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diff --git a/39368.txt b/39368.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbd80b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/39368.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8317 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2, by +Joel Tyler Headley + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2 + +Author: Joel Tyler Headley + +Release Date: April 4, 2012 [EBook #39368] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Christine P. Travers +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. + + + + +[Illustration: The Constitution and Java.] + + + + + 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. I. + + + 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. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +More books, probably, have been written on the War of 1812 than on any +other portion of our history. The great political leaders of that time +were so vindictive in their animosities, and took such strong and +decided ground on all political questions, that the success of one or +the other afterwards in public life depended very much on his conduct +during the war. Hence, much detached and personal history has been +written in order to clear up or illustrate some particular event. A +candidate for public office was often chosen for his services in the +war; hence, every portion of it in which he took part was thoroughly +investigated by both friends and foes. So if one had failed in that +trying period of the country, the world was sure to hear of it when he +came up for the suffrages of the people. The war proved very +unfortunate for some of the leaders, and court martials and disgrace +closed the career of many which had hitherto been bright and +prosperous. These men have written long pamphlets and books in +self-defence, or they have been written by their descendants, so that +if hearing both sides would aid the reader in coming to a correct +conclusion, he was pretty sure to reach it. When so many quarrels are +to be settled the public will not fail to be informed all about the +origin of them. Another class of works have been written, designed +only to furnish a synopsis of the war, and scarcely reach to the value +of histories. Others have been confined solely to the military and +naval movements--others still are devoted almost exclusively to +political matters of that period; so that notwithstanding the large +supply of works on the War of 1812, I know of none in which all these +different topics are even attempted to be combined in proper +proportions. The present work is an effort to accomplish that end +without being too voluminous on the one hand, or too general on the +other. I have endeavored to give impressions as well as facts--to +trace the current and depict the phases of public feeling, rather than +inflict on the reader long documents and longer debates, in which +everything that gave them life and interest was carefully excluded by +the reporter. + +The effects of the fierce conflict waged between the Federalists and +Democrats during the war have not yet passed away, and many of the +actors in it are still living, who retain their old prejudices and +hatred. Their near descendants and relatives, though so many of them +are found in the ranks of democracy, still defend the memory of those +whose names they bear, and endeavor to throw discredit on the writer +who would rob them of reputation, and consign them to the obloquy they +deserve. In a war like the late one with Mexico, where almost every +officer was a hero, and in narrating the progress of which the +historian is called upon only to eulogize, his task is an easy one. +But in one like that of 1812, in which the most conspicuous leaders +met with signal defeat and disgrace, and instead of winning +reputation, lost that which had illustrated them in the revolutionary +struggle, the historian necessarily recalls feuds and assails +character, which is sure to bring down on him the maledictions and +open condemnation of friends and relations. A noble man and true +patriot, like General Dearborn, will never want friends who will deny +his incompetency as commander-in-chief, while one who had won so brave +a name in the revolution, and was so estimable a man in social life as +General Hull, must always be defended by those in whose veins his +blood flows. The inefficiency and blunders of the government remain to +this day to many a sufficient apology for the conduct of Wilkinson, +Hampton and others. + +Having no animosities to gratify, and no prejudices to favor, I have +set down nought in malice, but have endeavored to ascertain, amid +conflicting testimony, the exact truth, without regarding the friendly +or hostile feelings the declaration of it might awaken. In many cases +I have withheld much that was personal, because it was not necessary +to my purpose, and useless only in self-defence. That I should +reconcile difficulties which have never yet been healed, and please +rivals who have ever hated each other, was not to be expected. I have +attempted also to give a clear impression of the political and social +feelings of the times, and make the reader, as far as lay in my power, +live amid the scenes I depict. + +Two new features have been introduced into the present work, which I +though necessary to a complete history of the war, viz., privateering +and the Dartmoor Prison. + +It would be impossible to give all the authorities to which I am +indebted. State papers, records, journals, Gazettes of the time have +been consulted, as well as histories, while I have earnestly sought +for information from the survivors of the war. In many cases I have +omitted references to books in which facts I state are found recorded, +because I came across them in old pamphlets, letters, and newspaper +paragraphs, where, probably, the original compiler also obtained them. +I cannot omit, however, acknowledging the vast aid I have derived from +Niles' Register. A more valuable periodical was never published in +this country. Ingersoll's History also, though very deficient in +arrangement, contains more valuable material than any other work +embracing the same period. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOL. I. + + +CHAPTER I. + +A REVIEW OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. + + Duplicity and oppressive acts of the British Government + contrasted with the forbearance of the United States -- + Character of Madison -- Debates in Congress on War measures + -- Declaration of War, 15 + + +CHAPTER II. + + Different feelings with which the Declaration of War was + received -- State of the parties at the commencement -- + Federalists and Democrats -- Their hostility -- Absurd + doctrines of the Federalists -- Hostility of New England -- + Unprepared state of the country -- Culpable neglect of the + government -- Comparative strength of the two navies -- + Empty state of the Treasury -- Inefficiency of the Cabinet, 58 + + +CHAPTER III. + + Plan of the Campaign -- General Hull sent to Detroit -- + British officers first receive news of the declaration of + war -- Capture of Hull's baggage, etc. -- Enters Canada and + issues a proclamation, and sends out detachments -- Colonels + McArthur and Cass advance on Maiden -- Hull refuses to + sustain them -- Recrosses to Detroit -- Van Horne's defeat + -- Colonel Miller defeats the enemy, and opens Hull's + communications -- Strange conduct of Hull -- Advance of the + British -- Surrender of Detroit -- Indignation of the + officers -- Review of the Campaign -- Rising of the people + -- Harrison takes command -- Advance of the army, 70 + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Operations on the New York frontier -- Battle of Queenstown + -- Death of Brock -- Scott a prisoner -- General Smythe's + Proclamation and abortive attempts -- Cursed by the army -- + Duel with General Porter -- Retires in disgrace -- + Dearborn's movements and failures -- Review of the campaign + on the New York frontier -- Character of the officers and + soldiers, 98 + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE NAVY. + + The Cabinet resolves to shut up our ships of war in port -- + Remonstrance of Captains Bainbridge and Stuart -- Rodgers + ordered to sea -- Feeling of the crews -- Chase of the + Belvidere -- Narrow escape of the Constitution from an + English fleet -- Cruise of the Essex -- Action between the + Constitution and Guerriere -- Effect of the victory in + England and the United States -- United States takes the + Macedonian -- Lieutenant Hamilton carries the captured + colors to Washington -- Presented to Mrs Madison in a + ball-room -- The Argus -- Action between the Wasp and Frolic + -- Constitution captures the Java -- Hornet takes the + Peacock -- Effect of these Victories abroad, 125 + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Harrison plans a winter campaign -- Advance of the army -- + Battle and massacre at the River Raisin -- Baseness of + Proctor -- Promoted by his Government -- Tecumseh, his + character and eloquence -- He stirs up the Creeks to War -- + Massacre at Fort Mimms -- Investment of Fort Meigs -- + Advance of Clay's reinforcements and their destruction -- + Successful sortie -- Flight of the besiegers -- Major + Croghan's gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, 177 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Chauncey ordered to Lake Erie to build a fleet -- A plan of + the campaign -- Woolsey -- Attack on York -- Death of + General Pike -- His character -- Capture of Fort George -- + Gallantry of Scott -- Repulse of the British at Sackett's + Harbor by General Brown -- Dearborn pursues Vincent -- Night + attack on the American encampment -- Generals Winder and + Chandler taken prisoners -- Retreat of the army -- + Reinforced by General Lewis -- Dearborn at Fort George -- + Defeat of Colonel Boestler at Beaver Dams -- Attack on Black + Rock -- Dearborn withdrawn from the command of the northern + army, 205 + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS. + + Army bill -- Quincy and Williams -- Debate on the bonds of + merchants given for British goods imported in contravention + of the non-importation act -- Debate on the bills increasing + the army to 55,000 men -- Williams' report -- Quincy's + attack -- Clay's rejoinder -- Randolph, Calhoun, Quincy, + Lowndes and Clay -- State of the Treasury, 224 + + +CHAPTER X. + + Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon -- Rejoicing in + England over the victory -- The Enterprise captures the + Boxer -- Death of Lieutenant Burrows -- Daring cruise of the + Argus in the English and Irish channels -- Lieutenant + Allen's humanity -- Action with the Pelican -- Death of + Allen -- His character, 244 + + +CHAPTER XI. + + Cost of transportation to the northern frontier -- English + fleet on our coast -- Chesapeake blockaded -- Blockade of + the whole coast -- Cockburn attacks Frenchtown -- Burns + Havre De Grace -- Attacks Georgetown and Frederickstown -- + Arrival of British reinforcements -- Attack on Craney Island + -- Barbarities committed in Hampton -- Excitement caused by + these outrages -- Commodore Hardy blockades the northern + coast -- Torpedoes -- Hostile attitude of Massachusetts -- + Remonstrances of its legislature -- Feeling of the people, 257 + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Perry obtains and equips a fleet on Lake Erie -- Puts to sea + -- Kentucky marines -- Description of the battle -- Gallant + bearing of Perry -- Slaughter on the Lawrence -- Perry after + the battle -- Burial of the officers -- Exultation of the + people -- Harrison advances on Maiden -- flight of Proctor + -- Battle of the Thames, and death of Tecumseh, 271 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Wilkinson takes command of the northern army -- Plan of the + campaign -- Hampton entrusted with the 5th military district + and takes position at Plattsburg -- Quarrel between the two + Generals -- Hampton advances, against orders, into Canada: + is defeated -- Concentration of Wilkinson's army -- Moves + down the St. Lawrence -- Its picturesque aspect -- Harassed + by the enemy -- Battle of Chrystler's field -- Hampton + refuses to join him -- The expedition abandoned and the + armies retire to winter-quarters -- Disappointment and + indignation of the war party, and gratification of the + Federalists -- Abandonment of Fort George and burning of + Newark -- Loss of Fort Niagara and burning of Buffalo and + the settlements along the river -- Retaliation -- Gloomy + close of the campaign, 291 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +1813--1814. + + Winter operations -- Decatur challenges Commodore Hardy to + meet the United States and Macedonian with two of his + frigates -- Wilkinson's second invasion, of Canada -- Battle + of la Cole Mill -- Holmes' expedition into Canada -- + Romantic character of our border warfare -- Inroad of the + British marines to Saybrook and Brockaway's Ferry, 310 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THIRTEENTH CONGRESS. MAY 27, 1813. + + Democratic gain in Congress -- Spirit in which the two + parties met -- Russian mediation offered and accepted, and + commerce opened -- State of the Treasury -- Debate + respecting a reporter's seat -- Direct Tax -- Webster's + resolutions -- Governor Chittenden -- Strange conduct of + parties in New Hampshire -- The embargo -- England proposes + peace -- Commissioners appointed -- Army bill -- Webster's + speech upon it -- Sketch of him -- The loan bill -- Defended + by Mr. Eppes -- Sketch of Mr. Pickering, with his speech -- + Sketch of John Forsyth, and his speech -- Calhoun -- + Grosvenor -- Bill for the support of military establishments + -- Speech of Artemus Ward -- Resolutions of Otis in the + Massachusetts Senate -- Repeal of the embargo -- Calhoun and + Webster -- Strange reversal of their positions -- Strength + of our navy and army, 319 + + + + +HISTORY OF THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A REVIEW OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. + + Duplicity and oppressive acts of the British Government + contrasted with the forbearance of the United States -- + Character of Madison -- Debates in Congress on War measures + -- Declaration of War. + + +The peace which closed our revolutionary struggle was like a wound +healed only at the surface, and which must be opened anew before a +permanent cure can be effected. The desire for territory had become +the ruling passion of the British Empire, and the loss of the most +promising part of her vast possessions could not, therefore, be borne +with equanimity. The comparatively barren and inhospitable tract lying +north of the St. Lawrence and the lakes, which still belonged to her, +was but a sorry substitute for the rich alluvial bottoms that +stretched along the western rivers, while the mouth of the St. +Lawrence furnished but a meagre outlet compared with the noble rivers +and capacious harbors that seamed the inland and indented the coasts +of the Atlantic slope. Some have supposed that England had never +abandoned the design of recovering a part, if not the whole of the +possessions she had lost on this continent. If this be true, that +purpose was doubtless a very vague one, and it depended entirely on +circumstances whether it ever assumed a definite form. One thing, +however, is certain, she had determined to narrow down our limits +wherever it was practicable, and to the fullest extent of her power. +This is evident from the eagerness with which she urged us to +acknowledge the various Indian tribes on our frontier, as independent +nations. She wished to have them placed on a footing with other +sovereign States, so that they could form treaties and dispose of +territory to foreign governments. Numerous and powerful tribes then +roamed undisturbed over vast tracts which have since become populous +States. Could Great Britain have purchased these, or had them +colonized by other foreign powers, nearly the whole line of lakes and +the territory west of Lake Erie would have presented an impenetrable +barrier to our growth in the north-west. Not succeeding in this +policy, she determined that the Indians should retain possession of +the land as her allies. This is evident from the constant disturbance +kept up on our north-western frontiers--from Lord Dorchester's +speeches instigating the Indians to war, and from the fact that an +English fort was erected within the territory of the republic. So +resolved was the British Government on this course that it for a long +time refused to carry out the stipulations of the treaty of 1783, and +still retained American posts captured by its forces during the +revolutionary war. The defeat of General Harmar, in 1790, and of St. +Clair, in 1791, were not wholly owing to our inefficiency or to Indian +prowess, but to British interference and encouragement. + +The victory of Wayne, which followed these disastrous expeditions, +proved this true. Canadian militia and volunteers were found in the +Indian armies, while the battle that completed their overthrow ended +under the walls of a British fort standing on American ground. These +violations of a sacred treaty, and undisguised encroachments upon our +territory on the frontier, were afterwards surpassed by still greater +outrages at sea. + +The French revolution exploding like a volcano in the heart of Europe, +followed by a republic whose foundation stones were laid in the +proudest blood of France--the extinction of the Bourbon dynasty, and +the loud declaration of rights which startled every despot from the +Archangel to the Mediterranean like a peal of thunder, had covered the +continent with hostile armies. The European powers who rejoiced in the +success of the revolutionary struggle on these distant shores, because +it inflicted a blow on their proud rival, saw with consternation the +principle that sustained it at work in their midst. Like the first +crusade against the infidels, which at once healed all the animosities +of the princes of Europe, a second crusade, harmonizing powers +hitherto at variance, was formed against this principle of human +rights, and the allied armies moved down upon the infant republic of +France. The devastating flood of feudalism would soon have swept +everything under but for the appearance of that strange embodiment of +power, Napoleon Bonaparte. Rolling it back from the French borders, he +commenced that long and fearful struggle which ended only at Waterloo. +England rashly formed a coalition with the continental powers, +anticipating an easy overthrow to the plebeian warrior, but soon found +herself almost alone in the conflict; and instead of treading down her +ancient rival, began to tremble for her own safety. The long and +deadly strife that followed exhausted her resources and crippled her +strength. Her war ships stretched from Copenhagen to the Nile, and to +supply these with seamen, she resorted to impressment not only on her +own shores, amid her own subjects, but on American ships, among +American sailors. Our merchant vessels were arrested on the high seas, +and men, on the groundless charge of being deserters, immediately +coerced into the British service. To such an extent was this carried, +that in _nine months_ of the years 1796 and '97, Mr. King, the +American minister at London, had made application for the release of +_two hundred and seventy-one seamen_,[1] most of whom were American +citizens. + +[Footnote 1: Vide letter of Mr. King to the Secretary of State.] + +At first the British Government claimed only the right to seize +deserters; but its necessities demanding a broader application to +right of search, her vessels of war arrested American merchantmen to +seek for _British seamen_, and later still, for British +subjects--finally, every sailor was obliged to prove himself a citizen +of the United States on the spot, or he was liable to be forced into +British service. American merchants were thus injured while +prosecuting a lawful commerce, and worse than all, great distress was +visited on the friends and relatives of those who were illegally torn +from their country and pressed into the hated service of a hated +nation. Over six thousand were known to have been thus seized, while +the actual number was much greater. + +Not content with committing these outrages on the high seas, English +vessels boarded our merchantmen and impressed our seamen in our own +waters. That line which runs parallel to the sea coast of every +nation, and which is considered its legitimate boundary, presented no +obstacles to British cruisers. + +In 1804, the frigate Cambria boarded an American merchantman in the +harbor of New York, and in direct opposition to the port officers, +carried off several of her seamen. To complete the insult, the +commander declared, in an official letter to the British Minister, +that he "considered his ship, while lying in the harbor of New York, +as _having dominion around her within the distance of her buoys_." Not +long after a coasting vessel while going from one American port to +another, was hailed by a British cruiser, and, refusing to stop, was +fired into and one of her crew killed. Thus an American citizen was +murdered within a mile of shore, and while going from port to port of +his own country.[2] + +[Footnote 2: Vide Letter of Madison to Mr. Rose, the British Minister, +dated March 5th, 1808.] + +These aggressions on land and insults at sea continued, at intervals, +down to 1806, when our commerce received a more deadly blow from the +British orders in council, and Napoleon's famous Berlin and Milan +decrees. To annoy and cripple her adversary, England declared the +whole coast of France, from Brest to the Elbe, in a state of blockade. +Napoleon retaliated by the Berlin decree, in which he declared the +British Islands in a state of blockade. The next year the English +government issued other orders in council, blockading the whole +continent, which were met by Napoleon's Milan decree. + +These famous orders in council, so far as they affected us, declared +all American vessels going to and from the harbors of France and her +allies, lawful prizes, except such as had first touched at, or cleared +from an English port. The Berlin and Milan decrees, on the other hand, +pronounced all vessels that had so touched at an English port, or +allowed themselves to be searched by a British cruiser, the property +of France, while British goods, wherever found, were subject to +confiscation. In short, if we did not confine our commerce to England, +the latter would seize our merchantmen, wherever found, as lawful +prizes, while if we did trade with her, or even touch at her ports at +all, France claimed them as her property. + +England, without the slightest provocation, had commenced a war +against France, and irritated at her want of success, declared her +coast in a state of blockade--thus violating an established law of +nations. The principle has long been admitted and acted upon by the +principal maritime nations of the world, that neutral flags have a +right to sail from port to port of the belligerent powers, to carry +any merchandise whatever, except those contraband of war, such as +arms, munitions of war, or provisions for the enemy. The only +exception to it is an actual blockade of a port where neutrals are +forbidden an entrance. This principle is founded in common justice; +otherwise two strong maritime nations might make a third neutral power +the greatest sufferer from the war. Besides, if the right to create +paper blockades is allowed, no restrictions can be placed upon it, and +in case of another war with England, she could declare the whole coast +of America, from Maine to Mexico, and that portion of our territory on +the Pacific, in a state of blockade, while the naval force of the +world could not maintain an _actual_ one. + +The injustice of these retaliatory measures was severely felt by our +government. They placed us, a neutral power, in a worse attitude than +if allied to one or the other we had been at open war with the third, +for in the latter case our war ships could have defended our commerce, +which would also have been under the protection of the cruisers of our +ally. But now our men-of-war were compelled to look silently on and +see American merchantmen seized, while two nations, instead of one, +claimed the right to plunder us. Our commerce for the last few years +had advanced with unparalleled strides--so that at this time our +canvass whitened almost every sea on the globe, and wealth was pouring +into the nation. Suddenly, as if the whole world, without any +forewarning, had declared war against us; the ocean was covered with +cruisers after American vessels, and the commerce of the country was +paralyzed by a single blow. + +But the most extraordinary part of the whole proceeding was, that +while England, by her orders in council, shut the Continent from us +and confiscated as a smuggler every American vessel that attempted to +enter any of its ports, she herself, with _forged_ papers, under the +American flag, carried on an extensive trade. The _counterfeit_ +American vessel was allowed to pass unmolested by British cruisers, +while the real American was seized. It was estimated that England made +fifteen thousand voyages per annum in these disguised vessels, thus +appropriating to herself all the advantages to be gained by a neutral +nation in trading with the Continent, and using our flag as a +protection. + +These were the prominent causes of the war, sufficient, one would +think, to justify the American Government in declaring it. +One-hundredth part of the provocation which we then endured, would now +bring the two governments in immediate and fierce collision. + +But, notwithstanding England's desires and necessities, she would +never have committed these outrages, had she not entertained a supreme +contempt for our power, and cherished an inextinguishable hatred of +the nation, rendering her utterly indifferent to our rights. The +treaty of 1783, by which our independence was acknowledged, was wrung +from her by stern necessity. It was not an amicable settlement of the +quarrel--a final and satisfactory adjustment of all difficulties. On +the part of England it was a morose and reluctant abandonment of a +strife which was costing her too dear--the unwilling surrender of her +best provinces under circumstances dishonorable to her flag, and +humbling to her national pride. This hatred of the rebel colony was +mingled with contempt for our institutions and national character, +exhibited in a proud assumption of superiority and disregard of our +rights and our demands. A nation sunk in helpless weakness may submit +to tyrannical treatment, but one rapidly growing in strength and +resources, is sure to have a day of reckoning, when it will demand a +swift and complete settlement of the long-endured wrongs. + +Our wisest statesmen, aware of this state of feeling, foresaw an +approaching rupture. The elder Adams, as far back as 1785, says, in +writing from England: "Their present system (the English) as far as I +can penetrate it, is to maintain a determined peace with all Europe, +in order that they may war singly against America."[3] In 1794, +Washington, in a letter to Mr. Jay, after speaking of the retention of +posts which the British Government had, by treaty, ceded to us, and of +the conduct of its agents in stirring up the Indians to hostilities, +says: "Can it be expected, I ask, so long as these things are known in +the United States, or at least firmly believed, and suffered with +impunity by Great Britain, that there ever will or can be any +cordiality between the two countries? I answer, No. And I will +undertake, without the gift of prophecy, to predict, that it will be +impossible to keep this country in a state of amity with Great Britain +long, if those posts are not surrendered." Still later, Jefferson, +writing home from England, says: "In spite of treaties, England is our +enemy. Her hatred is deep-rooted and cordial, and nothing with her is +wanted but power, to wipe us and the land we live in out of +existence." + +[Footnote 3: Letter of Adams to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, 19th +of July, 1785.] + +Having scarcely recovered from the debility produced by the long +revolutionary struggle--just beginning to feel the invigorating +impulse of prosperity, the nation shrunk instinctively from a war +which would paralyze her commerce and prostrate all her rising hopes. +The Government hesitated to take a bold and decided stand on its +rights, and urge their immediate and complete acknowledgment. This +forbearance on our part, and apparent indifference to the honor of the +nation, only increased the contempt, and confirmed the determination +of the British Government. Still, remonstrances were made. Soon after +the arrival of the British Minister, Mr. Hammond, in 1791, Jefferson +stated the causes of complaint, followed up the next year by an able +paper on the charges made by the former against our Government. This +paper remained unanswered, and two years after Jefferson resigned his +secretaryship. + +The next year, 1794, the British Government issued an order of +council, requiring her armed ships to arrest all vessels carrying +provisions to a French colony, or laden with its produce. The American +Government retaliated with an embargo, and began to make preparations +for immediate hostilities. In a few months the order was revoked, and +one less exceptionable issued, that calmed for awhile the waters of +agitation, and Mr. Jay was sent as Minister to England, to negotiate a +new treaty, which was to settle all past difficulties, establish some +principles of the law of nations, especially those affecting +belligerents and neutrals, and to regulate commerce. This treaty +removed many of the causes of complaint, but like all treaties between +a weak and strong government, it secured to England the lion's +portion. But with all its imperfections and want of reciprocity, it +was ratified in the spring of 1796, and became a law. Met at every +step by a determined opposition, its discussion inflamed party spirit +to the highest point, while its ratification was received with as many +hisses as plaudits. Still, it brought a partial, hollow pacification +between the two governments, which lasted till 1806, when the orders +in council before mentioned were issued. Great Britain, however, +hesitated not to impress our seamen and vex our commerce during the +whole period, with the exception of the short interval of the peace of +Amiens. In 1803, with the renewal of the war between her and France, +impressment was again practiced, though met at all times by +remonstrance, which in turn was succeeded by negotiation. + +Those orders in Council seemed, at first, to preclude the possibility +of an amicable adjustment of difficulties. The country was on fire +from Portland to New Orleans. Cries of distress, in the shape of +memorials to Congress, came pouring in from every sea port in the +Union. Plundered merchants invoked the interposition of the strong arm +of power to protect their rights, and demanded indemnity for losses +that beggared their fortunes. Scorn and rage at this bold high-handed +robbery, filled every bosom, and the nation trembled on the verge of +war. Jefferson, however, sent Mr. Pinckney as envoy extraordinary to +cooperate with Mr. Monroe, our minister to England, in forming a +treaty which should recognize our maritime rights. + +In the spring of the next year Jefferson received the treaty from +London. It having arrived the day before the adjournment of Congress, +and containing so much that was inadmissible, he did not submit it to +that body. + +In the first place, there was no provision against the impressment of +seamen; and in the second place, a note from the British ministers +accompanied it, stating that the British government reserved to +itself the right to violate all the stipulations it contained, if we +submitted to the Berlin decree, and other infractions of our rights by +France. This reservation on the part of England was an assumption of +power that required no discussion. To declare that she would annul her +own solemn treaty, the moment she disapproved of our conduct towards +other nations, was to assume the office of dictator. + +In the mean time, the death of Fox, whose character and conduct the +short time he was in power had given encouragement that a permanent +peace could be established, and the election of the dashing and fiery +Canning to his place, involved the negotiations in still greater +embarrassments. To indicate his course, and reveal at the outset the +unscrupulous and treacherous policy England was henceforth determined +to carry out, he had ready for promulgation long before it could be +ascertained what action our government would take on that treaty, +those other orders in Council, blockading the continent to us. He +declared, also, that all further negotiations on the subject were +inadmissible; thus leaving us no other alternative, but to submit or +retaliate. Thus our earnest solicitations and fervent desire to +continue on terms of amity--our readiness to yield for the sake of +peace what now of itself would provoke a war, were met by deception +and insult. England not only prepared orders violating our rights as +a neutral nation while submitting a treaty that protected them, but +plundered our vessels, impressed our seamen, and threatened the towns +along our coast with conflagration. + +We could not allow our flag to be thus dishonored, our seamen +impressed, and our commerce vexed with impunity, and declared common +plunder by the two chief maritime nations of Europe. Retaliation, +therefore, was resolved upon; and in December of 1807, an embargo was +laid upon all American vessels and merchandize. In the spirit of +conciliation, however, which marked all the acts of government, the +President was authorized to suspend it soon as the conduct of European +powers would sanction him in doing so. This embargo prohibited all +American vessels from sailing from foreign ports, all foreign ships +from carrying away cargoes; while by a supplementary act, all coasting +vessels were compelled to give bonds that they would land their +cargoes in the United States. + +This sudden suspension of commerce, threatening bankruptcy and ruin to +so many of our merchants, and checking at once the flow of produce +from the interior to the sea-board, was felt severely by the people, +and tried their patriotism to the utmost. Still the measure was +approved by the majority of the nation. New England denounced it, as +that section of the republic had denounced nearly every measure of +the administration from its commencement. The effect of the embargo +was to depress the products of our own country one half, and increase +those of foreign countries in the same proportion. There being no +outlet to the former, they accumulated in the market, and often would +not bring sufficient to pay the cost of mere transportation, while the +supply of the latter being cut off, the demand for them became +proportionably great. Thus it fell as heavy on the agricultural +classes as on the merchant, for while a portion of their expenses were +doubled, the produce with which they were accustomed to defray them +became worthless. But ship owners and sailors suffered still more, for +the capital of the one was profitless, and the occupation of the other +gone. It is true it helped manufacturers by increasing the demand for +domestic goods; it also saved a large amount of property, and a vast +number of American ships, which, if they had been afloat, would have +fallen into the hands of French and English cruisers. + +But, while the embargo pressed so heavily on us, it inflicted severe +damage also on France and England, especially the latter. The United +States was her best customer, and the sudden stoppage of all the +channels of trade was a heavy blow to her manufactures, and would, no +doubt, have compelled a repeal of the orders in council to us, had +not she known that we were equal, if not greater sufferers. But while +the two nations thus stood with their hands on each other's throats, +determined to see which could stand choking the longest, it soon +became evident that our antagonist had greatly the advantage of us, +for the embargo shut ourselves out from the trade of the whole world, +while it only cut England off from that of the United States. Besides, +being forced to seek elsewhere for the products she had been +accustomed to take from us, other channels of trade began to be +opened, which threatened to become permanent. + +A steady demand will always create a supply somewhere, and this was +soon discovered in the development of resources in the West Indies, +Spain, Spanish America, and Brazil, of which the British Government +had hitherto been ignorant. + +The loud outcries from the opponents of this measure, especially from +New England, also convinced her that our government must soon repeal +the obnoxious act. + +Under the tremendous pressure with which the embargo bore on the +people, New England openly threatened the government. John Quincy +Adams, who had sustained the administration in its course, finding his +conduct denounced by the Massachusetts Legislature, resigned his seat, +declaring to the President that there was a plan on foot to divide New +England from the Union, and that a secret emissary from Great Britain +was then at work with the ruling federalists to accomplish it. Whether +this was true or false, one thing was certain, an ominous cloud was +gathering in that quarter that portended evil, the extent of which no +one could calculate. + +[Sidenote: 1809.] + +Under these circumstances the embargo was repealed, and the +non-intercourse law, prohibiting all commercial intercourse with +France and Great Britain substituted. + +While these things were transpiring an event occurred which threatened +to arrest all negotiations. + +The Chesapeake, an American frigate, cruising in American waters, had +been fired into by the Leopard, a British 74, and several of her crew +killed. The commander of the latter claimed some British deserters, +whom he declared to be on board the American ship. Capt. Barron denied +his knowledge of any such being in the Chesapeake; moreover, he had +instructed, he said, his recruiting officer not to enlist any British +subjects. The captain of the Leopard then demanded permission to +search. This, of course, was refused, when a sudden broadside was +poured into the American frigate. Captain Barron not dreaming of an +encounter, had very culpably neglected to clear his vessel for action, +and at once struck his flag. An officer from the Leopard was +immediately sent on board, who demanded the muster-roll of the ship, +and selecting four of the crew, he retired. Three of these were +native Americans, the other was hung as a deserter. This daring +outrage threw the country into a tumult of excitement. Norfolk and +Portsmouth immediately forbade all communication with British ships of +war on the coast. [Sidenote: July 2.] The war spirit was aroused, and +soon after Jefferson issued a proclamation, prohibiting all vessels +bearing English commissions from entering any American harbor, or +having any intercourse with the shore. + +[Sidenote: 1808.] + +The act of the Leopard was repudiated by the English Government; but +the rage that had been kindled was not so easily laid, especially, as +no reparation was made. Mr. Monroe, our Minister to England, and +Canning could not adjust the matter; neither could Mr. Rose, the +English Minister, afterwards sent over for that especial purpose. The +British Government would not consent to mingle it up with the subject +of impressment generally, and refused to take any steps whatever +towards reparation, until the President's hostile proclamation was +withdrawn. Jefferson replied that if the minister would disclose the +terms of reparation, and they were satisfactory, their offer and the +repeal of the proclamation should bear the same date. This was refused +and Mr. Rose returned home. + +[Sidenote: March.] + +In the midst of this general distress and clamor, and strife of +political factions, Mr. Madison, who had been elected President, began +his administration. + +Jefferson had struggled in vain against the unjust insane policy of +England. Embargoes, non-intercourse acts, all efforts at commercial +retaliation, remonstrances, arguments and appeals were alike +disregarded. Proud in her superior strength, and blind to her own true +interests, she continued her high-handed violation of neutral rights +and the laws of nations. In the mean time, the republic itself was +torn by factions which swelled the evils that oppressed it. It was +evident that Madison's seat would not be an easy one, and it was +equally apparent that he lacked some most important qualities in a +chief magistrate who was to conduct the ship of State through the +storms and perils that were gathering thick about her. The commanding +mind overshadowing and moulding the entire cabinet, the prompt +decision, fearless bearing and great energy were wanting. His manifest +repugnance to a belligerent attitude encouraged opposition and invited +attack. Small in stature and of delicate health, with shy, distant, +reserved manners, and passionless countenance, he was not fitted to +awaken awe or impart fear. Still he was a thorough statesman. His +official correspondence, while Jefferson's Secretary of State, his +dissertation on the rights of neutral nations and the laws that should +govern neutral trade, are regarded to this day as the most able +papers that ever issued from the American cabinet. His knowledge of +the Constitution was thorough and practical, and his adherence to it +inflexible. The exigencies of war, which always afford apologies, and +sometimes create demands for an illegal use of power, never forced him +beyond the precincts of law or provoked him to an improper use of +executive authority. His integrity was immovable, and though assailed +by envenomed tongues and pursued by slanders, his life at the last +shone out in all its purity, the only refutation he deigned to make. + +But Madison possessed one quality for which his enemies did not give +him credit, and which bore him safely through the perils that +encompassed his administration--a calm tenacity--a silent endurance +such as the deeply-bedded rock presents in the midst of the waves. Men +knew him to be in his very nature repugnant to war, and when they saw +him go meekly, nay, shrinkingly into it, they expected to laugh over +his sudden and disgraceful exit. But while he was not aggressive and +decided in his conduct, he boldly took the responsibilities which the +nation placed upon his shoulders, and bore them serenely, +unshrinkingly to the last. His hesitation in approaching a point +around which dangers and responsibilities clustered prepared the +beholder for weak and irresolute conduct, but he was amazed at his +steadiness of character. This apparent contradiction arose from two +conflicting elements. Incapable of excitement and opposed to strife, +he naturally kept aloof from the place where one was demanded, and the +other to be met. Yet, at the same time, he had a knowledge of the +right, and an inflexible love for it which made him immovable when +assailed. + +On the whole, perhaps the character he possessed was better fitted to +secure the permanent good of the country than that of a more executive +man. A bold, decided chief magistrate, possessing genius, and calming +by his superior wisdom and strength, the disturbed elements about him, +and developing and employing the resources of the country at the +outset, would probably have ended the war in six months. But the +knowledge the country gained and communicated also to other +governments of its own weakness and power, was, perhaps, better than +the misplaced confidence which sudden success, obtained through a +great leader would have imparted. In the vicissitudes of the war, we +worked out a problem which needs no farther demonstration. + +Madison's administration was based on those principles which had +governed that of Jefferson, and the same restrictive measures were +persevered in to compel England to adopt a system more conformable to +our rights and the laws of neutrality. In the mean time Mr. Erskine +was appointed Minister on the part of Great Britain to adjust the +difficulties between the two countries. [Sidenote: April 19, 1809.] +At first this seemed an easy task, for he declared that his government +would revoke the orders in council on condition the non-intercourse +act was repealed. The proposal was at once communicated to Congress +when it assembled in May, and accepted by it. The 10th of June was +agreed upon as the day on which commercial intercourse should +recommence between the two countries, and the President issued a +proclamation to that effect. In July, however, it was ascertained that +the British Government repudiated the agreement entered into by its +Minister, declaring that he had exceeded his instructions. A second +proclamation reestablishing non intercourse was instantly issued, and +the two countries were farther than ever from a reconciliation. + +The conduct of Great Britain, at this period, presents such a strong +contrast to her loud declarations before the world, or rather stamps +them as falsehoods so emphatically, that the historian is not +surprised at the utter perversion of facts with which she endeavored +to cover up her turpitude, and quiet her conscience. Without any +provocation, she had declared war against the infant republic of +France. In order to shield herself from the infamy which should follow +such a violation of the rights of nations, and waste of treasure and +of blood, she planted herself on the grand platform of principle, and +insisted that she went to war to preserve human liberty, and the +integrity of governments. In this violent assault on a people with +whom she was at peace, she made a great sacrifice for the common +interests of states, and hence deserved the gratitude, and not the +condemnation of men. With these declarations on her lips, she turned +and deliberately annulled her agreements with the United States, and +invaded her most sacred rights. She impressed our seamen, plundered +our commerce, held fortresses on our soil, and stirred up the savages +to merciless warfare against the innocent inhabitants on our frontier. +While with one hand she professed to strike for the rights of nations, +with the other she violated them in a hardihood of spirit never +witnessed, except in a government destitute alike of honor and of +truth. So, also, while sacrificing her soldiers and her wealth, to +prevent the aggressions of Napoleon; nay, sending a fleet and troops +to Egypt, for the noble purpose of saving that barbarous state from a +reckless invader; her armies were covering the plains of India with +its innocent inhabitants, and robbing independent sheikhs of their +lawful possessions, until, at last, she tyrannized over a territory +_four times_ as large as that of all France, and six times greater +than her own island. Such unblushing falsehoods were never before +uttered by a civilized nation in the face of history. The most +unscrupulous government does not usually cover up its tyranny and +aggressions by pharisaic mummeries. There are all shades of hypocrisy, +but to do the most damning acts under pretence of religious principle, +has generally been considered the sole prerogative of the Spanish +inquisition. + +The disavowal of Mr. Erskine's treaty by the English government, and +the consequent renewal of the non-intercourse act, threw the country +into the fiercest agitation. The conduct of Great Britain appeared +like mockery. Forcing us into conciliation by promises, and then +withdrawing those promises; proposing to settle all difficulties by +negotiation, and yet, in the progress of it, refusing to touch one of +them, she determined to try the patience of the American people to the +utmost. The disavowal of a treaty made by her own minister, which +buoyed up the nation with the hope of returning peace and prosperity, +well nigh exhausted that patience; and there is little doubt but that +an immediate declaration of war would have been sustained by a large +majority of the American people. In passing from town to town, the +traveller saw groups of angry men discussing and denouncing the +tyranny of England. The shout of "_Free trade and sailors' rights_," +shook the land, while flashing eyes and clenched fists told how +aroused the national feeling had become. + +Mr. Jackson was sent, in the place of Mr. Erskine, to negotiate a +treaty; but his proposals were the same as those which the +administration had already rejected, while his insulting insinuation +that the President knew when he made the arrangement with Mr. Erskine, +that the latter was acting without authority, abruptly terminated all +intercourse, and he was recalled. + +[Sidenote: 1810.] + +On the first of May, Congress passed an act which revoked the +restrictive system, yet excluded British and armed vessels from the +waters of the United States.[4] It provided, however, that it should +be renewed in March against the nation, which did not before that time +so revoke or modify its edicts, as to protect the neutral commerce of +the United States. This was regarded as the ultimatum, and beyond it, +war against which ever government refused our just demands, was the +only resort. Messrs. Pinckney and Armstrong, our ministers at the +courts of England and France, were urged to press the repeal of those +obnoxious orders in council and decrees, in order that such a +catastrophe might be prevented. France receded, and Mr. Armstrong was +notified that the decrees were to cease to have effect after the first +of November, provided England withdrew her orders in council; or, if +she refused, that the United States should force her to acknowledge +the rights that France had, in a spirit of kindness, conceded. This +glad intelligence was made known by the President in a proclamation, +in which he also declared, that unless the British government repealed +her orders in council, within three months from that date, the +non-intercourse law should be revived against it. + +[Footnote 4: Act of Congress, passed 1st of May, 1810.] + +In the mean time Mr. Pinckney urged, with all the arguments in his +power, the English Cabinet to recede from its unjustifiable position. +The latter endeavored, by prevarication and duplicity, to avoid coming +to a definite understanding, but being closely pushed, it at length +gave our minister to understand that the United States must force +France to take the first step in revoking those odious acts against +which we complained. But as England had been the aggressor, this was +plainly unjust and impossible, and all hope of a peaceful settlement +was given up, and on the 1st of March, 1811, he took a formal leave of +the Prince Regent. At the same time Congress had passed an act, +authorizing the President to arrest the non-intercourse Act at any +moment that England should revoke her orders in council. [Sidenote: +April, 1811.] On the 38th of the next month, Napoleon definitely +revoked his Berlin and Milan decrees, so far as they related to +us--the repeal to be ante-dated November 1st, 1810. This decree was +forwarded by our minister, Mr. Barlow, who had succeeded Armstrong, to +the English Government, but it still refused to repeal its orders in +council on the ground that the decree did not embrace the continental +states, and affected only the United States. It soon became apparent, +therefore, to every one, that war was inevitable. The American +Government had placed itself, where it could not recede without +disgrace, while England was evidently resolved not to change her +attitude. + +[Sidenote: 1811.] + +Another collision at sea between two armed vessels inflamed still more +the war spirit that was pervading the land. On the 16th of May a +British sloop of war, the Little Belt, fired into the frigate +President, thinking doubtless to repeat the outrage committed on the +Chesapeake, but found her fire returned with such heavy broadsides +that in a few minutes thirty-two of her crew were killed or wounded. +The commander of the English ship declared that the American frigate +fired first. This Rodgers denied, and his denial was sustained by all +his officers. + +The election of members of Congress, which took place in 1810 and 11, +had given a majority to the administration, so that there could be +harmony of action between the Legislature and the Executive. Beset +with difficulties, treading on the brink of a war, whose issues could +not be foreseen, anxious and uncertain, the President, by +proclamation, called the Twelfth Congress together a month before the +appointed time. It met Nov. 8th, and Henry Clay was chosen speaker. +From the outset he had been a warm supporter of the Administration, +and his eloquent voice had rung over the land, rousing up its warlike +spirit, and inspiring confidence in the ability of the nation to +maintain its rights. James Fisk, of Vermont, Peter B. Porter, and +Samuel L. Mitchell, of New York, Adam Leybert, of Penn., Robert +Wright, of Md., Hugh Nelson, of Va., Nathaniel Macon, of N. C., +Calhoun, Langdon, Cheeves, and Wm. Lowndes, of S. C., Wm. M. Bibb and +George M. Troup, of Ga., Felix Grundy, of Tenn., and Wm. P. Duval, of +Ky., rallied round the young speaker, and presented a noble phalanx to +the anxious President. On the other side were Josiah Quincy, of Mass, +and Timothy Pitkin and Benjamin Talmadge, of Conn. + +In the Senate the democratic leaders were Samuel Smith, of Md., Wm. B. +Giles, of Va., Wm. H. Crawford, of Ga., George W. Campbell, of Tenn., +and George M. Bibb, of Ky. Leading the opposition were James Lloyd, of +Mass., and James A. Bayard, of Del.[5] + +[Footnote 5: Vide Madison's Administration, by John Quincy Adams.] + +The great accession of strength which the democratic members had +received, showed clearly the state of public feeling, especially south +and west, and the doubtful, hesitating policy of the last four years +was thrown aside. The tone of the President's Message was also +decidedly warlike, and no hope was held out of an amicable adjustment +of the difficulties with England. They were invoked as the +"Legislative guardians of the nation," to put the country "into an +armed attitude, demanded by the crisis." The halls of Congress +resounded with the cry of "to arms." The nightmare of fear and doubt +which had weighed down its councils was removed, and bold and fearless +speakers called aloud on the nation to defend its injured honor and +insulted rights. The might of England had ceased to be a bugbear--the +Rubicon of fear was passed. Mr. Madison, deprecating precipitate +measures, saw with alarm the sudden belligerent attitude which +Congress had assumed. The democratic leaders however told him the +nation was for war--that timidity would be his ruin--that those who +were resolved to make Mr. Clinton their candidate at the next +presidential election were taking advantage of his hesitation. In the +mean time bills providing for the enlistment of twenty-five thousand +men in the regular army; for repairing and equipping frigates and +building new vessels; authorizing the President to accept the services +of fifty thousand volunteers, and to require the Governors of the +several States and territories to hold their respective quotas of a +hundred thousand men in readiness to march at a moment's warning,[6] +were rapidly pushed through Congress. [Sidenote: Nov. 7, 1811.] The +brilliant victory, gained three days after Congress met by Harrison, +over the Indians at Tippecanoe, helped also to kindle into higher +excitement the martial spirit of the West and South-west, and for a +while opposition seemed to be struck powerless before the rising +energy of the nation. + +[Footnote 6: Vide Madison's Administration, by John Quincy Adams.] + +The bill authorizing the President to accept and organize certain +military corps to the number of 50,000, reported by Mr. Porter, +Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, called forth a long and +exciting debate. Mr. Grundy, one of the committee, defended the +resolution in a bold and manly speech. Referring to the Indian +hostilities on our north-western frontier, he unhesitatingly declared +that they were urged forward by British influence, and war, therefore, +was already begun. Some of the richest blood of the country had +already been shed, and he pledged himself for the western country, +that its hardy sons only waited for permission to march and avenge +those who had fallen. He was answered by Randolph, who denied that +Great Britain had stimulated the Indians to their merciless border +warfare--stigmatized the war to which this resolution looked as a war +of conquest--declared it was another mode of flinging ourselves into +the arms of Bonaparte and becoming "the instruments of him who had +effaced the title of Atilla 'the scourge of God.'" + +He ridiculed the idea which had been started of conquering Canada, as +an insane project, and useless if accomplished. "Suppose it is ours," +he exclaimed, "are we any nearer to our point? As his minister said to +the king of Epirus, "may we not as well take our bottle of wine before +as after the exploit? Go march to Canada--leave the broad bosom of the +Chesapeake and her hundred tributary rivers--the whole line of +sea-coast from Machias to St. Mary's unprotected. You have taken +Quebec--have you _conquered England_? Will you seek for the deep +foundations of her power in the frozen depths of Labrador? + + 'Her march is on the mountain wave, + Her home is on the deep.' + +Will you call upon her to leave your ports and harbors untouched only +just till you can return from Canada to defend them? The coast is to +be left defenceless whilst men in the interior are revelling in +conquest and spoil." He pronounced the country to be in a state wholly +unfit for war. + +Mr. Clay answered him in an eloquent speech. He defended the character +of our troops, and expressed his full confidence in the loyalty and +bravery of the country. "Gentlemen," he said, "had inquired what would +be gained by the contemplated war? Sir, I ask in turn, what will you +not lose by your mongrel state of peace with Great Britain? Do you +expect to gain anything in a pecuniary view? No sir. Look at your +treasury reports. Yon now receive only $6,000,000 of revenue annually, +and this amount must be diminished in the same proportion as the +rigorous execution of the orders in council shall increase. Before +these orders existed you received _sixteen millions_." He declared +that war was inevitable unless we tamely sacrificed our own interests, +rights and honor. In answering the objection that we ought only to go +to war when we were invaded, he exclaimed in thrilling tones, while +the house gazed in breathless silence on his excited features, "_How +much better than invasion is the blocking of your very ports and +harbors, insulting your towns, plundering your merchants and scouring +your coasts? If your fields are surrounded, are they in a better +condition than if invaded? When the murderer is at your door will you +meanly skulk to your cells? or will you boldly oppose him at his +entrance?_" + +Every part of his speech told with tremendous effect. Many of the +members opposed the bill, which continued the subject of debate for +several days. Mr. Williams of South Carolina, defended it in a +fearless speech. In reply to a remark made by one of the members, that +it was unjust to go to war with England, as she was fighting for her +existence, he exclaimed in a loud sonorous voice that pealed through +the chamber, "_If her existence, sir, depends upon our destruction, +then I say down let her go._ She is contending for the liberties of +the world too, it seems. I would as soon have expected to hear that +the devil had espoused the cause of Christianity. Sir, we may trace +her progress for years through blood. Did she raise the standard of +liberty in India? Was it for liberty she offered up so many human +hecatombs on the plains of Hindostan? Was it to plant the standard of +_liberty_ in this country that she immolated even infant innocence +during the war of the Revolution? Is it to extend or secure the +blessings of freedom to us that the fireside and the cradle are +exposed to savage incursions in the west at this time?" This part of +his speech created a marked sensation. + +The bill finally passed by 44 to 34.[7] The winter passed in exciting +debates, both in Congress and in the State Legislatures, while every +hamlet in the land was agitated with the notes of hostile +preparations. [Sidenote: March 9.] In the midst of this excitement, +the country was startled by the transmission of documents to Congress +showing that a man by the name of Henry had been sent by the Governor +of Canada to sound the disaffected New England States and endeavor to +form some connection with the leading federalists.[8] + +[Footnote 7: Vide Report of proceedings in the House of +Representatives, Dec. 1811.] + +[Footnote 8: This adventurer after staying some months in Boston, in +constant communication with the Secretary of Sir James Craig, Governor +of Canada, to whom he asserted that Massachusetts, in case of war, +would separate from the Union and ally herself, probably, with +England, visited the latter country to obtain remuneration for his +services. The Home Government, however, sent him back to Sir James +Craig as better able to appreciate the value of his labors. Indignant +at this neglectful treatment, he returned to Boston and obtained a +letter of introduction from Governor Gerry to Madison, to whom he +offered to divulge the whole conspiracy, of which he had been the head +and soul, for a certain sum of money. Madison gave him $50,000, and +the swindler embarked for France. There is but little doubt that Henry +made a fool of the Governor of Canada, and completely overreached the +President. The publication of the correspondence, however, increased +the hatred both against the federalists and the English nation. + +He was an Irish adventurer of commanding person and most engaging +address. At one time he was editor of a paper and afterwards wine +dealer in Philadelphia. In 1798 he was appointed captain in the army, +and stationed at Fort Adams in Newport. Thence he was transferred to +Boston where he mingled freely in the best society of the city. +Becoming tired of a military life, he bought land in Vermont, and +settled down as a farmer. Finding agricultural pursuits unsuited to +his taste, he removed to Montreal and studied law for several years. +Being an aspiring man he made strenuous efforts to obtain the office +of Attorney General. Indignant at his failure, he turned his attention +to politics, in which he was more successful, for in a few months he +acquired the snug little sum of $50,000, paid over to him out of the +public treasury. He however did not enjoy the fruits of his labors. A +Frenchman styling himself Count, and who had accompanied him in his +last voyage from England, wheedled him into the purchase of large +estates held by the former in France. Relieved of most of his money, +and well supplied with deeds, etc., Henry sailed for France. But +failing to find the locality of these large possessions of which he +had become the purchaser, he was again compelled to fall back on his +genius for the means of subsistence, and became a distinguished +correspondent of a London Journal.] + +[Sidenote: Apr. 8.] + +In the mean time, Jonathan Russell, of Rhode Island, who had been +appointed _charge d'affaires_ to the English Court on the return of +Mr. Pinckney, wrote home that there was no prospect that the British +government would revoke its orders in council; and the President, +therefore, on the first of April, recommended an embargo to be laid on +all vessels in port, or which should arrive, for the term of sixty +days. The message was received with closed doors, and the house felt +that this was preparatory to a declaration of war. When Mr. Porter, in +accordance with the recommendation of the message, brought in a bill +to lay this embargo, there was great sensation in the house. In reply +to the interrogation, whether this was a peace measure or preparatory +to war, Mr. Grundy, one of the committee, arose and said, "it is a +_war_ measure, and it is meant that it shall lead directly to it." Mr. +Stow, of New York, said, "if it was a precursor to war, there were +some very serious questions to be asked. What is the situation of our +fortresses? What is the situation of our country generally?" Mr. Clay +then left the chair, and, in a short speech, made it apparent that +after what had passed, to shrink from this because it was a war +measure, would cover the nation with disgrace. Randolph, in reply, +said, that he was so impressed with the importance of the subject, and +the solemnity of the occasion, that he could not keep silent. "Sir," +said he, "we are now in conclave--the eyes of the surrounding world +are not upon us. We are shut up here from the light of Heaven, but the +eyes of God are upon us. He knows the spirit of our minds. Shall we +deliberate on this subject with the spirit of sobriety and candor, or +with that spirit which has too often characterized our discussions +upon occasions like the present? We ought to realize that we are in +the presence of that God who knows our thoughts and motives, and to +whom we must hereafter render an account for the deeds done in the +body." He spoke at some length and earnestly. Clay seeing the effect +of his solemn adjurations on some members of the house, left the +speaker's chair and replied, that the gentleman from Virginia need not +have reminded them in the manner he had, of the presence of that Being +who watches and surrounds us. He thought that consciousness should +awaken different sentiments from those which had been uttered. It +ought to inspire us to patriotism, to the display of those qualities +which ennobled man. God always was with the right, and extended his +protection to those who performed their duty fearlessly, scorning the +consequences. The discussion of the bill continued through several +days, and exhibited, in a striking manner, the different effect of an +event so momentous and fearful as war on different characters. In one, +the overwhelming responsibility and direful results of adopting a +measure leading to it, shut out all other considerations. To another, +its chances and calamities were a matter of mere calculation to be +taken and met by any nation that expected to exist; while many hailed +it with the delight of true patriotism, feeling that the country had, +at last, risen from its humiliating attitude. Mr. Bleecker addressed +the house more like a clergyman than a statesman, warning the members +to desist from the perilous course. On the other hand, Mr. Mitchell, +from New York, declared, that the country was not to "be frightened by +political screech-owls;" and, alluding to the profligate character of +the Prince Regent, said, "he did not think any one should be afraid to +face a nation, at whose head stood such a man--one who was some years +since expelled a jockey club, and who was lately turned out of doors +for his unworthy conduct to his neighbor's wife. The power with which +we are to contend is not so terrific and almighty as is imagined." + +[Sidenote: Apr. 4.] + +The bill finally passed, 69 to 36. In the senate, 17 to 11.[9] About +the same time another dispatch was received from Mr. Russell, closing +with, "I no longer entertain a hope that we can honorably avoid war." + +[Footnote 9: Vide Journal of Secret Session of Congress, of April, +1812.] + +This was the feeling of the majority of the nation. In establishing +certain fixed limits beyond which it would not go, and erecting +certain barriers over which it would not allow England to pass, the +American Government had taken a position from which there was no +receding, with honor. While every thing was thus rapidly tending to +war, and the public was eager with expectation, waiting for the next +movement that should precipitate it, with all its horrors, on the +land, a despatch, received by the British Minister, Mr. Foster,[10] +from Castlereagh, closed at once every avenue towards a peaceful +adjustment of the existing difficulties. In it he declared "that the +decrees of Berlin and Milan must not be repealed singly and specially +in relation to the United States, but must be repealed, also, as to +all other neutral nations, and that in no less extent of a repeal of +the French decrees, had the British Government ever pledged itself to +repeal the orders in council."[11] This was saying, that unless the +United States instituted herself lawgiver between France and all other +European powers, and through her own unaided efforts obtained that +which England, with all her maritime strength could not enforce, the +latter would consider herself perfectly justified in withholding from +us our national rights. This awkward attempt to cover up under the +mask of diplomacy, duplicity and falsehood, from which an honorable +mind would have shrunk, was perfectly characteristic of the man who +carried the English and Irish Union by the most stupendous frauds and +bribery and corruption that can be found in the annals of modern +civilization. + +[Footnote 10: Mr. Foster had succeeded Mr. Jackson as British Minister +at Washington, in the summer of 1811.] + +[Footnote 11: Correspondence between the Secretary of State and Mr. +Foster, British Minister, 1812.] + +I know the quasi denial of Mr. Foster, that this construction was a +just one, yet the language used can convey no other. To place it +beyond dispute, Lord Castlereagh, as late as May 22d, 1812, declared +as British Minister, to the House of Commons, that as the Berlin and +Milan decrees "were not unconditionally repealed, as required by his +Majesty's declaration, but only repealed so far as they regarded +America, he had no objection to state it, as his own opinion, that +this French decree, so issued, made no manner of alteration in the +question of the orders in council."[12] + +[Footnote 12: Vide Niles' Register, vol. ii. page 332.] + +It is rare to find such unscrupulous conduct on the part of a +Ministry, protected by so miserable a subterfuge. It could not be +supposed that the American Government would be deceived for a moment +by it, but the belief that we could not be _forced_ into a war, +rendered ordinary care and cunning superfluous. Occupied with +continental affairs alone, England looked upon the American Republic +as only a means to accomplish her ends there. The administration, at +Washington, was thus _compelled_ by the arbitrary conduct of its +enemy, to declare war, or forfeit all claim to the respect of the +nations of the earth, and all right to an independent existence. + +Under these circumstances, Mr. Madison no longer hesitated, but on the +1st day of June transmitted a warlike message to Congress. After +recapitulating, in a general way, the history of past negotiations and +past injuries, he says: "Whether the United States shall continue +passive under these progressive usurpations and accumulating wrongs, +or opposing force to force in defence of their natural rights shall +commit a just cause into the hands of the Almighty Disposer of events, +avoiding all connections which might entangle it in the contests or +views of other powers, and preserving a constant readiness to concur +in an honorable reestablishment of peace and friendship, is a solemn +question, which the constitution wisely confides to the legislative +department of the Government. In recommending it to their early +deliberations, I am happy in the assurance that the decision will be +worthy the enlightened and patriotic councils of a virtuous, a free +and a powerful nation." This message was referred at once to the +Committee on Foreign Relations, who reported ten days after in favor +of an immediate appeal to arms. The deliberations on this report were +conducted with closed doors. + +A bill drawn up by Mr. Pinckney, and offered by Mr. Calhoun, declaring +war to exist between Great Britain and the United States, was rapidly +pushed through the House, passing by a vote of 79 to 49. In the +Senate, being met not only by the opposition of the Federalists, but +by the friends of De Witt Clinton, who voted with them, it passed by a +majority of only six.[13] Congress, after passing an act, granting +letters of marque, and regulating prizes and prize goods, authorizing +the issue of Treasury notes to the amount of $5,000,000, and placing a +hundred per cent. additional duties on imports, adjourned. [Sidenote: +July 8.] In accordance with a resolution of Congress, the President +appointed a day of public humiliation and prayer, in view of the +conflict in which the nation had entered. + +[Footnote 13: 19 to 13. Mr. Clinton's friends professed not to _oppose +the war_, but the declaration of it as premature. + +The members from New Hampshire, most of those from Massachusetts, then +including Maine, those of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and +Delaware, with several from New York, some from Virginia and North +Carolina, one from Pennsylvania, and three from Maryland, opposed the +war. The members from Vermont, some from New York, all but one from +Pennsylvania, most from Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, all +from South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and +Louisiana, supported it.--_Ingersoll's History of the War._] + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Different feelings with which the Declaration of War was + received -- State of the parties at the commencement -- + Federalists and Democrats -- Their hostility -- Absurd + doctrines of the Federalists -- Hostility of New England -- + Unprepared state of the country -- Culpable neglect of the + government -- Comparative strength of the two navies -- + Empty state of the Treasury -- Inefficiency of the Cabinet. + + +The proud and sensitive American of to-day can scarcely comprehend +how, under the heavy and protracted provocations which I have traced +in the preceding chapter, the country could have been kept for so long +a time from open hostilities. It would seem that the most arbitrary +exercise of executive and legislative power, could not have prevented +the people from rushing spontaneously to arms, and demanding their +rights at the bayonet's point. He is still more astounded, when he +remembers that this declaration of war was received with a storm of +indignation by a large party in the Union--that all New England, with +the exception of Vermont, anathematized it. The pulpit and the press +thundered forth their maledictions, and the wrath of heaven was +invoked on the heads of its authors. The flags of the shipping in +Boston harbor were hoisted at half-mast, in token of mourning, and the +spot rendered immortal by the patriots of the revolution, became the +rallying place of the disaffected, and the hope of the enemy. A common +welfare and a common country, could not allay this hostility, which +strengthened instead of diminishing to the last, and which was so +fanatical and blind in its violence, that it exhibited itself in the +most monstrous forms. Our defeats were gloried in, and the triumphs of +our oppressors hailed as an evidence that God was on their side, while +downright insubordination, plots, and incipient rebellion, crippled +the efforts of an already weak government, and swelled the disasters +on which they fattened. + +But to one who knows to what a height the spirit of faction will +reach, nothing in all this unnatural hostility will seem strange. The +country, at this time, was divided into Federalists and Democrats, who +were scarcely less vindictive in their animosities, than the Whigs and +Tories of the revolution. New England was the furnace of Federalism, +and Boston the focal point from which issued incessant and bitter +assaults on Jefferson's, and afterwards on Madison's administration. +Thus, in the most trying period of our existence since the adoption of +the constitution, the country was divided and torn by the fiercest +spirit of faction with which it has ever been cursed. + +I shall not enter into a history of the feuds of these two parties. +The principle which originally divided them was plain. One was for a +consolidated government, and more power in the executive; the other +for a larger distribution of power among the separate states of the +confederacy; one was strongly conservative, and the other tending to +radicalism; one was for putting the strictest construction on the +constitution, the other for giving it the greatest possible latitude. +These two parties had grown up with the republic. Their germs were +seen in the first convention that met after the achievement of our +independence, to settle the form of government. On one point all were +agreed--that our mutual safety and welfare depended on a confederacy, +but a difference of opinion arose on the amount of power the separate +states should confer on the Federal head. The constitution which was +finally adopted was not stringent enough to suit the Federalists; but +as a compromise, it was on the whole the best that could be secured. +Besides, by standing firmly with the general government in all +conflicts with the separate states, and with the executive when +brought in collision with Congress, and by the great patronage of the +President, that power which they preferred to see directly delegated +might practically be obtained. This party numbered among its leaders, +the first statesmen of the land. + +Nor should these views be considered strange, nor the patriotism of +those who held them be assailed. Some of the noblest men who offered +their lives and fortunes to the cause of liberty, looked upon the +British Government as the best in the world, and stripped of some of +its peculiarities, and purged of its corruptions, would be the best +that human ingenuity could devise. They did not originally war against +a form of government, but to be free from its oppressive acts. They +did not hate, they admired the British constitution, and took up arms +not to destroy it, but to enjoy the rights it guaranteed to its +subjects. The government, in the principles of which they had been +educated, was the most prosperous and the strongest on the globe, and +common wisdom dictated that all its good points should be retained and +incorporated into our own. Why enter on an entirely new experiment +when we had so much to build upon in the experience of the mother +country? One of the grand features of that government was the central +power lodged in the throne; so ours should be characterized by a +strong executive. The very reason, the force of which was felt by all, +and that made a confederacy indispensable, viz., that a number of +independent states, separated by only imaginary lines, would, +inevitably, lead to frequent collisions and final civil war, operated +they thought with equal force against a _loose_ confederacy. The same +results would follow. The wisdom of these fears is seen at the present +day, in the separate power demanded by some of the states, and alas +was soon exhibited by the Federalists themselves in the spirit of +disobedience they instilled into the people against the general +government. + +The Democrats, on the other hand, saw in all this a decided leaning +towards a monarchy, and afterwards boldly accused their adversaries of +conspiring to erect a throne in the midst of this republic. They were +taunted with sycophancy to England, and a craving after English +distinctions and aristocratic preeminence. The _principles_ on which +the two parties rested had their birth in true patriotism, and their +effect on the character of the Constitution was, doubtless, healthful. +Nor was there anything in their nature adapted to awaken such +vindictive hate. But like a strife between two individuals, the origin +of which is soon lost sight of in the passion engendered by the +conflict, so these two factions, in the heat of party rancor, forgot +in the main the theories on which they split. In the proposition of +every measure by either party for the welfare of the state, some +secret plot was supposed to be concealed. + +The embarrassments in which this fierce hostile spirit placed the +administration, rendering it timid and cautious, was increased by the +form it took. The levelling and radical notions of the French +revolution, followed as they were by such atrocities, disgusted the +federalists, while the democrats, though they denounced the violence, +sympathized with the people, and saw in the commotion the working of +their own principles amid the oppressed masses of France. They not +only loved France, as their old ally, but they sympathized with her in +her efforts to hurl back the banded oppressors who sought to +reestablish a hated throne in her midst. So while the former party +stood charged with hating republics and wishing the domination of +England, the latter was accused of seeking an alliance with the +usurper Napoleon. + +Many of the reasons given by the Federalists for their opposition, +furnish another exhibition of the blinding power of party spirit. As +to the simple question between England and America, it would seem that +no sane man could doubt, that sufficient provocation had been given to +justify us in a resort to arms. The impressment of six or seven +thousand seamen, most of them American citizens, the destruction of +nearly a thousand merchantmen, and the insults every where heaped upon +our flag, were wrongs which could not be justified. They therefore +endeavored to cover them up, by saying that the Democrats were +assisting Bonaparte, whom they regarded as a monster in human form, +and whose success would be the downfall of all liberty. The wrongs we +suffered were thus lost sight of, in the greater wrong of crippling +England in her desperate struggle with this modern Attila. Rather than +endanger the success of that conflict, they would suffer for a time +from the effect of her odious measures. They felt that England, in her +conduct, was not governed by hostile feelings towards this +country--that the evils she inflicted on us, were only incidental to +the war she was waging against a tyrant. Placed in imminent peril, as +the champion of freedom, she was compelled to resort to extraordinary +measures, which though they injured us, were intended only to crush a +common enemy. Hence the absurd interrogatory so incessantly urged by +wise statesmen: "Why do you not declare war against France as well as +England?"--as if the neglect to protect the interests and honor of the +country in one quarter, rendered it obligatory on the government to +neglect them in all quarters. The law which would redress one wrong, +is none the less right, because he who administers it refuses to apply +it to a second wrong. The injustice is in the person, not in the deed. +Besides, when a nation is insulted and outraged by two powers, it has +a perfect right to choose which it will first assault and chastise. +And yet the false doctrine was constantly promulgated, that we had no +right to declare war with England, without including France, because +she was equally criminal. In other words, the nation was bound to bear +quietly the evils under which it groaned, or embrace in the contest, +France, which stood ready to do us justice the moment that England +would. + +It seems incredible that so absurd a dogma was soberly defended by +clear-headed statesmen. Strictly applied, it would require a nation, +for the sake of consistency, to submit to wrongs that degrade and ruin +her, or enter on a war equally ruinous, from its magnitude, when there +was a safe mode of procedure. Besides, all the circumstances pointed +out England as our antagonist. She harassed our frontiers--had taken +the first step against our commerce, and impressed our seamen. France +was guilty only of violating the laws of neutrality, while she always +stood pledged to recede from her position, if England would do the +same, and finally did recede, leaving no cause for war. The seizures +under the Rambouillet decree, were matters for negotiation before a +declaration of war could be justified. + +As Jefferson was the head of the Democratic party, the Federalists +bent all their energies against his administration, and on his +retirement transferred their hostility to that of Madison. + +But the Federalists were not all opposed to the war. The elder Adams, +the noblest chief of Federalism, was too clear-headed and high-minded +a statesman to let party spirit come between him and his country's +good, and he firmly advocated it, which brought down on him the +condemnation of many of his friends. Said he--"It is utterly +incomprehensible to me that a rational, social, or moral creature can +say the war is unjust; how it can be said to be unnecessary is very +mysterious. I have thought it both just and necessary for five or six +years." His son, John Quincy, deserted the party to uphold the war. On +the other hand, many friends of the administration and several members +of the cabinet were wholly opposed to it. There seemed to be an awe of +England oppressing our older statesmen that rendered them insensible +to insult, and willing to see the country the scorn and contempt of +the world, for its base submission under the unparalleled indignities +heaped upon it, rather than risk a conflict with that strong power. +Many of the merchants, also, who saw that their own ruin would +inevitably follow hostilities, were averse to it--indeed, the learning +and intelligence of the land was against it--but the people of the +South and West, between whom and their country's honor and rights +selfish interests and bitter party hate did not come, nobly sustained +it. + +The gloomy prospect with which a nation always enters on an unequal +war, was in our case saddened by these divided feelings of the people, +and by the open animosity of several of the States. In order to +paralyze us still more, and render our complete humiliation certain, +provided England would strike a bold and decided blow, no preparation +had been made for the struggle. Although we had been for many years on +the verge of war, we had done comparatively nothing to meet its +exigences, but stood and stupidly gazed into its fearful abyss. + +The income from the customs, in 1811, was $13,000,000. This, of +course, the Government knew would decrease in time of war, as it did, +to $9,500,000. Our debt at this period was $45,000,000. Yet a loan of +$11,000,000, five millions of Treasury Notes, and the revenue from the +imposts, which were doubled, was all the money furnished to carry on a +war, which was to cost over thirty millions a year. Congress, however, +did, as a last act of wisdom, appropriate $100,000 to the support, +expense, exchange, &c., of prisoners of war. The utter blindness which +had fallen on the Government was exhibited more fully in its neglect +of the Navy. Under the "peace establishment" of 1801, our navy had +been reduced, and from that time to 1812, "a period of eleven eventful +years, during which the nation was scarcely a day without suffering a +violation of its neutral rights, _not a single frigate_ had been added +to the navy." Gun-boats had been built for the protection of our +harbors, and the marine corps increased by seven hundred men, and +$200,000 per annum was appropriated to rebuild three frigates that had +been suffered to decay. Beyond this, nothing was done, and with but +nine frigates and a few other cruising vessels of less rate, while +seven thousand of our merchant ships were scattered over the ocean +claiming our protection, we plunged into a war with a nation that had +a hundred ships of the line in commission, and more than a thousand +vessels of war which bore her flag of defiance over the deep. + +Superadded to all, the President, commander-in-chief of the army, was +utterly ignorant of war, and by nature and in principle wholly +repugnant to it. Conscious of his high and responsible position, he +resolved to press it with vigor. But he was unfortunate in his +Cabinet. Mr. Monroe, Secretary of State, had seen a little military +service, but only in a subordinate capacity. Mr. Gallatin, Secretary +of the Treasury, first opposed the declaration of war, and afterwards +insisted that the only hope of the country lay in a speedy peace. +Hamilton, Secretary of the Navy, and Eustis, Secretary of War, were +both ignorant of the duties of their respective departments. Pinckney, +the Attorney-General, shook his head at our prospects, while Gideon +Granger, Postmaster-General,[14] openly declared that the war could +not but end in failure, while Madison conducted its operations. To +complete the climax, a General wholly unfit for his position, was to +open the campaign. At this critical juncture, too, we had scarcely any +representatives abroad to enlist sympathy with us in our struggle. Mr. +Adams had been sent to Russia, and Joel Barlow was our Minister to +France. The latter, however, died in Poland a few months after he +received the news of our declaration of war, leaving us with scarcely +a representative in Europe. + +[Footnote 14: The Postmaster-General was not at that time a member of +the Cabinet.] + +It is not a matter of surprise that such a commencement to the war was +disastrous; the wonder is, that five, instead of two years of defeat, +were not meted out to us, as a just punishment for such stupidity and +neglect. Nothing but the momentous events transpiring in Europe, +distracting the attention of England, and rendering the presence of +her armies necessary at home, prevented her from striking us a blow, +from which it would have taken years to recover. May our Government +never be left to try such an experiment again! + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Plan of the Campaign -- General Hull sent to Detroit -- + British officers first receive news of the declaration of + war -- Capture of Hull's baggage, etc. -- Enters Canada and + issues a proclamation, and sends out detachments -- Colonels + McArthur and Cass advance on Malden -- Hull refuses to + sustain them -- Recrosses to Detroit -- Van Horne's defeat + -- Colonel Miller defeats the enemy, and opens Hull's + communications -- Strange conduct of Hull -- Advance of the + British -- Surrender of Detroit -- Indignation of the + officers -- Review of the Campaign -- Rising of the people + -- Harrison takes command -- Advance of the army. + + +In determining the course to be pursued in carrying on hostilities the +administration selected Canada as the only field of operations +promising any success. The navy was to be shut up in port, leaving our +seven thousand merchantmen to slip through the hands of British +cruisers, and reach home as they best could. It was to be a war on +land and not on the sea, and the conquest of Canada would undoubtedly +be the result of the first campaign. General Dearborn, who had served +in the revolution, was appointed commander-in-chief of the northern +forces, and soon repaired to Plattsburgh, while General Van +Rensalaer, of the New York militia, and General Smith were stationed +on the Niagara frontier. + +In anticipation of the war, General Hull, Governor of Michigan, had +been ordered to occupy his territory with an army of two thousand men, +for the purpose of defending the north-western frontier from the +Indians, and in case of war to obtain the command of Lake Erie, and +thus be able to cooperate with Dearborn and Van Rensalaer in the +invasion of Canada. The command naturally descended on him as Governor +of Michigan. Having, also, been an officer of merit under Washington, +the appointment was considered a very judicious one. + +With part of the first regiments of United States infantry, and three +companies of the first regiment of artillery, the balance made up of +Ohio volunteers and Michigan militia, and one company of rangers, he +left Dayton, in Ohio, the first of June, just eighteen days before the +declaration of war. On the tenth, he was joined at Urbana by Colonel +Miller, with the fourth regiment of infantry, composed of three +hundred men. Here the little army entered the untrodden wilderness, +and slowly cut its way through the primeval forest, two hundred miles +in extent, to Detroit. It reached Maumee the latter part of June, +where, on the second of July, Hull received the news of the +declaration of war. The letter of the Secretary of War had been +_fourteen days_ reaching him. The British officer, at Maiden, had +been officially notified of it _two days before_. "On this occasion, +the British were better served. Prevost received notice of it, on the +24th of June, at Quebec. Brock on the 26th, at Newark. St. George on +the 30th, at Malden; and Roberts on the 8th of July, at St. Joseph's. +But, a fact still more extraordinary than the celerity of these +transmissions, is, that the information thus rapidly forwarded to the +British commanders, at Malden and St. Joseph, was received under +envelopes, franked by the Secretary of the American Treasury."[15] +But, if the Secretary of the Treasury had been the victim of a shrewd +trick, the Secretary of War had commenced his career by a most +egregious blunder. On the day of the declaration of war, he wrote two +letters to General Hull, one announcing the fact, and the other making +no mention of it. The latter despatched by a special messenger, +reached the General on the 24th of June. The former being intrusted to +the public mail as far as Cleveland, thence to be forwarded as it best +could, did not arrive at head quarters till the 2nd of July, or two +days after the news which it contained had been received by the +British officer at Malden.[16] By this unpardonable carelessness of +the Secretary of War, General Hull not only lost all the advantage to +be derived from having the knowledge of the declaration of hostilities +six days before the enemy, but he had to suffer from the preparations +which this previous information gave the latter time to make. + +[Footnote 15: Vide Armstrong's Notices of the War of 1812.] + +[Footnote 16: Vide Hull's Memoirs, and Armstrong's Notices of the +War.] + +The first disaster that resulted from this culpability of the +Secretary of War, was the loss of General Hull's baggage, "hospital +stores, intrenching tools, and sixty men," together with the +instructions of the government, and the returns of the army. Having +received a letter from the Secretary of War, dated as late as the 18th +of June, in which he was urged to march with all possible despatch to +Detroit, and containing no announcement of a rupture, he naturally +supposed that the two governments were still at peace, and so to carry +out the instructions of the secretary, and expedite matters, he +shipped his baggage, stores, &c., to go by water to Detroit, while he +took his army by land. But the day previous the British commander, at +Malden, had received official notice of the declaration of war, and +when the packet containing the stores, &c., attempted to pass the +fort, it was stopped by a boat containing a British officer and six +men, and its cargo seized. + +This first advantage gained over him so unexpectedly, by the enemy, +had a most depressing effect on the General. Instead of rousing him to +greater exertion, it filled him with doubt and uncertainty. He had a +dozen subordinates, either of whom, with that army, would in a few +days have seized Malden, and recovered all he had lost, and inflicted +a heavy blow on the enemy. + +At length, however, he seemed to awake to the propriety of doing +something to carry out the objects of the campaign, and on the 12th +crossed the Detroit River and marched to Sandwich, only eighteen miles +from Malden. But here, with an unobstructed road leading to the enemy +before him, he paused and issued a proclamation to the Canadians, and +sent out detachments which penetrated sixty miles into the province. +The friendly disposition of the inhabitants was apparent, while the +Indians were overawed into a neutral position. + +Four days after crossing the river, General Hull sent Colonels Cass +and Miller, with a detachment of two hundred and eighty men, towards +Malden. These gallant officers pushed to the river Canards, within +four miles of the fort, and driving the British pickets who held the +bridge from their position, took possession of it, and immediately +dispatched a messenger to General Hull, announcing their success. They +described the occupation of the post as of the utmost importance in +carrying out the plan of the campaign, and begged that if the army +could not be moved there, that they might be allowed to hold it +themselves--the General sending reinforcements as occasion demanded. +Instead of being gratified at this advantage gained over the enemy, +General Hull seemed irritated, condemned the attack as a breach of +orders, and directed the immediate return of the detachment. These +brave officers persisting in their request, he gave them permission to +retain the position, provided they were willing to do so on their own +responsibility, and without any aid from him. + +This he knew they would not do. Such a proposition, from the +commanding officer, indicated a weakness of judgment, and a +willingness to resort to the most transparent trickery to escape +responsibility, that no apology can excuse. From the statements of the +British afterwards, it appeared that the approach of this detachment +filled the garrison with alarm; the shipping was brought up to the +wharves, and the loading of baggage commenced, preparatory to flight. +On two sides the fort was in a dilapidated state, while seven hundred +men, of whom only one hundred were regular troops, constituted the +entire garrison. From the panic which the approach of Cass and Miller +created, there is no doubt that the appearance of the whole army, of +two thousand men before the place, would have been followed by an +immediate surrender. One thing is certain, if General Hull supposed +that a garrison of seven hundred men behind such works, could make a +successful defence against nearly three times their number, he had no +right to regard his strong position at Detroit, when assailed by only +an equal force, untenable. Either Malden could have been taken, or +Detroit was impregnable. The troops felt certain of success, and were +impatient to be led to the attack, but he pronounced it unsafe to +advance without heavy artillery; besides, he wished to wait the effect +of his proclamation on the enemy. The Indians and Canadian militia, he +said, had begun to desert, and in a short time the force at Malden +might be "materially weakened." Two thousand men sat quietly down to +wait for this miserable garrison of seven hundred, six hundred of whom +were Canadian militia and Indians, to dwindle to less force, before +they dared even to approach within shot. The army was kept here three +weeks, till two twenty-four pounders and three howitzers could be +mounted on wheels strong enough to carry them, and yet a few weeks +after, behind better works than those of Malden, and with a force +fully equal to that of his adversary, he felt authorized to surrender, +though the largest guns brought forward to break down his defences, +were six pounders. + +The cannon at length, being mounted, were with the ammunition placed +on floating batteries, ready to move on Malden, when the order to +march was countermanded, and the army, instead of advancing against +the enemy, recrossed the river to Detroit, over which it had passed a +few weeks before to the conquest of Canada. General Hull had issued a +proclamation, sent out two detachments, mounted two heavy cannon and +three howitzers, and then marched back again. Such were the +astonishing results accomplished by the first grand army of invasion. + +The gathering of the Indian clans, and reinforcements pouring into the +British garrison, had alarmed him. The news seemed to take him by +surprise, as though it for the first time occurred to him that during +these three or four weeks in which he remained idle, the enemy might +possibly be active. + +The surrender, at this time, of Fort Mackinaw, situated on the island +of the same name in the straits between Lakes Huron and Michigan, was +a severe blow to him, for it opened the flood-gates to all the +Indians, Canadians and British in the north-west. This fort was the +key to that section of the country, and the grand depot of the fur +companies. By its position it shielded General Hull from all attack in +that direction. Lieutenant Hanks commanded it, with a garrison of +sixty men. As soon as the British commander of St. Joseph's, just +above it, received news of the declaration of war, he took with him +some two hundred Canadians and British, and four hundred Indians, and +suddenly appearing before the fort demanded its surrender. This was +the first intimation to Lieutenant Hanks of the commencement of +hostilities. He capitulated without offering any resistance, and the +Indians at once rallied around the British standard. Here was another +blunder, a double one. In the first place, private enterprise had +outstripped the action of Government. The British officer at St. +Joseph's, though more remote than Mackinaw, received the declaration +of war _nine_ days before it reached the American commander at the +latter place, or rather, Lieutenant Hanks did not receive it at all, +either from the Government or General Hull. Colonel Roberts, of St. +Joseph's, with his band of Canadians and Indians, was kind enough to +convey the information. + +It is surprising that General Hull, after his experience, did not at +once provide that a post so vital to him, should not become the victim +of the same criminal negligence which had paralyzed his efforts. +_Fifteen days_ intervened between his receiving the notification of +war, and the taking of Fort Mackinaw, and yet no messenger from him, +the Governor of the Territory, and commander-in-chief of the forces in +that section, reached the garrison. Were it not for the calamitous +results which followed, the whole campaign might be called a "comedy +of errors." + +Three days previous, however, to the retreat of Hull from Canada, he +committed another error which increased his embarrassments. Proctor, +who had arrived at Malden with reinforcements, threw a small +detachment across the river to Brownstown, to intercept any provisions +that might be advancing from Ohio to the army. Captain Brush, who was +on the way with the mail, flour and cattle, was thus stopped at the +River Raisin. To open the communication and bring up the provisions, +Major Van Horne was dispatched with two hundred volunteers and +militia. But the detachment, marching without sufficient caution, was +led into ambush, and utterly defeated. Only about one-half returned to +the army. Both Gen. Hull and Major Van Horne were to blame in this +affair--the former for not sending a larger detachment, when he knew +the enemy must be on the march, while at the same time he was ignorant +of his force. This error is the more culpable, because he did not +expect an immediate attack; for, after the detachment was despatched, +he remained quietly in Canada, and then crossed at his leisure to +Detroit. He therefore could, without danger, have spared a larger +force, and should have done so, especially when the want of provisions +was one of the evils he would be called upon to encounter. On the +other hand, Major Van Horne should have heeded the information he +received, that the enemy were in advance, in position, and not allowed +his little army to rush into an ambuscade. + +General Hull's position had now become sufficiently embarrassing. +"The whole northern hive was in motion." Reinforcements were hastening +to the support of Malden; his communications on the lake were cut off +by British vessels, while the defeat of Van Horne announced that his +communications by land were also closed. The latter he knew must be +opened at all hazards, and Colonel Miller was dispatched on the route +which Van Horne had taken with four hundred men to clear the road to +the river Raisin. Leaving Detroit on the 8th of August, he next day in +the afternoon, as he was approaching Brownstown, came upon the enemy +covered with a breast work of logs and branches of trees, and +protected on one side by the Detroit river, and on the other by swamps +and thickets. The British and Canadians were commanded by Muir, and +the Indians by Tecumseh. Captain Snelling leading the advance guard +approached to within half musket shot, before he discovered the enemy. +A fierce and deadly fire was suddenly opened on him, which he +sustained without flinching, till Colonel Miller converting his order +of march into order of battle, advanced to his support. Seeing, +however, how destructive the fire of the enemy was, while the bullets +of his own men buried themselves for the most part in the logs of the +breastwork; perceiving, also, some symptoms of wavering, Miller +determined to carry the works by the bayonet. The order to charge was +received with loud cheers; and the next moment the troops poured +fiercely over the breastwork, and routing the British and Canadians +pressed swiftly on their retiring footsteps. Tecumseh, however, +maintained his post, and Van Horne, who commanded the right flank of +the American line, supposing from his stubborn resistance that it +would require more force than he possessed to dislodge him, sent to +Colonel Miller for reinforcements. The latter immediately ordered a +halt, and with a reluctant heart turned from the fugitives now almost +within his grasp, and hastened to the relief of his subordinate. On +arriving at the breastwork, he found the Indian chief in full flight. +He then started again in pursuit, but arrived in view of the enemy +only to see him on the water floating away beyond his grasp. + +He, however, had established the communication between the army and +the river Raisin, and dispatched Captain Snelling to Detroit with the +account of the victory, and a request for boats to remove the wounded, +and bring provisions for the living, and reinforcements to supply the +place of the dead and disabled. General Hull immediately sent Colonel +McArthur with a hundred men and boats, but with provisions sufficient +only for a single meal.[17] + +[Footnote 17: Miller's testimony on the trial of Hull.] + +Colonel Miller was some twenty miles from the supplies, but not +deeming it prudent with the slender reinforcements he had received, +and the still scantier provisions, to proceed, remained on the battle +field, and sent another messenger declaring that the communication was +open, and it required only a few more men and a supply of provisions, +to keep it so. The next evening, the messenger returned, bringing +instead of provisions a peremptory order to return to Detroit. It is +doubtful whether Colonel Miller ought not to have advanced without +waiting for further reinforcements, and formed a junction with Captain +Brush, who had an abundance of provisions, and a detachment of a +hundred and fifty men. But, after the communications were established, +he did not probably see so much necessity for dispatch as for +security. But General Hull seemed to be laboring under a species of +insanity. After sending forth two detachments to open his +communications, and finally succeeding, he deliberately closed them +again, and shut from his army all those provisions, the want of which +he a few days after gave as a reason for surrendering. The rapid +concentration of the enemy's forces, in front of him, might have been +given as a sufficient cause for suddenly calling in all his troops to +defend Detroit, had he not two days after sent Colonel McArthur, +accompanied by Cass, with a detachment of four hundred men, to obtain +by a back, circuitous and almost wholly unknown route through the +woods that which Colonel Miller had secured, and then been compelled +to relinquish. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 7.] + +When General Hull recrossed the river to Detroit, he left some hundred +and fifty, convalescents and all, "to hold possession of that part of +Canada," which he had so gallantly won, "to defend the post to the +last extremity against musketry, but if overpowered by artillery to +retreat."[18] In the mean time, General Brock, the commander of the +British forces, approached, and began to erect a battery opposite +Detroit to protect his army, and cover it in crossing the river. Not a +shot was fired to interrupt his proceedings, no attempt made to +destroy his shipping which had arrived. Daliba offered "to clear the +enemy from the opposite shores from the lower batteries," to which +General Hull replied, "I will make an agreement with the enemy, that +if they will not fire on me I will not fire on them." Major Jessup +asked permission to cross the river and spike the guns, but this was +considered a too desperate undertaking. In short, every project that +was proposed was rejected, and the twenty-four pounders and the +howitzers slept dumb on their carriages, in the midst of these hostile +preparations of the enemy. + +[Footnote 18: McAfee's History.] + +At length, on the morning of the 15th, a messenger arrived from +General Brock demanding an immediate surrender of the town and fort. +To this summons Hull replied in a decided and spirited manner; but +this did not seem to daunt the British commander. He immediately +opened his fire from a newly erected battery, which, after knocking +down some chimneys, and disabling a few soldiers, finally ceased at +ten o'clock in the evening. The next morning it re-commenced, and +under cover of its harmless thunder the British, in broad daylight, +commenced crossing a river more than three thousand feet wide. This +presumptuous attempt succeeded without the loss of a man. The troops +then formed in column twelve deep, and marching along the shore, soon +emerged into view, about five hundred yards from the fort. The +opposing forces were nearly equal, but the position of the Americans +gave them vastly the advantage. The fort proper was of great strength, +surrounded by a deep, wide ditch, and strongly palisaded with an +exterior battery of two twenty-four pounders. It was occupied by four +hundred men, while four hundred more lay behind a high picket fence, +which flanked the approach to it. Three hundred more held the town. +Against this formidable array, General Brock, preceded by five light +pieces of artillery, boldly advanced. He did not even have a vanguard, +and rode alone in front of his column. To the most common observer, +they were marching on certain and swift destruction. The militia who +had never been under fire, were eager for the conflict, so confident +were they of victory. On swept the apparently doomed column upon which +every eye was sternly bent, while every heart beat with intense +anxiety to hear the command to fire. In this moment of thrilling +excitement, a white flag was lifted above the works, and an order came +for all the troops to withdraw from the outer posts and stack their +arms. Such a cry of indignation as followed, probably never before +assailed the ears of a commander. Lieutenant Anderson in a paroxysm of +rage, broke his sword over one of his guns and burst into tears. The +shameful deed was done, and so anxious was General Hull that all +should receive the benefit of this capitulation, that he included in +it Colonels McArthur and Cass, and their detachment whom he had sent +to the river Raisin, together with that entrusted with the supplies. + +To enhance the regret and shame of this sudden surrender, it was soon +discovered that McArthur and Cass, having heard the cannonading +twenty-four hours before, had returned, and at the moment the white +flag was raised were only a mile and a half from the fort, and +advancing so as to take the enemy in rear. The result of a defence +would have been the entire destruction of the British army. Ah! what a +different scene was occurring on this same day, in another hemisphere. +On this very morning Napoleon crossed the Dnieper, on his way to +Moscow, and Murat and Ney, at the head of eighteen thousand splendid +cavalry, fell on the Russian rear guard, only six thousand strong. Yet +this comparatively small band, composed like most of the troops under +Hull, of new levies, never thought of surrendering. First in two +squares, and then in one solid square they continued their retreat all +day--sometimes broken, yet always re-forming and presenting the same +fringe of glittering steel, and the same adamantine front. Forty times +were the apparently resistless squadrons hurled upon them, yet they +still maintained their firm formation, and at night effected a +junction with the main army, though with the loss of more than +one-sixth of their number. It was to be left to Scott and Brown and +Miller and Jessup and Jackson, to show that Russian serfs were not +braver troops than American freemen. + +It sometimes happens that events widely different in their character, +and presenting still wider contrast in the magnitude and grandeur of +the circumstances that attend them, are in their remote results alike, +both in character and in their effect on the destiny of the world. +Thus, six days after our declaration of war, Napoleon crossed the +Niemen, on his march to Moscow. This first step on Russian territory +was the signal for a long train of events to arise, which in the end +should dash to earth the colossal power of Napoleon, while our +movement was to break the spell which made Great Britain mistress of +the seas; and two nations, one an unmixed despotism and the other a +pure republic, from that moment began to assume a prominence they +never before held, and from that time on, have been the only powers +which have rapidly increased in resources and strength, till each +threatens, in time, to swallow up its own hemisphere. + +Much has been written of this campaign of Hull, and in the +controversy, statistics differ as widely as opinions. He was tried by +Court Martial, of which Martin Van Buren was Judge Advocate, acquitted +of treason, but found guilty of cowardice and sentenced to be shot. +Being pardoned by the President, his life was saved, but he went forth +a blighted and ruined man. + +On many points there is room for a diversity of judgment, but one +thing is certain, General Hull was unfit for the station to which he +was assigned. He had been a gallant subordinate officer in the +revolution, but a man may be a good major, or even colonel, but a bad +commander-in-chief. There are many officers who are fit only to act +under orders, whom personal danger never agitates, but who are +unnerved by responsibility. Let the latter rest on some other person +and they will cheerfully encounter the peril. Hull may have been one +of these, at least it seems more rational to attribute a portion of +his conduct to some mental defect rather than to cowardice. It is +hard to affix such a stain on a man who moved beside Washington in the +perilous march on Trenton--stood firmly amid the hottest fire at +Princeton--gallantly led his men to the charge at Bemis' Heights, and +faced without flinching the fiery sleet that swept the column pressing +up the rugged heights of Stony Point. Gray hairs do not make a coward +of such a man, though they should render him imbecile. + +It is not easy at this remote period to appreciate the difficulties of +the position in which Hull eventually found himself. At first he +refused to take command of the expedition, but being urged by the +government, accepted, though with the express understanding that in +case of hostilities, he was to be sustained both by a fleet on Lake +Erie, and an army operating on the northern and western frontier of +New York. He knew that the conquest of Canadian territory would be of +slight importance, if the lake and river communication was controlled +by the enemy, for they could pass their troops from one point to +another with great rapidity, cut off his supplies and reinforcements, +and hem him in till a force sufficient to overwhelm him was +concentrated. + +On arriving near Malden, he was astounded to hear that the enemy had +received notice of the war before him, and hence had time to make more +or less preparations. The second blow was the loss of hospital +stores, intrenching tools, army baggage, private papers, &c. The third +came in the fall of Mackinaw, thus removing the only barrier that kept +back the northern hordes. He knew the enemy had possession of the +water communication, and were therefore able to threaten his retreat. +Dearborn, who ought to have been pressing the British on the Niagara +frontier, and thus attracted their forces from Malden, had entered +into an armistice with the Governor of Canada, leaving the latter at +full liberty to reinforce the troops opposed to Hull, a privilege of +which he was not slow to avail himself. There was not a gleam of +sunshine in the whole gloomy prospect that spread out before the +American commander. His own army diminishing, while that of his +adversary was rapidly increasing--behind him a wilderness two hundred +miles in extent, his situation was disheartening enough to make a +strong man sad. The difficulties in which he found himself environed +must always produce one of two effects on every man--either rouse him +to tenfold diligence and effort and daring, or sink him in +corresponding inactivity and despondency. There can be no middle +state. That the latter was the effect produced on General Hull, there +can be no doubt. He proved plainly that he was not one of those whom +great emergencies develope into an extraordinary character worthy to +command and worthy to be obeyed. The very first misfortune unmanned +him, and from that hour to the sad close of the campaign, when he +acted at all he did nothing but heap blunder on blunder. His mind +having once got into a morbid state, his position and his prospects +appeared to his diseased imagination ten times more desperate than +they really were. + +With the failure of General Dearborn to invade Canada from the New +York frontier, and more especially with the lakes entirely under the +control of the enemy, his campaign, according to all human +calculations, must prove a failure. Detroit must fall, and Michigan be +given up to the enemy. The only chance by which this catastrophe could +have been prevented, was offered by General Brock when he crossed the +river to storm Detroit. If Hull had possessed a spark of genius or +military knowledge, he would have seen in this rash movement of his +enemy, the avenue opened for his release, and the sure precursor of +his fortunes. With that broad river cutting off its retreat, the +British army would have been overthrown; provisions and arms obtained, +and the enemy received a check which in all probability would have +enabled Hull to sustain himself till reinforcements arrived. But he +had made up his mind to surrender, and thus save Detroit from the +cruelties of the savage, and the enemy could not commit a blunder of +sufficient magnitude to arouse his hopes and spur him into +resistance; and having scarcely heard the report of his guns from +first to last, he veiled the banner of his country in the dust. + +This explanation of his conduct would correspond more with his former +life, than to admit the charge of either treason or cowardice, and be +perfectly satisfactory, but for the _mode_ of his surrender. There is +a mystery here, that neither General Hull nor his friends have ever +cleared up. After having shown the imbecility of government, by which +failure became inevitable, they stop as though their task was done. +But the criminality of government being conceded, and the fall of +Detroit acknowledged to be an inevitable consequence, it does not +follow that the surrender of the army was necessary. Why, after +Colonel Miller opened the communications with supplies and +reinforcements, did not General Hull retreat at once? The enemy would +not have attempted a pursuit through that wilderness. With a rear +guard left to man the works, he could have gained two days' march, +while Detroit was able to make as good terms without him as with him. +He could have had no reason for staying, except the determination to +hold his position and defend Detroit to the last. If he had not fully +resolved to do so, the way of retreat was open, and he was bound to +occupy it; if he _had_, why did he not keep to that determination? No +new elements had entered into the struggle--no unforeseen events +occurred to affect the conclusions he had adopted. The enemy was not +in greater force than he imagined, but on the contrary, in less. He +understood the strength of his own position; his troops were never in +greater spirits; why then did he so suddenly and totally change his +purpose? It is impossible to reconcile this grievous inconsistency in +his conduct. Nor is this all that is dark and mysterious; supposing +new conditions had occurred to alter his determination, and affect the +relative position of the armies--an entirely new order of things had +taken place, requiring another mode of procedure than the one adopted +by himself and the army; why did he not call a council of war, and +submit those new features to its consideration? When his troops wished +to attack Malden, he considered the question so momentous as to +require a council of his officers. When a simple repulse was the only +misfortune that could happen, he regarded it his duty to take advice +from his subordinates; but when it came to an absolute surrender of +his whole army, no such obligation was felt. This man, who was so +afraid to compromise his force, lest it should meet with a repulse, +did not in the end hesitate to surrender it entire, and cover it with +dishonor on his own responsibility. Military history rarely records +such an event as this, and never unless either treason or cowardice +was apparent as noonday. Not a faltering word--not a doubtful +movement--not a sign of flinching, till the white flag was seen +flaunting its cowardly folds before the banner of his country. No +general has a right to assume such a responsibility, at least, until +the question has been submitted to his officers. He may peril his +troops in an unsuccessful attack, but never _dishonor_ them without +consulting their wishes. The act was that of a timorous commander, or +of a bold and unscrupulous man, like Gorgey. The rash and unmilitary +advance of Brock, which notwithstanding its success, met the +disapproval of his superior, seems wholly unaccountable, except some +one, in the confidence of Hull, had whispered in his ears, that the +latter intended no defence. + +The _manner_ of surrender, conflicts with the explanation of the act +itself, and involves the conduct of Hull in a mystery. To tell us he +was neither a traitor nor a coward, and yet leave those violations of +military rules and contradictions of character unexplained and +unreconciled, is to leave the same painful doubt on the mind as though +no defence had been attempted. A morbid state of mind equivalent to +insanity, thus changing for a time the whole character of the man, is +the only charitable construction. + +The blame, however, was not distributed impartially. The Secretary of +War should have been immediately removed from office, Dearborn +withdrawn as commander-in-chief, and the whole administration +thoroughly overhauled, and its policy changed. As it was, the swelling +curses of the land smote the single head of General Hull. The news of +his surrender fell on the country like a thunderbolt at noonday. The +march of his army had been watched with intense interest, but with +scarcely any misgivings. So large a force appearing with the +declaration of war in their hands on the weak and unprepared posts of +the north-western frontier was expected to sweep everything before it. +Its defeat was considered impossible, its entire, shameful surrender, +therefore, could hardly be credited. The nation was stunned, but with +surprise, not fear, at least that portion west of the Alleghanies. +Indignation and a spirit of fierce retaliation swelled every bosom. +But eastward, where party spirit and divided feelings and views, had +rendered the war party cautious and timid, the effect was for a time +paralyzing. If defeated at the outset, while England could bring into +the field scarcely any but her colonial force, what would be our +prospects of success when her veterans drilled in the wars of the +continent should appear? The government, however, awoke to the +vastness of the undertaking, but still remained ignorant of the means +by which it was to be accomplished. + +To save the north-western frontier, now laid open to the incursions +of savages, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, sent forth +crowds of volunteers, eager to redeem the tarnished reputation of the +country. Several members of Congress from Kentucky enlisted as private +soldiers--the young and ardent Clay was seen at the musters, thrilling +the young men who surrounded him, as though he wielded the fiery cross +in his hands. Ten thousand men were raised in an incredible short +space of time, and placed under General Harrison, the hero of +Tippecanoe. To these were added portions of the 17th and 19th +regiments of regular infantry and two regiments from Kentucky and +Ohio, for government was apparently determined to make up for the +insufficient, niggardly expenditures of the first campaign by its +useless prodigality in preparing for the second. + +Four thousand men raised by order of Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky, all +mounted on horseback, were put under Major General Hopkins, of the +militia, who, jointly with three regiments already sent to Vincennes +by Harrison, were to defend the frontiers of Indiana and Illinois. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 10.] + +Reaching Fort Harrison, which Captain, afterwards General Taylor, with +scarcely thirty efficient men, had gallantly defended against the +attacks of four or five hundred Indians, this motley crowd of horsemen +started on the 14th for the Indian villages which lay along the +Illinois and Wabash rivers. But the long and tedious march and the +uncomfortable bivouacs by night, obscured the visions of glory that +had dazzled them, and the fourth day, the enthusiasm which from the +first had been rapidly subsiding, reached zero, and open mutiny seized +the entire body of the troops. A major rode up to General Hopkins and +peremptorily ordered him to wheel about. The General refusing to obey, +he was compelled next day to constitute the rear guard of this +splendid corps of cavalry, whose horses' tails were towards the enemy +and their heads towards Fort Harrison. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 12.] + +In the mean time, Harrison, with about 2,500 men reached Fort Deposit, +and relieved the garrison composed of seventy men who had gallantly +withstood the attacks of hordes of Indians. Here he paused till the +arrival of other troops, and occupied the time in sending out various +detachments against the Indian villages, all of which were successful. + +On the 18th, Harrison returned to Fort Wayne, where he met General +Winchester, with reinforcements from Ohio and Kentucky, in all about +two thousand men. Winchester ranked Harrison, and the latter finding +himself superseded, was about to retire. The President, however, +restored him to his original command, and he continued his march +northward. [Sidenote: Sept.] In the latter part of this month he was +at Fort Defiance. Leaving his troops there, he returned to the +settlements to organize and hasten up the forces designed to +constitute the centre and right wing of his army. Abandoning his +original plan of boldly marching on Detroit and recapturing it at +once, he determined to advance in three different columns, by as many +different routes, to the Miami Rapids, thence move suddenly to +Brownstown, cross the river and seize Malden, which had so annoyed +Hull. All along the highways and rude half-trodden paths, and skirting +the banks of rivers that rolled through nothing but primeval forests +from their sources to the lakes, squads of men, some mounted, some in +uniform, but the most part in the rough frontiersman costume, were +seen toiling northward, to avenge the disgrace of Hull. Their +camp-fires lit up the wilderness by night, and their boisterous mirth +filled it with echoes by day. A more motley band of soldiers were +never seen swarming to battle. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Operations on the New York frontier -- Battle of Queenstown + -- Death of Brock -- Scott a prisoner -- General Smythe's + Proclamation and abortive attempts -- Cursed by the army -- + Duel with General Porter -- Retires in disgrace -- + Dearborn's movements and failures -- Review of the campaign + on the New York frontier -- Character of the officers and + soldiers. + + +While Harrison's forces were thus scattered amid the forests and +settlements of Ohio and Indiana, the army along the Niagara frontier +had begun to move. At this time every eye in the land was turned +northward. That long chain of Mediterraneans, whose shores were +fringed with hostile armies, from Sackett's Harbor to where they lost +themselves in the forests of the north-west, became an object of the +deepest interest. Every rumor that the wind bore across the +wilderness, or that, following the chains of settlements along the +rivers reached the haunts of civilization, was caught up with avidity. +The discomfiture of Hull had filled every heart with trembling +solicitude for the fate of our other armies. Defeat in the west, and +incomprehensible delays in the east, had changed the Canadas from a +weak province, to be overrun by the first invader, into a Gibraltar +against which the entire strength of the nation must be hurled. + +I have stated before that Dearborn, commanding the forces on the +Niagara and northern frontier, instead of making a diversion in favor +of Hull, by crossing the Niagara and drawing attention to himself, had +been coaxed into an armistice with Provost, the English Governor, in +which Hull had been left out. This armistice was asked and granted, on +the ground that dispatches had been received, announcing the +revocation of the orders in council. One great cause of the war being +thus removed, it was hoped that peace might be restored. The result +was as we have seen; the British commander immediately dispatched +Brock to Malden, to capture Hull, from which successful expedition he +was able to return before the armistice was broken off. General +Dearborn clung to this absurd armistice, as if it were the grandest +stroke of diplomacy conceivable. He carried his attachment so far as +to disobey the express command of his Government, to break it off. +[Sidenote: August 24.] At length, however, this nightmare ended, and +preparations were made for a vigorous autumnal campaign. + +The northern army, numbering between eight and ten thousand soldiers, +was principally concentrated at two points. One portion was encamped +near Plattsburg and Greenbush, commanded by General Dearborn, in +person, the other at Lewistown, was under the direction of General +Stephen Van Rensalaer, of the New York militia, while 1,500 regulars, +under General Smythe, lay at Buffalo, a few miles distant. There were +a few troops stationed also at Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, and Black +Rock. + +The discontent produced by Hull's surrender, and the loud complaints +against the inaction of the northern army, together with the +consciousness that something must be done to prevent the first year of +war from closing in unmixed gloom, induced General Van Rensalaer to +make a bold push into Canada, and by a sudden blow attempt to wrest +Jamestown from the enemy, and there establish his winter quarters. + +The cutting out of two English brigs[19] from under the guns of Fort +Erie, by Lieutenant Elliot with some fifty volunteers, created an +enthusiasm in the American camp of which General Van Rensalaer +determined to avail himself. + +[Footnote 19: One of those, the Caledonia, afterwards did good service +as a part of the fleet of Perry on Lake Erie. The other having gone +aground, was burnt, to prevent recapture.] + +The command of the expedition was given to his cousin, Col. Solomon +Van Rensalaer, a brave and chivalric officer, who on the 13th of +October, at the head of three hundred militia, accompanied by Col. +Chrystie with three hundred regular troops, prepared to cross the +river. It wanted still an hour to daylight when the two columns stood +in battle array on the shore. Through carelessness, or inability to +obtain them, there were not sufficient boats to take all over at once, +and they were compelled to cross in detachments. The boat which +carried Col. Chrystie being badly managed, was swept away by the +current, and finally compelled to re-land on the American shore. This +gallant officer was wounded while thus drifting in the stream, yet +soon after he made another attempt to cross, and succeeding, led his +troops nobly until the close of the action. + +Col. Van Rensalaer having effected a landing, formed on the shore and +marched forward. The whole force at this time did not exceed one +hundred men. These, however, were led up the bank where they halted to +wait the junction of the other troops that kept arriving, a few boat +loads at a time. But daylight now having dawned, the exposed position +of this detachment rendered it a fair mark for the enemy, who +immediately opened their fire upon it. In a few minutes every +commissioned officer was either killed or wounded. Col. Van Rensalaer +finding that the bank of the river afforded very little shelter, +determined with the handful under him to storm the heights. But he had +now received four wounds, and was compelled to surrender the command +to Captains Ogilvie and Wool,[20] who gallantly moved forward, and +carried the fort and heights. The enemy were driven into a strong +stone house, from which they made two unsuccessful attempts to recover +the ground they had lost. Brock, flushed with the easy victory he had +gained over Hull, rallied them by his presence, and while attempting +to lead on the grenadiers of the 49th, fell mortally wounded. This for +a time gave the Americans undisturbed possession of the heights, and +great efforts were made to bring over the other troops. General Van +Rensalaer, after the fall of his cousin, crossed and took the command, +but hastening back to urge on the embarkation of the militia, it +devolved on General Wadsworth. + +[Footnote 20: Now General Wool.] + +Daylight had seen this brave little band form on the shores of the +river under a galling fire--the morning sun glittered on their +bayonets from the heights of Queenstown, and the victory seemed won. +The day so gloriously begun would have closed in brighter effulgence, +had not the militia on the farther side refused to cross over to the +assistance of their hard-pressed comrades. A stone house near the bank +defended by two light pieces of artillery, still played on the boats +that attempted to cross, and the Americans on the Canada side, having +no heavy artillery, were unable to take it. The firing from this, and +soon after the appearance of a large body of Indians on the field of +battle, so frightened the militia, that neither entreaties nor threats +could induce them to embark. Through utter want of orderly management, +half of the twenty boats had been destroyed or lost; still it was not +the lack of means of transportation that held them back, but +_conscientious scruples about invading an enemy's territory_. +Attempting to mask their cowardice under this ridiculous plea, they +stood and saw the dangers thicken around their comrades who had relied +on their support, without making a single effort to save them from +destruction. + +Lieutenant-colonel Scott by a forced march through mud and rain, had +arrived at Lewistown with his regiment at four o'clock in the morning, +just as the troops were embarking. He begged permission to take part +in the expedition, but the arrangements having all been made, his +request was denied. He therefore planted his guns on the shore and +opened his fire on the enemy. But seeing how small a proportion of the +troops were got across, and perceiving also the peril of Van +Rensalaer's detachment, his young and gallant heart could not allow +him to remain an idle spectator, and taking one piece of artillery he +jumped into a boat with his adjutant Roach, and pushed for the +opposite shore. Wadsworth immediately gave the command of the troops +to him, and his chivalric bearing and enthusiastic language soon +animated every heart with new courage. Six feet five inches in height +and in full uniform, he presented a conspicuous mark for the enemy and +a rallying point to the troops. Had his regiment been with him, +Queenstown would have been a second Chippewa. + +Considerable reinforcements, however, had arrived, swelling the +number to six hundred, of whom three hundred and fifty were regular +troops. These, Scott, assisted by the cool and skillful Capt. +Zitten, soon placed in the most commanding positions, and waited for +further reinforcements. Just before, a body of five hundred Indians, +whom the firing had suddenly collected, joined the beaten light +troops of the English. Encouraged by this accession of strength, the +latter moved again to the assault, but were driven back in +confusion. Still the enemy kept up a desultory engagement. On one +occasion, the Indians, issuing suddenly from the forest, surprised a +picket of militia, and following hard on their flying traces, +carried consternation into that part of the line. Scott, who was in +the rear, showing the men how to unspike a gun, hearing the tumult, +hastened to the front, and rallying a few platoons, scattered those +wild warriors with a single blow. But while the day was wearing away +in this doubtful manner, a more formidable foe appeared on the +field. General Sheaffe, commanding at Fort George, had heard the +firing in the morning; and a little later the news of the death of +Brock was brought him. His forces were immediately put in motion, +and soon after midday the little band that had from day dawn bravely +breasted the storm, saw from the heights they had so bravely won, a +column eight hundred and fifty strong, approaching the scene of +combat--not in haste or confusion, but with the slow and measured +tread of disciplined troops. These few hundred Americans watched its +progress with undaunted hearts, and turned to catch the outlines of +their own advancing regiments, but not a bayonet was moving to their +help. At this critical moment news arrived of the shameful mutiny +that had broken out on the opposite shore. The entreaties of Van +Rensalaer, and the noble example of Wadsworth, and the increasing +peril of their comrades, were wholly unavailing--not a soul would +stir. This sealed the fate of the American detachment. A few +hundred, sustained by only one piece of artillery against the +thirteen hundred of the enemy--their number when the junction of the +advancing column with the remaining troops and the Indian allies +should be effected--constituted hopeless odds. General Van +Rensalaer, from the opposite shore, saw this, and sent word to +Wadsworth to retreat at once, and he would send every boat he could +lay hands on to receive the fugitives. He, however, left everything +to the judgment of the latter. Colonels Chrystie and Scott, of the +regulars, and Mead, Strahan, and Allen of the militia, and officers +Ogilvie, Wool, Totten, and Gibson McChesney, and others, presented a +noble yet sorrowful group, as they took council over this message of +the commander-in-chief. Their case was evidently a hopeless one, yet +they could not make up their minds to retreat. Col. Scott, mounting +a log in front of his troops, harangued them in a strain worthy of +the days of chivalry. He told them their condition was desperate, +but that Hull's surrender must be redeemed. "Let us then die," he +exclaimed, "arms in hand. Our country demands the sacrifice. The +example will not be lost. The blood of the slain will make heroes of +the living. Those who follow will avenge our fall, and our country's +wrongs. Who dare to stand?" A loud "ALL!" rang sternly along the +line.[21] In the mean time Gen. Sheaffe had arrived, but instead of +advancing immediately to the attack, slowly marched his column the +whole length of the American line, then countermarched it, as if to +make sure that the little band in front of him was the only force he +had to overcome. All saw at a glance that resistance was useless, +and retreat almost hopeless. The latter, however, was resolved +upon, but the moment the order was given to retire, the whole broke +in disorderly flight towards the river. To their dismay, no boats +were there to receive them, and a flag of truce was therefore sent +to the enemy. The messenger, however, never returned; another and +another shared the same fate. At last Scott tied a white +handkerchief to his sword, and accompanied by Captains Totten and +Gibson, crept under one of the precipices, down the river, till he +arrived where a gentle slope gave an easy ascent, when the three +made a push for the road, which led from the valley to the heights. +On the way they were met by Indians, who firing on them, rushed +forward with their tomahawks, to kill them. They would soon have +shared the fate of the other messengers, but for the timely arrival +of a British officer, with some soldiers who took them to Gen. +Sheaffe, to whom Scott surrendered his whole force. Two hundred and +ninety-three were all that survived of the brave band who had +struggled so long and so nobly for victory. Several hundred militia, +however, were found concealed along the shore, who had crossed over, +but skulked away in the confusion. + +[Footnote 21: Mansfield's Life of Scott.] + +The entire loss of the Americans in this unfortunate expedition, +killed and captured, was about one thousand men. + +General Van Rensalaer, disgusted with the conduct of the militia, soon +after sent in his resignation. + +Brock was buried the following day "under one of the bastions of Fort +George," and at the request of Scott, then a prisoner, minute guns +were fired from Fort Niagara during the funeral ceremonies. Above the +dull distant roar of the cataract, the minute guns of friends and foes +pealed over the dead, as with shrouded banners the slowly marching +column bore him to his last resting place. Cannon that but a few hours +before had been exploding in angry strife on each other, now joined +their peaceful echoes over his grave. Such an act was characteristic +of Scott, who fierce and fearless in battle, was chivalrous and kind +in all his feelings. + +While a prisoner in an inn at Niagara, Scott was told that some one +wished to see the "tall American." He immediately passed through into +the entry, when to his astonishment he saw standing before him two +savage Indian chiefs, the same who had attempted to kill him when he +surrendered himself a prisoner of war. They wished to look on the man +at whom they had so often fired with a deliberate aim. In broken +English, and by gestures, they inquired where he was hit, for they +believed it impossible that out of fifteen or twenty shots not one had +taken effect. The elder chief, named Jacobs, a tall, powerful savage, +became furious at Scott's asserting that not a ball had touched him, +and seizing his shoulders rudely, turned him round to examine his +back. The young and fiery Colonel did not like to have such freedom +taken with his person by a savage, and hurling him fiercely aside, +exclaimed, "Off, villain, you fired like a squaw." "We kill you now," +was the quick and startling reply, as knives and tomahawks gleamed in +their hands. Scott was not a man to beg or run, though either would +have been preferable to taking his chances against these armed +savages. Luckily for him, the swords of the American officers who had +been taken prisoners, were stacked under the staircase beside which he +was standing. Quick as thought he snatched up the largest, a long +sabre, and the next moment it glittered unsheathed above his head. One +leap backward, to get scope for play, and he stood towering even above +the gigantic chieftain, who glared in savage hate upon him. The +Indians were in the wider part of the hall, between the foot of the +stairs and the door, while Scott stood farther in where it was +narrower. The former, therefore, could not get in the rear, and were +compelled to face their enemy. They manoeuvred to close, but at every +turn that sabre flashed in their eyes. The moment they should come to +blows, one, they knew, was sure to die, and although it was equally +certain that Scott would fall under the knife of the survivor before +he could regain his position, yet neither Indian seemed anxious to be +the sacrifice. While they thus stood watching each other, a British +officer chanced to enter, and on beholding the terrific tableau, cried +out, "The guard," and at the same instant seized the tallest chief by +the arm and presented a cocked pistol to his head. The next moment the +blade of Scott quivered over the head of the other savage, to protect +his deliverer. In a few seconds the guards entered with levelled +bayonets, and the two chieftains were secured. One of them was the son +of Brant, of revolutionary notoriety. + +The prisoners were all taken to Quebec, whence they were sent in a +cartel to Boston. As they were about to sail, Scott, who was in the +cabin of the transport, hearing a noise on deck, went up to ascertain +the cause, and found that the British officers were separating the +Irishmen, to exclude them from mercy due to the other prisoners, and +have them taken to England and tried for treason. Twenty-three had +thus been set apart when he arrived. Indignant at this outrage, he +peremptorily ordered the rest of the men to keep silent and not answer +a question of any kind, so that neither by their replies or voice they +could give any evidence of the place of their birth. He then turned to +the doomed twenty-three, and denounced the act of the officers, and +swore most solemnly that if a hair of their heads was touched, he +would avenge it, even if he was compelled to refuse quarter in battle. + +Soon after he reached Boston, he was sent to Washington, and in a +short time was exchanged. He then drew up a report of the whole affair +to the Secretary of War, and it was presented the same day to +Congress. The result was the passage of an act of retaliation (March +3d, 1813.) + +[Sidenote: Nov. 10.] + +General Van Rensalaer having resigned his commission, making the +second general disposed of since the commencement of hostilities, the +command on the Niagara frontier devolved on General Smythe, who issued +a proclamation to the "men of New York," which was of itself a +sufficient guarantee that he would soon follow Hull into worse than +oblivion. In it, after speaking of the failure of the former +expedition, he said, "Valor had been conspicuous, but the nation +unfortunate in the selection of some of those directing it"----"the +commanders were popular men, destitute alike of theory and experience +in the art of war." "In a few days," said he, "the troops under my +command will plant the American standard in Canada to conquer or die." +He called on all those desirous of honor or fame, to rally to his +standard. He was not one of the incompetent generals whose plans +failed through ignorance. Portions of his proclamations, however, were +well adapted to rouse the military spirit of the state, and in less +than three weeks he had nearly five thousand men under his command. +His orders from the Secretary of War, were, not to attempt an +invasion with "less than three thousand combatants," and with +sufficient boats to carry the whole over together. + +Seventy boats and a large number of scows having been collected at +Black Rock, he issued his orders for the troops to be in readiness +early on the morning of the 28th of November, to cross over and attack +the enemy. + +Previous to the main movement, however, he sent over two detachments, +one under Colonel Boestler, and the other under Captain King--the +former to destroy a bridge five miles below Fort Erie, in order to cut +off the communication between it and Chippewa, while the latter, with +a hundred and fifty regular troops and seventy seamen, was to carry +the "Red House," and storm the British batteries on the shore. + +The boats pushed off at midnight, and were soon struggling in the +centre of the stream. Of Colonel Boestler's seven boats, containing +two hundred men, only three reached the Canada shore. With less than +half his force he advanced and easily routed the guard, but hearing +that a British reinforcement was marching up, he retreated without +destroying the bridge, and re-embarked his men. Captain King started +with ten boats, but six of them were scattered in the darkness, and +only four reached the point of attack. Among these, however, were the +seventy seamen. The advance of the boats having been seen by the +sentinels on watch, the little detachment was compelled to land under +a shower of grape shot and musketry. + +The sailors without waiting the order of a regular march, rushed up +the bank with their boarding pikes and cutlasses, stormed the +position, and carried it with loud huzzas. After securing some +prisoners and tumbling two cannon and their caissons into the river, +Lieutenant Angus began to look around for Captain King. The latter +directing his force on the exterior batteries, carried the first by +the bayonet, when the other was abandoned. The position and all the +batteries being taken, the firing had ceased, and Lieutenant Angus +marched his sailors, with the wounded and prisoners, to the shore to +wait for Captain King, and recross the river. Finding only four boats +there, and ignorant that no more had landed, he concluded that the +former had already re-embarked his troops; he therefore launched these +and made good his retreat to the American shore. In a short time +Captain King arrived, and to his amazement found all the boats gone. +After a short search, however, he discovered two belonging to the +enemy, in which he despatched the prisoners he had taken, and as many +of his men as they would hold. He remained behind with the remainder +of his detachment, and was soon after compelled to surrender himself +prisoner of war. + +On the return of Boestler and Angus without Captain King and the rest +of the detachment, Colonel Winder volunteered to go in search of them. + +But, as he approached the opposite shore, he found all the batteries +re-established, which opened their fire upon him, compelling him to +return with the loss of six killed and twenty-six wounded. In fact his +own boat was the only one that touched land at all--the others being +carried down by the force of the stream. + +Through some unaccountable delay, the main body, to which the two +detachments sent off at midnight were designed as an advance guard, +did not embark till twelve o'clock next day. But at length two +thousand men under General Porter, were got on board, while General +Tannehill's volunteers and M'Clure's regiment were drawn up on the +shore ready to follow. As if on purpose to give his adversary time for +ample preparation, thus imitating the fatal examples of Dearborn and +Hull, Smythe kept his men paraded on the beach in full view of the +Canada shore, till late in the afternoon. He then, instead of giving +the anxiously expected order to advance, commanded the whole to +debark. Indignation and rage at this vacillating, pusillanimous +conduct seized the entire army, and curses and loud denunciations were +heard on every side. General Porter boldly and openly accused his +commander of cowardice. The latter, frightened at the storm he had +raised, promised that another attempt should be made the next day. It +was resolved to cross at a place five miles below the navy yard, and +the following day, at four o'clock, nearly the entire army was +embarked. General Porter with the American colors floating from the +stern of his boat, was in advance, to show that he asked no man to go +where he would not lead. But when all was ready, and at the moment +when every one expected to hear the signal to move forward, an order +was passed along the line directing the troops to be relanded, +accompanied with the announcement that the invasion of Canada was for +that season abandoned. A shout of wrath burst from the whole army. +Many of the militia threw away their arms and started for their homes, +while fierce threats against the General's life were publicly made by +the remaining troops. He was branded as a coward, shot at in the +streets, and without even the form of a trial, was driven in scorn and +rage from the army, and chased and mobbed by an indignant people from +the state he had dishonored. Before he retired, however, he made an +absurd attempt to retrieve his honor by challenging General Porter to +mortal combat. They met on Grand Island and exchanged shots without +effect. The seconds having published the transaction in a Buffalo +paper, "congratulated the public on the happy issue." In commenting on +this, Ingersoll very pithily remarks, "The public would have +preferred a battle in Canada." + +Beginning at the extreme north-west, and continuing along the lakes to +Niagara, we had met with nothing but defeat. Only one more army was +left to lift the nation out of the depths of gloom by its +achievements, or deepen the night in which the year 1812 was closing. +General Dearborn, the commander-in-chief, had an army of three +thousand regulars and as many more militia, with the power to swell +his force to ten thousand if he thought proper. The plan of government +to conquer Canada through Hull's invasion from Detroit, Van +Rensalaer's and Smythe's from Niagara, both to be supported and their +triumph secured by the advance of Dearborn, had fallen to the ground, +and the latter was passing the autumn in idleness. + +General Brown, who commanded the militia appointed for the defence of +the eastern shore of Lake Ontario and southern shore of St. Lawrence, +exhibited, at Ogdensburg, the first indications of those qualities of +a great commander which afterwards developed themselves on the scene +of Van Rensalaer's and Smythe's defeats and failures. Colonel Forsyth +having made a successful incursion into Canada with a noble body of +riflemen, twice defeating double his numbers and burning a block house +with stores; the British, in retaliation, attacked Ogdensburg. On the +2d of October they commenced a cannonade from their batteries at +Prescott, on the opposite side of the river. This harmless waste of +ammunition was continued for two days, when it was resolved to storm +the town. Six hundred men were embarked in forty boats, and under +cover of the batteries, pulled steadily across the river. General +Brown could collect but four hundred militia to oppose them, but +having posted these judiciously, they were able to keep up such a +deadly fire on the enemy that every attempt to land proved abortive, +and the whole detachment was compelled to withdraw to the Canada +shore. + +There was, during the summer, a good deal of skirmishing along the +frontier, forming interludes to the more important movements. Colonel +Pike on the 19th of the same month made an incursion into Canada, +surprised a body of British and Indians, and burnt a block-house. +Three days after, Captain Lyon captured forty English at St. Regis, +together with a stand of colors and despatches from the Governor +General to an Indian tribe. The colors were taken by William M. Marcy. + +[Sidenote: Nov. 20.] + +Thus the autumn wore away, till at last, Dearborn seemed to awake +from his torpor. Moving his army from the little town of Champlain, +he forded the La Cole, and attacked and captured an English +block-house. The grand movement had now commenced, and the British +Governor-General prepared to meet the most serious invasion that had +yet been attempted. But to his astonishment he discovered that all +this display of force was to obtain possession of a guard-house, and +retain it for half an hour. This feat being accomplished, General +Dearborn, amid much confusion, marched his six thousand men back +again, and resting on his honors soon after retired into winter +quarters. After protracted delays and unaccountable inaction, he +seemed at last to feel the necessity of obeying the urgent orders of +the government, "_not to lose a moment in attacking the British +posts in his front_." These he had now obeyed to the letter--he had +_attacked_ a block-house and fled. The great tragedy had begun and +ended in a farce. The surrender of Hull was an unmitigated disgrace, +and the nation turned towards Niagara for relief. The failure of Van +Rensalaer was not unmixed with consolation. He and the officers and +men who bore the brunt of that day's battle, had shown what American +troops could do. Van Rensalaer has been charged with acting rashly, +and exposing himself to discomfiture, when success would have been +of no advantage. But those who suppose that a victory is fruitless, +because no important position is gained, or territory is wrested +from the enemy, commit a vital error. They forget that _moral_ power +is half, even when every thing depends on hard blows. When +confidence is lost, and despondency has taken the place of courage +and hope, a battle that should restore these would be a victory, at +almost any sacrifice. So Van Rensalaer thought, and justly. His +preparations and mode of procedure were not careful and prudent, as +they should have been, exhibiting a want of thoroughness which a +longer experience would have rectified; still, his plan might have +succeeded but for the dastardly conduct of the militia, and a new +impulse been given to the movements along the northern frontier. +This cowardly behavior of his troops he could not anticipate, for +they had hitherto shown no disinclination to fight. At Hull's +surrender there were no indications of a craven spirit--on the +contrary, the soldiers cursed their commander, and the general +feeling was, that give the men a gallant leader and they would fight +bravely. Van Rensalaer knew that his troops would not fail through +reluctance on his part to lead them to battle, and it was enough to +break his noble heart, as he stood bleeding from four wounds, to see +them refuse to come to his rescue. + +General Smythe's conduct admits of no apology. His excuse for +countermanding his last order, after the troops had embarked, is +groundless. He says that his orders were strict, not to attempt an +invasion of Canada with less than three thousand men, and that he but +fifteen hundred. Yet in his last attempt all but some two hundred of +his troops were actually embarked, when he commanded them to re-land. +He was either not aware how many soldiers composed his army until he +counted them as they lay off in their boats, ready to pull for the +opposite shore, or he knew it before. If the latter be true, why all +this display, designed to eventuate in nothing? On the other hand, the +confession of ignorance is still worse. This much is clear, all these +difficulties and objections could not have occurred to him for the +first time when he saw the army drawn up on shore or afloat. The +excuse, if honest, is worse than the act itself. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 1.] + +Dearborn's inactivity furnished less salient points of criticism, but +it was fully as culpable as Smythe's failure. In the first place, he +received orders from the Secretary of War to make a diversion in favor +of _Hull at Niagara and Kingston, as soon as possible_. His position +might have been such that no blame could attach to him for not making +such diversion, but nothing could warrant him in entering into an +armistice with the enemy, in which Hull was excluded. If he assumed +such a responsibility in the hope that peace would be secured, he was +bound to make as one of the first conditions, that no reinforcements +should be sent to Malden and Detroit. One such act is sufficient to +cause the removal of a commander, for he can never be an equal match +against a shrewd and energetic enemy. Prevost wrote to Gen. Brock: "_I +consider it_ most fortunate that I have been able to prosecute this +object of Government, (the armistice,) _without interfering with your +operations on the Detroit. I have sent you men, money, and stores of +all kinds._"[22] + +[Footnote 22: Vide Life and Services of Sir George Provost.] + +One cannot read this letter without feeling chagrin that the Senior +Major-General of the American army could be so easily overreached. + +In the second place, his delay in breaking off this armistice when +peremptorily ordered by government, was clearly reprehensible, while +the fact that with an army of six thousand men under his immediate +command, he accomplished absolutely nothing, is incontrovertible proof +of his inefficiency as a commander. The isle of Aux Noix was +considered the key of Central Canada, and this he could have taken at +any moment and held for future operations; yet he went into winter +quarters without having struck a blow. + +The troops, regular and militia, under his general direction, amounted +in the latter part of September to thirteen thousand men. Six thousand +three hundred were stationed along the Niagara, two thousand two +hundred at Sackett's Harbor, and five thousand on Lake Champlain. To +oppose this formidable force, Sir George Provost had not more than +three thousand troops,[23] and yet not even a battle had been fought, +if we except that of Van Rensalaer's detachment, while instead of +gaining we had lost both fortresses and territory. + +[Footnote 23: Vide Armstrong's Notices of the War of 1812.] + +One naturally inquires what could be the cause of such a complete +failure where success was deemed certain. In the first place, there +was not a man in the cabinet fit to carry out a campaign, however well +planned. The sudden concentration of so large a force on our northern +frontier, before reinforcements could arrive from England, was a wise +movement, and ought to have accomplished its purpose. But there the +wisdom ended, and vacillation and doubt took the place of promptness, +energy and daring. + +In the second place, inefficient commanders were placed at the head of +our armies. Both Dearborn and Hull had been gallant officers in the +Revolution, but they were wholly unaccustomed to a separate command, +and while imitating the caution of their great exemplar, exhibited +none of his energy and daring. They remembered his Fabian inactivity, +but they forgot the overwhelming reasons that produced it, and forgot, +also, Trenton, Princeton and Monmouth. + +In the third place, the militia were undisciplined and could not be +relied upon. The insubordination, unmilitary conduct, and recklessness +of rules which force a commander into extreme caution, lest his +semblance of an army should be annihilated, are not known to the +persons who coolly criticise him at a distance. These things are +doubtless an ample excuse for much that is unsparingly condemned. +Hence it is unjust to pronounce judgment on this or that action, +because it might apparently have been avoided, unless those actions +and the declarations of their author contradict each other, or stand +condemned by every interpretation of military rules. + +In the commencement of the war we had neither an army nor generals +that could be trusted. The troops lacked confidence in their leaders, +and the latter had no confidence in their troops. Such mutual distrust +can result in nothing but failure. Our commanders were in an +embarrassing position, but they ought to have been aware that to +_fight_ their way out was the only mode of escape left them. Battles +make soldiers and develop generals. In the tumult and dangers of a +fierce fight, the cool yet daring officers, fertile in resources, +fierce in the onset, and stubborn and unconquered in retreat, are +revealed, and soon men are found who will follow where they lead, even +into hopeless combat. A spirit of emulation and valor succeeds +timidity and distrust. + +The administration at this period was surrounded with great and +perplexing difficulties. With but the germ of a military academy, +efficient officers were scarce. The establishment of the school at +West Point was one of the wisest acts ever performed by this +government, and the attempt, a few years since, to destroy it, one +of the most unscrupulous, reckless and dangerous ever put forth by +ignorant demagogues. Our volunteers and militia have confidence in +men bred to the profession of arms. They yield them ready +obedience--submit to rigid discipline--while the method and skill +with which everything is conducted, impart confidence and +steadiness. A country like ours will never submit to the expense and +danger of a large standing army, nor do we need it if we can keep +well supplied with military schools. A few West Point officers on +the Canada frontier would have brought the campaign of 1812 to a +different close. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE NAVY. + + The Cabinet resolves to shut up our ships of war in port -- + Remonstrance of Captains Bainbridge and Stuart -- Rodgers + ordered to sea -- Feeling of the crews -- Chase of the + Belvidere -- Narrow escape of the Constitution from an + English fleet -- Cruise of the Essex -- Action between the + Constitution and Guerriere -- Effect of the Victory in + England and the United States -- United States takes the + Macedonian -- Lieutenant Hamilton carries the captured + colors to Washington -- Presented to Mrs. Madison in a + ball-room -- The Argus -- Action between the Wasp and Frolic + -- Constitution captures the Java -- Hornet takes the + Peacock -- Effect of these Victories abroad. + + +Having gone through the first campaigns on the Canadian frontier, I +leave for awhile the army of Harrison, swallowed up in the forests of +Ohio and surrounded by the gloom of a northern winter, toiling its way +towards Malden, and turn with a feeling of relief to the conduct of +our little navy during the summer that had passed. + +As I stated before, our naval force amounted to but nine frigates and +a few sloops of war, while Great Britain had a hundred ships of the +line in commission, and more than a thousand vessels in all, bearing +the royal flag. Added to this stupendous difference in the number of +ships, was the moral power attached to the universally acknowledged +superiority of the British navy. England was recognized mistress of +the seas. The fleets of Spain, France and Holland had one after +another submitted to her sway, and fresh with still greater laurels +won under Nelson, her navy was looked upon as irresistible. A naval +contest on our part, therefore, was not dreamed of, and hence arose +the determination on the part of the Administration at Washington, to +convert our frigates into mere floating batteries for the protection +of harbors. But it must be remembered, weak as our navy appeared, it +was stronger at the declaration of war than the whole British force on +our coast. We had ships enough to blockade Halifax and Bermuda, and +bear undisputed sway until reinforcements could be sent across the +Atlantic. Our privateers in the revolution--the conduct of our ships +in the Bay of Tripoli had given evidence of what could be done, and +the determination of the Cabinet, therefore, to lay up the ships of +war before their metal had been tested--to leave the waters around our +coast vexed with British cruisers, when at least for six weeks we +could have kept them clear of the enemy, and in all probability +captured their entire squadron on the American station, is another +painful evidence of the utter incapacity of the administration to +carry on the war. If, in anticipation of hostilities, our whole fleet +had been collected and put in such order that it could have sailed at +an hour's notice, results would have been accomplished far greater +than those which followed. + +Against our nine frigates, the President, United States, and +Constellation, of the first class, the Congress, Constitution, and the +Chesapeake of the second, the Essex, Adams, Boston and New York,[24] +together with several smaller vessels, there were on the Halifax +station but five frigates and some smaller vessels. The Africa, +sixty-four, was the only two decker on our coast, in active service. +The Halifax station could have been reinforced by the other two +stations, the Jamaica and Leeward Island, but not within a month, +which would have given us an opportunity of cutting them up in detail. +England, at this time, was so occupied with the momentous affairs in +Europe, that she kept her fleets on the eastern board of the Atlantic, +and ignorant of our naval strength, supposed the ships on the Halifax +station more than a match for the whole American navy. Had the British +fleet on this coast been captured, and an alliance offensive and +defensive formed with France, we should have struck the maritime power +of England a blow from which she never would have recovered. But the +outcries of the Federalists filled the administration with as much +dread of French alliance, as it entertained of the naval power of +England. + +[Footnote 24: The Boston and New York were not ready for sea, but +could and would have been, had there been a determination on the part +of the Government to use the navy.] + +Not only was the American Government innocent of all such plans for +the navy, but it did not even provide for the merchantmen which might +be approaching the American coast, and liable to be captured by the +most contemptible cruiser that sailed unmolested along our shores. No +nation ever before had the opportunity of doing so much with small +means, as circumstances placed in the hands of the American Government +at the commencement of the war, and threw it away so foolishly, so +unpardonably. + +The insane project to lay up the American ships in harbor, was +defeated by two naval officers, to whom the nation owes perpetual +gratitude. Captains Bainbridge and Stewart were at Washington when the +subject was under discussion, and being shown the written orders to +Commodore Rodgers, to keep his fleet in the harbor of New York, as a +part of its defence, they sought an interview with the Secretary of +the Navy, and boldly remonstrated against this death-blow to the navy. +"If laid up in war, who would support it in peace?" Although told that +the thing was settled, so far as regarded the fleet in New York Bay, +they appealed with still greater urgency, and in the true spirit of +their profession, declared that the American commanders were capable +of taking care of their own ships; nay, in noble enthusiasm asserted, +that eight times out of ten, an American frigate would capture an +antagonist of equal metal. + +The secretary was moved by their appeal, backed as it was with solid +argument, and took them to see the President. They made to him the +same statements which had so deeply impressed the Secretary of the +Navy. Moreover, they promised _victories_, a dream which had never +visited the brain of a member of the cabinet. "Eight times out of +ten," said they, "with equal force we can hardly fail--our men are +better men, and better disciplined; our midshipmen are not mere boys, +only fit to carry orders, but young men capable of reflection and +action. Our guns are sighted, which is an improvement of our own the +English know nothing of. While we can fire cannon with as sure an aim +as musketry, or almost rifles, striking twice out of every three +shots, they must fire at random, without sight of their object or +regard to the undulations of the sea, shooting over our heads, seldom +hulling us or even hitting our decks. We may be captured, and probably +shall be, even after taking prizes from them, because their numbers +are so much greater than ours. But the American flag will never be +dishonored, seldom if ever struck to equal force."[25] The President, +as well as the Secretary of the Navy, was swept away by the arguments +and gallant spirit of those officers, and suddenly remembered the +daring and success of the few ships of war and the privateersmen +during the Revolution. + +[Footnote 25: Vide Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812.] + +Seeing their advantage, these officers pressed it with redoubled +energy, until the President called a meeting of the cabinet to consult +on the matter. But Mr. Gallatin, to whose sagacity and foresight all +paid the most profound deference, treated the project as absurd. He +had studied European affairs too much, and the rising genius of this +country too little. Like many other wise statesmen, he could not +introduce into the elements from which he drew his conclusions, the +gallant spirit, lofty enthusiasm and indomitable courage, which then +pervaded our little navy. He saw only the tremendous maritime +preponderance against us, and hence, with all his patriotism and +wisdom, acted as a perpetual clog to the government till he was sent +abroad, and his counsels could no longer influence the cabinet. + +But his advice that all maritime efforts should be confined to +privateers, prevailed, and Bainbridge and Stewart were told that the +decision which had been made respecting the national ships, could not +be changed. Undaunted by their repulse, they spent nearly the whole +night after this resolve had been made known to them, in drawing up a +remonstrance to the President. Having witnessed the effect of their +personal appeal to him, they determined to address him once more by +letter. + +The language of that address was not softened by well rounded periods, +but plain and direct, placed the subject in its true aspect before Mr. +Madison, and put on him as Chief Magistrate of the Union, the +responsibility of keeping the navy from its legitimate field of +action. When this joint communication was laid before the Secretary of +the Navy, he objected to it as too strong and stern to present to the +President, and advised them to modify its language. They refused to do +so, and Mr. Madison instead of being offended at their plainness of +speech, took upon himself the responsibility of acting independent of +his cabinet, and assured them the vessels should be ordered to sea. No +one can tell the joy of these brave men, when they found the navy they +loved so well, was not to be dishonored, and elate with pride, +determined that the flag they had so long carried over the sea, should +never be struck but with honor. + +The naval officers knew that the country reposed no confidence in its +marine force, and Captains Bainbridge and Stewart, anticipating the +doom they had struggled so noble to avert, had determined to go to +sea in a privateer which the latter had purchased.[26] With a band of +hardy seamen about them, and each serving in rotation as captain and +first officer, they resolved to claim the right of the American flag +to the high seas.[27] + +[Footnote 26: The Snapper, which, under Peregrine Green, was soon +after captured off the Capes of the Delaware.] + +[Footnote 27: Vide Cooper's Naval History; Harris' Life of Bainbridge; +Memoir of Commodore Stewart; Naval Chronicle; and Ingersoll's History +of the War of 1812.] + +At this time there were in the port of New York, the President, +forty-four; Essex, thirty-two; and Hornet, eighteen; to which, on the +21st of June, were added the United States, forty-four; Congress, +thirty-eight; and Argus, sixteen, all ready to sail in an hour's +notice, with the exception of the Essex, which was repairing her +rigging and restowing her hold. As soon as the President had +determined to send the vessels to sea, this squadron was put under the +command of Commodore Rogers, and he ordered to get under way at once, +and intercept a large fleet of Jamaica men which were reported to have +sailed, and by this time should be off the American coast. An hour +after Commodore Rogers received his orders, he was leading his +squadron down the Bay, and soon his canvas disappeared in the +distance. + +From the joy that pervaded this little squadron, as the sails were +given to the wind, one would have supposed it was going to witness a +grand regatta, instead of to unequal and deadly strife with an enemy. +In the gallant hearts that trod those decks, existed none of the +timidity and distrust that weighed down the government. There was not +merely the determination of brave men entering on a desperate +conflict, but the buoyancy of confidence, the joy of those who were to +wipe out with their heavy broadsides the imputations cast on them by +their own countrymen, and hush forever, with their shouts of victory, +the boasting and mockery of their foe. The sailors partook of the +excitement, for it was a common enemy against which they were +going--the oppressor of seamen as well as the invader of national +rights. Says a midshipman on board the Hornet, in his Diary: "This +morning the declaration of war by the United States against Great +Britain was read. *** At ten o'clock, A. M., Commodore Rodgers hove +out the signal to weigh; never was anchor to the cathead sooner, nor +topsail sheeted home[28] to the masthead with more dispatch, than upon +the present occasion; the smallest boy on board seems anxious to meet +what is now looked upon as the common tyrant of the ocean, for they +had heard the woeful tales of the older tars. ** When the ship was +under way, Captain Lawrence had the crew called to their quarters, +and told them that if there were any amongst them who were +disaffected, or one that had not rather sink than surrender to the +enemy, with gun for gun, that he should be immediately and uninjured, +landed and sent back in the pilot boat. The reply fore and aft +was--not one." Not one hesitating voice, but instead, three hearty +cheers, that made the vessel ring. With such a spirit did the first +squadron put to sea, and make its first claim, at the cannon's mouth, +to equal rights. + +[Footnote 28: Vide Ingersoll's History of the War.] + +[Sidenote: June 23.] + +Two days after, Rodgers discovered, at six o'clock in the morning, an +English frigate to the north-east, and instantly crowded sail in +pursuit. The chase led down the wind, and the President being a fast +sailer when going free, soon gained on the stranger, leaving the +squadron far astern. At four o'clock she got within gunshot, but the +wind falling, gave the enemy the advantage, and Rodgers seeing that he +no longer gained on the chase, attempted to cripple it. The first gun +was pointed by the commodore himself, the shot of which struck the +English frigate in the stern, and passed on into the gun-room. This +was the first hostile gun fired on the sea after war was declared. The +second was pointed by Lieutenant Gamble, which also struck the enemy. +The third shot, directed by Rodgers himself, killed two men and +wounded five others. At the fourth shot, fired by Lieutenant Gamble, +the gun bursted, killing and wounding sixteen men. The Commodore was +flung into the air by the explosion, and fell back on deck with such +violence that his leg was broken. The enemy took heart at this +unexpected accident, and opened his fire. The President, however, soon +began to heave her shot again with such precision, that the British +frigate was compelled to cut away her anchors, throw overboard her +boats, and spring fourteen tons of water in order to lighten her. She +was by these means enabled to gain on her pursuers. Commodore Rodgers +finding the distance between them increasing, fired three broadsides, +which falling short, he abandoned the chase. The loss of the +President, in killed and wounded, was twenty-two, only six of whom +were damaged by the shot of the enemy. The Belvidera, for such she was +afterwards ascertained to be, reported seven killed and wounded. After +repairing damages Rodgers again cruised for the Jamaica men, and at +length supposing he had got in their wake, kept on until near the +mouth of the English Channel, when seeing nothing of them, he returned +by way of Maderia and the Western Islands to Boston. It was a barren +cruise, only seven merchantmen being taken during the whole seventy +days the squadron was absent. + +In the mean time the report of the Belvidera, which had put into +Halifax, caused the enemy to collect a fleet, which early in July was +off New York, where it captured a great many American merchantmen. +Among the prizes was the schooner Nautilus, the first vessel of war +taken on either side. [Sidenote: July 12.] While the squadron was thus +cruising off the coast, in the hope of meeting the American fleet +under Rodgers, the Constitution, a forty-four, sailed from Annapolis +on her way to New York. Her crew was newly shipped, a hundred men +having joined her on the night before she sailed. The orders which +Captain Hull, the commander, received from the Secretary of the Navy, +exhibit the timidity and weakness of the Government. In the first +place, after giving directions respecting the destination of the ship, +he said: "I am informed that the Belvidera is in our waters, but you +are not to understand me as impelling you to battle previously to your +having confidence in your crew, unless attacked, or with a reasonable +prospect of success, of which you are to be at your discretion the +judge." In a later order he says: "If on your way thither (_i. e._ +from Annapolis to New York) you should fall in with the enemy's +vessel, you will be guided in your proceeding by your own judgment, +bearing in mind, however, that you are not voluntarily to encounter a +force superior to your own." One can imagine the smile of contempt +that curled the lip of the stern commander of the Constitution, when +he received this pitiful order, so well adapted in its tone and +language to make timorous officers, and hence ensure defeat. The +Secretary had witnessed the confidence and daring spirit of Bainbridge +and Stewart, and he was afraid such men would fight, when prudence +would dictate flight. But he might have known that when officers like +them were once fairly out to sea, on the decks of their own ships, +beneath their own flag streaming aloft, they would pay no more +attention to orders like the above, than to the sighing of the wind +through their cordage. + +On the 17th the Constitution was out of sight of land, though still +within soundings and going under easy canvas, when at two o'clock she +discovered four sail in the north. At four she discovered another a +little to the eastward of the first. Towards evening, the wind blowing +light from the southward, the Constitution beat to quarters and +cleared for action. At ten o'clock she showed the private signal, +which remained unanswered; and concluding she had fallen in with a +squadron of the enemy, made all sail. Just before daybreak the +Guerriere, one of the fleet, sent up a rocket and fired two guns. As +the light broadened over the deep, Capt. Hull, who was anxiously on +the look-out, discerned seven ships closing steadily upon him. This +was the squadron of Commodore Broke, consisting of the Africa 64, +Guerriere 38, Shannon 38, Belvidera 36, Eolus 32, together with the +captured Nautilus and a schooner. As the sun rose over the ocean and +lifted the mist that lay on the water, Capt. Hull had a full view of +his position. Two frigates were beating down from the north upon him, +while the Africa, two frigates, a brig and schooner were following in +his wake, and all with English colors flying. To increase the painful +uncertainty that now hung over the fate of his vessel, the breeze +which had been light all night entirely died away, and the sails +flapped idly against the masts. Hull, however, resolved that his ship +should not be lost, if human energy and skill could save her, and +immediately sent all his boats forward to tow. But he soon found that +the enemy, by putting the boats of two ships on one, were slowly +closing on him. He then took all the rope he could spare and run a +kedge out nearly a half a mile ahead and dropped it. The crew seized +the rope, and springing to it with a will, soon made the ship walk +through the water. As she came up with the kedge she overran it, and +while still moving on under the headway she had obtained, another +kedge was carried ahead, and the noble vessel glided away, as if by +magic, from her pursuers. It was not long, however, before the enemy +discovered the trick the Yankee was playing, and began also to kedge. +A little air was felt at half-past seven, but at eight it fell calm +again, when the vessels resorted to boats, long sweeps and the kedge. +The Shannon, which was astern, having, at last, got most of the boats +of the squadron on her, slowly gained on the Constitution, while the +Guerriere was walking down on her larboard quarter. The prospect for +the American was now gloomy enough--there was scarcely a ray of hope. +The unruffled sea seemed to heave in mockery of the anguish of those +whose every thought was a prayer for wind, and slowly, like the +unpitying approach of death, the hostile fleet kept closing on that +helpless ship. One more hour like the last, would bring her under the +guns of two frigates. Still, there was not a craven heart within those +ribs of oak. Each man, as he looked sternly on his comrade, read in +his face the determination to fight while a gun was left. Hull, +chafing at his desperate position, resolved to close fiercely with the +first vessel that approached; and judging from his after conduct, he +would have made wild work with his antagonist. The men in the boats +strove nobly, but it was a contest of mere physical strength, in which +there was not the least hope of success. But adverse fate seemed at +last to relent, and a light breeze sprung up from the southward. Hull +no sooner saw it approaching on the water than he ordered the sails to +be trimmed, and the moment the vessel felt its gentle pressure, she +was brought up into the wind--the boats fell alongside and were +hoisted to their davits or swung, just clear of the water--the men +working coolly at their posts, although the shot of the Guerriere +were dashing the sea into spray around them. + +But in an hour it again fell nearly calm, and the boats were once more +put on. The crew strove to make up by effort what they lacked in +force, but the Shannon steadily gained. With the exception of a little +rest obtained when slight breezes struck the vessel, the men were kept +incessantly at work all the day. At two o'clock, the Belvidera opened +with her bow guns, to which the Constitution responded with her stern +chasers. In half-an-hour, however, Captain Hull ordered the firing to +cease, and the men were again ordered to the boats, and rowing and +kedging were kept up till eleven at night. They were fast becoming +exhausted under the tremendous strain that had been put upon them +since early in the morning, when to their great relief a breeze sprung +up, and every sail that would draw was set. It lasted, however, only +for an hour. At midnight, it was calm again; but the crews of both +vessels had been overtasked, and no boats were sent out. In the +morning, Captain Hull discovered that some of the vessels had gained +on him, and four frigates were within long gun shot. It was now +apparent that the least unfavorable change would settle the fate of +the Constitution. The officers had snatched a little sleep at their +posts, and were ready to defend their flag to the last. It was a +lovely summer morning, and as the orb of day slowly rolled into view, +it lighted up a scene of thrilling interest and transcendant beauty. +The ocean lay slumbering in majestic repose, reflecting from its +unruffled bosom the cloudless sky. A light breeze was fanning the sea, +and every stitch of canvas that would draw was set. All the vessels +had now got on the same tack, the gallant American leading the van. +"The five frigates were clouds of canvas from their trucks to the +water," as slowly and proudly they swept along the deep. The +Constitution looked back on her eager pursuers, each eye on her decks +watching the relative speed of the vessels, and each heart praying for +wind. But, at noon, it again fell calm, when the Belvidera was found +to be two miles and a half astern, the next frigate three miles +distant, and the others still farther to leeward. This was a great +gain on the position of the day before, and with a steady breeze, +there would be no doubt of the issue. About half-past twelve, a light +wind sprung up, and although it kept unsteady during the afternoon, it +was evident the Constitution was walking away from her pursuers. Every +sail was tended, and every rope watched with scrupulous care, that +showed the American frigate to be a thorough man of war. The day which +had been so beautiful threatened a stormy close, for a heavy squall +was rising out of the southern sea. Captain Hull narrowly watched its +approach, with every man at the clew lines. Just before it struck the +ship, the order was given, and the vessel was stripped of her canvas +as by a single blow. The British vessels began to take in sail without +waiting for the near approach of the squall. As soon as the strength +of the gale had been felt, the Constitution was again put under a +press of canvas, and bowing gracefully, as if in gratitude to the +rising sea, she flung the foam joyfully from her bows, and was soon +rushing through the water at the rate of eleven knots an hour. When +the rain cloud had passed, and an observation of the enemy's ships +could be obtained, they were far astern, and with the last rays of the +setting sun, the Constitution bade farewell to her pursuers. It was +gallantly and gloriously done. + +Cool and steady action on the part of the commander, met by +corresponding conduct on the part of the officers and crew, thorough +seamanship exhibited in every manoeuvre she attempted, saved the noble +vessel from capture. What a contrast does this conduct of the nephew, +thus surrounded by a superior force and beset with apparently +insurmountable difficulties, present to that of the uncle at Detroit. +In the one, desperate circumstances produced great effort, in the +other none at all. One with no thought of surrendering, while a spar +was left standing, the other meekly laying down his arms without +firing a shot. Shortly after, the Constitution arrived in Boston. + +Previous to the sailing of this vessel from Annapolis, the Essex, +under Capt. Porter, having been got ready for sea at New York, started +on a cruise to the southward. Making several prizes of merchantmen, +she again stood to the southward, when she fell in with a fleet of +British transports, convoyed by a frigate and bomb vessel. She +endeavored to get along side of the former, but one of the transports +which Capt. Porter had spoken, threatening to make signal to the other +vessels, he was obliged to take possession of her. To accomplish this, +as the prize had a hundred and fifty soldiers aboard, consumed so much +time that the rest of the fleet escaped. + +The Essex having disguised herself as a merchant man continued her +cruise, and in a few days discovered a strange sail, which, deceived +by her appearance, boldly attacked her. The latter having got the +enemy in close range, knocked out her ports, which had been closed, +and poured in her broadsides. This sudden metamorphosis and tremendous +firing completely stunned the stranger, and he immediately hauled down +his colors. The prize proved to be the ship Alert, mounting twenty-two +eighteen-pound carronades. This was the first British war vessel +taken by an American cruiser. + +Captain Porter having converted the Alert into a cartel, sent her with +the prisoners into St. John's. The English Admiral, at Newfoundland, +remonstrated against this course, as it deprived the British of the +chances of recapture before entering an American port. He however +could not well refuse to carry out the arrangements which the Captain +of the Alert had entered into. + +The Essex, after an unsuccessful cruise and some narrow escapes, +finally reached the Delaware, where she replenished her stores. + +[Illustration: The Constitution and Guerriere.] + +On the 28th of July an order was sent from the Secretary of the Navy, +to Capt. Hull, at Boston, to deliver up the Constitution to Commodore +Bainbridge, and take charge of the frigate Constellation. [Sidenote: +Aug. 2.] But fortunately for him and the navy, just before this order +reached him he had again set sail, and was out on the deep, where the +anxieties of the department could not disturb him. Cruising eastward +along the coast, he captured ten small prizes near the mouth of the +St. Lawrence and burned them. In the middle of the month he recaptured +an American merchantman and sent her in, and then stood to the +southward. On the 19th he made a strange sail, one of the vessels that +a few weeks before had pressed him so hard in the chase. When the +Constitution had run down to within three miles of him, the Englishman +laid his maintop sail aback, and hung out three flags, to show his +willingness to engage. Capt. Dacres, the commander, surprised at the +daring manner in which the stranger came down, turned to the captain +of an American merchantman whom he had captured a few days before, and +asked him what vessel he took that to be. The latter replied, as he +handed back the glass to Dacres, that he thought from her sails she +was an American. It cannot be possible, said Dacres, or he would not +stand on so boldly. It was soon evident, whoever the stranger might +be, he was bent on mischief. Hull prepared his vessel for action +deliberately, and after putting her under close fighting canvas and +sending down her royal yards, ordered the drums to beat to quarters. +It was now five o'clock, and as the Constitution bore steadily down +towards her antagonist, the crew gave three cheers. The English vessel +was well known, for she had at one of her mast-heads a flag proudly +flying, with the "Guerriere" written in large characters upon it. When +the Constitution arrived within long gun shot, the Guerriere opened +her fire, now waring to bring her broadside to bear, and again to +prevent being raked by the American, which slowly but steadily +approached. The Englishman kept up a steady fire, for nearly an hour, +to which the Constitution replied with only an occasional gun. The +crew at length became excited under this inaction. The officer below +had twice come on deck to report that men had been killed standing +idly at their guns, and begged permission to fire; but Hull still +continued to receive the enemy's broadsides in silence. The Guerriere +failing to cripple the Constitution, filled and moved off with the +wind free, showing that she was willing to receive her and finish the +conflict in a yard-arm to yard-arm combat. The Constitution then drew +slowly ahead, and the moment her bows began to lap the quarters of the +Guerriere, her forward guns opened, and in a few minutes after, the +welcome orders were received to pour in broadside after broadside as +rapidly as possible. When she was fairly abeam, the broadsides were +fired with a rapidity and power that astounded the enemy. As the old +ship forged slowly ahead with her greater way, she seemed moving in +flame. The mizen mast of the enemy soon fell with a crash, while her +hull was riddled with shot, and her decks slippery with gore. The +carnage was so awful that the blood from the wounded and mangled +victims, as they were hurried into the cockpit, poured over the ladder +as if it had been dashed from a bucket. As Hull passed his antagonist +he wheeled short round her bows to prevent a raking fire. But in doing +this he came dead into the wind--his sails were taken aback--the +vessel stopped--then getting sternway, the Guerriere came up, her bows +striking the former abeam. While in this position, the forward guns of +the enemy exploded almost against the sides of the Constitution, +setting the cabin on fire. This would have proved a serious event but +for the presence of mind of the fourth lieutenant, Beekman Verplanck +Hoffman, who extinguished it. As soon as the vessels got foul both +crews prepared to board. The first lieutenant, Morris,[29] in the +midst of a terrific fire of musketry, attempted to lash the ships +together, which were thumping and grinding against each other with the +heavy sea, but fell, shot through the body. M. Alwyn, the master, and +Lieut. Bush of the marines, mounting the taffrail to leap on the +enemy's decks were both shot down, the latter killed instantly with a +bullet through the head. Finding it impossible to board under such a +tremendous fire, the sails of the Constitution were filled, when the +vessels slowly and reluctantly parted. As the Constitution rolled away +on the heavy swell, the foremast of the Guerriere fell back against +the mainmast, carrying that down in its descent, leaving the frigate a +helpless wreck, "wallowing in the trough of the sea." Hull seeing that +his enemy was now completely in his power, ran off a little way to +secure his own masts and repair his rigging which was badly cut up. +In a short time he returned, and taking up a position where he could +rake the wreck of the Guerriere at every discharge, prepared to finish +her. Capt. Dacres had fought his ship well, and when every spar in her +was down, gallantly nailed the jack to the stump of the mizen-mast. +But further resistance was impossible, and to have gone down with his +flag flying, as one of the English journals declared he ought to have +done, would have been a foolish and criminal act. A few more +broadsides would have carried the brave crew to the bottom, and to +allow his vessel to roll idly in the trough of the sea, a mere target +for the guns of the American, would neither have added to his fame nor +lessened the moral effect of the defeat. He therefore reluctantly +struck her flag, and Lieutenant Read was sent on board to take +possession. + +[Footnote 29: Afterwards Commodore Morris.] + +As he stepped over the vessel's side, a disgusting scene presented +itself. When the vessel struck, Captain Dacres told the crew they +might go and get some refreshments, which was another mode of giving +them liberty to drink. In a short time, all the petty officers and +their wives, together with the sailors, were wallowing together in +filth. The vessel being dismasted lay in the trough of the sea, and as +she rolled backwards and forwards the water came in the ports on one +side, and poured out of those on the other, mingling in a loathsome +mass the motley multitude. + +This vessel, as well as all the English ships, presented another +striking contrast to the American. Impressment was so abhorred, that +British officers were afraid of being shot down by their topmen during +an engagement; and hence dared not wear their uniforms, while ours +went into action with their epaulettes on, knowing that it added to +their security, for every sailor would fight for his commander as he +would for a comrade. + +Captain Hull kept hovering around his prize during the night; and at +two o'clock, "sail ho," was sent aft by the watch, when the +Constitution immediately beat to quarters. The weary sailors tumbled +up cheerfully at the summons, the vessel was cleared for action, and +there is no doubt that if another Guerriere had closed with the +Constitution, she would have been roughly handled, crippled as the +latter was from her recent conflict. + +After deliberating for an hour, the stranger stood off. In the +morning, the Guerriere was reported to have four feet water in the +hold, and was so cut up that it would be difficult to keep her afloat. +The prisoners were, therefore, all removed, and the vessel set on +fire. The flames leaped up the broken masts, ran along the bulwarks, +and wrapped the noble wreck in a sheet of fire. As the guns became +heated, they went off one after another, firing their last salute to +the dying ship. At length, the fire reached the magazine, when she +blew up with a tremendous explosion. A huge column of smoke arose and +stood for a long time, as if petrified in the calm atmosphere, and +then slowly crumbled to pieces, revealing only a few shattered planks +to tell where that proud vessel had sunk. The first English frigate +that ever struck its flag to an American ship of war, had gone down to +the bottom of the ocean, a gloomy omen of England's future. The sea +never rolled over a vessel whose fate so startled the world. It +disappeared for ever, but it left its outline on the deep, never to be +effaced till England and America are no more. + +The loss of the Constitution was seven killed and seven wounded, while +that of Guerriere was fifteen killed and sixty-four wounded, a +disparity that shows with how much more precision the American had +fired. It is impossible, at this period, to give an adequate idea of +the excitement this victory produced. In the first place, it was +fought three days after the surrender of General Hull, the uncle of +the gallant captain. The mortifying, stunning news of the disaster of +the North-western army met on the sea-board, the thundering shout that +went up from a people delirious with delight over this naval victory. +From one direction the name of Hull came loaded with execrations--from +the other overwhelmed with blessings. But not only was the joy +greater, arriving as the news did on the top of a disaster, but it +took the nation by surprise. An American frigate had fearlessly stood +up in single combat on the deep with her proud foe, and giving gun for +gun, torn the crown from the "mistress of the sea." The fact that the +Constitution had four guns more and a larger crew, could not prevent +it from being practically an even-handed fight. The disparity of the +crews was of no consequence, for it was an affair of broadsides, while +the vast difference in the execution done, proved that had the +relative weight of metal and the muster roll been reversed, the issue +would have been the same. + +Captain Hull on his return to Boston, surrendered the frigate to +Bainbridge, who soon after hoisted his broad pennant on board, but did +not put to sea till the 26th of October. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 12.] + +In the mean time, Commodore Rodgers having refitted again, started on +a cruise, having the United States, forty-four, commanded by Commodore +Decatur, and the Argus, sixteen, Captain Sinclair, in company. +Commodore Rodgers having captured on the 17th, the British packet +Swallow, with two hundred thousand dollars on board, continued his +cruise to the eastward. Just before, in a heavy gale, the United +States and Argus had parted company with him. The former directed her +course so as to fall in the track of East Indiamen, but on Sunday +morning, the 25th, she saw a large sail to the southward, which proved +to be the English frigate Macedonian. After some manoeuvering, the two +vessels approached within a mile of each other, when the firing +commenced. After the United States delivered her second broadside, she +ceased manoeuvering and took the same tack with her enemy, both +steering free. The Macedonian, however, was to windward, and hence +could make it a yard-arm-to-yard-arm combat whenever she chose. But +she preferred a longer range, and the two vessels swept on, delivering +their rapid broadsides within musket shot. The distance at which they +kept, together with the heavy sea that was rolling, rendered the aim +imperfect and protracted the conflict, so that it continued for an +hour after the guns of both vessels began to bear, before any material +effect was visible. The broadsides of the United States were delivered +so rapidly that she was constantly enveloped in flame and smoke, and +the crew of the Macedonian several times thought her on fire and +cheered. Decatur, with his fine face lit up with that chivalric valor +that was wont to illumine it in battle, moved amid his men with words +of encouragement and praise. As the mizen-mast of the enemy went by +the board, hearing a sailor say to his comrade, "Jack, we've made a +brig of her;" he replied, "Take good aim, Jack, and she will soon be +a sloop." Turning to a captain of the gun, he said, "Aim at the yellow +streak, her spars and rigging are going fast enough, she must have a +little more hulling." Soon after her fore and main top mast went over. +At length, the mizen mast was cut in two by a shot, about ten feet +from the deck, while with every roll of the ship the weakened foremast +threatened to swell the wreck. The Englishman, perceiving that his +vessel would soon become unmanageable, made an effort to close, for +the purpose of boarding. But Decatur saw his advantage too plainly, to +risk it in a desperate encounter, and putting on sail shot ahead. The +enemy mistaking this movement for a rapid flight gave three cheers, +and all the flags having come down with the spars, set a union Jack in +the main rigging in token of triumph. But when the United States was +seen to tack and approach, as if about to close, it was hauled down. + +On this same Sabbath, while the cheers of the United States' crew rang +over the deep, Napoleon was traversing in gloom the fatal, bloody +field of Malo-Jaraslowitz, and with two kings and three marshals by +his side, was deliberating on that retreat which was to change the +face of the world. + +The superiority of American gunnery, in this combat, was placed beyond +dispute. It was a simple cannonade on a very rough sea. Yet the United +States had but five killed and seven wounded, while out of three +hundred men, the Macedonian had one hundred and four killed or +wounded. So, also, the former lost her top-gallant masts, and had been +hulled but a few times. It is true her rigging suffered severely, but +the English frigate had almost every spar in her more or less +shattered, while her hull was pierced with a hundred shot. In this, as +in the former engagement between the Constitution and Guerriere, the +United States carried _four more guns_ than her antagonist. She was a +heavier ship, but therefore a better mark, and yet the enemy's shot +rarely hulled her. The decks of the latter presented a revolting +spectacle. "Fragments of the dead were distributed in every +direction--the decks covered with blood--one continued agonizing yell +of the unhappy wounded,"[30] filled the ship. + +[Footnote 30: Statement of an American officer.] + +Decatur having arrived with his prize in New London, dispatched Lieut. +Hamilton, son of the Secretary of the Navy, to Washington, with an +account of the victory, and the captured colors. [Sidenote: Dec. 8.] +Hurrying on, greeted with the acclamations of the multitude as he +passed, he arrived at the capital in the evening. On that very night a +ball had been given to the officers of the navy, at which Hull and +Stewart and the Secretary of the Navy were present. Young Hamilton +walked into the gay assemblage and delivered his message to his +overjoyed father, who immediately announced it to the company. Shout +after shout shook the hall--all crowded around the young lieutenant, +eager to hear the incidents of the action. As he narrated how they +fought and how they conquered, tears of joy and gratitude streamed +from the eyes of his mother, who stood fondly gazing on him. Captured +colors of the enemy decorated the room, and a delegation was sent to +bring those of the Macedonia and add them to the number. Captains +Stewart and Hull bore them in, and presented them, amid the loud +acclamations of the throng, to the wife of the President--the band +struck up an inspiring air, and intense excitement and exultation +filled every bosom. + +The Argus met with but little success. The seamanship of her officers +was, however, tested during the cruise. She was chased three days and +nights by an English squadron, and yet not only managed to escape, but +having come upon an English merchantman during the chase, actually +captured it in sight of the fleet, though by the time she had manned +it the enemy had opened on her with his guns. Having made five prizes +in all, she returned to port. + +In the meanwhile the Wasp, Captain Jones, which was returning from +Europe with dispatches, the time war was declared, had refitted and +started on a cruise. Sailing northward to the latitude of Boston, she +made a single capture and returned to the Delaware. On the 13th of +October, the very day of Van Rensalaer's defeat at Queenstown, she +again put to sea, and after being four days out, on the night of the +17th, made five strange sail. Not knowing their strength or character, +Captain Jones deemed it prudent to keep off till daylight, when he +would have a better opportunity for observing them. In the morning he +discovered there were six ships under the convoy of a brig of war. Two +of them were armed, but the brig deeming herself alone a match for the +American, sent them all forward, and waited for the latter to +approach. The sea was rough from the effects of a storm that had swept +those latitudes the day before, in which Captain Jones had lost his +jib boom and two of his crew. There was no manoeuvering attempted in +this tumultuous sea, and the Wasp surged on in dead silence, the only +sound heard on her decks being the roar of the waves as they burst +along her sides. She closed on her antagonist with a deadliness of +purpose seldom witnessed in naval combats. She never delivered her +broadside till within a hundred and eighty feet, and then with fearful +effect. At first this heroism seemed doomed to a poor reward. The fire +of the Frolic was incessant. Seldom had an Englishman been known to +deliver such rapid broadsides. In five minutes the main topmast of +the Wasp fell amid the rigging--in two minutes more the gaft and mizen +top-gallant mast followed. Thus, in eight minutes from the time the +vessels closed, the Wasp was so disabled that her destruction seemed +almost certain. But while cut up herself so terribly aloft, she had +struck with every broadside the heart of her antagonist. As she rolled +on the heavy seas her guns were frequently under water, and the +sailors staggered around their pieces like drunken men. Delivering her +broadsides as she sunk, she hulled her antagonist at every discharge; +while the latter, firing as she rose, made sad work with the rigging +of the former. Jones seeing his spars and rigging so dreadfully cut +up, was afraid that his vessel would become unmanageable, and +therefore determined to run foul of his adversary and board. But when +the vessels closed, the bows of the Frolic struck abaft the midships +of the Wasp, which so swung the head of the latter around that she was +enabled to throw a raking fire into the former. The order, therefore, +to board was countermanded, and a fresh broadside directed to sweep +her decks. In loading some of the guns, the rammers struck against the +bows of the Frolic. The shot went crashing the whole length of the +ship, and the crew, excited by this hand-to-hand fight, could no +longer be restrained from boarding. Mr. Biddle, the first lieutenant, +leaped into the rigging, followed by Lieut. Rodgers and other men, +and soon gained the decks of the Frolic--but, in looking round for the +enemy, they saw but three or four officers standing aft, and bleeding. +None but the dead and wounded cumbered the decks. Not one was left to +haul down the colors. The officers threw down their swords in token of +submission, and Lieutenant Biddle, springing into the rigging, lowered +the English flag with his own hand. The carnage was horrible for so +small a vessel--nearly a hundred of the officers and crew being killed +or wounded. The decks were literally covered with the mangled forms of +men and officers. The corpses presented a ghastly appearance as they +rolled from side to side with the tossing vessel, while shivered spars +and masts covered the wreck, and still hanging by the ropes, swung +with every lurch against its shattered hull. There can scarcely be a +more mournful sight than a noble ship dismantled in mid ocean, her +decks crimsoned with blood, while on every side, amid broken and rent +timbers, her gallant crew dismembered and torn, are stretched in +death. + +The Frolic was a brig carrying in all twenty-two guns, while the Wasp, +though a ship, carried but eighteen, thus making a difference in favor +of the former of four guns. + +The Wasp had, therefore, captured a superior force in single combat. +But in this, as in the two former engagements I have detailed, the +same extraordinary disparity in the respective losses of the two +vessels was exhibited. While near a hundred were killed or wounded in +the Frolic, there were only five killed and as many wounded in the +American ship. It is not a matter of surprise that the belief became +prevalent in England that our vessels were filled with Kentucky +riflemen. These men had become famous for their accuracy of aim; and +it was supposed we had introduced them into our navy. In no other way +could they account for the awful carnage that followed every single +combat of ship with ship. In all her naval history, such destructive +work had never been witnessed in so short a space of time. The moment +an American vessel opened her broadsides, death began to traverse the +decks of her antagonist with such a rapid footstep, that men were +appalled. + +This was doubtless owing in a great measure to our guns being sighted, +an improvement introduced by American officers, rendering the aim +infinitely more accurate. + +The Wasp in this engagement had been fought nobly, but her victory +proved worse than a barren one to her gallant commander and crew. +Scarcely had the English Jack been lowered to the Stars and Stripes, +before the latter were struck to the English flag. The Poictiers an +English seventy-four, soon hoved in sight and bore down on the two +vessels lying to and clearing away the wreck. The Wasp endeavored to +make use of her heels, but on turning out her sails, they were found +completely riddled. Flight was out of the question, and both vessels +surrendered. They were taken into Bermuda, where the Americans were +parolled and allowed to return home. + +On the 26th of October, Commodore Bainbridge left Boston, accompanied +by the Hornet, with the intention of joining Captain Porter, in the +Essex, and passing into the Pacific Ocean, where the British fisheries +and commerce could be easily struck. Captain Lawrence, cruising +southward, at length arrived at St. Salvador, where he found a British +sloop of war, the Bonne Citoyenne. The latter being in a neutral port, +was safe. She was superior to the Hornet, but Lawrence, determined to +provoke her out to single combat, sent a challenge to her +commander--Commodore Bainbridge, in the meanwhile, promising to keep +out of the way. The challenge was declined, and if the fact that she +had a large amount of specie on board, had been given as the reason of +her refusal, the conduct of Captain Green, the commander would have +been unobjectionable. But to intimate, as he did, that the frigate +would interfere, after Bainbridge had pledged his word, and the +American Consul offered guarantees, evinced a contemptible spirit, +almost as degrading as cowardice. + +Captain Lawrence determined, however, not to let the vessel go to sea +without him, and he therefore blockaded the port. + +The Constitution left the Hornet blockading the Bonne Citoyenne, and +steered south, keeping along the coast, and on the 29th discovered two +sail between her and the land, which was about thirty miles distant +and in full view. One of the vessels being small, kept standing in +towards the shore, while the larger one, a British frigate, the Java, +of thirty-eight guns, directed her course towards the American. +Bainbridge, wishing to get farther from the land, tacked and steered +to the south-east for two hours, the Englishman following after. About +half-past one, finding himself clear of the land, Bainbridge tacked +and stood towards the stranger. At 2 o'clock the two vessels were only +half a mile apart, the Englishman to windward, and showing no colors. +The order to fire a shot to make the latter set his ensign being +misunderstood, a whole broadside was delivered, and the battle +commenced. A tremendous cannonade followed. The wind was light and the +sea smooth, so that full scope was given for manoeuvering and accurate +aim. Bainbridge, who at the commencement of the war, had urged the +President to send the national ships to sea, and was now in his first +fight, felt not only the promise he had given the Secretary of the +Navy weighing on him, but his responsibility as commander of the +Constitution, fresh with laurels from the capture of the Guerriere. + +He managed his ship with consummate skill, and not only foiled every +attempt of the enemy to get a raking position, but soon obtained one +himself, and delivered a broadside that swept the decks of the Java. +The vessels had at length approached within pistol shot, and the +effect of the rapid broadsides of the Constitution delivered so +closely and on that smooth sea, could be heard in the rending timbers +of the enemy's ship. Bainbridge, in the mean time, received a musket +ball in his thigh. He however still walked the quarter deck, watching +every movement of his antagonist, and the effect of every broadside. +In a few minutes later, a cannon shot plunged into the wheel, +shattering it in fragments, and sending a copper bolt into his leg. +Crippled and bleeding--refusing even to sit down--he continued to limp +over the quarter deck, watching the progress of the combat, and +directing the movements, apparently unconscious of pain. The +destruction of the wheel he felt to be a more serious affair than his +wounded leg, for he was no longer able to give verbal orders to the +helmsman. The tiller was of course worked below the second deck by +ropes and tackles, where the helmsman unable to see the sails and +steer accordingly, depended entirely on orders transmitted to him. +This would have been of minor consequence in a steady yard to yard-arm +fight, but in the constant manoeuvering of the two vessels, either to +get or prevent a raking fire, it was a serious inconvenience. Still, +the Constitution managed to secure this advantage in almost every +evolution. The tremendous fire she kept up, so staggered the +Englishman, that he resolved to run his vessel aboard at all hazards. +He came stern on, and his bowsprit passed through the mizen rigging of +the Constitution. The next moment, however, it was cut in two by a +cannon shot, when the two vessels parted. At length the Constitution, +after wearing twice to get the right position, threw herself fairly +alongside her antagonist, and they moved on together, yard-arm and +yard-arm, pouring in incessant broadsides. In a few minutes the mizen +mast of the Java went over, and as her foremast had gone long before, +nothing but the main mast was left standing. Her fire had now ceased, +and Bainbridge, under the impression she had struck, set his sails and +passed off to windward to repair damages, make his masts secure, and +be ready for any new combat that might be forced on him, in a sea +filled with the enemy's cruisers. After an hour spent in overhauling +his ship he returned, and finding the enemy's ensign still flying, he +passed directly across her bows, and was about to deliver a raking +fire, when she struck. The combat lasted for more than two hours, and +from the number of evolutions on both sides, was brought to a +termination several miles from where it commenced. The Java was +completely dismantled. Her mizen mast had been cut away close to the +deck--the mainmast fell soon after the firing ceased, while nothing +but a stump of the foremast, some twenty or thirty feet long, was left +standing. Her bowsprit, too, was gone; in fact, every spar had been +shot out of her. The Constitution, on the contrary, at the close of +the long severe conflict, had every spar standing. An eighteen pound +shot had made an ugly hole through her mizen mast, and another had cut +a deep gash in the foremast, and a quantity of ropes swinging loose in +the wind, showed that she had been in the midst of cannon balls, but +she came out of the conflict as she went in, every spar erect and her +royal yards across. The outward appearance of the ships did not +present a more striking contrast than their decks. Those of the Java +were rent and torn, and strewed with the dead. A hundred and sixty-one +had been killed or wounded, while nine killed and twenty-five wounded +covered the entire loss of the Constitution. + +Among the prisoners taken was Lieutenant-General Hislop, with his +staff, on his way to Bombay, as Governor. They were all treated with +that kindness and generosity which ever characterizes a truly brave +man--conduct which the English, in the very very few opportunities +offered them, did not generally reciprocate. + +The severe wounds of Commodore Bainbridge could not force him to leave +the deck, even after the action was over. In his anxiety for his ship +and the prize, and care of the wounded and prisoners, he forgot his +sufferings, keeping his feet till eleven o'clock at night. These eight +hours of constant exertion increased the inflammation to an alarming +degree, and well nigh cost him his life. + +It was a proud day for him; he had redeemed his pledge to the +government, and added another wreath to the laurels that already +crowned the American navy. + +The Constitution lay by the Java for two or three days, in order that +the wounded might be removed with care and safety. When this was +accomplished, the latter vessel being so completely riddled that it +would be impossible to get her into an American port, was blown up. +Our gunners fired with too accurate an aim; they so destroyed the +vessels of the enemy, that they could not be secured as prizes. + +The Constitution was carried into St. Salvador, where her arrival did +not improve the prospect before the Bonne Citoyenne, should she +venture to break a lance with the Hornet. She was apparently preparing +to go to sea that night, with the intention of avoiding her +antagonist if convenient, and fighting her if necessary. The capture +of the Java, however, produced a change in her plans, and she took +eighteen days longer to reflect on the subject. + +Commodore Bainbridge dismissed the private passengers found on board +the Java, without regarding them as prisoners of war, while all the +others were released on their parol. Governor Hislop presented him +with an elegant sword, as a token of his esteem and an acknowledgment +of the kindness with which he had been treated. Captain Lambert, +commander of the Java, was mortally wounded, and just before his +removal to the shore, Bainbridge, leaning on the shoulders of two +officers, hobbled into his room to restore to him his sword. It was a +touching spectacle, the wounded victor presenting to his dying +antagonist, the sword he never would wield again, accompanying it with +expressions of esteem and kindly hopes. Captain Lambert received it +with emotion, and returned his thanks. Two days after, it was laid +across his breast. It was not dishonored in its owner's hand, for his +ship had been gallantly fought to the last, and surrendered only when +not a sail could be set. + +Bainbridge, at this time, was not quite forty years of age. Six feet +in height, of commanding person, and an eye that burned like fire in +battle, he moved over his quarter deck the impersonation of a hero. +His noble conduct to the prisoners, won him the praise even of his +enemies. An English Admiral, when told of it, shook his head, +remarking, that it had an ominous look when a young commander, in a +navy unaccustomed to victory, could treat his foes so like an old +Spanish cavalier.[31] + +[Footnote 31: There is a curious incident connected with this battle. +A few nights before it occurred, Bainbridge dreamed, that he had a +long encounter with a British vessel, and finally captured her. On +board were several officers, and among them a general. It made such an +impression on him, that he entered the facts in his journal, and spoke +of them to his officers. After the engagement, as he was standing on +deck surrounded by his officers, waiting to receive the commander of +the Java, he saw the boats carrying General Hislop approach. Turning +to lieutenant Parker, he said, "that is the man I saw in my dream."] + +The Constitution, in this engagement, carried fifty-four guns, and the +Java forty-nine. On this difference of five guns, the English +attempted to erect a prop to support their naval pride. The effort to +prove a superiority in weight of metal and number of men, in every +victorious American vessel, and the changes rung on the difference of +a single gun, exhibited a sensitiveness that enhanced instead of +lessened the defeats. If a battle is never to be considered equal, +until both ships have the same tonnage to a pound, the same number of +cannon, and the muster roll be equal to a man, it is to be feared +there never will be one fought. Not only did the English allege that +the Constitution was greatly superior in weight of metal, but +declared that her success was owing, in a large measure, to her +musketry; and yet the Java had not a spar standing at the close of the +battle. Muskets do not dismantle vessels, and leave them mere hulks at +the mercy of their foe.[32] The English court of enquiry appointed to +investigate the subject, asked the boatswain, "if they had suffered +much on the forecastle from musketry." "Yes," he very frankly replied, +"_and, likewise, from round and grape_." The latter was, no doubt, +true, and very probably the former. + +[Footnote 32: Some time after the peace of 1815, a distinguished +officer of the English navy, visited the Constitution, then just +fitted anew at Boston, for a Mediterranean cruise. He went through the +ship, accompanied by Captain ---- of our service. "Well, what do you +think of her?" asked the latter, after the two had gone through the +vessel, and reached the quarter deck again. "She is one of the finest +frigates, if not the finest frigate I ever put my foot on board of," +returned the Englishman; "but, as I must find some fault, I'll just +say, that your wheel is one of the clumsiest things I ever saw, and is +unworthy of the vessel." Captain ---- laughed, and then explained the +appearance of the wheel, saying, "When the Constitution took the Java, +the former's wheel was shot out of her. The Java's wheel was fitted on +the Constitution to steer with, and although we think it ugly, as you +do, we keep it as a trophy."] + +Bainbridge returned to Boston, and resigned the command of the +Constitution, which stood greatly in need of repairs. + +Lawrence continued, as before stated, to blockade the Bonne Citoyenne, +until the latter part of January, when a British seventy-four heaving +in sight, he was compelled to run in beside his adversary. The tables +were now turned upon him, and he had the prospect of seeing the +man-of-war playing the part of keeper at the mouth of the port, while +his own prisoner making use of this protection could pass out, and +continue his voyage. This was a predicament he did not relish, and +taking advantage of the night, quietly slipped out to sea, and +continued his cruise. He made a few prizes, and among them a brig of +ten guns, with $12,500 in specie on board. Arriving, at length, at the +mouth of the Demarara river, he discovered an English brig of war, and +gave chase to her. The latter running in shore, led him into such +shoal water, that he deemed it prudent to haul off. He, however, did +not abandon the hope of forcing the ship into an engagement, and while +beating down on a different tack to get within reach of her, he +discovered another brig apparently seeking to close. He immediately +put the head of his vessel toward that of the stranger. Both were +close on the wind, and as they continued to approach, it was evident +from their course they must pass each other with their yard-arms +almost touching. It was now nearly half-past five, and the lurid rays +of the sun, just sinking behind the hills of the main land, flooded +the two vessels as they silently closed. The moment they began to draw +abeam, so that the guns bore, the firing began. When fairly abreast, +the vessels were not more than fifty feet apart. The words of command +and the shrieks of the wounded could be distinctly heard in either +vessel, as broadside crashed against broadside. It was a stern meeting +and parting. As soon as the guns ceased to bear, the Englishman wore, +in order to get a raking fire on the Hornet. The latter, however, was +too quick for him; he was first about, and coming down on his quarter +in "a perfect blaze of fire," poured in his broadsides with such close +range and destructive effect, that in ten minutes more the enemy not +only struck, but hoisted a signal of distress. Mr. Shubrick being sent +on board to take possession, reported that the vessel was the sloop of +war, Peacock, and that she had six feet water in the hold. Every +effort was made to save the prize, and to get out the wounded. Both +vessels were anchored; the pumps were rigged on board the Peacock, and +bailing was resorted to. The vessel, however, continued to sink, and +at last went down, carrying nine of her own crew and three of the +Hornet with her. Two American officers, and many more seamen came near +losing their lives, in their gallant effort to save the prisoners. + +The foremast of the ill-fated vessel protruded from the sea, where she +went down, remaining for some time to mark the place of the battle and +the victory. + +The superiority of American gunnery and American seamanship was again +established beyond dispute. The Hornet was slightly superior in weight +of metal,[33] but she not only out-maneuvered her antagonist, but +surpassed her incomparably in the effective use of her guns. The +former had but one man killed and two wounded, while of the latter +there were thirty-eight killed and wounded, and among them the +commander. The Hornet had but a single shot in her hull, while the +Peacock was so riddled that she sunk in a few minutes after the +action. + +[Footnote 33: + + Peacock. Hornet. + Broadside guns, 9 10 + Crew, 130 135] + +The thrill of exultation that passed over the land at the announcement +of the first naval victory, was alloyed by the reflection that it was +but an isolated instance, and hence could hardly justify a belief in +our naval superiority. But as frigate after frigate and ship after +ship struck, all doubt vanished, and the nation was intoxicated with +delight. The successive disasters that befel our land forces along the +Canada line, could not check the outburst of enthusiasm on every side. +As the news of one victory succeeding another was borne along the +great channels of communication, long shouts of triumph rolled after +it, and the navy from being unknown and uncared for, rose at once to +be the bulwark and pride of the nation. All faces were turned to the +ocean to catch the first echo of those resistless broadsides, that +proudly asserted and made good the claim to "free trade and sailor's +rights." Where we had been insulted and wronged the most, there we +were chastising the offender with blows that astounded the world. If +the American Government had been amazed at the failure of its deep +laid schemes against Canada, it was no less so at the unexpected +triumphs at sea. Saved from the deepest condemnation by the navy, +which it had neglected--forced to fall back on its very blunders for +encouragement, it could say with Hamlet-- + + "Let us know, + Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well + When our deep plots do pall." + +But our astonishment at these successive and brilliant victories could +scarcely exceed that of the old world. The British navy had been so +long accustomed to victory, that a single-handed contest of an English +frigate with that of any other nation, had ceased to be a matter of +solicitude to her. The maritime nations of Europe had, one after +another, yielded to her sway, till her flag in every sea on the globe +extorted the respect and fear which the declaration, "I am a Roman +citizen" did, in the proudest days of the Empire. Her invincibility on +the ocean was a foregone conclusion. The victories of Napoleon +stopped with the shore--even his "star" paled on the deep. His +extraordinary efforts and energies could not tear from the British +navy the proud title it had worn so long. His fleets, one after +another, had gone down before the might of British broadsides, and the +sublime sea fights of Aboukir and Trafalgar, were only corroborations +of what had long been established. If this was the common feeling of +the Continent it is no wonder that "the English were stunned as by the +shock of an earthquake."[34] The first victory surprised them, but did +not disturb their confidence. They began to discuss the causes of the +unlooked for event with becoming dignity, but before the argument was +concluded, another and another defeat came like successive thunder +claps, till discussion gave way to alarm. The thoughtful men of +England were too wise to pretend that disasters occurring in such +numbers and wonderful regularity, could be the result of accident, and +feared they beheld the little black cloud which the prophet saw rising +over the sea, portending an approaching storm. If, in so short a time, +a maritime force of only a few frigates and sloops of war could strike +such deadly blows and destroy the prestige of English invincibility, +what could not be done when that navy should approximate her own in +strength. Some of the leading journals indulged in foolish boasting +and detraction of American valor, and held up to derision those who +saw portents of evil in the recent defeats. But the Times spoke the +sentiments of those whose opinions were of any weight. Said the +latter: "We witnessed the gloom which the event (the capture of the +Guerriere) cast over high and honorable minds. We participated in the +vexation and regret, and it is the first time we ever heard that the +striking of the flag on the high seas to any thing like an equal +force, should be regarded by Englishmen with complacency or +satisfaction." *** "It is not merely that an English frigate has been +taken, after what we are free to confess, may be called a brave +resistance, but that it has been taken by a _new enemy_, an enemy +unaccustomed to such triumphs, and likely to be rendered insolent and +confident by them." Another declared: "Our maritime superiority is in +fact a part of the nation's right. It has been the right of the +conqueror, since men associated together in civilization, to give laws +to the conquered, and is Great Britain to be driven from the proud +eminence which the blood and treasures of her sons have attained for +her among nations, by a piece of striped bunting flying at the +masthead of a few _fir-built frigates_, manned by a handful of +bastards and outlaws?" + +[Footnote 34: Vide Alison.] + +Such were the different sentiments entertained and expressed in +England at the outset, but as the war progressed, anxiety and alarm +took the place of boasting. + +The war vessels at length grew timorous, and lost all their desire to +meet an American ship of equal rank. It was declared that our frigates +were built like seventy-fours, and therefore English frigates were +justified in declining a battle when offered. The awful havoc made by +our fire affected the seamen also, and whenever they saw the stars and +stripes flaunting from the masthead of an approaching vessel, they +felt that no ordinary battle was before them. English crews had never +been so cut up since the existence of her navy. In the terrific battle +of the Nile, Nelson lost less than three out of one hundred, and in +his attack on Copenhagen, less than four out of every hundred. In +Admiral Duncan's famous action off Camperdown, the proportion was +about the same as that of the Nile. In 1793, the French navy was in +its glory, and the victories obtained over its single ships by English +vessels were considered unparalleled. Yet in fourteen single +engagements, considered the most remarkable, and in which the ships, +with one exception, ranged from thirty-six guns to fifty-two, the +average of killed and wounded was only seventeen per ship, while in +four encounters with American vessels, the Constitution, United States +and Wasp, the average was a hundred and eleven to each vessel. + +[Sidenote: Jan. 2.] + +This success of the navy at length roused Congress to do something in +its aid, and an act was passed on the 2d of January, authorizing the +President to build four seventy-fours, and six ships of forty-four +guns, thus increasing the force of the navy tenfold. On the 3d of +March, by another act, it authorized the building of such vessels on +the lakes as was deemed necessary to their protection. Sums were also +voted to the officers and crews as prize money. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Harrison plans a winter campaign -- Advance of the army -- + Battle and massacre at the River Raisin -- Baseness of + Proctor -- Promoted by his Government -- Tecumseh, his + character and eloquence -- He stirs up the Creeks to war -- + Massacre at Fort Mimms -- Investment of Fort Meigs -- + Advance of Clay's reinforcements and their destruction -- + Successful sortie -- Flight of the besiegers -- Major + Croghan's gallant defence of Fort Stephenson. + + +The army of General Harrison, which in October was slowly pushing its +way towards Malden to Detroit, soon became involved in difficulties +that compelled him to abandon his original design of an autumnal +campaign. The lakes being in possession of the enemy, provisions, +ammunition and cannon had to be transported by land, through swamps +and along forest paths which could be traced only by blazed trees, and +traversed only when the ground was frozen. He therefore occupied his +time in sending out detachments and hurrying up his forces, in order +to be ready to advance when the frozen ground, and especially the ice +along the margin of the lake would facilitate the transportation of +his guns and munitions of war. + +General Tupper made two attempts, first from Fort Defiance and +afterwards from Fort McArthur, to dislodge the Indians at the Rapids, +but failed in both. Another detachment under Col. Campbell left +Franklintown in December, to attack the Indian villages on the +Missisineway, which were reached on the 18th, and four out of five +destroyed. + +At length the column which formed the right of this army, nominally of +ten thousand men, having arrived at Sandusky with the park of +artillery, Gen. Harrison gave the order for the whole to move forward. +In three divisions, one from Sandusky, one from Fort McArthur, and the +third under General Winchester, from Fort Defiance, were to advance to +the Rapids of the Maumee, there take in their supply of ordnance and +provisions, and proceed at once to invest Malden. Harrison, commanding +the central division, started on the 31st of December. Gen. +Winchester, who had moved six miles from Fort Defiance, to Camp No. 3, +did not commence his march till the 8th of January. It was a cold +bitter day and the snow lay over two feet deep in the forest when that +doomed column, one thousand strong, set out for the Rapids, +twenty-seven miles distant. The troops, most of whom were Kentuckians, +were brave and hardy, and cheerfully harnessing themselves to sledges +dragged their baggage through the deep snow. Gen. Winchester was +ordered to fortify himself at the Rapids and wait the arrival of the +other troops. But three days after he reached the place, while +constructing huts to receive the supplies on the way, and sleds for +their transportation to Malden, he received an urgent request from the +inhabitants of Frenchtown, a small settlement nearly forty miles +distant, on the River Raisin, to come to their rescue. Feeling, +however, the importance of fulfilling his orders, he gave the +messengers no encouragement. But another express on the next day, and +a third the day after, telling him that the whole settlement was +threatened with massacre by the Indians--that only a small force of +the enemy held possession of the place, and by a prompt answer to +their prayer the ruin of all would be prevented, he called a council +of war. Col. Allen, and other gallant officers, pleaded the cause of +the helpless settlers with all the eloquence of true sympathy. They +declared that the chief object of the expedition was to protect the +frontiers from the merciless Indians, and that brave men spurned +danger when the prayers of women and children were sounding in their +ears. [Sidenote: Jan. 20.] Such appeals prevailed over the cooler and +safer arguments drawn from the necessity of not damaging the success +of the whole campaign by perilling one of the wings of the advancing +army, and a detachment of five hundred men, under Colonel Lewis was +sent forward to Presque Isle, there to await the arrival of the main +column. But this officer hearing at the latter place that an advance +party of French and Indians were already in possession of Frenchtown, +hurried forward, and the next day in the afternoon arrived on the +banks of the stream opposite the village. The river being frozen, he +immediately ordered the charge to be sounded. The column advanced +steadily across on the ice, and entering the village under a heavy +fire of the British, forced them from their position and soon drove +them to the woods, when darkness closed the combat. Two days after, +General Winchester arrived with a reinforcement of two hundred and +fifty men. He had sent a dispatch to Gen. Harrison, then on the Lower +Sandusky, announcing his departure from his orders, and asking for +reinforcements. [Sidenote: Jan. 23.] The latter sent forward a +detachment of three hundred, and followed himself the same day with a +corps of three hundred and sixty men. The assistance, however, came +too late, for on the day before they started, the fate of Gen. +Winchester's army was sealed. Gen. Proctor, at Malden, only eighteen +miles distant, hearing of Col. Lewis' advance on Frenchtown, hurried +down with about 1500 men and six pieces of artillery to attack him. +The latter had stationed the main force behind pickets, in the form of +a half circle, but the two hundred and fifty men who had arrived with +Gen. Winchester were, through some strange fatuity, placed outside, +four hundred yards distant, and wholly uncovered. Just as the drums +beat the morning reveille, Proctor advanced to the assault. The troops +came on steadily till within range of the Kentucky rifles, when they +were met by such a fierce and deadly fire that they wheeled and fled +in confusion. + +But, while the attack in front was thus repulsed, that on the +unprotected left wing of two hundred and fifty men was, in a few +minutes, completely successful. Such a preposterous position, as that +to to which it was assigned, no sane man could dream of holding. +Outflanked, and almost surrounded by yelling Indians, its danger was +perceived when too late to remedy it. General Winchester and Colonel +Lewis, however, each with a detachment of fifty men, rushed forward to +the rescue, but they only swelled the disaster. Their followers were +cut down and tomahawked, and they themselves captured, and taken to +Proctor. The latter had paused after his attack on the pickets, for +nearly one-fourth of the regular troops had fallen in that one +assault, and he hesitated about exposing himself again to the deadly +fire of Kentucky rifles. It is very doubtful whether he would have +ventured on a second attack. He, however, represented to General +Winchester, that he could easily set the town on fire, and reduce the +garrison; but, in that case, he would not guarantee the lives of the +soldiers, or the inhabitants from the barbarity of the Indians. +General Winchester fully believing that the five hundred men, who +still gazed undauntedly on the foe, must be sacrificed, agreed to a +capitulation; and an officer was sent with a flag to Major Madison, on +whom the command had devolved, informing him of the unconditional +surrender of all the troops by his superior officer. The brave major, +who did not at all look upon himself and gallant band as vanquished +men, indignantly refused to obey so unworthy a summons, even from his +rightful commander, and coolly told the officer, "he should do no such +thing; nay, would not surrender at all, unless the side arms of the +officers would be restored to them at Amhertsburg, the wounded +promptly and securely transported to that post, and a guard sufficient +for their safety assigned them."[35] If the British commander refused +to grant these terms, he and his men would fight to the last, and, if +necessary, die with their arms in their hands. This proposition, to +which any officer fit to wear a sword would have cheerfully accepted, +Proctor at first rejected, and yielded at last only because no other +terms would be listened to. But no sooner did the garrison surrender, +than in direct violation of the conditions, he gave unbridled license +to the soldiers and Indians. The latter were allowed to scalp and +mutilate the dead and wounded, whose bleeding corpses crimsoned the +snow on every side. Proctor, fearing the approach of Harrison, made +all haste to depart, and the next night reached Amhertsburg with the +prisoners, who were there crowded into a "small and muddy wood yard, +and exposed throughout the night to a cold and constant rain, without +tents or blankets, and with only fire enough to keep them from +freezing." He had brutally left the dead at French town unburied, and +sixty of the wounded, who were too feeble to march, unprotected. By a +great stretch of kindness, he allowed two American surgeons to remain +and take care of them. He had promised to send sleds the next day, to +convey them to Malden. These never arrived; but, instead, there came a +party of his Indian allies, who tomahawked a portion of the wounded, +and then set fire to the houses, consuming the dead and dying +together, and responding to the shrieks of the suffering victims with +yells and savage laughter. Captain Hart, a relative of Henry Clay, was +among the number, as was also a member of Congress. Hart, and indeed a +large majority of them, belonged to the most respectable families of +Kentucky. One officer was scalped in presence of his friends, and with +the blood streaming down his pallid features, rose on his knees, and +silently and most piteously gazed on their faces. While in this +position, an Indian boy was told by his father to tomahawk him. The +unskilful stripling struck again and again, only producing faint +groans from the sufferer, till at length the father, in showing how a +blow should be planted, ended the tragedy. The secretary of General +Winchester was shot while on horseback, and scalped, and his body +stripped and cast into the road. The dead, to the number of two +hundred, were left unburied; and, for a long time after, hogs and dogs +were seen devouring the bodies, and running about crunching human +skulls and arms in their teeth. Most of these facts were sworn to +before a justice of the peace, and forwarded by Judge Woodward, of the +supreme court of Michigan, to Colonel Proctor, with the remark, "The +truth will undoubtedly eventually appear, and that unfortunate day +must meet the steady and impartial eye of history." General Harrison +was at the Rapids, hurrying on the reinforcements, when he heard of +the catastrophe. A few days after, he dispatched Dr. M'Kechen with a +flag of truce to the river Raisin, to pass thence, if possible, to +Malden. Seized by the Indians and stript, he was at length taken to +Captain Elliot, who kindly forwarded him to Colonel Proctor. The +latter denied his mission, declaring he was a spy, and would not +recognize him, in his official character, till the fifth of February. +Three weeks after, he was accused of carrying on a secret +correspondence with the Americans, and without the form of a trial +thrown into a filthy dungeon below the surface of the ground, where he +lay for a whole month, and was finally liberated, only to carry the +seeds of disease, implanted by this brutal treatment, to his grave. + +[Footnote 35: Vide Armstrong's Notices of the War of 1812.] + +When the news of this horrid massacre reached Kentucky, the State +was filled with mourning, for many of her noblest sons had fallen +victims to the savage. The Governor and his suite were in the +theatre at the time the disastrous tidings arrived in Frankfort. The +play was immediately stopped, the building deserted, and the next +morning a funereal sadness rested on the town, and the voice of +lamentation--like that which went up from Egypt when the first born +of every house was slain--arose from almost every dwelling. But amid +it all there was a smothered cry for vengeance, which never ceased +ringing over the State, until it was hushed in the shout of victory +that rose from the battle-field of the Thames. + +Language has no epithets sufficiently opprobrious with which to stamp +this atrocious deed of Colonel Proctor. It combines all the inhuman +elements necessary to form a perfect monster--deceit, treachery, +falsehood, murder, and that refinement of cruelty which looks with +derision on slow torture, and the brutality which can insult the dead. +The very apologies which his countrymen made for him only blackened +his character. It was said that the prisoners surrendered at +discretion, and he never pledged his word for their protection--a +falsehood as afterwards fully proved by the prisoners, and a +statement, whether true or false, utterly useless, only to make the +whole transaction complete and perfect in every part. No man who was +sufficiently acquainted with honor to simulate it successfully, would +have attempted to cover an act so damning with such an excuse. The +annals of civilized warfare present no instance of the massacre and +torture of troops who have surrendered themselves prisoners of war on +a fair battle-field. An act like this, committed by a British officer +on the plains of Europe, sustained only by such an apology, would cost +him his head. Absolute inability, on the part of a commander to +protect his captives, is the only excuse a _man_ would ever offer. +This Proctor had not, for his allies were under his control and he +knew it. At all events he never attempted to save the prisoners. No +guard was left over the wounded, as he had stipulated to do--no +sleighs were sent back the next morning to fetch them to Fort Malden, +as promised--no effort whatever made in their behalf. He never +designed to keep his promises or fulfil his engagements--he had +abandoned the dead and wounded at Frenchtown to his savage allies, as +their part of the reward. Our troops frequently employed Indian +tribes, but no such atrocities were ever suffered to sully the +American flag. The whole transaction, from first to last, is black as +night. His deceit, treachery, cruelty to officers and men, neglect of +the dead and abandonment of the wounded to worse than death--his after +falsehood, meanness and cupidity are all natural and necessary parts +to the formation of a thoroughly base and brutal man. He was a +disgrace to his profession, a disgrace to the army and to the nation +which rewarded him for this act with promotion. His memory shall be +kept fresh while the western hemisphere endures, and the transaction +hold a prominent place in the list of dark deeds that stand recorded +against the English name. Just a month from this date three American +seamen went down in the Peacock, while nobly struggling to save the +prisoners. A few years before, some Turkish captives, in Egypt, being +paroled by Napoleon, were afterwards retaken in a desperate battle and +sentenced by a council of war to be shot. Although they had forfeited +their lives by the laws of all civilized nations, in thus breaking +their parole, and proved by their conduct that a second pardon would +simply be sending them as a reinforcement to the enemy, and though +Bonaparte only carried into execution the decision of a council of +war, yet for this act of his, English historians to this day heap +upon him the epithets of murderer and monster; while not the mere +murder, which would have been comparative kindness, but the +abandonment of American prisoners to slow torture by fire and the +scalping knife, was rewarded with promotion in the army. + +The difficulties which our volunteers and new levies unaccustomed to +such hardships, had to contend with on the western frontier, may be +gathered from the march of the three hundred men dispatched to the aid +of Winchester, but who did not arrive till after the massacre. +Starting with twenty pieces of artillery, in a heavy snow storm, they +boldly pierced the wilderness, but made the first day only a short +march. The next day, a courier arrived toiling through snow and mud, +ordering the artillery to advance with all speed. But under the weight +of the heavy guns, the wheels sunk to their axles with every slow +revolution, and it was only by dint of great effort, they were got on +at all. After a weary day's march, they encamped around a blazing +fire, and were just making their scanty meal, when a messenger entered +the camp, stating, that Harrison had retreated from the Rapids. A +portion immediately resolved to push on to his help, and snatching a +few hours of repose, they, at two o'clock in the morning, tumbled up +from their couch of snow, and falling into marching order, hurried +forward through the gloom. To add to their discomfort and sufferings, +a January rain-storm had set in, making the whole surface one +yielding mass, into which they sunk sometimes to their waists. +Drenched to the skin with the pelting rain, stumbling and falling at +almost every step in the dissolving snow, they kept on, and at length +reached the black swamp, near Portage river. This was four miles +across, and was covered with a broad sheet of water as far as the eye +could reach. Out of the untroubled surface rose the trunks of sickly +looking and decayed trees, presenting amid the black and driving rain, +a spectacle sufficient to chill and benumb the most manly heart. Ice +was beneath, but of its strength, or of the depth below, no one could +tell. The soldiers, however, hurried forward into the water, and +though the rotten, treacherous ice under their feet would often give +way, letting them down, till their farther descent was arrested by +their arms; they kept intrepidly on, till, at length, the last mile +was won, and weary and staggering they emerged on the farther side. +Although on the whole route, there were but eight miles where they did +not sink below the knee, and often to the middle, this gallant band +accomplished thirty miles by night fall. Weary, dispirited and +benumbed, they then encamped, and without an axe, cooking utensils, or +a tent to cover them, sat down on logs, and having kindled a feeble +fire made their meagre repast. They then placed two logs together to +keep them from the melting snow, and lay in rows across them, exposed +to the pitiless storm. Next morning, they continued their march, and +effected a junction with the army. + +To such hardships and exposures were the sons of gentlemen and farmers +subjected, in those disheartening northern campaigns which ended only +in failure. + +While such scenes were transpiring in the north, there occurred one of +those events which form the romance and poetry of the American +wilderness. At this time, Michigan was an unbroken forest, with the +exception of Detroit, and a few settlements along the line of the +lakes, containing in all, but five or six thousand inhabitants. Ohio +had but 300,000, while 2,000 Indians still held their lands within its +limits. Thirteen thousand constituted the entire white population of +Illinois. These states, which now number by millions, were then almost +wholly unknown, except on the borders of the lakes and the Ohio river. +All through the interior, numerous tribes of Indians roamed +undisturbed, and hung, in black and threatening war clouds, around the +borders of civilization. The English had succeeded in exciting many of +these to hostilities against the settlers. Their efforts were aided in +a masterly manner by Tecumseh, a Shawnee warrior, who had imbibed a +bitter, undying hostility to the Americans. Brave, temperate, +scorning a lie, and despising the spoils of war, he fought to restore +his race to their ancient rights and power. Unable to cope with the +Americans alone, he gladly availed himself of our declaration of war +to form an alliance with the British. Lifted by native genius above +the vices of savages, he also exhibited a greatness of intellect, and +loftiness of character, which, in civilized life, would have led to +the highest renown. Despising the petty rivalries of tribes and +chiefs, he became absorbed in the grand idea of uniting all the Indian +clans in one great and desperate struggle for mastery with the whites. +He had succeeded in carrying out his scheme, to a great extent, +throughout the North and West. Of erect, athletic frame, noble, +commanding appearance, with the air of a king, and the eloquence of a +Demosthenes when rousing the Greeks to arms against Philip, he went +from tribe to tribe electrifying them with his appeals, and rousing +them to madness by his fiery denunciations against their oppressors. +His brother, the prophet, accompanied him,--a dark, subtle, cunning +impostor, to whose tricks Tecumseh submitted for awhile, because they +foiled the hatred and deceit of rival chiefs. As he arose before his +savage audiences, his imposing manner created a feeling of awe; but +when he kindled with his great subject, he seemed like one inspired. +His eye flashed fire, his swarthy bosom heaved and swelled with +imprisoned passion, his whole form dilated with excitement, and his +strong untutored soul poured itself forth in eloquence, wild, +headlong, and resistless, as the mountain torrent. Thoughts, imagery +leaped from his lips in such life and vividness that the stoicism of +the Indian vanished before them, and his statue-like face gleamed with +passion. The people he always carried with him; but the chiefs, who +feared his power over their followers, often thwarted his plans. When +not addressing the clans, he was reserved, cold, and haughty. His +withering sarcasm, when Proctor proposed to retreat from Malden; his +reply to the interpreter, who offering him a chair in the presence of +Harrison, said, "Your father wishes you to be seated;" "My father! the +sun is my father, and the earth my mother," as he stretched himself +proudly on the ground, reveal a nature conscious of its greatness, and +scorning the distinctions which the white man arrogated to himself. + +After passing through the northern tribes, he took his brother, and +went south to the Creeks, to complete the plan of a general alliance. +The journey of nearly a thousand miles through the wilderness, of +these two brothers,--the discussion of their deep-laid scheme at night +around their camp-fire,--the day-dreams of Tecumseh, as gorgeous as +ever flitted before the imagination of a Caesar,--the savage empire +destined to rise under his hand, and the greatness he would restore +to his despised race, would make a grand epic. Pathless mountains and +gloomy swamps were traversed; deep rivers swam, and weariness and toil +endured, not for spoils or revenge, but to carry out a great idea. +There is a rude, Tuscan grandeur about him, as he thus moves through +the western wilderness impelled by a high purpose,--a barbaric +splendor thrown about even the merciless measures he means to adopt, +by the great moral scheme to which they are to be subject. His +combinations exhibited the consummate general. While England occupied +us along the sea-coast, he determined to sweep in one vast semi-circle +from Michilimackinac to Florida upon the scattered settlements. Fires +were to be kindled North and South, and West, to burn towards the +centre, while civilized warfare should desolate the eastern slope of +the Alleghanies. Tecumseh had seen Hull surrender, and knew that the +British had been victorious all along the frontier. His prospects were +brightening, and with this glorious news to back his burning +eloquence, he had no doubt of exciting the Southern tribes to war. The +Chickasaws and Choctaws in Mississippi, numbered over thirty thousand; +the Creeks twenty-five thousand, while south of them dwelt the large +and warlike tribe of the Seminoles. His chief mission was to the +Creeks, from whom, on his mother's side, he was descended. This +powerful clan stretched from the southern borders of Tennessee nearly +to Florida. The sun in his course looked on no fairer, richer land +than the country they held. Some of them had learned the arts of +civilization, and, hitherto, had evinced a friendly disposition +towards the whites. But British influence working through the Spanish +authorities in Florida, had already prepared them for Tecumseh's +visit. An alliance, offensive and defensive, had been formed between +England and Spain; and the armies of the former were then in the +Peninsula, endeavoring to wrest the throne from Bonaparte. The latter, +therefore, was bound to assist her ally on this continent, and so lent +her aid in exciting the Southern Indians to hostility. + +The year before, General Wilkinson had been dispatched to take +possession of a corner of Louisiana, still claimed by the Spanish. He +advanced on Mobile, and seized without opposition the old fort of +Conde, built in the time of Louis the XIV. He here found abundant +evidence of the machinations of the Spanish and English. Runners had +been sent to the Seminoles and Creeks offering arms and bribes, if +they would attack the frontier settlements. But for this, Tecumseh, +with all his eloquence, might have failed. Co-operating with the +British agents in Florida, as he had done with Brock and Proctor in +Canada, he at length saw his cherished scheme about to be fulfilled. +The old and more peaceful,--those who had settled in well-built towns, +with schools, and flocks, and farms about them,--opposed the war which +would devastate their land, and drive them back to barbarism. But the +eloquence of Tecumseh, as he spoke of the multiplied wrongs of the +Indians, and their humiliation, described the glories to be won, and +painted in glowing colors the victories he had gained in the North, +kindled into a blaze the warlike feelings of the young; and soon +ominous tidings came from the bosom of the wilderness that stretched +along the Coosa and Talapoosa rivers. Having kindled the flames, he +again turned his footsteps northward. + +Anxiety and alarm soon spread among the white settlers, and the +scattered families sought shelter in the nearest forts. Twenty-four +had thus congregated at Fort Mimms, a mere block-house, situated on +the Alabama, near the junction of the Tombigbee. It was garrisoned by +a hundred and forty men, commanded by Major Beasely, and, with proper +care, could have resisted the attacks of the savages. But the rumors +of a rising among the Indians were discredited. A negro who stated he +had seen them in the vicinity, was chastised for spreading a false +alarm. The night preceding the massacre, the dogs growled and barked, +showing that they scented Indians in the air. But all these warnings +were unheeded, when suddenly, in broad midday, the savages, some +seven hundred strong, made their appearance before the fort, and +within thirty feet of it, before they were discovered. The gate was +open, and with one terrific yell they dashed through into the outer +enclosure, driving the panic-stricken soldiers into the houses within. +Mounting these they set them on fire, and shot down every soul that +attempted to escape. Seeing, at once, their inevitable doom, the +soldiers fought with the energy of despair. Rushing madly on their +destroyers, they gave blow for blow, and laid sixty of them around the +burning buildings before they were completely overpowered. At last, a +yell of savage triumph rose over the crackling of flames, and cries +and shrieks of terrified women and children. Then followed a scene +which may not be described. The wholesale butchery,--the ghastly +spectacle of nearly three hundred mutilated bodies, hewed and hacked +into fragments, were nothing to the inhuman indignities perpetrated on +the women. Children were ripped from the maternal womb, and swung as +war-clubs against the heads of the mothers, and all those horrible +excesses committed, which seem the offspring of demons. + +When Tecumseh reached again the British camp in Canada, he found the +American army at fort Meigs. Harrison, after Winchester's defeat, +instead of boldly pushing on in pursuit, had retreated. He was a brave +general, but lacked the energy and promptness necessary to an +efficient commander. Thus far these qualities seemed confined solely +to the English officers, leaving to ours the single one of caution. + +Fort Meigs was erected on the Maumee, just above where it debouches +into Lake Erie. Here the army remained inactive, serving only as a +barrier to the Indians, who otherwise would have fallen on the Ohio +settlements, till the latter part of April. General Harrison employed +the winter in getting reinforcements from Ohio and Kentucky, and did +not reach the fort till the first of the month. + +In the mean time, Proctor and Tecumseh had organized a large force for +its reduction. On the twenty-third, the sentinel on watch reported +that the boats of the enemy, in great numbers, were entering the mouth +of the river. The fort, at this time, contained about a thousand men, +and was well supplied with every thing necessary for a long and stout +defence, while twelve hundred Kentuckians, under General Clay, were +marching to its relief. + +Finding the fortifications too strong to be carried by assault, +Proctor sat down before them in regular siege. The light troops and +Indians were thrown across the river, and heavy batteries erected on +the left bank. A well-directed cannonade from the fort so annoyed the +besiegers, that they were compelled to perform most of their work by +night. The garrison, at first, suffered very little, except from +scarcity of water. The well in the fort having dried up, they were +compelled to draw their supply from the river. But the men detailed +for this purpose, were constantly picked off by skulking Indians, who +becoming emboldened by success gradually drew closer around the +besieged; and climbing into tall trees, and concealing themselves in +the thick foliage, rained their balls into the works. On the first of +May, Proctor having completed his batteries, opened his fire. He sent, +also, a summons to surrender, which was scornfully rejected by +Harrison, who maintained a brisk cannonade for four days, when the +welcome intelligence was received, that Clay with his twelve hundred +Kentuckians was close at hand. Harrison determined, at once, to raise +the siege, and dispatched a messenger to him, to land eight hundred +men on the left bank of the river, and carry the batteries erected +there by storm, and spike the guns; while the remaining four hundred +should keep down the right bank towards the batteries, against which +he would make a sortie from the fort. The eight hundred were placed +under Colonel Dudley, who crossing the river in good order, advanced +fiercely on the batteries and swept them. Flushed with the easy +victory, and burning to revenge their comrades massacred at river +Raisin, the men refused to halt and spike the guns, but drove +furiously on after the flying troops, or turned aside to fight the +Indians, who clung to the forest. In the mean time, Proctor, aroused +by this unexpected onset, hastened up from his camp a mile and a half +below with reinforcements, and rallied the fugitives. At this critical +moment, Tecumseh also joined him, with a large body of Indians. These +advancing against the disordered Kentuckians, drove them back on the +river. The latter fought bravely, but discipline and numbers told too +heavily against them, and but one hundred and fifty of these gallant, +but imprudent men reached the farther bank in safety. Colonel Dudley +while struggling nobly to repair the error they had committed in +refusing to obey his orders, fell mortally wounded. The small, but +disciplined band of three hundred and fifty, led by Colonel Miller, of +the nineteenth infantry, against the batteries on the right bank, +carried them with the bayonet, and spiking the guns returned with +forty-two prisoners. + +The two succeeding days, the armies remained inactive. In the mean +time, the Indians began to return home in large numbers; and Proctor +deserted by his savage allies, resolved to abandon the siege. +Embarking his heavy ordnance and stores under a galling fire from the +fort, he made a hasty and disorderly retreat down the river. The loss +of the Americans during the siege, was two hundred and seventy men +killed and wounded, exclusive of the destruction of a large portion of +Clay's command. That of the British was much less, so that although +the attack on the fort had failed, the Americans were by far the +heaviest sufferers. + +Harrison leaving the fort in command of Colonel Clay, repaired to +Franklinton, the place appointed for the rendezvous of the regiments +newly raised in Ohio and Kentucky. In the mean time, a deputation of +all the friendly Indian tribes in Ohio waited on him, offering their +services in the approaching conflict on the borders. They were +accepted on the conditions, they should not massacre their prisoners, +or wage war against women and children. + +After Harrison's departure, Proctor again appeared before Fort Meigs. +But finding it well garrisoned, he did not attempt another attack; but +taking five hundred regulars and a horde of Indians, seven hundred in +number, suddenly appeared before Fort Stephenson in Lower Sandusky. +[Sidenote: Aug. 1.] Major Croghan, a young man only twenty-one years +of age, held the post, with but a hundred and sixty men. He had only +one cannon, a six pounder, while the fortifications having been +hastily constructed, were not strong enough to resist artillery. +Knowing this, and the smallness of Croghan's force, Harrison had +previously ordered him to destroy the works, and retire on the +approach of the enemy. But this was impossible, for Proctor took +measures at once to cut off his retreat. When this was accomplished, +he sent a flag demanding the immediate surrender of the place, saying, +if the garrison resisted, they would be given up to massacre. This +mere stripling, not old enough to be frightened, like Hull and +Wilkinson, coolly replied, that when he got possession of the fort, +there would be none left to massacre. River Raisin was fresh in his +memory, and lay not far off; but neither the fear of Indian +barbarities, nor the dark array, ten times his number, closing +steadily upon him, could shake his gallant young heart. He was such +stuff as heroes are made of. + +This was on Sunday evening, and immediately after receiving the bold +answer of Croghan, Proctor opened on the fort from his gun boats, and +a howitzer on shore. The cannonading was kept up all night, lighting +up the forest scenery with its fire, and knocking loudly on that +feeble fort for admission. At day break, Croghan saw that the enemy +had planted three sixes within two hundred and fifty yards of the +fort. Against this battery, he could reply with only his single gun, +whose lonely report seemed a burlesque on the whole affair. Finding +that Proctor concentrated his fire against the north-western angle, he +strengthened it with bags of flour and sand. The firing was kept up +till late in the afternoon, when seeing that but little impression +was made on the works, Proctor resolved to carry them by storm, and a +column, five hundred strong, was sent against them. With undaunted +heart, young Croghan saw it approach, while his little band, proud of +their heroic leader, closed firmly around him, swearing to stand by +him to the last. Some time previously, a ditch six feet deep and nine +feet wide had been dug in front of the works, and the six pounder, +loaded with slugs and grape, was now placed, so as to rake that part +of it where it was conjectured the enemy would cross. Colonel Short +commanded the storming column, which he led swiftly forward to the +assault. As it came within range, a well directed volley of musketry +staggered it for a moment, but Colonel Short rallying them, leaped +first into the ditch, crying out, "Give the d--d Yankees no quarter." +In a moment, the ditch was red with scarlet uniforms. At that instant, +the six pounder was fired. A wild shriek followed, and when the smoke +cleared away, that section of the column which had entered the ditch +lay stretched on the bottom, with their leader among them. The +remainder started back aghast at such sudden and swift destruction, +but being rallied they again advanced, only to be swept away. All +efforts to rally them the third time, were fruitless; they fled first +to the woods, and then to their boats, and next morning before +daybreak disappeared altogether. This garrison of striplings had +behaved nobly, and notwithstanding the brutal order of the British +commander to give no quarter, exhibited that humanity without which +bravery is not a virtue. Moved with pity at the groans and prayers for +help from those who lay wounded in the ditch, they, not daring to +expose themselves outside in presence of the enemy, handed over the +pickets during the night, jugs, and pails of water to allay the fever +of thirst; and made a hole through which they pulled with kindly +tenderness many of the wounded, and carried them to the surgeon. These +men knew that, if the attack had proved successful, not one would have +been left to tell how they fought, or how they fell, yet this +consciousness did not deaden, for a moment, the emotions of pity. This +generosity and kindness have always characterized the American +soldier, from the commencement of our national existence. The +merciless warfare inflicted by England through the savages during the +revolution, could not make him forget his humanity; nor the haughty, +insulting conduct of English officers in this second war, force him to +throw aside his kind and generous feelings. + +This attack closed, for the time, the efforts of Proctor to get +possession of our forts, and he retired with his savage allies to +Detroit. Our whole western frontier was now in a most deplorable +condition. Instead of carrying the war into the enemy's country, we +had been unable to protect our own borders. Notwithstanding the +repulse at Fort Meigs, the savages still hung around our settlements, +making frequent and successful dashes upon them; while the powerful +tribe of the Osages lying west of the Mississippi, threatened to come +into Tecumseh's grand scheme, for the extermination of the whites. +Forts Madison and Mason were evacuated, leaving Fort Howard, only +forty miles above St. Louis, our most northern post on the +Mississippi. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Chauncey ordered to Lake Erie to build a fleet -- A plan of + the campaign -- Woolsey -- Attack on York -- Death of + General Pike -- His character -- Capture of Fort George -- + Gallantry of Scott -- Repulse of the British at Sackett's + Harbor by General Brown -- Dearborn pursues Vincent -- Night + attack on the American encampment -- Generals Winder and + Chandler taken prisoners -- Retreat of the army -- + Reinforced by General Lewis -- Dearborn at Fort George -- + Defeat of Colonel Boestler at Beaver Dams -- Attack on Black + Rock -- Dearborn withdrawn from the command of the northern + army. + + +While Harrison was pushing forward his winter campaign, Dearborn +remained quietly in winter quarters, but soon as he saw the river St. +Lawrence clear of ice, he prepared to renew his invasion of Canada. +Armstrong having resigned the post of minister to France, was +appointed Secretary of War in place of Eustis. Being an officer of +distinction, it was thought he would throw more energy into the war +department, than his predecessor. His plan of the campaign was simple, +and if prosecuted with energy, promised success. Dearborn was to +concentrate his forces at the mouth of the Niagara river, and fall +successively on Kingston, York, and Fort George, thus cutting off all +communication between Montreal and Upper Canada. To carry this out +successfully, naval superiority on the lake, for the safe +transmission of troops and ordnance, was indispensable. From the +commencement of the war, the only vessel of any pretension which the +United States had on lake Ontario was the Oneida, of sixteen guns, +commanded by Lieutenant, afterwards Commodore Woolsey. This gallant +officer managed to preserve his ship, notwithstanding the great +efforts of the enemy to get possession of it, beating off, in one +instance, while lying in Sackett's Harbor, six British armed vessels. +At this time, a vast forest fringed the southern shore of Ontario. +With the exception of here and there a clearing, Sackett's Harbor +containing some half a dozen miserable houses, and Oswego not much +larger, were the only settlements on the American side, while strong +forts and old towns lined the Canada shore. This large body of water, +the control of which was of such vast consequence to the protection of +New York state, could be reached from the Hudson, two hundred miles +distant, only by highways nearly impassable, except in midsummer and +winter. But, whatever difficulties might attend the attempt to build +and man vessels of war on those remote waters, it was evident that +until it was made, all movements against Canada must prove abortive. +Captain Isaac Chauncey was, therefore, ordered thither the summer +previous, to take command, and build and equip vessels. [Sidenote: +1812.] He arrived in Sackett's Harbor in October, with forty +carpenters, and a hundred officers and seamen. To control the lake in +the mean time, he purchased and armed several American schooners. With +these, he on the eighth of November set sail, and soon after chased +the Royal George under the guns of the fort at Kingston, and there +maintained a spirited contest for half an hour. After various +skirmishes with the enemy, he at length returned to Sackett's Harbor, +and spent the winter in building vessels. [Sidenote: Nov. 26.] In the +mean time, the Madison, of twenty-four guns, had been completed and +launched. Nine weeks before, her hull and spars were growing in the +forest. By spring, when Dearborn was ready to commence operations, +Chauncey had a snug little fleet under his command, composed of the +Madison, Oneida, and eleven armed schooners. + +It having been ascertained that three British vessels were getting +ready for sea at York, it was resolved to destroy them. The original +plan, therefore, of commencing the campaign by an attack on Kingston, +was by the recommendation of Chauncey changed, and the former place +designated as the first point of attack. + +This fleet of thirteen sail could carry but 1700 men. With these +Chauncey, at length, set sail, and on the twenty-fifth of April, +anchored off York. Although it blew a gale from the eastward, the +boats were hoisted out, and the landing of the troops under General +Pike was commenced. The wind carried the boats west of the place +designated, which was an open field, to a thickly wooded shore, filled +with Indians and sharp shooters. Major Forsythe with a corps of +rifles, in two batteaux, first approached the shore. Assailed by a +shower of balls, he commanded the rowers to rest on their oars and +return the fire. General Pike, who was standing on the deck of his +vessel, no sooner saw this pause, than he exclaimed to his staff with +an oath, "I can't stand here any longer; come, jump into the boat." +Ordering the infantry to follow at once, he leaped into a boat, and +with his staff was quickly rowed into the hottest of the fire. Moving +steadily forward amid the enemy's balls, he landed a little distance +from Forsythe. The advance boats containing the infantry reaching the +shore at the same time, he put himself at the head of the first +platoon he met, and ordered the whole to mount the bank and charge. +Breasting the volleys that met them, the Americans with loud cheers +scaled the bank, and routed the enemy. At that moment, the sound of +Forsythe's bugles was heard ringing through the forest. This completed +the panic, and the frightened savages, with a loud yell, fled in all +directions. The landing of the remaining troops, under cover of the +well directed fire of Chauncey's vessels, was successfully made. +Captains Scott and Young led the van, and with the fifteenth regiment, +under command of Major King, covered themselves with honor. The troops +were then formed in sections, and passing through the woods, advanced +towards the fort. The bridges having been destroyed over the streams +that intersected the road, only one field piece and a howitzer could +be carried forward to protect the head of the column, which at length +came under the fire of a battery of twenty-four pounders. Captain +Walworth, of the sixteenth, was ordered to advance with trailed +bayonets at the charge step, and storm this battery. Moving rapidly +across the intervening space, this gallant company approached to +within a short distance of the guns, when at the word, "recover +charge," the enemy deserted their pieces and fled. The column then +continued to move on up a gentle ascent, and soon silenced the +remaining battery, and took possession of the works. But just at this +moment, when a flag of surrender was momentarily expected, a magazine +containing five hundred barrels of powder, exploded with terrific +violence. Huge stones, fragments of shivered timber, and blackened +corpses were hurled heavenward together, and came back in a murderous +shower on the victorious column. Forty of the enemy, and more than two +hundred Americans were killed or wounded by the explosion. The army +was stunned for a moment, but the band striking up Yankee Doodle, the +rent column closed up with a shout, and in five minutes was ready to +charge. General Pike at the time of the explosion was sitting on the +stump of a tree, whither he had just removed a wounded British +soldier. Crushed by the falling fragments, he together with a British +sergeant, who had been taken prisoner, and Captain Nicholson, was +mortally wounded. Turning to his aid, he exclaimed, "I am mortally +wounded." As the surgeons and aid were bearing him from the field, he +heard the loud huzzas of his troops. Turning to one of his sergeants, +he with an anxious look mutely inquired what it meant. The officer +replied, "_The British Union Jack is coming down and the stars are +going up._" The dying hero heaved a sigh, and smiled even amid his +agony. He was carried on board the commodore's ship, and the last act +of his life was to make a sign, that the British flag which had been +brought to him should be placed under his head. + +[Illustration: Death of Pike.] + +Thus fell one of the noblest officers in the army. Kind, humane, the +soul of honor and of bravery, he was made after the model of the +knights of old. His father had fought in the war of the Revolution, +and though too old to serve, was still an officer in the army. In a +letter to his father, dated the day before the expedition, he, after +stating its character, said: "Should I be the happy mortal destined +to turn the scale of war--will you not rejoice, O, my father? May +heaven be propitious, and smile on the cause of my country. But if we +are destined to fall, may my fall be like Wolfe's--to sleep in the +arms of victory." His prayer was answered, and the country mourned the +loss of a gallant officer, a pure patriot, and a noble man. + +Colonel Pearce, on whom the command devolved after the fall of Pike, +took possession of the barracks and then advanced on the town. As he +approached he was met by the officers of the Canadian militia, +proposing a capitulation. This was done to produce a delay, so that +the English commander, General Sheaffe, with the regulars could +escape, and the vessels and military stores be destroyed. The plan was +successful, the regular troops made good their retreat, one magazine +of naval and military stores was burned, together with two of the +vessels undergoing repairs. The third had sailed for Kingston a short +time before the attack. + +Owing to the explosion of the magazine the loss of the Americans was +severe, amounting to three hundred killed and wounded. Notwithstanding +the exasperation of the victors at the wanton, and as they supposed +premeditated destruction of life, they treated the inhabitants with +kindness and courtesy. Such had been the strict orders of their +commander before his death. The only violence committed was the +burning of the house of Parliament, and this was owing, doubtless, to +the fact that a scalp was found suspended over the speaker's mace. The +sight of an American scalp, hanging as a trophy in a public building, +would naturally exasperate soldiers, whose friends and relatives had +fallen beneath the knife of the savage.[36] + +[Footnote 36: Major Eustis, Captains Scott, Walworth, M'Glarpin, Young +and Moore, and Lieutenants Irvine, Fanning and Riddle, behaved with +great gallantry in the engagement.] + +The troops were at once re-embarked, for the purpose of proceeding +immediately to Niagara, but owing to foul weather they were a week on +the way. At length, being reinforced by troops from Sackett's Harbor +and Buffalo, Dearborn, with some five thousand men, sailed for Fort +George. This fort was situated on a peninsula, which it commanded. +Dearborn resolved to make the landing in six divisions of boats, under +cover of the fire of the armed schooners. The first division, +containing five hundred men, was commanded by Winfield Scott, who +volunteered for the service, followed by Colonel Porter with the field +train. The gallant Perry offered to superintend the landing of the +boats, which had to be effected under a heavy fire and through an ugly +surf. The 27th of May, early in the morning, the debarkation began, +and soon the boats, in separate divisions, were moving towards the +shore. Fifteen hundred British lined the bank, which rose eight or ten +feet from the water. Scott rapidly forming his men under the plunging +fire of these, shouted, "Forward!" and began to scale the ascent. But, +pressed by greatly superior numbers, they were at length borne +struggling back. Dearborn, who was standing on the deck of Chauncey's +vessel, watching the conflict through his glass, suddenly saw Scott, +while waving his men on, fall heavily back down the steep. Dropping +his glass he burst into tears, exclaiming: "_He is lost!--He is +killed!_" The next moment, however, Scott sprang to his feet again, +and shouting to his men, he with a rapid and determined step remounted +the bank, and, unscathed by the volley that met him, knocked up with +his sword the bayonets leveled at his breast, and stepped on the top. +Crowding furiously after, the little band sent up their shout around +him, on the summit. Dressing his line under the concentrated fire of +the enemy, Scott then gave the signal to charge. The conflict was +fierce but short; the British line was rent in twain, and the +disordered ranks were driven over the field. Scott, seizing a +prisoner's horse, mounted and led the pursuit. + +Fort George was abandoned, and the garrison streamed after the +defeated army. They, however, set fire to the train of the magazines +before they left. This was told to Scott, and he instantly returned +with two companies to save them. Before he could arrive, one magazine +exploded, sending the fragments in every direction. A piece of timber +struck him on the breast, and hurled him from his horse. Springing to +his feet he shouted, "To the gate!" Rushing on the gate, they tore it +from its hinges and poured in--Scott was the first to enter, and +ordering the brave Captains Hindman and Stockton to extinguish the +matches, he ran forward and pulled down the flag. Quickly re-mounting +his horse he put himself at the head of his column and pressed +fiercely after the enemy, chasing the fugitives for five miles, and +halted, only because commanded to do so by Colonel Boyd, in person. He +had already disobeyed two orders to stop the pursuit, and had he not +been arrested by his superior officer in person, would soon have been +up with the main body of the British. + +The loss of the enemy in this short but spirited combat was two +hundred and fifty killed and wounded and one hundred prisoners, while +that of the Americans was only seventy-two. + +The British army, under Gen. Vincent, retreated towards Burlington +Heights, followed soon after by General Winder, with eight hundred +men. + +But while Chauncey and Dearborn were thus destroying the forts on the +Niagara, Sir George Provost made a sudden descent on Sackett's Harbor. +The protection of this place was of vital importance to us. Here was +our naval depot--here our ship yard with vessels on the stocks, and in +fact, this was the only available port on the lake for the +construction and rendezvous of a fleet. Yet the garrison left to +protect it consisted of only two hundred and fifty dragoons under +Lieutenant Colonel Backus, Lieutenant Fanning's artillery, two hundred +invalid soldiers and a few seamen, making in all some five hundred +men. Two days after the capture of Fort George, the fleet of Sir James +Yeo, carrying a thousand men, commanded by Provost, appeared off the +harbor. Alarm guns were instantly fired and messengers dispatched to +General Brown, who resided eight miles distant at Brownville, to +collect the militia and hasten to the defence of the place. The year +before Brown had joined the army and been appointed brigadier-general +in the militia, but at the close of the campaign, being disgusted with +its management and disgraceful termination, he retired to his farm. +His heart, however, was in the struggle, and the courier sent from +Sackett's Harbor had scarcely finished his message, before he was on +his horse and galloping over the country. Rallying five or six hundred +militia he hastened to the post of danger. He was one of those whom +great exigences develop. Brave, prudent, resolute, and rock fast in +his resolution, he was admirably fitted for a military leader, while +by his daring and gallant behavior, he acquired great influence over +raw troops. Acquainted with all the localities and resources of the +place, he at the request of Lieutenant Backus readily assumed the +command. A breastwork was hastily erected on the only spot where a +landing could be effected, and the militia placed behind it. The +regulars formed a second line near the barracks and public buildings, +while Fanning, with the artillerists, held the fort proper, and +Lieutenant Chauncey, with his men, defended the stores at Navy Point. + +The night of the 28th passed in gloomy forebodings. The troops slept +on their arms, and Brown and his officers passed the hours in silently +and cautiously reconnoitering the shores of the lake. That little +hamlet embosomed in the vast primeval forest that stretched away on +either side along the water's edge and closed darkly over the solitary +highway that led to the borders of civilization, presented a lonely +aspect. As hour after hour dragged heavily by, every ear was bent to +catch the muffled sound of the enemy's sweeps, but only the wind +soughing through the tree-tops and the monotonous dash of waves on the +beach disturbed the stillness of the scene. But as the long looked for +dawn began to streak the water, the fleet of British boats were +observed rapidly pulling towards the breastwork. Brown bade the +militia reserve their fire till the enemy were within pistol shot, and +then deliver it coolly and accurately. They did so, and the first +volley checked the advance of the boats. After the second volley, +however, the militia were seized with a sudden panic, and broke and +fled. Colonel Mills, who commanded the volunteers, was shot while +bravely attempting to arrest the disorder. Brown succeeded in stopping +some ninety of them, whom he posted on a line with the regulars. The +British having landed, formed in good order, and moved steadily +forward on this little band of regulars. The latter never wavered, but +maintained their ground with stubborn resolution, and as they were +gradually forced back by superior numbers, took possession of the +barracks, behind which they maintained a rapid and galling fire. +Backus had fallen, mortally wounded, and Lieutenant Fanning was also +severely wounded, but he still clung to his gun and directed its fire +with wonderful accuracy. Finding the troops able to maintain their +position for some time yet, Brown exhorted them to hold firm while he +endeavored to rally the fugitive militia. Riding up to them, he +rebuked and entreated them by turns, until, at last, when he told them +how courageously and nobly the strangers were defending the homes they +had basely abandoned to pillage, they promised to return and do their +duty. Not daring, however, to trust men in an open attack who had +just fled from a breastwork, although he solemnly swore he would cut +down the first that faltered, he led them by a circuitous route along +the edge of the forest, as if he designed to seize the boats and cut +off the enemy's retreat. The stratagem succeeded, and the British made +a rush for their boats, leaving their killed and wounded behind. +Having lost, in all, between four and five hundred men, they dared not +venture on a second attack, and withdrew, humbled and mortified, to +the Canada shore. The American loss was about one hundred. + +The successful defence of Sackett's Harbor following so quickly the +capture of Forts York and George, promised well for the summer +campaign. But disasters soon checked the rising hopes of the nation. +General Winder, who had started in pursuit of Vincent, found, on his +arrival at Forty Mile Creek, that the enemy had been reinforced. +Halting here, therefore, he dispatched a messenger to Dearborn for +more troops. General Chandler, with another brigade, was sent, when +the whole force was put in motion, and crossing Stony Creek, arrived +at night-fall, within a short distance of the British encampment. Here +the army halted, preparatory to an attack the next morning. General +Vincent, although greatly inferior in numbers, felt that his future +success depended entirely on his retaining his present position, and, +therefore, resolved to hazard a second battle. But, having, by a +careful reconnoissance, discovered that the American camp guards were +scattered and careless, while the whole encampment was loose and +straggling, he immediately changed his plan, and determined to make a +bold and furious night onset, and endeavor by one well-directed blow +to break the American army in pieces. Following up this determination, +he, with seven hundred men, set out at midnight, and arriving at three +o'clock in the morning at the American pickets silently and adroitly +captured every man before he could give the alarm. Pressing with the +main column directly for the centre of the encampment, he burst with +the appalling war-cry of the savage on the astonished soldiers. The +artillery was surrounded, and several pieces, with one hundred men, +were taken prisoners, and among them the two generals, Winder and +Chandler. General Vincent having lost his column in the darkness, the +second in command ignorant what course to pursue, or what to do, +concluded to retreat with his trophies. The attack had been well +planned and boldly carried out, and but for the blunder made by +Vincent would no doubt have been completely successful. As it was the +loss was nearly equal; so that the American army was still in a good +condition to take the initial and advance. But the command devolving +on Colonel Burns, a cavalry officer, who declared he was incompetent +to direct infantry movements, a retreat was resolved upon. The army +arriving at Forty Mile Creek, a messenger was despatched to Dearborn, +asking for orders. General Lewis, with the sixth regiment, was +immediately sent forward, with directions to engage the enemy at once. +An hour after his arrival at camp the British fleet was seen slowly +beating up abreast of it. A schooner was towed near the shore and +opened its fire, but Lieutenant Eldridge, heaving a few hot shot into +her, compelled her to withdraw. In the mean time, some vessels +appearing off Fort George, Dearborn conjectured that an attack upon +him was meditated, and recalled this division of the army. The boats, +however, sent to bring them, were overtaken by an armed schooner, and +many of them captured. + +After these catastrophes Dearborn remained at Fort George an entire +fortnight, wholly inactive. The British, on the other hand, made +diligent use of this interval, in taking possession of mountain +passes, and thus accomplished the double purpose of securing their own +position and narrowing the limits of Dearborn's possessions, and +destroying his communication. The latter, at length, being aroused to +the danger in which these posts placed him, despatched Col. Boestler, +with six hundred men, to break up one of them, seventeen miles +distant. Acting under wrong information, this small detachment arrived +without molestation at Beaverdams, within two miles of the "Stone +House" where the enemy had fortified themselves. But here they were +suddenly surrounded by a body of British and Indians, and a conflict +ensued. Believing it impossible to effect a safe retreat through the +forest, pressed by such a force, Colonel Boestler surrendered his +whole detachment prisoners of war. This ended Dearborn's campaign, and +his military services. Colonel Bishop, who showed great activity in +carrying out the plan of the British commander, finding Fort Erie +ungarrisoned, took possession of it, and crossing suddenly to Black +Rock, with 250 men, drove out the militia and destroyed the guns and +stores. But the news reaching Buffalo, a few regulars, together with +some militia and friendly Indians hastened to the fort and expelled +the invaders, killing their commander. + +The successful attacks on York and Fort George had removed much of the +odium with which the disasters of the previous years had covered +Dearborn, and great results were expected from so brilliant an opening +of the campaign. But his after inaction and efforts ending only in +failure, disgusted the people and Congress. Broken down by disease and +demoralized by their long camp life, the soldiers but poorly +represented the vigor and energy of the republic. Dearborn, like the +other generals, received all the blame that properly attached to him, +together with that which belonged to the Government, and when the news +of Boestler's defeat arrived in Washington, the House of +Representatives was thrown into a state of indignant excitement. Mr. +Ingersoll was deputed to wait on the President and demand Dearborn's +removal, as Commander-in-Chief of the Western army. The request was +granted, and on the 15th of July he resigned his command. He had +accomplished, literally nothing, in two campaigns, and though he was +surrounded with difficulties, crippled, and rendered cautious by the +indifferent and unsuitable troops under his command, yet, after making +a large allowance for all, there is margin wide enough to secure his +condemnation. His materials became worse instead of better under his +management, and the prospects on our northern border grew gloomier the +longer he held command. The energy and vigor of his younger days were +gone, and the enfeebled commander of 1812 was a very different man +from the daring and gallant officer of the Revolution. He had stood on +the deck of his vessel and seen Pike carry York, and young Scott Fort +George with mere detachments. He had witnessed the bravery of his +troops under gallant officers, and it needed only energy and activity +in himself to have made the army the pride of the nation. + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +Colonel Boyd assumed the command till the arrival of Wilkinson in +September, but with the exception of some skirmishing, the summer +passed away in inactivity. + +The British, by capturing two American sloops that ventured into a +narrow part of the lake, near the garrison of Aux Noix, obtained +command of this water communication, which they held the remainder of +the season. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS. + + Army bill -- Quincy and Williams -- Debate on the bonds of + merchants given for British goods imported in contravention + of the non-importation act -- Debate on the bills increasing + the army to 55,000 men -- Williams' report -- Quincy's + attack -- Clay's rejoinder -- Randolph, Calhoun, Quincy, + Lowndes and Clay -- State of the Treasury. + + +The members of Congress, when they assembled in October, did not +exchange those congratulations they promised each other at their +adjournment, after declaring war. Every plan had proved abortive, +every expectation been disappointed. True, the gallant little navy was +left to fall back on. Its successes, however, did not reflect much +credit on their sagacity, but rather by returning good for evil, had +administered a severe rebuke to their neglect. The Federalists could +claim the chief honor there, and make both the victories on the sea +and defeats on land the grounds of attack. They had always said leave +Canada alone and go to the sea, there is the proper theatre for your +exploits. Results had shown the wisdom of their counsels. The army had +accomplished nothing, still its skeleton ranks must be filled. A bill +was therefore introduced, increasing the pay of the soldiers from six +to eight dollars per month, and making their persons secure from +arrest for debt, in order to tempt recruits into the service. They +were allowed also to enlist either for five years or for the war. +[Sidenote: Nov. 20.] A clause inserted in this bill, giving minors and +apprentices, over eighteen, permission to enlist without the consent +of their parents and masters, fell like a bomb-shell in the House. +This was striking at the very foundation of social and domestic +life--viz., parental authority--and putting a premium on disobedience +and rebellion. [Sidenote: 1812.] It furnished a new outlet for Mr. +Quincy's wrath, who declared that if Congress dared apply it in New +England the people would resist it, with the laws against kidnapping +and stealing. He said it was odious and atrocious, unequalled, absurd, +and immoral. Mr. Williams replied, that Great Britain allowed +enlistments over sixteen, as did our Government in the Revolutionary +War--nay, that this very clause passed in 1798, which became a law. +[Sidenote: Dec. 3.] Another exciting debate sprung up relative to the +bonds of the merchants for British goods lately imported in +contravention of the non-importation law. This law, it will be +remembered, was passed in March, 1811, in retaliation for the orders +in council, and was to cease with the revocation of those orders. +Before the news of the declaration of war arrived in England they +were revoked, and American owners supposing the non-importation act +would fall with it, immediately took in cargoes of British goods. +These were allowed to depart, as well as others in process of landing, +and provided with licenses to protect them against British cruisers. +Thus a vast amount of merchandise arrived in the various ports of the +United States during the first two or three months of the war. The +non-importation act being still in force, these goods were seized as +forfeited to the Government. Still many of the district judges +surrendered them to the claimants on their giving bonds to the amount +of their value. As under the non-importation law half the value of the +forfeited goods belonged to the informer, Gallatin proposed that, as +in this case there was no informer, that portion should be given to +the owners, and the Government put the other half, amounting to nine +millions, in the public treasury. This proposal was advocated by some +and strenuously opposed by others. [Sidenote: Dec. 30.] After a +vehement debate, extending through several sittings, all the penalties +of the merchants were finally remitted. + +Another debate, still more exciting, followed on the army bill. This +bill contained provisions for raising twenty thousand men for one +year, increased bounty enlistments to sixteen dollars, and appointed +an officer to do all the recruiting. [Sidenote: Dec. 27.] Mr. +Williams, chairman of the committee on military affairs, introduced +it with an able speech. After showing that the country demanded such +an augmentation of the army, making the entire regular force 55,000, +and defending the increased bounty and appointment of a special +officer for the recruiting service, he alluded to the disastrous issue +of Hull's campaign. Said he, "there are those, perhaps, who can sneer +at the disasters and misfortunes of the late campaign, and will object +to this bill, saying there is no encouragement to vote additional +forces, seeing that those which have been already raised have been so +idly employed. It becomes us all to be equally faithful to our +country, whether victorious or not; it is in times of discomfiture +that the patriot's resolution and virtues are most needed. It is no +matter by what party names we are distinguished, this is our +country--we are children of the same family, and ought to be brothers +in a common cause. The misfortune which befalls one portion should +sink deep into the breasts of the others also." + +[Sidenote: Jan. 5, 1813.] + +Mr. Clay congratulated the committee and the nation on the report +that had been made. Mr. Quincy, who saw in every proposition for +replenishing the army, a project for conquering Canada, opposed the +bill. Assuming that to be the object in view, he assailed it with +all that sarcasm and abuse for which he was distinguished. In the +first place, he said, we could not conquer Canada; in the second +place, if we could, it would be a barren triumph. It would not bring +peace nor be of any advantage to the country. He denounced it as +cruel and barbarous, declaring it was not owing to the Government, +that at that moment the bones of the Canadians were not mixed with +the ashes of their habitations. Said he, "Since the invasion of the +buccaneers, there is nothing like this war. We have heard great +lamentations about the disgrace of our arms on the frontier. Why, +sir, the disgrace of our arms on the frontier is terrestrial glory +in comparison with the disgrace of the attempt! The whole atmosphere +rings with the utterance, from the other side of the house, of this +word, glory! glory! What glory? The glory of the tiger which lifts +its jaws all foul and bloody from the bowels of his victim, and +roars for his companions of the forest to come and witness his +prowess and his spoils--the glory of Zenghis Khan, without his +greatness--the glory of Bonaparte." He asked the members if they +supposed the vagabonds who should conquer Canada would, when their +aim was accomplished, heed the orders of Government. No! they would +obey the "choice spirits" placed over them, who in turn would not +consult spinsters and weavers, but take counsel from their leader +what next they shall do. "Remember," said he, "remember, I warn you, +he who plants the American standard on the walls of Quebec, plants +it for himself, and will parcel it out into dukedoms, and +seignorities, and counties for his followers." It was a solace to +him amid all his regrets, that New England was guiltless of this +war, and that she had done her utmost to hurl the wicked authors of +it from their seats. That way of thinking, he said, was not peculiar +to him, but was "the opinion of all the moral sense and nine-tenths +of the intelligence of the section from which he came. Some of those +who are here from that quarter--some of _the household troops_ who +lounge for what they can pick up about the Government-house will say +differently--those who come here and with their families live and +suck upon the heart of the treasury--toad-eaters who live on +eleemosynary, ill-purchased courtesy of the palace, swallow great +men's spittles, get judgships, and wonder at the fine sights, fine +rooms, fine company, and most of all wonder how they themselves got +here--these creatures will tell you, No--that such as I describe are +not the sentiments of the people of New England. Sir, I have +conversed upon the question with men of all ranks, conditions and +parties in Massachusetts, men hanging over the plough and holding +the spade--the twenty, thirty and fifty acre men, and their answers +have uniformly been to the same effect. They have asked simply, What +is the invasion for? Is it for land? We have enough. Is it for +plunder? There is none there. New States? We have more than is good +for us. Territory? If territory, there must be a standing army to +keep it, and there must be another standing army here to watch that. +These are judicious, honest, patriotic, sober men, who when their +country calls, at any wise or real exigency, will start from their +native soils and throw their shields over their liberties, like the +soldiers of Cadmus, yet who have heard the winding of your horn for +the Canadian campaign, with the same indifference they would have +listened to a jews harp or the twanging of a banjo. He declared that +Mr. Madison and his cabinet had been bent on war from the outset, +and their eagerness to come to blows with England evinced the +disposition ascribed to the giant in the children's old play:-- + + 'Fe, faw, fum, + I smell the blood of an Englishman, + Be he dead or be he alive + I will have some.' + +He knew there were those who were ready to open on him with the old +stale cry of British connection. It was not egotism to speak of what +belonged to his country. It would ill become a man whose family had +been two centuries settled in the State, and whose interest and +connections were exclusively American, to shrink from his duty for +the yelpings of those bloodhound mongrels who were kept in pay to hunt +down all who opposed the court--a pack of mangy hounds, of recent +importation, their backs still sore with the stripes of European +castigation, and their necks marked with the check collar." Fierce and +vehement, now rising into eloquence, and now descending to the coarse +language of the bar-room, Mr. Quincy dealt his blows on every side--at +one moment coming down on the administration with sweeping charges of +dishonesty and villany, and again rushing fiercely on the solid +phalanx of the war party, assailing them with scoffs and jeers and +taunts, till scorn and rage gathered on their countenances. + +Mr. Clay, in his urbane and gentle manner, rose to reply. He took a +review of the two parties. While the administration was endeavoring to +prevent war by negotiations and restrictive measures, the opposition, +he said, was disgusted with the timorous policy pursued, and called +for open, manly war. They declared the administration "could not be +kicked into a war." "War and no restrictions, is their motto, when an +embargo is laid, but the moment war is declared, the cry is +restrictions but no war. They tack with every gale, displaying the +colors of every party and of all nations, steady in only one +unalterable purpose, to steer, if possible, into the haven of power. +The charge of French influence had again and again been made, which +should be met in only one manner--by giving it the lie direct. The +opposition had also amused themselves by heaping every vile epithet +which the English language afforded on Bonaparte. He had been compared +to every monster and beast, from that of the Revelations to the most +insignificant quadruped. He said it reminded him of an obscure lady +who took it into her head to converse on European affairs with an +accomplished French gentleman, and railed on Napoleon, calling him the +curse of mankind, a murderer and monster. The Frenchman listened to +her with patience to the end, and then, in the most affable manner, +replied, 'Madame, it would give my master, the Emperor, infinite pain +if he knew how hardly you thought of him.' Expressing his regret that +he was compelled to take some notice of Mr. Quincy in his remarks, he +defended Jefferson against his attacks, and showed how absurd were all +his statements and scruples respecting the invasion of Canada, by +referring to the part New England took in the capture of Louisburg. He +then alluded to the treasonable attitude assumed by the Federalists, +denounced their hypocrisy in endeavoring to gain the adhesion of the +people to their views by promising peace and commerce. But, said Mr. +Clay, I will quit this unpleasant subject, I will turn from one whom +no sense of decency or propriety could restrain from soiling the +carpet on which he treads, to gentlemen who have not forgotten what is +due to themselves, the place in which we are assembled, nor to those +by whom they are opposed." He then went into a review of the causes +that led to the war, to show that the government had acted with +forbearance and moderation, and at length took up the subject of +impressment. After proving the illegality and oppression of this +right, as claimed and exercised by the English, he said, "there is no +safety to us but in the rule that all who sail under the flag (not +being enemies) are protected by the flag. It is impossible the country +should ever forget the gallant tars who have won for us such splendid +trophies. Let me suppose that the genius of Columbia should visit one +of them in his oppressor's prison, and attempt to reconcile him to his +wretched condition. She would say to him in the language of the +gentlemen on the other side, 'Great Britain intends you no harm; she +did not mean to impress you, but one of her own subjects, having taken +you by mistake; I will remonstrate and try to prevail on her, by +peaceable means, to release you, but I cannot, my son, fight for you.' +If he did not consider this mockery he would address her judgment and +say, 'You owe me my country's protection; I owe you in return, +obedience; I am no British subject, I am a native of old +Massachusetts, where live my aged father, my wife, my children; I have +faithfully discharged my duty, will you refuse to do yours?' Appealing +to her passions, he would continue, 'I lost this eye in fighting under +Truxton with the Insurgente; I got this scar before Tripoli; I broke +this leg on board the Constitution when the Guerriere struck.' If she +remained still unmoved he would break out in the accents of mingled +distress and despair, + + 'Hard, hard is my fate! once I freedom enjoyed, + Was as happy as happy could be! + Oh! how hard is my fate, how galling these chains!' + +I will not imagine the dreadful catastrophe to which he would be +driven by an abandonment of him to his oppressor. It will not be, it +cannot be, that his country will refuse him protection." This +description of a poor sailor, maimed in his country's service, +appealing to that country he had served so well, for protection, and +rejected, cast off, abandoning himself to despair, sketched as it was +with vividness and feeling, and uttered in that touching pathos for +which Clay's rich and flexible voice was remarkable, went home with +thrilling power to each patriotic heart, and tears were seen on the +faces of members in every part of the house. + +After reviewing the progress of the war, and the present attitude of +England, and declaring that propositions for peace offered by the +other party were futile, he drew himself to his full height, and +casting his eye around the house, and pitching his voice to the note +of lofty determination, closed with, "An honorable peace can be +attained only by an efficient war. My plan would be to call out the +ample resources of the country, give them a judicious direction, +prosecute the war with the utmost vigor, strike wherever we can reach +the enemy at sea or on land, and negotiate the terms of peace at +Quebec or Halifax. We are told that England is a proud and lofty +nation, that, disdaining to wait for danger meets it half way. Haughty +as she is, we once triumphed over her, and if we do not listen to the +counsels of timidity and despair, we shall again prevail. In such a +cause, with the aid of Providence, we must come out crowned with +success, "_but if we fail, let us fail like men, lash ourselves to our +gallant tars, and expire together in one common struggle, fighting for +'Seaman's rights and Free trade_.'" Before this patriotic burst of +eloquence the harsh and irritating charges and selfish objections of +the opposition disappeared, like the unhealthy vapors of a morass +before the fresh breath of the cool west wind. + +The declaration of war consummated a revolution begun long before in +Congress. The affairs of the nation were taken out of the hands of old +and experienced statesmen, and placed in those of young and ardent +men. Henry Clay was but thirty-five; Calhoun, thirty, and Randolph +thirty-nine. Many of less note were also young men, full of hope and +confidence, and jealous of their country's honor. In their first +conflict with the older and more conservative members, they revealed +the dawning genius and statesmanship that afterwards raised them to +such high renown. The Federalists were represented also by men of +great strength of intellect and forcible speakers. Quincy possessed +the elements of a powerful leader, but he at times allowed his +passions to override all propriety and suggestions of prudence. +Vehement and fearless, he moved down on the enemy in gallant style, +but, like Jackson in battle, his hostility for the time lost all +magnanimity, and assumed the character of ferocity. He made the whole +party opposed to him a person, and attacked it with all the malignity, +scorn, invective, and jeers he would one who had grossly abused his +person and assailed his honor. But there was no secresy or trickery in +his movements--his followers and his foes knew where to find him, and +though he often, in his intemperance, violated the rules of courtesy, +and thus exposed himself to retorts that always tell against a +speaker, he still was an ugly opponent to contend with. Full of +energy, inflexible of purpose--aggressive, bold, and untiring--in a +popular cause he would have been resistless. There were men in the +Federalist party at this time capable of carrying even a bad cause if +relieved from external pressure. But the impressment of American +citizens, massacres in the north, and outrages along the sea coast, so +aroused the national indignation, that both words and efforts became +powerless before it. Like the resistless tide, which bears away both +strong and weak, it hushed argument, drowned explanations, and +silenced warnings, as it surged on, breaking down barriers, and +sweeping away defences that seemed impregnable. + +One of the most remarkable men in this Congress was John Randolph, of +Roanoke, as he always wrote himself. Possessed of rare endowments, and +of ample wealth, fortune had lavished on him every gift but that of +sex. He was at this time exceedingly fair. Conflicts and rude +jostlings with the world had not yet wrinkled and blackened his +visage, soured his sensitive temper, or driven him into that +misanthropy and those eccentricities which afterwards disfigured his +life. He was six feet high and frail in person, but his brilliant +black eye fairly dazzled the beholder, as he rose to speak, and made +him forget the fragile form before him. His voice was too thin for +public speaking, and when pitched high was shrill and piercing. But +in common conversation it was like an exquisite instrument, on which +the cunning player discoursed strange and bewitching music, and no one +could escape its fascination. His first glance round the hall +attracted silence, and all bent to catch the tones of that musical +feminine voice. As he became excited in his harangue, his eye burned +with increased lustre, while his changing countenance revealed every +thought and feeling before it was uttered. So expressive was it in +transmitting the transitions that passed over the soul and heart of +the speaker, that they scarcely needed the assistance of language. +Sometimes fearfully solemn and again highly excited; he at this time +rarely indulged in that withering sarcasm which afterwards so often +drew blood from his antagonist. With the delicate organization and +sensibilities of a woman, joined to the thought and ambition of a man, +his destiny had led him into scenes that spoiled his temper and erased +some of the most beautiful features of his character. Chivalrous and +fearless, he at first lent his genius to Jefferson's administration, +but shrunk from the awful consequences of war when it approached. + +Calhoun, one of the firmest props of the government, was his antipode +in almost every particular. Though young, his face evinced no +enthusiasm--his glistening eye no chivalry. With thin lips, high cheek +bones, rigid, yet not strong lines in his face, an immense head of +hair, his personal appearance would never have arrested the curiosity +of the beholder but for his eye. This was not brilliant and radiant +like Randolph's. It did not light up with valor, nor burn with +indignation, nor melt with pity, but changeless as a piece of +burnished steel, it had a steady, cold glitter, that fascinated for +the time whomsoever it fell upon. Fixed and precise in his attitude, +and moveless in his person, he poured forth his thoughts and views +with a rapidity, yet distinctness, that startled one. Untrammeled at +this time with those abstractions and theories which afterwards +confused his reasoning faculties and gave an irrecoverable twist to +his logic; he brought his cool, clear intellect to the aid of the +administration, and indicated by the power and influence he soon +acquired, his future greatness. No sophistry could escape him--the +stroke of his cimeter cut through all complexity--and when he had done +with his opponent's argument it could not have been recognized as that +which, just before, looked so plausible and consistent. + +Two other representatives from the same state were able friends of the +administration. William Lowndes, a young man, and though not a good +speaker, nor prepossessing in his appearance, carried great influence +by mere weight of character, and the consistency and firmness of his +political opinions. He was six feet six inches high, and slender +withal; and when he rose to address the house, his unassuming and +respectful manner commanded attention. Of great integrity, clear +headed and consistent, a proud, bright career seemed opening before +him, but death soon closed it for ever. + +Mr. Cheves was chairman of committee of Ways and Means, and exhibited +great ability in that station. + +But the pride of the house was the young and graceful speaker, Henry +Clay. Tall, and straight as a young forest tree, he was the embodiment +of the finest qualities of Western character. Possessing none of the +graces and learning of the schools, nor restrained in the freedom of +thought and opinion by the systems and rules, with which they often +fetter the most gifted genius, he poured his whole ardent soul and +gallant heart into the war. The true genius, and final destiny of this +republic, lie west of the Alleghanies. So there, also, will spring up +our noblest American literature. Not shackled by too great reverence +for the old world, educated in a freer life, and growing up under the +true influences of American institutions, man there becomes a freer, a +more unselfish being; his purposes are nobler, and all his instincts +better. + +Impelled by pure patriotism, and excited by the wrongs and insults +heaped upon his country, Clay entered into those measures designed to +redeem her honor, and maintain her integrity with a zeal and +solicitude, that soon identified him with them. He thus unconsciously +became a leader; and whether electrifying the house with his appeals, +or in the intervals of the sessions of Congress traversing his state, +and arousing the young men to action, exhibited the highest qualities +of an orator. His stirring call to the sons of Kentucky was like the +winding horn of the huntsman, to which they rallied with ardent +courage and dauntless hearts. We now always associate with Clay, the +scattered white locks and furrowed face, and slow, majestic movements. +But, at this time, not a wrinkle seamed his youthful countenance; and +lithe and active, he moved amid his companions with an elastic tread, +and animated features. His rich and sonorous voice was so flexible, +that it gave him great power in appealing to the passions of men. When +moving to pity, it was soft and pleading as a woman's; but when +rousing to indignation, or to noble and gallant deeds, it rang like +the blast of a bugle. In moments of excitement, his manner became +highly impassioned, his blue eye gleamed with the fire of genius, and +his whole countenance beamed with emotion. Thoughts, images, +illustrations leaped to his lips, and were poured forth with a +prodigality and eloquence, that charmed and led captive all within +reach of his voice. He loved his country well, and sung her wrongs +with a pathos, that even his enemies could not withstand. When he was +disheartened by our first reverses on the northern frontier, he turned +to our gallant navy with a pride and affection, he maintained till his +death. Madison leaned on him throughout this trying struggle, as his +chief prop and stay. + +Though the House, rent by the fierce spirit of faction, would often +break through the bounds of decorum and order, he as speaker held the +reins of power with a firm and just hand. With an easy and affable +manner, that attracted every one to him, he yet had a will of iron. +Under all that frankness and familiarity, there was a rock-fast heart, +that never swerved from its purpose. His manner of carrying out his +plans, often misled men respecting the strength of his will. He was +strictly _suaviter in modo fortiter in re_. Clay, Calhoun, Randolph, +and in the next Congress Webster, were striking representatives of the +young country rising rapidly to greatness. Truly, "there were giants +in those days." + +It was estimated that the entire revenue for the ensuing year would be +$12,000,000, while the expenses were calculated at $36,000,000. To +make up the $24,000,000 deficit, the President was authorized to sell +$16,000,000 six per cent. stock, continue outstanding the former +$5,000,000 treasury notes, and raise $5,000,000 towards a new loan. +But the more important business was transferred to the next Congress, +which was to meet early in the spring. The two other principal acts +passed this session, was one authorizing the government to occupy +Mobile, and all that part of Florida ceded to the United States, with +Louisiana, and the other giving it power to retaliate for the +twenty-three Irishmen taken from Scott at Quebec, and sent to England +to be tried for treason. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon -- Rejoicing in + England over the victory -- The Enterprise captures the + Boxer -- Death of Lieutenant Burrows -- Daring cruise of the + Argus in the English and Irish channels -- Lieutenant + Allen's humanity -- Action with the Pelican -- Death of + Allen -- His character. + + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +Defeats on land had thus far been compensated by victories at sea, and +to that element we ever turned with pride and confidence. Our +exultation, however, was for a moment checked by the loss of the +Chesapeake, within sight of our shores. This vessel had started on a +cruise in February, under the command of Captain Evans. Unsuccessful +in her attempts to find the enemy, and having captured but four +merchantmen during the whole time of her absence, she returned to +Boston with the character of an "unlucky ship," which she had borne +from the outset, still more confirmed. Captain Lawrence succeeded +Captain Evans in the command of her, and began to prepare for a second +cruise. An English frigate, the Shannon, was lying off the harbor at +the time, and her commander, Captain Broke, sent a challenge to +Lawrence, to meet him in any latitude or longitude. The Chesapeake was +just getting under way when this challenge arrived, and Lawrence +resolved at once to accept it, though reluctantly, from the +disaffected state in which he found his crew. He had joined his vessel +but a few days before; the proper 1st lieutenant lay sick on shore, +and the acting lieutenant was a young man unaccustomed to his +position, while "there was but one other commissioned sea officer in +the ship," two midshipmen acting as third and fourth lieutenants. +Under these circumstances, and with a discontented, complaining crew, +it was evidently unwise to hasten a combat with a ship that had long +been preparing herself for such an encounter, and was, in every way, +in the best possible condition. But Lawrence, brave and ambitious of +renown, knowing, also, that the motives which would prompt him to +avoid a combat would be misconstrued, and having but a short time +before challenged an English vessel in vain, determined to run the +hazard, and on the morning of the 1st of June, stood boldly out to +sea. At four o'clock he overhauled the Shannon, and fired a gun, which +made her heave to. The Chesapeake, now about thirty miles from land, +came down under easy sail, receiving the fire of the enemy as she +approached. Captain Lawrence having determined to lay the vessel +alongside and make a yard-arm to yard-arm fight of it, reserved his +fire until every gun bore, when he delivered a destructive broadside. +The clouds of smoke as they puffed out upon the sea and rolled upward, +thrilled the hearts of the hundreds of spectators that crowned the dim +highlands around Boston harbor. For a few minutes the cannonading was +terrific, but some of the rigging of the Chesapeake being cut to +pieces one of the sails got loose and blew out, which brought the ship +into the wind. Then taking sternway she backed on her enemy, and the +rigging and an anchor becoming entangled, she could not get off. This, +of course, exposed her to a raking fire, which swept her decks. +Captain Lawrence, during the conflict, had received a wound in the +leg, while several of his officers were killed. When he found that his +vessel would inevitably fall aboard that of the enemy, he ordered the +drums to summon the boarders. But a negro bugleman attempting to +perform this duty was so frightened that he could not blow a note, and +verbal orders were distributed. In the mean time, Lawrence fell +mortally wounded. Carried below, his last words were "Don't give up +the ship," a motto which Perry soon after carried emblazoned on his +flag as he passed from his helpless, dismantled ship, through the +enemy's fire, to the Niagara. With his fall ceased all efforts to +carry the Shannon by boarding. The commander of the latter finding +the quarter-deck guns of the Chesapeake abandoned, gave the orders to +board, and the flag which had never yet been struck to anything like +an equal foe, was hauled down. The destruction on board the American +ship after she fell foul of the enemy was frightful. The entire battle +lasted but twelve minutes, and yet in that short time a hundred and +forty-six of her officers and crew were killed or wounded. The loss of +the Shannon was twenty-three killed and fifty-six wounded. This +victory of the British was tarnished by the brutal conduct of +Lieutenant Faulkener, who took command of the prize. The testimony of +the surviving officers proved him unworthy to serve under the gallant +commander who had so nobly fought his ship. + +The Americans had become so accustomed to naval victories that they +felt great chagrin at this defeat, while the unexpected triumph, +coming as it did on the top of such successive disasters, was received +with the most extravagant delight in England: the Tower bells were +rung, salvos of artillery fired, and praises innumerable and honors +were lavished on Captain Broke. Our navy never received a greater +compliment than these unwonted demonstrations of joy uttered. The +state of the crew--the accidental blowing out of the sail--the neglect +of officers to board--and a variety of excuses were offered to solace +the American people for this defeat. There was, doubtless, much force +in what was said, but the falling of a mast, or the loss of the wheel, +or any casualty which renders a vessel unmanageable, and gives one or +the other a decided advantage, is always liable to occur; hence, +unbroken success is impossible. Occasional misfortune is a law of +chance. + +But during the summer and autumn our other vessels at sea continued to +give a good account of themselves. The three little cruisers, Siren, +Enterprise, and Vixen, were great favorites, for their gallant conduct +in the bay of Tripoli. The latter was captured early in the war by an +English frigate. The Siren did not go to sea till next year, when she +too, after giving a British 74 a chase of eleven hours, was taken. The +Enterprise was kept between Cape Ann and the Bay of Fundy, to chase +off the privateers that vexed our commerce in those waters. She was a +successful cruiser against these smaller vessels, capturing several +and sending them into port. [Sidenote: Sept. 4.] A few days before +Perry's victory, this vessel left the harbor of Portland, and while +sweeping out to sea discovered a strange sail close in shore. The +latter immediately hoisted four British ensigns and stood on after the +Enterprise. Lieutenant Burrows, the commander, kept away, and ordered +a long gun forward to be brought aft and run out of one of the +windows. He had but lately joined the ship, and hence was but little +known by the under officers and men. The latter did not like the looks +of this preparation, especially as he kept carrying on sail. They +feared he had made up his mind to run, and this gun was to be used as +a stern-chaser. From the moment they had seen the British ensign they +were eager to close with the enemy, and the disappointment irritated +them. The seamen on the forecastle stood grouped together, discussing +this strange conduct on the part of their commander for awhile, and +then went to their officer and begged him to go and see about it--to +tell the captain they wanted to fight the British vessel, and they +believed they could whip her. The latter finally went forward and +spoke to the first lieutenant, who told him they need not be troubled, +Mr. Burrows would soon give them fighting enough to do. This was +satisfactory, and they looked cheerful again. The preparations all +being made, and the land sufficiently cleared, Burrows shortened sail +and bore down on the enemy. As the two vessels, approaching +diagonally, came within pistol shot of each other, they delivered +their broadsides, and bore away together. The Enterprise, however, +drew ahead, and Burrows finding himself forward of the enemy's bows, +ordered the helm down, and passing directly across his track, raked +him with his long gun from the cabin window. He then waited for him to +come up on the other quarter, when they again moved off alongside of +each other, firing their broadsides, till at length the main-top-mast +of the English vessel came down. Raking her again with his long gun, +Burrows took up his station on her bows, and poured in a rapid and +destructive fire. + +The men serving one of the carronades being sadly reduced in numbers, +and unable to manage their piece, Burrows stepped forward, and seized +hold of the tackle to help them run it out. Placing his feet against +the bulwark to pull with greater force, he was struck in the thigh by +a shot which glanced from the bone and entered his body, inflicting a +mortal, and exceedingly painful wound. He refused, however, to be +carried below, and laid down on deck, resolved, though writhing in +excruciating agony, to encourage his officers and men by his presence +so long as life lasted. + +In forty minutes from the commencement of the action the enemy ceased +firing, and hailed to say he had struck. The commanding officer +ordered him to haul down his flag. The latter replied they were nailed +to the mast, and could not be lowered till the firing ceased. It was +then stopped, when an English officer sprang on a gun, and shaking +both fists at the Americans, cried, "No--no," and swore and raved, +gesticulating, in the most ludicrous manner till he was ordered +below. This, together with the awkward manner of lowering colors with +levers and hatchets, drew peals of laughter from the American sailors. + +Lieutenant Burrows lived till the sword of the English commander was +placed under his head, when he murmured, "I die contented." This +vessel, which proved to be the Boxer, was terribly cut up, but the +number of killed was never ascertained, as they were thrown overboard +fast as they fell. She had fourteen wounded, while the loss of the +Americans was one killed and thirteen wounded. + +After this the Enterprise, under Lieutenant Renshaw, cruised south, in +company with the Rattlesnake, both having many narrow escapes from +British men of war. The former captured, off the coast of Florida, the +British privateer, Mars, of fourteen guns. Soon after she was chased +by a frigate for three days, the latter often being within gunshot. + +So hard was the brig pressed, that Lieutenant Renshaw was compelled to +throw his anchors, cables, and all but one of his guns overboard. At +length it fell calm, and the frigate began to hoist out her boats. The +capture of the brig then seemed inevitable, but a light breeze +springing up, bringing her fortunately to windward, her sails filled, +and she swept joyfully away from her formidable antagonist. + +Soon after Renshaw was transferred to the Rattlesnake, in which +vessel he was again so hard pressed by a man of war, that he had to +throw over all his guns but two. Afterwards, near the same spot, being +wedged in between a British frigate and the land, he was compelled to +strike his flag. + +The Argus, another brig, was launched this year, and dispatched in +June to France, to carry out Mr. Crawford, our newly appointed +Minister to that country. Having accomplished this mission, Lieutenant +Allen, the commander, steered for the coast of England, and cruised +boldly in the chops of the English channel. Here and in the Irish +channel, this daring commander pounced upon British merchantmen while +almost entering their own ports. He was in the midst of the enemy's +cruisers, and the most untiring watchfulness was demanded to avoid +capture. Unable to man his prizes he set them on fire, making the +Irish Channel lurid with the flames of burning vessels, and lighting +up such beacon fires as England never before saw along her coast. +Great astonishment was felt in Great Britain at the daring and success +of this bold marauder, and vessels were sent out to capture him. But +for a long time he eluded their search, leaving only smouldering ships +to tell where he had been. This service was distasteful to Allen, who +was ambitious of distinction, and wished for an antagonist more worthy +of his attention. Determined to combine as much kindness and humanity +with his duty as he could, he allowed no plundering of private +property. All passengers of captured vessels were permitted to go +below, and unwatched, pack up whatever they wished, and to pass +unchallenged. The slightest deviation from this rule, on the part of +his crew, was instantly and severely punished. This humanity, joined +to his daring acts, brought back to the English the days of Robin Hood +and Captain Kidd. + +A cruise like this of a single brig in the Irish Channel, could not, +of course, continue long. Even if she could avoid capture, the crew +must in time sink under their constant and fatiguing efforts. + +On the thirteenth of August, Allen captured a vessel from Oporto, +loaded with wine. Towards morning he set her on fire, and by the light +of her blazing spars stood away under easy sail. Soon after daylight +he saw a large brig of war bearing down upon him, perfectly covered +with canvas. He immediately took in sail to allow her to close, and +when she came within close range gave her a broadside. As the vessels +continued to approach the firing became more rapid and destructive. In +four minutes Captain Allen was mortally wounded by a round shot, +carrying off his leg. His officers immediately caught him up to carry +him below, but he ordered them back to their posts. In a short time, +however, he fainted from loss of blood and was taken away. Four +minutes after, the first lieutenant, Watson, was struck in the head by +a grape shot, and he too was taken below. There was then but one +lieutenant left, Lieut. H. Allen, who though alone, fought his ship +gallantly. But the rigging was soon so cut up that the vessel became +unmanageable, and the enemy chose his own position. In about a quarter +of an hour Mr. Watson was able to return on deck, when he found the +brig rolling helplessly on the water, a target for the Englishman's +guns. He however determined to get alongside and board, but all his +efforts to do so were abortive, and he was compelled to strike his +colors. His victorious adversary was the Pelican, a brig of war a +fourth larger than the Argus. + +Unwilling to believe that this great disparity of force was a +sufficient reason for the defeat, the Americans endeavored to account +for it in other ways. It was said that the sailors succeeded in +smuggling wine from the brig burned a few hours before, and were not +in a condition to fight--others that they were so overcome with +fatigue that they nodded at their guns. Her fire was certainly much +less destructive than that of other American vessels, which one of the +officers on board said was owing to the powder used. Getting short of +ammunition, they had taken some powder from an English vessel bound to +South America. This being placed uppermost in the magazine, was used +in this engagement. It was afterwards ascertained to be condemned +powder, going as usual to supply South American and Mexican armies. In +proof of this, it was said that the Pelican's hull was dented with +shot, that had not force enough to pierce the timbers. The superiority +of the English vessel in size, however, is a sufficient reason, +without resorting to these explanations.[37] If any other was wanted, +it would be found in the early loss of the superior officers. Such a +calamity, at the outset of an engagement, will almost invariably turn +an even scale. One officer cannot manage a ship, and sailors without +leaders never fight well. + +[Footnote 37: The Pelican was 485 tons, the Argus 298. The former +threw nearly two hundred pounds more metal than the latter at every +discharge.] + +Captain Allen was taken ashore and placed in a hospital. As he was +carried from the ship, he turned his languid eyes on the comrades of +his perils and murmured, "God bless you, my lads; we shall never meet +again." His conduct on the English coast furnishes a striking contrast +to that of Cockburn, along our shores.[38] + +[Footnote 38: Capt. Allen was born in Providence in 1784, and entered +the navy as a midshipman when sixteen years of age. His father was an +officer in the Revolution, and served with distinction. Young Allen, +seven years after his appointment, was lieutenant on board the +Chesapeake, when Barron shamefully struck his flag to the Leopard. He +fired the only gun that replied to the British broadside, touching it +off with a coal that he plucked from the fire in the galley. The shot +passed directly through the ward-room of the Leopard. His indignation +at the conduct of Barron overleaped all bounds, and he told him +bluntly, "_Sir, you have disgraced us._" He drew up a letter to the +Secretary of the Navy, demanding a court martial. "Oh," said he, in +writing home, "when I act like this, may I die unpitied and forgotten, +and no tear be shed to my memory." He was a brave and gallant officer, +and distinguished himself in the action between the United States and +Macedonian, and took command of the latter after her surrender. His +death was a great loss to the navy.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + Cost of transportation to the northern frontier -- English + fleet on our coast -- Chesapeake blockaded -- Blockade of + the whole coast -- Cockburn attacks Frenchtown -- Burns + Havre De Grace -- Attacks Georgetown and Frederickstown -- + Arrival of British reinforcements -- Attack on Craney Island + -- Barbarities committed in Hampton -- Excitement caused by + these outrages -- Commodore Hardy blockades the northern + coast -- Torpedoes -- Hostile attitude of Massachusetts -- + Remonstrances of its legislature -- Feeling of the people. + + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +With such a large extent of ocean and lake coast, and so vast and +unprotected western and southern frontiers occupied by hostile +savages, our troops were necessarily distributed over a wide surface. +The northern army alone acted on the offensive--in all other sections +of the country the Republic strove only to preserve its territory +intact. The summer in which Dearborn's army lay inactive at Fort +George, looked gloomy for the nation. Great exertions were being made +to retrieve our errors, and the war in the north was carried on at an +enormous expense. The conveying of provisions and arms for such a +distance on pack-horses, increased immensely the price of every +article. It was said that each cannon, by the time it reached +Sackett's Harbor, cost a thousand dollars, while the transportation +of provisions to the army of Harrison swelled them to such an +exorbitant price, that the amount expended on a small detachment would +now feed a whole army. The cost of building the indifferent vessels we +had on Lake Ontario, was nearly two millions of dollars. + +But while these vast expenditures were made for the northern army, and +Harrison was gradually concentrating his troops at Fort Meigs, and +Perry building his little fleet on Lake Erie, soon to send up a shout +that should shake the land, and while the murmuring of the savage +hordes, that stretched from Mackinaw to the Gulf of Mexico, foretold a +bloody day approaching, an ominous cloud was gathering over the +Atlantic sea-coast. English fleets were hovering around our harbors +and threatening our cities and towns with conflagration. The year +before, England could spare but few vessels or troops to carry on the +war. Absorbed in the vast designs of Napoleon, who having wrested from +her nearly all her allies and banded them together under his +standard--Austria, Prussia, Poland, all Germany pressing after his +victorious eagles as they flashed above the waters of the Niemen--was +at that time advancing with a half million of men on the great +northern power. If he should prove successful, England would be +compelled to succumb, or with a still more overwhelming force he +would next precipitate himself upon her shores. But the snow-drifts of +Russia had closed over that vast and gallant host--his allies had +abandoned him, and the rising of the nations around him, in his weak, +exhausted condition, foretold the overthrow that soon sent him forth +an exile from his throne and kingdom. Released from the anxiety that +had hitherto rendered her comparatively indifferent to the war on this +continent, she resolved to mete out to us a chastisement the more +severe since it had been so long withheld. Irritated, too, because we +had endeavored to rob her of her provinces at a moment when she was +the least able to extend protection to them, she did not regard us as +a common enemy, but as one who by his conduct had ceased to merit the +treatment accorded in civilized warfare. The first squadron appeared +in the Chesapeake in February and blockaded it. Soon after another, +entered the Delaware under the command of Beresford, who attempted to +land at Lewistown, but was gallantly repulsed by the militia, +commanded by Colonel Davis. The town was bombarded, and though the +firing was kept up for twenty hours, no impression was made upon it. +In March the whole coast of the United States was declared in a state +of blockade, with the exception of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and +New Hampshire. It is not known why Connecticut was not also omitted, +but the invidious distinction made between the eastern and the other +states grew out of the well known hostility of the former to the war. +It was intended not only as a reward for their good behavior in the +past, but a guerdon of better things should that hostility assume a +more definite form. This intended compliment to New England was the +greatest insult she ever received. It was a charge of disloyalty--the +offer of a bribe for treason--the proffer of the hand of friendship, +while that same hand was applying the torch to American dwellings and +carrying the horrors of war to the hearth-stone and fireside. + +Admiral Cockburn, especially, made his name infamous by his wanton +attacks on farm houses and peaceful citizens, and the license he +allowed to the brutal soldiery, who were guilty of deeds of shame and +violence like those which disgraced the troops of Wellington at +Badajos and St. Sebastian. After amusing himself by these predatory +exercises on peasants, hen roosts, barns, and cattle, he planned the +more important attack on Frenchtown, a village consisting of six +dwellings and two store houses. Taking with him about five hundred +marines, he set out at night, and rousing the terrified inhabitants by +his cannon, landed his imposing force, burned the two store houses, +after taking such of their contents as he needed--committed some petty +depredations, and retired. + +The American frigate, Constellation, was blockaded in the bay by this +fleet, but all efforts to take her were repulsed by her brave crew. + +[Sidenote: May 3.] + +The scene of his next exploits was Havre de Grace, a thriving town, +situated on the Susquehanna, about two miles from the head of the bay. +He set out with his barges by night, and at daylight next morning +awakened the inhabitants with the thunder of cannon and explosion of +rockets in their midst. A scene of consternation and brutality +followed. Frightened women and children ran shrieking through the +streets, pursued by the insults and shouts of the soldiers. The houses +were sacked and then set on fire. The ascending smoke and flames of +the burning dwellings increased the ferocity of the men, and acts were +committed, from mere wantonness, disgraceful both to the soldiers and +their commanders. The work of destruction being completed, the British +force was divided into three bodies--one of which was ordered to +remain as guard, while the other two pierced inland, spoiling and +insulting the farmers, and robbing peaceful travellers. For three days +this gallant corps remained the terror and pest of the surrounding +country, and then re-embarked with their booty, leaving the +inhabitants to return to the ashes of their dwellings. Georgetown and +Frederictown became, in turn, the prey of these marauders, and the +light of burning habitations, and tears of women and children, fleeing +in every direction, kindled into tenfold fury the rage of the +inhabitants. A sympathetic feeling pervaded Congress, and no sooner +did it assemble than Clay, the speaker, descended from the chair, and +demanded an investigation of the charges brought against British +soldiers and officers. These excesses, however, were but the prelude +to greater and more revolting ones. Admiral Warren having arrived in +the bay with reinforcements, and land troops under the command of +General Beckwith, more serious movements were resolved upon. Norfolk +was selected as the first point of attack. This important town was +protected by two forts on either side of the Elizabeth river, between +which the frigate Constellation lay at anchor. Soon after the fleet +moved to the mouth of James river, and began to prepare for an attack +on Craney Island, the first obstacle between it and Norfolk. +Penetrating their design, Captain Tarbell landed a hundred seamen on +the island, to man a fort on the north-west side, while he moved his +gun boats so as to command the other channel. At day dawn on the 22d, +fifty barges loaded with troops were seen pulling swiftly towards the +island, to a point out of reach of the gun boats, but within range of +the batteries on shore. These immediately opened their fire with such +precision, that many of the boats were cut in two and sunk, and the +remainder compelled to retire. An attempt from the mainland was also +repulsed by the Virginia militia, under Colonel Beatty. The enemy +lost in this attack between two and three hundred men, while the +Americans suffered but little. Three days after the repulse at Craney +Island, Admiral Cockburn, assisted by General Beckwith, made a descent +on Hampton, a small fishing town by Hampton roads. The riflemen +stationed there, and the militia, bravely resisted the landing, but +were finally driven back by superior numbers. The place was then +entered and plundered, not merely of its public stores, but private +property. This little fishing town was literally sacked by the British +army of twenty-five hundred men. Private houses were rifled, even the +communion service of the church was carried away, while the women were +subjected to the most degrading insults, and _ravished in open day_! +The American army marched into Mexico over the bodies of their slain +comrades, and were fired upon for a whole day from the roofs of houses +after the city had surrendered, yet no such acts of violence were ever +charged on them as were committed under the sanction of the British +flag in this little peaceful, solitary, and defenceless village. The +authorities of the different towns took up the matter--witnesses were +examined, affidavits made, and the proceedings forwarded to the +British Commander. The charges were denied, but they stand proved to +this day, a lasting stigma on the name of Cockburn. This rear admiral +in the British navy not only allowed such outrages in one instance, +but repeatedly. There was a harmony in his proceedings refuting the +apology of unintentional baseness. His expeditions were those of a +brigand, and he changed civilized warfare into marauding, robbery, and +pillage. The news of these enormities, aggravated as they passed from +mouth to month, spread like wildfire amid the people. Stirring appeals +were heard in every village and town. Calm reflection and reason were +indignantly spurned; woman, manhood, patriotism, all cried aloud for +vengeance, and the war-cry of an aroused and indignant people swelled +like thunder over the land. The leaders of the anti-war faction saw +with consternation this rising sympathy of the masses. It threatened, +for the time, to sweep away their influence entirely. The British +committed a vital error in allowing these excesses, for they +harmonized the hitherto divided feelings of the people, and furnished +the upholders of the war with a new and powerful argument for unity +and energy. The public ear had become accustomed to the tales of +impressment and charges of the invasion of neutral rights. The +atrocities on the north-western frontier affected the west more than +the east, where they were charged rather to the Indians than to the +British Government, and were inflicted on an invading force. But a +system of warfare so abhorrent to humanity, aroused into activity a +spirit which gave tenfold strength to the administration. + +While the Chesapeake remained blockaded, Admiral Cockburn, with a +portion of the fleet, moved southward, preceded by the history of his +deeds. The coasts of the Carolinas and Georgia were thrown into a +state of agitation bordering on frenzy. Mrs. Gaston, wife of a member +of Congress, died in convulsions from the terror inspired by this +British Admiral. He, however, effected but little. Landing at +Portsmouth he seized some booty and a few slaves. From the outset he +had attempted to persuade the slaves to rise against their masters, +and actually organized a company of blacks to aid him in his marauding +expeditions. + +The squadron blockading the coast north of the Chesapeake was +commanded by Commodore Hardy, the reverse of Cockburn in every quality +that distinguished the latter. He waged no warfare on defenceless +towns, and villages, and women and children. Humane and generous, he +had more cause to complain of the conduct of the excited inhabitants, +than they of his. Although he landed at various places he allowed his +troops to commit no violence. + +The American coast, south of Cape Cod, was at length thoroughly +blockaded, so that not only were our ships at home shut in port, but +those endeavoring to enter from without captured, and our whole +coasting trade was cut off, causing the country to feel severely the +miseries of war. The Constellation remained blockaded in the +Chesapeake, while the Macedonian, United States, and sloop Hornet, in +endeavoring to escape from New York by the way of the Sound, were +chased into New London, where they were compelled to lay inactive. In +the mean time, in accordance with an act of Congress, passed in the +winter, allowing half of the value of war ships to those who should +destroy them by other means than armed or commissioned vessels of the +United States, great ingenuity was exhibited in the construction of +torpedoes. Several attempts were made to blow up the British frigates, +but without success. The Plantagenet, however, riding in Lynn Haven +bay, came near falling a victim to one of these missiles, which spread +terror through the British fleet. After several unsuccessful efforts, +Mr. Mix, to whom the torpedo was entrusted, at length succeeded in +getting it near the bows of the vessel, unperceived. [Sidenote: July +24.] The "all's well" of the watch on deck had scarcely pealed over +the water, when it exploded with terrific violence. A red and purple +column suddenly rose fifty feet in the air, and bursting, fell like a +water-spout on deck. The ship rolled heavily in the chasm, and a +general rush was made for the boats, one of which was blown into the +air. Commodore Hardy remonstrated against this mode of warfare, as +contrary to the usages of civilized nations, and it was soon +abandoned. The terror it inspired, however, made him more wary in +approaching the coast. A boat-guard was kept rowing around the ships +all night, and the most extraordinary precautions taken to protect +them from these mysterious engines of destruction. + +While our blockaded coast was thus filling Congress with alarm, and +the whole land with gloom and dread, the bold and hostile attitude +which Massachusetts was assuming, both deepened the general +indignation and added to the embarrassments under which the +administration struggled. Owing, doubtless, to the failures which +marked the close of the previous year, the elections in the New +England states during the early spring had terminated very +satisfactorily to the Federalists. Strong was elected Governor of +Massachusetts by a large majority, while both branches of the +Legislature were under the control of the Federalists. In Connecticut +and New Hampshire they had also triumphed, and Vermont, although her +state government and delegation to Congress were Democratic, was still +claimed as Federalist in the popular majority. + +On the other side, New York and Pennsylvania spoke loudly for the +Administration, the latter by offering to loan a million of dollars +to the government, as an offset to the efforts of the Federalists to +prevent the loan proposed by government being taken. + +[Sidenote: May 20.] + +During the summer, acting under a hostile message received from the +governor, the Massachusetts Legislature drew up a remonstrance, +denouncing the war as wrong and unwise, prompted by desire of conquest +and love of France, rather than the wish to maintain the rights of the +people. The report of a committee against the incorporation into the +Union of Louisiana, as the commencement of western annexation, +destined, if not arrested, to destroy the preponderance of the Eastern +states, was also sustained in this remonstrance, which closed with a +solemn appeal to the Searcher of all hearts for the purity of the +motives which prompted it. Quincy in the House, and Otis and Loyd in +the Senate, were the Federalist leaders. Not content with taking this +hostile attitude to the General Government, the Legislature soon after +refused to pass resolutions complimentary to Captain Lawrence for his +gallant conduct in capturing the Peacock, and passed instead, the +following resolution introduced by a preamble, declaring that such +commendations encouraged the continuance of the war. "_Resolved_, as +the sense of the Senate of Massachusetts, that in a war like the +present, waged without justifiable cause, and prosecuted in a manner +showing that conquest and ambition are its real motives, it is not +becoming a moral people to express any approbation of military or +naval exploits, which are not immediately connected with the defence +of our sea-coast and soil." This was not a mere expression of feeling, +but the utterance of a principle acted on from that time to the end of +the war. This proud assumption of state rights and denunciation of the +war when our coasts were blockaded by British cruisers and our +frontiers drenched in blood, met the stern condemnation of the people +throughout the land, and raised a clamor that frightened the authors +of it. Party spirit had made Massachusetts mad, and blinded by her own +narrow views, she wished to wrap herself up in her isolated dignity +and keep forever from the great brotherhood of the Union those western +territories where the hardy settler had to contend not only with the +asperities of nature but a treacherous foe. That West which she then +abjured has since repaid the wrong by pouring into her lap countless +treasures, and furnishing homes for tens of thousands of her sons and +daughters. Allowing the spirit of faction to override the feelings of +nationality, she refused to rejoice in the victories of her country or +sympathize in her defeats. South Carolina has since assumed a similar +hostile attitude to the Union, but it yet remains to be seen whether +she would not sink her private quarrels when the national rights were +struck down and the country wasted by a common foe. As a state, not +only repudiating the authority of the general government and the +sacredness of the Union, but also refusing to stand by the republic in +the hour of adversity and darkness, Massachusetts occupied at that +time a preeminence in our history which it is to be hoped no other +state will ever covet. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Perry obtains and equips a fleet on Lake Erie -- Puts to sea + -- Kentucky marines -- Description of the battle -- Gallant + bearing of Perry -- Slaughter on the Lawrence -- Perry after + the battle -- Burial of the officers -- Exultation of the + people -- Harrison advances on Malden -- Flight of Proctor + -- Battle of the Thames, and death of Tecumseh. + + +But while the country, torn with internal strife and wasted by +external foes, looked with sad forebodings on the prospect before it, +there suddenly shot forth over the western wilderness a gleam of +light, like the bright hues of sunset, betokening a fairer to-morrow. +Perry's brilliant victory, followed by the overthrow of Proctor a few +weeks after, thrilled the land from limit to limit. On the frontier, +where we had met with nothing but disgrace, and towards which the +common eye turned with chagrin, we had cancelled a portion of our +shame, and relieved the national bosom of a part of the load that +oppressed it. + +After the capture of Forts York and George, by which the river of +Niagara was opened to American navigation, Captain Perry was able to +take some vessels bought for the service from Black Rock into Lake +Erie. The Lake at the time was in the possession of the British fleet, +commanded by Captain Barclay, and Perry ran great hazard in +encountering it before he could reach Presque Isle, now Erie, where +the other vessels to compose his squadron had been built. He, however, +reached this spacious harbor just as the English hove in sight. Having +now collected his whole force he made vigorous preparations to get to +sea. By the first of August he was ready to set sail, but the enemy +lay off the harbor, across the mouth of which extended a bar, that he +was afraid to cross under a heavy fire. To his great delight, however, +the British fleet suddenly disappeared--Captain Barclay not dreaming +that his adversary was ready to go to sea, having gone to the Canada +shore. + +Perry was at this time a mere youth, of twenty-seven years of age, but +ardent, chivalrous, and full of energy and resource. From the time he +arrived on the frontier, the winter previous, he had been unceasing in +his efforts to obtain and equip a fleet. Materials had to be brought +from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, dragged hundreds of miles over bad +roads and across unbridged streams. But after his vessels were ready +for sea, he was destitute of crews. To his repeated and urgent calls +for men, only promises were returned, nor did they arrive till the +English had been able to finish and equip a large vessel, the Detroit, +which gave them a decided preponderance. Perry was exceedingly anxious +to attack the hostile fleet before it received this accession of +strength, but prevented from doing this through want of men, he was at +last compelled to abandon all his efforts, or take his chance with his +motley, untrained crew, in an action where the superiority was +manifest. He boldly resolved on the latter course, and taking +advantage of Barclay's sudden departure, gave orders for the men to +repair immediately on board ship, and dropped with eight of his +squadron down the harbor to the bar. It was Sabbath morning, and young +Perry, impressed with the great issues to himself and his country from +the step he was about to take, sent his boat ashore for a clergyman, +requesting him to hold religious services on board his ship. All the +officers of the squadron were assembled on the deck of the Lawrence, +and listened to an impressive address on the duty they owed their +country. Prayer was then offered for the success of their cause. Young +Perry reverently listening to the voice of prayer, as he is going +forth to battle, and young Macdonough lifting his own in supplication +to God, after his decks are cleared for action, furnish striking and +beautiful examples to naval men. + +Next morning the water being smooth, the guns of the Lawrence, the +largest vessel, were taken out, and two scows placed alongside and +filled till they sunk to the water's edge. Pieces of timber were then +run through the forward and after ports of the vessel, and made fast +by blocks to the scows. All being ready, the water was pumped out of +them, and the vessel slowly rose over the bar. She stuck fast, +however, on the top, and the scows had to be sunk again before she +finally floated clear and moved off into deep water. The men worked +all night to get this one brig over. The schooners passed easily and +moored outside. The Lawrence was scarcely once more afloat before the +returning fleet hove in sight. Perry immediately prepared for action. +But Barclay after reconnoitering for half an hour crowded all sail and +disappeared again up the lake.[39] The next day Perry sailed in +pursuit, but after cruising a whole day without finding the enemy, +returned to take in supplies. [Sidenote: Aug. 12.] He was about to +start again, when he received information of the expected approach of +a party of seamen under the command of Captain Elliot. Waiting a day +or two to receive this welcome aid, he set sail for Sandusky, to put +himself in communication with Gen. Harrison and the north-western +army. He then returned to Malden, where the British fleet lay, and +going into Put-in Bay, a haven in its vicinity, waited for the enemy +to come out. [Sidenote: Aug. 25.] Here many of his crew were taken +sick with fever, which at last seized him, together with the three +surgeons of the squadron. He was not able to leave his cabin till the +early part of September, when he received an additional reinforcement +of a hundred volunteers. These troops came from Harrison's army, and +were mostly Kentucky militia and soldiers from the 28th regiment of +infantry, and all volunteers for the approaching battle. The +Kentuckians, most of them, had never seen a square rigged vessel +before, and wandered up and down examining every room and part of the +ship without scruple. Dressed in their fringed linsey-woolsey +hunting-shirts, with their muskets in their hands, they made a novel +marine corps as ever trod the deck of a battle-ship. + +[Footnote 39: It was said he had accepted an invitation to dine in a +Canadian town, and expected to be back before the departure of his +enemy.] + +[Sidenote: Sept. 10.] + +On the morning of the 10th of September, it was announced that the +British fleet was coming out of Malden, and Perry immediately set sail +to meet it. His squadron consisted of three brigs, the Lawrence, +Niagara and Caledonia, the Trippe, a sloop, and five schooners, +carrying in all fifty-four guns. That of the British was composed of +six vessels, mounting sixty-three guns. It was a beautiful morning, +and the light breeze scarcely ruffled the surface of the water as the +two squadrons, with all sails set, slowly approached each other. The +weather-gauge, at first, was with the enemy, but Perry impatient to +close, resolved to waive this advantage, and kept standing on, when +the wind unexpectedly shifted in his favor. Captain Barclay observing +this, immediately hove to, and lying with his topsails aback, waited +the approach of his adversary. With all his canvass out, Perry bore +slowly and steadily down before the wind. The breeze was so light that +he could scarcely make two miles an hour. The shore was lined with +spectators, gazing on the exciting spectacle, and watching with +intense anxiety the movements of the American squadron. Not a cloud +dimmed the clear blue sky over head, and the lake lay like a mirror, +reflecting its beauty and its purity. Perry, in the Lawrence, led the +line. + +Taking out the flag which had been previously prepared, and mounting a +gun-slide, he called the crew about him, and said, "My brave lads, +this flag contains the last words of Captain Lawrence. Shall I hoist +it?" "Aye, aye, sir," was the cheerful response. Up went the flag with +a will, and as it swayed to the breeze it was greeted with loud cheers +from the deck. As the rest of the squadron beheld that flag floating +from the mainmast of their commander's vessel, and saw "Don't give up +the ship!" was to be the signal for action, a long, loud cheer rolled +down the line. The excitement spread below, and all the sick that +could move, tumbled up to aid in the approaching combat. Perry then +visited every gun, having a word of encouragement for each captain. +Seeing some of the gallant tars who had served on board the +Constitution, and many of whom now stood with handkerchiefs tied round +their heads, all cleared for action, he said, "Well, boys, are you +ready?" "All ready, your honor," was the quick response. "I need not +say anything to you. _You_ know how to beat those fellows," he added +smilingly, as he passed on. + +The wind was so light that it took an hour and a half, after all the +preparations had been made, to reach the hostile squadron. This long +interval of idleness and suspense was harder to bear than the battle +itself. Every man stood silently watching the enemy's vessels, or in +low and earnest tones conversed with each other, leaving requests and +messages to friends in case they fell. Perry gave his last direction, +in the event of his death, to Hambleton--tied weights to his public +papers in order to have them ready to cast overboard if he should be +defeated--read over his wife's letters for the last time, and then +tore them up, so that the enemy should not see those records of the +heart, and turned away, remarking, "_This is the most important day of +my life._" The deep seriousness and silence that had fallen on the +ship, was at last broken by the blast of a bugle that came ringing +over the water from the Detroit, followed by cheers from the whole +British squadron. A single gun, whose shot went skipping past the +Lawrence, first uttered its stern challenge, and in a few minutes all +the long guns of the enemy began to play on the American fleet. Being +a mile and a half distant, Perry could not use his carronades, and he +was exposed to this fire for a half an hour before he could get within +range. Steering straight for the Detroit, a vessel a fourth larger +than his own, he gave orders to have the schooners that lagged behind +close up within half cable's length. Those orders, the last he gave +during the battle, were passed by trumpet from vessel to vessel. The +light wind having nearly died away, the Lawrence suffered severely +before she could get near enough to open with her carronades and she +had scarcely taken her position before the fire of three vessels was +directed upon her. Enveloped in flame and smoke, Perry strove +desperately to maintain his ground till the rest of the fleet could +close, and for two hours sustained without flinching this unequal +contest. The balls crashed incessantly through the sides of the ship, +dismounting the guns and strewing the deck with the dead, until at +length, with "every brace and bow-line shot away," she lay an +unmanageable wreck on the water. But still through the smoke, as it +rent before the heavy broadsides, her colors were seen flying, and +still gleamed forth in the sunlight that glorious motto--"_Don't give +up the ship!_" Calm and unmoved at the slaughter around him and his +own desperate position, Perry gave his orders tranquilly, as though +executing a manoeuvre. Although in his first battle, and unaccustomed +to scenes of carnage, his face gave no token of the emotions that +mastered him. Advancing to assist a sailor whose gun had got out of +order, he saw the poor fellow struck from his side by a twenty-four +pound shot and expire without a groan. His second lieutenant fell at +his feet. Lieutenant Brooks, a gay, dashing officer, of extraordinary +personal beauty, while speaking cheerfully to him, was dashed by a +cannon-ball to the other side of the deck and mangled in the most +frightful manner. His shrieks and imploring cries to Perry to kill him +and end his misery, were heard even above the roar of the guns in +every part of the ship. The dying who strewed the deck would turn +their eyes in mute inquiry upon their youthful commander, as if to be +told they had done their duty. The living, as a sweeping shot rent +huge gaps in the ranks of their companions, looked a moment into his +face to read its expression, and then stepped quietly into the places +left vacant. + +Lieutenant Yarnall, with a red handkerchief tied round his head, and +another round his neck, to staunch the blood flowing from two wounds, +his nose swelled to a monstrous size, from a splinter having passed +through it, disfigured and covered with gore, moved amid this terrific +scene the very genius of havoc and carnage. Approaching Perry, he told +him every officer in his division was killed. Others were given him, +but he soon returned with the same dismal tidings. Perry then told him +he must get along by himself, as he had no more to furnish him, and +the gallant man went back alone to his guns. Once only did the shadow +of any emotion pass over the countenance of this intrepid commander. +He had a brother on board, only twelve years old. The little fellow +who had had two balls pass through his hat, and been struck with +splinters, was still standing by the side of his brother, stunned by +the awful cannonading and carnage around him, when he suddenly fell. +For a moment Perry thought he too was gone, but he had only been +knocked down by a hammock, which a cannon ball had hurled against him. + +[Illustration: Battle on Lake Erie.] + +At length every gun was dismounted but one, still Perry fought with +that till at last it also was knocked from the carriage. Out of the +one hundred men with whom a few hours before he had gone into battle, +only eighteen stood up unwounded. Looking through the smoke he saw the +Niagara, apparently uncrippled, drifting out of the battle. Leaping +into a boat with his young brother, he said to his remaining officer, +"If a victory is to be gained, I will gain it," and standing erect, +told the sailors to give way with a will. The enemy observed the +movement, and immediately directed their fire upon the boat. Oars were +splintered in the rowers' hands by musket balls, and the men +themselves covered with spray from the round shot and grape, that +smote the water on every side. Passing swiftly through the iron storm +he reached the Niagara in safety, and as the survivors of the Lawrence +saw him go up the vessel's side, they gave a hearty cheer. Finding her +sound and whole, Perry backed his maintop sail, and flung out his +signal for close action. From vessel to vessel the answering signals +went up in the sunlight, and three cheers rang over the water. He then +gave his sails to the wind and bore steadily down on the centre of the +enemy's line. Reserving his fire as he advanced, he passed alone +through the hostile fleet, within close pistol range, wrapt in flame +as he swept on. Delivering his broadsides right and left, he spread +horror and death through the decks of the Detroit and Lady Prevost. +Rounding to as he passed the line, he laid his vessel close to two of +the enemy's ships, and poured in his rapid fire. The shrieks that rung +out from the Detroit were heard even above the deafening cannonade, +while the crew of the Lady Prevost, unable to stand the fire, ran +below, leaving their wounded, stunned, and bewildered commander alone +on deck, leaning his face on his hand, and gazing vacantly on the +passing ship. The other American vessels having come up, the action at +once became general. To the spectators from the shore the scene at +this moment was indescribably thrilling. Far out on the calm water lay +a white cloud, from out whose tortured bosom broke incessant flashes +and thunder claps--the loud echoes rolling heavily away over the deep, +and dying amid the silence and solitude of the forest. + +An action so close and murderous could not last long, and it was soon +apparent that victory inclined to the Americans, for while the enemy's +fire sensibly slackened, the signal for close action was still flying +from the Niagara, and from every American vessel the answering signal +floated proudly in the wind. In fifteen minutes from the time the +first signal was made the battle was over. A white handkerchief waved +from the taffrail of the Queen Charlotte announced the surrender. The +firing ceased; the smoke slowly cleared away, revealing the two fleets +commingled, shattered, and torn, and strewed with dead. The loss on +each side was a hundred and thirty-five killed and wounded. + +Perry having secured the prisoners, returned to the Lawrence, lying a +wreck in the distance, whither she had helplessly drifted. She had +struck her flag before he closed with the Niagara, but it was now +flying again. Not a word was spoken as he went over the vessel's side; +a silent grasp of the hand was the only sign of recognition, for the +deck around was covered with dismembered limbs, and brains, while the +bodies of twenty officers and men lay in ghastly groups before him. + +As the sun went down over the still lake his last beams looked on a +mournful spectacle. Those ships stripped of their spars and canvass, +looked as if they had been swept by a hurricane, while desolation +covered their decks. At twilight the seamen who had fallen on board +the American fleet were committed to the deep, and the solemn burial +service of the Episcopal Church read over them. + +The uproar of the day had ceased and deep silence rested on the two +squadrons, riding quietly at anchor, broken only by the stifled groans +of the wounded, that were echoed from ship to ship. As Perry sat that +night on the quarter-deck of the Lawrence, conversing with his few +remaining officers, while ever and anon the moans of his brave +comrades below were borne to his ear, he was solemn and subdued. The +exciting scene through which he had safely passed--the heavy load +taken from his heart--the reflection that his own life had been +spared, and the consciousness that his little brother was slumbering +sweetly and unhurt in his hammock beside him, awakened emotions of +gratitude to God, and he gravely remarked, "I believe that my wife's +prayers have saved me."[40] + +[Footnote 40: See Mackenzie's Life of Perry.] + +It had been a proud day for him, and as he lay that night and thought +what a change a few hours had wrought in his fortunes, feelings of +exultation might well swell his bosom. Such unshaken composure--such +gallant bearing--stern resolution, and steadiness and tenacity of +purpose in a young man of twenty-seven, in his first battle, exhibit a +marvellous strength of character, and one wonders more at him than his +success. + +It was a great victory, and as the news spread, bonfires, +illuminations, the firing of cannon and shouts of excited multitudes +announced the joy and exultation of the nation. The gallant bearing of +Perry--his daring passage in an open boat through the enemy's fire to +the Niagara--the motto on his flag--the manner in which he carried his +vessel alone through the enemy's line, and then closed in half pistol +shot--his laconic account of the victory in a letter to the Secretary +of the Navy, "WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS"--furnished +endless themes for discussion and eulogy, and he suddenly found +himself in the front rank of heroes. + +The day after the battle the funeral of the officers of the two fleets +took place. A little opening on the margin of the bay, a wild and +solitary spot, was selected as the place of interment. It was a +beautiful autumn day, not a breath of air ruffled the surface of the +lake or moved the still forest that fringed that lonely clearing. The +sun shone brightly down on the new-made graves, and not a sound +disturbed the sabbath stillness that rested on forest and lake. The +fallen officers, each in his appropriate uniform, were laid on +platforms made to receive them, and placed with their hands across +their breasts, in the barges. As these were rowed gently away the +boats fell in behind in long procession, and the whole swept slowly +and sadly towards the place of burial. The flags drooped mournfully in +the still air, the dirge to which the oars kept time rose and fell in +solemn strains over the water, while minute guns from the various +vessels blended their impressive harmony with the scene. The day +before had been one of strife and carnage, but those who had closed in +mortal hate, now mourned like a band of brothers for their fallen +leaders, and gathering together around the place of burial, gazed a +last farewell, and firing one volley over the nameless graves, turned +sadly away. There, in that wild spot, with the sullen waves to sing +their perpetual dirge, they slept the sleep of the brave. They had +fought gallantly, and it mattered not to them the victory or defeat, +for they had gone to that still land where human strifes are +forgotten, and the clangor of battle never comes. + +This impressive scene occurred off the shore where the massacre of +Raisin was committed, and what a striking contrast does it present to +the day that succeeded the victory of Proctor. By his noble and +generous conduct Perry won the esteem and love of his enemies, while +Proctor by his unfeeling neglect and barbarity received the curse of +all honorable men. The name of one is linked to the spot where he +conquered, with blessings; that of the other with everlasting infamy +and disgrace. + +Harrison, after this victory, collected his army of seven thousand +men, and concentrated them at Put-in Bay. Perry's fleet rode +triumphant on the lake, and he offered its service to Harrison. The +latter ordered the regiment of horse, one thousand strong, to proceed +by land to Detroit, while the rest of the army was embarked on board +the vessels and set sail for Malden. [Sidenote: Sept. 13.] Proctor +commanded at the latter place, and hearing of Barclay's defeat and +Harrison's advance, was seized with alarm, and dismantling and blowing +up the fort, and setting on fire the navy yard, barracks and store +houses, and taking with him all the horses and cattle, fled towards +the Thames. The Americans followed in swift and eager pursuit. +Governor Shelby, of Kentucky, though sixty-two years of age, was there +with his brave Kentuckians, a volunteer, shaking his white locks with +the merriest. Perry and Cass also accompanied the army, sharing in the +animation and eagerness of the men. Sending a detachment across the +river to drive out the hostile Indians from Detroit, Harrison, on the +30th, saw with relief the mounted column of Colonel Johnson winding +along the opposite bank, announcing its approach with the stirring +notes of the bugle. Resting one day to complete his preparations, he, +on the 2d of October, resumed the pursuit, and soon, abandoned guns +and shells, destroyed bridges, and houses and vessels on fire, +revealed the haste and rage of the enemy. Proctor, after reaching the +Thames, kept up the river, with the intention of striking the British +posts near the head of Lake Ontario. But Harrison pressed him so +closely, it soon became evident that a battle could not be avoided. On +the 5th, Colonel Johnson, with his mounted Kentuckians, marching two +or three miles in advance, came upon the retreating army drawn up in +order of battle, on the bank of the Thames near the Moravian +settlement. Proctor had taken an admirable position upon a dry strip +of land, flanked by the river on the left and a swamp on the right. +Here he placed his regulars, eight hundred strong, while Tecumseh with +his two thousand Indian allies occupied the eastern margin of the +swamp. Harrison, with his troops jaded out, encamped that night in +front of the enemy. [Sidenote: Oct. 4.] After dark Proctor and +Tecumseh reconnoitred together the American camp, when the latter +advised a night attack. This, Proctor objected to, and strongly urged +a retreat. The haughty savage spurned the proposition, and in the +morning the British general finding he could not escape an engagement, +resolved to give battle where he was. Thinking only of retreat he had +neglected to erect a breastwork or cut a ditch in front of his +position, which would have effectually prevented a cavalry attack. To +ensure the complete success of this blunder, he formed his troops in +open order, thus provoking a charge of horse. [Sidenote: Oct. 5.] +Colonel Johnson, at his earnest request, was allowed to open the +battle with his thousand mounted riflemen. But just as he was about to +order the charge, he discovered that the ground was too cramped to +admit of a rapid and orderly movement of the entire force, and he +therefore divided it into two columns, and putting his brother, +Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson, at the head of the one that was to +advance on the British, he led the other against the Indians. These +two battalions moved slowly forward for a short time parallel to each +other, the infantry following. The column advancing on the British +was checked at the first fire--the horses at the head of it recoiling. +Their riders, however, quickly recovered them, and sending the rowels +home, plunged with a yell of frenzy full on the British line. A few +saddles were emptied, but nothing could stop that astonishing charge. +Those fiery horsemen swept like a whirlwind through the panic-stricken +ranks, and then wheeling, delivered their fire. Nearly five hundred +rifles cracked at once, strewing the ground with men. It was a single +blow, and the battle was over in that part of the field. Scarcely a +minute had elapsed, and almost the entire British force was begging +for quarter. A charge of cavalry with rifles only, was probably a new +thing to those soldiers. Proctor, with forty men and some mounted +Indians, fled at the first onset. His carriage, private papers, even +his sword, were left behind, and goaded by terror he was soon lost in +the distance. He remembered the massacre at Raisin, and knew if those +enraged Kentuckians, whose brothers, fathers and sons he had given up +to the savage, once laid hands on him they would grant him short +shrift. Cruelty and cowardice are often joined together. + +The other battalion not finding firm footing for the horses could not +charge, and Johnson seeing that his men were being rapidly picked off, +ordered them to dismount and take to the cover. Tecumseh led his men +gallantly forward, and for a few minutes the conflict was sharp and +bloody. Johnson was wounded in three places, yet stubbornly maintained +his ground. At length Tecumseh fell, when the savages with a loud +whoop, the "death halloo" of their leader, turned and fled. The death +of this remarkable chieftain was worth more than a whole hostile tribe +destroyed, and broke up forever the grand alliance of the Indians with +the British. Not more than twenty-five hundred American troops mingled +in the battle at all; of these but fifty were killed and wounded. +Among the latter was Colonel Johnson, who was borne from the field in +a blanket, with the blood running out at either end. Six hundred +prisoners were taken, a large quantity of stores, ammunition, etc., +and six pieces of artillery, among which were three captured from the +British during the Revolution, and surrendered by General Hull at +Detroit. The news of this important victory coming so quick on that of +Perry's, filled the nation with increased confidence, and placed a +cheerful countenance once more on the war party. The cloud that had +hung so darkly over the land seemed lifting, and if Chauncey on Lake +Ontario, and Wilkinson on the St. Lawrence, would give equally good +accounts of themselves, the season would close with Canada within our +grasp. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Wilkinson takes command of the northern army -- Plan of the + campaign -- Hampton entrusted with the 5th military district + and takes position at Plattsburg -- Quarrel between the two + Generals -- Hampton advances, against orders, into Canada; + is defeated -- Concentration of Wilkinson's army -- Moves + down the St. Lawrence -- Its picturesque aspect -- Harassed + by the enemy -- Battle of Chrystler's field -- Hampton + refuses to join him -- The expedition abandoned and the + armies retire to winter quarters -- Disappointment and + indignation of the war party, and gratification of the + Federalists -- Abandonment of Fort George and burning of + Newark -- Loss of Fort Niagara and burning of Buffalo and + the settlements along the river -- Retaliation -- Gloomy + close of the campaign. + + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +While Perry and Harrison were thus reclaiming our lost ground on Lake +Erie and in the north-west, Armstrong was preparing to carry out his +favorite plan of a descent on Kingston and Montreal. When he accepted +the post of Secretary of War, he transferred his department from +Washington to Sackett's Harbor, so that he might superintend in person +the progress of the campaign. In April previous, the United States had +been divided into nine military districts, that portion of New York +State north of the Highlands and Vermont, constituting the ninth.[41] +Although Wilkinson had superseded Dearborn, as commander-in-chief of +this district in July, he did not issue his first orders to the army +till the 23d of August. Three days after a council of war was held at +Sackett's Harbor, in which it was estimated that by the 20th of +September the army would consist of nine thousand men, exclusive of +militia. The garrisons at Forts George, Niagara, Oswego and +Burlington, were therefore ordered to rendezvous at Grenadier Island, +near Sackett's Harbor. General Wade Hampton, who had been recalled +from the fifth military district to the northern frontier, encamped +with his army, four thousand strong, at Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain. +The plan finally adopted by the Secretary was, to have Wilkinson drop +down the St. Lawrence, and without stopping to attack the English +posts on the river, form a junction with General Hampton, when the two +armies should march at once on Montreal. These two Generals were both +Revolutionary officers, and consequently too advanced in years to +carry such an expedition through with vigor and activity. Besides, a +hostile feeling separated them, rendering each jealous of the other's +command, which threatened to work the most serious mischief. +Armstrong, however, being the friend of both, thought by acting +himself as commander-in-chief, he could reconcile their differences, +sufficiently to insure harmony of action. Chauncey, in the mean time, +after an action with Yeo, in which both parties claimed the victory, +forced his adversary to take refuge in Burlington Bay. [Sidenote: +Sept. 28.] He then wrote to Wilkinson that the lake was clear of the +enemy, and reported himself ready to transport the troops down the St. +Lawrence. + +[Footnote 41: Massachusetts and New Hampshire constituted the first; +Rhode Island and Connecticut the second; New York, south of the +Highlands, and a part of New Jersey, the third; the remaining section +of New Jersey, with Pennsylvania and Delaware, the fourth; Virginia, +south of the Rappahannock, the fifth; Georgia and the two Carolinas, +the sixth; Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, the seventh; +Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Missouri, the eighth. +A tenth was erected during the summer, including Maryland, the +District of Columbia, and that portion of Virginia lying between the +Potomac and Rappahannock rivers.] + +The greatest expectations were formed of this expedition. The people +knew nothing of the quarrel between Wilkinson and Hampton, and thought +only of the strength of their united force. The victories of Perry and +Harrison had restored confidence--the tide of misfortune had turned, +and when the junction of the two armies should take place, making in +all nearly twelve thousand men, the fate of Canada, they fondly +believed, would be sealed. No large British force was concentrated on +the frontier, while a garrison of but six hundred held Montreal. The +press, deeming Canada already won, had begun to defend its conquest. +The question was no longer, _how_ to take it, but to reconcile the +nation to its possession. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 19.] + +While Wilkinson was preparing to fulfill his part of the campaign, +Hampton made a bold push into Canada on his own responsibility. +Advancing from Plattsburg, he marched directly for St. John, but +finding water scarce for his draft cattle, owing to a severe drought, +he moved to the left, and next day arrived at Chateaugay Four Corners, +a few miles from the Canada line. Here he was overtaken by an order +from Armstrong, commanding him to remain where was, until the arrival +of Wilkinson. But jealous of his rival, and wishing to achieve a +victory in which the honor would not be divided, he resolved to take +upon himself the responsibility of advancing alone. Several +detachments of militia had augmented his force of four thousand, and +he deemed himself sufficiently strong to attack Prevost, who he was +told had only about two thousand ill assorted troops under him. +[Sidenote: Oct. 21.] He therefore gave orders to march, and cutting a +road for twenty-four miles through the wilderness, after five days +great toil, reached the British position. Ignorant of its weakness, he +dispatched Colonel Purdy at night by a circuitous route to gain the +enemy's flank and rear and assail his works, while he attacked them in +front. Bewildered by the darkness, and led astray by his guide, +Colonel Purdy wandered through the forest, entirely ignorant of the +whereabouts of the enemy or of his own. General Hampton, however, +supposing that he had succeeded in his attempt, ordered General Izard +to advance with the main body of the army, and as soon as firing was +heard in the rear to commence the attack in front. Izard marched up +his men and a skirmish ensued, when Colonel De Salaberry, the British +commander, who had but a handful of regulars under him, ordered the +bugles, which had been placed at some distance apart on purpose to +represent a large force, to sound the charge. The ruse succeeded +admirably, and a halt was ordered. The bugles brought up the lost +detachment of Purdy, but suddenly assailed by a concealed body of +militia, his command was thrown into disorder and broke and fled. +Disconcerted by the defeat of Purdy, Hampton ordered a retreat, +without making any attempt to carry the British intrenchments. A few +hundred Canadian militia, with a handful of regulars, stopped this +army of more than four thousand men with ten pieces of artillery, so +that it was forced, with a loss of but thirty men killed, wounded and +missing, to retreat twenty-four miles along the road it had cut with +so much labor through the forest. Hampton, defeated by the blasts of a +few bugles, took up his position again at the Four Corners, to wait +further news from Wilkinson's division. + +[Illustration: Wilkinson Flotilla Amid the Thousand Isles.] + +The latter having concentrated his troops at Grenadier Island, +embarked them again the same day that Hampton advanced, against +orders, towards Montreal. Three hundred boats covering the river for +miles, carried the infantry and artillery, while the cavalry, five +hundred strong, marched along the bank. Beaten about by storms, +drenched with rain, stranded on deceitful shoals, this grand fleet of +batteaux crept so slowly towards the entrance of the St. Lawrence, +that the army, dispirited and disgusted, railed on its commander and +the government alike. They were two weeks in reaching the river. +Wilkinson, who had been recalled from New Orleans, to take charge of +this expedition, was prostrated by the lake fever, which, added to the +infirmities of age, rendered him wholly unfit for the position he +occupied. General Lewis, his second in command, was also sick. The +season was already far advanced--the autumnal storms had set in +earlier than usual--everything conspired to ensure defeat; and around +this wreck of a commander, tossed an army, dispirited, disgusted, and +doomed to disgrace. General Brown led the advance of this army of +invasion, as it started for Montreal, a hundred and eighty miles +distant. Approaching French Creek, eighteen miles below Grenadier +Island, it was attacked by a fleet of boats from Kingston, but +repulsed them with little loss. The news of the invasion, however, +spreading, the British detachment at Kingston, reinforced by the +militia, followed the descending flotilla, harassing it whenever an +opportunity occurred. To a beholder the force seemed adequate to +secure the object contemplated, for the spectacle it presented was +grand and imposing. As the head of that vast fleet came winding around +the bend of the stream and swept out of view below, the long +procession of boats that streamed after seemed to be endless. +Scattered in picturesque groups amid the Thousand Isles, or assailed +with artillery from British forts--now swallowed up in the silent +forest that clothed the banks, and again slowly drifting past the +scattered settlements, or shooting the long and dangerous rapids, it +presented a strange and picturesque appearance. When it reached the +head of the long rapids at Hamilton, twenty miles below Ogdensburg, +Wilkinson ordered General Brown to advance by land and cover the +passage of the boats through the narrow defiles, where the enemy had +established block houses. In the mean time the cavalry had crossed +over to the Canadian side and with fifteen hundred men under General +Boyd, been despatched against the enemy, which was constantly +harassing his rear. + +[Sidenote: Nov. 11.] + +General Boyd, accompanied by Generals Swartwout and Covington as +volunteers, moved forward in three columns. Colonel Ripley advancing +with the 21st Regiment, drove the enemy's sharp shooters from the +woods, and emerged on an open space, called Chrystler's Field, and +directly in front of two English regiments. Notwithstanding the +disparity of numbers this gallant officer ordered a charge, which was +executed with such firmness that the two regiments retired. Rallying +and making a stand, they were again charged and driven back. General +Covington falling fiercely on the left flank, where the artillery was +posted, forced it to recoil. But at this critical moment, while +bravely leading on his men, he was shot through the body. His fall +disconcerted the brigade, and a shower of grape shot at the same +moment scourging it severely, it retired in confusion. This restored +the combat, and for more than two hours that open field was the scene +of successive and most gallant charges. The front of battle wavered to +and fro, and deeds of personal courage and daring were done that +showed that the troops and younger officers only needed a proper +commander, and they would soon give a report of themselves which would +change the aspect of affairs. + +At length the British retired to their camp and the Americans +maintained their position on the shore, so that the flotilla passed +the Saut in safety. This action has never received the praise it +deserves--the disgraceful failure of the campaign having cast a shadow +upon it. The British, though inferior in numbers, had greatly the +advantage in having possession of a stone house in the midst of the +field, from which, as from a citadel, they could keep up a constant +fire, without being injured in return. The conflict was close and +murderous, and the American troops gave there a foretaste of Chippewa +and Lundy's Lane. Nearly one-fifth of the entire force engaged were +killed or wounded; a mortality never exhibited in a drawn battle +without most desperate fighting. + +General Wilkinson, who lay sick in his boat, knew nothing of what was +transpiring, except by report. Brown's cannon thundering amid the +rapids below--the dropping fire in the rear of his flotilla, and the +incessant crash of artillery and rattle of musketry in the forest, +blended their echoes around him, augmenting the power of disease, and +increasing that nervous anxiety, which made him long to be away from +such turbulent scenes, amid occupations more befitting his age and +infirmities. + +The army, however, still held its course for Montreal. Young Scott, +who had joined the expedition at Ogdensburg, was fifteen miles ahead, +clearing, with a detachment of less than eight hundred men, the river +banks as he went. Montreal was known to be feebly garrisoned, and +Wilkinson had no doubt it would fall an easy conquest. He therefore +sent forward to Hampton to join him at St. Regis, with provisions. +Hampton, in reply, said, that his men could bring no more provisions +than they wanted for their own use, and informed him, in short, that +he should not cooperate with him at all, but make the best of his way +back to Lake Champlain. + +On receiving this astounding news, Wilkinson called a council of war, +which reprobated in strong terms the conduct of Hampton, and decided +that in consideration of his failure, and the lateness of the season, +the march should be suspended, and the army retire to winter quarters. +This was carried into effect, and Wilkinson repaired to French Mills, +on Salmon river, for the winter, and Hampton to Plattsburgh. Thus, for +months, an army of twelve thousand men had marched and manoeuvred on +the Canadian frontier without striking a single blow. Confidence in +the success of this campaign had been so great, that its disgraceful +issue fell like a sudden paralysis on the war party, and on the nation +generally. Like Hull's defeat, it was unredeemed by a single glimmer +of light. The mind had nothing to rest upon for momentary relief. The +failure was so complete and total, that the advocates of the war were +struck dumb, and Washington was wrapped in gloom. The Federalists, on +the contrary, were strengthened. Their prognostications had proved +true. The nation had concentrated its strength on Canada for two +years, and yet been unable to make the least impression. A Boston +paper that from the first had denounced the war, said, "Democracy has +rolled herself up in weeds, and laid down for its last wallowing in +the slough of disgrace." + + Now lift ye saints your heads on high, + And shout, for your redemption's nigh.[42] + +[Footnote 42: Vide Ingersoll.] + +The Federalists knew their advantage and prepared to use it, for this +was not a lost battle that might in a few days be retrieved; it was a +lost campaign, and a whole winter must intervene before an opportunity +to redeem it could occur. In that time they hoped to make the +administration a hissing and a bye-word in the land. The war party +looked glum and sullen in view of the long and merciless scourging +which awaited it. Armstrong was loudly censured, while on Wilkinson +and Hampton it poured the whole vials of its wrath. Armstrong was +doubtless too much of a martinet, and could carry through a campaign +on paper much better than practically; still, the one he had proposed +was feasible, and ought to have succeeded. He could not be held +responsible for the insubordination of officers. He however committed +one great error. Aware of the hostile feeling that existed between +Wilkinson and Hampton, he should have remained on the spot and acted +as commander-in-chief, or else if his duties rendered his absence +imperative, accepted the resignation of Wilkinson. Old and sick as the +latter was, no commander could have been more inefficient than he, +while the enmity between him and Hampton was certain to end in +mischief. The junction of the two armies would not have prevented, but +on the contrary increased it. He knew, or ought to have known, they +would not act harmoniously together, and it required no prophet's +vision to foretell the fate of a divided army acting on the enemy's +territory. If he had remained to urge forward the expedition, and sent +home Hampton for disobeying his orders, and compelled the army to form +a junction with that of Wilkinson, no doubt Montreal would have +fallen. But knowing, as he did from the outset, that Hampton would +never harmonize with his enemy--to allow the success of the campaign +to depend on their concerted action, was committing a blunder for +which no apology can be made. + +Wilkinson came in for more than his share of public abuse. Sickness +must always cover a multitude of sins. There are very few men whose +will is stronger than disease. The firmest are unstrung by it. Even +Cesar, when prostrated by fever, could say: + + "Give me some drink, Titinius, + As a sick girl." + +This is especially true of men advanced in years. Age tells heavily +enough on both physical and mental powers in an arduous campaign, +without the additional aid of fever. Wilkinson was perfectly aware of +this, and requested twice to be released from the command. Forced to +retain a position he felt unequal to, his conduct was necessarily +characterized by no vigor; and insubordination, disgraceful quarrels, +and duels, combined to make a sorry chapter in the history of the +expedition. It must be confessed, however, that for some of his +conduct, age and disease are but sorry excuses, and it is pretty +apparent he was in character wholly unfit for the enterprise he had +undertaken. For Hampton there is no apology. His disobedience of +orders in the first place should have been followed by his immediate +withdrawal from the army, while his refusal to do the very thing he +had been sent north to perform, was a crime next to treason. All the +forts we occupied on the frontier had been emptied of their garrisons, +and great expense incurred by the government to carry forward an +expedition, the chief feature in which was the junction and united +advance of the two armies. His resignation saved him from public +disgrace. The withdrawal of our troops from Lake Ontario and Niagara, +together with the suspension of hostilities on the St. Lawrence, was +followed by the capture of all the posts we had been two years in +taking. + +When Scott obtained permission to join Wilkinson's army, he left Fort +George in the command of General McClure of the New York militia. The +fort had been put in a complete state of defence by Scott, and was +supposed able to repel any force that would be brought against it. +Vincent, who had abandoned its investment after Proctor's overthrow, +returned when he heard of Wilkinson's retreat. McClure, under the plea +that his militia had left him, and that those volunteers promised +could not be obtained, resolved to abandon the fort without risking a +battle. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 10.] + +He therefore dismantled it, and then in order to deprive the enemy of +shelter, set fire to the neighboring village of Newark and drove four +hundred women and children forth to the fierce blasts of a northern +winter. The English, who during this war rarely waited for an excuse +to resort to the barbarities of savage warfare, of course retaliated +with tenfold violence. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 19.] + +Nine days after, Fort Niagara was surprised by a party of British and +Indians, under the command of Colonel Murray, and sixty of the +garrison murdered in cold blood. The manner in which it was taken +created a strong suspicion of treachery somewhere. The British made no +secret of the premeditated attack, and the day before, General McClure +issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of Niagara, Genesee and +Chatauque counties, calling on them to rally to the defence of their +homes and country. To this was appended a postscript, stating, "since +the above was prepared, I have received intelligence from a credible +inhabitant from Canada (who has just escaped from thence) that the +enemy are concentrating all their forces and boats at Fort George, and +have fixed _upon to-morrow night for attacking Fort Niagara_--and +should they succeed they will lay waste our whole frontier." On that +very "morrow night" the attack _did_ take place, and yet the +Commandant, Captain Leonard, was absent, having left during the +evening, without entrusting the command of the post to another. The +picquets were taken by surprise, and the enemy entered by the main +gate, which, it is said, was found open. + +It seemed at this time as if the government had carefully selected the +most inefficient men in the nation to command on our frontier, in +order to show what a large stock we had on hand, before those more +capable and deserving could be given a place. General McClure not only +fixed the _time_ of the attack, but declared that the fall of the fort +would be followed by the desolation of the whole frontier, (in both of +which prognostications he proved an admirable prophet,) yet not a man +was sent to reinforce it, no orders were issued to its commander, and +no precautions taken. Had Scott been in his place, fort Niagara would +have enclosed him that night--every door would have been bolted and +barred, and the 27 guns it contained rained death on the assailants +as they approached. McClure was right, the enemy did "lay waste the +frontier." Marching on Lewistown, they burned it to the ground. +Setting fire to every farm-house as they advanced, massacring many of +the inhabitants, and mutilating the corpses, they burned Youngstown, +the Tuscarora Indian village, and Manchester, kindling the whole +frontier into a glow from the light of blazing dwellings. Eleven days +after another party crossed at Grand Island, and burned Black Rock and +Buffalo, leaving scarcely a house standing in the latter place. +[Sidenote: Dec. 30.] At Black Rock they burned three of the schooners +belonging to Perry's gallant fleet. Cruel and merciless as was this +raid, it had a justification, at least in the burning of houses, on +the principles of war. The destruction of Newark was a barbarous act, +and in no way borne out by the orders of government, which authorized +it only on the ground that the defence of the fort rendered it +necessary. To fire a town, turning forth houseless and homeless women +and children, because an attacking enemy might employ it as a shelter +from which to make their approaches: and destroy it on the plea that +it affords merely the shelter of a bivouack, after the position is +abandoned, are totally different acts, nor can they be made similar by +any sophistry. These outrages inflamed the passions of the inhabitants +occupying the frontier to the highest degree. No epithets were too +harsh when speaking of each other, and no retaliation seemed too +severe. This feeling of hostility was still farther exasperated by the +treatment of prisoners of war. The imprisoning of twenty Irishmen, +taken at Queenstown the year before, to be tried as traitors, was no +doubt a stroke of policy on the part of England, and designed to deter +adopted citizens from enlisting in the army. It was announcing +beforehand, that all English, Scotch and Irish taken in battle would +not be regarded as ordinary prisoners of war, but as her own subjects +caught in the act of revolt. Our government could not in any way +recognize this arrogant claim, and twenty-three English prisoners were +placed in close confinement, with the distinct pledge of the +government that they should meet the fate pronounced on the Irishmen. +Prevost, acting under orders, immediately shut up twice the number of +American officers. Madison retorted by imprisoning an equal number of +English officers. Prevost then placed in confinement all the prisoners +of war; Madison did the same. The treatment of these prisoners was +alike only in form, for while we showed all the leniency consistent +with obedience to orders, the English, for the most part, were +haughty, contemptuous, and insulting. + +The Creek war commenced this year, and though the Indians were not +subdued, no defeat had sullied the American arms. This, together with +the capture of Detroit, summed up the amount of our successes on land +for the year. York and Fort George were lost to us, while Fort +Niagara, standing on our soil, was in the hands of the enemy. Such, +the administration was compelled to exhibit as the results +accomplished by a regular army of thirty-four thousand men, _six +thousand volunteers_, and the occasional employment of _thirty +thousand militia_. This report following on the heels of the disasters +of the previous year, would have completely broken down the government +but for the exasperated state of the nation, produced by the cruelties +and atrocities of the English. Tenacity of purpose has ever been +characteristic of the nation, and ever will be; disasters make us +sullen and gloomy, but never incline us to submission. Armies may be +beaten, but the nation, never, is a sentiment so grounded and fixed in +the national heart that to question its truth excites only amazement. +To deepen still more the shadows that had closed upon us, Bonaparte, +at this time, was evidently in his last struggle. Although battling +bravely for his throne, and exhibiting in more brilliant light than +ever the splendor of his marvellous genius, yet the "star" that had +led him on was already touching the horizon; and soon as his vast +power should yield and fall, England would give us her undivided +attention, and then our little navy, our pride and solace, would be +swept from the seas. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +1813--1814. + + Winter operations -- Decatur challenges Commodore Hardy to + meet the United States and Macedonian with two of his + frigates -- Wilkinson's second invasion of Canada -- Battle + of la Cole Mill -- Holmes' expedition into Canada -- + Romantic character of our border warfare -- Inroad of the + British marines to Saybrook and Brockaway's Ferry. + + +During the autumn and winter of this year, while Congress was shaken +with conflicting parties, and deeper gloom and embarrassments were +gathering round the administration, reports of conflicts ever and anon +came from the bosom of our northern and southern wildernesses. +Wilkinson was endeavoring to redeem his failures along the St. +Lawrence, and Jackson was leading his gallant little band into the +fastnesses of the Creek nation. Most of the national vessels were +blockaded in our harbors and rivers, but still our bold little +privateers were scouring the ocean in every direction. At this time, +too, a single war vessel might be seen struggling in tempestuous seas +off the stormy cape, on her way to the Pacific ocean to finish in +disaster the most remarkable cruise found in our naval annals. +Decatur, with his squadron, lay blockaded at New London, and it was +said that every attempt to get to sea was thwarted by some disaffected +persons, who burned blue lights at the mouth of the river to give +information of his movements to the enemy. He wrote a letter to Mr. +Jones, the Secretary of the Navy, on the subject, and a proposition +was made in Congress to have it investigated, but it was dismissed as +of trivial importance. Irritated at his inactivity, he challenged the +Endymion and Statira to meet the United States and Macedonian in +single combat, offering to reduce his force till they said it equalled +their own. To this Commodore Hardy at first gave his consent, but +afterwards withdrew it. If the challenge had been accepted, there is +little doubt but that the Chesapeake would have been signally avenged. +At one time Decatur was so confident of a fight, that he addressed his +crew on the subject. + +Wilkinson soon after his retirement to winter quarters at French +Mills, on Salmon river, resigned his command to General Izard, and +proceeded to Washington to recruit his health. He here planned a +winter campaign which for hardihood and boldness exceeded all his +previous demonstrations. He proposed to pierce by different routes +with two columns, each two thousand strong, to the St. Pierre, and +sweeping the defenceless cantonments as he advanced, stop and occupy +them or turn with sudden and resistless energy against the Isle Aux +Noix, or go quietly back to his winter quarters again. At the same +time, four thousand men were to cross the St. Lawrence, take Cornwall, +fortify and hold it so as to destroy the communication between the two +provinces. Nay, he proposed at one time to barrack in Kingston. The +secretary, however, distrusting the feasibility of these plans, +ordered him to fall back to Plattsburgh with his troops. Brown, in the +mean time, was directed to take two thousand men and proceed to +Sackett's Harbor, for the defence of our flotilla there, while young +Scott was stationed at Buffalo. + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +Matters remained in this state till March, when Wilkinson resolved to +erect a battery at Rouse's Point, and thus keep the enemy from Lake +Champlain. The latter, penetrating the design, concentrated a force +two thousand strong at La Cole Mill, three miles below the point. The +early breaking up of the ice, however, had rendered the project +impracticable. Still, Wilkinson resolved to attack La Cole Mill, +though it does not appear what use he designed to make of the victory +when gained. With four thousand men, and artillery sufficiently heavy, +it was supposed, to demolish the walls of the mill, he set forth. The +main road was blockaded for miles with trees that had been felled +across it. He therefore, after arriving at Odletown, was compelled to +take a narrow winding path only wide enough for a single sleigh, and +which for three miles crept through a dense wood. With a guide who had +been forced into the service to show the way, and who marched on foot +between two dragoons, the advance, led by Major Forsyth and Colonel +Clarke, slowly entered the wintry forest. An eighteen pounder broke +down before it reached the woods, a twelve pounder lagged on the way, +so as to be useless. A twelve pounder and a howitzer were got forward +with great labor, for the wheels sunk into the yielding snow and mud, +and thumped at almost every revolution against the trees that hemmed +in the narrow path. The column was necessarily closely packed, and as +it waded through the snow the fire of the concealed enemy soon opened +upon it. But the two guns, what with lifting and pushing, lumbered +slowly forward, and at length were placed in a position in a clearing +in sight of the mill, which proved to be garrisoned by only two +hundred men. The snow was a foot deep, and the panting troops, though +full of courage and confidence, were brought with difficulty forward. +The woods were so thick that the mill was hidden till directly upon +it, and the only open space where the cannon could play unobstructed +on the walls was so near, that the sharp shooters within the building +could pick off the gunners with fatal rapidity. The first shots told +heavily on the building, but in a short time, of the three officers +who commanded the guns, two were severely wounded, and of the twenty +men who served them, fourteen were dead or disabled. The troops as +they came up were posted so as to prevent the escape of the garrison. +Sortie after sortie was made to take the guns, but always repulsed by +the American troops, who fought gallantly under their intrepid +leaders. Larribee who commanded the howitzer was shot through the +heart, and Macpherson who had charge of the twelve pounder, though cut +by a bullet under the chin, maintained his ground till prostrated by a +frightful wound in the hip. The infantry was of no avail, except to +repel sorties, and stood grouped in the forest waiting till the enemy, +forced by the cannonade to retreat, should uncover themselves. But it +was impossible to serve the guns under the concentrated fire of two +hundred muskets and rifles in such close range. Men dropped in the act +of loading; in one case, after the piece was charged, but a single man +remained to fire it. A portion of the garrison seeing it so +unprotected, rushed forth to seize it. The single man, however, stood +his ground, and as the enemy came, fired his piece. At the same time +the troops in the wood poured in a volley. When the smoke cleared away +but a single man was left standing. The whole column had been shot +down. At length a hundred and forty or fifty having fallen and night +coming on the troops were withdrawn. It was resolved to renew the +attack next morning, but a rain storm set in during the night, turning +the snow into a half fluid mass, and rendering a second approach +impracticable. The chilled and tired army was therefore withdrawn, and +Wilkinson ended at once his invasion of Canada and his military +career. He retired from the army, and younger and more energetic men +were appointed over it, who should lead it to victory. [Sidenote: +1814.] On the 24th of January, Brigadier-Generals Brown and Izard were +promoted to the rank of Major-Generals, and later in the spring took +command on our northern frontier. + +While these unsuccessful plans were maturing on the St. Lawrence, +Colonel Butler, commanding at Detroit, dispatched Captain Holmes with +a small detachment into Canada to destroy Fort Talbot, a hundred miles +inland, and what ever other "military establishments might fall in his +way." [Sidenote: Feb. 24.] He had less than two hundred men and but +two cannon. Pushing his way through the forests he found the road when +he reached Point Au Plat, so filled with fallen trees and brushwood +that his guns could not be carried forward. Leaving them therefore +behind, he kept on until he ascertained that his approach was +expected. Seeing that all hopes of a surprise must be abandoned, he +changed his course and marched rapidly against Fort Delaware, on the +Thames, occupied by the British. But when he arrived within fifteen +miles of the place he was informed that his attack was expected, and +that ample preparations had been made to meet it. He immediately fell +back behind Twenty Mile Creek, where he had scarcely taken position, +before the rangers left to protect his rear emerged on a run from the +woods that covered the opposite bank, pushed fiercely by the head of +the enemy's column. He immediately strengthened his position by every +means in his power, and on the following morning was ready for an +attack. Only a small body of the enemy, however, appeared at day +break, and soon after retreated. Holmes at first suspected this to be +a ruse to draw him from his position, but ascertaining from a +reconnaissance that not more than sixty or seventy men composed the +force, he started in pursuit. His first conjecture, however, proved +true, for after marching a few miles he came upon his adversary, well +posted, and expecting him. His great anxiety was now to get back to +his position, and at the same time practice the very deception which +had beguiled him from it. He succeeded admirably, and the British +imagining his retreat to be a hasty and disorderly flight pressed +after, and on coming to the creek resolved at once to attack him. +Crossing the stream they ascended the opposite bank boldly, and +without opposition, till within twenty yards of the top, when they +were met by such a sudden and destructive volley that they broke and +fled. Hiding behind trees they then kept up a harmless fire till +night, when under cover of darkness they effected their retreat with +the loss of nearly a hundred men, or one-third of their force, while +some half dozen killed and wounded covered the loss of the Americans. +This half partisan, half regular warfare, in the midst of our vast +forests, combined much of the picturesque and marvellous. There was +not the pomp of vast armies, nor the splendor of a great battle, but +courage, skill and endurance were required, sufficient to make able +commanders and veteran soldiers. The long and tedious march of a +hundred miles through the snow-filled forest--the solitary block-house +with its small garrison, situated in a lonely clearing, around which +the leafless trees creaked and groaned in the northern blasts--the +bivouack fire gleaming red through the driving storm--the paths of +wild beasts crossing the wilderness in every direction, their cries of +hunger mingling with the muffled sound of half frozen torrents--the +war-cry of the savage and the crack of his rifle at still midnight, +waking up the chilled sleepers to battle and to death--the sudden +onset and the bloody hand-to-hand fight, made up the experience and +history of our border warfare. Far away from the haunts of +civilization, men struggled for the control of an imaginary line, and +many gallant and able officers, fell ingloriously by some Indian +marksman. At far intervals, stretching from the St. Lawrence to +Mackinaw, the faintly heard thunder of cannon amid those vast +solitudes, announced that two nations were battling for untrodden +forest tracts and undisturbed sheets of water. Those tracts are now +covered with towns and cities, and those sheets of water freighted +with commerce. Then it was announced as a great miracle of speed, that +a steamboat made four miles an hour in passing up the Ohio--now the +northern lakes are ploughed with steamers, going at the rate of +eighteen or twenty miles an hour, and wrapped round with railroads, +over which cars are thundering with a velocity that annihilates +distance, and brings into one neighborhood the remotest States. + +[Sidenote: April 8.] + +An unsuccessful attempt on the part of the British to destroy the +American vessels just launched at Vergennes, and which were to compose +Macdonough's fleet, and a bold inroad of the English marines from the +blockading squadron off New London, in which twenty American vessels +were burned, the men pitching quoits, drinking and playing ball during +the conflagration, till night, when they quietly floated down the +river, constituted the other chief movements that terminated in the +early spring. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THIRTEENTH CONGRESS. MAY 27, 1813. + + Democratic gain in Congress -- Spirit in which the two + parties met -- Russian mediation offered and accepted, and + commerce opened -- State of the Treasury -- Debate + respecting a reporter's seat -- Direct tax -- Webster's + resolutions -- Governor Chittenden -- Strange conduct of + parties in New Hampshire -- The embargo -- England proposes + peace -- Commissioners appointed -- Army bill -- Webster's + speech upon it -- Sketch of him -- The loan bill -- Defended + by Mr. Eppes -- Sketch of Mr. Pickering, with his speech -- + Sketch of John Forsyth, and his speech -- Calhoun -- + Grosvenor -- Bill for the support of military establishments + -- Speech of Artemus Ward -- Resolutions of Otis in the + Massachusetts Senate -- Repeal of the embargo -- Calhoun and + Webster -- Strange reversal of their positions -- Strength + of our navy and army. + + +Soon after the capture of York the Thirteenth Congress assembled. By +the new apportionment made the year previous, a hundred and eighty-two +members had been added to the House of Representatives. One remarkable +man, Randolph, had disappeared from the arena, having been defeated by +Mr. Eppes, son-in-law of Jefferson. As the two great parties came +together they surveyed each other's strength--prepared to close in +combat with the same determination and hostile feeling that had marked +the proceedings of the last session of the Twelfth Congress. In the +accession of members the Federalists had made important gains, chiefly +from New York, so that the House stood one hundred and twelve for the +war and sixty-eight against it, and the Senate twenty-seven to nine. +In the latter, however, the party lines were not so strongly drawn, +and on many questions the Democrats had much less majorities than +their nominal superiority would indicate. Among the new members were +Pickering, who had succeeded Quincey, and Cyrus King, from +Massachusetts, and Daniel Webster, from New Hampshire, Federalists. +Forsyth, of Georgia, M'Lean, of Ohio, Taylor, of New York, and +Findley, of Pennsylvania, were Democrats. Mr. Clay was elected speaker +on the first ballot. The President's message was short, and related +wholly to the war. He informed Congress that an offer of mediation had +been made by the Emperor Alexander, of Russia, on the 8th of March +previous--and accepted, and that Mr. Gallatin, Mr. Bayard, and Mr. +Adams, had been appointed Commissioners under it, to negotiate a peace +with England, and also a treaty with Russia. He expressed the belief +that England would accept the mediation, whether it resulted in any +settlement of difficulties or not. + +The receipts into the Treasury during the six months, ending the last +day of March, including sums received on account of Treasury notes and +loans, amounted to $15,412,000, the expenditures to $15,920,000. A +balance, however, was in the Treasury previously, so that there +remained $1,857,000 unexpended. Of the loan of sixteen millions, +authorized in February, one million had been paid in, and formed +[Sidenote: Feb. 18.] part of the receipts mentioned, so that the +remaining $15,000,000, together with $5,000,000 of Treasury notes, and +$9,700,000, the sum expected from customs, sales of public lands, +making in all $29,000,000, constituted the provision for the remaining +nine months of the current year. To avoid the necessity of loans, +which were made at rates injurious to the government, and to give a +more permanent basis to the revenue, additional taxes were +recommended. + +The first act of Congress was the passage of a resolution, introduced +by Clay, to refer that part of the message which related to the +barbarous manner in which the enemy waged war to a select committee, +of which Mr. Macon, of Georgia, was chairman. Mr. Eppes was made +chairman of that of Ways and Means, and Calhoun of that on Foreign +Affairs. The gentlemen constituting the latter were Calhoun, Grundy, +Desha, Jackson of Virginia, Ingersoll, Fisk of New York, and Webster. + +The extreme sensitiveness of the two parties, and the readiness with +which they seized upon the most trifling matter as a bone of +contention, were strikingly exhibited in some of the earliest +proceedings of Congress. The reporter of the Federal Republican, the +paper which had been mobbed by the Democrats at Baltimore, and was now +published in Georgetown, presented a petition, asking a place to be +assigned him, like that of the other reporters, and stating that the +Speaker had refused to give him one. The implication was, that Mr. +Clay had denied him a place on account of his politics. Mr. Clay said +this was not so, that the true reason was, he had no place to give; +all of those furnished by the House being pre-occupied. This +statement, however, could not satisfy the members, and it was proposed +to make an extra provision for the gentleman. Calhoun was opposed to +the admission of any reporters. Almost the entire day was occupied in +discussing this trifling affair, when such momentous questions asked +the attention of Congress. It even adjourned without coming to a +decision, and not until next day was it disposed of, by rejecting the +prayer of the petitioner. + +[Sidenote: June 14.] + +Mr. Eppes, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made a report, in +which, after showing that the expenditures for the next year, 1814, +would exceed the revenue by $5,600,000, twelve bills were offered, one +for direct taxation, another establishing the office of Commissioner +of the Revenue, and others laying duties on imported salt, on licenses +to retailers of liquors, on foreign merchandise, carriages, distillers +of liquors, on auction sales of foreign goods and vessels, on sugars +refined in the United States, on bank notes, notes of hand and certain +foreign bills of exchange, and on foreign tonnage. + +Mr. Webster then rose and delivered his first speech in the House, +introduced by four resolutions, the purport of which were to inquire +into the time, manner, &c., with the attending circumstances, in which +the document, asserted to be a repeal of the Berlin and Milan decrees, +was communicated to this government. Although these resolutions had +their origin in Federal hostility, and were designed to sustain the +old charge against the administration, of being under French +influence, because it was well aware those decrees had not been +repealed when it declared war against England, yet Webster carefully +avoided implying it in his speech. He felt bound to offer these +resolutions in justice to his constituents. A heated discussion +followed their introduction, but young Webster conducted himself with +great prudence and caution. At home he had made inflammable speeches +against the war, but after he got out of the atmosphere of +Massachusetts, and came in contact with such ardent young patriots as +Clay and Calhoun, his sympathies, doubtless, were moved, and his +patriotism received an impulse which went far to neutralize the views +of Federalism, with which he had been inoculated. The political +opponents of that war having been successively thrown overboard by +the nation since its termination, much effort seems to have been made +by the friends of Webster to omit entirely this portion of his life, +but I have no doubt were it truly and honorably written, it would +exalt his character and enhance his fame. Coming from the very furnace +of Federalism--educated under the influence of men whose opinions he +had been taught to venerate, and who, throwing aside their party hate, +were the wisest statesmen of the land, sent to Washington on purpose +to represent their views, it seems unaccountable that he, a young +aspirant for fame, did not at once plunge into the arena and win +reputation by crossing swords with such men as Clay and Calhoun. +Standing for the first time on the field where political fame was to +be won, and goaded on by attacks upon principles he had been taught to +venerate, he nevertheless carefully stood aloof, and shortly after +retired entirely on leave of absence. How is this strange conduct to +be accounted for in one who ever after never refused to close like a +lion with his foes? With his powers he would soon have been a leader +of the opposition, and yet this soul, full of deep thought and +slumbering fire, looked apparently cold and indifferent on the strife +that was rending the nation asunder. Did not this conduct grow out of +a sense of duty and of patriotism? He could not do less, as a +representative of Federalism, than offer resolutions of inquiry, and +without turning traitor to his constituents, he could not do more for +the administration. Did not that judgment, on whose decisions the +nation afterwards so implicitly relied, tell him even then that his +country was right and his teachers wrong on the great question of war +or no war, and did not that grand heart, which heaved like the +swelling sea when he spoke of the glorious Union, even then revolt at +the disloyal attitude of New England? If this be not true, then his +conduct is wholly inexplicable and contradictory to his after life. + +The first session of the Thirteenth Congress continued till August 2d, +when it adjourned to December. In the mean time, a direct tax, +amounting to $3,000,000, apportioned to the eighteen different states, +was laid. A bounty of $25 was voted to privateers for every prisoner +taken, and heavy penalties were placed on the use of British licenses, +and provisions made to raise ten companies for the defence of the sea +coast. The disasters of our northern army, during this autumn, +increased the boldness of the Federalists, and a paper of Boston +openly advocated the proposition for each state to take care of +itself, fight its own battles, and make its own terms. Governor +Chittenden of Vermont, attempted to recall a brigade of militia, +appointed to garrison Burlington, during Hampton's march into Canada, +on the ground it had been unconstitutionally ordered out. The +commander and a part of the brigade refused, when the former was put +under arrest. The Legislature of New Hampshire, in order to get rid of +the democratic judges, appointed by Langdon and Plumer, abolished all +the courts in the state, and constructed an entirely new system, with +new judges. To this high-handed measure the democratic judges refused +to submit, and held court sessions as formerly, side by side with the +new judges. In those counties where the sheriff was democratic, their +decision was sustained by this functionary, confusing and confounding +every thing. By such measures, party spirit was inflamed to the +highest pitch, dividing friends and families and societies. It became +a frenzy, a madness, obliterating, in many parts of New England, all +traces of former urbanity, justice, affection and courtesy. The +appellation of Democrat and Federalist, applied to one or the other, +converted him, in his opponent's eye, into a monster. The charge of +highway robbery, rape or murder would not have been more instantaneous +and direful in its effect. The Boston papers advocated the most +monstrous doctrines, creating great anxiety and solicitude at +Washington. But soon as the New England line was crossed, passing west +and south, the feeling changed. To go from these fierce, debasing +broils, into the harmonious feeling in favor of the war, was like +passing from the mad struggles of a vessel amid the breakers to a +quiet ship moving steadily on her way. The governors of the several +states in their proclamations and messages firmly upheld the +administration, and the legislatures pledged their support. + +In the midst of such excitements, oppressed by the failure of +Wilkinson's campaign, and dreading the use which the Federalists would +make of it, Congress, according to adjournment, reassembled. +[Sidenote: Dec. 6.] Mr. Eppes was still continued chairman of the +Committee of Ways and Means. Among the first measures was the +introduction of an embargo act. Madison, in a special message, +strongly recommended it, on the ground that under the present +non-importation act the enemy on our shores and at a distance were +constantly furnished with the supplies they needed. An illegal traffic +was also carried on with foreign ports, not only exporting forbidden +articles, but importing British manufactures. To stop this illicit +trade in future, an act was passed in secret session, laying an +embargo on all the ports of the Union. To prevent evasion, it was +guarded by the most stringent provisions and heavy penalties, so that +the coasting trade suffered severely. Fishermen were compelled to give +bonds that they would not violate it, before they were allowed to +leave port. That portion of it, however, which related to the +importation of woolen, cotton, and spirits, was rejected by the House, +as that prohibiting the release of goods on bonds was rejected by the +Senate. + +Soon after, a great excitement was caused in the country by a rumor +that a British schooner, the Bramble, had arrived in Annapolis, +bearing a flag of truce, and despatches of a peaceful nature to our +government. [Sidenote: Jan. 7.] Seven days after, the President +transmitted a message to Congress, informing it of a proposition on +the part of the English government, to have commissioners appointed to +negotiate a peace. This announcement was the signal for the Federalist +papers to indulge in laudations of Great Britain's generosity and +magnanimity. She had taken the first amicable steps, and that, too, +when she was in a condition, owing to Napoleon's sinking fortunes, to +direct her entire power against us. The same vessel brought the news +of the disasters of Leipsic. There was, on the other hand, much +distrust among the Democrats, because the offer of the Russian +mediation had been coldly rejected three several times. + +John Quincy Adams, and Henry Clay, and Jonathan Russel and Bayard who +were already abroad, were appointed Commissioners, to whom Gallatin +was soon after added, to proceed to Gottenberg. Russel, after the +negotiations closed, was to remain as minister to Sweden. [Sidenote: +Jan. 19.] Mr. Clay, in an eloquent address, resigned his station as +Speaker of the House, and Mr. Cheves was elected in his place. +[Sidenote: Dec.] One of the most exciting debates during this session +of Congress arose on the introduction of resolutions by the editor of +the Federal Republican, demanding an inquiry respecting a letter +written by Turreau, in 1809, then Minister from France, to the +Secretary of State, said to be withdrawn from the files. The +disappearance of the letter was proof positive that its contents +committed, in some way, the administration. A vehement debate of three +days duration followed. Endless changes were rung on the old charge of +French influence. At length the question was taken, and the +resolutions voted down, and a simple call on the President for +information substituted. This shell which had been so suddenly thrown +into the House, threatening in its explosion to shatter the war party +to fragments, proved a very harmless thing. Turreau, it eventually +turned out, had written a letter of complaint to the Secretary of +State, so overbearing in its tone, so absurd in its complaints, and so +undiplomatic in every respect, that he was requested to withdraw it, +which was done. In such a sensitive and excited state was party +feeling at this time, that the most trivial matters became distorted +and magnified into extraordinary proportions. + +The army bill, providing for the filling of the ranks, the enlistment +of men to serve for five years instead of twelve months, and the +re-enlistment of those whose term of service had expired; and another +bill authorizing a new loan of $25,000,000, was the bugle blast +summoning the combatants to battle. Mr. Webster was for the first time +roused. The army bill was evidently designed to provide for a third +campaign against Canada. From the first, almost the entire military +force of the nation had been employed in these futile invasions. The +successive failures, especially the last, gave the opposition great +vantage ground in declaring against the scheme altogether. They +condemned it not only as an aggressive war, and therefore +indefensible, but declared the acquisition of that country worse than +worthless if obtained. The whole project was not only wrong in +principle, but would be evil in its results, if successful. + +The clause extending the term of enlistment, and authorizing the +raising of new regiments, making the money bounty $124--fifty of it to +be paid on an enrollment, fifty on mustering, and the remainder at the +close of the war, if living, and if not to go to his heirs, was +assailed with vehement opposition. [Sidenote: Jan. 3, 1814.] Mr. +Webster, who had been cut short in an attack on the administration by +the Speaker, on the ground that no question was before the house, now +rose to speak. Carefully avoiding the asperity which distinguished +his colleagues, he levelled all his force against the embargo act, and +the conquest of Canada. [Sidenote: Jan. 10.] The former he denounced +unjust and unequal in its bearing, and ruinous in its consequences. He +called on the administration to remove it at once, as the first step +towards the acquirement of a just position. He then denounced the +Canadian war, to prosecute which this extraordinary bill was +introduced, whose provisions if carried out would swell the regular +army to sixty-six thousand troops, to say nothing of the power +conferred on the President for calling out the militia for six months +instead of three. Let us, he said, have only force enough on our +frontier to protect it from invasion--let the slaughter of our +yeomanry cease, and the fires along our northern boundary be +extinguished. Already the war had cost nearly half as much as the +entire struggle for independence; and said he, in conclusion, if war +must be, "apply your revenue to the augmentation of your navy. That +navy, in turn, may protect your commerce. Let it no longer be said +that not one ship of force built by your hands since the war, floats +on the ocean. Turn the current of your efforts into the channel which +national sentiment has already worn broad and deep to receive it. A +naval force competent to defend your coast against considerable +armaments, to convoy your trade, and perhaps raise the blockade of +your rivers, is not a chimera. It may be realized. If, then, the war +must continue, go to the ocean. If you are seriously contending for +maritime rights, go to the theatre where alone those rights can be +defended. Thither every indication of your fortune points you. There +the united wishes and exertions of the nation will go with you. Even +our party divisions, acrimonious as they are, cease at the water's +edge. They are lost in attachment to national character, on that +element where that character is made respectable. In protecting naval +interests by naval means, you will arm yourselves with the whole power +of national sentiment, and may command the whole abundance of national +resources. In time you may enable yourselves to redress injuries in +the place where they may be offered, and if need be, to accompany your +own flag throughout the world with the protection of your own cannon." +This speech produced a marked impression on the house. Succeeding as +it did, the resolutions of the Legislature of Massachusetts, refusing +to compliment our naval commanders for their victories, on the ground +that encouragement would be given to the war, it looked like a change +in that quarter. The war was not denounced as it had ever been by the +Federalist leaders--he quarrelled only with the mode of carrying it +on. Nay, it implied that we had wrongs to redress at sea, and thither +our force should be directed. The policy proposed in this speech +should doubtless have been adopted at the commencement of the war, and +might have been wise as late as 1814, but Webster did not propose it +for the purpose of having it acted upon. This fine peroration was +simply a safety-valve to his patriotism. He dared not--he could not +uphold the war, or put his shoulders to any measures designed to carry +it on with vigor. He represented a State opposed to it in principle, +not in mode. Still, the language he used was so different from the +other leading Federalists, that the Democrats, on the whole, did not +wish to complain. Webster at this time was but thirty-one years of +age, and little known except in his own vicinity. This speech, +however, delivered with the fervor and eloquence which distinguished +him, gave clear indications of his future greatness. Though a young +man, he exhibited none of the excitement and eagerness of youth. Calm, +composed, he uttered his thoughts in those ponderous sentences which +ever after characterized his public addresses. Large, well made, his +jet black hair parted from a forehead that lay like a marble slab +above the deep and cavernous eyes; there was a solemnity, and at times +almost a gloom in that extraordinary face, that awakened the interest +of the beholder. There was power in his very glance, and the close +compressed lip revealed a stern and unyielding character. Even at +this age he looked like one apart from his fellows, with inward +communings to which no one was admitted. When excited in debate, that +sombre and solemn face absolutely blazed with fire, and his voice, +which before had sounded sharp and unpleasant, rung like a clarion +through the house. His sentences fell with the weight of Thor's +hammer--indeed, every thing about him was Titanic, giving irresistible +weight to his arguments. + +The bill having passed the house, the other authorizing a loan of +$25,000,000 and a reissue of treasury notes to the amount of +$10,000,000, came up. The expenditures for the coming year were +estimated at $45,000,000, to meet which the ordinary means of revenue +were wholly insufficient. A violent and bitter debate arose on its +presentation, which lasted three weeks. Regarded as so much money +appropriated to the conquest of Canada, it met with the determined +hostility of the opponents of the war. Mr. Eppes defended his bill, +and went into a long and statistical account of the revenue and +expenditures of the nation--showed how she could easily, in time of +peace, pay off every dollar she might owe--estimated the value of the +land and produce and capital of the country, and proved, as he deemed +satisfactorily, that the loan combined "all the advantages of safety, +profit, and a command at will of the capital invested." The long +debate upon it had little to do with the bill itself, but swept the +whole range of politics for the last four or five years. The history +of the war was gone over--orders in council, and Berlin and Milan +decrees revived with fresh vigor--the influence of Bonaparte in our +councils, though now struggling for life, was charged anew on the +administration. Personalities were indulged in, and the most absurd +accusations made by men, who on other subjects, exhibited sound +judgment and able statesmanship. Mr. Pitkin spoke a part of two days, +making a frightful exhibit of expenses, and denounced the war in +Canada. Pickering, with his large, powerful frame and Roman features, +not belying the fearless character of the man, came down on the +administration with all the power, backed by the most unquenchable +hatred he was master of. A distinguished man in the Revolution, he had +from that time occupied a prominent place in the political history of +his country. A "Pharisee of the Pharisees" in the Essex Junto, he +cherished all the intense hatred of that branch of the Federalists for +the war and its supporters. Built on a grand scale, yet with a heart +hard as iron towards a foe, fierce and bold, denouncing his old friend +and patron, John Adams, because he did not hate France as cordially as +he thought every good Christian should, having no sympathy with +Washington's quiet and non-committal character, he looked upon +Bonaparte and our war and its supporters, as the most monstrous births +of the age. His indignation at their existence was only exceeded by +his wonder that heaven, in its just wrath, did not quench all +together. Probably the administration had not such a sincere and +honest hater in the whole Federalist ranks. He was an honest man and +possessed of most noble traits, but his feelings obscured his judgment +when speaking of the war, and he gave utterance to the most +extraordinary and absurd assertions. In this speech he wandered over +the whole field--took bold and decided ground--advocated openly the +doctrine of the right of search, as defended by our enemy--declared +that our complaints were unjust--denied the statement respecting the +number of impressed seamen, saying that many Americans served +voluntarily on board of British cruisers--glorified England for her +efforts to overthrow Napoleon, calling her the "world's last hope." +Having thus defined his position so clearly, that there could be no +doubt where he stood, he turned to the Speaker and looking him sternly +in the face through his spectacles, and "swinging his long arm aloft," +exclaimed, "I stand on a _rock_ from which all Democracy--no, _not all +Democracy and hell to boot_ can move me--the rock of integrity and +truth." Mr. Shelby and Mr. Miller followed in a similar strain, and +Canada, with its disastrous campaigns, was flung so incessantly in the +face of the war party, that it hated the very name. Grundy defended +the bill, and Gaston, of North Carolina, opposed it. Grosvenor +launched forth into a violent harangue, and was so personal and +unparliamentary in his language that he was often called to order. +Very little, however, was said on the merits of the bill. This served +only to open the flood-gates of eloquence, which embracing every topic +of the past and present, deluged for twenty days the floor of +Congress. Langdon Cheves, the Speaker, though opposed to the +restrictive measures of the administration, upheld the war, and +defended the bill in a long and temperate speech. One of the best +speeches elicited by it, was made by John Forsyth. Hitherto he had +taken but little part in the debates of the House, and hence his +brilliant effort took the members by surprise and arrested their +attention. Handsome, graceful, fluent, with a fine voice and +captivating elocution, he came down on the Federalists with sudden and +unexpected power. Their unfounded assertions, unpatriotic sentiments +and personal attacks had at length roused him, and as they had +wandered from the question in their blind warfare, so he passed from +it to repay the blows that had been so unsparingly given. Turning to +the New England delegation, he charged boldly on Massachusetts the +crime of fomenting treason to the State, if not intentionally, yet +practically, by her legislative acts, inflammatory resolutions and +violent complaints of injustice, which were the first steps towards +more open hostility. "I mention them," said he, "not from fear, but to +express my profound contempt for their impotent madness. Fear and +interest hinder the factious spirits from executing their wishes. _If +a leader_ should be found bad and bold enough to try, one consolation +for virtue is left, that those who raise the tempest will be the first +victims of its fury." Calhoun, with his clear logic, demolished the +objections that had been raised. He said they could all be reduced to +two. One was, that the loan could not be had--the other, that the war +was inexpedient. He declared both false, going over the ground he had +been compelled so often to traverse since the commencement of the war. +He took up the question of impressment--declared our war a defensive +one--bore hard upon those who voted against supplies--showed that the +war had liberated us from that slavish fear of England which had +rested like a nightmare on the nation--and started into vigorous +growth home manufactures, destined in the end to render us independent +of foreign products, and furnishing us with ampler means to carry on +any war that might occur in the future. + +This debate might have lasted much longer but for a violent harangue +of Grosvenor, full of gross personalities, discreditable to himself +and insulting to the House. It was resolved to put an end to such +disgraceful scenes, and the previous question was moved and carried by +a majority of forty. A similar fierce conflict, however, took place +soon after on the bill for the support of military establishments, in +the ensuing year, and on the motion to repeal the Embargo Act. In a +speech against the former, Artemus Ward opposed not only the invasion +of Canada, and reiterated the old charge of subserviency to France, +but openly and boldly defended England in the course she had taken; +declared that impressment was in accordance with the law of nations, +and that the doctrine "the flag protects all that sails under it" was +untenable and false. He then went gravely into the reasons of the war, +and laid down the following propositions, which he proceeded soberly +to defend:-- + +"1st. Napoleon had an ascendancy in our councils through the fear or +hopes he inspired. + +"2d. The administration wished to destroy commerce, and make an +agricultural and manufacturing people. + +"3d. It wished to change the form of our government." + +These extraordinary propositions were severally defended, and declared +by himself fully proved. In reply to the charge that the Federalists +were nullifiers, he pronounced it unjust and unfounded, and said that +the Federalists of Massachusetts would "cling to the Union as the rock +of their salvation, and will die in defence of it, _provided they have +an equality of benefits_. But everything has its 'hitherto.' _There is +a point beyond which submission is a crime._ God grant that we may +never arrive at that point." Such language, though guarded, was +significant, and justified the very charges it was designed to rebut. +Coupled with the action of Massachusetts, it furnished ground for the +gravest fears. [Sidenote: Jan. 6.] A motion having been introduced +during the session to the effect that the Attorney-General of the +United States should prosecute Governor Chittenden, of Vermont, for +recalling the militia of the state from Burlington, Otis presented a +resolution to the Massachusetts Senate, declaring that the State was +prepared to sustain, with her whole power, the Governor of Vermont in +support of his constitutional rights. [Sidenote: Jan. 44.] In the mean +time the Legislature voted an address, denouncing the war altogether, +ascribing it to hatred of the friends of Washington's policy, to the +influence of foreigners, to envy and jealousy of the growing +commercial states, and desire for more territory. The Pennsylvania +Legislature, on the other hand, censured the conduct of both +Chittenden and the Massachusetts Legislature, declaring that the +State would support the General Government in meting out justice to +all violators of the Constitution. [Sidenote: Feb. 12.] New Jersey was +still more enraged, and after giving utterance to her contempt and +abhorrence of the "ravings of an infuriated faction, whether issuing +from a legislative body, a maniac governor, or discontented and +ambitious demagogues," "Resolved, that the State was ready to resist +internal insurrection with the same readiness as the invasion of a +foreign foe." Thus the storm of political hate raged both within and +without the halls of Congress, threatening in its fury to send the +waves of civil strife over the already distracted and suffering land. +But there was a large party, composed of the middling classes of New +England, in favor of the war. This, together with the outward pressure +of the entire Union, combined to make the Federalist leaders extremely +cautious in their movements. The farmer was benefitted by the war, for +his produce commanded a higher price in the market, while the +manufacturing interests, which the restrictive acts had forced into +importance, were also advanced, thus creating a new antagonist to the +Federalists. The embargo, however, pressed heavily on a large portion +of the country, calling forth loud denunciations and petitions from +the whole New England coast. + +Fortunately for the administration, circumstances soon rendered it +useless. After struggling with almost superhuman courage and endurance +to repel the allies from the soil of France, Napoleon saw them at last +enter Paris in triumph, and demolish with a blow the splendid +structure he had reared with so much skill and labor. With the +overthrow of the French Empire ended the Continental War, and of +course the Orders in Council, the Berlin and Milan Decrees fell at +once to the ground. The grand cause of the restrictive system having +been removed, Madison sent a message to the House of Representatives, +advising a repeal of the Embargo and Non-Importation Act. A bill to +this effect was reported by Mr. Calhoun from the Committee on Foreign +Relations. [Sidenote: Apr. 4.] He spoke at some length on the first +section, embracing the embargo, supported it on the ground of the +recent changes in Europe, resulting from Bonaparte's downfall. Russia, +Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Prussia, and Spain, might now be considered +neutral nations, and by opening our commerce to them, we should in +time, in all probability, attach them to us in common hostility to +England, should she continue her maritime usurpations. This country +had from the first contended for free trade, and consistency required +we should allow it to neutral powers, just as we had claimed it for +ourselves. In short, there was no reason for its continuance, except +the plea of consistency. But he contended that a change of policy +growing out of a change in the circumstances that had originated it, +could not be called inconsistent. Mr. Webster replied to him, saying +that he rejoiced it had fallen to his lot to be present at the funeral +obsequies of the restrictive system. He felt a temperate exultation +that this system, so injurious to the country and powerless in its +effect on foreign nations, was about to be consigned to the tomb of +the Capulets. After ridiculing the whole restrictive system, saying it +was of like faith, to be acted--not deliberated on, and that no saint +in the calendar had been more blindly followed than it had been by its +friends, he went on to show that it was designed, originally, to +cooperate with France. He denounced any system, the continuance of +which depended on the condition of things in Europe. Such policy was +dangerous, exposing us to all the fluctuations and changes that +occurred there. If this universal application of a principle was +unsound and extraordinary in a statesman, what followed was still more +surprising. Speaking of the effect of the system to stimulate +manufactories, he said he wished none reared in a hot-bed. Those +compatible with the interests of the country should be fostered, but +he wished to see no Sheffield or Birmingham in this country. He +descanted largely on the evils of extensive manufactories and populous +towns, and intimated strongly that any protective legislation in +reference to them would be unwise. What complete summersets those two +great men, Webster and Calhoun, and the sections of country they +represented, have made since 1814. Then South Carolina firmly +supported the union against the doctrine of state rights, and Calhoun +reasoned eloquently for manufactories, against Webster, opposed to +them. Years passed by, and Massachusetts, through her Webster, pleaded +nobly, sublimely, for the union, against the nullifying doctrines of +South Carolina, and those two men, standing on the floor of Congress, +fought for the systems they had formerly opposed, and in fierce and +close combat crossed swords each for the cause of the other. Webster +in 1814 condemning measures that forced manufactories into existence, +and afterwards pleading earnestly for a high tariff, and Calhoun at +the same time defending even the embargo on the ground that it +encouraged them, and afterwards fighting sternly against that tariff, +are striking illustrations of the changes and fluctuations of +political life. And yet there may be no inconsistency in all this. +"_Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis_," is a sound maxim. +Webster, when he charged inconsistency on the administration for +advising the repeal of the embargo act, after the great change in +European affairs, little thought how soon he would be compelled to +shelter himself behind this Latin maxim. In 1814 the interests of New +England were closely allied with free commerce, and her destiny +pointed towards the sea. In a few years her capital was largely +invested in manufactures, and could the tariff have been made a +permanent policy, all her crystal streams and dashing torrents +hurrying from the mountains to the sea, would have been mines of +almost exhaustless wealth. The times being changed, the dictates of +true wisdom required a change of policy. There is no inconsistency so +glaring and injurious as a stubborn adherence to old dogmas or +systems, when events in their progress have exploded both. + +Added to the acts of Congress already mentioned, the most important +were those making appropriations for the support of the navy--for the +building and equipment of floating batteries for the defence of the +harbors and rivers of our country. The Yazoo claim was also disposed +of during this session. [Sidenote: April 18, 1814.] After an +ineffectual attempt to introduce a bill for the establishment of a +national bank, and the transaction of some minor business, Congress +adjourned to the last Monday in October. + +Our naval force in service in January of this year, independent of the +lake squadrons, gun-boats, etc., for harbor defences, was but seven +frigates, seven sloops-of-war, four brigs, three schooners, and four +other small vessels. The secretary, however, reported in February +three seventy-fours and three forty-fours on the stocks, besides +smaller vessels, which would make thirty-three vessels, large and +small, in actual service or soon to be afloat, while thirty-one were +on the lakes. The army, by law, was increased at this session to +64,759 men, while the militia of the union amounted to 719,449 men. +Added to this, the president was authorized to accept the service of +volunteers to the number of 10,000, their term of service not to +exceed one year. + +With such an imposing array of force on paper, with the increased +revenue from the direct tax laid the year before, with a loan of +$25,000,000, and treasury notes amounting to $10,000,000, the +government prepared to enter on a third campaign. + + +END OF VOL. I. + + + + +J. T. HEADLEY'S WORKS. + + +NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS. By J. T. HEADLEY, 2 vols. 12mo., cloth, +gilt. Illustrated with 12 Portraits, $2.50. 25th Thousand. + + +WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS. By J. T. HEADLEY, 2 vols. 12mo., cloth, +gilt. Illustrated with 16 Portraits, $2.50. 22d Thousand. + + +THE SACRED MOUNTAINS. By J. T. HEADLEY, Illustrated with 12 +engravings, by Burt, with designs by Lossing, 20th Thousand. + + Do. do. do., 12mo., cloth, gilt, $1.25. + + +SACRED SCENES AND CHARACTERS. By J. T. HEADLEY, with 12 Illustrations. +Designed by Darley, 4th Thousand. + + Do. do. do., 1 vol. 12mo., cloth, gilt, $1.25. + + +LETTERS FROM ITALY AND ALPS AND THE RHINE. By J. T HEADLEY, 1 vol. +12mo, cloth. A New Edition. Revised and Enlarged. With a Portrait of +the Author, $1.13. 8th Thousand. + + +LIFE OF OLIVER CROMWELL. By J. T. HEADLEY, 1 vol. 12mo., cloth, gilt, +with Portrait, $1.25. 6th Thousand. + + +HEADLEY'S MISCELLANIES. Authorized Edition, 1 vol. 12mo., cloth, $1. +2d Thousand. + + +ADIRONDACK; OR LIFE IN THE WOODS. By J. T. HEADLEY, with Original +Designs from Gignoux, Ingham, Durand, etc., 1 vol. 12mo., cloth, +$1.25. 4th Thousand. + + +SKETCHES AND RAMBLES. By J. T. HEADLEY, 1 vol. 12mo., cloth, 75c. 2d +Thousand. + + +THE IMPERIAL GUARD OF NAPOLEON. From Marengo to Waterloo. By J. T. +HEADLEY, 1 vol. 12mo., with Illustrations, cloth, $1.25. Just +Published. + + +J. T. HEADLEY'S WORKS--Uniform Edition, 12 vols., in sheep, for +Libraries and District Schools. + + "Mr. Headley's peculiarities as an author are universally + known. He is one of the most vigorous and spirit-stirring + writers of the day, especially graphic and powerful in + narratives of exciting events. No one can fail to get from + his descriptions most graphic, vivid, and lasting + impressions of the scenes of which he speaks."--_N. Y. + Courier and Enquirer._ + + "His descriptions are graphic, his history correct, and his + summing up character scarcely suffers by a comparison with + similar pages in Tacitus."--_N. Y. Evening Post._ + + "He speaks heartily, earnestly, truthfully; and the warm + heart answers to his voice."--_N. Y. Observer._ + + "Each one of his Biographies is a grand historical picture, + conveying in a most impressive way, a true idea of the + events of the time."--_Cincinnati Herald._ + + "Mr. Headley is truly eloquent in his description of + character. He presents to you the strong points of the man + with a clearness that seems to place him before you as an + old acquaintance."--_Cleveland Herald._ + + "Whatever critics may choose to say, Mr. H. will never lack + readers. The stir and fire of his descriptions will touch a + popular chord. In describing the battle field and the + tumultuous stirring life of the camp, Mr. H. is what Cooper + was upon the Sea."--_N. Y. Evangelist._ + + +LIVING ORATORS OF AMERICA. By Rev. E. L. MAGOON 1 vol. 12mo., with +portraits. Price, $1.25. + + +THE ORATORS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. By Rev. E. L. MAGOON. 1 vol. +12mo., with portraits. Price, $1.25. + + Mr. Magoon is a decided original. Both his thoughts and his + manner of expressing them, are peculiar and striking.--_N. + Y. Evangelist._ + + Mr. Magoon, who is a vivid, nervous writer, has thrown a + charm around the character of the men whose history he has + delineated, that will cause the book to be read with unusual + interest.--_Christian Secretary._ + + These volumes contain exceedingly clear sketches of our + greatest orators; so arranged, contrasted and compared, that + the peculiar powers and excellencies of each are set before + the mind in a strong light.--_Springfield Republican._ + + Every American will read these works with national pride, + and have his better feelings and sentiments enkindled and + strengthened.--_Western Literary Messenger._ + + +THE WOMEN OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. By Mrs. E. F. ELLET. 3 vols. +12mo., with portraits. Price, $3.50. + + The work fills a place in our Revolutionary history that + would scarcely be complete without it; indeed, we consider + it as one of the most valuable contributions that have been + made to the history of our country in a long time.--_Hunt's + Magazine._ + + We counsel especially the young women of our country to lay + aside their novels, at least until they shall have read "The + Women of the Revolution." Those of them who have souls will + find it replete with interest and instruction.--_N. Y. + Tribune._ + + The narratives are brief, spirited, and profoundly + interesting; especially as showing how the toils, the + privations and dangers of the war, made themselves felt, + perhaps even more keenly, in the homes than on the + battle-fields of the Revolutionary champions.--_N. Y. + Commercial._ + + The authoress has succeeded in collecting a large amount of + new and important facts, illustrative of the heroism evinced + in action and suffering, by the women who bore their part in + the Revolution, which have no place in the political + histories of the time, and have been derived almost entirely + from private sources.--_N. Y. Journal of Commerce._ + + The rich store of information contained in these volumes, + has been procured at the cost of much and laborious + research, from the surviving relatives of the heroines, + scattered through various parts of the Union. Personal + recollections have been recorded, family papers and letters + examined, and the work thus made a faithful and vivid + exhibition of the domestic scenes of the war.--_Charleston + Inquirer._ + + The conception of the book is at once beautiful and + patriotic, and its execution is worthy of its subject, and + worthy of the reputation of its gifted authoress.--_Albany + Atlas._ + + These sketches are of thrilling interest, as we gather from + a hasty glance at their pages. The narrative is clear, + concise, and very agreeably written.--_N. B. Mercury._ + + + + +[Transcriber's notes: + +Obvious printer's errors have been corrected. Hyphenation and +accentuation have been standardised, all other inconsistencies are as +in the original. The author's spelling has been maintained. + +This book does not have a chapter VI. + +Some dates were misprinted in the original (e.g. Jan. 44), they have +been left as it is.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of +2, by Joel Tyler Headley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 39368.txt or 39368.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/3/6/39368/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Christine P. 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