alongside
within ten yards, opened a tremendous fire with his batteries and
musketry. The vessels were so near each other that the voices of
officers and men could be distinctly heard, even amid the crashing
cannonade. That little privateer exhibited a skill and practice in
gunnery unsurpassed by any frigate, and superior to any vessel in the
English navy. The enemy was completely stunned by the rapidity and
destructive effect of her fire, and in eleven minutes was a perfect
wreck. Captain Boyle then gave the command to board, when the flag was
struck. In this short space of time the Chasseur had strewed the deck
of that schooner with nearly half of her crew, killed and wounded.
Our privateers had greatly the advantage of the English, not only in
artillery but in musketry--our men firing with much surer aim than
theirs.
It would be impossible to give the names and details of all the
vessels and their engagements; but, independent of the vast number of
merchantmen captured by them, they took eight national vessels of the
enemy, in single combat. They seemed to vie with each other in daring
and the venturous exploits they would undertake. One of these vessels
would shoot out of port within sight of a blockading squadron, start
alone on a cruise, and scouring thirty or forty thousand miles of the
ocean, return with a fleet of prizes. The commanders were almost,
invariably humane men, treating their prisoners with vastly more
kindness than British admirals and commodores did those Americans who
fell in their hands. Many acts of kindness and generosity were
performed, and a nobleness of spirit exhibited towards a fallen foe,
which has ever been, and it is to be hoped ever will be, a
distinguished trait in the American character. On one occasion a
privateer captured in the channel a Welch vessel from Cardigan,
freighted with corn. As the captain went on board he saw a small box
with a hole in the top, in the cabin, marked "Missionary box." "What
is this?" said he, touching it with a stick. "Oh," replied the
Cambrian, "the truth is, my poor fellows here have been accustomed
every Monday morning to drop a penny each into that box, for the
purpose of sending out missionaries to preach the gospel to the
heathen; but it's all over now." "Indeed," said the captain, and
reflecting a moment, he added, "Captain, I'll not hurt a hair of your
head nor touch your vessel," and immediately returned to his own ship,
leaving him unmolested.
Such conduct appears the more striking when contrasted with that of
British officers. The murder of Mr. Sigourney, of the Alp, whose
brains were beaten out; though when his vessel was taken possession of
not a soul but himself was found on board--the confinement of Capt.
Upton and his officers of the privateer Hunter, for three months in a
filthy prison, and their after transfer to a prison ship--the cruelty
shown to Capt. Nichols, who, after enjoying his parole for two months,
was without the least reason thrown into a prison-ship and kept for
more than a month in a room four feet by seven, and many other cases
of extreme cruelty, were well known, for the facts had been sworn to
and placed on record as state papers. Rumor aggravated all these a
hundred fold, yet the English government can offset them with no
retaliatory acts substantiated before courts of inquiry.
CHAPTER XIV.
DARTMOOR PRISON.
Impressed Americans made prisoners of war -- Treatment of
prisoners -- Prison Ships -- Dartmoor prison -- Neglect of
American prisoners -- Their sufferings -- Fourth of July in
Dartmoor -- Brutal attack of the French prisoners -- Fresh
arrivals -- Joy at the news of our naval victories --
Sufferings of the prisoners in winter -- American Government
allows them three cents per diem -- Moral effect of this
notice of Government -- Napoleon's downfall -- Increased
allowance of Government -- Industry of prisoners -- Attempts
to escape -- Extraordinary adventure of a lieutenant of a
privateer -- Number of prisoners increased -- A riot to
obtain bread -- Dartmoor massacre -- Messrs. King and
L'Arpent appointed commissioners to investigate it --
Decision -- The end.
A short chapter is due to those who, though not engaged in battle,
suffered equally for their country, and despite the oppression and
want which drove them well nigh to despair, refused to be faithless to
the land that had nurtured them. The conduct of the land and naval
officers to a vanquished enemy, did not present a more striking
contrast than that of the two governments towards prisoners who had
never taken up arms. Those placed in confinement by us were never
allowed to suffer through want of clothing or food, while a barbarity
characterized the treatment of American citizens that reflects the
deepest disgrace on the British empire.
[Illustration: Dartmoor Prison.]
When the declaration of war was made, the English vessels had a vast
number of American seamen on board, most of them impressed, who flatly
refused to fight against their country. Many of these, without having
received the pay due them, were then sent to England as prisoners of
war. Captures at sea swelled the number rapidly, which in the end
amounted to nearly six thousand men. Officers of privateersmen and
merchantmen on parole, were sent to Devonshire or Berkshire, where on
thirty-three and a quarter cents per diem, they were allowed to
subsist in comparative comfort; but the common sailors and merchant
captains were scattered about in different prisons, the most, however,
being collected and placed on board two old line-of-battle-ships in
Portsmouth harbor. Hence, after a short imprisonment, characterized by
a brutality not often found among half-civilized nations, they were
transferred to Dartmoor prison, seventeen miles inland. This dreaded
prison was situated high up on the side of a barren mountain,
overlooking a bleak and desolate moor. It consisted of seven
buildings, surrounded by two walls, the first a mile in extent and
sixteen feet high; the second, thirty feet from the first, and
surmounted by guards overlooking the spaces within. Each prison had
but one apartment on a floor, around which, in tiers, six on a side,
the hammocks were slung. Into one of these large cold apartments,
nearly five hundred American prisoners were crowded during the year
1813. Their own Government had not then provided any thing towards
their expenses, and they were dependent entirely on the allowance of
the British officials. The garments they brought with them, at length
wearing out, they were reduced to the most miserable shifts to cover
their persons. As soon as it was dark, this half-famished multitude
was turned into their prison, and left without a light to pass the
long and dreary winter nights. Filthy, ragged, covered with vermin,
they strolled around the yard in the day time, or lay basking in the
sun to obtain a little warmth, and moody and despairing, gradually
sank, through degrading companionship and the demoralization of want
and suffering, lower and lower in the scale of humanity. A single
bucket, only, containing the food, was allowed to a mess, around which
they gathered with the avidity of starving men, and each with his
wooden spoon struggled to eat fastest and most. To add to their
sufferings the small-pox broke out among them, carrying many to their
graves. Faint and far echoes from home would now and then rekindle
hope in their bosoms, to be succeeded only by blank despair.
The better portion strove manfully to arrest the tendency around them
to degradation, and constituted themselves a court to try offenders.
When theft was proved on one, a punishment of twenty-seven lashes was
inflicted. They also used every inducement to prevent the sailors from
enlisting in the British service, to which last resort many were
driven, to escape the horrors of that gloomy prison.
When the 4th of July arrived, they determined to celebrate the
national anniversary in their own prison, and so having by some means
obtained two American standards, they placed them at the two ends of
the building, outside the walls, and forming into two columns marched
up and down the yard, singing patriotic songs, whistling patriotic
tunes, and cheering the flag of their country. The keeper, hearing of
it, ordered the turnkeys to take away the flags; but the prisoners
sent to him, requesting as a particular favor that they might be
allowed to celebrate the anniversary of their country's independence,
adding if he insisted on attacking their colors he must take the
consequences. The guards were then ordered in, when a scuffle ensued,
in which one flag was taken, but the prisoners bore the other off in
triumph to their room. At evening, when the guards came as usual to
shut them up, a great deal of severe language and opprobrious epithets
were used, stigmatizing the pitiful revenge in taking away their
flags as mean and contemptible. Retorts followed, blows succeeded, and
finally the guard fired on the crowd, wounding two men. Thus ended the
4th of July, 1813, in Dartmoor.
In the apartments above the Americans, were crowded nearly a thousand
French prisoners, miserable outcasts, with scarcely any thing left of
our common humanity but the form. Many of them were entirely naked,
and slept on the stone floor, stretched out like so many swine. The
moment clothing was given them they would gamble it away. These
wretches formed a conspiracy to murder all the Americans. Arming
themselves with whatever weapon they could lay hands on, they
contrived one morning to get into the yard before the latter, and as
the first group of Americans, a hundred and fifty in number, emerged
into the open air, fell upon them with the ferocity of fiends. Passing
between them and the prison, they blocked the entrance to prevent the
others from coming to the rescue. A wild scene of confusion and tumult
followed. The French succeeded in stabbing and knocking down and
mangling nearly every American, and would doubtless have beaten the
whole to death had not the guard, attracted by the cries for help and
shrieks of murder, rushed in, and by a bayonet charge ended the fray.
A great number of the Americans were more or less injured and twenty
shockingly mangled.
The succeeding months passed drearily away, with nothing occurring to
break the weary monotony of life, except at long intervals the arrival
of a fresh squad of prisoners. This was an event in their existence,
and replaced them once more in communication with the outward world.
The new comers were lions for the time. Eager groups gathered around
each one, impatiently asking after the news, and how the war got on.
The triumphs of our navy made them forget, for awhile, the gloom of
their dismal abode. Every action had to be described over and over
again, losing nothing by Jack's embellishments--the narration ever and
anon interrupted with huzzas and acclamations. They would lie for
hours awake in their hammocks, listening to the recital of the
marvellous sea-fights in which "free trade and sailors' rights" were
gallantly maintained, and cheers would burst out of the darkness,
ringing down through the tiers of cots that lined the walls.
During the autumn of 1813, a fresh arrival of prisoners brought the
news of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and the capture of the Boxer by
the Enterprise. These were the occasion of great rejoicing, and while
the more intelligent and respectable portion of the captives discussed
the victories calmly, the hundreds of common seamen shook the prison
walls with their uproarious mirth and unbounded exultation.
[Sidenote: 1813.]
The sufferings of the prisoners were the greatest during this
winter. They were allowed no fire and no light, although the windows
were not glazed; and locked within the cold damp stone walls at the
close of the short winter days, were compelled to spend the long
winter evenings in darkness, whiling away the time in telling
stories--keeping warm by huddling together, or creeping to their
hammocks with but a single tattered blanket to protect them from the
cold. To make their wretchedness complete, the winter set in with a
severity not felt before for half a century, and which has had no
parallel since. The mountain on which the prison stood was covered
with snow to the depth of from two to four feet. The stream running
through the prison yard, and the buckets of water in the prisoners'
room were frozen solid. Most of the prisoners being protected only
by rags, and destitute of shoes, they could not go out into the yard
at all, for it was covered with snow, but lay crouched in their
hammocks all day and all night. The strong were bowed in gloom and
despair, and the weak perished in protracted agonies. To fill up the
measure of their sufferings, the commanding officer issued an order
compelling them to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning, and
stand in the yard till the guard counted them. This took nearly an
hour, during which time the poor fellows stood barefoot in the snow,
benumbed by the cold and pierced by the bleak December blasts that
swept the desolate mountain, and hurled the snow in clouds through
the air. Unable to bear this dreadful exposure, the prisoners cut up
their bedding and made garments and socks for their feet to protect
them from the frost, and slept on the cold floor. Morning after
morning, hardy men overcome by the cold, fell lifeless in presence
of their keepers, and were carried to the hospital, where they were
resuscitated, only to be sent back to shiver and suffer on the icy
floor of their prison. The better class remonstrated against this
useless cruelty, but without effect.
[Sidenote: Dec.]
At length, in the latter part of the month, the agent was removed, and
Captain Shortland took his place, who immediately revoked the order
requiring the prisoners to be counted--represented strongly to the
board of transport the condition they were in, and used all the means
in his power to alleviate their sufferings and ameliorate the horrors
of their confinement. Still, no clothing was furnished, and the cold
was intense. The camp distemper also broke out, and many were not
sorry to take it, in order to get in the more comfortable quarters of
the hospital.
Mr. Beasely was agent for American prisoners of war in England, to
whom those at Dartmoor constantly appealed for help. Receiving no
answers to their repeated appeals, they denounced him as unfeeling and
indifferent to their distress. At last, enraged at the neglect of
their own Government, as represented in Mr. Beasely, and maddened by
suffering, they drew up a paper and sent it to him, in which they
declared that unless relief was granted they would offer, _en masse_,
their services to the British Government. To this no answer was
received for about a month, when a letter arrived, announcing that the
United States would allow them about three cents a day to buy soap and
tobacco with. Slight as this relief was, it shed sunshine through that
prison. True, it was not sufficient to purchase them clothing; it did
more, however; it showed that they were recognized by their
Government--they were no longer disowned, forgotten men, but stood
once more in communication with the land of their birth, and
acknowledged to be American citizens. The moral effect of this
consciousness was wonderful, and notwithstanding their nakedness and
forlorn appearance, the prisoners felt at once a new dignity. A
committee was appointed to suppress gambling, and a petition got up to
separate them from the blacks, who were irredeemably given over to
thieving. Previous to this ninety-five had entered the British
service; now every one spurned the thought. They never would desert
the country that owned them as sons.
In the spring the rigorous restrictions laid on them were relaxed, and
they were allowed the privilege of the French prisoners. Free access
to the other prisoners and to the market were given, and they
established a coffee-house in their prison, selling coffee at a penny
a pint. From French officers they learned the news of the day. The
world was thus again thrown open to them, and though the prospect of
exchange grew dimmer and dimmer, they resigned themselves with more
tranquillity to their contemplated long confinement. In the mean time
money began to arrive from friends at home, on which, as a capital,
the recipients set up as tobacconists, butter and potatoe merchants,
etc. Imitating the French, they learned to be economical, and invent
methods of increasing their revenue. The bones left from their beef
were converted into beautifully wrought miniature ships. Others
plaited straw for hats, made hair bracelets, list shoes, etc., turning
that gloomy receptacle of despairing, reckless men, into a perfect
hive of industry. Soon after, another letter from Mr. Beasely arrived,
stating that six cents a week, in addition to the former sum, would in
future be allowed, per man. This little sum diffused new pleasure
around, and filled every heart with animation and hope. They could now
purchase clothing and other little articles, necessary to render
their appearance becoming American citizens.
Succeeding this came the news of Napoleon's downfall and termination
of the continental war. The French prisoners were, of course,
released, and the Americans purchased out their stock in trade,
utensils, &c.
Among the prisoners were gray-haired men, and boys from thirteen to
seventeen years of age. For the latter a school was established, to
instruct them in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Soon another
welcome letter was received, announcing that the United States would
hereafter clothe them. Clad in clean new, though coarse clothing, they
now trod the yards of their prison with a manly bearing. The sense of
inferiority was gone, and the characteristic boldness and independence
of the American seamen again shone forth. They would argue with
English officers on the war, repel insult, and denounce every act of
cruelty or fraud as freely as if on their own soil.
The English Government having resolved to make Dartmoor the general
depôt of the prisoners, fresh arrivals soon swelled the number to
fourteen hundred. [Sidenote: 1814.] Being now in a better condition,
they resolved to celebrate the approaching 4th of July with becoming
pomp. American colors were obtained, two hogsheads of porter and some
rum purchased, and a grand dinner of soup and beef prepared. Early in
the morning the flag was run up, and as it flaunted to the wind, "ALL
CANADA, OR DARTMOOR PRISON FOR EVER!" was seen inscribed upon its
folds. At eleven the prisoners assembled, while the walls around were
lined with the English soldiers and officers and clerks, curious to
hear what kind of an oration a Yankee sailor would make. Mounted on a
cask, the orator launched at once into the war, showed how we had been
forced into it by the injustice of England, and dwelt with great
unction on the separate naval victories the brave tars had gained.
Dinner followed, the grog circulated freely, toasts were given, and a
song composed expressly for the occasion sung. Mirth and hilarity
ruled the hour, and the walls of that old prison shook to the
deafening cheers and boisterous mirth of these sons of the ocean.
Soon after a plan of escape was put in execution, and for a long time
proceeded without detection. Every prisoner was sworn to secresy, and
a court organized to try any informer, who in case of conviction, was
to be hung. Shafts were sunk in the ground--the hole at the top being
carefully concealed--and broad excavations began and worked towards
the walls, beyond which they were to come to the surface. A traitor,
however, was found, who for the price of his liberty revealed all.
From time to time some of the prisoners made their escape, but most
of them were retaken before they reached the sea-board.[12]
[Footnote 12: A most daring and successful attempt was made by one of
the lieutenants of the privateer Rattlesnake. Having bribed one of the
sentinels with six guineas, to give him the countersign, he let
himself down with a rope, eighty feet, to the ground, and was just
about to pass the gate, when the villain who had received the six
guineas, informed against him. Enraged at the act, the lieutenant
sprung on him with his dagger, but was seized and bound before he
could plunge it in his heart. Arraigned before Capt. Shortland, he was
asked how he obtained the countersign. Lieutenant G---- replied, that
if the sentinel had behaved honorably to him, death itself could not
have wrested his name from him, for it was the character of Americans
always to keep their engagements; but, as he had deceived him, he
should suffer for it. The culprit's name was then given, and he
received three hundred lashes. Shortland then told the lieutenant he
was a brave man, and pledged his honor, if he would not again attempt
to escape, he would procure his exchange. The latter replied, that he
had seen too much of the honor of British officers, ever to take their
word, and he should escape that very night. The keeper assured him the
attempt would be fatal, as he should double the sentinels, and if he
made it he would most certainly be shot. Lieutenant G---- said he did
not care--death was preferable to that detestable prison. Having
obtained the countersign again, for three guineas, he that very night
lowered himself down, and though challenged seventeen times, passed
safely out. Keeping the fields he made his way to the sea-coast, where
he found a boat eighteen feet long, with one oar in it. In this frail
vessel, without provision or water, he determined to put to sea, and
cross the channel, one hundred miles, to France. Sculling it till he
got off shore, he converted his umbrella and clothes into a sail, and
stood boldly away. When about half way over, he discovered a
brig-of-war. The sea was running high at the time, but he immediately
took down the sail, and laid himself flat in the boat, to avoid being
seen. After the brig had passed him, he again hoisted sail, and after
a passage of thirty-six hours, landed safely in France.]
The number of prisoners continued to increase, so that by autumn, over
five thousand were congregated in the prison. Before they were
released, the number was swelled to five thousand six hundred and
ninety-three. Frequent collisions occurred between them and the
officers, which embittered the animosity of the latter, and finally
brought on a bloody catastrophe.
With the approach of winter great suffering was experienced. The
malignant small-pox again broke out, and raged with fatal violence
amid this army of men.
The news of the treaty of peace, however, dissipated, for a time, all
their gloom, and diffused joy and hope through the prisons. The word
"HOME," was on every man's lips, and a speedy release from that den of
horrors and suffering was expected. But the gloomy winter passed, and
spring came, without mitigating their condition or restoring them to
freedom. The prisoners became exasperated. The two countries having
been so long at peace, they felt themselves entitled to their freedom.
They were no longer prisoners of war, but by the very act of the
treaty, American freemen. They burnt Mr. Beasely, the American agent,
in effigy, railed at their keepers, and swore they would make their
escape by violence if not soon released.
On the fourth of April, Captain Shortland having gone to Plymouth,
they were not allowed any bread. Bearing the privation patiently, for
thirty-six hours, they resolved to break open the store-house and
supply themselves. So at dark as the officers entered the yard and
cried out, "_Turn in! Turn in!_" a signal previously agreed on was
given, and in an instant the excited thousands moved in one dark mass
towards the gates. One after another gave way before the tremendous
pressure, and these maddened hungry men rushed around the depôt of
provisions, their shouts and cries ringing over the alarm bells and
beat of drums, that summoned the garrison to arms. The alarm spread to
the neighboring villages, and the militia began to pour in. In a few
moments the soldiers advanced with charged bayonets towards the
multitude, when they were sternly ordered off by the prisoners, who
swore that if they dared fire or charge, they would charge in turn,
and level that store-house to the ground, and march out of prison. The
officers, fearing the result of such a contest, prudently promised to
give them their usual supply if they would retire to their respective
prisons. They did so, and quiet was restored. The bold and successful
manner in which the Americans had overawed the soldiery and coerced
submission to their demands, irritated them highly, and made them wish
for a good opportunity to retaliate. [Sidenote: April 6.] This was
soon furnished. Two days after, Captain Shortland, who had returned,
observed a hole in that portion of the inner wall which separated two
of the prison yards from the barracks, and suspecting, or pretending
to suspect it was made by the prisoners for the purpose of escaping,
he immediately ordered the alarm bells to be rung and the drums to
beat. The prisoners, surprised and excited, rushed towards the gates
of the yard to ascertain the cause of the alarm. The thousands behind
pushing forward the thousands before, they became packed in an
impenetrable mass at the entrance, and the pressure was so great that
some were forced out through one of the gates that gave way. In the
midst of the confusion, Shortland entered the inner square with the
whole garrison. The soldiers advanced close to the throng, when the
prisoners retired towards their respective yards. Doubtless amid such
a vast and motley collection of men, many taunted the soldiers,
provoked them, and dared them to fire. Still they yielded before the
bayonet, and entered their own yard. The gates were shut, but a large
crowd remained in the passage, provoking the soldiers, from whom they
were separated by an iron railing, and threatening them with
vengeance. While in this position the order to fire was given.
Immediately the massacre commenced. Volley after volley was poured
into the terrified crowd, pushing down and trampling on each other in
their haste to reach the shelter of the prisons. Men were killed in
the act of supplicating mercy, others were shot down while struggling
to enter the prison doors. It was cold-blooded murder, and before all
the prisoners could get within the walls, over sixty were killed or
wounded. When the living had all escaped to a place of shelter, and
the carnage was over, the prison yard presented a ghastly spectacle.
The man of sixty, the sailor in his prime, and the boy of fifteen, lay
scattered around, while the groans of the wounded were borne to the
ears of the enraged prisoners within. A sullen silence fell on those
gloomy structures, the flags were raised half-mast, in token of
mourning, and the prisoners assembled together and appointed a
committee to report on the matter.
Although the coroner's jury over the slain gave a verdict of
justifiable homicide, our Government took up the matter, and appointed
Charles King to meet Mr. Larpent, the English commissioner, and
investigate it. In their report no one was declared culpable, though
it was freely admitted wrong had been done. Mr. King was severely
censured for his conduct, but it was not easy to come to a just
conclusion, when the testimony of the two parties were so entirely at
variance. Mr. Larpent was bound to believe the assertions of Captain
Shortland and his troops, as much as Mr. King those of the prisoners.
Capt. Shortland declared he never gave the order to fire, and
attempted to arrest it after it had begun. This, of course, the
prisoners denied, some of them swearing they heard him give the
order. One thing, however, is certain; Mr. King never should have let
this massacre of Americans pass, with so slight a condemnation as it
received at his hands. In the first place, there is good reason to
doubt whether Captain Shortland believed there was any great danger at
all. A hole in a wall, only large enough to admit the passage of a
single man at a time, could easily be stopped up without ringing alarm
bells and beating drums, especially as that hole communicated with
only two out of five of the yards, and when in three of these yards
the prisoners were walking about in their usual quiet manner. Nor
could he believe they meditated an escape, when they had just received
word that preparations were nearly completed for their restoration to
liberty. Where could they escape to without money or clothing?
Besides, if they wished to free themselves by violence, why did they
not do it two days before, when they had completely cowed the soldiers
and had only to march forth without farther resistance.
In the second place, he deserved disgrace and punishment, for
allowing the soldiers to press on the multitude, when he saw them
evidently, or the great mass of them, retiring to their prisons. To
fire on a mob, unless they are pressing forward to assail authority
and force, is brutal. If he gave the order to fire, he should have
been hung. If he did not, he should be held responsible for having
such undisciplined troops under his command. An act like this cannot
be committed and nobody be deserving of reprehension. The commander
of a garrison cannot so escape responsibility. The probability is,
enraged at the conduct of the prisoners in forcing the soldiers to
yield to their demands two days before, he resolved to punish the
first attempt at insubordination, and irritated at the insolence and
taunts of some of them, he in a fit of passion gave the order to
fire. Conscience-smitten afterwards, and fearing disgrace and
punishment, he endeavored to cover up the dark transaction.
Mr. King had rather, at any time, smooth over a quarrel, than increase
the exasperation by dealing sternly with its causes. With his thousand
noble and excellent qualities, he lacked the energy of will and
unflinching severity necessary to probe such a difficulty to the
bottom, and see that justice was done at whatever cost. A great wrong
was committed, though doubtless with good intentions and a patriotic
heart.
_The following_ TAX TABLES, _showing the relative amount of taxation
during the last two years of the war, are extracted from voluminous
tables found in the revenue department. The whole to be found in
Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812._
_Internal Duties which accrued on Stills and Boilers._
+----------------------+-------------------------+------------------------+
| | In 1814. | In 1815. |
| STATES OR |-------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
| TERRITORIES. | Domestic | Foreign | Domestic | Foreign |
| | materials. | materials.| materials. | materials.|
+----------------------+-------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
| New Hampshire | 3,982 50 | 213 90 | 888 69 | 3,015 90 |
| Massachusetts | 33,735 64 | 39,272 28 | 23,381 83 | 57,959 11 |
| Vermont | 31,836 54 | | 14,263 | |
| Rhode Island | 6,918 73 | 9,346 50 | 4,073 28 | 8,440 80 |
| Connecticut | 50,067 34 | 50,867 66 | 3,524 65 | |
| New York | 225,979 31 | 6,201 45 | 120,522 03 | 10,299 23 |
| New Jersey | 54,845 67 | 25,033 72 | 4,953 90 | |
| Pennsylvania | 392,536 23 | 56 70 | 228,042 13 | |
| Delaware | 4,457 64 | | 209 11 | |
| Maryland | 60,378 10 | | 28,910 87 | |
| Virginia | 264,135 97 | 3 50 | 87,702 63 | |
| North Carolina | 87,738 22 | | 13,353 81 | |
| Ohio | 75,596 85 | | 33,819 16 | |
| Kentucky | 141,157 50 | | 57,807 62 | |
| South Carolina | 66,941 37 | 1,425 00 | 12,615 84 | 2,550 77 |
| Tennessee | 77,091 59 | 34,244 77 | | |
| Georgia | 29,262 34 | 925 00 | 14,929 56 | 864 00 |
| Louisiana | 7,741 84 | | 6,109 72 | |
| Illinois Territory | 605 35 | | 214 91 | |
| Michigan " | | | | |
| Indiana " | 2,358 50 | | 923 20 | |
| Missouri " | 2,033 95 | | 1,631 08 | |
| Mississippi " | 1,862 41 | | 958 48 | |
| District of Columbia | 279 27 | | | |
+----------------------+-------------+-----------+------------+-----------|
| Total |1,621,542 86 | 57,444 33 | 760,804 22 | 91,608 36 |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Spirits distilled in the United
States._
+---------------------+-----------------------------------------+
| | In 1815. |
| +----------------------------+------------+
| STATES OR | Domestic materials. | Foreign |
| TERRITORIES. | | materials. |
| +--------------+-------------+------------+
| | At 20 cents | At 25 cents | At 20 cents|
| | per gal. | per gal. | per gal. |
+---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+
| | | | |
|New Hampshire | 861 81 | 137 05 | 4,840 81 |
|Massachusetts | 29,877 84 | 1,548 14 | 110,147 27 |
|Vermont | 18,017 56 | 816 14 | |
|Rhode Island | 6,097 71 | | 12,185 97 |
|Connecticut | 52,996 04 | 3,692 09 | 5,645 20 |
|New York | 199,645 92 | 5,672 31 | 15,519 65 |
|New Jersey | 69,081 42 | 10,329 74 | 5,477 20 |
|Pennsylvania | 381,484 71 | 38,393 24 | |
|Delaware | 600 35 | 22,295 38 | |
|Maryland | 66,177 25 | 32,428 34 | |
|Virginia | 179,387 95 | 201,566 82 | |
|North Carolina | 21,961 11 | 175,922 07 | |
|Ohio | 56,653 68 | 15,128 83 | |
|Kentucky | 114,644 40 | 39,569 10 | |
|South Carolina | 19,640 77 | 68,107 41 | 3,391 30 |
|Tennessee | 55,284 66 | 56,573 59 | |
|Georgia | 17,563 00 | 65,162 75 | 2,021 60 |
|Louisiana | 12,756 54 | 177 35 | |
|Illinois Territory | 549 23 | 701 26 | |
|Michigan " | | | |
|Indiana " | 641 50 | 2,508 17 | |
|Missouri " | 833 50 | 622 89 | |
|Mississippi " | 583 37 | 1,045 90 | |
|District of Columbia | | | |
+---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+
| Total | 1,305,340 39 | 742,398 57 | 159,229 00 |
+---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Carriages._
+----------------------+---------------------+---------------------+
| STATES OR | In 1814. | In 1815. |
| TERRITORIES. +--------+------------+--------+------------+
| | Number.| Duty. | Number.| Duty. |
+----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+
| New Hampshire | 3,279 | 6,895 51 | 3,337 | 4,514 09 |
| Massachusetts | 14,934 | 33,995 64 | 14,184 | 21,748 49 |
| Vermont | 1,227 | 2,890 24 | 1,628 | 2,443 09 |
| Rhode Island | 1,232 | 2,877 50 | 722 | 1,123 03 |
| Connecticut | 5,262 | 13,419 80 | 6,319 | 10,202 46 |
| New York | 6,499 | 22,834 15 | 7,715 | 18,675 91 |
| New Jersey | 4,502 | 16,781 26 | 7,892 | 14,790 02 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,848 | 26,800 80 | 8,361 | 20,076 29 |
| Delaware | 2,261 | 5,228 21 | 2,081 | 4,018 58 |
| Maryland | 5,014 | 17,676 78 | 4,550 | 13,283 87 |
| Virginia | 8,067 | 30,401 80 | 7,047 | 20,147 24 |
| North Carolina | 5,766 | 14,147 44 | 4,859 | 8,907 95 |
| Ohio | 160 | 628 36 | 219 | 732 45 |
| Kentucky | 610 | 3,025 77 | 546 | 3,192 86 |
| South Carolina | 4,560 | 15,411 58 | 4,178 | 11,345 94 |
| Tennessee | 209 | 778 22 | 154 | 781 43 |
| Georgia | 2,667 | 7,159 75 | 1,948 | 6,095 60 |
| Louisiana | 495 | 1,435 83 | 430 | 1,357 27 |
| Illinois Territory | 19 | 66 62 | 18 | 36 75 |
| Michigan " | 31 | 76 00 | 28 | 60 00 |
| Indiana " | 4 | 6 00 | 5 | 17 44 |
| Missouri " | 18 | 79 00 | 6 | 47 00 |
| Mississippi " | 78 | 371 00 | 73 | 371 98 |
| District of Columbia | 353 | 2,171 21 | 316 | 1,747 57 |
+----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+
| Total | 77,095 | 225,156 47 | 76,616 | 165,717 31 |
+----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Licenses to Retailers._
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| STATES OR | | |
| TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| New Hampshire | 18,449 00 | 24,535 64 |
| Massachusetts | 86,211 12 | 113,906 95 |
| Vermont | 14,417 00 | 22,337 54 |
| Rhode Island | 16,058 00 | 10,093 53 |
| Connecticut | 32,820 26 | 42,616 04 |
| New York | 174,748 76 | 201,757 84 |
| New Jersey | 29,701 00 | 35,607 87 |
| Pennsylvania | 160,939 21 | 153,018 84 |
| Delaware | 10,102 88 | 8,093 12 |
| Maryland | 49,256 20 | 58,747 36 |
| Virginia | 52,038 68 | 69,620 64 |
| North Carolina | 23,985 00 | 32,967 98 |
| Ohio | 20,574 00 | 26,923 23 |
| Kentucky | 19,255 00 | 23,789 71 |
| South Carolina | 26,599 00 | 28,142 91 |
| Tennessee | 10,462 00 | 13,280 54 |
| Georgia | 13,908 00 | 24,454 33 |
| Louisiana | 7,497 00 | 9,773 09 |
| Illinois Territory | 1,115 00 | 1,248 80 |
| Michigan " | 1,405 00 | 1,817 10 |
| Indiana " | 2,191 00 | 3,139 59 |
| Missouri " | 1,540 00 | 1,861 46 |
| Mississippi " | 3,692 00 | 4,837 74 |
| District of Columbia | 10,140 00 | 14,872 62 |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| | 786,005 11 | 927,444 47 |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Sales at Auction._
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| STATUS OR | | |
| TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| New Hampshire | 776 07 | 2,245 79 |
| Massachusetts | 35,359 04 | 87,643 63 |
| Vermont | 14 25 | 75 20 |
| Rhode Island | 6,274 82 | 452 01 |
| Connecticut | 283 89 | 635 55 |
| New York | 48,480 35 | 332,841 64 |
| New Jersey | 3,384 32 | 949 84 |
| Pennsylvania | 34,630 74 | 229,764 45 |
| Delaware | 116 25 | 453 82 |
| Maryland | 9,623 15 | 102,758 79 |
| Virginia | 4,079 37 | 20,003 64 |
| North Carolina | 1,237 62 | 3,734 47 |
| Ohio | 549 31 | 636 22 |
| Kentucky | 270 92 | 1,371 29 |
| South Carolina | 2,631 39 | 18,401 94 |
| Tennessee | 63 31 | 291 06 |
| Georgia | 1,346 34 | 4,133 92 |
| Louisiana | 4,832 24 | 13,504 09 |
| Illinois Territory | | |
| Michigan " | 80 04 | 71 05 |
| Indiana " | | |
| Missouri " | | |
| Mississippi " | 210 13 | 750 47 |
| District of Columbia | 385 65 | 4,413 96 |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
| | 154,629 20 | 825,132 83 |
+----------------------+--------------+--------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Refined Sugars._
+-----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| STATES OR | | |
| TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. |
+-----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| New Hampshire | | |
| Massachusetts | 3,542 36 | 4,394 17 |
| Vermont | | |
| Rhode Island | | |
| Connecticut | | |
| New York | 7,468 12 | 40,279 69 |
| New Jersey | | |
| Pennsylvania | 157 03 | 6,127 41 |
| Delaware | | |
| Maryland | | 18,619 48 |
| Virginia | 23 40 | 980 32 |
| North Carolina | | |
| Ohio | | |
| Kentucky | | |
| South Carolina | | |
| Tennessee | | |
| Georgia | | |
| Louisiana | 479 00 | 408 05 |
| Illinois Territory | | |
| Michigan " | | |
| Indiana " | | |
| Missouri " | | |
| Mississippi " | | |
| District of Columbia | | 4,413 96 |
+-----------------------+-------------+-------------+
| | 11,669 91 | 75,223 08 |
+-----------------------+-------------+-------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Stamps and in lieu of Stamps by
Banks._
+---------------------+------------------------+------------------------+
| | In 1814. | In 1815. |
| STATES OR +------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
| TERRITORIES. |On paper and|Banks in |On paper and|By Banks in|
| |Bank Notes. |lieu of |Bank Notes. | lieu, &c. |
| | |Bank Notes.|Bank Notes. | lieu, &c. |
+---------------------|------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
| New Hampshire | 773 02 | 130 21 | 646 70 | 1,020 78 |
| Massachusetts | 20,741 47 | 2,880 00 | 5,520 74 | 9,339 73 |
| Vermont | 19 60 | | 35 75 | |
| Rhode Island | 5,825 15 | 97 29 | 1,131 82 | 1,461 01 |
| Connecticut | 11,152 07 | 2,445 44 | 9,126 97 | 3,015 91 |
| New York | 87,971 51 | 8,289 31 | 57,725 72 | 18,661 48 |
| New Jersey | 5,905 82 | 1,609 04 | 4,868 90 | 2,105 66 |
| Pennsylvania | 80,580 65 | 2,874 80 | 74,470 96 | 15,638 22 |
| Delaware | 5,570 10 | 669 48 | 3,769 01 | 753 54 |
| Maryland | 35,364 67 | 7,716 21 | 47,590 18 | 8,166 19 |
| Virginia | 36,308 41 | 2,516 96 | 33,235 88 | 6,061 96 |
| North Carolina | 9,132 80 | 1,865 94 | 11,909 15 | 2,852 40 |
| Ohio | 6,781 47 | 273 79 | 8,964 82 | 1,870 65 |
| Kentucky | 8,238 69 | | 7,937 97 | 1,531 18 |
| South Carolina | 18,916 55 | 4,055 44 | 18,156 65 | 4,093 51 |
| Tennessee | 1,619 85 | | 2,118 92 | 347 77 |
| Georgia | 5,736 75 | 900 37 | 6,302 95 | 1,070 69 |
| Louisiana | 11,151 21 | 384 66 | 10,821 53 | 1,920 00 |
| Illinois Territory | 7 85 | | 4 50 | |
| Michigan " | 26 10 | | 16 35 | |
| Indiana " | | | | |
| Missouri " | 84 10 | | 1,191 02 | |
| Mississippi " | 983 03 | 138 36 | 93 90 | |
| District of Columbia| 18,053 90 | 2,713 95 | 28,569 31 | 4,507 92 |
+---------------------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
| Total | 370,945 27 | 39,571 25 | 334,209 70 | 84,418 10 |
+---------------------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Household Furniture._
+------------------------+---------------+
| STATES OR | In 1815. |
| TERRITORIES. | |
+------------------------+---------------+
| New Hampshire | 376 00 |
| Massachusetts | 677 50 |
| Vermont | 211 50 |
| Rhode Island | 782 50 |
| Connecticut | 807 00 |
| New York | 10,877 00 |
| New Jersey | 1,527 50 |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Delaware | 434 50 |
| Maryland | 580 50 |
| Virginia | 168 50 |
| North Carolina | |
| Ohio | 104 50 |
| Kentucky | |
| South Carolina | 2,854 50 |
| Tennessee | |
| Georgia | 1,050 00 |
| Louisiana | |
| Illinois Territory | |
| Michigan " | |
| Indiana " | |
| Missouri " | |
| Mississippi " | |
| District of Columbia | 1,174 00 |
+------------------------+---------------+
| Total | 21,625 50 |
+------------------------+---------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on Gold and Silver Watches._
+------------------------+---------------+
| STATES OR | In 1815. |
| TERRITORIES. | |
+------------------------+---------------+
| New Hampshire | 3,377 00 |
| Massachusetts | 4,385 50 |
| Vermont | 2,765 00 |
| Rhode Island | 2,876 00 |
| Connecticut | 5,457 00 |
| New York | 30,449 50 |
| New Jersey | 7,784 00 |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Delaware | 2,943 00 |
| Maryland | 2,408 00 |
| Virginia | 33 00 |
| North Carolina | |
| Ohio | 3,104 00 |
| Kentucky | |
| South Carolina | 5,380 00 |
| Tennessee | 252 50 |
| Georgia | 2,472 00 |
| Louisiana | |
| Illinois Territory | |
| Michigan " | |
| Indiana " | |
| Missouri " | |
| Mississippi " | |
| District of Columbia | 1,636 00 |
+------------------------+---------------+
| Total | 75,322 50 |
+------------------------+---------------+
_Internal Duties which accrued on sundry articles manufactured in the
United States._
+------------------------+----------------+
| STATES OR | In 1815. |
| TERRITORIES. | |
+------------------------+----------------+
| New Hampshire | 4,540 76 |
| Massachusetts | 56,784 89 |
| Vermont | 9,250 40 |
| Rhode Island | 910 00 |
| Connecticut | 20,504 80 |
| New York | 157,176 79 |
| New Jersey | 28,546 87 |
| Pennsylvania | 228,188 88 |
| Delaware | 10,803 31 |
| Maryland | 70,746 17 |
| Virginia | 88,154 31 |
| North Carolina | 12,801 23 |
| Ohio | 23,270 60 |
| Kentucky | 33,184 46 |
| South Carolina | 10,156 58 |
| Tennessee | 15,373 43 |
| Georgia | 8,993 25 |
| Louisiana | 1,283 03 |
| Illinois Territory | 220 14 |
| Michigan " | 39 46 |
| Indiana " | 1,064 44 |
| Missouri " | 162 68 |
| Mississippi " | 1,158 61 |
| District of Columbia | 10,309 97 |
+------------------------+----------------+
| Total | 793,625 06 |
+------------------------+----------------+
_Aggregate of internal Duties which accrued._
+----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| DUTIES ON | In 1814. | In 1815. |
+----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| Stills, from domestic materials | 1,621,152 86 | 760,804 22 |
| " " foreign " | 57,444 33 | 91,608 36 |
| Spirits, from domestic materials | | 2,047,738 96 |
| " " foreign " | | 159,229 00 |
| Carriages | 225,158 47 | 165,717 31 |
| Retailers | 786,005 11 | 927,444 47 |
| Sales at auction | 154,629 20 | 825,132 83 |
| Stamps | 370,945 27 | 334,209 70 |
| " Bank notes, composition | 39,571 25 | 84,418 10 |
| Household furniture | | 21,625 50 |
| Gold and silver watches | | 75,322 50 |
| Refined sugar | 11,669 91 | 75,223 08 |
| Articles manufactured in the | | |
| United States | | 793,625 06 |
+----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| Total | 3,266,576 40 | 6,362,099 09 |
+----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+
_Direct Taxes._
+------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| STATES. | Tax of Aug. 3, | Tax of Jan. 9, |
| | 1813. | 1815. |
+------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| New Hampshire | 97,049 21 | 193,755 99 |
| Vermont | 98,534 52 | 196,789 29 |
| Massachusetts | 318,154 84 | 632,065 00 |
| Rhode Island | 34,758 86 | 69,431 78 |
| Connecticut | 118,533 63 | 236,507 38 |
| New York | 435,028 35 | 860,283 24 |
| New Jersey | 108,871 83 | 218,252 77 |
| Pennsylvania | 365,479 16 | 733,941 09 |
| Delaware | 32,294 76 | 63,847 32 |
| Maryland | 152,327 64 | 306,708 81 |
| Virginia | 369,018 44 | 739,738 06 |
| North Carolina | 220,962 98 | 440,321 11 |
| South Carolina | 151,905 48 | 303,810 96 |
| Georgia | 94,936 49 | 189,872 98 |
| Kentucky | 168,928 76 | 341,316 24 |
| Tennessee | 111,039 59 | 221,567 44 |
| Ohio | 104,150 14 | 208,300 28 |
| Louisiana | 31,621 43 | 57,519 22 |
| District of Columbia | | 20,605 86 |
+------------------------+----------------+----------------+
| Total | 3,013,596 11 | 6,034,634 82 |
+------------------------+----------------+----------------+
INDEX.
A.
Adams the Elder, his view of the conduct of England in 1785, i. 24;
of the war, i. 66.
Adams, John Q., resigns his seat in Massachusetts Legislature, i. 31;
appointed commissioner to negotiate a peace, i. 328.
Adams, sloop of war, cruise of, ii. 165;
burnt, ii. 106.
Adair, General, commands the Kentuckians at New Orleans, ii. 221
Allen, Col., i. 179.
Allen, Captain of the Argus, his death, i. 285.
Allen, Lieutenant H., i. 258.
Appling, Major, captures the British detachment sent against
Lieutenant Woolsey, ii. 72.
Angus, Lieutenant, at Niagara, i. 113.
Argus chased by an English squadron, i. 155;
cruises in the English channel, i. 252;
captured by the Pelican, i. 254.
Armstrong, Secretary of War, i. 205;
plan of his campaign against Canada, i. 291;
his disgrace after the battle of Bladensburg, ii. 139.
Armstrong, General, Privateer, Capt. Reid, her desperate engagement
in Fayal Bay, ii. 270.
Armstrong, Lieutenant, heroism of, at the ford of Enotochopeo, ii. 34.
Armistead, Major, his gallant defence of fort McHenry, ii. 143.
B.
Backwoodsmen at Chippewa, ii, 83.
Berlin and Milan decrees, i. 20;
revoked, i. 41.
Beaver Dams, battle of, i. 221.
Blockade, rules of the Coast, i. 259, ii. 115.
Barlow, Joel, Minister to France, i. 41.
Barney, Captain, commands flotilla in the Chesapeake, ii. 116;
at Bladensburg, ii. 125.
Boestler, Col., i. 112;
defeated at Beaver Dams, i. 221.
Brock, General, i. 83;
his death, i. 102.
Broke, Commodore, chases the Constitution, i. 137;
captures the Chesapeake, i. 246.
Brown, General, at Ogdensburg, i. 116;
defends Sackett's Harbor, i. 215;
commands on Niagara frontier, ii. 75;
at Chippewa, ii. 77;
threatens English forts on the Niagara, ii. 88;
his victory at Lundy's Lane, ii. 91;
takes command of Fort Erie, ii. 107;
his successful sortie, ii. 109.
Brooks, Lieutenant, killed on Lake Erie, i. 279.
Brooke, Colonel, succeeds General Ross, ii. 143.
Bainbridge, Captain, remonstrates with the President against
laying up the navy, i. 128;
takes command of the Constitution, i. 151;
captures the Java, i. 162;
his character, i. 167;
singular dream of, i. 167.
Battle of Queenstown, i. 101;
of Lake Erie, i. 279;
of the Thames, i. 289;
of Chrystler's field, i. 298;
of La Cole Mill, i. 313;
of Talladega, ii. 20;
of the Horse Shoe, ii. 27;
of Chippewa, ii. 77;
of Lundy's Lane, ii. 88;
of Bladenburg, ii. 124;
of Plattsburgh, ii. 155;
of New Orleans, ii. 215, 217, 221.
_Bills_ in Congress, respecting minors, i. 225, ii. 187;
army, 226;
the navy, ii. 188.
Blakely, Captain, of the Wasp, ii. 167.
Boxer taken by the Enterprise, i. 250.
Boyd, General, i. 297.
Burrows, Lieutenant, commands the Enterprise, i. 248;
captures the Boxer, his death, i. 250.
Buffalo burned, i. 300.
Bowyer Fort, defence of, ii. 201.
Beasely, agent for American prisoners in England, ii. 286.
Biddle, Captain, of the Hornet, ii. 249;
narrow escape of, from a British man of war, ii. 253, 254.
C.
Cambria, British frigate, boards an American merchantman in
New York Bay, i. 19.
Canning, Prime Minister of Great Britain, i. 28.
Chesapeake and Leopard, i. 32;
Chesapeake captured, i. 236;
exultation in England, i. 247.
Campaign of 1813, plan of, i. 205;
Third into Canada, ii. 67.
Cabot, John, delegate to the Hartford Convention;
George elected President of, ii. 194.
_Congress_ revokes the restrictive system, i. 40;
the Twelfth, state of parties, i. 42, 43;
debates in, i. 45, 50, 52;
second session, i. 224;
Debates on bonds of Merchants, &c., i. 225;
on army bill, i. 226;
acts passed, i. 243;
Thirteenth, i. 319;
leaders of, i. 320;
first session and acts of, i. 325;
second session, i. 327;
acts of, i. 345;
third session, ii. 174;
embarrassments of, ii. 188.
Campbell, Secretary of Treasury, report, ii. 175;
resigned, ii. 177.
Campbell, General, destroys Indian villages, i. 178.
Cass, Col., i. 74, 82, 85.
Calhoun, sketch of, i. 238;
speech on repeal of embargo, i. 342.
Castlereagh, i. 53, 54;
arrival at Ghent, ii. 180.
Chauncey, Commodore, commands on Lake Ontario, i. 207;
forces Sir James Yeo into Burlington, i. 293.
Chippewa, battle of, ii. 77.
Clay, elected speaker of Congress, i. 43;
speech in reply to Randolph, i. 46;
on embargo, i. 51;
against Quincy, and on impressment in the war, i. 231;
sketch of, i. 240;
asks for investigation of British outrages, i. 262;
appointed commissioner to negotiate a peace, i. 328.
Clay, Col., relieves Harrison, i. 198;
his command destroyed, i. 199;
commands Fort Meigs, i. 199.
Coffee, General, defeats Black Warrior, ii. 14;
victory of Tallushatchee, ii. 17;
helps Jackson quell a mutiny, ii. 27;
gallantry at Emuckfaw, ii. 32;
at Enotochopeo, ii. 34;
at the Horse Shoe, ii. 39;
at New Orleans, ii. 205, 209, 220.
Chrystie Col., at Queenstown, i. 101.
Chrystler's Field, battle of, i. 298.
Creek Indians, i. 194;
war with, ii. 13-44.
Craney Island, defence of, ii. 262.
Constitution frigate sails from Annapolis, i. 136;
chased by an English squadron, i. 137;
captures the Guerriere, i. 146;
captures the Java, i. 162;
cruise of, in 1814-15, ii. 237;
captures the Cyane and Levant, ii. 238;
takes her prizes into St. Jago, ii. 240;
chased by an English fleet, ii. 242;
affection of the nation for her, ii. 243.
Commissioners appointed to negotiate a peace, i. 328;
their mortification at the arrival of the news of the burning
of Washington, ii. 117;
unfavorable news from, and their meeting at Ghent, ii. 178;
terms of the English ministers, &c., ii. 178-190.
Cochrane, Admiral, arrives in the Chesapeake, ii. 117;
bombards Fort McHenry, ii. 143.
Chandler, General, reinforces Winder in Canada, i. 218;
taken prisoner, i. 219.
Chittenden, Governor of Vermont, recalls a brigade, i. 321;
his apathy under the repeated calls of Macomb for aid, ii. 149.
Cockburn, i. 259;
plunders Hampton, i. 203;
his character, ii. 197;
conduct in the sack of Washington, ii. 128, 130.
Comet, privateer, Capt. Boyd, her engagement with three English
merchantmen and a Portuguese brig of war, ii. 265.
Covington General, killed at Chrystler's field, i. 298.
Cheves, Langdon, appointed Speaker of the Thirteenth Congress, i. 329.
Carroll, Colonel, bravery at Talladega, ii. 20;
at New Orleans, ii. 220.
Chasseur, privateer, Capt. Boyle, description of;
her engagement with the English war schooner St. Lawrence, ii. 275.
Cruelty of British naval officers, ii. 278.
Croghan, Major, bravery at Sandusky, i. 201.
Connecticut, action of her Legislature against the bill for the
enlistment of minors, ii. 187.
Clairborne, General, defeats the Indians under Weathersby, ii. 30.
Clairborne, Governor of Louisiana;
his support of Jackson, ii. 216.
Currency, deranged state of, in 1814, ii. 176.
Crowningshield, Secretary of navy, recommends a conscription of
seamen, ii. 189.
D.
Dearborn appointed Major General, i. 70;
enters into an armistice with Prevost, i. 99;
enters Canada, i. 117;
retires to winter quarters, i. 118;
review of his first campaign, i. 120;
second campaign, i. 205;
attacks Fort George, i. 213;
his inaction, i. 221;
his removal, i. 222.
Dartmoor prison, description of, ii. 280;
fourth of July in, ii. 282;
in 1814, ii. 289;
daring escape from, by a lieutenant, ii. 291.
Dacres, Captain, i. 148.
Dallas, Alexander, Secretary of the Treasury, ii. 177;
his scheme to relieve the government, ii. 178;
second report on state of Treasury, ii. 189.
Decatur commands the United States, captures the Macedonian, i. 152;
blockaded in New London, and challenges two English frigates, i. 311;
commands the President, ii. 245;
chased by an English fleet, ii. 246;
his capture, ii. 247.
Decatur privateer, Capt. Diron, captures a British war
schooner, ii. 268.
Dolphin, privateer, captures two English vessels, ii. 264.
Downes, Lieutenant, commands Essex Junior, ii. 48;
assists the Marquesas tribes, ii. 50;
wounded by the Typees, ii. 51.
Drummond, General, at Lundy's Lane, ii. 89;
assaults Fort Erie, ii. 100.
Drummond, Lieut.-Col, killed at Fort Erie, ii. 104.
Dudley, Colonel, killed at Fort Meigs, i. 199.
Downie, Captain, commands the British fleet in Lake Champlain, ii. 152.
Dwight, Timothy, Secretary of Hartford Convention, ii. 194.
E.
Embargo, its effect on the country, i. 26-29;
repealed, i. 32;
re-enacted, i. 50;
laid by Thirteenth Congress, i. 327;
repealed, i. 342.
Epervier, ii. 170.
Erie, Fort, assault of, by Gen. Drummond, ii. 103.
Erskine, English Minister, i. 36;
disavowal of his treaty, i. 38.
England, her conduct towards France and the world, i. 37;
astonishment at our naval victories;
her exultation over the capture of the Chesapeake;
her vast preparations for war in 1813, i. 259;
her rejoicing over the destruction of Washington compared
with her condemnation of the acts of Napoleon, ii. 136, 137.
Enterprise, brig, i. 248;
captures the Boxer, i. 250;
takes the Privateer Mars;
chased by a frigate, i. 251.
Eppes succeeds Randolph in Congress, i. 319;
his report on state of finances, i. 322;
his currency scheme, ii. 127.
Essex captures the Alert, i. 143;
her cruise in the Pacific, ii. 65, 66;
is captured at Valparaiso, ii. 66.
F.
Federalists, triumph of, in New England, i, 265;
leaders of in Massachusetts, their exultation over the failure
of Wilkinson's campaign, i. 301;
hostility of, i. 326.
Federalists and Democrats, i. 59-65.
Floyd, General, defeats the Indians at Autossee, ii. 31;
victorious over the Creeks, ii. 35.
Frederickton destroyed, i. 260.
Forsyth, Colonel, i. 116;
at York, i. 208.
Forsyth, John, speech of, in Thirteenth Congress, i. 337.
Fort George captured by the Americans, i. 213.
G.
Gamble, Lieutenant, ii. 51.
Gallatin opposes the employment of the navy, i. 130;
appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty, i. 328;
letter to government advising war, ii. 181.
Gaines, General, takes command of the army stationed at Fort
Erie, ii. 100;
repels Drummond, ii. 103;
succeeds Jackson at New Orleans, ii. 228.
Generosity of Americans, i. 203.
Georgetown destroyed, i. 260.
Globe privateer, her action with two brigs, ii. 267.
Gordon, Captain, gallant adherence to Jackson, ii. 26.
Guerriere captured by the Constitution, i. 148;
blown up, i. 149.
Gunnery, superiority of American, i. 175.
H.
Harmar, General, i. 17.
Hammond, British minister in 1791, i. 25.
Harrington, Captain, ii. 172.
Harrison, General, supersedes Hull, i. 95;
at Fort Deposit and Fort Defiance, i. 96;
plans a winter campaign, i. 177;
at Fort Meigs, i. 196;
pursues Proctor, i. 286;
defeats him, i. 289.
Hartford Convention, History of, ii. 191-200;
delegates to Washington, ii. 231.
Hall, Judge, fines General Jackson, ii. 227.
Henry, John, his character and career, i. 49.
Hindman, Major, his gallantry at Lundy's Lane, ii. 94.
Hull, General, his campaign, i. 71;
tried by court-martial, i. 87;
character, i. 88.
Hull, Captain, commands the Constitution: his instructions, i. 136;
chased by an English squadron, i. 138;
captures the Guerriere, i. 139;
effect of the victory, i. 151.
Hopkins, General, i. 95.
Hardy, Commodore, remonstrates against the use of torpedos, i. 265.
Hamilton, Secretary of the navy, i. 68.
Hamilton, Lieutenant, is sent with the colors of the Macedonian
to Washington.
Hampton plundered, i. 263.
Hampton, General, commands at Plattsburgh, i. 292;
advances into Canada, i. 294;
retreats, i. 295;
refuses to join Wilkinson, i. 299;
goes into winter quarters at Plattsburgh, i. 300;
strictures on, i. 302.
Hornet captures the Peacock, i. 170;
takes the Penguin, ii. 249;
chased by an English man of war, ii. 252.
Holmes, Captain, his expedition into Canada, i. 315;
killed at Mackinaw, ii. 73.
Hillyar, Captain, captures the Essex, ii. 61.
Henderson, Colonel, killed at New Orleans, ii. 216.
I.
Impressment in 1796, i. 18;
cause of war, i. 19.
Indians, number in the Western States in 1812, and the
hostility, i. 190;
number of Choctaws, Chickesaws and Creeks, i. 193.
Izard, General, defeated under General Hampton, i. 295;
succeeds Wilkinson, ii. 106.
J.
Jay, treaty of, in 1796, i. 26.
Jefferson, proclamation against English vessels, i. 33.
Jackson, English Minister in place of Erskine, i. 39;
recalled, i. 40.
Jackson, General, ordered to Natchez, ii. 12;
made Major-General of the Tennessee Militia, ii. 12;
marches to Huntsville, ii. 15;
dispatches General Coffee against Black Warrior's town, ii. 17;
his conduct of the Creek war, ii. 12-44;
appointed Major-General, ii. 199;
seizes Pensacola, ii. 202;
marches to New Orleans, ii. 203;
his preparations for the defence of the place, ii. 204;
attacks the British, ii. 209, 210;
his final victory, ii. 221;
fined by Judge Hall, ii. 227;
review of his conduct, ii. 228.
Jessup, Colonel at Chippewa, ii. 80;
his heroism at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86-92;
watches the Hartford Convention, ii. 194.
Johnson, Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel, at battle of Thames, i. 288.
Jones, Captain of the Wasp, i. 155;
captures the Frolic, i. 156.
Jones, Lieutenant, his action with the British gun-boats on
Lake Borgne, ii. 207.
K.
King, Captain, at Niagara, i. 112.
Key, Francis, composes "The Star spangled Banner," while witnessing
the bombardment of Fort McHenry, ii. 145.
Kemp privateer captures a fleet of six vessels, ii. 270.
King, Charles appointed commissioner to investigate the massacre
of prisoners in Dartmoor, ii. 297.
L.
Lawrence, Captain, sails under Rodgers, i. 133;
challenges the Bonne Citoyenne, i. 160;
captures the Peacock, i. 170;
takes command of the Chesapeake, i. 244;
engages the Shannon, i. 245;
his death, i. 246.
Lawrence, Major, his defence of Fort Bowyer, ii. 201
Leavenworth, Major, gallantry at Chippewa, ii. 80;
gallantry at Lundy's Lane, ii. 87.
Lewis, Colonel, defeats the British at Frenchtown, i. 179;
captured, i. 181.
Lewistown burned, i. 306.
Lowndes, sketch of, i. 239.
M.
Madison, President, character of, i. 34, 35;
war messages, i. 55;
his conduct at the invasion of Washington, ii. 118-123;
his flight, ii. 129;
message to Congress, Sept. 1814, ii. 177;
message to Congress, accompanying English Protocol from
Ghent, ii. 182.
Madison, Mrs., her heroism at the burning of Washington, ii. 129;
refused admittance to a tavern, ii. 133.
Madison, Major, his bravery at Frenchtown, i. 182.
Madison Island, ii. 49.
Madison sloop of war, i. 207.
Marquesas Island, rendezvous of Porter, ii. 49.
Mackinaw taken by the English, i. 77;
expedition against, ii. 72.
Macomb, General, at Plattsburgh, ii. 148;
asks Governor Chittenden for aid, ii. 149;
defeats the British, ii. 155.
Massachusetts Legislature, action of, against the war, i. 268;
against the bill for the enlistment of minors, ii. 187;
raises an army to be under its own control, ii. 192.
Massacre at Frenchtown, i. 189;
effect of in Kentucky, i. 185;
at Fort Mimms, i. 196.
McLure, General, at Fort George, i. 303;
burns Newark, i. 304;
his proclamation and neglect to protect Fort Niagara, i. 304, 305.
Meigs, Fort of, i. 197;
invested by Proctor, i. 197.
Manners, Captain, death of, ii. 167.
Mitchell's speech in Congress, i. 52.
Mimm's Fort, i. 196.
Mackinaw Fort surrendered, i. 77.
Miller, Colonel, defeats British at Brownstown;
joins Harrison, i. 199;
heroic answer at Lundy's Lane, ii. 89, 90.
Mitchell, Colonel, gallant defence of Oswego, ii. 70.
McArthur, Colonel, i. 85;
his expedition into Canada, ii. 163.
McNeill, Major, bravery at Chippewa, ii. 78;
at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86.
McHenry, Fort of, ii. 142.
Madonough, Commodore, in Plattsburgh bay, ii. 152;
defeats the British squadron, ii. 155.
Macedonian, ship, taken by the United States, i. 153.
Montgomery, Major, killed at the battle of the Horse Shoe, ii. 38.
Monroe, Secretary of State, his conduct at Bladensburgh, ii. 123.
Morgan, Major, checks the enemy at Black Rock, ii. 101.
Morgan, General, at New Orleans, ii. 220.
Morris, Lieutenant, wounded in taking the Guerriere, i. 147;
commands the Adams sloop of war, ii. 165.
N.
Nash, Captain, base treatment of Commodore Porter, ii. 63.
Non-Intercourse law, i. 32.
Nautilus schooner captured, i. 138.
Napoleon, i. 85, 86, 258.
Navy, strength of, i. 125;
neglect of, i. 126;
saved by Captains Bainbridge and Stewart, i. 128;
increase of, i. 176;
history of, in 1814, ii. 165;
bill for increase of, ii. 188;
review of, ii. 256, 257.
Naval victories, effect of, at home and abroad, i. 171.
Naval force in 1814, i. 346.
Neufchatel privateer beats off the crew of the Endymion, ii. 269.
Nonsuch privateer engages two English vessels, ii. 264.
New England, her hostility to war, i. 58, ii. 191;
exempted from blockade, i. 259.
New Hampshire Legislature abolishes all the courts of the
State, i. 325.
New Orleans, description of, ii. 206;
feelings of the inhabitants, ii. 207.
Niagara Fort surprised, i. 304.
Nicholson, Lieutenant, escapes an English frigate, ii. 173.
O.
Orders in Council, British, i. 20;
repealed, i. 342;
effect of, in this country, i. 27-92.
Ogdensburg, attack of, i. 117.
Oneida sloop, i. 206.
Ontario, Lake, description of, i. 206;
naval superiority, i. 207;
cost of vessels in, i. 258.
Oswego attacked by Sir James Yeo, ii. 69.
P.
Packenham, Sir Edward, attacks the lines at New Orleans, ii. 215.
Parker, Sir Peter, killed, ii. 141.
Peacock, Captain Harrington, captures the Epervier, ii. 172;
chased by an English man of war, ii. 252.
Perry on Lake Erie, i. 271, 273, 274;
sets sail, i. 275;
engages the enemy, i. 278;
conduct after the battle, i. 283;
at the battle of the Thames, i. 287.
President frigate, affair with the Little Belt, i. 42;
puts to sea, i. 132;
chases the Belvidere, i. 134;
beats the Endymion, and finally captured by an English
fleet, ii. 247.
Pinckney, American Minister to England, i. 41;
commands Baltimore regiment at Bladensburg, ii. 118-124.
Pike, Colonel, incursion into Canada, i. 117;
captures York, i. 208;
his death, i. 210.
Pickering, Timothy, description of, his speech against loan
bill of Thirteenth Congress, i. 335.
Pitkin, i. 335.
Plattsburg, description of, ii. 149;
battle of, ii. 155.
Peace, tidings of, effect on the nation, ii. 229-230.
Porter, General, i. 114;
at Chippewa, ii. 77;
his gallantry and narrow escape at Fort Erie, ii. 109-111.
Porter, Captain, commands the Essex;
capture of the Alert, i. 143;
his cruise in the Pacific, ii. 45-66;
his daring escape and reception in New York, ii. 65, 66.
Proctor, Colonel, advances against Frenchtown, i. 180;
defeats the Americans, i. 181;
leaves the prisoners to be massacred, i. 182;
his character, i. 185;
invests Fort Meigs, i. 197;
abandons the siege, i. 199;
defeated at Sandusky, i. 201;
retreats from Malden, i. 286;
defeated at the Thames, i. 289.
Prescot, Governor-general of Canada, i. 99;
letter to Brooke, i. 121;
attacks Sackett's Harbor, i. 215;
advances against Plattsburgh, ii. 148;
his retreat, ii. 161.
Protocol, English, at Ghent, ii. 181;
transmitted to Congress, ii. 182;
its effect on the nation, ii. 183;
its reception in England, ii.
Privateering, account of, ii. 257;
defence of, ii. 261;
acts of Congress respecting, ii. 262, 263.
Privateers, characteristic names of, ii. 263;
superiority to English, ii. 277;
character of their commanders, ii. 277.
Prisoners, American, treatment of, in England, ii. 280;
sufferings in Dartmoor prison, ii. 281-285;
assailed by French prisoners, ii. 283;
denounce American agent for prisoners, ii. 287;
neglected by government, ii. 287;
their employments, ii. 288;
number of, ii. 292;
massacre of, ii. 294.
Q.
Queenstown, battle of, i. 101.
Quincy, Josiah, i. 225;
speech against army bill, i. 227.
R.
Revolution, French, i. 17.
Rose, English Minister, i. 33.
Rattlesnake, brig, captured, i. 252.
Randolph, speech in Congress, i. 45-51;
sketch of, i. 237;
succeeded by Eppes, i. 319.
Revenue, i. 292.
Retaliation acts, i. 307.
Rodgers, Commodore, his squadron at New York, i. 132;
his first cruise, i. 134;
attacks the Belvidere, i. 137;
second cruise, i. 151.
Riall, British General at Chippewa, ii. 76;
captured by Jessup at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86.
Russell, John, American Chargé to England, i. 50;
despatch from, i. 53.
Ripley, Colonel, at Lundy's Lane, ii. 88;
his strange conduct after the battle, ii. 98;
surrenders his command to General Gaines, ii. 100;
wounded at Fort Erie, ii. 109.
Ross, General, marches on Washington, ii. 119-127;
fires the capitol, ii. 127;
his hasty retreat, ii. 133;
killed in the advance on Baltimore, ii. 143.
S.
St. Clair, General, cause of his defeat, i. 17.
Smythe, General, commands on the Niagara frontier, i. 71;
proclamation, i. 111;
failure and disgrace, i. 112-114;
review of his campaign, i. 119.
Shelby, Governor of Kentucky, i. 95;
commands Kentucky volunteers under General Harrison, i. 287.
Sandusky, Fort, defence of, i. 201.
Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, at Queenstown, i. 103;
taken prisoner, i. 108-110;
captures Fort George, i. 213;
joins Wilkinson, i. 299;
introduces French system of tactics into camp of instruction
at Buffalo;
chases the Marquis of Tweedsdale, ii. 76;
advances on Lundy's Lane, ii. 84;
wounded, ii. 94;
his journey to Baltimore and reception at Princeton, ii. 97-98.
Sackett's Harbor, naval depôt at, i. 207;
attack of, i. 215.
Shortland, Captain, superintendent of Dartmoor prison, ii. 286;
massacres American prisoners, ii. 293.
Sheaffe, General, at Queenstown, i. 105.
Sinclair, Captain, commands the expedition against Mackinaw, ii. 73.
Stewart, Captain, remonstrates with the President against laying
up the navy, i. 128;
commands the Constitution, ii. 235;
captures the Cyane and Levant, i. 240.
Strong elected governor of Massachusetts, i. 265.
Stricker, General, defence at North Point, ii. 142.
T.
Talledega Fort, ii. 18.
Taylor, Captain, defence of Fort Harrison, i. 95.
Tax, direct, of Thirteenth Congress, i. 325;
on carriages, distilled spirits, auction duties, &c., ii. 187.
Towson, Captain of artillery, at Chippewa, ii. 79.
Treaty of 1783, i. 23;
of Pinckney and Monroe rejected by Jefferson, i. 27;
first Treaty of Peace at Ghent, its terms and how
received, ii. 232, 233;
review of, ii. 234.
Transportation, cost of, war materials to Sackett's Harbor, i. 257.
Tecumseh, i. 80;
his plan for restoring the Indians to their ancient rights;
his mission south, and character and eloquence, i. 191-193;
joins Proctor, i. 197;
killed, i. 290.
Torpedos, employment of, to destroy ships, i. 266.
Tompkins, Governor, privateer. Captain Boyle, her narrow escape
from an English frigate, ii. 266.
Treasury, state of, in May, 1813, i. 320;
state of during the third session of the Thirteenth Congress;
notes, reduced value of, ii. 187;
increased embarrassments of, ii. 189.
Tupper, General, defeated at the Rapids, i. 178.
Tuscarora village destroyed by the British, i. 306.
Truce, flag of, arrived in Annapolis, i. 328.
Typees, hostility to Commodore Porter, ii. 50, 51;
description of their country, ii. 52;
their towns destroyed, ii. 54.
V.
Van Rensselaer, General, i. 71-100;
resigns his command, i. 101.
Van Rensselaer, Colonel, invades Canada, and wounded, i. 100;
character of, i. 118.
Van Horne, Major, defeat of, i. 79.
Vincent, General, i. 214;
captures Generals Chandler and Hinder, i. 219.
Vermont, her patriotism when Plattsburg was attacked, ii. 150.
Volunteers, hardships of, i. 188.
W.
Wayne, General, i. 17.
Washington's opinion of British aggressions, i. 48;
city of, threatened by the British, ii. 117;
burned, ii. 128;
bad policy of, ii. 140.
War, declaration of, i. 56;
how received, i. 58;
unprepared state of the country for, ii. 67-69.
Ward, Artemus, speech of, against bill for military establishments
passed in Thirteenth Congress, i. 339.
Wadsworth, General, at Queenstown, i. 102.
Winchester, General, his march to the Rapids, i. 178;
marches to Frenchtown, i. 179;
taken prisoner, i. 181.
Winder, Colonel, i. 114;
General, pursues Vincent, i. 219;
surprised and captured by him, i. 219;
commands the troops around Washington, ii. 118.
Williams' speech in Congress, i. 225, 226.
Wasp, takes the Frolic, i. 155;
captured by the Poictiers, i. 159;
captures the Reindeer, ii. 167;
sinks the Avon, ii. 169;
her mysterious fate, ii. 170.
White, General, destroys the Hillabee towns, ii. 22.
West Point Academy, i. 124.
Webster, Daniel, elected to Congress, i. 320;
first speech, i. 323;
speech against the army bill, i. 330;
sketch of, i. 333;
speech on repeal of embargo act, i. 345;
contest between him and Calhoun, i. 344.
Woodward, Judge, of Michigan, his letter to Proctor on the
massacre at River Raisin, i. 184.
Wilkinson, General, seizes Fort Condé, i. 199;
takes charge of northern army, i. 292;
his progress down the St. Lawrence, i. 296-299;
goes into winter quarters at French Mills, i. 300;
review of his campaign, i. 302;
plans a winter campaign, i. 311;
attacks La Cole Mill, i. 312.
Woolsey, Lieutenant, i. 206;
transports war and ship materials from Oswego to Sackett's
Harbor, ii. 70-72.
Wooster, Rev., volunteers with his flock to aid General
Macomb, ii. 151.
Y.
Yarnell, Lieutenant, bravery in battle of Lake Erie, i. 279.
York captured by Americans, i. 208.
Yeo, Sir James, attacks Sackett's Harbor, i. 215;
attacks Oswego, ii. 69;
sends a detachment against Woolsey, ii. 71;
raises the blockade of Sackett's Harbor, ii. 72.
Youngstown burned, i. 301.
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[Transcriber's notes:
Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. Hyphenation and
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in the original. The author's spelling has been maintained.
Some dates printed in the original book are most probably wrong, but
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Some entries in the index do not have any page number.]
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