\iiv imm- ■ HI I mi >j : I ' ■1 I HHll "iiii !,!i ■ I 11 I . HISTORY^ />/? . THH> POLITICAL AND MILITARY EVENTS THE LATE % WAR -BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. BY SAMUEL PKKKIIYS, ESQ* NEW-HAVEN : /1HNTED AND PUBLISHED BY S. CONVERSE 1825. ^■iVw >>4k ^ r** % -~V\ District of Connecticut, SS. R r 1T REMEMBERED, That ou the twenty-ninth day of June, in the -nrtvni,.!, vear of the Independence oX the United Hates of America, UamUKI PERKINS, of the said District, hath deposited in this Office ,* title of a Book, the right wbertof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit — ■ A History of the Political and Military events of the late War be- tween the United States and Great Britain. By S-.nuel Perkins Esq." -» »„ .).= ant r,{ tt.p Coneress of the United States, entitled "An act forth* encouTgemTn 7o °1 arntn .^secSthe'cop t s of Maps, Ch.rts. and Books, to the authors SS^rietar. of such^pie^ng the ^ tnerein ment.oned^ ^ ^ ^^ A true copy of R'^^S^XHGBRSOLI-, Cto* of t)u District of Connecticut. PREFACE. Custom has in some measure rendered a pre- face a necessary part of a hook : it usually contains the author's apology for writing, his exertions, and the difficulties and embarrassments he has encoun- tered in the progress of his work. Waiving these topics, the reader is here presented with a concise view of the subjects of the following pages, that if lie feels no interest in them, he may save his time for more valuable purposes. The design of the present volume is, to state in a clear and concise maimer — The points of controversy between the United States and Great Britain, which induced the late war, and the arguments by which each supported their respective claims ; The great constitutional and national questions to which the war gave rise, and which were discussed and settled during its continuance; The debates and proceedings of Congress, on all the important measures connected with the war; The circumstances which led to the negotiation for peace, and its progress and result : And t give a faithful detail of all the important military and naval operations during the war Thata well executed work,embracing these objects, would be interesting to the public, cannot be doubt- ed. The claims set up by the two great European belligerent powers, t<> control neutral commerce. v PREFACE were unprecedented in their nature, alarming iii their extent, and destructive in their operation. The grounds on which these claims were made and enforced, and the manner in which they were resisted, are matters of deep interest to the citizens of the United States. In the progress of the war, several great constitutional questions arose, on a correct decision of which the most important inter- ests of the union depended ; these were discussed with much ingenuity and force of argument, and the points adhered to, on both sides, with great tenacity. The naval, and most of the military operations, do high honour to American hkill and bravery ; and a faithful detail of them ought to be recorded. The writer presents this volume to the public, with great diffidence, and respectfully solicits the patronage of his fellow-citizens : should it prove undeserving their favour, he hopes at least, it will induce some abler hand to do justice to the subject. It is a delicate task to relate facts while the principal actors are living ; misrepresentations or partial statements may sometimes intervene to the prejudice of individuals. If there are any such> they are unintentional ; many times they may be apprehended when they do not exist ; in those cases it, is the fault of the agent and not of the writer. CONTENTS. HAP. I, — Causes of the war, Aggressions on neutral commerce. Colc- nia trade Rule of 1756. Armed neutrality Treaty of 1794 Irnpiess- meut. Blockade of 1U06. Orders in council of Januarv 1807, and Novem- ber l!iU7. Berlin and Milan decrees. Embargo. Noii-intercour ? e, and nonimportation laws. Attack on the Chesapeake. Erskine s arrange- ment; Disavowed. Monroe's and Pinekney's treaty rejected Decisions of Br't.sh prize courts. Disputes with Jack-on. Champagny's letter to Armstrong. President's proclamat.on restoring French intercourse. Communicat ons to the British government. - P a o e ° Chap. II. — First meeting of twelfth congress. Message. Correspond- ence between Monroe and Foster. Decisions of the admiralty courts in the case of the Fos, and others. Report of the committee of foreign relations. Arguments of the minority against the report. John Henry'-^ papers. His instructions. His correspondence. Inquiry respecting him in the house ot representatives, Message of the 1st of June. Report ot Miiittee 011 I'reign relations, recommending war. Declaration of war. Address of the minority to their constituents. Army and navy bills Treasury estimates. Plau of finance for the war. Loan for 1312. Page 3:J Chap. 111. — Situation of th< United States at the declaration of the war. Population. Military and naval ower. State of Great Britain. Indian population; Character. Tecumseh. British and Indian alliance. Pro- ceedings of the several tales, in relation to the war. Louisiana. New York. Ohio. New Jersey. Connecticut. Report of the committee to th legislature of onuecticut. assachusetts. Governor Strong's rea- sons for not calling out the militia. Opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court on the subject. Resolutions of Maryland on the subject of the war Of Pennsylvania. Report of the secretary at war on the powers of Con- gress relative to the militia. Proceedings in Canada on the war. Orders for Governor Prevost. Governor Brock's address to the legislature ol Upper Canada. Address of the legislature of Upper Canada to their con- ss detached to the same place ; ordered to return. General Brock's addr* ss lo the Canadians, \rrives with rein- forcements at Maiden. Bombards the fort irom the opposite bank. Crosses the river and advances to assault the fort. General Hull capitu- lates. American forces and property taken. British forces. Court mar- tial ordered. Charges and specifications against Gen. Hull. His defence. Sentence of the Court. ... .... Page 77 Chap. V. — Proceedings of the western states in con-equence of Hull's defeat. Army under General Han ison. Defence of fort Harrison General Hop- kins's expedition against the Kickapoo town; against the Prophet's town. Progress of the army under Gen. Harbison towards the Miami rapids. Fort Wayne. Fort Defiance. General lupper's expedition to the rapids. Colonel Campbell's expedition against the iVlessessiwena towns. Battle at the river Raisin Defeat and capture of General Winchester's army. Cruelties of the British and Indians. Description ol the Niagara frontier. Proceedings of General Van Rensselaer. Battle of Qucenston. Militia refuse to cross the river. The American army captu.ed. General Smyth's proclamations ; attempts lo pass into Cauada, and fails Duel between Generals Smyth and Porter. Proceedings of the army of the north. Causes of the failure of the campaign of 1812. - - Page 9;1 Chap. VI. — Plan of defence on the sea-board. American frigates sail. Cruise of Commodore Rodgers's squadron. Cruise of the Constitution. Capture of the Guerriere. Cruise of the Essex Capture of the Alert- Capture of the Frolic: and of the Wasp and Frolic by the Poictiers. Capture of the Macedonian. Arrival of the United States and Macedonian. The flag of the Macedonian sent to Washington. Second cruise of the Constitution. Capture of the Java. Rule for distributing prize money. Success of Privateers. Number and value of British vessels captured in 1812. East-Florida Frontier. Colonel Newman's expedition. Repeal of the orders in council. First proposition of Mr. Russell for an armistice. Loid Castlereagh's reply. Second proposition and reply. Admiral War- ren'? proposition for an armistice. Mr. Monroe's reply. - Page 1 19 » hm; Chap. VII. — Second session of the twelfth Congress. Report of the com- mittee of foreign relations. Law prohibiting the employment of foreign seamen. Report of the committee on military affairs. Detntes on the expediency of continuing, and manner of conducting the war. Army bills I. Report of commiitec on naval affairs. Comparison between seventy-fours and frigates. Dry dock recommended. Navy bills passed. Treasury estimates, deport ol committee o ways and means. Revenue bills passed. amission of penalties on goods imported alter the revocation of the orders in council. Law authorizing retaliation passed. Page 14J C BAP VIII. — British plan of the campaign for 131 J. American plan. Division of the United States into military districts. Arrival of the British reinforcements at Bermuda. Proclamations of blockade. A' rival and proceedings of the squadron in the Delaware. Arrival of the Bntt>h squadron at Lyuuhaven bay. Plundering on the shores of the Chesapeake. Burning of Havre de Grace. Plundering and burning ot Fredencktown, and Georgetown. Arrival of Admiral Warren, and Sir Sidney deckwith, with reinforcements. Norfolk threatened. Attack on Crauey Island. Capture of Hampton. Plunder and outrages at Hampton. Correspond- ence between the American and British generals on the aubject of the out- rages. Attempt to destroy the Plaotagenet with a torpedo. An attempt on the Ramilies with a torpedo and a fire-ship. Squadron proceed up the Potomac and threaten Alexandria and Washiftglon. Proceed up the bay and threaten Annapolis aud Baltimore. Admiral Cockburn proceeds to the south. Blockade of Commodore Decatur's squadron at New-London. 1 challenge. Decline. ..--.. Page 157 CHAP. IX. — Naval affairs. Cruise of the President. Of I he Congress. Of the Hornet. Capture of the Peacock. Captain Lawrence appointed to the command of the Chesapeake. Challenge of the Shannon; accepted. Capture ol the Chesapeake. Funeral ol Law rente and Ludlow, at Halifax. Their '>odies removed to New York. Funeral honours at ?alem and New- York. Cruise and capture ol the Argus Death of Captain Allen. Battle between the Enterprise and Boxer, and capture of the latter Death and iuneral honours of both co I in the Atlantic. Her arrival in tl | lure of a ! corsair. Capture of whali ime&t at Madison Island. Essex junior. Arrival of British sq '< le of the Ea c. Ba her and the British squadron. Capture of the Essex. Return of Captain Porter and crew to the United State . . Number and value o; British prizes in 1813. Pt-ge 173 CHAP. \. — Mobile occupied; annexed to the Mississippi Territory. Span- ish authorities removed to Pensacola. Southern Indians. Methods iaxen by the United States to civilize them. Visited by Tecumseh, Instigated irjii CONTENTS. to war. Masacre at Fort Mimms. Proceedings in Tennessee and Georgia relating to the Creek war. Tennessee forces under General Jackson Battle at Tallushatches. Tallageda. Destruction of the Hillabee towns by General White. Proceedings of the Georgia forces under General Floyd. Battle at the Autosse I owns. Battle at C amp Defiance. Gen- eral Claiborne's expedition against Eccanachaca. Battle. Term of service of General Jackson's volunteers expires. Most of them leave him. His army recruited. His first expedition to the Great Bend of the Talla- poosa. Battle. Returns to fort Strother. Battle at Enotachopeo Creek. Second expedition to the Great Bend Battle. End of the Creek war. Treaty. Rapid settlement of the country by the whites. - Page 193 Chap. XI.— Siege of Fort Meigs. Arrival of General Clay to its relief. Defeat and capture of Colonel Dudley's detachment. Siege raised. Gen- eral Harrison's measures for the defence of the Lake Erie frontier Gallant Defence of Fort Stephenson. Address of the ladies ofChillicolhe to Major Crogan. The reply. Preparations for building a navy on Lake Erie. Naval Depot at the town of Erie. Commodore Perry appointed to the command; superintends the building a fleet ; anchors at Put-in-Bay. Naval Battle. Complete victory of the Americans. Proctor determines to abandon Maiden. Remonstrance of the Indians. Speech of Tecumseh. Harrison prepares to invade Canada; re-occupies Detroit; pursues Proc- tor up the Thames. Batfle of the Moravian towns. Defeat and capture of Proctoi'sarmy. Capture of his baggage and paperB. Death of Tecum- seh. Dissolution of the Indian confederacy. Effects of the victory. Page 217 Chat. XII. — Montreal. Back passage from Montreal to the upper lakes, British naval force on Lake Ontario. American, under Commodore Chauncey. Military force destined for a descent on Montreal. Expe- ditions against York. Death of General Pike. Attack on Sackett's Har- bour. Capture of Fort George. British retire to Burlm^ton Heights- Battle at Stoney Creek. Capture of Generals Chandler and Winder Battle at the Beaver Dams. Capture of Colonel Boerstler's detachment Colonel Scott's expedition to Burlington Heights and York. General Wilkinson appointed to the command of the northern army. Arrives at Sackett's Harbour. Makes arrangements for a descent on Montreal, War department removed to Sackett's Harbour. Troops embark from Fort George for Grenadier Island. Sailing of the flotilla from French Creek. Desceut on the St. Lawrence. Pursuit of the British. Battle at Williamsburgh. General Covington killed. Flotilla arrives at the foet of the Long Sault. General Hampton refuses to join the expedition. Correspondence between him and General Wilkinson Expedition aban- doned. Army go into winter-quarters at French Mills. General Hamp ?on advances to Chatauguay. Returns to Pittsburgh. Vermont milife CONTENTS ia . the war department to guard Pittsburgh. Ordered to return by Governor Chittenden. Causes of the failure of the expedition. Defence of the Niagara frontier intrusted to General M'Clure and the New-York militia. Evacuation of Fort George and burning of Newark. Fort Niagara taken. Massacre. Burning of the Niagara frontier. Militia retire to Batavia. Governor Provost's proclamation. - - Page 243 Chap. XIII. — Presidential election. Inaugural address. Meeting of the 13th Congress. Message. Treasury report. Report of committee of ways and means. Direct taxes and internal duties. VI r. Webster's resolutions on the suppression of the French decree of 28th of April, loll. Report of the secretary of state thereon. Report of the committee of foreign relations. Massachusetts' remonstrance against the war. British licenses prohibited. Report of the committee on British outrages. Retaliation. British claim of natural allegiance. American claim. Proceedings with prisoners. Report of the secretary of s.ate or. allegiance. Second session of Ihe 13th Congress. Message. Confidential communication, recommending an embargo. Report of committee of foreign relations. Embargo laid. Message, and report thereon, recommending the repeal of the embargo. Treasury report. Expenditures for 181 >. Estimates for 1814 Bounty increased. Steamfrigatebuilt. Loan bill passed. Close of the session. Page 273 Chap. XiV. — State of Europe at the commencement of the year 1814. Its effects on the American war. British plan of the campaign of 1814. American system of defence. Arrival of the Bordeaux and Mediterranean squadron and troops in the Chesapeake. Landing at Benedict. March to Washington. Battle of liladensburgh, Capture and burning of Washing- ton. Retreat of the British forces. Capitulation and plunder of Alexan- dria. Causes of the disasters in the District of Columbia. - Page 301 Chap. XV. — Admiral Cochrane's letter, threatening to lay waste the coast The secretary's reply. The President's proclamation. Baltimore threat- ened. Plan of defence. Landing of the British on the Patapsco. Gen- eral Ross slain. Battle of the 12th September. British reconnoitre the American lines and retreat. Re-embark. Attack on Fort M 'Henry. Brave defence. British repulsed. Proceed down the Bay. Leave the Chesapeake. Burning the shipping at Pettipaug. Attack on Stouington. Gallant defence. Capture ot Eastport. Castine, and the eastern coast. Destruction of the frigate Adams. Plunder of the towns on the coast of Massachusetts. Page 333 Chap. XVI. — Naval operations in 1814. Cruise ol the Peacock. Adams. Wasp. Privateer General Armstrong. Capture of the President. Cruise of the Hornet; of the Constitution. Number and value of captures from the British in 1814. Number and value of ships taken during the war. General result of the naval war. Page 353 1 X ' CONTENTS. Chap. XVII.— General Wilkinson retires from the French Mills. Affair oi La Cole Mill. State of the British and American navy on Lake Ontario. Attack on Oswego. Burning of Long Point. General Brown takes the command on the Niagara frontier. Fort Erie surrenders. Battle of Chip- pewa. Death of General Swift. Burning of St. Davids. Battle of Niagara. Capture of General Riall. Exchange of General Drummond's Aid for the corpse of General Brown's. General Gaines takes the com- mand. Assault on Fort Erie. Explosion. Sortie on the British works. The seige raised. General Izard arrives with reinforcements and takes the command. Retires from Fort Erie. General result of the campaign on the Niagara. Page 363. Chap. XVIII.— Colonel Crogan's expedition to Lake Huron. Unsuccessful attempt on Michillimackinau. Destroys the British post at Nautawesago river. Return? to Detroit. Capture of two American schooners on Lake Huron. Arrival of reinforcements at Quebec. General Izard's army leaves Plattsburgh for Niagara. General Prevost advances in force from Montreal towards Plattsburgh. Enters Plattsburgh, and encamps on the left of the Saranac. Waits the approach of his Meet. Naval battle on the 11th of September, on the bay oi Plattsburgh. M'Donough's victory. Simultaneous attack on the American lines. British attempt to cross the Saranac; are repulsed. Retreat of the British army from Plattsburgh. Amount of the British and American land and naval forces. Losses in each army and navy. ------- Page 387 Chap. XIX. — New-Orleans. Proceedings at Pensacola. Arrival of a British naval force at that place. N'choll's address to the Louisianians Negotiations with the Pirates of Bnrrataria. Commodore Patterson's ex- pedition against them. Unsuccessful expedition against Mobile. General Jackson enters Pensacola with a military force ; expels the British, Armament sails from the West Indies against New-Orleans. Niiholl's em- bassy to the Choctaws. General Jackson's arrival ; proclaims martial law. Measures of defence. Fort St. Philips garrisoned. Arrival of the British armament at. ship Island. Capture of the American flotilla on Lake Bergne. Lauding of the British at Bayou Bienvenu. Battle of the 23d of Decem- ber. Of the 1st of January. Decisive victory of the 8th. Bombardment of fort St. Philips. Retreat oi the British. Capture of Fort Boyer. Pago 398 Chap. XX — Treatment of American seamen in British service at the com- mencement of the war. Colonel Beasley's correspondence with the British government on the subject. Those who refuse to serve treated as prison- ers of war, and confined in Dartmoor prison. Description ol that place. Xumber of American prisoners confined there. Escape of Lieutenant R O. Attack - noon, and slaughter oi the Prisoners on the 6th of April. 1815 ( UNI l.\ I.- *j i.'ort of joint commissioners appointed to examine the subject. Meeting of the legislature of Massachusetts, October 1814. View of the situation of that siate. Governor's message and documents. Report of committee recommending a conventio« of delegates from the Now- England States. Protest of the minority against the repor . Proceedings f those states on the subject. Meeting of tiie delegates at Hartford Their powers ex- amined. Their journal, proceedings, and report. Proceedings of Massa- chusetts ami Connecticut on the report of the convention Vmendments to the constitution recommended Transmitted to the other stale-, and rejected. --------- Huge 422 Chap. XXI. — Third session <>l the 13th Congress. Message. Proposition to remove the seat of government ; negatived. Mr. Dallas appointed to the treasury department. 11 i> expos<§. His propositions for the improvement of the finances. His scheme for a naiio tal hank. The bill for the establish' mentofabank passed both houses. Disapproved by the President. Re- turned and negatived. *-tate of the circulatin medium, and of public and private credit. Duties of the secretary at war assigned to Mr. Monroe. His expose" of the state of the army, and the recruiting service. His plan tor raising an army for the year 1815. Mr. Giles's bill adopted. Report of the secretary of the navy. ------ Page 458 LP. XXII. — Russian mediation proposed to Mr. Adams. Communicated to the American government Accepted Appointment of envoys. Then- instructions. Mediation rejected by the Prince Regent. British proposi- tion for a direct negotiation. Accepted by the Unite 1 Stat"?. Appoint- ment of additional envoy-. Their instructions. Meeting of the British and American envoys at Ghent. British propositions, and ultimatum. Ameri- ooations. British envoys communioate with their government, and. receive different instructions. Their ultimatum waived The negotia- tions proceed, and tenninte in a tioaty of peace. Treaty ratified by both governments. Proceedings at New-Orleans immediately after the peace. Rejoicings throughout the United Stales. President's message, communi- cating the subj< <-t to f 'ongrcss. Peace establishment. Kflects of the war the national charact - ' - Pair- ERRATA Page 91, line 16th of note, for proceed read preside. 34, (from top) for carrying read urging. for four read fair. for Nease read Neuse. for advance read absence. 1 for companies read commissioner! ' for gallant read galling. for Brt/i read Bu//. ' for conducted read induced. for 9,320 read 9,320,000. ; for or read as. ! for across read access. for 6/a?ifc readyfrmfe. for Dobney read Dabney. for Lanohue read Larabee. for Hendman read H ridman. for returning read retiring. for sai/ read soi/. for fo?«J read torn. 116, u 34, 121, It 28, 170, I. 14, 201, u 21, 215, u 22, 218, It 29, 241, (I 23, 242, [( 15, 276, (( 22, 283, It 26, 311, u 22, 338, " 33, 356, It 31, 365, IC 1, 373, (1 29, 381, ll 32, 399, 4. 23, 405, it 30, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CHAPTER I. Causes of the War. — Aggressions on Neutral Commerce. — Colonial Trade. — Rule of 1756.— Armed Neutrality.— Treaty o£ 1794.— Im- pressment. — Blockade of 1806. — Orders in Council of January 1807, of November 1807. — Berlin and Milan decrees. — Embargo *— Non- Intercourse,aud Non-Importation Laws. — Attack on the Chesapeake. — Erskine's Arrangement; Disavowed. — Monroe's and Pinckney'sTreatjr rejected. — Decisions of British Prize Courts. — Disputes with Jack* son. — Champagny's letter to Armstrong. — President's Proclamation restoring French Intercourse. — Communications to the British Gov- ernment Neutral Rights. For a century past, Great Britain has been the predominant naval power, and during a great por- tion of the time engaged in contests with other nations. Her wars have partaken much of the maritime character. As a belligerent possessing superior naval force, her interest has always led her, and her efforts have uniformly been exerted, to restrict neutral maritime rights. These, as recognised in the code of National Law, are simple and defi- nite ; authorizing the neutral to maintain its accustomed friendly relations with each belligerent ; and to enjoy an unrestrained commerce with both, except in articles contra- band of war, enemy's property, and with ports actually in- vested with a competent stationary force- 10 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Chaf. f. Rule of 1756. (n the year 1756, a war commenced between Great Britain and France, relating to their colonial possessions in America. France being the weaker naval power, was unable to maintain her accustomed trade with her West India Islands, and opened it to neutrals. To interrupt and destroy this intercourse, so beneficial to France and her colonies, and so lucrative to neutrals, Great Britain of her own authority introduced this new principle of national law : " That no other trade should be allowed to neutrals, with the colonies of a belligerent in time of war, than what is allowed by the parent state in time of peace." European nations possessing colonies abroad, unless on extraordinary occasions, and for very limited periods, restrict their trade entirely to themselves, furnishing the colonies with their manufactures and surplus productions, and in return taking the produce of the colonies to market : and in this way rendering them subservient to the interests of their parent state. This new British principle operated as a prohibition of all neutral trade with the colonies of the belligerent. Vessels engaged in the French colonial trade, were declared to be French by adoption, and subject to capture and condemna- tion. Unfortunately for the interests of commerce, there was no nation at this period able and willing to resist this first encroachment upon neutral rights, at the expense of war; and Great Britain continued the practice until the peace of 1 763 ; and in all her subsequent wars has claimed the same principle under the title of the rule of the war of 1 756 as being part of the code of nations. Armed Neutrality of 1780. In the year 1780 the war of the American revolution had extended to France and Spain, and assumed a maritime character. Infringements on neutral commerce, to an alarming extent, were the immediate conse- quence. The rule of the war of 1756 was revived, blockades by proclamation were introduced, and the list of contraband arbitrarily enlarged. To resist these encroachments, and j 8 12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 11 protect neutral maritime rights, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, formed a treaty of alliance, denominated the armed neutrality of 1780, by which they pledged themselves to support, at the hazard of war e if necessary with either of the belligerents, these principles — " That it should be lawful for any ships to sail freely from one port to another, or along the coast of the powers at war. "That all merchandise and effects belonging to the subject* of the belligerent powers, and shipped in neutral bottoms, should be entirely free. " That no place should be considered as blockaded, ex- cept the assailing power had taken a station so as to expose lo imminent danger any ship attempting to sail in or out of such ports. "That no neutral ships should be stopped, without a mate- rial and well-grounded cause : and in such cases justice should be done them without delay."* A powerful naval armament was raised by the parties to this treaty, to enforce its principles, by which belligerent en- croachments were checked for a time ; but it resulted in Great Britain's persevering in her claims, and making Holland a party to the war. Proclamation of Neutrality 1793. At the commence- ment of the European war in 1792, the American government determined upon a strict and impartial neutrality, as their only safe and honourable course : and in April 1793, the President issued a proclamation, declaring that to be the relation in which the United States stood towards the European bel- ligerents; and enjoining it on all the citizens to refrain from any acts of hostility towards either of the powers of war.f. * Treaty of neutrality, 1780. + Proc'lartiafion of neutrality^ 179.1. J 2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. During the first periods of the French revolution, the feelings of the American people were altogether engaged on the side of what was then considered the cause of liberty. A senti- ment of gratitude towards France for the aid she afforded the United States in the war of the revolution, as well as a recol- lection of the recent sufferings from the English, created and cherished strong predilections in favour of the French. The proclamation of neutrality was well adapted to prevent any ijl effects which might arise from the excess of these feelings. In the progress of that war, however, there grew up in France a military despotism, alarming in its appearance, terrible in its progress, and threatening universal dominion : the contest at length became a struggle on the part of France for univer- sal empire ; on the part of the other continental powers, for national existence ; and on the part of England, for the domin- ion of the ocean. Neutral rights, at first partially respected' were in the progress of the contest altogether disregarded. At an early period of this war, the course which Great Britain had determined to pursue in relation to neutrals began to de- velope itself. British Aggressions. On the 8th of June, 1793, an order in council issued from the British cabinet, by virtue of which all vessels laden wholly or in part with bread-stuffs, bound to any port in France, or places occupied by French armies, were required to be carried into England, and their cargoes either there disposed of, or security given that they should be sold only in the ports of a country in amity with Great Britain.* On the 6th of the following November, claiming to revive the rule of the war of 1 756, another order in council was issued, and silently circulated among the British cruizers, without notice to American merchants, directing " all vessels laden * British provision order of June 1793. 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 19 with goods, the produce of any colony of France, or carry- ing provisions or supplies for such colony, to be seized and brought in for adjudication."* Some relaxation in the rigour, without any alteration in the principle of this order was intro- duced by a subsequent one of January 8th, 1794, which con- fined its operation to such vessels as were proceeding from, or bound directly to, Europe. At the time of issuing the order, France had opened the ports of her West India colonies to neutral trade. American merchants were engaged in it to a great extent ; and their property to the amount of many millions was swept from the ocean, carried into British ports, and condemned. This conduct was attempted to be justified on the part of Great Britain, on the ground of expediency ; her arguments were, that if the neutral colonial trade were permitted, she would be deprived of all substantial good derivable from her naval superiority, and the neutral be the only power bene- fited : that she was maintaining immense fleets and armies to no valuable purpose to herself, if her enemy might enjoy his colonial commerce through the medium of neutrals : that the neutral could have no right to claim the enjoyment of this commerce, which was interdicted to him, by the belligerent herself in time of peace. American Principles. These principles were resisted on the part of the United States, on the ground that the law of nations warranted no such pretensions ; that France and America were at peace ; that with the exception of contra- band of war, and enemy's property, she had a right to trade with France and her colonies, in such manner, in such articles, and to such an extent, as suited their mutual convenience, without the interference of Great Britain. While the goods were American property, sailing on the ocean under the Amer- * British order in council of Nov. 6th, 1793, 14 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1, ican flag, they were not liable to capture, because they might be destined to France. All trade, say they, is founded on the mutual convenience and wants of the parties ; if this spe- cies of trade might be prohibited because France would re- ceive a benefit from it, so indeed might all others ; and the consequence would be a suspension of trade, or a general state of war. That the principles contended for by the United States had been recognised by Great Britain in regulating the trade of her own colonies ; she having frequently relaxed her colonial system in time of war, whenever the good of her colonies or her own convenience required it, never admitting the principle that a neutral, taking advantage of such relaxa- tion, infringed any belligerent rights. Principles so benefi- cial to France in the present state of her contest with Great Britain, did not fail to obtain the full support of the French government. America was required to maintain them at every hazard. Jay^s Treaty. The American Congress was in session when the first intelligence of the proceedings of the British cruizers, and prize courts under the orders of the 6th of No- vember, 1 793, reached the United States. A very high degree of excitement was the immediate consequence. Petitions for redress were presented to Congress from all quarters ; and retaliatory measures which must have ended in war, were strenuously urged. At this period the President nominated a special envoy to the court of St. James, to seek redress for ''these grievances, and negotiate a treaty of amity and com- merce. This mission, if successful, would remove the cause j if otherwise, every American would unite in defence of their rights : it suspended all legislative proceedings of a hostile character, and resulted in a treaty making provision for the payment of damages for losses sustained under illegal cap- tures and condemnations. From this time until the peace of Amiens in 1802, the American commerce continued subject to 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. '16 occasional aggressions from the British marine, though not in the same systematic manner as before the treaty of 1794. Impressment. In the early stages of the European war, Great Britain advanced another claim which threatened de- struction to the commerce of America, and struck at the foun- dation of her independence. The high wages, mild treat- ment, and security from danger, enjoyed by sailors on board American merchant vessels, afforded strong and irresistible inducements for British seamen to seek employment in Amer- ican navigation ; while the extended commerce of the United States made it equally the interest of the merchant to employ them. The British government viewed this desertion of their seamen as a fatal blow to power, and as depriving them of the means of defence and conquest. In time of war, Great Britain claimed a right to the services of all her subjects, and insisted that a person born within the realm owed to the government a natural and unalienable alle- giance, which no length of time, absence from home, or resi- dence and naturalization in foreign states, could cancel. That at the command of their sovereign, every natural born subject, wherever he might be, or whatever engagements he might have contracted with other powers was bound to return, and fight the battles of his country. In accordance with these principles, the Prince Regent issued a proclamation forbidding the employment of British sea- men in foreign service, and ordering such as were absent, or thus employed, to return. The commanding officers of Brit- ish armed vessels, were authorized and directed to board neutral merchantmen, and compel all British seamen found on board to enter their service. The execution of this order, intrusted to men always interested, many times incompetent, and often unprincipled, without appeal, or any mode of redress, was a continued source of vexation, hazard, and oppression to neutral commerce. The sameness of language, and simi- larity of manners in British and American seamen, ren- 16 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. f. dered it impossible for the British commander, if disposed, to distinguish with accuracy between them ; and always afforded an excuse to the unprincipled, to rob the American merchant- vessel of such numbers and description of seamen as suited his convenience. The manner in which these orders were executed was such as to excite the greatest animosity. The vessel was stopped in her course on the high seas, boarded by an inferior officer with a competent number of attendants ; the crew mustered and compared with the roll, and such numbers taken, and de- clared to be British seamen, as the boarding officer thought proper to select ; these were impressed into the British ser- vice without a hearing, or any possibility of redress. Any protections or other evidence of American citizenship were disregarded. The vessel was then dismissed, often in an in- sulting manner, and left to pursue her course, without a com- plement of hands, to the hazard, and often to the utter loss, of the voyage. By these practices some thousands of native born American citizens were forced into the British navy. American Principles. Principles so contrary to neutral rights, followed by practices so injurious to American com- merce, and so humiliating to the country, were not to be en- dured. The United States maintained that the flag of a nation protected all that sailed under it ; that seamen, from whatever country they came, who had placed themselves under the protection of the American government, and had become naturalized agreeably to the provisions of law, and were in the lawful pursuit of their business on board American ships, which were considered a part of the national domain, were entitled to the same protection with their native born citizens. Having left their country with the consent of its government, and connected themselves with a foreign state, they became a part of the nation they had adopted, and could not be forcibly taken, either on land or on the ocean, the common highway of nations, and compelled into the British 1814. HISTORY OF JHE LATE WAR. 17 service. Great Britain herself had fully recognised this prin- ciple, by providing in her laws for the naturalization of for- eigners, and enacting that foreign seamen serving a short period on hoard her vessels, or marrying in England, become naturalized and entitled to the same privileges and protection us her natural born subjects. But waiving the question of unalienable natural allegiance every government is bound so to use and enjoy its own rights as not to injure and destroy the rights of others. That for one government to seek and forcibly seize its subjects while under the special protection, or within the dominions of an- other, was a prostration of the sovereignty of the latter. No process of national law could be found which would authorize the crews of British ships to invade the territory, or board the ships of another sovereign in search of their subjects, whom they had voluntarily suffered to leave them. Every circumstance attending the arrest, search, and impressment, was degrading ; it could not be carried into effect without in- volving thousands of American citizens, to whom the British government could have no pretensions, in undistinguished ruin. In all their remonstrances to the British government, the United States offered to exclude British seamen from their service, which would remove any pretence of necessity for the practice. At an early period of the negotiations upon this subject, Great Britain indeed consented to relinquish the practice on what she termed the high seas. But the waters >urrounding the British Islands, and separating them from the Continent, from Cape Finisterre on the south, to the north- ernmost islands of Scotland, they denominated the narrow seas, and claimed to exercise territorial jurisdiction on them ; whenever, therefore, American vessels came within those seas, as they necessarily must, when bound to the Baltic, to Ham- burgh, Holland, or the nothern parts of France, they were on this principle within the territorial jurisdiction of the 3 4 8 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap h British government, and subject to search and impressment.*' A doctrine so subversive of national rights, and at the same time so destitute of principle, could not be submitted to by any independent power. The. peace of Amiens afforded a short suspension of aggressions upon neutral rights, but with the renewal of the war those aggressions were renewed with increased violence. By a British order in council of June ] 803, the principle was claimed, that a neutral vessel on her return was liable to capture and condemnation, from the eireumstance that in her outward voyage she had conveyed contraband goods to an enemy's port.t Blockade of 1806. By a British ploclamation of the 10th of May, 1806, the whole sea-coast bordering on the English Channel, from the port of Brest to the mouth of the Elbe, both inclusive, embracing a distance of six hundred miles, was declared to be in a state of blockade, and neutral vessels pro- hibited entering any of the ports on that coast. It was not pretended that there was a sufficient naval force before each of these ports to invest it, but it was claimed that such was the number and situation of the British ships of war in and near the channel, that no vessel could enter those ports with safety, and on that ground they might lawfully be prohibited. A proclamation of blockade notified to the ministers of neutral powers was deemed sufficient notice to their vessels, of the existence of such blockade : and ships cleared out for ports prohibited under the proclamation were deemed lawful prize, on any part of the ocean. The principle of public law by which neutrals are excluded from belligerent ports, originally extended only to places actually besieged, where their admis- sion would prolong the siege or prevent a capture ; and it was not until after England had gained a naval ascendancy, that it was ever admitted to extend to places where the object * Mr. King's Letter to the Secretary of State, July 1803. •f Order in Council of the 24th June 1T303-. B924. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 13 of the blockade was not their reduction. But in all cases the neutral attempting to enter is to be first warned to depart, and liable to capture and condemnation only on a second attempt.* Orders in Council. By an order of council of the 7th of Janu- ary, 1 807, no neutral vessel was allowed to trade from one port to another of France or her allies, or which was in pos- session of her armies, or of any countries from which British vessels were excluded. This order was not claimed to be founded upon any principles of national law, but in retaliation for French decrees, which the same order declares to be mere empty threats without the possibility of being executed. The orders in council of the 11th of November, super- seded all former ones, and put an end to neutral trade. They declared all the ports and places of France, her allies, or any other country at war with England, or from which the British flag was excluded, and all their colonies to be in a state of blockade, and all commerce, in articles the produce or manufacture of such countries, to be unlawful. As a mat- ter of professed favour to neutrals, they were allowed to bring their cargoes to England, pay the British duties, and proceed to the Continent, where, for this very reason, they would be subject to condemnation.! Milan Decree. This was followed by the French Milan decree, of the 17th of December, which declared all vessels bound to or sailing from England, or which had submitted to English search, to be subject to capture and condemnation. Both nations, in their treatment of neutrals, equally disre- garded their rights; and adopted principles unknown to the law of nations, and subversive of the plainest maxims of justice. Each claimed the right of destroying the commerce" of the other, by prohibiting the trade of neutrals with their opponent. The doctrine of retaliation, which in certain cases * Vattel 508. f British order in council, November 1807. 20 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAtt Cbai>. 1. and to a limited extent, admits one belligerent, who has re- ceived an injury from his antagonist, to inflict the same on him in return, was drawn into view to justify the practice of inflicting on an innocent neutral, an injury of the same char- acter which the neutral had received from the opposing belli- gerent. These principles,carried into operation with the most rigorous energy, swept from the ocean the commerce of the United States ; and nothing but an utter inability to resist them with effect could justify even a temporary forbearance. Berlin Decree. The French government, after the de- struction of their marine, and the absolute naval ascendancy of Great Britain, became the champions of the freedom of the seas. Dependent on neutrals for the little commerce they enjoyed, they were desirous of extending the immunities of the neutral flag, and proclaimed the principles of national law to be, that maritime war could not be lawfully extended to any private property, nor to persons who are not military : — that the right of blockade should be restrained to fortified places actually invested by a competent military force : that free ships should make free goods, and the flag protect the merchandise conveyed under it; and that a ship was a part of the domain of the nation whose flag she bore, and could not be approached by a belligerent but for the purpose of taking enemy-soldiers in arms, and goods contraband of war. The adoption of these principles, it was obvious, would render the British marine in a great measure useless ; and would be the last point that Great Britain would be expected to give up; neutrals, however, were required to resist any encroachments upon them at all hazards; otherwise they would consider the neutral as forfeiting his character, his ships a3 denationalized, and liable to capture and condemnation. The promulgation of this doctrine was followed by a series of disastrous pillage on American commerce, for which the only reason assigned was that the United States did not resist British aggressions by immediate war. The French consid- jSl". HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^1 ered American property on the ocean as free plunder, and captured, burnt, and destroyed it at their pleasure. The first public edict upon the subject, was the Berlin decree of November 1806, which, after recounting the various aggres- sions of the British upon neutral commercial rights, declares the British Islands to be in a state of blockade, and prohibits all commerce and correspondence with them ; and further declares all merchandise coming from English manufactories or from English colonies to be lawful prize ; and that no vessel coming from England, or her colonies, or having been there since the publication of the decrees, should be received into French ports. Conduct of British Ships in American Waters. To give efficacy to their orders in council, the British kept constantly hovering on the coast, and in the American waters, a large naval force. This was a constant source of vexation : scarcely a vessel could go in or out of a port without being arrested and searched by a British cruiser, and often on the most frivolous pretexts sent to England for condemnation. Conduct of the British Prize Courts. The British prize courts, though under the Presidency of Sir William Scott, a very able jurist, had moulded their doctrines and decisions in conformity to the views of government ; had given to the pro- clamations of the Prince Regent, and the orders in council, the power of abrogating the law of nations; and under the head of supporting what were claimed to be British maritime rights, had extinguished the just rights and privileges of all other nations. On the 25th of April, 180G, the British ship Leander, Cap- tain Whitby, in company with two other ships of war, off San- dy-Hook, fired upon the sloop Richard, a coasting vessel from Brandywinc, coming into New-York, and killed John Pierce, the man at the helm. The sloop then pursued her course to the city, where the body was landed; a jury of inquest held, and a verdict, of wilful murder returned against. 22 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAP. Cffjp. 1, Captain Whitby. The corpse was interred under direction of the city authorities with every mark of respect. The excite- ment which this outrage occasioned throughout the country was extreme. The President issued a proclamation ordering Whitby to be arrested for trial if ever found in any part of the United States, and prohibiting all intercourse with the Lean- der, and the ships in company with her. Capture of the Chesapeake. On the 22d of June, 1807, the American frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Barron, of thirty- six guns, sailed from Hampton Roads, on a cruise to the Med- iterranean. In proceedingto sea, she passed a British squadron at anchor in Lynnhaven bay ; soon after, the British ship of war Leopard, of fifty guns, followed her ; at three leagues dis- tance from Cape Henry, the Leopard came up with the Ches- apeake, sent an officer on board, and demanded the surrender of a number of her crew, whom he claimed to be deserters from the British squadron, and showed an order from Admiral Berkeley, directing them to be taken by force in case of refu- sal. Commodore Barron replied that he had given his re- cruiting officers orders to enlist no British deserters ; that he knew of no such on board ; and that he should not suffer his ■crew to be mustered by any but his own officers. On re- ceiving this reply, the Leopard commenced a heavy fire on the Chesapeake ; Commodore Barron being wholly unpre- pared for action, sustained the fire about thirty minutes, and surrendered his ship. The Captain of the Leopard sent an officer on board, mustered the crew, took from them four persons whom he claimed to be British deserters, and returned to Lynnhaven bay. Three of them were afterwards proved to be impressed native American seamen ; the fourth was tried and executed as a British deserter. The Chesapeake had three men killed and eighteen wounded, and was so dam- aged in her hull and rigging as to be wholly unable to proceed on her voyage. The conduct of Commodore Barron was investigated by a naval tribunal, who censured him for not 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. preparing his ship for action and returning the Leopard's fire, and ordered him suspended for a year. In consequence of this outrage, which appeared to be the consummation of acts of violence committed by the British on American ships, the President issued a proclamation forbidding all British armed vessels from entering the waters of the United States, and prohibiting all intercourse with them. The attack on the Chesapeake was afterwards disavowed by the British gov- ernment, the two surviving men restored, and provision made for the families of the slain ; this satisfaction was accepted by the American government. Monroe and Pinckneyh- Treaty. In March 1806, Mr. Wil- liam Pinckney, of Maryland, was appointed envoy extraordi- nary to the British court, and in conjunction with Mr. Mon- roe, the resident minister, directed to seek redress for past injuries, and obtain stipulations against the violation of neu- tral rights in future. On the subject of impressment, they were instructed to make it a preliminary, and without a satisfactory arrangement of that point, to conclude no treaty.* Mr. Pinckney left the United States in May, and immediately on his arrival, entered with Mr. Monroe on the business of his mission. On the subject of impressment, they found the Brit- ish government entirely inexorable. The American ministers then informed the British that their instructions forbade their concluding any treaty in which that subject was not arranged, and of course their acts would not be obligatory upon their government. They proceeded however to the discussion of the other topics with the British ministry, and on the 31st of December concluded a treaty which contained no stipulation on the subject of impressment, no agreement for satisfaction for past injuries, and which impliedly, recognised the right of the British to interdict the neutral direct colonial trade. T * Instructions of May 17th, 1806. t Monroe and Pinckney's treaty, December 31st, 180Br .o 4 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. !. Accompanying the treaty, was a note from the British commis- sioners, declaring, that unless France repealed her edicts against neutral commerce with Great Britain, or America effectually resisted them, the treaty should not be obligatory upon the British government.* On receiving this treaty under these circumstances, the President rejected it without submitting it to the Senate. The envoys were instructed to renew the negotiations, and endeavour to obtain better terms. In attempting to do this, they were informed by the British ministry that further negotiations would be useless. Embargo. At this crisis the President convened Congress on the 26th of October, 1 807. It had become a subject deep- ly interesting to every portion of the community, what course the United States ought to pursue. That both belligerents had violated the most essential and important neutral rights of the United States, admitted of no doubt. These rights were essential to the prosperity of the nation, and as much the duty of the government to protect as their territory. The American government had been suing at the courts of the belligerents, for more than twelve years, for liberty of enjoying some of the privileges accorded to neutrals by the laws of nations, and had sued in vain, and were at length told that further suits would be useless. The principle assumed by both belligerents was the same, viz. to violate any neu- tral right, when they could prejudice their enemy thereby. There was this practical difference between them. The Brit- ish were able to carry their edicts into execution with a most destructive energy ; the French decrees, from the weakness of their marine, were in a great measure empty threats. A large portion of the commercial part of the community, were in favour of permitting American vessels to arm in their own defence, and to leave it to the discretion of the merchant to pursue such commercial adventures as his judgment should •" British note accompanying treaty, 31st of December. 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 25 dii^Ct. This was considered by the government as com- promitting their honour, and affording fresh opportunities for Continued insults. On the 18th of December the President recommended, and Congress afterwards adopted, an embargo, universal in extent, and unlimited in duration. Two objects were proposed by this measure: one, to induce the belligerents, from the inconveniences resulting to them from the depriva- tion of the American trade, to relax their hostility to neutral commerce ; the other to preserve the resources of the coun- try within itself. To give complete effect to the measure, it became necessary to lay the coasting trade under the most inconvenient and burthensome restrictions, and to prohibit all land intercourse between the United States, and the neigh- bouring British colonies. The experiment of compelling one nation to accede to the claims of another, by withholding " intercourse from all, had never before been made. The object was important, the attempt new," and could it have been successful, would have introduced a new and an important era in political science. It must have taken the place of wars in a great measure, as being a much more safe, easy, and cheap mode of enforcing a demand. The progress of improvement in international poli- tics, had not hitherto kept pace with that of the arts, but this would have placed it in advance ; and it was considered well worth almost any sacrifice to establish the principle, that the United States, by withholding their intercourse, could so operate upon the wants of other nations, as to induce them to accede to their claims. But unfortunately for the success ©f this experiment, the French government, viewing it as a very timely aid to their continental system, and as much more injurious to their enemy than to themselves, highly applauded the measure. The British, at this time trading with all the world except France and its dependencies, found themselves in a situation to endure a deprivation of American commerce much longer than, in their opinion* the Americans would be 4 26 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR- Chaf. 1 - able to endure a universal suspension of theirs. The British national character, and honour too in their apprehension, was at stake, and forbade their yielding the point. To an offer made the British government to repeal the embargo as to them, and continue it as to France, in case she would revoke her orders in council, they gave a decided negative, remark- ing that " his majesty would not hesitate to contribute in any manner in his power to restore to the commerce of the United States its wonted activity; and if it were possible to make any sacrifice for the repeal of the embargo, without appearing to deprecate it as a measure of hostility, he would gladly have facilitated its removal, as a measure of inconve- nient restriction upon the American people."* By the suspension of foreign commerce, a large portion of the community, whose employment and subsistence depended upon business connected with navigation, were instantly thrown out of employment and reduced to distress. The productions of agriculture were perishing on the hands of the planters ; the ships of the merchant rotting at the wharves, and the sea- men dispersing themselves through the country seeking em- ployment and subsistence. These inconveniencies, how- ever, were in some measurec ounterbalanced by the establish- ment of various important branches of manufactures. Erskine^s Arrangement. In January 1 809, the British cabi- net transmitted instructions to their minister at Washington, Mr. Erskine, to offer the American government, that, in case they would repeal all their restrictive acts against Great Bri- tain, and leave them in force against France, renounce all claim to the colonial trade, submit to the rule of the war of 1756, and agree that the British cruisers might capture all American vessels attempting to trade with France contrary to the provisions of those laws, the British government would consent to withdraw their orders in council, so far as it re- * Canning's Letter to Pinckney, Sept 23,1808- 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 27 spected America. On these propositions being made to the American government, they were at once rejected. The British minister, misapprehending his instrvjetions, then pro- ceeded to agree to the terms proposed by the Secretary of State: That upon the orders in council being removed, the President would issue a proclamation restoring intercourse with Great Britain, and leaving the restrictive laws in force against France. This arrangement being made, the orders in council were declared to be revoked after the 10th June, 1809,* and the President, by proclamation, declared the ac- customed intercourse between the United States and Great Britain to be renewed after that period. The British government disavowed this arrangement, and declared that their minister had exceeded his instructions, and that their orders in council were still in force. Mr. Ers- kine was- immediately recalled, and his place supplied by Mr. Jackson, late minister at Copenhagen. Jackson's Mission. This minister seems to have entered on his mission deeply impressed with ideas of the importance of the power that sent him, and of the inferiority of the power to which he was sent, and disposed to treat the government of the United States with the same insolence that had been practised towards the Danish government and other minor European powers. To an intimation from the Secretary of State, that upon the important topics which were the subject of discussion between them, it was desirable that their com- munications should be in writing, as less liable to error and misapprehension, he replied, that he believed that there does not exist in the annals of diplomacy, a precedent for such a determination, and after entering his protest, complied with the intimation. On being called upon to explain (he reasons why his government disavowed the proceedings of his predeces- sor, he stated that the American government knew that he ex- ■■ * — ' ■■»■■■ * Erskine's Arrangement of 19 2' 3 1 Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, - - - - - - - 7 V 3 11 2 4 Pennsylvania, - - - - 1G 2 Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, - - - South-Carolina, - - - 1 6 3 14 5 6 3 8 Georgia, ------- Tennessee, Ohio, 3 J 5 ' 3 1 Majority, 30. 79 49 * Report of committee of foreign relations. 1812. HISTORY OF TUP] LATE WAR. 51 In selecting Great Britain as an enemy, when equal cause of war existed against her and France, it was considered that the latter had no assailable points, no colonies on the conti- nent of America, no Islands in the West Indies unoccupied by the British, no commerce on the ocean to invite, and reward the enterprise of American privateers. A declaration of war against her would in effect be a mere empty threat, hav- ing no other practical result than to force the country into an unequal and dangerous alliance with Great Britain. Protest of the Minority. Immediately on the passage of the bill, the minority in Congress published an address to their constituents, assigning their reasons against the measure. In their view, a war with England would necessarily lead to a connexion with France, hazardous to the liberties of the United States. If war at all was necessary, it ought to be with France, as being the first and greatest in her aggres- sions. The commerce of France and her dependencies, embarrassed as it was with her internal restrictions, was not worth contending for. A profitable trade with England, they said, might be still carried on, notwithstanding the French edicts, as they were unable to enforce them to any extent. A considerable portion of the world, to which American com- merce might extend, was not embraced in the prohibitions of cither belligerent. They would therefore suffer the Ameri- can merchants to arm in their own defence, and pursue such course of trade as their judgment should direct. They con- sidered the attempt to conquer Canada as unjust and impo- litic in itself, very uncertain in the issue, and promising no good in any result. The unprepared state of the country, in their view, altogether forbade a declaration of war at present. With- out an army, or navy, or funds to create and support either ; we were about to enter the lists with a power, who would at once desolate our frontier and seaboard with impunity. What, they ask, " are the United States to gain by this war ? Will the gratification of some privateersmen compensate the nation for that sweep of our legitimate commerce, by the 52 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, t extended marine of our enemy, which this desperate act in- vites ? will Canada compensate the Middle States for New- York, or the Western for New- Orleans? Let us not be de- ceived. A war of invasion may invite a retort of invasion. When we visit the peaceable, and as to us innocent colo- nies of Great Britain with the horrors of war, can we be as- sured that our own coast will not be visited with like horror? At a crisis of the world such as the present, and under im- pressions such as these, the undersigned cannot consider the war into which the United States have in secret been precipi- tated as necessary, or required by any moral duty or politi- cal expediency."* War Measures. The measures adopted this session prepa- ratory to, or in consequence of the declaration of war, were, an act prohibiting the exportation of specie, a general embargo for ninety days from the 24th of April ; an act authorizing the enlistment of twenty-five thousand men, and filling up the peace establishment of six thousand; several acts authorizing the President to accept the services of fifty thousand volun- teers; to call upon the executives of the several states for a detachment of one hundred thousand militia, to be apportion- ed to each state according to the militia returns; to raise seven companies of rangers of seventy-two men each for the pro- tection of the frontiers from Indian depredations ; several acts establishing the staff department, providing for the purchase of ordnance, camp equipage, military stores, and arms, and providing for the equipment and manning the navy. Treasury Estimates. The estimates to meet these expenses, and for which Congress made appropriations, were for the army and fortifica- tions $11,466,56.2 For the navy 3,404,669 These, together with the sum of 1 1,745,388 * Address of the minority in Congress to their constituents, June 1812. IS 12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 53 for the support of government, reimbursing the public debt, and other purposes, made an ag- gregate to be provided for the year 1812 of 26,6 16,619 In his annual report, the secretary of the treasury stated that the amount of public debt due on the 1st of April, 1801, amounted to 79,926,993 That of this debt there had been extinguished in eleven years 46,022,816 leaving of the old debt due on the 1 st of January, 1812, 33,904,189 to which is to be added the debt contracted for the purchase of Louisiana, amounting to 1 1,250,000 making the whole debt of the United States on the 1st of Jan. 1812, 45,154,189 System of Finance for the War. On the 17th of February the committee of ways and means reported a system of fi- nance adapted to a state of war for three years, the outlines of which were to support the war altogether by loans, to es- tablish a revenue which should be sufficient to meet the ordi- nary expenses of government, and pay the interest on the war loans. The extraordinary expenses for which it was neces- sary to obtain loans for the present year were estimated at eleven millions. A state of war, the committee remark, will necessarily very much diminish importations, and the revenue derived from them ; to meet this event, as well as to provide for the interest on the war loans, they recommend, that the impost duties be doubled, foreign tonnage raised to one dollar and fifty cents, a direct tax of three millions, and an extensive system of internal duties and excise. The general principles embraced in the report were adopted. The direct tax and internal duties were postponed until the next session, a loan of eleven millions was authorized at an interest not exceeding six per cent, and reimbursable in twelve years. In execution of this authority, the secretary of thr 54 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2. treasury directed subscriptions to be opened at the principal banks in the United States on the 1st and 2d days of May. To encourage banks to subscribe, it was provided, that the money subscribed by any bank, should remain a deposit there- in, until called for by the secretary for the use of the United States ; and the cashier's certificate that a sum was passed to the credit of the United States on his books, entitled the bank to that amount in United States stock bearing an interest of six per centum. On the returns of the subscriptions, it appeared , that there had been subscribed by banks $4,190,000 and by individuals 1,928,000 Leaving a balance of 4,882,000 of the eleven millions not taken up. To supply this deficiency, the President was authorized to issue treasury notes, payable in one year, and bearing an in- terest of five and two-fifths per cent. These notes were receivable in all payments at the treasury, and calculated to pass as a currency, and supersede to a certain extent, the circulation of bank bills. Congress rose on the 6th of July, after a session of eight months* CHAPTER III. Situation of the United States at the Declaration of the War. — Popu- lation. — Military and Naval Power. — State of Great Britain. — Indian Population ; Character. — Tecumseh. — British and Indian Alliance. — Proceedings of the Several States in relation to the War. — Louisi- ana. — New- York. — Ohio. — New-Jersey Connecticut. — Report of the Committee to the Legislature of Connecticut — Massachusetts. — Governor Strong's Reasons for not calling out the Militia — Opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court on the subject. — Resolutions of Maryland on the subject of the War. — Of Pennsylvania. — Report of the Secretary at War on the Powers of Congress relative to the Militia. — Proceedings in Canada on the War. — Orders for Governor Prevost. — Governor Brock's Address to the Legislature of Upper Canada. — Address of the Legislature of Upper Canada to their Con- stituents. — Prince Regent's Manifesto. Situation of the United States. At the period of the de- claration of war, the United States had a population of eight millions. Their navy consisted of three frigates of forty-four guns, four of thirty-six, three of thirty-two, ten small vessels of war, and one hundred and sixty-five gun-boats. Their regular army amounted to three thousand effective men, and their militia to eight hundred thousand. Of Great Britian. The population of the British North American colonies bordering on the United States, was esti- mated at four hundred thousand, their militia at forty thousand, and a regular military force of six thousand, stationed at Quebec, and other posts in the colonies. The British naval establishment at the same period, consisted of two hundred and fifty-four ships of the line of seventy-four guns and upwards, thirty -five fifties and forty-fours, two hundred and forty-seven frigates, and five hundred and six small vessels of war.* Great Britain was engaged at the same time in an * Steele's list. 56 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 2. expensive and hazardous war with France in the Spanish peninsula; and also in assisting Russia in defending herself against Bonaparte's invasion. Of the Indian Tribes. In the unsettled territory of the United States, east of the Mississippi, was an Indian popula- tion estimated at one hundred thousand souls,* and capable of furnishing ten thousand warriors. Most of the tribes receive annual stipends from the American government, in clothing and articles of husbandry, in consideration of portions of their land which they have ceded to the United States. Trading houses and small military posts are established in various parts of their territory, for the purpose of preserving them in order, and accommodating them with necessaries. Great pains have been taken by the government, and private charitable societies, to instruct and bring them to some degree of civili- zation. Still this population remain poor, improvident, and with little tillage, seeking a precarious subsistence from the woods and waters. They are naturally indolent, but when roused to action, vindictive, exterminating, and capable of enduring the greatest fatigue and deprivations. Their prin- ciples of war are to make no prisoners, but to massacre all that fall into their power, defenceless women and children, the aged and infirm, as well as the soldier in arms. Unable to meet an enemy in the open field, their war consists of ambuscade and surprise. They will traverse the wilderness for hundreds of miles, for the sake of plundering, burning, and destroying defenceless villages and their inhabitants. By their swiftness in returning, they elude pursuit : and are always a terror to the frontier inhabitants. Within the British territories bordering on the United States, and subject to British influence, was a similar population of about one third of the amount. It would have been happy and honourable for both nations, if these children of the * Morse's Gazetteer. 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. b7 forest could have been suffered to remain at peace during the contest. But such was not the lot of this people. Tecumseh. Tecumseh a celebrated chief of the Shawanee tribe, in the centre of the Indian population, an inveterate enemy to the Americans, had formed the plan of uniting the Indians of the west, north-west, and south, to expel the whites from the lands north-westward of the Ohio ; for this pur- pose, he had visited the various tribes, held war^councils, and inspired them in a high degree with his own feelings. Though at this time but about forty-four years old, he had been in almost every battle since Harmer's defeat. He bore a con- spicuous part in the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe. His eloquence was nervous, concise, and impressive ; his words few, but always to the purpose. From his talents and exer- tions, he had acquired an extensive influence over the sav- ages ; and by his attendance at their councils, and persuasive eloquence, had brought them into his views.* In this he was very much aided by a religious fanaticism, which at this time prevailed among them. A set of prophets had risen up, who persuaded the Indians that they were sent immedi- ately from the Great Spirit to direct them. Tecumseh en- listed these impostors into his service, and induced them to proclaim to the Indians, that it was the will of the Great Spirii, that they should unite in extirpating the whites, that they would certainly be successful, and reposses their country ; and that those who were slain in the attempt, would go to the land of their fathers, to a land abounding with fish and game. The character and schemes of this savage were exactly suited to the views of the British. At the commencement of the war, they took him into their service, with the rank and pay of a brigadier general ; and formed an alliance with him and his associates, the object of which was to extirpate the frontier settlements ; and one condition of which was, that no peace should be Brown's views ofthe north-western campaign. 8 i,3 iUSTQRY OF THE 1>ATE WAR. Chap. £ made with the Americans, which did not embrace a restoration ©f the lands purchased of the Indians since 1795.* Views of the State Governments in relation to the War. Although Congress have the power of declaring war, and the necessary powers incident thereto ; yet, as the United States al this period, consisted of eighteen distinct sovereignties, independent in every thing, excepting where their rights were ceded to the general government by the constitution, their co-operation in the war measures was necessary to a successful issue of the contest. The authorities of each state took the earliest opportunities after the declaration of waF, to express their sentiments on the measure. Louisiana. On the 30th of July, 1812, for the first time since the organization of the state government, Governor Clairborne met the legislature of Louisiana. In his address, on the subject of the war, he remarks, " the United States are engaged in a war, to the calamities of which, this section ef the union is greatly exposed. We know not the moment when the enemy may enter the sanctuary of our dwellings, and convert to his use the fruits of our industry. A sense of common danger should unite every heart, and strengthen every arm. If ever war was justifiable, the one which our country has declared is that war. If ever a people had cause to repose in the confidence of their government, we are that people. Union is in itself a host; it is numbers, strength, and security. Let every man put himself in armour. When justice is the standard, Heaven is the warrior's shield." Sim- ilar sentiments were addressed by the governors of Vermont and Delaware to their legislatures. New-York. On the 3d of November, Governor Tomp- kins, in his address to the legislature of New-York, omits any remarks on the justice or expediency of the war ; but observes, " that notwithstanding differences of opinion may exist, upon * Propositions of the British commissioners at Ghent. WIS. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 59 a variety of local and other subjects, yet in the propriety of respecting and yielding our exertions to support the national will, constitutionally expressed, and to preserve the rights, character, and honour of the American nation unimpaired, we must all heartily concur." Ohio. To the legislature of the state of Ohio, Governor Meigs remarks, " that the people of the United States have been driven into a necessary war, to preserve their undenia- ble rights. Situate as is the state of Ohio, bordered by hos- tile tribes and British possessions, new and weighty duties are required. The man' who would desert a just cause is unworthy to defend it. Let no man shrink from his duty. From new emergencies new warriors will arise to defend the heritage of their ancestors. To our exertions, let us add a reliance on the protecting arm of the God of justice." The executives of the states of New-Hampshire, Virginia. North and South-Carolina, Georgia, Kentuky, and Tennessee, at the first meetings of their legislatures after the declaration of war, expressed the same sentiments in the same ener- getic language. They spoke the sentiments of a large majority of their constituents, and the legislatures reciproca- ted them by acts adapted to support the operations of the general government. New- Jersey. In November 1812, the legislature of New- Jersey resolved, " that the war with Great Britain into which, the present administration have plunged the United States, was inexpedient, ill-timed, and most dangerously impolitic, sacrificing at once countless blessings, and incurring all the hazards, and losses of men and treasure, necessarily resulting from a contest with a nation possessing so many means to annoy and distress us : " That as the war was improvidenlly commenced, so has the conduct of it proved wasteful and disastrous. The administration being evidently chargeable with the multiplied Masters which have attended our arms, and consigned to \ore abundantly furnished, and had every inducement held *J4 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. out to them to increase their depredations. The alarm how- ever that these events excited only served to stimulate to increased exertions, and the Indians were ultimately doomed to suffer the injuries which they and their allies had calculated to inflict on the border inhabitants of the United States. Exertions. By the spirited exertions of the governors of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, an army of volun- teers was assembled in a few weeks, amounting to eight thousand men. Indeed, many more offered than could be received into service. These were placed under the com- mand of General Harrison, governor of Indianja and a briga- dier in the United States service, in whose talents and expe- rience the western country had the most perfect confidence. The object of these troops was to subdue the Indians of the west, and regain what was lost at Detroit. The Indians can be divested of their means of annoyance only by destroying their towns, and their means of support, and in this manner compelling them to retire further into the wilderness. Such was the object of these preparations. Defence of Fort Harrison. Fort Harrison on the Wabash, sixty miles above Vincennes, on the 4th of September, was in- vested by a large party of Indians from the Prophet's town. A party of thirty or forty Indians had appeared at the fort early in the evening, with a flag, under pretence of obtaining pro- visions. Captain Taylor, commander of the garrison, sus- pecting an attack, supplied his men with cartridges, and increased his guards. At about 1 1 o'clock, the Indians prowling about the fort privately set fire to the block-house , in which the provisions and spirits for the garrison were stored •, and notwithstanding every exertion, the whole build- ing was immediately in flames, and threatened destruction to the others ; but the flames were prevented from further spreading by the great exertions of the garrison. The Indians kept up a firing until morning, when the garrison were able to direct their fire upon them, and obliged them to retire bevond the reach of their guns. The Indians destroyed the 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 35 horses and hogs, and drove ofV the cattle belonging to the garrison. At the time of this attack, there were not more than twenty men in the garrison fit for duty. Captain Tay- lor the next day repaired the breach made by the burning of the block-house, by a strong row of pickets, and despatched messengers to Vincennes for relief. Not long afterwards, General Hopkins with the Kentucky volunteers arrived, and relieved the garrison. General Hopkins' 1 's first Expedition. The hostility in which the Indians had been led to engage by their British friends, induced a determination on the part of the Americans, to extirpate the hostile tribes, or drive them beyond the limits of the United States. While General Harrison was preparing and organizing his forces for the Miami, General Hopkins, under the direction of the governor of Kentucky, was pre- paring an expedition against the Indians on the head waters of the Wabash, and Illinois. Early in October a force of four thousand mounted men, from Kentucky and the territories of Illinois and Indiana, was collected at Vincennes under his command. On the 10th of October, they reached fort Har- rison and relieved that garrison, and on the 14th crossed the Wabash, and encamped after a march of about three miles. General Hopkins, perceiving some discontents among his troops, assembled the field officers and captains, and explained to them the objects of the expedition, and the benefits which would probably result from it. The Kickapoo villages were about one hundred miles distant, and the Pioria towns about one hundred and sixty. The destruction of these towns, and the intervening ones, would break up the most formidable haunts of the savages, and secure the settlements and posts from attack. His troops were supplied with ten days provi- sions, and every thing necessary for the expedition. The officers held a council, and reported in favour of proceeding ; they commenced their march on the 14th, and continued if four days. The discontents increased ; many broke away and returned. A major addressed the general, in an insolent 96 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. and dictatorial manner, and demanded to be conducted imme- diately back. On the 18th, they encamped on the edge of a large prairie, covered with high grass and dry weeds. The Indians set fire to the opposite sides, the wind drove the flames furiously towards the camp, and the Americans with some difficulty saved themselves by firing the grass round their encampment. This decided the army to return. Gen- eral Hopkins offered to lead on five hundred men, if that num- ber could be found to volunteer, but none turned out. He then proposed to lead them on that day, and then would agree to return ; but on putting himself at their head, and ordering them to follow, they filed off in a contrary direction; and he was obliged to follow in the rear of his troops back to fort Harrison. They had penetrated about eighty miles into the Indian country, but found no enemy. Second Expedition oj General Hopkins. General Hopkins, not discouraged by the ill success of this expedition, determined another against the Prophet's town, and other villages on the Wabash. On the 1 1th of November, he marched from fort Harrison, with a detachment of United States troops, and as many militia as could be induced to join him. On the 20th they arrived at the Prophet's town, and destroyed the huts of that and the neighbouring villages, amounting to nearly three hundred, and large quantities of corn. The Indians had abandoned their dwellings at the approach of the troops. The army then proceeded in quest of the Indian encampment, and on the 24th, found it in a very strong position, on the Ponce-passe creek, which protected it on three sides, and in front of their encampment was a high bluff", which could be approached only through steep ravines. This position the Indians had abandoned, previous to the approach of General Hopkins. The lateness of the season, and the severity of the weather, prevented a further progress into the Indian country.* Several other expeditions were * General Hopkins's letter to Governor Shelby. i81*. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 97 successfully undertaken and accomplished against the In- dians on the Wabash, the Illinois, and their tributary streams ; and by these means, the security of this frontier was c flee ted. After the failure of Chicaugo, and the capture of Captain Heald, the Miami and the Potawatomee Indians, to the amount of five or six hundred, invested fort Wayne, situated on the Miami at the junction of St. Marys and St. Josephs. Gene- ral Harrison's first object, after he had collected a sufficient force, was the relief of that place. He arrived there with twenty-five hundred men, on the 1 2th of September. The In- dians, hearing of his approach, had burned and destroyed every thing outside of the garrison and fled, four days before his arrival. The next object was to open and secure a communication along the Miami river, between the settled part, of the state of Ohio and Lake Erie, and establishing a strong post at the foot of the Miami rapids. General Winchester'' s advance to the Rapids. On the 20th of September, General Winchester commenced his march from fort Wayne, along the river, to fort Defiance, at the junc- tion of the Au Glaise with the Miami. He reached that place on the 2d of October, having had some skirmishing with the Indians on his march, by which he lost seven killed and one wounded. On his arrival at the fort, he found the enemy had passed thence three days before. General Harrison joined the troops on their march from fort Wayne to fort Defiance. From thence he ordered General Tupper, of the Ohio volun- teers, with a detachment of one thousand men, to proceed immediately to the rapids, a distance of fifty miles from Defiance. General Harrison then left the immediate com- mand to General Winchester, and proceeded to Franklinton, to organize and bring on the reinforcements. General Tup- per, in consequence of the damaged state of his ammunition, and the time requisite for procuring provisions, was consider- ably delayed. In the mean time, the Indians appeared on the opposite side of the river, and killed one man. Major Brush, with fifty men, was ordered across the river to reconnoitre ; 1 > 93 HJSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. when nearly the whole of General Tupper's troops, contrary lo orders, mounted, and crossed the river in small bands, in pursuit of the enemy. General Winchester then ordered General Tupper to proceed with his whole force in pursuit of the Indians. The latter remonstrated against the order, re- presenting his situation to be such as rendered it impracticable. This was followed by a peremptory order to proceed. While General Tupper was preparing to obey the order, General Winchester transferred the command of the oxpedi- dition to Col. Allen of the United States troops ; on this being made known to the Ohio militia, they refused to proceed, and immediately returned to Urbanna ; and the expedition was abandoned. General Tupper's Expedition. From Urbanna General Tupper proceeded to fort M'Arthur, with his mounted men, where another expedition was organized, consisting of six hundred troops, to proceed to the rapids. He arrived at the place of his destination on the evening of the 1 3th of Novem- ber, and found the place in possession of the British and In- dians. He immediately made a disposition for crossing the river. A few of his men succeeded in getting over, but the greater part missed the ford, and the depth and rapidity of the current endangered their safety; and as soon as day appeared, and they were discovered by the enemy, those who had cross- ed were ordered to return. The gun-boats and other craft in the river, escaped down to the lake. The Indian chief Splitlog, at the head of a considerable band of warriors, crossed the river on horseback, and made a violent attack on General Tupper's troops. They were received with firmness, driven back, and compelled to recross the river with consid- erable loss. General Tupper's provisions being expended, he was obliged to return. Col. CampbelPs Expedition to the Messessiwena. From Franklinton, Colonel Campbell, of the 19th regiment of Uni- ted States infantry, was despatched on an expedition against the Indians on the Messessiwena river, a branch of the Wabash. On the morning of the 17th of November, he arrived undis- 181*. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 99 covered, and made a charge upon their principal town, which he destroyed, with three others a few miles down the river. On the 12th of December, his camp was attacked by a party of three hundred Indians, on the right line, occupied by Ma- jor Ball's squadron of horse, who gallantly fought them for three-quarters of an hour, when the Indians retreated. They were at the same time bravely charged by Captain Trotter at the head of his troop of cavalry. Four Indian towns were destroyed, forty warriors killed, and about the same number made prisoners. The American loss was nine killed, and thirty wounded. While General Harrison was collecting his forces at San- dusky, with a view to concentrate them at the rapids to ope- rate upon Maiden and Detroit, GeneralWinchester proceeded from fort Defiance along the Miami, and established himself, and strengthened the post at the foot of the rapids. Here he received a pressing call from the inhabitants of Frcnchtown, on the river Raisin, for protection ; representing that they were cvecy moment exposed and threatened with destruction by the British and Indians at Maiden. The Raisin, after an easterly course of about forty miles, falls into the west end of lake Erie, twenty miles below Maiden, and forty north of the mouth of the Miami ; along its banks, for several miles from its mouth, are fertile bottomlands of considerable extent, in- habited by people of French extract, and composing the vil- lage of Frenchtown, which next to Detroit and Mackinaw, is the most considerable settlement in the Michigan territory. Colonel Lewis, with a detachment of three hundred men, was ordered to the relief of these inhabitants. On the 17th, he arrived within three miles of the town, when he learned that the enemy were already there, and had taken possession of (he fortified position formerly occupied by Captain Brush. On the 18th, he attacked and drove them from their strong holds, pursued them a considerable distance into the woods, and returned and encamped on the ground from whence he had driven them. On the 20tb, General Winchester arrived wiih 109 iHSTORY OF THE LATE WAft, Ohap. 5- the main body from the rapids. The whole force now amount- ed to seven hundred and fifty men, consisting of regular troops, and a large corps of Kentucky volunteers. This ex- pedition was the effect of inconsiderate zeal and humanity, and not the result of military prudence. The detachment was now seventy miles from any succours, in an uncovered situa- tion, and within twenty miles of Maiden, where was a much superior British force. The ice formed a solid bridge from Maiden to Frcnchtown, and a march of six hours was only requisite to bring the British to the American encampment. Captain Brush's works having been completed for a much smaller body of men, were insufficient to protect the whole of General Winchester's forces, and one hundred and fifty of them were necessarily posted in an exposed situation outside of the pickets. The expedition was undertaken without the knowledge of General Harrison, and when he heard of it, he was filled with the most alarming apprehensions for their safe- ty. Having written to Governor Meigs, expressing his fears in strong terms, and requesting further succours, he pressed on with all the troops he had collected at Sandusky, to the rapids, to be in a situation to support General Winchester. The situation of this detachment did not fail to attract the attention of the British at Maiden. Battle al the River Raisin. On the evening of the 21st of January, Colonel Proctor left Maiden with six hundred British and Canadians, and upwards of one thousand Indians under the chiefs Splitlog and Roundhead, and at day-break of the 22d, commenced a furious attack upon the Americans. The left wing of General Winchester's troops, amounting to six hundred, were stationed within the pickets, formed in a half circle. The British artillery were in front, the Canadians and Indians on each flank. The right wing, consisting of one hundred and fifty men, were in an exposed situation without the pickets. Large bodies of Indians were stationed in the rear to intercept a retreat. The onset was first made on the right wing, which after sustaining an unequal contest fo#' 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. lot twenty minutes, broke and fled across the river ; here they fell in with a body of Indians, and were nearly all mas- sacred. Two companies of fifty men each, which went out from the pickets to their assistance, shared the same fate. General Winchester and Colonel Lewis, in attempting to rally them, and bring them to a more advantageous position, were made prisoners. The left wing maintained their posi- tion, and fought with distinguished valour, against treble their number, until eleven o'clock; when General Winchester hav- ing no hopes of success or escape for this band, capitulated for them; stipulating for their safety and honourable treatment as prisoners of war, and particularly that the wounded should be protected from the fury of the savages. Three hundred and ninety-seven were slain in battle, or afterwards massacred by the Indians; the remainder all taken prisoners. The British acknowledge a loss of only twenty-four killed, and one hundred and fifty-eight wounded. This, however, is alto- gether short of the real number, as they sustained a constant and heavy fire from the troops within the pickets, from seven to eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Sixty-four wounded Ame- ricans were left on the ground ; these by the aid of the inha- bitants, had mostly been removed into the neigbouring houses, and were left by the British with the promise that they should be transported in sleighs to Maiden. Massacre. On the morning of the 23d, a large body of Indians came in, tomahawked, and scalped these sufferers, then stripped them, plundered and set fire to the houses, and consumed the dead and dying in one undistinguished confla- gration. The fate of Captain Hart was peculiarly distress- ing, though similar in many of its circumstances to a number of others. Early in the action he had received a wound in the knee, which prevented his walking. After the capitulation, Captain Elliott, an American in the British service, who had been a class-mate and a particular friend of Captain Hart, at Princeton College, came to him. voluntarily offered him his protection and assured him he 102 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. ft should be conveyed to Maiden, and taken care of in Elliott's* house until he recovered. With these fair promises, he indulged the hope of speedy relief and recovery. But the next day he found himself in the hands of the savages. They tore him from the bed where he lay ; a brother officer rescued him, and conveyed him to another apartment. Here he was again assaulted. At length he bargained with one of the Indians for a hundred dollars to convey him to Maiden. They set off on horse-back, and having travelled a few miles? were met by another band of savages, who claimed Captain Hart as their prisoner. The Indian not giving him up, the others shot and scalped him. Such of the wounded as were able to travel, the Indians carried off with them into the wilderness, and afterwards brought them into Detroit, where they were ransomed and furnished with clothing by the inhabitants. Judge Woodward and Mr. M'Intosh, with other inhabitants of the Michigan territory, exerted themselves for the relief of the sufferers, and procured the release of all who survived of those who had been carried off by the Indians. General Harrison despatched Doctor M'Keehan with two attendants from Sandusky, to assist in dressing the wounded, with an open letter to General Winchester, a flag, and an address to Colonel Proctor, or any British officer, stating his character and business, and furnished with money to procure necessaries. At the rapids of the Miami they entered a vacant house for a few hours' sleep, and left their flag hoisted' in the sleigh at the door. They were soon fired upon by a party of Indians, one of the attendants killed, the doctor and the other made prisoners, and conveyed to Maiden, where they were treated as spies, put in close confinement, and sent to Quebec ; Proctor inhumanly remarking that the Indians were excellent doctors. The rites of sepulture were refused to the slain. On application to Colonel Proctor, for leave to bury the dead ; he replied that the Indians would not per- mit it. The few remaining wretched inhabitants, privately buried Captain Hart, and some others. This being dis- 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 103 covered by the Indians, they were threatened with instant death if they buried any more; and the mangled remains of the slain lay exposed in the fields, by the sides of the road, and in the woods, to the amount of upwards of two hundred, a prey to the wild beasts. Colonel Proctor seems to have permitted and even encouraged the barbarities of the Indians, to induce them to continue the war, and to strike terror into the American forces that should be opposed to them. The effect however was the reverse of despondence. Though Kentucky was in mourning for the loss of many of her brave sons, yet on the news of this event, new volunteers, in ample numbers, rallied around the standard of their country, and were eventually successful in avenging their losses. After the surrender of Detroit, General Brock having com- mitted the civil and military concerns of the Michigan terri- tory to Colonel Proctor, and appointed him commandant at Maiden, returned to the defence of the Niagara frontier, and established his head-quarters at fort George. Niagara Frontier. The Niagara river runs a distance of thirty-five miles from south to north, conveying the waters of the upper lakes into Ontario, and dividing the British and American territories. Nearly in the centre between lakes Erie and Ontario, is the celebrated Niagara cataract. On the American side is the vjllage of Buffalo: at the outlet of take Erie, two miles further down the river, is the village of Black Rock, which furnishes a harbour for vessels navigating the lake. At the head of the falls is Scholosser, and seven miles below is the village of Lewistown, which affords a land- ing-place for goods conveyed on lake Ontario, and destined for the settlements above. Near the junction of the river with the lake, is the Niagara fort and village. This fortress is an ancient French establishment, erected for the purpose of commanding the lake, and controlling the neighbouring Indians. Between these villages, the whole length of the frontier, are scattered farming plantations. On the British side between the lakes, is the Niagara peninsula, on which 104 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. ^hap &. and nearly opposite Buffalo stands fort Erie, designed to command the entrance of the lake. Near the falls, and opposite Scholosser, is the village of Chippewa, on a creek of the same name, inhabited by Canadians and Indians. Seven miles below, and opposite Lewistown, is Queenston, which is the British landing-place for goods designed for the upper country. A little to the southward of the town, com- mence Queenston heights, which extend to the cataract. Near the mouth of the river, and opposite fort Niagara, is fort George, erected by the British on their giving up Niagara to the Americans: between that and the lake is the village of Newark. Scattering settlements lie along the river between these villages the whole length of the frontier; and the inhabit- ants on each side, connected in business and intermarriages, were in the constant habits of friendly intercourse. This frontier was the principal scene of active war during the whole of the contest. Battle of Queenston. In the beginning of October, there were assembled at Black Rock and Buffalo thirteen hun- dred newly enlisted recruits under General Smyth, five hun- dred militia at the same place, twenty-nine hundred militia near Lewistown; six companies of field and light artillery, amounting to three hundred men, and eight hundred infantry at fort Niagara, making an aggregate of five thousand eight hundred, and composing what General Smyth in his procla- mations denominates the army of the centre, extending the length of the Niagara frontier, the whole of this force was under the command of Major General Van Rensselaer, of the Albany militia. On the opposite side of the river was General Brock, with a force at fort George, and other posts extending to and including fort Erie, of two thousand four hundred men, consisting of the veterans of the 41st and 49th regiments, and Canadian flank companies, and four hundred Indians. On the 8th of October, two British armed brigs, the De- troit and Caledonia, came down the lake from Maiden, and lj 1 2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. i Q;> anchored under the guns of fort Erie. Lieutenant Elliott, of the navy, had then just arrived at Black Rock, with fifty sea- men to superintend the naval operations in that quarter. On the evening of the 9th, with his seamen and a detachment of fifty volunteers from General Smyth's brigade, he passed over from Black Rock, boarded, and took the brigs. But the wind not favouring, they drifted down the current and grounded. The Detroit, which was formerly the American brig Adams, and surrendered by Hull at Detroit, after being divested of most of her military stores, was abandoned and burnt. The Caledonia, being near enough to be protected by the guns at Black Rock, was saved : she was laden with firs to the value of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This brilliant achievement was effected with the loss of only two killed, and four wounded. The general tenor of the congressional debates, and the publications and conversation of the day, had induced a set- tled belief, that the Canadas would be a certain, easy, and almost a bloodless conquest ; that upon the appearance of -a respectable force, at any point on the frontier, the Canadians in great numbers would flock to the American standard, and assist in the object. Impressed with these ideas, the militia and volunteers who had come out but for a short period, were impatient to make a descent on Canada. They insisted on being permitted to attack and drive the British from the Niag- ara peninsula, and return to their homes; and many threat- ened to leave the camp, unless led to immediate action. The success of Lieutenant Elliott had induced them to believe that the conquest was an easy one ; ami that they had only to show themselves to the enemy in order to conquer them, lu compliance with their wishes, General Van Rensselaer de- cided on making the attempt. The principal British force was at fort George; but they had made an establishment, and erected batteries on the heights above Qucenston ; against these batteries, the eilbrts of the American troops were to be -first directed. Batteries were erected on ihe American 1 I 106 HISTORY OF THE -.-LATE -WAR. (hap. 5. shore, to protect the passage and landing of the troops. The regular forces, under Colonel Fenwick and Major Mal- lary, were ordered up to Lewistown ; and thirteen boats, being all that could be procured at the time, were provided for crossing. The van of the troops destined for the attack, consisted of militia, under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, aid to the General ; a part of the 1 3th infantry, under Colonel Christie ; a detachment of the 6th and nth, under Major Mallary ; the whole amounting to four hun- dred men. At three o'clock, on the morning of the 13th, they proceeded from the camp at Lewistown to the place of Embarkation. Colonel Van Rensselaer, to whom the chief command of the expedition was intrusted, with a hundred men, crossed over and effected a landing. A grape-shot from a battery below Queenston which enfiladed the passage, wound- ed Colonel Christie in the hand ; his pilot became confused, his boatmen frightened, and he was obliged to return. The boats with Major Mallary were carried by the violence of the current below the landing place, two of them were taken, and the others returned. In ascending the bank, Colonel Van Rensselaer received four wounds. Captains Armstrong, "Wool, and Malcom, were also wounded and Lieutenant Val- leau and Ensign Morris, killed. A party of British troops having issued from an old fort below Queenston, were fired upon by the Americaas and compelled to retreat. The firing from the batteries on the heights, soon obliged the Americans to take shelter under the bank. To Colonel Van Rensselaer, who lay on the bank severely wounded, application was made for orders. He directed the batteries to be immediately stormed. The men were rallied, and one hundred and sixty, under the command of Captain Wool, mounted the rocks on the right of the batteries, and took them. The guns were ordered to be turned upon the enemy, but were found to be spiked. The remainder of the detachment now joined Cap- tain Wool. Both parties were considerably reinforced, and the conflict grew severe at various points. Many of the Brit- ISIS. history of Tin; late war. jo: ish took shelter behind a guard-house, from whence a piece of ordnance was briskly served, but the iirc from the batteries on the American side soon silenced it. The British then re- tired behind a large stone house, but were soon routed and driven from the hill in every direction. General Brock ral- lied the troops at Queenston, and with reinforcements, led them round the hill in rear of the batteries; Captian Wool discerning this, detached one hundred and sixty men to meet them ; these were driven back. Being reinforced, they returned to the attack, and were again driven by the British to the pre- cipice which forms the bank of the Niagara above Queenston. Here the British pressing upon them with double their num- bers, and no opportunity of retreating, an officer placed a white handkerchief upon the point of a bayonet, and raised it as a flag, with intention to surrender, Captain Wool imme- diately tore it off. rallied his men, and returned to the charge. The British troops were in turn routed. General Brock slain. General Brock, in endeavouring to rally them, was struck by three balls, and instantly killed. I lis aid, Colonel M'Donald, the attorney general of Upper Canada, was mortally wounded by his side. By ten o'clock, the British were completely driven from the heights. The American line re-formed, and flanking parties sent out. The victory now appeared complete, and General Van Rensselaer porceeded to take measures to secure the conquest. At two o'clock, General Wadsworth of the militia, with Colonels Scott, Christie, and Major Mallary, crossed over and took the command. Captain Wool was directed to retire, and have his wounds dressed. lie crossed the river for that purpose, and soon returned to the field. About three o'clock a large party of Indians appeared pouring out of Chippewa, and with their savage yells, commenced a furious attack. The Americans at first gave way, but were soon rallied, and charged the savages, who directly iled to the woods, leaving one of their chiefs a prisoner, and several dead on the ground. Scarcely had this battle ended, when ? large reinforcement joa history of the late war. chap. &, with artillery arrived from fort George, and the battle was renewed with increased severity. Militia refuse to cross the River. Most of the events of the ;\ry to the fin- ished officer, resided. A selection was made generally ol 116 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CiUv.B. judicious and brave men. They had then the art of war to learn, in the field, in the face of an enemy, and at the head of undisciplined troops. They had to contend with a power, who had been constantly at war, for twenty years, and with troops who had seen much service. The celebrated General Brock, and the forty-ninth regiment, had fought in Egypt. Their officers had been selected from soldiers of merit, and trained to discipline. Another cause of misfortune was a deficiency in the intelli- gence department. Correct information of the strength and position of the enemy, is a necessary part of the art of war ; and an organized plan for obtaining such intelligence, forms one important ingredient in the military system. In this respect, at the commencement of the war, there was a great deficiency, and the enemy's plans were consequently unknown, and their strength liable to be under or over-rated, either of which must prove equally fatal. In the case of General Hull, it was greatly over-rated, and produced the surrender of his army to an inferior force. In the case of General Smyth, the same cause produced irresolution and inaction. In the instance of General Winchester, it was underrated, and an army totally defeated and lost thereby. Structure of the American Government. The organization of the American government, adapted to all the purposes of peace and defence, is nowise calculated for a war of con- quest. The physical force of the nation, residing in the militia, is under the control of the states, and not subject to the general government for the purposes of offensive war. When an enemy is collected on the border, threatening invasion, no doubt the militia may constitutionally be required to pass the lines and dislodge him as a means of preventing invasion, or where he has already invaded, to pursue him beyond the borders. However much the militia under Gen- eral Van Rensselaer may be censured for carrying their commander to an immediate invasion contrary to his better judgment, inducing their brethren in arms to cross the river. 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 117 relying on their support, and "deserting them in their utmost need ;" yet it must be acknowledged that they decided cor- rectly on their rights, when they judged that the constitution did not require them to pass the lines for the purposes of conquest. With a military force thus composed, no foreign conquest can be achieved or retained. War is to be carried on by the United States by an army obtained only by voluntary enlistment. The soldier, for the period of his enlistment, places his life and liberty at the absolute control of the government; and this power is to be exercised by officers unknown to him. In the crowded pop- ulation of Europe the army is often a retreat from starvation, and no difficulty is experienced in procuring soldiers, but the happy situation of that class of people in the American soci- ety, to whom proposals for enlistment must be addressed, and who are able by one day's labour to procure subsistence for four, was a powerful and indeed an insurmountable obstacle to raising an adequate army. Not one fourth of the 25,000 men which were directed to be raised by the act of Congress of the 11th of January, 1812, ever reached the army that season; and three years' faithful trial, with liberal wages and extravagant bounties, has proved beyond a doubt, that the free and happy yeomanry of America are not to be induced to exchange the ease and plenty of home, for the dangers and privations of the camp. The difficulty of procuring enlist- ments rendered a resort to the militia necessary, to accom- plish the objects of the campaign. The conduct of tho^e under General Hopkins on the Wabash, and General Van Rensselaer on the Niagara, developed the nature and value: of that species of force. And although the militia of the west. in many instances, manifested a laudable spirit of patriotism and courage ; yet the event fully demonstrated that no militia, however ardent or patriotic, arc to be relied on for the pur- poses of foreign conquest. Deficiency of Funds. The funds requisite to supply the war expenditures are to be drawn from the people bydirei J 1 g HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 3. taxes, imposed by their immediate representatives, who are themselves to bear their proportion of the burdens. Under such circumstances, taxes are often laid with so sparing a hand, and at so late a period, as to defeat the object. With- out adequate funds, seasonably procured and applied, every operation must fail. The war estimates and appropriations for the year 1812, amounted to eleven millions of dollars. Not one half of which was procured by the loans which were authorized for the purpose, and the actual expenditures more than doubled the estimates. The twelfth Congress, whose first acts were to declare war, and incur the attendant expenses, and whose next duty it was to provide adequate means, suffered their terms to expire without providing the necessary funds, and threw the odium of laying the direct taxes and internal duties on their [suc- cessors. The cautious money-lender, whose interest always takes precedency of his patriotism, observing this reluctance in Congress to provide for the interest, withheld his loans, and money was obtained only at great sacrifices, in such small quantities, and at so late periods, as very much to embarrass the operations of the war. CHAPTER VI. Plan of Defence on the Sea-board. — American Frigates sail. — Cruise of Commodore Rodgers's Squadron. — Cruise of the Constitution. — Cap- ture of the Guerriere. — Cruise of the Essex. — Capture of the Alert. — Capture of the Frolic : and of the Wasp and Frolic by the Poic- tiers. — Capture of the Macedonian. — Arrival of the United States and Macedonian. — The Flag of the Macedonian sent to Washington. — Second Cruise of the Constitution. — Capture of the Java. — Rule for distributing Prize Money. — Success of Privateers. — Number and Value of British Vessels captured in 1812. — East-Florida Frontier. — Colonel Newman's Expedition. — Repeal of the Orders in Council. — First Proposition of Mr. Russell for an Armistice. — Lord Castlereagh's Reply. — Second Proposition and Reply. — Admiral Warren's Proposi- tion for an Armistice. — Mr. Monroe's Reply. On the sea-board, the regular forces having been mostly withdrawn, and sent to the Canadian frontier, the militia were relied on for defence. Those states which had complied with the President's requisition, had detachments of their militia stationed at the most exposed points. Massachusetts, Con- necticut, and Rhode-Island, were left to provide for the defence of their coast by occasional calls of their militia. There were, however, no attempts to invade the coast during the year 1812. The feelings of the American nation which had been deeply wounded by the ill success of their arms on the frontier, were highly gratified by the brilliant achievements of their navy. When their little squadrons left their ports to contend with the haughty mistress of the ocean, every breast was filled with anxiety. The British naval commanders had boasted that they would drive the little striped bunting of the States from the ocean. But the American frigates had not been long at sea, before news of a character calculated to humble British pride, and raise the American spirit, was received* 120 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. Previous to the declaration of -war, preparation had been made to send to sea, immediately on that event, all the frigates and armed vessels that could be put in readiness, to protect American commerce, and meet the enemy on the ocean. Cruise of Commodore Rodgers^s Squadron. On the 21st of June, a squadron, consisting of the President, the United States, the Congress, the Hornet, and Argus, under the com- mand of Commodore Rodgers, sailed from New-York on a cruise in quest of a convoy of British merchantmen, then on their way from Jamaica to England. On the 23d, off Nan- tucket, they fell in with the Belvidere British frigate, to which they gave chase. The President, being the head-most ship, commenced a running fire, which continued two hours. Night coming on, the Belvidere, by lightening ship, and crowding sail, escaped. The squadron pursued the convoy to within twenty hours sail of the British Channel ; missing their object, they then steered for the island of Madeira, passed close under that island, thence by the way of the Azores to New- foundland, and returned to Boston on the 1st of September, having made seven captures, and one re-capture during the cruise. Though this cruise was not so successful in captures as was expected, owing in a great degree to the haziness of the' weather, yet it was of great service in protecting home- ward bound American vessels.* Cruise of the Constitution. Commodore Hull, in the Con- stitution, sailed from the Chesapeake on the 12th of July; on the 17th, off Egg Harbour, was chased by a ship of the line and four frigates. These ships approached rapidly with a line breeze, while it was nearly calm about the Constitu- tion. At sun rise of the eighteenth, escape appeared hope- less, as they had ncared her considerably during the night, preparation was then made for action. The enemy still drawing near, another effort was made to escape. Boats * Commodore Rodgers's letter to the secretary of the navy. 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 121 we re sent ahead with anchors for the purpose of warping. It was now nearly a calm with the British, and they resorted to the same expedient. The chase continued for two days, partly sailing with light breezes, and partly by warping. On the twentieth, the squadron was left entirely out of sight, and the Constitution made the harbour of Boston. On the second of August, Commodore Hull again put to sea, cruised along the eastern coast as far as the bay of Fundy, in expectation of falling in with British frigates in that direc- tion. Not finding any, he proceeded to take a station off the gulf of St. Lawrence, to intercept the Quebec trade. Having here taken two or three merchantmen, he proceeded to the southward. Capture of the Guerriere. On the nineteenth, he fell in with the British frigate Guerriere, rated at thirty-eight, but mount- ing fifty-four guns. This vessel had hoisted at her mast head, i flag with her name, the Warrior,' in large characters, and on another was inscribed the words, not the Little Bell. She had looked into several ports in quest of American frigates, and given a challenge to all vessels of her class. On the Constitution's heaving in sight, the British commander assem- bled his crew, pointed to them the object of their wishes, as- sured them of an easy victory, and being answered by three hearty cheers, backened sail, prepared for action, and await- ed her approach. The two ships continued manoeuvering td obtain the weathergage of each other for three quarters of an hour, the Guerriere occasionally firing broadsides. The Constitution reserved her fire until within about four musket-, shot, when she opened her broadsides in quick succession upon her antagonist. The mizen-mast of the Guerriere was directly carried away, and her decks were swept by a raking tire. In thirty minutes from the time the Constitution fairly got along side of her, every mast and spar was gone, and she lay an unmanageable wreck. The firing ceased, and she sur- rendered. She was so much damaged as to render it impos- sible to bring her into port, and the next day was cleared of 16 j 2» HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. the prisoners, and every thing valuable, and set fire to and blown up. The damage sustained by the Constitution was of so little consequence, that she was prepared for action the next day, when another ship appeared in sight. The Con- stitution had seven killed, and the same number wounded ; the Guerriere nineteen killed and sixty wounded.* The news of this brilliant victory, the first on the ocean, was received with rapturous applauses by the American people. Every mark of respect was shown Commodore Hull, and his gallant officers and crew. Congress granted fifty thousand dollars to the crew for the loss of their prize, and the executive pro- moted several of their officers. The event was as mortify- ing to the British, as gratifying to the Americans. For thirty years they never had before lost a frigate in any thing like an equal contest. Cruise of the Essex. On the third of July, the frigate Es- sex, of thirty-two guns, Captain Porter, sailed from New- York. Proceeding southward, she captured the brig Lamprey ; learning from her that the Thetis frigate was to have sailed on the 26th of June with specie, and a large convoy from the West Indies to England, he made every exertion to fall in their way off St, Augustine as they came out of the gulf of Mexico. Being prevented by contrary winds, he proceeded to the banks of Newfoundland, hoping to intercept them in that latitude, but without success. On the 17th of August, the sloop of war Alert, mistaking the Essex for the Hornet, bore up and commenced an attack. In eight minutes she found herself a prize to the Essex, and seven feet of water in her hold. Captain Porter, had now five hundred prisoners on board, which he had taken from differ- ent vessels on his cruise. In order to disincumber himself, he repaired the Alert, threw her guns overboard, made a car- tel of her, put all his prisoners on board, and sent her to New- foundland. The prisoners were exchanged for an equal * Commodore Hull's letter to the secretary of the navy. IB 12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 123 number of Americans ; and the Alert returned to the United States. On the first of September, the Essex fell in with, and was chased by a squadron of British frigates. She nar- rowly escaped, and arrived in the Delaware on the seventh.* Cruise of the Wasp, Captain Jones, of the sloop of war, Wasp, of sixteen guns, had returned from France, two weeks after the declaration of war ; and on the 12th of October, sailed from the Delaware on a cruise. Capture of the Frolic. On the 1 8th, he fell in with a convoy of six sail, under the protection of the Frolic, sloop of war, of twenty-two guns. On discovering the American, the Frolic fell back, and the engagement commenced at half past eleven, at sixty yards distance. In five minutes the main-topmast of the wasp was shot away, and falling with the sails and yards, across the larboard fore and topsail, rendered her head yards unmanageable during the remainder of the action. The sea b-'.ng exceedingly rough, the muzzles of their guns were sometimes under water. The English fired as their vessel rose, and her shot principally went over. The Wasp fired as she sunk, and generally struck the hull of her antagonist. They were now so nigh, that in loading, their rammers reach- ed the side of the enemy. Captain Jones determined to board. The jib-boom of the Frolic came in between the main and mizen rigg "g of the Wasp. After giving a raking fire which swept the deck, Lieutenant liiddlc led on the boarders. On gaining the deck, they found no persons there except three officers, and the seaman at the helm. The deck was slippery with blood, and presented a shocking scene of carnage. The three officers threw clown their swords in token of submission. The colours were still flying, there being no seamen left to pull them down. Lieutenant Uiddle leaped into the rigging and hauled them down with his ow r n hands. Alter a most bloody conflict of forty-three minutes, complete possession was gained of the Frolic. The birth- * Captain Porter's letter to the secretary of the navy. |54 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. deck was crowded with dead, dying, and wounded. The masts soon fell, covering the dead, and every thing on deck, and pre- senting a most melancholy spectacle. Captain Jones sent his own surgeon and medicines on board the Frolic, and afforded all the relief in his power. The British loss was thirty killed and fifty wounded ; the American, five killed and five wounded. A few hours after the battle, and before Captain Jones had made any preparation for sailing with his prize, the Poictiers, a British seventy-four, hove in sight, took possession of the Wasp and her prize, and sent them into Bermuda. Second Cruise of Commodore Rodgers^s Squadron. On the 8th of October, the squadron under Commodore Rodgers, which had been refitting at Boston, sailed from that port on a_second cruise. On the 13th, the United States, and Argus parted from the others in a gale of wind. A few days after- wards, the President and Congress captured the British packet Swallow, with $200,000 in specie ; and on the 13th of December, returned to Boston, after a very successful cruise. The Argus, after a cruise of ninety-six days, returned to New- York with prizes to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars. Capture of the Macedonian. On the 25th of October, the United States, commanded by Commodore Decatur, oft" the Western Islands, lat. 29 N., Ion. 29 W., fell in with the British frigate Macedonian, rated at 38, mounting 49 guns, and after an action of an hour and a half, captured her. The Macedonian, having the advantage of the wind, chose her own distance, which was such that, for the first half hour, the United States could not use her carronades, and at no time was she within the complete effect of musketry and grape. In this action the superiority of the American gunnery was strikingly manifest. The Macedonian lost her mizen, main- top, and foremasts, and main yard, and was much damaged in her hull. She lost thirty-eight killed, and sixty-eight wounded. Her muster-roll contained the following entries of impressed American seamen. iai2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1-25 Christopher Dodge, American, aged 32, pressed by the Thisbc, shipped in the Macedonian July 1st, 1810. Peter Johnson, American, aged 32. pressed by the Dcdalus August 24th, 1810. John Alexander, of Cape Ann, aged 29, pressed by the Dedalus, entered August 25th, 1810. C. Dolphin, of Connecticut, aged 22, pressed by the Na- mur, entered August 4th, 1810. Major Cook, of Baltimore, aged 27, pressed by the Royal William, entered September 10th, 1810. William Thompson, of Boston, aged 20, pressed at Lisbon, entered Jan. 16th, 1811, drowned at sea in boarding an Ame- rican. John Wallis, American, aged 23, pressed by the Triton, en- tered February 16th, 1811, killed in action in the Macedo- nian. John Card, American, aged 27, pressed by the North Star, entered April 13th, 1811, killed in action in the Macedo- nian.* The United States lost only six killed and seven wounded, and suffered so little injury, that she might in a few hours have been prepared for another action. From the continued blaze of her guns, the United States was at one time supposod to be on fire by her antagonist, but she soon discovered her mis- take. The carpenter of the United States was killed in the conflict, and left three small children in the hands of a worth- less mother ; the crew, with the characteristic generosity of seamen, raised a fund of eight hundred dollars from their prize money, deposited it in safe hands, and devoted it to the education of the orphans. Commodore Decatur had on board his frigate a lad of twelve years old, the son of a brave seaman who had died and left his wife in poverty. As the Macedonian hove in sight, and the crew were clearing the ship for action, he ran * Mtister-roll of tfce Macedonian. 126 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap ft up to the commodore, and said, " I wish my name may be put down on the roll.'" " Why so, my lad ?" " So that I can have a share of the prize-money." His request was granted. After the Macedonian had struck the commodore said to him, " Well Bill, we have taken the ship, and your share of the prize mo- ney, if we get her safe in, may be about two hundred dollars; what will you do with it ?" " 1 will send half to my mother, and the other half shall send me to school." Delighted with a spirit at once so noble and affectionate, the commodore took the lad under his protection, procured a midshipman's birth for him, and superintended his education. Immediately after the surrender of his ship, Captain Car-» den ascended the quarter-deck of the United States and pre- sented his sword to Commodore Decatur. The commodore, in a modest unassuming manner, replied, " I cannot receive the sword of a man who has so bravely defended his ship ; give me your hand, sir." Just before the commencement of the war, Decalurand Garden accidentally met in the harbour of Norfolk., "Commodore," said the Captain, " we now meet as friends ;. God grant we may never meet as enemies ; but we are subject to the orders of our governments, and must obey them." " I heartily reciprocate the sentiment," said Decatur. " But what, sir," said Carden, " suppose we meet as enemies, what do you imagine would be the consequence to yourself and the force you command." "Why sir," said the hero of the Mediterranean, " if we meet with forces that might fairly be called equal, the conflict would be severe, but the flag of my country on the ship I command, shall never leave the staff on which it waves, as long as there is a hull to support it." The next meeting of these heroes of the ocean, was on the quarter-deck of the United States. An arduous and important duty still remained for Commo- dore Decatur to perform ; to conduct his ship and his shat- tered prize to an American port, over an immense ocean, filled in almost every direction with powerful enemies. Although 1812. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 127 the uniform politeness of the commodore to his brave enemy, made Captain Garden almost forget that he was a prisoner, yet he was not without strong hopes of being re-captured in the course of the voyage, and of seeing the American frigate and her prize enter a British port. But his wishes were not gratified. Commodore Decatur entered the harbour of New-London on the 4th of December, with his ship and prize in safety. Lieutenant Hamilton, son of the secretary of the navy was the bearer of his despatches, and the flag of the 31acedonian to Washington. He arrived on the evening of the 8th. It fortunately occurred that on that evening a ball was given in honour of the -American navy. The beauty and fashion of the city, and much of the patriotism and talents of the republic, were drawn together on this occasion. It was suddenly announced, that the flag of another British frigate had arrived. Lieutenant Hamilton entered the hall. Commodores Hull and Stewart triumphantly waved the flag through the assembly, and presented it to Mrs. Madison, The secretary of the navy, and his wife and daughter, were present, and received their son and brother with the warmest affection. In a few days, the United States, with her prize, proceeded to the harbour of New- York, for the purpose of having the latter ship repaired, and preparing for another cruise. The citizens complimented the commodore with an elegant and appropriate entertainment. A capacious hall was colonaded with masts of ships, with the flags of various nations suspended upon them. On each table was a miniature ship, displaying the American stripes. An area of twenty by ten feet was filled with water, in which a miniature of the United States frigate floated. A main-sail of thirty-three by sixteen feet was suspended in the rear of this artificial lake, upon which the American eagle was painted, holding in his beak a scroll with these words: our children are the property of our countrv. One beautiful transparency represented the eagle holding in his mouth three medallions; one inscribed, Hull 1 28 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. «»ap. 6. and the Guerriere ; another, Decatur and the Mace- donian; and the third, Jones and the Frolic. Another splendid figure represented the frigate Constitution taking the Guerriere, August 12th ; the United States, the Macedonian, October 25th ; and the Wasp, the Frolic November 18th, 1812. At this entertainment, the commodore had the satis- faction of meeting his friends and brothers in victory, Hull and Jones. The next day the corporation gave a dinner to the whole crew of the United States, in the same hall, ornamented in the same style. The miniature lake, in which the frigate floated yesterday, was to-day filled with the appropriate beverage of the guests, from which they drank to the toast, American ships all over the ocean ! The crew, exceeding four hundred, neatly dressed in blue jackets and trowsers, scarlet vests, and glazed hats, marched from the frigate to the hall m perfect order, to their favourite tune of Yankee Doodle, from the band of the Macedonian. The novelty of the scene attracted the attention, and drew forth the reiterated applauses of an immense concourse of spectators. At the close of the entertainment, the commo- dore, attended by his first lieutenant, W. H. Allen, entered the hall, and communicated* to them the request of the managers of the theatre, that they would attend in the evening, and the whole pit was appropriated to their accommodation. "Sailors," said the commodore, "your orderly and decorous conduct this day gives me high satisfaction ; continue it through the evening, and convince the hospitable and patriotic citizens of New- York, that you can maintain the same order in the midst of amusements, as you have done when sailing on the ocean, and conquering the enemy." The commodore's address was answered by the respectful salute of the crew : the Macedonian band again struck their favourite tune; and they marched in regular order to the theatre, enjoyed the entertain- ment, and returned to their ship exhibiting through the whole scene a perfect decorum of conduct, and the characteristic 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 29 good humour and pleasantry of the American sailor. The liberality of the managers was amply rewarded by a crowded audience of citizens, whom their singular exhibition had attracted to the theatre. Second Cruise of the Constitution. On the return of the Constitution to port, after the capture of the Guerriere, Cap- tain Hull, at his request, was discharged from the command of her, and was succeeded by Commodore Bainbridge. In October she sailed in company with the Hornet, Captain Lawrence, from New-York, with orders to form a junction with the Essex, which sailed about the same time from the Delaware, and proceed to the Pacific ocean to destroy the British fisheries and commerce in that quarter. Adverse winds prevented the junction at the time and place appointed, and the Essex proceeded to the South Seas alone. Capture of the Java. On the 30th of December, the Con- stitution, having parted with the Hornet a few days before oil' the coast of Brazil, fell in with, and captured the British frigate Java, rated at 36, but mounting 49 guns, under the command of Captain Lambert. On descrying the frigate, Com- modore Bainbridge tacked and stood for her. At two o'clock I*. M. they were within half a mile, and the action commenced with round and grape. At half past two, they were within good cannister distance, when the Constitution's wheel was shot away. Commodore Bainbridge now determined to close with her, and luffed up for that purpose, and in ten minutes the enemy's jib-boom got foul of the Constitution's mizen rig- ging, and immediately after his bow-sprit and jib-boom were shot away. Atjfifteen minutes past three, the enemy were completely silenced, and his colours at the mast being down, it was supposed he had surrendered, and the Constitution shot ahead to repair. But it was soon discovered that the British colours were still flying, upon which the Constitution bore down upon her, and got close athwart her bows in an effectual position for raking, when her main-mast went by the board, and she lay an unmanageable wreck. Her colours 1 3© HISTORY ©F THE LATE WAR. ChA*>*. & were now struck, and possession taken. Captain Lambert and sixty of his men were killed, and one hundred wounded. The Constitution lost nine killed, and twenty-five wounded. The great distance from the American coast, and the crippled situation of the prize, prevented her from being brought in. After taking out the prisoners and baggage, she was set fire to, and blown up. The Java was an important ship, fitted out in the com- plctest style, having on board Lieutenant General Hislop, Governor of Bombay, and staff', with a hundred supernu- merary officers and seamen, for the supply of the British ships in the East Indian seas. She had also on board important despatches for St. Helena, the cape of Good Hope, and the British establishments in the Indian and Chinese seas. The prisoners were all landed, and left on their parole at St. Sal- vador, with permission to return to England, on condition of not serving against the United States until exchanged. After this battle, Commodore Bainbridge found it necessary to return to the United States, and arrived at Boston on the 8th of February. On his return, he writes to his friend, " That the Java was exceedingly well fought and bravely defended. Poor Lam- bert, whose death I sincerely regret, was a distinguished and gallant officer, and a worthy man. He left a widow and two helpless children; but his country makes provision for such events. We are now homeward bound. The damage the Con- stitution sustained in the action, and her decayed state, make it necessary for me to return to the United States for repairs. This I much regret ; my crew participate in the sentiment. They are, however, consoling themselves with the hope of receiving their prize-money for the Guerriere on their return. You would be highly amused to hear these rough, though noble sons of Neptune, planning how they should spend their prize-money. One says, he will buy himself a snug little ship, on the highest hill, that he may thence, in his old age, view all our sea-fights. Another says, he will now many W2. HISTORY OF THK I ATE WAR. 1 31 his Poll. Another, that he will send his little Jack to school. Poor fellows ! I trust they will not be disappointed. Twice have they willingly and gallantly encountered the enemy, and twice have they succeeded. To return home now, and find they have nothing but a remnant of pay coming to them, would depress their spirits, and damp that noble ardour which they have hitherto felt and displayed. The officer may feel differently; for the performance of his duty, he feels a reward in his own bosom, and in his country's thanks. Patriotism, and a laudable thirst for renown, will lead him to court perils, in defence of his country's rights. These feelings operate upon the sailor also ; but to keep up the high tone of his ardour, he must have prize-money in view. The schooner I am now despatching, a prize to the Hornet, will give to the treasury of the United States upwards of one hundred thousand dol- lar..." Distribution of Prize-Monty. The rule established by Con- gress for the distribution of prize-money arising from captures by national vessels, is, one half to the United States; the other is divided into twenty equal parts, and distributed in the following manner: To the captains .J To the sea lieutenants and sailing-masters 2 To the marine officers, surgeons, pursers, boatswains, gun- ners, carpenters, master's mates, and chaplains ... 2 To midshipmen, surgeon's mates, captain's clerk, school- master, boatswain's mates, gunner's mates, carpenter's mates, steward, sail-makers, masters at arms, armqurers, and cockswains 3 To gunner's yeomen, boatswain's yeomen, quarter-masters, quarter-gunners, coopers, sail-maker's mates, sergeants, and corporals of marines, drummers and fifers, and extra petty officers 3 To seamen, ordinary seamen, marines, and boys . . . 7 In captures made by national vessels, where the captured • essel is of equal or superior force,
whole is given to the 1& HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 6, crew. In the case of the Guerriere and Java, where the prize was destroyed, because she could not be brought into port, Congress, by a special act, granted fifty thousand dol- lars for each capture; and in the case of the Frolic, to the crew of the wasp, twenty-five thousand. The United States also allow twenty dollars for each prisoner of war, made by private armed vessels. In captures made by privateers, where there is no contract regulating the distribution of prize- money, one half belongs to the owners, and the other is dis- tributed to the crew, according to the rules established in the case of public vessels. During the long period while the restrictive system was in operation, from 1807 to 1812, the enterprise, ships, and capi- tal of the American merchant had been inactive. Result of the Naval War in 1812. On the declaration of war, an extensive field opened for their operation. Numerous privateers were fitted out in the principal ports of the United States ; and British commerce in every quarter of the globe was made to feel the effects of American bravery and enter- prise. Within four months after the declaration of war, there were fitted out, and sent to sea, from New-York, twenty-six privateers, carrying 212 guns, and 2239 men. Baltimore within the same period, sent out seventeen privateers, and twenty-five fast-sailing letters of marque schooners, denom- inated Baltimore flyers, carrying 330 guns, and 3000 men. By the close of the year 1812, embracing a period of about six months of war, the public and private armed vessels of the United States had captured, and sent into port, or de- stroyed at sea, three hundred and nineteen British vessels; three of them frigates of the first class, others of them public armed ships, and the residue valuable merchantmen ; the whole value, estimating them on an average at $40,000, a prize amounting to 12,680,000 dollars. From the commencement of the war, Admiral Sir John B. Warren had been stationed with a powerful fleet along the coastin such manner as most effectually to intercept Ameri- JC12. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 133 can vessels. But their skill and bravery eluded his vigi- lance, or withstood his attacks, and enabled them to enrich themselves with the spoils of their enemies, and to retaliate on them the injuries they had so long unresistingly borne. East Florida. The interior ol' East Florida is inhabited by Seminole Indians, runaway negroes, and fugitives from jus- tice from the neighbouring states, and forms a convenient asy- lum^for the profligate of every description. This population subsist by plunder, and aided and supplied by the Spaniards at St. Augustine, had become the scourge and terror of the Georgia frontier. In January 1811, Congress, apprehensive that the British were about to take possession of the province, and that in their hands it would become a source of still greater evils to the United States, passed a law, authorizing the President, in case the local authorities would consent, or in case an attempt should be made to invade the province by any foreign power, to take possession of it in the name of the United States. General Matthews and Colonel M'Kee, were appointed commissioners to execute the provisions of this law. They were authorized, in case it was necessary, to call in aid the United States troops at the nearest station. On repairing to St. Augustine, the commissioners found the Spanish au- thorities altogether averse to surrendering the province to the United States, and no appearance of any attempt by the British to take possession. The commissioners, however, being citizens of Georgia, and believing that the safety of the frontier of that state required the measure, called in the force under Col. Smith, and took possession of Amelia Island, and other parts of the province. On being informed of this pro- ceeding, the President, on the 4th of April, 1812, revoked the powers of the commissioners, and appointed Governor Mitch- ell in their stead, and directed him to restore such parts as had been taken possession of by General Matthews, and giving him discretionary orders for the United Slates troops to evac- uate the territory, if in his opinion, the public safety would permit. This discretionary power in the hands of the gov- 134 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. ernor of Georgia, Avas equivalent to an express authority to detain the troops in the province. In his message to the legislature after his return, Governor Mitchell observes, that the force at St. Augustine was of such a description that it could not be tolerated ; and that the peace and safety of the state would be hazarded if the occupancy of East Florida was relinquished or much longer delayed. The committee of the general assembly, to whom the message was referred, in their reply, say, " That though there has been no actual inva- sion of the state by a foreign force, yet a warfare has been commenced on the frontiers, and murders perpetrated under the sanction, or with the connivance of the governor of East Florida, and a savage warfare is still in operation under sanc- tion of that authority, which places the citizens immediately exposed to its effects, in such danger as admits of no delay. They therefore recommend that the state should immediately organize a sufficient force to occupy East Florida." Expedition of Colonel Newman. In consequence of these proceedings, on the 15th of August, Colonel Newman, adju- tant general of the Georgia militia, with a detachment of two hundred and fifty men, advanced into the province as far as St. Johns river, where he received the orders of Colonel Smith, commandant of the United States troops before St. Au- gustine, to proceed against the hostile Indians, and destroy their towns and provisions. On the eve of his departure, he received an express from Colonel Smith, informing him that his provisions, wagons, and the escort, were attacked by a body of Indians and negroes, and ordering him immediately to join him with a detachment of ninety men, and bring with him all the horses and carriages he could spare, for the removal of his baggage, artillery, and sick ; Colonel Smith having with him then only seventy men fit for duty. Colonel Newman, having accomplished this service, and assisted Colonel Smith in removing to the block-house on Davis's Creek as a place of greater safety, found that the time allotted for the expe- dition had so far been spent, that his men had but six days 1612. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. J 35 to serve. He proposed to them an extension of their service for twenty days longer. Only eighty-four of his men, includ- ing officers, volunteered ; these with 23 men furnished by Colonel Smith, made his whole force amount to one hundred and seventeen, supplied with four days provisions, and twelve horses. On the morning of the fourth day of their march, when within about six miles of the Lotchaway towns, the object of their expedition, they were attacked by a party of Indians, who kept up a constant firing upon them from be- hind the trees, until they were dislodged by the bayonet. The action lasted two hours and a half, the Indians frequently attempting to get into the rear of the Americans. About half an hour before sunset the enemy received a large reinforce- ment of Indians and negroes from the town, and renewed the attack. This action lasted until eight in the evening, when the Indians and negroes were repulsed and retired. After fasting and fighting all day in the woods, Colonel New- man with his little band, had to work all night to erect a breast work of logs for their safety. They were now fifty miles from any succours, destitute of provisions, and surround- ed with savages and negroes to the amount of more than four times their number. Captain Whitaker was despatched to St. Johns for provisions, and reinforcements. Six men, in- cluding their surgeon and pilot, went off with them, taking six of their best horses. The situation of the detachment now became hopeless: they remained in this place eight days in a starving condition, without hearing from their expected supplies, the Indians attacking them every day after the two first. On the 9th they abandoned their fort; all their remain- ing horses being killed, they were obliged to carry their wounded on their backs. Two hours after they left the fort twenty-five horsemen arrived with provisions for their relief; but, instead of following them, they returned to St. Johns. After marching about five miles, they were again attacked by the Indians, and four of their number killed. They then charged the Indians and drove them from the field with the 1 36 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6- bayonet, and remained all night on the battle ground. The next day they marched five miles, and again threw up a breast- work, subsisting upon alligators, and palmeto stalks ; here they remained surrounded and frequently attacked by the Indians and negroes, until a relief arrived with provisions and horses, by which they were enabled to reach St. Johns, with their sick and wounded, where they found a gun-boat in wait- ing, by order of Colonel Smith, to convey them to his camp.* Proposition by Mr. Russell to the British Government for an Armistice. On the 1 Oth of May, 1812, the French minister com- municated to Mr. Barlow, the American minister at Paris, a de- cree of the French emperor, bearing date the 28th of April, 1 81 1 , announcing that the decrees of Berlinand Milan are defini- tively repealed, and to the date of the preceding first of Novem- ber, considered as not existing in regard to American vessels. Mr. Barlow immediately despatched a special messenger, with a copy of this decree to Mr. Russell, and on the 21st of May, Mr. Russell communicated it to the British minister. On the 23d of June, an order in council was passed, declaring that the orders of -the 7th of January, 1807, and of the 26th of April, 1809, were revoked, so far as related to American vessels and cargoes, from the 1st of the succeeding August. It was also further declared, that as British armed vessels, by sundry acts of the American government, were excluded from the waters of the United States, and the armed vessels of France admitted ; and as the commercial intercourse between Great Britain and the United States was interdicted, and that between France and America restored, unless the American government, on receiving notice of this revocation, should place Great Britain on the same footing as France, in these respects the revocation was to be annulled. The order also provided that the prince regent should not be precluded, if circumstances should require it, from restoring the orders in council, or from taking such other measures of retaliation * Colonel Newman's letter to Governor Mitchell. 1312. -HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 .57 against the French, as might appear to his royal highness just and necessary. On the 24th of August, Mr. Russell, by order of the Presi- dent, proposed an armistice, to commence at or before the expiration of sixty days from the date of the instrument pro- viding for it, on condition that the orders in council be repeal- ed, no illegal blockades substituted in their stead, and that orders be immediately given to discontinue the practice of impressment, and for the restoration of persons already im- pressed : it being understood that the British governmeut will assent to enter into definite arrangements on all other subjects of difference by treaty as soon as may be. As an inducement to the British government to discontinue the prac- tice of impressment, Mr. Russell was directed to give assu- rances that a law should be passed to prohibit the employ- ment of British seamen in the public or commercial vessels of the United States. Reply of Lord Castlereagh, In a note of the 29th of August, Lord Castlereagh replied, "that the diplomatic rela- tions between the two governments terminated by the decla- ration of war; yet under the peculiar circumstances of the present case, he had been induced to submit Mr. Russell's propositions to the prince regent, and had his orders to inform him, that they were on various grounds inadmissible. He further stated, that immediately on the revocation of the orders in council, the British admiral on the American station had orders to propose to the government, of the United States an immediate and reciprocal revocation of all hostile orders, with an oiler to give full effect, in such an event, to the pro- visions of said order on the conditions therein specified. In the present state of the relations between the two countries, the operation of the order of the 23d of Juno last could only be defeated by a refusal on the part of the American govern- ment to desist from hostilities, or to comply with the condi- i.inn< i-N-pn-^sr-n 1 in the order. " 18 138 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6, He further remarked, " that it was unexpected that the American government should demand as a preliminary, even to the suspension of hostilities, that the British government should desist from its ancient and accustomed practice of im- pressing British seamen from the merchant ships of a foreign state, simply on the assurance, that a law should be passed to prohibit the employment of British seamen in the public or commercial vessels of such state : that the British govern- ment is now, and ever has been ready, to receive from the American, and amicably discuss, any proposition which pro- fesses to have in view, either to check abuse in the practice of impressment, or to accomplish by means less liable to vex- ation, the object for which impressment has hitherto been found necessary. But they cannot consent to suspend the exercise of a right, on which the naval strength of the empire mainly depends, until they are fully convinced, that means can be devised, and will be adopted, by which the object can be effectually secured. Second Proposition. On the 12th of September, Mr. Rus- sell, by order of his government, submitted another set of propositions to the British ministry, on the subject of the sus- pension of hostilities. That a convention for that purpose should be entered into, to take effect at such time as should be mutually agreed on, and stipulating that each party should forthwith appoint commissioners, with full powers to form a treaty, which should provide, by reciprocal arrangements, for the security of their seamen, from being taken or employed in the service of the other power, for the regulation of their commerce, and all other interesting questions between them ; and that the armistice should not cease without such previous notice as should be agreed on, and should be understood to have no other effect, than to suspend military operations by sea and land. " It was necessary," Mr. Russell said, " in ac- ceding to this proposition to come to a clear understanding on thesubjectof impressment, embracing adischarge of American seamen already impressed, without having the arrangement 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. (39 in a formal shape, and also on the subject of future blockades, the revocation of the orders in council being confirmed." Reply. To these propositions Lord Castlcreagh replied. " that he saw no material difference between them and those of the 24th of August. These now sought to accomplish in a covert and disguished manner, what the other openly re- quired, and were on that account, the more exceptionable. That the subject of impressment was of much greater magnitude and difficulty than Mr. Russell apprehended : that if America wished to get rid of the war, the revocation of the orders in council gave her an opportunity, and according to the armis- tice which Admiral Warren was authorized to propose, the object would be accomplished."* Here the correspondence, and all the negotiations at Lon- don for the suspension of hostilities, ended, and Mr. Russell immediately embarked for the United States. Proposition to the American Government by Admiral Warren for an Armistice. On the 30th of September, Admiral War- ren, by order of his government, addressed a note to the American secretary of state, enclosing the British order in council of the 23d of June, and proposing the immediate cessation of hostilities between the two countries, on the fol- lowing terms : " That America should immediately recall her letters of marque and reprisal, with all orders and instructions for any acts of hostility against the territory, persons, or property of his majesty's subjects : that on receiving official assu- rances to that effect, all acts of hostility should cease against the ships, persons, and property of the United States : that should the American government accede to this proposition, he was authorized to make arrangements with them for the repeal of the laws interdicting the commerce and ships of war of Great Britain from the ports of the United States. * Correspondence between Mr. Russell nnd Lord Castlereac:!). 140 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. Chap 6; In default of which repeal in a reasonable lime, the orders in council would be revived." Reply of the Secretary of Slate. In reply to these propo- sitions, the American secretary stated, " that it would be very satisfactory to the President, to meet the British government in such arrangements as may terminate, with the least possible delay, the hostilities between the two countries, on terms hon- ourable to both. At the moment of the declaration of war, the President gave signal proof of the attachment of the United States to peace ; as at that early period, instructions were given to the late charge des affaires at London, to pro- pose an armistice which it was presumed would be satisfac- tory. It has been seen with regret, that the propositions made through him, particularly in regard to the important subject of impressment, were rejected, and that none were offered through that channel as a basis on which hostilities might cease. Experience has proved that no peace can be durable unless that subject is provided for. It is presumed, therefore, that it is equally the interest of both countries to adjust it at this time. " The claim of the British government is to take from the merchant vessels of other countries, British subjects. In the practice, the commanders of British ships of war often lake from the merchant vessels of the United States, American citizens. If the United States prohibit the employment of British subjects in their service, and enforce the prohibition by suitable regulations and penalties, the motive for the practice is done away. It eannot be conceived on what ground such an arrangement can be refused. A suspension of the prac- tice pending the armistice, seems to be a necessary conse- quence. It cannot be presumed, that while the parties are engaged in negotiation to adjust this important difference, the United States would admit the right, or acquiesce in the prac- tice, or that Great Britafn would be unwilling to restrain her cruisers from a practice that would defeat the negotiation. If the British government is willing to suspend the practice 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 14 { of impressment, on consideration that the United States will exclude British seamen from their service, the regulations by which the compromise should be carried into effect, would be solely the subject of negotiation. The armistice would be of short duration : if the parties agreed, peace would be the result ; if not, each would be restored to its former pretensions, by recurring to war. " The President desires that the war between the two coun- tries should be terminated on such conditions as may secure a durable peace. To accomplish this great object, it is ne- cessary that the subject of impressment should be satisfacto- rily arranged. He is willing Great Britain should be secured against the evils of which she complains. He asks, on the other hand, that the citizens of the United States should be protected against a practice, which, while it de- grades the nation, deprives the citizens of their rights as free- men, takes them by force from their families and their coun- try, and drags them into a foreign service, to fight the battles of a foreign power, perhaps against their own kindred and country. " The orders in council having been repealed, and no illegal blockades revised or instituted in their stead, and an under- standing having been obtained on the subject of impressment, the President is willing to agree to a cessation of hostil- ities, with a view to arrange by treaty, in a more distinct and ample manner, and to the satisfaction of both parties, every other subject of controversy. If there be no objec- tion to an accommodation on this subject in the mode pro- posed, other than a suspension of the practice during the ar- mistice ; there can be none to proceeding without an armistice to an immediate discussion and arrangement of an article upon that subject. This great question being satisfactorily adjust- ed, the way will be open, either for an armistice, or any other 142 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. course leading most conveniently and expeditiously to a gen- eral pacification."* This correspondence terminated all attempts to effect a cessation of hostilities. The orders in council being repealed, the only remaining subject of controversy was impressment, and on this the belligerents determined to maintain their respective claims at the hazard of war. The views of the American government, in continuing the war solely on the ground of impressment, were, that this was a point which could never be yielded by an independent nation ; that having taken up arms in a case where this stood as one of the prom- inent causes, to make peace without a satisfactory arrange- ment on this head, and while the practice was suffered to con- tinue, was in effect abandoning the principle, and with it one of their most valuable national rights. On the other hand, the British considered their naval power, and as they were then situated, their national existence, at hazard, by abandon- ing their claim, and would agree to no armistice where a sus- pension of the practice must be the preliminary. Mr. Monroe's letter to Sir J. B. Warren. CHAPTER VJ1. Second Session of the Twelfth Congress. — Report of the Committee of Foreign Relations. — Law prohibiting the employment of Foreign Stamen. — Report of the Committee on Military Affairs. — Debates on the expediency of continuing, and manner of conducting the War. — Army Bills passed. — Report of Committee on Naval Affairs. — Com- parison between Seventy-Fours an 1 Frigates. — Dry Dock recom- mended. — Navy Bills passed. — Treasury Estimates. — Report of Com- mittee of Ways and Means. — Revenue Bills passed. — Remission of Penalties on Goods imported after the revocation of the Orders in Council. — Law authorizing Retaliation passed. Meeting of Congress. After a recess of four months, the twelfth Congress commenced their second session on the 2d of November, 1812. Message. In his message, at the opening of the session, the President informed them of the steps he had taken towards a pacification; of the failure of the negotiation for that purpose; recommended a prosecution of the war with increased vigour, and proposed a variety of measures adapted to that object. That part of the message which related to the prosecution of the war, and the documents, relating to the negotiations, were referred to the committee of foreign relations. The most interesting question that agitated Con- gress and the people of the United States during this ses- sion, was, whether the war should continue solely on the ground of impressments? Though this constituted one of its prominent causes, yet, no doubt, had the repeal of the orders in council taken place, and been known in the United States before its commencement, impressment alone would not have induced the war, but that question would have remained a subject of further negotiation. Report of the Committee of Foreign Relations in favour of continuing the War. On this point, Mr. Crundy, of Tennes- 144 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7. see, from the committee of foreign relations, reported, that almost on the same day on which war was declared, the Bri- tish government had conditionally repealed their orders in council, and thereby removed one great obstacle to accom- modation. That the only remaining subject of dispute be- tween the two countries was impressment. That an offer had been made to the British government, to provide a sub- stitute, which should be an ample equivalent ; that one had been proposed which was definite in its object, and of a cha- racter so comprehensive, as ought to have been entirely satisfactory, but that it had not been accepted. The British government had ever refused to come to any arrangement upon the subject. It now became the duty of Congress, to declare, in terms the most decisive, that should they still de- cline, the United States will never acquiesce in the practice, but resist it unceasingly and with all their force. "It is not now necessary," the committee observe, " to inquire what the course would have been, had the orders in council been re- pealed before the declaration of war, or how long the prac- tice of impressment would have been borne, in the hope that the repeal of the orders in council would have been followed by a satisfactory arrangement upon that subject. War hav- ing been declared, and the cause of impressment being ne- cessarily included as one of the most prominent causes, it must be provided for in the pacification. The omission of it in a treaty of peace, would not leave it on its former ground. It would in effect, be an absolute abandonment of the princi- ple. The seamen of the United States have a claim on their country for protection, and they must be protected. Impress- ment is an evil which must not and cannot be longer tole- rated. It is in the highest degree degrading to the United States as a nation, incompatible with their sovereignty, and subversive of the main pillars of their independence. Their forbearance has been mistaken for pusillanimity. The Bri- tish pretension was fast maturing into a right; and should resistance be longer delayed, it would soon become one. iftl2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. f45 In order to remove all ground for the continuance of the war. and to place Great Britain manifestly in the wrong, the report concludes with recommending a bill prohibiting the employment of foreign seamen in the public or private vessels of the United States, after the termination of the present war> under heavy penalties, and providing that the lists of the crews of merchant vessels be exhibited, and re- corded in the office of the collectors of the several ports, and that the consuls and agents of foreign powers might have free access to such records, and a fair opportunity to object to the shipping of any individuals whom they claimed as belonging to their nation. Law to exclude Foreign Seamen. In pursuance of this re- commendation, a law was enacted embracing these provisions, applicable to those nations only who should adopt similar regulations and discontinue the practice of impressment. It was confidently hoped, that when an act was passed, which should give a better security against the employment of their seamen than the practice of impressment, the British govern- ment would be willing to abandon it. But they viewed it in a very different light. British seamen came into the Uni- ted States, cither by shipping themselves on board American vessels in British ports, or by deserting from British vessels in American ports. While they remained within the territory of the United States, they could not be reclaimed, and de- livered to the British authorities. Merely refusing to employ them on board American vessels, left them on American ground free 10 engage in other pursuits, and did not restore them to the British nation. In their estimation, then, the law afforded a very imperfect and inadequate remedy for the evils of which tney complained. Indeed in the present state of the British marine, such a law was by no means a desirable object to them ; as by prohibiting the employment of British seamen in American vessels, it precluded the opportunity of impressing them. This refusal of the British government to restore impressed /Vmcricarvs, and to accept the proposition* 10 i JO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. T lo exclude their seamen from the merchant and naval service of the United States, in the opinion of the committee, war- ranted the conclusion that they were determined to man their navy in violation of the dearest rights of American citizens and justified a continuation of the war. No accommodation was effected, and this point still remained to be settled by the sword. Report of the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Williams, of North Carolina, from the committee on military affairs, re- ported a bill for the increase of the army twenty thousand men, making the whole permanent military establishment fifty- six thousand. Debates on the War Bills. In the discussion of these re- ports, the speakers on either side, took a wide range on the general subject of the war, on the expediency and necessity of continuing it, on the objects to be obtained, and the man- ner of conducting it. Mr. WiRiams, in introducing the army bill, fully explained the views of the military committee. 'Twer great objects," he said, " were to be obtained by the military force proposed to be raised: one, the complete de- fence of the country *, the other, offensive war, the object of which was to make the enemy feel that it had become his interest to abstain from oppression and plunder. For defence-, the jurisdictional limits of the United States should be divided into military districts ; each district to be intrusted to an in- telligent officer of high grade, who should have under his command certain portions of the artillery and infantry of the regular army, with instructions to call in aid the adjacent militia, as there should be occasion. That a corps of flying artillery should be established on the sea-board, which could be rapidly directed to the most exposed points. That a skil- ful engineer should be appointed, and directed to devise plans, and superintend the erection of such works of defence as might be necessary." He then proceeded to enumerate the military districts, and the least number of troops to be allotted to each, making an aggregate often thousand, for the defence lOtf HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 j; of the country. Mr. Williams next called the attention of the house to the East Florida frontier. " Danger," he stated. " there already exists. In its present state it was improvea- ble by an enemy to the essential injury of the United States- It was perfectly within the control of the British for every military purpose, and no greater force would be required for :he United States to occupy it. than would be necessary to ?uard thnt frontier if they did not. It ought therefore, as a measure of precaution, to be occupied." fa favour. On the subject of offensive war. he remarked, • : that the British regular force in the Canadas could not be estimated at less than twelve thousand men. In addition to these, were the Canadian militia, amounting to several thou- sand, and three thousand regulars at Halifax. To drive this force from the field, the St. Lawrence must be crossed with a well appointed army of twenty thousand men, sup- ported by an army of reserve of ten thousand. Peace is not to be expected but at the expense of vigorous and successful war. Administration have in vain sued for it, even at the expense of the sarcastic sneers of the British minister. The campaign of 1813 must be opened in a style of vigour, cal- culated to inspire confidence in ourselves, and awe in the enemy. Nothing must be left to chance; our movements must every where be in concert. At the same moment, we move on Canada, a corps of ten thousand men must threaten Halifax from the province of Maine. " The honour and character of the nation require that the British power on our borders should be annihilated the next campaign. Her American provinces once wrested from her, every attempt to recover them will be chimerical, except by ne- gotiation. The road to peace then lies through Canada. Once possessed of Canada, an honourable peace is secured. The disasters of the last campaign, owing to the cowardice of one officer, and the inexperience of others, forbid the permanent employment of the militia or volunteers for the purposes gt 1 48 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ChA* f . war, and ought to stimulate to new and more vigorous exer- t'ons with improved means." Against. The views of the advocates of peace were ably explained and defended by Mr. Quincy, of Massachusetts, in a speech on the army bill. " This bill," he observed, " proposed to augment the army by an addition of twenty thousand men i this extension would raise the army to fifty-five thousand. The committee of foreign relations have stated that the exist- ing military establishment is sufficient for all the pur- poses of defence. This new army is professedly intended for the conquest of Canada. This he would consider, first, on its own merits, and secondly, as the means of obtaining peace. It was the deliberate, confirmed opinion of that por- tion of the Union, that he represented," Mr. Quincy observed, " that the invasion of Canada was cruel, wanton, senseless, and wicked ; that for the offences of a people in the other hem- isphere, we should visit with fire and sword an innocent and unoffending people in our neighbourhood, connected with us by numerous acts of friendly intercourse, Antecedent to this war, there subsisted betwen Canada and the United States an intercourse of the most amiable and interesting nature. The people on both sides of the St. Lawrence were but as one family, intermarrying, and living in the constant reciprocation of friendly offices. As enemies, there was nothing to fear from them. Seven millions could have no- thing to apprehend from half a million. Like the giant crushing the pigmy, there was no glory to be obtained in the conquest. Nor could it in any degree affect Great Britain to our advantage. It was our invasion of Canada, which gave new strength to the British ministry at the late election. The British nation were willing to support America in principle ; but when they saw in the first onset, the war was carried against their harmless colonists, sympathy enlisted them on their side, and produced such an effect at the elections as might be expected. 181*. mSTORY OF THE LATE WAK. My u He would next consider the invasion of Canada an the means of obtaining peace. In that view it is addressed to the fears of Great Britain. The history of that country, from its earliest period, has always evinced that she was not operated upon by threats. She always sacrifices the present to the future, meets danger half way, and yields nothing to menaces. If Great Britain saw that this was a threat we meant to exe- cute, and was sure the conquest of Canada would be effected ; just in proportion as she was sure of that, in the same pro- portion would the chance of accommodation with her be diminished."* The general principles advocated by Mr. Williams and others in favour of war, and the measures recommended by the committees of foreign relations and military affairs, were undoubtedly well calculated to accomplish the object. Could a well appointed army of twenty thousand effective men have crossed the St. Lawrence early in the spring of 1813, sup- ported by a reserve often thousand, Canada must have fallen that season. But the difference between an army, as it appears in the debates and acts of Congress, where the ranks are to be filled by voluntary enlistment, and an army in the field, is immense. The requisite officers of every grade were readily found, but the total failure of the recruiting service presented the mere skeleton of an army in the field. The proposed measures were adopted by large majorities ; and laws were consequently passed, authorizing the increase of the regular army by an addition of twenty thousand men, rais- ing ten additional companies of rangers, appointing six addi- tional major generals, and six additional brigadiers, and increasing the number of officers of the subordinate grades, and giving higher bounties to recruits. The military occupation of East Florida, as recommended by Mr. Williams, was viewed by Congress as an act of direct hostility against Spain, and prematurely and unadvisedly n ■ • Debates in eonjjress, January 1813. 1 50 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7. making her a party to the war. Though her territories in the Floridas might be improved by the British to the disad- vantage of the United States, yet the majority of Congress seem disposed to wait until some act of Spain, manifestly violating American rights, should justify the measure. Report of Naval Committee. The committee on naval affairs, with the aid of the secretary of the navy, and some of the most experienced naval officers, look an extensive view of the subject of naval defence, and made an able and lucid report ; in which they stated, " that for the defence of the coast, and the protection of commerce, a respectable navy was necessary : that although it was not desirable, nor within the power of the United States, to create a navy which should be able to meet the collected force of Britain on the ocean, yet such a navy might and ought to be pro- vided, as would be adequate to guard the coast, and protect commerce : that Great Britain could not with safety, at any one time, send to the American station a considerable portion of her navy. The protection of her own waters forbade it. While they had no access to the ports of the United States, and received no supplies from them, the expenses of supply- ing their ships would be enormous. They remarked that it would take a much less force to guard, than to assail the coast. That for the purpose of defence, some vessels of a larger size must be provided. While the British had ships of the line on the coast, frigates must not be altogether depended on. The same force in a number of frigates would not be sufficient to attack a seventy-four; the heavier metal of the latter would probably enable her to sink or destroy the for- mer with but partial injury to herself. Comparison between Seventy-fours and Frigates. They next proceeded to give a comparative estimate of the value in service, and of the expense of building, seventy-fours and frigates. According to an estimate of the secretary of the navy, detailed with great minuteness, the force of three frigates 1012. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. |,,1 would not be more than equal to one seventy-four. The ex- pense of building and equipping a frigate of forty-four guns, taken from the actual cost of the President, was $220,910. The cost of a seventy-four, $333,000. The annual expense of keeping a frigate of that size in service, was estimated at £110,000; and that of a seventy-four at $210,110. The result from these calculations, was, that while the expenses of a seventy-four were something less than that of two frigates of forty-four guns, her value in service was equal to three. When engaged in war with a distant maritime power, ships of the line were best calculated to defend the coast, and pro- tect the inward and outward bound commerce. Without them, the first object of such an enemy would be to restrain American frigates and cruisers, from leaving our harbours, and preying on their commerce. By keeping their large ships, parading on the coast, threatening the most exposed towns, preventing the departure of small cruisers, capturing what small portion of commerce may have escaped their cruisers on the ocean, and recapturing such as they have lost, they are able to carry on a warfare, easy and profitable to themselves, and destructive to their enemies. Should a more important object present itself, they could withdraw their ships for a time without great hazard, and return in season to shut out those cruisers with their prizes, that might have gone out in their absence. They would be able at all times to consult their own convenience in point of time and numbers, and need incur no expense and risk of transport, but can go and procure their supplies at pleasure before their absence is known to their enemy. To prevent these evils, the American navy ought, in the opinion of the committee, to consist of a mixed force, of ships of the line, frigates of forty and thirty-two guns, and corvettes of sixteen. The inner squadron, or guarda costa, to be com- posed of the ships of the line, and a few smaller frigates, and corvettes for look-out vessels. " Such a defence," the commit- tee remark, " must produce one of two results ; either the 152 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap f/ enemy would be obliged to abandon the coast, or bring on a force at least double that of the Americans, at all the haz- ards of leaving their own waters unprotected, and maintaining their ships at sea without harbours for shelter, and at the great expense and risk of provisioning and watering them by transports* If, under these disadvantages, they should be unable to maintain a superiority on the coast y the door will be kept open for the ingress and egress of cruisers with their prizes, and the small classes of ships may be sent in pursuit of the cruisers and commerce of the enemy." Dry Docks. " The committee also recommend a dry dock, into which vessels may be introduced and the watei* then taken out by drains and pumps, as indispensable for repairing large ships. Without the aid of such a dock, a ship of wai wanting repairs to her bottom, or that is in need of coppering, must be turned down on her side to undergo that repair ; to prepare her for this operation, her upper masts must be taken down, her guns, stores, water-casks, ballast, and ammunition taken out, which occasions a great waste and loss of time and labour. The preparation to dock a ship requires but a few hours. All that is necessary is to take out her guns, and to pump the water out of her water- casks, and when docked, the repairs of her bottom can pro- gress on both sides at the same time. Ships wanting thorough repair, require all the planks to be stripped off, and their beams, knees, and clamps taken out; these are all they have to bind their frames together, and thereby preserve their shape ; when stripped of them to make room for new, they are liable, if in the water, to hog, from the greatest weight and body of timber being in the fore and after ends, at which places there is no pressure upwards caused by the water : as these ends are sharp, the two extremities of the ship are liable to sink in the water, while the body or middle of the ship rises with the upward pressure of the water, something in the form of a hog's back. Another consideration is, that the bolting %f a ship ought to be driven from the outside, but when re- 1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 15 J paired afloat, they must by driven from the inside, and are neither so strong, nor so well secured. These considerations induced gentlemen best acquainted with naval affairs strongly to recommend the establishment of a dry dock for repairing ships of war. The unparalleled success of the infant navy of the United States had inspired a universal confidence in that mode of warfare, and rendered every measure for the increase of the navy popular. The views of the committee, of the secretary of the navy, and of Captains Stewart, Hull, and Morris, who assisted with their communications in making the report, were fully supported in Congress, in relation to the nature and in- crease of the naval force. Four screnty-fours, six additional forty-fours, and six sloops of war, were ordered to be built, and put in commission immediately. As large a force also on the lakes was ordered to be provided, as was calculated would be sufficient to establish the ascendency in that quarter. But unfortunately for the interests of the United States, this maritime force appeared only on the journals of Congress. The most numerous and expensive part of their real navy, consisted of one hundred and sixty gun-boats seeking their own safety in the creeks and shoals of the coast. The crea- tion of a navy was found to be a work of time, and before ii could be accomplished, the evils which it was destined to prevent, were realized. Treasury Estimates. The treasury estimates of expendi- tures for the year 1813, were, For the civil list, and interest, and reimburse- ment of a part of the principal of the public debt, £8,500,000 For the army, not including the new levies, . . 17,000,000 For the navy, not including the proposed in- crease, 4,925,000 $30,425,000 >0 154 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7- The appropriations actually made for the service of the year, were, Civil department and miscellaneous services, . $1,500,000 Military, including unexpended balances, . . 21,500,000 Naval, including the proposed increase, .... 8,500,000 Public debt, . , 8,000,000 Additional naval officers, 350,000 Bounties to the crews of Constitution and Wasp, 125,000 $39,975,000 Fifty thousand dollars were ordered to be paid to the offi- cers and crew of the Constitution, for the destruction of the Guerriere, and the like sum for the destruction of the Java. Twenty-five thousand dollars were given to the officers and crew of the Wasp, for the capture of the Frolic. An act was also passed declaring it to be lawful for any persons to burn, sink, or destroy any British armed vessels, by torpe- does, submarine instruments, or any other destructive ma- chine, and giving a bounty to the amount of one half the value of such vessel, armament, apparel, and cargo, to any persons who should accomplish their destruction. The committee of ways and means, reported an estimate of the whole revenue exclusive of loans, to amount to twelve millions : that the residue of the appropriations should be supplied by loans ; for this purpose, that a loan of twenty- one millions was necessary ; ten of which was to be obtained by issuing treasury notes to that amount, bearing an interest of five and two-fifths per cent. These were calculated to supply in some measure a circulating medium, to be issued for the purchase of supplies, and payment of the troops, or sold in market. The remaining eleven millions were to be obtained by creating and selling in market, United States' stock, bearing an interest of six per cent., and reimbursable in twelve years. The stock not to be sold at a greater dis- count than at the rate of eighty- eight dollars cash for one Imndicd dollars stock. iSl*. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Ibz Merchants' 1 Bonds discharged. Immediately after the re- vocation of the orders in council, American merchants pur- chased in England, goods to the amount of nearly forty mil- lions, and shipped them to the United States on the presump- tion that the non-importation law would he repealed. The declaration of war having prevented the repeal, these goods were liable to be seized and condemned on their arrival in the American ports. In several instances, American priva- teers, falling in with vessels laden with these goods, took possession of them, and sent them in as prizes. The custom- house officers, under the direction of the secretary of the treasury, seized these goods, and libelled them in the mari- time courts. The goods, by order of the courts, were released to the owners, upon their giving bonds to pay the appraised value of them, into the treasury of the United States. The claims of the owners of the privateers, to those that were captured and sent in, was at once disallowed by the court. Application was made to Congress at an early period of the session, for a discharge of those bonds and a remission of the forfeitures incurred. The duties on these importations would amount to nearly ten millions, and afford a very seasonable aid to the treasury. The application was favourably receiv- ed, and an act passed discharging the bonds, and the penal- ties incurred, upon the payment of the duties and costs arisen on the prosecutions. It was an essential pari of the system of finance proposed at the commencement of the war, to provide for the punc- tual payment of the interest on the war loans, by a system of internal duties and direct taxes. This was absolutely neces- sary to support public credit, and render future loans ob- tainable on any reasonable terms. No receipt of any conse- quence could be calculated upon at the treasury, at a shorter period than a year after the imposition of the taxes. In the mean time interest upon the loans first obtained, would fall due, and further loans would be called for. On these con- siderations, it was expected that the present Congress would 1 56 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Ohap. 7> at an early period, arrange the system, and impose the taxes. But notwithstanding they had been in session thirteen months out of the twenty-four, for which they were elected, they did not find time to arrange this important business, and be- queathed the unpleasant task to their successors. Law of Retaliation. The shocking barbarities practised by the Indians, under the command of the British, and by their permission, at the river Raisin, excited universal indig- nation, and induced the passing of a law authorizing the Pre- sident, whenever there had been any violations of the laws and usages of war, or any outrage or acts of cruelty and barba- rity, perpetrated on any citizens of the United States, or any persons in their land or naval service, by those acting under authority of the British government, or by the Indians in alliance or connexion with, or acting under their authority, to cause full and ample retaliation to be executed on any British subject, soldier, or seaman, prisoners of war in the United States. The British alleged in excuse for themselves, their inabil- ity to control the Indians. This excuse, however, was gene- rally not true in point of fact ; and if true, would afford no reasonable justification. It only threw the guilt one step further back, and placed the criminality of employing sav- ages whom they could not control, in a more conspicuous point of view. Happily for the honour and magnanimity of the American nation, the severe though just law of retaliation was never executed. Tt was too revolting to the humane feelings of Americans, to visit the iniquities of the gov- ernment, or their guilty agents, on innocent and unfortunate prisoners. CHAPTER VIII. British Plan of the Campaign for 1813. — American Plan — Division of the United Stales into Military Districts. — Arrival of the British Re* inforcements at Bermuda. — Proclamations of Blockade. — Arrival and Proceedings of the Squadron in the Delaware. — Arrival of the Bri- tish Squadron at Lynnhaven Hay. — Plundering- on the Shores of the Chesapeake. — Burning of Havre de Grace. — Plundering and Burning of Fredericktown, and Georgetown. — Arrival of Admiral Warren, and Sir Sidney Beckwith, with Reinforcements. — Norfolk threatened- — Attack on Craney Island. — Capture of Hampton. — Plunder and Out- rages at Hampton. — Correspondence hetween the American and Bri- tish Generals on the subject of the Outrages. — Attempt to destroy the Plantagene twith a Torpedo. — An attempt on the Ramifies with a Torpedo, and a Fire-Ship. — Squadron proceed up the Potomac and threaten Alexandria and Washington. — Proceed up the Bay, and threaten Annapolis and Baltimore. — Admiral Cockhurn proceeds to the South. — Blockade of Comodore Decatur's Squadron at New-London. — Naval Challenge. — Decline. British Plan of Operation for 1 8 1 .3. The distinguished naval success of the Americans in the year 1812 was in a high degree mortifying to British pride. To be beaten on ground which they claimed exclusively as their own, and by a navy which they despised, was not to be endured. To apologize for such an event, American frigates were called seventy-fours in disguise, and greatly overrated in men and guns. British commerce had suffered severely by the public and private armed ships of the United States. To guard against similar events in the succeeding year, the British de- termined on a more vigorous prosecution of naval warfare. No actions were to be hazarded with American ships but with such superior force as would ensure success, and except in one or two instances, no American ship was ever after- wards attacked, but where the difference was greatly in fa- 158 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. S. vour of the British. The coast was to be closely blockaded, so as to prevent the egress of vessels, and the return of them with their prizes. Every thing American which floated, was to be captured or destroyed, and a large armament was to be kept constantly hovering on the coast, which should continu- ally threaten and harass the different maritime towns, and in this manner, as some of their officers expressed themselves, chastise America into submission. With these views, the principal disposable force of Great Britain was destined for the sea-board. No greater reinforcements were to be sent to Canada, than what were deemed sufficient to retain their pos- sessions. The success of the allied powers against France in the year 1312, greatly relieved England from the pressure of the continental war, and enabled her, with more effect, to pursue her hostile measures against America. American. The American government, on the other hand, determined to open the campaign of 1813 with a regular army of fifty-five thousand men, to be aided by occasional calls of militia and volunteers. The main body of the regu- lar forces was destined for the conquest of Canada. For the purposes of defence, the United States were divided into nine military districts. Massachusetts and New-Hampshire, to compose . . No. 1 Rhode-Island and Connecticut, 2 New- York from the sea to the highlands, and the state of New-Jersey, 3 Pennsylvania from its eastern limit to the Alleghany mountains, and Delaware, 4 Maryland and Virginia, 5 The two Carolinas and Georgia, ... 6 The states of Tennessee, Louisiana, and the Mississippi territory, 7 Kentucky, Ohio, and the territorial governments of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, 8 Pennsylvania from the Alleghany mountains westward, New-York north of the highlands, and Vermont, . . 9 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATH WAR. 159 To each of the districts was assigned a general officer of the United States army, whose duty it was to superintend and direct all the means of defence, and military operations with- in his district. Small detachments of regular troops were stationed at the most exposed points on the sea-board, to form a rallying point for the militia in case of invasion. The commandant of the district was authorized to call upon the executives of the states for such portions of the militia most convenient to the threatened point, as he should deem neces- sary. The operations of the militia to be combined with the regular force, and the whole to be under the direction of the commandant of the district, and while in service, to be paid and supported by the United States. With these views of the contending parties, the campaign of 1813 commenced. In the course of the winter, a large reinforcement arrived at Bermuda, consisting of several ships of war and transports, with a considerable land force on board, furnished with shells and rockets for the purpose of attacking the most exposed cities on the sea-board. A por- tion of this land force consisted of French prisoners, who, rather than be confined for an indefinite period in the English prison of Dartmoor, had been induced to embark in the British service. British Blockade of the Southern Ports. On the 26th of December, 1812, an order in council was issued, declaring the ports and harbours in the Chesapeake and Delaware bays, to be in a state of strict and rigorous Uockadc ; on the 2Gth of the May following, the blockade was extended to New-York, and all the southern ports.* Early in March, a fleet consisting of four seventy-fours, six frigates, and a num- ber of smaller vessels of war, arrived in the Chesapeake under Admiral Cockburn. About the same time three * Orders in council of the 20th of December, 1812, and 26th of May, 1813. 160 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8, seventy-fours and several small vessels, appeared in the Del- aware under Commodore Beresford. Operations in the Delaware. On the 16th of March, the Delaware squadron made a demand of supplies from the in- habitants of Lewistown, a considerable village on the Dela- ware shore, offering to pay the Philadelphia prices, in case they were voluntarily furnished, and threatening to destroy the town in case of refusal. Such proposals, addressed to a people opposed in principle to the war, was expected to bring in an abundant supply ; but the patriotic citizens of this village peremptorily refused ; informing the com- modore, that they could hold no correspondence with an enemy, without subjecting themselves to the penalties of treason. They gave immediate information to the governor of Delaware, who called out a considerable body of militia and placed the town in a respectable state of defence. On the 6th of April, the demand was renewed, and on being again refused, the Belvidera with two smaller vessels, anchor- ed close under the town, and commenced a bombardment ; this was spiritedly returned by the militia under Colonel Da- vis, from a battery erected in a commanding position. On the afternoon of the 7th, the British attempted to land, but were met at the water's edge and driven back to their ships. The blockading squadron then left their moorings above Lewis, and dropped down to Ncwbold's ponds, a watering place seven miles below. Here they again attempted to land and obtain water from the ponds, and were again met by a detachment of the militia from Lewis under Colonel Hun- ter, aud compelled to retire and abandon their object. The squadron failing to obtain the necessary supplies in the Dela- ware, soon afterwards returned to Bermuda. In the Chesapeake, In the Chesapeake, the blockading squadron took their station in Lynnhaven bay, near the en- trance of the Chesapeake, and commenced a disgraceful scene of plunder and devastation. Light vessels traversed the bay in every direction, capturing and destroying all the 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 161 fishing-boats and bay craft within their reach ; frequently landing, and plundering and burning defenceless farm- houses, seducing, and taking away negroes, and driving oft" the stock ; on the appearance of any considerable opposition, these marauders immediately took to their ships. On the 3d of April, three frigates, two brigs, and a schooner, entered the Rappahannock, and attacked the Dolphin privateer, an J three letters of marque, which were there preparing for sea. The letters of marque were immediately taken. The priva- teer sustained an action of two hours, when the British suc- ceeded in boarding her with the loss of fifty men killed and wounded. The cities of Baltimore, Norfolk, and Annapolis, and all the smaller towns and villages on the waters of the Chesapeake, were kept in a constant state of alarm. Many of the inhabit- ants of the most exposed towns removed, with their valuable effects, into the interior. Great exertions were made to place the most considerable towns in a respectable state of defence. On the 16th of April, a large force appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, twelve miles below the city of Baltimore; took the Baltimore packets and a number of small craft, and threat- ened an attack on the city. Finding it well defended, they proceeded up to Havre de Grace, near the head of the bay, at the mouth of the Susquehannah. On their way, they plundered and burnt Frenchtown, a village consisting of five or six dwelling-houses, and several stores and stables, being the place of deposite on the line of packets and stages between the cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Destruction of Havre de Grace. The attack on Havre de Grace commenced by bombardment from the shipping, at day- light, on the 3d of May. The frightened inhabitants, awakened by the thunder of the cannon, lied in every direc- tion ; a few repaired to the beach, where a battery with several pieces of artillery had been planted as a kind of defence against small watering parlies; after discharging a few shots, they fled on the approach of the barges, with the 21 162 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. Z> exception of a citizen by the name of O'Neale, originally from Ireland, stationed at one of the guns, he continued load- ing and firing it alone, to the imminent hazard of his life, after his fellow-citizens had fled, until by the recoiling of the piece, he was severely wounded in the thigh : he then with difficulty retreated into the town, and fought them with his musket, until a British officer rode up with several marines and made him prisoner. On board the Maidstone frigate he was threatened with execution for being of Irish extract, but was afterwards released upon the application of the magis- trates of the town. The British landed with Admiral Cock- burn at their head, and proceeded without further resistance to the work of destruction. The town was given up to the plunder of the soldiery, and burnt. Mrs. Rodgers, wife of the commodore, Mrs. Pinckney, and Mrs. Goldsborough, with several other ladies of distinction, sought shelter at an elegant country-seat of Mr. Pringle's, a short distance from the village. When the British came to burn the house, Mrs. Goldsborough met the officer, and entreated that the house might be spared on account of her aged mother, who could not be removed. The officer replied, that he acted under the admiral's orders, and she must obtain his consent. She immediately sought the admiral, and obtained his permission that the house might be spared, but when she returned, found it on fire, and two men coming out loaded with plunder. Mr. Pinckney and Mrs. Goldsborough, with the assistance of two marines, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Having destroyed the village, one party proceeded several miles on the Baltimore road, plundering and burning the farm-houses, and every thing within their reach; another proceeded up the Susquehannah, committing similar ravages. Of Fredericktown and Georgetown. On the 6th, they re- embarked and proceeded down the bay, to Sassafras creek. A few miles up this creek were the villages of Fredericktown and Georgetown, of about forty or fifty houses each, situated on opposite sides of the river. At Fredericktown a number ISIS. HISTORY Or THE LATE WAR. 16.} of small vessels had taken shelter as a place of safety. These villages, with the shipping, underwent the same scene of plunder and conflagration as had been practised at Havre de Grace. The private property plundered and destroyed at Havre was estimated at sixty thousand, and at the two other villages at seventy thousand dollars. On the 1st of June, Admiral Warren entered the Chesa- peake with a considerable naval reinforcement, and a num- ber of land troops and marines, under the command of Sir Sidney Beckwith. The Britrsh force now in the Chesapeake consisted of eight ships of the line, twelve frigates, and a con- siderable number of small vessels. Snch a force evidently indicated an attack upon some more important point. From the movement of the squadron to Hampton roads, it appeared that Norfolk was the object. The defence of this city de- pended on a squadron of about twenty gunboats, the frigate Constellation, and the fortifications on Craney Island. The frigate was anchored between two forts, situate on each side Elizabeth river, which command the approach to Norfolk. On the 21st, 15 gun-boats, under the command of Captain Tarbel, attacked the Junon, the foremost British frigate, at the distance of three quarters of a mile; the action continued upwards of an hour with considerable damage to the frigate, when, on the nearer approach of a razee, the gun-boats hauled off. Attack on Craney Island. Before the British could enter the harbour of Norfolk and approach the town, it was neces- sary to take possession of Craney Island. On the morning of the 22d, they were discovered passing round the point of Nansemond river, and landing on the main land in a position where the passage was fordable, with a view to pass over and attack the works on the west side of the Island, while at the same time a number of barges from the fleet attempted to land in front. These were attacked before they reached the shore from a battery on the beach, manned by the sailors and marines from the Constellation and the gun-boats. 164 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8. Three of the barges were sunk, most of the men drowned, and the rest compelled to retreat to their shipping. The party which landed atNansemond, were met and repulsed by the Virginia militia, and driven back to their ships, with the loss, including those in the barges, of upwards of two hun- dred in killed and wounded. The city of Norfolk and the neighbouring villages of Gosport and Portsmouth, owed their safety to this gallant defence of Craney Island. Ravages at Hampton. Defeated in their attempt on Nor- folk, the armament proceeded to Hampton, a village at the head of the bay which runs up north from James river, eighteen miles above Norfolk. This village was defended by a garrison of four hundred aud fifty militia, protected by some slight fortifications. Admiral Cockburn, on the 25th of June, with his forces, advanced towards the town in barges and small vessels, throwing shells and rockets, while Sir Sidney Beckwith effected a landing below with two thousand men. Cockburn's party were repulsed by the garrison, and driven back behind a point, until General Beckwith's troops advanc- ed and compelled the garrison to retire. The town being now completely in the possession of the British, was given up to pillage. Many of the inhabitants had fled with their valuable effects ; those who remained suffered the most shameful barbarities. That renegado corps, composed of French prisoners accustomed to plunder and murder in Spain, and who had been induced to enter the British service by promises of similar indulgence in America, were now to be gratified, and were let loose upon the wretched inhabitants of Hampton without restraint. For two days the town was given up to unrestrained pillage; private property was plundered a.nd wantonly destroyed ; unarmed and unoffending individu- als grossly abused; females violated; and in one instance, an aged sick man murdered in the arms of his wife, who, at the same time, was dangerously wounded. A collection of well- attested facts, made by a committee of Congress respecting 1813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. JGS the outrages at Hampton, stand on their journals as lasting monuments of disgrace to the British nation. Correspondence between General Taylor and Sir Sidney Beckwith. General Taylor, the commanding officer at Nor- folk, addressed a note to Admiral Warren on this subject, in which he remarks, " that it was with grief and astonishment he had heard of these excesses. The world will suppose these acts to have been approved if not excited by the com- (Danders, if suffered to pass by with impunity. I am prepar- ed for any species of warfare which you are disposed to prosecute. It is for the sake of humanity that I enter this protest. It will hereafter depend on you, whether the evils inseparable from a state of war, shall in our operations be tempered by the mildness of civilized life, or under your authority be aggravated by all the fiend-like passions which can be enlisted into them." General Beckwith, as command- er of the land forces, by whom these outrages were princi- pally committed, replied, " that these excesses were occasion- ed by a proceeding of so extraordinary a nature, that had he not been an eye-witness to it, he would not have credited it. At the recent attempt on Craney Island, the troops, he stated, in one of the barges sunk by the fire of the American guns, clung to the wreck; several Americans waded off from the island, and in the presence of all engaged, fired upon and shot them. With a feeling natural to such an occasion, the troops of that corps landed at Hampton." General Taylor, replied that " he was satisfied such a scene did not take place, and if it had, satisfaction ought to have been demanded, before retaliation so extravagant in measure, and applying not to the perpetrators of the offence, but to the innocent and helpless, was resorted to. That h^ had ordered an inquiry to be made into the facts, and effec- tual measures should be taken to punish any misconduct. A board of field officers to whom the subject was referred, re- ported, that it appeared from the testimony, that in the action at Craney Island, two of the enemy's boats in front of their line 16.6 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8, were sunk by the batteries ; the troops in the boats were afloat and in danger of drowning, and being in front of the boats which were still engaged, the firing necessarily continued, and was in the direction of the men in the water, but with no inten- tion of doing them any further harm ; on the contrary, orders were given to prevent this by ceasing to fire grape, and to fire round shot. One of the British who had apparently sur- rendered, advanced towards the shore about one hundred yards, then suddenly turned to the right and endeavoured to escape, he was fired upon to bring him back, which had the desired effect. The troops on the island exerted themselves in acts of kindness to the unresisting foe."* The transmis- sion of this report to Sir Sidney Beckwith, ended the corres- pondence on the subject of the outrages, and the troops re-embarked from Hampton on the 27th of June. Effects of British Outrages. The British appeared to have had two objects in view in their system of plunder and devas- tation in the Chesapeake -, one, to gratify their troops with pillage ; the other to render the calamities of war so distress- ing to the inhabitants as that the sufferers and those exposed to similar sufferings, should compel the government to make peace upon their own terms. As to the latter object, the effects of this system were the reverse of their expectations. The war, unpopular among a great portion of the American people at its commencement, lost that character and acquired new popularity by every act of barbarity in the enemy. The peaceful citizen who could only with the utmost reluc- tance be compelled to contribute his service or property to the conquest of Canada, was ready to devote his all to the protection of his altars, fireside, and family, and those of his neighbours, from the wanton violations of a barbarous foe. Either from the orders of their government, with a view to detach the northern section of the union from the war, or the accidental difference in the character of the commanders, * Correspondence beeween General Taylor and Sir Sidney Beckwith. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 167 the blockading squadrons north of the Chesapeake conducted their operations upon the liberal principles of civilized war- fare. Commodore Hardy, to whom the blockade of New- London and Long Island Sound was intrusted, was distin- guished for the humane and liberal manner in which it was conducted. Torpedoes. The act of the last session of Congress encouraging and rewarding the destruction of British vessels by submarine instruments or other destructive machinery, induced a variety of essays to accomplish such an object. The attempt which approached nearest to success, was made by Mr. Mix, a gentleman of ingenuity and enterprize belong- ing to the navy. Having spent several weeks in preparing a torpedo, he made an essay upon the Plantagenet, a British seventy-four at anchor in Lynnhaven bay. On the evening of the 18th of July, he put off from his rendezvous, in a large open boat which he called the "Chesapeake's Revenge," assisted by Captain Bowman of Salem, and Midshipman M'Gowan of the United States navy, and having ascertained the position of the ship, he approached within fifty fathoms and dropped his torpedo ; at the same instant he was hailed by the British guard-boats, which induced him immediately to take up his machine, and retreat. On the 19th, he made another unsuccessful attempt. On the 20th, he succeeded in getting under the ship's jib-boom, within fifteen yards of her bow; here he continued fifteen minutes undiscovered, mak- ing preparations, when at the moment he was ready to launch his instrument of destruction, he was hailed by the centinel in the forecastle, and compelled to decamp. The centinel, not being answered, fired his musket, which was followed by a rapid discharge of small arms. Blue lights were then made to find the boat, but failed ; rockets were thrown in every direction, which illuminated the water for a considerable dis- tance, and discovered their nocturnal visiter making a rapid retreat ; the ship then commenced a sharp fire of heavy guns, slipped her cables, and made sail, while her boats wen 168 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8« despatched in pursuit. The daring intruders directly getting out of the lights of the rockets, escaped unhurt. The un- welcome visits were repeated on the nights of the 21st, 22d, and 23d, without success, as the ship having taken the alarm changed her position every night. On the 24th, Mr. Mix, having succeeded in discovering the position of the ship, approached within a hundred yards, and dropped the fatal machine into the water, just as the centinel on deck cried out "all's well." It sunk ahout ten feet, the tide floated it down unperceived to within a few yards of the bottom of the ship, when it exploded with a most terrific sound. A pyramid of water nearly fifty feet in circumference, was thrown up forty or fifty feet into the air with the appearance of vivid red, tinged with a beautiful purple, when it burst at the top with a terrible explosion, and fell in torrents on the deck of the ship, which rolled into the chasm below and nearly upset. The forechannel of the ship was blown off, and a boat which lay along side with several men in her, was thrown into the air in the convulsion of the waters. The ship's crew were panic-struck, and most of them betook themselves to the boats. Had the explosion been delayed a few moments until the machine had struck the bottom of the ship, it must have been fatal. A line of torpedoes was prepared to be set at short notice, in the ship channel at the narrows, between Long and Staten Islands, in such manner that seventy-fours passing up to New- York, must necessarily disturb and cause them to explode, and expose the ships to destruction.* One torpedo was prepared at New-London designed for the de- struction of the Ramilies, and proceeded in the darkness of a still and cloudy night, to the object of its destination ; but neither the machine, boat, nor managers, were ever after- wards heard of. Explosion of the Eagle. On the 25th of June, the schooner Eagle was fitted out from New-York, having on board a large * Niles's Register, vol. 4, page 366. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1C9 magazine of powder, and a considerable quantity of flour and other articles adapted to the wants of the British squadron. A spring-lock was fixed to a cask of the powder, which was connected by a string to a flour-barrel, so that when it was attempted to be removed, the lock must spring, and the mag- azine explode. The authors of this stratagem calculated that the British, in their usual manner, would take possession of the schooner, and bring her alongside of the Ramilies to unlade, when the explosion would take place, and destroy the ship. The Eagle, thus freighted, proceeded to the harbour of New-London ; and as she neared the Ramilies, three barges approached, and her crew left her. The barges took posses- sion ; but as the wind was contrary, they were unable to con- duct her to the ship, and began to remove her lading into the boats, when they sprang the lock, and the schooner, barges, and men, instantly disappeared. The British affected to consider this as a barbarous and unjustifiable mode of attack, unwarranted by the usages of civilized nations. Two answers were given to their remonstrances on this subject: one, that their cruel and wanton outrages on the peaceable inhabitants of the coast warranted any mode of defence cal- culated to afford protection: the other, that stratagems in war are always justifiable ; and the modes of attack of which they complained stood on the same ground as sapping, mining, and ambuscades on land. These experiments, though un- successful as to the main object, had the effect of rendering the enemy more cautious in approaching, and taking stations in the American waters. Potomac. On the 1st of July, the Chesapeake squadron, consisting of seven ships of the line, seven frigates, and eleven small vessels, with the troops on board, left Hampton roads, proceeded to the mouth of the Potomac, and entered that river, taking soundings, and marking out the channel with buoys. Their advance proceeded up the river within seventy miles of the city of Washington, and excited great alarm in that city, and at Alexandria and Georgetown. The defence of 1 70 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8. these places from a naval attack, depended on fort Washing- ton, formerly called fort Warburton, erected on Mason's Island in the Potomac, six miles below Alexandria. The works here were repaired, the garrison increased, the militia from the neighbouring country called in, and such an aspect of defence presented, as induced the British to withdraw from the river. They next proceeded up the bay and threatened Annapolis and Baltimore ; but finding them in a formidable attitude of defence, made no attempt. The principal part of the squadron under Admiral Cockburn, soon afterwards left the bay, and proceeded to the south, alarming, and plundering the coast of the Carolinas ; on that of North-Carolina, Cock- burn entered the Ocracoke inlet, captured two privateers, and proceeded to the entrance of the Nease, with a view of attack- ing Newbern; but finding that place well guarded by the militia, he attacked the neighbouring town of Portsmouth, plundered it, and returned to the ships with a valuable booty, and a number of slaves, whom he induced to leave their mas- ters under a promise of freedom, and aflerwards sold in the West-Indies. He next proceeded to the coast of Georgia, took possession of Cumberland Island, and established his head-quarters during the winter, at the elegant mansion-house of the late General Greene, which he found in the possession of his daughter. The British admiral and officers paid a scrupulous regard to the rights of the occupant of this seat, while they committed their wonted depredations on the neigh- bouring coast. Blockade of New-London. The principal harbours north of the Chesapeake were strictly blockaded. The frigates United States and Macedonian, and sloop of war Hornet, having been repaired in the port of New- York, and fitted for sea, attempted to go out on the 24th of May. A squadron of superior force lying oh 1 ' the narrows, made it necessary for them to take the passage through Hell-Gate, and Long-Island sound. To oppose their passage in this direction, there appeared off New-London harbour, two seventy-fours, a 1613. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 171 razee, and a frigate, and chased the American squadron into that port. The British, under Commodore Hardy, anchored at the mouth of the harbour, just out of the reach of the guns of the forts; the Americans lightened out a part of their armament, and retired five miles up the Thames: for their protection, forts Trumbull and Griswold were strongly garri- soned, and corps of militia ordered in from the neighbouring ' ountry to prevent a landing. The vigilance of the block- ading squadron prevented any opportunity for escape ; and confioed the frigates to the river until the close of the war. The Endymion, and Statira, composed a part of the block- ading squadron, and were of equal force with the United States and Macedonian. Commodore Hardy remarked to Captain Moran, who had been captured, and carried on board the Ramilies, " that he should have no objections to a meet- ing's taking place between the frigates, but could not allow the challenge to proceed from the English commanders." Challenge given by Commodore Decatur. — Declined. Captain Moran, being afterwards paroled, mentioned this con- versation in the hearing of Commodore Decatur, who imme- diately despatched Captain Biddlc with a proposition for a- meeting. Having delivered his message, Captain Biddlc was informed, that an answer would be returned by a flag the next day. The crews of the American frigates were assembled and received the proposition with hearty cheers; the officers and men were now in anxious expectation of being immedi- ately led to battle and victory; when the British flag arrived with the unwelcome intelligence, that the challenge was de- r lined. CHAPTER IX. Naval Affairs. — Cruise of the President.— Of the Congress.— Oi tl»< Hornet. — Capture of the Peacock. — Captain Lawrence appointed to the command of the Chesapeake. — Challenge of the Shannon ; accepted. — Capture of the Chesapeake. — Funeral of Lawrence and Lud low, at Halifax. — Their Bodies removed to New-York.— Funeral Honours at Salem and New- York. — Cruise and Capture of the Argus. Death of Captain Allen Battle between the Enterprise and Boxer, and Capture of the latter. — Death and Funeral Honours of both Com- manders. — Cruise of the Essex in the Atlantic. — Her Arrival in the Pacific. — Capture of a Peruvian Corsair. — Capture of Whale Ships. — Establishment at Madison Island. — Essex Junior. — Arrival of British Squadron. — Blockade of the Essex — Battle between her and the British Squadron Capture of the Essex Return of Captain Porter and Crew to the United States. — Number and Value of British Prizes in 1813. The American frigates which were so fortunate as to elude the blockading squadrons, and get to sea in the year 1813. pursued the enemy with their wonted bravery and enter prise. Cruise of the President. On the 23d of April, Commodort Rodgers, with the President, and Congress frigates, sailed from Boston on a cruise. They continued in company along the banks of Newfoundland until the eighth of May, when the President, having parted from the Congress, pursued her route to the northward, with a view to cross the tracks of the West- India, Halifax, and Quebec trade. From the 9th to the 13th of June, they made four prizes. They then shaped their course for the North Seas, to intercept vessels bound from the Irish Channel to Newfoundland, by the way of the north of Ireland. After remaining on this station several days with- out success, they proceeded to the North Cape for the pur- pose of intercepting a convoy of thirty sail, expected to leave J 74 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. Archangel for England about the middle of July. On the 19th, the President, near the North Cape was chased by a line of battle ship and frigate. In this high latitude, the sun was several degrees above the horizon, during the whole twenty-four hours, which enabled the British to continue the chase by day-light uninterruptedly for eighty hours. Commo- dore Rodgers, by skilful manoevering, and extraordinary exertions, finally escaped, and made his way by the north- west coast of Ireland to the United States. On the 23d of September, on the American coast, he was discovered by the High-Flier, one of Admiral Warren*s look-out ships. The British made a private sigrial, which by accident was an- swered by the Commodore, with the English corresponding one. The High-Flier immediately made up to the President, and was captured. From her such information respecting the number and stations of the British force on the coast was obtained, as enabled the President to reach the harbour of Newport on the 27th of September, in safety. During the cruise, she made twelve prizes, three of which were destroyed, and the others sent into port.* The Congress, after parting with the President, cruised in the latitude of the West-Indies, with a view of falling in with the British trade, but with little success: she made Portsmouth harbour on the 14th of De- cember, having made only three prizes during her cruise. Hornet. Captain Lawrence, of the Hornet sloop of war, con- tinued on the coast of South America, blockading the Bonne Citoyen in the port of St. Salvador until the 24th of January, 1813, when he was compelled to retire on the appearance of the Montague, a seventy-four which had been sent for from Rio Janeiro to raise the blockade. On the 28th of December, Captain Lawrence, with the consent of Commodore Bain- bridge, the commanding officer on that station, challenged the Bonne Citoyen to single combat ; the commodore pledging himself to retire, so as that it should not be in his power to * Commodore Rodgers's letter to the secretary of the navy. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 175 give assistance. The challenge was declined. The pro- priety of giving or receiving naval challenges, was very much questioned, and had never been expressly approbated by the government. The disadvantage was altogether against America. If successful, the loss of a single ship of war was of very little consequence to Great Britain, and made no di Here nee in her naval operations; if unsuccessful, the loss of a frigate was a serious injury to the American navy, and very much crippled its operations. After the events of 1812, such challenges were not nescssary to estab- lish the American naval character: it was known and feared abroad, and cherished and respected at home. Destruction of the Peacock. On the 24th of February, off Demarara, Captain Lawrence fell in with the brig of war Peacock, and sunk her, after a close action of fifteen minutes : a few minutes before she went down, she struck her colours, and hoisted a signal of distress. The firing instantly ceased, and the boats of the Hornet immediately went to the relief of the crew; but were not able to save all. Thirteen of them, together with four of Captain Lawrence's men, who were on board endeavouring to get oft' the prisoners, went down with her. Three impressed American seamen, on board the Pea- cock, at the commencement of the action requested that they might go below, as they could not fight against their country; they were refused in the most insolent manner, and ordered to their quarters; one of them was killed in the action, the others taken on board the Hornet with the prisoners. The Peacock mounted twenty guns, and had a crew of one hundred and twenty-four men.* On this event, the Halifax papers remark, " If a vessel had been moored for the sole purpose of experi- ment, it is not probable she could have been sunk in so short a time. It will not do for our vessels to fight theirs single- handed. The Americans are a dead nip." The number of prisoners now on board the Hornet, and the want of pro- v Lawrence's etter to the secretary of lh* navy. 176 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 9. visions rendered it necessary for Captain Lawrence to return to the United States. The sailors of the Hornet, with the characteristic generosity of American tars, shared with the surviving crew of the Peacock their scanty provisions, and made each of them a present of two shirts, a jacket, and a pair of trowsers, to supply their wants occasioned by the sinking of their ship. Shannon and Chesapeake. On his return to the United States, Captain Lawrence was promoted to the command of the Chesapeake, then ready for sea in Boston harbour. That port was then strictly blockaded by the Shannon and Tenedos frigates. Scarcely had Lawrence taken the command of his ship, when he received a challenge from Captain Brooke to meet the Shannon in single combat, giving a particular de- scription of her armament, and engaging that the Tenedos should be out of the reach of assistance. There were pow- erful reasons which would have induced a more cautious com- mander than Captain Lawrence to have declined the chal- lenge. The Shannon had the advantage in men and guns ; she rated as a thirty-eight, but mounted fifty-two ; the Ches- apeake rated thirty-six, and mounted forty-eight; Captain Brooke could select his men from both ships ; Captain Law- rence's first lieutenant was. sick on shore, three others had recently left the ship ; of the four which remained, two were only midshipmen, acting as lieutenants; part of his crew were new hands, and the others were complaining on account of arrearages of pay and prize-money, and from a long stay in port had lost much of their ardour; the ship and crew were strangers to him ; and the Chesapeake, from her encoun t.er with the Leopard, had the character of an unlucky ship. Under these embarrassments, Captain Lawrence accepted the challenge, and on the morning of the 1st of June, sailed out of the harbour to meet the Shannon : the latter observing her coming out, bore away. The Chesapeake followed her until four o'clock in the afternoon, when she hauled up and fired a gun. on which the Shannon hove too ; both ships ma- 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 177 noeuvred for some time, until a quarter before six, when they approached within pistol-shot, and exchanged broadsides. These were both destructive, but the fire of the Shannon was most fatal in the destruction of officers; the fourth lieu- tenant Mr. Ballard, was mortally wounded, the sailing master was killed, and Captain Lawrence received a musket ball in his leg, which caused great pain and profuse bleeding, but he leaned on the companion way, and continued to give orders and animate his men. A second and third broadsides were exchanged with evident advantage to the Chesapeake, but unfortunately among the now wounded was the first lieute- nant Mr. Ludlow who was carried below •, three men were successively shot from the helm, in about twelve minutes from the commencement of the action, and as the hands were shifting, a shot disabled her foresail, so that she could no longer answer her helm, and her anchor caught in one of the after ports of the Shannon, which enabled the latter to rake her upper deck. As soon as Captain Lawrence per- ceived that she was falling to leeward, and that by the Shan- non's filling she would fall on board, he called the boarders, and was giving orders about the foresail, when he received a musket-ball in his body. The bugle-man who should have called the boarders did not do his duty, and at this moment Commodore Brooke, whose ship had suffered so much that he was preparing to repel boarding, perceiving from this accident how the deck of the Chesapeake was swept, jump- ed on board with about twenty men-, they would have been instantly repelled, but the captain, the first lieutenant, the sailing master, the boatswain, the lieutenant of marines, the only acting lieutenant on the spar deck, were all killed or disabled. At this moment Lieutenant Cox ran on deck, just in time to receive his falling commander and bear him below. Lieutenant Budd led up the boarders, but only fifteen or twenty would follow him, and with these he defended the ship until he was disabled. Lieutenant Ludlow, wounded as he was. having laid his commander in the ward-room, hurried 23 178 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. upon deck and soon received a mortal wound from a .sabre. The marines who were engaged fought with desperate cour- age, but they were few in number, many of them having fol- lowed the boatswain's mate, a Portuguese, who exclaimed as he skulked below, " so much for not paying men their prize- money." Meanwhile the Shannon threw on board sixty add? lional men, who soon succeeded in overpowering the few re- maining seamen of the Chesapeake, and taking possession of the ship, which was not surrendered by any signal of sub- mission, but became the enemy's only because they were able to overwhelm all who were in a condition to resist. As Captain Lawrence was carried below, he perceived the me- lancholy condition of the Chesapeake, and exclaimed, " Don't give up the ship, let her flag wave while I live ;" but it was too late to resist, the enemy had complete command of the ship. As Captain Lawrence's wounds would not admit of his removal, he lay in the ward-room surrounded by his wounded and dying officers, and after lingering in great pain four days, expired on the 5th of June. His body was wrap- ped in the colours of the Chesapeake and laid on the quarter- deck until their arrival in Halifax, where he and Lieutenant Ludlow were buried with the highest military and naval honours ; their palls were supported by the oldest captains in the navy then in port, and no demonstrations of respect were omitted to honour the remains of the brave but unfor- tunate strangers. In this sanguinary conflict the Chesapeake lost her commander and forty-seven men killed, and ninety- seven wounded, of whom fourteen afterwards died. On the part of the Shannon, the first leiutenant, the purser, captain's clerk, and twenty-three seamen were killed, and Captain Brooke and fifty-seven seamen wounded. The key of Captain Lawrence's store-room was demand- ed of the purser, who was compelled to give it up, observing at the same time, that in the capture of the Guerriere, Mace- donian, and Java, tiie most scrupulous regard was paid to the private property of the British officers : that Captain Law- 131;;. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 179 rence had laid in stores for a long cruise, the value of which would be a great object to his widow and family, for whose use he was desirous of preserving them; his request was haughtily refused. Captain Crowninshield, of Salem, having obtained permis- sion from the President, prepared a ship at his own expense, and proceeded to Halifax with twelve masters of vessels as his crew ; obtained the bodies of Captain Lawrence, and Lieutenant Ludlow, and returned to Salem with the remains of these gallant officers, on the 19th of August, where funeral honours were perf6'.med, and a eulogy pronounced by Judge Story. The friends of Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Lud- low were desirous that their remains should be interred at New- York, where the lady of CapUiin Lawrence and the families of both the heroes resided; the corpses were conveyed from Salem to New- York by land, and there interred with all the respect due to deceased merit. Captain Lawrence had been bred to the sea from the age of twelve, and distinguished him- self before Tripoli, with Decatur. He was slain at the age of thirty-two, at the post of honour. In the year 1808 he married the daughter of , a respectable merchant oi' the city of New- York ; he left her with two children, and in a situation in which the news of his death must have been peculiarly distressing. The catastrophe of the Chesapeake was kept from her knowledge until the birth of twin children, rendered the communication proper. The sympathies of the nation in some measure assuaged the widow's grief.* Cruise of the Argus. In May 1313, the brig Argus, Cap- tain Allen, sailed from the United States for France, with Mr. Crawford, appointed ambassador to the French court, in the place of Mr. Barlow, deceased ; he was so fortunate as to elude the British cruisers, and arrive at L'Orient in twenty- three days. From L'Orient Captain Allen sailed to the Irish Channel, for the purpose of annoying the British coast . * Life of Captain Lawrence. HO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 9, ing trade, and interrupting the communication between Eng- land and Ireland. It being entirely unexpected by the British, that an American ship should venture into this chan- nel in search of prizes; they had deemed it unnecessary to station any force there for the protection of their trade; and Captain Allen, in the course of six weeks, took and destroyed British property to an amount, according to their own estima- tion, of two millions of dollars. His distance from any friendly port to which he might conduct his prizes, rendered it necessary to destroy them; non-combatant passengers were discharged with all their private prpperty; prisoners of war paroled, and sent on shore, and the vessels sunk. So unexpected and unwelcome a visiter on their coast did not" long escape the attention of the British admiralty. Capture. The Sca-Horse, a thirty-eight gun frigate, and the Pelican ship of war of twenty guns, were ordered to the Irish Channel in quest of the Argus; and on the 14th of August, the Pelican fell in with her, and commenced the action : after a close contest of forty-three minutes, the Sea- Horse heaving in sight, the Argus surrendered. Early in the action Captain Allen had his left leg shot away by a cannon- ball, but refused to be carried below until he fainted from loss of blood. His leg was amputated above the knee, and every surgical aid afforded, but he survived only four days, and died on the 18th in Plymouth hospital. Enterprise and Boxer. On the 5th of September, the United States brig Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth, and on the next day fell in with the British brig Boxer; the latter immediately fired a shot as a challenge, hoisted English colours, and bore down on the Enterprise. The American vessel employed herself in tacking, and making preparations for action ; having obtained the weathergage, she manceu- vered some time to try her sailing, and ascertain the force of her antagonist ; at length she shortened sail, hoisted her ensigns, and fired three shot in answer to the challenge. The Boxer now "bore up within half pistol-shot, gave three cheers. 1613. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. l$j and fired her starboard broadside ; this was answered by like cheers, and a larboard broadside from the Enterprise, who now having the advantage of the wind, ranged ahead of her enemy, rounded to on the larboard tack, and commenced a raking broadside. The Boxer's main-top-sail, and top-sail- yards came down, and the Enterprise taking a raking position on the starboard-bow of her antagonist, and opening a raking fire, compelled her to cry out for quarter. The colours being nailed to the mast, could not be taken down, but the firing ceased, and the ship surrendered. The action lasted three quarters of an hour; in the early part of it, Captain Blythe, commander of the Boxer, and Lieutenant Burrows of the Enterprise, were both mortally wounded. The latter refused to be carried below until the sword of his enemy was pre- sented to him; when grasping it with both hands, he ex- claimed, " I am now satisfied. I die contented." The Enter- prise was rated as a 12 gun brig of 165 tons, with a crew of 102 men ; the Boxer, as a fourteen gun brig of 200 tons, with a crew of 104 men. In the action she had twenty-five killed and fourteen wounded; the Enterprise four killed and eleven wounded. The American ship, with her prize, made the harbour of Portland. The bodies of the two commanders were brought on shore in ten oared barges, rowed at minute strokes by shipmasters, accompanied by all the barges and boats in the harbour, the two vessels firing minute-guns. At the wharf a procession was formed, consisting of the civil and military authorities, and the citizens of the town, the corpse of Lieu- tenant Burrows preceding, and after the performance of appropriate funeral service, the remains of the two young naval heroes were deposited by the side of each other in peace. Cruise of the Essex in the Pacific. The Essex, under the command of Captain Porter, sailed from the Delaware on the 27th of October, 1812, with orders to join the squadron under Commodore Bainbridge, destined for the Pacific ocean; he- 1Q2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. % proceeded to ports Praya, Fernando, de Noronho, and Cape Frio, designated in his instructions as places of rendez- vous, on the coast of South America, for the meeting of the squadron. On his passage he captured the British packet Nocton, took out of her 11,000/. sterling in specie, and sent her to the United States. Not finding the residue of the squadron at the places appointed, he continued his cruise oft' Rio de Janeiro until the 12th of January, captured a schooner laden with hides and tallow, and sent her into Porto Rico, and proceeded to the island of St. Catharine, on the Brazil coast for supplies. Having here obtained such information as satisfied him that he should not be joined by the other ships, agreeably to his instructions adapted to such an event, he sailed alone for the Pacific ocean, and arrived at Valparaiso, a Spanish town and harbour on the coast of Chili, on the 14th of March. Having here obtained the necessary supplies, he ran down the coast of Chili and Peru, and fell in with a Peruvian corsair, who had taken two American whale ships on the coast, and confined their crews as prisoners. The captain of the corsair declared, that, as allies of Great Britain, he should capture all American vessels he should meet, under an ex- pectation that there might be a war between Spain and the United States. Captain Porter disarmed the corsair, liberated the Americans, and addressed a note to the viceroy of Peru, explaining the reasons of his conduct. He then proceeded to Lima, and re-captured one of the whale ships as she was entering the port. From Lima he cruised among the Galli- pago Islands, the seat of the British whale fishery, from the 17th of April until the 3d of October; during this cruise he captured twelve British letters of marque, whale ships, having on board three hundred men, and armed with one hundred and seven guns : One of them he equipped as a ship of war, under the name of the Essex Junior, and gave her in command to Lieutenant Downes, retained one as a store ship, gave up two to the prisoners whom he paroled, and sent six others into port under convoy of the Essex Junior. On the ]S13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 183 return of Lieutenant Downes from Valparaiso, he learned that a squadron under Commodore Ilillyer, consisting of the Phebe of thirty-six guns, two sloops of war of twenty guns, and a store-ship, had been in pursuit of him on the coast of Brazil, and had left that coast, and sailed for the Pacific on the 6th of July. Possession of Madison Island. On receiving this intelli- gence, Captain Porter proceeded with the remainder of his prizes, to Nooahcvah, or Madison Island, in the Washington groupe, lately discovered by Captain Ingraham of Boston. On the 19th of November he took formal possession of the island, in the name of the President of the United States, erected fort Madison, mounted four guns, deposited at the foot of the flag-staff a copy of his declaration, and several pieces of American coin; built a village consisting of six houses, a rope-walk, and bakery, and established a friendly intercourse and trade with the natives. This formal pos- session was taken under a salute of seventeen guns from fort Madison, and the shipping in the harbour, now denominated Massachusetts bay. At this station he proceeded to repair his ships, procure supplies, and make preparation to meet his expected enemy ; having accomplished these objects he left three of his prizes in charge of Lieutenant Gamble, under the guns of the battery, and returned to the coast of Chili on the 14th of January, 1814. The expedition had thus far been attended with the most brilliant success. Captain Porter had broken down the British navigation in the Pacific; the vessels which had escaped capture, were panic-struck, and confined to their ports. The most ample protection had been afforded to the numerous American shipping in those seas, which until his arrival, were altogether unprotected. The British whale fishery was entirely broken up. and those engaged in it sus- tained losses estimated at two and an half millions of dollars. The captures had furnished the Essex with abundance of naval stores, provisions, and clothing, and enabled Captain 184 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9, Porter to quarter himself on his enemy, and make considera- ble advances to his men. Had he followed the dictates of prudence, on hearing of Commodore Hillyer's squadron being in pursuit of him, he would have avoided a force so manifestly superior, and returned to the United States with the fruits of his cruise. He had accomplished the object of his voyage ; there was little more to be done in those seas ; and there was a squadron in pursuit of him of such superior force, as rendered it his imperious duty to avoid it ; but the maxims of prudence do not always regulate the conduct of the brave. The brilliant successes of 1812 had induced the American naval commanders to hazard combats when the odds was manifestly against them, while the British studiously avoided any rencontre, unless with evident superiority. The result was such as might be expected from such a course; American bravery continued to distinguish itself with in- creasing lustre in the most desperate courage, but the balance of captures of armed ships after the year 1812 was greatly against the American navy. Capture of the Essex. Captain Porter returned to Val- paraiso, and cruised oft" that port expressly with a view of meeting his enemy. His wishes were soon gratified. The squadron arrived at Valparaiso about the 1st of February, and anchored along side of the Essex ; Hillyer politely in- quired after the health of Captain Porter, observing that his ship was cleared for action, and his men prepared for board- ing; Porter replied, " If by any accident you get on board me, I assure you great confusion will take place,: I am prepar- ed to receive you, but being in a neutral port, I shall only act on the defensive. " Hillyer readily replied he had no such intention. At this instant his ship accidentally took aback of the starboard bow, and her yards nearly locked with the Essex ; Porter immediately called his men to board the Phebe, who were ready at the word; when Commodore Hillyer ex- claimed in great agitation, " I had no intention of getting on board you ; I did not mean to get so near." His ship then 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 95 fell oiF with her jib-boom over the decks of the Essex, her bows exposed to a broadside, her stern to the lire of the Essex Junior, and her crew in the greatest confusion ; in this position the Phebe might have been taken or destroyed in fifteen minutes; but respecting the neutrality of the port, Captain Porter made no attack. After he had brought his ship to anchor, Commodore Hillyer and Captain Tucker of the Cherub, visited Captain Porter on shore; on being inquired of whether they meant to respect the neutrality of the port, Commodore Hillyer replied, " Sir, you have paid such respect to it that I feel myself bound in honour to do the same." The British squadron having obtained their supplies, cruised off the harbour of Valparaiso for six weeks closely blockading the Essex and Essex Junior. Captain Porter made several attempts to obtain a single combat with the Phebe, but with- out effect, the British ships keeping constantly within hail of each other. On the 28th of March, they were out of sight, and the American ships sailed out of the harbour, and endea- voured to escape ; but a heavy squall struck the Essex, and carried away her main-top-mast, precipitating the men aloft into the sea. Both British ships now appeared, and gave chase; the Essex endeavoured to regain the harbour, but being unable to reach the common anchorage, ran into a small bay three quarters of a mile to the leeward of the battery on the east side of the harbour, and anchored within pistol-shot of the shore. The British approached with an evident de- sign of making an attack, regardless of the neutrality of the place ; indeed the admirality had passed an order, in violation of an acknowledged rule of the law of nations, enjoining the commanders of their ships in the South Seas, not to re- spect any port as neutral where the Essex should be found. Captain Porter prepared his ship for action as well as her crippled state would admit, determined at least that the vic- tory should not be a bloodless one to his enemy. At four o'clock P. M. the action commenced at close quarters, the Phebe under the stern, and the Cherub on the starboard bow 24 18tj HISTOKY Ol THE LATE WAK. Oiap 9. of the Essex ; but the Cherub, soon finding herself in too hot a fire, immediately changed her position, and placed her- self under the stern also, where both ships kept up a severe and raking fire. The Essex, with three long twelves from her stern ports, managed with such skill and bravery as within half an hour to compel her enemy to haul off and repair. It was evidently the object of Commodore Hillyer, viewing success as ultimately sure, to risk nothing from the daring courage of his antagonist, but to obtain the Essex at as cheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate and wary; he saw his antagonist completely in his power, and prepared to make prize of him in the surest and safest manner. The situation of the Essex in the mean time, was galling in the extreme; crippled and shattered, and with many of her crew killed and wounded, she lay waiting the convenience of her enemy to renew the scene of slaughter at his pleasure, without the hope of escape or revenge; her brave crew, however, without being disheartened, were arous- ed to desperation, and by hoisting ensigns in the rigging and jacks in different parts of the ship, bid the enemy defiance, and evinced their determination to hold out to the last. The British having repaired their damages, now placed both ships on the starboard quarter of the Essex, out of the reach of her carronades and where her stern guns could not be brought to bear. Here they kept up a most destructive fire, which Captain Porter was not able to return ; the latter therefore saw no hopes of injuring his antagonist, but by getting under way and becoming the assailant ; from the man- gled stale of his rigging, he could hoist no sail but his flying- jib; this being done, he cut his cable and ran down on both ships, with an intention of boarding the Phebe. For a short time he was enabled to close with the enemy, and the firing on both sides was tremendous. The decks of the Essex were strewed with dead, and her cock-pit filled with wounded. The Cherub at the same time, was obliged to haul off, and could only keep up a distant firing with her long guns. The J813. HISTORif OF THE L VM: WAR. 187 disabled state of the Essex prevented her from keeping at close quarters with the Phcbc, who, by edging off", chose a distance which best suited her long guns. Many of the guns of the Essex were rendered useless, ninny had their whole crews destroyed, and were again manned from those £uns which were dismounted; one gun was thus manned three times, and fifteen men were slain around it in the course of the action, though its captain escaped with only a slight wound. Captain Porter, finding it impossible to close with the enemy, now determined to run his ship on shore, land the crew, and destroy her. He had approached within musket shot of the shore, and had every prospect of succeeding^ when a land-breeze suddenly set in, and drove him down directly upon the Phebc, exposing him to a raking fire. Ilis ship was now totally unmanagcblc; but as the enemy were to the leeward, and the head of the Essex towards him, Cap- tain Porter still had a faint hope of boarding. At this moment Lieutenant Downes of the Essex Junior, came on board to receive the last orders of Captain Porter, expecting every moment when he would be a prisoner or a corpse. The ser- vices of the Essex Junior could now be of no avail, Captain Porter therefore directed him to return to his own ship, and be prepared for defending or destroying her. The slaughter onboard the Essex now became horrible; the enemy con- tinued to rake her while she could not bring a gun to bear upon him. Still her commander, with an obstinacy that bor- dered on desperation, kept up the hopeless conllict. As a last expedient, a hawser was bent to the shcel anchor, and the anchor cut from the bows to bring the ship's head round; this succeeded, and the broadside of the Essex was again brought to bear; as the enemy were much crippled, Captain Porter thought he might drift out of gun-shot before he dis- covered that the Essex was anchored. The hawser parted, the Essex drifted tow; rds the enemy, and her last hope failed. She had tak^n fire se.eral times d tiring the action, 1 88 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 0. and was at this moment on fire both fore and aft ; the flames were bursting up each hatchway; a large quantity of pow- der below had exploded, attended with the cry that the mag- azine was on fire. Captain Porter turned his attention to rescuing as many of his brave crew as possible; finding his distance from the shore did not exceed three .quarters of h mile, he hoped many would be able to save themselves, should the ship blow up ; his boats had been cut to pieces, but he directed as many of his men as could swim to make for the shore ; some reached it, some were taken by the enemy, and many perished in the attempt; most of the crew however, preferred remaining on board the ship, and sharing the fate of their gallant commander. Renewed exertions were now made to extinguish the flames, which finally succeeded, and the firing recommenced, but the crew were so weakened that all further resistance was evidently fruitless. On sum- moning the officers of divisions for consultation, Captain Por- ter found only Lieutenant M'Knight remaining. Accounts from every part of the ship were deplorable, representing her in a most shattered and crippled condition, in imminent dan- ger of sinking, and so crowded with the wounded and dying, that even the birth-deck could hold no more; and many were killed while under the operations of the surgeon. All the carpenter's gang were either killed or wounded ; one of them, who had been over the side to stop the leaks, had his slings shot away, and with the utmost difficulty saved himself from drowning. In the mean time it had become calm, and from the smoothness of the water, and the secure distance at which the enemy lay, he was enabled to keep up a constant fire, aiming with coolness and certainty, as at a target, and hulling her with every shot. At twenty minutes past six, Captain Porter gave the painful order to strike the colours. This not being immediately perceived, the firing continued for about ten minutes, Captain Porter concluding that they meant to give no quarter, was about to rehoist his flag, and fight until his ship sunk, when the firing on the part of the British 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 189 ceased, and the ship was taken possession of by the enemy. During the action, Mr. Poinsett, the American consul at Val- paraiso, called on the governor to protect the Essex, and maintain the neutrality of the port, with the guns of the fort; the governor replied, that he would send an officer to request Commodore Hillyer to cease firing, but should not use force under any circumstances. This sanguinary and obstinately fought battle, was in the presence of the whole population of Valparaiso, and the neighbouring country. Thousands of .spectators covered the neighbouring heights ; some of the shot fell among the crowd, who, in the eagerness to gratify their curiosity, ventured down on the beach. Touched with the forlorn situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration at the persevering bravery of her crew, a generous anxiety ran through the multitude for her fate ; shouts of delight arose, when by any vicissitude of battle, or prompt expedient, a chance seemed to turn up in her favour; and the eager spec- tators were seen to wring their hands, and utter groans of sympathy, when the transient hope was defeated, and the gallant little frigate once more become an unresisting object of deliberate slaughter. The crew of the Essex at the com- mencement of the action, consisted of 255 men; 58 were killed, 65 wounded, and 31 missing; at the close of the action there were only seventy-five men on board capable of duty. The crew of the Phebe consisted of 320, and of the Cherub of 180 men.* The capturing force in men and guns, was double the captured. Although a valuable ship and a bravo crew were lost in the capture of the Essex, yet such consum- mate skill and bravery were displayed in the defence, as fully maintained the honour of the nation, and rendered the Amer- ican navy formidable to their enemies. Return of Commodore Porter. An arrangement was made between the two commanders, that the Essex Junior should be disarmed, neutralized, and equipped at the expense of the * Captain Porter'i letter to the secretary of the navy. J 90 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. American government, and being furnished with a passport to protect her from British cruisers, proceed with the prison- ers on parole, to the United States. In pursuance of this arrangement, Captain Porter, with the remains of his crew, commenced the voyage. On the 5th of July, oft' the coast of Long-Island, he was stopped by the British ship Saturn ; his papers examined, and he allowed to proceed. Standing in the same course with the Saturn, he was again brought to about two hours afterwards, his papers re-examined, and his ship overhauled and detained. On Captain Porter's remonstrat- ing against these proceedings, he was told that Commodore Hillyer had no authority to make such an arrangement, and that it would not be regarded. At seven o'clock the next morning, the ships being then about forty miles from land, off the east end of Long-Island, and Captain Porter seeing no prospect of his ship's being released, and considering him- self discharged from his parole by this detention, in contra- vention of it, ordered his boat to be lowered down, manned and armed, into which he threw himself, and reached the shore in safety. The- inhabitants strongly suspecting him to be an English officer, closely interrogated, and were about to arrest him; his story appeared so extraordinary, that the} were disposed to discredit it, but on showing his commis- sion, all doubts were removed, and they treated him with the most enthusiastic attention. On his arrival at New-York, the people took his horses from the carriage, and amid the huzzas of the citizens, conveyed him to his lodgings. The Essex Junior was soon after liberated, and arrived at New-York. Result of the Naval War in 1813. During the season of 1813, numerous privateers issued from the various ports in the United States, and harassed and captured British com- merce in every direction. The public and private armed vessels of the United States, within the year 1813, captured and sent into port, or destroyed at sea, four hundred and seven- teen British ships, and estimating them at an average of forty 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 191 thousand dollars, the loss to the British trade and naviga* tion amounted to sixteen and a half millions of dollars. Owing to the greater caution of the British in combating with the American navy, the latter had made no captures of British frigates to add to their trophies; yet the valour dis- played in every rencontre, fully supported that high character which they had acquired the preceding year. The strict blockade of the sea-board this season, interrupted all commu- nication by water; travelling and transportation between the cities on the coast was altogether by land. The hazards, inconveniencies, and expenses, of such an intercourse, led to an investigation and devolopment of the facilities and re- sources of the country for canal navigation, and laid the foundation for very important and lasting improvements. CHAPTER X. Mobile occupied ; annexed to the Mississippi Territory. — Spanish authori- ties removed to Pensacola. — Southern Indians.- — Methods taken by the United States to civilize them. — Visited by Tccumsch. — Instigated to War. — Massacre at Fort Mimms. — Proceedings in Tennessee and Georgia relating to the Creek War. — Tennessee Forces under Gen- eral Jackson. — Battle at Talltishatch.es. — Tallageda. — Destruction of the Hillabee Towns by General White. — Proceedings of the Georgia Forces under General Floyd.— Battle at the Autosscc Towns. — Bat- tle at Camp Defiance. — General Claiborne's Expedition against Ecca- iiachaca. — Battle. — Term of service of General Jackson's Volunteers expires. — Most of them leave him. — His Army recruited. — His first Expedition to the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. — Battle. — Helurns to Fort Strother. — Battle at Enotachopeo Creek. — Second Expedition to the Great Bend. — Battle. — End of the Creek War. — Treaty.— Rapid settlement of the Country by the Whites. Extent of Louisiana. The treaty by which France sold to the United States a district of country under the name of Louisiana, contained no definite boundaries. The mouth of the Mississippi and the Island of Orleans, were first discovered and occupied by a Frenchman of the name of La Salle ; in consequence of which, his sovereign Louis XIV. claimed all the country northward of it to his Canada possessions, west- ward to the Pacific ocean, and eastward indefinitely until it came in contact with countries already occupied by other European powers, and gave it the name of Louisiana. This instrument, the United States claimed, conveyed to them a country extending eastward of the Mississippi to the Perdido river, thirty miles easterly of Mobile bay, and westerly to the Pacific ocean, comprehending a much larger portion of country than the original United States. Spain, from whom this territory had been recently wrested by France without an equivalent, contended that it embraced only the city anr! 25 194 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CmAP. iO, island of Oilcans, and a limited territory on the west bank of the river. There being no common arbiter to decide this question, the party best able to assert its pretensions must prevail, and the other submit. For some time after the ratification of the Louisiana treaty, no formal possession of the contested territory was taken by the American gov- ernment, and the national authorities seemed to oscillate be- tween the right of Spain and that of the United States. Im- perious circumstances, however, at length called upon the President to adopt decisive measures, and induced him to give orders to the governor of Louisiana for the occupation of the contested district; anxious however, to avoid any col- lision with foreign powers, he restricted him to such parts of the territory as were in a revolutionary state, and directed him not to molest the regular Spanish authorities. Under these orders, Governor Claiborne excluded the town Mobile and the adjacent country from the American jurisprudence, and the courts and revenue office of the United States were established at Fort Stoddard, within their acknowledged jurisdiction. On the eve of a war with Great Britain it be- came important that this place should not be in the possession of her friend and ally, as by means of its waters an easy communication was opened with the hostile Indians of the south-west. Occupation of Mobile. With these views a law was passed in May 1812, annexing the country west of the Perdido, and south of the 31st degree of latitude, including the district of Mobile, to the Mississippi territory ; establishing the territorial laws, and granting them a representation in the provincial legislature. The Spanish garrison was required to leave the district. After a long course of negotiation with the governor of Pensacola, he refused to remove the garrison : and General Wilkinson, the commanding officer at New-Or- leans, was ordered to take possession. On the 27th of March, he ordered Commodore Shaw to send a detachment of gun-boats to take possession of the bay of Mobile, and .1313. HISTORY OF THE LJ^E WAK. 19i cut oft* all communication with Pensacola ; and Lieutenant Colonel Boyer, then slationeil with a respectable force at Fort Stoddard, on the Mobile river forty-four miles above its mouth, to be in readiness to march down on Mobile at a cjay's notice. Having made these previous arrangements, the General left New-Orleans on the 29th, and embarked on board the schooner Alligator. The troops destined for t\w expedition were ordered to rendezvous at the pass Christian. On the 30th, the weather being calm, and the Alligator una- ble to proceed, the general left the schooner, and took a barge, which upset in the lake in fifteen feet water, and the general and his suit lay on the keel for some time without any prospect of relief; two vessels passed, but did not observe them : at length the wreck was discovered by some Spanish fishermen, who came to the relief of the half-drowned and famished party. They towed them on shore, righted the boat, and the general again embarked with his boatmen, aud reached Petit Coquille at midnight. The next day an ex- press was sent to Colonel Boyer to fall down the river and occupy the bunk opposite the (own. The troops embarked from their general rendezvous on the 7th, arrived in .the bay of Mobile on the 12th of April, and landed near the fort at two o'clock in the morning of the next day. The sound of their bugles, as they were preparing to march up in front of the fort, was the first notice which the Spanish com- mandant had of General Wilkinson's approach. At noon six hundred men appeared in column in front of the fort, and demanded its surrender. A short negotiation between the general and commandant took place, which ended in the evacuation of the fort on the 15th, and the removal of the Spanish authorities to Pensacola. Southern Indians. The southern Indians, immediately northward of this district, inhabit the Mississippi territory, bounded on the north by the state of Tennessee, east by Georgia, south by the Floridas, and west by the Mississippi, being about three hundred miles square. The soil and cli- 196 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAIL Cm*. Jtt. mate are equal to any in the United States. The Indian pop* ulation, comprehending the Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Cherokee nations, is estimated at 60,000, and their warriors at about 6,000, and are as numerous as all the other tribes in the United States, east of the Mississippi.* This population is in a semi-civilized state, approaching much nearer in their manners, customs, and modes of living, to the whites, that any other Indian nation. The American government early turned their attention to these people, and established an agency among them, for the purpose of furnishing them with the implements of husbandry, domestic manufacture, and other necessaries, and instructing them in the arts of civilized life. Under the judicious superintendence of Colonel Haw- kins, they had long been kept in peace, and induced to turn their attention from hunting, to the cultivation of the soil. Many of them were regular farmers, and possessed stocks of cattle, horses, and swine. Their women were taught to spin and weave; intermarriages with the whites were frequent, from which had sprung a race of half-breeds, which had established an important and useful chain of connexion between the white and red inhabitants of the territory. The direct communication between Louisiana, and the Atlantic states was through this country, and the mails between the city of Washington, and New-Orleans, were regularly estab- lished on this route. Surrounded on three sides by the white population of the United States, and numerous white settle- ments in the heart of their country, their safety, and even existence, depended on the preservation of peace. Sensible of this, they were ready, when any of their people had com- mitted depredations or murders on the border inhabitants, to give them up to be punished ; and whenever they suffered by trespasses from the whites, instead of revenging themselves, they presented their complaints to the American authorities, who readily listened to, and redressed their injuries. At the * Dx. Morse; USD. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 197 trading-houses established at various posts in their territory, under the direction of Colonel Hawkins, they were enabled to exchange at a fair price, their peltry, for articles suited to their wants. From this peaceful and happy state, they were most unfortunately seduced to take a part in the war. The British authorities early perceived that a war with the south- ern Indians, would cause a powerful diversion of the forces destined to the northern frontier, interrupt the chain of com- munication between Louisiana and the eastern states, and cause such a desolation on the southern frontier, as in their view, would greatly promote the objects of the war. By means of runners, a constant intercourse was kept up between the Indians of the south and the north-west. This species of intercourse is common to all the Indian nations, and among many of them is as regular as the mails of the United States. The runner goes with incredible swiftness, carries, and deliv- ers his messages laconically but correctly, receives the answers, and returns with the same speed. They are every where well received and entertained; the news they carry always compensating their entertainers. In time of war, the privileges of a Hag arc considered as attached to the runners. 80 regular and uninterrupted was this species of communica- tion, that the Indians of the south were much earlier, and more correctly informed of the events of the campaign of 1812, on the north-western frontier, than their neighbouring white inhabitants. Indian War in the South. Tecumseh, the celebrated Shawanee chief, and British ally, appeared among the In^ dians of the south, attended their councils, and by every art of persuasion endeavoured to induce them to join in a league with their red brethren of the north, and with the aid of the British, to extirpate the whites. With peculiar adroitness, he availed himself of the assistance of their prophets, and of the prevalent fanaticism, to induce them to believe that the Great Spirit had ordered the destruction of the whites, and the re- possession of their country by the red men. The capture of 3 9y HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chajp. lw. Detroit, and the successes of the British and Indians in the north-west, in the year 1812, gave full credit to such repre- sentations. Thus wrought upon, and liberally supplied with the implements of war by the British, through the channel of the Floridas, a large majority of the Creek nation, by far the most numerous of the southern Indians, and a considerable portion of the other tribes, were induced to commence hostili- ties against the United States. Several murders and rob- beries were committed, and the perpetrators refused to be given up; evident appearances of hostility were now every where visible. Alarm and consternation prevailed among the white inhabitants; those of the Tensaw district, a considera- ble settlement on the Alabama, fled for safety to fort Mimms on that river, sixteen miles above fort Stoddard. The place was garrisoned by one hundred and fifty volunteers of the Mississippi territory, under Major Beasly. The inhabitants collected at the fort, amounted to about three hundred. Massacre at Fort Minims. At eleven o'clock in the fore- noon of the 30th of August, a body of Indians to the amount of six or seven hundred warriors, issued from the adjoining wood, and approached the fort ; they advanced within a few- rods of it before the alarm was given. As the centinel cried out, "Indians," they imniediately gave a war-whoop, and rushed in at the gate before the garrison had time to shut it. This decided their fate. Major Beasly was mortally wounded at the commencement of the assault ; he ordered his men to secure the ammunition, and retreat into the house; he was himself carried into the kitchen, and afterwards consumed in the flames. The fort was originally square, but Major Beasly had enlarged it by extending the lines upon two sides about fifty feet, and putting up a new side, into which the gate was removed ; the old line of pickets were standing, and the Indians on rushing in at the gate, obtained possession of the outer part, and through the port holes of the old line of pick- ets, fired on the people who held the interior. On the oppo- site side of the fort was an offset or bastion made round the UM.i. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. [99 back gate, which being open on the outside, was occupied by (he Indians, who, with the axes that lay scattered about, cut. down the gate. The people in the fort kept possession of the port-holes on the other lines, and fired on the Indians who remained on the outside. Some of the Indians ascended the block-house at one of the corners, and fired on the garrison below, but were soon dislodged ; they succeeded, however, in setting tire to a house near the pickets, which communi- cated to the kitchen, and from thence to the main dwelling- house. When the people in the fort saw the Indians in full possession of the outer court, the gate open, the men fast falling, and their houses on flames, they gave up all for lost, and a scene of the most distressing horror ensued. The women and children sought refuge in the upper story of the dwelling-house, and were consumed in the flames, the Indians dancing and yelling round them with the most savage delight. Those who were without the buildings were murdered and scalped without distinction of age or sex; seventeen only esca- ped. The battle and massacre lasted from eleven in the forenoon until six in the afternoon, by which time the work of destruction was fully completed, the fort and buildings entirely demol- ished, and upwards of four hundred men, women, and chil- dren, massacred.* This event spread consternation and dismay through all the neighbouring settlements; the inhabitants fled with the utmost precipitation, without taking any means of subsistance to fort Stoddard, Mobile, and other placss, where they deemed themselves safe from the fury of the savages. Their duellings and property were left a prey to the Indians, who plundered and laid waste the adjacent country to a great rxtent, without opposition. Exertions of the States of Georgia and Tennessee. These unexpected and calamitous events excited the most lively sensations in the neighbouring stales of Tennessee and Gcor- " .hid-rc Toulmin's letter. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. gia, and led to prompt and spirited exertions. Eighteen hundred volunteers under the command of General Floyd, were immediately organized, equipped, and marched into the southern section of the Creek nation from the slate of Georgia. The legislature of Tennessee were in session when the news arrived. They immediately passed an act authorizing the governor to raise thirty-five hundred men, for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants of the Mississippi territory, giving security, to their own borders, and repelling the incursions of the Indians. Three hundred thousand dollars were ordered to be raised, and appropriated to defray the expenses. The Tennessee forces were commanded by generals Jack- son and Cocke. The governors of the two states immedi- ately communicated their proceedings to the war department. Their measures were approved by the executive, and the troops placed upon the United States establishment. Destruction of the Tallus hatches. The infatuated Creeks were now doomed to atone in the most exemplary manner for the massacre at fort Minims, and their subsequent ravages. The first object to which the troops under Gen- eral Jackson were directed, was their encampments at the Tallushatches towns, on the Coosa river, a northern branch of the Alabama. On the 2d of November, General Coffee was detached with a part of his brigade of cavalry, and a corps of mounted riflemen, amounting to nine hundred, against this assemblage. He arrived on the morning of the third, and encircled the encampment with his cavalry; when he had approached within half a mile, the Creeks sounded the war- whoop, and prepared for action. Captain Hammond's and Lieutenant Patterson's companies advanced within the circle and gave a few shots for the purpose of drawing out the enemy. The Creeks formed and made a violent charge. Captain Hammond, according to his orders, gave way, and was pursued by the Indians, until they met the right column, which gave them a general fire, and then charged. The Indians immediatelv retreated within and behind their build- lUU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. -J01 ings, and fought with desperation; but their destruction was soon accomplished. The soldiers rushed up to the doors ot their houses, broke them open, and in a few minutes killed the last warrior of them : not one escaped to carry the news. None asked for quarters, but fought as long as they could stand or sit, and met death in various shapes without a groan. Two hundred warriors were killed, eighty-four women and children taken prisoners and discharged; of General Coffee*-: troops five only were killed, and forty-one wounded. General Jackson established his head-quarters at the Ten Islands on the Coosa, and fortified his position, giving it the name of Camp Strothcr. On the evening of the 7th of No- vember, a runner arrived from the friendly Indians at the Tallageda fort, thirty miles below on the same river, giving information that the hostile Creeks had encamped in great force near that place, and were preparing to destroy it, ear- nestly soliciting immediate assistance. General Jackson determined on commencing his march the same night, and despatched a runner to General White, informing him of his movement, and urging him to hasten his march to camp Stro- ther, to protect it in his advance. He had previously ordered General White to form a junction with him as speedily as possible, and received his assurances that he would be with him on the 7th. General Jackson immediately commenced crossing the river at the Ten Islands, leaving his baggage wagons and whatever might retard his progress in the camp, and halted at midnight within six miles of the Tallageda. I bre a rtmner arrived with a note from General While in- forming him that he had altered his course, and was on his march back to join General Cocke at the mouth of the < hataga. Battle of Tallageda. It was then loo late for the general to change his plan of operations, or make any new arrangements. lie renewed his march at three o'clock, and at sun-rise, came within hall* a mile of his enemy, whom he found encamped a quarter of a mile in advance of the fort. He immediately form- 2fi 202 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, 10. *■ ed the line of battle ; the militia on the left, the volunteers on the right, and the cavalry on the wings ; and advanced in a curve, keeping his rear connected with the advance of the infantry line, so as to enclose the enemy in a circle. The advance guard met the attack of the Indians with intrepidity, and having poured upon them four or five rounds, fell back to the main body. The enemy pursued, and were met by the front line. This line was broken, and several companies of militia retreated. At this moment a corps of cavalry un- der Lieutenant Colonel Dyer, which was kept as a reserve, were ordered to dismount and fill the vacancy. The order was promptly executed, the militia soon rallied, and returned to the charge. The fire now became general along the first line and the contiguous wings. The Indians fled, and were met and pursued in every direction. The right wing followed them with a destructive fire to the mountains, three miles dis- tant. Two hundred and ninety of their warriors were found dead, and a large number killed in the pursuit, who were not found. General Jackson lost fifteen men killed, and eighteen wounded. In consequence of the failure of General White to proceed to camp Strother, General Jackson was obliged to give up further pursuit, and immediately return to his camp to protect his sick, wounded, and baggage. The Tennessee militia and volunteers called into service at the commencement of the Creek war, consisted of two divisions, one of West Tennessee, commanded by General Jackson, and the other of East Tennessee, commanded by Major General Cocke. Major General Thomas Pinckney, of the United States army, was commander in chief of the military district within which these troops were raised and employed, and in that capacity, had the general direction of their operations, after they were taken into the United States service. General Jackson, as senior major general of the Tennessee forces, claimed the right of commanding the whole that were in service. General Cocke, of the East Tennessee division, considered himself as possessing a command inde- HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 20 I pendent of General Jackson. This circumstance produced a collision in the orders, and the embarrassment to which General White, who commanded a brigade in General Cocke's division, was subject ; while General Jackson ordered him to march to camp Strother, to protect it in his absence, Gen- eral Cocke ordered him to march in a contrary direction and attack the Hillabce towns, distant from fort Armstrong one- hundred miles. Destruction of the Hillabce Towns. General White con- sidered himself bound to obey the latter order, and the 11th of November marched with the mounted infantry, cavalry, and a corps of friendly Cherokee Indians, to Oakfusky, where he took five hostile Creeks who had been sent out as spies, and burned a small village. On the 17th, he arrived within six miles of the Hillabces, the object of his expedi- tion ; and early in the morning of the 18th, surrounded and completely surprised the town, killed sixty warriors, took two hundred and fifty-six prisoners, and returned to fort Arm- strong, without the loss of a man, cither killed or wounded. General Floyd* s Operations. While the Tennessee forces were performing these operations in the northern sections of the Creek country, the Georgia troops under General Floyd entered their territory from the east. The general, having received information that a number of hostile Indians had assembled at the Autosee towns, on the southern bank of the Talapoosa, eighteen miles from the Hickory ground, and twenty above the junction of that river with the Coosa, pro- ceeded to that place with a corps of nine hundred and fifty militia, and four hundred friendly Indians; and on the morn- ing of the 29th of November, at half past six, appeared in line of battle, in front of the principal town. The Indians presented themselves at every point, and fought with despe- rate fury. The well directed fire of the artillery, and the charge of the bayonet, soon drove them from the ground, and obliged them to take shelter in the copses, thickets, and out- houses in rear of the town. Many concealed themselves in 204 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. • Chap. 10. raves previously provided as places of retreat, along the high bluffs on the river, which were thickly covered with reeds and brush-wood. The friendly Indians were divided into four companies, under leaders of their own choice, and directed to cross Canhabee creek, and occupy that flank to prevent escapes from the Tallisee town, situated about one hundred rods below the Autosee. Instead of obeying this order, soon after the action commenced, most of them throng- ed in disorder into the rear of the lines; but the Covetans under M'Intosh, and the Tookabotchians, under Mad Dog's Son, joined the flanks of the militia, and fought with a bravery equal to disciplined troops. At nine o'clock the Indians were completely driven from the plain, and the houses of both towns were in flames. Warriors from eight towns had assembled at Autosee, which their prophets had taught them to believe was holy ground, on which no white man could tread without inevitable destruction. Four hundred build- ings were burned, some of which were of a superior cast for the dwellings of savages. The loss of the Indians was esti- mated at two hundred killed ; among whom were the Autosee and Tallisee kings. The number of wounded could not be ascertained, as they were taken off by their friends, but must have been very considerable. General Floyd was severely wounded, and Adjutant General Newman slightly. The whole loss of the Georgians was eleven killed, and fifty-four wounded. The friendly Indians lost several killed and wounded, but their loss was not great, as most of them sought places of safety at the commencement of the action. From the Autosee towns, General Floyd, after resting several days, proceeded to camp Defiance, fifty miles further to the west, into the enemy's country. At this place, at 5 o'clock in the morning of the 2d of January, his camp was assailed by a desperate band of hostile Indians, who stole unobserved upon the centinels, fired on them, and immediately rushed on the lines. In twenty minutes the troops were formed in order of battle, and the action became general. The front and both 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 205 flanks were closely pressed af once; but the skilful conduct of the officers, and firmness of the men, repulsed the enemy at every point The incessant fire of Captain Thomas's artillery, and Adams's riflemen, preserved the front line. Both these companies suffered greatly. Captain Broadnax, who commanded one of the piquet-guards, maintained his post with great bravery until the enemy gained his rear, and then cut his way through them to the lines. Timpochee Barnard, a half-breed, at the head of the Uchies, distinguished himself, and contributed to the relief of the piquet-guard. Most of the other friendly Indians took refuge within the lines, and remained inactive spectators of the contest. As soon as it had become light enough to distinguish objects, Majors Wat- son's and Freeman's battalions wheeled up at right angles with Majors Booth's and Cleaveland's, and made a vigorous charge. The enemy fled in every direction before the bayo- net. The signal was then given for the cavalry to charge, which was executed with great effect. The Indians left thirty-seven dead on the field, and from the war-clubs, head- dresses, and trails of blood found in various directions, their whole loss must have been much greater. The friendly Indians, with Merri wether's and Ford's rifle companies, and Hamilton's cavalry, pursued them through Caulabee swamp, where they were trailed by their blood. In the first onset Adjutant General Newman received three balls, which pre- vented his further service in the action. General Floyd's loss was seventeen killed, and one hundred and thirty wounded; of the friendly Indians five were killed, and fifteen wounded.* General Claiborne'' s Operations. On the 13th of Decem- ber, General Claiborne marched a detachment of volunteers, from fort Claiborne, on the east bank of the Alabama, eighty- five miles above fort Stoddard, with a view of destroying some towns of the Creeks above the mouth of the Cahawba. He (•p ocral Flovd's letter. 20ii HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. proceeded up the river one hundred and ten miles, when he arrived at a newly-erected town, called Eccanachaca, or holy ground, occupied by a large body of Indians under the command of the noted chief Witherford, who commanded at the massacre at fort Mimms. On the 23d, at noon, the right wing, commanded by Colonel Carson, commenced the attack on the enemy, who had been apprised of General Claiborne's approach, and judiciously chosen his ground. Before the centre arrived so as to join in the action, the Indians fled in all directions, leaving thirty dead in the field. A pursuit was immediately ordered, but owing to the nature of the country, nothing was effected. The town was nearly surrounded by swamps and deep ravines, which rendered the approach diffi- cult, and facilitated the escape of the enemy. A large quan- tity of provisions, and property of various kinds was found, which, together with the town, consisting of two hundred houses, was destroyed. The next day was employed in destroying another town, eight miles further up the river, and in taking and destroying the enemy's boats. Eccanachaca was built after the commencement of hostilities, as a place of safety for the inhabitants of several villages ; and was the residence of their principal prophets, Witherford, Francis, and Singuister. Three of the Shawanee, or Tecumseh's tribe, from the north, were found among the slain. General Clai- borne had one killed, and six wounded. At this town was (bund a letter from the governor of Pensacola, directed to Witherford, and the other chiefs, congratulating them on their success at fort Mimms, encouraging them to continue the war, and promising them presents, arms, and munitions from Havana. Tennessee Volunteers. The Tennessee volunteers, under General Jackson, had been raised, equipped, and received into service by virtue of an act of Congress of the Cth of February, 1812, which provides, "That the President may accept the services of such volunteers, as offering themselves to an amount not exceeding fifty thousand, who shall be 1613. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 201 liable to be called upon to do military duty at any lime within two years from the time their services arc accepted, and shall be bound to continue in service for the term of twelve months after they shall have arrived at the place of rendezvous, unless sooner discharged." These volunteers were first ordered to rendezvous at Nashville, in the state of Tennessee, on the 10th of December, 1812. From thence they were ordered down the Mississippi, and to encamp ai the Natchez, and wait the further order of Government. On the 5th of January following, two days before the departure of the troops from Nashville, an order issued from the war department, directing their immediate discharge, and all the public property in the possession of General Jackson to be delivered to General Wilkinson. This order was not com- municated to General Jackson until some time after his arri- val at the Natchez. The troops under his command had just, accomplished a tedious winter voyage down the Mississippi, of five hundred miles, and were settling themselves in winter- quarters, when the orders were received by which they were to be there disbanded, and left to make their way home through a wilderness of five hundred miles, without pay, or the means of subsistence. General Jackson refused a com- pliance with this order, and retained the troops in service until they could be marched back to Nashville, with suffi- cient provisions, and means for that purpose. The troops arrived at Nashville on the 1st of May following, and were there discharged; having performed a tedious winter voyage of five hundred miles, and a still more tedious countermarch of the .vtmc length for no possible beneficial purpose. The object of this expedition, and the reasons why the orders for discharging the troops were not sooner communicated toGen- eral Jackson, and what provision was to be made for their return from the Natchez, if the order had been complied with, have never been explained by the secretary of war. Gen- eral Jackson's conduct was approved, and the pay and sub- sistence of the troop- continued until (heir discharge at Na^h- 206 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. ville. The same troops were again called into service early in Octobei 1813, under General Jackson, to oppose the Creeks. After their return from the battle of Tallageda, they claimed that their term of service would expire on the 10th of December, 1813, being twelve months from the time of their first rendezvous at Nsshville. General Jackson ex- hausted all the arts of persuasion to induce them to continue in service a longer period; he by no means admitted their claim to be discharged, contending that they were bound to continue in actual service one year out of the two, if re- quired ; but waiving that question, the disbanding the troops at this period would expose the Mississippi territory, and the frontier inhabitants of Tennessee and Georgia to certain destruction. The Creeks, though severely chastised, were by no means subdued. They were then collecting in large numbers, at various points in the territory, and when they found this army disbanded, would renew their ravages with increased fury. These considerations had but little effect; most of his army left him on or soon after the 1 0th of Decem- ber, their places however were partially supplied by newly raised volunteers. On the 17th of January, 1814, General Jackson finding himself in a situation to commence further offensive opera- tions, marched from his encampment at fort Strother with nine hundred volunteers, who were soon afterwards joined by three hundred friendly Indians, against an assemblage of Creeks at the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. On the even- ing of the 21st, he fell upon a large trail, which indicated the neighbourhood of a strong force. At eleven o'clock at night, his spies came in and informed him that there was a large encampment of Indians at about three miles distance, who from their war-whoops and dances appeared to be apprised of his approach, and would either commence a night attack upon him, or make their escape. Having received this in- telligence, General Jackson put himself in readiness to meet an attack, or pursue them as soon as daylight appeared. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 209 Battle at the Tallapoosa. At >ix o'clock in the morning a vigorous attack was made upon his left llank, which sus- tained it with bravery ; the action continued to rage at that point, and on the left of the rear, for half an hour. As soon as it became light enough to pursue, the left wing was rein- forced by Captain Fcrril's company of infantry, and led on to the charge by General Coffee. The enemy were com- pletely routed at every point; and the friendly Indians joined in the pursuit, they were chased about two miles with great slaughter. The chase being over, General Coffee was de- tached to burn their encampment, but finding it fortified, he returned to the main body for artillery. Half an hour after his return, a large force appeared and commenced an attack upon the right flank. General C«flee was permitted, at his own request, to take two hundred men and turn the enemy's left, but by some mistake only fifty-four followed him ; with these he commenced an attack on their left ; two hundred of the friendly Indians were ordered to fall upon the enemy's right, and co-operate with the general. The Creeks intended this attack upon Jackson's right as a feint, imd expecting to find his left weakened, directed their main force against that quarter ; but General Jackson, perceiving the object of the enemy, had directed that (lank to remain firm in its position, and at the first moment of attack they were supported by the reserve under Captain Ferril. The whole line met the ap- proach of the enemy with vigour, and after a few fires, made a bold and decisive charge. The Creeks fled with precipi- tation, and were pursued a considerable distance with a de- structive fire. In the meantime General Coffee was contend- ing on the right with a superior force; the friendly Indians who had been ordered to his support, seeing the enemy routed on the left, quit their post and joined in the chase. That being over, Jim Fife, with the friendly Indians, was again ordered to support General Coffee; as soon as he reached him, they made a decisive charge, routed the enemy, and pursued him three miles. Forty-five of the enemy's slain,, 210 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10 were found. General Coffee was wounded in the body, and his aid Colonel Donaldson, and three others slain. The next day General Jackson commenced his return march to fort Strother. His men and horses were exhausted, and he was not furnished with either provisions or forage for a longer stay. The enemy, supposing they had defeated the general, hung on his rear ; and in the morning of the 24th, as he was on the point of crossing Enotachopeo creek, the front guard having crossed with part of the flank columns and the wound- ed, and the artillery just entering the water, an attack com- menced on ihe rear. The main part of the rear guard precipi- tately gave way, leaving only twenty-five men under Colonel Carrol, who maintained their ground as long as possible. There then remained on the left of the creek to meet the enemy, the remnant of the rear guard, the artillery company, and Captain Russell's company of spies. Lieutenant Arm- strong, of the artillery, immediately ordered them to form and advance to the top of the hill, while he and a few of his men dragged up a six pounder, amid a most galling fire from more than ten times their numbers. Arrived at the top they form- ed, and poured in upon their assailants a fire of grape, and at length made a charge and repelled them. Lieutenant Armstrong, Captains Hamilton, Bradford, and M'Govock, fell in this rencontre. By this time a considerable number had re-crossed the creek and joined the chase ; Captain Gordon of the spies, rushed from the front and partially succeeded in turning the enemy's left flank. The Creeks now fled in the greatest consternation, throwing off their packs, and every thing that retarded their flight, and were pursued for more than two miles. Twenty-six of their warriors were left dead on the field. GeneralJackson's loss, in the several engage- ments of the 22d and 24th, was twenty-four killed, and seven- ty wounded. Judge Cocke, one of General Jackson's volunteers, entered the service at the age of sixty-five, was foremost in this engagement, continued the pursuit with youthful ardour, and saved the life of one of his fellow-sol- 1313. FIISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 211 diers by slaying his antagonist. In all the rencontres, one hundred and eighty-nine of the Creek warriors were found slain. A very seasonable diversion had been made in favour of the operations of General Floyd on the eastern boundary of the enemy. After the battle of the 24th, General Jackson was enabled to return to fort Strother without further moles- tation. The Creeks encouraged by what they considered a victory over General Jackson's forces in the battles of the 22d and 24th of January, continued to concentrate their forces, and fortify themselves at the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. This river forms the north-eastern branch of the Alabama. Several miles above its junction with the Coosa, is a carve in the river in the form of a horse-shoe, called by the whites the Great Bend, and by the Indians Emucsau. The penin- sula formed by the bend, contains about one hundred acres, and the isthmus leading to it, is about forty rods across ; at the bottom of the peninsula is the village of Tohopisca, con- taining about two hundred houses. On this peninsula, the Indians from the adjoining districts had concentrated their forces, to the amount of one thousand warriors, with ample stores of provisions and ammunition, and had fortified them- selves with great skill ; having thrown up a breastwork, con- sisting of eight tier of logs, with double port-holes across the isthmus, so that an assailing enemy might be opposed by a double and cross fire by the garrison, who could lie in perfect safety behind their works. Battle at the Great Bend. On the lGth of March, General Jackson, having received considerable reinforcements of vol- unteers from Tennessee, and friendly Indians, left fort Stro- ther with his whole disposable force, amounting to about three thousand of every description, on an expedition against this assemblage of Indians. He proceeded down the Coosa sixty miles to the mouth of Cedar creek, where he established a post called fort Williams, and proceeded on the 24th across the ridge of land dividing the waters of the Coo^a from the oj2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. Tallapoosa; and arrived at the Great bend on the morning of the 27th, having the three preceding days opened a pas- sage through the wilderness of fifty-two miles. On the 2Gth he passed the battle-ground of the 22d of January, and left it three miles in his rear. General Coffee was detached with seven hundred cavalry, and mounted gunmen, and six hun- dred friendly Indians, to cross the river below the bend, secure the opposite banks, and prevent escape. Having crossed at the Little Island ford, three miles below the bend, his Indians were ordered silently to approach and line the bank of the river; while the mounted men occupied the adjoining heights, to guard against reinforcements, which might be expected from the Oakfusky towns, eight miles below. Lieutenant Bean at the same time was ordered to oecupy Little Island, at the fording-place, to secure any that might attempt to escape in that direction. In the mean time, General Jackson, with the artillery and infantry, moved on in slow and regular order to the isthmus, and planted his guns on an eminence one hundred and fifty yards in front of the breastwork. On perceiving that General Coffee had com- pleted his arrangements below, he opened a fire upon the fortification, but found he could make no other impression with his artillery than boring shot-holes through the logs. General Coffee's Indians on the bank, hearing the roaring of the cannon in front, and observing considerable confusion on the peninsula, supposing the battle to be nearly won. crossed over and set fire to the village, and attacked the Creeks in the rear. At this moment General Jackson ordered an assault upon the works in front. The regular troops, led by Colonel Williams, accompanied by a part of the militia of General Dougherty's brigade, led on by Colonel Russell, pre- sently got possession of a part of the works amid a tremen- dous fire from behind them. The advance guard was led by Colonel Sisler, and the left extremity of the line by Captain Gordon of the spies, and Captain M' Marry of General John- son's brigade of West Tennessee militia. The battle for a 1813. HISTORY OK THE LATE WAR. 213 short time was obstinate, and fought musket to musket through the port-holes ; when the assailants succeeded in getting pos- session of the opposite side of the works, and the contest ended. The Creeks were entirely routed, and the whole margin of the river strewed with the slain. The troops under General Jackson, and General Coffee's Indians, who had crossed over into the peninsula, continued the work of de- struction as long as there was a Creek to be found. General Coffee, on seeing his Indians crossing over, had ordered their places to be supplied on the bank by his riflemen •, and every Indian that attempted to escape by swimming the river, or crossing the Little Island below, was met and slain by Gen- eral Coffee's troops. The battle, as long as any appearance of resistance remained, lasted five hours ; the slaughter con- tinued until dark, and was renewed the next morning, when sixteen more of the unfortunate savages were hunted out of their hiding-places and slain. Five hundred and fifty-seven warriors were found dead on the peninsula ; among whom was their famous prophet Manahell, and two others, the principal instigators of the war; two hundred and fifty more were esti- mated to have been killed in crossing the river, and at other places, which were not found. General Jackson's loss was twenty-six white men, and twenty-three Indians, killed : and one hundred and seven white men, and forty-seven Indians, wounded. Submission of the Creeks. This decisive victory put an end to the Creek war. In the short period of five months from the first of November to the first of April, two thousand of their warriors, among whom were their principal prophets and kings, had been slain, most of their towns and villages burned, and the strong places in their territory occupied by the United States troops. After this battle, the miserable remnant of the hostile tribes submitted. Witherford, the principal surviving chief and prophet, who led the Indians at fort Mimms, accompanied his surrender with this address to General Jackson. j 1 i HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10, " I fought at fort Mimms — I fought the Georgia army — I did you all the injury I could. — Had I been supported as I was promised, I would have done you more. But my war- riors are all killed. I can fight no longer. I look back with sorrow that I have brought destruction upon my nation. I am now in your power. Do with me as you please. I am a soldier." A war with savages is necessarily attended with many circumstances distressing to the feelings of humanity. The Indian, having no means of supporting or confining his pris- oner, knows no other mode of ridding himself of the burden T but by plunging the tomahawk into his head ; and the Ameri- cans can no otherwise effectually prevent the savages from repeating their massacres, than by laying waste their villages,, destroying their provisions, and compelling the surviving warriors to flee with their women and children into the wilder- ness beyond the reach of the whites. The brilliant success with which this war was conducted and terminated, cast a mantle over its tragic scenes. The slaughter of unresisting warriors, and the burning of defence- less villages, marked much of its progress. To the enemy indeed no apology is necessary ; the massacre at fort Mimms, and the subsequent ravages of the surrounding country, would justify a war of extermination; and the unhappy victims can alone condemn the British and Spanish authorities by whose intrigues they were induced to engage in this fatal contest. The plea of necessity goes far towards justifying the mode in which this war was conducted in the view of all. The savage warrior, who is suffered to escape, lives only to renew his ravages. The bold and decisive measures of General Jackson, in the conduct of this war, have probably prevented its ever being renewed by the same tribes, and struck a gen- eral dread among the surrounding nations. Though these considerations may justify the general mode in which the war was conducted, yet it is impossible to find a sufficient apology 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 115 for hunting out and butchering sixteen warrior*, on the day after the last battle. Soon after this victory, the Georgia forces, under General Floyd, formed a junction with those of Tennessee, and on the 20th of April, General Pinckney arrived at Fort Jack- son, where the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers uniting, form the Alabama, and assumed the command of all the forces in 'he Mississippi territory. New detachments of militia were ordered in to garrison the fortresses established in the Creek nation, and General Jackson and the Tennessee volunteers returned to Fayetteville and were discharged. General Jackson and Colonel Hawkins were soon after- wards appointed commissioners to settle a peace with the Creeks ; and on the 10th of August concluded a treaty, dic- tated altogether by the United States commissioners. The ( reeks yielded up a valuable portion of their territory to defray the expenses of the war; they conceded the privileges of opening roads through their country, and navigating their rivers, and stipulated to hold no further intercourse with the British or Spanish posts, and to deliver up all the property or persons of the whites, or friendly Indians in their possession. On the part of the United States, the companies agreed to guarantee their remaining territory, to restore all their pris- oners, and in consideration of their destitute situation, to fur- nish them gratuitously with the necessaries of. life until they could provide for themselves. The Creek war led to a rapid settlement of their country by the whites. The introduction of a large military force from Georgia and Tennessee, opened the country to the view of those armies, and made them acquainted with the fine lands on their rivers. By the treaty of the 10th of August, 1814, o large portion of their country was obtained, and by a subse- quent treaty, another large tract of the Mississippi terrftory was exchanged by them for lands west of the Mississippi, on the Arkansaw. At the commencement of the Creek war in 1813, the number of white inhabitants in the whole territory 216 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. iO. did not exceed twenty thousand. Within seven years from that period, they increased tenfold ; and the same territory then formed two respectable states, and contained a white population of two hundred thousand.* * Census of 1820. CHAPTER XI. Siege of Fort Meigs Arrival of General Clay to its Relief. — Defeat and Capture of Colonel Dudley's Detachment. — Siege raised. — Gen- eral Harrison's Measures for the Defence of the Lake Erie Frontier. — Gallant Defence of Fort Stephenson. — Address of the Ladies of Chilicothe to Major Crogan. — The Reply. — Preparations for building- a Navy on Lake Erie. — Naval Depot at the Town of Erie. — Commo- dore Perry appointed to the Command ; superintends the building a Fleet; anchors at Put-in-Bay. — Naval Battle.— Complete Victory of the Americans. Proctor determines to abandon Maiden. — Re- monstrance of the Indians. — Speech of Tecumseh. — Harrison pre- pares to invade Canada ; re-occupies Detroit ; pursues Proctor up the Thames. — Battle of the Moravian Towns. — Defeat and Capture of Proctor's Army. — Capture of his Baggage and Papers. — Death of Tecumseh. — Dissolution of the Indian Confederacy. — Effects of the Victory. Siege of Fort Meigs. After the defeat and capture of Gene- ral Winchester and his army at the river Raisin, General Harri- son established his advanced post at the foot of the Miami ra- pids, enclosing about eight acres with strong pickets, and es- tablishing batteries at the most commanding points. This po- sition was selected as being convenient for keeping open a communication, and receiving reinforcements and supplies from Kentucky, and the settled parts of the state of Ohio ; and at the same time affording the best station for protecting the borders of lake Erie, re-capturing Detroit, and carrying the war into the British territories : it was denominated fort Meigs, in hononr of the zeal and talents of the governor of Ohio. The Miami of the lake is formed by the St. Marys, which comes from the south, and the St. Josephs, which rises in the Indiana territory. These rivers unite at fort Wayne, near the west line of the state of Ohio: from this point thn river assumes tho name of Miami, and runs a north-easterly 218 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chip. t% direction, about fifty miles to fort Winchester, formerly fort Defiance, where it receives the waters of the Auglaize from the south. Thence it continues the same course forty miles further to the rapids, and after passing a short distance below fort Meigs on the left, and the ruins of a small village on the right, and embracing a large island, falls into the Miami bay, opposite the site of an old British fort, eighteen mile's from lake Erie, The rapids terminate at fort Meigs, three miles above the head of the bay. On the breaking up of the ice in lake Erie, General Proctor with all his disposable force, consisting of regulars and Canadian militia from Maiden, and a large body of Indians under their celebrated chief Tecum- sell, amounting in the whole to two thousand men, laid seige to fort Meigs. To encourage the Indians, he had promised them an easy conquest ; and assured them that General Har- rison should be delivered up to Tecumseh. On the 26th of April, the British columns appeared on the opposite bank of the river, and established their principal batteries on a com- manding eminence opposite the fort. On the 27th, the Indians crossed the river, and established themselves in the rear of the American lines. The garrison, not having completed their wells, had no water except what they obtained from the river, under a constant firing of the enemy. On the first, second, and third of May, their batteries kept up an incessant shower of balls and shells upon the fort. On the night of the third, the British erected a gun and mortar battery on the left bank of the river, within two hundred and fifty yards of the American lines. The Indians climbed the trees in the neighbourhood of the fort, and poured in a gaikwr-t fire upon the garrison. In this situation General Harrison received a summons from Proctor for a surrender of the garrison, greatly magnifying his means of annoyance ; this was answered by a prompt refusal, assuring the British general that if he obtained possession of the fort, it wonldnot be by capitulation. Ap- prehensive of such an attack, General Harrison had made the governors of Kentucky and Ohio minutely acquainted with 1C13- HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 219 his situation, and stated to them the necessity of reinforce- ments for the relief of fort Meigs. I lis requisitions had been zealously anticipated ; and General Clay was at this moment descending the Miami with twelve hundred Kentuckians for his relief. Arrival of Succours. At twelve o'clock in the night of the fourth, an officer arrived from General Clay, with the wel- come intelligence of his approach, stating that he was just above the rapids, and could reach him in two hours, and requesting his orders. Harrison determined on a general sally, and directed Clay to land eight hundred men on the right bank, take possession of the British batteries, spike their cannon, immediately return to their boats, and cross over to the American fort. The remainder of Clay's force were ordered to land on the left bank, and fight their way to the fort, while sorties were to be made from the garrison in aid of these operations. Captain Hamilton was directed to proceed up the river in a periauger, land a subaltern on the left bank, who should lie a pilot to conduct General Clay to the fort; and then cross over and station his periauger at the place designated for the other division to land. General Clay, having received these orders, descended the river in order of battle in solid columns, each officer taking position according to his rank. Colonel Dudley, being the eldest iu command, led the van, and was ordered to take the men in the twelve front boats, and execute General Harrison's orders on the right bank. He effected his landing at the place designated, without difficulty. General Clay kept close along the left bank until he came opposite the place of Colo- nel Dudley'* landing, but not finding the subaltern there, he attempted to cross over and join Colonel Dudley ; this was prevented by the violence of the current on the rapids; and he agai i attempted to land on the left bank, and cllccted it with only fifty men amid a brisk tire from the enemy on shore, and made his way to the fort, receiving their fire until within the protection of its guns. The other boats under the com- 220 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. €hAp. its mand of Colonel Boswell, were driven further down the cur* rent, and landed on the right to join Colonel Dudley. Here they were ordered to re-embark, land on the left bank, and proceed to the fort. In the mean time two sorties were made from the garrison, one on the left, in aid of Colonel Boswell, by which the Canadian militia and Indians were defeated, and he enabled to reach the fort in safety, and one on the right against the British batteries, which was also successful. Defeat of Colonel Dudley. Colonel Dudley, with his de- tachment of eight hundred Kentucky militia, completely suc- ceeded in driving the British from their batteries, and spiking the cannon. Having accomplished this object, his orders were peremptory to return immediately to his boats, and cross over to the fort; but the blind confidence which gen- erally attends militia when successful, proved their ruin- Although repeatedly ordered by Colonel Dudley, and warned of their danger, and called upon from the fort to leave the ground ; and although there was abundant time for that pur- pose, before the British reinforcements arrived ; yet they commenced a pursuit of the Indians, and suffered themselves to be drawn into an ambuscade by some feint skirmishing, while the British troops and large bodies of Indians were brought up, and intercepted their return to the river. Elated with their fii-3t success, they considered the victory as already gained, and pursued the enemy nearly two miles into the woods and swamps, where they were suddenly caught in a defile, and surrounded by double their numbers. Finding themselves in this situation, consternation prevailed ; their line became broken and disordered, and huddled together in un- resisting crowds, they were obliged to surrender to the mercy of the savages. Fortunately for these unhappy victims of their own rashness, General Tecumseh commanded at this ambuscade, and had imbibed, since his appointment, more humane feelings than his brother Proctor. After the surren- der, and all resistance had ceased, the Indians, finding five hundred prisoners at their mercy, began the work of massacre 2813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR 221 with the most savage delight. Tecumseh sternly forbade it, and buried his tomahawk in the head of one of his chiefs who refused obedience. This order accompanied with this deci- sive manner of enforcing it, put an end to the massacre. Of eight hundred men, only one hundred and fifty escaped. The residue were slain, or made prisoners. Colonel Dudley was severely wounded in the action, and afterwards tomahawked and scalped. Siege raised. Proctor, seeing no prospect of taking the forf, and finding his Indians fast leaving him, raised the siege on the 9th of May, and returned with precipitation to Maiden. Tecumseh and a considerable portion of the Indians remained in service ; but large numbers left it in disgust, and were ready to join the Americans. On the left bank, in the several sorties of the 5th of May, and during the seige, the American loss was eighty-one killed, and one hundred and eighty-nine wounded. General Harrison having repaired the fort, and committed its defence to General Clay, repaired to Frank- linton to organize the new levies, and systematize a plan of defence for the Erie frontier. At lower Sandusky he met Governor Meigs at the head of a large body of Ohio volun- teers, pressing on to his relief, and gave him the pleasing intelligence, that the siege was raised. The volunteers were there discharged with the warmest acknowledgments of the governor and general, for their promptness and zeal in march- ing to the relief of fort Meigs. Defence of the Erie Frontier. At this period the. situa- tion of the settlements bordering on lake Erie, was peculiarly alarming; the British and Indians were in superior force at the head of the lake, and having the perfect command of the navigation, could strike at any point within twenty miles of the shore, in forty-eight hours, perform their work of destruc- tion, and secure themselves on board their shipping before any succours could arrive. Tecumseh and Proctor seem to have been selected with peculiar judgment for such a work. Probably two more fit instruments could not have been found 222 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. in the whole British service. Not a dwelling or a village within twenty miles of the lake shore could be considered for a single night as safe feptn conflagration. The difficult and important task of defending this frontier, and retrieving the losses occasioned by the cowardice of General Hull, and the precipitancy of General Winchester, put to the severest test the bravery, skill, and judgment of General Harrison ; his first measure was to ascertain with certainty what was to be depended on from the neighbouring Indians. For this pur- pose he held a council at Franklinton on the 21st of June, with fifty of the chiefs of the Delaware, Shawanee, Wyandot, and Seneca tribes; and stated to them that the crisis had now arrived in which they must take a stand either for or against the United States. As guarantees of their fidelity, they must either remove with their families into the settle- ments of the whites, or their warriors must accompany him to the field. The chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed to the latter. The general then informed them, that all who accompanied him must conform to his mode of warfare, and never injure or destroy old men, women, children, or prison- ers. He further stated to them, that, as General Proctor .had stipulated to deliver him to Tecumseh, had he succeeded in taking fort Meigs, he would now engage to deliver Gen- eral Proctor into their hands, on condition that they would do him no other harm than to dress him in squaw's clothes, ob- serving that none but cowards and squaws would kill a pris- oner. The general's next measure was to establish posts near the lake shore at the most exposed points, and within sup- porting distances of each other ; with this view fort Stephen- son was established at lower Sandusky, on the river, within eighteen miles of its entrance into the bay, and forty from fort Meigs. The defence of it was intrusted to Major George Crogan, one of the Kentucky volunteers, who had accom- panied General Clay as his aid, and was now detached from fort Meigs, with one hundred and fifty of his comrades, on 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. this service. General Harrison, afterwards finding he could spare no greater force for the defence of this place, and viewing it as untenable, ordered it to bo demolished, and the garrison to retire to upper Sandusky. On receiving this order, the young hero immediately repaired to head-quarters, and gave the General such evidence of his ability to sustain an attack as induced him to rescind the order. Soon after his return to the fort, the valour of Major Crogan and his corps was put to the severest test. Assault on Fort Stephenson. On the 1st of August, Gen- eral Proctor with twelve hundred men, appeared on the river approaching the fort. The brave little band in the garrison saw the river covered with boats, fraught with men, arms, and artillery, as far as the eye could reach, slowly advancing in order of battle, to the attack and as the British supposed, cer- tain destruction, of the fort. Just out of reach of the artillery of the fort, which consisted only of one six pounder, the Gen- eral landed his troops, took possession of all the avenues of escape, planted his batteries in commanding positions, and summoned the garrison to surrender, greatly magnifying his forces, and stating as usual, that if the fort was taken by storm it would not be in his power to prevent a massacre. The reply was a determined refusal, and this brave corps of heroic youth, their commander being only twenty-one, and his associates of about the same age, in the face of eight times their number, prepared for death or victory. When the flag returned, it was dark, and a heavy and incessant firing com- menced and continued through the night, both from the gun- boats in the river, and the batteries on shore. The garrison was protected by pickets eighteen feet high, with bayonets nailed at the top, and pointing horizontally, and at the foot of the pickets by a ditch six feet in width and depth. The firing during the night had but little effect; early in the morn- ing another battery was opened within two hundred and fifty yards of the pickets, and the fire directed to the north-west angle, which appeared to be the weakest point. This Major 224 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. ft. Cpogan secured by hanging over the pickets bags of sand and flour, so that little injury was sustained from the balls. Hav- ing continued the fire from the batteries until four in the after- noon, General Proctor, finding that no material effect was pro- duced, ordered an assault upon the northwest angle. A column of five hundred men advanced amid such a firing and cloud of smoke, that they were not discovered until within about twenty paces of the works. At the same time two feints were made on the front of Captain Hunter's lines. The assailants were thrown into some confusion by a well directed fire from the garrison, but soon rallied, and rapidly advancing, began to leap the ditch ; at this moment a fire of grape opened from their six pounder, which had been concealed, and was now so placed as to rake the ditch in the direction of the assailants; this, with an incessant fire of musketry 9 broke their ranks, and induced a precipitate retreat to the woods. During the whole time of the assault, which lasted thirty minutes, a constant and heavy fire was kept up from the batteries. Repulse. Colonel Short, who commanded the regulars, composing the forlorn hope, having formed his line parallel with the works, ordered his men to leap the ditch, cut down the pickets, and give the Americans no quarters ; at that moment he received a mortal wound in the body, fell into the ditch, hoisted a flag on the end of his sword, and begged for that mercy which he had a moment before ordered to be denied to his enemy. Fifty-two dead, dying, and wounded were left in the ditch ; the groans of the wounded, and their constant cries for water, excited the compassion of the gar- rison to such a degree, that they were induced to supply them, though at the risk of their lives, as a constant firing was kept up from the batteries during the night. At three in the morn- ing, the brave youth in the garrison had the satisfaction to see the assailing foe quit the ground, re-embark, and proceed down the river, leaving behind them seventy stands of arms, several braces of pistols, and a boat loaded with clothing and 1*13. 1USTOKV OF THE LATE WAR. 22S military stores. Their loss was estimated at one hundred and lifljj. One lieutenant colonel, one lieutenant, and fifty rank and file, were found dead and wounded in front of die works. The remainder of the wounded were taken off by the Indians during the night. The American loss was one killed, and seven wounded. This defeat was the more humiliating to General Proctor, as it was accomplished by a small band of raw soldiers, commanded by an inexperienced youth. To the border inhabitants it was highly important, as it secured them from further Indian massacre, Proctor's allies became dis- affected, and left him in great numbers. The state of Ohio, within whose limits this achievement was accomplished, more immediately experienced its beneficial consequences. The ladies of Chilicothc, immediately on hearing the news, pre- sented their favourite hero with an elegant sword accompanied with the following card. "Chilicothe, August 13th, 1813. ■■ Sir, " In consequence of the gallant defence, which, under the influence of Divine Providence, was effected by you and the troops under your command, of fort Stevenson, on Lower Sandusky, on the second instant, the undersigned, ladies of Chilicothe, impressed with a high sense of your merits as a. soldier and a gentleman, and with great confidence in you? patriotism and valour, present you this sword. "Major George Crogak." To which they received the following reply: "Lower Sandusky, August 25th, 1813 ] , LDIK9 or ClIILtl i'l HE, " I have received the sword you was pleased to present me a> a testimonial of your approbation of my con- duct on tin' si ' ond instant. A mark of distinction so flatter- ing and so unexpected, has excited feelings which I can- not cxpp ■-- : \f ; while 1 i-(i urn you thanks for the unmerjted "i 220 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chat. 11 gift you have thus bestowed, 1 feel well aware the good for- tune, bought by the activity of the brave officers and soldiers under my command, has raised in you expectations from my future efforts, which must, I fear, sooner or later be disap- pointed. Still I pledge myself that my exertions shall be such as never to cause you in the least to regret the honours you have been pleased to confer on your youthful soldier. " GEORGE CROGAN." Such rewards of valour, so handsomely bestowed, excited in the breasts of the youthful officers, the nursery of the army, an ardour and emulation not to be extinguished or overcome. The enemy appeared several times in the course of the summer before fort Meigs, and threatened another seige, but finding it well secured, made no attempt. After their defeat at Sandusky, they made no further hostile movements of any magnitude, until the subsequent events on lake Erie wholly changed the complexion of affairs on this frontier. Navy on Lake Erie. The original plan of operations in re- lation to the western section of the Canadas was, to take the countries bordering upon the upper lakes, which would have superseded the necessity of a naval force upon those waters. The small British naval power, being deprived of harbours, it was expected would of necessity have fallen into the hands of the Americans. The unexpected surrender of General Hull and his army wholly frustrated this measure, and ren- dered a superior force on lake Erie necessary for the defence of the American territory bordering on the lake, as well as for offensive operations in Canada. After the surrender of Detroit, government immediately turned their attention to this object. Oliver H. Perry, a brave and accomplished young officer, who had the command of a flotilla of gun-boats for the defence of New-York, was designated to the command on lake Erie. At this time, the United States possessed no naval torce on the lake ; the only vessels belonging to the govern- ment wore captured at Detroit. The southern, or American 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 227 lake shore, is principally a sand beach, formed by the sedi- ment of the lake driven upon the shore by the northerly winds. There are but few harbours, and those encumbered with bars at their entrance. At Presque Isle, within the bounds of Pennsylvania, and ninety miles west of Buffalo, a peninsula extending a considerable distance into the lake encircles a harbour, on the borders of which is built the vil- lage of Erie. At this place Commodore Perry was directed to repair, and superintend a naval establishment, the object of which was to create a superior force on the lake. The difficulties of building a navy in the wilderness can only bt> conceived by those who have experienced them. There was nothing at this spot out of which it could be built, but the timber of the forest. Ship-builders, sailors, naval stores, guns, and ammunition, were to be transported by land over- bad roads a distance of four hundred miles, either from Albany by the way of Buffalo, or from Philadelphia by the way of Pittsburgh. Under all these embarrassments, by the first of August, 1813, Commodore Perry had provided a flotilla, consisling of the ships Lawrence and Niagara of twen- ty guns each, and seven smaller vessels, to wit, one of four guns, one of three, two of two, and three of one ; in the whole fifty-four guns. While the ships were building, the enemy frequently appeared off the harbour and threatened their destruction, but the shallowness of the water on the bar, their being but five feet, prevented their approach. The same cause, which ensured the safety of the ships while building, seemed to prevent their being of any service. The two largest drew several feet more water than there was on the bar. The inventive genius of Commodore Perry, however, soon surmounted this difficulty ; he placed large scows on each side of the two largest ships, filled them so as to sink to the water edge, then attached them to the ships by strong pieces of timber, and pumped out the water. The scows then buoyed up the ships so as to pass the bar in safety. This operation was performed on both the large ships, in the pres- ence of a superior enemy. Having gotten his fleet in readi- 228 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAil. Chap, I I Hess, Commodore Terry proceeded to the head of the lake and anchored in Put-in-Bay, opposite to, and distant thirty miles from Maiden, where the British fleet lay under the guns of the lort. He lay at anchor here several days, watching the mo- tions of the enemy, determined to give him battle the first fa- vourable opportunity. On the lOthof September at sunrise, the British fleet, consisting of one ship of nineteen guns, one of seventeen, one of thirteen, and one of ten, one of three, and one of one, amounting to sixty-four, and exceeding the Ameri- cans by ten guns, under the command of Commodore Barclay appeared off Put-in-Bay, distant about ten miles. Commodore Perry immediately got under weigh with a light breeze at sout-hwest. At 10 o'clock, the wind hauled to the south-east which brought the American squadron to the windward, and gave them the weathergage. Commodore Perry, on board the Lawrence, then hoisted his union jack, having for a motto the dying words of Captain Lawrence, " DonH give iip the ship," which was received with repeated cheers by the crew. jXaval Battle. lie then formed the line of battle, and bore up for the enemy, who at the same time hauled his courses and prepared for action. The lightness of the wind, occa- sioned the hostile squadrons to approach each other but slow- ly, and prolonged for two hours, the solemn interval of sus- pense and anxiety which precedes a battle. The order and regularity of naval discipline heightened the dreadful quiet of the moment. No noise, no bustle, prevailed to distract the mind, except at intervals, the shrill pipings of the boatswain's whistle, or a murmuring whisper among the men, who stoqd in groups around their guns, with lighted matches, narrowly watching the movements of the foe, and sometimes stealing a glance at the countenances of their commanders. In this manner, the hostile fleets gradually ncared each other in awful silence. At fifteen minutes after eleven, a bugle was sound- ed on board the enemy's head-most ship, Detroit, loud cheers burst from all their crews, and a tremendous fire opened upon Vhe Lawrence, from the British long guns, which, from the UJli IUSX0R1 OF (Hi: LATE WAR. 229 shortness of the Lawrence's, she was obliged to sustain for forty minutes without being able to return a shot. Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kepi on his course in such gallant and determined style, that the enemy supposed he meant immediately to board. At five minutes before twelve, having gained a nearer position, the Lawrence opened her fire, but the long guns of the British .-till gave them greatly the advantage, and the Lawrence was exceedingly cut up without being able to do but very little damage in return. Their shot pierced her side in all direc- tions, killing the men in the birth-deck and steerage, where they had been carried to be dressed. One shot had nearly produced a fatal explosion ; passing through the light room, it knocked thesnuiVof the candle into the magazine, fortunately the gunner saw it, and had the presence of mind immediately to extinguish it. It appeared to be the enemy's plan at all events to destroy the commodore's ship ; their heaviest fire was directed against the Lawrence, and blazed incessantly from all their largest vessels. Commodore Perry, finding the hazard of his situation, made all sail and directed the other vessels to follow for the purpose of closing with the enemy. The tremendous fire, however, to which he was exposed, soon cut away every brace and bowline of the Lawrence, and she became unmanageable. The other vessels were unable to get up ; and in this disastrous situation she sustained the main force of the enemy's fire for upwards of two hours, within cannister distance, though a considerable part of the time not more than two or three of her guns could be brought to bear on her antagonist. The utmost order and regularity prevailed during this scene of horror ; as fast as the men at the guns were wounded, they were carried below, and others stepped into their places; the dead remained where they fell until after the action ; at this juncture the enemy believed the battle to be won. The Lawrence was reduced to a mere wreck, her deck was streaming with blood, and covered with the mangled I'^bs and bodies of the slain : nearly the whole 230 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 11. of her crew were either killed or wounded ; her guns were dismounted, and the commodore and his officers helped to work the last that was capable of service. At two, Captain Elliott was enabled by the aid of a fresh breeze to bring his ship into close action in gallant style : and the commodore im- mediately determined to shift his flag on board that ship ; and giving his own in charge to Lieutenant Yarnell, he hauled down his union jack and taking it under his arm, ordered a boat to put him on board the Niagara. Broadsides were lev- elled at his boat, and a shower of musketry from three of the enemy's ships. He arrived safe and hoisted his union jack, with the animating motto, on board the Niagara. Captain Elliott by direction of the commodore, immediately put off in a boat to bring up the schooners which had been kept back by the lightness of the wind. At this moment the flag of the Law- rence was hauled down ; she had sustained the principal force of the enemy's fire for two hours, and was rendered incapa- pable of defence. Any further show of resistance would have been a useless sacrifice of the relics of her brave and mangled crew. The enemy were at the same time so crippled, that they were unable to take possession of her, and circum- stances soon enabled her crew again to hoist her flag. Com- modore Perry now gave the signal to all the vessels for close action. The small vessels, under the direction of Captain Elliott, got out their sweeps, and made all sail. Finding the Niagara but little injured, the commander determined upon the bold and desperate expedient of breaking the enemy's line ; he accordingly bore up and passed the head of the two ships and brig, giving them a raking fire, from his starboard guns, and also a raking fire upon a large schooner and sloop, from his larboard quarter, at half pistol shot. Having gotten the whole squadron into action, he luffed up and laid his ship alongside of the British commodore. The small vessels hav- ing now got up within good grape and cannister distance on the other quarter, enclosed their enemy between them and the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most destructive 1*13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 231 fire on both quarters of the British, until every ship struck her colours. Victory. The engagement lasted about three hours, and never was victory more decisive and complete. More pris- oners were taken than there were men on board the American squadron at the close of the action. The principal loss in killed and wounded was on board the Lawrence, before the other vessels were brought into action. Of her crew twenty- two were killed, and sixty wounded. When her flag was struck, but twenty men remained on deck fit for duty. The loss on board of all the other vessels was only five killed, and thirty-six wounded.* The British loss must have been much more considerable. Commodore Barclay was dangerously wounded. He had lost one r.rm in the battle of Trafalgar. The other was now rendered useless, by the loss of a part of his shoulder-blade ; he received also a severe wound in the hip. Commodore Perry, in his official despatch, speaks in the highest terms of respect and commiseration for bis wounded antagonist, and asks leave to grant him an immediate parole. Of Captain Elliott, his second in command, he says, " That he is already so well known to the government, that it would be almost superfluous to speak. In this action he evinced his characteristic bravery and judgment, and since the close of it has given me the most able and essential assistance." Not- withstanding this high encomium of his commander, under whose eye he acted during the whole engagement, this brave officer has been accused of cowardice and disobedience of orders, in not bringing his ship sooner into action. The bold and desperate measure of pressing forward into action with the Lawrence alone, and exposing her to the whole fire of the enemy's fleet for two hours, before the other ships could be got up, has been censured as rash, and not warranted by the rules of naval war ; but there are seasons when the com- mander must rely more on the daring promptness of his * Commodore Perry's letter to the Secretary of War. 232 HISTORY OF Till: LATE WAR. Chap. It measures, than on nice calculations of comparative strength. Neither Bonaparte nor Nelson ever stopped to measure accu- rately the strength of the respective combatants. The result, is the acknowledged and generally the best criterion of merit; and it should not detract from the eclat of the successful commander that his measures were bold and decisive. Two days after the battle, two Indian chiefs who had been selected for their skill as marksmen, and stationed in the tops of the Detroit, for the purpose of picking off the American officers, were found snugly stowed away in the hold of the Detroit. These savages, who had been accustomed to ships of no greater magnitude than what they could sling on their backs, when the action became warm, were so panic-struck at the terrors of the scene, and the strange perils that sur- rounded them, that, looking at each other with amazement, they vociferated their significant quonh, and precipitately descended to the hold. In their British uniforms hanging in bags upon their famished bodies, they were brought before Commodore Perry, fed, and discharged ; no further parole being necessary, to prevent their afterwards engaging in the contest. The slain of the crews of both squadrons were committed to the lake immediately after the action. The next day, the funeral obsequies of the American and British officers who had fallen, were performed at an opening on the margin of the bay, in an appropriate and affecting manner. The crews of both tlcets united in the ceremony. The stillness of the weather — the procession of boats — the music — the slow and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the notes of the soleain dirge — the mournful waving of the flags — the sound of the minute-guns from all the ships — the wild and solitary aspect of the place, gave to these, funeral rites a most impressive influence, and formed an affecting contrast with the terrible conflict of the preceding day. Then the people of the two squadrons were engaged in the deadly strife of arms : now they were associated as brothers, to pay the last tribute of respect to the slain of both nations. Two Amcri- W13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 233 can officers, Lieutenant Brooks, and Midshipman Laub, of the Lawrence; and three British, Captain Finnis, and Lieu- tenant Stoke of the Charlotte, and Lieutenant Garland of the Detroit, lie interred by the side of each other, in this lonely place, on the margin of the lake, a few paces from the beach. This interesting battle was fought midway of the lake, be- tween the two hostile armies, who lay on the opposite shores, waiting in anxious expectation, its result. The allied British and Indian forces to the amount of four thousand five hundred, under Proctor and Tccumseh, were at Maiden ready, in case of a successful issue, to renew their ravages on the American borders. General Harrisoii's Army. — General Harrison, with the main body of the Americans, lay around Sandusky bay, and at fort Meigs, prepared in the event of success by the Ameri- can squadron, to recover Detroit, and curry the war into Canada. His army had lately received an important rein- forcement of three thousand volunteers from Kentucky, with Governor Shelby at their head. The valour and patriotism of the citizens of that state, instead of being damped by the loss of their comrades at the river Raisin, and fort Meigs, glowed with increased ardour. Secure, in consequence of her central situation, from invasion cither by land or water, Kentucky might have contented herself with bearing her pro- portion of the public burthens, and answering occasional calls of militia with little hazard to the lives of her citizens. But instead of this cautious and prudent course, her sons in great numbers, were found foremost in the ranks of volunteers in distant expeditions. Colonel It. M. Johnson, who had been a zealous advocate for the strongest war measures in Con- gress, and to whom Mr. Randolph- had pledged himself the preceding winter to follow to the tented field; immediately on his return from Congress opened a rendezvous at Lexing- ton, raised a fine regiment of mounted volunteers, and accom- panied Governor Shelby to the army of the north-west. With these reinforcements the general found his army about six .10 234 Hi STORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. II. thousand strong, and anxious to retrieve the losses of the past season. Commodore Perry, having landed his prisoners at Son- dusky, whence they were escorted under the direction of General Harrison to the depot of Chilicothe, and made equal provision for the wounded of both squadrons, prepared to transport the army to Maiden. The Kentucky mounted vol- unteers took the route by the western border of the lake to Detroit, and passed the river Raisin at Frenchtown, where, in the January preceding, the army under General Winches- ter was captured and massacred. Here they halted for a day. collected the unburied remains of their relatives and fellow- citizens, and consigned them to the earth. Having performed \his solemn duty, they proceeded on their route to meet Gen- eral Harrison. Proctor evacuates Maiden. On the capture of his fleet. Proctor, learning the preparation that Harrison was making for the invasion of Canada, determined to abandon Maiden, Detroit, and the western section of the Canadas, and to re- tire by the river Thames, through the wilderness, to the Niag- ara frontier. He put his heavy artillery and baggage aboard boats, and sent them by Detroit to the mouth of the Thames, thence up that river, towards the Moravian towns, and pre- pared to destroy the works at Maiden and Detroit. The sagacious Tecumseh saw in these measures the total ruin of the Indian confederacy, which he had formed under the auspices of the British government, for the destruction of the American settlements in the west, and with it all his pros- pects. The British government had sent to Tecumseh and his In- dians considerable presents in arms, ammunition, and blan- kets, to encourage and reward their fidelity ; these had ar- rived at Maiden some days before the battle on the lake ; but Proctor, apprehensive that if the Indians got possession of their presents, they could leave him, had refused to deliver them. Before their departure from Maiden, Tecumseh de- 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. manded these goods, and addressed Proctor in the following strong and severe terms: TecumsehPs Speech. " //; the name of th> Indian chiefs and warriors, to General Proctor, the representative of our Great Father the King. "Father! listen to your children. You have them now all before you. The war before this, our British father gave the hatchet, to his red children, when our old chiefs were alive. They are now dead. In that war our father was thrown on his back by the Americans, and he afterwards took them by the hand without our knowledge, and wc arc afraid he will do >o again at this time. ; - Listen ! when war was declared, our father stood up and gave us the tomahawk, and told us he was now ready to strike the Americans, and that he wanted our assistance, and that he would certainly get our lands back, which the Americans had taken from us. •- Listen! you told us to bring our families to this place, ind we did so. You promised to take care of them, and that they should want for nothing, while the men would go and light the enemy. You told your red children that you would lake good care of your garrison here, which made our hearts glad. "Listen, father! our tleet has gone out; we know they have fought ; we have heard the great guns, but know nothing of what has happened to our father with one arm.* Our ships have gone one way, and we are very much astonished to see our father tying up every thing, and preparing to rur, away the other, without letting his red children know what ; : means. You always told us to remain here, and take care of our lands, which made our hearts glad. Our great father the king is the head, and you represent him. You always told us you never could draw your foot off British ground; but now, father, we see yon are drawing back without seeing * Commodore Barctay. 236 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chip. 11 {he enemy. We must compare our father's conduct to a fat animal, that carries his tail on his back, but when affrighted drops it between its legs and runs off. "Listen, father! the Americans have not yet defeated us by land ; nor are we sure they have done so by water. We wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make their appearance. If they defeat us, we shall then retreat with our father. " Father! we see you preparing to march out of the garri- son. You have got the arms and ammunition which the great father sent to his red children. If you have any idea of going away, give them to us, and you may go. Our lives are in the hands of the Great Spirit; we are determined to defend our lands, and if it is His will, we are determined to leave our bones upon them." Proctor was in a strongly fortified camp, with abundance of munitions of war, and with nearly as many troops as his antagonist could be expected to bring against him. His chance of a successful defence at this point, was better than at any other to which he might retreat: yet neither these con- siderations, nor the bold and severe remonstrances of Tecum- seh and his associates, had any influence upon his fears ; he determined to prevent the threatened attack of the American general, by an early retreat beyond his reach. On the 24th of September, he broke up his camp at Maiden, destroyed the public buildings, and all the stores that he could not earn' with him, and commenced a precipitate retreat towards the head of the Thames. Many of his Indians left him; Tecum- s«h, and the greater part of the warriors followed with reluc- tance. At Dalson's farm, on the Thames, sixty miles from Detroit, he made a halt to wait the arrival of his boats with the artillery and baggage. Harrisorfs pursuit. Harrison lost no lime in carrying his plans into effect. On the 27th of September, he embarked his army at Portage, and landed at Maiden ; finding his ene- my had fled, he proceeded immediately to Sandwich, detached 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 237 General M'Arthur, with seven hundred men, to re-occupy Detroit and the Michigan territory; and on the second of October, being joined by Colonel Johnson's mounted volun- teers, proceeded up the Thames in pursuit of Proctor. His effective force now amounted to thirty-five hundred men. Commodore Perry volunteered his services as aid to Gene- ral Harrison, and contributed much to the success of the ex- pedition, which his naval victory had rendered practicable. On the evening of the second of October, the army reached the river, twenty-five miles from Sandwich. Here they came to a branch of the Thames, over which a bridge had been erected, and left entire : they passed this on the morning of the third, and hastened on rapidly to another branch, where they found and captured a small party who had been sent. back to destroy the bridge; this they had time only partially to accomplish: the bridge was soon repaired, and the army encamped on the evening of the third at Drake's farm. The artillery and heavy baggage were brought in boats, provided by Commodore Perry, up the Thames as far as Dalson's. Thus far the banks were low, and the country an open prairie. Above this point the banks were high and woody, affording abundant places for ambuscade. General Harrison left the boats and most of the heavy baggage at Dalson's, un- der a guard of one hundred and fifty infantry. On the 4th, the army proceeded to Chatham, four miles in advance of Dalson's : here they came to a third unfordablc branch of the Thames. Proctor had destroyed the bridge at the mouth of this stream, and also the one at M'Gregor's mills, one mile above. Large bodies of Indians appeared on the opposite bank to dispute the passage, and commenced a sharp fire on the American advance guard. The army was formed in order of battle, two six pounders were drawn up, and a few well directed discharges dispersed the savages. A bridge was immediately constructed, and the army crossed and continued their advance. Proctor learning the near approach of Harri- son, had conveyed" his boats up the river as far as practical^. 238 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 11. ;ind set fire to them. In addition to the baggage of the army, the boats British contained the large supplies of blankets, arms, and ammunition for the Indians, which Tecumseh had claim- ed to have delivered to them at Maiden. A part of these supplies were landed and stored in buildings on the river, and a part remained on board the boats. A quantity of them was found in a house which was in flames near the last bridge. The fire was soon extinguished, and the arms saved. At the iirst farm above the bridge was found one of the enemy's boats on fire, deeply laden with Indian supplies; and at Bowie's farm, four miles further in advance, where the army halted for the night, they found two other boats, and a large distillery, filled with ordnance and other valuable stores, in flames. Two twenty-four pounders, with their carriages, and a large quantity of ammunition and shells, were taken at this place. On the 5th, the army continued their march on the left bank, and took two gun-boats, and several batteaux laden with provisions and ammunition. By nine o'clock, they arrived at Arnold's mills, where was the only fording- placc for several miles ; and this was now too deep for in- fantry. Each dragoon took one of the infantry behind him, and crossed over; by these means, and with the assistance of some boats, the army were soon landed on the right bank, and immediately commenced their line of march up the river. Eight miles further they passed a farm where the rear of the British army had encamped the preceding night. A recon- noitering party returned, and reported that Proctor, with the main body, was posted aear the Moravian towns, four miles in advance. The road this distance passes through a beach forest, without any clearing, and for the first two miles near the bank of the river ; about three hundred yards from the river and parallel to it, an impenetrable swamp extends the whole distance ; the intermediate space is hard ground, some- what elevated, and covered with trees. The whole British and Indian force were drawn up in a strong position across this strip of hard land, their left resting on the river, sup- 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 239 ported by a strong battery placed in the road, and their right protected by the swamp, and covered by the whole Indian force. General 1 larrison immediately formed his line of battle. General Trotter's brigade oi' Kentucky volunteers formed the front line, his right resting on the road, and his left on the swamp. The whole of General Desha's division, consisting of two brigades, were formed upon Trotter's left (lank, the crotchet formed by the front line, and General Desha's divi- sion was occupied by the venerable governor of Kentucky, who L : t the age of sixty-six, manifested all the ardour of youth, aided by the experience of age. The second line consisting of General King's brigade was formed one hun- dred and fifty yards in the rear of the first, and Chile's brig- ade as a corps de reserve in the rear of King's. The flanks of the enemy were secured in such a manner as to render it impossible to turn them. The only alternative was to charge directly in front. This hazardous duty was assigned to Colo- nel Johnson's mounted infantry. For this purpose they were drawn up in close columns with their right, at the distance of fifty yards from the road, protected in some measure by the trees from the artillery, and their left resting on the swamp : and were ordered to charge at full speed as soon as the ene- my had delivered their fire. Battle of the Moravian towns. Having made these arrange- ments, General Harrison, with Commodore Perry, Captain Butler, and General Cass, as his aids, took his station at the head of the front line, and moved on to the attack. In a few moments the mounted men received the fire of the British line, and were ordered to charge. The horses in the front column recoiled from the fire ; another was immediately given by the enemy, and the American column, at length getting in motion, broke through the British ranks with irresistible force. In one minute the contest in front was over; the British offi- cers seeing no hopes of reducing their broken ranks to order. and the mounted men wheeling upon them and pouring in - 240 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cap. \L destructive fire, they immediately surrendered.* Upon the left the contest was more severe with the Indians. Colonel Johnson, who commanded on that flank of his regiment, received a most galling fire. At the head of his column he led them into the hottest of the action, and was personally opposed to Tecumseh ; at this point a mass of savages were collected. Johnson, mounted on an elegant white charger, was easily distinguished as an officer of rank; a shower of balls were discharged at him, his horse was shot and fell, his clothes, saddle, and person were pierced with a number of balls. Tecumseh slain. Tecumseh, seeing his antagonist falling, rushed towards him with his uplifted tomahawk to give the fatal blow ; when within a few yards, Johnson drew his pistol, and laid his daring opponent dead at his feet. He was una- ble to do more ; he had received three shots in the thigh, and two in the arm; the loss of blood deprived him of the power of standing, and he lay exhausted and helpless by the side of his antagonist. At the moment Tecumseh fell, the Indians around him gave way. Those still further on the left of the American lines, advanced and fell in with the front line of infantry near its junction with Desha's division, and for a moment made an impression ; Governor Shelby, however, brought up another regiment to its support, and a part of Colonel Johnson's regiment having gained their rear, they retreated with precipitation. Six Americans and twenty-two Indians were slain within twenty yards of the spot where Tecumseh lay. Most of the severe fighting was on this ground. But seven Americans were killed, and twenty-two wounded in the action. Of the British regulars, twelve were killed, and twenty-two wounded; six hundred, including twenty-five officers, were taken prisoners. Of the Indians, twenty-two were found dead on the field, and many more killed on the retreat. Six pieces of brass artillery, and two * General Harrison's letter to the secretary of war. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^l twenty-four pounders were taken, and several sunk in the river. Of the brass pieces, three were of those taken from the British in the revolutionary war. and surrendered by Gen- eral Hull at Detroit. Proctor narrowly escaped leaving his sword, baggage, and papers, in possession of the victors. The fruits of this victory were the total dispersion of the allied British and Indian forces, who had for more than a year past ravaged the north-western frontier. The capture of all their baggage, provisions, and arms, and a large quantity of military stores destined to supply the Indians, and the re- storation of Detroit and the Michigan territory. Among Proc- tor's papers were found several letters from British agents among the Indians, clearly evincing that they had at different times since the peace of 1783, and before the commencement of the present war, instigated them to acts of hostility against the United States. Proctor fled to the Niagara frontier, and was afterwards tried by a court martial, and disgraced. The brave Kentuckians had now in their power the very authors and instigators of the massacres of their brethren at the river Raisin; but, two noble to seek revenge on a fallen foe, they treated them with the humanity and kindness due to prisoners of war; and, on their return safely Conducted them to camp Ball at Chilicothe, to join their brethren in the navy. From the second to the fifth of October, General Harrison, with an army of three thousand live hundred men, penetrated the wil- derness a distance of eig ly miles; overtook, fought, and van- quished an enemy, his equal in numbers on their own ground, and returned to Detroit by the 9th; an expedition for success and despatch scarcely equalled in the annals of history. cts of Ihe Victor?/. This victory completely broke up and dispersed the Indian confederacy of the north-west. Most of the warriors forsook their allies, and came in and threw themselves on the mercy of the Americans. The wretched tins of the hostile tribes were in a forlorn and destitute condition. The winter approaching, and they and their fami- lies alike destitute of clothing, and provisions, or the means I 2 A -1 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 11 < of obtaining them. In this situation the Americans extended the hand of charity, and supplied them with necessaries during the winter. The British policy of uniting the Indians in a war of ex- termination against the frontier settlements of the United States, was not only barbarous and inhuman in itself, but ab- solutely abortive in its effects. The objects of the British government were, to prevent the increase of the settlements in the western country, to render the war so distressing to the border inhabitants, as to induce a submission to their views, and to increase and extend their power among the Indian tribes. Precisely the reverse of all these effects were pro- duced by the events of this campaign. The Indian war laid open to the view of land speculators, the fine country occu- pied by the Indians, and conducted an emigration to the western states immediately after the close of the war, unequal- led at any former period. The cruelties practised by the savages in their incursions, rendered the war popular, and nerved every arm in defence of the country ; and the final dereliction of their cause by Proctor, gave a fatal blow to British influence among the savages. The frontiers have en- joyed greater security since the defeat of Proctor, than at any former period, and the influence of the American govern- ment over the Indians within their limits, has, in a great measure, superseded the British. CHAPTER XII. Montreal. — Back Passage from Montreal to the Upper Lakes. — British Naval Force on Lake Ontario. — American, under Commodore ( 'hmin- ccy. — Military Force destined for a Descent on Montreal. — Expedi- tions against York. — Death of General Pike. — Attack on Sackett's Harbour. — Capture of Fort George. — British retire to Burlington Heights. — Battle at Stoney Creek. — Capture of Generals Chandler and Winder. — Battle at the Beaver Dams. — Capture of Colonel Boerstler's Detachment. — Colonel Scott's Expedition to Burlington Heights and York. — General Wilkinson appointed to the command of the Northern Army. — Arrives at Sackett's 1 Inrbour. — Makes arrange- ments for a Descent on Montreal. — War Department removed to Sackett's Harbour. — Troops embark from Fort George for Grenadier Island. — Sailing of the Flotilla from French Creek. — Descent on the St. Lawrence. — Pursuit of the British. — Battle at Williamsburgh. — General Covington killed. — Flotilla arrives at the foot of the Long Sault. — General Hampton refuses to join the Expedition. — Corres- pondence between him and General Wilkinson. — E>peditiou aban- doned. — Army go into Winter-Quarters at French Mills. — General Hamoton's advances to Chatauguay. — Returns to Plattsburgh. — Ver- mont Militia called out by (he War Department to guard Plattsburgh. — Ordered to return by Governor Chittenden. — Causes of the failure of the Expedition. — Defence of the Niagara Frontier intrusted to General M'Clure and the New^York Militia.— Evacuation of Fori George and burning of Newark. — Fort Niagara taken.— Massacre. — Burning of the Niagara Frontier.— Militia retire to Batavia. — Gov- ernor Prevost's Proclamation. Montreal. The conquest of the Canadas was avowedly the main object of the military operations in the north. Que- bec, strongly fortified by nature and art. and accessible by sea for the largest ships of war, was considered unassailable ; but Montreal, and the whole country to the north-west, was deem- ed an easy acquisition. The latter city ,s£lnds on the south side of an island of the same name in thejriver St. Lawrence, thirty miles long and ten broad, live hundred miles from the J4.-5 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. sea at the head of ship navigation ; and is the most populous and commercial city of British America, containing twenty thousand inhabitants. All the merchandise with which the north-western country is supplied, is here deposited. The western Indians, the inhabitants of Upper Canada, and the inhabitants of the United States bordering on the lakes, arc supplied from this source ; their returns are also deposited here, from whence they are shipped to various European mar- kets. From this point the British north-west company, one of the richest, and most profitable establishments in Europe, carry on their immense traffic with the natives of the north- west, and extend their enterprises to the borders of the Pa- cific. They employ several thousand men, and afford a great market for British manufactures. A large proportion of this intercourse is carried on by means of the back passage from Montreal to the upper lakes. Back Passage to the Upper Lakes. Near the south-western extremity of the island, the Ottaway, or Grand river, enters the St. Lawrence from the north-west. The merchandise des- tined for lake Huron and the regions beyond, is put up in packages of about one hundred weight each, and together with the necessary provisions, are put on board birch canoes, which carry ten men each, with their provisions, and sixty packages of merchandise. In the month of May annually, large flotillas of this species of water craft leave Montreal, enter the Ottaway, and proceed on their voyage to the upper lakes. Fifteen miles from the mouth of the Ottaway, the navigation is intenuptcd by rapids, for the distance of ten miles. At the foot of these, the canoes are unloaded, and their contents transported on men's shoulders this distance, and the canoes towed up the current with great labour. After passing these rapids, the stream is tranquil and of easy navigation for sixty miles, where the voyagers reach.the portage of Chaudiere. Here is a cascade of twenty feet, around which he canoes with all their lading, are transported on men's shoulders. Thence to the portage des Chenes, the passage is HISTORY OF THE LATE W IR. short. There are two smaller portages in the distance ot" eighteen miles to the grand Columet where the current is again tranquil. There are four other portages on this river where the voyagers have to transport all their lading and canoes on their shoulders, before they arrive to the mouth of the Petit Reviere, which falls into the Ottaway from the south-west, four hundred miles from Montreal. Here the voyagers must turn off to the left and ascend this river, sixty-live miles, in- terrupted by thirteen portages, to the high lands which divide the waters of lake Huron, from those of the Ottaway. Across these heights is a land carriage of six miles, where the voy- agers have to transport their canoes, packages, and provisions, to lake Nipissing ; this, without the aid of beasts of burden. is a work of time and immense labour; the men having to travel the ground from twenty to thirty times to get all their baggage across. This lake is thirty-six miles Ion* and fifteen broad, around which the voyagers must coast until they reach the entrance of French river, which flows from this lake to Huron, a distante of eighty miles. The navi- gation is interrupted on this river by live portages. Hav- ing reached lake Huron, the men, provisions, and mer- chandise are transported in small vessels across the lake to fort St. Josephs, at the foot of the straits of St. Marie, by which the waters of lake Superior communicate with Hu- ron. The navigation of these straits is interrupted by falls. From fort St. Joseph's the merchandise which has been thus transported is distributed in various directions to the Indians of the north-west, their furs collected, and transported by the same route to Montreal. The merchandise destined for the more southern regions is transported in boats up the St. Lawrence to Kingston, whence it is shipped in lake vessels to Queenston at the foot of the Niagara cataract, thence transported by land around the falls and re-shipped on lake Erie. Montreal is the em- porium of this commerce ; and the nation possessing it of course commands all the country on the lakes above. The 246 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, in- occupation of this city, which would necessarily draw with it the possession of Upper Canada, formed the principal object of the campaign of 1813, on the Canada border. SackeWs Harbour. As a previous step, the command of lake Ontario was absolutely essential. For this pur- pose, Sackett's Harbour, on the east end ol the lake near its outlet, was selected as a naval depot. This harbour lies at the mouth of the Black river, nearly opposite to, and thirty miles distant from Kingston, the principal mili- tary and naval station of the British on the lake. The har- bour has a sufficient depth of water, is well sheltered, and capable of defence, and is one hundred and seventy miles from Albany, from whence supplies were to be drawn for the naval and military operations of the campaign. Ontario Fleet. The British had a considerable military force at Kingston, and a respectable navy under the command of Sir James Yeo, late commander of the frigate Southampton, an experienced, intelligent, and judicious officer. Commo- dore Isaac Chauncey, an officer of experience and high repu- tation, was selected by the American government, for the command on this station, and arrived at the harbour with a large body of sailors and marines on the Gth of October, 1812. At this time the United States had but one vessel, the brig Oneida, on the lake. The British force consisted of six vessels, mounting eighty guns. Chauncey immediately pur- chased all the merchant ships which were obtainable, and fitted them for the naval service. By the 8th of November, he had obtained and equipped a sufficient force to appear on the lake, and sailed with the Oneida and six schooners, in quest of his antagonist. On the 10th he fell in with the Royal George, the largest of the enemy's ships, chased her into Kingston harbour, and captured two schooners. On the 12th he took the transport sloop Elizabeth, chased the Earl Moira into Kingston, and blockaded that harbour until the 7th of December, when the ice obliged him to return to Sackett's Harbour, and suspend further operations until spring. On 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. j | ; the 26th of November, the ship Madison was launched in fifty-five days from the time of laying her keel; and the ship General Pike was built, launched, and equipped in one hun- dred days. At the opening of the spring of 1813, the American fleet had the complete ascendency on the lake. Chauncey was able to confine every British ship to the harbour of Kingston. A respectable military force of six thousand men, composing the army of the north, had been organized under General Dearborn for the conquest of Canada : the neighbouring mili- tia might be called in, to any amount, to supply any defi- ciency of numbers in the regular army; and to guard the harbour in their absence. No reinforcements had or could arrive for the protection of Montreal until June. Under these circumstances a descent upon that city early in the season, must have been attended with undoubted success. Unfortunately this favourable state of things escaped the no- tice of the officer at the head of the war department, and the energies of the nation were directed to a much less important rind less attainable object. Capture, of York. On the 23d of April, General Dearborn embarked at Sackett's Harbour, -with sixteen hundred men on an expedition against York, at the head of the lake, leaving the defence of the harbour, with all the stores, public property, and a new ship on the stocks, to a handful of regulars, under Colonel Backus, and the neighbouring militia not then ar- rived. It seemed to have escaped the observation of the commanding general, that the enemy would probably in his absence, strike at an important post thus left uncovered. On i he 27th, General Dearborn with the fleet, arrived before the town of York and immediately commenced a disembarkation, The commanding general intrusted the further prosecution of the expedition to General Pike, and remained on board the fleet. To oppose their landing a corps of British grenadiers, the Glengary fencibles, and several bodies of Indians, appear- ed at different points on the shore. At eight o'clock the troop? 246 HISTpRY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. commenced their landing, three miles westward of the town, and ;i mile and a half distant from 1 1 >< - British works. The place first designated for their landing, was a cleared field near the site oi the old French fori Tarento; but the wind was highand prevented the first division from landing ai thai place, and also prevented the ships from covering their disem- barkation. The riflemen under Major Forsythe first landed under a heavy lire from the enemy. Major General Sheaffe had collected his whole force, consisting of about seven or eight hundred regulars and militia, with a hundred Indians, to oppose their landing, and commanded in person. Major Forsythe, although supported by the other troops as promptly as possible, was obliged to sustain alone a sharp conllicl with tin' whole British forfle for nearly half an hour. As soon as General Pike had effected his landing with about, eight hun- dred men, the British retreated to their works. The main body of the Americans lauded and formed at old fort Tarento, and quickly advanced through a thick wood to an open ground near the British works. The first battery was car- ried by assault, and die columns mo\ til on towards the main works ; w hen the head of the column had arrived within about sixty rods, a tremendous explosion look place from a maga- zine prepared lor dial purpose, and killed and wounded one hundred men. General Pike was mortally wounded by ;i stone which was thrown up by the explosion, and struck him on the breast, lie was immediately conveyed on board the commodore's ship, and soon expired. After the confusion which these events necessarily occasioned, the American troops proceeded to (he town, ami agreed to a capitulation with the commanding officers «»l the Canadian militia, by which it was stipulated, that all the public property should be delivered to the Americans, the militia surrendered prisoners of war, and private property protected. Immediately after the explosion, General Sheaffe, with the regulars, retreated out of the reach of the American arms. Two hundred and fifty militia, and fifty marines and regulars were included in the HTST0R1 01 i in: LATE v\ \i: .: \\) apitulation. The American loss w:is fourteen liill»»l in battle, Bncl fifty-two l>\ the explosion ; twenty-tjiree wounded ;n battle, and one hundred and eighty by the explosion. One large vessel on the stocks, and a quantity of naval stores were lei fire '•> by the British, and consumed; but more iu\.jI ks were taken f>y the Americana than could be carried .jh.i\. The public buildings for military use, and the mili- tary stores which could not be removedj were destroyed. York was the sell «>i government i<>i" Upper Canada, and the principal depdl for the Niagara frontier, and Detroit. Gen* erflfl ShcafTe's baggage and papers were taken* In the goi cramenl hall a human scalp was found, suspended ovep tin- peaker'a i hair, with the mace and other emblems of power. Tins building was burned, contrary t<> the orders ol the Amen in general. 4 Having accomplished the object of ili< expedition al York) In ill ct pro< eedcu 1 immediatel) to Niagara, landed the troop it the fort, and returned to Sackett's Harbour. Attack mi SackttVs Harbour, The defenceless situation of post, after the sailing of the fleet and troops for the head il the lake, did not e i< ap< the British military and naval com manders at Kingston. On the 29th of May, the post was' attacked by the combined land and naval forces under Sir Qeorge Prevost, and Sir James Yco. General Brown, oi the New- York militia, had Keen requested by General Dear- born, previously to bit leaving the harbour, to take command it this post. He arrived on the 28th; and on the same dat\ Lieutenant Chaunccy, in one of the look-out schooners, came m from the lake, and gave notice of the approach of the i i.i\ from Kingston, Alarm guns were immediate ly fired from the po its, to give notice and bring in the militia. Expect- ing a landing at the pcriinsuln . called Horse Island, Colone.1 Mills, with the militia and Albany volunteers, formed the first line to receive the enemy al the Water-edge. They wen < i oi i .1 Dearborn'' l< ttei to the •> < rotary ol • I 250 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12 ordered to lie under cover, and reserve their fire until the enemy had approached so near, that every shot might take effect. The regulars, under Colonel Backus, formed the second line; the defence of fort Tompkins was intrusted to the regular artillerists, and volunteers; and that of Navy Point, and the barracks and stores, to Lieutenant Chauncey, who was ordered in case of defeat, to destroy the public stores, and retire to the south side of the bay. On the 27th, and during the nights of the 28th and 29th, considerable bodies of militia arrived from the adjacent country ; these were ordered to the water-side, to unite with the first line under Colonel Mills, whose command now amounted to five hundred. At break of day on the 29th, the enemy's fleet appeared in a line between Horse Island and Stony Point 7 and in a few minutes thirty-three large boats filled with troops, put off' under cover of a heavy fire from the gun-boats. On their approach, the militia rose and fired without orders,, and too soon to produce any important effect, and immediately fled. Colonel Mills was slain in attempting to rally them" General Brown succeeded in rallying about one hundred, under the command of Captain M'Nutt, and fell upon the rear of the enemy's left flank. The British advanced through a thick wood to the rear of the village; here they were met by Colonel Backus, with the regulars, and such militia as could be brought up, and a severe conflict ensued. The contest lasted an hour and a half, when the British retreated to their boats, and re-embarked without being molested. Lieutenant Chauncey, being informed that the British had gained posses- sion of the town, agreeable to his orders in such an event, set tire to the store houses and barracks, by which all the naval and military stores, and provisions collected for the service, were consumed. The American loss was twenty-one killed, and one hundred and thirty-five wounded and missing. Colonel Backus was mortally wounded, and died soon after the battle. The British left twenty-nine killed, and twenty- three wounded on the field, and thirty-five prisoners, besides - i«13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 251 the kiHed and wounded in the boats before landing, and what they took from the field on their retreat. Previous to this descent, Commodore Chauncey had returned from York, and deposited at the harbour the avails of that expedition, and gone back to Niagara with reinforcements. From the 23d of April to the 28th of May, this important depot, on the pre- servation of which the military and naval operations of the campaign must essentially depend, was left uncovered. The enemy from Kingston might at any time reach it in a single day, with a superior force, and accomplish its destruction. The loss of these stores was of the more consequence to the. Americans, as the distance from Albany was such, that they could not be again seasonably replaced. This loss very much affected the future operations of the campaign., and can only be ascribed to an ambition to gnm eclat, by striking at an unguarded point of the enemy's lines, at the expense of the real objects of the war. While these events were taking place at Sackett's Har- bour, operations of some importance were going on al the head of the lake. The main army under General Dear- born, lay at Niagara from the 8th to the 27th of May, when Commodore Chauncey having returned from the harbour with reinforcements, a descent was made upon fort George. On the morning of the 27th, the light troops under Colonel Scott, and Major Forsyth, supported by Colonel Porter's light artillery, and General Lewis's division, crossed the river, aid attacked the fort; they were soon followed by Generals Boyd's^ Chandler's, and Winder's brigades. Com- modore Chauncey had made the most judicious arrangements with his small ships, to silence the enemy's batteries at the point of landing. The descent was warmly contested at the water's edge by the British; but they were soon compelled to give way, and the binding was completed. Capture of Fort George. The American batteries SOQf succeeded in rendering the fort untenable. The British troop*, retiring from the river bank, re-entered the fort, fired a few shot, and then set fire to the magazine and moved off in dif- i>52 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1*. ferent directions. Of the British regular troops, ninety were killed, one hundred and sixty wounded, and one hundred taken prisoners. The Americans lost seventeen killed, and sixty-five wounded. On the 28th, the garrison at Erie aban- doned that fort, blew up the magazine, and retreated towards the head of the lake, and the Americans took possession the same day. The capture of fort George being accomplished. General Dearborn removed his head-quarters to that post. The British garrisons on the Niagara peninsula retired, con- centrated their forces, and made a stand on Burlington heights, near the head of the lake, forty miles west of fort George. Generals Chandler and Winder, with large detachments, went in pursuit of them ; and on the 5th of June the advance of the Americans had a skirmish with their outposts, and retired Behind Stoney creeks Here they encamped for the night : the light infantry, and part of the rifle corps, formed the right wing ; the artillery the centre ; the infantry, and the residue of- the riflemen, the left ; and the cavalry the rear.' In this posi- tion, the troops, amounting to a thousand men, rested on their arms,- Battle of Stoney Creek. At two in the morning, the British appeared in force, drove in the pickets, and attacked the main body. The fire continued without intermission for an hour. The British broke through the centre and gained the rear of the artillery. General Chandler supposing them to be Americans, rode in among them, and while issuing his or- ders was made prisoner, disarmed, and conveyed to the Brit- ish rear. General Winder coming up to his support, wns made prisoner a few minutes afterwards. After a conflict of an hour in a dark night, when it was impossible to distinguish friends from foes, the Americans retreated behind Forty Mile creek, ten miles in the rear of the battle ground, with the loss of several pieces of artillery. Towards evening of the same day, Sir James arrived with his fleet a mile from shore, abreast fcf where the Americans were encamped. The troops again lay on their arms during the night expecting another attack. 1S1U. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 253 The next morning they struck their tents, and prepared tore- treat. The boats containing their baggage and camp equip- age, lay becalmed on the beach. Sir James towed in a large schooner, and opened a galling fire upon them, but the artil- lery from the shore soon compelled him to retire, and the bag- gage was re-landed. The Indians now appeared in large bodies on the brow of the mountain, and commenced a firing on the camp ; but were soon dispersed by a detachment un- der Colonel Chrystie* A flag was sent in by the commanding officers of the land and naval forces, demanding a surrender of the army* stating, that surrounded as they were by a fleet in front, the land forces on their flanks, and the Indians in their rear, it was impossible to effect a retreat. The reply was, that the demand was too extravagant to merit an answer. The next morning the baggage and camp equipage was again put on board the boats, and the army commenced their retreat to fort George. The boats were overtaken and attacked by an armed schooner, and twelve of them destroyed. The Canadian militia and Indians hung on, and harassed the flanks and rear of the army until evening, when they arrived at the fort, with the loss of the two commanding generals, and the principal part of their artillery and baggage. The British troops immediately occupied the ground they had left. On the 23d of June, another expedition, equally injudicious, and more disastrous in its result, was directed by the Ameri- can general. Battle of the Beaver Dams. Colonel Boerslter was de- tached from fort George* with 570 men, to the Beaver Dams, on the heights ten miles westerly of Queenston, to attack a party of the British, collected there for the purpose of pro- curing provisions, and harassing such of the inhabitants as they considered friendly to the United States. But this de- tachment was unfortunately much inferior to the force, they were sent to attack, and no supporting detachment was or- dered out to their assistance* At eight o'clock, in the morn 2o4: HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. ing of the second day of their march, when within about two miles of the place of their destination, they fell into an am- buscade ; but having succeeded in repulsing the enemy, and gaining a cleared field, they sent to fort George, a distance of fifteen miles, for reinforcements ; before any arrived they were again attacked by a much superior force, and the whole detachment captured. Expedition to Burlington and York. On the 28th of July, another expedition, under the command of Colonel Scott, against the British post on Burlington heights, embarked on board the fleet at fort George, and proceeded to the head of Burlington bay. On the 3 1st, they landed on a point which separates the bay from the lake, and reconnoitered the British position ; finding it protected on three sides by a creek, and defended in front by heavy batteries, on an eminence out of the reach of guns from the shipping, they did not deem it prudent to make an attack, and immediately re-embarked. On their return they put into York> burnt the barracks and public stores;, and brought off one piece of ordnance, and a large quantity of flour. After the destruction of the American naval stores at Sack- ett's Harbour, Sir James, by extraordinary exertions, and the addition of two new ships, had his fleet in a situation in which he ventured to appear on the lake. On the 7th of August, he appeared before fort George, where Commodore Chauncey lay at anchor with his fleet; the latter immediately went out, and in a gale which happened on the night of the 8th, two of his schooners upset, and all on board except sixteen perished. On the 10th, he had a skirmish with Sir James, in which two of his schooners were taken. After a running fight for some hours, both parties seemed willing to avoid a decisive contest, and separated. In this manner terminated the operations of the American forces on lake Ontario, under the direction of General Dearborn. None of the important objects of the campaign had been effected ; severe and heavy losses had been sustained, and the only favourable time for a descent on 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 255 Montreal had gone by. The general had been most of the time an invalid, and had never appeared to lead his troops in any expedition. Plans of conquest formed at Washington, without adequate information of the condition and strength of the enemy, and intrusted to the execution of feeble and worn out commanders, uniformly proved abortive. Adminis- tration had become convinced that Montreal was not to be taken under the auspices of General Dearborn ; and General Wilkinson was called from the south to supersede him. On the 6th of July, an order issued from the war department, directing General Dearborn " to retire from the command of his military district, and the troops within the same ;" but his rank, pay, and establishment were continued until the end of the war. On his departure from fort George, he received an address from the field officers of his army, expressing in flattering terms their regret at his removal, their confidence in his talents, and their apprehensions that the public interest would essentially suffer by the loss of his services. General Wilkinson appointed to the Command of the North, General Wilkinson arrived at Washington from the south, om the first of August, and having spent several days with the cabinet in arranging the plan of operations in the north, pro- ceeded on his journey, and arrived at Sackett's Harbour on the 20th. The force placed under his command, and des- tined to act upon Canada, consisted of the right wing of four thousand at Burlington, Vermont, under the command of Gen- eral Hampton; the centre at Sackett's harbour, and the left under General Boyd, at fort George. The whole regular force, including the reinforcements that soon after arrived, amounted to twelve thousand. In addition to the regular army, the militia of the neighbouring counties might be called in at any time, in such numbers as might be necessary for the defence of the posts, or to augment the regular army. The British forces of every description, opposed to Wilkinson, amounted to about ei^ht thousand; the Irft at Montreal and 256 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cuap. 1?. adjacent country eastward ; the centre at Kingston ; and the right on the Niagara frontier. Prepamtioyis for the Montreal Expedition. On the 26th of August, General Wilkinson called a council of war, con- sisting of all his general officers, and the commander of the fleet, at which a descent on Montreal was advised. The general then immediately proceeded to the Niagara, to make arrangements to withdraw the regular troops from that quar- ter. At a council of war, composed of all the general and field officers at fort George, it was decided, that that post should be abandoned, and the forces withdrawn ; this opinion, however, was afterwards changed, and the defence of fort George and the Niagara frontier intrusted to General M'Clure, and the New-York militia. To superintend the operations, and ensure success to the expedition, General Armstrong arrived on the 5th of Septem- ber, and established the war department at Sackett's Harbour. General Wilkinson returned with themain body from for*. •George on the 4th of October, and established his head-quar- tsrs at the harbour. The army from fort George rendez- voused at Grenadier Island, at the outlet of the lake, where f.hcy were joined by the troops from the harbour, prepared for an attack on Kingston, or a descent on Montreal, as cir- cumstances should indicate. At a council of war, composed of Generals Wilkinson, Armstrong, Lewis, and Brown, the descent of the St. Lawrence was agreed on. The commandr ing general afterwards deemed it inexpedient to proceed, leaving so large a force at Kingston in his rear, and strongly remonstrated against the measure ; as large reinforcements had then arrived at Kingston, which would enable the enemy to hang upon the rear of the American troops, and render the expedition hazardous. The secretary of war determined on the descent, and ordered the expedition to proceed. General Hampton, with his army, was ordered immediately to march for the St. Lawrence, and form a junction with the main body. The next place of rendezvous, before the final sailing of the tS13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. i>j.7 flotilla was fixed at French creek, eighteen miles in advance of Grenadier Island. General Brown was ordered to pro- ceed to this place with the advance of the arrm r , on the 29th of October. On the 1st and 2d of November, he was attacked by a squadron of the enemy's ships, which were repulsed by" Captain M'Pherson's artillery, and obliged to retire. Flotilla cuter the River. On the 3d, General Wilkinson., with the rear of the army, arrived at the general rendezvous; and on the 5th the whole flotilla, consisting of three hundred boats, got under weigh, and covered the river for a distance of nearly five miles. On the 6th, the flotilla proceeded to a point within three miles of Prescott, a strong place on the Canadian bank, which commanded the passage of the river. Here the powder, and fixed ammunition, and all the troops, except as many as were necessary to navigate the boats, were debarked, and proceeded by land to a bay two miles below Prescott. The flotilla passed the fortress under cover of the night, with- out material injury, although assailed by a constant fire from the garrison, and arrived at the place of rendezvous below by ten o'clock the next morning. Here the troops and ana- munition were re-embarked. To obstruct the American llotilla in ilsdescent, the British bad -strongly fortified Prescott, and established batteries at every commanding point on the river. A large detachment of troops from Kingston followed the course of the flotilla on the bankj and a squadron of small vessels and gun-boats harassed thr rear. On the 7th, Colonel M'Comb with an elite corps of twelve hundred men, landed on the Canadian shore to dis- lodge the British from their posts on the river. On the 8th ; the cavalry which had come down by land on the American shore as far as Hamilton, crossed the river; and General Brown, with a large additional detachment, landed to reinforce Colonel M'Comb, and take the command. On the 10th, at the head of the Long Sault, another large body of troops were landed on the Canadian side, under the command of General Boyd, to protect the rear, while General Brown proceeded ,73 25S HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. i2" forward to drive the British from their positions in front. At noon the latter general was engaged with a party of British wear a block-house, erected on the Sault to impede the de- scent. The flotilla hauled in shore to await the issue of Gen- eral Brown's attack. At this time a galley and several gun- boats feom Prescott appeared, and commenced a cannonade on the rear of the flotilla. The slender structure of the boats rendered them incapable of resisting the long twenty-fours of the galley, which threatened their destruction. Two eighteen pounders were immediately landed and formed a battery on .shore, which opened upon the galley and gun-boats, and compelled them to retire. The commanding general now received advice from General Brown, that he had succeeded in dislodging the British from their posts on the river, and had arrived at the foot of the Sault. Battle of Williamsburgh. On the 11th," while the flotilla were preparing to enter the rapids, the British appeared in force near Williamsburgh, in the rear of General Boyd. An attack was made by Swartvvout's brigade on the^British ad- vanced guard, who were driven back to the main body. Swartwout was now joined by Covington, and the action be- came general. The British had judiciously chosen their ground amoBg the deep ravines which intersected an extensive plain, and discharged a heavy and galling fire on the advancing columns of the Americans. At this time a detachment under Colonel Cowles from the first brigade entered the field, and being directed to attack the British left flank, bravely and promptly executed the order. The brigade first engaged had now expended their ammunition, and were ordered to retire; this so disconcerted the line as to render it necessary that the whole should fall back. The infantry retired to their boats in good order, and re-embarked ; the cavalry, with five pieces of artillery, proceededjJown the river on the Canadian shore without further molestation. General Covington re- • ceived a mortal wound in the body while leading his men to "the charge, and fell on the field. The American loss was 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 259 one hundred and I wo killed, and one hundred and thirty-seven wounded. Sixteen hundred Americans, and about an equal number of British were engaged. The victory was claimed by both the combatants; the British, on the ground that they had compelled the Americans to retreat and re-embark with the loss of a part of their artillery. (General Wilkinson claimed the result to be in favour of his troops, as the British were prevented from any further annoyance of the expedition. On the 12th, the flotilla passed the Long Sault without injury, and joined General Brown, at Barn hart's, near Cornwall. Gen- eral Wilkinson now considered the most difficult part of the expedition accomplished, and waited in momentary expecta- tion of hearing of General Hampton's arrival on the St. Layr^ rence, when with their united forces they should proceed to accomplish the great object of the campaign. On entering Canada on the 6th of November, the commanding general, according to custom, had issued a proclamation, addressed to its inhabitants, informing them that the army of the United States which he had the honour to command, invaded their provinces to conquer, and not to destroy ; to subdue the forced of his Britannic Majesty, not to war against his unoffending subjects ; that those who quietly remained at home, should be protected in their persons and property, but those found in arms must necessarily be treated as enemies. To menace, the general remarked, was unjust ; to seduce, dishonourable ; but it was both just and humane to place these alternatives before them ! Correspondence between IVilkinson and Hampton. On the same day General Wilkinson wrote to General Hampton, in- forming him that he was then in the river, should pass Pres- cott that evening, proceed immediately to the Isle Berrot, bridge the narrow inner channel between that island and Montreal with his scow.-, aaid obtain a loot-hold on the island twenty-five miles, above the city, after which his artillery and bayonets must secure a triumph or provide honourable graves. After giving him this information, he ordered him to form «n i^y HkSTORV OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. IZ. immediate junction with his whole force. On the 12th an express arrived from General Hampton, stating that on re- ceiving hisjcommunication of the 6th, he was deeply impress- ed with the responsibility of deciding on the means of co- operation ; that the idea of effecting a junction at St. Regis, was the most-'pleasing, as being the most immediate, until he came to the disclosure of the state of General Wilkinson's provisions ; his communication further stated that his own men had not more with them than they could carry on their backs ; that the road was in many places blockaded, and abatted, and impassible for wheel carriages in the winter ; that the enemy had destroyed every thing in his advance which could contribute to the support of the army ; that his troops were raw, sickly, and dispirited, and had endured fa- tigues equal to a winter's campaign; that in forming the proposed junction under such circumstances, he should weak- en rather than strengthen the main body. He had therefore determined to fall back on his main depot at Plattsburgh, keep open a communication with the St. Lawrence, and in fhis way contribute to the success of the main object. Expedition abandoned. However sanguine the expectations of the secretary at war and the commander in chief might have been as to the success of this expedition, the conduct of General Hampton entirely frustrated them. Unsupport- ed by this division, General Wilkinson deemed it imprudent to proceed further ; on the receipt of this communication he called a council of his general and field officers, and in pursuance^of their advice, abandoned the expedition. On the 13th, the troops under General Brown embarked from the Canadian shore, and the whole army went into cantonements at French ftjills, on Salmon river, on the right bank of the St. Lawrence. General Hampton? V "Division. The army under General Hampton, and a large depot of provisions and military stores had been collected at Plattsburgh, for the express purpose «f c#-©peratine upon Montreal, On the l*irb «f September. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 26'i the army was put in motion with a view to approach the banks of the Si. Lawrence. The route first attempted was by way of Champlain to Coghnawaga on the St. Lawrence. For this purpose the army embarked on board battcaux, pre- ceded by a corps of light infantry, and tlanked on the right by the squadron on the lake, and advanced as far as Cham- plain. Here they landed and marched to Odletown, where they learned that the drought was such, that no water could be obtained on that route; and the army, in consequence thereof,' was obliged to return to Chazy, and take the route by Chateaugay. On the 25th of September, the army encamped thirty miles in advance of Pittsburgh, and about the same distance from the St. Lawrence, on the Chateaugay river, which communicates with the St. Lawrence near Montreal, and remained on this ground until the 2 1st of October. From his head-quarters at this place on the 4th of October, the general writes to the secretary i t war, that the road be- tween him and Pittsburgh was a perfect turnpike, that he hail and could have, an unlimited supply of good beef cattle, and that the quartermaster general would arrive in the course of three or four days, with a supply of flour and ammunition. On the morning of the 21st of October, the army commenced a movement down the Chateaugay. An extensive wood of ten or twelve miles in front, blocked up with felled timber, and- covered by the Indians and British light troops, impeded the progress of the army. General Izard was detached with the light troops and one regiment of the line to turn these impedi- ments in flank, and seize on the open country below, while the army, preceded by a working party, advanced in a more circuitous, but practicable route; the measure succeeded, and the main body reached the advanced position on the Chateaugay on the evening of the 22d. The 23d and 24th were employed in getting up the artillery and stores. There was now in front of the army seven miles of open country, nt the end of which commenced a wood of some miles in ex- tent., which had been formed into an entire abaUis, filled 262 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1'-*. with a suucession of wooden breastworks, the rearmost of which, was supplied with ordnance. The Indians and light troops were placed in front, and a heavy force in the rear. On the evening of the 25th, Colonel Purdy, with the ligh troops, was detached to gain the rear of this position, while General Izard made a simultaneous attack in front. Colonel Purdy was misled by his guides, the attempt failed, and the advanced corps retired with the loss of fifty killed, wounded, and missing, to a position three miles in the rear. On the 28th, General Hampton, under an impres- sion that Sir George Prevost might be in the way of his fur- ther advance, fell back tohis former position at the Chateaugay four corners. On the 8th November, he despatched Colonel Atkinson to General Wilkinson, informing him that he should not attempt the proposed junction, and immediately conducted his army back to Plattsburgh, for winter-quarters. Vermont Militia. To guard Plattsburgh while General Hampton was performing these operations, the third brigade of Vermont militia had been ordered by the secretary at war to that point, and placed under the command of an officer of the United States. This order was executed without the in- tervention of the captain general of the Vermont militia. Governor Chittenden, viewing this as a violation of his con- stitutional rights over the militia, on the 10th of November issued a proclamation declaring the proceeding illegal, and ordering the militia immediately to return and hold themselves in readiness for the defence of the state, subject to his orders. General Davis, who was despatched to Plattsburgh with the. governor's orders, was arrested by the commandant, held for some time as a prisoner, and prevented from executing his commission. On the 15th of November, twenty-two of the officers of the brigade published an address to the governor in answer to his proclamation, declaring it to be illegal, and manifesting their determination to disregard it. The brigade remained on duty at Plattsburgh until the return of General Hampton rendered their further services unnecessary. HISTORY OF THK LATE WAR. 26 ! On mustering General Wilkinson's army at the French Mills, on the 1st of December, its effectives amounted to eight thousand ; General Hampton's to four thousand. The British forces at Montreal, Prescott, and Kingston, did not exceed six thousand. General Wilkinson states, that on the 4th of November, when he was within six days' march of the city, the garrison at Montreal did not exceed six hundred men ; but this doubtless was greatly underrating their force. General Hampton, having placed his army in winter-quar- ters and at Pittsburgh, and furloughcd most of his effective officers, retired to the south. At New-York he accidentally met General Harrison at the same hotel, on his way from the north to the seat of government. General Hampton, with his servants and suite, appeared in the style and character of a nobleman. The hero of the west was in a plain republi- can style, with a single servant, and not distinguished in his appearance from the other guests. As soon as General Harrison's arrival was known, the citizens assembled and made an elegant entertainment on the succeeding day, at which, he received the compliments and respects due to his achievements. General Hampton and his suite remained in the city, and at the same hotel, unnoticed and uninvited. Public sentiment readily distinguished between the conquering hero, and the general who by his inactivity and disobedience of orders, had defeated an important expedition. The same marked distinction between the two generals took place at Philadelphia and Washington. No event could have more disappointed the public expec- tation, than the abandonment of the Montreal expedition. The regular troops had been withdrawn from the sea-board, and the Niagara frontier left uncovered, while the whole en- ergies of the campaign were concentrated in this object. To ensure success, General Wilkinson had been called from an important command in the south to supersede General Dearborn in the chief command. Generals Lewis, Hampton, Boyd, Brown. Izard. Covington, and Swartwout, were all 264 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12 engaged to gather laurels in this field. Every exertion had been made to place the navy on the lake in a situation to command its navigation and further the operations of the ar- my ; large vessels had been built from the keel, equipped, and put into service in a few weeks ; and three hundred transport boats had been prepared for the descent of the St. Lawrence, and on the 6th of November the entrance of that river was covered for the distance of five miles with this formidable flotilla. The war department had been removed from the seat of government to Sackett's Harbour, that this important expedition might be yader the immediate direction of the ex- ecutive. From the speeches in congress of the preceding winter, on the subject of the Canadian conquest, and from the great preparations which had been making through the season, all doubts respecting the final result had been re- moved; and in proportion as the public expectation had been raised by these preparations, in the same proportion was the disappointment v/hen this formidable armament was seen to proceed within two days* march of its object, and then aban- don it without an effort. Ths principal agents endeavoured to throw the blame on each '. „!ier ; public opinion determined that they must share it between them, and in this manner greatly lightened its burthen. Several of them, however, lost the public confidence, and were soon afterwards excused from further service. Causes of the failure of the Montreal Expedition. Among others of less consequence the following may be assign- ed as the principal causes of the failure. Early in the season, under the administration of General Dearborn, the public stores at Sackett's Harbour, the sinews of the cam- paign, were injudiciously exposed and lost, and the only op- portune season for the expedition wasted in useless and inef- ficient operations on the Niagara frontier. From the 20th of August, the period when General Wilkinson assumed the command, seventy-six days were suffered to elapse before the final sailing of the flotilla. This delay, as it enabled the 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 26.3 enemy to strengthen their posts on the river, and prepare for defence, and as it rendered the descent of the St. Lawrence at so late a period difficult, very much hazarded the success of the enterprise. Changing the commander in chief at a critical period of the campaign, without acquiring any additional tal- ents, had an unfavourable influence upon its result. The es- tablishment of the war department at Sackett's Harbour, a measure in itself unusual, and very questionable as to its le- gality, was attended with no beneficial consequences to the expedition. The appropriate duties of that office are, to re- ceive from the supreme executive his orders, which, in affairs of importance, proceed from the united wisdom of the cabinet, and transmit them for execution to the commanding generals. His office gives the secretary no command in the army. Irt the present case, the important and hazardous measure of proceeding against Montreal, having the strongly fortified posts of the enemy at Kingston and Prescott in the rear, was taken in pursuance of his advice, without the aid of the Pres- ident or the cabinet, and contrary to the opinion of the com- mander in chief. No justifiable or even palliative excuse has ever been rendered for General Hampton's refusing to join the expedition on the St. Lawrence. In a country abounding with provisions and the means of transportation, therc'could be no difficulty in effecting a movement of sixty miles in the course of the autumn. His fears of meeting Sir George Prcvost in his march were probably groundless, and if the enemy had come out in force to attark him from Montreal, it would of course have left that city unguarded, and ensured 1 1 10 success of the ultimate object. From this combination of injudicious and inefficient measures, the campaign of 1813 closed without effecting the capture of Montreal. Defenceless situation of Fort George. Previous to General U ilkinson's leaving fort George, General M'Clure had beenor- deredin with the New- York militia for the defence of the Nia- gara frontier. The British were then in considerable force in i he neighbourhood. General M( lure strongly urged the expe- 34 2&Q HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. If- diency of a joint attack by the militia and regular forces, be- fore the latter proceeded on the Montreal expedition. Suc- cess was considered as certain. The frontier would then be safe, and the fears of tJhe neighbouring inhabitants quieted. In the opinion of General Wilkinson, the advanced state o.l the season did not admit of the delay necessary for that ob- ject. He left fort George on the 2d of October, with all the United States troops, except eight hundred under the com- mand of Colonel Scott, and with orders for these to follow as soon as the safety of that frontier would admit. On the 12th of October, the British troops near fort George commenced a retrograde movement towards the head of the lake, and estab- lished themselves at Burlington heights ; General M'Clure with the militia, commenced a pursuit: on the 2d day of his march, he received an express from Colonel Scott r informing him that he should immediately leave fort George for Sack- ett's Harbour; this intelligence obliged him to relinquish the pursuit, and return for the defence of the fort. Genera! M'Clure's force at this time, consisted of one thousand militia engaged until the 9th of December, and two hundred and fifty Indians. The general used every exertion ro strike a blow at the enemy before the term of service of his militia should expire. On the tir.st of November, General Harrison, arrived at fort George, with M'Arthur's brigade from the west. Immediately on receiving intelligence of Proctors defeat, the secretary at war ordered General Harrison, with all his disposable force, to proceed to Sackett's Harbour, to join in the grand expedition. On his arrival at fort George. General M'Clure used every exertion to accomplish an expe- dition against the British at Burlington, during the stay of this brigade at the fort. But General Harrison's orders were peremptory ; Chauncey was in the river waiting for him, and the lateness of the season admitted of no delay. Evacuation- The troops from the west embarked on tin 16th of November, and again left the Niagara frontier to the defence of the Hiili,tia. Their terms of service were now \hl3. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Jb? nearly expiring, and the British were in the neighbourhood waiting for that event to make an attack. Every inducement was held out to the militia to prolong their term of service, until others should arrive. Appeals to their patriotism and humanity were made, from a view of the exposed situation of the frontier ; and to their interest, from the offer of a bounty and an increase of wages. But these appeals were made in vaia ; scarcely a man renewed his engagements ; the new drafts had not yet arrived; and on the 10th of December, General M'Clure found himself at fort George with only ^ixty effective men, in view of a much superior enemy, per- fectly acquainted with his weakness. No alternative pre- sented, but the immediate evacuation of the fort. Burning of Newark. On the 10th of December, the val- uable stores were transported across the river to fort Niagara, fort George blown up, and the adjacent village of Newark burned. This last act was considered as an unnecessary and wanton piece of cruelty. General M'Clure justified himself under the following order from the war department, during its establishment at Sackett's Harbour. •• War Department, October 4, 1813. -• Sir, " Understanding that the defence of the post commmit- ted to your charge may render it proper to destroy the town of Newark, you are hereby directed to apprise the inhabit- ants of this circumstance, and invite them to remove them- selves and their effects to some place of greater safety. -JOHN ARMSTRONG. -'Brigadier General M'Clure, f ■ or officer commanding- at fort George." ^ No event more disreputable to the American cause, or more injurious in its consequences, could have happened. Five hundred innocent and peaceful inhabitants wen- in a moment rendered houseless, and compelled, in the midst of a Cana- dian winter, to seek a shelter and subsistence from the charity 2fcS JI1STORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. of their friends. Wherever these unhappy sufferers wandered, the eyedroptatearof pity over their misfortunes, and the coun- tenance lightened with the fire of revenge against the authors of their calamity. Whatever friends or advocates the cause of the United States might have had in Canada before this event, it had none afterwards. The only ground of justifi- cation ever assumed, was that it was a necessary measure of defence, to prevent the British army from finding a shelter during the winter, on the borders of the river, whence they might annoy the inhabitants on the right bank. But this object could not be obtained as long as Queenston and the settlements above were suffered to remain. This measure induced a most heavy and calamitous retaliation, and was made use of by the British to justify all their wanton acts of cruelty, during the war, whether before or after the event. Much altercation took place upon the question, who should bear the odium of this transaction. The secretary of state, Unacquainted with the transactions of the war department, during its absence from the seat of government, disavowed the act to the British authorities, and declared it to be an unauthorized measure of the commanding general. M'Clure eonsidered himself as fully justified by Armstrong's letter, while the latter claimed, that the letter was only a conditional authority, and that the case in which it was to be exercised had not occurred. It is evident from the letter, that the scheme of burning Newark originated with the war depart- ment ; and it cannot be denied, that an authority issuing from that source to the commanding general on a particular sta- tion, and by him executed, cannot be disavowed to the enemy ; they have a right to consider it as the act of the government, although, as in this case, it was unknown to the President until after the event. The letter likewise proves that it was discretionary with General M'Clure to do it, or not. as his judgment should direct; the facts clearly show, that no good, but much evil and dishonour resulted to the United States from the fpansaction; and that it was an injudicious 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 269 exercise of a discretionary authority, improperly given by the war department, during its unfortunate excursion to Sack- ett's Harbour. Capture of Fort Niagara. General M'Clure on the 10th of December, passed over to Niagara, gave the necessary instructions for the defence of that post, and retired to Buffalo. On the 18th he issued an address to the neighbouring inhab- itants, calling upon them to assemble for the defence of fort Niagara, and stating that he had received information that it would be attacked the next day. The general remained at Buffalo ; and the inhabitants seeing no example set them by the author of the address, remained at home. The garrison at Niagara consisted of 370 regulars, under the command of Captain Leonard. At three o'clock in the morning of the 19th the British and Indians, after several days 1 preparation in view of the Americans, crossed the river at the Five Miles Meadows, to the amount of twelve hundred ; and a detach- ment, under Colonel Murray, proceeded to attack the fort. Notwithstanding appearances had for some days past clearly indicated the object of attack, the commanding general was at Buffalo, secure in his quarters, thirty miles from the scene of action, the immediate command of the fort being left in charge of a man wholly incompetent, who at this critical moment, had gone to his residence three miles in the rear, the gates of the fort left open, and unguarded, and the garri- son wholly unprepared; the result was as might be expected, the garrison was completely surprised ; sixty-five killed, many of them after they had surrendered, and the residue made prisoners ; twenty-seven pieces of ordnance, and large quan- tities of ammunition and military stores, taken. Desolation of the Niagara Frontier. At the same time another detachment of the British proceeded to Lewis- town, which was taken without opposition, and the in- habitants put to flight. The Indians now plundered, burned, and massacred without restraint. The towns of Niagara and Lewistown, and the village of friendly Indians ^70 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. at Tuscarora, were laid in ashes. Governor Tompkins, on being informed of the removal of the regular troops from the Niagara frontier, on the 27th of November, gave orders for the assembling of sufficient bodies of militia to supply the places of those under General M'Clure. But owing to the delays incident to such operations, they failed of arriving until after the capture of Niagara, and the destruction of the frontier below the falls. On the 26th of December, General Hall, commanding the western division of militia, had assem- bled at Buffalo and Black-Rock, two thousand of his division. On the night of the 29th, at 12 o'clock, the enemy were dis- covered approaching the American shore, near those places in great force. The militia were ordered out to oppose their landing, but the main body fled at the approach of the enemy, without firing a gun. Colonel Blackesley's regiment, with other detached corps, amounting in the whole to six hundred, regularly formed in line, and commenced a destructive fire on the enemy, as they approached the shore. They continued the contest until their associates had all fled, and further op- position appeared useless. The flourishing villages of Black Rock and Buffalo, and the neighbouring settlements were deserted, and fell a prey to the British and Indians. General Hall retired with the remains of his dispersed militia, to Eleven Mile creek, where he was able to collect only about three hundred; with these he preserved a show of resistance, to cover the flying inhabitants, and check the advances of the enemy. All the flourishing villages and settlements on the Niagara, between the lakes, and to a considerable dis- tance in the rear were laid in ashes; the Indians were let loose upon the flying inhabitants, and hundreds of them were over- taken and massacred. The frontier presented one scene of universal desolation.* The miserable inhabitants who es- caped the Indian tomahawk, fled to the interior, without shelter or means of support, in the depth of winter, and subsisted on !: General Hall'B letter to Governor Tompkins, Jannarv 6, 1814. 1813. IHSTORy OF THE LATE WAR. 2', I the charity of then- friends. More than two hundred houses, with an immense value of property, were pillaged and de- stroyed, and the wretched inhabitants and owners reduced to poverty. General Hall retired to Batavia, fifty miles in the rear of Niagara, where he was enabled to collect eighteen hundred militia for the protection of the public stores, and the defence of those settlements which had escaped desolation. Prcvosfs Proclamation. At length even the humanity of Governor Prevost began to relent, and on the 12th of Jan- uary 1814, he issued a proclamation, stating, "That it will hardly be credited by those who shall hereafter read it in the page of history, that in the enlightened era of the 19th cen- tury, and in the inclemency of a Canadian winter, the troops of a nation, calling itself eifilizcd and Christian, had wantonly, and without a shadow of a pretext, forced four hundred women and children to quit their dwellings, and to be the mournful spectators of the conflagration of all that belonged to them. Yet such was the fate of Newark, on the 10th oi* December, a day which the inhabitants of Upper Canada can never forget, and the recollection of which cannot but nerve their arms, when opposed to their vindictive foe. On the night of that day, the American troops, under Brigadier Gen- eral M'Clure, being about to evacuate fort George, which they could no longer retain, by an act of inhumanity disgraceful to themselves, and to the nation to which they belong, set fire to upwards of one hundred and fifty houses, composing the beau- tiful village of Newark, and burning them to the ground, leaving without covering or shelter, those innocent, unfortu- nate, and distressed inhabitants, whom that officer by his proclamation had engaged to protect. His Excellency would have ill-consulted the honour of his country, and the justice due to his Majesty's injured and insulted subjects, had he permitted an act of such needless cruelty to pass unpunished. or had he failed to visit whenever the opportunity arrived, upon the inhabitants of the neighbouring American frontier, the calamities thus inflicted on their own. The opportunity 212 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. J*. has occurred, and a full measure of retaliation has taken place ; such as it is hoped will teach the enemy to respect in future the laws of war, and recall him to a sense of what is due to himself, as well as to us. In the further prosecution of the contest to which so extraordinary a character has been given, his Excellency must be guided by the course of con- duct which the enemy shall hereafter pursue. Lamenting the necessity imposed upon him, of retaliating upon the subjects tif America the miseries inflicted on the inhabitants of New- ark, it is not his intention to pursue further a system of warfare so revolting to his own feelings, and so little congenial to the British character, unless the future measures of the enemy should compel him to resort to it. To those possessions of the enemy along the whole line of frontier which have hith- erto remained undisturbed, and which are now at the mercy of the troops under his command, his Excellency has deter- mined to extend the same forbearance, and the same freedom from rapine and plunder which they have hitherto experi- enced'; and from this determination, the future conduct of the American government shall alone induce him to depart." The scene of conflagration here terminated ; neither party seemed disposed to renew a course of warfare which tended only tojhe destruction of unoffending individuals. The burn- ing of Newark, it was readily foreseen, would induce such a system of retaliation as has been described, and expose the unprotected American frontier to destruction. It excited a high degree of indignation against the commanding general. He apprehended himself to have been shot at several times at Buffalo, and retired to Batavia to avoid the resentment of the frontier inhabitants. CHAPTER XIII. Presidential Election Inaugural Address. — Meeting of the Utli Con- gress. — Message. — Treasury Report. — Report of Committee of Ways and Means. — Direct Taxes and Internal Duties. — Mr. Webster's Resolutions on the suppression of the French Decree of 28th of April, 1811 ; Report of the Secretary of State thereon. — Report of the Committee of Foreign Relations. — Massachusetts' Remonstrance against the War. — British Licenses prohibited. — Report of the Com- mittee on British Outrages. — Retaliation. — British (Maim of Natural Allegiance. — American Claim. — Proceedings with Prisoners. — Report of the Secretary of St.ite on Allegiance. — Second Session of the 13th Congress. — Message. — Confidential Communication, recommending an Embargo. — Report of Committee of Foreign Relations. — Embargo laid. — Message, and Report thereon, recommending the Repeal of the Embargo. — Treasury Report. — Expenditures for 1813. — Esti- mates for 1814. — Bounty increased. — Steam Frigate built. — Loan Bill passed. — Close of the Session. Presidential Election, March 4th, 1813. The meeting; of electors of President and Vice-President for the presidential term commencing the 4th of March, 1813, was held in the several states agreeably to law, on the 1st Wednesday of December, 1812. De Witt Clinton, of New- York, was the candidate opposed to Mr. Madison; aud was selected by the peace party, on the ground of his being opposed to the war. Mr. Madison united the votes of Vermont, New-Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and all the states south and west of Maryland, On the 10th of February, the two houses of Congress met in convention, and counted the votes; when the result appeared to be one hundred and twenty-eight for Mr. Madison, and eighty-nine for Mr. Clinton. For Vice-President, one hun- dred and thirty-one for Mr. Gerry, and eighty-six for Mr. Ingersoll. On the 4th of March, Mr. Madison was inducted into office with the usual ceremonies, when he delivered a speech to the citizens assembled on the occasion, in justifica- 274 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. VS. tion of the commencement, and continuance of the war ; con- trasting the humane manner in which it had been carried on by the United States, with the barbarities of the British and their Indian allies ; at the same time assuring his fellow-citizens, that the spirit and resources of the country were amply suffi- cient to bring it to an honourable issue. Meeting of Congress, May 24th, \8l 3. In pursuance of a law of the last session, the 13th Congress convened on the 24th of May. In the choice of a speaker, the votes were for Mr. Clay, eighty-nine ; for Mr. Pitkin, the peace candi- date, fifty-four. Message. On the 25th, the President's message was commmu- nieated, stating that he had recently received a communication from the emperor of Russia, offering his mediation, as the com- mon friend of the United States and Great Britain, for the pur- pose of making peace between them. That this offer was imme- diately accepted on the part of the United States, and three envoys appointed, and commissioned with the requisite "powers to conclude a treaty of peace with persons clothed with like powers on the part of Great Britain; and that the two envoys who were in the United States at the time of their appointment, had proceeded to join their colleague already at St. Petersburgh. That the envoys had already re- ceived another commission, authorizing them to conclude with the emperor of Russia a treaty of commerce with a view to strengthen the amicable relations, and improve the benefi- cial intercourse between the two countries. That the senti- ments of Great Britain towards the emperor were such as would produce an acceptance of the mediation, might fairly be presumed. That no adequate motives could exist for her to prefer a continuance of the war to the terms on which the United States were willing to close it. The message further remarked, that the British cabinet must be sensible, that with lespect to the important question of impressment on which the war so essentially turns, a search for, or seizure of British persons or property on board neutral vessels on the 1313. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 275 high seas, is not a belligerent, right derived from the law of nations; and that no visit, search, or use of force for any pur- pose, on board of vessels of one independent power, can be sanctioned by the laws or authority of another. It is equally obvious, that for the purpose of preserving to each stale its sea-faring members, by excluding them from the vessels of the other, a mode heretofore proposed, and now enacted by the United States as a part of their municipal policy, cannot for a moment be compared with the mode practised by Great Britain, without a conviction of its preferences, in as much as the latter leaves the discrimination between the mariners of the two nations, to officers exposed to unavoidable bia8, a5 well as from defect of evidence, to a wrong decision under circumstances precluding redress, and where a wrong de- cision, besides the irreparable violation of the rights of per- sons, might frustrate the plans and profits of entire voyages : whereas the mode adopted by the United States guards, with studied fairness and delicacy, against errors in such cases, ami avoids the effect of casual errors on the safety of naviga- tion, and the success of mercantile enterprises, [f the rea- sonableness of expectations drawn from these consideration could guarantee their fulfilment, a just peace could not be distant; but it becomes the wisdom of the national legislature to keep in mind the true policy and indispensable obligation of adapting its measures to the principle that the only course to a safe and honourable peace, in the vigorous employ- ment of the resources of war. Treasury Estimates. The principal object of this session; was to mature and bring into operation a system of interna] duties, and direct taxes, for which there was not time the last. Such an additional revenue was deemed to be necessary, as would, with that already established, pay the ordinary ex- penses of government, discharge the redeemable portion of the public debt, and pay the interest on the war loans. Mr. Gallatin having been appointed one of the envoys on the Russian mediation, the treasury department was committed to 276 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13* Mr. Jones, the secretary of the navy. On the second of June, the acting secretary of the treasury presented to the house of re preservatives a report on the state of the treasury ; from which it appeared that the balance in the treasury, on the 30th of September, 1812, was 2,362,652 69 Receipts at the treasury from that period to the 31st of March 1813, were 15,412,416 25 17,775,068 94 The issues from the treasury during the same period were 15,919,334 41 Leaving a balance in the treasury on the 1st of April, 1813, of $1,855,734 5.°> The loan of sixteen millions, authorized by the act of the 8th of February, had been negotiated upon such terms, as that the United States had received eighty-eight dollars cash for one hundred dollars of their stock, bearing six per cent, interest. The resources for the residue of the year 1013, were the balance of the loan of six- teen millions not yet received 14,913,262 The customs and sale of public lands esti- mated at ^m Treasury notes authorized to be issued un- der the act of the 25th of February, 1813 5.000.000 29,330,000 The expenses for the same period were esti- mated to be, for the civil list 900,000 Payment on account of the public debt 1 0,510,000 War and navy departments 17,820,000 29,230,000 The foregoing estimates were calculated to reach the end of the year 1813* The secretary recommends an early and 11I&T0RY OF THE LATE WAR. 21 i adequate provision for the service of 1814. He remarks, as reliance must be had upon loans for the future war ex- penses, the laying of the internal taxes must be considered with a view to that object as indispensable to facilitate the obtaining of the loan, and procuring it upon favourable terms. It had been satisfactorily ascertained, that the terms of the last loan would have been more favourable if the taxes had been previously laid. It is obvious that by affording a security for the regular payment of the interest, and eventual reimbursement of the principal, more stable and less liable to be weakened, and cut off by the effects of war, than a revenue depending, as that of the United States now almost wholly does, on exter- nal commerce, capitalists will advance with the greater readi- ness, and at a lower rate of interest, the funds necessary for f he prosecution of the war. Public confidence will be en- sured, and the means afforded of preserving public credit unimpaired. The resources of the country are ample, and if the means now proposed, and those heretofore recom- mended from this department, are adopted, it is believed they may fully and fairly be brought into action. The committee of ways and means reported a direct tax of three millions on fixed property; and the same system of internal revenue which had been brought forward, and nearly matured the last session. It embraced duties on distilleries, refined sugars, retailers' licenses, sales at auction, carriages, and negotiable paper, estimated to raise two millions, a duty of twenty cents a bushel on salt, estimated to raise $400,000, and an additional tonnage duty on foreign vessels, estimated at $900,000. As this system had been thoroughly canvassed the last session, and the necessity of an additional revenue, was becoming every day more and more apparent, it was adopted, and the necessary laws passed to give it effect, with very little debate or opposition. A furf her loan of $ 7,500.000. wa^ also authorized. 273 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13, Mr. Webster's Resolutions. On the 10th of June, Mr. Web- ster offered for consideration several resolutions, calling on the executive for information — When, by whom, and in what manner, the first intelligence was given to the American government of the French decree of the 28th of April, 1811, purporting to be a definitive re- peal of the Berlin and Milan decrees ? Whether Mr. Russell, the late charge des affaires at the court of France, ever admitted or denied the correctness of the statement of the duke of Bassano, that this decree had been communicated to Mr. Barlow's predecessor? Whether the French minister at Washington had ever in- formed the American government of the existence of such a decree ? And whether any explanation had been given by the French government ; why the decree had been concealed, together with any other information relative to the subject, not im- proper to be communicated. These resolutions formed a principal topic of debate from the 10th to the 21st of June, when the question was taken upon them, and they passed, yeas 137, nays 26. Report of the Secretary of State. On the 13lh of July, the secretary of state reported upon the subject of these in- quiries. That the first intelligence which the American gov- ernment received of the decree of the 28th of April, 1811, was communicated in a letter from Mr. Barlow, bearing date the 12th of May, and received the 13th of July, 1812. That the first intimation of the existence of that decree was given to Mr. Barlow by the duke of Bassano, in an informal con- versation, sometime between the 1st and 10th of May, 1812, and formally communicated to him on the 10th. That Mr. Barlow transmitted a copy of the decree, and the duke of Bassano's letter of the 12th of May, in which he. also inform- ed Mr. Russell, that the duke of Bassano stated to him, that the decree had been duly communicated to Mr. Russell, then charge des affaires at. France, at its date. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 279 Mr. Russell replied to Mr. Barlow's letter, stating that the first knowledge he had of the decree, was derived from his letter of the 1 1th of May. The secretary further stated, that no communication of the decree was ever made to the American government by the French minister, and no explanation given why the decree was not published, and communicated to the American government at its date. The minister of France had been asked to explain the cause of a proceeding so extraor- dinary, and exceptionable ; to which he replied, that his first intelligence of that decree was received by the Wasp, in a letter from the duke of Bassano, of the 10th of May, 1812 ; in which the duke expressed his surprise, that a prior letter of May 1811, in which he transmitted to him a copy of the decree for the information of the American government, had not been received. The light in which this transaction was viewed by the President, had been noticed by him in his message to Congress, and communicated to Mr. Barlow, in a letter of the 14th of July, with a view to the requisite infor- mation from the French government. Before the reception of that letter, the emperor and the duke of Bassano had left Paris for the north. Mr. Barlow died before any expla* nations had been given ; and his successor, recently appointed, has been instructed to demand the necessary explanation. After answering the questions proposed by the resolutions, the secretary entered into an elaborate discussion, tending to show that the repeal of the British orders in council was owing to other causes than the repeal of the French decrees^ and was not to be ascribed to that of the 28th of April, 1811. That in professedly making that decree the basis of their repeal, the British government had conceded that they ought to have repealed them on the ground of the declaration of the French government of the 5th of August, 1810, so as to take effect on the 1st of the following November; and by failing so to do, were justly chargeable with all the consequences of the war. That the final repeal of the orders in council was to be 280 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, 13. ascribed to the pressure which the restrictive system of the American government brought upon the British nation.* Accompanying the report, was the correspondence between the American and French governments, confirming the state- ments it contained. The committee of foreign relations, to whom the subject was referred, without adverting to the concealment of the de- cree by the French government, from the 28th of April, 1811, to the 10th of May, 1812, and the false declaration, that it was communicated to Mr. Russell at its date, remark : That the secretary's report, and the accompanying documents furnish strong additional proof of the justice and necessity of the war, and powerful motives for the steady and vigorous prosecution of it, as the surest means of a safe and honoura- ble peace. That it can now no longer be doubted, that it was the pressure of the restrictive measures, combined with the determination of Congress, to redress their wrongs by arms, and not the repeal of the French decrees, that broke down the British orders in council, and destroyed that dangerous system of monopoly, by which America was, in fact, as to her commerce, re-colonized. Their report concludes with a re- solution, declaring that the conduct of the executive, in relation to the subjects referred to, meets the approbation of the house. Massachusetts Remonstrance. On the 19th of June, Mr. Pickering presented a remonstrance from the legislature of Massachusetts, condemning in strong and pointed lan- guage the war, as impolitic and unjust. They state tha: of the two hundred and fifteen millions derived by the United States, under the operation of the federal constitution, Mas- sachusetts had paid more than forty millions, or about one fifth part into the national treasury. That if this sum had been preserved to her, she would have been fully compe- tent to her own defence. That she possesses a sea-coast more extensive and populous than any other state in the union ; and an extensive land frontier, now wholly abandoned by the Rrpnrtof Hie secretary of state, July 181.;. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 281 government, whos< duty it was to proteet her. That the pol- icy adopted by the general government, had brought the good people of that commonwealth to the verge of ruin ; had an- nihilated that commerce so essential to her prosperity, increas- ed their burdens while it diminished their means of support ; provided for the establishment of an immense standing army, dangerous to their liberties and irreconcileablc with the gen- ius of their constitution ; destroyed their just and constitution- al weight in the general government; and, by involving them in a disastrous war, had placed in the power of the enemy, the control of the fisheries, a treasure of more value to the country than all the territories for which they are contending, iind which furnish the only means of subsistence for thousands of her citizens, and the great nursery of her seamen, and the right to which cannot be be abandoned by New Eng- land. The remonstrance concludes, by earnestly requesting, that measures may be immediately adopted to stay the sword of the destroyer, and prevent the further effusion of human blood : that the invading armies may be forthwith recalled within our own territories, and that every effort of our rulers may be directed to the attainment of a just and honourable peace : that mutual confidence and commercial prosperity may be again restored to our distracted and suffering country ; and that by an upright and faithful administration of the gov- ernment, in the true spirit of the constitution, its blessings may be equally diffused to every part of the union. The re- monstrance was read, ordered to lie on the table, and contin- ued to the next session. British Licenses. For the purpose of procuring a supply of provisions for the British West Indies, and the combined armies in Spain, the naval olficers commanding the Ameri- can stations, had been directed by an order of council soon after the commencement of the war, to grant licenses to mer- chant vessels of the United States, laden with provisions, and bound to those places. These licenses protected them from 3G 282 HTSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12, British capture on their outward and return voyages. By means of them, a brisk and lucrative trade was carried on ; those places in a great measure relieved from the pressure of the war ; supplies obtained for the British army and navy, and British merchandise introduced into the United States. Ves- sels sailing under these licenses, had been taken by Ameri- can privateers, brought in and libelled ; the prize courts cleared them, on the ground that such trade was not prohibit- ed by law. Such a commerce was evidently inadmissible. It tended to frustrate some of the principal objects of the war. An act was passed this session, forbidding all persons from ob- taining, using or selling such licenses, on penalty of forfeiting twice the value of the vessel and eargo to be protected there- by, and a fine of five thousand dollars. Any vessel found sailing under such license, was to be considered as sailing under the British flag, and liable to be proceeded against as lawful prize. On application of the owners of privateers, the duties on prize goods were reduced to one third less than what were payable on goods imported in any other manner. Report of the Committee on the manner in which the War had been conducted. In the early part of the session, a com- mittee was appointed upon that part of the President's mes- sage which related to the spirit and manner in which the war bad been waged by the enemy. On the 31st of July, Mr. Macon, from that committee, reported, that they had collect- ed, and arranged, all the testimony that was in their power to obtain, under the following heads : — 1st. Bad treatment of American prisoners. . 2d. Detention of American prisoners as British subjects, on the plea of nativity in the dominions of Great Britain, or of naturalization. 3d, Detention of mariners as prisoners of war, who were jn England when the war was declared. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 283 4th. Compulsory service of impressed American seamen on board of 'British ships of war. 5th. Violation o( flags of truce. 6th. Ransom of American prisoners from Indians in the British service. 7th. Pillage, and destruction of private property, on the, Chesapeake bay, and in the neighbouring country. Sth. Massacre and burning of American prisoners, surren- dered to officers of Great Britain, by Indians in the British service. Abandonment of the remains of Americans, killed in battle, or murdered after the surrender to the British ; the pillage and shooting of American citizens, and the burning of their houses, after the surrender to the British, under the guarantee of protection. 9th. Outrages at Hampton. The evidence under the first head, the committee remark, demonstrates that the British government has adopted rigor- gulations, unfriendly to the comfort, and apparently un- necessar) for the safe keeping of American prisoners. It shows also, instances of a departure from the. customary rules of war, by the selection and confinement, in close prisons, of particular persons, and the transportation of them for unde- fined causes, from the ports of the British colonies to the '-land of Great Britain* The evidence under the second head, establishes the fact* dial however the fact of detaining American citizen-, or Bri- tish subjects, may be regarded, as to the principle it involves^ that such detentions continue to occur, through the agencj ol the naval and other commanders of that government ; and that however unwilling to allow other nations to naturalize her subjects, Great Britain is disposed to enforce the obliga- tion entered into by subjects naturalized under her laws. The evidence under the third head shows, that while all other American citizens were permitted to depart within a reasonable time after the declaration of war, all mariner'- who were in the dominions of Gxeal Britain at that period 284 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. whether they resorted to her ports in time of peace for law- ful purposes, or were forced into them, under pretence of il- legal commerce, are considered as prisonors of war. The testimony collected under the fourth head, proves it to be the ordinary practice of the officers of the British armed vessels, to force impressed Americans to serve against their country, by threats, corporal punishment, and the fear of immediate execution. The evidence under 'he other heads, embraced the outrages committed in the Chesapeake, and on the river Raisin, and clearly established the facts that have been related, as to those transactions. The A\hole testimony, thus collected and arranged, remains On the records of Congress ; and the report concludes with a resolution, requesting the President to have collected and presented to Congress during the continuance of the war, evi- dence of any departure by the enemy, from the ordinal) mode of conducting war among civilized nations. The next meeting of Congress was fixed on the first Monday of De- cember, and the session closed on the 2d of August. Natural Allegiance. — Queenston Prisoners. At the com- mencement of the war, a question arose on the subject of natural allegiance between the belligerents, which had well nigh proved fatal to the lives of all who were so unfortunatr as to be made prisoners on either side. Among the Americans taken at the battle of Queenston, were twenty-three persons whom he British authorities claim- ed to have been born within their dominions ; they selected these, put them in close confinement, and sent them to Eng- lank to be tried for high treason. On the part of Great Britain, it was claimed, that these persons were British born subjects, taken on British territory, in arms against theii' sovereign ; that every person born within the king's domin- ions, whether original or colonial, owed a natural, unaliena- ble allegiance to the crown, which no circumstances, t 5 mes, vr places, length of residence in foreign countries, or obliga- >iil^. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 28 u is contracted there, could dissolve. That this principle was recognised by all civilized nations, and was the univer- sal law of Europe. That however princes might permit their subjects to accept commissions, or engage in foreign service, it was always with the exception that they should not bear arms against their native sovereign, and generally with the condition, that in case their own country should be engaged in war, they should return to its defence. That a subject could not, by being naturalized in a foreign country, dissolve his allegiance; and that if, by contracting inconsistent obligations, he had subjected himself to inconveniences and hazards, he must abide the consequences. Expatriation. The American government strongly remon- strated against the proceeding, and claimed that the persons in question were naturalized American citizens, and entitled to the same treatment as other prisoners of war. The ground Laken by them was, that every person at his birth owed only a temporary allegiance to the country of his nativity, continu- ing only during his residence therein. That granting to a subject the liberty of emigrating and settling in other coun- tries, necessarily implied the liberty of changing his allegi- ance. No person could be under two obligations inconsistent with each other at the same time ; one or the other must necessarily be void. When therefore a nation freely per- mitted its subjects to emigrate, and settle in foreign countries, and received and naturalized foreigners at home, it necessa- rily implied a liberty to their emigrating subjects to change their allegiance. American citizens on board British ships, and those resident in Canada holding lands under the crown, were required to bear arms against the United States. The difference between the two nations on this subject, arose in a great measure from the different structure of the governments. Great Britain and other monarchies were originally founded on the feudal principle, that all persons born within their territories were the vassals of the crown ; and that the king had an interest, or species of property in 28G HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13, the persons, and a right to the services of his subjects. Upon this principle the European governments claimed and often exercised the right of prohibiting their subjects from leaving the realm, and ordering the return of such as had gone out. These doctrines were interwoven in their constitutions, and formed a part of their municipal code. While they affected none but the prince and his vassals or subjects, other nations had no ground of complaint, but when they were attempted to be enforced on the territory, or in the ships of another power, it became a manifest invasion of the rights and inde- pendence of that nation. The republics of the United States were founded upon the principle of an equality of rights among all the citizens, and a voluntary association for their mutual protection. That a person was not confined to the place of his birth, but was always at liberty to choose his residence in any country : that protection could be afforded only while the citizen remained within the jurisdiction that allegiance and protection were necessarily reciprocal, and co-extensive: that when a person removed out of the limits of his own government, and settled himself in another, pro- tection necessarily ceased and with it the corresponding ob- ligation of service, or allegiance. Retaliation. The remonstrances of the American govern- ment proving ineffectual, a system of retaliation was adopt- ed. Twenty-three British prisoners were selected and placed in close confinement, to abide the fate of the Queenston prisoners. Forty-six American officers were then taken and put in close confinement, to abide the fate of the twenty-three British soldiers. Forty-six British officers were then selected and confined for the purposes of retaliation. Sixteen prison- ers from American vessels were also selected, and put in close confinement at Halifax, for the purpose of being sent to Eng- land for trial, as being British born subjects. The same number of British seamen were taken by the Americans, and held as hostages. Forty-six other American officers were J Si J. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. then taken, and closely confined, to abide the fate of the last forty-six British. A cartel agreed on between General Win- der and Colonel Baynes, for the general exchange of prison- ers in Canada, was disapproved by the President, because it. excepted from its provisions, the forty-six American officers first taken; and no exchange of prisoners could be made. Under the provision of the constitution which ordains, ' : that the President shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union," the President rommunicated these facts to Congress •, and under the same provision, both houses had adopted the practice of requesting of the President information of any facts relating to the sub- jects of their deliberation. On this occasion the senate ex- tended the inquiry as to what the law of nations was upon the point of natural allegiance ; and passed a resolution request- ing " the President to cause to be laid before them such information as he may possess of the cases, with their circuniT stances, in which any civilized nation had punished its native subjects taken in arms against her, and for which punishment retaliation had been inflicted by the nation in whose service they had been taken. "' It was obvious that whatever information was to be had upon this subject, must be gained from books of history, and treatises upon the law of nations, contained in the library of Congress, and equally in the power of the senate as of the President, and the constitution had no where made it the duty of the executive, to instruct the legislature in principles of general law, The .secretary of state, to whom the resolution of the senate was referred, remarks, that by it information is demanded of the conduct of Great Britain and other powers in past times, without limitation in the retrospect, in circum- stances bearing upon the question of retaliation; and tha' these inquiries necessarily involve an extensive research in the history and jurisprudence of the nations of Europe, for which task the other duties of his office had altogether dis- qualified him. Another difficulty presented itself, not mer 283 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. lioned by the secretary ; that such a research would have brought into view cases which impugned the principles adopted by the American government. A few of the most prominent, were : Precedents. The case of Doctor Story, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was a native of England, who had long quitted his country, become a subject of Spain, and had been actually received in England as an ambassador of the Spanish government. He was afterwards indicted for treason in England, pleaded the fact of his being a Spanish subject in his justification ; his plea was overruled, and he condemned and executed. The case of Colonel Townley, who was indicted, convicted, and executed, for bearing arms against England, notwith- standing his having been naturalized in France ; and no re- monstrance or claim of retaliation on the part of the French or Spanish governments in either case. History also presents the French decree of Trianon, which provides, that no Frenchman can be naturalized abroad with- out the emperor's consent ; and such as are naturalized with consent can at no time bear arms against France. American history brings to view a law of the state of Vir- ginia, which allows a native citizen, by a formal deed, exe- cuted before witnesses, acknowledged in court, and recorded; to quit claim, and renounce his birth-right, and thenceforth be deemed as though he had never been a citizen of the state? necessarily implying that without such process, expatriation was not admissible. Also a judicial decision of the highest authority in the case of Isaac Williams ; who, being a native citizen of the United States, in the year 1792 received a lieutenant's commission, and served on board the Jupiter, a French seventy-four gun ship, and in the same year was naturalized in France, agreea- bly to the forms of law in that country, took the oath of alle- giance to the French republic, renouncing expressly, his alle- giance to all other countries, particularly to America; had ■ 813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 289 ever since continued under the government, and for most of the time, had resided in France. In the year 1799, he was indicted, and tried before the circuit court of the United States, holden by Chief Justice Ellsworth, for having, in Feb- ruary 1797, accepted a commission under the French repub- lic, and instructions to commit acts of hostility against Great Britain, contrary to the laws of the United States, and the treaty of peace between them and Great Britain. On these facts, the chief justice decided that the prisoner was a citizen of the United States at the time the acts complained of were done, and that the facts stated afforded no ground of defence. The judge remarks, that all the members of the civil commu- nity are bound to each other by compact, which cannot be dissolved by one of the partie? by hi.; own act. The com- pact between the community and its members, is, that the community should protect them, and that li.cy should at all times be obedient to the laws of the community, cuid faithful in its defence. If an emigrating citizen embarrasses himself with contradictory obligations by naturalization, the fault and folly are his own ; this implies no consent of the govern- ment, that the citizen should expatriate himself. Report of the Secretary of State. Historical researches presenting these views of the subject, the secretary, after apologizing for not going into them, merely proceeds to re- mark, that all the nations of Europe naturalize foreigners ; all employ in their service the subjects of each other, and frequently against their native countries, even when not naturalized. They all allow their own subjects to emigrate ; that although examples may be found of the punishment of their native subjects, taken in arms against them ; these ex- amples are few, and have either been marked by peculiar ci rcumstances, taking them out of the contested principle, or have proceeded from the passions or policy of the occasion. Even in prosecutions and convictions, having the latter origin, the final act of punishment has been prevented, with few ex- ceptions, by a sense, of equity and humanity, or a dread of 37 290 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. retaliation. It is confidently believed that no instance can be found, in which the alleged purposes of the enemy against the twenty-three persons in question, under the cir- cumstances which belong to their case, even though many of them may not have been regularly naturalized, are counte- nanced by the proceedings of any European nation. Tha? if no instances occur of retaliation in the few cases requiring it, or in any of them, by the government employing such per- sons, it ! >as been, it is presumed, because the punishment which has been inflicted by the native country might be ac- counted for on some principle other than its denial of the right of emigration and naturalization. Had the government employing the persons so punished by their native country retaliated in such cases, it might have incurred the reproach, either of countenancing acknowledged crimes, or of fol- lowing the example in acts of cruelty, exciting horror, rather than of fulfilling its pledge to innocent persons, in support of nghts fairly obtained, and sanctioned by the general opinion and practice of the nations of Europe, ancient and modern.*' The opinions and reasonings of the secretary appear to have been satisfactory. A bill was introduced, authorizing retaliation in cases where the President deemed it just and necessary ; which failed of passing, only on the ground that such powers were already fully contained in the general con- stitutional powers of the executive to conduct the war. Queensten Prisoners released. This unfortunate contro- versy was progressing to an alarming extent, the end of which none could foresee, when the American government received intelligence from Mr. Beasley, their commissary of prisoners in England, that there never had been any pro- ceedings against the Queenston prisoners, and that they were restored to the condition of ordinary prisoners of war. This ended the controversy ; the hostages were immediately re- * Report of the secretary of state, April 1814. 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. jy I leased on both sides ; and the general cartel for the exchange of prisoners, ratified and executed. Meeting of Congress. The second session of the 1 3th Congress, pursuant to the constitution, commenced on the Gth of December. Message. On the 7th, the President's opening message was received, in which he informed Congress, that it was a. just expectation, from the respect due to the distinguished sovereign who had invited the belligerent parties to nego- tiation under his mediation, from the readiness with which it was accepted by the United States, and from a pledge to be found in an act of their legislature of the liberality which their plenipotentiaries would carry into the negotiations, that no time would be lost by the British government, in em- bracing the experiment for hastening a stop to the effusion of blood. A prompt and cordial acceptance of the mediation was the less to be doubted, as it was of a nature, not to sub- mit rights or pretensions on either side to the decision of an umpire, but merely to afford an opportunity honourable and desirable to both, for discussing, and if possible, adjusting them for their mutual interests. The British cabinet, either mistaking our desire of peace for a dread of their power, or misled by other fallacious calculations, has disappointed these reasonable anticipations. No communication from our en- voys having reached us, the President remarks, no informa- tion has been received from that source. But it is known that the mediation was declined in the first instance, and there is no evidence, notwithstanding the lapse of time, that, a change in the British councils has taken place, or is to be expected. Under such circumstances, a nation, proud of its rights and conscious of its strength, has no choice but an ex- ertion of the latter, in support of the former. To this deter- mination, the best encouragement is derived from the success with which it has pleased the Almighty to bless the American arms, both on the land and waters. An historical view is th^n presented of the military and naval transactions rt' 292 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chip. J3 1C13, from which the President draws the foregoing infer- ence. The beneficial effects of the war to the United States is thus described. If the war has increased the interruptions of our commerce, it has at the same time cherished and multi- plied our manufactures, so as to render us independent of all other countries for the more essential branches, and is rapidly giving them an extent which will create additional staples for foreign markets. If much treasure has been expended, no inconsiderable portion of it has been applied to objects dura- ble in their nature, and necessary to their permanent safety. If the war has exposed us to increased spoliations on the ocean, and predatory incursions on the land, it has developed the national means of retaliating the former, and of providing protection against the latter; demonstrating to all, that every blow aimed at our maritime independence, is an impulse ac- celerating the growth of our maritime power. By diffusing through the mass of the nation the elements of military disci- pline and instruction, by augmenting and distributing warlike preparations applicable to future use, by evincing the zeal and valour with which they will be employed, and the cheerful- ness with which every necessary burden will be borne, a greater respect for our rights, and a longer duration of our future peace are promised than could be expected without these proofs of the national character and resources. The war has proved moreover that our free governments, like other free governments, though slow in its early movements, acquires in its progress a force proportioned to its freedom, and that the union of these states, the guardian of the freedom and safety of all and each, is strengthened by every occasion that puts it to the test. In fine the war in all its vicissitudes is illustrating the capacity and destiny of the United States- to be a great, flourishing, and powerful nation. The beneficial effects of the war, so happily portrayed in the message, in a great measure alleviated the public feelings *f regret and disappointment, at the loss of the stores at 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 293 feackett's Harbour, the disasters at Burlington and the Beaver Dams, the abandonment of the Montreal expedition, and the conflagration of the Niagara frontier. It did not, however, preclude Congress from instituting a strict inquiry into the causes of the ill success of the American arms, in the cam- paign of 1813. Embargo. i On the 9th of December, the President sent a confidential communication to Congress, stating that the tendency of the commercial and navigation laws to favour the enemy and prolong the war, is more and more developed by experience. Supplies of the most essential kind, find their way not only to British posts and garrisons at a distance, but their armies in our neighbourhood, with which our own are contending, derive from our ports and outlets a subsistence obtainable with difficulty, if at all, from other sources. Even the fleets and troops infesting our coasts and waters are by like supplies accommodated, and encouraged in their predato- ry warfare. Abuses having a like tendency, take place in our import trade. British fabrics and products, find their way into our ports, under the name, and from the ports of other countries, and often in British vessels, disguised as neutrals by false colours and papers. To these abuses it may be add- ed, that dlegal importations are openly made with advantage to the violaters of the law, by undervaluations, or other cir- cumstances involved in a course of judicial proceedings against them. It is found also, that the practice of ransom- ing, is a cover for collusive captures, and a channel for intel- ligence, advantageous to the enemy. To remedy these evils, the President recommends an em- bargo, and also a law prohibiting the importation of all articles known to be derived either not at all, or in an immaterial de- gree, from any other country than Great Britain, from what- ever port or place, or in whatever vessels they may be brought ; that all persons concerned in collusive captures, or in ransoming their vessels or cargoes from the enemy, be subject to adequate penalties ; and an enforrement of th^ 294 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Our. 13, non-importation laws with increased rigour. The message was committed to the committee of foreign relations ; and on the 10th, Mr. Grundy, from that committee, reported a bill, laying an embargo without limitation. On the 11th, Mr. Oakley, while the house had this bill under consideration, of- fered two resolutions, requesting the President to lay before the house, the evidence in his possession, of the facts stated in his message of the 9th. The house refused to consider these resolutions, yeas 54, nays 74. Sundry amendments were of- fered, tending to alter the principal features of the embargo bill, and negatived. The act passed the house of represen- tatives on the 11th of December, yeas 85, nays 57 ; and in the senate, yeas 20, nays 14. The bill prohibited the depart- ure of any vessel from the ports of jurisdiction of the United States, except their public and private armed vessels, and foreign vessels in ballast, or with such cargoes only as they might have on board at the time of passing the act. It also prohibited the putting on board any water craft, or transport- ing by land carriage, any specie, goods, wares, or merchan- dise whatever, with intent to transport the same without the United States, on penalty of forfeiting the vessel or carriage, and the lading; and the President was authorized to employ such portion of the land or naval forces as were necessary to carry into effect the provisions of the law. The effects of this measure which entirely prevented any intercourse by water, between even neighbouring ports of the same state, were felt with peculiar severity by the towns on the eastern sea-board; many of which depended on small coasting ves- sels for fuel and other necessary supplies. Under the second section of this act, the collector of New- York seized a large quantity of specie belonging to the Mas- sachusetts bank, which had been drawn from one of the banks in New- York, and was about being remitted to Boston ; as being ultimately destined for exportation. On a representa- tion to the legislature of Massachusetts, they determined it to lfll'J. illSTORY OF THE LATE WAR jyj be a flagrant violation of private rights, and requested the governor to make a representation to the President upon the subject. On such representation, the President referred the subject to the secretary of the treasury who ordered the money to be returned to the agents of the bank. Embargo raised. On the 31st of March, the President -pnt a message to Congress, in which he states that taking into view the mutual interest which the United States, and foreign nations in amity with them have in a liberal commer- cial intercourse, and the extensive changes favourable there- to which have recently taken place, and the important advan- tages which may result from adapting the state of our com- mercial laws to the circumstances now existing ; he is induced to recommend the repeal of the embargo and non-importation laws. He recommends also, in aid of domestic manufac- tures, a continuance of the double duties, for two years after the termination of the war, and a prohibition of the exporta- tion of specie for the same period. The subject was referred to the committee of foreign re- lations, who on the 4th of April presented a report to the the house, stating that, previous to the late changes in Europe, the bearing of the restrictive measures was for the most part confined to the enemy. That at present a prospect existed of extended intercourse with friendly powers, highly impor- tant to both parties, and which it may be presumed they will find an equal interest and disposition to promote. All Ger- many, Denmark, and Holland, heretofore under the double restraint of internal regulation, and external blockades, and depredations from a commerce with the United States, ap- pear by late events to be liberated therefrom. That changes equally favourable to the commerce of the United States ap- pear to be taking place, in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the more extreme ports of the Mediterranean. These considera- tions, together with those of an internal nature, equally forci- ble, among which are the augmentation of the revenue, main- tenance of the public credit, increasinji the price, and pro- 296 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. moting the circulation of the produce of the country, had in- duced them to report a bill for the repeal of the embargo and non-importation laws. A large majority of the house received this bill with the highest satisfaction, and passed it on the 7th ; yeas 115, nays 37. Treasury Report. On the 8th of January, the secretary of the treasury presented his annual report ; stating that the receipts at the treasury for the year ending the 30th of Sep- tember, 1813, were from the customs, sales of lands, and other small branches of revenue $13,568,©42 43 From loans 23,976,912 50 Balance in the treasury 2,362,659 69 Making an aggregate of $39,907,607 62 That the disbursements from the treasury during the same period have been, for civil list and msicellaneous expenses $ 1,705,916 35 Payment on account of public debt 6,317,481 15 War expenses, viz. Military 18,484,750 49 Naval 6,420,707 20 Amounting to 32,928,855 19 .Leaving a balance in the treasury on the 30th of September, 1813, of 6^,978,752 43 The estimates for the year 1814 were, Civil and miscellaneous $1,700,000 Interest on the debt existing before the war 2,100,000 Interest on the war loans 2,950,000 Reimbursements on account of principal 7,1 50,000 War expenses, viz. Military 24,550,000 Naval 6,900,000 $45,350,000 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 297 The ways and means proposed were, Customs and sales of public land, $5,6^00,000 Internal revenue and direct tax, 3,500,000 Balance of former loans, 4,720,000 Cash in the treasury unappropriated, 1,180,000 $15,000,000 Remaining to be provided for by new loans $29,350,000 for the service of the year 1814. To obtain this sum, a law was passed authorizing a loan of twenty-five millions, reimbursable in twelve years; and the issue of five millions of treasury notes, bearing an interest of five and two fifths per cent., and payable in one year. Recruiting service. In the progress of the war, the difficul- ty of raising recruits, and the filling the ranks of the army increased. The regular force calculated upon and authorized to be raised for the service of the year 1813, was sixty-one thousand. The whole number actually in service in Febru- ary 1813, amounted to only 13,970 ; in June, to 27,G09 ; in December, to 34,325 and in January 1814, to 33,822. To pro- vide for filling the ranks for the service of they ear 1814, a law was passed early in the session, offering a bounty of one hun- dred and twenty-four dollars to each soldier who should enlist for five years, or during the continuance of the war ; and right dollars for each man, was given to the recruiting officer, who should procure the enlistment. Sleam Frigate. The powers of s'.eam had recently, by the the ingenuity of Robert Fulton been successfully applied to (he purposes of navigation. It had been found by experi- ment that even large vessels might be propelled by this power. Air. Fulton formed the plan of constructing a steam frigate, adapted to harbour defencr. The ship was to be the size of the largest class of frigates, and to be armed with heavy long guns, the sides to be made impenetrable to cannon balls- It was calculated, that this battery, being propelled by steam, ould approach any of the largest British ships on the Ameri- ojg HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. can coast in a calm, and choose her own distance and position. The machinery being under deck, would be safe from the en- emy's guns, and the frigate could protect herself from board- ers, by inundating the deck with boiling water, while her crew remained under cover. This ship, it was calculated, would either sink or capture the British seventy fours, or ex- pel them from the harbours of the United States. The plan was first submitted to the principal naval officers, who express- ed their opinion that such a ship might be rendered more formidable to an enemy, than any kind of engine hitherto in- vented, and would be equal to the destruction of one or more seventy-fours, or of compelling them to depart from the har- bours of the United States ; it was therefore their opinion that the best interests of the country required that the plan be carried into immediate execution. The scheme met the approbation of Congress, and five hundred thousand dollars were appropriated to carry it into effect. The building of the ship commenced at New- York, under the direction of Mr. Fulton, early in the season of 1814; the ship was launched about the first of November; the lateness of the period be- fore she could be got in readiness, prevented a trial of her powers that season, and the peace intervening before the next, no opportunity has occurred for the experiment ; and she remains as a formidable instrument of defence against any future invasion. The sanguine friends of this system of defence were ready to lament the termination of the war before a fair experiment could be made. If it should answer their expec- tations it would be the cheapest and best mode of harbour defence ; and in a great measure supersede the necessity of ships of the line for that purpose. Debates on the Loan Bill. In the debate on the loan bill, ihe speakers took a wide range, and brought into view every subject connected with the causes, commencement, progress, and manner of conducting the war. The opposition con- tended that, with few exceptions, the progress of the war 1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 299 had manifested an utter inability in its managers, and had been one continued scene of disaster and defeat: that the ill success of the recruiting service had driven the govern- ment to the necessity of offering the most enormous bounties : that these foiling, a system of conscription must ultimately be adopted, fatal to the liberties of the citizens. The majority contended that the war was just in its origin, judiciously conducted, and had been attended with no incon- siderable degree of success : that it had ever been managed upon the most humane and liberal principles, and that the only road to a safe and honourable peace was a vigorous prosecution jf the war until the object was obtained. After a discussion of several weeks, in which the arguments on both sides were often repeated, and with little effect, the loan bill, and the other war measures passed both houses of Con- gress, by majorities of nearly two-thirds. Congress, having passed a law providing that the next session should com- mence on the last Monday in October, adjourned on the 16th of April. CHAPTER XIV. >,iate of Europe at the commencement of the year 1814. — Its Effects on the American War.— British Plan of the Campaign of 1814. — Ameri- ican System of Defence. — Arrival of the Bordeaux and Mediterra- nean Squadron and Troops in the Chesapeake. — Landing at Benedict. — March to Washington. — Battle of Bladensburgh. — Capture and Burning of Washington. — Retreat of the British Forces. — Capitula- tion and plunder of Alexandria. — Causes of the Disasters in the Dis- trict of Columbia. State of Europe. The changes which took place in Europe, soon ofter the commencement of the American war, had an important aspect upon the affairs of the United States. When the war commenced, Bonaparte was on his way to the north, with an army of half a million, to invade the dominions of the emperor of Russia ; at the same time he was engaged in a war with England and Spain, in the Spanish peninsula. The greater part of the rest of Europe was subject to his control. The professed object of his war with Russia, was to compel that power to adopt the continental system, and to exclude English productions, and commerce from her ports. In the issue of that contest, England had a deep interest; indeed it was a war upon her, through Russia. In the war in Spain, England was the principal, with the other powers of Europe, who were the allies and dependents of Bonaparte, England was necessarily at war. Under such circumstances, the American war, on the part of Great Britain, was of a defen- sive character. During the two first campaigns, England detached no greater force from her continental wars, than what she deemed necessary to maintain her possessions in America. At the close of the year 1812, the arms and cli- mate of Russia, had destroyed the French army. Only twenty thousand soldiers, the miserable remnant of the most numerous and best appointed army ever assembled in Europe. 302 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chav. 14. lived to reach France; and those half frozen, famished. broken down, and defeated troops, were fit only to people the hospitals of their country. The European nations which had been held in vassalage by the French emperor, took courage from his misfortunes, and resumed their indepen- dence. During the following winter, Bonaparte persuaded the French nation to make one more mighty struggle for universal dominion; and induced them to adopt a most rigid conscription, by which he was enabled to call into service three hundred thousand more of her citizens for the conquest of the north. In the campaign of 1813, he found Russia, Austria, Eng- land, Prussia, Sweden, Spain, and the greater part of Ger- many, united against him ; his army, consisting principally of newly levied conscripts, were unable to contend with the united forces of these powers. In a series of defeats they were driven from the north into their own country ; the capi- tal of France taken by the allied powers ; and Bonaparte obliged to stipulate for his life, and a small remnant of do- minion in the island of Elba. The Bourbons were restored to the thrones of France and Spain, under such restrictions as were calculated to ameliorate the condition of their sub- jects. At the commencement of the year 1814, Louis the 18th was placed on the French throne. Bonaparte had retired, under the protection of an English frigate to his em- pire of Elba, and tranquillity was restored to Europe. Its Effects on the War. This state of things gave an entirely new character to the American war. The whole continent of Europe was opened to British productions ; and in time of peace there was no pretence, or claim of right, on the part of England, to lay restrictions on American commerce with other powers. She had on her hands more seamen than she !iad occasion to employ, and had no inducement to seek them on board American ships. There was now no subjects of contention between the belligerent parties, but abstract questions of right, which were not at this period, and might 11314. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 303 not ever again be, of any practical importance. Had they been sincerely desirous of peace, there could have been little difficulty in adjusting the terms. During the two campaigns that had passed, neither had gained any territory from the other, or any advantages which would justify their requiring any important sacrifices from their antagonist. Human slaugh- ter and suffering on each side were nearly balanced. Six thousand had been slain in battle on land and water, about the same number incarcerated in prisons, and a number equal to both been mangled with wounds. Four hundred dwelling houses had been burned, and their miserable tenants thrown houseless upon the world. The balance of prisoners taken, and devastations committed on land, was in favour of the British: the destruction and capture of property on the ocean, was much in favour of 'ie Americans. The conquest of Canada had become hopeless ; and equally vain was any expectation, on the part of Great Britain, of acquiring any territory from the United States, or compelling them to ac- knowledge her maritime claims. America wished for peace, but Great Britain had very different objects in view. She had long considered the American settlements in the west, as calculated ultimately to destroy her influence with the Indians; to cut off her profitable fur trade, and to hazard her Cana- dian possessions ; and now rejoiced at an opportunity of ar- resting their progress. She affected to consider her contest with Bonaparte, as a struggle for the liberties of mankind, and the declaration of war on the part of America, as a league with him for her destruction. She had on hand nu- merous and well appointed fleets and armies, the officers of which dreaded a peace establishment, and were anxious to distinguish themselves on the theatre of the American war, ind retrieve the honour their country had lost in the naval • ontest of 1812. British Plan of (he Campaign of 1814. With these views Great Britain delayed all arrangements for negotiation, and prepared to open the campaign of 1314 upon an extended ,^04 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. scale. Her arrangements were, to send the flower of Lord Wellington's army against the United States ; to invade the country from Montreal by the way of Plattsburgh and lake Champlain, and penetrate as far as Albany ; to increase her naval force at Kingston, so as to command lake Ontario; to send a powerful reinforcement to the Niagara frontier; to augment her fleets on the American coast, so as to command the navigation, and destroy every thing American that should be found afloat; and with their navy, aided by a powerful land force, attack the most important and assailable points on the sea-board. These objects being accomplished, she could then require of the Americans as the price of peace, an abandonment of their maritime claims, and a sacrifice of a large portion of their western territory to her Indian allies. The British naval force was intrusted to Sir George Coch- rane, vice admiral of the red, assisted by admirals Cock- burn and Covington. Major General Ross commanded the land forces destined to co-operate with the navy on the coast. American Views. In the month of June, authentic intelli- gence was received by the American government of the com- plete success of the allies, and the consequent general paci- fication in Europe. About the same time intelligence arrived that large reinforcements from the British fleets and armies which had been engaged in the European contest were pro- ceeding to America. This intelligence entirely changed the objects of the American government in relation to the war. All views of the Canadian conquest were laid aside. In- structions were immediately despatched to their envoys in FiUrope, who had been there patiently waiting for more than a year for the appointment of envoys on the part of the British government, to waive all questions of free trade, sai- lors' rights, impressment, and blockades, and to make peace, preserving the territory of the United States unimpaired. Measures of Defence. A cabinet council was specially called, to devise measures for the defence of the capital. The district of Columbia, with parts of the adjacent slates 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 305 was constituted a distinct military district, and its defence intrusted to General Winder, aided by the wisdom of the President, and heads of departments ; fifteen thousand of the neighbouring militia were ordered in for the protection of the city of Washington, and a large flotilla of gun-boats, assigned to the Chesapeake, under the command of Commodore Harney, for the protection of the harbours and towns on the bay. A proclamation was issued, convening Congress on the 430th of September. Every effort was made to pat the country in a state of defence, to meet the approaching crisis. The large maritime towns, feeling their exposed situation, used their utmost exertions to place themselves in an attitude of defence. At Baltimore, the inhabitants of every party, age, and class, capable of labour, divided themselves into four classes, each of which wrought at the fortifications every fourth day. The citizens of the neighbouring country came in, inconsiderable numbers, and aided their brethren in constructing works of defence. In Philadelphia, New-York, Boston, Newport, and tn all the other considerable towns on the coast, the citizens universally turned out. All able to bear arms, though ex- empt from military duty, enrolled, organized, and equipped heraselves for service. Mr. Clinton, the mayor of New- York, hough opposed to the war, in the name of the city authorities., addressed his fellow-citizens in the following persuasive lan- guage: " Fellow-citizens, the city is in danger; we are threatened with invasion : it is the duty of all good citizens to prepare for the crisis : we must arm ourselves to aid the regular forces of the government in a vigorous defence. The questions are not now whether the war was just or unjust, in its commence- ment ; whether the declaration of it was politic or expedient; whether its causes have long ago ceased or not ; whether our government might or might not have brought it to a speedy termination ; or whether they have done their duty towards us since they involved us in this war. These arc solemn questions whi<-.h will one day be agitated, and which must be ^506 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chat. 14, answered hereafter. The present inquiry is, Will we defend our country, our city, our property, and our families ? Will we go forth to meet and repel the enemy ? We recommend to the whole militia of the city, to keep themselves in com- plete readiness for service, ready to march at a moment's warning; and to all our citizens, a cheerful proffer of their services to aid by voluntary labour, in the completion of the works of defence necessary for the safety of the city," This animating address called forth the energies of the citi- zens. A loan of a million of dollars was subscribed for the immediate wants of the city ; and people of every de- scription contributed their labour. On the 4th of September, a respectable number of ladies, among whom were several matrons of distinction, crossed over to Brooklyn, and forming a procession at the ferry, proceeded to fort Greene, accom- panied by the music of the Tammany society, their numbers increasing on their march, to about three hundred, and per- formed a tour of labour on the fortifications. On the 4th of July, a requisition from the President was made on the states most exposed for a corps of ninety-three thousand five hundred militia, with a request to the executives to hold in readiness for immediate service, their respective de- tachments and to fix on the places of rendezvous with a view to the most exposed points. Arrival of the British Reinforcements at Bermuda. On the 29th of May, the flower of lord Wellington's army, which had previously been employed in the seige of Bayonne, embarked at Bordeaux, under the command of General Ross, with seve- ral ships of the line, frigates, and transports, for the American service. At the same time, another large detachment from the troops in the south of Spain, for the same object, sailed from the Mediterranean. These squadrons arrived at Bermu- da, the place of general rendezvous, the last of July. Here they found Admiral Cochrane waiting their arrival, to direct their future naval operations. 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 507 British enter the Chesapeake. On the 3d of August, the whole of the Bordeaux, and about half the Mediterranean armament, with an additional squadron then at Bermuda, composing a fleet of sixty sail, under Admiral Cochrane, with a land force of six thousand, commanded by Major General Ross, sailed from Bermuda for the Chesapeake, and entered the bay on the 10th of August. The other division of the Mediterranean armament, proceeded to join Sir George Prevost in Canada. The lleet proceeded up the bay to the mouth of the Potomac, when a squadron under Commodore Gordon entered that river, and advanced towards Alexandria. The principal part of the lleet, with the land forces, continued their course to the mouth of the Patuxent, and entered the river on the 18th. Commodore Barney's flotilla of gun-boats, had previously entered that river and retired as far up as the depth of the water would admit. The British licet proceeded up the river, and on the 19th commenced landing on the left bank of the Patuxent, at Benedict, forty miles from Washington. On the 20th, the troops commenced their march up the river ; on hr 21st, reached Nottingham; and on the 22d, Upper Marlbo* rough. Commodore Barney's flotilla had reached Pig Point, two miles above Marlborough, where, finding it impossible to save his gun-boats, or prevent their falling into the hands of i he enemy, he blew them up, and proceeded to join General Winder. British land at Benedict. The object of the armament under Admiral Cochrane was the destruction of the American navi- galion, and the plunder and devastation of all the assailable points on the coast.* This flotilla of gun-boats was the most considerable object in the Chesapeake, and their retreat into the Patuxent, first led the British to that point. After they were destroyed, the admiral and general, learning at Marlbo- rough the defenceless state of Washington, determined on * Admiral Cochraoe's letter, Aug-ust 18th. 1811. b'oy HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14- their extraordinary and hazardous visit to that city.* These unfortunate gun-boats, on which the country once relied foir defence, invited the enemy to the neighbourhood of the capi- tal, and occasioned its destruction. Assembling of the American Forces. On the 19th, Colo- nel Monroe, with Captain Thornton's troop of horse, recon- noitred the enemy at Benedict. On the 20th, the George- own, and Washington city militia commenced their march to- wards Benedict, and encamped about four miles from the eastern branch bridge on .the road to Upper Marlborough, On the 21st, the marines from the navy yard, under Colonel Miller, joined the militia and marched to the wood yard, twelve miles from the city. Here they were joined by the regu- lars of the 36th and 38th regiments, and encamped for the night. Colonels Monroe and Beall joined the army at the wood-yard that night, having returned from reconnoitering the enemy, and reported that there were twenty-seven square rigged ves- sels at Benedict, and that the enemy's force might be es- timated at six thousand. Captain Herbert joined with his troops, and Colonel Laval with two companies of cavalry,. Early on the morning of the 22d, a light detachment, con- sisting of the 36th and 38th regiments, under Colonel Scott. Colonel Laval's cavalry, and three companies under Major Peter, from the brigade of General Smith, were ordered out as an advance guard, to meet and harass the enemy on their march. This detachment proceeded on the road towards Nottingham, while the main body took a position on an ele- vated piece of ground about a mile in advance of the wood- yard. General Winder with his staff, accompanied by the secretary of state, proceeded to reconnoitre. The dragoons preceding the detachment, met the advance of the enemy, and retired back to the detachment, which then fell back to the main body. Finding the enemy had taken the route by Upper Marlborough, General Winder fell back to the bat- * Narrative of the campaign of 1814, by a British officer. Jbl-1, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. >;> falion old fields, eight miles from Marlborough, and the same distance from Washington. Laic in the evening of the 22d, the President, the secretaries of war and navy, and the attorney general, joined General Winder at the battalion old fields, and remained on the ground until the evening of the 2.3d, when, from an apprehension of a night attack, it was concluded to abandon that position, and retire to the eastern branch bridge. General Winder's army was mus- tered and reviewed by the President on the morning of the 23d. It then consisted of four hundred horse, under the com- mand of Colonel Tilghman, four hundred regular troops, un- der Colonel Scott ; six hundred marines and flotilla men, un- der Commodore Barney, and Captain Miller, with five pieces of heavy ordnance, and eighteen hundred militia ; forming an aggregate of three thousand two hundred men, with seventeen pieces of artillery. The general staff consisted of the President of the United States, as captain general, the secre- taries of state, war, and navy ; the attorney general, and Brigadier General Winder. At Bladensburgh, General Stans- bury had arrived from Baltimore on the 22d with his brigade of drafted militia. The 5th regiment, consisting of the elite of the Baltimore city brigade, under Colonel Sterrett, a bat- talion of riflemen, under Major Pinckney ; and Myers's and Magruder's companies of artillery, with six field-pieces, ar- rived on the 23d. On the 18th, General Van Ness, of the Virginia militia, ordered General Young to call out the whole of his brigade, including the Alexandria militia, and to be subject to the or- ders of General Winder. Two troops of cavalry attached to this brigade, were ordered to rendezvous at Bladensburgh, to accompany the secretary of state, and be subject to his order. On the 2 2d, General Young, by order of the commanding general, marched his brigade, consisting of four hundred and fifty men, with three brass field pieces, and took a position on a height near the head of Piscataway creek, three miles in the rear of fort Washington. This disposition was intended $10 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. to aid in the defence of the fort, and the city of Alexandria, or to join General Winder, as circumstances might require. This brigade remained in this position until the morning of the 24th, when orders were given General Young to march to the eastern branch bridge to support General Winder, which were soon afterwards countermanded, and the general or- dered to cross the Potomac, by which means the service of this corps was lost. Colonel Minor, with a regiment of Vir- ginia militia, composed of six hundred infantry, and one hun- dred cavalry, arrived at Washington on the evening of the 23d, unequipped, and reported himself to the President, who referred him to the secretary at war for orders. The secretary informed him that arms and ammunition could not be obtained from the arsenal that evening, but referred him to Colonel Carbury for supplies the next morning. Colonel Carbury was not to be found, having gone out to his country- seat the preceding evening ; and it was not until afternoon of the next day, and not until after the battle, that access could be had to the arsenal for arms for this regiment. Position of the Armies on the 23d. The invading army at Upper Marlborough, on the 23d, did not exceed four thou- sand five hundred effective men, without cavalry, baggage, wagons, or means of transportation, and with but three pieces of light artillery, drawn by men. The British re- mained at Upper Marlborough until the afternoon of the 23d, when they commenced their march towards Washington by the way of Bladensburgh. Colonel Scott, and Major Peter, with light detachments, were sent out to meet and harass the enemy, and General Stansbury was ordered to proceed with the troops under his command, on the route direct to Upper Marlborough. Colonel Scott, with his detactment, met the British about six miles in advance of the main body, and after some skirmishing, retreated. The American army at the battalion old fields, were placed in a favourable attitude of defence ; they remained in their position until evening, when, apprehending the approach of the enemy, they werq W14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. JU ordered to march to Washington. The British encamped that evening three miles in front of the position which the Americans had left. The retreat of the American troops towards the city was precipitate and disorderly, believing the enemy to be in close pursuit. The secretary of state, passing through Bladensburgh at twelve o'clock at night, advised General Stansbury immediately to fall upon the British rear, as he understood they were in full march to Washington. The general having been ordered by the commander in chief, to take post at Bladensburgh, and a part of his brigade having but just then arrived, was not in a situation to comply with the wishes of the secretary ; and the British remaining quietly in their encampment during the night, such a move- ment would have been fruitless. Position of the Americans on the 24th. The retreating army halted and bivoua :ked for the night at the eastern branch bridge. Here General Winder, on the morning of the 24th, established his head-quarters with the main body, con- sisting of three thousand five hundred men, General Stans- bury four miles in front at Bladensburgh, with twenty-five hundred ; Colonel Minor with seven hundred in the city of Washington ; endeavouring to get across to the arsenal, and General Young's brigade of five hundred, twelve miles be- low, on the left bank of the Potomac ; making an aggregate of seven thousand two hundred men. Various reports were brought to head-quarters of the movements and intentions of the British. The President and heads of department assem- bled at General Winder's head-quarters in the morning of the 24th. The secretary of state, upon hearing a report that the British were marching upon the city by the way of Bla- densburgh, proceeded to join General Stansbury, to aid him in forming a line of battle. That General, on the approach of the enemy, retired from his position in advance of Bladens- burgh, and occupied the ground west of the village, on the riffht. bank of the eastern branch. Here it. was at last resolved ,T12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14, to meet the enemy, and fight the battle that was to decide the fate of the capital. Order of Battle. The front line was formed by General Stansbury and his officers, with the aid of the secretary of state. It consisted of Stansbury's brigade of infantry, Ster- rett's regiment, including the command of Major Pinckncy, and the Baltimore artillery. At the village is a bridge cross- ing the eastern branch, from which a turnpike road leads directly to the city,. About four hundred yards from this bridge, and a small distance to the left of the road, six pieces of six pounders, of the Baltimore artillery, occupied a temporary breastwork of earth, well calculated to command the bridge. Part of the company of riflemen under Major Pinckney, and one other company, took position on the right of the arfillery, partially protected by a fence and brush. On the left of the artillery, leading to a barn in the rear, two companies from the regiment under Colonel Shultz, and the other part of the Baltimore riflemen were posted. Colonel Progan took post in the rear of Major Pinekney, his right resting on the road 5 Colonel Shultz continuing his line on the left with a small vacancy in the centre of the two regi- ments. Colonel Sterrett formed the extreme left flank of the infantry. At this moment, Colonels Beall and Hood entered Bladensburgh with two regiments of Maryland militia from Annapolis. They immediately crossed the bridge, and took position on a commanding height on the right of the turnpike, three hundred yards from the road, to secure the right flank. At eleven o'clock, intelligence reached General Winder's head-quarters from the reconnoitering parties, that the British were in full march for Bladensburgh. The whole main body, except a few men left at the eastern branch bridge to destroy it, were immediately put in motion. The march was rapid; the cavalry and mounted men as they arrived, took post on the left flank. The troops from the city were formed as they arrived. Captain Birch, with three pieces of artillery, was stationed on the extreme left of the infantrv-of the first linr„ 1S14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 313 and a rifle company near this battery to support it. At twelve o'clock, the secretary at war, the President, and the other heads of departments, arrived, and examined and approved the disposition of" the troops. They were proceeding at full speed towards the point where the enemy were advancing, when they were stopped by Colonel Simmons, informed of heir danger, and immediately returned to the city. This for- tunate circumstance prevented the capture of the American President and suite. At this moment the enemy entered Bla- densburgh. The officers were rapidly forming the second line. Commodore Barney's flotilla men and marines came up at quick time, and formed on the right of the main road, in a line with the Annapolis militia. The heavy artillery were planted in the road, and three twelve pounders to the right, commanded by Captain Miller. Lieutenant Colonel Kramar, with a battalion of Maryland militia, was posted in a wood in advance of the marines, and of Colonels Beall and Hood's 'ommand. The regiment under Colonel Ma■ — - — * _—___ — "~ * Capitulation of Alexandria [314. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. it, and tranquillity was restored. The British squadron, having completed its object at Alexandria, commenced its return. Measures to obstruct the return of the Squadron. A series of powerful exertions were made by Commodores Rodgers, Porter, and Perry, with the men under their command, aided by the Virginia militia, to interrupt their passage down the river. Porter and Perry proceeded to take the most com- manding stations, and erect batteries on the river bank, while Kodgers prepared a flotilla of fire ships and boats to attack (hem in rear. Porter took a station at the white house on the west bank. On the evening of the first of September, he arrived on the ground with the secretary of state, and Generals Hungerford and Young, and immediately proceeded to clear the ground, and prepare for mounting the cannon, then momently ex- pected from Washington. The militia were ordered to take post in the woods on the high banks of the river, to annoy the enemy with their musketry as they passed. At the first moment of Commodore Porter's arrival, an eighteen gun brig was seen approaching the pass. General Hungerford imme- diately took post with his militia in the wood ; and two small pieces arriving at the same time, were planted on the edge of the bank, and opened a brisk fire. As the brig came abreast of the battery, being favoured with a fine breeze, she fired one broadside, and passed on. The militia followed some distance along the bank, firing at the men on deck. On the same evening, two eighteen pounders arrived, and augmented the battery. The next morning a bomb ship and two barges, one carrying a long thirty-two pounder, and the other a mor- tar, commenced an attack on the battery. The bomb ship anchored out of the reach of the guns, and commenced throw- ing shells. The two barges at the same time flanking the battery on the right. The firing continued all day without intermission, and wiUi little injury to the Americans. In the afternoon, Commodore Porter removed one of his eighteen :J24 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR- Chap. 14. pounders to a more commanding position, where he could reach the enemy's ship. On the 3d, the British were rein- forced by another bomb ship and a sloop fitted up as a rocket vessel. On the whole of this day, and the succeeding night, the ships, kept up a constant fire of shot, shells, and rockets. In the course of the day, the prizes laden with the plunder of Alexandria arrived, and anchored out of the reach of the guns. Five additional field pieces arrived from Washington, and a fur- nace for heating shot was erected. A constant fire was kept up from the ships during the fourth and fifth. One attempt was made to land which was prevented by the pickets. The rocket ship lying close in shore, was much cut up by a twelve pounder, which had been removed to a position on the bank, so as to reach her. On the 5th, several thirty-two pounders, two mortars, and a supply of ammunition arrived from Wash- ington : carpenters had arrived a»d were employed in mount- ing the guns, and every preparation was made to prevent the passage. On the same evening the two frigates arrived, and anchored above the battery. The whole British force now consisted of ten vessels, mounting one hundred and seventy- tkree guns. The battery had thirteen mounted guns ; the two mortars and all the thirty-two pounders were destitute of carriages. At twelve o'clock, on the 6th, the two frigates got under weigh, with the tide and a fair wind, and stood down for the battery, the other vessels following in succession. On observing the vessels to be getting under weigh, Commodore Porter despatched an officer to general Hungerford, request- ing him to resume his position in the woods, to annoy the enemy with his musketry ; but from the distance of his camp and the rapid approach of the British, he was unable to march before the firing commenced, and after that period, the shot, shells, and rockets, which showered over the hills from the ships and fell among his troops, prevented their approach. The whole of the British force now anchored abreast of the battery, and by shifting their ballast brought ?heir guns to beer. Commodore Porter kept up a well 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 225 directed fire of hot shot on their approach, and for an hour after their anchoring, when finding himself completely over- powered, he retired behind a hill on his left. The ships im- mediately weighed anchor, and passed on, pouring their broadsides on the battery, and into the neighbouring woods, as they passed. A company of Virginia riflemen on the right, and of militia on the left, annoyed the enemy's decks with considerable effect.* After the smaller ships had passed, the frigates proceeded down the river and anchored abreast of the Indian head. Commodore Porter launched a torpedo after the ships, which exploded at nine o'clock without effect. Commodore Perry had taken post at the Indian head, and erected a battery of one eighteen pounder, and several sixes; with these he kept up a well directed fire on the ships as they passed, and sustained their fire for an hour, when finding all his efforts unavailing, he retired out of the reach of the British fire, and the squadron passed on to the bay without further opposition. While these transactions were taking place in front, Com- modore Rodgers was operating with his fire ships on their rear. On the 3d, he proceeded from Washington down the river, with three fire ships, the object of which was to destroy the two frigates and a bomb ship, which lay three miles be- low Alexandria. He conducted the fire ships within range of musket shot, and fired them; but the wind failing, the ob- ject was defeated. A second attempt was made on the 4th, when the Commodore proceeded down the river with another fire ship, and came within a mile of the enemy's sternmost vessels just at the time they had succeeded in silencing Commodore Porter's battery ; here the ship was fired and drifted down towards the squadron, but without any success- ful issue. The invasion of the district of Columbia, the capture of the cities of Washington and Alexandria, and the destruction * Commodore Porter's letter to the secretary of the navy. 226 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. U. of the public and private property, with so little injury to the invaders, and in so short a period, filled the people of the United States with surprise and regret. The events of the last twelve days of the month of August could scarcely be credited. The site of the city of Washington had been selected for the capital of the United States, as a place ofperfect security. Here the united wisdom and military skill of the nation were sup- posed to be centered. On the 24th of August, the President as commander in chief of the military of the United States, had at his command, a regular army of forty thousand men, and eight hundred thousand militia ; any or all of whom he had power to order to the defence of the capital. Within the compass of fifty miles, the distance which General Ross's army marched from their place of landing to reach the city, was a population of two hundred thousand, itself furnishing a force of at least twenty thousand men, capable of bearing arms, whose property, families, and fire-sides were exposed : to which may be added, upwards of a thousand regular troops, stationed at different points in the district •, an arsenal, sup- plied with munitions of war, sufficient to arm any force that might be called in ; an immense public and private property to be defended, and the national honour and character to be protected from insult in the capitol. Posterity will hardly credit the story, that in such a state of things, a British force of four thousand five hundred men landed at Benedict, and after a deliberate march of fifty miles, occupying five days' time, put to flight the President, the heads of departments, the commanding general of the district, and all opposing force, and on the evening of the 24th entered the city, de- stroyed the capitol, and plundered and destroyed all the pub- lic, and as much private property as they chose ; commenced their return on the 25th, and reached their ships on the 29th, and re-embarked, without opposition: that two frigates and half a dozen small craft should ascend the Potomac two hundred miles ; pass a fort without oppo- sition, erected on a commanding position, expressly for the 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 327 purpose of protecting the district and capitol ; compel the principal city to accept a most humiliating capitulation, and submit to be rifled by a contemptible squadron. The events of this period will be the less credited, when contrasted with the invasion and capture of General Burgoyne in 1777, when a British general with double the force, venturing only about the same distance from his ships into a country very sparsely inhabited, was surrounded and captured with his whole army. Report of Committee of Investigation. Early in the ses- sion of Congress immediately succeeding these events, a com- mittee of the house of representatives was appointed to in- quire into, and report the causes that led to them. The com- mittee investigated and reported all the facts connected with the subject, with great accuracy and minuteness ; and re- marked that in their opinion, the means authorized for the security for the 10th military district by the President of the United States, in a cabinet council of the 1st of July, were ample and sufficient, as to the extent of the force, and sea- sonable as to the time when the measures were authorized. Having exculpated the President, they leave it to Congress and the nation to draw their own conclusions from the facts detailed by the committee.* These facts very much divide and equalize the blame among the different actors. Public sentiment, however, at Washington, laid much the greater share of it upon the secre- tary at war; and obliged him to resign. On the 29th of August, the President informed him, that a high degree of ex- citement had been raised among the militia of the District of Columbia ; one officer of that corps had given notice, that he would no longer obey any order coming through General Armstrong as secretary at war; and that he must so far yield to this impulse, as to permit some other person to perform the duties of that office, in relation to the defence of the district. * Report of the committee of investigation. ,328 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14, To this proposition the secretary replied, that the excite- ment was without foundation, proceeding from vile and prof- ligate motives ; that he should never consent to surrender a part of his legitimate authority for the sake of preserving the residue ; and that if the President's decision was taken in conformity to the suggestions he had made, he wished him to accept his resignation. This was offered and accepted, and the duties of the office of secretary at war, temporarily in- trusted to the secretary of state. Causes of the Capture of Washington. After the lapse of ten years, the causes which produced these unfortunate results may be more distinctly observed by a comparison of the principal facts and portrayed with less injury to individual reputation. They may be classed under three heads ; a fail- ure of seasonably obtaining the requisite number of militia ; want of system in the plan of defence ; and want of courage. Late arrival and insufficient numbers of the Militia. Of the fifteen thousand militia destined for the defence of Washington, five thousand were to be drawn from Pennsylvania. The orders for this purpose issued from the war office on the 1 7th of July, but did not reach General Winder until the 8th of August, nor the governor of Pennsylvania until the 23d ; there was of course a total failure of that corps. Despatches on which the safety of the capital might essentially depend, ought not to be trusted to the uncertainty and irregularity of mails. The militia regulations of Pennsylvania were at this period in such a situation, that the orders could not have probably been complied with, had they been seasonably received ; but this fact ought to have been known, and the deficiency sup- plied from some other source. Nearly one half of the other requisitions failed of being complied with, so that instead of fifteen thousand, the commanding general had at no time, more than about six thousand militia at his command : the late arrival of these rendered their services of little value. To have made them effectual, they should have been on the ground at least several days for the purpose of being mustered. HISTORY OF THE L v III \\ AR. 329 armed, disciplined, and taught what was expected from them. Some of the Maryland corps had been on the ground two days, some arrived on the evening before, and some only half an hour previous to the battle. The other militia were equally late. It is evident that different bodies of men. thus hastily called from their occupations, and unacquainted with each other, were illy qualified to meet a veteran foe in the open field. Most of the Virginia militia were not in season to take any part in the action. The unaccountable neglect at the arsenal, which prevented Colonel Minor's corps from obtaining supplies, greatly contributed to the misfortunes of the day. An addition of six hundred infantry and one hun- dred cavalry at Bladrnsburgh at twelve o'clock on the 24th, would probably have produced a very different result. But. Colonel Cranberry was at his country-scat, and Genera) Armstrong did not see tit to attend to the delivery of the sup- plies himself, and the troops were detained from the field. Why the corps under General Young, stationed a few miles below the city, was not ordered up for its defence, is a ques- tion which has never been answered. In a case of so much urgency, it was expected that the energies of the nation would have been put forth, to call a sufficient armament seasonably into the field. If militia were not to be procured in one place, they might have been in another, and the district de> fended. Want of a System of Defence. Another very operative cause of the misfortunes of the day was the want of a sys- tematic plan of defence. In making arrangements for meet, ing the enemy, some eligible position should have been taken between Benedict and Washington ; the forces there concen- trated, formed, and prepared for action. Some rallying point should also have been fixed on, and clearly understood by all the troops, to which they were to be conducted in case of de- feat. Where the point should have been, for the ultimate meeting of the enemy, and the decision of the fate of the capitol, was perhaps of less consequence, than thai one should hai i 33© HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14, been somewhere fixed. Had the militia been seasonably assembled, perhaps the most eligible place would have been in the forests through which the enemy had to pass from Benedict to Marlborough; where their road might have been abatted, and the militia and riflemen have been eminently usr- ful. It was here the British expected the first rencontre with the Americans, and proceeded with the utmost caution ; but the lateness of the arrival of the militia prevented such an arrangement. The first position taken, with a view to meet the enemy, was at the battalion old fields; but this was aban- doned without attack on the evening of the 23d, and the main body precipitately hurried to the eastern branch bridge. It. appears not to have been determined to make a stand at Bla- densburgh until the enemy were in full march, and within a few miles of that point. The arrangements were then very hastily made, and the main body which had been harassed by a precipitate retreat the evening before, were now hurried back to the scene of action, and had not time to form before i lie battle commenced ; and the first line, not being effectually supported by the reserve, was thrown into confusion, and fled, their officers knew not where, not having fixed any rallying point for their re-assembling. Probably the very circum- stance which was much relied on for the defence of the city, that the commanding general would be assisted by the mili- tary talents of the cabinet, was a principal cause of the de- feat. It distracted his measures, lessened his responsi- bility, and subjected him to continual embarrassment. Want of courage in the troops engaged, has been assigned as another cause of the unfortunate events of the 25th. Where so great an object was at slake, and the balance of numbers and preparation evidently on the side of the Americans, the public had a right to expect that the contest would not have been given up, without a much more severe struggle. It is not however intended, that there was any extraordinary de- ficiency of bravery in these troops, more than in others, called together under like circumstances. Assembled in the moment 1314. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 331 of action, unacquainted with each other, uninstructed in the duties of the field, and disheartened by a precipitate retreat the result may be accounted for without imputing to this corps any innate want of courage. The committee of investigation explicitly declare that General Winder conducted with firm- ness and bravery during the engagement, and that he and the other officers used every exertion to rally the troops, and prevent the flight. The safety of the cities on the Potomac above fort Wash- ington depended entirely upon that garrison. When it was known that a naval force had entered the river for the avowed purpose of attacking the district of Columbia, it was to have been expected that the fort would have been put in a com- plete state of defence, the garrison increased, and orders given to defend it to the last: instead of this it was but illy supplied, garrisoned only by a captain's command, and or- ders given to abandon it on the approach of danger. This at once exposed the cities bordering on the river above to the ravages of the enemy. Captain Dyson, the commandant, was indeed arrested, tried by a court martial, convicted, and cash- iered. Still a great share of the blame of abandoning that position attaches itself to higher authority. I IIAPTER XV. Admiral Cochrane's Letter, threatening to lay waste the Coast.— The Secretarj 's Reply. — The President's Proclamation. — Baltimore threa- tened. — Plan of Defence. — Landing- of the British on the Patapsco. — General Ross slain. — Battle of the 12th September. — British re- connoitre the American Lmes and retreat. — Re-embark. — Attack on Fort M'Henry — Brave Defence. — British repulsed. — Proceed down the Bay. — Leave the Chesapeake. — Burning- the Shipping at Petti- paug-. — Attack on StoningTon. — Gallant Defence. — Capture of East- port. — Castine, and the Eastern Coast. — Destruction of the Frigate Adams. — Plunder of the Towns on the Coast of Massachusetts. Admiral Cochrane's Threats. On Admiral Cochrane's ar- rival in the Chesapeake, he was joined by Admiral Cock- burn's squadron of three ships of the line, several frigates, and smaller ships of war, which had been pursuing the same system of plunder and rapine, for several months on the counties bordering on the bay, which they had practised the preceding season. The whole fleet, now consisted of sixty sail. That the government and country might be at no loss what species of warfare was intended to be carried on by this ar- mament, the admiral addressed a note to the secretary of state, dated the 18th of August, declaring that he had been called upon by the governor general of the Canadas, to aid him in carrying into effect measures of retaliation against the inhabitants of the United States, for the wanton destruction committed by their army in Upper Canada ; and that in com- pliance therewith he should issue orders to the naval force under his command, to destroy and lay waste such towns And districts on the coast as might bk found assaila- ble. He proceeds to remark, with an affected air of humanity, that he had hoped this contest would have terminated withou; being obliged to resort to severities, which are contrary to 334 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 14. the usage of civilized warfare ; that it was with extreme re- luctance he had been compelled to adopt this system of de- vastation, and hoped the executive of the United States would authorize the staying of such proceedings, by making repara- tion to the suffering inhabitants of Upper Canada.* These threats were not communicated to the American government until after the events at Washington and Alexan- dria had shown the manner in which they were intended to be executed. Secretary's Reply. — On the 9th of September, the secre- tary of state replied, that at the commencement of the war, the United States had resolved to conduct it in a manner most consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those friendly relations which it was desirable to preserve between the two nations on the return of peace. They perceived, however, with the deepest regret, that a spirit alike humane and just, was neither cherished nor acted upon by the British government. Without dwelling upon the deplorable cruel- ties committed by the savages, in the British ranks and British pay, on American prisoners at the river Raisin, which had never been disavowed nor atoned, the secretary referred him to the wanton desolation committed at Havre-de-Grace and Georgetown, stating, that these villages were burned and ravaged by the naval forces of Great Britain, to the ruin of their unarmed inhabitants, who saw with astonishment, that they derived no protection from the laws of war; that during the same season, scenes of invasion and pillage car- ried on under the same authority, were witnessed all along the shores of the Chesapeake to an extent, inflicting the most se- rious private distress, and under circumstances that justified the suspicion that revenge and cupidity led to their perpetra- tion ; the late destruction of the houses of government at Washington, is another act which necessarily comes into view. In the wars of modern Europe, no example of the " Admiral Cochrane'^ letter to the secretary of state, August 18th, 1814. 1014. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 335 kind, among nations the most hostile to each other, can be traced. In the course of ten years, most of the capitals of the principal powers of the continent of Europe have been conquered and occupied by the victorious armies of each other, and no instance of such wanton and unjustifiable de- struction has been seen ; resort must be had to distant and barbarous ages to find a parallel. Although these acts of desolation incited, if they did not im- pose on the government the necessity of retaliation yet in no instance had been authorized. The burning of the village of Newark, posterior to the outrages in 1813, was not done on that principle. That village adjoined fort George, and its destruction was justified by the officer who ordered it, on the ground that it became necessary in the military operations in • hat quarter. The act, however, was disavowed by the gov- ernment. The burning at Long Point on lake Erie was un- authorized, and the conduct of the officer subjected to the in- vestigation of a military tribunal. For the burning at St. Davids, committed by a few stragglers, the officer who com- manded in that quarter was dismissed without a trial for not. preventing it. It as little comports with any orders which have been issued to the military and naval commanders of the United States, as it does with the established and known hu- manity of the American nation, to pursue a system which the British government appears to have adopted. This govern- ment owes it to itself, and to the principles which it has ever held sacred, to disavow, as justly chargeable to it, any such acts of wanton, cruel, and unjustifiable warfare. Whatcvci unauthorized irregularities may have been committed by any of its troops, it w r ould have been ever ready, acting on the principles of sacred and eternal obligation, to disavow ; and as far as might be practicable, to repair. But in the plan of desolating warfare, now so explicitly made known, and at- tempted to be executed on a plea so utterly groundless, ap- pears a spirit of deep rooted hostility, which, without the evi- dence of sueh facts, would not have been believed to ex 336 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 15, or to have been carried to such an extremity. For the repa- ration of injuries of whatever nature not sanctioned by the laws of civilized nations, which the military or naval force of either power may have committed against each other, this government will always be ready to enter into reciprocal ar- rangements, and it is presumed the British government will neither expect, nor propose any other.* To this letter Admiral Cochrane, on the 19th of September, answered, that he had no authority to enter upon a discussion of the points therein contained : that there did not appear to be any hope that he should be authorized to recall the gen- eral order he had issued : that he should forward a copy of the letter to his government, and until he received instructions to the contrary, the measures he had adopted would be per- sisted in, unless remuneration be made to the inhabitants of the Canadas for the outrages committed on them by the troops of the United States.* These threats were carried into execution by a series of disgraceful plunder and pillage on those accessible points in the Chesapeake which had escaped the ravages of the last ■season ; and awakened in the citizens on the sea-board, appre- hensions of the most alarming kind. They were now called upon to defend their property, their families, and fire-sides, from immediate destruction. On the 1st of September, the President returned to Wash- ington ; and from the ruins of the capitol, issued a proclama- tion giving publicity to Admiral Cochrane's letter ; stating that the conduct of the British left no prospect of safety to any thing within the reach of his predatory and incendiary operations, but in a manful and united determination to chas, tise and expel the invader ; urging all the citizens of the United States to unite their hearts and hands in giving effect to (he ample means possessed for that purpose ; enjoining al! * Secretary of state to Admiral Cochrane, September 9th, 1814. Admiral Cochrane to the secretary of state, Sept. 19th. 1014. 1614. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. J3? Dfficers civil and military to exert themselves in executing the duties with which they were respectively charged; and re- quiring the officers commanding the military districts to be vigilant and alert in providing for their defence ; and author- izing them to call to the defence of threatened and exposed places, portions of the militia most convenient thereto, wheth- er they were parts of the detached quotas or not. The pro- clamation Concludes with observing that on an occasion that appeals so forcibly to the proud feelings and patriotic devo- tion of the American people, none will forget what they owe to themselves, to their country, and to the high destinies which Hwait it, what to the glory of their fathers in establishing that independence which is now to be maintained by their sons, with the augmented strength and resources with which hea- ven has blessed them.* The governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New-Jersey, issued addresses to their respective citizens breathing the same spirit ; ordering their militia to hold themselves in immediate readiness, directing detachments to march to the most exposed points, and calling on volun- teers to defend their country. These patriotic addresses were answered by voluntary offers of service in many in- stances, more than were required. Attempt on Baltimore. After the successes at Washington and Alexandria, the next and most inviting object for British cupidity was the city of Baltimore. General Ross, elated with his recent success, boasted that he would make that city his winter -quarters, and that with the force under his command he could march where he pleased in Maryland. On the 10th of September, the British forces appeared ascending the bay, in a direction towards Baltimore. On the 11th, fifty sail consisting of several ships of the line, frigates,and transports, with six thou- sand men, entered the mouth of the Patapsco ; and early in the * President's proclamation, Sept 1st 1814. o3U HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 16- morning of the 12th, commenced landing at NorthPoint, four- teen miles below the city. Defence of the City. The defence was intrusted to Major General Smith, of the Maryland militia, assisted by General Winder and all theUnited States troops which had been recent- ly engaged at Washington, and supported by all the militia oi Baltimore and the neighbouring country, the whole composing a force of fifteen thousand. Every citizen of Baltimore capable of bearing arms appeared in the ranks,ready to sacrifice his life in defence of the city. The point selected by General Smith, where the ultimate defence was to be made, was upon the heights three miles in advance of the city towards the mouth of the Patapsco. Here the citizens with great labour had, under the direction of their general, erected strong fortifications. The general, with the main body, took post at this point with a heavy park of artillery. General Strieker, with the city volunteers and militia, to the number of three thousand five hundred, was posted four miles in advance at the head of long log lane, his right on the head of a branch of Bear creek, his left on a marsh, and the artillery posted at the head of the lane. Th e rifle corps were stationed in the low thick pines, in advance. General Strieker was ordered, in case of an attack by a superior force, to fall back on the main body. In this position the Americans waited the approach of the enemy. The whole population of the city came out to witness, the event on which their safety depended, and, on the neigh- bouring heights, animated their brethren in arms. The Brit- ish, having completed the debarkation by seven o'clock in the morning, took up their line of march for the city. The 41st regiment in advance, followed by eight pieces of artillery, next the second brigade, then the sailors, and last the third brigade. The inarch of the main body was preceded by blank patroles, and reconnoitering parties. Battle at Long Log Lane. In this order they approached the American lines. General Ross, with a small reconnoi- tering party, half a mile in advance of the main body, was 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 539 shot through the breast by a rifleman, fell into the arms of his aid-de-camp, and died in a few minutes. By this event, the. command devolved on Colonel Brook, of the 44th; who, after the troops had recovered from the shock occasioned by the loss of their leader, led them on in order of battle. The advance of General Strieker, consisting of cavalry and rifle- men, under Major Heath, were first met by the enemy, and after some skirmishing, fell back on the line. The main body of the British were but a short distance in rear of their ad- vance ; and as they came up, the action immediately became general. The attack commenced by a discharge of rockets from the British, and was soon succeeded by grape, canister, and small arms from both sides. General Strieker maintained his position against a great superiority of numbers for an hour and an half, when the regiment on his left giving way, he was obliged to retire to a position in the rear where he had sta- tioned one regiment as a reserve. Here the troops were formed, with the reserve, and without further molestation from the British, fell back to Worthington mills on the left, and half a mile in advance of the main body. On the nigln of the 12th, the British bivouacked in advance of the battle ground; and on the morning of the 13th, commenced their march towards the city. At ten o'clock, they appeared in front of the American lines, distant two miles on the Phila- delphia road. Here they halted, pushing their advance within a mile of the works; where they had a full view of the position and defence of the Americans. They remained on this ground, reconnoitering the works, and waiting the result of the attack on fort M'Hcnry until one o'clock in the morning of the fourteenth, when they commenced a retreat to their shipping, began their embarkation the succeeding evening, and completed it the next day. Attack on Fort M'Hcnry. The entrance from the Patapsco into Baltimore basin, or harbour, is by a narrow strait, the passage of which is defended by fort M'Hcnry, two miles be- low the city. The command of this post was intrusted to •HO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Caxr. ?;>. Major Armistead, of the United States artillery. The garri- son, before the appearanee of the enemy in the Patapscu, amounted to one hundred men; on their approach, it w;t- increased to a thousand. Two batteries to the right of the fort were erected on the river to prevent the enemy's landing during the night, in rear of the town ; the one called the city battery, was manned by Lieutenant Webster, with a detach- ment of the flotilla ; the other, denominated fort Covington, by a company of sailors, under Lieutenant Newcomb. The British designed a simultaneous attack by land and water, and while the transports were landing the troops at north point, the ships of war proceeded towards fort M'Henry. On the 12th, sixteen ships, including five bomb vessels, drew up in line of battle, within two and a half miles of the fort ; and on the 13th at sunrise, the attack commenced from the bomb ships at two miles distance. The regular artillerists under Captain Evans, and the volunteers under Captain Nicholson, manned the batteries in the star fort. Captains Banbury's. Addison's, Rodman's, Perry's , and Pennington's commands, were stationed in the lower works ; and the infantry under Colonel Stewart, and Major Lane, were in the outer ditch to meet the enemy at his landing, should he attempt one. The guns from the fort were unable to reach the British ships, and left the garrison exposed to a constant shower of shot and shells, without being able to do the enemy any injury. At ten o'clock, three of the bomb ships took a nearer position, on which a brisk fire opened upon them, and com- pelled them to resume their former station. At one o'clock in the morning of the 14th, the British threw a considerable force above the main works, on the right near fort Covington, and commenced throwing rockets. Twelve hundred picked men were detached with scaling ladders, to attempt the taking of the fort by storm. As they were approaching the shore. a fire opened upon them from fort Covington, and a six gun battery. The fire wss directed by the blaze of their rockets^ and the flashes of their guns. This fire continued about two W14, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR: , | | hours ; the landing was prevented, one of the barges sunk, and the others compelled to return. The bombardment con- tinued with very little intermission, from sunrise on the 13th to seven o'clock on the 14th, when the squadron got under weigh, and stood down the river. Four hundred shells fell within the fort; four men were killed, and twenty-four wounded. The officers and men of the garrison did their duty ; and by their brave and judicious conduct, the British were repulsed, and the city saved from pillage. In the battle of the 12th, the American loss was twenty- four killed, one hundred aud thirty-nine wounded, and fifty taken prisoners. The British acknowledge a loss in the same battle of thirty-five killed, and two hundred and fifty- one wounded. Their whole loss in killed, wounded, and missing in the battle, and at the attack on the fort, was esti- mated by the American general at six hundred. The defeat of the British in their attempt on Baltimore, was highly hon- ourable to General Smith, who planned, and conducted the operations, and to the officers and men engaged in the de- fence. It banished the desponding apprehensions of the other exposed cities, and taught them that freemen in arms in defence of their country, are invincible. Robert G. Harper accompanied General Strieker as a volunteer, and was found in the advance in the battle of the 12th. James L. Donald- son, one of the city representatives, was among the slain. Al- most the whole loss fell on the city brigade, which being com- posed of the elite of the city, took their stand in the front line at the post of danger, and fought with distinguished bravery in defence of their altars and fire-sides. The inhabitants mourned the loss of many of their valuable fellow-citizens, and erected a splendid monument to their memory in the centre of the city. After the battle, the British land and na- val commanders, in a council of war, wisely determined that though the city might be taken by their forces, yet it would probably cost them more than the object was worth; and concluded to abandon it. They proceeded down the bay, ,542 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. I ... nnd after landing and pillaging at several points where re- sistance was not to be expected, the whole armament left the waters of the Chesapeake ; Admiral Cochrane, with a part of the squadron, sailed for Halifax 5 and Admiral Malcomb, with the remainder, and the land forces, for Jamaica. Pettipaug Point. The blockade of the harbour of New- London and the frigates United States and Macedonian, contin- ued during the year 1814. On the 7th ol April, a detachment from the blockading squadron of six barges with upwards of two hundred men, in execution of the plan of destroying all American shipping, proceeded to the mouth of Connecticut river and ascended it seven miles to Pettipaug point, where they arrived at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 8th, and burn- ed twenty-two vessels which had been moored there as a place of safety. The village consisting of about thirty houses and a number of stores, was exposed to conflagration by the burn- ing of the shipping. Several houses took fire, but were ex- tinguished by the exertions of the inhabitants who remained in the village, and were suffered to put out the fires. The pro- perty destroyed was estimated at $150,000. The inhabit- ants had no notice of the approach of the enemy, until the vessels were on fire. At ten o'clock the British left the village and proceeded two miles down the river, where they lay until evening, and then returned to their ships. The militia col- lected in considerable numbers from the neighbouring towns, but were unable to prevent the return of the enemy. Attack on Stonington. On the 9th of August, a detachment from the squadron off New- London, consisting of the flag ship Ramilies 74, Pactolus 38, a bomb-ship, and the Despatch brig of 22 guns, appeared off Stonington point. At five o'clock a note was addressed to the magistrates of the village by the commodore, informing them that one hour from the receipt of the note was allowed them for the removal of the unoffending inhabitants and their effects. The officer who brought the note was inquired of whether a flag would be received from the magistrates ; his reply was, that no arrangement could be 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 343 made. On being risked whether Commodore Hardy had de- termined to destroy the town, he replied, that such were hi? orders from Admiral Cochrane ; and that it would be done most effectually. On receiving this communication, the vil- lage was thrown into the utmost consternation. The most valuable articles were hastily removed or concealed. The >ick and aged were removed, the women, children, and inhab- itants incapable of bearing arms, fled to the neighbouring farm- houses. A few militia stationed at the point, under the com- mand of Lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best positions to give notice of any attempt to land. A number of volun- teers hastened to the battery on the point, which consisted of two eighleens, and one four pounder mounted on field carria- ges, protected by a slight breastwork. An express was im- mediately despatched to General Cushing at New-London, the United States commanding general of the district, with a request for immediate assistance. The general considered this as a feint intended to mask a real attack on fort Griswold, which commanded the harbour of New-London ; that the object of the enemy was to draw the regular troops and mili- tia from that post, and in the mean time land a considerable force at the head of Mystic, four miles in the rear of the fort, and take it by storm. Having accomplished this object they could destroy or lay under contribution the town of New-Lon- don, and proceed up the river and capture the frigates.* This opinion of the general's was confirmed in consequence of the squadrons having lately been reinforced; and a number of ships taking stations near Mystic. Having these views of the designs of the enemy, General Cushing made correspondent arrangements with MajorGeneral Williams, commander of the division of militia in that district ; and orders were immedi- ately given for the assembling of one regiment at the point of attack at Stonington ; one at the head of Mystic river to pre- vent a landing for the purpose of attacking fort Griswold t ' General Cushing's letter to the secretary at war. 344 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. one company of artillery and one regiment of infantry at Nor- wich port, a few miles in the rear of the frigates ; and one company of artillery and regiment of infantry for the protec- tion of fort Trumbull and the city of New-London. These dispositions were promptly and zealously carried into effect. The village of Stonington point consists of about one hun- dred dwelling-houses, and a number of stores, compactly built on a narrow peninsula extending half a mile, and forming a convenient harbour. The attack commenced on this village at 8 o'clock in the evening by a discharge of shells from the bomb-ship, and rockets and carcases from several barges, and launches which had taken their stations at different points. The fire continued without intermission until midnight, and was occasionally answered from the battery as the light of the rockets presented a view of the object. During this pe- riod, the non-combatant inhabitants of the village, having taken shelter in the neighbouring houses and barns, were waiting the event in trembling anxiety ; expecting every moment to witness the conflagration of their dwellings. At twelve o'clock the firing ceased ; no building was consumed, or person in- jured. In the course of the night the militia and volunteers assembled in considerable numbers. At day-light on the 10th, the approach of the British was announced by a dis- charge of rockets from several barges and a launch, which had taken their stations on the east side of the village, and out of the reach of the battery. A number of volunteers with musketry and one four pounder hastened across the point to meet the enemy supposing they would attempt a landing from the barges. Colonel Randall of the 13th regiment, who was at this time approaching the battery with a detachment ot militia, ordered his men to assist the volunteers in drawing over one of the eighteen pounders to the extreme end oi the point, the fire from which soon compelled the barges to seek their safety by flight : during this time the brig was working up towards the point,and at sun-rise dropped anchor within hall a mile of the batterv. This was now manned only by about 11U4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 345 twenty men ; and their ammunition being expended, they spiked the guns and retired. The brig now continued delib- erately to pour into the village her thirty-two pound and grape shot, and the bomb ship to throw her shells for an hour without a 5>hot being returned. Repulse. At eight o'clock a supply of ammunition having arrived, the eighteen pounder was drilled, and such an ani- mated and well directed fire opened on the brig, that at three o'clock, having received several shot below her water mark, and much damage in her spars and rigging, she slipped her cables and hauled off, out of the reach of the battery. In this contest two Americans only were slightly wounded. The flag which was nailed to the staff on the battery was pierced with seven shot ; the breast work was considerably damaged, and six or eight dwelling houses much injured. Considerable bodies of militia arrived in the course of the day : and Briga- dier General [sham took the command. The inhabitants had recovered from the consternation of the first moments ; things assumed a more regular and orderly aspect. Every one ca- pable of bearing arms was at the post of danger, and the others employed in removing their effects. The Ramilies and Pactolus now hauled up and took stations within two miles of the village ; and threatened it with instant destruction. The magistrates sent a deputation on board the Ramilies with a note addressed to Commodore Hardy, inform- ing him, that the town was now cleared of unoffending in- habitants in consequence of his note of yesterday, and wish- ing to know his determination respecting the fate of the village. The deputation consisting of Colonel Williams and Mr. Lord, were detained on board an hour, their own boat sent back ; and at the expiration of the time, they were conveyed in a flag from the ^ h i p with a note to the magistrates, stating, that the deputation having given assurances that no torpedoes had been fitted out from that port, and having engaged that none should be in future, or receive any aid from 'he town ; that further hostilities should 1.1 346 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 15. be spared, hi case they would send on board his ship, by eight o'clock in the morning of the 1 1th, Mrs. Stewart, a lady then resident at New-London, wife of the late Britsh consul at that place and her family. But in case of failure, he should proceed to destroy the village effectually ; for which he stated that he possessed ample means. The magistrates and citi- zens of the borough were in a singular state of embarrass- ment on receiving this demand; being required to procure and send on board the commodore's ship, a lady over whom they had no control. Mrs. Stewart was under the protection of the government of the United States : had ever been treated with respect at New-London, where she had long re- sided ; her personal safety was never in the least at hazard ; and her husband's application to have his family sent on board the squadron had been received by the commanding ceneral and transmitted to the executive, and no doubt would be granted ; but the borough of Stonington had no concern er authority on the subject, and possessed no powers to com- ply with the required condition. At eight o'clock in the morn- ing of the 11th, the magistrates, under the direction of the commanding general, sent a flag on board the Ramilies with (he foregoing representation. The commodore replied, that, he should wait until twelve o'clock, and if the lady was not then sent on board, hostilities would re-commence. At this period, three regiments of militia had arrived, and the town was well secured against a landing. At three o'clock, the bomb-ship having taken a station out of the reaeh of the guns of the battery, commenced throwing shells into the village and continued until evening. At sun-rise on the 12th, the bomb-ship renewed her operations, while the Ramilies and 1'actolus were warping in ; at eight o'clock these ships open- ed their tire. This heavy bombardment, continued until noon, when the ships ceased firing. At four in the afternoon they hauled off to their former anchorage, and the contest ended. The Vice Consul was obliged to resort to other, and more appropriate measures to obtain his wife and family, HKT0R1 OF THE LATE WAR. ,.; , than that of desolating an unoffending village. The ship- taking a station out of the reach of cannon shot from the bat- tery, the citizens were obliged to witness the scene without the power of resistance. The troops withdrew from the point excepting a guard of fifty men, who were kept to patrole the streets and extinguish fires. The cannon from the battery were ordered up to the north end of the point, to be in readiness in case of an attempt at landing; this hazardous service was performed by volunteers of the Norwich artillery, who in- stantly offered themselves, under the command of Lieutenant Lalhrop. This party, though exposed the whole time to the enemy's fire, accomplished the enterprise without loss. Dur- ing the whole scene no lives were lost, and but two or three wounded. The houses were several times set on fire by the rockets and shells, but were soon extinguished by the patrole .Many of the buildings were much damaged, and few remain without some marks of the bombardment. The judicious arrangements of general Cashing, and the spirit and alacrity with which the militia turned out to defend Stonington, and liuard the other exposed points, prevented those ulterior operations of the British, which were apprehended by thai general, and which no doubt, were designed as the ultimate object of the expedition. The citizens of Connecticut, when called upon to defend their dwellings from conflagration, manifested a Zealand bravery worthy of freemen in defence of their soil. The reception which the British met withal Stonington, deterred them from any further attempts on the coast of Connecticut. The constitution vests Congress with the power of pro- viding for organizing, arming, rind disciplining the militia. for calling them forth to repel invasions, and governing them when in service, reserving the appointment of officers, and the authority of training the militia to the states respectively. In pursuance of these provisions, general regulations had from time to lime been made by ( !ongress, for organizing and diciplining the militia, and authorizing the President lo call ,548 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chai-. / v for their services in the cases provided by the constitution* The manner in which these powers had been uniformly exe- cuted, had been for the President, through the war depart ment, to require of the commander in chief of each state such detachments of the militia, as, in the opinion of the President, the occasion required* These requisitions had usually been promptly complied with, and the militia thus called into the service of the United States, subject in their general opera- tions to the orders of the President, as commander in chief. given through the agency of officers of his appointment; the officers of the line having the immediate command of the troops, being appointed under the state authorities. No pro- vision had been made for cases of non-compliance with these requisitions. They were of necessity addressed to persons not deriving their appointments or powers from the general government, or amenable to it in the discharge of their offi- cial duties. This singular principle of relying on the co- operation of the state authorities, to carry into effect the measures of the general government, being almost the only relic of the old confederation, was in several instances at- tended with the most serious consequences. When a requi- sition was made on Governor Snyder for five thousand Penn- sylvania militia, for the defence of the capitol ; the militia laws of that state were in such a situation, that not a soldier could be obtained for the service ; and of the fifteen thousand militia required of the commanders in chief of the neighbour- ing states, for the defence of the city of Washington, the commanding general of the district states, scarcely as many hundred could be obtained. A division of the militia of Ver- mont were ordered into service by a United States officer, without an application to the state authorities, to protect Plattsburgh, while General Hampton advanced to the St. Lawrence ; Governor Chittenden considered this as an in- fringement of his constitutional rights, and, as commander in chief of the militia of that state, countermanded the order. When requisitions w under contribution. At Sandwich, two thousand dollars were demanded as a ransom for the fishing vessels in that port: twelve hundred for the salt works at Eastham, and four thou- sand for those at Brewster. The inhabitants along the coast of Cape Cod, possessing a barren territory, live principally by fishing, and are dependent upon that source to furnish the means of support ; their supplies arc obtained only by water carriage from other ports, where they exchange their fish. On the 21st of September, Sir George addressed a note to the inhabitants of Portsmouth and its vicinity, informing them that he prohibited all fishing on the banks: that every ves- sel curing fish, or having salt on board for that purpose, would be destroyed : that small vessels only with fresh fish, would be permitted to enter the harbours on that coast; and that he should destroy all vessels exceeding thirty tons, or that should be curing their fish in the offing. These pro- ceedings entirely depriving the inhabitants of the means of support, reduced the country to the utmost distress. On the 29th of August, Admiral Hot ham, off' Nantucket, -•tit in a flag to the inhabitants of that island, stating that it had been represented to him that they were much distressed for want of provisions and necessaries of life, and that he was induced to propose to them, that if they would lay down their arms, and stipulate not to fight against his Britanic majesty's subjects during the war, he would permit a certain limited number of vessels to ply unmolested between the island, and the ports of the United Stairs, and those of the British do- minions, for the purpose of procuring supplies for the inhabit- ants ; but that they would not. be permitted to fish for <"od oi 352 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 15. whale, in or near his majesty's dominions. These humili- ating terms were acceded to by the inhabitants. Indeed the unprotected Islands and towns on the sea-board throughout the whole coast, were compelled to submit to such conditions as the British naval commanders saw fit to impose, which were more or less severe, as their caprice or avarice dictated. The foregoing examples furnish a correct specimen of the privations, insults, and depredations to which they were subjected. The country was kept in a state of constant alarm; the militia being repeatedly called out to such points as appeared to be threatened : and when called to the defence of a par- ticular place in sufficient numbers to protect it, a distant town could be threatened, plundered, or laid under con- tribution before any relief could arrive. The British, having no other important object for the employment of their ma- rine during the year 1814, continued this harassing and pre- datory mode of warfare along the whole American coast. These events, so humiliating to the country, and distressing to the immediate sufferers, convinced every American of the necessity of a naval force adequate to the protection of the ports and waters of the United States, and united all parties in measures adapted to that object. More property was de- stroyed, and injury sustained on the coast, for the want of such means of defence, in a single year, than would have been sufficient to defray the whole expense. CHAPTER XVI. Naval Operations in 1814. — Cruiseof the Peacock. — Adams. — Wasp. — Privateer General Armstrong. — Capture of the President. — Cruise of the Hornet ; of the Constitution. — Number and Value of Captures from the British in 1814. — Number and Value of Ships taken during the War. — General Result of the Naval War. Naval Operations. The operations of the American navy in the year 1814, were considerably diminished by the loss of the Chesapeake and Essex frigates, and the continued blockade of the United States and Macedonian in the port of New-London. The same caution was observed also this season by the British commanders, in avoiding a rencontre with the American frigates on equal terms. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, the American naval character was fully supported by the skill and bravery of the commanders, and their crews. In every instance they sought a battle, when it could be had on any thing like equal grounds, and their uni- form success bore honourable testimony to their skill and valour. American seamanship was often as fully put to the lest in evading a contest, where the superiority of their ene- my made it an imperious duty, as in meeting him when a com- parison of their relative force justified a rencontre. But the Americans fought only for honour. No success within thf- compass of human means could make any sensible impression far as Odletown, a few miles within the enemy's territory. Here he was met by the British in considerable force, had a sharp skirmish, and drove them back as far as La Cole mill. This was a large stone building, three stories high, within and behind which, the British took a position of per- fect security. The American artillery, consisting of a twelve and an eighteen pounder was ordered up to dislodge them. Owing to the badness of the roads, the carriage of the latter failed, and only the lighter piece could be brought up. This was stationed in front, and within musket distance of the mill, and commenced a cannonade upon the building, which was continued an hour and a half without intermission, and without effect. Finding that no impression could be made on the mill, and that the heavy ordnance could not be brought up, the troops returned the same evening to Olde- lown, and the next day to Plattsburgh. The American ar- nllerists stood with great bravery and firmness before this jortress, directing their fire with the utmost precision against its impenetrable walls, observing every ball to hit its object. and rebound without effect. They were exposed, during the whole time, to the deliberate aim of the garrison ; almost all :hose immediately engaged in the management of the piece, were either killed or wounded. Captain M'Phersan who com- 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 36 i manded, and Lieutenant Lanohue were both dangerously wounded ; the latter shot through the breast, and the former re- ceived a wound just under the chin, which he bound up with his handkerchief, and continued at his piece until a second shot brought him to the ground. The whole American loss was eight killed, and sixty-six wounded. The British made two attempts to take the piece, but were repulsed with firmness. Their whole loss in these sorties, and in the skirmish at Odle- fown, was ten killed, and forty-six wounded. Tin; stone mill expedition, if it had any other object than that of putting to the test American valour, and obtaining a laurel for the eommanding general, was designed to seize and fortify House's point, a position on the Sorrel river, which com- manded the entrance into lake Champlain, and might prevent the British 'flotilla which lay below at the Isle anx Noix from entering the lake. This movement was declared to be not in pursuance of the views of the war department, and the general soon afterwards retired from the service. His con- duct, during his command in the north, was subjected to the i xamination of a court martial ; before whom he proved that during a great part of the lime while the most important meas- ures were in operation, he acted under the immediate orders of the war department, then with the army, and of course no? personally responsible ; that on General Hampton's failing to join him. who had never been called to account for disobedi- ence of orders, it was inexpedient to make the attempt on Montreal ; that his encampment, and stay at the French mills y was agreeable to the views of the war department, and had been approved ; and that his other measures were not of that decisively unmilitary character as to deserve the censure of court : he was therefore acquitted. Ship Building on Lake Ontario. Great exertions were made both by the British and American governments, to ob- tain the naval ascendancy on lake Ontario. A contest in -hip building on these waters commenced in 1813, and was continued during the year 1814, which, if the war had lasted. 368 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. < hap i- " must have progressed to an unlimited extent. Two large brigs of war, of five hundred tons each, were built, equipped and put into service by the last of April, by the Americans. The ship Superior, fitted to carry sixty-six guns, was launched on the 1st of May, in eighty days from laying her keel. Equal exertions were made on the part of the British. On the 1st of June, The American Lake navy consisted The British force on the lake con- of the sisted of the Superior, 66 guns. Prince Regent, 62 gun Pike, 28 Princess Charlotte, 44 Madison, 25 Wolf, 28 Jefferson, 23 Royal George, 24 Jones, 23 Melville, 22 Sylph, 22 Earl Moira, 18 Oneida, 18 Brig Prince Regent,! 2 Lady of th< 5 Lake, o Sir Sidney Smith, 12 207 guns. 222 gun.-. In addition to these, both parties had a considerable num- ber of gunboats and other small craft. The British had on the stocks a ship calculated for a hundred guns, and the Americans one for a hundred and twenty. A considerable quantity of naval stores destined for the fleet, and essentially necessary to complete the armament oi the Superior, was deposited at Oswego falls, twelve miles up the river from the old French fort at its mouth. Colonel Mitchell, with three hundred men, was ordered to the fort to cover these stores. He arrived on the 30th of April, and found it in a defenceless situation, with only five guns and bur two of those mounted. Attack on Oswego. Before he had time to prepare for de- fence, a British force, destined to destroy the stores, consisting of four large ships, three brigs, and a number of gun boats, appeared off the harbour, and at one o'clock on the 5th of May, fifteen boats filled with troops attempted to land, Co- HISTORY Ol THE LATE WAR. .,.,; lonel Mitchell, planted a battery near the shore, with which he prevented the landing, and took one of the boats. At day break the next morning, the ships anchored abreast of the fort, and commenced a cannonade which lasted three hours while the troops effected their landing. The British landed fifteen hundred men. and were gaining the rear of the fort, when Colonel Mitchell, having withstood their attack for half an hour, being overpowered by numbers, retreated in good order to the falls. The enemy then took possession of the fort, demolished it, destroyed what stores they found therein, burned the barracks, and returned to Kingston. The Amer- ican loss was six killed, and sixty-three wounded and missing. The British acknowledge a loss of nineteen killed, and seven- ty-five wounded. The destruction of the naval stores at the falls, the main object of the expedition, was prevented. Cap- tain Woolsey was immediately afterwards despatched with a number of batteauxto transport these stores to Sackett's Har- bour. The British, having at this time the command of the lake, and blockading the harbour, rendered this an underta- king of extreme difficulty and hazard. On the 28th of Ma\ , f laptain Woolsey put the stores consisting of thirty-four heavy ship cannon, ten cables, and many light articles, on board his boats, and took them down the rapids. Having despatched a lookout boat, and being informed that there was no enemy on the coast, he proceeded to the mouth of the river. Here he distributed a guard of one hundred and fifty riflemen amon^ the boats, and directed a company of one hundred and thirty Oneida Indians, to keep along the shore near the llotilla. Thus arranged, he proceeded to Sandy Creek, and reached it at noon of the 29th, with the loss of one boat. Here he pushed his boats two miles up the river, and on the morning of the 30th at six o'clock, the British were discovered ap- proaching the mouth of the creek. Captain Woolsey imme- diately disposed of the riflemen and Indians in ambush half a mile below the boats under Major Appling. At ten the British landed and marched up the creek, at the ^amo time pushintr 368 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. I \ along with them seven armed boats ; when they had arrived" at the place of ambuscade, and in view of Woolsey's flotilla., considering their prize as certain, they gave three cheers, and were rushing on : at this instant Major Appling with his men rose upon them, and after a smart skirmish of ten minutes, captured every boat and man of the party. The fruits of thi- victory were seven armed boats captured, fourteen British killed, and one hundred and sixty-one prisoners, without the loss of a man on the part of the Americans.* From this point the stores were transported by land, a distance of sixteen miles, to the harbour, and arrived on the 10th of June. The difficulties and embarrassments attending the obtaining of sufficient supplies in season, detained the fleet in the harbour until the 1st of August. Long Point. At the village of Dover on Long Point, on the Canada shore of lake Erie, was a valuable set of flour mills, and a large collection of wheat and flour, from which the troops on the Niagara frontier received considerable sup- plies. On the 15th of May, Colonel Campbell, of the 19th infantry, with a detachment of five hundred men, crossed over from the village of Erie on the south shore of the lake, de- stroyed the flour, burned the mills, and the stores and dwelling-houses of the town. On General Brown's arrival at Buffalo, he ordered Colonel Campbell to be arrested, and fried by a court martial, for destroying private property of the enemy, contrary to the principles upon which the American government conducted the war. Colonel Campbell acknowl- edged that the expedition was undertaken on his own respon- sibility, without the knowledge or direction of the govern- ment. The court martial justified the destruction of the flour and the mills, as a measure necessary to prevent supplies for the army, and condemned the destruction of the dwelling- houses and other property of the citizens. In their decision. " Captain Woolsey's report HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 169 however, ihey remark thai the citizens of Dover assisted in the burning of Buffalo, which palliated, though it did not cx- cuse, the measure. Niagara Frontier. After the desolation of the Niagara frontier in 1813. ippeared to be nothing for (he parties to contend for in that quarter. No object could be obtained by a \ ictory on either side, bul the temporar) occupation of a vacant territory ; yet both parties seemed to have selected this as the principal theatre on which to display their military prowess in the year 1814. Lieutenant General Drummond, governor of Upper Canada, concentrated the forces of that province at fort George, and retained the possession of Niag- ara. The American Generals Smyth, Hampton, Dearborn, and Wilkinson, under whose auspices the campaigns of 1812 and 13. on the Canada border, were conducted, had retired from diat iicld : and General Brown was appointed ma- jor general, and, with the assistance of Brigadiers Scott and Ripley, designated to the command of the Niagara frontier. He left Sackeit's Harbour in May, with a large portion of the American troops, in consequence of which the important depots at that place and its vicin- ity were exposed to attacks from Kingston. On his ar- rival at Buffalo, calculating upon the co-operation of the On- tario fleet, he determined on an attempt to expel the British from the Niagara peninsula. With this view he crossed the tiver on the -3d of July, published a declaration addressed to the inhabitants of Upper Canada, slating that all whom he found engaged in the service of the enemy, would be treated 1 3 foes; those that rem lined at home peaceably, following their cupations, would be treated as friends : public pro- perty of every d< scription would be si ized and held at the disposal of the commanding general ; that private property would be held sacred, and an) plunderer who should be found violating his orders in this respect should suffer death. Fort Eru taken. (>n the same da} he invested fori Erie, tnd summoned il lo urrender, allowing the commandant two 17 370 HISTORY OF THE L.ATE WAR. Chaf. IT. hours to answer the summons. At five in the afternoon the fort surrendered, and the prisoners, amounting to one hundred and thirty-seven, were removed to Buffalo. Battle of Chippewa. On the morning of the fourth, Gen- eral Scott advanced with his brigade and corps of artillery, and took a position on the Chippewa plain, half a mile in front of the village, his right resting on the river, and his front protected by a ravine. The British were encamped in force at the village. In the evening General Brown joined him with the reserve under General Ripley, and the artillery com- manded by Major Hindman. General Porter arrived the next morning, with the New-York and Pennsylvania volun- teers, and a number of Indians of the six nations. Early in the morning of the 5th, the British commenced a firing on the pickets. Captain Trott, who commanded one of them, hastily retreated, leaving one of his men wounded on the ground. General Brown instantly ordered him to retire from the army, and directed Captain Biddle to assume the command of the picket, lead it back to the ground, and bring off the wounded man ; which he accomplished without loss. At four in the afternoon, General Porter advanced, taking the woods in order to conceal his approach, and in the hope of bringing their pickets and scouting parlies between his line of march and the American camp. In half an hour his advance met the light parties of the British in the woods on the left. These were driven in, and Porter, advancing near Chippewa, met the whole British force approaching in order of battle. General Scott with his brigadeandTowser's artillery, met them on the plain, in front of the American encampment, and was directly engaged in close action with the main body. General Porter's com- mand gave way, and fled in every direction, by which Scott'.-* left flank was entirely uncovered. Captain Harris, with h\s dragoons, was ordered to stop the fugitives, at the ravine, and form them in front of the camp. The reserve were now or- dered up, and General Ripley passed to the woods in left ol t.be line to gain the rear of the enemy ; but before this was ef- T8H. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ,,;i lected, General Scott had compelled the British to retire. Their whole line now fell back, and were eagerly pursued by the Americans. As soon as they reached the sloping ground descending towards the village, their lines broke, and they regained their works in disorder. The American troops pursued until within reach of the guns from the works ; when they desisted and returned to their camp. The British left two hundred dead on the ground, ninety-four wounded, beside those in the early part of the action, who were remov- ed back to the camp, and fourteen prisoners. The American loss was sixty killed, and two hundred and sixty-eight wound- ed and missing.* After the battle of Chippewa, the British retired to fort George ; and General Brown took post at Quecnston, where he remained some time, expecting reinforcements and aid from Sackett's Harbour, and calculating that with them he should be able to dislodge the British, and obtain possession of the Pe ninsula. General Swift slain. On the 12th of July, Brigadier Gen- eral John Swift, of the New-York militia, with a detachment of one hundred and twenty volunteers, reconnoitered the British position and works at fort George, with a view of preparing for an investment of the fort. lie surprised and ;ook a picket guard of six men. After they were made pris- oners, one of them shot the general through the body. The. alarm occasioned by the discharge of this gun, immediately brought to the spot a British patroling party of sixty. Gen- eral Swift immediately formed his men, advanced at their head, and commenced a successful engagement on the patrole, when he fell exhausted by the loss of blood ; the other officers, animated by this last example of their general, con- tinued the action, and drove the enemy into the fort. They then returned to camp, bearing their expiring commander in * General Brown's report to ttie secretary of wsrr. 372 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. i? their arms. He died the same evening, and was interred the next clay with military honours. On the 1 3th of July, General Brown wrote a pressing letter to Commodore Chaunccy, informing him of his situation, and urging an immediate co-operation, lie heard nothing from the ileet until the 1st of September, when he received an an- swer from the commodore, dated the 10th of August, stating that the Meet had not been in a situation to co-operate with him, that it could have afforded him no essential aid in any event ; that his fleet was destined to attack the British, and not to act a subordinate part to the land forces. This pro- duced a sharp reply from General Brown; the correspondence ended ; and the general and commodore pursued their differ- ent objects without any co-operation. Burning of St. Davids. On the 18th, Lieutenant Colonel Stone, was detached with a corps of volunteers to dislodge a party of British troops, who were near the village of St. Da- vids, four miles west of Queenston, watching and attacking the American reconnoitering parties. The British were rout- ed and driven in ; and soon after the action, the village was set fire to, and burned by some Americans, without the orders or knowledge of the commanding officer. On the next morning, Colonel Stone received an order from General Brown, stating that the accountability for burning the houses at St. Davids, must rest with the senior officer : that it was directly contrary to the orders of government, and of the commanding general. The order concludes in these words, :J Lieutenant Colonel Stone will retire from the army." Whether Colonel Stone was guilty of negligence in not pre- venting the conflagration, does not appear. But his friends considered this proceeding, as a manifest usurpation of au- thority not warranted by any law ; they claimed that an officer, holding a commission 'under the President, holds it at the pleasure of the supreme executive, and no intermediate supe- rior officer, has a right to deprive him of his command, with- out the intervention of a court martial, where ho may be trie, 1 i,. M . HISTORY OF THELATEWAB I7-.3 bj his peers, and have an opportunity of establishing his in- nocence. No person fit to bear a commission, would consent to hold one subject to the disgraceful condition ofa dismissal at the will of an officer a grade or two above him. This con- duet of General Brown's passed without censure, and was al- luded to with approbation, in a letter from the secretary ol state to Admiral Cochrane. On the 20th, General Brown advanced with his army to- wards fort George, drove in the outposts, and encamped near the fort, in the expectation that the British would come out and give him battle On the 22d, he returned to his former position at Quecnston ; here he received a letter from Gene- ral Gaines, informing him that the heavy guns, and the rifle regiment, which he had ordered from Sackett's harbour, togeth- er with the whole fleet, were blockaded in that port, and no assistance was to be expected from them. On the 24th, he fell back to Chippewa, and on the 25th, received intelligence that the enemy, having received large reinforcements from Kingston, were advancing upon him. The first brigade under '■• neral Scott, Towsor's artillery, all the dragoons and mount- id men, were immediately put in motion on the Queenston road. Battle of Niagara. On his arrival at the Niagara cataract, General Scott learned that the British were in force directly in his front, separated only by a narrow piece of wood. Having despatched this intelligence to General Brown, he advanced upon the enemy, and the action commenced at six ■''lock in the afternoon. Although General Ripley with the mkI brigade. Major I landman with the corps of artillery, and General Porter with the volunteers, pressed forward with ardour ; it was^an hour before they conic be brought \Sp to his support, during this time his brigade alone sustained the conflict. General Scott had pressed through the wood, and engaged the British on the Queenston road, with the 9th, 1 1th, and lii'i regiments, the 25th having been thrown on the right. The fresh troops under General Ripley, having arrived, nov 374 HJST0RY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 17- advanced to relieve General Scott, whose exhausted brigade formed a reserve in the rear. The British artillery had taken post on a commanding eminence, at the head of Lundy'slane. supported by a line of infantry, out of the reach of the Amer- ican batteries. This was the key of the whole position ; from hence they poured a most deadly fire on the American ranks. It became necessary either to leave the ground, or to carry this post and seize the height. The latter desperate task was assigned to Colonel Miller. On receiving the order from General Brown, he calmly surveyed the position,and answered, " I will try, sir," which expression was afterwards the motto of his regiment. The first regiment, under the com- mand of Colonel Nicholas, were ordered to menace the Brit- ish infantry, and support Colonel Miller in the attack. This corps, after a discharge or two, gave way and left him without support. Without regarding this occurrence, Colonel Miller advanced coolly and steadily to his object, amid a tremendous lire, and at the point of the bayonet, carried the artillery and the height. The guns were immediately turned upon the en- emy ; General Ripley now brought up the 23d regiment, to the support of Colonel Miller; the first regiment was rallied and brought into line, and the British were driven from the hill. At this time Major Jessup, with the 25th regiment, was en era wed in a most obstinate conflict, with all the British that remained on the field. He had succeeded in turning the British left flank. Captain Ketchum, with a detachment of this regiment, succeeded in gaining the rear of the British lines, at the point where Generals Drummond and Riall, with their suites, had taken their stations, and made them all prison- ers. The British officers, mistaking this detachment for a company of their own men, were ordering them to press on to the combat, when Captain Ketchum stepped forward and coolly observed, that he had the honour to command at that time, and immediately conducted the officers and their suites, into the rear of the American lines ; General Drummond, in the confusion of the scene, made his escape. The British rallied 1824. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ,i,., under thr hill, and made a desperate attempt to regain their artillery, and drive the Americans from their position, but. without success ; a second and third attempt was made with the like result. General Scott was engaged in repelling thes^ attacks, and though with his shoulder fractured, and a severe wound in the side, continued at the head of his column, en- deavouring to turn the enemy's right flank. The volunteers under General Porter, during the last charge of the British, precipitated themselves upon their lines, broke them, and took a large number of prisoners. General Brown, during the whole action, was at the most exposed points, directing and animating his troops. He received a severe wound on die thigh, and in the side, and would have given the command to General Scott, but on inquiring, found that he was severe- ly wounded. He continued at the head of his troops until the last effort of the British was repulsed, when loss of blood obliged him to retire ; he then consigned the command to Gen- eral Ripley. At twelve o'clock, both parties retired from the field to their respective encampments, fatigued and satiated with slaughter. The battle continued with but little inter- mission, from six in the afternoon, until twelve at night. A I ter Colonel Miller had taken the battery, and driven the Brit * ish from the heights, and General Riall and suite had been ta- ken, there was a short cessation, and the enemy appeared to be about yielding the ground, when reinforcements arrived to their aid, and the battle was renewed with redoubled fury for another space of two hours ; much of this time the combat- ants were within a few yards of each other, and several times- officers were found commanding enemy platoons. Captain Spencer, aid to General Brown, was despatched with orders to one of the regiments ; when about to deliver them,*he sud- denly found himself in contact with a British corps ; with t coolness, and a firm air, he inquired what regiment is this '. On being answered, the Royal Scotts, he immediatelyre- plied, Royal Scotts, remain as you are! the commandant of the corps, supposing the orders came from his commanding gen- 376 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CnAt. )" eral, immediately halted his regiment, and Captain Spencer rode off. Colonel Miller's achievement, in storming the bat- tery, was of the most brilliant and hazardous nature; it Was decisive of the events of I he battle : and entitled him, and liis corps to the highest applause ; most of the officers en- gaged in that enterprise were killed or wounded. The battle was fought to the west of, and within half a mile of the Niag- ara cataract. The thunder of the cannon, the roaring of the falls, the incessant discharge of musketry, the groans of the dying and wounded during the six hours in which the parties were engaged in close combat, heightened by the circum- stance of its being in the night, a Horded such a scene, as is rarely to be met with in the history of human slaughter. The evening was calm, and the moon shone with lustre, when not enveloped in clouds of smoke from the firing of the contend- ing armies. Considering the numbers engaged, few contests have ever been more sanguinary. General Drummond, soon after the battle of the 5th, had been concentrating his forces, and receiving reinforcements from Kingston, for a general attack on the American troops, and in the battle of the 25th, they were all engaged lo the amount of five thousand ; many of them, troops selected from the flower of the army of Lord Wellington. General Brown had failed in receiving his expected reinforcements from Sack- ctt's Harbour ; many of his Indians had left him, and most of his troops were soldiers of less than one year's experience. But the general had done every thing which his limited means could accomplish to ensure success. With the aid of General Porter, he had assembled a considerable force of militia and volunteers ; his whole army may be estimated at about four thousand. With the aid of his officers, he had instructed, and infused into them a spirit of bravery anil discipline, which ena- bled them to meet, and successfully combat British veterans. This was uncjuestionably the most severe and bloody battle that was fought during the war. One-fifth of the combatants on each side, were put hors de combat. On the Amer- i 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 377 side, the commanding general, and the second in command, were severely wounded. On the British, their commander in chief was wounded, and for a (ew minutes a prisoner, and the second in command severely wounded and captured. General Brown states his loss to be, Killed, .... 171 Wounded, 572 Missing, 117 860 < reneral Drummond acknowledges a loss of, Killed, 84 Wounded, ... . 559 Missing and Prisoners, - - - 235 878 On the morning of the 26th, Generals Ripley and Porter reconnoitered the battle ground, and found there parties of the British on the same errand. Neither Americans nor Brit- ish appeared disposed to renew the bloody scenes of the pre- ceding night. In their official reports, both claimed the vie. tory. But considering the number and nature of American troops compared with the British, the honours of the day un- questionably belong to the former; the latter were the first to leave the field. From the reinforcements which they had recently received from Kingston, their army after the battle was evidently superior to the American ; and the latter under the command of General Ripley, on the 26th, fell back to fort Erie. General Brown retired to Buffalo, and General Scott to Batavia, to recover from their wounds. Captain Ambrose Spencer, son of the chief justice of New-York, and aid to General Brown, was mortally wounded in the action. and taken prisoner ; Captain Loring, aid to General Drum- mond, was also made prisoner, but not wounded. Soon after the battle, General Brown received a proposition from Gen- eral Drummond, for a mutual exchange of their n'uU. For ob- 48 378 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 17. vious reasons, it is not according to the usages of war, to offer or accept a wounded man in exchange for one who is well, but from motives of affection for his aid, and from respect to the feelings of his parents, General Brown was in this in- stance induced to listen to the proposition, and sent a flag to ascertain whether Captain Spencer was living. The flag was not permitted to see the prisoner, or communicate with his surgeon. On the return of the flag, General Brown sent the brother of Captain Spencer, with a note to General Drum- mond, introducing the brother, and requesting that he migh be'permitted to see and attend upon him, and assuring the general that Captain Loring, should be exchanged for Cap- tain Spencer if living, or for his corpse if dead. The brother returned the next day with the corpse, bearing a note from General Drummond, claiming the discharge of Captain Lor- ing ; which General Brown, faithful to his engagements com- plied with. British expedition to Black Rock, repulsed. At two o'clock in the morning of the 3d of August, a detachment of twelve hundred British, under the command of Colonel Tucker, cross- ed the Niagara at Squaw Island, a little below Black Rock, with a view of capturing General Brown, then confined at Buffalo with his wounds, recapturing General Riall, and destroying the stores. Major Morgan, who was stationed at the Rock with a battalion of riflemen, took a position behind Conjocta creek, destroyed the bridge, and commenced an attack on the British as soon as they arrived within rifle distance. After a conflict of two hours, the British were driven back, and com- pelled to recross the river, with the loss of six men taken, and several killed and wounded. On the 4th, General Gaines arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and took command of the army during the confinement of General Brown. Fort Erie invested. As the Americans retired to fort Erie. Lhe British advanced and invested the fort, taking a position two miles distant in front, and separated from it by a wood. Fort Erie is situated on the margin of the lake, at its outlet. 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE VVAIl. 379 into the Niagara river ; being nearly a horizontal plain, fit- teen feet above the level of the water, it possesses no natural advantages. It was protected in front by a temporary par- apet, breastworks, entrenchments, and abattcs, with two bat- teries mounting six field pieces. This small unfinished fort, with a twenty-four, eighteen, and twelve pounder, formed the north-east ; aud the Douglass battery with an eighteen, and ?ix pounder, near the edge of the lake, the south-east angle >f the right of General Gaines's position on the 13th of August. His left was defended by a redoubt battery thrown up on a small ridge with six field pieces. His rear was open to the lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. Captain Towson's artillery was stationed at the battery on the left. The fort was defended by Captain Williams, with Major Trimble's command of the 19th infantry ; the batteries in front: by Captains Biddle and Fanning. The whole of the artillery was under the command of Major Hindman. Part of the veteran first brigade, late under the command of General Scott, were posted on the right, under the command of Colo- nel Aspenwall. The second brigade, under General Ripley, defended the left. General Porter's brigade of New- York, and Pennsylvania volunteers, with the riflemen, occupied the centre. On the 12th, General Gaines detached Major Mor- gan with his corps, to cut oft' a working party of the British, engaged in clearing the woods, and opening an avenue to the fort ; Major Morgan was killed at the head of his detachment. and the party returned without effecting the object. The enemy succeeded in establishing their works within four hun- dred yards of the fort. On the evening of the 12th, they boarded and captured two schooners ; and on the morning of the 1 5th, commenced, and continued during the whole of that and the next day, a brisk cannonade, which was returned from the American batteries, but without any considerable effect on either side. The British having received consider- able reinforcements, were preparing for an assault. At sun- set on the 1 "h. one of their shells Indeed in a small mac;: 1 380 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap i' zine which blew up, but without any injurious effects. It occasioned a momentary cessation of firing, and was immedi- ately followed by a loud shout from the British troops, which was instantly answered by the Americans ; and Captain Wil- liams, amid the smoke of the explosion, renewed the contest by an animated discharge of the heavy artillery. Assault. General Gaines, expecting an assault in the course of the night, kept his men constantly at their posts. The night was dark, and the early part of it rainy ; at two o'clock in the morning, the British columns enveloped in darkness,, were distinctly heard approaching the American lines. The infantry under Major Wood, and Captain Towson's artillery opened a brisk fire upon them. The sheet of fire from this corps, enabled General Gaines to discover this column of the British, fifteen hundred strong, approaching the American left. The infantry were protected by a line of loose brush repre- senting an abattis bordering on the river. The British in at- tempting to pass round this, plunged into the water breas? high. The commanding general was about to order a de- tachment of rillemen to support Major Wood, but was assured by him that he could maintain his position without a rein- forcement. The British columns were twice repulsed, and soon afterwards fled in confusion. On the right, the lines were lighted by a brilliant discharge of musketry and cannon., which announced the approach of the centre and left columns of the enemy. The latter met the veteran 9th regiment, and Burton's and Harding's companies of volunteers, aided by a six pounder, and were repulsed. The centre column under Colonel Drummond, approached at the same time the most assailable points of the fort, and with scaling ladders ascend- ed the parapet, but were driven back with great carnage. The assault was twice repeated, and as often checked ; thi> volumn concealed by the darkness of the night, and the clouds of smoke which rolled from the cannon and musketry, then passed round the ditch, repeated their charge, reascended their ladders, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears, fell 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 3H 1 upon the artillerists. Most of the officers, and many of the men, received deadly wounds. Lieutenant M>Donough be- ing severely wounded, and in the power of the enemy, sur- r endcred and demanded quarter ; Colonel Drummond, refus- ing it, drew a pistol and shot him dead. In a moment after- wards, as he was repeating the order to give no quarters, Colonel Drummond was shot through the heart. The bas- tion was now in the possession of the British. The battle raged with increased fury on the right ; reinforcements were ordered and promptly furnished from Major Wood's corps on the left. Captain Fanning kept up a spirited and destructive fire from his artillery on the enemy as they were approaching the fort. Majors Hindman and Trimble, failing to drive the British from the bastion, with the remaining artillerists, and infantry, and Captain Birdsall's detachment of riflemen, rush- ed in through the gate-way, to the assistance of the right wing, and made a resolute charge. A detachment, under Major Hall, was introduced over the interior of the bastion, for the purpose of charging the British who still held posses- sion, but the narrowness of the passage, admitting only two or three abreest, prevented its accomplishment, and they were obliged to retire. At this moment, every operation was arrested by the explosion of the principal magazine, contain- ing a large quantity of cartridges and powder, in the end of a. stone building adjoining the contested bastion. Whether this was the effect of accident or design, was not known. The explosion was tremendous, and its effects decisive. The British in possession of the bastion were destroyed in a mo- ment. As soon as the tumult accasioned by that event had subsided, Captain Biddlc posted a field piece, so as to enfilade the exterior plain, and the salient glacis. Farming's battery at the same time opened on the British who were now return- ing. In a few minutes they were all driven from the works, leaving two hundred and twenty-two killed, one hundred and seventy-four wounded on the field, and one hundred eighty-six prisoners. To these losses are to be added. tho^ 382 HISTORY OF THE LATE W Alt. Chat. J 7. killed on the left flank by Major Wood's infantry, and Tow- son's artillery, and floated down the Niagara, estimated in the official reports, at two hundred. The American loss during the bombardment of the 13th and 14th, was nine killed, and thirty-six wounded, and in the assault of the night of the 14th. seventeen killed, fifty-six wounded, and eleven missing.* On the 2d of September, General Brown had so far re- covered of his wounds as to be able to resume the command : and General Gaines was removed to Philadelphia to take charge of the defence of the Delaware, as commanding gen- eral of the 4th military district. General Drummond's main body was encamped in a cleared field, surrounded with wood?, two miles in front of fort Erie. This position was taken in order that that part of his force which was not on duty might be out of the reach of the guns of the fort, and of the artillery at Black Rock. His infantry was formed into three brigades of twelve hundred men each ; his works were advanced within four hundred yards of the right of the American lines. One of the brigades, with a detachment of artillery, was stationed at this advance, and relieved by one of the other brigades each day, and the two at the encampment were held in con- stant readiness to support the advance, in case of an attack. The British had completed two batteries at this position, and nearly finished a third, which threatened the fort with de- i struction. Sortie. Early on the morning of the 17th, General Porter, with a large detachment, was ordered to penetrate through the woods by a circuitous rout, and get between the British main body and their batteries ; while General Miller was directed to take a position in the ravine, between the American lines and the batteries, and attack them in front. The ad- vance of General Porter's command, consisted of two hun- dred riflemen, under Colonel Gibson. The right column, of General Gaines's reporf . HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 333 lour hundred infantry, commanded by Colonel Wood ; the left, under General Davis, of five hundred militia, designed to act as a reserve ; and to hold in check any reinforcements from the British main body. General Porter's corps car- ried the block-house in the rear of the third battery, by storm, the magazine was blown up, and the garrison made prisoners. The leaders of the three divisions under General Porter, all fell nearly at the same time ; Colonel Gibson, at the head of the riflemen, at the second battery, and General Davis, and Colonel Wood, in an assault upon the first. While these transactions were taking place in the rear of the enemy's works, General Miller in front, penetrated between the first and second batteries, and aided by the operations of General Porter in the rear, succeeded in carrying them. Within thirty minutes from the commencement of the action, two batteries, two block-houses, and the whole line of en- trenchments were in possession of the Americans ; and imme- diately afterwards, the other battery was abandoned by the British. General Ripley was now ordered up with the reserve, and at the close of the action, was dangerously woun- ded in the neek. Strong reinforcements from the British main body arrived while the Americans were engaged in de- stroying the works, and took part in the action. The object of the sortie being fully accomplished, the American troops were ordered to return to the fort. During the action, General Porter, in passing from the right to the left column of his detachment, accompanied with only two or three officers, suddenly found himself within a few yards of a body of sixty British soldiers, who had just emerged from a ravine, and were hesitating which way to go. The general immediately advanced, and ordered them to surrender ; approaching the first man on the left, he took his musket, and pushed him towards the American lines : in this way he proceeded nearly through the whole company, most of the men voluntarily throwing down 'heir Trni^. and retiring towards the fort : 384 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 17. when on a sudden, a soldier, whose musket the general was about to seize, presented the bayonet to his breast, and de- manded his surrender. General Porter seized the musket, and was about wrenching it from him, when he was seized by a British officer, and three or four men who stood in theranks : and thrown on the ground. He succeeded in gaining his feet, when he found himself surrounded by fifteen or twenty men. with jtheir guns presented at him, demanding his surrender : by this time, several American officers, with a number of men were advancing to the scene of action. General Porter, now assuming an air of composure, and decision, told them they were now surrounded and prisoners, and if they fired a gun they should all be put to the sword. By this time a company of Cayuga riflemen had arrived, and after a momentary scene of confusion and carnage, the whole British party were killed, or made prisoners. The American loss was seventy-nine killed, and four hundred and thirty-two wounded and missing. The killed and wounded of the British, were estimated by the American general at five hundred. Three hundred and eighty-five prisoners were taken ; their advance works de- stroyed, and the garrison relieved from any further apprehen- sions of bombardment or assault. On the night of the 21st. General Drummond, after an investment of fifty-six days, raised the seige of fort Erie, broke up his encampment, and retired to his entrenchments behind the Chippewa. General Izard takes the Command. The Niagara frontier was treated, throughout this campaign, as the most important point. General Izard, who commanded the army at Pitts- burgh, had been ordered with the main body, early in August to reinforce General Brown ; he proceeded to Sackett's Har- bour, and not deeming it safe to venture his troops by water, continued his route by land, with the main body, to his place of destination. After a fatiguing march of more than four hundred miles, over bad roads, he arrived at Buffalo on the 1st of October : being the senior major general, the command devolved on him. and General Brown took the command ar 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAU. 3'6u the harbour. This change of the commanding generals was unfavourable to further operations on the frontier. General Brown had obtained an adequate knowledge of the country. and the perfect confidence of his troops; General Izard was a stranger to both. Retires to Buffalo. After the departure of General Brown, General Izard, on examining the position of fort Erie, and comparing, as well as he was able, the relative strength <>t the the two armies, decided that it was inexpedient to attempt further offensive operations on the Peninsula, removed the troops from fort Erie to Buffalo, and demolished the works. General Scott, on recovering his wounds, was appointed to the command of the 10th military district, embracing the dis- trict of Columbia, and the adjacent country. The campaign of eighteen hundred and fourteen. on the Niaga- ra frontier, fully demonstrated that American citizens furnished die choicest materials for an army; that when well disciplined, instructed in the art of war, and led by brave and enterpris- ing generals, they were fully able to meet on equal ground the best English troops. The same events fully proved the valour, enterprise, and military skill of General Brown, and the officers associated with him in the war, and retrieved the tarnished reputation of the American arms, on the Canada border, the two preceding campaigns. Tiny also furnished abundant materials to amuse and flatter the citizens with the relation of deeds of heroic valour. They weakened the numerical strength of the British army about three thousand; and the Americans nearly the same ; and left both parlies in possession of the same ground, which ihej occupied al the commencement of the campaign. CHAPTER Will. < ftlonel Crogan's Expedition to Lake Huron. — Unsuccessful attempt on Michillimackinac. — Destroys the British Post at Nautawcsago River. — Returns to Detroit. — Capture of two American Schooners on Lake Huron. — Arrival of Reinforcements at Quebec General Izard's army leaves Plattsburgh for Niagara. — General Prevost ad- vances in force from Montreal towards Pittsburgh. — Enters Pitts- burgh, and encamps on the left of the Saranac. — Waits the approach of his fleet. — Naval battle on the 11th of September, on the Bay of Plattsburgh — M'Donough's Victory.— Simultaneous Attack on the American lines. — British attempt to cross the Saranac ; are repul- sed. — Retreat of the British Army from Plattsburgh. — Amount of the British and American Land and Naval Forces. — Losses in each Army and Navy. Kxpcdition to Lake Huron. For, the security of Detroit, and the Michigan territory, General iW' Arthur, commandant of the 8th military district, directed the establishment of a military post, called fort Gratiot, at the head of the straits of St. Clair, to secure the communication between Detroit, and lake Huron. A squadron of five small vessels, under Commodore St. Clair, left Detroit about the first of July with a detachment of five hundred troops, under Lieutenant. ( olonel Crogan, the gallant defender of fort Stevenson, pass- ed the straits, and entered lake Huron on the 11th, taking with them the principal part of the garrison of fort Gratiot. They first proceeded to the British post of St. Joseph's, at the entrance of lake Superior; finding this post evacuated, they set fire to it, and prot eeded to fort Michillimackinac, which they found strongly garrisoned. The British, Cana- dians, and Indians came out in numbers greatly superior to 'he Amen- ins, attacked, and drove them bark to their ship? 388 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Com with the loss of Major Holmes, the second in command, and twelve privates killed, and fifty-one wounded. While the navigation of lake Erie was in the possession oi the Americans, the channel of communication between Mon- treal and lake Superior, Michillimackinac and the British posts, to the north-west, was by the way of lake Simcoe and the Nautawesago river, to lake Huron. From the British depot at York, to the mouth of this river, the distance did not exceed one hundred and eighty miles ; much of the way was water passage forcanoes and small boats ; the British had here established a post, \vhere considerable supplies for the north- west were deposited; these were to be transported in small ves- sels across lake Huron, to their places of destination. After Colonel Crogan's unsuccessful attempt on Michillimackinac . he proceeded to this place, and arrived at the mouth of the river on the 3d of August. Here he found a British sehoonev drawn a few hundred yards up the river, and protected by a battery covered by a block-house. On the 14th, he landed his artillery and drew it up near the block-house, and com- menced a fire, which ina few minutes blew up the British works, and set (ire to the schooner. On the 15th, he left the river and returned to Detroit, leaving two small vessel- under the command of Lieutenant Turner, on lake Huron, to intercept the communication with the north-western posts., with orders to remain there as long as the navigation was open, and strictly blockade the Nautawesago. Lieutenant Worsly, who commanded the British schooner that had been burned, with twenty-two men, coasted round the lake in ca- noes, and reached Michillimackinac. ' While Lieutenani Turner commanded the navigation of lake Huron, the British posts to the west were suffering for the want of supplies, and must have soon surrendered. Lieutenant Worsly applied to die commandant at Michillimackinac, for the aid of one hun- dred men, assuring him that with them he would bring in the American schooners. The men were furnished, both schoon 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ers captured, and carried into Michillimackinac. An uninter- rupted communication was again opened from the depots at York and Montreal, to the western posts, and the important objects of Colonel Crogan's expedition defeated. Arrival of reinforcements at .Montreal. About the 1st of August, the powerful reinforcements which had been ordered from the armies in Spain, to Governor Prcvosfs aid. arrived at Quebec, and were immediately pushed up to Montreal. Large detachments passed on to Kingston, and the Niagara frontiers. These demonstrations induced the order for Gen- eral 1 zard to proceed to join G eneral Brown, with the main body. While the army were making this movement the only opportuni- ties for their active service were lost. Their brethren at Pitts- burgh and Niagara were gathering laurels at the expense of much blood, while they were performing this circuitous march. Plattsburgh was the principal military and naval depot for the army of the north, and the flotilla on lake Champlain : and at this period, contained a large quantity of military and naval stores. The defence of this post, after the departure of General Izard, devolved on General Macomb, with fifteen hundred regulars, and the neighbouring militia to be occasion- ally called on, as circumstances might render necessary. The force under General Prevost, at Montreal, within five days' march of Plattsburgh, at the time General Izard left that post for the Niagara frontier, was fifteen thousand men, most ot them veterans of the armies of Spain. This state of thing- did not escape the observation of the British general. Im- mediately after the departure of Izard, Prevost came out with ins whole force from Montreal, and took the road to Platts- burgh. On the 1st of September, he established his head- quarters at Champlain, within the United States, and fifteen miles distant from the American lines. Here he issued a proclamation in the usual style of invading generals, promising peace and protection to the unoffending inhabitants who re- mained at home, directing the civil magistrates to continue in the discharge of their duties ; and declaring that those onb 390 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. U; who were found in arms should be treated as enemies. His instructions directed him to penetrate the United States bv the way of Plattsburgh ; with the assistance of the fleet, which it was calculated by this time would have gained the command of the lake; proceed to Ticonderoga, and from thence to Al- bany, or as far on the rout as was compatible with the safety of his army. British, Force advance to Plattsburgh. In pursuance of these instructions, he advanced with slow and cautious marches towards Plattsburgh. General Macomb made every exertion to impede his progress, and prepare for the threatened attack. The militia of Washington, Warren, Clinton, and Essex coun- ties, were ordered out en masse. The militia and volunteers from the counties in Vermont, bordering on the lake, came in in great numbers. The bridges on the route which the Bri- tish must take, were broken up, the road abatted, and every possible impediment thrown in the way of their passage. On the 6th of September, the British advance was met at Bate- mantown, six miles from Plattsburgh by a corps of seven hundred militia under General Mooers. After some slight skirmishing, the militia discovered the New- York state dra- goons, a very handsome corps in red uniforms, reconnoitering on the heights in their rear ; supposing them to be British troops who were endeavouring to cut them oft', they broke and fled in every direction ; and on the same day the British advanced into Plattsburgh ; the right column led by Major General Powers, supported by General Robinson, and the left by General Brisbane. The whole under command of Sir George Prevost. The American troops retired to the :-outh side of the Saranac, took up the bridges, and made breastworks of them on the south bank, and guarded the ford- ways. The village of Plattsburgh is pleasantly situated on the western shore of lake Champlain, on the margin of a bay, formed by the projection of Cumberland point into the lake. it die end of this point, is a high bluff, called Cumberland 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 39 1 bead. The Saranac river comes 111 from the west, pass* through the village, and empties into the bay. Several bridges were erected over this river, near the village ; and three miles from its mouth, the river was fordable. Scouting and reconnoitering parties were constantly kept out on the British Hanks to harass their march, and watch their motions. The American troops were posted in their works on the high grounds, on the south bank of the Saranac. General Macomb employed his men constantly in strengthening these works ; in order to excite emulation among them, he parcelled out different parts of the works to different corps, assuring them that the defence of that particular portion of the works on which each corps laboured, should be intrusted to them. Naval Battle on Lake Champlain. The American fleel, under Commodore M'Donough, lay at anchor in the bay, on the right flank of the American lines, and two miles distant. Great exertions had been made by both parties to produce a superior naval force on this lake; the Americans at Otter Creek, and the British at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing heir relative strength on the 11th of September, the Ame- rican fleet consisted of the Saratoga, flag ship, mounting 26 guns ; Kagle, 20 guns ; Ticonderoga, 1 7 guns ; Preble, 7 guns ; six galleys, of two guns each, 12 guns ; four of one, 4 guns ; making in the whole, 8G guns : and eight hundred and twenty men. The British fleet consisted of the frigate Con- iiance, flag ship, mounting 39 guns; Linnet, 16 guns; Cherub, 11 guns ; Finch, 11 guns ; five galleys, of two guns each, 10 guns ; eight, of one, 8 guns, making in the whole 9.3 guns : and one thousand and twenty men. The British land forces employed themselves from the 7th to the 11th, in bringing up their heavy artillery ; and Strength- ening their works on the north bank of the Saranac. Their fortified encampment, was on a ridge a little to the west of the town, their right near the river, and their left resting on the Jake, one mile in the rear of the village- Having determined on ;< sim'ilrnnco'is attack by land and water, they lay in thi e 392 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, IS. position on the morning of the eleventh, waiting the approach of their licet. At eight o'clock, the wished for ships appear- ed under easy sail, moving round Cumberland head ; and were hailed with joyous acclamations. At nine they anchor- ed within three hundred yards of the American squadron in line of battle ; the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga, the Linnet to the Eagle ; thirteen British galleys to the Ticon- deroga, Preble, and a division of the American galleys. The Cherub assisting theConfiance and Linnet, and theFinchaiding the galleys. In this position, the weather being perfectly clear and calm, and the bay smooth, the whole force on both sides became at once engaged. At an hour and a half, after the commencement of the action, the starboard guns of the Sara- toga were nearly all dismantled. The commandant ordered a stern anchor to be dropped, and the bower cable cut, by means of which, the ship rounded to, and presented a fresh broad side to her enemy. The Confiance attempted the same operation and failed. This was attended with such powerful effects, that she was obliged to surrender in a few minutes. The whole broadside of the Saratoga, was then brought to bear on the Linnet, and in fifteen minutes she followed the example of her flag ship. One of the British sloops struck to the Eagle ; three galleys were sunk, and the rest made oil* : no ship in the fleet being in a condition to follow them, they escaped down the lake. There was no mast standing in either squadron, at the close of the action, to which a sail could be attached. The Saratoga received fifty-five round shot in her hull, and the Confiance one hundred and five. The action lasted without any cessation, on a smooth sea, at close quar- ters, two hours and twenty minutes. In the American squad- ron fifty-two were killed, and fifty-eight wounded. In the British, eighty-four were killed, and one hundred and ten wounded. Among the slain was the British commandant. Commodore Downie.* This engagement was in full view oi Commodore M'Donousrh's tetter to the secretary at war. HISTORY UE THE LATE WAR. 393 both armies, and of numerous spectators collected on the. heights, bordering on the bay, to witness the scene. It was viewed by the inhabitants with trembling anxiety, as success on the part of the British, would have opened to them an easy passage into the heart of the country, and exposed a nume- rous population on the borders of the lake, to British ravages. When the flag of theConfiancc was struck, the shores resound- ed with the acclamations of the American troops, and citi- zens. The British when they saw their fleet completely con- quered, were dispirited, and confounded. At the moment of the commencement of the naval action, the British, from their works on shore, opened a heavy fire of shot, shells, and rockets, upon the American lines. This was continued with little interruption until sun-set, and returned with spirit and effect. At six o'clock, the firing on the part of the British ceased, every battery having been silenced by the American artillery. At the commencement of the bom- bardment, and while the ships were engaged, three desperate efforts were made by the British to pass the Saranac, for the purpose of carrying the American lines by assault. With this view, scaling ladders, fascines, and every implement necessary for the purpose, were prepared. One attempt w r as made to cross, at the village bridge, one at the upper bridge, and one at the ford way, three miles above the works. At each point, they were met at the bank by the American troops and re- pu lsed. At the bridges, the American regulars immediately drove them back. The ford was guarded by the volunteers and militia. Here a considerable body of British effected a passage, and the militia retired into the neighbouring woods, where their operations would be more effectual. A whole company of the 76th regiment was here destroyed, three lieutenants, and twenty-seven men taken, and the captain and the rest of the company killed. The residue of the British were obliged to recross the river with precipitation and con- siderable loss. ,50 394 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. U British retire from Plaitsburgh. At dusk the British with- drew their cannon from the batteries ; at nine, sent off all the artillery and baggage for which they could procure transports : and at two the following morning, the whole army precipi- tately retreated, leaving their sick and wounded behind. Great quantities of provisions, tents, entrenching tools, and ammuni- tion, were also left. Much was found concealed in the ponds and creeks, and buried in the ground.. Their retreat was so sud- den, rapid, and unexpected, that they arrived at Chazy, a dis- tance of eight miles, before their departure was known to the American general. The light troops and militia were im- mediately ordered out in pursuit, but were unable to make many prisoners. Upwards of three hundred deserters came in within two or three days after the action, who confirmed the account of Prevost's precipitate flight, and assisted in dis- covering the property they had concealed and left behind. The American loss on land, during the day, was thirty-seven killed, and eighty-two wounded and missing. General Ma- comb's official report estimates the British loss in land and naval forces, since their leaving Montreal, in killed, wounded, prisoners, deserters, and missing, at twenty-five hundred.* The British army engaged in this expedition, consisted of 'he 1st Brigade under Major General Robinson, - 3,700 2d under General Powers, - - - 3,600 3d under General Brisbane, - - - 3,100 A light brigade, consisting of a ■Swiss regiment, - - - 1,200 Canadian Chasseurs, .... 900 Valtiguers, *----.. 550 Frontier light infantry, - - 150 2,800 * General Macomb's letter to secretary at wst. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 4 troops of light dragoons, - - - 300 4 companies of royal light artillery, - - 400 I corps of rocketeers. - 25 and a corps of sappers and miners, - - 75 14,000 Major-General Baynes, adjutant-general; Sir Sidney Beck- with, quarter-master-general ; the whole division under the immediate command of Major-General De Rottenburgh, and Sir George Prcvost, commander in chief. The precipitate retreat of so numerous, and well appointed an army from before a force of fifteen hundred regulars, and three thousand militia suddenly called together, was un- accountable and wholly unexpected. General Prevost en- deavours to justify himself to his government, by imputing it to the loss of the licet. But no active co-operation was or could be expected from their respective fleets by either army. The real ground was, thai the valour of the American troops in defence of their soil had convinced the British general that an attempt to penetrate the country, and carry his original plans into effect, would be attended with defeal and disgrace. The events of the 1 1th of September, put an end to further offensive operations on the part of the British, on the Cham- plain frontier. Their main army returned to Montreal, and their outposts gave very little further disturbance during the residue of the campaign. These events relieved the surround- ing country from the most alarming apprehensions. When they saw an army like dial of General Prevost's invading their country, and General Izard, with the flower of the northern army, on whom their hopes rested, having Plattsburgh for the Niagara frontier, almost at the same mo- ment, they considered then- destiny as sealed. But instead of desponding, they turned oul at 'lie' call of their government, nobly and successfully defended their territory, and drove the enemy from their borders. Their joy at so sudden and unexpected a termination ot their apprehensions, was un- :j% HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1 . bounded. M'Donough, Macomb, and the brave officers and soldiers by whose skill and valour their deliverance was achieved, were honoured and their deeds celebrated with the highest applause. The principal officers were rewarded with promotions. Macomb was immediately brevetted by the President with the grade of major-general, and M'Donough promoted to a more important command in the navy. On the 14th, General Macomb, having ascertained thatthe British troops had entirely left the American territory and were with- drawing to Montreal, discharged the New-York and Vermont militia and volunteers with high encomiums for their gallant and active services. Prevost retired to Quebec, was dis- missed from his command, and disgraced by the government. General Result of the War on the Canada Border. Active operations on the Canada border, terminated in the autumn of 1814. The war undertaken for the conquest of the Cana- das, ended in leaving both parties nearly in the same situation as it found them at its commencement. It left the Americans in possession of Maiden and the adjacent territory, and the British of Niagara. Human suffering by the conflagrations of the villages of Newark, Dover, and St. Davids, was more than balanced by the destruction of the American towns on the Niagara frontier. The sum of human slaughter in the various battles was nearly equal ; the balance of prisoners was considerably in favour of the British. Estimating one- third of the war expenditures to have been applied to this object, it cost the United States upwards of thirty millions of dollars. This sum, according to an estimate of the secretary of the navy, assisted by experienced ship-builders and naval officers, of the cost of building, equipping and manning a Seventy-four, would have been sufficient to have built, equip- ped, manned, and kept in service one year sixty ships of the line of that size. Had one-fourth of this sum been applied to that object, and a considerable portion of the other to pro- curing smaller fast sailing vessels of war, to operate upon British commerce : it would have been sufficient to have 1814. HISTORY OF Jill. LATE WAR. effectually guarded the coast, swept their commerce from the ocean, and taught them to respect American maritime right-. The events of the Canada war have developed some impor- tant principles in the structure of the American government. Tt was early perceived, that the militia, the physical force of the union, were not bound by the constitution, nor were they to be depended on as volunteers, to go beyond the limits of the United States, for the purposes of conquest. It was soon found that voluntary enlistment was wholly inadequate to raise an army sufficient for the purposes of foreign war ; and it was finally demonstrated, that, although the power of de- claring war, vested in congress by the constitution, might imply a power of raising armies by conscription, or compulsory proceedings, yet such a measure was so repugnant to the feelings of a free people, that resort could be had to it, only for the purposes of defence. Singular as the fact may appear, ihe Americans, with a naval force, not equal to a twentieth part of the British, were able to capture the most vessels, and do their antagonists the most harm on the ocean ; while on land they were unable to conquer a single British province, not the twentieth part their equal. The American politician believing in a superior agency, reads in this result, the lan- guage of a superintending Providence, commanding the United ■Mates to maintain their rights with energy, and abstain from iews of conquest. CHAPTER XIX. New-Orleans. — Proceedings at Pensacola. — Arrival of a British Naval Force at that place. — Nicholl's Address to the Louisianians. — Negoti- ations with the Pirates of Barrataria. — Commodore Patterson's Expe- dition against them. — Unsuccessful Expedition against Mobile. — General Jackson enters Pensacola with a Military Force ; expels the British. — Armament Sails from the West Indies against New-Orleans. — NicholPs Embassy to the Choctaws. — General Jackson's Arrival ; proclaims Martial Law. — Measures of Defence. — Fort St. Philips garrisoned. — Arrival of the British Armament at Ship Island. — Cap- ture of the American Flotilla on Lake Bergne. — Landing of the Brit- ish at Bayou Bienvenu. — Battle of the 23d of December. — Of the 1st of January. — Decisive Victory of the 8th. — Bombardment of Fort St. Phillips. — Retreat of the British. — Capture of Fort Boyer. The defence of the 7th military district, comprehending the states of Tennessee, and Louisiana, and the Mississippi terri- tory, was intrusted to General Jackson. After subduing the Creeks, and granting them peace on such terms as he thought proper, under the direction of the President, he proceeded to establish strong garrisons at the various military posts in the Mississippi territory, the object of which was to watch and check any hostile movements of the Indians. Conduct of the Spcuiish Authorities at Pensacola. From the commencement of Indian hostilities in the south, the Spanish authorities in Florida, had given the hostile tribes all the aid and encouragement in their power, and had suffered the Brit- ish to supply them, through the posts and territories of the Floridas, with the means of carrying on their warfare. Af- ter the defeat of the Creeks, M'Queen, and Francis, the two principal instigators of the massacre at fort Mimms, and the subsequent war, took refuge at Pensacola, under the protec- tion of the Spanish governor. A considerable quantity of HISTORY OF THE LATE WAh arms for the use of the hostile Indians, which were collecting in the Floridas, and on the borders of the United States, were suffered to be landed, and conveyed up the Apalachicola river, to enable them to renew their hostilities. Against this conduct of the Spanish government, General Jackson urged the most strong and pointed remonstrances ; but received nothing but evasive and unsatisfactory answers: while a con- tinuance of the same course of proceedings, gave abundant. evidence of the weakness and partiality of the Spanish au- thorities. Arrival of a British Armament* On the 25th of August, the Hermes, Orpheus, and Carvian, three British ships of war. arrived at Fensacola, and landed a large quantity of military stores and provisions, and three hundred troops, which were conducted to the Spanish fort. This armament conducted by Edward Nicholl, who bore a Colonel's commission in the British service, and was expressly authorized to engage the Florida Indians in acts of hostility against the United States, was destined to unite with them for these objects. Nicholl' 's Address. On the 29th, Nicholl published an ad- dress to the native inhabitants of Louisiana, stating that he was at the head of a large British and Indian force, and calling upon them to assist in liberating their paternal sail, from a faithless and corrupt government, declaring that the American usurpation must, and would be abolished ; and that in such a happy event, they would have no fear of taxes imposed to support an unnatural and unjust war, and declaring that the brave men under his command, burned with an ardent desire to unite with the patriotic Louisianians, to liberate the south- ern frontier from the American yoke, and drive the Americans within the limits prescribed them by the British sovereign. This proclamation had the elfect of seducing a few deluded, and desperate Louisanians to Nicholas standard-. This arma- ment was supplied with provisions at Pensacola, principally from New-Orleans. The merchants of that city, who had had the provisions from the upper country for a considerable tOO 1 11STOR if OF THE LATE WAR; Ch a* 10. time on hand, eagerly sought this market. A brisk trade, very lucrative to the New-Orleans merchant, was carried on be- tween that city and Pensacola ; by means of which the Brit- ish became possessed of accurate information respecting its strength, resources, means of defence, and most assailable points. They also were enabled to obtain abundant supplies from the city itself, for the army and navy destined for its de- struction. General Jackson, who, when an important object was to be obtained, never doubted his constitutional powers, immediately arrested this intercourse ; and prohibited all commerce between the two places. Pirates of Barrataria. Nicholl's next effort was to form a treaty between the British government, and a gang of pirates established at Barrataria, and several other small islands near the mouth of the Mississippi. On these islands, or rather sand-banks, about forty miles to the westward of the Balize, and near the Louisiana shore, a desperate band of pirates had seated themselves, and under the Carthagenian flag, but without authority or countenance from any govern- ment, were committing depredations on all vessels that came within their reach. They had been suffered to continue here for about two years, and had accumulated a force of fifteen or twenty small vessels, and eight hundred men, deserters and fugitives of every description, and of all nations and colours. Their leader was a renegado Frenchman, by the name of La- fitte ; they had fortified themselves with twenty pieces of can- non, and were enriching themselves with an indiscriminate plunder of British, Spanish, French, and American vessels. To this horde of pirates, the British commandant from Pensa- cola, addressed himself, proposing to take them into service, promising to their chief the rank and pay of captain, and to his followers, lands in the conquered colonies in proportion to their rank and meritorious services. With this address, Commodore Piercy, commandant of the British squadron at Pensacola, despatched captain Locker in the Sophia to Barrataria, demanding of Lafitte the restitu- 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 40i •ion of British vessels and property in Ins possession, and threatening destruction to his establishment, in case of re- 'usal : at the same time proposing to him to unite with them in the war against the United States, and promising to him and his followers security to their establishment, the blessings of the British constitution, and lands to their satisfaction al die conclusion of the war : In return for these advantages, their armed vessels and crews were to be taken into the Brit- ish service, and for which they were to be remunerated. They were also required to cease all hostilities against the Spaniards, and restore all Spanish property in their pos- session. The pirates rejected these terms, and the Briiish failed of obtaining the aid of these allies. While these nego- tiations were going on between the Barratarians and the Brit- ish, the American government took a different, and .tore effectual course with the pirates. On the 1 lth of September, < 'ommodore Patterson, commandant of the American squad- ron at New-Orleans, sailed out of the Mississippi at the south- west passage, and on the 16th, appeared before Barrataria with six gunboats, a launch, a tender and the schooner Caroline. At nine o'clock, A. M. the pirates were seen forming their vessels, ten in number, in line of battle near the entrance of their harbour. Commodore Patterson having learned that there was a considerable number of deserters among the pirates from the American army and navy, who were desirous of returning to their duty, if they could be as- sured of a pardon, hoisted a large white Hag at the mainmast, bearing the words, PARDON TO DESERTERS, in capitals. \t half past eleven, the commodore filtered the harbour after grounding several times, and drew up near the pirates, when k perceived that they had abandoned their vessels, set fire to two of their best schooners, and were Hying in every direc- tion. 1 1<' immediately took possession of their navy, consist- ing of six schooners, on< felucca, one brig, and two other armed schooners under the Carthagenian flag ; comprising all the cruisers nd pri es of the pirates then in port. At the .51 4U2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chav. 19. Same time, Colonel Ross, with a detachment of seventy men of the 44th regiment, who accompanied Commodore Patter- son, landed, and took possession of and destroyed their estab- lishment on shore, consisting of about forty houses of differ- ent sizes, badly constructed, and thatched with Palmetto leaves. On the 20th, Commodore Patterson captured another vessel coming into the harbour, bearing the Carthagenian flag, and belonging to the pirates. On the 23d, the whole squadron now consisting of seventeen sail, got under weigh, entered the south-west passage on the 24th, and on the 1st of October arrived at New-Orleans without the loss of a man. This expedition entirely annihilated this piratical establish- ment. The gang dispersed themselves in various directions many who had deserted from the American army and navy returned to New-Orleans, received the President's pardon, and distinguished themselves in the defence of that city. Expedition against fort Boycr. The next object of the British land and naval forces at Pensacola, was fort Boyer. on Mobile point, at the entrance of the bay. This fort was erected by the Americans after they had taken possession of the town and territory of Mobile, in the year 1812, to pro- tect the navigation of the bay and river. It is situated on a bluff point, which commands the main entrance, opposite Dauphine Island, at the mouth of the bay; and was garrison- ed by one hundred and fifty-eight men, under the command of Major Lawrence. At noon, on the 15th of September, the British squadron from Pensacola, under Commodore Piercy. appeared before the fort, and commenced an attack : the action continued without intermission until seven, when one of the ships, and two brigs were driven off. The commodore r s ship Hermes, mounting twenty-two thirty-two pounders, an- chored nearest the battery. Her cable was cut by a shot from the fort, and being otherwise much damaged, she drifted on shore, was set fire to and abandoned by her crew, and blew up. The forces under Captain Woodbine, consisting of avages, holding in their hands their uplifted tomahawks, and their scalping knives suspended from a belt fastened round their middle. Having made known their business, the em- bassy were informed that nothing could be done until after the feast. English and Indians were then all seated on the grass, and the provisions consisting of buffalo flesh, just warm- ed and swimming in blood, with cakes of Indian corn, were brought in the hands of Indian women, and laid on the turf; the warriors drawing their scalping knives from their belts, cut off slices, and holding the flesh in one hand and tin- cake in the other, devoured their repast. Out of respect to their guests, the Indian women had prepared a minced dish, which was laid upon dried buffalo hides ; of this also the Indians ate heartily, dipping in their hands, and in this manner conveying the food to their mouths. When the rem- nants were removed, and the women were making their scanty meal of the crumbs, a supply of rum which the English fur- nished was produced ; after liberal potations, the taciturnity which the Indians had hitherto observed, gave way ; and all speaking together, each endeavoured to drown the voices of his companions by elevating his own, until it ended in a con- tinued shout. Springing from the ground where they had hitherto continued sitting cross legged, their activity and me- 1814. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 409 nacing gestures threatened blood-shed. The result of the conference was that no assistance could be afforded the Eng- lish. General Jackson's name was a terror to the Indians of the south : and these poor Choctaw s learning that if they joined the English, they would have to meet him again before New-Orleans, refused their aid. Celonel Nicholl was obliged to return to the fleet with only two Indians whom he persuaded to accompany him, Defence of New-Orleans. General Jackson, with the reg^ ular troops from the Mobile and Mississippi territory, arrived at New-Orleans on the 2d of December, and put in operation the most rigorous measures of defence. The militia of Lou- isiana and Mississippi were ordered out en masse, and large detachments from Tennessee and Kentucky, From a pre- vious correspondence with Governor Claiborne, General Jackson had been informed that the city corps had for the most part, refused obedience to the orders which he had given to turn out on the requisition of General Flournoy ; that they had been encouraged in their disobedience by the legislature of the State, who were then in session in the city 5 that, although there were many faithful citizens in New- Orleans, there were many others, whose attachment to the United States could not be confided in ; and should the city be attacked, they must principally depend upon the regular troops, and the militia of the western states for defence. Many of the citizens, the governor observes, are devoted to the interests of Spain ; and whose hostility to the English is no less observable than their dislike to the American gov- ernment. Native Americans, native Louisianians, French- men, Spaniards, and English compose the population ; among them there exists much jealousy, and as great a difference in political sentiment as in their language and habits. In addition to this communication, on the 8th of September, the governor writes, ; - There is great reason to fear a much greater disaffection »haf 1 had anticipated. The garrison I 410 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap U- here is alarmingly weak, and from the great mixture of per- sons and character in this city, we have much to apprehend, from within as well as without. In arresting the intercourse between New-Orleans and Pensacola, you have done right. That place is in fact an enemy's post ; and had our commer- cial intercourse continued, the supplies furnished the enemy would have so much exhausted our own stock of provisions, as to have occasioned the most serious inconvenience to our- selves. I was on the point of taking on myself the prohibition of the trade to Pensacola, and should have issued a pro- clamation for that purpose, the very day I heard of your inter- position. Enemies to the country may blame you for the very prompt and energetic measures you have taken ; but in the person of every patriot you will find a supporter. I am aware of the lax police of the city, and indeed throughout the state, with respect to the visits of strangers. I think with you that our country is filled with spies and traitors." Martial Law proclaimed. On his arrival in the city, General Jackson found these sentiments of the governor fully justified: and on consultation with him, in conjunction with Judge Hall, and many influential persons of the city, on the 16th of De- cember, issued an order, declaring the city and environs of New-Orleans to be under strict martial law. Every individ- ual entering the city was required to report himself to the adjutant-general^ and no person by land or water was suffer- ed to leave the city without a passport. The street lamps were ordered to be extinguished at nine o'clock ; after which any persons found in the streets, or from their homes without permission in writing, and not having the countersign, were ordered to be apprehended as spies.* This measure at once converted the whole city into a camp, and subjected the per- sons and property of the citizens to the will of the command- * General Jackson's order of the 16th of December. 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAli. 411 ing general. Writs of habeas corpus, and all other civil process by means of which the lives and properties of the people are protected, were for the time suspended. Such was the alarm and confusion of the moment, that few inquiries were made whence the commanding general of a military station derived such powers, to be exercised over the inhab- itants of the adjacent country, in nowise connected with his camp. Although the brilliant success which afterwards at- tended the operations of General Jackson seemed to justify ihe measure ; yet the people saw in it a precedent, which 'hough it might have saved New-Orleans, might at sonn future period extinguish their liberties. A most rigid police ■was now instituted. Spies and traitors, with which the gover- nor complained the city abounded, and who had been indus- triously 1 mployed in sedu ii g the French and Spanish inhab- itants from their allegiance, now fled ; and the remaining cit- izens cordially co-operated with the general in the means of defence. Fort St. Philips which guarded the passage of the river at the Detour la Plaquemine, was strengthened and placed under the command of Major Overton, an able and skilful engineer. A site was selected for works of defence, four miles below the city, where its destinies were ultimately to be determined. The right rested on the river, and the left was flanked by an impenetrable cypress swamp, which ex- tended eastward to lake Pontchartrain, and westward to within a mile of the river. Between the swamp and the river was a large ditch or artificial bayou which had been made for agri- cultural objects, but which now served an important military purpose. On the northern bank of this ditch, the entrench- ments were thrown up. and large quantities of cotton bales so arranged, as that the troops could be effectually protected from the enemy"^ fire. Each Hank was secured by an ad- vance bastion 5 and the latter protected by batteries in the rear. These works were well mounted with artillery. Op- posite this position, on the west bank of the river, on a rising ground. General Morgan, with the city and drafted militia, w^ 4 12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. J6« stationed ; and Commodore Patterson, with the crews of the Caroline and Louisiana, and the guns of the latter, formed an- other, near General Morgan's ; both which entirely enfiladed the approach of an enemy against the principal works. A detachment was stationed above the town to guard the pass of the Bayou St. John, if an attempt should be made from that quarter. These arrangements, promptly and judiciously made, gave entire confidence to the citizens, and inspired them with zeal to second the general's exertions. Reinforce- ments were daily arriving, and as they arrived, were immedi- ately conducted to their respective stations. Landing of the British. In the meantime, the British were actively employed in making preparations for the attack ; be- lieving the pass from lake Borgne to lake Pontchartrain, to be defended according to General Wilkinson's plan by the fortress of Petit Coquille, they determined to land from lake Borgne, by the bayou Bienvenue. For this purpose they eeneentrated their forces on Ship island, eighty miles distant from the contemplated place of landing. The depth of water in lake Borgne, was such that this distance could be traversed only by boats and small craft, and must necessarily be passed several times in order to bring up the whole armament. The first object of the British general, was to clear the lake of the American gun-boats ; and for this purpose, forty British launches were sent in pursuit of them, and, after a desperate resistance, captured and destroyed the whole American flotilla, stationed on lake Borgne and Pontchartrain, for the defence of New-Orleans, consisting of five gun-boats, and a small sloop and schooner. By this success, they obtained the un- disturbed possession of the lake ; and on the 22d of Decem- ber, proceeded from their rendezvous on Ship island, with all their boats and small craft capable of navigating the lake, to the bayou Bienvenue ; and having surprised and captured the videttes at the mouth of bayou, the first division accom- plished their landing unobserved. Major General Villiere. nf the New-Orleans militia, living on the bayou, to whom the HISTORK OF THE LATE W Alt. important service of making the first attack, and giving notice of the enemy's approach was intrusted, found tlicm on his plantation, nine miles below the city, without any previous knowledge of their approach. Skirmishes of the 23d. Notice was immediately given to Gen- eral Jackson, who came out andattacked them on the evening of the 23d. In this affair, the British sustained a loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, ol" live hundred. The British entrench- ed themselves at the Bienvenue plantation, lour miles from the American camp, making the plantation house in the roar of their works, their head-quarters. General Jackson estab- lished his head-quarters, at M'Carty's plantation, on the bank of the river, and in full view of the British encampment. Two armed schooners, the Caroline and Louisiana, constituting all the American naval force on the river, dropped down from the hored opposite the British encampment, and opened a brisk fire upon their lines with considerable effect. On the 27th, the Caroline, Captain Henley, got becalmed within reach of the British batteries, and was set fire to, and destroyed by their hot shot: the other succeeded in getting out of their reach. On the 23th, the British advanced within half a mile of the American lines, and opened a fire of shells and rockets : but were driven back by the artillery with considerable loss. On the night of the 31st of December, the enemy again ad- vanced within six; hundred yards of General Jackson's posi- tion, and erected three batteries, mounting fifteen guns, and at eight o'clock in the morning, opened a heavy lire. In the course of the day, under cover of these batteries, three unsuc- cessful attempts were made to storm the American works. By four in the afternoon, all their batteries were silenced, and in the following night, they returned to their former position. On the 4th of Januar) , Gen r d Adair arrived, with four thou- sand Kentucky militia, principally without arms. The muskets, and munitions of war destined for the supply of this corps, were provided at Pittsburg!), and did not leave that place until the 25th of December Louisville the 6th HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 19* of January, and arrived at New-Orleans, several days after the battle of the 8th. On the 6th, the last reinforcement of three thousand men arrived from England, under Major Gen- eral Lambert. Before the final assault on the American lines, the British general deemed it necessary to dislodge General Morgan and Commodore Patterson, from their positions on the right bank. These posts so effectually enfiladed the ap- proach to General Jackson's works, that the army advancing to the assault, must be exposed to the most imminent hazard. To accomplish this object, boats were to be transported across the island from lake Borgne to the Mississippi ; for this pur- pose the British had been laboriously employed in deepening and widening the canal or bayou Bienvenue, on which they first disembarked. On the 7th, they succeeded in opening the embankment on the river, and completing a communica- tion from the lake to the Mississippi. In pushing the boats through, it was found at some places, that the canal was not of sufficient width, and at others the banks fell in and choked the passage which necessarily occasioned great delay, and increase of labour. At length, however, they succeeded in hauling through a sufficient number to transport five hundred troops to the right bank. At dawn of day on the 8th, was the period fixed for the final assault on the American lines. Colonel Thornton, was detached with five hundred men, to cross the river, and attack the batteries on that side, at the same time that the main assault was to be made, of which he was to be informed by a signal rocket. The American general had detached Colonel Davis, with three hundred Kentucky militia, badly armed, to reinforce General Morgan. These were immediately ordered to the water edge, to oppose the enemy's landing. Unable in their situation to contend with a superior force of regular troops well armed, they soon broke and fled, and the Louisiana militia at General Morgan's bat- tery followed their example. Commodore Patterson's marine battery, being now unprotected, his crews were obliged to vield to an overwhelming force, and the British succeeded in 1811, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. silencing both ; but the opposition Colonel Thornton met with prevented this operation from being completed, until the contest was nearly ended on the opposite side of the river. Victory of the 8th. At day-light on the morning of the 8th, the main body of the British, under their commander in chief, General Packenham, were seen advancing from their encamp- ment to storm the American lines. On the preceding eve- ning, they had erected a battery within eight hundred yards, which now opened a brisk tire to protect their advance. The British came on in two columns, the left along the levee on the bank of the river, directed against the American right, while their right advanced to the swamp, with a view to turn General Jackson's left. The country being a perfect leyel, and the view unobstructed, their march was observed from its commencement. They were suffered to approach in silence and unmolested, until within three hundred yards of the lines. This period of suspense and expectation was employed by General Jackson and his officers, in stationing every man at his post, and arranging every thing for the decisive event. When the British columns had advanced within three hundred yards of the lines, the whole artillery at once opened upon them a most deadly lire. Forty pieces of cannon deeply charged with grape, canister, and musket balls, mowed them down by hundreds, at the same time the batteries on the west bank opened their fire, while the riflemen in perfect security behind their works, as the British advanced took deliberate aim, and nearly every shot took effect. Through this destruc- tive fire, the British left column, under the immediate orders of the commander in chief, rushed on with their fascines, and scaling ladders to the advance bastion on the American right, and succeeded in mounting the parapet ; here, after a close conflict with the bayonet, they succeeded in obtaining posses- sion of the bastion ; when the battery planted in the rear for its protection, opened its lire, and drove the British from the ground. On the American left, the British attempted to pass 'he swamp, and gain the rear, bul the works had been exteii'l- 416 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. VJ . ed as far into the swamp as the ground would permit. Some who attempted it, sunk in the mire and disappeared ; those behind seeing the fate of their companions, seasonably re- treated and gained the hard ground. The assault continued an hour and a quarter : during the whole time the British were exposed to the deliberate, and destructive fire of the Ameri- can artillery and musketry, which lay in perfect security be- hind their breastworks of cotton bales, which no balls could penetrate. At eight o'clock, the British columns drew oft" in confusion, and retreated behind their works. Flushed with success, the militia were eager to pursue the British troops to their entrenchments, and drive them immediately from the island. A less prudent and accomplished general might have been induced to yield to the indiscreet ardour of his troops 5 but General Jackson, understood too well the nalure both of his own, and his enemy's force, to hazard such an at- tempt. Defeat must inevitably have attended an assault made by raw militia, upon an entrenched camp of British reg- ulars. The defence of New-Orleans was the object ; nothing was to be hazarded which would jeopardize the city. The British were suffered to retire behind their works without mo- lestation. The result was such as might be expected from the different positions of the two armies. General Packen- ham, near the crest of the glacis, received a ball in his knee, Still continuing to lead on his men, another shot pierced his body, and he was carried off the field. Nearly at the same time, Major General Gibbs, the second in command, within a few yards of the lines, received a mortal wound, and was re- moved. The third in command, Major General Keane, at the head of his troops near the glacis, was severely wounded. The three commanding generals, on marshalling their troops at five o'clock in the morning, promised them a plentiful din- ner in New-Orleans, and gave them booty and beauty as the parole and countersign of the day. Before eight o'clock, the. three generals were carried off the field, two in the agonies of 'loath, and the third entirely disabled ; leaving upwards of HISTORY OF THK LATE WAR. 417 two thousand of their men, dead, dying, and wounded, on the iield of battle. Colonel Ilaynor, who commanded the forlorn hope which stormed the American bastion on the right, as he was leading his men up, had the calf of his leg carried away by a cannon shot. Disabled as he was, he was the first to mount the parapet, and receive die American bayonet. Seven hun- dred were killed on the field, fourteen hundred wounded, and five hundred made prisoners, making a total on that day of twenty-six hundred. But six Americans were killed, and seven wounded. Of General Morgan's detachment on the west bank, and in a sortie on the British lines, forty-nine were killed, and one hundred and seventy-eight wounded. After the battle, General Lambert who had arrived from England but two days before, and was now the only surviv- ing general, requested a truce for the purpose of burying his dead. This was granted until four o'clock in the afternoon of the ninth. Lines were drawn one hundred rods distant from the American camp, within which the British were not permittedto approach. In the ditch, and in front of the works, within the prescribed lines, four hundred and .eighty-two British dead were picked up by the American troops, and delivered to their companions over the lines for burial. The afternoon of the 8th, and the whole of the 9th, was spent by the British army in burying their dead. The American centinels guard- ing the lines during this interval, frequently repeated in the hearing of the British, while tumbling their companions by hundreds into the pits, " Six killed, seven wounded." Gen- eral Lambert employed the first moments of the truce, in re- calling Colonel Thornton's corps from the west bank. On the 9th, General Lambert and Admiral Cochrane, with the surviving officers of the army, held a council of war, and de- termined to abandon the expedition. To withdraw the troops from their position, and re-embark in the face of a victorious enemy, presented an object of nearly as much difficulty and hazard, as the first landing and attack. To accomplish this, every appearance of a renewal of the assault was kept up* 53 41 g HISTORY OF THE LATE "WAR. Chap. tS The British remained firm in their position, and presented a menacing front until the 13th. Bombardment of St. Philips. In order to induce a bcliet that a united attack by land and water, was stilt intended, the lighter ships ascended the river to the Detour la Plaquemine, and commenced a bombardment of fort St. Philips on the 9th, and continued it until the 17th. The ships, taking stations out of the reach of the guns, commenced throwing shells into the fort, and continued it with little intermission during the whole time. Major Overton, and the garrison under his com- / mand, sustained the attack with firmness and with little loss : but two were killed and seven wounded. On the 17th, the ships withdrew and joined the squadron off Ship island. This attack on fort St. Philips answered the purpose of keeping up the alarm at New-Orleans, and inducing a belief that an- other attempt was intended. During the whole of this time, the general and admiral were with the utmost secrecy and silence, withdrawing and re-embarking their heavy artillery, baggage, and stores. Retreat of the British. On the night of the 1 8th, they broke up their encampment, and commenced their retreat to the place of their first landing. To accomplish this with safety, it was necessary that the army should move in one body, With this view, immediately after the battle of the 8th, large working parties had been employed in constructing a road through a quagmire, for a considerable distance along the margin of the bayou; by binding together large quantities of reeds, and laying them across the mire ; in the course of nine days, these parties had constructed something resembling a road from their encampment, to the place of debarkation. Along this insecure tract, the British army silently stole their march in the night of the 18th of January. By the treading of the first corps, the bundles of reeds gave way, and their followers had to wade up to their knees in mire. Several per- ished in the sloughs, the darkness of the night preventing their companions from affording relief. At the mouth of the bayou aai4. history of iiii: late w \ ,jvm re a few huts which afforded shelter for fishermen, in the son of catching fish for the New-< Orleans market ; here tlie troops halted and bivouacked previous to their embarkation. Their provisions being exhausted, a few crumbs of biscuit, i nd a small allowance of nun was their only support. Here they were eighty miles from their ships, the whole of which distance they had to traverse in sin;tll open boats ; and hav- ing but few of these, the embarkation occupied ten days. On the 27th, the whole land and naval forces which remained of this disastrous expedition, to their great joy. found themselves on board their ships. Their ranks thinned, their chiefs and many of their companions slain, their bodies emaciated with hunger, fatigue, and sickness ; they gladly quitted this inauspi- cious country. The surviving commanding general observes, " that the services of both army and navy, since their landing on this coast, have been arduous beyond any thing he ever before witnessed, and difficulties have been got over with an assiduity and perseverance beyond example by all ranks.' 1 A British officer ol distinction, an actor in the scene, thus de- scribes his tour from the encampment to the embarkation. " For some time,our route lay along the high road beside the brink of the river, and was agreeable enough ; but as soon as we began to enter upon the path through the marsh, all com- fort was at an end. Being constructed of materials so slight, and resting upon a foundation so infirm, the treading of the first corps unavoidably beat it to pieces : those which followed were therefore compelled to flounder on in the best way they could ; and by the time the rear of the column gained the mo- rass, all trace of a way had entirely disappeared. But not only were the reeds torn asunder and sunk by the pressure of those who had gone before, but the bog itself which at first might have furnished a few spots of firm footing, was trodden into the consistency of mud. The consequence was, that every step sunk us to the knees, and frequently higher. Near the ditches, indeed, many spots occurred which we had the utmost difficulty of crossing at all ; and as the night wasdark„ 4^0 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaf. 19. there being no moon, nor any light, except what the stars sup- plied, it was difficult to select our steps, or even to follow those who called to us that they were safe on the other side. At one of these places, I myself beheld an unfortunate wretch gradually sink, until he totally disappeared. I saw him flounder in, heard him cry for help, and ran forward with in- tention of saving him ; but before 1 had taken a second step y I myself sunk at once as high as the breast. I could feel no solid bottom under me, and continued slowly to go deeper and deeper, till the mud reached my arms. Instead of endeav- ouring to help the poor soldier, of whom nothing now could be seen except the head and hands, 1 was forced to beg as- sistance for myself, when a leathern canteen strap being thrown me, I laid hold of it, and was dragged out just as my fellow-sufferer became invisible. Over roads such as these? did we continue our march during the whole of the night, and in the morning arrived at a place called Fishermen's huts, consisting of a clump of mud-built collages, standing by the edge of the water, on a part of the morass rather more firm than the rest. Here we were ordered to halt 5 wearied with exertions, and oppressed with want of sleep, 1 threw myself on the ground without so much as taking off my muddy gar- ments, and in an instant all cares and troubles were forgotten. Nor did I awake from that deep slumber for many hours; when I arose, cold and stiff, and addressed myself to the last morsel of salt pork my wallet contained. Without tents or huts of any description, our bed was the morass, and our only covering the clothes which had not quitted our backs for more than a month ; our fires were composed solely of reeds, which like straw, soon blaze up and expire again, without com- municating any degree of warmth. But above ail, our pro- visions were expended, and from what quarter an immediate supply was to be obtained, we could not discover. Our sole dependence was upon the boats. Of these a flotilla lay ready to receive us, in which were already embarked the black <":©rps,and the 44th ; but they had brought^with them only food 1814 [ISTORl Of THE LATE WAR. 421 lor their own use, it was therefore necessary that they should reach the llrct and return again before we could be supplied. But as the nearest shipping was eighty miles distant, and the weather might become boisterous, or the winds obstinate, we might starve before any supply could arrive. As soon as the boats returned, regiment after regiment embarked, and set sail for the fleet : but the distance being considerable, and the wind foul, many days elapsed before the whole could be got off; by the end of the month, we were all once more on board our former ships." Capture of Fort Boycr. This armament, being now all on ship-board, proceeded to a more easy and obtainable con- quest. The brave Colonel Lawrence, who so nobly defend- ed fort Boyer at Mobile point, on the 15th of September, wa? now besieged at the same place by this whole force. On the 8th of February, nearly one hundred sail appeared off the island of Uauphinc, and commenced a cannonade on the fort; this continued until the I lth, when a landing having been ef- fected, and batteries erected in the rear of the fort, Colonel Lawrence was summoned to surrender, and reluctantly obliged to yield to an overwhelming power. The garrison con- sisted of three hundred and seventy-five, including officers; the opposing force, by land and water, to nearly ten thousand. This was the last and only successful achievement of the New-Or- leans armament, which had excited the highest expectation of its friends, and the apprehensions of its enemies. CHAPTER XX. ffreatment of American Seamen in British service at the Commence ment of the War. — Colonel Beasley's Correspondence with the Brit- ish Government on the subject. — Those who refuse to serve, treated as prisoners of War, and confined in Dartmoor Prison. — Description of that place. — Number of American Prisoners confined there. — Escape of Lieutenant R. G. — Attack upon, and Slaughter of the Prisoners on the 6th of April, 1815. — Report of joint Com- - missioners appointed to examine the subject. — Meeting of the Legisla- ture of Massachusetts, October 1814. — View of the situation of that State. — -Governor's Message and Documents.— Report of Committee recommending a Convention of Delegates from the New-England States. — Protest of the Minority against the Report. — Proceedings of those States on the subject. — Meeting of the Delegates at Hart- ford. — Their Powers examined. — Their Journal, Proceedings, and Report. — Proceedings of Massachusetts and Connecticut on the Re- port of the Convention. — Amendments to the Constitution recom- mended. — Transmitted to the other States, and rejected. At the commencement of the war, all British subjects found in the United States, were permitted to return to their native country, and every facility granted for their accommodation. Those who chose to remain, were laid under no other embar- rassment in the pursuit of their ordinary concerns, than being obliged to retire from thirty to fifty miles from the sea-board, to prevent an intercourse with the enemy. Treatment of Americans in England, at the Declaration of War. In Great Britain, similar facilities were granted to such Americans as were there for the purposes of business, travel- ling, or amusement. But there was another class of Ameri- can citizens, who were destined t© receive a very different treatment. Seventy American vessels found in British ports when the news of the declaration of war reached England, were seized and condemned, and their crews detained as pri- soners of war. 1814. IITSTORY OF THE LATE WAI. Of impressed Seamen. Between two and three thousand impn ssed American seamen, found on board British ships, at sea and in port, at the commencement of the war, claimed the right of being exempt from serving against their native country. Every method was adopted which ingenuity could devise, by promises, threats, and in many instances by actual violence, to compel them to serve. Such Americans as were in port, and could find opportunity, communicated their griev- ances to Colonel Beasley, the American agent for prisoners of war in England, ami sought his advice and assistance. His advice, whenever he could have an opportunity to communi- cate w r ith them, was, that under no circumstances they should bear arms against their country ; to demand their discharge and their privileges as American citizens ; and, in case of re- fusal, to surrender themselves prisoners of war. His assist- ance was given them in a very able and eloquent appeal to the board of admiralty in their behalf. In reply they requir- ed of him the names of the persons in whose behalf he inter- fered and the vessels, on board of which they were detained, lie named John Ballard on board the Zenolia, who offered himself as a prisoner, was refused to be received as such, and put in irons. John Davis on board the Thistle, who gave himself up as a prisoner, and refused further services, for which he was flogged. Ephraim Court on board the 1 .a I logue, gave himself up as a prisoner, and refused further service, in consequence of which he was kept seven days in irons. John Hosman, and Russet Brainard, of the same ship, for the same conduct, were put in irons and threatened with further pun- ishment. Thomas IV. Marshal, Peter Lazette, Edward W. Banks, and Levi Zounger, on board the Royal William, gave themselves up as prisoners, and were in consequence thereof put into close confinement for eight days. But the great mass of American impressed seamen, Mr. Beasley could have no access to, and no opportunity was given them to state their cases. On his requesting of the admiralty, the liberty of addressing an open letter to them on the subject, he was 424 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2«. peremptorily refused. The admiralty determined that such as could not be induced to continue their service, should be treated as prisoners of war. The result of these proceedings was, that on eaeh application a strict examination was had of the case of the applicant, under every disadvantage on his part, and before judges under the strongest bias to decide against him. Even under these circumstances, more than two thousand applicants proved themselves to be American citi- zens, and instead of being paid for their past services, and honourably discharged, were without a shilling immured in prison ships, and in the Dartmoor prison during the war. It attempting to compel American seamen to fight against their native country, the British government set at defiance all those nice principles on the subject of natural allegiance, which they so strenuously advocated, when it suited their views. Mr. Beasley was indeed offered, that if he would give his receipt for them as prisoners of war, to be accounted for in a future exchange, with condition not to serve until exchanged;, they should be delivered to him to be transported to America at the expense of his government. To this proposition, neither he nor the government could accede ; and these unfortunate men, in whose behalf alone the war was now carrying on, to the amount of more than two thousand, were doomed to undergo a confinement, less eligible than that from which they had been transferred. Remonstrance of American Agent for Prisoners, To a pro- ceeding so cruel to the unfortunate subjects, and such an out- rage upon the principles and usages of national law, Mr. Beasley presented an able and eloquent remonstrance ; stating that " taking into view the manner in which these unfortu- nate persons came into the power of the British government, that their own rights and inclinations, the rights of their coun- try, the law of nations, and every principle of justice was vio- lated, by the very act by which these men were brought with- in its power, and that the injury accumulates so long as any 1*14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 425 of them so remain. They are on every ground entitled to, and the British government arc bound to grant their immediate and complete release. It acquired them only as the spoils of un- lawful violence ; how then can it retain them as the fruits of lawful war? Its right to control them, can only arise from the lawfulness of their detention, but that which was unlawfully taken cannot be rightfully held ; and to acknowledge the pre- tension to such control, as their lordships 1 purpose implies, would be to legitimate the act by which they came into their power. The British government. Mr. Beasley observes, dis. claims all right and all intention to take them ; this disavowal is an acknowledgment of its obligation to restore them to the same condition, and to the same freedom from which they were taken. On what ground is it that they are to be treated as prisoners of war ? Not many years since, all Europe re- sounded with the complaints of Great Britain against France, for detaining as prisoners of war, certain British subjects, who. having entered France in time of peace, were found there at the breaking out of the war. But if this was regarded in Eng- land as an outrage, what will be thought of this detention as prisoners of war of American seamen, who, having been un- lawfully taken on the high seas, and forcibly carried into the British service in time of peace, are found therein at the break- ing out of a war, doing her service, and lighting her battles ? The conduct of France was in this instance attempted to be justified by certain acts of England, which were alleged to be equally contrary to the law of nations. But what justifica. lion or excuse can be setup for the conduct of Great Britain toward American seamen ? What infraction upon the law of nations, what violence or injustice toward British subjects, or what outrage is this cruel act to retaliate ? It cannot be the free and spontaneous permission given by the United States at the commencement of the war, for every British subject of every class and description found within their territories, or within their power, to return to his country, that tins impri- sonment of American seamen is to requite. Surely this can- 426 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR Chj not be the indemnification which Great Britain offers the • unfortunate men for the wrongs she has inflicted on them : 01 the reward she offers for the service she has received al 'heir hands." To the unqualified prohibition of all intercourse between '.he American agent, and the impressed seamen, Mr. Beasley answers, that " he must submit. The relation in which they stood to him seemed to authorize a communication. Their object was to obtain information and counsel, as to the proper mode of conducting under circumstances so difficult and novel, and on an occasion the most solemn and important." His object was, after having waited five months in vain for an an- swer to his application on their behalf, and having failed in all his attempts to obtain their release, to recommend to them to give themselves up as prisoners of war.* It was scarcely to have been expected, after the prince re- gent's proclamation requiring all British born si bjects in for- eign nations to return to their country, and after the princi- ples on the subject of natural allegiance which the British government adopted in relation to the prisoners at Queenston, that such measures would have been adopted to force Ameri- can impressed seamen to fight the battles of Britain against their native country. This reasoning of Mr. Beaslev, was never attempted to be answered. But it had no effect upon a government determined to pursue a course of policy which it condemned. The communication lay seventy-three days before the admiralty board to whom it was addressed, and was then handed over to the transport officer ; who replied, that " the lords of the admiralty did not think proper to an- swer the letter, because it related to subjects which the powers of the American agent did not authorize him to discuss, and though it would have been easy to have completely answered the misconceptions and misstatements it contained, it would * Mr. Beasley's letter to the admiralty. ">i. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 427 be useless to proceed with a correspondence which would con- duce to no practical result ;" acquainting him at the same time, that no person confined in prison as an American sea- man, could he released, unless in each individual case he should produce satisfactory proofs, that such person was a natural born American citizen, in which case he would be im- diately released from prison upon the usual terms of ex- change, if he had been a volunteer in their service, or if an m pressed seamen, freely and without exchange. The pro- tections and certificates of citizenship, with which American seamen had been generally furnished, had been repeally de- ■ hired by the admiralty to furnish no evidence in their favour, tnd these unfortunate men, confined in prison without the privilege of communicating with their friends, or with the American agent, were unable generally to procure any other. Mr. Beasley exerted himself to procure the requisite testimo- y in all the cases, which came to his knowledge ; and out of one hundred and eighty-four, presented by him to (he British admiralty, from the 9th of March, to the 18th of September 1813, he obtained only one discharge. The British were in possession of several thousand American seamen on board .heir ships of war, and were determined to retain them. Som< of these persons were found on board their ships in most o! 'he battle- fought and captures made. Man}' times, however, in actual engagement, their services were no benefit to theii "ppressors. Impressed Seamen treutcd as Prisoners of War, and conjin- ■ (1 in Dartmoor. Those who could not be induced to bear arms against their country, were conveyed to Dartmoor pri- son, and there confined until the end of the war. The Amer- ican government could not exchange them, without in some measure recognising the right of the British government to ♦ real them as prisoners. Most of them, therefore, were con- fined in Dartmoor, hopeless of exchange. T) scription of Dartmoor Prison. This depot is situate in the counfv ofD'^'pn. fifteen miles north-eas' of th* naval sta 428 IIISTORV OF THE LATE WAK. CflAP.-M tion at Plymouth, twenty-six north-west of Exeter, the capita! of the county, and two hundred miles south-west of London. It is elevated seventeen hundred feet above the level of the sea, in a region of country, uneven, barren, and dreary, It consists of seven prisons, each calculated to contain from eleven to fifteen hundred men. The prisoners are under the care of an agent, appointed by, and subject to the control of, the transport board. Two thousand militia, and two compa- nies of royal artillery are stationed here to guard the prison- ers. This is the general depot for all that are taken and brought into England, until they are exchanged. The pri- sons are all strongly built of stone, and surrounded by two circular walls, the outer one measuring a mile in circumfer- ence, and enclosing an area of fifty acres. Upon the inner wall are military walks for centinels. Within it are iron pal- lisadoes ten feet high, and twenty feet distant from each other ; adjoining the outer wall, are guard-houses on the north, east, and south sides. There are three separate yards which com- municate with each other, through a passage one hundred and twenty feet long, and twenty broad, guarded on each side by iron bars, over which, and fronting the prison No. 4, is a walk for the centinels. Opposite this passage, is the market square ; a person passing into either yard, has to pass through two iron gates ; so that all communication between the yards, may be stopped at pleasure by shutting the gates. The first yard contains the prisons, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. The second con- tains, No. 4, and is allotted to blacks, and separated from the other yards by two stone walls, fourteen feet high. The third yard contains Nos. 5, G, and 7, Within the first yard, and just north of No. 1, stands the condemned prison, a place of punishment for various offences committed by the prisoners ; this is capable of containing only about sixty prisoners, who are allowed a blanket and straw, instead of their ordinary bedding, and arc kept on short allowance ; a small aperture near the roof admits the only light. Fronting the first yard. rs a wall separating it fr*nfo the hospital : from the third van 5 IB 14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 4J* is another wall separating it from the barracks. The marki place, fronting the passage leading from one yard to the other is nearly square, and capable of containing five thousand persons. The market is open every day except Sundays, at eleven, and closed at two ; where the country people come to trade with the prisoner.*. At the upper part of the market square, are two storehouses, one for the prisoners, and one for the king's stores. The other buildings attached to the es- tablishment, are the houses for the agent, physician, clerks, and turnkeys. To enter either of the prison yards from with- out, a person must pass through five gates. Fronting the outer gate, is a reservoir of water which supplies the establishment, brought the distance of five miles. The hospital departmen is under the superintendence of a physician and two assist- ants. The American prisoners of war, comprehending im- pressed seamen, the balance of all prisoners taken, or brought into America after the exchanges were made, being transported to England, and all maritime prisoners carried into Great Britain, were confined, and strictly guarded in this depot.* On the 6th of April, 1815, they had accumulated to five thousand six hundred. The prisoners were every night at a given signal, soon af- ter sunset, obliged to retire to their rooms, and were there locked up until morning. At the same time the gates were all closed ; and numerous sentinels on the walls, and at the gates and avenues. Escape of Lieutenant R. G. An escape seemed impossi- ble ; one, however, was attempted by Mr. R. G. lieutenant of the privateer Rattlesnake, which was finally attended with success* He procured a sufficient quantity of old rope yarn, with which he constructed a rope eighty feet in length, and ob- tained a'uniform and a great coat resembling those which the Relation by an American officer, who had been prisoner in Dart- moor, published in Essex Register, June 1815. — Snlem, Mat* 4 JO HISTORY Or THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20. sentinels wore while on duty ; having made these prepara- tions, he obtained the countersign for six guineas, from one of the guards ; and a short time previous to the relief at mid- night, silently lowered himself down by his rope from the window of his room in the upper loft, eighty feet from th< ground ; armed with a dagger, and accoutred as a sentinel with his umbrella under his great coat, in the manner the guards usually carried their guns while on duly. He conceal- ed himself under the walls of the prison until the relief came round, and when the gates opened to relieve the guard, he boldly marched up and was challenged by two sentinels at the first gate, and the countersign demanded ; this he readily gave, and was directed to pass on by the sentinel who chal- lenged him ; but the other who was the one that had received the bribe, said no, it was one of the American prisoners, and immediately seized him. The lieutenant, finding his case des- perate, and indignant at the villain who had received his mo- ney only to betray him, sprung upon him with his dagger, and would have taken exemplary vengeance, at the expense of his own life, but he was immediately overpowered by the guards, taken back and confined in the black hole or con- demned prison, without light, furnished only with a little straw, and fed on bread and water for ten days. He was then taken out, brought before the superintendent, and required to give up the name of the person, from whom he received the countersign. Had the sentinel been faithful to the lieu- tenant, no consideration would have induced him to give him up ; but as the soldier had been guilty of a double treachery, he was under no honorary obligation to conceal his name. He informed the superintendent of the name and conduct of the villain, who received three hundred lashes foi his villany. Mr. G. being now restored to the condition of ordinary prisoners, and having preserved his accoutrements, determined to make another attempt, notwithstanding the guards were doubled in consequence of the first. He again obtained the countersign for three guineas, let himself down I J ibTORY OF THE LA i I . WAR 4 31 n the same manner as before, mixed with the guards at the Mine of relief, and sueceeded in passing all the barriers, aftei being stopped and examined seventeen times. No time was to be lost, the night was fast spending, when he gave Dart- moor prison a last look, and made his way across the fields, owards the coast, without money or friends, and apprehen- sive of being arrested by every person he should meet. Hav- ing reached the coast, weary and hungry, he found a boat eighteen feet long, furnished with one oar; without provision, water, compass, or any guide, he put himself to sea in this little bark for the coast of France, a distance of one hundred miles. Having obtained a good offing, he converted his um- brella and a part of his clothes into a sail, and with his oar in the stern, steered for the continent. About half-passage over, the sea running high, and the wind fresh, he discovered a brig of war near him, he immediately hauled in his sail, and made from the brig. Fortunately he was too small an object to be discovered, and passed her unnoticed. After a perilous voy- age of thirty-six hours, he landed in safety on the coast of France, and soon afterwards found a passage to the Unitod Mates. Immediately after the ratification of the treaty of peace by die prince regent, the third article of which provides " that dl prisoners of war taken on either side, shall be restored as -oon as practicable," Colonel Beasley applied to the British government for the discharge of the prisoners confined a' Dartmoor, proposing as a condition, that they should be con- sidered still as prisoners of war, and not at liberty to serve un- til regularly exchanged in the event of the treaty's not being ratified by the American government. This proposition was refused, and the prisoners still held in custody. Intelligence of the ratification of the treaty by the President, arrived in England on the 20th of March ; arrangements, however. were not completed for the discharge of the prisoners and their transportation to America, until the last of April; the crnments not agrocin'_ r which should boar the rxpensr ol 432 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20. transportation. The intervening time to persons who had been so long confined, was a period of much anxiety, and disquietude. A great and increasing misunderstanding exist- ed between the prisoners and Captain Shortland the superin- tendent. Disturbances at Dartmoor. On the Cth of April, some of the prisoners, as a matter of amusement, had perforated the walls of one of the buildings, and made a hole sufficient to ad- mit a person to pass through. Captain Shortland observing this, and seeing also, what he apprehended to be some unu- sual movements among the prisoners, supposed they were at- tempting to make an escape. He ordered the alarm bell to be rung, a signal for calling together the military. The pri- soners, very lew of whom had any knowledge of the perfora- tion, and none had any idea of making an escape, rushed out into the adjoining yards, to inquire into the cause of the alarm. A scene of confusion and disorder now ensued. The military assembled at the sound of the alarm bell ; and by order of the superintendent, fired on the prisoners. They attempted to regain their prisons, but the confusion and crowd was so 8,reat, that a considerable time elapsed, during which the guard continued firing into the passages where the crowd was the greatest ; and after the greater part of the prisoners had re- gained the buildings, several of the last were shot down. Slaughter of the Prisoners. Seven were killed outright, thjrty-three wounded, some of whom died soon after of their wounds. This transaction was viewed by the prisoners as a wanton act of cruelty and murder on the part of the superin- tendent. As they were then in hourly expectation of being honourably discharged with the means of returning to their native country, there could be no possible inducement for nn escape ; and had the prison doors been opened under these circumstances, no one would have gone out. They supposed, therefore, that the alarm and confusion was created by the superintendent, as an excuse and rover for his previous cruel <'ips and extortion. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 433 By an arrangement between Messrs. Clay and Gallatin. hen in England on their return from Ghent, and Lord Cas- tlereagh, a joint commission of two persons, on< nominated by each partj . w is agreed upon to examine into the subject and report the facts. The cc a, consisting ofCharlesKing and Francis S. Larpent, reported a statement of facts from stimony of the prisoners, the sperintendent, and guards, which divided the blame equally between them.* Captain Shortland, in consequence of hisconduct in this transaction, wai harged, and a person more acceptable to the prisoners ap- pointed in his room ; and tranquillity restored for the few dayi which the prisoners remained in confinement after this event. Proceedings of Massachusetts. A considerable majority of the people oi' New-England had been opposed to the war from the beginning. Of the twenty-nine members from the ^-England states in the house of representatives when war was declared, nine only voted in favour of the measure, uid twenty against it. The votes in the senate were two in favour and eight against the war. The system adopted for the prosecution of the war was as much at variance with the public sentiment in New-England, as 'he measure itself. Withdrawing the regular force from the board, for the conquest of Canada, and leaving the coasts to be protected by occasional calls of the militia, was univer- sally condemned by the advocates of peace. They consider- ed the attempt to conquer Canada as unjust in itself, extremely hazardous and expensive, and productive of no solid advan- tage to the United States. If we must have war, say they, let it be a war of protection and defence on land, and an active, offensive war against British commerce on the ocean. The calamities to which the inhabitants of the sea-board had been .mbjected, and the disasters on the Canadian frontier, they claimed, fully justified their views of the subject. The dis- Report of the Commissioners | j'.r HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaf. 2«j tresses of the war were felt with peculiar severity by the in- habitants of the coast of Massachusetts, and the neighbour- ing islands. Much of their soil is unproductive, and their principal dependence is on their fisheries in the summer, for supplies the succeeding winter, which must be water-borne from the markets where they are obtained. The British squadrons on the coast entirely obstructed their sea-fisheries, and in a great measure prevented their obtaining iheir neces- sary winter supplies. More than a hundred nourishing towns on a sea-board, including its various indents of six hundred miles in extent, were exposed to that war of devastation which Admiral Cochrane had threatened, and was carrying into execution with unremitting severity. Many of these towns were obliged to save themselves from entire destruc- tion by heavy ransoms. The unfortunate controversy between the general govern- ment and the New-England state governments, in relation to the constitutional powers of each over the militia, ended in the determination of the general government not to pay or sup- port any militia, who were not called out by, and subjected to the orders of the commanding general of the district, or by him received into service ; and in the determination of t: t state governments not to subject their militia to such orders. This threw the whole burden of defending an extensive coast and frontier upon the state governments ; while they were obliged to contribute their proportion of direct and indirect taxes to the general expenses of a war which they condemned. AH that part of the province of Maine lying eastward of Penob- scot river, comprehending a large and valuable tract of terri- tory and numerous inhabitants, was occupied by the British, apparently with the intention of making a permanent estab- lishment. To the legislature of Massachusetts, convened in January 1814, the petitions of thirty-live towns were presented, slating in strong terms the grievances they suffer d by the war, the embargo, and other measures of the general government. WI4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 435 The committee to whom these memorials were referred, aftei reciprocating most of the sentiments they contained, recom- mended certain resolutions, declaring the embargo laws un- constitutional and void. The report concludes with ob- serving that, as the well grounded complaints of the people constitute a continued claim on the government until their grievances are redressed, they recommend that the several memorials be delivered to the governor, with a request that he or his successor would cause them to be laid before the next legislature. This report was accepted by both houses* Special Meeting of the Massachusetts Legislature, October 1814. A new election of all the branches of the government took place in the April following, and the governor called a special meeting of the legislature the succeeding October. In his address at the opening of the session, he stated, " tha* the war in which the country was involved, had assumed an aspect so threatening and destructive, and at the same time the troops of the United Stales having been withdrawn to aid in the operation- against Canada, he had found it necessary to order out large detachments of militia for the defence of the sea-board ; that the limited sources of revenue, which the state had retained in its own power, bore no proportion :o the expenses incurred in its defence ; that the situation oi the state was peculiarly distressing. By the terms of the constitution, they had been led to rely on the government of the union for defence. They had resigned to that govern- ment the revenues of the state, with the expectation that this object would not be neglected ; but that government has de- clared war against the most powerful maritime nation, whose fleets can approach every section of our sea-board, to an extent of five or six hundred miles, without providing the means of defence. Though we may be convinced that the war, in its commencement, was unnecessary and unjust, and has been prosecuted without any useful or practical object against the inhabitants of Canada, while our sea-coast has been left almost defenceless ; though in a war thus commenced, we mav have declined, to afford our voluntary- aid to offensive 436 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAJ;, Chap operations, there can be no doubt of our right and our dutj defend our dwellings and possessions against any hostile at- tack by which they arc menaced.*" In a subsequent message, the governor informed the legis- lature, that " he had communicated to the war-office the mea- sures taken for the defence of the state ; and requesting in- formation whether the expenses of the militia called out in its defence would be ultimately borne by the United Slates : that he had received the secretary's answer, explaining the views and principles of the executive in regard to the defence of the eastern frontier. Letter of the Secretary of State to Governor Strong re- fating to the Militia. " It was anticipated," the secretary remarks, " soon after the commencement of the war, that while it lasted, every part of the union, especially the sea-board, would be exposed to some degree of danger, greater or less, according to the spirit with which the war might be waged; it was the duty of the government to make the best provision against the danger which might be practi- cable, and to continue it as long as the cause existed. The arrangement of the United States into military districts, with a certain portion of the regular force of artillery and infantry under an officer of the regular army, of experience and high rank, in each military district, with power to call for the mili- tia as circumstances might require, was adopted with a view to afford the best protection to every part that circumstances would admit. It was presumed that the establishment of a small force of this kind, constituting the first elements of an army in each district, to be aided by the militia in case of emergency, would be adequate to its defence. Such a force of infantry and artillery might repel small predatory parties, and form a rallying point for the militia, at the more exposed and important stations, in case of more formidable invasions. A regular officer of experience, stationed in the district, acting * Governor Strong's speech to the Massachusetts legislature. October 1814, [814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK 437 under the authority and pursuing the will of the government, might digest plans for its defence, select proper points for ■works, and superintend the erection of them, call for supplies of ordnance and munitions of war, call for militia, and dis- pose of the whole force. These duties, it was believed, could not be performed with equal advantage by the officers of the militia, who. beingcalledinto service for short periods, could not Lave it in their power, however well qualified they might be in other respects, to digest plans and preserve that chain of con- nexion and system in the whole business which seemed to be indispensable. On great consideration, this arrangement, was deemed the most eligible that could be adopted ; indeed none occurred that could be put in competition with it. In this mode the national government acts by its proper organs, over whom it has control, and for whose engagements it is reponsible. " The measures which may be adopted by a state govern- ment for its defence, must be considered its own measures, not those of the United States. The expenses attending them arc chargeable to the state and not to the United States, A different construction would lead to the most pernicious consequences. If a state could call out its militia, and sub- ject the United States to the expense of supporting them, at its pleasure ; the national authority would cease as to that important object, and the nation be charged with ex- penses, in the measures producing which the national govern- ment had no agency, and over which it could have no con- trol. By taking the defence of the state into its own hands, and out of those of the general government, a policy is intro- duced, on the tendency ol which all comment is unnecessary. If a close union of the states, and a harmonious co-operation between them and the general government, are at any time necessary for the preservation of their independence, and their inestimable liberties, which were achieved by the blood and valour of their ancestors, that time has now arrived. From this view of the subject, it follows, that if the forc<* 433 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20- which has been put into service by the executive of Massa- chusetts has been required by General Dearborn, the com- manding officer of the district, or has been received by him. and put under his command, the expenses will be defrayed by the United States. But if this force has been called into service by authority of the state, independently of General Dearborn, and not placed under him as commander of the district, the state of Massachusetts is chargeable with the ex- pense, and not the United States. The general government has no other alternative but to adhere to a system of defence adopted on great consideration with the best view to the general welfare, or to abandon it, and with it a principle held sacred, thereby shrinking from its duty in a moment of great peril, weakening the guards deemed necessary for the public safety, and opening the door to other consequences no les were parties toil. to adopt another, and it is presumed, that a spirit of equilj and justice, enlightened by experience, would enable them id 442 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20. To reconcile conflicting interests, and obviate the principal cause of these dissentions, which unfit government for a statr of peace and of war, and so to amend the constitution as to give vigour and duration to the union of the states. But as a proposition for such a convention from a single state would probably be unsuccessful, and our danger admits not of de- lay, the committee recommend that in the first instance a conference be invited between those states, the affinity of whose interests is the closest, and whose habits of intercourse from their local situation or other causes are the most fre- quent, to the end that by a comparison of their sentiments and views, some mode of defence suited to the circumstances and exigencies of those states, and measures for accelerating the return of prosperity, may be devised ; and also to enable the delegates from those states, should they deem it expedi- ent, to lay the foundation for a radical reform in the national compact by inviting to a future convention, a deputation from all the states in the union." The report concludes with re- commending the raising of an army of ten thousand men for the defence of the state ; and the appointment of twelve persons, as delegates from the legislature, to meet and confer with delegates from the states of New-England, or any of them, upon the subjects of their public grievances, and con- cerns, and upon the best means of preserving our resources, and defence against the enemy ; and to devise and suggest for the adoption by those respective states, such measures as they may deem expedient, and also to take measures, if they shall think proper for procuring a convention of delegates from all the United States, in order to revise the constitution thereof; and more effectually to secure the support and at- tachment of all the people, by placing all upon the basis of a lair representation.* * Report of Committee of the House of Representatives of Massa- chusetts, October 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 443 A committee of the senate upon the s;imt; subject made a report to that body upon the same principles. The resolu- tions recommended by the committee of the house of repre- -' ntatives passed both houses, and delegates were appointed to meet at Hartford on the loth day of the following Decem- ber, to confer with such as may be chosen by any or all ot ihe other New-England states upon the subjects referred to in the resolutions. Protest of Minority. These proceedings of the legislature were opposed in every stage of them by a respectable mi- nority of both houses. In the senate a protest was drawn up and signed by thirteen members, and placed on their jour- nals, stating, that " these propositions are at this time extra- ordinary, alarming, and pernicious. The protestants believe the constitution of the United States to be the most perfect system of republican government which human wisdom ■ ould invent, established upon the broad principles of sove- reignty in the states, liberty in the people, and energy in the federal head, and effected by the zeal, concessions, and can- dour of those enlightened patriots, who had carried America 'hrough a war of unparalleled suffering to independence and peace. They had hoped that neither the ambition of party, nor the test of experiment, would have so soon led to the con ;lusion, " that it had failed to secure to any section of the union, those equal rights and benefits which 7uerc the great oh- icrts of its formation.'''' Much less was it to be supposed, that under the pretext of reconciling conflicting interests, in a time of war and invasion, and when our constitutional agents were attempting to negotiate a peace, we should promulgate the sentiments to our friends and our enemies, that the gov- eminent was unfit for peace or war ; that a radical ref rm- or another constitution, was essential to the salvation of the people. There are other objects, they further remark, more alarm- ing in their nature, and more pernicious in their tendency. It ^•as wisely provided by the constitution, that no state should 4,41 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20- enter into any compact or agreement with another without th> consent of congress. It was probably foreseen that disap- pointed and ambitious men would attempt to form associations prejudicial to the general welfare, and dangerous to the union of the states. That these men would excite local jealousies, and attempt geographical distinctions ; and that despairing of gaining the whole, they would attempt a severance that they might govern a part. It was therefore prudent and proper that these compacts should be under the control of the state- and people represented in congress. It is therefore with great solicitude and concern that we are led to inquire^ what public grievances can warrant the assembling of delegates of the states of New-England, or what affinity of interest can authorize them to devise means of preserving their own re- sources to themselves ? The respective states of New-Eng- land can now preserve all their resources, except such as are under the constitutional control of the United States. Will fhey combine to take these? Such a combination would be a resistance of federal authority. A civil war would become inevitable. The enemy would profit by our dissentions ; our union would be dissolved, our country conquered, and our liberty extinguished. Our country is now engaged in a just, and of late a successful war. Our resources abundant, our government adequate, and our citizens brave, enterprising, and intelligent ; union alone can secure us the blessings of an honourable peace. While our commissioners are nego- tiating with the most earnest solicitude for their country's welfare ; while our army and navy are defending the soil, and maintaining the honour and glory of the country, and our brave yeomanry are rushing to our shores to meet and repel the. invader, and the spirit of party is becoming absorbed in the spirit of patriotism ; why should Massachusetts, great, powerful, and respectable as she is, form a combination, which will defeat the hopes of the friends of peace, and en- courage a powerful and vindictive enemy ? With these views *nd feelings, the remonstrant's tjarenQt tout, deeply regret that 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 44^ a proposition, so unpromising of good, destitute of importan' ostensible objects, but full of distrust, jealousy, and mischief, and calculated to alarm, discourage, and divide the people, should ever have been adopted by the senate of Massachu- setts. Suspicions have been indulged that Massachusetts would take the lead of the New-England states in a combi- nation to dissolve the union; that as a preliminary step, a course similar to that contemplated by these resolutions would be adopted, and that a period of war would be select cd for the purpose. By the adoption of these resolution^, these suspicions will grow into a settled belief. The raising an army of ten thousand men, at the expense and under the command of the state, will have little tendency to diminish this alarm. However honourable and patriotic the motives may be for raising such an army, and refusing to place them under the orders and pay of the general government, we have -trong apprehensions that the people of this commonwealth will have too much reason to believe that the honour to com- mand will not compensate for the burthen of support; that a separate army comports too well with a separate sove- reignty, and that these men may at some future period be employed to settle domestic quarrels, or enforce local inter- ests. From the resolutions and preamble, and circumstance? attending the debate, we have strong reasons to apprehend, that propositions for a separate peace may grow out of a meeting of delegates from the New-England states. Should such propositions be made by the British government to the convention, and the terms, as they probably would be, very flattering to this section of the union, the temptation to mo- mentary gain, might induce a compact with the enemy, in- troduce an army of foreign mercenaries, produce a civil war. and end in a subjugation of both sections to the power of Great Britain. Ambition has destroyed every other republic on earth. The United States stand alone, like a solitary rock in the midst of the ocean, surrounded and assailed h\ 446 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. SLV. storms and tempests ; in vain may we look for aid, excep' from union, energy, and heaven.* A protest, containing similar sentiments, was drawn up, and signed by seventy-six members, and presented to the house of representatives, with a request that it might be placed on the journals of that body ; from some expressions which were deemed disrespectful to the legislature, it was refused a place on the journals, and published only in the periodical paper- of the day. Proceedings of the other N. E. States. These proceedings of the Massachusetts legislature were transmitted to the four other New-England states, requesting their concurrence in the measure. The sentiments of the bodies to whom they were addressed, were not in full accordance with those of Massachusetts. No one doubted the right, secured to the people by the constitution, peaceably to assemble and apply to the government for the redress of their grievances. Few of the citizens of this section of the union doubted the fact, that the war, in the course it had taken, bore with peculiar weight upon Massachusetts and the other New-England states. But the measure of calling a convention at the time tnd for the purposes expressed in those resolutions was highly inexpedient. One principal feature presented by •hem, was a proposition for a meeting of delegates from the New-England states, to confer upon the best means of pre- serving and controlling their resources. It was obvious thai a refusal on the part of the states, to permit the collection of the public revenue, must be met by the general government with a force adequate to ensure a collection ; and that the result must be an abandonment of the measure on the part of the states, a dissolution of the union, or a civil war. The other important object contemplated by the resolu lions, was a radical change in the national constitution, or the * Protest of the minority of the senate of Massachusetts Octohf^ 1314, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ormation of a now one, to be effected by a convention of all he stales. The present form of government had been in tperation twenty-five years, twelve of which it had been ad- ministered by one of the great political parties into which (he United States were divided, and thirteen by the other : and both in turn had declared it to be the perfection of hu- man wisdom. No such radical change appeared either de- sirable or practicable. If any amendments were deemed necessary, the constitution itself provided a mode by which they could be obtained, very different from the one proposed by the resolutions. But if alterations were wanted in one way or the other, the time appeared peculiarly inauspicious. With an enemy at their doors, ready to profit by their dissen- sions, and the spirit of party in a state of high fermentation, the people of the United States were illy qualified calmly to deliberate upon, and adopt radical changes in their frame of government. Intelligence had just then been received from iheir negotiators for peace, that the British claimed, as a pre- liminary, a cession of a large portion of the state of Ohio, and of the western territories to the Indians as a permanent barrier, between the American settlements and the Canadas, and that they advanced other claims which could be addressed only to a conquered nation. The necessity of united excr- ions was universally felt, and it was a subject of deep regrel that any measures should be put in operation, presenting an aspect of a divided people, and thereby giving encourage- ment to the extravagant claims of the enemy. Vermont. The legislature of Vermont declined taking any measures upon the subject. New-Hampshire. The executive council of New-Hamp- shire refused to call a meeting of the legislature upon the oc- ■ ;*Mon, and of course no delegates were appointed from that ^late. Connecticut. In Connecticut the resolutions and accom- panying documents were referred to a joint committee of both 'iranrhrs nf the legislature, who madr- a report reciprocating ,4S HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR; Chap 20. many of the sentiments contained in the resolutions ; but the cautious and prudent policy of that state led them to meet heir brethren of Massachusetts upon constitutional ground- only. The committee observe that the documents transmit- ted from Massachusetts, present an eligible mode of com- bining the wisdom of New-England, in devising, on full con- sultation, a proper course to be adopted consistent with our obligations to the United States, and recommend that seven persons be appointed delegates from this state, to meet the delegates from Massachusetts, and of any other of the Neu'- England States, at Hartford, on the 15th of the following December, and to confer with them on the subjects proposed by the resolutions of the legislature of that commonwealth, and upon any other subjects that may come before them, for the purpose of devising and recommending measures for the safety and welfare of these states ; provided that such mea- sures only shall be devised and recommended, as may con- sist with their obligations as members of the union.* Rhode-Island. The legislature of Rhode-Island Had pre- viously passed resolutions, authorizing and requesting their captain general, in case of the invasion of the neighbouring states, to march immediately to their assistance, such part of the military force as he should think expedient; and to assure the executives of the neighbouring states of the readiness of the state of Rhode-Island to render them all the aid in their power in case of invasion, or imminent danger thereof, and to solicit their co-operation, and speedy aid and assist- ance to the state of Rhode-Island under similar circumstances. Communications, in pursuance of these resolutions, had beeu made by Governor Jones to the executives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, and cordially reciprocated. The same controversy subsisted between the government of the state of Rhode-Island and the general government, in relation to the * Report of the committee of the legislature of Connecticut on the Massachusetts resolutions-. 28 14: HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 449 militia, as in Massachusetts and Conneoticut, and with the same result. Rhode-Island had been left to provide for her own defence. The safe and convenient harbour of New- port, and the rich towns accessible by water, presented very tempting objects to the cupidity of the enemy. From the smallness of its size, that state was the least able to raise a force sufficient to repel an invader. They were from these circumstances the more ready to listen to any measure that promised them aid from other states. A joint letter from the president of the senate, and speaker of the house of repre- sentatives of Massachusetts, covering their resolutions on the subject of the convention, was addressed to the governor of Rhode-Island, with a request to lay the same before the legis- lature, inviting them to appoint delegates to the proposed convention, stating their objects to be to deliberate on the dangers to which the eastern section of the union is exposed by the course of the war, and which there is too much reason to believe will thicken round them in its progress ; and to devise, if practicable, measures of safety and defence, which may be consistent with the preservation of their resources from total ruin, and adapted to their local situation, mutual relations, and habits, and not repugnant to their obligations as members of the union. The letter further remarks, that when convened for this object, which admits not of delay, it seems also expedient to submit to their consideration, the in- quiry whether the interests of these states do not demand that persevering endeavours be used by each to procure such amendments to be effected in the national constitution as may secure to them equal advantages, and whether if in their judg- ment they should be deemed impracticable under the existing provisions for amending that instrument, an experiment may be made without disadvantage to the nation for obtaining a convention from all the states in the union, or such of them 4-H* HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20, as may approve of the measare with a view to obtain such, amendments.* The committee of the legislature, to whom the subject wa^ referred,, state in forcible terms the exposed situation of our country, complain that the means of defence have been with- held from them, and appropriated to distant and unpropitious services, and that the whole United States military force 7 stores, and property in that state, did but serve to increase their danger by offering a temptation to the enemy. Placed in this situation, the legislature at their last session had re- quested the governor to communicate with the executives of the neighbouring states upon the subject of common defence, offering and requesting mutual assistance in case of danger, *•'- These states," the committee remark, " had reciprocated their proffers of mutual assistance, and invited us to appoint delegates to meet those appointed by them, to confer upon our defenceless and calamitous' situation, and to devise and recommend prudent measures for our relief. They there- fore recommend a resolution to appoint four delegates to meet in the proposed convention, to confer upon the common dangers to which these states are exposed, upon the best measures for co-operating for our mutual defence against the enemy, and upon the measures which it may be in the power of these states, consistently with their obligations to the United States, to adopt, to restore and secure to the people thereof, their rights and privileges under the constitution of the United States." The report was accepted and the resolution adopt- ed. Ayes thirty-nine, noes twenty-three. t Meeting of the New-England Convention at Hartford. The delegates from Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, and Connecti- cut, met at Hartford on the 1.5th day of December, 1814. * Letter from the president of the senate and speaker of the house of representatives of Massachusetts to Governor Jones. f Report of the committee of the legislature of Rhode-Island on the Massachusetts resolutions. 18M. JllSTURY OF THE LATE VVAK Two gentlemen from the counties of Grafton and Cheshire in the state of New-Hampshire, and one from the county o* V\ indham in the state of Vermont, appointed by county con- ventions, appeared and and were received as members. Tin? meeting of this body was viewed with much anxiety both bv its friends and its enemies. The former looked up to it as a power which was to relieve them from the pressures and em- barrassments under which they laboured in consequence of the war, and to save them from the calamities with which they were threatened ; the other denounced it as seditious and treasonable, as calculated to favour the designs of the enemy, to embarrass the pending negotiations, protract the war, and increase its calamities. The members of the convention, on examining their powers, found they were neither able to gra- tify the wishes of their friends, nor could they afford anv reasonable ground for the apprehensions of their enemies. They were merely an advisory body, and restricted even in that, to give no advice inconsistent with the duties of then constituents to the general government. Had they been dis- posed to recommend a negotiation for a separate peace, or a neutrality on the part of the New-England States ; or for thosr states to withhold their resources, and refuse to pay their pro- portion of the public revenue : or to form a compact between these states for mutual defence, without the consent of Congress ; or a division of the union ; they had no such powers. Neither their friends nor their enemies had anv reasonable grounds for such apprehensions. Were they disposed to censure the administration for the commence- ment, continuance, or manner of conducting the war. abundance of matter of this kind was to be found in the vari- ous volumes of newspapers from the commencement of the war to the period of their session, and in such varieties that if: would be di'ricult to add a new paragraph. What then were the convention to do ? For a respectable delegation, compo- sing an elite corps of an important section of the union, to meet at an interesting crisis, on affairs of state, and do nothing, would be highly undignified, and disappoint the expectation- 452 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, as of all. Called together for no very definite object, their firs* inquiry was, what would be the proper subjects for their con sideration ? Proceedings. The duty of solving this question, they assigned to a committee of five of their number on the first day of their session, who, on the second, reported that it was proper for them to deliberate on — 1st. The powers claimed by the executive of the United States, to determine conclusively in respect to call- ing out the militia of the states into the service of the United States, and the dividing the United States into military dis- tricts, with an officer of the army in each thereof, with discretionary authority from the executive of the United States, to call for the militia to be under the command of such officer. 2di The refusal of the executive of the United States to supply or pay the militia of certain states called out for their defence, on the grounds of their not having been called out under the authority of the United States, or not having been by the executive of the state put under the command of the commander of the military district, and the failure of the gov- ernment of the United States to supply and pay the militia of the states, by them admitted to have been in the United States service. 3d. The report of the secretary at war to congress, on fill- ing the ranks of the army, together with a bill or act upon that subject. 4th. A bill before congress providing for the classing and drafting the militia. 5th. The expenditure of the revenue of the nation in offen- sive operations on the neighbouring provinces of the enemy. 6th. The failure of the government of the United States to provide for the common defence, and the consequent obliga- tions, necessity, and burden, devolved on the separate states to defend themselves, together with the mode, ways, and hieans, in their power for accomplishing the object. history or the late wak. The convention continued their daily deliberation upon these subjects with closed doors, from the 15th of December to the 5th of the following January :* the sentiments of par- ticular members on the various subjects of their deliberation have not been preserved or published ; and arc to be learned only from their report and recommendations published at the close of the session, and the journal of their daily proceedings lodged in the otlice of the secretary of the state of Massachu- setts, and since published. On the great leading point pro- posed by the Massachusetts resolutions, " withholding the, public revenue, and appropriating it to their own defence," the convention decided that it could not be done without the con- sent of congress ; they therefore recommended that an earnest application should be made for that purpose. No doubt such on application might be made without violating any principle of the constitution : but the wisdom of the measure and th»-; probability of its success, presented very different questions. It would ill become the congress of the United States, special- ly intrusted with the defence of the country, and vested with all its resources for that purpose, to say to a particular sec- tion, take your own resources and defend yourselves ; this would be an invitation to the enemy to bend all its efforts to subdue the section thus abandoned, and to the section itself to make its submission upon the best terms in its power. This recommendation however, was adopted by two of the states, and an embassy sent to congress to make the proposition, with instructions also to apply to have the expenses already incurred by them in calling out the militia, when not under the orders of the general government adjusted and allowed. The news of peace arriving at Washington at the same time with the embassy, superseded the application on the first head; and on the second, it has ever been unsuccessful. The measure, however, answered the purpose for which it was * Journal of the Hartford Convention- (1 54 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CiUi>. 2(i originally designed, that of allaying the existing ferment by exciting future expectations. It appeared to the convention, obviously inexpedient to take any measures for calling a general convention of all the states for the purpose of radically altering or changing the form of government ; that the public expectation, however, might not be entirely disappointed on this head, the conven- tion recommended certain specific amendments of minor con- sideration to be obtained in the mode pointed out by the con- stitution. 1st. That representatives and direct taxes be apportioned according to the respective numbers of free persons not in- 1 eluding slaves Or Indians. 2d. N ■■> new state be admitted without the consent of two- thirds of both houses. 3d. Congress shall not have power to lay an embargo for .i longer term than sixty days. 4th. Congress shall not have power without the concurrence of two-thirds of both houses to interdict the commercial inter- course between the United States, and any foreign power or its dependencies. 5th. Congres s shall not have power to declare war, or au- thorize acts of hostility against any foreign nation, without the concurrence of two -thirds of both houses, except such acts of hostility be in defence of the territories of the United States when actually invaded. 6th. No person who shall hereafter be naturalized, shall be eligible as a member of the senate, or house of represen- tatives, or capable of holding any office under the United States. 7th. The same person shall not be eligible to the office of President of the United States a second time ; nor shall the President be elected from the same state two terms in suc- cession. The operation of these amendments would have been to place in the hands of the senators of seven of the minor f8W. Hl-STOKV OF THE LATE WAfi. i.,., states, whose population does not exceed a sixth part of the union, a controlling power over most of t)v« important acts of the government. Before these amendments could be re- ceived as a part of the constitution, they must be adopted by the legislatures of three-fourths of all the states. It could not be seriously expected that these states should surrender the right of self-government to so small a portion of their population. The propositions however, served the purpose of occupying the public attention for the time. Two of the states adopted and transmitted them to all the others for con- sideration, where they were uniformly rejected, accompanied in some instances with severe animadversions on the body irom which they emanated. The report of the convention- containing the result of their deliberations was immediately published, and transmitted to the executives of the states ap- pointing them. It contained strictures of peculiar severity on many of the measures of the general government, by thein deemed impolitic and unconstitutional. It recommends that the evds to which the New-England states are subject by these measures, should be longer borne rather than to seek relief by any violent or unconstitutional means It recommends to the legislatures of the states representc< d i-ti the convention, to adopt all such measures as may be necessary to protect their citizens from the operation and effect of all acts which have been or may be passed by- congress, which shall contain provisions subjecting their mil: tia or other citizens to forccable drafts, conscriptions, or im- pressments, not authorized by the constitution of the United. States. That a legislative body may transcend its authority,, and pass acts not authorized by the instrument by which it is created, the acts of every legislature of limited power-. evince. Some acts of congress have been declared uncon- stitutional by the supreme judicial authority of the nation. It is, however, assuming a high and unwarrantable prerogative for a state legislature of subordinate authority, to declare the icts of the supreme legislative power, void, and absolve l.h* 4uG HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR., Cup. 80i citizens from their obligations of obedience. For the state legislatures to take measures to protect their citizens against such acts of congress as they deem unconstitutional, is sub- versive of the principles upon which the union is founded. A power in one legislature to enact, and in another to declare void the same acts, cannot co-exist. One state only follow- ed this recommendation of the convention, and happily their act upon the subject was never attempted to be executed. The report further recommends, that the legislatures pass laws authorizing the commanders in chief of the militia, to make detachments of the same, or from volunteer corps, and cause them to be well armed, equipped, disciplined, and held in readiness for service, and upon request of the governors of either of the other states, to employ the whole, or such de- tachment or corps, as well as the regular force of such state or such part thereof as may be spared consistently with their own safety, to assist the state making such request to repel any invasion thereof by the public enemy. The convention further resolved, that if the appli- cation of these states to the general government should be unsuccessful, and peace should not be concluded, and the defence of these states should be neglected as it had been /nice the commencement of the war ; it would be expedient for the legislatures : to appoint delegates to meet at Boston on the third Thursday of the following June, with such powers and instructions as the exigencies of a crisis so momentous might require, and that the first named delegates in each state, or either two of them might call a meeting of this con- vention to be holden at Boston at any time before new dele- gates were chosen, if in their judgment, the situation of the country should urgently require it. Having in this manner executed their commission, the convention closed their ses- sion on the 5th of January, 1815.* " l: Report of the convention, January 1815. 1«14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. u > J What a second convention might have done, had the war with all its embarrassments and calamities continued, is a fruitless inquiry. It was a subject of congratulation to all, that the treaty of peace, concluded before and ratified soon after the rising of the convention, put an end to all question on the subject. It operated, however, as a political ostracism upon the unfortunate members; while those under whose ap- pointment they acted, and whose expectations were scarcely realized, escaped the odium. CHAPTER XXI. Third Session of the 13th Cong-ress. — Message. — Proposition to remove the Seat of Government ; negatived. — Mr. Dallas appointed to the Treasury Department. — His Expose. — His Propositions for the Im- provement of the Finances. — His Scheme for a National Bank. — The Bill for the establishment of a Bank passed both Houses. — Disap- proved by the President. — Returned and negatived. — State of the Circulating Medium, and of Public and Private Credit. — Duties of the Secretary at War assigned to Mr. Monroe. — His Expose of the State of the Army, and the Recruiting Service. — His Plan for raising an Army for the year 1815. — Mr. Giles's Bill adopted. — Report of the Secretary of the Navy. Meeting of Congress. The period fixed by a law of the last session for the nest meeting of the 13th congress, was the last Monday in October, 1814. But the general pacifi- cation in Europe, and the destination of the British land and naval forces which had been engaged in the European con- test to the American war, rendered an earlier meeting neces- sary. Soon after the intelligence of these events arrived, the President issued a proclamation convening congress on the 19th of September. Message. His message of the 20th informed them that no intelligence had as yet been received from the envoys at Ghent : that from the principles and manner in which the war is now avowedly carried on 3 they had every reason to infer that a spirit of hostility more violent than ever is in- dulged against the rights and prosperity of the country. This increased violence, the President observes, is best explained by the two important circumstances, that the great contest in Europe, for an equilibrium guarantying to all the states their rights against the ambition of any, has been closed with- out any check on the overbearing power of Great Britain on 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 45*J the ocean; mid that it has left on her hands disposable anna merits, with which, forgetting the difficulties of a remote war against a free people, and yielding to the intoxication of suc- cess, with a great victim before her eyes, she cherishes hopes of still further aggrandizement. But whatever may have inspired the enemy with these more violent purposes, the public councils of this nation, more able to maintain than to acquire its independence, can never deliberate but upon the means most effectual for defeating the extravagant view.-, ol the enemy. The various successes of the American arms in the campaign of 1814 are brought into view as motives for increased and more vigorous exertions. From the view of die national affairs which the present crisis presents, congress will be urged, the President remarks, without delay, to lake up the subject of pecuniary supplies, and the military force, on a scale commensurate with the extent and character which the war has now assumed. The situation of the coun- try calls for its greatest efforts. The enemj . powerful in men and money, on the land and water, is aiming, with an undivided force, a deadly blow at the growing prosperity of the coun- ty. He lias openly avowed his purpose of trampling on the usages of civilized war, and given earnests of it in the plun- der and wanton destruction of private property. From such an adversary, hostility, in its greatest force and in its worst forms, is to be expected. The American people must face it with the same undaunted spirit, which in the revolutionary struggle defeated his unrighteous projects. The message ■ hide-, with a strong appeal to the patriotism of the Ameri- can people, end a reliance on the support of an omnipotent and kind Providence. - * Immediatel) af'.erthe destruction of the capitol, the Presi- dent directed another building lobe provided and fitted up for the accommodation of congress. Though ever) exertion was made for that purpose, yel the short time in which it was Message of the 20th oi Sept. 1814. 460 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 21 necessarily done, prevented such arrangements being made as were desirable. The city of Philadelphia, and borough of Lancaster, each offered to provide sufficient accommoda- tions, should congress deem it proper to remove. Soon after the meeting of congress, a resolution was introduced and passed by the casting vote of the speaker, declaring it ex- pedient to remove the seat of government from the city of Washington. But on the final question on the passage of a bill to that effect, it was negatived : ayes 74 ; nays 83. Finance. The attention of congress was first directed to the finanical concerns of the nation. Circulating Medium. At this period nine-tenths of the circulating medium in the United States was bank paper, issued by institutions incorporated for banking purposes un- der the authority of the several states. These institutions to the amount of nearly a hundred, had grown up with the increase of commerce in the United States since the revolu- tion. Their issues of paper were always supposed to be bottomed upon a specie capital, paid in, and deposited in the vaults of the bank, where the bill-holder might always resort. and convert his bill into specie; and this was the case with the exception of a few banks, the management of whose con- cerns had fallen into the hands of swindlers, until the com- mencement of the year 1814. The specie by which the bank> were supplied, was obtained principally from the exportation of American productions. This source was almost entirely cut oft* by the war. Indeed very little specie found its way into the United States except what was obtained by an illicit commerce with the enemy. The specie in the country at the commencement of the war was withdrawn from the banks by the bill-holders, and either exported or hoarded in private coffers. In this situation these institutions were reduced to the alternative of suspending specie payments, or of collect- ing in their debts from their customers, and suspending their ordinary operations of discounting. The banks south and west of New-England generally adopted the former, and the 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. New-England banks the latter alternative. The consequence was, the bills of the specie banks disappeared; the otliei banks continued and enlarged their business, made more liberal discounts, and supplied nearly the whole circulating medium, which now became a depreciated paper. This struck at once at the foundation of public and private credit. The wary capitalist preferred having his funds lie unproductive to the hazard of exchanging them for any paper. A general distrust and want of confidence in each other prevailed among all classes. The public credit of the government suffered equally with that of individuals ; its depression was such as to threaten a suspension of important military opera- tions. Loan of Iwcnty-fixe millions. In executing the authority given by the act of March 1814, to borrow twenty-five mil- lions of dollars, a loan of ten millions, part of that sum, was opened on the 2d of May. No money could be obtained on this loan short of a discount of twelve per cent., and with a further stipulation, that if a greater discount should be made upon the residue of the i<>an, the subscribers to the ten mil- lions should be placed upon the same ground. Of this sum. only six millions reached the treasury by the first of July, and the subscribers to the amount of two millions finally failed of paying. On the 22d of August, another loan was opened for six millions, but the whole amount offered at any rate was less than three, and this at a discount of twenty per cent. Notwithstanding this reduced rate, the secretary of the treasu- ry states, that considering the market price of United States stock, hardly exceeded eighty percent., and as there was no prospect of obtaining money upon better terms, and money at some rate was indispensable to the public service, it was deemed adviscable to accept the sum offered at this rate. Another three millions of this stock was created, and sent to market in Europe. At the same time there were in circulation eight millions of treasury notes, one half of which was reim- bursible during the year 1814, and being receivable on all 462 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21. taxes, and debts due the United States, would intercept and in effect diminish the revenue to that amount. In this situation Mr. Campbell left the treasury in October 1814. This department suffered much by frequent changes of its. principal officer, during a period when uniformity and effi- ciency of operations were most essential. In April 1813, Mr. Gallatin was taken from the head of the treasury depart- ment, and sent on the peace embassy. This officer was a financier of distinguished talents ; had the benefit of twelve years experience at the head of the treasury ; and had di- gested a plan, and commenced the operation of a system of finance adapted to a state of war ; when he was unexpectedly removed from the discharge of the official duties of the de- partment, still retaining the office, appointed a commissioner under the Russian mediation, and immediately despatched to Petersburgh for the purpose of meeting British negotiators, whom that government never saw fit to appoint. This mea- sure was adopted during the recess of the senate, and when submitted to them for approbation, the officer was on his way to Europe in the execution of his commission. The senate strongly remonstrated against, but finally confirmed the ap- pointment. The business of the department for the remainder of that year, was confided to Mr. Jones, the secretary of the navy. Early in 1814, Mr. Campbell was appointed, and took charge of the department until the October following, when Mr. Dallas was appointed his successor. Mr. Dallas'' s Expose. On the 1 7th of October, Mr. Dallas, in answer to inquiries from the committee of ways and means, gave an expose of the state of the treasury at the commence- ment of his official duties. Contemplating the present state of the finances, he observes, a deficiency of the revenue, and a depreciation of public credit exist from causes which cannot be ascribed to the want of resources, or want of integrity in the nation. The most operative causes have been the in- adequacy of the system of taxation to form the basis of pub- lic credit, and the abuse of the means best adapted to antici- 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAS 463 pate, collect, and distribute the public revenue. The wealth of the nation has remained almost wholly untouched by the hand of government. The national faith, and not the national wealth, has hitherto been the principal instrument of finance. It was to be expected, however, that a period must arrive in the course of a protracted war, when confidence in the accu- mulating public engagements could only be secured by an active demonstration of the capacity and disposition to per- form l hem. A prompt and resolute application of the re- sources of the country will effectually relieve from every pe- cuniary embarrassment, and vindicate the fiscal honour of the government. The public exig< ncies require a supply of treasure for the prosecution of the war. far beyond any amount which it is either politic or practicable to obtain by an immediate and constant imposition of taxes. Resort must therefore be had to credit. Public credit is at this juncture so depressed, that no hope of adequate succour, on moderate terms, can be placed upon it. Hence it. becomes the first and last object: in every practical scheme of finance to reanimate the con- fidence of the citizens, and to impress on the mind of every person, who renders services, furnishes supplies, or advances money on public account, a perfect conviction of the punctu- ality as well as the security of government. We have now not merely the care of preserving a credit which has never been impaired, but the more difficult task of rescuing from reproach, a credit over which doubt and apprehension have cast an inauspicious shade. No exertion will be found com- petent to attain this object which does not quiel in every mind all fear of future loss and disappointment in consequence of trusting to the pledges of public faith. The circulating medium of the country, the secretary adds, is another copious source of mischief and embarrassment. The recent exportations of specie has considerably dimin- ished the fund of gold and silver coin: and another portion 464 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21. of it has been withdrawn by the timid, and wary from the use of the community, into the coffers of individuals. The multi plication of banks has so increased the quantity of paper cur- rency, that it is difficult to calculate its amount or ascertain its value, with reference to the capital on which it has been issued. It may therefore be affirmed that there exists at this time no adequate circulating medium common to the citizens of thejUnited States. The moneyed transactions of private life are at a stand, and the fiscal operations of government labour with extreme inconvenience. It is impossible that such a state of things can long be endured, and with legisla- tive aid, it is not necessary. Under favourable circum- stances, and to a limited extent, an emission of treasury note- would probably afford relief, but they are an expensive and precarious substitute for coin or bank notes, charged as they are with a growing interest, productive of no countervailing profit, and exposed to every breath of popular prejudice and alarm. The establishment of a national institution operating upon credit, combined with capital, and regulated by prudence and good faith, is, after all, the only efficient remedy for the dis- ordered state of the circulating medium. It will be a safe depository for the public treasure, and a constant auxiliary fo public credit. But whether the issues of a paper cur- rency proceed from the national treasury or a national bank the acceptance of the paper in a course of payments must be for ever optional with the citizens. The extremity of thai day cannot be anticipated, \vhen any enlightened statesman shall again venture upon the desperate expedient of a tender law. Having thus generally delineated the fiscal concerns of the nation, the secretary next proceeds to offer the follow- ing specific propositions, which in his opinion would place public credit upon a permanent basis, and furnish an eligible circulating medium. HISTORY Ol THE LATE W \R. 4(jo 1st. That during ihc war, and until the claims contem- plated in these propositions are extinguished there should be annually raised by taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, a fund, For the support of government of . . . •. $1,500,000 For tli<' principal and interest of the public debt due defore the war 3,500,000 [ntereston the war debt estimated at seventy- two millions 4,320,000 For the payment of treasury notes .... 7,400,000 For the payment of any liquidated ba- lances where there arc no specific appropria- tions 280,000 For the current expenses of the war in part . 2,000,000 For a sinking fund - . 500,000 For a contingent fund to meet sudden and occasional demands on the treasury .... 1,500,000 $21,000,000 2d. That this sum be raised by the customs estimated at $4,000,000 Existing internal duties 2,700,000 Direct tax « 2,500,000 Sales of public lands . ....... 800,000 By an addition of one hundred percent, upon die direct tax, sales at auction, rates of postage, and duties on carriages 3,700,000 By an addition of fifty percent, on retailing licenses 300,000 By the proceeds of new duties, viz. by a tax mi domestic distilled spirits of twenty-live cents per gallon in addition to the duty on stills . . 6,000,000 On other manufactures not hitherto taxed . 1,000,000 $21,000,000 3d. That a national bank be established at Philadelphia, with power to establish branches at pleasure, and with a cap ital of fifty million'- <~>f dollars ; thirty to be subscribed b ; ^ indi- 466 HISTORY OF THE LATE VTAll. Chap. 2 I viduals, and twenty by the United States. The specie capi- tal to be six millions paid by individuals, the residue to be paid in treasury notes and United States stock : that the United Slates should have power to take up treasury note* paid in by individuals, and substitute six per cent, stock* That no part of the public stock should be sold by the bank during the war, nor more than half of it afterwards without the consent of congress. And that the bank should be obliged to loan to the United States thirty millions at an inter- est of six per cent. 4th. That twenty-eight millions be borrowed for the war expenditures of 1815, and afterwards such sums annually as should be necessary to meet the war appropriations.* This financial expose of the secretary of the treasury was received with great anxiety. It presented to the view of con- gress and the people, the real situation of the national trea- sury, the state of public credit, and the circulating medium. No effectual provision was made at the commencement of the war for meeting its expenses, other than acts of congress au- thorizing the borrowing of money, and issuing treasury notes : and no receipts at the treasury were had on account of the war taxes until more than a year after they were imposed. During this time the war debt had accumulated to an amount which threatened the destruction of public credit. Mr. Dallas's measures went in a great degree to correct the evil. The system of taxes and internal duties which he re- commended were, with some unimportant variations, adopted. National Bank. On the subject of his project for a na- tional bank, there was a great diversity of sentiment. Whe- ther it was within the constitutional powers of congress to cre- ate such an institution, was a question which had long divided public opinion. It was not given by any express clause in the constitution, and by a subsequent amendment it was provided. " that the powers not delegated to the United States by the con- Mr DaUafs expose, October 1814. 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. stitulion, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states, respectively, or to the people." One clause in the con- stitution gave congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into effect the powers delegated to them. This general indefinite power, the extent of which is always to be judged of in the first instance by the body who is to ex- se it. has ever been construed to extend to any measure which it is found convenient to adopt. With this disposition to a liberal construction of their own powers, the first con- gress under the constitution established a national bank as a measure necessary and proper to carry into effect thi financial powers expressly delegated by the constitution. The measure, however, was severely reprobated by a re- spectable portion of the legislature as unconstitutional ; and when the charter expired it was refused to be renewed. In the extended financial operations incident to a state of war and in the absence of a specie circulating medium, the want of such an institution was greatly felt, and constitutional scru- ples disappeared. But to the project of the secretary, there were peculiar objections. This bank was to consist of a spe- cie capital of six millions only ; the other forty forty- four were to consist of debt against the United Stales, which tin bank could not alienate, or in any manner convert into ac- ive capital, and of course could afford no aid in banking op- erations. With these limited means, the bank was required to loan, atthe call of government, thirty millions, or live times its active capital, and to furnish a circulating medium for the nation : its discounts of course must be liberal : it must throw out an immense quantity of bills into circulation ; to restrain which there was no limitation. The consequence must be a want of means to redeem its bills in sp< cie; and another in- evitable consequence, a depreciation of the currency. It might afford a convenient mode ol disposing of forty-four millions of the public debt, bul the sacrifice was dinned too great. It was nothing more than a paper monej scheme in ♦he hands of individuals who might perverl il to the most per- 468 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21, nicious purposes. The committee of ways and means, how- ever, reported a bill to the house, establishing a bank upon the secretary's principles. After undergoing a discussion of several weeks, the features of the bill were entirely changed. It was altered from a paper to a specie bank. It was holden to redeem its bills with specie ; and for this purpose, the treasury notes, and one-half the United States stock paid in by subscribers, might be sold in market at the pleasure of the bank ; and the institution was to be under no obligation to loan money to the government. The capital was to consist of thirty millions, one-sixth part specie, and the other United States stock and treasury notes. A bill incorporating a bank upon these principles finally passed both houses, and was presented to the President for approbation. The executive, preferring the system of the secretary, disapproved the bill, and returned it with his objections, stating that waiving the constitutional question which he considered as being at rest by the various acts of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government, the bank in his opinion was calculated to afford no efficient aid to the government. The amount of public stock, which would be absorbed by the bank, and which they would be obliged to retain, would have no sensible effect to raise the public credit ; while by throw- ing into market such parts of it as they were authorized to sell, they might contribute to its further depression. Not be- ing obliged to loan money to government, no reasonable ex- pectation of benefit was to be expected from that source, and being obliged to redeem their bills by specie payments, they would be so confined in their operations as not to afford a cir- culating medium. That the six millions of specie paid in by the subscribers would probably soon be drawn out for expor- tation which would further increase the embarrassments arising from the want of a specie circulating medium. That a bank, with the exclusive privileges conferred on this, ought to purchase their charter either directly by an adequate "bonus, or indirectly by being obliged to make loans to gov- HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 169 ernment to a certain amount when required ; neither of which was provided for in the act. The bill, being returned to the senate with the President's objections, failed of being support- ed by a majority of two-thirds, and was negatived. Treasury Estimates. On the 27th of January, the secre- tary presented another report, stating that the charges on the treasury for the year 1814, consisting of unsatisfied appropri- ations of the preceding year, tne sums necessary to meet the engagement of the public debt, and the appropriations for the. year 1814, amounted to $57,094,590.70. That the ways and means provided to meet these demands were, Cash in the treasury on the 1st of January, 1814, $5,196,482 Amount of cash received for revenue, of ev- ery description, in 1814, 11,311,353 Proceeds of loans and treasury notes in 1813, and received in 1814, 4,662,665 Authority to borrow and issue treasury notes for the service of the year 1814, 36,000,000 $57,170,500 On this statement the secretary remarks, the calls on the treasury are positive and urgent; the ways and means de- pending principally on the loans as yet unobtained, are pre- carious, and not to be relied on. The estimates for the year 1815, he states to be, For the civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous expenses, $1,979,289 Military department, 30,342,238 Naval department 8,217,362 Public debt necessary to be provided for in 1815, 15,493,145 $ 56,032,034 The ways and means for 1815 are the existing sources of supply embracing cash in the treasury, direct tax, customs. internal duties, and all incidental receipts, and amount to ;;,> HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21- 15,125,909, leaving a deficit of more than forty millions, to be provided for by additional internal taxes, loans, and issues of treasury notes. This deficit of forty millions for the ser- vice of the year 1815, together with the unobtained loans for 1814, both amounting to seventy-six millions, presented a most unpromising aspect. After making his statement in detail, the secretary concludes the communication by remark- ing, that when he perceives that more than forty millions are to be raised for the service of the year 1815, by an appeal to public credit through the medium of loans and treasury notes, he feels the utmost solicitude for the event. The unprom- ising state of public credit, and the obstructed state of the circulating medium, are sufficiently known. A liberal impo- sition of taxes during the present session, ought to raise the public credit, were it not for countervailing causes ; but it can have no effect in furnishing a national circulating medium. It remains therefore with the wisdom of Congress to decide whether any other means can be applied to restore public credit, re-establish a national circulating medium, and facili- tate the anticipations of the public revenue. The opinion of this department has been heretofore frankly expressed, and it remains unchanged. Military Expose. — A view of the military establishment in prospect for the year 1815, was as unpromising as that of the treasury. The duties of the department of war had in the month of September been assigned to the secretary of state ; and on the 17th of October, Mr. Monroe as acting secretary at war, in answer to a letter from the chairman of the military committee, gave a detailed exposition of the state of the mili- tary department, of the force necessary for the service of the year 1815, and of the means of obtaining it. He states that an effective force of one hundred thousand men will be necssa. ry for the service of the year 1815. He recommends that the present military establishment of 62,448 men, be preserved and filled up, and an additional permanent force of forty thousand, be raised for the defence of the sea-board and frontiers. In 1814, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 471 proposing these measures, the secretary adds, " it is now ap parent that the object of the British government, by striking at the principal sources of prosperity, is to diminish the im- portance, if not destroy the political existence of the United States. Forced now to contend for our liberties and inde- pendence, we are called upon to display all the patriotism which distinguished Americans in the first great struggle. Tiit United States must relinquish no right, or perish in the attempt. There was no middle ground to rest on. The stronger the pressure, and the greater the clanger, the more firm and vigorous will be the resistance, and the more suc- cessful the result. It is the avowed purpose of the enemy to lay waste and destroy our cities and villages, and desolate 'he country, of which numerous examples had already been af- forded. It is evidently his intention to press the war along the whole extent of the sea-board, and from Canada to invade the adjoining states; while at the same time, attempts are made on the city of New- York and other important points, in the vain project of dismemberment or subjugation. A part of his scheme evidently appears to be to continue the inva- sion of this part of the union, while a separate force attack? the state of Louisiana in the hope of taking possession of New-Orleans, and the mouth of the Mississippi, the great out- let and key to the commerce of all that portion of the United States west of the Alleghany mountains. The advantage which a great naval superiority gives the enemy by enabling him to move his troops with celerity, from one quarter to another, from Maine to Mississippi, along a coast of two thou- sand miles, is very great. A small force moved in this man- ner, tor the purposes avowed by ihc British commander. creates an alarm in every part. If the militia arc to be relied on as the principal defence of the coast against these preda- ory and desolating incursions, by interfering with their or- dinary pursuits of industry, it will be attended with serious in- terruption and loss to them, and injury to the public. It i^ - efore of the highest important 10 provide • 472 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, 21- regular force with the means of transporting it from one quar- ter to another, thereby following the movements of the ene- my with the greatest possible rapidity in repelling his attacks, wherever they may be made. Three times the force in mi- litia has been employed, the secretary stated, at our princi- pal cities on the coast and on the frontier, and in marching to and returning from thence, that would have been necessary in regular troops, and the expense has been more than propor- tionably augmented. But to bring the war to an honourable termination, we must not be contented with merely defending ourselves. Different feelings must be touched, and different apprehensions excited in the British government. By push- ing the war into Canada, the friendship of the Indian tribes is secured, and their services commanded, which would be oth- erwise turned against us. The coast is relieved from the desolation threatened, and we have in our hands a safe pledge of an honourable peace. From this view of the subject, it will be necessary to bring into the field a regular army of one hundred thousand effective men for the next campaign. Such a force, aided in extraordinary emergencies by volunteers, and militia, will remove all inquietude, as to the final result of the contest, and secure to the United States a safe and honourable peace." But the great cjucstion remains, how is this force to be ob- tained ? For the recruiting service of the last year a bounty has been offered of one hundred and twenty-four dollars, and one hundred and sixty acres of land to each recruit, ninety- six dollars a year wages, and clothing during the time oi service. Recruiting rendezvous had been opened at sixty different places in the United States, and to ensure the ac- tivity of recruiting officers, they were allowed four dollars for each man obtained. Two millions of dollars had been paid out in bounties and premiums in the recruiting service, from •January to September, 1814, and during that time, and with these exertions, only thirteen thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight men had been obtained ; and not more than on ,: 1814. HIST0R1 OF THE LATE WAR. ; ; . half of that number had reached the army in season for active service in the campaign of 1814. The army, which on pa- per stood at 62,448 men. did not at the close of the campaign ■I'd half that number of effectives. The recruiting ser- vice for the ensuing year was still more unpromising. Thi campaign of 1814 had been severe, fatiguing, and hazardous ; that of 1815 wore a still move threatening aspect. The sol- dier had now to expect to meet the veteran troops of Greal Britain, inured to twenty years' service in the open field. Nearly all those who could be supposed willing, either from motives of patriotism or interest, to pledge their lives to gov- ernment had already been enlisted ; and it would be per- fectly vain and illusory to attempt the raising of seventy thousand men, the number wanted according to the secre- tary's estimate, by voluntary enlistment. Plait of the Secretary at War for filling the Ranks of the Army. With these views, the secretary, who was not a man to propose an object without adequate means to accomplish it, was induced to abandon the system of voluntary enlist- ment, and propose one of compulsory service. His report embraced four plans ; but the first and the one which he strongly recommended, was by far the most simple, energetic, and effectual. He proposed that the free male population of the United States, between the ages of eighteen and forty- five, and which according to the census of eighteen hundred and ten, amounted to between nine and ten hundred thousand. should be formed into classes of one hundred men each, by local precincts, with a view to the equal distribution of prop erty among the several classes ; and that each class furnish 'heir proportion o\' men required within thirty days after the classification, and replace them in case of casualty : all the taxable property within the precinct of each class to be taxed to pay an extra bounty to the recruits. The men want ed were to be designated !>\ draft, if volunteers did not offer. Estimating the whole number of citizens of the requisite age at a million, and 'Im number wanted at seventy thousand* 474 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap.21. would give seven men to each class. The recruits to be delivered over to the recruiting officer of the district, and marched to such place of general rendezvous as should be designated by the secretary at war. Particular persons in each county to be appointed by the President to carry this system into execution. The secretary, aware that this was bringing the war home to the feelings of congress and their constituents, and that there probably might be strong objections to the plan, assigns his reasons for the measure. That it will be effectual, can- not, he observes, be doubted ; the men contemplated will soon be raised, and there can be no well grounded constitu- tional objections. Congress have a right to declare war and to raise regular armies without restriction. It is intended that this plan should operate on all alike ; none are exempt- ed but the chief magistrate of the United States, and the gov- ernors of the several states. It would be absurd to suppose that congress could not carry this power into effect, otherwise than by accepting the voluntary services of individuals. It might happen that an army could not be raised in that mode ; the power then would have been granted in vain. The safety of the state might depend upon such an army, and be jeopardized by delay. Long continued invasions, conducted by regular and well diciplined troops, can best be repelled by troops of the same character. Courage is in a great de- gree mechanical. A small body, well trained, accustomed to action, and gallantly led on, often breaks down three or four times the number of more respectable and brave, but raw and undiciplined troops. The sense of danger is diminished by frequent exposure without harm; and confidence inspired by a knowledge that reliance may be placed on others : this knowledge is obtained in no other way but by actual service together. The power granted to congress to raise armies, was made with a knowledge of all these circumstances. The framers of the constitution, and the states who ratified it- knew HIST0R1 OP THE LATE WAR. the advantage which an enemy might have by regular forces, and intended to place their country on an equal footing. The idea that Congress cannot raise an army in any other mode than by accepting the voluntary services of individuals, the secretary observes, is repugnant to the uniform construc- tion of all grants of power, and to the first principles and leading objects of the constitution. An unqualified grant of power gives the necessary means of carrying it into effect. This is a universal law of construction that admits of no ex- ception. The conservation of the state is a duty paramount to all others. The commonwealth has a right to the ser- vices of all its citizens ; or rather the citizens composing the commonwealth have a right to the services of each other to repel any danger which may he threatened. In what man- ner this service is to be apportioned among the citizens is the object of legislation. All that is to be dreaded in such cases is the abuse of power, and the constitution has provided am- ple security against that evil. In support of the position that congress have a right to compel the military services of indi- viduals, the militia laws are a conclusive proof and a striking example. That whole system is founded on compulsion 5 die militia man is enrolled at the age of eighteen, disciplined, called into active service, and subject to martial law, without his consent. The militia service calls from home, for long terms, whole districts of country ; none can elude the call ; few can avoid the service ; and those who do are compelled to pay great sums for substitutes. The plan proposed fixes upon no one personally, and opens to all a chance of declining the ser- vice. It is the principal object of this plan to engage in defence of the state, the unmarried and youthful,who can bestbe spared, and tosecure to them an adequate compensation, from the vol- untary contributions of the more wealthy of every (lass. Great confidence is entertained that such contribution will be mad! in time to avoid a draft. The secretary finally adduced in support of his plan, die example of the revolutionary war 476 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. Sl- it then filled the ranks of the regular army, and led to a suc- cessful termination of the contest. Should the United States make this exertion, the war would probably soon end. It is in their power to expel the British from the American conti- nent. Against the united and vigorous efforts of America, the resistance of the enemy must be feeble. Success in defeating the schemes of the enemy, and obtaining an honourable peace, will place the United States on higher ground in the opinion of the world, than they have ever held at any former period. In future European wars, their commerce will be allowed to take its lawful range unmolested : respected abroad, and happy at home, the United States will have accomplished the great objects for which they have so long contended : as a nation they will have little to dread, as a people little to desire.* To fill the ranks of the existing army, the secretary calcu- lated, would require four to each class, and about the same number to raise the proposed additional corps of forty thousand. It was only to constitute every twelfth free male citizen of the United States, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. a soldier during the war, and all the brilliant objects enume- rated in the secretary's report would probably be realized. Three other plans were proposed as substitutes for this, but all of them being less efficient, and equally objectionable ; the secretary relied on this for the further prosecution of the wa.jp. Two objects were proposed by the raising of this army : one, the defence of the territory ; the other, the conquest of Canada. But his arguments were now addressed to a body who had given up the plan of the Canadian conquest, and whose undivided attention was directed to an efficient system of defence. The secretaries of the treasury and war, both recently ap- pointed to those offices, in their reports to congress, laid open with great faithfulness and ability the embarrassments under * Report of the 301105 secretary at war, October 1814. 1814. H1STOR1 OF THE LAI E \\ AK. 47; which the financial and military affairs of the nation laboui- and proposed remedies, bold, energetic, and effectual, but such as at the commencement of the war were little antici- pated. It was not expected that in a contest for the rights of some thousands of American seamen, who had been gross- ly injured, these seamen would in consequence thereof be im- mured in Dartmoor prison, and one hundred thousand free citizens of the tinted States be compelled to fill the ranks of 'he army. But war once declared, there was no resting point; the blood and treasure of the nation were pledged for its support ; and that legislature who are not prepared, if the occasion calls, to compel every citizen, capable of bearing- arms, to take their stand in the ranks of the army, and to take so much of the treasure of the nation as is necessary to ac- complish the objects of the contest, even to its last cent, must not declare war. Such, however, was not the temper of con- gress, nor could they be brought to itby the reasonings of the secretaries. The plan of the secretary at war was not even honoured with a discussion in either house of congress. No bill was ever in- troduced embracing its principles. The measure was deem- ed too strong, and too nearly allied to European conscrip- tions and impressments for republican America. As a substitute, Mr. Giles, of the military committee, in- troduced a bill into the senate, authorizing the President tu call upon the executives of each state, for their prop I tion of eighty thousand militia, to serve for the term of two years, within the limits of the United States, and confined also to the state in which they were raised, or an adjoming state. This corps was to be raised by draft, on failure of volunteers offering thorns* Ives ; and for this purpose, all per- sons subject to military duty were to be classed, with refer- ence also to property, in such manner, that one from each class could supply the requisite number. Their services, being confined within the limits of the I nited States, were to be merely of a defensive character. This bill, with little va- 478 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, ChAf.21.' riation, passed both houses ; and being a substitute for the reg- ular force contemplated by the secretary at war, manifested an unequivocal determination to abandon the project of con- quering the Canadas. Enlistment of Minors. Another bill was also introduced from the same committee in aid of the recruiting service, in- creasing the land bounty to 320 acres, and providing that persons under the age of twenty-one years may be enlisted without the consent of their parents, guardians, or masters. The last provision was opposed as impolitic, tending to se- duce and corrupt the morals of the American youth ; to take them from the wise and wholesome restraint of their parents and guardians, and expose them to the seduction and licen- tiousness of the camp, before they had arrived to years of discretion : that it was clothing them with the power of bind- ing themselves by their contracts in a most important point, when by the laws of all the states they were deemed incapa- ble of making contracts : that it was unconstitutional, as it impaired and defeated the existing obligations of a lawful contract between the minor apprentice and his master. These objections however, were overruled, and the bill with this provision passed, on the ground that persons of this age ever constituted an important part of the military national force : that such persons usually made the best soldiers, would more easily learn, and readily submit to the discipline of the camp, and that a nation at war, was entitled to the services of all its citizens capable of bearing arms for its de- fence. Report of the Secretary of the Navy. The secretary of the navy, in his report of the 15th of November, in a mild, qualified, and cautious manner, recommended the impressment of American seamen for the supply of the navy. His propo- sition was that some regular system be established, by which the voluntary enlistments for the navy may derive occasional leinforcement from the service of those seamen, who, pursu- ing their own private occupations, are exempt from public 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. 47 y service of any kind; and that, for this purpose, descriptive registers be kept in each district, of all the seamen belong- ing to the United States; and that provision be made by law ior classing them, and calling into public service, in succession, for reasonable stated periods, such portions or classes as the public service might require. He also recommended the es- tablishment of a board of navy inspectors, to have the gene- ral superintendence and direction of the affairs of the navy and authority over all the officers and agents employed in that department: that naval stations be designated within the United States by convenient boundaries, and an officer of rank and confidence should reside in each, who should under the instructions of the navy board, superintend and control the officers of the navy within his district. In the senate, Mr. Tail, from the committee of naval affairs, reported a resolution for the appointment of admirals. I„ congress, the project of the secretary for registering and classing the seamen, and calling or impressing them into public service, was rejected, more on account of the popular odium attached to the idea of impressment or compulsory -erv.ee, than any intrinsic objection to the plan. Experience has demonstrated that a navy is the cheapest, and only ado- quale mode of defence. Should the United States ever be engaged in another war, it must be of a maritime character Government has done much for its sea-faring citizens : the present war is carried on, and nearly a hundred million of dollars has been expended, in vindication of their rights. Their brethren on land have marched to the Canadian "bor- der, endured every hardship, and laid down their lives by thousands in support of their cause. The government then have an unquestionable right to their services when required to man its navy. The most desirable mode is voluntary en- listment ; but in times of great danger this source may fail and resort must be had to compulsion. Here two plans onlv present themselves: one the English mode of sending out press gangs, seizing sailors wherever they can be found and 430 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chai dragging them on board the ships of war; the other, the one pointed out by the secretary; of the two, no American can doubt which is the most eligible. The proposition of the naval committee for the appointment of admirals, was also rejected : congress however, in pursuance of the secretary's plan, es- tablished a board of commissioners for the naval service, to consist of three officers of rank, not under that of post cap- tain. This board was attached to the office of the secretary, and under his superintendence, to discharge many of the im- portant duties assigned to it, relative to the procurement ot naval stores, and materials for the construction and arma- ment of ships of war, relative to their employment, and to all matters connected with the naval establishment of the United States. At an early period of the session, communications were received, and laid before congress from the American envoys at Ghent, which precluded all reasonable expectations of peace. They contained what was then declared to be the British ultimatum, and which was such as none but a con- quered country would accept. No alternative therefore appeared, but to prosecute the war in future by ihc compul- sory service of the citizens, either in some of the methods pointed out by the secretary at war, or in some other manner to be devised by the wisdom of congress. Peace. While difficulties of the most serious nature in tin military and fiscal concerns of the nation seemed to be ac- cumulating upon the administration; and congress and the people were looking forward with great anxiety to the events of the coming year ; the long wished for but unexpected new? of peace arrived on the 13th of February, and relieved the administration and the country from all embarrassment. At no period since the darkest time of the revolutionary war had the affairs of the United States ever assumed so un- promising an aspect. Congress, convened over the smoking ruins of the capilol, had before them an actual deficit ol thirty-nine millions, and an estimate for the service of the 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 481 coming year, of upwards of thirty millions to be supplied only by loans, without credit to borrow a dollar on any terms short ofsuch as indicated a bankruptcy; no system of taxation adequate to the payment of the interest of the moneys re- quired: no circulating medium in which the public had any confidence, for the transaction of private business, or the collection of the revenue : the union invaded at each ex- tremity: eighty thousand men necessary for the objects of the war, and none to be obtained but by a conscription or compulsory draft of the same character, and embracing as great a proportion of citizens, as had ever been adopted in France. These circumstances prepared the people and the government cordially to embrace the terms of peace. >1 CHAPTER XXII. .Russian Mediation proposed to Mr. Adams. — Communicated to the Ame- rican Government. — Accepted. — Appointment of Envoys. — Their In- structions. — Mediation rejected by the Prince Regent. — British Proposition for a Direct Negotiation. — Accepted by the Uniited States. — Appointment of Additional Envoys. — Their Instructions. — Meeting of the British and American Envoys at Ghent. — British Propositions, and Ultimatum. — American Propositions. — British En- voys communicate with their Government, and receive different: In- structions. — Their Ultimatum waived. — The Negotiations proceed, and terminate in a Treaty of Peace. — Treaty ratified by both Gov- ernments. — Proceedings at New-Orleans immediately after the Peace. — Rejoicings throughout the United States. — President's Mes- sage, communicating the subject to Congress. — Peace Establishment. — Effects of the War on the National Character. Russian Mediation proposed. At the period when the in- telligence of the war reached the emperor of Russia, his em- pire was invaded by a French army which was then ap- proaching his capital, and threatened the subjugation of tin nation. The whole Russian population was in arms for the defence of their territory. England was in close alliance with Russia, and was the only European power, not under the control of France. Russia depended on her for important aids at this crisis. It was therefore with the deepest solici- tude that the emperor viewed this Avar, which would necessa- rily cause a powerful diversion of the English force from their common enemy. Russia was at this time on friendly terms with the United States, and a considerable commerce existed between the two countries, profitable to both. Pow- erful motives of interest induced the Russian government, to desire a speedy termination of the American war, which the) termed an episode to the European. On the 20th of Sep- ■emfcer. 1812. Count Romanzeff the Russian chancellor and i814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. secretary of state, addressed a note to Mr. Adams, the Ameri- can minister, requesting an interview with him the next eve- ning, at which, by the emperor's command, he stated, that having made peace and established the relations of amity and commerce with Great Britain, the emperor was much disappointed to find, that the whole benefit, which he ex- pected his subjects to derive from that event was likely to be defeated by this new war. That it had occurred to the em- peror that an amicable arrangement between the parties might be better accomplished, and the differences more easily accommodated by an indirect, than by a direct negotiation. That his majesty had directed him to inquire if the American ambassador was aware of any difficulty on the part of the United States, if he should offer his mediation for the puppose of effecting a pacification. Mr Adams replied, that it was impossible for him to speak on the subject otherwise, than from the general knowledge he had of the sentiments of his government. That so far from knowing what their ideas were as to the continuance of the war, he had not at that moment received any official in- formation of its declaration. But that he well knew it was with reluctance that they engaged in the war, and he was very -ure that whatever determination they might form upon the proposal of the emperor's mediation, they would consider his proposal as a new evidence of the emperor's friendship for the United States ; and he knew of no obstacle or difficulty which would occasion them to decline it. The American minister proceeded to remark, that he knew the war must affect unfavourably the interests of Russia, be highly injuri- ous both to the United States and England, and no good likely to result from it to any one. The Count replied, that he had considered it altogether in the same light, and so had the emperor, who had himself con- ceived the idea of authorizing this mediation, lie thought that an indirect negotiation conducted al Petersburgh, aided by the conciliatory wishes of a friend to both parties might 484 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaf 22 smooth down difficulties, which in a direct discussion between the principals, might be found insuperable. To a mutual friend, each party might exhibit all its claims and complaints, without danger of exciting irritation, or raising impediments. The part of Russia would be to hear both sides, and use her best endeavours to conciliate them.* On the 8th of March, 1813, Mr. Daschkoff, the Russian minister to the United States, by order of the emperor, commu- nicated his offer of mediation to the American government; ob- serving that his imperial majesty foresees with great regret the shackles which this new episode opposes to the commer- cial prosperity of nations. The love of humanity, and what the emperor owes to his subjects, whose commerce has al- ready sufficiently suffered, command him to do every thing in his power to remove the evils which this war is preparing for those nations who will not take part in it. His majesty is convinced that America has done all she could to prevent this rupture. In a direct discussion, every thing would tend to excite the prejudices and asperities of the parties ; to pre- vent this, his majesty, gratified at being able to give a proof of his friendship alike to the king of Great Britian and the United States offers them his mediation; and should be highly gratified if a like disposition on the part of the United States should have the effect of stopping the progress of this new war, and of extinguishing it in its origin. Accepted by the United States. This offer of mediation was readily accepted on the part of the United States; and on the 11th of March, the secretary of state answered the note of Mr. Daschkoff by observing, that the President was highly gratified with these strong proofs of that humane and enlightened policy which had characterized the reign of the emperor of Russia ; and saw in the overture, and in the cir- cumstances attending it, the friendly interest which his impe- rial majesty takes in the welfare of the United States. A war * Mr. Adams to the secretary of state. 814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. between Great Britain and the United States, must materially affect the commerce of Russia ; and it was worthy of the high character of a prince, distinguished by his attachment to the interests of his subjects, to interpose his good offices for the restoration of peace. The United States, conscious thai they were not the aggressors in the contest, but on the con- trary, had borne wrongs for a series of years before they appealed to arms in defence of their rights, are ready to lay them down as soon as Great Britain ceases to violate them. Many inconveniences attending a direct communication be- teen the parties, may be avoided by the mediation of a third power, possessing the entire confidence of both belligerents. To the claim of Russia to that distinguished consideration, the President, in behalf of the United States, expresses his full acknowledgment; and in the personal qualities and high character of the emperor, the President finds a sacred pledge for the justice and impartiality which may be expected from his decision. Under these impressions, the President will- ingly accepts the mediation of the emperor to promote peace between the United States and Great Britain ; and such arrangements will be made without delay, as will afford his imperial majesty the opportunity he has invited to interpose his good offices for the accomplishment of so desirable an event.* Cummissiomrs appointed. In conformity with these views. and without waiting to know whether Great Britain would accept the proposed mediation, the President, in the recess of the senate, immediately appointed Albert Gallatin, and James \. Bayard, in conjunction with Mr. Adams, the American minister at Pelersburgh, jointly and severally, to negotiate a peace with Great Britain, under the mediation of Russia: the two former to proceed directly from the United States ( urrespondence between Mr. Daschkoff and the secretary of statr ofMav 8th and 17(h. 1813. £86 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR.. Chap. 22. to join their colleague in Russia on the business of their mis- sion. At the meeting of congress in the following May, the nomi- nation of the envoys was laid before the senate for their ap- probation. To the appointment of Adams, and Bayard, there were no personal objections. But the senate, impressed with a sense of the singularity of the measure of appointing and sending envoys to Russia, to negotiate a peace with Great Britain, without any assurance or intimation that that power would accede to the negotiation, hesitated to confirm the nominations. To them it appeared that this measure, manifesting an over-anxiety for peace, was calculated to de- feat the object. Relying however on the wisdom of the executive, and unwilling to take any measure which should have the appearance of opposition to peace, the nominations of Adams and Bayard were confirmed. Mr. Gallatin being secretary of the treasury, and the duties of that office being at this time of the most urgent nature, his appointment was strenuously opposed. A resolution passed the senate, de- claring it incompatible with the public interest to unite the offices of secretary of the treasury and envoy to a foreign court in the same person: and another inquiring of the President whether the office of secretary of the treasury was vacated by the appointment of Mr. Gallatin, and his accept- ance of the office of envoy ; and if not, under what authority and by whom the duties of that office were to be discharged, in his absence. In reply, the President stated, that the office was not vacated, and that the duties would be discharged, during the absence of Mr. Gallatin, by the secretary of the navy. The senate then appointed a committee to confer with the President upon the subject. On their waiting on him, he observed, that he regretted that the appointment of the envoys was made under circumstances which deprived him of the aid and advice of the senate : he regretted also that they had not taken the same view of the subject that he }iad done. As a co ordinate branch of the government, he 1614. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAtt. 481 could hold no conference with a committee of the senate, on ihe subject of the appointment. That in relation to treaties, and appointments to office, the President and senate were independent of, and co-ordinate with, each other. If they agree, the appointments arc made; if they disagree, they fail. If the senate wish for any information previous to their final decision, the practice has been, ever keeping in view the constitutional relation between the President and senate, to request the executive to furnish it, or to refer the subject to a committee of their body, who might communicate on the subject with the head of the proper department. The appointment of a committee of the senate to confer immediately with the execu- tive himself, seems to lose sight of the co-ordinate relation between the executive and senate, which the constitution ha> established. The President added, he was entirely per- suaded of the purity of the intentions of the senate in the course they had taken, and with which, according to his view of the subject, he could not accord ; that they would be cheerfully furnished with all the suitable information on the subject in possession of the executive, in any mode consistent. with the principles of the constitution and the settled practice under it. On the question to advise and consent to the ap- pointment of Mr. Gallatin, in the senate the yeas were 17 and the nays 18.* Mr. Gallatin was, however, long before this, under the appointment of the President in the recess of the senate, on his way to Russia, and his appointment was afterwards confirmed. Their Instructions. On the 15th of April, the envoys were furnished with their full powers, and with their instructions in detail from the department of state. In these it is stated, that " the impressment of of seamen, and illegal blockades, as more particularly exemplified in the orders in council are th* principal causes of the war ; had not Great Britain ob- stinately persisted in the violation of these important rights. * Journals of the senate, June 1813. equivalent to the United States. The exercise of a right in common at sea by two nations, each over the vessels of the other ; the one powerful, and the other comparatively weak, would be to plaee the latter com- pletely at the mercy of the former. Great Britain, with her vast navy, would soon be the only power which made im- pressments. She has thirty ships of war to one of the United States, and would profit by the arrangement in that propor- ion. Besides impressment is a practice incident to war only, in which view, the inequality is not less glaring; she being at least thirty years at war to one of the United States. Had Great Britain found the employment of her seamen in the American service injurious to her, and been disposed to respect the most sacred rights of the American nation, her regular and only legitimate course would have been in the first instance to have remonstrated to the American govern- 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 493 meat, and proposed a remedy. Had reasonable redress beei. refused, the British government would have had some plea tor taking the remedy into their own hands. Such complain! was never made, except in defence of the practice of impress- ment, and in the mean time the usage had progressed; and with all its abuses, had resistance been longer delayed, might have become a law. The origin and progress of thisusurpa- tion afford strong illustrations of the British policy. The practice and the claim began together soon after the revolu- tionary war, and was applicable to deserters only : it next extended to all British seamen ; then to all British subjects, as in the case of the emigrants from Ireland, who not being sea-faring men, would not have been subjeet to impressment, in British ports ; and finally it was extended to Swedes, Danes, and others known not to be British subjects, and by their protections appearing to be citizens of the United States. The mediation offered by Russia, presents to Great Britain, as well as to the United States, a fair opportunity of accom- modating this controversy with honour. The interposition of so distinguished a power, friendly to both parties, cannot on any just ground be declined by either, especially by Great Britain, between whom and Russia there exists a very inter esting relation. Should Great Britain decline an accommo- dation upon the terms offered, her motive cannot be mistaken. The cause of the United States would in that case become the common cause of nations. They would all find in the conduct of Great Britain, an unequivocal determination to destroy the rights of other flags, and to usurp the absolute dominion of the ocean. The adjustment of the controversy relating to impressment only, though very important, would leave much unfinished. Almost every neutral right has been violated, and its viola- ion persisted in, until war was declared. A strong hope 1 entertained that the British commissioners will have full powers to adjust all these grounds of controversy in a satis 494 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. I* factory manner. The violation of neutral rights by illegal blockades, carried to an enormous extent by the orders in council, was a principal cause of the war ; these orders and blockades being now repealed, all that is expected, is, that the British government should unite in a more precise defini- tion of blockade. An interference with the American commerce between en- emy's colonies, and the parent country, was among the viola- tions of neutral rights committed by Great Britain in the pre- sent war with France. It took place in 1805, did extensive injury, and produced universal excitement. The capture by Great Britain of almost all the islands of her enemies? has very much diminished the importance of this subject ; but as these may be restored by a treaty of peace, it merits partic- ular attention* Unless a trade with them can be authorized to a proper extent, and without a relinquishment of the princi- ple claimed by the United States, it will be best that the treaty should be silent upon the subject. The practice of Great Britain to interdict the passage of neutral vessels with their cargoes from one port to another of an enemy, is illegal and injurious to the commerce of neutral powers ; still more unjustifiable is the attempt to interdict their passage from a. port of one independent nation to that of another, on the pre- tence that they are both enemies." The envoys were in- structed to obtain, if possible, security against the violation of these rights. They were authorized to conclude a peace, in case a satisfactory stipulation against impressment could be obtained, one which should secure, under the American flag, protection for the crew. If this encroachment is not pro- vided against, the instructions observe, " the United States have appealed to arms in vain. If your efforts to accomplish it should fail, all further negotiation must cease, and you will return home without delay."* * Instructions to the American Envoys, April 15 : 1813. 814- HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 495 With these instructions the envoys sailed from the United States on the 16th of May, for Petcrsburgh, to negotiate a peace with Great Britain, without knowing when, or wheth- er ever, they should meet British commissioners on the sub- ject. Mediation rejected by Great Britain. The British cabinet took a very different course in relation to the mediation. They were well aware that their claims were of a nature not to be submitted to the arbitration or mediation of any third power. They were usurpations of neutral rights, to be maintained only by the overbearing power of her navy. They could have no expectation that these claims would be recognised by any sove- reign as a part of the code of nations, to which his own sub- jects might in turn, be obliged to submit. Russia, in compar- ison with Great Britain, had always been much the weaker maritime power, seldom engaged in naval war, always an ad- vocate for neutral rights, and opposed to British belligerent laims. The British cabinet had not forgotten that in the war of the American revolution, when Great Britain was engaged in a maritime war with France and Spain, Russia set on foot, and placed herself at the head of an armed neutrality, em- bracing Sweden and Denmark, in support of the same princi- ples, impressment excepted, for which the United States were now contending. However intimate and friendly the rela- tions between Great Britain and Russia might now be, it was little to be expected that the British cabinet would submit what they claimed to be their maritime rights to a power which had always opposed them. On the first of September, 1813, the British ministry, after having held the proposition of Russia for a media- tion under consideration for nearly a year, reciprocated the friendly professions of his imperial majesty, express- ed their desire of peace, and duly appreciated the pure and friendly motives from which it proceeded : bdt re- marked that their contest with America related to certain principles and rights of the British nation, whi^h were not of 190 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. Chap. S2. a nature to be submitted to any foreign power ; and though the Prince Regent, on this account, found himself in a situa- tion not to accept the offered mediation, yet he was very de- sirous of giving effect, in a different mode, to the benevolent wishes which his imperial majesty had expressed of seeing the war terminated to the mutual satisfaction of both govern- ments. That with this view having learned that the Ameri- can envoys for negotiating a peace under the mediation of his imperial majesty had arrived in Russia, notwithstanding he finds himself under the necessity of not accepting the nego- tiation of any friendly power, in the question which forms the principal subject of dispute between the two states, yet he is ready to nominate plenipotentiaries, to treat directly with the American envoys, and his Royal Highness sincerely wish- es, that these conferences might result in re-establishing be- tween the two nations, the blessings and reciprocal advan- tages of peace. If, through the good offices of his imperial majesty, this proposition should be accepted, the Prince Re- cent is desirous that the conferences should be held at Lon- don ; but if this presents insuperable objections, Gottenburgli may be substituted. The duties which the American government expected ol his imperial majesty, in consequence of his mediation, were. to endeavour, by friendly conferences with both parties, to bring them to such concessions as should lead to peace ; that he should impartially hear the claims advanced on both sides, and determine on their justice, and endeavour to bring the party, whose claims in his opinion were not well founded, to relinquish them ; or, in case that could not be effected, to point out some middle course on which the parties might meet, and by all fair and honourable methods, to bring about a re- conciliation : but as a mediator, he was not expected to guar- ranty or enforce his decisions. The parties would still be at liberty to reject them, and the only consequence would be, the party refusing to abide by the opinions of the mediator, would afterwards pursue the war. under the imputation of WH HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 497 being the aggressor. But even this was too much to be haz- arded by the British cabinet. Proposition for a direct Negotiation. On the 4th of No- vember, Lord Castlereagh communicated to the American secretary of state a proposition from the British government for a direct negotiation at Gottenburgh. Accepted. This proposition readied Washington on the 1st of January, 1814, and was promptly accepted. Messrs. Clay and Russell were added to the commis- sioners, and on the 28th of January received their instruc- tions from the department of state, referring them to those of the 15th of the preceding April to the commissioners under the proposed Russian mediation, as the basis of their negotia tions. On the subject of impressment, the secretary remarks, I have nothing to add ; the sentiments of the President re- main unchanged ; this degrading practice must cease ; the American flag must protect its crew, or the United States cannot consider themselves as an independent nation. In accepting the overture of the British government, to treat inde- pendently of the Russian mediation, the United States have acted on principles which have governed them in every trans- action relating to peace since the war. Had the British gov- ernment accepted of the mediation, the United States would have treated, for themselves, independently of any other power. In agreeing to treat directly with Great Britain, no co cession is contemplated in any point in controversy. The same desire is cherished to preserve a good understand- ing with Russia and the other Baltic powers as if the nego- tiation had taken place under the proposed mediation.* With these instructions, Messrs. Clay and Russell sailed from the United States on the 25th February to join their col- leagues. The American commissioners assembled at Gotten- burgh in April 1814 ; and after waiting there a considerable lime in expectation of meeting the British commissioners, they _. ^ * Instructions of the 28th January, J8l4 63 : l»y HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. received a proposition from the British government to transfer the negotiations to Ghent. This was accepted, and the Amer- ican commissioners thereupon immediatelyrepaired to thatcitv. Delays of the British. As Great Britain was the proposer of this direct negotiation it was justly expected of her, that r- should not on her account suffer any delay. But having kepc the American government in suspense a year, on the subject of the Russian mediation ; it was nine months after the pro- position for a direct negotiation was made before the arrival of her commissioners at the place by her designated for the meeting. No satisfactory apology was given for this con- duct ; it is to be accounted for only by a reference to the po- litical stale of Europe. When the proposition was first made. Bonaparte, though his affairs were in the wane, was yet a formidable enemy to England, and all her exertions were still important in Europe. At the time the British commis- sioners were appointed, Bonaparte was subdued, peace had been established in Europe, and the choicest of the British forces had been selected and sent to America. This was deemed by her a favourable time to negotiate ; not only to maintain and enforce all her maritime claims, but also to bring forward others of a new and inadmissible character. Her commissioners were instructed to give up none of her maritime claims, to accede to no argreement to compensate for past injuries ; but to bring forward claims for cessions of territo- ry, and other sacrifices to which none but a conquered coun- try could submit. At length, on the 6th of August, 1814. i.he British commissioners, Admiral Lord Gambier, Henry Golburn, and William Adams, arrived at Ghent. The political changes in Europe had produced an entire!} different view on the subject of the negotiations in the Ameri- can cabinet. All expectation of conquest on the Canadian frontier was at an end. The ability of their enemy to ravage and desolate the frontier and sea-board, was now alarmingly increased, and with their ability, their disposition to do it had heen abundantly manifp.=fed. At tho ^pip time the difB^i; 1 1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 499 ties and embarrassments attending the raising and supporting a military force sufficient to meet those events were also in- creased. The state of the finances and the public credit had assumed a most unpromising aspect. If peace could be made upon the principle of restoring things to the state they were in before the war, there was no possible inducement to continue it. The subject of impressment had new ceased to be of any practical importance. Great Britain, having more seamen than she wanted on hand, had no inducement to in- crease their numbers from American vessels. It was not ex- pected that she would now yield a point, for which she hazard' ed a war under the most unfavourable circumstances. New Instruction to the American Envoys. In this view, the American cabinet, on the 25th of June, revised their in- structions of the 15th of April, 1813, and 28th of January. 1814, and transmitted to their envoys others of a different character, and adapted to the crisis. They were instructed that in case no stipulation could be obtained, neither relin- quishing the claim, or discontinuing the practice of impress- ment, they might concur in an article stipulating that this subject, together with the subject of trade and navigation gen- erally, might be referred to a separate negotiation, to be under- taken without delay, and that in the mean time all right- should remain as they then were. The instructions remark that the United States having resisted by war the practice of impressment and continued the war until the practice had ceased by a peace in Europe, their object had been essen- tially obtained for the present, and it was hoped that the con- templated arrangement would take effect before a new war in Europe would furnish occasion for a renewal of the prac- tice. Two days afterwards, in eonsequence of letters re- ceived from Messrs. Gallatin and Bayard, intimating that all expectation of obtaining any stipulation on the subject of im- pressment would be hopeless, the commissioners weic inform- ed that on mature consideration it had been decided, that un- der all the circumstances incident to a prosecution of thenar- j§» JtfSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. SK they might omit any stipulation on the subject of impress- ment, if indispensably necessary to attain a peace. This ex- pedient .was not to be resorted to until every effort to termi- nate the controversy in a more satisfactory manner had failed.? On the 11th of August, the commissioners were further in- structed that government would go no further, because it will make no sacrifice of the rights or honour of the nation. If Great Britain i3 not willing to terminate the war on these terms, it is because she has other objects in view, than those for which she has hitherto professed to contend. That there are sueh, there is much reason to apprehend. These, what- ever they may be, must and will be resisted by the United States. The conflict may be severe, but it will be borne with fifmncss.t The American commissioners, furnished with instructions so liberal, authorizing them to waive every point for which the war was commenced, it was hoped, would be able to bring the negotiation to a speedy conclusion. But the diffi- culties and delays experienced in the outset, were multiplied in its progress. First Conference. On the 8th of August, the envoys of the two governments held their first conference, the object of which was merely to bring into view the subjects that were likely to present themselves for discussion in the course of the negotiation. On the part of the British, they stated, 1. The subject of impressment, and connected with if. that of natural allegiance. 2. A pacification with the Indian allies of Great Britain, and an establishment of a permanent Indian boundary. 3. A revision of the boundary line between the British and American territories. 4* The subject of the fisheries on the British North Ameri- can coast. VX ' ; . .. ' - - * Instructions of the 25th and 27th of Junes J Imt^ittfrns of fhe nth of Atrguafe '814. HISTORY OF THE LATE W AH .,ui The American commissioners stated, that on the first and third subjects proposed by the British, they were instructed to negotiate : on the second and fourth, the American gov- ernment, not knowing that there was any controversy upon these subjects, had given them no instructions. As further subjects of discussion, they proposed a definition of blockade and other neutral and belligerent rights ; and claim6 of indemnity to individuals for illegal captures and seizures. Immediately after this interview, the British envoys despatch- a courier to London, and no further proceedings were had until his return. Second Conference. — British sine qua nun. On the 19th of August, the British commissioners proposed another con- ierencc ; at which they stated as a preliminary, without which all further discussion would be useless : that the In- dians must be included in the pacification, and a permanent boundary established for them, beyond which the United States should never purchase, settle, or occupy any territory. The region which should be included between the Indian boundary line, and the British possessions, to remain for ever uninhabited, except by Indians, and as a permanent barrier, between the British and American territories. The boundary proposed, subject however to some modifications, was the and both retaining all their rights in relation to their respect- ive seamen. This proposition by the AtneFican commission- ers, to pass over in silence those subjects and leave them as (.hey were at the commencement of the war, was transmitted by the British commissioners to their government, and in the meantime the correspondence between the commissioners continued : the British claiming that it was perfectly obvi- ous, that the conquest of Canada and its permanent annexa- tion to the United States was the declared object of the American government ; that if in consequence of a different course of events on the continent of Europe, the United Stales had obtained a decided superiority in that quarter, they would have availed themselves of their situation, to ob- tain on the side of Canada important cessions of territory or the entire abandonment of that country by Great Britain. On the other hand the American commissioners contended that no such views were entertained by the United States. They had always been ready and desirous of peace, upon an adjustment of their maritime claims, each nation retaining; its territory as it existed before the war. That no views of aggrandizement or desire of adding to their territory was justly imputable to them. tyi4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 30y British Commissioners receive additional Instructions. The British ministry, perceiving that the American government had consented to waive all discussion of their maritime claims, and that no cession of territory could be obtained, gave addi- tional instructions to their commissioners, authorizing them to waive the subject of a permanent Indian boundary, and their claims respecting the military occupation of the lakes. In In pursuance of these instructions, on the 3th of October, the British addressed a note to the American envoys, proposing on the subject of an Indian pacification, that each party should stipulate, that immediately after the conclusion of peace, hostilities should cease between them and the Indian nations with whom they might be at war, and the Indians re- stored to all the possessions, rights, and privileges which they enjoyed before the war, provided the Indian nations should on their part cease from hostilities. To this arrangement the American commissioners had no objections ; though a stipula- tion of this nature was not expressly within their instructions, they agreed to it provisionally. Their Ultimatum waived. This point being adjusted, and the American maritime claims waived, the negotiation pro- ceeded with some prospect of a favourable issue. The British commissioners claimed that they should proceed upon the basis of each party's retaining the possessions they had ac- quired at the commencement of the negotiation, subject to such modifications as mutual convenience might suggest. This principle would give to the British a considerable por- tion of the province of Maine, fort Niagara and a part of the Niagara frontier, and to the Americans, Amherstburgh, and the adjacent territory. The American envoys claimed, that these possessions occasionally obtained by either party from the other in the course of the war, shoukl be mutually re- stored, and each party placed on the footing they stood at its commencement. Peace concluded. After a variety of negotiations on these topics from the 8th of October to the 24th of December, a definitive treaty of peace was agreed upon, in which all mari r 64 ^06 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. time claims were passed over in silence, and the relations of peace and amity between the two nations, and between them and the Indians within their limits, they agreeing to it, were restored. Claims for past injuries were waived, and each party placed upon the ground they were before the war ; provision was made for the survey and demarkation of the boundary line between the United States and the British pos- sessions, and for the adjustment of all difficulties upon that subject, on terms of reciprocity. The subject of fisheries upon the British North American coast, as secured to the United States by the treaty of 1783, was waived, and the privilege of fishing and curing fish on these coasts not being provided for in this treaty, was considered as given up. The treaty was ratified by the Prince Regent on the 27th of De- cember, arrived in the United States on the 11th, and was ratified by the President and senate on the 17th of February. Orders were immediately despatched in every direction for the cessation of hostilities. Orders transmitted to General Jackson miscarry. The postmaster general, despatched a special messenger to Gen- eral Jackson at New-Orleans with the treaty, giving orders for the postmasters, and mail carriers on the route, to furnish re- lays, and forward by every means in their power, the intelli- gence. By some accident on the route, the messenger in his haste exchanged his despatches for some old military orders, and when he came to deliver his papers to General Jackson, instead of the official information of the ratification of the treaty, the papers produced, were the old military orders,. During the interval between the first unofficial intelligence of peace, and the official information of the ratification of the treaty, the soldiers of the army and the citizens cf New-Or- leans grew impatient of military restraint. The militia were clamorous for their discharge, and a spirit of insubordination prevailed. Martial Law at New-Orleans continued. The Genera! deemed it necessary as long as there was any enemy in the neighbourhood, and he without official information of the 1*14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAli. .■„,; ratification of the treaty, to preserve military order, and not relax in his system of defence. Lauvallier arrested. The French consul had given certifi- cates of French citizenship to numbers of persons in the mi- litia, the object of which was to exempt them from military services. General Jackson, considering these persons dan- gerous to the safety of the city, ordered them to remove into the interior, as far as Baton Rouge. Lauvallier, a French- man, and member of the Louisiana Legislature, had publish- ed several pieces in the New-Orleans papers, condemning the measures of General Jackson for the defence of the city, as illegal, and advising the citizens that they were not bound to obey them. He was also suspected of holding intercourse with the enemy. General Jackson, by virtue of the powers which he claimed in consequence of his proclamation of mar- tial law, ordered this Frenchman to be arrested, and tried by a court martial. Habeas Corpus disobeyed. On the 6th of March, Lau- vallier applied to Dominic Hall, judge of the United States district court, for a writ of habeas corpus, to transfer him from a military to a civil tribunal ; this was granted, and delivered to the marshal to be served upon the General, who considering the suspension of the civil authority as a necessa- ry consequence of the proclamation of martial law, refused obedience to the writ, dismissed the marshal, retained the prisoner, and subjected him to trial. He also arrested and imprisoned Judge Hall for issuing the writ. The district at- torney then applied to judge Lewis for a habeas corpus in favour of judge Hall. He also was arrested under martial law, and an order was issued for the arrest of judge Lewis. Martial Law discontinued. On the lGth of March, official intelligence of the peace having arrived, martial law ceased, and the civil authorities were discharged from arrest. General Jackson arrested for contempt, tried before the Dis- trict Court, and convicted. On the 27th, General Jackson was arrested and brought before the United States district court, holden by judge Hall, to answer to an alleged contempi 508 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chav. 22. of that court in disobeying the writ of habeas corpus in the case of Lauvallier, and impi'isoning the judge who granted the process. The general alleged, in his defence, the necessary ex- istence of martial law within the city and precincts of New- Orleans at the time of issuing the writ of habeas corpus ; so great was the danger, that the judge himself had been induced expressly to sanction martial law, abandon his civil functions, leave the city, and retire to a place of safety in the interior. The suspension of civil process was the necessary conse- quence of the sta e < f the city, and of the proclamation of martial law. The genera, also claimed the right of trial by jury, as secured to him by the constitution of the United States : but he was now upon trial before a judge, for a contempt of his authority, and the imprisonment of his person. His claim and plea were over-ruled, and the general fined a thousand dollars for the contempt. He was accompanied to the court by a numerous crowd of citizens, who considered him as their deliverer. The appearance of the scene was more like a military parade than a court of justice. On the sentence being pronounced, he was borne from the court-house by the citizens, placed in a coach, and drawn by them to his lodgings, where a subscription was immediately opened, restricted to a dollar a man, to give all an opportunity to subscribe, to pay his fine and costs, which were immediately discharged. Rejoicings in the United States. All parties in the United States sincerely rejoiced at the news of peace. The expres- sions of joy were the more lively as the event was altogether unexpected. Though intelligence had been received after the British ultimatum of the 19th of August, that the negotia- tions were continued, yet it was of such a character as to forbid any well-grounded expectations of a favourable result. The American commissioners, on the 25th of October, which was the last intelligence received from them previous to the arri- val of the treaty, wrote that although the negotiations had not terminated as abruptly as at the date of their last despatches was expected, yet they find no reason to retract the opinion 1814. U1ST0RY OF THE LATE WaK. dOU therein expressed, that no hopes of peace, as likely to rcsull. from it, could be entertained. Without stopping critically to inquire whether the treaty secured to them the objects for which the war was commenced, the people of the United States of all parties, republicans and federalists, the friends of the administration andthc opposition, the war and the peace party, united in celebrating the event. Party names and dis- tinctions were for a moment forgotten ; illuminations, festi- vals, and rejoicings in various forms, were had in almost every city, town, and village in the United States. Presidents Message to Congress on the Peace. In commu- nicating this event to Congress, the President congratulates them and their constituents upon an event which is highly hon- ourable to the nation, and which terminates with peculiar fe- licity a campaign signalized by the most brilliant successes. "The late war," he remarks, ; ' although reluctantly de- clared by congress, had become necessary to assert the rights and independence of the nation. It had been waged with success, the natural result of the legislative councils, of the pat- riotism of the people, of the public spirit of the militia, and of the valour of the military and naval force of the country. Peace, at all times a blessing, is peculiarly welcome at a pe- riod when the causes of the war had Ceased to operate, when the government had demonstrated the efficiency of its pow- ers of defence, and when the nation can review its conduct without regret or reproach." The President recommends to the care and beneficence of congress the gallant men whose achievements in every depart- ment have contributed to the honour of the American name. In recommending a reduction of the public expenditures to the demands of a peace establishment, he observes, "that impor- tant considerations forbid a sudden and general revocation of the measures produced by the war. Experience has taught us that neither the pacific dispositions of the American people, nor the pacific character ©four political institutions, altogeth- er exempt them from the strife which appears to be incident to this period of the world. The same faithful monitor in- structs us that a certain degree of preparation for war is MO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR.. Chap. 22. dispensable to prevent 'disaster in the outset ; and also af- fords the best security for the continuance of peace. He concludes with fervently wishing, that the peace which has- now been declared, may be the foundation of the most friend- ly intercourse between the United States and Great Britain, and productive of harmony and happiness to our beloved country. Peace Establishment. The period for which the 13th Con- gress was elected expired on the 3d of March 1815, and left but fourteen days from the ratification of the treaty to con- tinue the session. This time was busily employed in adapting their arrangements to a state of peace; little more however could be done than to provide for the reduction of the army, and suspend ship building on the lakes. The military peace establishment, after much controversy between the houses, the senate putting it at fifteen, and the house of representa- tives at six, was finally fixed at ten thousand. The public debt at the close of the war con- sisted of the debt of the revolution . . . $39,000,000 The present war debt 85,000,000 $123,000,000 The navy consisted of five seventy-fours, not completed; six forty-four gun frigates ; nine from thirty-six to twenty-four ; twenty-two from twenty to sixteen, and fifty eight smaller ves- sels : the whole carrying two thousand guns.* Beneficial results of the War. Although the United States concluded a treaty without an express recognition of their maritime rights ; yet the war, taken in connexion with all its ♦Report of secretary of navy, December 1815. On the first of January, 1825, the navy consisted of eleven ships of the pne of seventy-four guns, twelve frigates from thirty-two to forty-four guns, the steam frigate Fulton of thirty-six guns, and a considerable number of ships of war of the smaller class. The national debt at the same period, amounted to $86,000,000. The receipts at the treasury du- ring the preceding year were $19,630,893.96, being something more than one-fifth of the whole debt. 1014. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. oil circumstances and consequences, has secured them from fu- ture violation. It has fully established the character of the United States, for enterprise, skill, and bravery. After a thirty years peace, a war of two years drew forth an army able to contend on equal terms with European veterans ; and pro- duced ships of war which never shunned a combat, or failed of success, when an enemy was to be met on equal ground. The enterprise and success of American privateers against British commerce, rendered the war an unpopular and unprof- itable business to the British nation. These cruizers, taking stations in the track of their commerce, on their coasts, and at the entrance of their harbours, brought the war home to the British merchant ; and in the loss of his ships, and in the in- creased rate of insurance, made its effects severely felt. The war has pointed out to the American nation, by a series of facts too plain to be misapprehended, the proper means both of annoyance and defence. The ravages to which the coast was subject, in the years 1813 and 14, clearly demonstrated the necessity of a naval force sufficient for its protection, and as clearly pointed to the species of force best adapted to that, object. Experience, a convincing, though many times an ex- pensive teacher, annihilated the gun-boat system, and induced the building of ships of the line and frigates of the larger class to such an extent as will effectually protect the coast, from any fleet which a European nation will venture to spare from her own shores to invade the American. It likewise in- duced the building a stearn ship of war of a large size, and al- though the intervention of peace prevented its efficacy from being tested by experiment, yet there is little doubt of its be- ing a powerful engine of harbour defence. The enlargement, and completion of the fortifications of the principal ports, and supplying them and the arsenals with the munitions of war, constitute another important result. These effects of the war more completely secure American rights from future violation, than the strongest treaty stipulations without them. European nations now see that America has both the spirit and tin means of defence, and her government the ability !•> call them into action. The United States have now nothing to 512 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. ga. fear from invasion ; possessed within themselves of every ma- terial requisite for a navy to any desirable extent, and a supe- rior body of seamen, they are abundantly able to defend their rights on the ocean. Though they may probably never find it necessary to create a navy of equal magnitude with the British, which can only be useful for the purposes of conquest, they will always have it in their power to call into operation one sufficient for all the purposes of defence. Possessed of fifty ships of war, by a gradual accumulation of the imperish- able materials, a navy can at any time be produced, which will cause their rights to be respected. British maritime rights, which in modern language have been construed to mean the right of controlling the navigation of the world, must now be confined within their legitimate bounds. America is in a situation never again to submit to have her trade de- stroyed, or her coasts ravaged with impunity. The severe chastisement which the Indians of the west, and south, who were induced to join the British standard, have suffered, has rendered the frontier secure from future ravages.. The effects of the war will extend much beyond the tribes who have suffered ; there is now very little danger of any Indian nation ever so remote, who has heard of the names and deeds of Jackson and Harrison, being seduced into hos- tilities against the United States, either by their own religious fanatics or foreign influence. Peace with them may be con- sidered as more firmly established, and the frontiers more se- cure than at any former period. These are some of the ben- eficial results of the war ; in them every American has a deep interest. They have happily served to wear off the asperi- ties, and reconcile the conflicting interests and opinions, which attended its commencement and progress. Party spirit is fast subsiding, and though at times it is attempted to be resus- citated, yet it must soon resolve itself into a united effort, to promote the happiness of a great and growing nation. «« ITS/ END.* LIBRARY OF CONGRESS :- : ;":; : ;; ; ;||;'