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diff --git a/39369.txt b/39369.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e043c36 --- /dev/null +++ b/39369.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9151 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Second War with England, Vol. 2 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. 2 of 2 + +Author: Joel Tyler Headley + +Release Date: April 4, 2012 [EBook #39369] + +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: Com. Porter in the Bay of Novaheevah.] + + + + + THE SECOND WAR + + WITH + + ENGLAND. + + + BY J. T. HEADLEY, + + AUTHOR OF "NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS," "WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS," + "THE OLD GUARD," "SCOTT AND JACKSON," ETC. ETC. + + + IN TWO VOLUMES. + + + VOL. II. + + + NEW YORK: + CHARLES SCRIBNER, 145 NASSAU STREET. + 1853. + + + + + Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by + + CHARLES SCRIBNER, + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for + the Southern District of New York. + + + C. W. BENEDICT, + STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER, + 12 Spruce Street, N. Y. + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOL. II. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE CREEK WAR. + + Jackson's first service -- Is appointed commander-in-chief + of the Tennessee forces -- Co-operation of other states -- + Jackson enters the Creek nation -- Difficulties of his + position -- General Coffee's expedition -- Relieves Fort + Talladega -- Battle of -- Stormy condition of his army -- + Quells a mutiny -- Abandoned by his troops -- Quells a + second mutiny -- His boldness -- A third mutiny suppressed + -- Left with but a hundred followers -- Clairborne's + movements -- Arrival of reinforcements -- Makes a diversion + in favor of General Floyd -- Battle of Nutessee -- Battle of + Emuckfaw -- Ambuscade of the Indians -- Gallantry of General + Coffee -- Battle of the "Horse Shoe" -- The war ended -- + Jackson's character, 11 + + +CHAPTER II. + + Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex -- Arrival at + Valparaiso -- Capture of British whalers and letters of + marque -- Essex Junior -- Marquesas Islands -- Description + of the natives -- Madison Island -- War with the Happahs -- + Invades the Typee territory -- Tedious march -- Beautiful + prospect -- Fights the natives and burns down their towns -- + Sails for Valparaiso -- Blockaded by two English ships -- + Attempts to escape -- Is attacked by both vessels -- His + gallant defence -- His surrender -- Returns home on parole + -- Insolence of an English Officer -- Porter escapes in an + open boat and lands on Long Island -- Enthusiastic reception + in New York, 45 + + +CHAPTER III. + + Plan of the third Campaign -- Attack on Sackett's Harbor -- + Attack on Oswego -- Woolsey transports guns to Sackett's + Harbor -- Capture of the detachment sent against him -- + Expedition against Mackinaw -- Death of Captain Holmes -- + Complete failure of the expedition, 67 + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Brown takes command of the army at Niagara -- Crosses the + river into Canada -- Battle of Chippewa -- Brilliant charge + of the Americans -- Desperate battle of Niagara -- Conduct + of Ripley -- The army ordered to Fort Erie -- General Gaines + takes command, 74 + + +CHAPTER V. + + Siege of Fort Erie -- Assault and repulse of the British -- + Brown takes command -- Resolves to destroy the enemy's works + by a sortie -- Opposed by his officers -- The sortie -- + Anecdote of General Porter -- Retreat of Drummond -- Conduct + of Izard, 101 + + +CHAPTER VI. + + British plan of invading our sea ports -- Arrival of + reinforcements -- Barney's flotilla -- Landing of the enemy + under Ross -- Doubt and alarm of the inhabitants -- Advance + of the British -- Destruction of the Navy Yard -- Battle of + Bladensburg -- Flight of the President and his Cabinet -- + Burning and sacking of Washington -- Mrs. Madison's conduct + during the day and night -- Cockburn's brutality -- Sudden + explosion -- A hurricane -- Flight of the British -- State + of the army -- Character of this outrage -- Rejoicings in + England -- Mortification of our ambassadors at Ghent -- + Mistake of the English -- Parker's expedition -- Colonel + Reed's defence -- The English army advance on Baltimore -- + Death of Ross -- Bombardment of Fort McHenry -- "The star + spangled banner" -- Retreat of the British, and joy of the + citizens of Baltimore, 114 + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Macomb at Plattsburg -- American and English fleets on Lake + Champlain -- Advance of Prevost -- Indifference of Governor + Chittenden -- Rev. Mr. Wooster -- Macdonough -- The two + battles -- Funeral of the officers -- British invasion of + Maine -- McArthur's expedition, 147 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The Navy in 1814 -- Cruise of Captain Morris in the Adams -- + Narrow escapes -- The Wasp and Reindeer -- Cruise of the + Wasp -- Sinks the Avon -- Mysterious fate of the Wasp -- The + Peacock captures the Epervier -- Lieutenant Nicholson, 165 + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Third Session of the XIIIth Congress -- State of the + Treasury -- The President's Message -- Dallas appointed + Secretary of the Treasury -- His scheme and that of Eppes + for the relief of the country -- Our Commissioners at Ghent + -- Progress of the negotiations -- English protocol -- Its + effect on Congress and the nation -- Effect of its + publication on the English Parliament, 174 + + +CHAPTER X. + +HARTFORD CONVENTION. + + Attitude of New England -- Governor Strong -- Views and + purposes of the Federalists -- Anxiety of Madison -- + Prudence of Colonel Jesup -- Result of the Convention -- + Fears of the People -- Fate of the Federalists, 191 + + +CHAPTER XI. + + General Jackson appointed Major-General -- Hostility of + Spain -- Gallant defence of Fort Bowyer -- Seizure of + Pensacola -- Jackson at New Orleans -- Approach and landing + of the British -- Jackson proclaims martial law -- Night + attack on the British -- Jackson entrenches himself -- First + attack of the British -- Second attack -- Final assault -- + The battle and the victory -- Jackson fined by Judge Hall -- + Arrival of the Treaty of Peace -- Great rejoicings -- + Delegates of the Hartford Convention -- Remarks on the + treaty, 199 + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Cruise of the Constitution -- Action with the Cyane and + Levant -- Chased by a British fleet -- England's views of + neutral rights and the law of nations -- Her honor and + integrity at a discount -- Singular escape of the + Constitution -- Recapture of the Levant under the guns of a + neutral port -- Lampoons on the English squadron for its + contemptible conduct -- Decatur -- Capture of the President + -- The Hornet captures the Penguin -- Chased by a ship of + the line -- Narrow escape -- Cruise of the Peacock -- Review + of the American Navy -- Its future destiny, 236 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PRIVATEERS. + + Character and daring of our privateers -- Skill of American + seamen -- Acts of Congress relative to privateering -- Names + of ships -- Gallant action of the Nonsuch -- Success of the + Dolphin -- Cruise of the Comet -- Narrow escape of the + Governor Tompkins -- Desperate action of the Globe with two + brigs -- The Decatur takes a British sloop of war -- Action + of the Neufchatel with the crew of the Endymion -- Desperate + defence of Captain Reed against the crews of British + squadron -- The Chasseur captures a British schooner of war + -- Character of the commanders of privateers -- Anecdote, 258 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DARTMOOR PRISON. + + Impressed Americans made prisoners of war -- Treatment of + prisoners -- Prison Ships -- Dartmoor prison -- Neglect of + American prisoners -- Their sufferings -- Fourth of July in + Dartmoor -- Brutal attack of the French prisoners -- Fresh + arrivals -- Joy at the news of our naval victories -- + Sufferings of the prisoners in winter -- American Government + allows them three cents per diem -- Moral effect of this + notice of Government -- Napoleon's downfall -- Increased + allowance of Government -- Industry of prisoners -- Attempts + to escape -- Extraordinary adventure of a lieutenant of a + privateer -- Number of prisoners increased -- A riot to + obtain bread -- Dartmoor massacre -- Messrs. King and + L'Arpent appointed commissioners to investigate it -- + Decision -- The end, 279 + + + Tax-tables, 301 + + + Index, 313 + + + + +HISTORY OF THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE CREEK WAR. + + Jackson's first service -- Is appointed commander in-chief + of the Tennessee forces -- Co-operation of other states -- + Jackson enters the Creek nation -- Difficulties of his + position -- General Coffee's expedition -- Relieves Fort + Talladega -- Battle of -- Stormy condition of his army -- + Quells a mutiny -- Abandoned by his troops -- Quells a + second mutiny -- His boldness -- A third mutiny suppressed + -- Left with but a hundred followers -- Clairborne's + movements -- Arrival of reinforcements -- Makes a diversion + in favor of General Floyd -- Battle of Nutessee -- Battle of + Emuckfaw -- Ambuscade of the Indians -- Gallantry of General + Coffee -- Battle of the "Horse Shoe" -- The war ended -- + Jackson's character. + + +Allusion has been made to Jackson's campaign against the Creeks, but I +purposely omitted an account of its progress, preferring to go back +and make a continuous narrative. Although embracing a portion of two +years, it composed a single expedition, and forms a whole which loses +much of its interest by being contemplated in parts. After the +cowardly surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, in the commencement of +the war, Jackson offered his services to the government, and +solicited the post which was assigned to Winchester. Disappointed in +this, he repaired, at the order of the Secretary of War, to Natchez, +to assist Wilkinson, then stationed there, to repel the attacks of the +enemy should they advance up the Mississippi. But no danger from an +attack in that quarter appearing, he was directed to disband his +troops. Refusing to do this, on account of the number of sick in camp, +many of them sons of his neighbors and friends, he became involved in +a quarrel both with Wilkinson and his own officers. He, however, +carried out his measures and led his men back in safety to their +homes. + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +Here he remained idle till the massacre at Fort Mimms, the news of +which, together with the rising of the Indians all along our southern +frontier, burst like a sudden thunder-clap on the neighboring States. +Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, flew at once to arms. On +the 17th of September a mass meeting assembled at Nashville, which +with one voice nominated Jackson commander-in-chief of the troops of +the State. Ten days after, the nomination was confirmed by the +Legislature, and 200,000 dollars voted to carry on the war. Jackson +immediately issued a stirring appeal to the people, in which, after +describing the state of things, he urged them to assemble to his +standard with all speed, saying, "Already are large bodies of the +hostile Creeks marching to your borders, with their scalping-knives +unsheathed to butcher your women and children: time is not to be lost. +We must hasten to the frontier, or we shall find it drenched in the +blood of our citizens." At this time he was suffering from a disabled +arm which had been mutilated in an encounter with Benton, and was +unable to be present at Fayetteville, the rendezvous, on the 4th of +October; but he sent an address to be read to the troops, and rules +regulating the police of the camp. Although too feeble to take the +field, he, three days after, with his arm in a sling, put himself at +the head of the army. The next evening, a dispatch arrived from +Colonel Coffee, who had been previously sent forward with a large +detachment to Huntsville, thirty-two miles distant, stating that a +body of nearly a thousand Indians were on their way to ravage the +frontiers of Georgia, and another party approaching Tennessee. The day +after came a second express confirming the report. By nine o'clock the +following morning, Jackson put his army of twenty-five hundred men in +motion, and at eight in the evening reached Huntsville, making the +thirty-two miles in eleven hours. Finding that the rumor was without +foundation, he proceeded leisurely to Ditto's Landing, where Col. +Coffee with his regiment was encamped. Here he paused to wait for +supplies, and survey his position. + +With promptness on the part of those co-operating with him, he saw +that the hostile Creeks could be crushed with one blow; for on the +west of their settlements were six hundred Mississippi volunteers and +the 3d regiment of regular infantry, six hundred strong, under Colonel +Russel; on the east were twenty-five hundred Georgia militia, +commanded by General Floyd; while from the north, five thousand +volunteers and militia--twenty-five hundred from East Tennessee, under +Generals Cocke and White, and the same number from the western section +of the State--were moving down on the devoted tribes. This army of +five thousand Tennesseans was under his own command, the western half +of which he led in person. There were, besides this formidable array, +a few posts held by small detachments, and a few hundred friendly +Indians, most of them Cherokees. When these separate armies should +close around the hostile settlements, encircling them in a girdle of +fire, it was universally believed that the war would be over. + +While Jackson remained at Ditto's Landing, waiting anxiously for the +supplies which Generals Cocke and White had promised to forward, he +dispatched General Coffee, with six hundred picked men, to destroy +Blackwarrior town, a hundred miles south. + +At length, being urged by the earnest appeals of friendly Indians, who +were in daily danger of being cut off by the Creeks, he, on the 19th, +started for Thompson's Creek, where he had ordered the provisions, +which he supposed were near at hand, to be stopped. Cutting his way +through the heavy forests, and dragging his artillery over steep +mountains, he at length, after a painful march of two days, reached +the place of depot but no provisions had arrived. Instead of supplies, +came a letter from General White, who was at Lookout Mountain in the +Cherokee country, stating that no flour could be spared from that +post. His position was now becoming painful and critical. Standing in +the centre of the wilderness, on the borders of the enemy's country, +with his little band around him, he saw no alternative but to retreat, +unless he ran the risk of starving in the forest. But to abandon his +design, would leave the friendly Indians at the mercy of their +enemies, an act not only cruel in the extreme, and utterly repugnant +to his nature, but which would furnish a fatal example to the other +friendly tribes, whose alliance it was of the highest importance to +secure. Prudence would have dictated a retreat, but Jackson had never +yet turned his back voluntarily on a foe, and he resolved, at all +hazards, to proceed. Sending off expresses to Generals Cocke and +White, and to the Governors of Tennessee and Georgia, and the American +agents in the Choctaw and Cherokee nations, he issued a stirring +address to his troops, in which he promised them that the "order to +charge would be the signal for victory." In urging on them the +importance of coolness, and presence of mind, in every emergency, even +in "retreat," he adds, + +"Your general laments that he has been compelled, even incidentally, +to _hint_ at a retreat, when speaking to freemen and to soldiers. +Never, until you forget all that is due to yourselves and your +country, will you have any practical understanding of that word. Shall +an enemy, wholly unacquainted with military evolutions, and who rely +more for victory on their grim visages, and hideous yells, than upon +their bravery or their weapons--shall such an enemy ever drive before +them, the well-trained youths of our country, whose bosoms pant for +glory, and a desire to avenge the wrongs they have received? Your +general will not live to behold such a spectacle; rather would he rush +into the thickest of the enemy, and submit himself to their +scalping-knives; but he has no fear of such a result. He knows the +valor of the men he commands, and how certainly that valor, regulated +as it will be, will lead to victory." + +Cut off from supplies, locked up in the wilderness, through which +swarmed thousands of savages eagerly watching his advance, with only +six days' rations of meat and two of flour, he issued this bold and +confident address, and then gave orders for the army to march. +Arriving at Ten Islands, he erected Fort Strother, to serve as a +depot, and to cover his retreat. In a letter to Governor Blount, from +this place, he says,-- + +"Indeed, sir, we have been wretchedly supplied,--scarcely two rations +in succession have been regularly drawn, yet we are not despondent. +While we can procure an ear of corn apiece, or anything that will +answer as a substitute for it, we shall continue our exertions to +accomplish the object for which we were sent." + +Here, being informed that General White was only twenty-five miles +distant up the river, he sent him a despatch to hasten, at once, to +the fort. In the mean time, General Coffee, who had returned +successful from his southern expedition, was sent to attack a large +body of Indians at Tallushatchee, some thirty miles distant. With nine +hundred men, this gallant officer advanced, and succeeded in +completely surrounding them; and though the savages fought desperately +to the last, but few escaped. A hundred and eighty warriors lay +stretched around the ashes of their dwellings. Among the slain, was a +mother, on whose bosom her infant boy was found, struggling in vain to +draw nourishment from the lifeless breast. When he was brought to +camp, Jackson endeavored to persuade some of the female captives to +take care of him, but they all refused, saying, "His relations are +all dead, kill him too." He then ordered some sugar to be given him, +and sent him to Huntsville, where he could be properly cared for. He +afterwards adopted him, gave him a good education, and placed him at a +saddler's to learn a trade. The latter was accustomed to spend every +Sunday at the Hermitage, with his adopted father, who was strongly +attached to him. But he always pined for the free, wild life of his +race. The close air of the shop and the drudgery of an apprentice did +not agree with him, and he soon after sickened. He was then taken home +to the Hermitage, where he lingered some time, and died. + +At length, on the 7th of November, an Indian runner arrived in camp, +stating that Fort Talladega, about thirty miles distant, was +surrounded by the hostile Red-sticks, and if he did not hurry to its +relief, the friendly Indians, who had taken refuge in it must be +massacred. The runner had scarcely finished his message when the order +to march was issued, and in a few minutes the columns were in motion. +It was midnight, and through the dim cathedrals of nature, lighted +only by the stars of heaven, Jackson led his two thousand men towards +the Talladega. Eight hundred of these were mounted riflemen, who +presented a picturesque appearance, as they wound slowly along the +rough forest path underneath the autumnal woods, each with unceasing +watchfulness, piercing the surrounding gloom, and every hand grasping +a trusty rifle. Their heavy tramp frightened the wild beasts from +their lairs, and awoke strange echoes in the solitude. Now straining +up steep ascents, and now swimming deep rivers, the fearless and +gallant band pressed forward. In three columns, so as to prevent the +confusion that might arise from a sudden surprise, it forced its +difficult way through the forest, and at night arrived within six +miles of the besieged fort. Here Jackson halted, and sent forward two +friendly Indians and a white man, to reconnoitre. About eleven o'clock +they returned, and reported the enemy in great force, and within a +quarter of a mile of the fort. No time was to be lost, and though the +troops had been without sleep, and constantly on the strain for +twenty-four hours, another night, and a battle, lay between them and +repose. + +It was four o'clock of a cool November morning, when the three columns +again moved forward. Advancing with the utmost caution and quietness +to within a mile of the Indian encampment, they halted, and formed in +order of battle. Two hundred and fifty of the cavalry, under +Lieut.-Col. Dyer, were left in the rear of the centre to act as a +reserve, while the remaining four hundred and fifty were ordered to +push forward to the right and left on either side, until the heads of +their columns met beyond the hostile encampment, and thus completely +encircle it. The two brigades of Hall and Roberts, occupying the right +and left, were directed to advance, while the ring of cavalry was +steadily to contract, so as to shut in every savage and prevent +escape. At eight o'clock, Colonel Carroll boldly charged the position +in front of him, and carried it; he then retreated, in order to draw +the Indians in pursuit. They charged after him with such terrific +whoops and screams, that a portion of General Roberts' brigade, on +whom they were rushing with uplifted tomahawks, broke and fled. This +made a chasm in the line, which Jackson immediately ordered Colonel +Bradley to fill with his regiment, that for some reason, known only to +the latter, had lagged behind, to the great detriment of the order of +battle. But not only had he proved a laggard in the approach, but he +refused to fill the chasm, as ordered by his commander, and the latter +was compelled to dismount his reserve and hurry them forward. As these +steadily and firmly advanced, and poured in their volleys, the +panic-stricken militia recovered their courage and resumed their +places in the line. In the mean time, the encircling cavalry came +galloping, with loud hurrahs, towards the centre. The next moment the +forest rang with the sharp reports of their rifles. In fifteen minutes +the battle was over, and the terrified savages were wildly skirting +the inner edge of this circle of fire, seeking, in vain, an avenue to +the open forest beyond. Turned back at every step, they fell like the +autumn leaves which the wind shook around them. At length they +discovered a gap, made by the neglect of Colonel Bradley and the delay +of a portion of the cavalry, which had taken too wide a circuit, and +poured like a torrent that has suddenly found vent, through it. The +mounted riflemen wheeled and streamed after; and the quick, sharp +reports of their pieces, and the receding yells rising from the +forest, told how fiercely they pressed on the flying traces of the +foe. The savages made straight for the mountains, three miles distant, +fighting as they went. The moment they bounded up the steep acclivity +they were safe, and the wearied horsemen turned again to the camp. +Their way back was easily tracked by the swarthy forms that lay +stretched on the leaves, showing where the flight and pursuit had +swept. Of the thousand and more who had composed the force of the +enemy, more than half were killed or wounded. Three hundred were left +dead on the spot where they had first fought. The loss of the +Americans in killed and wounded, was ninety-five. + +The friendly Indians, who had been so long shut up without a drop of +water, in momentary expectation of being massacred, listened to the +uproar without, with beating hearts; but when the battle was over, +they rushed forth with the most frantic cries of joy, and leaped and +shouted around their deliverers in all the wildness of savage delight. +They crowded around Jackson as if he had been their deity, toward whom +they could not show too much reverence. + +The refusal of General White to march to Fort Strother, left the +feeble garrison of the latter in a perilous state. If it should fall, +Jackson's whole line of retreat would be cut off; and he, therefore, +with deep pain, was compelled to stop in his victorious progress, and +return to the fort. On his arrival, he found that no supplies had +reached it, and that the soldiers, half-starved, were bordering on +mutiny. General Cocke, from the first, seemed resolved to withhold all +aid from Jackson, lest he himself should be eclipsed in the campaign. +[Sidenote: Nov. 11.] This officer directed his movements against the +Hillabee towns. General White, with the mounted men, succeeded in +destroying the place, killing and capturing three hundred and sixteen +warriors. + +[Sidenote: Nov. 18.] + +Jackson, however, endeavored to keep alive the spirits and courage of +his troops, and distributed all his private stores to the feeble and +wounded. Having nothing left for himself and staff, he repaired to the +bullock-pen, and from the offals cut tripe, on which he and they lived +for days, in the vain hope of receiving the long-promised supplies. +One day, as he sat at the foot of a tree, thinking of the hard +condition of his men, and planning how he might find some relief from +the increasing difficulties that pressed so hard upon him, one of the +soldiers, observing that he was eating something, approached, and +asked for a portion. Jackson looked up with a pleasant smile, and +said, "I will, most cheerfully, divide with you what I have;" and +taking some acorns from his pocket, he handed them to the astonished +and mortified soldier. His solicitude for the army did not expend +itself in words, for he shared with the meanest soldier his privations +and his wants, while many of his subordinate officers possessed +abundance. He let the latter enjoy the rations to which they were +legally entitled, but himself scorned to sit down to a well-supplied +table, while the army was perishing with want. + +This state of things, of course, could not last long. The soldiers +believed themselves neglected by the State for whose safety they were +fighting; else why this protracted refusal to send them provisions? +The incipient discontent was fed and aggravated by several of the +officers, who were getting tired of the campaign, and wished to return +home, till at last it broke out into open revolt. The militia +regiments, _en masse_, had resolved to leave. Jackson received the +communication with grief and indignation. He felt for his poor, +half-starved men, but all his passionate nature was roused at this +deliberate defiance of his authority. The militia, however, did not +regard his expostulations or threats, and they fixed on a morning to +commence their march. But as they drew out to take their departure, +they found, to their astonishment, the volunteers paraded across the +path, with Jackson at their head. He ordered them to return to their +position, or they should answer for their disobedience with their +lives. They obeyed; but the volunteers, indignant that they had been +made the instrument of quelling the revolt, and anxious as the others +were to get away, resolved next morning to depart themselves. To their +surprise, however, they saw the militia drawn up in the same position +they had occupied the day before, to arrest the first forward movement +that was made. This was a dangerous game to play with armed men, and +would not bear a second trial. + +The cavalry, on the ground that the country yielded no forage for +their horses, were permitted to retire to the neighborhood of +Huntsville, where they promised to wait the orders of their commander. + +In the mean time, Jackson hearing that provisions were on the way, +made an effort to allay the excited, angry feelings that existed in +the army, and so, on the 14th of November, invited all the field and +platoon officers to his quarters, and after informing them that +abundant supplies were close at hand, addressed them in a kind and +sympathizing manner, told them how deeply he felt for their +sufferings, and concluded by promising, if provisions did not arrive +within two days, to lead them back himself to Tennessee. But this kind +and conciliatory speech produced no effect on a portion of the army, +and the first regiment of volunteers insisted on abandoning the fort. +Permission to leave was granted, and Jackson, with chagrin and +anguish, saw the men whom he refused to abandon at Natchez, forsake +him in the heart of the forest, surrounded by hostile savages. + +The two days expiring without the arrival of provisions, he was +compelled to fulfill his promise to the army, and preparations were +made for departure. In the midst of the breaking up of the camp, he +sat down and wrote a letter to Colonel Pope, the contractor, which +exhibits how deeply he felt, not merely this abandonment of him, but +the failure of the expedition. He says in conclusion: + +"I cannot express the torture of my feelings, when I reflect that a +campaign so auspiciously begun, and which might be so soon and so +gloriously terminated, is likely to be rendered abortive for the want +of supplies. For God's sake, prevent so great an evil." + +As the baggage-wagons were loaded up, and the men fell into marching +order, the palpable evidence of the failure of the project on which +he had so deeply set his heart, and the disgrace that awaited his +army, became so painful, that he could not endure the sight, and he +exclaimed in mingled grief and shame, + +"If only two men will remain with me, I will never abandon the post." + +"You have one, General!" exclaimed Captain Gordon, of the spies, who +stood beside him. + +The gallant captain immediately began to beat up for volunteers, and +it was not long before a hundred and nine brave fellows surrounded +their general, swearing to stand by him to the last. + +The latter then put himself at the head of the militia, telling them +he should order them back, if they met provisions near by. They had +gone but ten or twelve miles, when they met a hundred and fifty beeves +on their way to the fort. The men fell to, and in a short time were +gorging themselves with half roasted meat. Invigorated by their +gluttonous repast, most of them consented to return. One company, +however, quietly resumed its journey homeward. When Jackson was +informed of it, he sprang into his saddle, and galloping a quarter of +a mile ahead, where General Coffee with his staff and a few soldiers +had halted, ordered them to form across the road, and fire on the +first man that attempted to pass. As the mutineers came up and saw +that living barrier before them, and in front of it the stern and +decided face of their commander, they wheeled about, and retraced +their steps. Jackson then dismounted and began to mingle among the +men, to allay their excitement, and conciliate their feelings. While +he was thus endeavoring to reduce to cheerful obedience this +refractory company, he was told, to his utter amazement, that the +other portion of the army had changed their mind, and the whole +brigade was drawn up in column, and on the point of marching homeward. +He immediately walked up in front of it, snatched a musket from the +hands of a soldier, and resting it across the neck of his horse, swore +he would shoot the first man who attempted to move. The soldiers stood +and looked in sullen silence at that resolute face, undecided whether +to advance or not, when General Coffee and his staff galloped up. +These, together with the faithful companies, Jackson ordered to form +behind him, and fire when he did. Not a word was uttered for some +time, as the two parties thus stood face to face, and gazed on each +other. At length a murmur rang along the column--rebellion was +crushed, and the mutineers consented to return. Discontent, however, +prevailed, and the volunteers looked anxiously forward to the 10th of +December, the time when they supposed the term of their enlistment +expired. They had originally enlisted for twelve months, and counting +in the time they had been disbanded, after their return from Natchez, +the year would be completed on that date. But Jackson refused to allow +the time they were not in actual service. Letters passed between the +officers and himself, and every effort was made on his part to allay +the excitement, and convince the troops of the justice of his demands. +He appealed to their patriotism, their courage, and honor, and finally +told them if the General Government gave permission for their +discharge, he would discharge them, otherwise they should walk over +his dead body before they stirred a foot, until the twelve months' +actual service was accomplished. [Sidenote: Dec.] Anticipating +trouble, he wrote home for reinforcements, and sent off officers for +recruits. + +In the mean time, the 10th of December drew near, and every heart was +filled with anxiety for the result. A portion of the army was resolved +to _take_ their discharge, whether granted or not. It was not a sudden +impulse, created by want and suffering, but a well-considered and +settled determination, grounded on what they considered their rights. +The thing had been long discussed, and many of the officers had given +their decided opinion that the time of the men actually expired on the +10th. Jackson knew that his troops were brave, and when backed by the +consciousness of right, would be resolute and firm. But he had made up +his mind to prevent mutiny, though he was compelled to sacrifice a +whole regiment in doing it. + +At length, on the evening of the 9th, Gen. Hall entered the tent of +Jackson, and informed him that his whole brigade was in a state of +revolt. The latter immediately issued an order stating the fact, and +calling on all the officers to aid in quelling it. He then directed +the two guns he had with him, to be placed, one in front and the other +in the rear, and the militia on the rising ground in advance, to check +any movement in that direction, and waited the result. The brigade +assembled, and were soon in marching order. Jackson then rode slowly +along the line, and addressed the soldiers. He reminded them of their +former good conduct, spoke of the love and esteem he had always borne +them, of the reinforcements on the way, saying, also, that he expected +every day, the decision of the government, on the question of their +discharge, and wound up by telling them emphatically, that he had done +with entreaty,--go they should not, and if they persisted, he would +settle the matter in a very few minutes. He demanded an immediate and +explicit answer. They persisted. He repeated his demand, and still +receiving no answer, he ordered the artillerists to prepare their +matches, and at the word "Fire!" to pour their volleys of grape-shot +into the closely crowded ranks. There he sat, gazing sternly down the +line, while the few moments of grace allowed them, were passing +rapidly away. The men knew it was no idle threat. He had never been +known to break his word, and that sooner than swerve one hair from his +purpose, he would drench that field in blood. Alarmed, they began to +whisper one to another, "Let us go back." The contagion of fear +spread, and soon the officers advanced, and promised, on behalf of the +men, that they would return to their quarters. + +As if to try this resolute man to the utmost, and drive him to +despair, no sooner was one evil averted than another overtook him. He +had, by his boldness, quelled the mutiny; but he now began again to +feel the horrors of famine. Supplies did not arrive; or in such scanty +proportion, that he was compelled, at last, to discharge the troops, +and, notwithstanding all the distressing scenes through which he had +passed to retain them, see them take up their line of march for home, +leaving him, with only a hundred devoted followers, shut up in the +forest. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 23.] + +While these things were passing, General Clairborne, with his +volunteers, passed up the east side of the Alabama, and piercing to +the towns above the Cahawba, gave battle to the Indians under their +great leader, Weathersford, and defeated them, with the loss of but +one man killed and seven wounded. Destroying their villages, he +returned to Fort Clairborne. [Sidenote: 1814.] Jackson remained idle +till the middle of January, when he was gladdened by the arrival of +eight hundred recruits. Not deeming these, however, sufficient to +penetrate into the heart of the Creek country, he resolved to make a +diversion in favor of General Floyd, who was advancing from the east. +[Sidenote: Dec. 29.] This officer, leaving his encampment on the +Chattahouche, and advancing into the Indian territory along the +southern bank of the Talapoosa River, came on the morning of the 29th +upon the town of Autossee, where a large number of Indians were +assembled. Having marched since one o'clock in the morning, he took +the savages by surprise. They however rallied and fought desperately, +retreating only before the fire of the artillery. Two towns, within +sight of each other, were soon in flames. Several hundred of the enemy +were killed and wounded, while the loss of the Americans was but +sixty-five. Among the wounded was General Floyd, who was struck by a +shot while gallantly leading on his command. Hearing that a large +number of Indians were encamped on the Emuckfaw Creek, where it +empties into the Tallapoosa River, Jackson marched thither, and on the +evening of the 21st of January, arrived within a short distance of +their encampment. The Indians were aware of his approach, and resolved +to anticipate his attack. To prevent a surprise, however, Jackson had +ordered a circle of watch-fires to be built around his little band. +The men stood to their arms all night; and just before daylight a wild +yell, which always precedes an attack, went up from the forest, and +the next moment the savages charged down on the camp. But, the instant +the light of the watch-fires fell on their tawny bodies they were +swept with such a destructive volley, that they again took shelter in +the darkness. At length, daylight appeared, when General Coffee +ordered a charge, which cleared the field. He was then directed to +advance on the encampment with four hundred men, and carry it by +storm. On his approach, however, he found it too strong for his force, +and retired. Jackson, attacked in return, was compelled to charge +repeatedly, before the savages finally took to flight. Many of their +bravest warriors fell in this short conflict; while, on the American +side, several valuable officers were badly wounded, among them General +Coffee, who, from the commencement to the close, was in the thickest +of the fight. + +Notwithstanding his victory, Jackson prudently determined to retreat. +He had gained his object; for in drawing the attention of the Indians +to his own force, he had diverted it from that under Gen. Floyd. +Besides, his horses had been without forage for two days, and would +soon break down. He, therefore, buried the dead on the field where +they had fallen; and, on the 23d, began to retrace his footsteps. +Judging from the quietness of the Indians since the battle, he +suspected they were lurking in ambush ahead. Remembering also what an +excellent place there was for a surprise at the ford of Enotochopeo, +he sent men in advance to reconnoitre, who discovered another ford +some six hundred yards farther down the stream. Reaching this just at +evening, he encamped there all night, and the next morning commenced +crossing. He expected an attack while in the middle of the stream, +and, therefore, had his rear formed in order of battle. His +anticipations proved correct; for no sooner had a part of the army +reached the opposite bank, than an alarm-gun was heard in the rear. In +an instant, all was in commotion. The next moment, the forest +resounded with the war-whoop and yells of the savages, as they came +rushing on in great numbers. As they crowded on the militia, the +latter, with their officers, gave way in affright, and poured +pell-mell down the bank. Jackson was standing on the shore +superintending the crossing of his two pieces of artillery, when his +broken ranks came tumbling about him. Foremost among the fugitives was +Captain Stump; and, Jackson, enraged at the shameful disorder, aimed a +desperate blow at him with his sword, fully intending to cut him down. +One glance of his eye revealed the whole extent of the danger. But +for Gen. Carroll, who, with Capt. Quarles and twenty-five men, stood +nobly at bay, beating back with their deliberate volleys the hordes of +savages, the entire rear of the army would have been massacred. But, +over the din and tumult, Jackson's voice rang clear and steady as a +bugle-note, as he rapidly issued his orders. The gallant and intrepid +Coffee, roused by the tumult, raised himself from the litter on which +he lay wounded, and casting one glance on the panic, and another upon +the little band that stood like a rock embedded in the farther bank, +leaped to the ground, and with one bound landed in his saddle. The +next moment, his shout of encouragement broke on the ears of his +companions as he dashed forward to the conflict. Jackson looked up in +surprise as that pale face galloped up the bank, and then his rage at +the cowardice of the men gave way to the joy of the true hero when +another hero moves to his side, and he shouted, "We shall whip them +yet, my men! _the dead have risen, and come to aid us_." The company +of artillery followed, leaving Lieutenant Armstrong and a few men to +drag up the cannon. When one of the guns, at length, reached the top +of the bank, the rammer and picker were nowhere to be found. A man +instantly wrenched the bayonet from his musket, and rammed home the +cartridge with the stock, and picked it with his ramrod. Lieutenant +Armstrong fell beside his piece; but as he lay upon the ground, he +cried out, "My brave fellows, some of you must fall; but save the +cannon." Such heroism is always contagious; and the men soon rallied, +and charging home on the savages, turned them in flight on every side. + +After burying his dead and caring for the wounded, Jackson resumed his +march; and, four days after, reached Fort Strother in safety. Nearly +one-eighth of his little army had been killed or wounded since he left +the post, and he now dismissed the remainder, who claimed that the +time of their enlistment was expired; and quietly waited till +sufficient reinforcements should arrive for him to undertake a +thorough campaign into the Creek country. + +[Sidenote: Jan. 27.] + +Four days after this, General Floyd again advancing into the Creek +country, was attacked just before daylight by a large body of Indians, +who rushed on him with terrible impetuosity. Determined on victory, +they advanced within thirty steps of the artillery, and would have +taken it but for the uncommon coolness and bravery of the subordinate +officers. At length a charge of bayonet sent them flying in all +directions. The cavalry then charged, and the horses rushing furiously +forward, to the sound of bugles, completed the terror of the savages, +who disappeared like frightened deer in the surrounding forests, +leaving thirty-seven dead on the field. + +Reinforcements soon began to come in to Jackson; for his bravery and +success awakened confidence, and stimulated the ambition of thousands, +who were sure to win distinction under such a leader; and, by March, +he found himself at the head of four thousand militia and volunteers, +and a regiment of regular troops, together with several hundred +friendly Indians. While preparing to advance, mutiny again broke out +in the camp. He determined this time to make an example which should +deter others in future; and a private, being tried and convicted, was +shot. The spectacle was not lost on the soldiers, and nothing more was +heard of a revolt. + +Having completed all his arrangements, Jackson, with four thousand +men, advanced, on the 16th of March, into the Creek country. At the +junction of the Cedar Creek with the Coosa River, he established Fort +Williams, and left a garrison. He then continued his march, with some +two thousand five hundred men, towards his previous battle-ground at +Emuckfaw. About five miles below it, in the bend of the Tallapoosa, +the Indians, a thousand strong, had entrenched themselves, determined +to give battle. They were on sacred ground; for all that tract between +the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers, known as the "hickory ground," their +prophets had told them the white man could never conquer. This bend +contained about a hundred acres, around which the river wrapped +itself in the form of a horse-shoe, from whence it derived its name. +Across the neck leading to this open plain, the Indians had erected a +breastwork of logs, seven or eight feet high, and pierced it with a +double row of port-holes. Behind it, the ground rose into an +elevation; while still farther back, along the shore, lay the village, +in which were the women and children. Early in the morning of the +25th, Jackson ordered General Coffee to take the mounted riflemen +together with the friendly Indians and cross the river at a ford +below, and stretch around the bend, on the opposite bank from the +village, so as to prevent the fugitives from escaping. He then +advanced in front, and took up his position, and opened on the +breastwork with his light artillery. The cannonade was kept up for two +hours without producing any effect. In the mean time, the friendly +Indians attached to General Coffee's command had swam the river and +loosened a large number of canoes, which they brought back. Captain +Russell's company of spies immediately leaped into them, and, with the +friendly Indians, crossed over and set the village on fire, and with +loud shouts pressed towards the rear of the encampment. The Indians +returned the shout of defiance, and, with a courage and steadiness +they seldom exhibited, repelled every effort to advance. + +The troops under Jackson heard the din of the conflict within, and +clamored loudly to be led to the assault. He, however, held them back, +and stood and listened. Discovering, at length, by the incessant +firing in a single place, that the Americans were making no progress, +he ordered the drums to beat the charge. A loud and thrilling shout +rolled along the American line, and, with levelled bayonets, the +excited ranks precipitated themselves on the breastwork. A withering +fire received them, the rifle-balls sweeping like a sudden gust of +sleet, in their very faces. Not an Indian flinched, and many were +pierced through the port-holes; while, in several instances, the +enemy's bullets were welded to the American bayonets. The swarthy +warriors looked grimly through the openings, as though impervious to +death. This, however, was of short duration, and soon the breastwork +was black with men, as they streamed up the sides. Major Montgomery +was the first who planted his foot on the top, but he had scarcely +waved his sword in triumph above his head, when he fell back upon his +companions, dead. A cry of vengeance swelled up from his followers, +and the next moment the troops rolled like a sudden inundation over +the barrier. It then became a hand-to-hand fight. The Indians refused +to yield, and with gleaming knives and tomahawks, and clubbed rifles +and muskets, closed in a death grapple with their foes. Civilization +gave the bold frontiersmen no advantage here--it was a personal +struggle with his swarthy rival for the mastery, where they both +claimed the right of possession. The wild yell of the savage blended +in with the stem curse of the Anglo-Saxon, while high and shrill over +the clangor and clash of arms, arose the shouts of the prophets, as +dancing frantically around their blazing dwellings, they continued +their strange incantations, still crying victory. + +At length one was shot in the mouth, as if to give the lie to his +declarations. Pressed in front and rear, many at last turned and fled. +But the unerring rifle dropped them along the shore; while those who +endeavored to save themselves by swimming, sunk in mid-stream under +the deadly fire of Coffee's mounted men. The greater part, however, +fought and fell, face to face, with their foes. It was a long and +desperate struggle; not a soul asked for quarter, but turned, with a +last look of hate and defiance, on his conqueror. As the ranks grew +thin, it ceased to be a fight, and became a butchery. Driven at last +from the breastwork, the few surviving warriors took refuge in the +brush and timber on the hill. Wishing to spare their lives, Jackson +sent an interpreter to them, offering them pardon; but they proudly +refused it, and fired on the messenger. He then turned his cannon on +the spot, but failing to dislodge them, ordered the grass and brush to +be fired. Driven out by the flames, they ran for the river, but most +of them fell before they reached the water. On every side the crack of +the rifle told how many eyes were on the fugitives. Darkness at last +closed the scene, and still night, broken only by the cries of the +wounded, fell on the forest and river. Nearly eight hundred of the +Indians had fallen, five hundred and fifty-seven of whom lay stark and +stiff around and in that encampment. The loss of the Americans, in +killed and wounded, was about two hundred.[1] + +[Footnote 1: An incident occurred after the battle, which presented in +striking contrast the two opposite natures of Jackson. An Indian +warrior, severely wounded, was brought to him, whom he placed at once +in the hands of the surgeon. While under the operation, the bold, +athletic warrior looked up, and asked Jackson in broken English, "Cure +'im, kill 'im again?" The latter replied, "No; on the contrary, he +should be well taken care of." He recovered, and Jackson pleased with +his noble bearing, sent him to his own house in Tennessee, and +afterwards had him taught a trade in Nashville, where he eventually +married and settled down in business. When that terrible ferocity, +which took entire possession of this strange, indomitable man in +battle, subsided away, the most gentle and tender emotions usurped its +place. The tiger and the lamb united in his single person.] + +The tired soldier slept on the field of slaughter, around the +smouldering fires of the Indian dwellings. The next morning they sunk +the dead bodies of their companions in the river, to save them from +the scalping-knives of the savages, and then took up their backward +march to Fort William. + +The original design of having the three armies from Tennessee, +Georgia, and Mississippi, meet in the centre of the Creek nation, and +thus crush it with one united effort, had never been carried out, and +Jackson now resolved alone to overrun and subdue the country. Issuing +a noble address to his troops, he, on the 7th of April, set out for +the Indian village of Hoithlowalle. But he met with no opposition; the +battle of Tohopeka had completely prostrated the tribe, and the war +was virtually at an end. He, however, scoured the country, the Indians +everywhere fleeing before the terror of his name. On his march, he +sent orders to Colonel Milton, who, with a strong force, was also +advancing into the Creek country, to send him provisions. The latter +returned a cavalier refusal. Jackson then sent a peremptory order, not +only to forward provisions, but to join him at once with his troops. +Colonel Milton, after reading the order, asked the bearer what sort of +a man Jackson was. "One," he replied, "who intends, when he gives an +order, to have it obeyed." The colonel concluded to obey, and soon +effected a junction with his troops. Jackson then resumed his march +along the banks of the Tallapoosa; but he had hardly set the leading +column in motion, when word was brought him that Colonel Milton's +brigade was unable to follow, as the wagon-horses had strayed away +during the night, and could not be found. Jackson immediately sent +him word to detail twenty men to each wagon. The astonished colonel +soon found horses sufficient to draw the wagons. + +The enemy, however, did not make a stand, and either fled, or came in +voluntarily to tender their submission. The latter part of April, +General Pinckney arrived at Fort Jackson, and assumed the command, and +General Jackson returned to Tennessee, greeted with acclamations, and +covered with honors. In a few months peace was restored with all the +Southern tribes, and the machinations of England in that quarter +completely frustrated. + +There is nothing in the history of our country more remarkable than +this campaign, and nothing illustrates the genius of this nation more +than it and the man who carried it triumphantly through. Rising from a +sick couch, he called the young men of every profession to rally to +the defence of their country. Placing himself at the head of the brave +but undisciplined bands that gathered at his bidding, he boldly +plunged into the untrodden wilderness. Unskilled in the art of war, +never having witnessed a battle since he was a boy, he did not +hesitate to assume the command of an army without discipline, and +without knowledge of the toils and difficulties before it. Yet with it +he crossed broad rivers, climbed pathless mountains, and penetrated +almost impassable swamps filled with crafty savages. More subtle and +more tireless than his foes, he thwarted all their schemes. With +famine on one side and an army in open mutiny on the other, he scorned +to yield to discouragement, and would not be forced by the apparently +insurmountable obstacles that opposed his progress, from his purpose. +By his constancy and more than Roman fortitude, compelling adversity +at length to relent, and quelling his rebellious troops by the terror +of his presence and his indomitable will, he at last, with a smile of +triumph, saw his columns winding over the consecrated grounds of the +savages. Soon his battle-shout was heard rising over the crackling of +burning villages. Kings, prophets, and chieftains fell before him; and +crushing towns, villages, and fortresses under his feet, he at last, +with one terrible blow, paralyzed the nation for ever. + +Indian warfare, though exhibiting none of the grand movements of a +well-appointed battle, often calls out equally striking qualities, and +requires more promptness and self-possession, and greater mental +resources in a commander. Especially with such an army as Jackson had +under him, the task he accomplished was Herculean, and reveals a +character of vast strength and executiveness. That single man, +standing up alone in the heart of the wilderness, and boldly facing +his famine-struck and rebellious army, presents a scene partaking far +more of the moral sublime than Cromwell seizing a rebel from the very +midst of his murmuring band. + +His gloomy isolation for a whole winter, with only a few devoted +followers, reveals a fixedness of purpose and grandeur of character +that no circumstances can affect. Inferior to the contagion of fear, +unaffected by general discouragement, equal in himself to every +emergency, he moves before us in this campaign the embodiment of the +noblest qualities that distinguish the American race. + +Jackson, with his undisciplined, mutinous, and starving army in the +southern wilderness, does not seem to belong to the same race as Hull, +Dearborn, Wilkinson and Izard on the northern frontier. Contrast the +difficulties that surrounded him with those that embarrassed them, and +how pitiful do their apologies and excuses sound. Had he been in +Dearborn's place, the first campaign would have placed Canada in our +possession. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex -- Arrival at + Valparaiso -- Capture of British whalers and letters of + marque -- Essex Junior -- Marquesas Islands -- Description + of the natives -- Madison Island -- War with the Happahs -- + Invades the Typee territory -- Tedious march -- Beautiful + prospect -- Fights the natives and burns down their towns -- + Sails for Valparaiso -- Blockaded by two English ships -- + Attempts to escape -- Is attacked by both vessels -- His + gallant defence -- His surrender -- Returns home on parole + -- Insolence of an English Officer -- Porter escapes in an + open boat and lands on Long Island -- Enthusiastic reception + in New York. + + +An expedition similar in its unity to that of Jackson's, and hence +requiring a connected narrative, was carried forward by Captain Porter +during the year 1813 in the Pacific Ocean. When Commodore Bainbridge +sailed from Boston with the Constitution and Hornet, Porter, then +lying in the Delaware with the Essex, was ordered to join him at Port +Praya in St. Jago, or at Fernando Noronha. [Sidenote: Oct. 26, 1812.] +The capture of the Java by the Constitution, and of the Peacock by the +Hornet, caused a change in the plans of Bainbridge, and Captain +Porter, not finding him or the Hornet at either of the two places +mentioned, or off Frio, a rendezvous afterwards designated by the +Commodore, he was left to cruise where he thought best. [Sidenote: +Dec. 12.] While searching for these vessels, he captured an English +government packet with $55,000 in specie on board, and sent her home. + +[Sidenote: Jan. 1813.] + +At length, after revolving various schemes in his mind, he took the +bold resolution to go alone into the Pacific, where we had not a depot +of any kind, or a place in which a disabled vessel could be refitted, +while all the neutral ports were under the influence of our enemy, and +make a dash at the British fishermen. The vessels employed in these +fisheries he knew were invariably supplied with naval stores, etc., +and he resolved to live on them. This original and daring cruise was +no sooner decided upon than he turned his prow southward, and was soon +wrapt in the storms that sweep Cape Horn. [Sidenote: Jan. 28.] Again +and again beaten back, as if to deter him from his hazardous course, +he still held on, and at length, after a most tempestuous and toilsome +passage, took the breezes of the Pacific and stretched northward. +[Sidenote: March 5.] His provisions getting short, and being in want +of some new rigging, he determined to run into Valparaiso. On his +arrival at that port he found, to his astonishment and delight, that +Chili had declared herself free of Spain, and his reception was kind +and courteous. Here he learned, also, that Peru had sent out cruisers +against American shipping, which, together with British letters of +marque, threatened to make destructive work with our whalers. He +therefore remained only a week in port, and then steered northward. On +the 25th he captured one of the Peruvian cruisers, which, with an +English vessel, had seized two American whalers a few days before.[2] +Four days after, he recaptured the Barclay, one of the American +vessels taken by the Peruvians, and the British letter of marque. +Looking into Callao to see if any thing had arrived from Valparaiso +since he left, he cruised from island to island till the latter part +of April without making any prizes. At length, on the morning of the +29th, three sail were discerned and chase was immediately made for the +nearest, which soon struck. She was a British whaler with fourteen +hundred barrels of oil on board. It having fallen calm when the Essex +was yet eight miles distant from the other vessels, he was compelled +to resort to his boats to effect their capture. One of these, the +Georgiana, Captain Porter equipped as a cruiser, with sixteen guns, +and put her under the command of Lieutenant Downes, who soon started +on a cruise of his own. + +[Footnote 2: The Peruvian Government supposed that Spain, as the ally +of England, would make common cause with her on this continent, and so +to be beforehand, fitted out cruisers against our commerce in the +Pacific.] + +[Sidenote: June 24.] + +These two vessels joined company again at Tumbez, the Essex in the +mean time having captured two large British vessels, and the Georgiana +three. The Atlantic, one of those taken by Porter, being a much larger +and faster ship than the Georgiana, Lieutenant Downes was transferred +to her, and she was christened Essex Junior. On the last day of June +this little fleet of nine sail put to sea, and on the 4th of July +fired a general salute with the enemy's powder. A few days after, the +Essex Junior parted company, steering for Valparaiso with all the +prizes but two in company. Porter continued his cruise with the +Georgiana and Greenwich, and on the 13th captured three more vessels. +The Greenwich behaved gallantly in the action, closing courageously +with the largest vessel, a cruiser, while the Essex was led away in +chase of the first. Porter soon after captured another whaler, when, +being joined by the Essex Junior, bringing information that the +Chilian government was assuming a more unfriendly attitude towards the +Americans, he resolved to proceed to the Marquesas to refit, and +return home. Having made the vessels of the enemy answer for a naval +depot, he now sought the bay of an island inhabited by savages, where +unseen he could prepare to retrace his voyage of ten thousand miles. + +He made the Marquesas Islands on the 23d of October. Winding among +them to find a hiding-place secure as possible against English war +vessels that he heard had been sent out to capture him, he at length +dropped anchor in the sequestered bay of Novaheevah and took +possession of it in the name of the United States, naming it Madison +Island. In a short time the native women came swimming off naked to +the ship in crowds, and as they climbed up the vessel's sides, the +sailors, astonished at the novel spectacle, threw them their +handkerchiefs to cover their persons. Though swarthy, many of them +possessed beautiful forms and handsome features. Apparently wholly +unconscious of those feelings of modesty which seem innate in the sex, +they received with pride the advances of the men, and in a short time +every petty officer had chosen his wife, and the long and tedious +confinement on ship-board was exchanged for unbridled license. + +A year before, Porter had sailed from the United States alone, with +only a few months' provisions on board, and in the mean time had taken +thirteen vessels and four hundred prisoners. With but a single +imperfect chart to direct him, he had boldly threaded the islands of +the Pacific, and swept it of nearly all the enemy's ships. His journal +of this long cruise reads more like a romance than a logbook, and +seems to belong to that class of literature in which Robinson Crusoe +and Captain Kidd figure as heroes. That frigate dropping down the +Delaware in October, the autumn previous, and now riding at anchor, +with a large fleet about her, in a deserted bay amid the Marquesas +Islands, presents a striking contrast, and shows what a single brave, +energetic, and skillful officer can accomplish. + +In a short time those quiet waters resounded with the hammer of the +workmen, and were filled with the stir and activity of a civilized +port. + +The nations were at first friendly, but those occupying the valley +where Porter had landed being at war with another tribe, the Happahs, +they insisted that he should make common cause with them against their +enemies. This, at last, for the sake of peace, he was compelled to do, +and sent a party of sailors, under Lieutenant Downes, to assist them +in their invasion of the enemy's territory. The hostile tribe had +assembled to the number of three or four thousand, but Downes soon +scattered them and returned with five dead bodies, which his allies +brought back in triumph, slung on poles. + +In the mean time Captain Porter built a small village, consisting of +several houses, a bakery, and rope-walk, and erected a fort which he +mounted with four guns. + +At length the Typees, a warlike tribe, succeeded in exciting the +friendly tribes to hostilities, and a plan was rapidly maturing to +murder the American crews. Presents and requests to induce them to +maintain a peaceful attitude, only increased their arrogance, and +Porter at last resolved to make them feel his power. Accompanied by +thirty-five sailors he advanced into their country, but the natives +avoided a combat and retired into the mountain fastnesses. The next +day he took nearly his whole crew and boldly entered the mountains, +whose bald tops swarmed with thousands of savages. But to his +surprise, he suddenly came to a wall seven feet high flanked with +impenetrable thickets. Behind this the Typees made a bold stand, and +hurled stones and arrows against their assailants. The volleys of the +Americans produced but little effect, and Porter discovering at length +that his ammunition was nearly exhausted, sent Lieutenant Gamble to +the boats for more, while he, with only nineteen sailors, maintained +his position. On the return of Gamble it was thought best to retreat, +and the whole took up their backward march. The savages, elated with +their victory, pressed forward in pursuit, when Porter gave them a +volley which killed two and wounded several more. Coming to a river, +the Americans heard the snapping of slings in the thickets on the +bank, and immediately after, a shower of stones fell among them, one +of which fractured the leg of Lieutenant Downes. Weary and +disappointed, they at length reached the boats. Here they rested till +night, when they were again ordered forward. The moon shone bright as +this little column slowly and painfully climbed the heights, from +whose summits arose the yells and songs of the savages. As the party +advanced, the sterile region grew more dreary and broken, and the +prospect ahead more disheartening. Now wading foaming torrents, and +again creeping along dizzy precipices, the astonished sailors, +unaccustomed to such labors, became exhausted, and many dropped down +amid the rocks unable to proceed further. At length the summit, from +which the valley of the Typees could be seen, was reached. But in the +mean time the sky had become overcast, the moon was obscured, and the +guide declared it would be impossible to descend in the darkness. They +therefore laid down, where they were, to wait for morning. + +Those American sailors reposing on the top of the Typee mountain, in +that remote and almost unknown region, presented a novel spectacle. An +impenetrable gloom hung over the valley beneath, the sky spread like a +pall above them, while the dull, heavy roar of the Pacific, as its +billows broke in the darkness far below them, added to the strangeness +and romance of the scene. At length the gathering storm burst, and the +rain fell in torrents. It was a tropical shower--one of those deluges +of the skies, and in a few moments the little band was flooded with +water. Porter, fearing the ammunition would all be spoiled, bade +every man protect it with the utmost care. The Typees, assembled in +the valley below to the number of four or five thousand, appeared to +entertain the same expectations, for they began to shout and beat +their drums in exultation. + +At length the long wished for day dawned--the storm had ceased, and as +the light crept down the sides of the mountain, a scene of surpassing +beauty presented itself. A valley nine miles long and three broad, lay +spread out before them, inclosed on every side by high mountains. At +the farther extremity arose a lofty precipice, over whose brink a +torrent rushed in a flying leap, and falling in foam at the base, +formed a stream, which, after winding tranquilly through the green and +lovely valley, passed, by an opening in the mountains, into the +Pacific, that, far away, rolled and glittered in the early dawn. All +over this sequestered plain were scattered the breadfruit and cocoa +trees, while picturesque villages of bamboo dotted it in every +direction. Amid these, immense crowds of swarthy men were moving, and +animals grazing, giving life and animation to the strange and +beautiful panorama. + +Firing a volley, to let the enemy know his powder was not destroyed, +Porter began the difficult descent. The tortuous course he was +compelled to pursue made the journey long and tedious, and that night +he encamped in a village of friendly natives. The next morning he +moved on the Typee towns. The natives at first closed bravely with +him, but frightened by the musketry they soon retreated, followed by +the sailors. Retiring from village to village, they at last took +refuge in a strong fortress, against which small arms could have no +effect. Porter then began the work of destruction, and soon nine +villages were wrapt in fire. As the flames and smoke rolled up from +the plain, he began his backward march to the ships. At sunset he +stood again on the mountain where he had reposed the night before, and +looked down on the valley, but it was now a scene of desolation. The +smoke curling slowly up from the ruins revealed where the Typee towns +had stood, while around the smouldering ashes the inhabitants were +gathered in consternation and despair. + +Porter reached his boats in safety, having marched sixty miles in all. +The sailors, unaccustomed to such land duty, were completely broken +down with the fatigue and exposure. + +This novel expedition succeeded in humbling the hostile tribes, and +Porter had no further trouble with them while he remained. + +The burning of these villages furnished the English papers a subject +for the exercise of their philanthropy. An act of self-preservation by +which a few empty wigwams were destroyed, aroused the humanity of +those who could see no cause of complaint in the conflagration that +lighted up the Niagara river from Buffalo to the falls, and kept the +Chesapeake in a glow from burning farm-houses and villages. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 12, 1813.] + +Leaving behind him three prizes under the protection of the fort he +had erected, Porter set sail for Valparaiso, where he arrived the 12th +of January. Although it was evident that the sympathies of the Chilian +government had changed, and were now entirely with the English, he +determined to wait at that port for the Phoebe, an English ship, which +he understood had been sent out on purpose to capture him. She at +length arrived, but not alone--the Cherub, a sloop of war bearing her +company. These vessels bore flags with the mottoes on them "God and +our country--British sailors' best rights--traitors offend them." +Porter immediately hoisted at his mizen, "God, our country and +liberty; tyrants offend them." The Essex could doubtless have made +good her voyage home, but Porter in capturing merchantmen and whalers +had done nothing in his own view to distinguish himself, and he longed +to grapple with this English ship of war. But the vast superiority of +these two vessels to his own and the Essex Junior, forbade a combat +unless he was forced into it. + +When the Phoebe, commanded by Captain Hillyar, came into port she +passed close to the Essex with her men at quarters. Porter hailed +her, saying the vessels would get foul, and requesting the officers in +command to keep off. The English captain declared he had no intention +of provoking an action, but his conduct arousing the suspicion of +Porter he summoned the boarders. In the mean time the English vessel +being taken aback, passed her bows directly over the decks of the +Essex, and she lay exposed to a raking broadside from the latter, and +was for the time completely at her mercy. There is scarcely a doubt +that Captain Hillyar had orders to attack the Essex wherever he found +her, even if in a neutral port, and if the positions of the two +vessels had been reversed he would not have hesitated to demolish the +American frigate. The whole proceeding justified Porter in such a +construction, and his broadsides should have anticipated those of the +enemy, which soon after left him a wreck. + +The English ships having taken in supplies, cruised outside for six +weeks, completely blockading the Essex. Porter saw that his vessel +could outsail the enemy, but he was not anxious to escape. He wished +if possible, notwithstanding his inferiority in men and weight of +metal, to engage the Phoebe alone. In this Captain Hillyar would not +gratify him. Once Porter got within range and opened his fire on the +Phoebe, but her gallant commander, though his vessel was a thirty-six, +while the Essex was a thirty-two, and his crew mustered one hundred +more men, refused the challenge and dropped nearly three miles astern +to close with her consort, the Cherub. This enraged Porter, for +Hillyar had hove to off port, and fired a gun to windward, which could +be interpreted in no other way than as a challenge. + +The former so understood it, and immediately got under way, when his +adversary retired. Hillyar afterwards declared that the gun to +windward was a signal to the Cherub. It was doubtless a ruse practiced +to decoy the Essex into a chase till she could be assailed by both +vessels at once. There can be only one of two explanations to +Hillyar's conduct in this affair; he either was afraid to meet the +American frigate, though the latter was inferior in force, or his +instructions were not to hazard a single engagement. + +Finding that his adversary was determined to avoid him, unless he +could close with both his vessels at the same time, and hearing that +other British cruisers were on the way, Porter resolved to put to sea, +and by tempting Captain Hillyar in pursuit, give the Essex Junior, a +slow sailer, an opportunity to follow. So on the 28th of March the +wind blowing fresh, he stood out of port. For awhile every thing +promised a safe exit, and an open sea, where he would have defied the +enemy. But in doubling the Point of Angels to clear the harbor, a +squall struck the vessel, carrying away her main-top-mast, and with +it several men, who were drowned. Unable to go to sea in this crippled +condition, and unable also to beat back to his former anchorage, he +passed to the north-eastern side of the harbor and dropped his anchor +within three miles of the town, a mile and a half from the Castello +Viego, and close in shore. He was on neutral ground, as much so by the +law of nations, as if under the guns of the castle, and where, in the +same circumstances, at the present day, no nation on the globe would +dare fire into an American frigate; and yet Captain Hillyar moved down +on her with both his vessels, chose his position, and opened his +broadsides. Only one of two measures was therefore left to the +American commander--strike his flag at once, or fight his ship to the +last. To conquer he knew was impossible, still he could not give up +his vessel without an effort, and he sternly ordered the decks cleared +for action. + +The two English vessels, although they had chosen their own position, +were in a short time so cut up by the deadly aim of the gunners of the +Essex that they hauled off for repairs. + +The state of affairs having got wind, thousands of spectators +assembled on the surrounding heights to witness the combat. Porter's +situation was well nigh hopeless, but he was one of those few men whom +desperate circumstances only stimulate to greater exertions. Fortune, +as if envious of his long success, seemed determined to crush him. Yet +he resolved that what adverse fate got out of him, should be on terms +that would cover him with more glory than ordinary success could +possibly do. + +Captain Hillyar having completed his repairs, again took his position +where the Essex could not bring a gun to bear. Porter finding himself +a mere target on the water, determined if possible to board the +Phoebe. But his sheets and halyards had been so shot away that not a +sail could be set, except the flying jib. Giving this to wind and +cutting his cable, he drove slowly down on his foes, and when he got +them within range of his carronades, opened a terrible fire. The +cannonade on both sides was incessant and awful. The Essex on fire, +almost a wreck, and swept by the broadsides of two vessels, still bore +steadily down to close, but the Cherub hauled off, while the Phoebe, +seeing the advantage she possessed with her long guns, when out of the +reach of carronades, kept edging away. It was a painful spectacle to +behold, that crippled, dismantled ship, bravely limping up to grapple +with her powerful adversary, and that adversary as slowly moving off +and pouring in the while a ceaseless, murderous fire. Hulled at almost +every shot, her decks ripped up and strewed with the dead, her guns +torn from their carriages and rendered useless, it was evident that +noble frigate could not be fought much longer. Still Porter would not +strike his flag, and he resolved to run his vessel ashore and blow her +up. Her head was turned towards the beach, and he had got within +musket-shot of it, when the wind suddenly veered and blew him back on +the Phoebe and under her raking broadsides. Foiled in his first +effort, he now for a moment hoped to get foul and board the enemy, but +she kept away, raking the Essex as she retired. The scene on board the +frigate at this time was horrible. The cock-pit was crowded with the +wounded--men by the dozens were mowed down at every discharge--fifteen +had successively fallen at one gun, and scarcely a quarter deck +officer was left standing. Amid this scene of carnage and desolation, +Porter moved with a knit brow and gloomy heart. As he looked at his +crippled condition and slaughtered crew, he felt that he must submit, +but when he turned his eye to the flag of his country, still +fluttering at the mizen, he could not give the order to strike it. The +sympathies of the thousands of spectators that covered the hill-top +were with him--as they ever are with the brave. The American consul +hastened to the governor of the city and claimed the protection of the +batteries for the Essex, but in vain. It had, no doubt, been all +arranged beforehand between the authorities and the British commander. +Every thing, even the elements of nature, seemed combined against +this single ship. As a last resort, Porter let go his sheet anchor, +which brought the head of his vessel round so that his broadsides +again bore. A gleam of hope lighted up for a moment the gloom that +hung over his prospects, and walking amid his bleeding crew, he +encouraged the few survivors to hold on. The broadsides of the two +vessels again thundered over the bay, telling with frightful effect on +both vessels. But this last forlorn hope was snatched from the fated +frigate--the hawser parted in the strain, and she drifted an +unmanageable wreck on the water--while, to complete the horror of the +scene, the flames burst from the hatchways and rolled away towards the +magazine. Finding that his doom was now inevitably sealed, for his +boats had all been shot away, Porter ordered those of his crew who +could swim to jump overboard and make for the shore, three-quarters of +a mile distant. Some reached it, while the remainder who made the +attempt were either drowned or picked up by the enemy's boats. He +then, with the few who preferred to share his fate, extinguished the +fire, and again worked the guns that could be brought to bear. It was, +however, the last feeble effort of a dying giant. The enemy could now +fire more leisurely, and the water being smooth, he soon made a +perfect riddle of the Essex. The crew at last entreated their +commander to surrender--the contest was hopeless--the cock-pit, +ward-room, steerage, and berth-deck could contain no more wounded, who +were constantly killed while under the surgeon's hand. Of the +carpenter's crew not one remained to stop the shot-holes, through +which the water was pouring in streams, and the entire vessel was a +wreck. Porter would have sunk with his flag flying, but for the number +of wounded who would thus perish with him. For their sakes he finally +consented to surrender, and ordered the officers of the different +divisions to be sent for, but to his amazement only one was left to +answer his call,[3] while out of two hundred and fifty-five men only +seventy-five were left fit for duty. This unexampled and murderous +combat had lasted nearly two hours and a half, and he gave the +melancholy order to lower the flag. The enemy not at first observing +it, kept up his fire. Porter, thinking it was his intention to give no +quarter, was about to hoist his flag again, and go down with it +flying, when the firing ceased. + +[Footnote 3: This was Stephen Decatur M'Knight. Lieut. Wilmer, after +fighting gallantly, was knocked overboard and drowned. The other +officers were badly wounded, and one, Lieut. Cowell, died soon after.] + +A ship was never fought more bravely or skilfully, and Porter, though +compelled to surrender, earned imperishable renown, and set an example +to our navy, which if followed, will ensure its success, and cover it +with glory. + +Captain Hillyar's conduct after the victory, was distinguished by a +courtesy and delicacy rarely witnessed in English commanders at that +time. But he was blameworthy in attacking a ship in a neutral port, +and it would not take many such victories to ruin his reputation. The +whole transaction shows what little respect England paid to the laws +of neutrality. The national heart was exceedingly shocked at the +violation of those laws by Napoleon when he seized the Duke D'Enghien, +but she could give orders, the execution of which did not cause the +death of merely one man, but more than one hundred brave spirits, on +neutral territory. The authorities of Valparaiso were also guilty of a +base act in not defending the rights of their own port, and extending +the protection required by the laws of nations to the American vessel. + +[Sidenote: 1814.] + +The Essex Junior was transformed into a cartel, and the prisoners sent +in her to the United States, on parole. She arrived off Sandy Hook the +5th of July, and though provided with passports from Captain Hillyar, +to prevent a recapture, she was overhauled and detained by the British +ship Saturn. Captain Nash, the commander, at first treated Porter very +civilly, endorsed his passports, and allowed the vessel to proceed. +Standing on the same tack with the Essex, he kept her company for two +hours, when he ordered the former to heave to again, and her papers +brought on board for re-examination. Porter was indignant at this +proceeding, but he was told that his passport must not only go on +board the Saturn, but the vessel itself be detained. He remonstrated, +declaring that it was in direct violation of the contract entered into +with Captain Hillyar, and he should consider himself a prisoner of +Captain Nash's, and no longer on parole, and at the same time offered +to deliver up his sword. On being told that the vessel must remain +under the lee of the Saturn all night, he said, "then I am your +prisoner, and do not feel myself bound any longer by my agreement with +Captain Hillyar." He withdrew his parole at once, declaring he should +act as he saw fit. The English captain evidently suspected some Yankee +trick was at the bottom of the whole proceeding, and as it usually +happened during the war, suspicion was aroused at precisely the wrong +times. English vessels had been so often duped by Yankee shrewdness +that they were constantly on the alert, and hence to be safe, often +committed blunders of a grave character. Porter, whether treading the +quarter-deck of his own vessel or a prisoner of war, was not a man to +be trifled with, and as a British officer had treated him basely, he +determined to be free of the obligations that galled him, at all +hazards, and the next morning finding that he was off Long Island, and +that Captain Nash had no idea of releasing him, he ordered a boat +lowered, into which he jumped with an armed crew, and pushed off. As +he went down the vessel's side, he told Lieutenant Downs to say to +Captain Nash, "that he was now satisfied that _most British naval +officers were not only destitute of honor, but regardless of the honor +of each other_; that he was armed and should fight any force sent +against him, to the last, and if he met him again, it would be as an +enemy." Keeping the Essex Junior between him and the British vessel, +he got nearly out of gun-shot before he was discovered. The Saturn +immediately gave chase, but a fog suddenly rising, concealed the boat, +when Porter changed his course and eluded his pursuers. Lieutenant +Downs, taking advantage of the same fog endeavored to escape with his +vessel, but the Saturn suspecting his movements, opened her guns, +which brought him to. Porter heard the firing, and kept off in an +opposite direction, and by rowing and sailing, alternately, for nearly +sixty miles, in an open boat, at length reached Babylon, on Long +Island. The people there discredited his story. Suspecting he was an +English officer in disguise, they began to question him, and he was +compelled to show his commission before they would let him go. When +their doubts were at length removed, every attention was lavished upon +him, and he started for New York. His arrival was soon spread abroad, +and as the carriage that contained him entered the city the horses +were snatched away, and the people seizing it, dragged him through the +streets with huzzas and shouts of welcome. + +Porter had lost his ship, but not his place in the heart of the +nation, nay he was deeply and forever fixed there. His cruise had been +a great triumph, notwithstanding its disastrous close. The boldness +and originality of its conception--the daring and gallant manner in +which he had carried it out--the spirit and desperation with which he +had fought his ship against a superior force, were themes of universal +eulogy, and endeared him to the American people. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Plan of the third Campaign -- Attack on Sackett's Harbor -- + Attack on Oswego -- Woolsey transports guns to Sackett's + Harbor -- Capture of the detachment sent against him -- + Expedition against Mackinaw -- Death of Captain Holmes -- + Complete failure of the expedition. + + +While Porter was slowly approaching our coast, on his return from the +Pacific, events on our northern frontier were assuming an entirely +different aspect from that which they had worn for the last two years. +In the spring, just before and after Congress adjourned, small +expeditions on both sides were set on foot; one, on our part, to +Mackinaw, to aid in carrying out Armstrong's plan for the summer +campaign. This, like all the previous plans looked to the same result, +the details being varied apparently for the sole purpose of appeasing +the people, who it was thought, would not allow a repetition of those +manoeuvres which had ended in such signal disgrace. It was therefore +proposed, first to humble the Indians in the north-west, by capturing +Mackinaw, and thus hold the key of that whole region, so valuable for +its fur trade, and then march an army from the east of Lake Erie to +Burlington Heights, and seize and fortify that position till the +co-operation of the Ontario fleet and the troops at Sackett's harbor +could be secured, when a rapid advance might be made on Kingston, and +after its reduction, on Montreal. The Secretary clung to the conquest +of Canada with a tenacity that deserved success, but this plan also +utterly failed, and the progress of the campaign brought about results +widely different from those anticipated. That part of it looking to +the seizure of Mackinaw, was placed under the direction of Colonel +Croghan and Major Holmes, with whom Captain Sinclair, recently +appointed to the command of the upper lakes, was to co-operate with a +portion of his fleet--the other portion to aid in the expedition +against Burlington Heights. Major Holmes had at first been appointed +by the Secretary to command the land forces, but Colonel Croghan, +stationed at Detroit, and senior officer during Colonel Butler's +absence, denied the right thus directly to appoint him, insisting that +the commission should go through his hands. A correspondence followed, +which delayed the expedition till the third of July. In the mean time, +a British force, under Colonel McDowell, had visited and reinforced +all the posts on the northern lakes, penetrating even beyond Mackinaw. +While Holmes and Sinclair were detained till Colonel Croghan and the +Secretary could settle a question of etiquette, the English, who had +again acquired the ascendancy on Lake Ontario, by building more ships, +made an attack on Sackett's Harbor. Being repulsed, Sir James Yeo then +sailed for Oswego, to destroy materials for ship building, etc., which +he supposed to be assembled there. He arrived on the 5th of May, and +began to bombard the place. The American garrison at the fort, +consisted of three hundred men under Colonel Mitchell, with five guns, +three of which were almost useless. The place contained at that time, +but five hundred inhabitants. The schooner Growler being in the river, +and exposed to certain capture, was sunk, and her cannon transferred +to the fort, situated on a high bank east of the town. + +Finding that the bombardment produced no effect, a large body of +troops, under General Drummond, was sent forward to carry the fort by +storm. The fifteen barges that contained them were led on by +gun-boats, destined to cover the landing. These no sooner came within +range of the artillery on shore, than a spirited fire was opened on +them, repulsing them twice, and finally compelling the whole flotilla +to seek the shelter of the ships. The next day the fleet approached +nearer shore, and commenced a heavy cannonade which lasted three +hours. Under cover of it, General De Watteville landed two thousand +troops, and advanced in perfect order over the ground that intervened +between the water and the fort. The soldiers and marines of the +Growler fought bravely, but Colonel Mitchell seeing that resistance +was hopeless, retired, scourging the enemy as he withdrew, with +well-directed volleys, and strewing the ground with more than two +hundred dead and wounded. He fell back to Oswego Falls, where the +naval stores had all been removed, destroying the bridges as he +retired. Foiled in their attempt to get possession of the stores, the +British, after having raised the Growler, retired to Sackett's Harbor, +and blockaded it, resolving to intercept the supplies, guns, etc., +that were ready to be sent forward. Lighter materials could be +transported by land, but the guns, cables, and anchors, &c., destined +for two vessels recently built at Sackett's Harbor, could reach there +only by water, from Oswego, whither they had been carried by way of +the Mohawk river, Woods' creek, Oneida lake, and the Oswego river. +Captain Woolsey, a brave, skillful and energetic officer, who had been +appointed to take charge of their transportation, caused a rumor to be +spread that he designed to effect it through Oneida lake. [Sidenote: +May 28.] But soon as the British fleet left Oswego, he dropped down +the river with fifteen boats, loaded with thirty-four cannon and ten +cables. Halting at Oswego till dark, he then pulled out into the +lake. A detachment of a hundred and thirty riflemen accompanied him, +while a body of Oneida Indians marched along the shore. The night was +dark and gloomy--the rain fell in torrents, drenching sailors and +soldiers to the skin, while the waves dashed over the boats, adding to +the discomforts and labors of the voyage. It was a long and tedious +pull along the scarcely visible shores, on which swayed and moaned an +unbroken forest. + +The next day at sunrise the fleet of boats reached Big Salmon river, +with the exception of one, which kept on, under the pretence of going +direct to Sackett's Harbor, and fell into the hands of the blockading +squadron, giving it information of the approach of the others. +Woolsey, knowing that he could not run the blockade, had resolved to +land his guns at Big Sandy creek and transport them by land eight +miles distant, to Sackett's Harbor. Having reached the mouth of the +creek in safety, he ascended two miles and landed. In the mean time +Sir James Yeo had dispatched two gun-boats, with three cutters and a +gig, in search of him. Finding the fleet had ascended Big Sandy creek, +Captains Popham and Spilsbury, who commanded the expedition, followed +after. The soldiers and marines were landed a mile or more below where +Woolsey was unloading, and moved forward, keeping parallel with the +gun-boats, which incessantly probed the thickets, as they advanced, +with grape shot. Major Appling, who commanded the American riflemen, +placed them and his Indian allies in ambush about half a mile below +the American barges. Allowing the enemy to approach within close +range, he suddenly poured in a destructive volley, which so paralyzed +them that they threw down their arms and begged for quarter. All the +boats, officers, and men were taken, making a total loss of a hundred +and eighty-six men. + +The guns were then carried across to Sackett's Harbor, and the new +ship Superior armed, which so strengthened Chauncey's force that Sir +James Yeo raised the blockade and sailed for the Canada shore. + +[Sidenote: July 3.] + +At last the expedition against Mackinaw got under way. Two war brigs, +the Lawrence and Niagara, together with several smaller vessels, +carrying in all nine hundred men, began slowly to traverse the inland +seas from Detroit to Mackinaw. Nothing but canoes and batteaux had +hitherto floated on those scarcely known waters, with the exception of +a single schooner or sloop, which made an annual solitary trip to the +extreme north-western posts to carry supplies. More than a thousand +miles from the ocean, and lifted nearly six hundred feet above it, +those vast seas rolled their waves through unbroken forests. This was +the first fleet that ever penetrated those solitudes, through which +roamed unscared beasts of prey, and from whose further margin +stretched away those immense prairies that go rolling up to the base +of the Rocky Mountains. Amid unknown rocks and shoals--feeling its way +along narrow channels--at one moment almost grazing the sand-bars with +its keels, and the next moment floating over water nearly a thousand +feet deep--now traversing groups of beautiful islands, and anon +skirting the bases of precipices, on whose summit waved forests that +had stood undisturbed since the birth of time--that little fleet crept +on towards its destination. Its progress was so slow that Colonel +McDowell, commanding at Mackinaw, had ample time to make preparations +for defence. + +Captain Sinclair, on his arrival, refused to advance against the fort, +for its batteries looked down on his decks from a hundred feet in the +air. A land attack was therefore resolved upon and carried into +execution. [Sidenote: Aug. 4.] But the dense woods, filled with sharp +shooters, through which the troops were compelled to force their way, +rendered the movement a complete failure. Captain Holmes, a gallant +officer, was shot by an Indian boy. A black servant of Colonel Croghan +immediately covered the body with leaves, to prevent mutilation by the +Indians, and the next day it was recovered. The troops were +re-embarked, and the discomfitted fleet turned homeward. Overtaken by +a storm in Lake Huron, all their boats were destroyed, and the vessels +themselves narrowly escaped being wrecked. A detachment having +destroyed six months' supplies at the mouth of the Natewasaga river +destined for Mackinaw, two schooners were left to blockade the place. +[Sidenote: Sept. 13.] Mackinaw, thus cut off from all communication +with the provinces, would be starved out and compelled to surrender. +But to complete the disaster of this unfortunate enterprise, four +batteaux, with a fleet of small boats from Mackinaw, surprised and +captured one of the schooners, the Tigress. Lieutenant Woolsey then +took command of her, and the next morning, with American colors +flying, stood steadily down on the Scorpion until he ranged alongside, +when he fired all his guns at once, and running aboard, took the +unsuspecting vessel without a struggle. + +Thus ended an expedition, romantic from the scenery through which it +passed, but comparatively useless in its results, and costing more +than it was worth, even if it had been successful. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + Brown takes command of the army at Niagara -- Crosses the + river into Canada -- Battle of Chippewa -- Brilliant charge + of the Americans -- Desperate battle of Niagara -- Conduct + of Ripley -- The army ordered to Fort Erie -- General Gaines + takes command. + + +[Sidenote: July 3.] + +On the same day the expedition to Mackinaw sailed from Detroit, the +army which had been concentrated at Buffalo during the winter, crossed +the Niagara, in its third campaign against Canada. Brown, who had been +made Brigadier-General for his gallant conduct at Sackett's Harbor, +was afterward promoted to the rank of Major-General and given the +command of the army destined to act on the Niagara frontier. Two +regular brigades, commanded by Scott and Ripley, and a brigade of +volunteers and militia, with a few Indians, under General Porter, +composed his force. He was directed to carry out that portion of the +Secretary's plan which looked to the possession and fortification of +Burlington Heights, previous to a descent on Kingston and Montreal. +First, he was to seize Fort Erie, risk a combat with the enemy at +Chippewa, menace Fort George, and then, if Chauncey's fleet could +co-operate with him, advance rapidly on Burlington. + +The two regular brigades had been subjected for three months to a new +and most rigid discipline. The system of tactics hitherto in use, had +been handed down from the Revolution, and was not, therefore, adapted +to the improved mode of warfare. Scott, here, for the first time, +introduced the French system. He drilled the officers, and they, in +turn, the men. So severe and constant was this discipline, that, in +the short space of three months, these brigades became intelligent, +steady, and invincible as veterans. + +[Sidenote: July 3.] + +The preparations being completed, the army crossed the Niagara river, +and took Fort Erie without a struggle. The main British army, under +General Riall, lay at Chippewa, towards which Scott pressed, heading +the advance, with his brigade, chasing before him for sixteen miles, a +detachment commanded by the Marquis of Tweesdale, who said he could +not account for the ardor of the pursuit until he remembered it was +the 4th of July, our great anniversary. At dark the Marquis crossed +the Chippewa, behind which lay the British army. This river enters the +Niagara nearly at right angles. Two miles farther up, Street's Creek +joins the Niagara also, and behind it Gen. Brown drew up the American +forces. Those two miles of interval between the streams was an open +plain, skirted on one side by the Niagara river and on the other by a +forest. + +In the morning Gen. Brown resolved to advance and attack the British +in their position. The latter had determined on a similar movement +against the Americans, and unbeknown to each other, the one prepared +to cross the bridge of Chippewa, and the other that of Street's Creek. + +The battle commenced in the woods on the left, and an irregular fight +was kept up for a long time between Porter's brigade and the Canadian +militia stationed there. The latter were at length driven back to the +Chippewa, when General Riall advanced to their support. Before this +formidable array, the American militia, notwithstanding the noble +efforts of General Porter to steady their courage, broke and fled. +General Brown immediately hastened to the scene, merely saying to +Scott as he passed on, "The enemy is advancing, you will have a +fight." The latter, ignorant of the forward movement of Riall, had +just put his brigade in marching order to cross the creek for a drill +on the level plain beyond. But as the head of the column reached the +bank, he saw the British army drawn up in beautiful array in the open +field, on the farther side, while a battery of nine pieces stood in +point blank range of the bridge over which he was to cross. Swiftly +yet beautifully the corps of Scott swept over the bridge and deployed +under the steady fire of the battery. The first and second battalions +under Majors Leavenworth and McNeil, took position in front of the +left and centre of the enemy, while the third, under Jessup, obliqued +to the left to attack their right, stationed in the woods, and which +threatened to outflank the American line. It was a bright, hot July +afternoon, the dusty plain presented no obstacle behind which either +party could find shelter, and the march of the steady battalions over +its surface led on by bands of music, playing national airs, presented +one of those stirring scenes which make man forget the carnage that is +to follow. The heavy monotonous thunder of Niagara rolled on over the +discharges of artillery, while its clouds of spray rising from the +strife of waters, and glittering in the sunbeams, contrasted strangely +with the sulphurous clouds that heaved heavenward from the conflict of +men beneath. + +Both armies halting, firing, and advancing in turn, continued to +approach until they stood within eighty yards of each other. Scott who +had been manoeuvering to get the two battalions of Leavenworth and +M'Neil in an oblique position to the British line, at length +succeeded, the two farther extremities being nearest the enemy. Thus +the American army stood like an obtuse triangle of which the British +line formed the base. While in this position, Scott, wishing to pass +from one extremity to the other and being in too great a hurry to go +back of the lines _around_ the triangle, cut directly across, taking +the cross fire of both armies, as he spurred in a fierce gallop +through the smoke. A loud cheer rolled along the American line as they +saw this daring act of their commander. Riding up to Towson's battery, +he cried out, "a little more to the left, captain, the enemy is +there." This gallant officer was standing amid his guns, enveloped in +smoke, and had not observed that the British had advanced so far that +his fire fell behind them. Instantly discovering his mistake, he +changed the direction of his two remaining pieces and poured a raking, +destructive fire through the enemy's ranks, blowing up an ammunition +wagon, which spread destruction on every side. At this critical +moment, Scott rode up to M'Neil's battalion, his face blazing with +excitement, and shouted, "The enemy say that we are good at long shot +but cannot stand the cold iron. I call upon the Eleventh _instantly to +give the lie to that slander--Charge_." + +Just as the order "charge," escaped his lips, came that destructive +fire from Towson's battery. The thunder of those guns at that critical +moment, was to Scott's young and excited heart like the shout of +victory, and rising in his stirrups and swinging his sword aloft, he +cried, "CHARGE, CHARGE THE RASCALS." With a high and ringing cheer, +that gallant battalion moved with leveled bayonets on the foe. Taking +the close and deadly volleys without shrinking--never for a moment +losing its firm formation, it struck the British line obliquely, +crumbling it to pieces, as it swept on and making awful havoc in its +passage. + +Leavenworth did the same on the right with like success, while Jessup +in the woods, ignorant how the battle was going in the plain, but +finding himself outflanked, ordered his troops "to support arms and +advance." They cheerfully obeyed and in the face of a most deadly fire +charged home on the enemy, and obtaining a better position poured in +their volleys with tremendous effect. From the moment these charges +commenced, till the enemy fled, the field presented a frightful +spectacle. The two armies were in such close proximity, and the +volleys were so incessant and destructive, and the uproar so terrific +that orders could no longer be heard. But through his two aids +Lieutenants Worth and Watts, who galloped to and fro, and by their +presence and gestures transmitted his orders in the midst of the +hottest fire, Scott caused every movement to be executed with +precision, and not an error was committed from first to last. + +The enemy fled over the Chippewa, tore up the bridge and retired to +his encampment. + +The sun went down in blood and the loud voice of Niagara which had +been drowned in the roar of battle, sounded on as before, chaunting a +requiem for the gallant dead, while the moans of the wounded loaded +the air of the calm summer evening. + +Nearly eight hundred killed and wounded, had been stretched on the +earth in that short battle, out of some four thousand, or one-fifth of +all engaged.[4] A bloodier battle, considering the numbers, was scarce +ever fought. The British having been taught to believe that the +American troops would give way in an open fight, and that the resort +to the bayonet was always the signal of victory to them, could not be +made to yield, until they were literally crushed under the headlong +charge of the Americans. + +[Footnote 4: The British were 2100 strong. American troops actually +engaged, 1900. + +British killed 138. Wounded and missing 365. Americans killed 68. +Wounded and missing 267.] + +Gen. Brown, when he found that Scott had the whole British army on his +hands, hurried back to bring up Ripley's brigade; but Scott's +evolutions and advance had been so rapid, and his blow so sudden and +deadly, that the field was swept before he could arrive. + +M'Neil's battalion had not a recruit in it, and Scott knew when he +called on them to give the lie to the slander, that American troops +could not stand the cold steel, that they would do it though every man +perished in his footsteps. + +Maj. Leavenworth's battalion, however, embraced a few volunteers, and +among them a company of backwoodsmen, who joined the army at Buffalo a +few days before it was to cross the Niagara. + +An incident illustrating their character, was told the writer's father +by Maj. Gen. Leavenworth himself. Although a battle was expected in a +few days, the Major resolved in the mean time to drill these men. +Having ordered them out for that purpose, he endeavored to apply the +manual; but to his surprise, found that they were ignorant of the most +common terms familiar even to untrained militia. While thus puzzled +with their awkwardness, Scott rode on the field, and in a sharp voice +asked Maj. Leavenworth if he could not manage those soldiers better. +The Major lifting his chapeau to the General, replied, that he wished +the General would try them himself. The latter rode forward and issued +his commands--but the backwoodsmen instead of obeying him, were +ignorant even of the military terms he used. After a few moments' +trial, he saw it was a hopeless task, and touching his chapeau in +return to Leavenworth, said, "Major, I leave you your men," and rode +off the field. The latter, finding that all attempts at drill during +the short interval that must elapse before a battle occurred, would +be useless, ordered them to their quarters. On the day of the battle +he placed them at one extremity of the line, where he thought they +would interfere the least with the manoeuvres of the rest of the +battalion. He said that during the engagement, this company occurred +to him, and he rode the whole length of his line to see what they were +about. They were where he had placed them, captain and all, obeying no +orders, except those to advance. Their ranks were open and out of all +line; but the soldiers were cool and collected as veterans. They had +thrown away their hats and coats, and besmeared with powder and smoke +were loading and firing, each for himself. They paid no attention to +the order to fire, for the idea of "shooting" till they had good aim +was preposterous. The thought of running had evidently never crossed +their minds. Fearless of danger, and accustomed to pick off squirrels +from the tops of the loftiest trees with their rifle-balls, they were +quietly doing what they were put there to perform, viz., kill men, and +Maj. Leavenworth said there was the most deadly work in the whole +line. Men fell like grass before the scythe. Not a shot was thrown +away--ten men were equal to a hundred firing in the ordinary way. + +The American army rested but two days after the battle, and then +advanced over the Chippewa, Scott's brigade leading. The British +retreated to Burlington Heights, near the head of Lake Ontario. +Thither Brown resolved to follow them. But on the 25th, while the army +was resting, preparatory to the next day's battle, word was brought +that a thousand English troops had crossed the river to Lewistown, for +the purpose, evidently, of seizing our magazines at Fort Schlosser, +and the supplies, on the way to the American camp, from Buffalo. In +order to force them to return, Brown resolved immediately to threaten +the forts at the mouth of the Niagara river, and in twenty minutes, +Scott, with a detachment of twelve hundred men, was on the march. He +had proceeded but two miles, when he came in sight of a group of +British officers on horseback, evidently reconnoitering. The force to +which they belonged lay behind a strip of wood, which prevented him +from seeing it. Supposing it, however, to be the fragments of the army +he had so terribly shattered at Chippewa, he ordered the march to be +resumed. But as he cleared the road he saw before him an army of two +thousand men drawn up in order of battle. He paused a moment at this +unexpected sight, and his eye had an anxious look as it ran along his +little band. To retreat would endanger the reserve marching to his +relief, and destroy the confidence of the troops. Besides, Scott never +had, and never has since, learned _practically_, what the word +"retreat" meant. He determined, therefore, hazardous as it was, to +maintain the unequal contest till the other portion of the army +arrived. Despatching officers to General Brown with directions to ride +as for life, he gave the orders to advance. The sun, at this time, was +but half an hour high, and unobscured by a cloud, was going to his +lordly repose behind the forest that stood bathed in his departing +splendor. Near by, in full view, rolled the cataract, sending up its +incense towards heaven, and filling that summer evening with its voice +of thunder. The spray, as it floated inland, hovered over the American +army, and as the departing sunbeams struck it, a rainbow was formed, +which encircled the head of Scott's column like a halo--a symbol of +the wreath of glory that should adorn it forever. + +The British, two thousand strong, were posted just below the Falls, on +a ridge at the head of Lundy's Lane. Their left was in the highway, +and separated from the main body by an interval of two hundred yards, +covered with brushwood, etc. General Drummond had landed a short time +before with reinforcements, which were rapidly marching up to the aid +of Riall. Scott, however, would not turn his back on the enemy, and +gallantly led in person his little army into the fire. His bearing and +words inspired confidence, and officers and men forgot the odds that +were against them. Major Jessup was ordered to fling himself in the +interval, between the British centre and left, and turn the latter. +In the mean time the enemy discovering that he outflanked the +Americans on the left, advanced a battalion to take them in rear. The +brave McNeil stopped, with one terrible blow, its progress, though his +own battalion was dreadfully shattered by it. Jessup had succeeded in +his movement, and having gained the enemy's rear, charged back through +his line, captured the commanding general, Riall, with his whole +staff. When this was told to Scott, he announced it to the army, and +three loud cheers rang over the field. A destructive discharge from +the English battery of seven pieces, replied. + +It was night now, and a serene moon rose over the scene, but its light +struggled in vain to pierce the smoke that curtained in the +combatants. The flashes from the battery that crowned the heights, and +from the infantry below, alone revealed where they were struggling. +Scott's regiments were soon all reduced to skeletons--a fourth of the +whole brigade had fallen in the unequal conflict. The English battery +of twenty-four-pounders and howitzers, sent destruction through his +ranks. He, however, refused to yield a foot of ground, and heading +almost every charge in person, moved with such gay spirits and +reckless courage through the deadliest fire, that the troops caught +the infection. But the British batteries, now augmented to nine guns, +made frightful havoc in his uncovered brigade. Towson's few pieces +being necessarily placed so much lower, could produce but little +effect, while the enemy's twenty-four-pounders, loaded with grape, +swept the entire field. The eleventh and twenty-second regiments, +deprived of their commanders, and destitute of ammunition were +withdrawn, and Leavenworth, with the gallant ninth, was compelled to +withstand the whole shock of battle. With such energy and superior +numbers did the British press upon this single regiment, that it +appeared amid the darkness to be enveloped in fire. Its destruction +seemed inevitable, and in a short time one-half of its number lay +stretched on the field. Leavenworth sent to Scott, informing him of +his desperate condition. The latter soon came up on a gallop, when +Leavenworth pointing to the bleeding fragment of his regiment, said, +"Your rule for retreating is fulfilled," referring to Scott's maxim +that a regiment might retreat when every third man was killed. Scott, +however, answered buoyantly, cheered up the men and officers by +promising victory, and spurring where the balls fell thickest, +animated them by his daring courage and chivalric bearing to still +greater efforts. Still he could not but see that his case was getting +desperate, and unless aid arrived soon, he must retreat. Only five or +six hundred of the twelve hundred he at sunset had led into battle, +remained to him. + +General Brown, however, was hurrying to the rescue. The incessant +cannonading convinced him that Scott had a heavy force on his hands; +and without waiting the arrival of a messenger, he directed Ripley to +move forward with the second brigade. Meeting Scott's dispatch on the +way, he learned how desperate the battle was, and immediately directed +Porter with the volunteers to hurry on after Ripley, while he, in +advance of all, hastened to the field of action. The constant and +heavy explosions of artillery, rising over the roar of the cataract, +announced to the excited soldiers the danger of their comrades; and no +sooner were they wheeled into marching order than they started on a +trot along the road. Lieut. Riddle, who was off on a scouring +expedition in the country, paused as he heard the thunder of cannon, +and waiting for no dispatch, gave orders to march, and his men moving +at the _charge de pas_, soon came with shouts on the field. At length +the head of Ripley's column emerged into view, sending joy through +those gallant regiments, and a loud huzza rolled along their line. +Brown, seeing that Scott's brigade was exhausted, ordered Ripley to +form in advance of it. In the mean time, Drummond had arrived on the +field with reinforcements, swelling the English army to four thousand +men. At this moment there was a lull in the battle, and both armies +prepared for a decisive blow. It was evident the deadly battery on +the heights must be carried, or the field be lost, and Brown, turning +to Colonel Miller, asked him if he could take it. "I WILL TRY, sir," +was the brief reply of the fearless soldier, as he coolly scanned the +frowning heights. Placing himself at the head of the 21st regiment, he +prepared to ascend the hill. Major M'Farland with the 23d was to +support him. Not having arrived on the field till after dark, he was +ignorant of the formation of the ground or the best point from which +to commence the ascent. Scott, who had fought over almost every foot +of it since sunset, offered to pilot him. Passing by an old church and +grave-yard, that showed dimly in the moonlight, he took the column to +the proper place, and then returned to his post. In close order and +dead silence the two regiments then moved straight for the battery. It +was by their heavy muffled tread that General Drummond first detected +their approach. But the moment he caught the dark outlines of the +swiftly advancing columns he turned his battery upon them with +terrific effect. The twenty-third staggered under the discharge, but +soon rallied and pressed forward. Smitten again, it reeled backward +down the hill; but the twenty-first never faltered. "Close up, steady, +men!" rung from the lips of their leader, and taking the loads of +grape-shot unshrinkingly into their bosoms, they marched sternly on, +their bayonets gleaming red in the fire that rolled in streams down +the slope. Every explosion revealed the whole hill and that dark +column winding through flame and smoke up its sides. At length it came +within range of musketry, when the carnage became awful; but still on +through the sheets of flame, over their dead comrades, this invincible +regiment held its stubborn course towards the very vortex of the +battle. The English gazed with amazement on its steady advance. No +hesitation marked its movement; closing up its ranks after every +discharge, it kept on its terrible way, till at last it stood face to +face with the murderous battery, and within a few steps of the +gunners. A sudden flash, a deafening explosion, and then "_Close up, +steady, charge_," rung out from the sulphurous cloud that rolled over +the shattered regiment, and the next instant it swept with a thrilling +shout over guns, gunners, and all. The struggle became at once close +and fierce,--bayonet crossed bayonet,--weapon clashed against +weapon,--but nothing could resist that determined onset. The British +were driven down the hill, and the remnants of that gallant regiment, +together with M'Farland's, which had again rallied, formed between the +guns and the foe. Ripley then moved his brigade to the top of the +hill, in order to keep what had been so heroically won. + +Stung with rage and mortification at this unexpected defeat, Drummond +resolved to retake that height and his guns, cost what it might; and +soon the tread of his advancing columns was heard ascending the slope. +With their uniforms glittering in the bright moonlight, the excited +troops came on at the charge step, until within twenty yards of the +American line, when they halted and delivered their fire. "Charge" +then ran along the line, but the order had scarcely pealed on the +night air before they were shattered and torn into fragments by the +sudden and destructive volley of the Americans. Rallying, however, +they returned to the attack, and for twenty minutes the conflict +around those guns was indescribably awful and murderous. No sounds of +music drowned the death-cry; the struggle was too close and fatal. +There were only the fierce tramp and the clash of steel,--the stifled +cry and wavering to and fro of men in a death-grapple. At length the +British broke, and disappeared in the darkness. General Ripley again +formed his line, while Scott, who had succeeded in getting a single +battalion out of the fragments of his whole brigade, was ordered to +the top of the hill. + +In about half an hour the sound of the returning enemy was again +heard. Smote by the same fierce fire, Drummond with a desperate effort +threw his entire strength on the centre of the American line. But +there stood the gallant twenty-first, whose resistless charge had +first swept the hill; and where they had conquered they could not +yield. Scott in the mean time led his column so as to take the enemy +in flank and rear, and but for a sudden volley from a concealed body +of the enemy, cutting his command in two, would have finished the +battle with a blow. As it was, he charged again and again, with +resistless energy, and the disordered ranks of the British for the +second time rolled back and were lost in the gloom. Here Scott's last +horse fell under him, and he moved on foot amid his battalion. Jessup +was also severely wounded, yet there he stood amid the darkness and +carnage, cheering on his men. The soldiers vied with the officers in +heroic daring and patient suffering. Many would call out for muskets +as they had none, or for cartridges as theirs were all gone. On every +side from pallid lips and prostrate bleeding forms came the reply, +"take mine, and mine, my gun is in good order, and my cartridge box is +full." There was scarcely an officer at this time unwounded; yet, one +and all refused to yield the command while they could keep their feet. + +Jessup's flag was riddled with balls, and as a sergeant waved it amid +a storm of bullets, the staff was severed in three places in his hand. +Turning to his commander he exclaimed as he took up the fragments, +"Look, colonel, how they have cut us." The next moment a ball passed +through his body. But he still kept his feet, and still waved his +mutilated standard, until faint with loss of blood he sunk on the +field. + +After being driven the second time down the hill, the enemy for a +while ceased their efforts, and sudden silence fell on the two armies, +broken only by the groans of the wounded and dying. The scene, and the +hour, combined to render that hill-top a strange and fearful object in +the darkness. On one side lay a wilderness, on the other rolled the +cataract, whose solemn anthem could again be heard pealing on through +the night. Leaning on their heated guns, that gallant band stood +bleeding amid the wreck it had made. It was midnight--the stars looked +quietly down from the sky--the summer wind swept softly by, and nature +was breathing long and peacefully. But all over that hill lay the +brave dead, and adown its sides in every direction the blood of men +was rippling. Nothing but skeletons of regiments remained, yet calm +and stern were the words spoken there in the darkness. "_Close up the +ranks_," were the heroic orders that still fell on the shattered +battalions, and they closed with the same firm presence and dauntless +hearts as before. + +It was thought that the British would make no further attempts to +recover their guns, but reinforcements having arrived from Fort +George, they, after an hour's repose and refreshment, prepared for a +final assault. Our troops had all this time stood to their arms, and +faint with hunger, thirst, and fatigue, seemed unequal to a third +conflict against a fresh force. But as they heard the enemy advancing, +they forgot their weariness and met the onset firmly as before. But +this time the ranks of the enemy did not yield under the fire that +smote them--they pressed steadily forward, and delivering their +volleys as they advanced, at length stood on the summit of the hill, +and breast to breast with the American line. The conflict now became +fearful and more like the murderous hand-to-hand fights of old than a +modern battle. Battalions on both sides were forced back till the +ranks became mingled. Bayonet crossed bayonet and men lay transfixed +side by side. Hindman, whose artillery had been from the first served +with surpassing skill, found the enemy amid his guns, across which he +was compelled to fight them. + +The firing gave way to the clash of steel, the blazing hill-top +subsided into gloom, out of which the sound of this nocturnal combat +arose in strange and wild confusion. + +Scott, charging like fire at the head of his exhausted battalion, +received another severe wound which prostrated him--but his last words +to Leavenworth were, "_Charge again!_" "Charge again, Leavenworth!" he +cried, as they bore him, apparently dying, from that fierce foughten +field. General Brown, supported on his horse, and suffering from a +severe wound, was slowly led away. Jesup was bleeding from several +wounds; every regimental officer in Scott's brigade was killed or +wounded. _Only one soldier out of every four stood up unhurt._ The +annals of war rarely reveal such a slaughter in a single brigade, but +it is rarer still a brigade has such a leader. The ghosts of regiments +alone remained, yet before these the veterans of England were at last +compelled to flee, and betake themselves to the darkness for safety. +Sullen, mortified, and badly wounded, Drummond was carried from the +field, and all farther attempts to take the hill were abandoned. The +Americans, however, kept watch and ward, around the cannon that had +cost them so great a sacrifice, till near daybreak, when orders were +received to retire to camp. No water could be obtained on the heights, +and the troops wanted repose. Through the want of drag-ropes and +horses, the cannon were left behind. This was a sad drawback to the +victory, and Major Ripley should have detailed some men to have taken +at least the lightest ones away. Trophies won with the blood of so +many brave men were worth more effort than he put forth to secure +them. + +A bloodier battle, in proportion to the numbers engaged, was never +fought than this. Nearly eight hundred Americans, and as many English, +had fallen on and around that single hill. It was literally loaded +with the slain. Seventy-six officers were either killed or wounded +out of our army of some three thousand men, and not a general on +either side remained unwounded. + +Among the slain was young Captain Hull, son of the General who had so +shamefully capitulated at Detroit. This young officer, who had fought +one duel in defence of his father's honor, and struggled in vain to +shake off the sense of disgrace that clung to him, told a friend at +the opening of the battle, that he had resolved to fling away a life +which had become insupportable. When the conflict was done, he was +found stark and stiff where the dead lay thickest. + +It would be impossible to relate all the deeds of daring and gallantry +which distinguished this bloody engagement. Almost every man was a +hero, and from that hour England felt a respect for our arms she had +never before entertained. The navy had established its reputation +forever, and now the army challenged the respect of the world. The +timorous and the ignorant had been swept away with the old martinets, +and the true genius of the country was shining forth in her young men, +who, while they did not despise the past, took lessons of the present. +Scott at this time, but twenty-eight years of age, had shown to the +country what a single youth, fired with patriotism, confident in his +resources, and daring in spirit, could accomplish. His brigade, it is +true, had been almost annihilated, and nothing apparently been +gained; but those err much who graduate the results of a battle by the +number taken prisoners or the territory acquired. Moral power is +always more valuable than physical, and though we are forever +demanding something tangible to show as the reward of such a great +effort and sacrifice, yet to gain a national position is more +important than to take an army. Thus while many think that the battle +of Niagara, though gallantly fought, was a barren one, and furnished +no compensation for the great slaughter that characterized it, yet +there has been none since that of Bunker Hill, more important to this +country, and which, directly and indirectly, has more affected its +interests. It probably saved more battles than if, by stratagem or +superior force, General Brown had succeeded in capturing Drummond's +entire army. + +Brown and Scott both being disabled, the command devolved on Major +Ripley, who retired behind the Chippewa, and the defences recently +erected by the British. Scott's last wound was a severe one. A musket +ball had shattered his shoulder dreadfully, and for a long time it was +extremely doubtful whether he ever recovered. He suffered excruciating +pain from it, and it was September before he ventured to travel, and +then slowly and with great care. His progress was a constant ovation. +The young and wounded chieftain was hailed on his passage with salvos +of artillery, and shouts of freemen. He arrived at Princeton on +commencement day of Nassau Hall. The professors immediately sent a +delegation requesting his attendance at the church. Leaning on the arm +of his gallant aid-de-camp, Worth--his arm in a sling, and his +countenance haggard and worn from his long suffering and confinement, +the tall young warrior slowly moved up the aisle, and with great +difficulty ascended the steps to the stage. At first sight of the +invalid, looking so unlike the dashing, fearless commander, a murmur +of sympathy ran through the house, the next moment there went up a +shout that shook the building to its foundations. + +Passing on to Baltimore, then threatened with an attack by the +British, he finally so far recovered as to take command in the middle +of October of the tenth military district, and established his +headquarters at Washington City. + +General Brown was indignant with General Ripley for leaving the cannon +behind, and peremptorily ordered him to reoccupy the heights of +Lundy's Lane at daybreak, and remain there till the dead were buried +and the guns removed. He however did not commence his march till after +sunrise, and then being told that the enemy were in possession of the +heights, he halted, and finally retired to Chippewa. + +This officer, on whom the command had devolved since the battle, +seemed from the first opposed to all the movements. When the army was +about to cross the river against Riall, he not only strongly condemned +the proceeding, but even offered his resignation, which was not +accepted. By his neglect to remove, or attempt to remove the captured +guns, which had cost such a heroic struggle, and his after delay to +return and take them, it would seem as if he were offended that such +brilliant results had followed a course which had met with his strong +disapprobation. He was an able officer and a brave man, yet his heart +was not in this movement of Brown's, consequently he did not go into +combat with the enthusiasm of Scott, Miller, and Jesup, nor feel so +elated by the victory. + +Soon after, a rumor was spread that Drummond was marching on the +American camp. Although occupying a strong position, Ripley +immediately ordered a retreat to the ferry opposite Black Rock, with +the intention of recrossing the river into the limits of the United +States. This sudden determination, founded on a mere rumor, can hardly +be accounted for, except on the supposition that he could not be +contented till the army was back to the place it started from, and +whence it never would have moved had he been commander-in-chief. He +was prevented from carrying out this purpose by the earnest +remonstrances of McCrea and Wood, who scorned to flee so ignominiously +from the field of their fame. Ripley then left the army and hastened +to Buffalo, to obtain Brown's consent to the measure. The wounded hero +was enraged that the commanding officer should contemplate such a +virtual confession of defeat--rebuked him, and ordered the division to +remain at Fort Erie, and fortify and defend it to the last extremity. +He also sent a dispatch to General Gaines, commanding at Sackett's +Harbor, to repair at once to the army at Fort Erie, and take command +of both. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Siege of Fort Erie -- Assault and repulse of the British -- + Brown takes command -- Resolves to destroy the enemy's works + by a sortie -- Opposed by his officers -- The sortie -- + Anecdote of General Porter -- Retreat of Drummond -- Conduct + of Izard. + + +[Sidenote: Aug. 3.] + +Gaines, immediately on his arrival at Fort Erie, set about +strengthening the works, so that when Drummond actually invested it, +he found it in a good state of defence. + +In the mean time, the English commander hearing that Brown's magazine +had been removed from Schlosser to Buffalo, dispatched Colonel Tucker +to the latter place, with twelve hundred men, to seize them. But Brown +anticipating such a movement, had stationed Major Morgan, with a +battalion of riflemen, at Black Rock, to meet and repel it. This +vigilant and gallant officer thwarted every attempt of the British to +advance, and compelled them reluctantly to return. + +A night expedition sent to cut out three small American vessels at +anchor in the river, succeeded better--two of them being surprised and +captured. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 13.] + +Having completed his trenches and erected his batteries, Drummond, on +the 13th, opened his fire. Shot and shells were incessantly hurled all +that and the succeeding day against the fort without materially +weakening its strength. The British commander then resolved to carry +it by assault. The garrison was composed of about 2500 men, while the +force under Drummond was estimated at four thousand. As night +approached, and the cannonading ceased, General Gaines observed a +commotion in the British camp, and suspecting that preparations were +making for an assault, ordered one third of the garrison to stand to +their arms all night. + +Drummond had resolved to assail the works in three separate strong +columns, of from twelve to fifteen hundred men each, moving +simultaneously against three separate points. One against Towson's +battery, occupying the extreme north-east angle of the fortifications; +a second against the right, and the third full on the fort itself. The +day had been stormy, with torrents of rain deluging the earth, and the +night set in dark and dismal. The watch fires of the enemy's camp +could scarcely be discerned through the gloom, and dead silence +reigned over both encampments. Hour after hour wore slowly away, till +midnight came, and yet no sound but the moaning of the wind as it +swept over the water and the woods, broke the stillness. + +At length about two o'clock in the morning, the muffled tread of the +advancing columns was distinctly heard in the darkness. The one +directed against Towson's batteries near the water, came first within +range, when a tremendous fire opened upon it. In an instant, the whole +scenery was lit up by the blaze of the guns, which threw also a red +and baleful light over the serried ranks, pressing with fixed bayonets +to the assault. Although Towson kept his batteries in fierce play, and +sheets of flame went rolling on the doomed column, it kept resolutely +on till it approached within ten feet of the infantry. But its +strength was exhausted; it could stagger on no farther; and first +wavering, it then halted, and finally recoiled. Rallied to a second +attack, it advanced with loud shouts, only to be smitten with the same +overwhelming fire. Encouraged to a third effort, it swerved from the +direct assault, and endeavored to wade around an abattis of loose +brushwood, that stretched from the batteries to the shore. Pressing +forward, up to their arm-pits in the water, some few reached the +enclosure within, but only to perish, and the remainder retreated. The +column advancing against the right battery, commanded by Douglas, was +allowed to approach within fifty yards, when such a rapid and wasting +fire was poured upon it, that it recoiled in confusion. The central +column, led on by Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, pressed firmly and +rapidly through the fire of Hindman's guns, applied their ladders to +the walls, and began to mount. Repulsed, they made a second and third +desperate effort to reach the parapets, but without success. Stubborn +and brave, this officer was resolved not to abandon the attempt, and +favored by the darkness, led his troops quietly along the ditch to a +point where no assault was expected, and applying his ladders, mounted +to the top of one of the bastions. Enraged by his successive repulses, +and maddened by the slaughter of his troops, this intrepid but brutal +leader no sooner gained the parapet than he cried out "give the damned +Yankees no quarter." The latter instantly closed on him with a +sternness and ferocity that made that single bastion swim in blood. +Carrying out his own inhuman orders, Drummond shot Lieutenant +Macdonough as he lay prostrate and wounded, bravely beating off the +soldiers who refused his cry for quarter. The next instant the +barbarous act was avenged by a soldier, who shot him dead in his +footsteps. The troops, however, courageously maintained the advantage +they had gained, till daylight, when some cartridges in a stone +building near by, catching fire by accident, exploded with a +tremendous concussion, lifting the platform of the bastion from its +bed, and hurling the shattered and affrighted occupants of it to the +ground. A disorderly flight followed, and the British troops withdrew +to their encampment. + +General Drummond, however, did not abandon the siege, but sat down +before the fort with a stronger determination than ever to reduce it. + +General Gaines being wounded by a shell, now retired to Buffalo, +leaving Ripley in command. When the state of affairs was reported to +General Brown, he saw at once that another and heavier assault would +soon be made, and though his wounds were yet unhealed, repaired to the +fort, and assumed the command. [Sidenote: Sept. 2.] The brave Jessup +with his arm in a sling, and still suffering from his wounds, +volunteered his services, and every preparation was made for a +desperate resistance. + +Owing to the sickness of Commodore Chauncey the co-operation expected +from the fleet had entirely failed, so that the brilliant victories of +the summer, on the Niagara frontier, had not advanced the original +plan of the campaign, and the American army instead of marching to +Burlington Heights, and thence on Kingston, was compelled to stand on +the defensive. Commodore Chauncey was a gallant and skillful +commander, and had reduced his crews to a state of discipline rarely +equaled. But he lay sick in Sackett's Harbor till the 2d of July, and +then was carried on board his ship. His arrival near [Sidenote: Aug. +5.] Niagara was too late to be of any service to the army shut up in +Fort Erie, and he cruised in the lake, blockading Yeo in Kingston, and +striving in vain to bring him to an engagement. It was no fault of his +that Ontario was not signalized by a victory equal to that on Lake +Erie. + +General Izard, after sitting on the court-martial of Wilkinson, was +appointed to take command of the northern army at Plattsburg. +[Sidenote: May 4.] He was an accomplished officer, but like his +predecessors, too much of a martinet to effect any thing with +irregular troops. He fell a victim to military rules, which, in the +changing, disorderly army under his command, could not be applied. Cut +adrift from them he knew not what to do. A thoroughly-educated +officer, he became a slave to his knowledge, and without the genius to +create resources, or skill to mould and apply the materials that +surrounded him, he made matters worse by grumbling. Quarrels, duels +among the officers, desertion, the mixture of black and white +recruits, misrule, and bad appointments, discouraged and disgusted him +with the army he commanded. In the mean time, the arrival of fresh +troops from England rendered some movement necessary, and Izard, at +the head of seven thousand men, such as they were, was ordered to +Sackett's Harbor, to plan an attack on Kingston, if circumstances +rendered it prudent, or succor General Brown. Leaving three thousand +under Macomb, at Plattsburgh, he with the remainder took up his sulky +and discontented march for Sackett's Harbor, where he arrived on the +13th of September. Three days previously, Brown wrote him from Fort +Erie, imploring his assistance, saying unless it was rendered +speedily, the fate of his army was doubtful. The accounts, however, +which he received of the dilatory manner in which Izard marched, and +of the feelings he entertained, left him no hope from that quarter, +and he said, "We must, if saved, do the business ourselves." He fell +back on himself, and his little band resolved to defend the fort to +the last, against whatever force might be brought against it. Weak +from his wounds, he yet toiled day and night to strengthen his +defences. Neither his sickness, nor the torrents of rain that fell +almost daily, could deter him from exertion, and by his energy and +bearing he diffused an air of cheerfulness and confidence amid and +around those entrenchments, which are always the forerunner of great +deeds. Having ascertained what formidable preparations were making to +press the siege, he resolved not to wait their completion, but with +one bold sortie overwhelm the batteries of the enemy and destroy their +works. A council of officers was called, to whom he submitted his +plans. Their decision was adverse, which chagrined him much; he was +also annoyed to find himself opposed by his next in command. He, +nevertheless, was determined to carry out his purpose, and said to +Jesup, "We must keep our own counsels; the impression must be made +that we are done with the affair; _but as sure as there is a God in +heaven the enemy shall be attacked in his works, and beaten, too, as +soon as all the volunteers shall have passed over_." These were +rapidly coming in at the call and efforts of General Porter, who was +worthy to command them, and with whom they knew no disgrace could +occur. + +General Brown having made himself perfectly acquainted with the +position and designs of the enemy, quietly matured his own plans. +Drummond's army, four thousand strong, was encamped in an open field +surrounded by a forest, two miles distant from his entrenchments in +order to be out of reach of the American cannon. One-third of this +force protected the artillerists in completing their batteries and the +workmen in digging trenches and erecting blockhouses. + +Two batteries were at length completed and a third nearly +finished--all mounted with heavy cannon, one being a sixty-eight +pounder--before the sortie was made. For four days previous Brown +tried the effect of his artillery upon these works, and during the +whole of the thirteenth and fourteenth a tremendous cannonading was +kept up in the midst of a pelting storm. The two succeeding days the +firing continued at intervals, interspersed with conflicts between the +pickets. [Sidenote: Sept. 17.] The next day at noon, an hour when such +an attempt would be least expected, Brown resolved to make a sortie +with nearly the whole of his disposable force, capture the batteries, +spike the cannon, and overwhelm the brigade in attendance before the +other two brigades, two miles distant, could arrive. The assault was +to be made in two columns. The left composed of Porter's volunteers, +Gibson's riflemen, a portion of the 1st and 23rd regiments of regulars +and some Indians was directed to march along a road which had been cut +through the woods, while the gallant Miller with the first brigade was +to move swiftly along a deep ravine that run between the first and +second batteries of the enemy, and the moment he heard the crack of +Porter's rifles, mount the ravine and storm the batteries. It was a +dark and sombre day--the clouds flew low, sending down at intervals +torrents of rain and giving to the whole scenery a sour and gloomy +aspect. But everything being ready, Brown, about ten o'clock, opened +with his artillery, and for two hours it was an incessant blaze and +roar all along the line of the entrenchments. Its cessation was the +signal for the two columns to advance. General Ripley commanded the +reserve, while Jesup with a hundred and fifty men held the fort +itself. Porter with his column surprised and overthrew the enemy's +pickets, and began to pour in rapid volleys on his flank. Miller no +sooner heard the welcome sound than he gave the order to charge. In an +instant the brigade was on the top of the bank, and without giving the +enemy time to recover from their surprise the troops dashed forward on +the entrenchments in front of them. Though assailed so unexpectedly +and suddenly the enemy fought gallantly to save the works which had +cost them so much labor. The contest was fierce but short. Carrying +battery after battery at the point of the bayonet, the victorious +Americans pressed fiercely on till all the batteries and the labor of +nearly fifty days were completely in their possession. Ripley then +hastened up with the reserve to form a line for the protection of the +troops while the work of destruction went on; while executing the +movement he was wounded in the neck and carried back to the fort. + +In the mean time, Drummond aroused by the first volleys, had hurried +off reinforcements on a run. Pressing forward through the rain, urged +to their utmost speed by the officers pointing forward with their +swords to the scene of action, they, nevertheless, arrived too late to +prevent the disaster. In an hour the conflict was over; yet in that +short space of time the work of demolition had been completed. In the +midst of incessant volleys and shouts and the rallying beat of the +drum, heavy explosions shook the field and magazines and block houses +one after another blew up, spreading ruin and desolation around. + +In that short combat more than four hundred of the enemy had fallen, +and nearly as many more been taken prisoners. The American loss was +three hundred killed and wounded; among the slain, however, were the +gallant Wood and Gibson. The bayonet and sabre were wielded with +terrible effect in the strife. + +General Porter in passing with a few men from one detachment to +another, during the engagement, suddenly found himself in the presence +of sixty or eighty British soldiers drawn up in the woods, and +apparently not knowing what to do. Thinking it better to put a bold +face on the matter, he ran up to them, exclaiming, "That's right, my +good fellows, surrender and we will take care of you!" and taking the +musket out of the hands of the first and flinging it on the ground he +pushed him towards the fort. In this way he went nearly through the +first line, the men advancing unarmed in front. At length a soldier +stepped back and presented the point of his bayonet to General +Porter's breast, and demanded _his_ surrender. A scuffle ensued, and +some officers coming to the rescue of the soldier Porter was flung +upon the ground and his hand cut with a sword. On recovering his feet +he saw himself surrounded by twenty or thirty men, shouting to him to +surrender. He very coolly told _them_ to surrender, and declared if +they fired a gun he would have the whole put to the sword. In the mean +time a company of American riflemen coming up, fired upon the English. +After a short fight the whole were killed or taken prisoners. + +Having accomplished his work, Brown retired in good order within the +fort. Drummond, weakened by nearly one-fourth of his force, and the +labors of so long a time being destroyed, raised the siege and retired +behind the Chippewa. + +General Izard, who was to fall on his rear, did not reach Lewistown +till the 5th of October. [Sidenote: Oct. 14.] At length, forming a +junction with Brown's troops, he moved forward, and sat down before +Drummond encamped, behind the Chippewa. His army, six thousand strong, +was deemed sufficiently large to capture the enemy, and this event was +confidently expected to crown the Canadian campaign. [Sidenote: Oct. +21.] But after some faint demonstrations, not worth recording, he +seven days after retired to Black Rock, preparatory to winter +quarters. Although pressed by the Secretary of War to attack the +enemy, he declined, and having spent the summer in grumbling, went +sullenly into winter quarters, thus closing the list of inefficient +commanders, which threatened for awhile never to become complete. + +While Izard was thus ending a military career in which he had gathered +no laurels, Macomb, whom he had left at Plattsburgh, doomed as he said +to destruction, had crowned himself with honor, and shed lustre on the +American arms. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + British plan of invading our sea ports -- Arrival of + reinforcements -- Barney's flotilla -- Landing of the enemy + under Ross -- Doubt and alarm of the inhabitants -- Advance + of the British -- Destruction of the Navy Yard -- Battle of + Bladensburg -- Flight of the President and his Cabinet -- + Burning and sacking of Washington -- Mrs. Madison's conduct + during the day and night -- Cockburn's brutality -- Sudden + explosion -- A hurricane -- Flight of the British -- State + of the army -- Character of this outrage -- Rejoicings in + England -- Mortification of our ambassadors at Ghent -- + Mistake of the English -- Parker's expedition -- Colonel + Reed's defence -- The English army advance on Baltimore -- + Death of Ross -- Bombardment of Fort McHenry -- "The star + spangled banner" -- Retreat of the British, and joy of the + citizens of Baltimore. + + +But while these events were passing around Niagara--in the interval +between the assault on Fort Erie by Drummond and the successful sortie +of Brown--a calamity overtook the country, which fortunately resulted +in producing more harmony of feeling among the people, and +strengthened materially the administration. Washington was taken and +sacked by the enemy. The overthrow of Napoleon and his banishment to +Elba, enabled England to send over more than 30,000 troops, which were +soon on our sea-board or in the British Provinces. New England no +longer remained excluded from the blockade, and the whole Atlantic +sea-board was locked up by British cruisers. The Constitution, the +year previous, after a cruise in which she captured but a single war +schooner and a few merchantmen, was chased into Marble Head, from +whence she escaped to Boston. The blockading of our other large ships, +and the destruction of the Essex about the same time in the Bay of +Valparaiso, had left us without a frigate at sea. The Adams, a sloop +of twenty-eight guns, was the largest cruiser we had afloat. + +Hitherto the enemy had been content with blockading our seaports, and +making descents on small towns in their neighborhood, but as the +summer advanced, rumors arrived of the preparation of a large force, +destined to strike a heavy blow at some of our most important cities. +To meet this new danger the President addressed a circular letter to +the States, calling on them to hold in readiness 93,500 militia. +Fearing that Washington or Baltimore might be the points at which the +enemy would first strike, the tenth military district was erected, as +mentioned before, and General Winder, recently released by exchange, +given the command of it. + +The whole sea-board was in a state of alarm--even Massachusetts caught +the infection, and preparations were immediately made to defend her +seaports and protect her coast. The militia of the different States +were called out--Governor Barbour, of Virginia, garrisoned Norfolk, +the intrenching tools were busy night and day around Baltimore, +Providence voted money for fortifications, Portland shipmasters formed +themselves into a company of sea fencibles, and gun-boats were +collected in New York and all the great northern ports. The notes of +alarm and preparation rang along the coast from Maine to Louisiana, +and before the mysterious shadow of the gigantic coming evil, party +animosities sunk into insignificance. Released from her Continental +struggle, England, with her fleets that had conquered at Aboukir, +Trafalgar, and Copenhagen, and her troops fresh from the fields of +Spain, had resolved to fall upon us in her power, and crushing city +after city, leave us at length without a seaport, from the Merrimack +to the Mississippi. Even the brilliant victories of Chippewa and +Lundy's Lane could not dispel the terror inspired by this gathering of +her energies. + +But the first serious demonstration was made in the Chesapeake. To act +against the fleet a flotilla was placed there under the charge of +Captain Barney, a bold and skillful officer. Constantly on the alert, +he would dash suddenly out of the Patuxent River, and roughly handling +the light vessels of the enemy that approached the shallow waters, +compel them to take refuge under the guns of the frigates. But the +river at length became blockaded, and the flotilla was compelled to +run up into Leonard's Creek. From the 1st to the 26th of June, +frequent skirmishes took place, in which Captain Barney exhibited a +daring, skill and prudence combined, which proved him to be an able +commander. On the 26th he attacked the British vessels in the river, +and after a sharp cannonade of two hours, drove them into the bay, and +broke up the blockade. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 14.] + +At length Admiral Cochrane arrived from Bermuda, in an eighty gun +ship, bringing with him three thousand troops, commanded by General +Ross. Entering the Chesapeake he joined Rear Admiral Cockburn, who by +this timely reinforcement found himself in command of twenty-three +vessels of war. This imposing fleet stood slowly up the waters of the +Chesapeake, sending consternation among the inhabitants of Washington +and Baltimore. [Sidenote: Aug. 21.] Cockburn, designed by nature for a +freebooter, was admirably fitted for the work he had designed to do. +Landing four thousand five hundred troops at Benedict, he began to +advance up the Potomac. Barney, acting under instructions he had +received, immediately took four hundred men and fell back to the Wood +Yard, where he joined what was called the army. He had left five or +six men in each boat, to blow them up, should the enemy advance. That +night, about one o'clock, the President, with the Secretaries of War +and Navy, visited Winder's camp, and next morning reviewed the troops. +The camp was in confusion. Citizens and soldiers intermingled--each +giving his opinion of the course to be pursued--disordered ranks and +loud and fierce talking--the utter absence of the quiet demeanor and +military precision characteristic of a regular army, gave to the one +assembled there the appearance of a motley crowd on a gala day. +General Smith and Barney, however, seemed to understand themselves, +and were anxious to advance and attack the enemy. + +At the first appearance of the fleet Winder had sent off for the +militia, but none had yet arrived. Six hundred from Virginia were +reported close at hand--fourteen hundred from near Baltimore had +reached Bladensburg, whither, also, was marching a picked regiment +from the city itself, led by Pinckney, recently our Embassador to +England. The whole country was filled with excited men, hurrying on +foot or on horseback from one army and place to another--some without +arms and others in citizens' dress, with only swords or pistols. The +President and Cabinet were also in the saddle, riding by night and +day, yet all without definite object. Rumor had swelled the invading +force to twelve thousand men, but whether its destination was +Washington, Baltimore, or Annapolis, no one could tell. + +While affairs were in this excited, disorderly state around +Washington, great uncertainty reigned in the British camp. It was a +hot day when the troops landed, and the sight of neat farm-houses, +rich fields, and green pastures, seemed to increase the lassitude +occasioned by their long confinement on ship-board, rather than +invigorate them, and it required the exercise of rigid authority and +unceasing care to keep them from straggling away to the cool shelter +of trees. Weighed down with their knapsacks and three days' +provisions, and sixty rounds of ball cartridge--without cavalry, and +with only one six-pounder and two three-pounders drawn by a hundred +seamen, this army of invasion took up its slow and cautious march +inland on Sunday afternoon, and reached Nottingham that night. +[Sidenote: Aug. 21.] They found the village wholly deserted--not a +soul was left behind, while the bread remaining in the ovens, the +furniture standing just as it had last been used, showed that the +flight had been sudden and the panic complete. + +At this time the object of the expedition was the destruction of +Barney's flotilla, which had so harassed and injured the lighter +vessels of the fleet. + +Next morning at eight o'clock the army took up its line of March, and +soon entered a cool, refreshing forest. But they had traversed scarce +half its extent, when Ross was filled with anxiety and alarm by +frequent and loud explosions, like the booming of heavy artillery, in +the distance. Officers were immediately hurried off to ascertain the +cause, who soon returned with the welcome and unexpected intelligence +that the Americans were blowing up their own flotilla. + +The first and chief object of the invasion being secured, Ross halted +his column at Marlborough, only ten miles from Nottingham, and sent +for Cockburn, who, with a flotilla, was advancing up the river "_pari +passu_," to advise with him what course to pursue. The admiral +proposed to march on Washington. To this Ross at first objected, for +to pierce a country of which he was ignorant fifty miles, with no +cavalry or heavy artillery, seemed a rash undertaking, especially +when, in a military point of view, success would accomplish +comparatively nothing. Cockburn, however, who had been on the coast +longer, and through informants residing in the city, had become +acquainted with its defenceless state, persuaded him that its capture +would be easy, and the results glorious. The taking of a nation's +capital certainly seemed no mean exploit, while the heavy ransom the +government would doubtless pay to save its public buildings, would +compensate Cockburn for lack of prize money at sea. + +It was not, however, till next noon that the army, preceded by a +company of a hundred blacks, composed of fugitive slaves, began to +advance. After making a few miles, it halted for the night. + +The Secretary of War had insisted from the first that Washington was +not the point threatened, and still adhered to that opinion. He could +not conceive that an experienced commander would select as the first +object of attack a town of some nine hundred houses, scattered over a +surface of three miles, and destitute of wealth, while the opulent +cities of Baltimore and Annapolis lay so near. This, too, was the +opinion of many others, creating great confusion, and preventing the +selection of strong positions, where successful stands could have been +made. + +While the British were thus slowly advancing, General Winder was +riding hither and thither, now making a reconnoissance in person, now +posting to Washington to rouse the Secretary of War out of his +lethargy, or hurrying on foot back again to his army, doing every +thing but restoring tranquillity and order. Confusion in the +camp--disorder in the ranks--consternation among the inhabitants, and +gloom and doubt in the cabinet, combined to render the three days the +British were marching on Washington, a scene of extraordinary +excitement and misdirected efforts. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 24.] + +At length, videttes and scouts, coming in quick succession, announced +that the British army was approaching Bladensburg, where General +Stansbury, with the Baltimore militia, was encamped. There was not a +breath of air, and the column staggered on through a cloud of dust, +and under a sweltering August sun. The soldiers, exhausted, reeled +from the ranks and fell by the road side, while many others could +scarcely drag their weary limbs along. The American troops were busy +cooking their dinner when the drums beat to arms, announcing the +approach of this much dreaded army. + +When the news reached Winder, he immediately transmitted an order to +Stansbury to give battle where he was, and hastened thither with the +main army, arriving just before the action commenced. Barney, who had +been stationed with five hundred men at the bridge over the eastern +branch of the Potomac, with directions to blow it up should the enemy +approach by that route, no sooner heard of his advance on Bladensburg, +than he earnestly requested to repair thither with his brave seamen. +He chafed under the inaction to which he was doomed, talking in a +boisterous manner, half to himself and half to others, lashing the +generals with the bluntness and truth of a sailor, saying, loud +enough to be heard by the President and his cabinet standing near, it +was absurd to leave him there with five hundred men to blow up a +bridge which any "d----d corporal could better do with five." At +length permission was given him to join the army, when he leaped on a +horse, and ordering his seamen to follow, galloped to Bladensburg. The +advance was already engaged, and he immediately sent back to his men +to hurry up, and soon the brave and panting fellows appeared on a trot +and took their stand beside their commander. The President and his +cabinet galloped thither also, but retired at the commencement of the +action, not before, however, Monroe, Secretary of State, had tried his +hand at military evolutions, and altered the order of battle. + +Instead of taking advantage of patches of woods, thickets, etc., where +inexperienced militia would have fought well, this heterogeneous army +of five or six thousand men was arranged in the form of a semi-circle +on the slope that makes up westward from the eastern branch of the +Potomac, here a shallow stream and crossed by a wooden bridge. The +British, supposing of course, that the position was chosen because it +commanded a narrow bridge, the passage of which is always so difficult +in the face of batteries, never dreamed the river could be forded, and +therefore never attempted it. Ross, who from the top of the highest +house in the neighborhood surveyed the American army, was disconcerted +at the formidable appearance it presented--posted on such a commanding +eminence with heavy artillery,--and would doubtless have retreated but +for the greater danger of a retrogade movement with his exhausted +troops. + +The American army was arranged in three lines like regiments on a +parade, connected by the guns that could pour no cross fire on the +assailing column. The latter advancing steadily, throwing Congreve +rockets as they approached, so shook the courage of the militia that +it required but the levelled gleaming bayonet to scatter them like +sheep over the field. Many of the officers were brave men and strove +to arrest the panic, but in vain. Pinckney with a broken arm rode +leisurely out of the battle, his heart filled with rage and +mortification at the poltroonry of those under his command. + +The details of the engagement are useless--there was a show of +resistance and some well sustained firing for awhile; but the whole +battle, so far as it can be called one, was fought by Barney. He had +planted four guns, among them an eighteen pounder, so as to sweep the +main road, and quietly sat beside them on his bay horse, allowing the +column to come within close range before he gave orders to fire. The +first terrible discharge cleared the road. Three times the British +endeavored to advance in front, and as often were swept to destruction +by that battery. At length they were compelled to abandon the attempt, +and taking shelter under a ravine filed off to the right and left and +assailed Barney in flank and rear. Driving easily before them the +regiments whose duty it was to protect the artillery, they moved +swiftly forward. Barney's horse had been shot under him and he +himself, prostrated by a wound, lay stretched in the road. Seeing that +the battle was lost, he bade his seamen cut their way through the +enemy and escape. Reluctant at first to obey him, they at last fled, +and their gallant commander was taken prisoner. A few such determined +men would have saved Washington from the flames. + +The six hundred Virginians who had hastened to the rescue never joined +the army at all. Having arrived without arms, they slept in the House +of Representatives all night and were not equipped next day till the +battle was over. + +The _retreat_ became a wild and shameful flight. No other stand was +made, and the fugitive army fled unpursued in squads hither and +thither. It was a regular stampede. The fields and roads were covered +with a broken and flying multitude. President, secretaries of war and +navy, attorney-general and all were borne away in the headlong +torrent; and though the enemy had no cavalry to pursue, and the +infantry were too tired to follow up their success, the panic was so +complete and ridiculous that our troops never stopped their flight +except when compelled to pause from sheer exhaustion. Fatigue, not the +interval they had put between themselves and the enemy, arrested their +footsteps. Only fifty or sixty had been killed on our side, while the +British had lost several hundred, a large portion of whom fell under +the murderous discharges of Barney's battery. + +After the shouts and derision of the enemy had subsided with the +disappearance of the last fugitive over the hills, the tired army +instead of advancing to Washington reposed on the field of battle. + +Winder endeavored to rally the troops at the capital for another +defence, but not a sufficient number could be found to make a stand, +and with curses and oaths the rabble rout streamed along the road to +Georgetown, presenting a picture of demoralization and insubordination +that formed a fit counterpart to their poltroonry. + +The first arrival of the fugitives, officers and citizens, riding +pell-mell through the streets, carried consternation into the city, +and the inhabitants, some on foot, some in carts or carriages, rushed +forth, and streaming on after the frightened militia completed the +turbulence of the scene. + +Cockburn and Ross leaving the main army to repose itself, took a +body-guard and rode into Washington. No resistance was offered--a +single shot only was fired, which killed the horse of General Ross. +The house from which it issued was formerly occupied by Mr. Gallatin. +In a few moments it was in flames. Halting in front of the capitol, +they fired a volley at the edifice and took possession of it in the +name of the king. + +The troops were then marched in, and entering the Hall of +Representatives, piled together chairs, desks and whatever was +combustible, and applied the torch. The flames passing from room to +room, soon wrapped the noble library, and bursting forth from the +windows leaped to the roof, enveloping the whole edifice in fire and +illuminating the country for miles around. The house of Washington and +other buildings were also set on fire. The remaining British force, +lighted by the ruddy glow that illumined the landscape and the road +along which they were marching, entered the city to assist in the work +of destruction. In the mean time, the navy-yard was set on fire by +order of the secretary of war, mingling its flames and explosions with +the light and roar of the burning capitol. The gallant officer in +command of it had offered to defend it, but was refused permission. +Whether the refusal was discreet or not, one thing is certain, the +enemy could have accomplished no more than the destruction of the +materials collected there, and it was not worth while to save them the +labor. + +The capitol being in flames, Ross and Cockburn led their troops along +Pennsylvania Avenue to the President's house, a mile distant, and soon +the blazing pile beaconed back to the burning capitol. The Treasury +building swelled the conflagration, and by the light of the flames +Cockburn and Ross sat down to supper at the house of Mrs. Suter, whom +they had compelled to furnish it. Pillage and devastation moved side +by side through the streets, while to give still greater terror and +sublimity to the scene, a heavy thunder storm burst over the city. +From the lurid bosom of the cloud leaped flashes brighter than the +flames below, followed by crashes that drowned the roar and tumult +which swelled up from the thronged streets, making the night wild and +appalling as the last day of time. + +To bring the day's work to a fitting close, Cockburn, while the +heavens and surrounding country were still ruddy with the flames, +entered a brothel and spent in lust and riot a night begun in +incendiarism and pillage. + +[Illustration: Burning of Washington.] + +While these things were transpiring in the city, the President and his +Cabinet were fleeing into Virginia. During the battle of +Bladensburg, Mrs. Madison had sat in the Presidential mansion, +listening to the roar of cannon in the distance, and anxiously +sweeping the road, with her spy-glass, to catch the first approach of +her husband, but saw instead, "groups of military, wandering in all +directions, as if there was a lack of arms or of spirit, to fight for +their own firesides." A carriage stood waiting at the door, filled +with plate and other valuables, ready to leave at a moment's warning. +The Mayor of the city waited on her, urging her to depart, but she +bravely refused, saying she would not stir till she heard from her +husband. At length a note from him, in pencil-marks, arrived, bidding +her flee. Still delaying, till she could detach a portrait of +Washington, by Stuart, from the wall, her friends remonstrated with +her. Finding it would take too long to unscrew the painting from the +walls, she seized a carving-knife, and cutting the canvas out, hurried +away. At Georgetown she met her husband, who, with his Cabinet, in +trepidation and alarm, was en route for Virginia. Just as the flames +were kindling in the capitol, the President, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Rush, Mr. +Mason, and Carroll, were assembled on the shores of the Potomac, where +but one little boat could be found to transport them over. Desponding +and sad, they were rowed across in the gloom, a part at a time, and +mounting their horses, rode hurriedly and sadly away. Mrs. Madison +returned towards Georgetown, accompanied by nine troopers, and stopped +ten miles and a half from the town. Trembling from the anxiety and +fright of the day--separated from her husband, now a fugitive in the +darkness--oppressed with fears and gloomy forebodings, she sat down by +an open window, and through the tears that streamed from her eyes, +gazed forth on the flames of the burning city, and listened with +palpitating heart to the muffled shouts and tumult that rose in the +distance. + +Before daylight, she, with her lady companions, started for a place of +rendezvous appointed by her husband, sixteen miles from Georgetown. + +The 25th of August dawned gloomily over the smouldering city, and the +red sun, as he rolled into view, looked on a scene of devastation and +ruin. From their drunken orgies, negroes and soldiers crawled forth to +the light of day, roused by the reveille from the hill of the capitol, +and the morning gun that sent its echoes through the sultry air. + +Rising from his debauch, Cockburn sallied forth to new deeds of shame. +The War office, and other public offices, among them the building of +the National Intelligencer, were set on fire, and the pillage and riot +of the preceding day again sent terror through the city. The gallant +admiral seemed refreshed rather than enervated by the plunder, +conflagration and debauch of the night that had passed, and brilliant +and witty as the day before, "was merry in his grotesque rambles about +Washington, mounted on a white, uncurried, long switch-tail brood +mare, followed by a black foal, neighing after its dam, in which +caricature of horsemanship that harlequin of havoc, paraded the +streets, and laughed at the terrified women imploring him not to +destroy their homes. "Never fear," said he, "you shall be much safer +under my administration than Madison's." "Be sure," said he to those +who were destroying the types of the National Intelligencer, "that all +the C's are demolished, so that the rascals can no longer abuse my +name as they have done."[5] + +[Footnote 5: Vide Ingersoll, vol. II, page 189.] + +In the midst of this wanton destruction and barbarian licentiousness, +two events occurred calculated to sober even a more brutal man than +he. A detachment had been sent to destroy two rope-walks, at a place +called Greenleaf's point, a short distance from the city. After they +were burned, an officer threw the torch with which the buildings had +been lighted, into a dry well near by. But this well had been made for +a long time the repository of useless shells, cartridges and +gunpowder. The unextinguished torch ignited this subterranean +magazine, which exploded with a violence that shook the earth, and +sent dismembered bodies and limbs, mingled with fragments of iron, +and dust and smoke, heavenward together. When it cleared away, nearly +a hundred officers and men were seen strewed around, some killed, +others presenting torn, misshapen masses of human flesh. The sad +procession, carrying the mutilated and dead back to the city, had +scarcely reached it before the heavens became dark as twilight, and +that ominous silence which always betokens some dreadful convulsion of +nature fell on the earth. The air was still, and the burning dwellings +around shed a baleful light over the faces of men, on which sat terror +and perplexity. This portentous silence was broken by the rush and +roar of a hurricane, that swept with the voice and strength of the +sea, over the devastated city. Flashes of lightning rent the gloom, +and the thunder rolled and broke in deafening crashes over head. The +flames leaped up into fiercer glow, under the strong breath of the +tempest; private dwellings that had escaped the incendiary's torch +were stripped of their roofs, and the crash of falling, walls and +shrieks of terrified men and women fleeing through the streets, +imparted still greater terror to the appalling spectacle. The British +army, on the Capitol hill, was rent into fragments before it, and +scattered as though a magazine had exploded in its midst. Thirty +soldiers, besides many of the inhabitants, were overwhelmed in the +ruins. + +Fleeing before this same hurricane, Mrs. Madison approached the tavern +designated by the President as the place where he would meet her, but +was refused admittance by the terrified women within, who had also +fled thither, because she was the wife of the man who had involved +them in those horrors of war, made still more terrible by the +visitation of God. He, in thus turning day into night, had evinced his +displeasure, and foretold his judgments; and not until an entrance was +forced by the men, would they allow her a shelter from the storm. +There her husband, the fugitive President of the republic, drenched +with rain, hungry and exhausted, joined her in the evening. Provided +with nothing but a cold lunch, he retired to his miserable couch, not +knowing what tidings the morning would bring him. + +In the mean time General Ross, chagrined at the part he had been +compelled to play--filled with self-reproaches at the wanton +destruction of a public library, was anxious and unquiet at the +non-arrival of the boats that had accompanied him to Alexandria. In +constant fear of an uprising of the people of the country, he was +eager to get back to the ships. As soon therefore as night set in, he +resolved to commence his retreat. To prevent pursuit, an order was +issued prohibiting the appearance of a single inhabitant in the street +after eight o'clock. At nine, in dead silence, and with quick step, +as though stealing on a sleeping foe, the advance column took up its +march and passed unnoticed out of the city. The camp fires on the hill +of the capitol were kept blazing, and piled with fuel sufficient to +preserve them bright till near morning, in order to convey the +impression that the army was still there, and at a late hour the rear +column followed after, and silently and rapidly traversed the road to +Bladensburg. Not a word was spoken, not a man allowed to step out of +his place. Arriving on the ground which had been occupied by other +brigades, they found it deserted, but the fires were still blazing as +though the encampment had not been broken up. Approaching the field of +Bladensburg, they saw in the white moonbeams the whiter corpses of the +unburied dead, who had been stripped of their clothing and now lay +scattered around on the green slope and banks of the stream where they +had fallen. The hot August rain and sun had already begun to act on +the mutilated flesh, and a horrible stench loaded the midnight air. +Stopping there for an hour, to enable the soldiers to hunt up their +knapsacks thrown aside the day before, Ross again hurried them +forward, and kept them at the top of their speed all night. If the +column paused for a moment, the road was instantly filled with +soldiers fast asleep. Men were constantly straggling away, or falling +into slumbers, from which even the sword could with difficulty prick +them, and the army threatened to be disorganized. It therefore became +necessary to halt, and the order to do so had scarcely passed down the +line before every man was sound asleep, and the entire army in five +minutes resembled a heap of dead bodies on a field of battle. Resting +here under the burning sun until midday, Ross then resumed his march +and reached Marlborough at night, and the next day proceeded leisurely +back to the ships. + +The raid had been successful--Washington was sacked. Two millions of +property had been destroyed--the capitol, with its library--the +President's house--the Treasury and War, Post offices, and other +public edifices, burned to the ground, together with five private +dwellings, thirteen more being pillaged. These, with the destruction +of the office of the National Intelligencer, two rope-walks, and a +bridge over the Potomac, constituted the achievements of this +redoubtable army of invasion. + +The English press, which had teemed with accounts of Napoleon's +barbarity, and the English heart, which had heaved with noble +indignation against the man who could rob the galleries of conquered +provinces to adorn those of Paris, had no word of condemnation or +expression of anger for this wanton outrage, but on the contrary, +laudations innumerable. Napoleon had marched into almost every capital +of Europe without destroying a library or work of art, or firing a +dwelling. With his victorious armies he had entered city after city, +and yet no Vandalism marred his conquest. The palaces of kings, who +had perjured themselves again and again to secure his downfall, had +never been touched, and yet he was denounced as a robber and +proclaimed to the world a modern Attila. But an English army, warring +against a nation that spoke the same language, and was descended from +the same ancestors, could enter a city that had made no defence--had +not exasperated the conquerors by forcing them to a long siege or +desperate assault, and, without provocation, burn down a public +library, the unoffending capitol and presidential mansion, state +offices, and even private dwellings. Incredible as this act appears, +the greater marvel is how the English nation could exult over it. An +American victory tarnished by such barbarity and meanness, would +overwhelm the authors of it in eternal disgrace. And yet, a popular +so-called historian of England, in narrating this transaction, says it +was "one of the most brilliant expeditions ever carried into execution +by any nation." An army of some four thousand regulars put to flight +five or six thousand raw militia, and, with the loss of a few hundred +men, marched into a small unfortified town, occupied as the capital of +the United States, and like a band of robbers, set fire to the public +Library, Arsenal, Treasury, War office, President's house, two +rope-walks and a bridge; and such an affair the historian of Lodi, +Marengo, Austerlitz, and Waterloo,--of the terrible conflicts of the +peninsular, and the sublime sea-fights of Aboukir and Trafalgar, calls +"one of the most brilliant expeditions carried into execution by any +nation." + + "Ille crucem, scelenis pretium tulit, hic diadema." + +The news was received in England with the liveliest demonstrations of +joy. The Lord Mayor of London ordered the Park and Tower guns to be +fired at noon, in honor of a victory, which he pompously declared was +"worth an illumination." The official account was translated into +French, German and Italian, and scattered over the continent. Mr. Clay +and Mr. Russell were in the theatre at Brussels when the news arrived. +The secretary of the legation, Mr. Hughes, had overheard an English +officer in the lobby saying--"We have taken and burned the Yankee +capital, and thrown those rebels back half a century"--and going to +their box told them there were reasons why they should leave the +theatre, which he would disclose at their hotel. He had observed some +of the British legation present, and the announcement of such tidings +would be embarrassing to the American embassy. They were exceedingly +annoyed by the news, especially next morning, when the English +embassadors sent them a paper giving an account of the act; and they +returned, mortified, to Ghent. It was received on the continent, +however, with marked disapprobation. Even a Bourbon paper, in Paris, +declared that notwithstanding the atrocities charged on Napoleon, he +had never committed an act so degrading to civilized warfare as this. + +The vessels designed to cooeperate with the movement on Washington, +reached Alexandria the same evening the British army left the former +place, and after levying a contribution on the inhabitants, seizing +twenty-one merchant vessels, sixteen thousand barrels of flour, a +thousand hogsheads of tobacco, and whatever else was valuable, +departed. In their descent, they were harassed by Porter and Perry +from the shore, but the guns of the latter were too light to effect +much damage. Commodore Rodgers also hovered with fire ships around +their flight, but it was too rapid to allow the concentration of a +sufficient force to arrest them. + +Armstrong, the Secretary of War, following the example of President, +Cabinet, Generals and army, galloped away from the disastrous field of +Bladensburg, and took refuge in a farm-house. The fugitive President +and the fugitive Secretary at length met, and returned together to +Washington. The entrance of the latter to the capital was the signal +for the indignant outburst of the entire population. The militia +officers of the District refused to obey his orders in the future, +and a committee of the citizens waited on the President, demanding his +dismissal from the post of Secretary of War. It was suddenly +discovered that he was wholly to blame for the conduct of the troops +at Bladensburg. Borne away by the popular current, which he was +thankful was not directed against himself, Madison requested Armstrong +to retire for awhile to Baltimore. [Sidenote: Sept. 3.] The latter +obeyed, but immediately sent in his resignation, in which he paid the +President the compliment of having, as he declared, shamefully yielded +to the "humors of a village mob." Monroe, Secretary of State, was +appointed to discharge his duties, and a proclamation was issued +calling an early meeting of Congress. + +The British government never committed a greater blunder than when it +sanctioned the sack and burning of Washington. Estimating its +importance by that which the capitals of Europe held in their +respective kingdoms, her misguided statesmen supposed its overthrow +would paralyze the nation and humble the government into submission. +But there was scarcely a seaport on our coast, whose destruction would +not have been a greater public calamity. Besides, the greater its +value in the eyes of the people, the more egregious the mistake. +Judging us by the effeminate races of India, or the ignorant +population of central Europe, who are accustomed to be governed by +blows, they imagined the heavier the scourging, the more prostrated by +fear, and more eager for peace we should become. But resistance and +boldness rise with us in exact proportion to the indignities offered +and injuries inflicted. With a country, whose vital part is no where +fixed, but consisting in the unity of the people, can shift with +changing fortunes from the sea-coast even to the Rocky Mountains, its +heart can never be reached by the combined forces of the world. This +republic can never die but by its own hand. In a foreign war, our +strength can be weakened only by sowing dissensions. Outrages which +inflame the national heart, or local sufferings that awaken national +sympathy serve only to heal all these, and hence render us +impregnable. Thus, when Mr. Alison, in closing up his account of this +war and speaking of the probabilities of another, advises the sudden +precipitation of vast armies on our shore as the only way to insure +success, he exhibits a lamentable ignorance of our character. An +outrage or calamity at the outset, sufficiently great to break down +party opposition, and drown all personal and political contests in one +shout for vengeance, rolling from limit to limit of our vast +possessions, would endow us with resistless energy and strength. The +attacks on Baltimore and New Orleans teach an instructive lesson on +this point. In the latter place, where a veteran army of nine +thousand men were repulsed by scarcely one-third of its force, now an +army of two hundred thousand would make no impression. + +The sack of Washington furnishes a striking illustration of the effect +of a great public calamity on this nation. One feeling of wrath and +cry for vengeance swept the land. A high national impulse hushed the +bickerings and frightened into silence the quarrels of factions, and +the President and his Cabinet never gained strength so fast as when +the capitol was in flames, and they were fleeing through the storm and +darkness, weighed down with sorrow and despondency. + +At the same time this expedition against Washington was moving to its +termination, Sir Peter Parker ascended the Chesapeake to Rockhall, +from whence he sent out detachments in various quarters, burning +dwellings, grain, stacks, outhouses, etc. On the 30th, he landed at +midnight, to surprise Colonel Reed, encamped in an open plain with a +hundred and seventy militia. It was bright moonlight, and as the +column advanced it was received with a steady and well-directed fire. +At length the ammunition failing, this brave band was compelled to +fall back. The enemy at the same time retreated, carrying with them +Sir Peter Parker, mortally wounded with buck shot. + +On the return of these several expeditions, it was resolved to make a +grand and united attack on Baltimore, that nest of privateers. On the +6th of September, the whole fleet, consisting of more than forty sail, +moved slowly up the Chesapeake, carrying a mixed, heterogeneous land +force of five thousand men. Six days after, it reached the Patapsco, +and landed the troops at North Point. The first object of attack was +fort M'Henry, situated about two miles from Baltimore. The capture of +this, it was thought, would open a passage to the city. Having put +their forces in marching order, General Ross and Cochrane moved +forward towards the intrenchments erected for the defence of +Baltimore, while the vessels of war advanced against the fort. + +After marching four miles, the leading column of the army was checked +by General Stricker, who with three thousand men had taken post near +the head of Bear Creek. A sharp skirmish ensued, in which the two +companies of Levering and Howard under Major Heath and Captain +Aisquith's rifle company, fought gallantly. General Ross, hearing the +firing rode forward, and mingled with the skirmishers, to ascertain +the cause of it, when he was pierced by the unerring ball of a +rifleman, and fell in the road. His riderless horse went plunging back +towards the main army, his "saddle and housings stained with blood, +carrying the melancholy news of his master's fate to the astonished +troops." Stretched by the road side, the dying general lay writhing in +the agonies of death. He had only time to speak of his wife and +children, before he expired. He was a gallant, skillful and humane +officer, and his part in the burning of Washington, must be laid to +his instructions rather than to his character. + +The command devolved on Colonel Brooke, who gave the orders to +advance. General Stricker defended his position firmly, but at length +was compelled to fall back on his reserve, and finally took post +within half a mile of the intrenchments of the city. This ended the +combat for the day. The next morning Colonel Brooke recommenced his +march, and advanced to within two miles of the intrenchments, where he +encamped till the following morning, to wait the movements of the +fleet. + +In the mean time, Cochrane had moved up to within two miles and a half +of the fort, and forming his vessels in a semi-circle, began to +bombard it. These works, under the command of Major Armstead, had no +guns sufficiently heavy to reach the vessels, which all that day threw +shells and rockets, making a grand commotion but doing little damage. +At night, Cochrane moved his fleet farther up, and opened again. The +scene then became grand and terrific. It was dark and rainy, and amid +the gloom, rockets and shells, weighing, some of them, two hundred +and fifty pounds, rose heavenward, followed by a long train of light, +and stooping over the fort burst with detonations that shook the +shore. Singly, and in groups, these fiery messengers traversed the +sky, lighting up the fort and surrounding scenery in a sudden glow, +and then with their sullen thunder, sinking all again in darkness. The +deafening explosions broke over the American army and the city of +Baltimore like heavy thunder-claps, calling forth soldiers and +inhabitants to gaze on the illumined sky. The city was in a state of +intense excitement. The streets were thronged with the sleepless +inhabitants, and the tearful eyes and pallid cheeks of women, attested +the anguish and fear that wild night created. As soon as Armstead +discovered that the vessels had come within range, he opened his fire +with such precision that they were compelled to withdraw again, +content with their distant bombardment. At length a sudden and heavy +cannonade was heard above the fort, carrying consternation into the +city, for the inhabitants believed that it had fallen. It soon ceased, +however. Several barges, loaded with troops, had passed the fort +unobserved, and attempted to land and take it in rear. Pulling to the +shore with loud shouts, they were met by a well-directed fire from a +battery, and compelled to seek shelter under their ships. + +During this tremendous bombardment Francis Key lay in a little vessel +under the Admiral's frigate. He had visited him for the purpose of +obtaining an exchange of some prisoners of war, especially of one who +was a personal friend, and was directed to remain till after the +action. During the day his eye had rested eagerly on that low +fortification, over which the flag of his country was flying, and he +watched with the intensest anxiety the progress of each shell in its +flight, rejoicing when it fell short of its aim, and filled with fear +as he saw it stooping without exploding, within those silent +enclosures. At night, when darkness shut out that object of so much +and intense interest, around which every hope and desire of his life +seemed to cling, he still stood straining his eyes through the gloom, +to catch, if he could, by the light of the blazing shells, a glimpse +of his country's flag, waving proudly in the storm. The early dawn +found him still a watcher, and there, to the music of bursting shells, +and the roar of cannon, he composed "The Star-Spangled Banner."[6] + +[Footnote 6: The scene and the occasion which called forth this +beautiful ode, have helped to make it a national one. It requires but +little imagination to conceive the intense and thrilling anxiety with +which a true patriot would look for the first gray streak of morning, +to see if the flag of his country was still flying, while the heart +involuntarily asks the question-- + + "O, say, can you see by the dawn's early light, + What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? + Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight + O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming-- + And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, + Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. + + O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave, + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? + + On that shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, + Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, + What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep, + As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses; + Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, + In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream? + 'Tis the star-spangled banner, O, long may it wave + O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."] + +In the morning, Broke not deeming it prudent to assail those +intrenchments, manned by brave and determined men,[7] while the +heights around bristled with artillery, resolved to retreat. Waiting +till night to take advantage of the darkness, he retraced his steps to +the shipping. + +From the extreme apprehensions that had oppressed it, Baltimore passed +to the most extravagant joy. Beaming faces once more filled the +streets, and the military bands, as they marched through, playing +triumphant strains, were saluted with shouts. The officers were feted +and exultation and confidence filled every bosom. + +[Footnote 7: Senator Smith, who had been appointed general, commanded +the 10,000 militia who manned the works.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Macomb at Plattsburg -- American and English fleets on Lake + Champlain -- Advance of Prevost -- Indifference of Governor + Chittenden -- Rev. Mr. Wooster -- Macdonough -- The two + battles -- Funeral of the officers -- British invasion of + Maine -- McArthur's expedition. + + +The gallant defence of Baltimore was still the theme of every tongue, +when tidings from our northern borders swelled the enthusiasm to the +highest pitch, and extinguished for a moment the remembrance of the +barbarities committed at Washington. + +The day before the British landed at North Point and received their +first shock in the death of General Ross, the double battle of +Plattsburg was fought. + +Izard, when he started on his tortoise-like march, to the relief of +Brown, left Colonel Macomb in command of three thousand men, not more +than half of whom were fit for service. Their defeat he considered +certain, and the result would have justified his prognostications, +had Macomb, like him, sat down to brood over his troubles and gaze +only on the difficulties that beset the army, till his confidence was +gone and his energies paralyzed. But he was made of sterner +stuff--difficulties only roused and developed him. Were the well men +under his command few? then his defences must be the stronger, and the +labor of those able to work, the more constant and exhausting. + +Calling on New York and Vermont for militia, he toiled night and day +at the works, and soon found himself strongly intrenched. + +In the mean time, Prevost, at the head of a disciplined army of twelve +thousand men, began to advance on Plattsburg. The ulterior design of +this invasion of the States has never been disclosed. It is hardly +possible that the British General meditated a movement similar to +Burgoyne's, hoping to reach Albany. The object may have been to get +entire command of Lake Champlain; and, pushing his land forces as far +as Ticonderoga, there wait the development of events on the sea-coast, +or by conquests along the northern boundary, create a claim to the +lakes, to be enforced in the negotiations for peace. + +Prevost marched slowly, cumbering the road with his heavy baggage and +artillery trains as he advanced, and did not arrive at Plattsburg +till the 7th of September. + +This town is situated on the Saranac River, a deep and rapid stream, +crossed at the time by several bridges. Abandoning that portion of it +on the north shore, as untenable, Macomb withdrew his forces to the +southern bank. Prevost, after a sharp action with the advance of the +American army, was allowed to erect his batteries at his leisure. It +took him four days to complete his works, or rather that time elapsed +before the arrival of the British fleet. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 1.] + +In the mean time Macomb had sent an express to Governor Chittenden, of +Vermont, telling him that Prevost had commenced his march on +Plattsburg, and beseeching him to call out the militia to his aid. But +this Federalist Governor, acting on the rebellious doctrine of +Massachusetts, coldly replied that he had no authority to send militia +out of the State. On the 4th, Macomb sent another express saying the +army was approaching, that his force was too small to resist it, and +begging for assistance. General Newell, more patriotic than the +Governor, offered to take his brigade over to the help of Macomb, but +the former would not sanction the movement by his authority, though he +advised him to beat up for volunteers. With every feeling of +patriotism deadened by the poison of the spirit of faction--every +generous sentiment and sympathy apparently extinguished--deaf to the +piteous plea rising from a neighboring town, he coldly entrenched +himself behind a party dogma, and let the ruin and devastation sweep +onward. The cannonading on the 6th, by Majors Appling and Wool, who +gallantly attacked the enemy's advance, did not rouse him from his +apathy. + +One can hardly imagine that the call he issued for volunteers before +the battle, and the stirring proclamation he made afterwards under the +pressure of popular enthusiasm, emanated from the same person. + +The people, however, did not require to be stimulated into patriotism +by their executive. As that sullen thunder came booming over the lake, +it stirred with fiery ardor the gallant sons of that noble State, who +never yet turned a deaf ear to the calls of their country, and before +whose stern and valorous onset the enemy's ranks have never stood +unbroken. Spurning the indifference of their Governor, and trampling +under foot his constitutional scruples, they flew to their homes, and +snatching down their muskets and rifles, and giving a short adieu to +their families, rushed to the shore, and soon the lake was covered +with boats, urged fiercely forward by strong arms and willing hearts +towards the spot where the heavy explosions told that their brave +countrymen were struggling in unequal combat. The face of young Macomb +lighted with joy as his eye fell on those bold men, and a heavy load +was taken from his heart. + +Among those who had previously volunteered, was the Rev. Benjamin +Wooster, of Fairfield, Vermont. Responding to the call of Governor +Tompkins, he put himself at the head of his parishioners and repaired +to the American camp, where he endured all the privations of a common +soldier. The aged members of his church and the women, when they saw +him draw up his little flock on the village green, prior to their +departure for the scene of conflict, assembled in the church and sent +for him, saying, "We shall see you no more--come, go to the house of +God and preach us a last sermon, and administer to us the holy +sacrament for the last time." But fearing the effect of so touching an +interview on his own decisions, he refused. Sending them an +affectionate farewell, he embraced his weeping family, kissed his +babes, and gently untwining their arms from his neck, turned away. On +the day of battle this brave old shepherd led his fearless flock into +the fire, with the serenity of a good man doing his duty. + +During the summer the English at the northern, and the Americans at +the southern portion of the lake, had been busy in building ships to +contest the supremacy of this sheet of water, whose head pierces so +deep into the bosom of New York. The latter had at length assembled a +flotilla consisting of four vessels--the largest carrying twenty-six +guns--and ten galleys, the whole under the command of Macdonough. +After some skirmishing, this little fleet, which early in the season +lay in Otter Creek, was got into the lake and steered for Plattsburg +Bay, to assist Macomb in his defence of the town. This bay opens to +the southward, and instead of piercing the main land at right angles, +runs north, nearly parallel with the lake itself. A narrow tongue of +land divides it from the main water, the extreme point of which is +called Cumberland Head. Just within its mouth, and nearly opposite +where the turbulent Saranac empties into it, Macdonough anchored his +vessels. [Sidenote: Sept 20.] Between him and the main land was a +large shoal and an island which effectually blocked the approach of +vessels on that side. + +The English fleet sent to attack him, consisted, also, of four +vessels--the largest mounting 32 guns--and 13 galleys. The American +force, all told, was 14 vessels, mounting 86 guns and carrying 850 +men, while that of the English was 17 vessels, mounting 96 guns and +carrying 1000 men. The largest, the Confiance, "had the gun deck of a +frigate," and by her superior size and strength, and her 30 long +twenty-fours, was considered a match for any two vessels in +Macdonough's squadron. Captain Downie, who commanded the British +fleet, joined his gun boats at the Isle au Motte on the 8th of +September, where he lay at anchor till the 11th. In the mean time, +Prevost, whose batteries were all erected, remained silent behind his +works waiting the arrival of the fleet before he should commence his +fire. + +During those sleepless nights, and days of agitation, young Macdonough +lay calmly watching the approach of his superior foe, while Macomb +strained every nerve to complete his defences. Fearless, frank and +social, the young General moved among his soldiers with such animation +and confidence, that they caught his spirit, and like the Green +Mountain boys and yeomanry of New York at Saratoga, resolved to defend +their homes to the last. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 11.] + +At length, on Sunday morning, just as the sun rose over the eastern +mountains, the American guard boat, on the watch, was seen rowing +swiftly into the harbor. It reported the enemy in sight. The drums +immediately beat to quarters, and every vessel was cleared for action. +The preparations being completed, young Macdonough summoned his +officers around him, and there, on the deck of the Saratoga, read the +prayers of the ritual before entering into battle, and that voice, +which soon after rung like a clarion amid the carnage, sent +heavenward, in earnest tones, "Stir up thy strength, O Lord, and come +and help us, for thou givest not always the battle to the strong, but +canst save by many or by few." It was a solemn and thrilling +spectacle, and one never before witnessed on a vessel of war cleared +for action. A young commander who had the courage thus to brave the +derision and sneers which such an act was sure to provoke, would fight +his vessel while there was a plank left to stand on. Of the deeds of +daring done on that day of great achievements, none evinced so bold +and firm a heart as this act of religious worship. + +At eight o'clock the crews of the different vessels could see, over +the tongue of land that divided the bay from the lake, the topsails of +the enemy moving steadily down. These had also been seen from shore, +and every eminence around was covered with anxious spectators. The +house of God was deserted, and the light of that bright Sabbath +morning, with its early stillness, flooded a scene at once picturesque +and terrible. On one side was the hostile squadron, coming down to the +sound of music--on the other, stood the armies on shore in order of +battle, with their banners flying--between, lay Macdonough's silent +little fleet at anchor, while the hills around were black with +spectators, gazing on the strange and fearful panorama. + +As the British approached, Macdonough showed his signal, "_Impressed +seamen call on every man to do his duty_." As vessel after vessel +traced the letters, loud cheers rent the air. + +The English vessels, under easy sail, swept one after another round +Cumberland Head, and hauling up in the wind, waited the approach of +the galleys. + +[Illustration: Battle of Lake Champlain. + +Position of the two squadrons.] + +As Macdonough lay anchored with his vessels in line north and +south--his galleys on their sweeps forming a second line in rear--the +English fleet, as it doubled the head, was compelled to approach with +bows on. The Eagle was farthest up the bay, the Saratoga second, +Ticonderoga third, and Preble fourth. The impressive silence which +rested on the American fleet was at last broken by the Eagle, which +opened her broadsides. Startled by the sound, a cock on board the +Saratoga, which had escaped from the coop, flew upon a gun slide and +crowed. A loud laugh and three hearty cheers acknowledged the +favorable omen, and spread confidence through the ship. Macdonough, +seeing the enemy were at too great distance to be reached by his guns, +reserved his fire, and watched the Confiance standing boldly on till +she came within range. He then sighted a long twenty-four himself and +fired her. The heavy shot passed the entire length of the deck of the +Confiance, killing many of her men and shivering her wheel into +fragments. This was the signal for every vessel to open its fire, and +in a moment that quiet bay was in an uproar. The Confiance, however, +though suffering severely, did not return a shot, but kept on till she +got within a quarter of a mile, when she let go her anchors and swung +broadside to the Saratoga. Sixteen long twenty-fours then opened at +once with a terrific crash. The Saratoga shook from kelson to cross +trees under the tremendous discharge. Nearly half of her crew were +knocked down by it, while fifty men were either killed or wounded, and +among them Lieutenant Gamble. He was in the act of sighting a gun, +when a shot entered the port and struck him dead. The effect of this +first broadside was awful, and the Saratoga was for a moment +completely stunned. The next, however, she opened her fire with a +precision and accuracy that told fatally on the English ship. But the +latter soon commenced pouring in her broadsides so rapidly that she +seemed enveloped in flame. The Eagle could not withstand it, and +changed her position, falling in nearer shore, leaving the Saratoga to +sustain almost alone the whole weight of the unequal contest. She gave +broadside for broadside, but the weight of metal was against her, and +she was fast becoming a wreck. Her deck soon presented a scene of the +most frightful carnage. The living could hardly tumble the wounded +down the hatchway as fast as they fell. At length, as a full broadside +burst on the staggering ship, a cry of despair rang from stem to +stern, "the Commodore is killed!--the Commodore is killed!" and there +he lay on the blood-stained deck amid the dead, senseless, and +apparently lifeless. A spar, cut in two by a cannon shot, had +fallen on his back and stunned him. But after two or three minutes he +recovered, and cheering on his men, took his place again beside his +favorite gun that he had sighted from the commencement of the action. +As the men saw him once more at his post, they took new courage. + +But a few minutes after, the cry of "the Commodore is killed," again +passed through the ship. Every eye was instantly turned to a group of +officers gathered around Macdonough, who lay in the scuppers, between +two guns, covered with blood. He had been knocked clean across the +ship, with a force sufficient to have killed him. Again he revived, +and limping to a gun, was soon coolly hulling his antagonist. Maimed +and suffering, he fought on, showing an example that always makes +heroes of subordinates. + +At length every gun on the side of his vessel towards the enemy was +silenced, but one, and this, on firing it again, bounded from its +fastenings, and tumbled down the hatchway. Not a gun was left with +which to continue the contest, while the ship was on fire. A +surrender, therefore, seemed inevitable. Macdonough, however, resolved +to wind his ship, so as to get the other broadside to bear. Failing in +the first attempt, the sailing-master, Brum, bethought him of an +expedient, which proved successful, and the crippled vessel slowly +swung her stern around, until the uninjured guns bore. The Confiance, +seeing the manoeuvre, imitated it, but she could not succeed, and lay +with her crippled side exposed to the fire of the Saratoga. + +In a short time not a gun could be brought to bear. Further resistance +was therefore useless, and she surrendered. She had been hulled a +_hundred and five times_, while half of her men were killed and +wounded. Captain Downie had fallen some time before, and hence was +spared the mortification of seeing her flag lowered. + +The Eagle, commanded by Capt. Henley, behaved gallantly in the +engagement, while the Ticonderoga, under Lieutenant Cassin, was +handled in a manner that astonished those who beheld her. This +fearless officer walked backward and forward over his deck, +encouraging his men, and directing the fire, apparently unconscious of +the balls that smote and crashed around him. His broadsides were so +incessant, that several times the vessel was thought to be on fire. + +The surrender of the Confiance virtually terminated the contest, which +had lasted two hours and a quarter; and as flag after flag struck the +galleys took to their sweeps and escaped. + +In the midst of this tremendous cannonade, came, at intervals, the +explosions on shore. The first gun in the bay, was the signal for +Prevost on land, and as the thunder of his heavy batteries mingled in +with the incessant broadsides of the contending squadrons, the very +shores trembled, and far over the lake, amid the quiet farm-houses of +Vermont, the echoes rolled away, carrying anxiety and fear into +hundreds of families. Its shore was lined with men, gazing intently in +the direction of Plattsburgh, as though from the smoke that rolled +heavenward, some tidings might be got of how the battle was going. + +To the spectators on the commanding heights around Plattsburgh, the +scene was indescribably fearful and thrilling. It was as if two +volcanoes were raging below--turning that quiet Sabbath morning into a +scene wild and awful as the strife of fiends. But when the firing in +the bay ceased, and the American flag was seen still flying, and the +Union Jack down, there went up a shout that shook the hills. From the +water to the shore, and back again, the deafening huzzas echoed and +re-echoed. The American army took up the shout, and sending it high +and clear over the thunder of cannon, spread dismay and astonishment +into the heart of the enemy's camp. + +The American loss in killed and wounded, was one hundred and ten, of +whom all but twenty fell on board the Saratoga and Eagle--that of the +English was never fully known, though it was supposed to be nearly +double. + +The force of Macomb was so inferior, and the most of the volunteers +were so recently arrived, that from the first he was advised to +retreat, a course that Wilkinson and Dearborn and Izard would +doubtless have taken, and defended it by rules laid down in books on +military tactics. But Macomb had resolved to fight where he stood. The +two forts of Brown and Scott, which he had erected and named, he +designed should be symbolical of the defence he would make, and the +battle he would fight. + +After the British batteries had been in fierce operation for some +time, throwing shells, hot shot and rockets in a perfect shower upon +the American ranks, three columns of attack were formed--two pressing +straight for the bridges, the planks of which had been taken up, and +the third for a ford farther up the river. The last was repulsed by +the volunteers and militia. The other two steadily approached the +bridges, but the artillery rained such a tempest of grape shot on the +uncovered ranks of one, and the pickets and rifles so scourged the +other, that they were driven back to their intrenchments for shelter. +After Macdonough's victory, their fire slackened, not only from +discouragement, but from the destructive effect of the American +gunnery on their batteries, and at nightfall ceased entirely. As soon +as it became dark, Prevost ordered a retreat. So rapidly and silently +was it conducted, that the army had advanced eight miles before Macomb +knew of it. He immediately ordered a pursuit, but this day of strife +had ended in a storm of wind and rain, and it was soon abandoned. + +Prevost lost two hundred and fifty in killed and wounded, many of whom +were left on the ground, drenched and beat upon by the storm. These he +commended to the humanity of Macomb, and continued his rapid flight to +the St. Lawrence. That British fleet, shattered and torn, lying at +anchor under the guns of Macdonough, in the bay, and the army of +twelve thousand men streaming through the gloom and rain, panic +stricken, lest the feeble force behind should overtake it, present a +striking contrast to their prospects in the morning, and show how +changeful is fortune. Downie heard not the shout of victory, for he +lay stiff and cold in the vessel he had carried so gallantly into +action, and Prevost did not long survive his defeat. + +So large a hostile force had never before crossed the Canada line, +while no such sudden and terrible reverse of fortune had befallen the +feeblest expedition. Two such victories on one day, were enough to +intoxicate the nation. The news spread like wildfire, and shouts and +salvos of artillery, and bonfires, hailed the messengers, as they sped +the glad tidings on. The campaign was closing gloriously. Instead of +the defeats and failures of the last year, there were Chippewa and +Lundy's Lane and Fort Erie, crowned by the victories of Baltimore and +Plattsburgh. The news of the two last, approaching from different +directions, set the land in a glow of transport, and lifted it from +despondency and gloom to confidence and bright expectations. + +The Thursday following the battle of Champlain was devoted to the +burial of the officers killed in the naval action. As the procession +of boats left the Confiance, minute guns were fired from the vessels +in the harbor. The artillery and infantry on shore received the dead +and bore them to the place of burial, while the cannon of the forts +responded to those from the fleet, blending their mournful echoes over +the fallen in their prime and manhood. The clouds hung low and gloomy +over lake and land, and the rain fell in a gentle shower, imparting +still greater loneliness to the scene. On this very day, while friends +and foes were thus paying the last tribute of respect to the fallen, +Baltimore was shaking to the huzzas of the inhabitants, at the news +that the British fleet was sailing down the bay, baffled and +disappointed. + +[Sidenote: Sept 1.] + +Simultaneous with these two invasions of our territory, a British +force was sent against Machias. The misfortune which befel the Adams, +sloop-of-war, compelling her to take refuge at Hampden, in the +Penobscot river, caused a change in the movements of the expedition, +and it did not stop to take Machias, but seized Castine and Belfast, +on the Penobscot bay, then pushed on with a sloop of war and small +craft carrying in all 700 men, to capture this vessel. [Sidenote: +Sept 9.] Machias was then seized, and all the country east of +Penobscot taken possession of. [Sidenote: July 14.] The islands in +Passamaquoddy bay had been seized and occupied two months previous. + +Our whole maritime coast was still threatened, and every seaport of +any magnitude, was fortifying itself when Congress assembled again. + +The only other military movement of note during this fall, was an +expedition which set out from Detroit, under the command of General +McArthur. It consisted of 700 mounted men, seventy of whom were +Indians, and for secresy, daring and skill was not surpassed during +the war. Its object was to prevent the enemy from molesting Michigan +during the winter, and if successful in its operations, eventually +attack Burlington Heights, and form a junction with Generals Brown and +Izard. This body of seven hundred bold and well-mounted borderers, +left Detroit the 22d of October, and plunged at once into the +wilderness. [Sidenote: Oct 22.] The long and straggling column would +now be seen wading along the shallow shores of the lake, and then be +lost in the primeval forest, to reappear on the bank of deep rivers, +from whose farther shore the wilderness again spread away. The bivouac +by night in the autumnal woods, or on the bank of a stream, presented +a fine subject for a painter. Their seven hundred horses tied to the +trees around, only half relieved by the ruddy fire that strove in +vain to pierce the limitless gloom--the lofty trunks of trees receding +away like the columns in some old dimly-lighted cathedral--the hardy +and rough-looking frontiersmen, stretched with the half-clad savages +around the fire--the sentinels scarcely discernible in the distance, +all combined to form a picture which has a charm even for the most +civilized and refined. + +It was, however, no holiday march--expedition was necessary to +success, and the horses were kept to the top of their endurance. +Straining up acclivities, floundering through swamps, struggling with +the rapid currents of rivers, this detachment succeeded in penetrating +more than two hundred miles into the enemy's country, and to within +twenty-five miles of Burlington Heights. It marched more than four +hundred miles, one hundred and eighty of it through an unbroken +wilderness, defeated five hundred militia strongly posted, killed and +wounded twenty-seven men, and took a hundred and eleven prisoners, and +returned with the loss of but one man. [Sidenote: Oct 17.] In the +discipline he maintained, the health of the troops, and their safe +return, McArthur showed himself a skillful and able commander, while +his subordinates deserve the highest commendation. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + The Navy in 1814 -- Cruise of Captain Morris in the Adams -- + Narrow escapes -- The Wasp and Reindeer -- Cruise of the + Wasp -- Sinks the Avon -- Mysterious fate of the Wasp -- The + Peacock captures the Epervier -- Lieutenant Nicholson. + + +During the season of almost uninterrupted success on land and on our +inland waters, we had but few vessels at sea, the greater part being +blockaded, but those few nobly sustained the reputation won by the +navy in the two previous years. The Guerriere 44, the Independence 74, +and the Java 44, were launched during the summer, but remained in +their docks till the close of the war. In the January previous Captain +Morris, commanding the Adams, which had been cut down to a sloop of +war, got to sea and took a few prizes. In the spring he captured an +East Indiaman, but while taking possession of her an English fleet +hove in sight, which compelled him to abandon the prize and crowd all +sail to escape. Succeeding in throwing off his pursuers he gave chase +to the Jamaica fleet which had passed him in the night, but failed in +every attempt to cut out a vessel. [Sidenote: July 3.] Continuing +eastward he at length made the Irish coast, but was soon after chased +by an English frigate and pressed so closely that he found it +necessary to throw overboard his anchors and two guns. This sacrifice, +however, did not increase materially the distance between him and his +adversary, and after dark, it falling a dead calm, Capt. Morris and +his first Lieutenant Wadsworth, both of whom were on board the +Constitution when first chased by the English fleet, got out their +boats and by towing all night, succeeded in gaining two leagues by +daylight. As soon as the commander of the English frigate discovered +the trick that had been played him, he crowded all sail and kept in +the wake of the Adams till ten at night, when the latter altering her +course, escaped. + +But the ocean being filled with the enemy's cruisers, this persecuted +solitary vessel was soon chased again by two frigates, for twenty-four +hours, and only got off at last by the aid of a friendly fog. In +August, however, she went ashore off the coast of Maine, while +attempting to run the English blockade, as mentioned in the preceding +chapter, and was so injured that Morris run her into the Penobscot +River, where he was compelled to burn her to prevent her capture by +the British. + +The Wasp put to sea, from Portsmouth, the first of May, and giving her +canvass to the wind steered boldly for the English Channel. Leaving +the British fleet blockading our ships at home, her commander, Captain +Blakely, sought the English coast, resolved to strike at the enemy's +commerce assembling there from every sea. It required constant +watchfulness and great prudence to cruise on such dangerous ground as +this, and had not all suspicion of an enemy in that quarter been +removed, she would doubtless have been captured. The unexampled daring +of the act alone saved her. + +On the 28th of June Blakely gave chase to a sail, which proved to be +the English brig of war Reindeer, commanded by Captain Manners. The +latter, though inferior in strength, showed no disinclination to +close, and came down in gallant style. As they approached, the +Reindeer by using a shifting twelve-pound carronade, was able to fire +it five times before Blakely could get a gun to bear. At first within +sixty, and afterwards within thirty yards, the crew stood for twelve +minutes this galling fire without flinching. But when at length a +favorable position was obtained, the broadsides of the American was +delivered with such awful effect, that Captain Manners saw at once his +vessel would be a wreck unless he run her aboard; and setting his +sails he drove full on the Wasp. As the vessels fell foul he called +to his men to follow him, and endeavored to leap on the deck of his +antagonist. But coolly, as on a parade, the crew of the latter +steadily repulsed every attempt to board. + +Captain Manners had been wounded early in the action, but still kept +his feet, and just before boarding was struck by a shot which carried +away the calves of both his legs. In this mangled condition he gave +the orders to board, and leaping into the rigging of his own vessel in +order to swing himself on that of his adversary, he was struck by two +musket balls which entered the top of his head and passed out through +his chin. Waving his sword above his head he exclaimed, "Oh, God!" and +fell lifeless on the deck. + +After the enemy had been repulsed three times, the Wasp boarded in +turn, and in one minute the conflict was over. The English vessel was +literally a wreck, and had lost in killed and wounded sixty-seven out +of one hundred and fifteen, constituting her crew, or more than half +of her entire number. The Wasp had but five men killed and twenty-two +wounded. [Sidenote: July 8.] Captain Blakely took his prize into +L'Orient, where he burned her to prevent recapture. Up to this time he +had taken eight merchantmen. [Sidenote: Aug. 27.] Remaining here till +the latter part of August, he again set sail, and on the 1st of +September cut out a vessel loaded with guns and military stores from +a fleet of ten sail, convoyed by a seventy-four. Endeavoring to repeat +the saucy experiment he was chased away by a man-of-war. The same +evening, however, making four sail, he in turn gave chase to one, +which immediately threw up rockets and fired signal guns to attract +the attention of the other vessels. But Captain Blakely held steadily +on, crashing along under a ten knot breeze, and as he approached the +stranger fired a gun and hailed. His fire being returned he poured in +a destructive broadside. Notwithstanding the swell was heavy and the +night dark, his fire was terribly effective. For a night action it was +remarkably short, and in forty minutes the enemy struck. But as the +boat was about being lowered to take possession of her, Blakely saw +beneath the lifting smoke a brig of war within musket-shot, and two +more vessels rapidly closing. Ordering the boat to be run up again +quickly, and the men to hasten to their posts, he filled away and +catching the wind dead astern was soon out of sight. [Sidenote: Sept. +1.] The enemy gave him one broadside and then turned to the captured +vessel, whose guns of distress were echoing loudly over the sea. She +soon sunk. This vessel was afterwards ascertained to be the Avon, of +eighteen guns. + +Continuing his cruise, Blakely took three more vessels, among them a +valuable prize, the Atalanta, of eight guns, which was immediately +dispatched to the states. + +[Sidenote: Sept. 22.] + +This was the last direct tidings ever received from the gallant Wasp. +Various rumors were afloat concerning her fate, but nothing certain of +her after cruise, or the manner in which she was lost, was ever known. +One report stated that an English frigate had put into Cadiz badly cut +up by an American corvette, which had sunk in the night time, and so +suddenly, that her name could not be ascertained. This was thought at +first to be the Wasp, but no confirmation of this report being +received, it was discredited. The spirited conduct of this little +vessel had made her a great favorite with the nation, and a deep +sympathy was universally felt for her mysterious fate.[8] Years passed +by, when an incident occurred which awakened a fresh interest in her. +Two officers on board the Essex, when she was captured at Valparaiso, +had gone to Rio Janeiro, but were never after heard from. Inquiries +were made by friends in every direction, but in vain. At last it was +ascertained that they had taken passage in a Swedish brig for England, +from which they had been transferred to the Wasp. The commander stated +that on the 9th of October he was chased by a strange sail, which +fired several guns, when he hove to and was boarded. The boarding +officer, ascertaining there were two American officers on board, took +them with him to his own ship. On their return, they told the Swedish +captain that the strange sail was the Wasp, and they had determined to +accept a passage in her. They did so, and nothing more was ever heard +of them. + +[Footnote 8: She had been built to take the place of the vessel +captured by the Poictiers, after she had taken the Frolic. She did not +disgrace the name and character she bore.] + +This was sixteen days after the prize left her, and, according to the +Swedish brig's reckoning, she was at the time nearly a thousand miles +farther south, and where she very naturally might be. Added to this +was another rumor, which seemed to throw still more light on her fate. +Soon after her rencontre with the Swedish vessel, it was said that two +English frigates chased off the southern coast an American +sloop-of-war, and while in pursuit were struck with a heavy squall. +After the squall was over, the sloop was no where to be seen. If the +rumor be true, that vessel was no doubt the Wasp, for we had no other +sloop-of-war in those seas at that time. Besides, when met by the +Swedish brig, she was evidently bound in that direction, and should +have arrived off the coast about the time mentioned in the rumor. +Nothing is more probable than that she capsized and went down, while +carrying a press of sail to escape her pursuers. + +At all events, whatever was her fate, the sea never rolled over a +more gallant commander and crew. Watchful, full of resources, +indefatigable and fearless, Captain Blakely was the model of a naval +commander, and had he lived would no doubt have reached the highest +rank in his profession. + +[Sidenote: March, 1814.] + +The Peacock, Captain Harrington, also started on a cruise in the +spring, steering southward. On the 29th of April she made three sail, +which proved to be merchantmen under convoy of the Epervier, a large +brig-of-war. The former took to flight, while the latter bore up to +engage. At the first fire the forward sails of the American were so +cut up that they became nearly useless. There was, consequently, but +little manoeuvering; the vessels moved off together, and a steady +discharge of broadsides settled the contest. The force and weight of +metal in this case were nearly equal, but the superior gunnery of the +American was soon manifest, for in forty-two minutes the Epervier was +so riddled that she had five feet of water in the hold. In this +condition she struck, and with great difficulty was kept from sinking. +Twenty-two of her crew were killed and wounded, while not a man in the +Peacock was killed, and only two wounded. A hundred and eighteen +thousand dollars in specie were found on board of her. + +Lieutenant Nicholson was sent home with the prize. He reached the +American sea board in safety, but while running along the coast, +steering for Savannah, was chased by an English frigate, and escaped +capture only by one of those artifices so common among Yankee sailors. +The wind being light, he crept close along shore, and kept in shoal +water where the frigate dared not approach. The commander of the +latter observing this, manned his boats and sent them forward in +pursuit. The prize had but seventeen officers and men all told, and +hence could make no serious resistance if boarded. As the boats came +steadily on under sweeps, the fate of the Epervier appeared to be +sealed, but Nicholson, putting the best face on the matter, took down +his trumpet and thundered out his orders to yaw and pour in a +broadside. The boats hesitated on hearing this dangerous command, and +finally withdrew, leaving the prize a safe passage to the Savannah. + +[Sidenote: May 1.] + +Three days after, the Peacock also came in. The latter, however, +remained in port but a short time, and again set sail, sweeping the +seas to the bay of Biscay. + +Her cruise was conducted with great prudence and sagacity, and she +returned in October, having captured fourteen merchantmen. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + Third Session of the XIIIth Congress -- State of the + Treasury -- The President's Message -- Dallas appointed + Secretary of the Treasury -- His scheme and that of Eppes + for the relief of the country -- Our Commissioners at Ghent + -- Progress of the negotiations -- English protocol -- Its + effect on Congress and the nation -- Effect of its + publication on the English Parliament. + + +[Sidenote: Sept. 19.] + +During the agitation and excitement preceding the bombardment of Fort +McHenry, and the battles of Champlain and Plattsburg, the members of +Congress were slowly gathering to the ruined Capital, and two days +after Brown's gallant sortie from Fort Erie, assembled in the Patent +Office, the only public building left standing by the enemy. + +Notwithstanding the glorious victories that had marked the summer +campaign, a gloom rested on Congress. The Government, indeed, +presented a melancholy spectacle, sitting amid the ashes of the +Capital, while the fact could not be disguised that the Commissioners +at Ghent gave no hope of peace. The war seemed far as ever from a +termination, while England, released from the drains on her troops, +navy and treasury, by the Continental war, was evidently making +preparations for grander and more terrible exhibitions of her power. +Her forces were gathering and her fleets accumulating upon our coast +for the avowed purpose of demolishing our seaports, burning up our +shipping, destroying our cities, and carrying a wide-spread desolation +along our shores. To meet the expenses required to resist these +attacks, a vast accession of funds was necessary, and yet the Treasury +was worse than empty. The effort to borrow, in August, the paltry sum +of six millions, a part of the $25,000,000 voted, had proved +unsuccessful, not half the amount being taken and that at less than 80 +per cent. In May previous over nine millions and a half had been +obtained at from 85 to 88 per cent, and yet while victories were +illustrating our arms, not $3,000,000 would now be taken, and the +offers for that all below 80 per cent. + +As the Treasury accounts stood at the close of the second quarter of +the year 1814, Mr. Campbell, the Secretary, estimated that nearly +twenty-five millions of dollars would be necessary to meet the +expenditures of the remaining two quarters. The public revenue during +that time would be nearly five millions, which the two loans and four +millions of Treasury notes would swell to a little over thirteen +millions, leaving about eleven millions to be obtained by some process +or other. A foreign loan of six millions was recommended. + +Added to this the currency was thoroughly deranged. New banks had set +a vast amount of paper afloat, while the specie was all drained off to +pay for British goods, which surreptitiously got into the country. The +banks of the District of Columbia suspended payment with the British +invasion, and the panic spreading northward, there commenced a run +upon the banks which in turn stopped payment, until out of New +England, a large bank could scarcely be found that had not suspended. + +The expense of maintaining such a vast army of militia as was kept on +foot, called for enormous disbursements, and many saw national +bankruptcy in the future should the war continue. + +The burning of Washington furnished the President, in his message, an +excellent occasion for making an appeal to the people. He was not +constrained to fall back on the justice of the war, and persuade the +nation that the invasion of Canada was both right and politic. The war +had become defensive--men must now fight, not for maritime rights, not +march to distant and questionable ground, but standing on their own +hearth-stones, strike for their firesides and their homes. The Indian +barbarities at the west, which inflamed to such a pitch of rage the +Kentuckians, had been repeated by a civilized nation, and in speaking +of them and the enemy, the President said: "He has avowed his purpose +of trampling on the usages of civilized warfare, and given earnest of +it in the plunder and wanton destruction of private property. *** His +barbarous policy has not even spared those monuments of the arts and +models of taste with which our country had enriched and embellished +its infant metropolis. From such an adversary, hostility in its +greatest force and worst forms may be looked for. The American people +will face it with the undaunted spirit, which in our Revolutionary +struggle, defeated his unrighteous projects. His threats and +barbarities instead of dismay, will kindle in every bosom an +indignation not to be extinguished but in the disaster and expulsion +of such cruel invaders." + +The ardor and indignation of the people were easily roused, but these +did not bring what just then was most needed, _money_. + +[Sidenote: Sept.] + +Campbell having resigned his place as Secretary of the Treasury, +immediately after sending in his report, Alexander Dallas was +appointed in his place, who brought forward a scheme for relieving the +Government. Eppes, from the Committee of Ways and Means, also offered +a project. He proposed to lay new taxes to the amount of eleven and a +half millions, and make a new issue of Treasury Notes, redeemable +after six months. Dallas agreed with him in the amount of taxes, but +recommended also the creation of a National Bank with a capital of +fifty millions, five of it in specie and the residue in government +stock. This would regulate the currency by furnishing a circulating +medium, and constitute a basis on which loans could be obtained. + +Bills were also brought in regulating the army. + +In the mean time unfavorable news arrived from our embassy at Ghent. +They had been compelled to wait some time for the English +Commissioners, spending the interval in a round of amusements and +entertainments furnished by the people of Ghent and General Lyons, +commanding the British troops in that place. At length, on the 7th of +August, the Secretary of the English legation called at the American +hotel, to arrange the place and day for commencing negotiations. No +one but Mr. Bayard was in at the time, and he seeing no breach of +diplomatic etiquette in the proposal of the English Secretary to meet +next day at the hotel of the English legation, assented. But the other +members when they returned and were told of the arrangements that had +been made, were indignant. "What!" said Mr. Adams, "meet the English +Ministers who have kept us here so long waiting the condescension of +their coming, in the face of all Ghent--meet them at their bidding at +their own hotel, to be the laughing stock of the city, of London, and +of Europe?" "Never!" added Mr. Gallatin, "never!" Mr. Bayard replied, +that the promise had been made, and they stood pledged. "No," said Mr. +Adams, "_you_ may be, but we are not." + +[Sidenote: Aug. 8.] + +Another place was therefore agreed upon, and the negotiations +commenced. The city was filled with men, watching their progress, not +only statesmen, but speculators eager to take advantage of the change +in the price of stocks, which rose and fell with the wavering +character of the proceedings. + +After expressing the pacific feelings of their government, the English +ministers stated the three points which would probably arise, and on +which they were instructed: + +1. The right of search to obtain seamen, and the claim of his +Britannic Majesty to the perpetual allegiance of his subjects, whether +naturalized in America or not. + +2. The Indian allies were to have a definite boundary fixed for their +territory. + +3. There must be a revision of the boundary line between the United +States and the adjacent British colonies. + +The question of the fisheries, it was intimated, would also come up. + +The American legation replied, that they had instructions upon the +first and third propositions, but not on the second, nor on the +subject of the fisheries. They also were instructed to obtain a +definition of blockade, and to consider claims for indemnity in +certain cases of seizure. After some discussion, the American embassy +inquired if the pacification and settlement of a boundary for the +Indians was a _sine qua non_. The reply was, yes. It was then asked if +it was intended to preclude the United States from purchasing lands of +the Indians, whose possessions clearly lay within the limits of their +territory. An affirmative answer was given. The native tribes were to +be kept simply as a barrier between the possessions of the two +countries. On being told that no instructions had been given on this +point, the English embassy expressed great surprise, and declared that +they could do nothing until farther advices from their government. A +messenger was therefore despatched to England that night, and the two +embassies, after meeting next day to arrange a protocol, adjourned +till the decision of the English cabinet could be received. + +Nine days after, Lord Castlereagh, elated with his success as English +minister to the headquarters of the allied armies, on their way to +Paris,--exulting over the downfall of Napoleon, and representing in +himself the intoxication of the English people at the overthrow of +their rival--haughty, unscrupulous, and overbearing, swept into Ghent +with a train of twenty carriages, on his way to the great Congress of +Vienna, where European diplomacy, in all its monstrous deformity and +rottenness, was to be exhibited to the world. + +The next day the embassies met, and the reply of the English +government was rendered. In the first place, the Indian boundary +question was declared a _sine qua non_. The question then arose, what +would become of the hundreds of American citizens residing at that +time within the limits thus to be drawn. The reply was, they must +shift for themselves. + +In the second place, the entire jurisdiction of the northern lakes, +extending from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior, where our squadrons were +riding victorious, must be surrendered to the British government, the +United States not being permitted to erect even a military post on the +southern shore, on their own soil, nor keep those already established +there. As a backer to this insolent demand, the legation affirmed that +the United States ought to consider it moderate, since England might +justly have claimed a cession of territory within the States. Beyond +Lake Superior, the question of boundary was open to discussion. +Another item in this protocol required the surrender of that part of +Maine over which a direct route from Halifax to Canada would +necessarily pass. When asked what they proposed to do with those +islands in the Passamaquoddy Bay, recently captured by the English, +they replied, these were not subjects of discussion, belonging, of +course, to Great Britain. They farther informed the American Legation +that this extraordinary and magnanimous offer, on the part of his +majesty, was not to remain open for any length of time--that if delay +was demanded till instructions could be received from across the ocean +on the one single question of Indian boundary, it would be considered +withdrawn, and the English government feel itself at liberty to make +other and less generous demands, as circumstances might indicate. + +To such arrogant claims but one answer could be given, and Gallatin, +in sending them home, wrote that all negotiations might be considered +at an end, and that no course was left for the United States but "in +union and a vigorous prosecution of the war." Mr. Clay accepted an +invitation to visit Paris, and Mr. Adams prepared to return to St. +Petersburgh. + +While this news was slowly traversing the Atlantic in the cartel John +Adams, the victories of Brown, Macomb, and Macdonough, were +electrifying the nation. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 10.] + +On the 10th of October the President transmitted a message to +Congress, with the despatches received from Ghent, and the protocol of +the English legation. Their reading was listened to with breathless +silence, and as the extraordinary claims set forth by England became +one after another clearly revealed, the astonishment of the members +exceeded all bounds, and they gazed at each other incredulously. The +Federalists were paralyzed with disappointment. The party had never +received such a blow since the commencement of the war. Their +arguments were prostrated. They had always represented England as +desirous of peace, fighting only because she was forced to by a +reckless, unprincipled administration and party. Towards the nation at +large she cherished no hostile feelings, and entertained no ultimate +sinister designs. But the mask was now snatched away, and she stood +revealed in all her arrogance and injustice. If any thing more than +the ravages on our coast was needed to bind the nation together in one +determined effort, it was furnished in these despatches. As the news +spread on every side, the passions of men were kindled into rage. +What, burn up our victorious war-ships on those great mediterraneans, +the command of which had been gained by such vast expenditures and +such heroic conduct--abandon forts standing on our own soil, around +which such valiant blood had been shed? "Never, never," responded from +every lip. + +Scarcely less excitement was produced by the discussion of the Indian +boundary question. Stripped of its false pretences, it looked solely +to the prevention of all settlement on our part, of the North-western +territory, and designed to bar us forever from acquiring possessions +in that quarter. To give some show of fairness to the transaction, it +was proposed that both countries should be restricted from purchasing +the land of the Indians, but leave the market open to the whole world +beside. In short, that vast territory, including a large portion of +Ohio, all of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, must not only be +surrendered by us, but placed under the complete control of the +British government, whose ships of war were alone to sail the waters +that washed its northern limits, and whose fortifications were to awe +the inhabitants that occupied it. Never before had the cry of war rung +so loudly over the land, and the nation began to prepare for the +approaching conflict with an earnestness and determination that +promised results worthy of itself and the cause for which it +struggled. The Federalist journals came at last to the rescue, +declaring that the terms offered were too humiliating and degrading to +be entertained for a moment. Only one paper in Boston was besotted +enough to assert that they were honorable and ought to be accepted. + +Congress, after the reception of this protocol and the accompanying +despatches, took a different tone, and when the question of ways and +means for the coming year was taken up, a spirit was exhibited, that +since the declaration of war, had never been witnessed in its +deliberations. The fear and hesitation which were weighing it down, +vanished, and it began to assume the character and exhibit the +qualities belonging to it, but which the spirit of faction had kept in +abeyance. The Legislatures of the different states responded to the +sentiments of the commissioners--declaring that the terms proposed +were insulting and disgraceful, and called for a vigorous prosecution +of the war. New York voted a local force of 12,000 men, and Virginia +followed her example. + +It was a grand stroke of policy, on the part of the administration, to +fling those despatches at once into Congress and thus before the +nation. Their sudden publication took the British Ministry by +surprise, for it exposed their extraordinary demands to the whole +realm, and they remonstrated against such undiplomatic conduct. + +Before the Convention of Ghent the English press ridiculed +concessions, declaring that punishment must be inflicted on the +Americans, and they be chastised into humility and supplication. The +war with us was a Lilliputian affair compared to the struggles out of +which England had come victorious, and the Convention was not looked +upon so much as the meeting of Commissioners to adjust things +amicably, as furnishing the opportunity for the American government to +make a request to have hostilities cease. But the disasters to +Drummond, at Fort Erie, to Prevost at Plattsburgh, and the utter +demolition of the British fleet on Champlain, together with the +repulse from Baltimore, acted as a condenser on much of this vapor. +[Sidenote: Nov. 4.] The vast expenditures wasted on the Canadian +frontier were now all to be renewed, newer and stronger armies were to +be transported to our shores, and when the Prince Regent opened +Parliament he plainly hinted that it would be well to avoid all this, +if possible. The arrival of the despatches which the President had +laid before Congress, containing the protocol of the English Embassy, +created a deep sensation in both houses of Parliament. The claims set +up by the English government were loudly denounced by many of the +members, and it was soon apparent that if the war was pressed to make +them good, a large opposition party would be formed, not only in +Parliament but in the country. Sixty manufacturing towns sent in +petitions for peace. Cobbett, who had all along defended the conduct +of the United States, was unsparing in his flagellations of the +British government, and of those papers that advocated the war. + +While the war question was passing through these phases in England, +and on the continent, Congress was preparing to call out the whole +resources of the country. But a second despatch received from Ghent, +stating that negotiations were resumed and that the British +government had receded from the Indian boundary question, awakened +lively hopes that peace would be secured. + +But the energy with which Congress had entered on the question of ways +and means, began to expend itself in party strife. Monroe's plan for +raising a standing force of 80,000 men to serve for two years; a bill +authorizing the enlistment of minors; and Dallas' National Bank +scheme, to relieve the finances of the country, after fierce +discussions and many modifications, one after another fell to the +ground. In the mean time, the treasury was compelled to subsist on the +issue of Treasury notes, which as business paper were worth only 78 +per cent. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 15.] + +New tax bills were soon after passed--laying taxes on carriages +according to their value; 20 cts. per gallon on distilled spirits; +increasing a hundred per cent. the tax on auction duties, and 50 per +cent. on postage. Heavy duties were also placed on most goods of +domestic manufacture, with the exception of cotton, and a direct tax +of six millions was levied on the nation. + +As time passed on, and no farther tidings was received from Ghent, +Congress again took up and finally passed the bill for the enlistment +of minors. The Legislatures of Connecticut and Massachusetts +immediately passed acts requiring the judges of these respective +states to discharge on habeas corpus all enlistments made under the +provisions of the bill, and to punish with fine and imprisonment all +who engaged in it, and removed minors out of the state to prevent +their discharge. + +These acts of Congress, however, did not avail to help the government +out of the troubles that were once more gathering thick about it. +Everything was at a stand still for lack of funds--even the recruiting +service got on slowly. In the mean time, negotiations for peace did +not wear a very encouraging aspect, while the gain of the Federalists +in some of the states, in the recent elections, and the Hartford +Convention, helped to swell the evils under which the administration +labored. + +The conscription scheme would not work in many of the states, and +resort was had to the old system of raising 40,000 volunteers for +twelve months, and the acceptance of as many more for local defence. + +[Illustration: Painful March of Volunteers.] + +The administration then turned its attention to the navy, the pride +and glory of the country, and a bill was passed Congress authorizing +the equipment of twenty small cruisers. Under its provisions two small +squadrons of five vessels each, one to be commanded by Porter and the +other by Perry, had been set on foot, whose object was to inflict on +the British West Indies the havoc and destruction with which the enemy +had visited our coast. But it was difficult to obtain seamen, as most +of those who had enlisted during the last year had been sent to the +northern lakes to serve on fresh water--a duty always unpalatable to a +sailor. Our vessels of war being blockaded, we had no occasion for +seamen on the coast, and could find employment for them on the lakes +alone. Crowningshield, who had succeeded Jones as Secretary of the +Navy, actually recommended a conscription of seamen. + +In the mean time, Great Britain had concentrated in Canada a larger +force than she had ever before assembled there, ready to march on +the states, while Cockburn, in possession of Cumberland island, +threatened the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina with the same +ravages that marked his course in the Chesapeake. Added to all this, +a heavy force was known to be on its way to New Orleans, which the +government had neglected to defend, and hence expected to see fall +into the hands of the enemy. The prospect was black as night around +the administration--not a ray of light visited it from any quarter +of the heavens. Funds and troops and ships had never been so scarce, +while overpowering fleets and armies were assembling on our coasts +and frontiers. [Sidenote: Jan. 17, 1815.] In the midst of all this, +as if on purpose to drive the government to despair, Dallas came out +with a new report on the state of the Treasury, in which he informed +it that the year had closed with $19,000,000 of unpaid debts, to +meet which there was less than $2,000,000 on hand, and $4,500,000 +of taxes not yet collected. The revenue was estimated at +$11,000,000, of which only one million was from imports, the rest +from taxes. While he thus exhibited the beggared condition of the +Treasury, he informed the administration that fifty millions would +be needed to meet the expenditures of the coming year, and gravely +asked where it all was to come from. The government looked on in +dismay, and to what measures it would have been compelled to resort +for relief it is impossible to say; but in reviewing that period one +shudders to contemplate the probable results of another year of war, +and another Hartford Convention. But like the sun suddenly bursting +through a dark and ominous thundercloud, just before he sinks +beneath the horizon, came at length the news of the great victory at +New Orleans, and the conclusion of peace at Ghent. Never before was +an administration so loudly called upon to ask that public thanks +might be offered for deliverance from great perils. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +HARTFORD CONVENTION. + +1814. + + Attitude of New England -- Governor Strong -- Views and + purposes of the Federalists -- Anxiety of Madison -- + Prudence of Colonel Jesup -- Result of the Convention -- + Fears of the people -- Fate of the Federalists. + + +While Government was thus struggling to avert the perils that every +day grew darker around it, and the negotiations at Ghent were drawing +to a conclusion, serious events were occurring in the New England +States. + +Although the ravages of the enemy along our coast during the summer, +and our victories at the north in autumn, together with the insulting +demands of England, had seriously weakened the Federalist power, and +brought it into still greater disrepute with the mass of the people, +and passing events admonished delay, still they resolved to carry out +a favorite plan of calling a Convention of the disaffected States, to +consult on the best mode of defending themselves, and of forcing the +administration into the adoption of their measures, and to take steps +towards amending the Constitution. New England had all along denied +the right of the General Government to call out the militia, except +for the defence of the States in which they resided, and demanded the +control of her own troops, and consequently of a large portion of her +own revenue. Heavy complaints were also made against the direct taxes +levied, and many refused to ride in coaches, or use those things +taxed, thus placing themselves beside the revolutionary patriots, and +making the General Government resemble England in its oppression. + +Massachusetts, with Governor Strong as its Executive head, took the +lead in all movements designed to carry out these projects. +Resolutions had passed the Legislature, raising an army of ten +thousand men, and a million of money to support it. This army was to +be officered by Governor Strong, and its movements directed by +Federalist councils. Such a large force, raised not to aid the +administration to carry on the war, but for selfish ends, naturally +awakened the gravest fears, and the President saw in it the first step +towards armed opposition. All this may be defensible, but the gallant +sons of Kentucky, with their gray-haired but chivalrous Governor at +their head, streaming through the northern forests, to drive back from +the feeble settlements of Ohio the savage hordes that were laying +them waste, and Governor Strong, bidding the militia of his State stay +at home and take care of themselves, present a contrast so widely +different, that no sophistry can make them appear equally patriotic +and unselfish. + +[Sidenote: Oct. 18.] + +In order to bring the whole eastern section into similar measures, and +to give union to the opposition, a resolution was passed calling a +Convention of the New England States, to meet at Hartford, December +15th, to deliberate on the best method of defence against the enemy, +and to take measures for procuring amendments to the Constitution, +which the Federalists had ascertained, since the war began, to be a +most worthless instrument. The letter accompanying this resolution +being laid before the Connecticut Legislature, seven delegates were +appointed to the Convention, to meet the twelve sent from +Massachusetts; Rhode Island sent four, making in all twenty-three, to +which three County delegates from New Hampshire were added. Vermont +refused to have any thing to do with the matter. These resolutions did +not pass without violent opposition in each of the Legislatures. +Holmes, of Massachusetts, openly declared his suspicions that +Massachusetts designed to head a combination for the dissolution of +the Union. The raising of an army of ten thousand men, not subject to +the orders of the General Government, confirmed his fears, and gave a +practical character to opinions hostile to the confederacy. + +Harrison Gray Otis and John Cabot, were leaders of the Massachusetts +delegation. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 15.] + +No body of men ever assembled under such universal execration and +odium as did these delegates. Except the few Federalist journals in +New England, the entire press of the nation denounced them, one and +all, as traitors. + +George Cabot being elected President, and Timothy Dwight, Secretary, +the Convention proceeded to deliberate on the momentous questions they +had proposed to discuss, with closed doors. Madison was in trepidation +and could speak of nothing but the Convention, and sent Colonel Jesup +to watch it. To prevent his design from being suspected, he directed +this gallant officer to make Hartford a recruiting station. + +Jesup had had interviews with Governor Tompkins, to ascertain what aid +he could afford in case it became necessary to resort to force. He was +satisfied that the treasonable designs of the delegates had been much +exaggerated, but he wished to be prepared for any emergency, and +having arranged his plans, quietly awaited the result of their +deliberations. He was in constant correspondence with Monroe, +Secretary of War, and did much towards allaying the fears of the +President, and promised if open treason exhibited itself, to crush it +and its authors, with one decisive blow. Ingratiating himself with +some of the delegates of the Convention and with the authorities of +Hartford by his conciliatory and agreeable manner; and winning the +respect of all by his prudent conduct, he soon became convinced that a +resolution for disunion, if offered, could not be carried. + +At length, after three weeks of secret session, this dreaded +Convention, on whose mysterious sittings the eyes of the nation had +been turned, adjourned, and every one waited with anxiety to hear the +decision to which it had come. The shadowy forms of disunion and +treason had so long been seen presiding over its labors, that some +monstrous birth was expected. But nature moved on in her accustomed +courses, and no shock was felt by the republic, and instead of a shell +flung into the Union, rending it asunder, there appeared a long and +heavy document containing the collective wisdom of these twenty-six +men. After going over the transgressions of the administration, from +first to last, it passed to the defects of the Constitution. It +modestly remarked that the enumeration of all the improvements of +which this instrument was susceptible, and the proposal of all the +amendments necessary to make it perfect, was a task which the +Convention had "not thought proper to assume." After paying this +flattering testimony to the grand and glorious intellects who framed +the Constitution, it proceeded to mention six amendments on which +there should be immediate action. The first related to the +apportionment of representation among the slave States. The second to +the admission of new States, restricting the powers of Congress in +this respect, in order to keep down western influence. The third, to +the right to pass restrictive and embargo acts, and carry on offensive +war. The fifth, to exclude foreigners from holding places of honor, +trust or profit under Government, and the last to limiting the +Presidential office to one term. + +Resolutions and recommendations in accordance with these sentiments, +were sent to the separate states represented in that Convention. + +Delegates were also appointed to repair to Washington to remonstrate +with the President, some say to threaten him, and insist on his +resignation. No treason appeared in all this, but the serious +discussion of the question of disunion in the preamble, and the +hypothetical cases put, in which such a step would be justifiable, +showed that it had been mooted and seriously entertained by some of +the members. + +The tone of the paper was bad, egotistical, and mutinous. It +endeavored to arraign the states of New England against the +government--urged them to resist forcible drafts and conscriptions, +and raise armies of their own to co-operate each with the other in +time of need. + +This expose, however, did not satisfy the Democrats, who insisted that +some deep-laid scheme was back of all this--that the secret records of +the Convention would disclose blacker transactions than had yet seen +the light, and from that time on, those twenty delegates have been +stigmatized as traitors. They, on the other hand, have defended +themselves from the aspersion, and declared that they were governed by +the highest patriotic motives and love to the union. + +The truth lies, doubtless, somewhere between these extremes. The error +of the accusers consists in making one, or two, or more delegates +represent the Convention. There probably were men present whose +political animosities had carried them so far beyond the limits of +reason, that they would rather dissolve the union than live two years +longer under the sway of Madison and his party. These views might have +been expressed, but the Convention, in refusing to endorse them, was +not responsible for them. + +But laying all this aside, there is no doubt that the Convention was +called to organize one section of the republic against the other, and +it depended on circumstances entirely to what extent that opposition +should go, and what form it took. This may not be treason, and yet be +nearly akin to it. It depends very much on the simple question whether +the evils contemplated, as justifying open opposition, are _real_ or +_imaginary_. A deliberate effort to ruin New England and deprive her +of her constitutional rights, would certainly justify secession. All +this the Federalists believed the government had done, and that party +tyranny and oppression could no farther go. The light evils under +which they suffered had become so magnified, in the heat of party +strife, that many were prepared to act precisely as others would do +under real wrongs. + +The obloquy that has fallen upon that Convention was merited. The time +it chose for its session, when the country was staggering under the +weight of a war which, however unjustifiably begun, it could not then +close with honor or justice, and the lordly tone it assumed to +Congress--the cold and unpatriotic feelings that characterized its +deliberations, merit the deepest condemnation. Under a change of +fortunes and a continuance of the war, it might, and probably would, +have grown into a shape of evil. As events turned out, it has proved a +blessing, for it stands as a beacon, warning all leaders of party +factions of their fate, who, in national distress, cripple the +government, and, by their hostility, help the enemy to inflict sorer +evils and deeper disgrace upon a common country. It also shows how +local interests, views, and feelings, however magnified at the time by +peculiar circumstances, are derided or forgotten, in a movement that +affects the fate of a hemisphere. + + + + +THE INVASION. + +CHAPTER XI. + + General Jackson appointed Major-General -- Hostility of + Spain -- Gallant defence of Fort Bowyer -- Seizure of + Pensacola -- Jackson at New Orleans -- Approach and landing + of the British -- Jackson proclaims martial law -- Night + attack on the British -- Jackson entrenches himself -- First + attack of the British -- Second attack -- Final Assault -- + The battle and the victory -- Jackson fined by Judge Hall -- + Arrival of the Treaty of Peace -- Great Rejoicings -- + Delegates of the Hartford Convention -- Remarks on the + treaty. + + +In the mean time, great anxiety was felt for the fate of New Orleans, +towards which an imposing armament was hastening, bearing a veteran +army fresh from the victorious fields of Spain. England had loaned +this army to feudalism in Europe for the overthrow of free principles +there, and intoxicated with success, resolved to use it to carry out +here the same tyrannical system which has ever since been covering her +with infamy and for which the final day of reckoning has not yet +arrived. + +Jackson had been appointed Major-General in place of Harrison, who +resigned, and given the command of the southern army to which was +entrusted the protection of the coast near the mouth of the +Mississippi. Pensacola, then under Spanish authority, was the resort +of British emissaries, who stirred up the surrounding savages to +massacre and bloodshed, and he determined as a first step to take +active measures against it. [Sidenote: August.] He sent Captain Gordon +to reconnoitre the place, who reported, on his return, that he had +seen a number of soldiers and several hundred savages in British +uniform under drill by British officers. Jackson immediately +despatched this report to government. Under such a palpable violation +of treaty stipulations there was only one course to be pursued, and +Gen. Armstrong, the Secretary of War, issued an order authorizing +Jackson to attack the town. This order was made out; but, by some +mysterious process, was so long in getting into the post-office, that +it never reached its destination till the 17th of January the next +year. Jackson waited patiently for the sanction of his government to +move forward, not wishing that his first important step as +Major-General in the regular army should meet the disapproval of those +who had entrusted him with power. But a proclamation, issued by a +British officer named Nicholls, and dated Pensacola, calling on all +the negroes and savages, nay, even the Americans themselves, to rally +to the British standard, put an end to his indecision. + +In the mean time, Nicholls made an attempt on Fort Bowyer, a small +redoubt, garrisoned by one hundred and twenty men, and defended by +twenty pieces of cannon. This fortress commanded the entrance from the +Gulf to Mobile. [Sidenote: Sept. 12.] To capture it, four British +ships, carrying ninety guns, and a land force of over seven hundred +men were despatched from Pensacola. On the 15th, the ships took up +their position within musket-shot of the fort, and opened their fire. +The land force, in the mean time, had gained the rear, and commenced +an attack. Major Lawrence, with the brave little garrison under his +command, met this double onset with the coolness of a veteran. +Scattering the motley collection under Nicholls, with a few discharges +of grape-shot, he turned his entire attention to the vessels of war. +Being in such close range, the cannonading on both sides was terrific. +The incessant and heavy explosions shook that little redoubt to its +foundations; but at the end of three hours, the smoke slowly curled +away from its battered sides, revealing the flag still flying aloft, +and the begrimed cannoniers standing sternly beside their pieces. +After the firing of the enemy ceased, the ship Hermes was seen +drifting helplessly on a sand-bank, while the other vessels were +crowding all sail seaward. The former soon after grounded within six +hundred yards of the fort, whose guns opened on her anew with +tremendous effect, and she soon blew up. Out of the one hundred and +seventy who composed her crew, only twenty escaped. The other ships +suffered severely, and the total loss of the enemy was one ship +burned, and two hundred and thirty-two men killed and wounded, while +only eight of the garrison were killed. Nicholls effected his retreat +to Pensacola, where the governor received him as his guest, and threw +open the public stores to the soldiers. On the flag-staff of the fort +were "entwined the colors of Spain and England," as if on purpose to +announce that all neutrality was at an end. + +These things coming to Jackson's ear, he resolved to delay no longer +but get possession of the town and fort at once, "peaceably if he +could, forcibly if he must." [Sidenote: Nov. 6.] He immediately +hastened to Fort Montgomery, where he had assembled four thousand men, +and putting himself at their head, in four days encamped within two +miles of the place, and despatched a flag to the Spanish governor, +disclosing his object and purpose. The messenger was fired upon from +the fort, and compelled to return. Jackson's fiery nature was +instantly aroused by this insult, yet remembering that he was acting +without the sanction of government, he resolved still to negotiate. +Having, at length, succeeded in opening a Correspondence with the +governor, he told him that he had come to take possession of the +town, and hold it for Spain till she was able to preserve her +neutrality. The governor refusing entirely to be relieved from his +charge, Jackson put his columns in motion and marched straight on the +town. At the entrance, a battery of two cannon opened on his central +column; but these being speedily carried by storm, together with two +fortified houses, the troops, with loud shouts, pressed forward, and +in a few minutes were masters of the place. The Spanish governor no +sooner saw the American soldiers with loud hurrahs inundating the +streets, than he rushed forward imploring mercy, and promising an +immediate surrender. Jackson at once ordered the recall to be sounded, +and retired without the town. The commandant of the fort, however, +refused to surrender it, when Jackson ordered an assault. The former +wisely averted the approaching blow by lowering his flag. The British +fled, taking with them their allies, four hundred of whom being +negroes, were carried to the West Indies, and sold for slaves. + +Having thus chastised the Spanish governor, and broken up the plans +laid to renew the Indian war, Jackson took up his march for New +Orleans, against which he had no doubt the large force that had left +the eastern coast was directed. He established his headquarters there, +on the first of December; and three days after, the news that a large +British fleet was approaching the coast, spread through the city. The +report was soon confirmed, and Jackson, whom danger always +tranquilized, while it filled him with tenfold energy, began to +prepare for the approaching shock. + +New Orleans, numbering at that time only thirty thousand inhabitants, +was but recently purchased from France, and the population, being +composed mostly of those in whose veins flowed Spanish and French +blood, did not feel the same patriotic ardor that animated the Eastern +cities. Many were known to be hostile, and were suspected of carrying +on treasonable correspondence with the enemy. Feeling that he had but +a slender hold on the city, and knowing that secret foes watched and +reported all his movements, Jackson was compelled to act with extreme +caution. + +This hostility, as it were, in his own camp, added immensely to the +embarrassments that surrounded him. But calm, keen, resolute, +tireless, and full of courage, he soon inspired the patriotic citizens +with confidence. Resources they had not dreamed of, sprang up at his +bidding. But it needed all the renown he had won, and all his personal +influence, to impart the faintest promise of success. + +He had brought only a portion of his troops with him from Pensacola. +But no sooner did he arrive, than he inspected narrowly the inlets, +bayous, and channels, marked out the location of works, ordered +obstructions raised, and then called on the different States to send +him help. A thousand regulars were immediately ordered to New Orleans, +while the Tennessee militia, under General Carrol, and the mounted +riflemen, under General Coffee, hastened as of old, to his side. +Concealing as much as possible the weakness of his force, and the bad +appointments of many of the soldiers, he strained every nerve to +increase the means of defence. The French inhabitants forgot their +hostility to the Americans in greater hate of the English, while many +others, who, hitherto, had taken little or no interest in the war, +roused by the sudden danger that threatened them, flew to arms. The +free negroes and refugees from St. Domingo, formed themselves into a +black regiment, and were incorporated into the army. Jackson's energy +and courage soon changed the whole current of feeling, and, day and +night, the sounds of martial preparation echoed along the streets of +the city. The excitement swelled higher and higher, as the hostile +fleet gradually closed towards the mouth of the Mississippi. But one +thought occupied every bosom--one topic became the theme of all +conversation. Consternation and courage moved side by side; for while +the most believed Jackson to be invincible, others, carefully weighing +the force of the armament approaching, could not but anticipate +discomfiture and destruction. Nor was this surprising; for a fleet of +more than eighty sail, under the command of Admiral Cochrane, carrying +on their decks eleven thousand veteran troops, led by men of renown, +was advancing on the city. Besides this formidable land force, there +were twelve thousand seamen and marines. The facts alone were +sufficient to cause anxiety and alarm; but rumor magnified them +fourfold. To resist all this, New Orleans had no vessels of war, no +strong fortresses, no army of veteran troops. General Jackson, with +his undisciplined and half-armed yeomanry, alone stood between the +town and destruction. He was not ignorant of the tremendous force +advancing against him; but still he was calm and resolute. To the +panic-stricken women, who roamed the streets, filling the air with +shrieks and cries of alarm, he said, "_The enemy shall never reach the +city._" + +New Orleans, situated on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, was +accessible not only through the various mouths of the river, but also +with small vessels through lakes Borgne and Ponchartrain, and was +therefore a difficult place to defend, for no one could tell by what +way, or by how many ways the enemy would approach. Jackson saw that he +would be compelled to divide his forces in order to guard every +avenue. In the mean time, while he watched the approaching force, he +kept his eye on the city. The press did not manfully sustain him, and +the legislature, then in session, looked upon his actions with +suspicion, if not with hostile feelings. Although a native of another +State, and having no personal interest in the fate of the place, whose +authorities treated him with coldness, he nevertheless, determined to +save it at all hazards, and while apparently bending his vast energies +to meet an external foe, boldly assumed the control of the municipal +authority, declared martial law, and when Judge Hall liberated a +traitor whom he had imprisoned, sternly ordered the Judge himself into +confinement. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 9.] + +At length, the excited inhabitants were told that the British fleet +had reached the coast; sixty sail being seen near the mouth of the +Mississippi. Commodore Patterson immediately despatched Lieutenant +Jones with five gun-boats to watch its motions. This spirited +commander, in passing through Lake Borgne, discovered that the enemy, +instead of approaching direct by the river, was advancing up the +lakes. In hovering around them to ascertain their designs, he +unfortunately got becalmed, and in that position was attacked by forty +barges, containing twelve hundred men. Notwithstanding he had under +him less than two hundred men, he refused to surrender, and gallantly +returned the fire of the enemy. For a whole hour he stubbornly +maintained the unequal conquest; but, at length, after killing nearly +double his entire force, he was compelled to strike his flag. + +The British had now complete control of lakes Ponchartrain and Borgne, +and advancing up the latter, entered a canal, and finally effected a +landing on the levee, about eight miles from the city. This levee acts +as a bank to keep the river from the inland, which is lower than the +surface of the water. It varies in width from a few hundred yards to +two or three miles, and is covered with plantations. Thus, now almost +like a causeway, and again like an elevated plateau, it stretches away +from the city, with the river on one side, and an impassable swamp on +the other. + +The forts that commanded the river were, by this manoeuvre of the +enemy, rendered comparatively useless, and an open road to the city +lay before him. Jackson no sooner heard that the British had effected +a landing, than he determined at once to attack them before their +heavy artillery and the main body of the army could be brought +forward. On the 23d, therefore, a few hours after they had reached the +banks of the Mississippi, his columns were in motion, and by evening +halted within two miles of the hostile force. His plans were +immediately laid--the schooner of war, Caroline, commanded by +Commodore Patterson, was ordered to drop quietly down the river, soon +after dark, and anchor abreast the British encampment. General Coffee, +with between six and seven hundred men, was directed to skirt the +swamp to the left of the levee, and gain, undiscovered, the enemy's +rear; while he himself, with thirteen hundred troops, would march +directly down the river along the highway, and assail them in front. +The guns of the Caroline were to be the signal for a general attack. +She, unmolested, swept noiselessly down with the current, gained her +position, dropped her anchors, and opened her fire. The thunder and +blaze of her guns, as grape-shot and balls came rattling and crashing +into the camp of the British, were the first intimation they received +of an attack. At the same time, Generals Coffee and Jackson gave the +orders to advance. Night had now arrived, and although there was a +moon, the fast-rising mist from the swamps and river mingling with the +smoke of the guns, so dimmed her light that objects could be discerned +only a short distance, save the watch-fires of the enemy, which burned +brightly through the gloom. Guided by these, Coffee continued to +advance, when suddenly he was met by a sharp fire. The enemy, retiring +before the shot of the Caroline, had left the bank of the river, not +dreaming of a foe in their rear. Coffee was taken by surprise; but +this brave commander had been in too many perilous scenes to be +disconcerted, and ordering the charge to be sounded, swept the field +before him. + +Again and again the British rallied, only to be driven from their +position. At length they made a determined stand in a grove of orange +trees, behind a ditch which was lined with a fence. But the excited +troops charged boldly over the ditch, fence, and all, and lighting up +the orange grove with the fire of their guns, and awakening its echoes +with their loud huzzas, pressed fiercely after the astonished enemy, +and forced them back to the river. Here the latter turned at bay, and +for half an hour, maintained a determined fight. But being swept by +such close and destructive volleys, they at length clambered down the +levee, and turning it into a breastwork, repelled every attempt to +dislodge them. + +In the mean time, Jackson had advanced along the river. Guided by the +guns of the Caroline, and the rockets of the enemy, that rose hissing +from the gloom, he pressed swiftly forward. He had given directions to +move by heads of companies, and as soon as they reached the enemy, to +deploy into line, which was to be extended till it joined that of Gen. +Coffee, thus forcing the British back upon the river, and keeping them +under the guns of the Caroline. But, instead of doing this, they +formed into line at the outset. The levee being wide where the march +commenced, no inconvenience was felt from this order; but, as it grew +narrower, the left wing was gradually forced in, and being a little in +advance, crowded and drove back the centre, creating confusion and +arresting its progress. The whole, however, continued to press +forward, and soon came upon the enemy, entrenched behind a deep ditch. +Jackson, perceiving the advantage of their position, ordered a charge +at once. The troops marched up to the edge of the ditch, poured one +destructive volley over, then leaped after. The British retired behind +another, and another, only to be again forced to retreat. At length, +Jackson halted; the enemy had withdrawn into the darkness, the +Caroline had almost ceased her fire, while but random volleys were +heard in the direction of Coffee's brigade. He knew not where to renew +the conflict, while the rapidly increasing fog shrouded everything +in still greater darkness and uncertainty. Finding, too, that his left +wing had got into inextricable confusion, and that a part of Coffee's +troops were in no better condition, he determined to withdraw. + +While these things were passing on the banks of the Mississippi, and +gloom and uncertainty hung over New Orleans, our commissioners at +Ghent were wrapt in pleasant slumbers, for the next day was to witness +the signature of a treaty of peace between the two countries, when +the ravages of war should give place to the peaceful pursuits of +commerce. + +Jackson had laid his plans with skill, and entertained no doubt of +success; and but for the fact that the Caroline commenced her fire a +little too early, and that the after false movement of his left wing +prevented the rapid advance of the centre, he no doubt would have +slain or captured nearly the whole three thousand opposed to him. But +night attacks are always subject to failure through mistakes caused by +the darkness, especially if the movements are at all complicated. A +sudden, heavy onset, overturning every thing before it--a single, +concentrated blow, like the fall of an avalanche--are best fitted for +the night. + +Still, Jackson did not despair of success, and determined at daybreak +to renew the attack. But it was soon ascertained, from prisoners and +deserters, that by morning the enemy would be six thousand strong, +making a disparity against him he could not hope to overcome. He +therefore fell back to a deep ditch that stretched from the +Mississippi, across the entire levee, to the swamp. Behind this he +arrayed his troops, resolved, since nothing else could be done, to +make there a determined stand. In his unsuccessful assault, he had +lost, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, two hundred and forty men; +while the enemy had been weakened by nearly double that number. + +Jackson's first plan having failed, all his hopes now rested on a +successful defence of his position. The gun-boats had been destroyed, +leaving the lakes open to the hostile fleet. All the passes to the +city had been guarded in vain. Through an unimportant and almost +unknown canal, the enemy had passed unmolested, and landed where +nothing but undisciplined troops lay between him and the city. Too +strong to be assailed, the British could now complete their +arrangements and array their strength at leisure. Undismayed, however, +and unshaken in his confidence, Jackson gathered his little band +behind this single ditch, and coolly surveyed his chances. He knew the +history and character of the troops opposed to him; he knew also how +uncertain untrained militia were in a close and hot engagement. Still +he resolved to try the issue in a great and desperate battle. No +sooner was this determination taken, than he set about increasing the +strength of his position with every means in his power. He deepened +and widened the ditch; and where it terminated in the swamp, cut down +the trees, thus extending the line still further in, to prevent being +outflanked. The gallant Coffee was placed here, who, with his noble +followers, day after day, and night after night, stood knee-deep in +the mud, and slept on the brush they piled together to keep them from +the water. Sluices were also opened in the levee, and the waters of +the Mississippi turned on the plain, covering it breast-deep. The +earth was piled still higher on the edge of the ditch; while cotton +bales were brought and covered over to increase the breadth and depth +of the breastwork. + +With a will unyielding as fate itself, tireless energy, and a frame of +iron to match, Jackson no sooner set his heart on a great object, than +he toiled towards it with a resolution--nay, almost fierceness--that +amazed men. + +Night and day the soldiers were kept at work, the sound of the spade +and pickaxe never ceased, while the constant rolling of wheels was +heard, as wagons and carts sped to and from the city. Jackson, with +his whole nature roused to the highest pitch of excitement, moved amid +this busy scene, its soul and centre. Impervious to fatigue, he worked +on when others sank to rest; and at midday and midnight, was seen +reviewing his troops, or traversing the trenches to cheer the +laborers; and for four days and nights scarcely took a moment's rest. + +In addition to the breastwork he was rearing on the east bank, he +ordered General Morgan to take position on the right bank, opposite +his line, and fortify it. To prevent the ships from ascending the +river to co-operate with the army, he dispatched Major Reynolds to +obstruct and defend the pass of Barataria--the channel through which +they would in all probability attempt to approach. + +In the mean time, the British were not idle. They had deepened the +canal through which they had effected a landing, and thus, assisted by +the high waters of the Mississippi, been able to bring up larger +boats, loaded with the heavy artillery. + +On the third day, a battery was observed, erected opposite the +Caroline, which, after the good service she did in the night attack, +had floated to the opposite shore, where she continued to annoy the +enemy. Jackson knew her perilous position, but there had been no wind +sufficiently strong to enable her to stem the rapid current; and, on +the morning of the 27th, the battery opened on her with shells and +red-hot shot. She was soon in a blaze; and the crew, seeing the +attempt to save her useless, escaped to the shore. Soon after, she +blew up. + +[Sidenote: Dec. 28.] + +The next day, Sir Edward Packenham ordered an attack on the American +works. The columns advanced in beautiful order, and at the distance of +half a mile opened their batteries, and, with bombshells and +congreve-rockets, endeavored to send confusion among the American +militia. But the guns of the latter were admirably served, and told +with great effect on the exposed ranks of the enemy. The Louisiana +sloop of war, that lay opposite the American line, swung her broadside +so as to bear on the advancing columns, and raked them with such a +deadly fire that the assault was abandoned, and the army returned to +camp, with the loss of over a hundred men, while that of the Americans +was but seven killed and eight wounded. But among the slain of the +latter was Colonel Henderson of the Tennessee militia, a man deeply +lamented. + +Events were now evidently approaching a crisis; and the anxiety and +interest deepened daily and hourly. To add to the weight which already +pressed the heart of Jackson, he was told that the legislature had +become frightened, and was discussing the propriety of surrendering +the city. He immediately sent a dispatch to Governor Clairborne, +ordering him to watch its proceedings, and the moment such a project +should be fairly formed, to place a guard at the door of the chamber, +and shut the members in. In his zeal and warm-hearted patriotism, or +through misconception of the order, the governor, making sure work of +it, turned the whole of them _out_ of doors. Just before the execution +of this high-handed measure, a committee of the legislature waited on +Jackson, to inquire what he designed to do if compelled to abandon his +position. "If," he replied, "I thought the hair of my head could +divine what I should do, I would cut it off forthwith. Go back with +this answer: say to your honorable body that if disaster does overtake +me, and the fate of war drives me from my line to the city, _that they +may expect to have a warm session_." To one who asked him afterwards +what he would have done in such an emergency, he said, "I would have +retreated to the city, _fired it_, and _fought the enemy amid the +surrounding flames_." A more heroic speech never fell from the lips of +a commander. New Orleans in flames and Jackson charging down its +blazing streets, would have been one of the most frightful exhibitions +furnished in the annals of the war. + +[Sidenote: Jan. 1, 1815.] + +The British, after the attack of the 28th, occupied their whole time +in landing heavier cannon. Having completed their arrangements, they +resolved to make another attempt on the American works. The New Year +opened with a heavy fog, which shrouded the whole plain and British +encampment from sight. But, from its mysterious bosom, ominous, +muffled sounds arose, which were distinctly heard in every part of the +American line, and the troops stood to arms. At length, as the sun +gathered strength, the fog lifted and parted--dimly revealing the +whole plain. No sooner did the enemy, who had advanced their batteries +within six hundred yards of the American intrenchments, see the long, +black line of the latter, stretching through the haze, than a +tremendous burst of artillery shook the solid levee on which it +stood. A flight of Congreve rockets followed, crossing and recrossing +the heavens in every direction, and weaving a fiery net-work over the +heads of the astonished but undaunted Americans. The first heavy +explosion sent Jackson to the lines; and luckily for him it did; for +the British having been shown by a spy the house which he occupied, +they directed a battery upon it, and in a few minutes it was riddled +with balls. The American artillery replied, and it was a constant roar +of cannon till noon, when most of the English batteries being beaten +down or damaged, they ceased their fire. One, near the river, +continued to play on the American works till three o'clock, when it +also became silent, and the enemy, baffled at every point, retired +sullenly to his camp. + +The two armies, each expecting reinforcements, now rested for a week +from decisive hostilities. In the mean time, Jackson continued to +strengthen his works and discipline his men. A Frenchman having come +to him to complain of damage done to his property, the latter replied +that, as he was a man of property, he knew of no one who had a better +right to defend it, and placing a musket in his hands, ordered him +into the ranks. + +During this week of comparative repose, New Orleans and the two +hostile camps presented a spectacle of the most thrilling interest. +The British army lay in full view of the American lines, their white +tents looking, amid the surrounding water, like clouds of sail resting +on the bosom of the river. At intervals were heard the sharp and +rattling volleys of the pickets of the two armies, as they came in +collision, while the morning and evening gun sent their stern +challenge over the plain. There was marching and countermarching, +strains of martial music, and all the confused sounds of a camp, when +preparations are making for a grand and decisive blow. To the farmers, +merchants, mechanics, and youths, who lay within the American +intrenchments, the scene and the thoughts it awakened were new. Behind +them stood their homes; before them, the veterans of Spain, whom, in a +few days, they were to meet in final combat. + +In the city, the excitement kept increasing; but after the first +battle, the patriotism of the population received a new impulse. In +the night attack many of the troops had lost all their clothing except +that which they wore on their backs, and hence soon began to suffer. +No sooner was this known to the ladies than their fair hands were in +motion; and in a short time the wants of the soldiers were supplied. + +In the mean time the long-expected Kentucky troops, upwards of two +thousand strong, arrived. Courier after courier had been sent to hurry +their march; and the last day had been one of incredible toil and +speed. Only five hundred of them, however, had muskets; the rest were +armed with fowling-pieces, and such weapons as they could lay hands +on. Nor were there any means of supplying them, so that the accession +of strength was comparatively trifling. Gen. Lambert, too, had +reinforced the British with several thousand veteran troops. + +A canal in the mean time had been widened through the levee, by which +boats were transported to the Mississippi for that portion of the army +which was destined to act against the fortifications on the west bank, +commanded by General Morgan. A long siege was out of the question, and +now nothing remained to be done but to advance at once to the assault +of the American intrenchments, or abandon the expedition. The latter +alternative was not to be contemplated; and, on the night of the 7th, +Jackson, surveying the encampment through his glass, discovered +unmistakeable evidence that the enemy was meditating an important +movement. The camp was in commotion; the boats which had been dragged +through the canal, and now lay moored to the levee, were being loaded +with artillery and munitions of war, and every thing betokened a hot +to-morrow. Coffee still held the swamp on the left; Carroll, with his +Tennesseans, the centre; while Jackson, with the regulars under him, +commanded in person the right, resting on the river. Behind Carroll +were placed the Kentuckians, under General Adair--in all, less than +four thousand effective men. [Sidenote: Jan. 8.] This was the position +of affairs as the Sabbath morning of the 8th of January began to dawn. +The light had scarcely streaked the east, when the inhabitants of New +Orleans were startled from their slumbers by an explosion of cannon +that shook the city. The battle had opened. Under cover of the night, +heavy batteries had been erected within eight hundred yards of the +American intrenchments, and, the moment the fog lifted above them, +they opened their fire. Directly after, a rocket, rising through the +mist near the swamp, and another answering it from the shore, +announced that all was ready. The next moment, two columns, each four +or five thousand strong--one moving straight on Carrol's position, the +other against the right of the intrenchments--swept steadily and +swiftly across the plain. Three thrilling cheers rose over the dark +intrenchments at the sight, and then all was still again. + +The levee here was contracted to four hundred yards in width, and as +the columns, sixty or seventy deep, crowded over this avenue, every +cannon on the breastwork was trained upon them by Baratarian, French +and American engineers, and the moment they came within range, a +murderous fire opened. Frightful gaps were made in the ranks at every +discharge, which were closed by living men only the next moment to be +re-opened. + +The Americans stood with their hands clenched around their muskets and +rifles, gazing with astonishment on this new, unwonted spectacle. The +calm and steady advance under such an incessant and crushing fire, +carried with it the prestige of victory. As they approached the ditch, +the columns swiftly, yet beautifully deployed, and under the cover of +blazing bombs and rockets, that filled the air in every direction, and +stooped hissing over the American works, pressed forward with loud +cheers, to the assault. Nothing but cannon had spoken till then from +that low breastwork; but as those two doomed columns reached the +farthest brink of the ditch, the word "Fire!" ran along the American +line--the next moment the intrenchments were in a blaze. It was a +solid sheet of flame rolling on the foe. Stunned by the tremendous and +deadly volleys, the front ranks stopped and sunk in their footsteps, +like snow when it meets the stream. But high over the thunder of +cannon were heard the words of command, and drums beating the charge; +and still bravely breasting the fiery sleet, the ranks pressed +forward, but only to melt away on the brink of that fatal ditch. +Jackson, with flashing eye and flushed brow, rode slowly along the +lines, cheering the men, and issuing his orders, followed by loud +huzzas as he passed. From the effect of the American volleys, he +knew, if the troops stood firm, the day was his own, and with stirring +appeals and confident words he roused them to the same enthusiasm +which animated his breast and beamed from his face. The soldiers of +Gen. Adair, stationed in the rear of Carrol, loaded for those in +front, so that there was no cessation to the fire. It was a constant +flash and peal along the whole line. Every man was a marksman, every +shot told, and no troops in the world could long withstand such a +destructive fire. The front of battle, torn and rent, wavered to and +fro on the plain, when Packenham galloped up, and riding bravely +through the shaking ranks, for a moment restored order. The next +moment he reeled from his saddle mortally wounded. Generals Gibbs and +Keane, while nobly struggling to rally the men, were also shot down, +and the maddened columns turned and fled. Lambert, hastening up with +the reserve, met the fugitives, and endeavored, but in vain, to arrest +the flight. They never halted till they reached a ditch four hundred +yards distant, into which they flung themselves to escape the +scourging fire that pursued them. Here he at last rallied them to +another charge. The bleeding column, strengthened by the reserve, +again advanced sternly but hopelessly, into the deadly fire, and +attempted to deploy. It was a last vain effort--it was like charging +down the mouth of a volcano, and the troops again broke and fled, +smote at every step by the batteries. + +Col. Kennie led the attack against the redoubt on the right, and +succeeded in entering, but found there his grave. Driven forth, the +troops sought safety in flight; but the fire that pursued them was too +fatal, and they threw themselves into a ditch, where they lay +sheltered till night, and then stole away under cover of the darkness. + +The ground in front of the American intrenchments presented a +frightful spectacle. It was red with the blood of men. The space was +so narrow along which the enemy had advanced, that the dead literally +cumbered the field. + +The sun of that Sabbath morning rose in blood, and before he had +advanced an hour on his course, a multitude of souls "unhouseled, +unanneled," had passed to the stillness of eternity. New Orleans never +before witnessed such a Sabbath morning. Anxiety and fear sat on every +countenance. The road towards the American encampment was lined with +trembling listeners, and tearful eyes were bent on the distance to +catch the first sight of the retreating army. But when the thunder and +tumult ceased, and word was brought that the Americans still held the +intrenchments, and that the British had retreated in confusion, there +went up a long, glad shout--the bells of the churches rang out a +joyous peal, and hope and confidence revived in every bosom. + +The attack on the right bank of the river had been successful, and but +for the terrible havoc on the left shore, this stroke of good fortune +might have changed the results of the day. The fort, from which Gen. +Morgan had fled, commanded the interior of Jackson's entrenchments, +and a fire opened from it would soon have shaken the steadiness of his +troops. But Col. Thornton, who had captured it, seeing the complete +overthrow of the main army, soon after abandoned it. + +The Americans, with that noble-hearted generosity which had +distinguished them on every battle-field, hurried forth soon as the +firing had ceased, to succor the wounded, who they knew had designed +to riot amid their own peaceful dwellings. "Beauty and booty," was the +watchword in an orderly-book found on the battle-field; and though +there is not sufficient reason to believe that the city would have +been given over to rapine and lust, yet no doubt great excesses would +have been tolerated. The recent conduct of the English troops on the +Atlantic coast, where no such resistance had been offered to +exasperate them, furnished grounds for the gravest fears. + +The British in this attack outnumbered the Americans more than three +to one, and yet the loss on the part of the latter was only +_thirteen_ killed and wounded--seventy-one, all told, both sides of +the river--while that of the former was nearly two thousand, a +disparity unparalleled in the annals of war. + +The British were allowed to retreat unmolested to their ships, and the +sails of that proud fleet, whose approach had sent such consternation +through the hearts of the inhabitants, were seen lessening in the +horizon with feelings of unspeakable joy and triumph. All danger had +now passed away, and Jackson made his triumphal entry into the city. +The bells were rung, maidens dressed in white, strewed flowers in his +path, the heavens echoed with acclamations, and blessings unnumbered +were poured on his head. + +But as there had been foes and traitors to the American cause from the +first appearance of the British fleet, so there were those now who +stirred up strife, and by anonymous articles published in one of the +city papers, endeavored to sow dissensions among the troops. It would, +no doubt, have been better for Jackson, in the fulness of his triumph, +and in the plenitude of his power, to have overlooked this. But these +very men he knew had acted as spies while the enemy lay before his +entrenchments, causing him innumerable vexations, and endangering the +cause of the country, and he determined as martial law had not yet +been repealed, to seize the offenders. He demanded of the editor the +name of the writer of a certain article, who proved to be a member of +the legislature. He then applied to Judge Hall for a writ of habeas +corpus, which was granted, and the recreant statesman was thrown into +prison. Soon after, martial law being removed, Judge Hall issued an +attachment against Jackson for contempt of court, and he was brought +before him to answer interrogatories. This he refused to do, and asked +for the sentence. The judge, still smarting under the remembrance of +his former arrest by Jackson, fined him a thousand dollars. A burst of +indignation followed this sentence, and as the latter turned to enter +his carriage, the crowd around seized it, and dragged it home with +shouts. The fine was paid immediately; but in a few hours the outraged +citizens refunded the sum to the general. He, however, refused it, +requesting it to be appropriated to a charitable institution. Judge +Hall by this act secured for himself the fame of the man who, to +figure in history, fired the temple of Delphos. + +The arbitrary manner in which Jackson disposed of the State +legislature and judges of the court, became afterwards the subject of +much discussion, and during his political life the ground of heavy +accusations. If the question be respecting the _manner_ in which he +assumed arbitrary power, it is not worth discussing. But if, on the +other hand, the assumption of it at all is condemned, then the whole +thing turns on the necessities of the case, and whether that use was +made of it which the general good and not personal feelings required. +That it was necessary, no one can doubt. He had a right, also, as +commander-in-chief of the army in that section, to whom the defence of +the southern frontier had been intrusted, to force the civil power +into obedience to the orders of the general government. He was to +defend and save New Orleans, and if the civil authority proved +treacherous or weak, it was his duty to see that it did not act +against him while plainly in the path of his duty. New Orleans so +considered it; and six years after, the corporation appropriated fifty +thousand dollars to the erection of a marble statue of him in the +city. Congress thought so, when, thirty years after, it voted the +repayment of the fine, with interest, from the date it was inflicted, +and notwithstanding the whole matter was made a party question, it +will not stand as such in history. + +Jackson remained in New Orleans till March, when he was relieved by +General Gaines. On taking leave of his troops, who, by their cheerful +endurance of hardships and their bravery, had become endeared to him, +he issued an address full of encomiums on their conduct, and +expressions of love for their character. He concluded by saying, +"Farewell, fellow--soldiers! The expression of your General's thanks +is feeble; but the gratitude of a country of freemen is yours--yours +the applause of an admiring world." What a contrast does this man, +covered with the laurels of his two recent campaigns, present to the +captive boy in the revolutionary struggle whose hand was brutally +gashed by a subordinate British officer, because he refused to black +his boots! This world has changes. The lad with his eye to the +knot-hole at Camden watching the defeat of the American army with +anguish, and the hero gazing proudly on the flying columns of the +veteran troops of the British empire, are the same in soul--but how +different in position! They say, "Time sets all things even." In +Jackson's case, the wrongs done to his family by an oppressive nation, +and the outrages he himself had received, were terribly avenged. + +[Sidenote: Feb. 11.] + +At length the joyful tidings of peace reached our shores. The British +sloop of war Favorite, chosen for her name, arrived at New York under +a flag of truce, bearing an American and British messenger, with the +treaty already ratified on the part of England. The unexpected news +acted like an electrical shock on the city. It was late on Saturday +night when the announcement was made, but in an incredible short space +of time the whole city was in an uproar. That blessed word PEACE +passed tremulously from lip to lip, and as if borne on the viewless +air, was soon repeated in every dwelling. In a few minutes the +streets were black with the excited, heaving multitudes, whose frantic +shouts rolled like the roar of the sea through the city. In every +direction bonfires were kindled, and as flash after flash leaped forth +to the clouds, the deafening acclamations that followed, attested the +unbounded joy of the people. Expresses were immediately hurried off +north and south, and as the swift riders swept meteor-like through +village after village, shouting "PEACE" as they sped on, the +inhabitants sallied forth to hail the glad tidings with shouts. All +day Sunday that electrical word "PEACE" passed like an angel of mercy +over the towns and hamlets between New York and Boston. It swept like +a sudden breeze through the congregations gathered for worship in the +house of God. It imparted new fervor to the minister at the altar, and +swelled the hymn of thanksgiving from tearful worshippers to its +loudest, gladdest note. "PEACE," like a dove folded its wings on the +thresholds of thousands of homes that night, turning the wintry +fire-side into a scene of unbounded thankfulness and joy. + +Although news had never been carried over the country with such +rapidity since the battle of Lexington and Concord, it did not reach +Boston till Monday morning. The bells were at once set ringing, but +their clamorous tongues were well nigh silenced by the louder +rejoicings of the people. Messengers were immediately dispatched in +every direction, sending the glad tidings on. Men forgot their +employments--politicians their animosities in the general +congratulation. The sea ports were suddenly gay with flags and +streamers, and the song of the sailor blended with the sound of the +hammer and the hum and stir of commerce. Men forgot to ask on what +terms peace had been obtained--the joy at its unexpected announcement +obliterated for the time all other thoughts and considerations. + +At Washington the pleasure was more subdued, for the politicians there +knew that after the first enthusiasm had subsided every one would ask +what were the terms of the treaty. + +But although the administration had provoked Fortune beyond all +forbearance, she seemed resolved not to desert it, and brought, nearly +at the same time, the news of the victory of New Orleans, to solace +the national pride for an indefinite and unsatisfactory treaty. + +The delegates from the Hartford Convention arrived in Washington just +in time to hear the confirmation of the victory and the peace, and +without delivering their message, stole quietly back to New England, +lighted by illuminated cities and towns, and stunned by acclamations, +on their way. Their enemies were too full of happiness to attack them, +still the National Advocate of New York, edited by Mr. Wheaton, could +not refrain from indulging in a little pleasantry at their expense, +and inserted an advertisement: "Missing--three well-looking, +respectable men, who appeared to be travelling towards Washington, and +suddenly disappeared from Gadzby's hotel, Baltimore, on Monday evening +last, and have not since been heard from. They were observed to be +very melancholic on hearing the news of peace, and one of them was +heard to say, '_Poor Caleb Strong_,' &c. "Whoever will give any +information of these unfortunate, tristful gentlemen to the Hartford +Convention, will confer a favor on humanity." The National +Intelligencer copied it, stating that those gentlemen had been seen in +Washington, but their business was not known. One of them, however, +was heard to groan, "_Othello's occupation's gone_." + +But after the first excitement passed away, men began to inquire in +what way, and on what conditions, the government had delivered the +country from the evils of war, and crowned it with the blessings of +peace. + +We had apparently gained nothing. Our quarrel rested mainly on two +points--first, the right of blockade as claimed and exercised under +the orders in Council, and the right of impressment, as practiced on +the high seas; yet no limits had been prescribed to the former, and +no guarantees given against the latter. These great points of dispute +were left untouched, and by the treaty the two countries stood +precisely as they did at the commencement of the war; all (conquered +territory on either side was to be restored) with the exception that +for the surrender of a useless right--the navigation of the +Mississippi--England deprived us of the valuable privilege heretofore +conceded, of catching and curing fish on the coast of the Gulf of St. +Lawrence. The title to the islands in the Passamaquoddy bay--the exact +course of the boundary line running from the Atlantic coast to the +river St. Lawrence--the line thence to the Lake of the Woods--were to +be referred to three separate commissions, and in case of their +disagreement, to some friendly power for final adjustment. The +question of fisheries in the seas bordering on the British provinces, +and the boundary line west of the Lake of the Woods were left without +any provision for their settlement. + +One would naturally think that a treaty which in its stipulations thus +silently passed over the very questions in dispute, and for which so +much valiant blood had been shed and such a loss of life and treasure +endured, would have been met with open condemnation, or at least with +sullen acquiescence. On the contrary, however, its ratification was +signalized by public rejoicings, and the most extravagant +manifestations of delight. The astonishing victory at New Orleans +required us to be generous, and a nation which had thus vindicated its +rights on sea and land, could afford to drop an unpleasant subject +just where the discussion had begun. Such seemed to be the general +feeling. At first sight, this settlement of the difficulties between +the two countries appeared contemptible. Abstractly considered it was, +and if we had been a weak nation, sinking into degeneracy, it would +have proved so. + +But in judging of it we must remember that treaty stipulations in +continental diplomacy, like flags of truce in Mexico, depend almost +entirely on circumstances whether they are regarded or not, and hence +the _circumstances_ are more important than written stipulation. +European treaties, like European diplomacy, have in the past, served +only to illustrate the duplicity and faithlessness of monarchs. The +question is, how events in their progress have settled the +difficulties, as _fate_ settles them, and not as commissioners. + +Now it was evident, both to the English and American commissioners, +that articles on neutral rights and the impressment of seamen, were +useless. Our navy and privateers had disposed of those questions, for +ever. Our broadsides furnished better guaranties than strips of +parchment, adorned with impressions of regal seals. + +It was the fact that those two great causes of hostility, violation of +neutral rights and impressment of seamen, were practically and +permanently disposed of, which reconciled the nation to their omission +in the treaty. Our people pay no attention to forms, only so far as +they sanction their just claims. In this view, the acquiescence in the +treaty, instead of exhibiting humility and fear on our part, indicate +quite the reverse. Nothing can be more erroneous than to suppose that +because those rights, for the protection of which we had gone to war, +were not mentioned in the treaty, we therefore had concluded to waive +them. On the contrary, we consented to leave them unnoticed, _because_ +we knew we had _obtained_ them forever. No one in England or the +United States doubted that these were definitely settled, and those +who sneeringly ask "what we gained by the war?" make the letter +equivalent to the spirit, a form more important than a fact. The +simple truth is, we got what we fought for, and it exhibits a narrow +spirit to say, that because it was not engrossed on parchment it +amounted virtually to nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Cruise of the Constitution -- Action with the Cyane and + Levant -- Chased by a British fleet -- England's views of + neutral rights and the law of nations -- Her honor and + integrity at a discount -- Singular escape of the + Constitution -- Recapture of the Levant under the guns of a + neutral port -- Lampoons on the English squadron for its + contemptible conduct -- Decatur -- Capture of the President + -- The Hornet captures the Penguin -- Chased by a ship of + the line -- Narrow escape -- Cruise of the Peacock -- Review + of the American Navy -- Its future destiny. + + +Naval warfare did not cease with the peace, for it was a long time +before all our cruisers received notice of it. + +The old Constitution, when Bainbridge gave up the command of her in +1813, was put on the stocks to undergo repairs, and did not get to sea +again till 1814, when, under the command of Captain Stewart, she +cruised southward, without meeting any vessel of her own size. +[Sidenote: 1814.] She took the Nector, a war schooner of fourteen +guns, and a few merchantmen, and returned to Boston. On the 17th of +December she again put to sea, and cruised off the coast of Portugal. + +[Sidenote: Feb. 20, 1815.] + +Not meeting with the enemy, Captain Stewart, on the 20th of February, +1815, stood off south-west towards Madeira, and in the afternoon made +two strange sail. He immediately started in pursuit of the nearest, +hoping to overtake her before she could join her consort. The moment, +however, the stranger discovered the Constitution, he stood away under +every stitch of canvass he could spread. The Constitution also "set +studding sails alow and aloft," and under a perfect cloud of canvass, +bowled along at a tremendous rate. At length the main royal mast of +the latter gave way in the strain, which gave the stranger so much the +advantage that he effected a junction with his consort. The two then +hailed each other, "came by the wind, hauled up their courses," and +cleared for action. They were the Cyane, carrying thirty-four guns, +and the Levant, twenty-one--the crew of the former numbering one +hundred and eighty men, the latter one hundred and fifty-six. + +They manoeuvered for some time to get to the windward, but finding +this impossible they awaited the approach of the American, who had now +set his colors. It was a bright moonlight night, and the two English +vessels presented a beautiful spectacle, as they lay rising and +falling on the long swell, gallantly turned at bay. As the +Constitution approached, they cheered, and fired their broadsides. No +answer was given. In stern and ominous silence the invincible frigate +moved on, and ranging up about three hundred yards distant from the +Cyane, delivered her broadside. So ready and eager were the men to +fire, that when the order was given, the whole broadside was like the +report of a single gun. She had taken her position to windward, and so +as to form with the two vessels nearly an equilateral triangle, and in +this masterly position flung her heavy metal against both alike. From +the first gun the action became fierce and the cannonading incessant. +After the lapse of fifteen minutes the fire of the enemy slackened, +and Captain Stewart, unable to see their whereabouts, from the cloud +of smoke that enveloped his ship, ordered the cannonading to cease +till it passed off. In three minutes it lifted and rolled away before +the wind, and he saw that the vessels had changed their position, the +Levant being abeam, while the Cyane was evidently endeavoring to cross +his wake and give him a raking fire. Instantly delivering a broadside +to the vessel abeam, he by one of those sudden and prompt movements on +which the fate of a vessel or an army often turns, threw his mizen and +main sails flat aback, "shook all forward," let fly his jib sheet, and +backed so swiftly astern[9] that the vessel was compelled to tack or +be raked herself. While doing this the other ship attempted to cross +his bows for the same purpose. The Constitution was again too quick +for her, for as if by magic the yards swung round to the hearty "Yo, +heave oh!" of the sailors--the sails filled, and bowing to the breeze, +she shot ahead, compelling the vessel to ware under a tremendous and +raking broadside, which cut her up so terribly that she had to run out +of the action to repair damages. He had scarcely delivered this +crushing blow when he was told the largest ship was waring. He +instantly gave orders to ware also, and crossing the enemy's stern, +raked her as he passed. He then ranged up alongside, when she struck, +and Lieutenant Hoffman was put in command of her. + +[Footnote 9: Vide Cooper.] + +The Levant, in the mean time, having repaired her rigging, hauled up +again to seek her consort, when she met the Constitution coming down. +She immediately bore away, receiving as she did so, a raking +broadside. The Constitution followed in her wake, firing, and +following so close that the ripping of the enemy's planks, as the shot +tore through them, could be distinctly heard on her decks. This, of +course, could not be endured long, and a gun was soon fired to +leeward, in token of submission. + +The loss of the enemy, in this action, was between sixty and seventy, +while that of the Constitution was only fifteen. The latter, however, +was hulled thirteen times, showing very accurate firing by moonlight. + +The masterly manner in which Captain Stewart handled his vessel, so +that, large and unwieldy as she was, he thwarted every manoeuvre to +rake him, and raked both his enemies successively, proved him to be a +thorough seaman and an able commander. + +[Sidenote: 1815.] + +The Constitution proceeded with her two prizes to Port Praya, in St. +Jago, where she arrived the 10th of March. The next day while +Lieutenant Shubrick was walking the quarter-deck, he heard one of the +prisoners, a midshipman, exclaim: "There is a frigate in the offing!" +This was followed by a low subdued reprimand from an English captain. +Shubrick's suspicions were awakened, and he looked earnestly seaward. +A heavy fog lay close on the water, diminishing into a haze as it left +the surface, so that the spars of a ship could be seen, while her hull +was obscured. Through this he saw the dim outlines of the sails of a +large vessel, evidently standing in, and immediately went below and +reported the circumstance to Captain Stewart. The latter ordered him +to call all hands and make ready to go in chase of her. Shubrick had +scarcely given the orders when he saw the sails of two other vessels +above the fog. Stewart gave them one glance and saw immediately they +were heavy men-of-war. Though in a neutral port, and by the law of +nations safe from attack, he was well aware that it would not avail +him. So low had the honor of the English nation sunk in the estimation +of independent States, that weak neutral powers knew they would not +be allowed to afford the protection which it was their right and duty +to extend, while our naval commanders had ceased to expect the +recognition of those rights, guarantied by the usage of civilized +governments. Captain Stewart immediately signalled the Cyane and +Levant to put to sea, and cutting his own cables, not waiting even to +take in his boats, he ordered the sails sheeted home. In ten minutes +the gallant frigate was standing out of the roads, followed by her +prizes. + +This silent declaration that men could no longer rely on the honor and +good faith of his majesty's officers, in respecting the law of nations +or the rights of neutral powers, was one of the most cutting rebukes +that could have been uttered. It was well that Captain Stewart rated +these qualities so low, or he doubtless would have been attacked and +overcome, though, under the guns of the battery of the port. No doubt +the Constitution would have fought worthy of her old renown, and like +the Essex, in the Bay of Valparaiso, gained more honor in her death +than in her life. + +As Stewart stood out to windward, the three vessels, which he +afterwards learned to be the Leander and Newcastle of 50, and the +Acasta of 40 guns, crowded all sail in chase. Stewart then cut adrift +his cutter and gig, towing astern, and set every sail that would draw. +Under the north-east trades that were then blowing, the Constitution +was soon rushing along at a tremendous rate, outsailing all her +pursuers but the Acasta. But Stewart, perceiving that the Cyane was +steadily losing ground, and if she kept her course must evidently be +captured, made signal for her to tack, which was instantly obeyed. Not +a vessel, however, was detached in pursuit, as he had expected, but +the whole three kept on after the Constitution and Levant. In an hour +and a half the Newcastle got within gun-shot, and began to fire by +divisions, rending the fog with flame, but leaving the Constitution +unharmed. A half an hour after, Stewart, who with his glass in his +hand had incessantly walked the quarter-deck, watching the movements +of the enemy and their progress, saw that the Levant, if she held her +course, would soon be captured, made signal for her to tack also. + +The foam rolled with a seething sound from the bows of the +Constitution as she rushed rapidly through the water, but it was +evident that the Acasta, which had fallen in her wake, could outsail +her. An engagement with this vessel was apparently inevitable, and +unless Stewart could prolong the chase till she was drawn so far from +the others as to enable him to close with and carry her before they +came up, he must be taken. But to his astonishment the whole three +turned in pursuit of the Levant, leaving him to sail away unmolested. + +[Sidenote: April 10.] + +The Cyane, in the mean time, had disappeared in the fog, and finding +that she was shut out of view, changed her course, and escaping the +enemy, finally arrived safely in New York. The Levant, however, was +not so fortunate. Seeing herself closely pressed, she put back to +port, and though receiving the enemy's fire, stood on till she +anchored within 150 yards of the shore, and under the very guns of a +powerful battery. Disregarding her position which rendered her +inviolable, the three vessels continued to approach, firing as they +did so, throwing their shot even into the town, doing considerable +damage. Lieutenant Shubrick, finding that the battery would not +protect him, and that the enemy had no intention of respecting the +neutrality of the port, struck his flag. The firing, however, +continued for some time after. + +The English officer, when he came on board to take possession of her, +supposed she was an American vessel, but to his great chagrin found +that the whole squadron had succeeded, after a chase of several hours, +in recapturing a prize in a neutral port. + +"Old Ironsides" swept proudly onward over the ocean, remaining +unconquered to the last, the glory of the navy and the boast of the +land. + +The news of the victory over the Cyane and Levant, and the after +chase, reached New York from St. Bartholomews, without giving the +results, and it was feared for a time that she had fallen into the +hands of the enemy. When her safety was ascertained the exultation was +great, for she was a great favorite, and had become deeply fixed in +the affections of the people. As she came sweeping up Boston harbor, +crowds gathered to the shore, answering with deafening cheers the +thunder of her guns, as they broke over the bay. + +The abandonment of this frigate by the whole English squadron, to +chase a single ship, furnished the occasion of many witticisms, +levelled against the English officers. They reported that they lost +her in a fog, but if either vessel had kept on alone, Captain Stewart +would have been careful not to have been lost, and when a safe +distance from the others had been obtained, allowed himself to be +easily overtaken.[10] + +[Footnote 10: One "SQUIB" represented King George as walking his lawn +one morning, anxiously waiting to hear the success of this squadron, +which he had sent out expressly to capture the Ironsides, when the +three captains of the vessels that chased her presented themselves. +King George, in his peculiar manner, asks:-- + + "with sparkling eyes, + 'Hey! hey! what news? what news? hey! hey! he cries-- + His Majesty to hear, was all agog; + When Stuart--Collins--Kerr--with crimsoned face + Thus spake--'We gave the Constitution chase, + And, oh! great sire, we lost her in _a fog_!' + + "'Fog! fog! _what fog? hey! Stuart, what fog? say!_ + _So then the foe escaped you, Stuart? hey!_' + 'Yes, please your Majesty, and hard our fate'-- + 'But why not, Stuart, _different courses steer_?' + Stuart replied, (impute it not to fear,) + 'WE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT NOT TO SEPARATE.'"] + +[Sidenote: 1815.] + +The President, that did not get to sea till the middle of January, or +just before the news of peace was received, was more unfortunate. +Commodore Rodgers, during the summer, had been transferred from that +vessel to the Guerriere, and Decatur took the command. The latter, +with the United States and Macedonian, had been blockaded, as before +stated, all summer at New London, where he had challenged Captain +Hardy to meet him ship with ship, or to make a match between the +United States and Macedonian, and the Endymion and Statira. + +Although he took command in the summer, he did not go to sea till +mid-winter, when with the Hornet, which had run the blockade at New +London in November, the Peacock, and store ship Tom Bowline, he +prepared for a long cruise to the East Indies. [Sidenote: Jan. 14.] +The President dropped down to Sandy Hook on the night of the 14th, but +in attempting to cross the bar struck, and lay thumping for an hour +and a half before she swung clear. She was evidently damaged by the +shock, but Decatur thought it best to keep on, as a heavy storm the +day before had driven the blockading squadron southward. + +Before daylight, next morning, he discovered a sail ahead, and two +hours later two more, and when daylight made more distant objects +visible, four vessels were seen, crowding all sail in chase. The +President was heavily laden for a long voyage, which with the damage +she had received on the bar, impeded very much her sailing. Still, +with a stiff breeze, she might have distanced her pursuers, for with +the wind light and baffling, the nearest vessel, the Majestic, a +razee, was thrown astern. But the Endymion, forty, the next nearest +vessel, evidently outsailed her, and was fast closing. Decatur then +called all hands to lighten the ship. The anchors were cut away, +provisions, cables, spars, boats, and every thing on which hands could +be laid were thrown overboard, and the sails kept wet from the royals +down, to hold the tantalizing wind. It was impossible in such hasty +unloading to keep the vessel trim, and while it was being done she +very probably sailed slower than before. The wind, however, was so +light, that both frigates made slow headway, and it was not till the +middle of the afternoon that the Endymion closed sufficiently to open +her fire. The President answered with stern guns, and a running fight +was kept up till five o'clock, when the former was within half +gun-shot and on the quarter of the latter, which, of course, could not +bring a gun to bear. Decatur, in this position, bore the fire of the +frigate for half an hour, when he resolved to carry her by boarding, +and escape. But the Endymion kept her advantageous position, so that +he could not carry his bold and gallant resolution into effect, and +as a last resort he determined at dusk to close, and so cripple her +before the rest of the vessels arrived, that she must abandon the +pursuit. Coming up abeam he poured in his broadsides, and for two +hours and a half, running free all the time, the two vessels kept up a +close and heavy cannonade. At half-past eight the Endymion was +completely dismantled, while the President was under royal studding +sails, and able to choose her own position. Twenty minutes more would +have finished the English frigate, for she was too much cut up to be +manageable; but the other vessels were now close at hand, and the +President hauled up to resume her course. In doing this the vessel was +exposed to a raking broadside, but not a gun was fired. She then +crowded all sail, but at eleven o'clock was overhauled by the Pomone +and Tenedos and Majestic, the former of which poured in a broadside +within musket shot. Resistance, in the President's crippled state was +hopeless, and the flag was struck. Decatur surrendered his sword to +the commander of the Majestic, nearly four hours before the Endymion +came up, and yet the captain of the latter claimed the victory, and to +this day the arrogant assertion finds endorsers in England. One vessel +goes out of an action with royal studding sails set and surrenders to +a superior force, so far from the spot where it took place that it +requires nearly four hours steady sailing for the other to get up, +and yet the latter is declared the victor![11] + +[Footnote 11: Mr. Alison asserts that the President was completely +beaten before the arrival of the other vessels.] + +This absurd pretence, however, was completely set at rest by a +document signed by the officers of the Pomona, and published at +Bermuda, whither the fleet sailed. After giving the details of the +chase, they say the running fight between the President and Endymion +ceased "at half-past eight, the Endymion falling astern--Pomona +passing her at half-past eight. At eleven, being within gun-shot of +the President," &c. "At _three-quarters_ past twelve the Endymion came +up," &c. + +Both these vessels were dismasted in a hurricane before reaching +Bermuda, six days after. The Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline, put to +sea and sailed for the island of Triston d'Acunha, the place of +rendezvous appointed by Decatur. The Peacock and Tom Bowline arrived +first. The Hornet having parted company in chase of a vessel, did not +come in till the 23d of March. [Sidenote: 1815.] Just as she was about +to anchor, the watch aft sung out "Sail ho!" The sails were +immediately sheeted home again, and the Hornet bore swiftly down +towards the stranger. The latter did not shun the combat, but coming +to, set her colors and fired a challenge gun. The vessel was the +Penguin, of the size and metal of the Hornet, with some additional +equipments, which made her of superior force. There was not the +difference of a dozen men in the crews. A more decisive single combat +could not have been arranged, if the sole purpose of it had been to +test the seamanship and real practical superiority of the American +navy, for the Penguin had been fitted up and sent out for the sole +purpose of encountering and capturing the Wasp, a heavier and newer +vessel than the Hornet. + +There was no manoeuvring--from the first gun to the last, it was a +steady broadside to broadside engagement, the vessels gradually +drifting nearer as they fired. The Hornet was wrapped in flame from +stem to stern, so incessant were her discharges, and in fifteen +minutes the commander of the Penguin, finding that he would soon be a +total wreck, put up his helm to board, and surged with a heavy crash +full on the Hornet's quarter. The first lieutenant immediately called +on his men to board, but they would not follow him. The American crew +then wished to board, in turn, but Captain Biddle, seeing that his +guns were rending the enemy in pieces, restrained their ardor, and +recommenced firing. The sea was heavy, and as the two vessels rose and +fell together on the huge swell, the strain was so great that the +Penguin carried away the Hornet's mizen rigging and spanker boom, and +swung round against her quarter. While in this position, an English +officer cried out that he surrendered. Captain Biddle then ordered the +firing to cease, and leaping on the taffrail, inquired if the vessel +had struck. Two marines on the enemy's forecastle levelled their +pieces at him and fired--the ball of one entering his neck, inflicting +a painful wound. Enraged at this treacherous act, the crew of the +Hornet poured in a sudden volley of musketry, which stretched the two +marines dead on the deck. In the same moment the vessels parted, the +Hornet forging ahead, carrying the enemy's bowsprit and foremast with +her. The latter then wore, and was about to pour in a raking +broadside, when twenty men rushed to the side of the ship, lifting up +their hands and calling for quarter. It was with the greatest +difficulty Captain Biddle could restrain his men, so excited were they +at the attempt on their commander's life. + +The loss of the Penguin in this short action was forty-two killed and +wounded, while the Hornet had but a single man killed and only ten +wounded. Among the latter was Lieutenant (since Commodore) Conner, +who, though helpless and bleeding, refused to leave the deck till the +enemy struck. This disparity shows in a striking manner the superior +gunnery of the American navy. + +The Penguin was dreadfully cut up, and Captain Biddle, unable to man +her, scuttled and sunk her. Converting the Tom Bowline into a cartel +to take the prisoners to St. Salvador, he, with Captain Harrington of +the Peacock, waited the arrival of the President. But these two +commanders soon received information which convinced them that Decatur +had, in all probability, fallen into the hands of the enemy. +[Sidenote: April 13.] They, therefore, soon as the time fixed by him +had expired, proceeded on the original cruise, steering for the Indian +Seas. On the 27th, the Peacock, which was ahead, made signal that a +strange vessel was in sight, when all sail was set in chase. At night +it fell calm, but a stiff breeze arising with the sun, the chase +recommenced and continued till near three o'clock, when the Peacock, +about six miles ahead, appeared to be moving cautiously, as if +suspicious that all was not right. From the first, the chase was +supposed to be a homeward bound East Indiaman, as they were now in the +track of those vessels. The sailors of the Hornet were consequently +very much elated with the prospect of so rich a prize, declaring that +they would carpet the berth deck with India silk, and murmuring that +the Peacock sailed so much faster, as she would have the first chance +at the plunder. + +These pleasant anticipations suffered a sudden collapse when the +Peacock, at half-past three, signalled that the stranger was an enemy +and a line-of-battle ship. Notwithstanding the danger, there was +something inconceivably ludicrous in the blank consternation that fell +on the ship, exhibited in rueful countenances, the long-drawn whistle +or laconic emphatic expression. The next moment, however, all was +bustle and confusion--quick and sharp orders rung over the vessel, she +was hauled upon the wind, and made off as fast as wind and sail could +bear her. The Peacock, being a very fast sailer, soon left the enemy +behind. Not so with the Hornet; although she spread every yard of +canvass that would draw, it was evident by eight at night the +man-of-war was gaining on her. An hour after all hands were turned to +to lighten the ship. An anchor and cable first went over with some +heavy spare spars and rigging. The ward-room was then scuttled to get +at the kentledge, twelve tons of which were thrown overboard. Still +the enemy gained, and his huge proportions loomed threateningly +through the gloom, filling the crew of the gallant little Hornet with +the keenest anxiety. It was a state of painful suspense to Captain +Biddle and his officers, and they watched with sinking hearts the +steady approach of their formidable foe. At day dawn he was within +gun-shot, and soon after, hoisting to the mizen-top-gallant-mast +English colors and a rear-admiral's flag, he opened with his bow +guns. Captain Biddle then ordered the remaining anchors cut away, the +cables heaved overboard, together with more kentledge, shot, +provision, the launch and six guns. The firing was kept up for four +hours, most of the shot overreaching the Hornet. Perceiving at length, +that his firing deadened the wind, and hence his headway, the enemy +ceased it at 11 o'clock, and soon again began to overhaul the chase. +Captain Biddle then gave the reluctant order to throw over all the +remaining guns but one, with the muskets, cutlasses, etc., in short, +every thing above and below that could lighten the ship. Still his +formidable antagonist steadily gained upon him, and at noon was within +three quarters of a mile, when he opened with round and grape shot and +shells, which dashed the spray about the little Hornet, yet most +marvellously missed her. The water was smooth and it seemed that every +shot would strike, yet only three hit the vessel. At this critical +period of the chase the excitement of the crew was intense--the sails +were watched with the keenest solicitude, while the sailors were +ordered to lie down on the quarter deck to trim the vessel. It was +impossible that the Hornet's spars and sails could long escape this +close and incessant cannonade; and Captain Biddle, knowing that the +first mishap to either must be the signal to strike his flag, called +his fatigued crew about him, and after commending their good conduct +in the long chase, expressed the hope they would still behave with the +propriety which had always marked their character, now that their +capture was almost certain. Those gallant tars saw the quivering lip +of their noble commander when he spoke of capture, and scarcely a dry +eye was seen on deck. He resolved, however, not to cease his efforts +so long as a ray of hope remained, and held on his sluggish course +amid the raining shot, his eye now turned aloft to see if the rigging +and spars were still safe, and now towards the horizon that, to his +delight, was getting black and squally. + +At length, after enduring this firing for two hours, expecting every +moment to be crippled, he saw with irrepressible joy the wind change +to a favorable quarter and freshen. His vessel then began to creep +away from his pursuer. As the distance increased between them, joy and +hope lighted up the countenances of all on board the Hornet, and the +gathering squalls and rising sea were hailed as deliverers. At sunset +the man-of-war was three miles astern. In the intervals of the squalls +his huge proportions could be seen all night long against the sky, +still crowding sail in pursuit. But the Hornet was now running nine +knots an hour, and by daylight had gained so much that the stranger, +a few hours after, abandoned the chase. + +Her escape seemed miraculous; for when the man-of-war opened his fire +the second time upon her he was as near as the United States ever got +to the Macedonian before the latter was a total wreck. + +Without guns or shot, stripped of every thing, Captain Biddle retraced +his steps and reached New York the last day of July. + +The Peacock continued her course and cruised for some time in the +straits of Sunda, where she made three captures. On the last of June +she encountered the Nautilus, of 14 guns, which after a single +broadside surrendered. Learning from the commander of the latter that +peace had been declared, Captain Warrington immediately restored the +vessel. + +This was the last vessel captured during the war, and the combat +between the Hornet and the Penguin was the last regular action. Thus +our little navy commenced and closed its career with a victory. In +fact its history had been reports of victories. So constant and +astounding had they become, that for a long time before the war closed +England ceased to publish official accounts of her naval defeats. In +the first flush of indignation at these reverses on the sea, the +English repelled with scorn the implication that they had at last +found a successful rival. Excuses and reasons for them were ample, +and fairer experiments were demanded before so humiliating a thought +should be entertained. Our ships, they said, were falsely rated, and +in those first single contests the equality was merely nominal, not +real. The ignorant and conceited maintained their arrogant, boastful +tone to the end; but as the war advanced the more reflecting felt that +the repeated victories gained by us could not be swept away by +assertions that the world would not reason as they wished it to, and +were compelled to admit that their "moral effect was astounding." Well +it might be. We know of nothing in the annals of civilized warfare +compared to the boldness and success of our little navy during the +war. The battles of the Nile and Trafalgar, which had covered the +English fleets with glory, had been for years ringing over our land. +Flushed with victory and confident of success, they bore down on our +coast. With only a handful of ships to offer against this overwhelming +force, our commanders nevertheless stood boldly out to sea, and flung +their flags of defiance to the breeze. The world looked with amazement +on the rashness that could provoke so unequal a strife; but while it +waited to hear that our little navy was blown out of the water, the +news came of the loss of the Guerriere. Report after report of +victories gained by us, followed with stunning rapidity. "The English +were defeated on their own element," was the universal exclamation, +and her indisputed claim to the seas was broken forever. The courage +that could bear up against such fearful odds and pluck the wreath of +victory from the English navy, has covered the commanders of that time +with abiding honors. Our rights were restored--our commerce +protected--and the haughty bearing of England towards us chastized +from her forever. The British flag had been lowered so often to the +"stars and stripes," that respect and fear usurped the place of +contempt and pride. + +The true reasons of our success are to be found in our superior +gunnery and the greater aptitude of the Americans for the sea. We are +a maritime people, and have since outstripped England in the peaceful +paths of commerce as much as we outmanoeuvred, outsailed, and beat her +in the war. Whether the ships of the two countries dash side by side +in fraternal feeling through the heavy floes of the northern seas, or +in a spirit of rivalry press together across the Atlantic, or sweep +where the monsoons blow, ours still lead those of England. The +elements of such a maritime nation as ours is destined to be, have +never existed since the creation. Let the rate of progress which her +commerce has maintained for the last thirty-five years be as a rule to +gauge where she will be thirty-five years hence, and the mind is +amazed at the result. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +PRIVATEERS. + + Character and daring of our Privateers -- Skill of American + seamen -- Acts of Congress relative to privateering -- Names + of ships -- Gallant action of the "Nonsuch" -- Success of + the Dolphin -- Cruise of the Comet -- Narrow escape of the + "Governor Tompkins" -- Desperate action of the Globe with + two brigs -- The Decatur takes a British sloop of war -- + Action of the Neufchatel with the crew of the Endymion -- + Desperate defence of Captain Reed against the crews of a + British squadron -- The Chasseur captures a British schooner + of war -- Character of the commanders of privateers -- + Anecdote. + + +Notwithstanding the navy won such laurels during the war, the chief +damage done to British commerce was inflicted by our privateers. A +history of that period is therefore incomplete without a record of +their acts. Nothing ever brought out the daring seamanship, skill, +fertility of resource and stubborn bravery, so characteristic of our +sailors, as the management of those private armed vessels. Scarcely +was war declared before they began to shoot one after another from +out our ports, and disappeared in the distant horizon. Trade being +prostrated, merchants fitted up their idle ships with picked crews and +skillful commanders, and sent them forth to vex the enemy's commerce. +Our vessels at that time, as now, being swifter sailers than the +English, these bold rovers asked only an open sea and a gale of wind +to outstrip their pursuers, or overtake those in flight. Their sails +were seen skirting the horizon in every direction--now saucily looking +into the enemy's ports to see what was going on there, and again +sweeping boldly through the English channels. They seemed +ubiquitous--every pathway of commerce was familiar to them, and they +passed from sea to sea, appearing and disappearing with a suddenness +and celerity that baffled pursuit. Sometimes one of these light armed +vessels would slyly hover about a whole fleet of merchantmen, convoyed +by a stately frigate, under whose guns they clustered for protection, +until a favorable opportunity occurred, when she would suddenly dash +into their midst like a hawk into a brood of chickens, and seizing +one, man her and be off before the frigate could sufficiently recover +from its astonishment at such audacity to attempt pursuit. It +sometimes occurred that she would find herself alongside a frigate +which she had mistaken for a large merchantman, when a seamanship and +coolness would be exhibited in the effort to get clear, seldom +witnessed in the oldest naval commanders. If unable to escape she +would gallantly set her colors and fight a hopeless, yet one of the +most desperate battles that occur in maritime warfare. The way in +which these ships were handled, the daring manner they were carried +into action, and the desperation with which they were fought +astonished the English, who had never witnessed any thing like it on +the sea. Sweeping waters covered with British cruisers, with scarcely +a safe neutral port to enter in case of distress--shut out from their +own harbors by blockade, they were compelled to exercise the most +unceasing watchfulness, and keep in a state of constant preparation. + +It was a gallant sight to witness one of these little cruisers, +apparently surrounded by an enemy's squadron, and yet dashing through +its midst, fly away before the wind, while the water around was driven +into foam by the shot that sped after her. Their conduct and success +throughout the war, revealed the vast resources at the command of our +navy. We have only to build ships, not educate sailors. Our commerce +pierces to every clime, and our fisheries extend beyond the Arctic +Circle; and, hardened by exposure and taught by experience and perils, +our sailors are thoroughly trained in all the duties of their calling. +Crews that the commanders of men-of-war might well be proud of, are +at this moment afloat in every part of the world. On mere call we +could man the navies of Europe with well instructed men. One great +difficulty with the French navy is, that during war she has no where +to go for recruits. Her sailors require a long training, while ours +have been trained from boyhood. + +Privateering has been denounced as unworthy of civilized nations, but +if the object of maritime warfare be to destroy the enemy's commerce, +it is difficult to see why a private armed vessel should not be +commissioned to do it as well as a national one. If it be plundering +private property on the high seas, so is the capture of merchantmen by +men-of-war. The sailors in both are stimulated by the same motives, +viz., prize money. If maritime war was to be carried on between +national vessels alone, and commerce be left untouched, there would be +little use for a navy. Ports are blockaded to injure commerce and +weaken the resources of the enemy; so are fleets of merchantmen +captured, supplies cut off and nations distressed for the same +purpose. And if this is to be done, it seems hardly worth quarrelling +about who shall do it. + +Our fleet was so small at the commencement of the war, that the +balance of injury and loss would have been heavy against us, but for +our privateers. Our large vessels were soon blockaded in port, and the +contest on the seas was for some time almost wholly carried on by +privateers, and of the more than two thousand vessels captured during +its progress, the greater part was taken by them. A single privateer +would slip through a blockading squadron, stand out to sea, and in a +few weeks destroy vessels and seize property to the amount of +millions. At one time they cruised so daringly in the English waters, +that sixty dollars was paid in England to insure five hundred across +the Irish Channel. Some of them fought British national vessels and +captured them, while it scarcely ever happened that an American +privateer struck to an English vessel, when there was any +approximation to an equality of force. Of the twenty-three naval +engagements during the war, where either one or both were national +vessels, the Americans were victorious in seventeen. A similar success +marked the contests of private armed vessels. + +In 1800, the act regulating privateers gave to them the entire prize +captured, but in March, 1812, another act was passed appropriating two +per cent. to collectors, to be used as a fund for the support of the +widows and orphans of those who fell in combat. This was afterwards +modified so as to allow the disabled the benefit of the fund. On the +19th of July the act Was amended, and two per cent. placed in the +hands of the Secretary of the Treasury, and privateersmen put on the +pension list with the navy. A few days after a bill passed the House, +allowing twenty-five dollars bounty for every prisoner taken. This was +increased the next session to one hundred dollars. + +[Sidenote: Aug. 2.] + +The success attending our privateersmen, and the injury they inflicted +on the enemy, gave them such a prominence in the country, that +Congress increased as far as possible the inducements to fit out +letters of marque, and in 1814 reduced the legal duties on goods +captured by privateers thirty-three and a third per cent., and +afterwards withdrew all claim of the government to prizes and their +cargoes. + +Privateersmen had earned all these privileges for themselves by their +activity, adroitness, and bravery; they had become the terror of the +British commerce, and while England, proud of her naval strength, was +blockading our entire coast, they were sweeping down upon her +merchantmen in the chops of her own channels. + +The names of many of these vessels were very characteristic of the +American sailor. "Catch me if you can," "True blooded Yankee," "Right +of Search," "Bunker Hill," "Viper," "Rattlesnake," "Scourge," "Spit +Fire," and "Teazer," exhibited not only the spirit that animated the +commanders, but were well calculated to irritate and enrage the +officers of English vessels of war, especially as their conduct +corresponded so well with the titles they bore. + +In September, about three months after the war was declared, the +"Nonsuch" privateer, of Baltimore, carrying only twelve pound +carronades and eighty or ninety men, while cruising off Cape Vincent, +fell in with an English ship carrying sixteen 18 and 24 pound +carronades and two hundred men, and a schooner with six four pounders +and 60 men. Notwithstanding this overwhelming disparity of force, the +privateer determined to uphold the name she bore, and setting American +colors bore gallantly down on the ship. Ranging up within close musket +shot, she poured in her broadsides and volleys of musketry for three +hours and a half, and maintained the unequal contest till her guns +were all disabled and only musketry could be used. The vessels instead +of taking advantage of the crippled condition of the ship, to capture +her, were so amazed at her audacity and the desperate manner in which +she was fought, that they turned and fled. The Nonsuch lost +twenty-three killed and wounded in this engagement. + +Not long after, in the same waters, the Dolphin, of Baltimore, with +only ten guns and sixty men, attacked at the same time a ship of +sixteen guns and forty men, and a brig of 10 guns and twenty-five men, +and captured them both. + +In December of this year the privateer Comet, fourteen guns, started +on a cruise southward, and on the 14th of January gave chase to four +sail, which were afterwards ascertained to be three English +merchantmen, one carrying fourteen and the other two, ten guns, +convoyed by a Portuguese brig-of-war mounting twenty thirty-twos, and +having a crew of one hundred and sixty-five men. The privateer hailed +the Portuguese, when the latter sent a boat aboard with her commander. +In the conversation that followed, Captain Boyle, of the privateer, +declared he should take those merchantmen if he could. The Portuguese +commander replied, he must prevent him, though he should be sorry to +have any thing disagreeable happen. The American reciprocated his good +wishes, but told him he was afraid something unpleasant might occur if +he undertook to interfere with his proceedings. + +It was dark when the Portuguese captain withdrew, and the Comet +immediately crowded sail for the merchantmen, followed closely by the +brig of war. Coming up with them, Captain Boyle began to pour in his +broadsides. The vessels keeping heavy head way, firing as their guns +bore, he was compelled to fight under a cloud of canvass. Now shooting +ahead, he would tack, and come down on the enemy in a blaze of fire. +But with every broadside, the Portuguese poured in his own. Captain +Boyle, intent on capturing the English vessels, paid no attention to +the latter, except occasionally to give him a passing salute. At +length he compelled every vessel to strike, and succeeded in taking +possession of and manning one. But the moon having gone down, and dark +clouds, indicating squalls, rising over the heavens, the vessels got +separated, except the privateer and man-of-war, which kept exchanging +occasional broadsides till two in the morning. By daylight all +succeeded in getting off, though dreadfully cut up, with the exception +of the one manned the night before, which was safely brought into port +through the squadron blockading the Chesapeake. This bold marauder +afterwards engaged a ship of eight hundred tons burthen and carrying +twenty-two guns, and maintained the contest for eight hours before he +could be beaten off. + +The Governor Tompkins was another daring and successful cruiser, +inflicting heavy damages on the English commerce. Her log book would +read like a romance. [Sidenote: Jan. 1, 1813.] One morning as the sun +rose over the sea, Captain Shaler saw in the distance three vessels +and immediately gave chase. The wind was light and he approached +slowly, examining the strangers narrowly. One of them appeared to be a +large transport, so heavy that he was questioning the propriety of +attacking her, especially as the other two were evidently determined +to stand by her. Boats were rapidly passing to and fro, filled with +men, and though the large vessel lay to, quietly waiting the approach +of the privateer, she had studding-sail booms out as if prepared for a +running fight. Her conduct looked suspicious, and while the captain of +the Tompkins was deliberating whether to engage or haul off, a sudden +squall struck his vessel carrying her directly under the guns of the +stranger, which to his amazement he discovered to be a frigate. He had +English colors flying, but instead of endeavoring with them to deceive +the enemy till he could claw off, he hauled them down, and setting +three American ensigns, poured a broadside into the man-of-war. The +latter returned it with stunning effect, his balls crashing through +the timbers, blowing up cartridges, tube boxes, etc., and strewing the +quarter-deck with ruin. The Tompkins not daring to tack in the squall, +kept on before the wind, passing the frigate and receiving its fire as +she flew on. The frigate pursued, and sailing nearly as fast as the +privateer, for a time made the water foam about him. But the latter by +throwing over shot, lumber, etc., gradually drew ahead, and the wind +dying away, Captain Boyle, with the aid of sweeps, got at dark beyond +reach of the shot. + +About the same time the Globe had a desperate engagement off Madeira +with two brigs, one of eighteen and the other of sixteen guns, +compelling one to strike, though she afterwards made her escape. + +In August of this year, a gallant action was fought between the +privateer Decatur, Capt. Diron, and a war schooner of the British +navy. The Decatur had six twelve-pound carronades and one +eighteen-pounder, and mustered 103 men. The schooner was thoroughly +appointed, carrying _twelve twelve-pound carronades_, two long sixes, +a brass four, a _thirty-two pound carronade_ and eighty-eight men. +She, therefore, had but fifteen men less than her antagonist, while +she threw more than twice the weight of metal. But, notwithstanding +this overwhelming superiority of force, and though a packet +accompanied the schooner whose conduct in the engagement could not be +foretold, Captain Diron hoisted American colors to the peak, and +closed at once and fiercely with the enemy. He knew from the outset +that in a broadside to broadside engagement the Dominica, from her +great superiority in metal, would soon sink him, and he determined to +board her. The latter detected his purpose and bore away, pouring in +her broadsides. Both commanders exhibited great skill in manoeuvering +their ships; one to board, the other to foil the attempt. The schooner +succeeded in firing three broadsides before the privateer could close. +Captain Diron, who had previously got up all the ammunition, etc. +which he wanted from below, and fastened down the hatches, the moment +he saw from his course that the schooner could not avoid a collision, +ordered the drums to beat the charge. Loud cheers followed, and the +next moment the two vessels came together with a crash, the jib-boom +of the Decatur piercing the main-sail of the enemy. In an instant they +were lashed together. The fire from the artillery and musketry at this +time was terrible. In the midst of it the crew of the Decatur sprang +with shouts on the enemy's decks, when it became a hand-to-hand fight +with pistols and cutlasses. The crew of the latter fought desperately, +but at length, every officer being killed or wounded, with the +exception of one midshipman and the surgeon, and only twenty-eight out +of the eighty-eight left standing, the colors were hauled down. The +combat, which lasted an hour, was one of the most bloody, in +proportion to the number engaged, that occurred during the war. + +[Sidenote: 1814.] + +The privateer Neufchatel was another lucky ship. Once getting becalmed +off Gray Head, within sight of the Endymion, she was attacked by the +boats and launches of the latter containing over a hundred men. The +Neufchatel carried 17 guns, but had at the time of the attack only +thirty-three men and officers included. Although it was dark the +captain observed the approach of the boats, five in number, and opened +his fire upon them. They, however, steadily advanced till they reached +the ship, when they attempted to board on bows, sides, and stern +simultaneously. + +The action lasted twenty minutes, when one boat having sunk, another +being emptied of its crew, and the others drifting away, apparently +without men, the firing ceased. At its close the privateer found on +her deck more prisoners than she had men in the combat. But few of the +assailants ever reached the frigate again. + +[Sidenote: Nov. 24.] + +In November of this year the Kemp privateer sailed out of Wilmington +and two days after was attacked by a fleet of six small vessels, +carrying in all forty-six guns and a hundred and thirty-four men. +Enveloped in the fire of six vessels this gallant privateer maintained +the unequal combat for half an hour, and finally succeeded in +scattering them, when she fell on them in detail and carried three by +boarding. She then ranged alongside the largest brig and poured in her +broadsides and volleys of musketry. In fifteen minutes the latter +struck. In an hour and a half the whole were taken, but while the +prizes were being secured two hoisted sail and got away. The other +four were secured and brought into port, the result of a six days' +cruise. + +[Sidenote: 1814.] + +But the most desperate engagement probably during the war took place +this year, between the privateer brig, General Armstrong, and the +crews of an English squadron in the port of Fayal. This brig, +carrying only seven guns and ninety men, entered that port to obtain +water, and her commander, Captain Reid, seeing no sail on the horizon, +dropped his anchor. A few hours after, the British brig Carnation came +in and anchored near her. Soon after the Plantaganet, 74, and the Rota +frigate arrived. Captain Reid, knowing how little regard English +officers paid to the laws of neutrality, became very solicitous about +the safety of his ship, and applied to the authorities of the place to +know what course he should pursue. They told him he need entertain no +fear, as the English officers knew the rights of a neutral port too +well to molest him. Captain Reid, however, suspected it would be +otherwise, and kept a close watch on the movements of the enemy. About +nine o'clock in the evening, it being broad moonlight on the bay and +not a breath of air breaking its glittering surface, he saw four boats +rowing rapidly and silently towards him. When they came within hail he +called out to know their purpose. The latter making no reply and +keeping steadily on, he bade them stand off. They paid no heed to his +repeated orders, and were about to board when he gave the command to +fire. After a short but fierce contest the assailants were driven off +and returned to their vessels. The news soon spread, and the +inhabitants with the governor gathered on the shore to see the battle. +About midnight fourteen launches, filled with four hundred men, were +seen to put off and steer straight for the privateer. Captain Reid, +who, in the mean time, had cut his cable and moored close in shore, +knew he could not save his vessel; but indignant at this violation of +the laws of neutrality he determined the enemy should pay dear for the +conquest, and the moment the boats came within range opened a +tremendous fire upon them. They staggered under it, but returning it +with spirit continued to press on. But as they got nearer, the carnage +became awful. Every gun on board that privateer seemed aimed with the +precision of a rifle, and the discharges were so rapid and incessant +that it was with the utmost efforts the boats could be pushed on at +all. The dead cumbered the living, and the oars were continually +dropping from the hands of the slain, crippling and confusing all the +movements. At length, however, they succeeded in reaching the brig, +and cheered on by their officers, shouting "no quarter," began to +ascend the sides of the ship. In a moment its black hull was a sheet +of flame rolling on the foe. + +Shrieks and cries, mingled with oaths and execrations, and sharp +volleys of musketry rang out on the night air, turning that moonlight +bay into a scene of indescribable terror. The bright waters were +loaded with black forms, as they floated or struggled around the +boats. The Americans fought with the ferocity of tigers and the +desperation of mad men. Leaping into the boats they literally +massacred all within. Several drifted ashore full of dead bodies--not +a soul being left alive of all the crew--others were sunk. Some were +left with one or two to row them. Overwhelmed, crushed and +discomfitted, the remainder abandoned the attempt and pulled slowly +back to the ships, marking their course by the groans and cries of the +wounded that floated back over the bay. Only three officers, out of +the whole, escaped, while scarce a hundred and fifty of the four +hundred returned unwounded to their vessels. A hundred and twenty were +killed outright. The loss could scarcely have been greater had the +enemy fought a squadron equal to their own. + +Our Consul, after this, dropped a note to the Governor, who +immediately sent a remonstrance to Van Lloyd, commander of the +Plantagenet, saying that the American vessel was under the guns of the +castle and entitled to Portuguese protection. To this Van Lloyd +replied, that he was resolved on the destruction of the vessel, and if +the fort undertook to protect her, he would not leave a house standing +on shore. + +The next day the Carnation hauled in alongside and opened her +broadsides on the privateer. Reid, still grimly clinging to his +vessel, returned the fire, and in a short time so cut up his +antagonist that he hauled off to repair. That little brig, half a +wreck, lying under the walls of the castle fighting that hopeless +gallant battle, vindicating her rights against such fearful odds, with +none who dare help her, presented a sublime spectacle. + +At length his guns being dismounted, Captain Reid ordered his men to +cut away the masts of the ship, blow a hole through her bottom, and +taking out their arms and clothing, go ashore. Soon after the British +advanced and set her on fire. Van Lloyd then made a demand on the +Governor for Captain Reid and his crew, threatening in case of refusal +to send an armed force and take them. Fearing that the Governor would +not be able to prevent their arrest, this gallant band retired to an +old convent, knocked away the drawbridge, determined to defend +themselves to the last. The English commander had no desire to place +his crews again under the deadly aim of those daring men, and +abandoned the project. + +The American loss in this engagement was only two killed and seven +wounded. Thus dearly did England pay for this violation of the laws of +a neutral port. That brig, cruising successfully to the close of the +war, could not have inflicted so heavy damage on the enemy as she +caused in her capture. + +The gallant bearing and patriotic feeling that marked these little +cruisers are worthy of record, while the hair-breadth escapes--the +tricks employed to entice merchantmen within their reach--the wit and +humor exhibited in hailing and answering the hails of vessels--the +saucy and irritating acts committed on purpose to provoke--the +good-natured jokes they cracked on those they had first outwitted, +then conquered, would make a most characteristic and amusing chapter +in American history. + +Captain Boyle, of the Chasseur, took great delight in provoking +frigates to chase him, and when they abandoned the pursuit as +hopeless, he would affect to chase in turn, teazing and insulting his +formidable adversaries, who tried in vain to cut some spar out of the +winged thing in order to lessen her fleetness. Cruising along the +English coast, this vessel had some very narrow escapes. While here +the captain overhauled a cartel, and sent by it a proclamation with +orders to have it stuck up in Lloyd's coffee house, declaring the +whole British Empire in a state of blockade, and that he considered +the force under him sufficient to maintain it. + +This was probably one of the finest private armed vessels afloat +during the war. Buoyant as a sea-gull, she sat so lightly and +gracefully on the water, that it seemed as if she might, at will, rise +and fly. Fleet as the wind, she was handled with such ease that the +enemy gazed on her movements with admiration. + +[Sidenote: Feb. 26, 1815.] + +Her last exploit was the capture of his majesty's schooner St. +Lawrence, carrying fifteen guns. The latter was on her way to New +Orleans, with some soldiers, marines, and gentlemen of the navy as +passengers. The Chasseur had only six twelve-pounders and eight short +nine pound carronades, having been compelled a short time before, when +hard pressed by an English frigate, to throw over nearly all her +twelve pound carronades. Captain Boyle had no suspicion of the true +character of the vessel when he gave chase, for her ports had been +closed on purpose to deceive him. He therefore stood boldly on till he +got within pistol-shot, when the schooner suddenly opened ten ports on +a side and poured in a destructive fire. At the same time the men who +had been concealed under the bulwarks leaped up and delivered a volley +of musketry. Captain Boyle, discovering what a trap he had been +beguiled into, determined at once to stay in it, and ranging alongside +within ten yards, opened a tremendous fire with his batteries and +musketry. The vessels were so near each other that the voices of +officers and men could be distinctly heard, even amid the crashing +cannonade. That little privateer exhibited a skill and practice in +gunnery unsurpassed by any frigate, and superior to any vessel in the +English navy. The enemy was completely stunned by the rapidity and +destructive effect of her fire, and in eleven minutes was a perfect +wreck. Captain Boyle then gave the command to board, when the flag was +struck. In this short space of time the Chasseur had strewed the deck +of that schooner with nearly half of her crew, killed and wounded. + +Our privateers had greatly the advantage of the English, not only in +artillery but in musketry--our men firing with much surer aim than +theirs. + +It would be impossible to give the names and details of all the +vessels and their engagements; but, independent of the vast number of +merchantmen captured by them, they took eight national vessels of the +enemy, in single combat. They seemed to vie with each other in daring +and the venturous exploits they would undertake. One of these vessels +would shoot out of port within sight of a blockading squadron, start +alone on a cruise, and scouring thirty or forty thousand miles of the +ocean, return with a fleet of prizes. The commanders were almost, +invariably humane men, treating their prisoners with vastly more +kindness than British admirals and commodores did those Americans who +fell in their hands. Many acts of kindness and generosity were +performed, and a nobleness of spirit exhibited towards a fallen foe, +which has ever been, and it is to be hoped ever will be, a +distinguished trait in the American character. On one occasion a +privateer captured in the channel a Welch vessel from Cardigan, +freighted with corn. As the captain went on board he saw a small box +with a hole in the top, in the cabin, marked "Missionary box." "What +is this?" said he, touching it with a stick. "Oh," replied the +Cambrian, "the truth is, my poor fellows here have been accustomed +every Monday morning to drop a penny each into that box, for the +purpose of sending out missionaries to preach the gospel to the +heathen; but it's all over now." "Indeed," said the captain, and +reflecting a moment, he added, "Captain, I'll not hurt a hair of your +head nor touch your vessel," and immediately returned to his own ship, +leaving him unmolested. + +Such conduct appears the more striking when contrasted with that of +British officers. The murder of Mr. Sigourney, of the Alp, whose +brains were beaten out; though when his vessel was taken possession of +not a soul but himself was found on board--the confinement of Capt. +Upton and his officers of the privateer Hunter, for three months in a +filthy prison, and their after transfer to a prison ship--the cruelty +shown to Capt. Nichols, who, after enjoying his parole for two months, +was without the least reason thrown into a prison-ship and kept for +more than a month in a room four feet by seven, and many other cases +of extreme cruelty, were well known, for the facts had been sworn to +and placed on record as state papers. Rumor aggravated all these a +hundred fold, yet the English government can offset them with no +retaliatory acts substantiated before courts of inquiry. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DARTMOOR PRISON. + + Impressed Americans made prisoners of war -- Treatment of + prisoners -- Prison Ships -- Dartmoor prison -- Neglect of + American prisoners -- Their sufferings -- Fourth of July in + Dartmoor -- Brutal attack of the French prisoners -- Fresh + arrivals -- Joy at the news of our naval victories -- + Sufferings of the prisoners in winter -- American Government + allows them three cents per diem -- Moral effect of this + notice of Government -- Napoleon's downfall -- Increased + allowance of Government -- Industry of prisoners -- Attempts + to escape -- Extraordinary adventure of a lieutenant of a + privateer -- Number of prisoners increased -- A riot to + obtain bread -- Dartmoor massacre -- Messrs. King and + L'Arpent appointed commissioners to investigate it -- + Decision -- The end. + + +A short chapter is due to those who, though not engaged in battle, +suffered equally for their country, and despite the oppression and +want which drove them well nigh to despair, refused to be faithless to +the land that had nurtured them. The conduct of the land and naval +officers to a vanquished enemy, did not present a more striking +contrast than that of the two governments towards prisoners who had +never taken up arms. Those placed in confinement by us were never +allowed to suffer through want of clothing or food, while a barbarity +characterized the treatment of American citizens that reflects the +deepest disgrace on the British empire. + +[Illustration: Dartmoor Prison.] + +When the declaration of war was made, the English vessels had a vast +number of American seamen on board, most of them impressed, who flatly +refused to fight against their country. Many of these, without having +received the pay due them, were then sent to England as prisoners of +war. Captures at sea swelled the number rapidly, which in the end +amounted to nearly six thousand men. Officers of privateersmen and +merchantmen on parole, were sent to Devonshire or Berkshire, where on +thirty-three and a quarter cents per diem, they were allowed to +subsist in comparative comfort; but the common sailors and merchant +captains were scattered about in different prisons, the most, however, +being collected and placed on board two old line-of-battle-ships in +Portsmouth harbor. Hence, after a short imprisonment, characterized by +a brutality not often found among half-civilized nations, they were +transferred to Dartmoor prison, seventeen miles inland. This dreaded +prison was situated high up on the side of a barren mountain, +overlooking a bleak and desolate moor. It consisted of seven +buildings, surrounded by two walls, the first a mile in extent and +sixteen feet high; the second, thirty feet from the first, and +surmounted by guards overlooking the spaces within. Each prison had +but one apartment on a floor, around which, in tiers, six on a side, +the hammocks were slung. Into one of these large cold apartments, +nearly five hundred American prisoners were crowded during the year +1813. Their own Government had not then provided any thing towards +their expenses, and they were dependent entirely on the allowance of +the British officials. The garments they brought with them, at length +wearing out, they were reduced to the most miserable shifts to cover +their persons. As soon as it was dark, this half-famished multitude +was turned into their prison, and left without a light to pass the +long and dreary winter nights. Filthy, ragged, covered with vermin, +they strolled around the yard in the day time, or lay basking in the +sun to obtain a little warmth, and moody and despairing, gradually +sank, through degrading companionship and the demoralization of want +and suffering, lower and lower in the scale of humanity. A single +bucket, only, containing the food, was allowed to a mess, around which +they gathered with the avidity of starving men, and each with his +wooden spoon struggled to eat fastest and most. To add to their +sufferings the small-pox broke out among them, carrying many to their +graves. Faint and far echoes from home would now and then rekindle +hope in their bosoms, to be succeeded only by blank despair. + +The better portion strove manfully to arrest the tendency around them +to degradation, and constituted themselves a court to try offenders. +When theft was proved on one, a punishment of twenty-seven lashes was +inflicted. They also used every inducement to prevent the sailors from +enlisting in the British service, to which last resort many were +driven, to escape the horrors of that gloomy prison. + +When the 4th of July arrived, they determined to celebrate the +national anniversary in their own prison, and so having by some means +obtained two American standards, they placed them at the two ends of +the building, outside the walls, and forming into two columns marched +up and down the yard, singing patriotic songs, whistling patriotic +tunes, and cheering the flag of their country. The keeper, hearing of +it, ordered the turnkeys to take away the flags; but the prisoners +sent to him, requesting as a particular favor that they might be +allowed to celebrate the anniversary of their country's independence, +adding if he insisted on attacking their colors he must take the +consequences. The guards were then ordered in, when a scuffle ensued, +in which one flag was taken, but the prisoners bore the other off in +triumph to their room. At evening, when the guards came as usual to +shut them up, a great deal of severe language and opprobrious epithets +were used, stigmatizing the pitiful revenge in taking away their +flags as mean and contemptible. Retorts followed, blows succeeded, and +finally the guard fired on the crowd, wounding two men. Thus ended the +4th of July, 1813, in Dartmoor. + +In the apartments above the Americans, were crowded nearly a thousand +French prisoners, miserable outcasts, with scarcely any thing left of +our common humanity but the form. Many of them were entirely naked, +and slept on the stone floor, stretched out like so many swine. The +moment clothing was given them they would gamble it away. These +wretches formed a conspiracy to murder all the Americans. Arming +themselves with whatever weapon they could lay hands on, they +contrived one morning to get into the yard before the latter, and as +the first group of Americans, a hundred and fifty in number, emerged +into the open air, fell upon them with the ferocity of fiends. Passing +between them and the prison, they blocked the entrance to prevent the +others from coming to the rescue. A wild scene of confusion and tumult +followed. The French succeeded in stabbing and knocking down and +mangling nearly every American, and would doubtless have beaten the +whole to death had not the guard, attracted by the cries for help and +shrieks of murder, rushed in, and by a bayonet charge ended the fray. +A great number of the Americans were more or less injured and twenty +shockingly mangled. + +The succeeding months passed drearily away, with nothing occurring to +break the weary monotony of life, except at long intervals the arrival +of a fresh squad of prisoners. This was an event in their existence, +and replaced them once more in communication with the outward world. +The new comers were lions for the time. Eager groups gathered around +each one, impatiently asking after the news, and how the war got on. +The triumphs of our navy made them forget, for awhile, the gloom of +their dismal abode. Every action had to be described over and over +again, losing nothing by Jack's embellishments--the narration ever and +anon interrupted with huzzas and acclamations. They would lie for +hours awake in their hammocks, listening to the recital of the +marvellous sea-fights in which "free trade and sailors' rights" were +gallantly maintained, and cheers would burst out of the darkness, +ringing down through the tiers of cots that lined the walls. + +During the autumn of 1813, a fresh arrival of prisoners brought the +news of Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and the capture of the Boxer by +the Enterprise. These were the occasion of great rejoicing, and while +the more intelligent and respectable portion of the captives discussed +the victories calmly, the hundreds of common seamen shook the prison +walls with their uproarious mirth and unbounded exultation. + +[Sidenote: 1813.] + +The sufferings of the prisoners were the greatest during this +winter. They were allowed no fire and no light, although the windows +were not glazed; and locked within the cold damp stone walls at the +close of the short winter days, were compelled to spend the long +winter evenings in darkness, whiling away the time in telling +stories--keeping warm by huddling together, or creeping to their +hammocks with but a single tattered blanket to protect them from the +cold. To make their wretchedness complete, the winter set in with a +severity not felt before for half a century, and which has had no +parallel since. The mountain on which the prison stood was covered +with snow to the depth of from two to four feet. The stream running +through the prison yard, and the buckets of water in the prisoners' +room were frozen solid. Most of the prisoners being protected only +by rags, and destitute of shoes, they could not go out into the yard +at all, for it was covered with snow, but lay crouched in their +hammocks all day and all night. The strong were bowed in gloom and +despair, and the weak perished in protracted agonies. To fill up the +measure of their sufferings, the commanding officer issued an order +compelling them to turn out at nine o'clock in the morning, and +stand in the yard till the guard counted them. This took nearly an +hour, during which time the poor fellows stood barefoot in the snow, +benumbed by the cold and pierced by the bleak December blasts that +swept the desolate mountain, and hurled the snow in clouds through +the air. Unable to bear this dreadful exposure, the prisoners cut up +their bedding and made garments and socks for their feet to protect +them from the frost, and slept on the cold floor. Morning after +morning, hardy men overcome by the cold, fell lifeless in presence +of their keepers, and were carried to the hospital, where they were +resuscitated, only to be sent back to shiver and suffer on the icy +floor of their prison. The better class remonstrated against this +useless cruelty, but without effect. + +[Sidenote: Dec.] + +At length, in the latter part of the month, the agent was removed, and +Captain Shortland took his place, who immediately revoked the order +requiring the prisoners to be counted--represented strongly to the +board of transport the condition they were in, and used all the means +in his power to alleviate their sufferings and ameliorate the horrors +of their confinement. Still, no clothing was furnished, and the cold +was intense. The camp distemper also broke out, and many were not +sorry to take it, in order to get in the more comfortable quarters of +the hospital. + +Mr. Beasely was agent for American prisoners of war in England, to +whom those at Dartmoor constantly appealed for help. Receiving no +answers to their repeated appeals, they denounced him as unfeeling and +indifferent to their distress. At last, enraged at the neglect of +their own Government, as represented in Mr. Beasely, and maddened by +suffering, they drew up a paper and sent it to him, in which they +declared that unless relief was granted they would offer, _en masse_, +their services to the British Government. To this no answer was +received for about a month, when a letter arrived, announcing that the +United States would allow them about three cents a day to buy soap and +tobacco with. Slight as this relief was, it shed sunshine through that +prison. True, it was not sufficient to purchase them clothing; it did +more, however; it showed that they were recognized by their +Government--they were no longer disowned, forgotten men, but stood +once more in communication with the land of their birth, and +acknowledged to be American citizens. The moral effect of this +consciousness was wonderful, and notwithstanding their nakedness and +forlorn appearance, the prisoners felt at once a new dignity. A +committee was appointed to suppress gambling, and a petition got up to +separate them from the blacks, who were irredeemably given over to +thieving. Previous to this ninety-five had entered the British +service; now every one spurned the thought. They never would desert +the country that owned them as sons. + +In the spring the rigorous restrictions laid on them were relaxed, and +they were allowed the privilege of the French prisoners. Free access +to the other prisoners and to the market were given, and they +established a coffee-house in their prison, selling coffee at a penny +a pint. From French officers they learned the news of the day. The +world was thus again thrown open to them, and though the prospect of +exchange grew dimmer and dimmer, they resigned themselves with more +tranquillity to their contemplated long confinement. In the mean time +money began to arrive from friends at home, on which, as a capital, +the recipients set up as tobacconists, butter and potatoe merchants, +etc. Imitating the French, they learned to be economical, and invent +methods of increasing their revenue. The bones left from their beef +were converted into beautifully wrought miniature ships. Others +plaited straw for hats, made hair bracelets, list shoes, etc., turning +that gloomy receptacle of despairing, reckless men, into a perfect +hive of industry. Soon after, another letter from Mr. Beasely arrived, +stating that six cents a week, in addition to the former sum, would in +future be allowed, per man. This little sum diffused new pleasure +around, and filled every heart with animation and hope. They could now +purchase clothing and other little articles, necessary to render +their appearance becoming American citizens. + +Succeeding this came the news of Napoleon's downfall and termination +of the continental war. The French prisoners were, of course, +released, and the Americans purchased out their stock in trade, +utensils, &c. + +Among the prisoners were gray-haired men, and boys from thirteen to +seventeen years of age. For the latter a school was established, to +instruct them in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Soon another +welcome letter was received, announcing that the United States would +hereafter clothe them. Clad in clean new, though coarse clothing, they +now trod the yards of their prison with a manly bearing. The sense of +inferiority was gone, and the characteristic boldness and independence +of the American seamen again shone forth. They would argue with +English officers on the war, repel insult, and denounce every act of +cruelty or fraud as freely as if on their own soil. + +The English Government having resolved to make Dartmoor the general +depot of the prisoners, fresh arrivals soon swelled the number to +fourteen hundred. [Sidenote: 1814.] Being now in a better condition, +they resolved to celebrate the approaching 4th of July with becoming +pomp. American colors were obtained, two hogsheads of porter and some +rum purchased, and a grand dinner of soup and beef prepared. Early in +the morning the flag was run up, and as it flaunted to the wind, "ALL +CANADA, OR DARTMOOR PRISON FOR EVER!" was seen inscribed upon its +folds. At eleven the prisoners assembled, while the walls around were +lined with the English soldiers and officers and clerks, curious to +hear what kind of an oration a Yankee sailor would make. Mounted on a +cask, the orator launched at once into the war, showed how we had been +forced into it by the injustice of England, and dwelt with great +unction on the separate naval victories the brave tars had gained. +Dinner followed, the grog circulated freely, toasts were given, and a +song composed expressly for the occasion sung. Mirth and hilarity +ruled the hour, and the walls of that old prison shook to the +deafening cheers and boisterous mirth of these sons of the ocean. + +Soon after a plan of escape was put in execution, and for a long time +proceeded without detection. Every prisoner was sworn to secresy, and +a court organized to try any informer, who in case of conviction, was +to be hung. Shafts were sunk in the ground--the hole at the top being +carefully concealed--and broad excavations began and worked towards +the walls, beyond which they were to come to the surface. A traitor, +however, was found, who for the price of his liberty revealed all. + +From time to time some of the prisoners made their escape, but most +of them were retaken before they reached the sea-board.[12] + +[Footnote 12: A most daring and successful attempt was made by one of +the lieutenants of the privateer Rattlesnake. Having bribed one of the +sentinels with six guineas, to give him the countersign, he let +himself down with a rope, eighty feet, to the ground, and was just +about to pass the gate, when the villain who had received the six +guineas, informed against him. Enraged at the act, the lieutenant +sprung on him with his dagger, but was seized and bound before he +could plunge it in his heart. Arraigned before Capt. Shortland, he was +asked how he obtained the countersign. Lieutenant G---- replied, that +if the sentinel had behaved honorably to him, death itself could not +have wrested his name from him, for it was the character of Americans +always to keep their engagements; but, as he had deceived him, he +should suffer for it. The culprit's name was then given, and he +received three hundred lashes. Shortland then told the lieutenant he +was a brave man, and pledged his honor, if he would not again attempt +to escape, he would procure his exchange. The latter replied, that he +had seen too much of the honor of British officers, ever to take their +word, and he should escape that very night. The keeper assured him the +attempt would be fatal, as he should double the sentinels, and if he +made it he would most certainly be shot. Lieutenant G---- said he did +not care--death was preferable to that detestable prison. Having +obtained the countersign again, for three guineas, he that very night +lowered himself down, and though challenged seventeen times, passed +safely out. Keeping the fields he made his way to the sea-coast, where +he found a boat eighteen feet long, with one oar in it. In this frail +vessel, without provision or water, he determined to put to sea, and +cross the channel, one hundred miles, to France. Sculling it till he +got off shore, he converted his umbrella and clothes into a sail, and +stood boldly away. When about half way over, he discovered a +brig-of-war. The sea was running high at the time, but he immediately +took down the sail, and laid himself flat in the boat, to avoid being +seen. After the brig had passed him, he again hoisted sail, and after +a passage of thirty-six hours, landed safely in France.] + +The number of prisoners continued to increase, so that by autumn, over +five thousand were congregated in the prison. Before they were +released, the number was swelled to five thousand six hundred and +ninety-three. Frequent collisions occurred between them and the +officers, which embittered the animosity of the latter, and finally +brought on a bloody catastrophe. + +With the approach of winter great suffering was experienced. The +malignant small-pox again broke out, and raged with fatal violence +amid this army of men. + +The news of the treaty of peace, however, dissipated, for a time, all +their gloom, and diffused joy and hope through the prisons. The word +"HOME," was on every man's lips, and a speedy release from that den of +horrors and suffering was expected. But the gloomy winter passed, and +spring came, without mitigating their condition or restoring them to +freedom. The prisoners became exasperated. The two countries having +been so long at peace, they felt themselves entitled to their freedom. +They were no longer prisoners of war, but by the very act of the +treaty, American freemen. They burnt Mr. Beasely, the American agent, +in effigy, railed at their keepers, and swore they would make their +escape by violence if not soon released. + +On the fourth of April, Captain Shortland having gone to Plymouth, +they were not allowed any bread. Bearing the privation patiently, for +thirty-six hours, they resolved to break open the store-house and +supply themselves. So at dark as the officers entered the yard and +cried out, "_Turn in! Turn in!_" a signal previously agreed on was +given, and in an instant the excited thousands moved in one dark mass +towards the gates. One after another gave way before the tremendous +pressure, and these maddened hungry men rushed around the depot of +provisions, their shouts and cries ringing over the alarm bells and +beat of drums, that summoned the garrison to arms. The alarm spread to +the neighboring villages, and the militia began to pour in. In a few +moments the soldiers advanced with charged bayonets towards the +multitude, when they were sternly ordered off by the prisoners, who +swore that if they dared fire or charge, they would charge in turn, +and level that store-house to the ground, and march out of prison. The +officers, fearing the result of such a contest, prudently promised to +give them their usual supply if they would retire to their respective +prisons. They did so, and quiet was restored. The bold and successful +manner in which the Americans had overawed the soldiery and coerced +submission to their demands, irritated them highly, and made them wish +for a good opportunity to retaliate. [Sidenote: April 6.] This was +soon furnished. Two days after, Captain Shortland, who had returned, +observed a hole in that portion of the inner wall which separated two +of the prison yards from the barracks, and suspecting, or pretending +to suspect it was made by the prisoners for the purpose of escaping, +he immediately ordered the alarm bells to be rung and the drums to +beat. The prisoners, surprised and excited, rushed towards the gates +of the yard to ascertain the cause of the alarm. The thousands behind +pushing forward the thousands before, they became packed in an +impenetrable mass at the entrance, and the pressure was so great that +some were forced out through one of the gates that gave way. In the +midst of the confusion, Shortland entered the inner square with the +whole garrison. The soldiers advanced close to the throng, when the +prisoners retired towards their respective yards. Doubtless amid such +a vast and motley collection of men, many taunted the soldiers, +provoked them, and dared them to fire. Still they yielded before the +bayonet, and entered their own yard. The gates were shut, but a large +crowd remained in the passage, provoking the soldiers, from whom they +were separated by an iron railing, and threatening them with +vengeance. While in this position the order to fire was given. +Immediately the massacre commenced. Volley after volley was poured +into the terrified crowd, pushing down and trampling on each other in +their haste to reach the shelter of the prisons. Men were killed in +the act of supplicating mercy, others were shot down while struggling +to enter the prison doors. It was cold-blooded murder, and before all +the prisoners could get within the walls, over sixty were killed or +wounded. When the living had all escaped to a place of shelter, and +the carnage was over, the prison yard presented a ghastly spectacle. +The man of sixty, the sailor in his prime, and the boy of fifteen, lay +scattered around, while the groans of the wounded were borne to the +ears of the enraged prisoners within. A sullen silence fell on those +gloomy structures, the flags were raised half-mast, in token of +mourning, and the prisoners assembled together and appointed a +committee to report on the matter. + +Although the coroner's jury over the slain gave a verdict of +justifiable homicide, our Government took up the matter, and appointed +Charles King to meet Mr. Larpent, the English commissioner, and +investigate it. In their report no one was declared culpable, though +it was freely admitted wrong had been done. Mr. King was severely +censured for his conduct, but it was not easy to come to a just +conclusion, when the testimony of the two parties were so entirely at +variance. Mr. Larpent was bound to believe the assertions of Captain +Shortland and his troops, as much as Mr. King those of the prisoners. +Capt. Shortland declared he never gave the order to fire, and +attempted to arrest it after it had begun. This, of course, the +prisoners denied, some of them swearing they heard him give the +order. One thing, however, is certain; Mr. King never should have let +this massacre of Americans pass, with so slight a condemnation as it +received at his hands. In the first place, there is good reason to +doubt whether Captain Shortland believed there was any great danger at +all. A hole in a wall, only large enough to admit the passage of a +single man at a time, could easily be stopped up without ringing alarm +bells and beating drums, especially as that hole communicated with +only two out of five of the yards, and when in three of these yards +the prisoners were walking about in their usual quiet manner. Nor +could he believe they meditated an escape, when they had just received +word that preparations were nearly completed for their restoration to +liberty. Where could they escape to without money or clothing? +Besides, if they wished to free themselves by violence, why did they +not do it two days before, when they had completely cowed the soldiers +and had only to march forth without farther resistance. + +In the second place, he deserved disgrace and punishment, for +allowing the soldiers to press on the multitude, when he saw them +evidently, or the great mass of them, retiring to their prisons. To +fire on a mob, unless they are pressing forward to assail authority +and force, is brutal. If he gave the order to fire, he should have +been hung. If he did not, he should be held responsible for having +such undisciplined troops under his command. An act like this cannot +be committed and nobody be deserving of reprehension. The commander +of a garrison cannot so escape responsibility. The probability is, +enraged at the conduct of the prisoners in forcing the soldiers to +yield to their demands two days before, he resolved to punish the +first attempt at insubordination, and irritated at the insolence and +taunts of some of them, he in a fit of passion gave the order to +fire. Conscience-smitten afterwards, and fearing disgrace and +punishment, he endeavored to cover up the dark transaction. + +Mr. King had rather, at any time, smooth over a quarrel, than increase +the exasperation by dealing sternly with its causes. With his thousand +noble and excellent qualities, he lacked the energy of will and +unflinching severity necessary to probe such a difficulty to the +bottom, and see that justice was done at whatever cost. A great wrong +was committed, though doubtless with good intentions and a patriotic +heart. + + + + +_The following_ TAX TABLES, _showing the relative amount of taxation +during the last two years of the war, are extracted from voluminous +tables found in the revenue department. The whole to be found in +Ingersoll's History of the War of 1812._ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Stills and Boilers._ + + +----------------------+-------------------------+------------------------+ + | | In 1814. | In 1815. | + | STATES OR |-------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + | TERRITORIES. | Domestic | Foreign | Domestic | Foreign | + | | materials. | materials.| materials. | materials.| + +----------------------+-------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + | New Hampshire | 3,982 50 | 213 90 | 888 69 | 3,015 90 | + | Massachusetts | 33,735 64 | 39,272 28 | 23,381 83 | 57,959 11 | + | Vermont | 31,836 54 | | 14,263 | | + | Rhode Island | 6,918 73 | 9,346 50 | 4,073 28 | 8,440 80 | + | Connecticut | 50,067 34 | 50,867 66 | 3,524 65 | | + | New York | 225,979 31 | 6,201 45 | 120,522 03 | 10,299 23 | + | New Jersey | 54,845 67 | 25,033 72 | 4,953 90 | | + | Pennsylvania | 392,536 23 | 56 70 | 228,042 13 | | + | Delaware | 4,457 64 | | 209 11 | | + | Maryland | 60,378 10 | | 28,910 87 | | + | Virginia | 264,135 97 | 3 50 | 87,702 63 | | + | North Carolina | 87,738 22 | | 13,353 81 | | + | Ohio | 75,596 85 | | 33,819 16 | | + | Kentucky | 141,157 50 | | 57,807 62 | | + | South Carolina | 66,941 37 | 1,425 00 | 12,615 84 | 2,550 77 | + | Tennessee | 77,091 59 | 34,244 77 | | | + | Georgia | 29,262 34 | 925 00 | 14,929 56 | 864 00 | + | Louisiana | 7,741 84 | | 6,109 72 | | + | Illinois Territory | 605 35 | | 214 91 | | + | Michigan " | | | | | + | Indiana " | 2,358 50 | | 923 20 | | + | Missouri " | 2,033 95 | | 1,631 08 | | + | Mississippi " | 1,862 41 | | 958 48 | | + | District of Columbia | 279 27 | | | | + +----------------------+-------------+-----------+------------+-----------| + | Total |1,621,542 86 | 57,444 33 | 760,804 22 | 91,608 36 | + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Spirits distilled in the United +States._ + + +---------------------+-----------------------------------------+ + | | In 1815. | + | +----------------------------+------------+ + | STATES OR | Domestic materials. | Foreign | + | TERRITORIES. | | materials. | + | +--------------+-------------+------------+ + | | At 20 cents | At 25 cents | At 20 cents| + | | per gal. | per gal. | per gal. | + +---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ + | | | | | + |New Hampshire | 861 81 | 137 05 | 4,840 81 | + |Massachusetts | 29,877 84 | 1,548 14 | 110,147 27 | + |Vermont | 18,017 56 | 816 14 | | + |Rhode Island | 6,097 71 | | 12,185 97 | + |Connecticut | 52,996 04 | 3,692 09 | 5,645 20 | + |New York | 199,645 92 | 5,672 31 | 15,519 65 | + |New Jersey | 69,081 42 | 10,329 74 | 5,477 20 | + |Pennsylvania | 381,484 71 | 38,393 24 | | + |Delaware | 600 35 | 22,295 38 | | + |Maryland | 66,177 25 | 32,428 34 | | + |Virginia | 179,387 95 | 201,566 82 | | + |North Carolina | 21,961 11 | 175,922 07 | | + |Ohio | 56,653 68 | 15,128 83 | | + |Kentucky | 114,644 40 | 39,569 10 | | + |South Carolina | 19,640 77 | 68,107 41 | 3,391 30 | + |Tennessee | 55,284 66 | 56,573 59 | | + |Georgia | 17,563 00 | 65,162 75 | 2,021 60 | + |Louisiana | 12,756 54 | 177 35 | | + |Illinois Territory | 549 23 | 701 26 | | + |Michigan " | | | | + |Indiana " | 641 50 | 2,508 17 | | + |Missouri " | 833 50 | 622 89 | | + |Mississippi " | 583 37 | 1,045 90 | | + |District of Columbia | | | | + +---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ + | Total | 1,305,340 39 | 742,398 57 | 159,229 00 | + +---------------------+--------------+-------------+------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Carriages._ + + +----------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ + | STATES OR | In 1814. | In 1815. | + | TERRITORIES. +--------+------------+--------+------------+ + | | Number.| Duty. | Number.| Duty. | + +----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+ + | New Hampshire | 3,279 | 6,895 51 | 3,337 | 4,514 09 | + | Massachusetts | 14,934 | 33,995 64 | 14,184 | 21,748 49 | + | Vermont | 1,227 | 2,890 24 | 1,628 | 2,443 09 | + | Rhode Island | 1,232 | 2,877 50 | 722 | 1,123 03 | + | Connecticut | 5,262 | 13,419 80 | 6,319 | 10,202 46 | + | New York | 6,499 | 22,834 15 | 7,715 | 18,675 91 | + | New Jersey | 4,502 | 16,781 26 | 7,892 | 14,790 02 | + | Pennsylvania | 7,848 | 26,800 80 | 8,361 | 20,076 29 | + | Delaware | 2,261 | 5,228 21 | 2,081 | 4,018 58 | + | Maryland | 5,014 | 17,676 78 | 4,550 | 13,283 87 | + | Virginia | 8,067 | 30,401 80 | 7,047 | 20,147 24 | + | North Carolina | 5,766 | 14,147 44 | 4,859 | 8,907 95 | + | Ohio | 160 | 628 36 | 219 | 732 45 | + | Kentucky | 610 | 3,025 77 | 546 | 3,192 86 | + | South Carolina | 4,560 | 15,411 58 | 4,178 | 11,345 94 | + | Tennessee | 209 | 778 22 | 154 | 781 43 | + | Georgia | 2,667 | 7,159 75 | 1,948 | 6,095 60 | + | Louisiana | 495 | 1,435 83 | 430 | 1,357 27 | + | Illinois Territory | 19 | 66 62 | 18 | 36 75 | + | Michigan " | 31 | 76 00 | 28 | 60 00 | + | Indiana " | 4 | 6 00 | 5 | 17 44 | + | Missouri " | 18 | 79 00 | 6 | 47 00 | + | Mississippi " | 78 | 371 00 | 73 | 371 98 | + | District of Columbia | 353 | 2,171 21 | 316 | 1,747 57 | + +----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+ + | Total | 77,095 | 225,156 47 | 76,616 | 165,717 31 | + +----------------------+--------+------------+--------+------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Licenses to Retailers._ + + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | STATES OR | | | + | TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | New Hampshire | 18,449 00 | 24,535 64 | + | Massachusetts | 86,211 12 | 113,906 95 | + | Vermont | 14,417 00 | 22,337 54 | + | Rhode Island | 16,058 00 | 10,093 53 | + | Connecticut | 32,820 26 | 42,616 04 | + | New York | 174,748 76 | 201,757 84 | + | New Jersey | 29,701 00 | 35,607 87 | + | Pennsylvania | 160,939 21 | 153,018 84 | + | Delaware | 10,102 88 | 8,093 12 | + | Maryland | 49,256 20 | 58,747 36 | + | Virginia | 52,038 68 | 69,620 64 | + | North Carolina | 23,985 00 | 32,967 98 | + | Ohio | 20,574 00 | 26,923 23 | + | Kentucky | 19,255 00 | 23,789 71 | + | South Carolina | 26,599 00 | 28,142 91 | + | Tennessee | 10,462 00 | 13,280 54 | + | Georgia | 13,908 00 | 24,454 33 | + | Louisiana | 7,497 00 | 9,773 09 | + | Illinois Territory | 1,115 00 | 1,248 80 | + | Michigan " | 1,405 00 | 1,817 10 | + | Indiana " | 2,191 00 | 3,139 59 | + | Missouri " | 1,540 00 | 1,861 46 | + | Mississippi " | 3,692 00 | 4,837 74 | + | District of Columbia | 10,140 00 | 14,872 62 | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | | 786,005 11 | 927,444 47 | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Sales at Auction._ + + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | STATUS OR | | | + | TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | New Hampshire | 776 07 | 2,245 79 | + | Massachusetts | 35,359 04 | 87,643 63 | + | Vermont | 14 25 | 75 20 | + | Rhode Island | 6,274 82 | 452 01 | + | Connecticut | 283 89 | 635 55 | + | New York | 48,480 35 | 332,841 64 | + | New Jersey | 3,384 32 | 949 84 | + | Pennsylvania | 34,630 74 | 229,764 45 | + | Delaware | 116 25 | 453 82 | + | Maryland | 9,623 15 | 102,758 79 | + | Virginia | 4,079 37 | 20,003 64 | + | North Carolina | 1,237 62 | 3,734 47 | + | Ohio | 549 31 | 636 22 | + | Kentucky | 270 92 | 1,371 29 | + | South Carolina | 2,631 39 | 18,401 94 | + | Tennessee | 63 31 | 291 06 | + | Georgia | 1,346 34 | 4,133 92 | + | Louisiana | 4,832 24 | 13,504 09 | + | Illinois Territory | | | + | Michigan " | 80 04 | 71 05 | + | Indiana " | | | + | Missouri " | | | + | Mississippi " | 210 13 | 750 47 | + | District of Columbia | 385 65 | 4,413 96 | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + | | 154,629 20 | 825,132 83 | + +----------------------+--------------+--------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Refined Sugars._ + + +-----------------------+-------------+-------------+ + | STATES OR | | | + | TERRITORIES. | In 1814. | 1815. | + +-----------------------+-------------+-------------+ + | New Hampshire | | | + | Massachusetts | 3,542 36 | 4,394 17 | + | Vermont | | | + | Rhode Island | | | + | Connecticut | | | + | New York | 7,468 12 | 40,279 69 | + | New Jersey | | | + | Pennsylvania | 157 03 | 6,127 41 | + | Delaware | | | + | Maryland | | 18,619 48 | + | Virginia | 23 40 | 980 32 | + | North Carolina | | | + | Ohio | | | + | Kentucky | | | + | South Carolina | | | + | Tennessee | | | + | Georgia | | | + | Louisiana | 479 00 | 408 05 | + | Illinois Territory | | | + | Michigan " | | | + | Indiana " | | | + | Missouri " | | | + | Mississippi " | | | + | District of Columbia | | 4,413 96 | + +-----------------------+-------------+-------------+ + | | 11,669 91 | 75,223 08 | + +-----------------------+-------------+-------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Stamps and in lieu of Stamps by +Banks._ + + +---------------------+------------------------+------------------------+ + | | In 1814. | In 1815. | + | STATES OR +------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + | TERRITORIES. |On paper and|Banks in |On paper and|By Banks in| + | |Bank Notes. |lieu of |Bank Notes. | lieu, &c. | + | | |Bank Notes.|Bank Notes. | lieu, &c. | + +---------------------|------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + | New Hampshire | 773 02 | 130 21 | 646 70 | 1,020 78 | + | Massachusetts | 20,741 47 | 2,880 00 | 5,520 74 | 9,339 73 | + | Vermont | 19 60 | | 35 75 | | + | Rhode Island | 5,825 15 | 97 29 | 1,131 82 | 1,461 01 | + | Connecticut | 11,152 07 | 2,445 44 | 9,126 97 | 3,015 91 | + | New York | 87,971 51 | 8,289 31 | 57,725 72 | 18,661 48 | + | New Jersey | 5,905 82 | 1,609 04 | 4,868 90 | 2,105 66 | + | Pennsylvania | 80,580 65 | 2,874 80 | 74,470 96 | 15,638 22 | + | Delaware | 5,570 10 | 669 48 | 3,769 01 | 753 54 | + | Maryland | 35,364 67 | 7,716 21 | 47,590 18 | 8,166 19 | + | Virginia | 36,308 41 | 2,516 96 | 33,235 88 | 6,061 96 | + | North Carolina | 9,132 80 | 1,865 94 | 11,909 15 | 2,852 40 | + | Ohio | 6,781 47 | 273 79 | 8,964 82 | 1,870 65 | + | Kentucky | 8,238 69 | | 7,937 97 | 1,531 18 | + | South Carolina | 18,916 55 | 4,055 44 | 18,156 65 | 4,093 51 | + | Tennessee | 1,619 85 | | 2,118 92 | 347 77 | + | Georgia | 5,736 75 | 900 37 | 6,302 95 | 1,070 69 | + | Louisiana | 11,151 21 | 384 66 | 10,821 53 | 1,920 00 | + | Illinois Territory | 7 85 | | 4 50 | | + | Michigan " | 26 10 | | 16 35 | | + | Indiana " | | | | | + | Missouri " | 84 10 | | 1,191 02 | | + | Mississippi " | 983 03 | 138 36 | 93 90 | | + | District of Columbia| 18,053 90 | 2,713 95 | 28,569 31 | 4,507 92 | + +---------------------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + | Total | 370,945 27 | 39,571 25 | 334,209 70 | 84,418 10 | + +---------------------+------------+-----------+------------+-----------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Household Furniture._ + + +------------------------+---------------+ + | STATES OR | In 1815. | + | TERRITORIES. | | + +------------------------+---------------+ + | New Hampshire | 376 00 | + | Massachusetts | 677 50 | + | Vermont | 211 50 | + | Rhode Island | 782 50 | + | Connecticut | 807 00 | + | New York | 10,877 00 | + | New Jersey | 1,527 50 | + | Pennsylvania | | + | Delaware | 434 50 | + | Maryland | 580 50 | + | Virginia | 168 50 | + | North Carolina | | + | Ohio | 104 50 | + | Kentucky | | + | South Carolina | 2,854 50 | + | Tennessee | | + | Georgia | 1,050 00 | + | Louisiana | | + | Illinois Territory | | + | Michigan " | | + | Indiana " | | + | Missouri " | | + | Mississippi " | | + | District of Columbia | 1,174 00 | + +------------------------+---------------+ + | Total | 21,625 50 | + +------------------------+---------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on Gold and Silver Watches._ + + +------------------------+---------------+ + | STATES OR | In 1815. | + | TERRITORIES. | | + +------------------------+---------------+ + | New Hampshire | 3,377 00 | + | Massachusetts | 4,385 50 | + | Vermont | 2,765 00 | + | Rhode Island | 2,876 00 | + | Connecticut | 5,457 00 | + | New York | 30,449 50 | + | New Jersey | 7,784 00 | + | Pennsylvania | | + | Delaware | 2,943 00 | + | Maryland | 2,408 00 | + | Virginia | 33 00 | + | North Carolina | | + | Ohio | 3,104 00 | + | Kentucky | | + | South Carolina | 5,380 00 | + | Tennessee | 252 50 | + | Georgia | 2,472 00 | + | Louisiana | | + | Illinois Territory | | + | Michigan " | | + | Indiana " | | + | Missouri " | | + | Mississippi " | | + | District of Columbia | 1,636 00 | + +------------------------+---------------+ + | Total | 75,322 50 | + +------------------------+---------------+ + + +_Internal Duties which accrued on sundry articles manufactured in the +United States._ + + +------------------------+----------------+ + | STATES OR | In 1815. | + | TERRITORIES. | | + +------------------------+----------------+ + | New Hampshire | 4,540 76 | + | Massachusetts | 56,784 89 | + | Vermont | 9,250 40 | + | Rhode Island | 910 00 | + | Connecticut | 20,504 80 | + | New York | 157,176 79 | + | New Jersey | 28,546 87 | + | Pennsylvania | 228,188 88 | + | Delaware | 10,803 31 | + | Maryland | 70,746 17 | + | Virginia | 88,154 31 | + | North Carolina | 12,801 23 | + | Ohio | 23,270 60 | + | Kentucky | 33,184 46 | + | South Carolina | 10,156 58 | + | Tennessee | 15,373 43 | + | Georgia | 8,993 25 | + | Louisiana | 1,283 03 | + | Illinois Territory | 220 14 | + | Michigan " | 39 46 | + | Indiana " | 1,064 44 | + | Missouri " | 162 68 | + | Mississippi " | 1,158 61 | + | District of Columbia | 10,309 97 | + +------------------------+----------------+ + | Total | 793,625 06 | + +------------------------+----------------+ + + +_Aggregate of internal Duties which accrued._ + + +----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | DUTIES ON | In 1814. | In 1815. | + +----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | Stills, from domestic materials | 1,621,152 86 | 760,804 22 | + | " " foreign " | 57,444 33 | 91,608 36 | + | Spirits, from domestic materials | | 2,047,738 96 | + | " " foreign " | | 159,229 00 | + | Carriages | 225,158 47 | 165,717 31 | + | Retailers | 786,005 11 | 927,444 47 | + | Sales at auction | 154,629 20 | 825,132 83 | + | Stamps | 370,945 27 | 334,209 70 | + | " Bank notes, composition | 39,571 25 | 84,418 10 | + | Household furniture | | 21,625 50 | + | Gold and silver watches | | 75,322 50 | + | Refined sugar | 11,669 91 | 75,223 08 | + | Articles manufactured in the | | | + | United States | | 793,625 06 | + +----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | Total | 3,266,576 40 | 6,362,099 09 | + +----------------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + + +_Direct Taxes._ + + +------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | STATES. | Tax of Aug. 3, | Tax of Jan. 9, | + | | 1813. | 1815. | + +------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | New Hampshire | 97,049 21 | 193,755 99 | + | Vermont | 98,534 52 | 196,789 29 | + | Massachusetts | 318,154 84 | 632,065 00 | + | Rhode Island | 34,758 86 | 69,431 78 | + | Connecticut | 118,533 63 | 236,507 38 | + | New York | 435,028 35 | 860,283 24 | + | New Jersey | 108,871 83 | 218,252 77 | + | Pennsylvania | 365,479 16 | 733,941 09 | + | Delaware | 32,294 76 | 63,847 32 | + | Maryland | 152,327 64 | 306,708 81 | + | Virginia | 369,018 44 | 739,738 06 | + | North Carolina | 220,962 98 | 440,321 11 | + | South Carolina | 151,905 48 | 303,810 96 | + | Georgia | 94,936 49 | 189,872 98 | + | Kentucky | 168,928 76 | 341,316 24 | + | Tennessee | 111,039 59 | 221,567 44 | + | Ohio | 104,150 14 | 208,300 28 | + | Louisiana | 31,621 43 | 57,519 22 | + | District of Columbia | | 20,605 86 | + +------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + | Total | 3,013,596 11 | 6,034,634 82 | + +------------------------+----------------+----------------+ + + + + +INDEX. + + + A. + + Adams the Elder, his view of the conduct of England in 1785, i. 24; + of the war, i. 66. + + Adams, John Q., resigns his seat in Massachusetts Legislature, i. 31; + appointed commissioner to negotiate a peace, i. 328. + + Adams, sloop of war, cruise of, ii. 165; + burnt, ii. 106. + + Adair, General, commands the Kentuckians at New Orleans, ii. 221 + + Allen, Col., i. 179. + + Allen, Captain of the Argus, his death, i. 285. + + Allen, Lieutenant H., i. 258. + + Appling, Major, captures the British detachment sent against + Lieutenant Woolsey, ii. 72. + + Angus, Lieutenant, at Niagara, i. 113. + + Argus chased by an English squadron, i. 155; + cruises in the English channel, i. 252; + captured by the Pelican, i. 254. + + Armstrong, Secretary of War, i. 205; + plan of his campaign against Canada, i. 291; + his disgrace after the battle of Bladensburg, ii. 139. + + Armstrong, General, Privateer, Capt. Reid, her desperate engagement + in Fayal Bay, ii. 270. + + Armstrong, Lieutenant, heroism of, at the ford of Enotochopeo, ii. 34. + + Armistead, Major, his gallant defence of fort McHenry, ii. 143. + + + B. + + Backwoodsmen at Chippewa, ii, 83. + + Berlin and Milan decrees, i. 20; + revoked, i. 41. + + Beaver Dams, battle of, i. 221. + + Blockade, rules of the Coast, i. 259, ii. 115. + + Barlow, Joel, Minister to France, i. 41. + + Barney, Captain, commands flotilla in the Chesapeake, ii. 116; + at Bladensburg, ii. 125. + + Boestler, Col., i. 112; + defeated at Beaver Dams, i. 221. + + Brock, General, i. 83; + his death, i. 102. + + Broke, Commodore, chases the Constitution, i. 137; + captures the Chesapeake, i. 246. + + Brown, General, at Ogdensburg, i. 116; + defends Sackett's Harbor, i. 215; + commands on Niagara frontier, ii. 75; + at Chippewa, ii. 77; + threatens English forts on the Niagara, ii. 88; + his victory at Lundy's Lane, ii. 91; + takes command of Fort Erie, ii. 107; + his successful sortie, ii. 109. + + Brooks, Lieutenant, killed on Lake Erie, i. 279. + + Brooke, Colonel, succeeds General Ross, ii. 143. + + Bainbridge, Captain, remonstrates with the President against + laying up the navy, i. 128; + takes command of the Constitution, i. 151; + captures the Java, i. 162; + his character, i. 167; + singular dream of, i. 167. + + Battle of Queenstown, i. 101; + of Lake Erie, i. 279; + of the Thames, i. 289; + of Chrystler's field, i. 298; + of La Cole Mill, i. 313; + of Talladega, ii. 20; + of the Horse Shoe, ii. 27; + of Chippewa, ii. 77; + of Lundy's Lane, ii. 88; + of Bladenburg, ii. 124; + of Plattsburgh, ii. 155; + of New Orleans, ii. 215, 217, 221. + + _Bills_ in Congress, respecting minors, i. 225, ii. 187; + army, 226; + the navy, ii. 188. + + Blakely, Captain, of the Wasp, ii. 167. + + Boxer taken by the Enterprise, i. 250. + + Boyd, General, i. 297. + + Burrows, Lieutenant, commands the Enterprise, i. 248; + captures the Boxer, his death, i. 250. + + Buffalo burned, i. 300. + + Bowyer Fort, defence of, ii. 201. + + Beasely, agent for American prisoners in England, ii. 286. + + Biddle, Captain, of the Hornet, ii. 249; + narrow escape of, from a British man of war, ii. 253, 254. + + + C. + + Cambria, British frigate, boards an American merchantman in + New York Bay, i. 19. + + Canning, Prime Minister of Great Britain, i. 28. + + Chesapeake and Leopard, i. 32; + Chesapeake captured, i. 236; + exultation in England, i. 247. + + Campaign of 1813, plan of, i. 205; + Third into Canada, ii. 67. + + Cabot, John, delegate to the Hartford Convention; + George elected President of, ii. 194. + + _Congress_ revokes the restrictive system, i. 40; + the Twelfth, state of parties, i. 42, 43; + debates in, i. 45, 50, 52; + second session, i. 224; + Debates on bonds of Merchants, &c., i. 225; + on army bill, i. 226; + acts passed, i. 243; + Thirteenth, i. 319; + leaders of, i. 320; + first session and acts of, i. 325; + second session, i. 327; + acts of, i. 345; + third session, ii. 174; + embarrassments of, ii. 188. + + Campbell, Secretary of Treasury, report, ii. 175; + resigned, ii. 177. + + Campbell, General, destroys Indian villages, i. 178. + + Cass, Col., i. 74, 82, 85. + + Calhoun, sketch of, i. 238; + speech on repeal of embargo, i. 342. + + Castlereagh, i. 53, 54; + arrival at Ghent, ii. 180. + + Chauncey, Commodore, commands on Lake Ontario, i. 207; + forces Sir James Yeo into Burlington, i. 293. + + Chippewa, battle of, ii. 77. + + Clay, elected speaker of Congress, i. 43; + speech in reply to Randolph, i. 46; + on embargo, i. 51; + against Quincy, and on impressment in the war, i. 231; + sketch of, i. 240; + asks for investigation of British outrages, i. 262; + appointed commissioner to negotiate a peace, i. 328. + + Clay, Col., relieves Harrison, i. 198; + his command destroyed, i. 199; + commands Fort Meigs, i. 199. + + Coffee, General, defeats Black Warrior, ii. 14; + victory of Tallushatchee, ii. 17; + helps Jackson quell a mutiny, ii. 27; + gallantry at Emuckfaw, ii. 32; + at Enotochopeo, ii. 34; + at the Horse Shoe, ii. 39; + at New Orleans, ii. 205, 209, 220. + + Chrystie Col., at Queenstown, i. 101. + + Chrystler's Field, battle of, i. 298. + + Creek Indians, i. 194; + war with, ii. 13-44. + + Craney Island, defence of, ii. 262. + + Constitution frigate sails from Annapolis, i. 136; + chased by an English squadron, i. 137; + captures the Guerriere, i. 146; + captures the Java, i. 162; + cruise of, in 1814-15, ii. 237; + captures the Cyane and Levant, ii. 238; + takes her prizes into St. Jago, ii. 240; + chased by an English fleet, ii. 242; + affection of the nation for her, ii. 243. + + Commissioners appointed to negotiate a peace, i. 328; + their mortification at the arrival of the news of the burning + of Washington, ii. 117; + unfavorable news from, and their meeting at Ghent, ii. 178; + terms of the English ministers, &c., ii. 178-190. + + Cochrane, Admiral, arrives in the Chesapeake, ii. 117; + bombards Fort McHenry, ii. 143. + + Chandler, General, reinforces Winder in Canada, i. 218; + taken prisoner, i. 219. + + Chittenden, Governor of Vermont, recalls a brigade, i. 321; + his apathy under the repeated calls of Macomb for aid, ii. 149. + + Cockburn, i. 259; + plunders Hampton, i. 203; + his character, ii. 197; + conduct in the sack of Washington, ii. 128, 130. + + Comet, privateer, Capt. Boyd, her engagement with three English + merchantmen and a Portuguese brig of war, ii. 265. + + Covington General, killed at Chrystler's field, i. 298. + + Cheves, Langdon, appointed Speaker of the Thirteenth Congress, i. 329. + + Carroll, Colonel, bravery at Talladega, ii. 20; + at New Orleans, ii. 220. + + Chasseur, privateer, Capt. Boyle, description of; + her engagement with the English war schooner St. Lawrence, ii. 275. + + Cruelty of British naval officers, ii. 278. + + Croghan, Major, bravery at Sandusky, i. 201. + + Connecticut, action of her Legislature against the bill for the + enlistment of minors, ii. 187. + + Clairborne, General, defeats the Indians under Weathersby, ii. 30. + + Clairborne, Governor of Louisiana; + his support of Jackson, ii. 216. + + Currency, deranged state of, in 1814, ii. 176. + + Crowningshield, Secretary of navy, recommends a conscription of + seamen, ii. 189. + + + D. + + Dearborn appointed Major General, i. 70; + enters into an armistice with Prevost, i. 99; + enters Canada, i. 117; + retires to winter quarters, i. 118; + review of his first campaign, i. 120; + second campaign, i. 205; + attacks Fort George, i. 213; + his inaction, i. 221; + his removal, i. 222. + + Dartmoor prison, description of, ii. 280; + fourth of July in, ii. 282; + in 1814, ii. 289; + daring escape from, by a lieutenant, ii. 291. + + Dacres, Captain, i. 148. + + Dallas, Alexander, Secretary of the Treasury, ii. 177; + his scheme to relieve the government, ii. 178; + second report on state of Treasury, ii. 189. + + Decatur commands the United States, captures the Macedonian, i. 152; + blockaded in New London, and challenges two English frigates, i. 311; + commands the President, ii. 245; + chased by an English fleet, ii. 246; + his capture, ii. 247. + + Decatur privateer, Capt. Diron, captures a British war + schooner, ii. 268. + + Dolphin, privateer, captures two English vessels, ii. 264. + + Downes, Lieutenant, commands Essex Junior, ii. 48; + assists the Marquesas tribes, ii. 50; + wounded by the Typees, ii. 51. + + Drummond, General, at Lundy's Lane, ii. 89; + assaults Fort Erie, ii. 100. + + Drummond, Lieut.-Col, killed at Fort Erie, ii. 104. + + Dudley, Colonel, killed at Fort Meigs, i. 199. + + Downie, Captain, commands the British fleet in Lake Champlain, ii. 152. + + Dwight, Timothy, Secretary of Hartford Convention, ii. 194. + + + E. + + Embargo, its effect on the country, i. 26-29; + repealed, i. 32; + re-enacted, i. 50; + laid by Thirteenth Congress, i. 327; + repealed, i. 342. + + Epervier, ii. 170. + + Erie, Fort, assault of, by Gen. Drummond, ii. 103. + + Erskine, English Minister, i. 36; + disavowal of his treaty, i. 38. + + England, her conduct towards France and the world, i. 37; + astonishment at our naval victories; + her exultation over the capture of the Chesapeake; + her vast preparations for war in 1813, i. 259; + her rejoicing over the destruction of Washington compared + with her condemnation of the acts of Napoleon, ii. 136, 137. + + Enterprise, brig, i. 248; + captures the Boxer, i. 250; + takes the Privateer Mars; + chased by a frigate, i. 251. + + Eppes succeeds Randolph in Congress, i. 319; + his report on state of finances, i. 322; + his currency scheme, ii. 127. + + Essex captures the Alert, i. 143; + her cruise in the Pacific, ii. 65, 66; + is captured at Valparaiso, ii. 66. + + + F. + + Federalists, triumph of, in New England, i, 265; + leaders of in Massachusetts, their exultation over the failure + of Wilkinson's campaign, i. 301; + hostility of, i. 326. + + Federalists and Democrats, i. 59-65. + + Floyd, General, defeats the Indians at Autossee, ii. 31; + victorious over the Creeks, ii. 35. + + Frederickton destroyed, i. 260. + + Forsyth, Colonel, i. 116; + at York, i. 208. + + Forsyth, John, speech of, in Thirteenth Congress, i. 337. + + Fort George captured by the Americans, i. 213. + + + G. + + Gamble, Lieutenant, ii. 51. + + Gallatin opposes the employment of the navy, i. 130; + appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty, i. 328; + letter to government advising war, ii. 181. + + Gaines, General, takes command of the army stationed at Fort + Erie, ii. 100; + repels Drummond, ii. 103; + succeeds Jackson at New Orleans, ii. 228. + + Generosity of Americans, i. 203. + + Georgetown destroyed, i. 260. + + Globe privateer, her action with two brigs, ii. 267. + + Gordon, Captain, gallant adherence to Jackson, ii. 26. + + Guerriere captured by the Constitution, i. 148; + blown up, i. 149. + + Gunnery, superiority of American, i. 175. + + + H. + + Harmar, General, i. 17. + + Hammond, British minister in 1791, i. 25. + + Harrington, Captain, ii. 172. + + Harrison, General, supersedes Hull, i. 95; + at Fort Deposit and Fort Defiance, i. 96; + plans a winter campaign, i. 177; + at Fort Meigs, i. 196; + pursues Proctor, i. 286; + defeats him, i. 289. + + Hartford Convention, History of, ii. 191-200; + delegates to Washington, ii. 231. + + Hall, Judge, fines General Jackson, ii. 227. + + Henry, John, his character and career, i. 49. + + Hindman, Major, his gallantry at Lundy's Lane, ii. 94. + + Hull, General, his campaign, i. 71; + tried by court-martial, i. 87; + character, i. 88. + + Hull, Captain, commands the Constitution: his instructions, i. 136; + chased by an English squadron, i. 138; + captures the Guerriere, i. 139; + effect of the victory, i. 151. + + Hopkins, General, i. 95. + + Hardy, Commodore, remonstrates against the use of torpedos, i. 265. + + Hamilton, Secretary of the navy, i. 68. + + Hamilton, Lieutenant, is sent with the colors of the Macedonian + to Washington. + + Hampton plundered, i. 263. + + Hampton, General, commands at Plattsburgh, i. 292; + advances into Canada, i. 294; + retreats, i. 295; + refuses to join Wilkinson, i. 299; + goes into winter quarters at Plattsburgh, i. 300; + strictures on, i. 302. + + Hornet captures the Peacock, i. 170; + takes the Penguin, ii. 249; + chased by an English man of war, ii. 252. + + Holmes, Captain, his expedition into Canada, i. 315; + killed at Mackinaw, ii. 73. + + Hillyar, Captain, captures the Essex, ii. 61. + + Henderson, Colonel, killed at New Orleans, ii. 216. + + + I. + + Impressment in 1796, i. 18; + cause of war, i. 19. + + Indians, number in the Western States in 1812, and the + hostility, i. 190; + number of Choctaws, Chickesaws and Creeks, i. 193. + + Izard, General, defeated under General Hampton, i. 295; + succeeds Wilkinson, ii. 106. + + + J. + + Jay, treaty of, in 1796, i. 26. + + Jefferson, proclamation against English vessels, i. 33. + + Jackson, English Minister in place of Erskine, i. 39; + recalled, i. 40. + + Jackson, General, ordered to Natchez, ii. 12; + made Major-General of the Tennessee Militia, ii. 12; + marches to Huntsville, ii. 15; + dispatches General Coffee against Black Warrior's town, ii. 17; + his conduct of the Creek war, ii. 12-44; + appointed Major-General, ii. 199; + seizes Pensacola, ii. 202; + marches to New Orleans, ii. 203; + his preparations for the defence of the place, ii. 204; + attacks the British, ii. 209, 210; + his final victory, ii. 221; + fined by Judge Hall, ii. 227; + review of his conduct, ii. 228. + + Jessup, Colonel at Chippewa, ii. 80; + his heroism at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86-92; + watches the Hartford Convention, ii. 194. + + Johnson, Colonel and Lieut.-Colonel, at battle of Thames, i. 288. + + Jones, Captain of the Wasp, i. 155; + captures the Frolic, i. 156. + + Jones, Lieutenant, his action with the British gun-boats on + Lake Borgne, ii. 207. + + + K. + + King, Captain, at Niagara, i. 112. + + Key, Francis, composes "The Star spangled Banner," while witnessing + the bombardment of Fort McHenry, ii. 145. + + Kemp privateer captures a fleet of six vessels, ii. 270. + + King, Charles appointed commissioner to investigate the massacre + of prisoners in Dartmoor, ii. 297. + + + L. + + Lawrence, Captain, sails under Rodgers, i. 133; + challenges the Bonne Citoyenne, i. 160; + captures the Peacock, i. 170; + takes command of the Chesapeake, i. 244; + engages the Shannon, i. 245; + his death, i. 246. + + Lawrence, Major, his defence of Fort Bowyer, ii. 201 + + Leavenworth, Major, gallantry at Chippewa, ii. 80; + gallantry at Lundy's Lane, ii. 87. + + Lewis, Colonel, defeats the British at Frenchtown, i. 179; + captured, i. 181. + + Lewistown burned, i. 306. + + Lowndes, sketch of, i. 239. + + + M. + + Madison, President, character of, i. 34, 35; + war messages, i. 55; + his conduct at the invasion of Washington, ii. 118-123; + his flight, ii. 129; + message to Congress, Sept. 1814, ii. 177; + message to Congress, accompanying English Protocol from + Ghent, ii. 182. + + Madison, Mrs., her heroism at the burning of Washington, ii. 129; + refused admittance to a tavern, ii. 133. + + Madison, Major, his bravery at Frenchtown, i. 182. + + Madison Island, ii. 49. + + Madison sloop of war, i. 207. + + Marquesas Island, rendezvous of Porter, ii. 49. + + Mackinaw taken by the English, i. 77; + expedition against, ii. 72. + + Macomb, General, at Plattsburgh, ii. 148; + asks Governor Chittenden for aid, ii. 149; + defeats the British, ii. 155. + + Massachusetts Legislature, action of, against the war, i. 268; + against the bill for the enlistment of minors, ii. 187; + raises an army to be under its own control, ii. 192. + + Massacre at Frenchtown, i. 189; + effect of in Kentucky, i. 185; + at Fort Mimms, i. 196. + + McLure, General, at Fort George, i. 303; + burns Newark, i. 304; + his proclamation and neglect to protect Fort Niagara, i. 304, 305. + + Meigs, Fort of, i. 197; + invested by Proctor, i. 197. + + Manners, Captain, death of, ii. 167. + + Mitchell's speech in Congress, i. 52. + + Mimm's Fort, i. 196. + + Mackinaw Fort surrendered, i. 77. + + Miller, Colonel, defeats British at Brownstown; + joins Harrison, i. 199; + heroic answer at Lundy's Lane, ii. 89, 90. + + Mitchell, Colonel, gallant defence of Oswego, ii. 70. + + McArthur, Colonel, i. 85; + his expedition into Canada, ii. 163. + + McNeill, Major, bravery at Chippewa, ii. 78; + at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86. + + McHenry, Fort of, ii. 142. + + Madonough, Commodore, in Plattsburgh bay, ii. 152; + defeats the British squadron, ii. 155. + + Macedonian, ship, taken by the United States, i. 153. + + Montgomery, Major, killed at the battle of the Horse Shoe, ii. 38. + + Monroe, Secretary of State, his conduct at Bladensburgh, ii. 123. + + Morgan, Major, checks the enemy at Black Rock, ii. 101. + + Morgan, General, at New Orleans, ii. 220. + + Morris, Lieutenant, wounded in taking the Guerriere, i. 147; + commands the Adams sloop of war, ii. 165. + + + N. + + Nash, Captain, base treatment of Commodore Porter, ii. 63. + + Non-Intercourse law, i. 32. + + Nautilus schooner captured, i. 138. + + Napoleon, i. 85, 86, 258. + + Navy, strength of, i. 125; + neglect of, i. 126; + saved by Captains Bainbridge and Stewart, i. 128; + increase of, i. 176; + history of, in 1814, ii. 165; + bill for increase of, ii. 188; + review of, ii. 256, 257. + + Naval victories, effect of, at home and abroad, i. 171. + + Naval force in 1814, i. 346. + + Neufchatel privateer beats off the crew of the Endymion, ii. 269. + + Nonsuch privateer engages two English vessels, ii. 264. + + New England, her hostility to war, i. 58, ii. 191; + exempted from blockade, i. 259. + + New Hampshire Legislature abolishes all the courts of the + State, i. 325. + + New Orleans, description of, ii. 206; + feelings of the inhabitants, ii. 207. + + Niagara Fort surprised, i. 304. + + Nicholson, Lieutenant, escapes an English frigate, ii. 173. + + + O. + + Orders in Council, British, i. 20; + repealed, i. 342; + effect of, in this country, i. 27-92. + + Ogdensburg, attack of, i. 117. + + Oneida sloop, i. 206. + + Ontario, Lake, description of, i. 206; + naval superiority, i. 207; + cost of vessels in, i. 258. + + Oswego attacked by Sir James Yeo, ii. 69. + + + P. + + Packenham, Sir Edward, attacks the lines at New Orleans, ii. 215. + + Parker, Sir Peter, killed, ii. 141. + + Peacock, Captain Harrington, captures the Epervier, ii. 172; + chased by an English man of war, ii. 252. + + Perry on Lake Erie, i. 271, 273, 274; + sets sail, i. 275; + engages the enemy, i. 278; + conduct after the battle, i. 283; + at the battle of the Thames, i. 287. + + President frigate, affair with the Little Belt, i. 42; + puts to sea, i. 132; + chases the Belvidere, i. 134; + beats the Endymion, and finally captured by an English + fleet, ii. 247. + + Pinckney, American Minister to England, i. 41; + commands Baltimore regiment at Bladensburg, ii. 118-124. + + Pike, Colonel, incursion into Canada, i. 117; + captures York, i. 208; + his death, i. 210. + + Pickering, Timothy, description of, his speech against loan + bill of Thirteenth Congress, i. 335. + + Pitkin, i. 335. + + Plattsburg, description of, ii. 149; + battle of, ii. 155. + + Peace, tidings of, effect on the nation, ii. 229-230. + + Porter, General, i. 114; + at Chippewa, ii. 77; + his gallantry and narrow escape at Fort Erie, ii. 109-111. + + Porter, Captain, commands the Essex; + capture of the Alert, i. 143; + his cruise in the Pacific, ii. 45-66; + his daring escape and reception in New York, ii. 65, 66. + + Proctor, Colonel, advances against Frenchtown, i. 180; + defeats the Americans, i. 181; + leaves the prisoners to be massacred, i. 182; + his character, i. 185; + invests Fort Meigs, i. 197; + abandons the siege, i. 199; + defeated at Sandusky, i. 201; + retreats from Malden, i. 286; + defeated at the Thames, i. 289. + + Prescot, Governor-general of Canada, i. 99; + letter to Brooke, i. 121; + attacks Sackett's Harbor, i. 215; + advances against Plattsburgh, ii. 148; + his retreat, ii. 161. + + Protocol, English, at Ghent, ii. 181; + transmitted to Congress, ii. 182; + its effect on the nation, ii. 183; + its reception in England, ii. + + Privateering, account of, ii. 257; + defence of, ii. 261; + acts of Congress respecting, ii. 262, 263. + + Privateers, characteristic names of, ii. 263; + superiority to English, ii. 277; + character of their commanders, ii. 277. + + Prisoners, American, treatment of, in England, ii. 280; + sufferings in Dartmoor prison, ii. 281-285; + assailed by French prisoners, ii. 283; + denounce American agent for prisoners, ii. 287; + neglected by government, ii. 287; + their employments, ii. 288; + number of, ii. 292; + massacre of, ii. 294. + + + Q. + + Queenstown, battle of, i. 101. + + Quincy, Josiah, i. 225; + speech against army bill, i. 227. + + + R. + + Revolution, French, i. 17. + + Rose, English Minister, i. 33. + + Rattlesnake, brig, captured, i. 252. + + Randolph, speech in Congress, i. 45-51; + sketch of, i. 237; + succeeded by Eppes, i. 319. + + Revenue, i. 292. + + Retaliation acts, i. 307. + + Rodgers, Commodore, his squadron at New York, i. 132; + his first cruise, i. 134; + attacks the Belvidere, i. 137; + second cruise, i. 151. + + Riall, British General at Chippewa, ii. 76; + captured by Jessup at Lundy's Lane, ii. 86. + + Russell, John, American Charge to England, i. 50; + despatch from, i. 53. + + Ripley, Colonel, at Lundy's Lane, ii. 88; + his strange conduct after the battle, ii. 98; + surrenders his command to General Gaines, ii. 100; + wounded at Fort Erie, ii. 109. + + Ross, General, marches on Washington, ii. 119-127; + fires the capitol, ii. 127; + his hasty retreat, ii. 133; + killed in the advance on Baltimore, ii. 143. + + + S. + + St. Clair, General, cause of his defeat, i. 17. + + Smythe, General, commands on the Niagara frontier, i. 71; + proclamation, i. 111; + failure and disgrace, i. 112-114; + review of his campaign, i. 119. + + Shelby, Governor of Kentucky, i. 95; + commands Kentucky volunteers under General Harrison, i. 287. + + Sandusky, Fort, defence of, i. 201. + + Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, at Queenstown, i. 103; + taken prisoner, i. 108-110; + captures Fort George, i. 213; + joins Wilkinson, i. 299; + introduces French system of tactics into camp of instruction + at Buffalo; + chases the Marquis of Tweedsdale, ii. 76; + advances on Lundy's Lane, ii. 84; + wounded, ii. 94; + his journey to Baltimore and reception at Princeton, ii. 97-98. + + Sackett's Harbor, naval depot at, i. 207; + attack of, i. 215. + + Shortland, Captain, superintendent of Dartmoor prison, ii. 286; + massacres American prisoners, ii. 293. + + Sheaffe, General, at Queenstown, i. 105. + + Sinclair, Captain, commands the expedition against Mackinaw, ii. 73. + + Stewart, Captain, remonstrates with the President against laying + up the navy, i. 128; + commands the Constitution, ii. 235; + captures the Cyane and Levant, i. 240. + + Strong elected governor of Massachusetts, i. 265. + + Stricker, General, defence at North Point, ii. 142. + + + T. + + Talledega Fort, ii. 18. + + Taylor, Captain, defence of Fort Harrison, i. 95. + + Tax, direct, of Thirteenth Congress, i. 325; + on carriages, distilled spirits, auction duties, &c., ii. 187. + + Towson, Captain of artillery, at Chippewa, ii. 79. + + Treaty of 1783, i. 23; + of Pinckney and Monroe rejected by Jefferson, i. 27; + first Treaty of Peace at Ghent, its terms and how + received, ii. 232, 233; + review of, ii. 234. + + Transportation, cost of, war materials to Sackett's Harbor, i. 257. + + Tecumseh, i. 80; + his plan for restoring the Indians to their ancient rights; + his mission south, and character and eloquence, i. 191-193; + joins Proctor, i. 197; + killed, i. 290. + + Torpedos, employment of, to destroy ships, i. 266. + + Tompkins, Governor, privateer. Captain Boyle, her narrow escape + from an English frigate, ii. 266. + + Treasury, state of, in May, 1813, i. 320; + state of during the third session of the Thirteenth Congress; + notes, reduced value of, ii. 187; + increased embarrassments of, ii. 189. + + Tupper, General, defeated at the Rapids, i. 178. + + Tuscarora village destroyed by the British, i. 306. + + Truce, flag of, arrived in Annapolis, i. 328. + + Typees, hostility to Commodore Porter, ii. 50, 51; + description of their country, ii. 52; + their towns destroyed, ii. 54. + + + V. + + Van Rensselaer, General, i. 71-100; + resigns his command, i. 101. + + Van Rensselaer, Colonel, invades Canada, and wounded, i. 100; + character of, i. 118. + + Van Horne, Major, defeat of, i. 79. + + Vincent, General, i. 214; + captures Generals Chandler and Hinder, i. 219. + + Vermont, her patriotism when Plattsburg was attacked, ii. 150. + + Volunteers, hardships of, i. 188. + + + W. + + Wayne, General, i. 17. + + Washington's opinion of British aggressions, i. 48; + city of, threatened by the British, ii. 117; + burned, ii. 128; + bad policy of, ii. 140. + + War, declaration of, i. 56; + how received, i. 58; + unprepared state of the country for, ii. 67-69. + + Ward, Artemus, speech of, against bill for military establishments + passed in Thirteenth Congress, i. 339. + + Wadsworth, General, at Queenstown, i. 102. + + Winchester, General, his march to the Rapids, i. 178; + marches to Frenchtown, i. 179; + taken prisoner, i. 181. + + Winder, Colonel, i. 114; + General, pursues Vincent, i. 219; + surprised and captured by him, i. 219; + commands the troops around Washington, ii. 118. + + Williams' speech in Congress, i. 225, 226. + + Wasp, takes the Frolic, i. 155; + captured by the Poictiers, i. 159; + captures the Reindeer, ii. 167; + sinks the Avon, ii. 169; + her mysterious fate, ii. 170. + + White, General, destroys the Hillabee towns, ii. 22. + + West Point Academy, i. 124. + + Webster, Daniel, elected to Congress, i. 320; + first speech, i. 323; + speech against the army bill, i. 330; + sketch of, i. 333; + speech on repeal of embargo act, i. 345; + contest between him and Calhoun, i. 344. + + Woodward, Judge, of Michigan, his letter to Proctor on the + massacre at River Raisin, i. 184. + + Wilkinson, General, seizes Fort Conde, i. 199; + takes charge of northern army, i. 292; + his progress down the St. Lawrence, i. 296-299; + goes into winter quarters at French Mills, i. 300; + review of his campaign, i. 302; + plans a winter campaign, i. 311; + attacks La Cole Mill, i. 312. + + Woolsey, Lieutenant, i. 206; + transports war and ship materials from Oswego to Sackett's + Harbor, ii. 70-72. + + Wooster, Rev., volunteers with his flock to aid General + Macomb, ii. 151. + + + Y. + + Yarnell, Lieutenant, bravery in battle of Lake Erie, i. 279. + + York captured by Americans, i. 208. + + Yeo, Sir James, attacks Sackett's Harbor, i. 215; + attacks Oswego, ii. 69; + sends a detachment against Woolsey, ii. 71; + raises the blockade of Sackett's Harbor, ii. 72. + + Youngstown burned, i. 301. + + + + +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. 8 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._ + + +BRACE'S HUNGARY IN 1851: With an Experience of the Austrian Police. By +CHARLES LORING BRACE. (Beautifully illustrated, with a map of +Hungary). + + "Upon the particular field of Hungary, this is by far the + most complete and reliable work in the language; a work that + all should read who would understand the institutions, the + character, and the spirit of a people who just now have so + urgent a claim on our sympathy."--_N. Y. Independent._ + + "There is probably not a work within the reach of the + English scholar that can afford him such a satisfactory view + of Hungary as it now is, as this work of Mr. + Brace."--_Christian Intelligencer._ + + "It will not disappoint public expectation. It bears the + strongest evidence of being most reliable in its + descriptions and facts."--_Boston Journal._ + + "We have seldom taken in hand a book which bears the reader + along with an interest so intense and sustained."--_Watchman + and Reflector._ + + "It is a graphic picture of the people and institutions of + Hungary at the present moment by one who writes what he saw + and heard, and who was well qualified co judge."--_Troy + Daily Post._ + + "He mingled much in the social life of every class of the + Hungarian people, and there can be no question that he has + presented a faithful picture of the condition, manners, + customs, and feelings of the Magyars."--_Portland + Transcript._ + + "The best and most reliable work that we possess, in regard + to Hungary as it now is, and the only one written from + personal observation."--_Phil. Evening Bulletin._ + + "It tells us precisely what the mass of readers wish to know + in regard to the condition of Hungary since the Revolution. + Having travelled over large portions of the country on foot, + and mingling freely with the inhabitants in their houses, + the author relates his various experiences, many of which + are sufficiently strange to figure in a romance."--_N. Y. + Tribune._ + + "This book is exceedingly entertaining. These are clear, + unambitious narratives, sound views, and abundant + information. We get a perspicuous view of the people, life, + and character of the country, and learn more of the real + condition of things than we could elsewhere obtain."--_N. Y. + Evangelist._ + + "Its narrative is fluent and graceful, and gives the most + vivid and complete, and the most faithful picture of Hungary + ever presented to American readers."--_Courier and + Inquirer._ + + "For graphic delineation, and extent of knowledge of the + subject described, Mr. Brace has no equal, at least in + print."--_The Columbian and Far West._ + + "We have read it carefully, and have no hesitation in saying + that it presents a complete idea of Hungary and her people + as they were and are. Mr. Brace has the happy and rare + faculty of making the reader see what he saw, and feel what + he felt."--_The Eclectic._ + + "He has succeeded in gathering the fullest and most + satisfactory amount of information in regard to Hungary that + we have seen. His description of the Hungarian Church and + the religious character of the people are especially + interesting, and the whole volume is a valuable addition to + our knowledge of the interior of Europe."--_Watchman and + Observer._ + + "This excellent work is not one of proesy details and dry + statistics, but is composed of the most familiar and + intimate glimpses of Hungarian life, written in the most + graceful style."--_Worcester Spy._ + + +RURAL HOMES; Or, SKETCHES OF HOUSES suited to American Country Life. +With over 70 Original Plans, Designs, &c. By GERVASE WHEELER. 1 vol. +12mo., Price, $1.25. + + It commences with the first foot-tread upon the spot chosen + for the house; details the considerations that should weigh + in selecting the site; gives models of buildings differing + in character, extent, and cost; shows how to harmonize the + building with the surrounding scenery; teaches now + healthfully to warm and ventilate; assists in selecting + furniture and the innumerable articles of utility and + ornament used in constructing and finishing, and concludes + with final practical directions, giving useful limits as to + drawing up written descriptions, specifications and + contracts. + + + "In this neat and tasteful volume, Mr. Wheeler has condensed + the results of an accomplished training in his art, and the + liberal professional practice of it. + + "We can confidently recommend this elaborate production to + the attention of gentlemen who are about building or + renovating their country houses, to professional architects, + and to all readers of discrimination, who wish to know what + is truly eloquent in this beautiful art, and to cultivate a + taste worthy to cope with "judgment of wisest censure." + + "The cost of such establishments is carefully considered, no + less than the comforts they should afford, the display they + can (honestly) pretend to, and all the adjuncts that go to + complete the ideal of a convenient and elegant + mansion."--_N. Y. Mirror._ + + + "It is extremely practical, containing such simple and + comprehensive directions for all wishing at any time to + build, being in fact the sum of the author's study and + experience as an architect for many years."--_Albany + Spectator._ + + + "Mr. Wheeler's remarks convey much practical and useful + information, evince good taste and a proper appreciation of + the beautiful, and no one should build a rural house without + first hearing what he has to recommend."--_Philadelphia + Presbyterian._ + + + "Important in its subject, careful and ample in its details, + and charmingly attractive in its style. It gives all the + information that would be desired as to the selection of + sites--the choice of appropriate styles, the particulars of + plans, materials, fences, gateways, furniture, warming, + ventilation, specifications, contracts, &c., concluding with + a chapter on the intellectual and moral effect of rural + architecture."--_Hartford Religious Herald._ + + + "A book very much needed, for it teaches people how to build + comfortable, sensible, beautiful country houses. Its + conformity to common sense, as well as to the sense of + beauty, cannot be too much commended."--_N. Y. Courier & + Enquirer._ + + + "No person can read this book without gaining much useful + knowledge, and it will be a great aid to those who intend to + build houses for their own use. It is scientific without + being so interlarded with technical terms as to confuse the + reader, and contains all the information necessary to build + a house from the cellar to the ridge pole. It is a parlor + book, or a book for the workshop, and will be valuable in + either place."--_Buffalo Commercial._ + + + "This work should be in the hands of every one who + contemplates building for himself a home. It is filled with + beautifully executed elevations and plans of country houses + from the most unpretending cottage to the villa. Its + contents are simple and comprehensive, embracing every + variety of house usually needed."--_Lowell Courier._ + + + "To all who desire a delightful rural retreat of "lively + cottagely" of getting a fair equivalent of comfort and + tastefulness, for a moderate outlay, we commend the Rural + Homes of Mr. Wheeler."--_N. Y. Evening Post._ + + +N. P. WILLIS'S SELECT WORKS, IN UNIFORM 12MO., VOLS. + + +RURAL LETTERS, AND OTHER RECORDS OF THOUGHTS AT LEISURE, embracing +Letters from under a Bridge, Open Air Musings in the City, "Invalid +Ramble in Germany," "Letters from Watering Places," &c., &c. 1 vol. +Fourth Edition. + + "There is scarcely a page in it in which the reader will not + remember, and turn to again with a fresh sense of delight. + It bears the imprint of nature in her purest and most joyous + forms, and under her most cheering and inspiring + influences."--_N. Y. Tribune._ + + "If we would show how a modern could write with the ease of + Cowley, most gentle lover of nature's gardens, and their + fitting accessories from life, we would offer this volume as + the best proof that the secret has not yet died + out."--_Literary World._ + + +PEOPLE I HAVE MET, or Pictures of Society and People of Mark--drawn +under a thin veil of fiction. By N. P. WILLIS. 1 vol., 12mo., Third +Edition. + + "It is a collection of twenty or more of the stories which + have blossomed out from the summer soil of the author's + thoughts within the last few years. Each word in some of + them the author seems to have picked as daintily, for its + richness or grace, or its fine fitness to his purpose, as if + a humming-bird were picking upon his quivering wing the + flower whose sweets he would lovingly rifle, or a belle were + culling the stones for her bridal necklace."--_N. Y. + Independent._ + + "The book embraces a great variety of personal and social + sketches in the Old World, and concludes with some thrilling + reminiscences of distinguished ladies, including the Belles + of New York, etc."--_The Republic._ + + +LIFE HERE AND THERE, or Sketches of Society and Adventure at far-apart +times and places. By N. P. WILLIS. 1 vol., 12mo. + + "This very agreeable volume consists of sketches of life and + adventure, all of them, the author assures us, having a + foundation strictly historical, and to a great extent + autobiographical. Such of these sketches as we have read, + are in Mr. Willis's happiest vein--a vein, by the way, in + which he is unsurpassed."--_Sartain's Magazine._ + + "Few readers who take up this pleasant volume will lay it + aside until they have perused every line of its + contents."--_Jersey Journal._ + + +HURRYGRAPHS, or Sketches of Scenery, Celebrities, and Society, taken +from Life By N. P. WILLIS. 1 vol., 12mo., Third Edition. + + "Some of the best specimens of Mr. Willis's prose, we think, + are herein contained."--_N. Y. Evangelist._ + + "In the present volume, which is filled with all sorts of + enticements, we prefer the descriptions of nature to the + sketches of character, and the dusty road-side grows + delightful under the touches of Willis's blossoming-dropping + pen; and when we come to the mountain and lake, it is like + revelling in all the fragrant odors of Paradise."--_Boston + Atlas._ + + +LECTURES ON ART--AND POEMS. By WASHINGTON ALLSTON. Edited by Richard +Henry Dana, Jr. Contents--Lectures on Art, pages 3-167--Aphorisms, +sentences written by Mr. Allston on the walls of his Studio, pages +167-179--The Hypochondriac, pages 179-199--Poems, pages 199-317. 1 +vol. 12mo., Price, $1.25. + + "There is a store of intellectual wealth in this handsome + volume. It is a book of thought. Its contents are the rich + and tasteful productions of the scholar and artist, who had + mind to perceive and skill to portray much that is unseen by + ordinary minds, as well as intelligence and power to exhibit + whatever is grand and beautiful both in the physical and + moral world."--_Christian Observer._ + + "These are the records of one of the purest spirits and most + exalted geniuses of which this country can boast. The + intense love of the beautiful, the purity, grace and + gentleness which made him incomparably the finest artist of + the age, lend their charm and their power to these + productions of his pen. *** There are in his poems feeling, + delicacy, taste, and the keenest sense of harmony which + render them faultless."--_N. Y. Evangelist._ + + "As a writer we know of no one who in his writings has + exhibited such an appreciation of what constitutes beauty in + art, correctness in form, or the true principles of + composition."--_Providence Journal._ + + "We commend them to the intellectual and the thoughtful, for + we know that no one can read them without being wiser, and + we believe the better."--_Albany State Register._ + + "The production of a most ethereal spirit instinctively + awake to all the harmonies of creation."--_Albany Argus._ + + "The exquisitely pure and lofty character of the author of + these lectures and poetic fragments is well expressed in + them. It gave their structure a freshness and calmness, and + their tone a purity that remain to charm us, and that are + equally admirable and delightful."--_The Independent._ + + "His lectures possess great attractions for every one aiming + at cultivation of mind and refinement of taste, while his + poems, which elicited so high praise when published singly, + are sure to receive it when as now embodied in a more + classic form."--_Natchez Courier._ + + "The lovers of American literature and art will rejoice in + the possession of these matured fruits of the genius which + seemed alike skilled in the use of the pen and + pencil."--_Newark Daily Advertiser._ + + +POEMS AND PROSE WRITINGS. By RICHARD HENRY DANA. 2 vols. 12mo., Price, +$2.50. + + "Mr. Dana's writings are addressed to readers of thought, + sensibility and experience. By tenderness, by force, in + purity, the poet paints the world, treading in safety the + dizziest verge of passion, through all things, honorable to + all men; the just style resolving all perplexities, a rich + instruction and solace in these volumes to the young and old + who are to come hereafter."--_Literary World._ + + "Mr. Dana is evidently a close observer of nature, and + therefore his thoughts are original and fresh."--_True + Democrat._ + + "In addition to the Poems and Prose Writings included in the + former edition of his works, they contain some short, + practical pieces, and a number of reviews and essays + contributed to different periodicals, some of them as much + as thirty years since, and now republished for the first + time--as the expression of the inmost soul, these writings + bear a strong stamp of originality."--_N. Y. Tribune._ + + + + +[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. + +Some dates printed in the original book are most probably wrong, but +have been left as it is (e.g. July 14, page 163). + +Some entries in the index do not have any page number.] + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of +2, by Joel Tyler Headley + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 39369.txt or 39369.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/3/6/39369/ + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Lindy Walsh, Christine P. 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