Chapter XX: The War of 1812

We have stated in connection with the appropriate events, the causes of this war which had accumulated during the last five years at a rapid rate. The seizure and captures of American vessels by Great Britain amounted to 917; by France to 558. Upwards of 6,000 cases of impressments were recorded in the American Department of State; and in all these our Flag had been violated. It was estimated that about as many more had been made, of which no official information had been received. The Americans were averse to war and had long borne these injuries in the hope that a settlement might be reached by negotiation; but they insisted on the inviolability of our Flag, and the right of naturalization. On the commencement of hostilities 2,500 of these impressed sailors, claiming to be American citizens, refused to fight against America, and were imprisoned by the English government, where most of them were kept to the close of the war.

Aug. 24—The English government, however, had the magnanimity,
when news arrived of the Declaration of War by the United
States, to allow all American vessels then in their ports six
weeks to dispose of their lading and to depart undisturbed.

The great success of the war on the American side was on
the sea, where it was much more seriously detrimental and
mortifying to the English than victories on the land would
have been. The land forces were generally inefficiently
conducted, though the close of the war was signalized by the
victory of Gen. Jackson, at New Orleans, which was extremely
gratifying to American pride.

July 12—Gen. Hull, with 1,800 troops, invades Canada.

Aug. 8—After various mishaps, Hull retreats to Detroit.

” 9—Col. Miller defeats Tecumseh and a body of British troops
at Maguaga.

” 15—Ft. Dearborn (now Chicago) was abandoned by its small
garrison, by the orders of Hull. During their retreat they
were attacked, and most of them massacred by the Indians.

” 16—Gen. Hull surrendered Detroit and all the military
forces and stores in the territory to the British. He was
afterward sentenced to death by a court-martial, but
pardoned by the president, though degraded from all military
command.

” 19—The U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt. Hull, does great
honor to the American arms by the capture of the English
frigate Guerriere. This vessel had challenged the American
vessels in a contemptuous way. She had 79 killed and wounded,
the Constitution only 13. There were 10 impressed American
seamen on the Guerriere.

Sept. 7—The U. S. frigate Essex captures the Alert in 8
minutes.

Oct. 13—In another invasion of Canada by Gen. Van Rensselaer,
though much gallantry was displayed, an unexpected British
reinforcement obliged the surrender of 700 men after 160 had
been killed and wounded.

” 18—The U. S. sloop of war Wasp captures the British sloop
of war Frolic, which was the strongest vessel. The Frolic had
100 killed and wounded, the Wasp but 10. Both were captured
by a British 74 pounder the same day.

” 25—Capt. Decatur, of the frigate United States, captures
the Macedonian, a British frigate. British loss 104, American
only 7.

Nov. 22—The U. S. brig Vixen is captured by the English
frigate Southampton. Both were afterward shipwrecked.

A presidential election in this month secured the re-election
of Madison.

Dec. 29—The U. S. frigate Constitution, Commodore Bainbridge,
captures the British frigate Java, off the coast of Brazil.
American loss 44, British 151. These naval victories with
so little loss produced much exultation in America, and
much surprise and mortification in England. The Americans
were able seamen, and had long burned to avenge the insults
and contempt of the English navy. Americans are capable of
extraordinary vigor when thoroughly aroused. The operations
on land had been much interfered with by the strenuous and
almost treasonable opposition of the anti-war party, and
this continued to be an embarrassment during nearly its
whole course. The general disfavor with which this violent
opposition was regarded, however, and the sympathy felt for
the President, so embarrassed, procured his re-election.

1813.

Military operations this year were, in part, more creditable and encouraging. The regular force amounted to about 55,000 men; an act had been passed authorizing the construction of four 74 gun ships, and six forty-fours; and for an increase of the navy on the lakes.

Jan. 22—A disastrous enterprise at Frenchtown (now Monroe,
Mich.) results in the loss of nearly 900 American troops
under Winchester. The wounded were left by Gen. Proctor, the
British commander, to be massacred by the Indians.

” 23—Geo. Clymer, of Pa., signer of the Declaration of
Independence, died.

” 26—An act of Congress authorizes the President to borrow
$16,000,000.

” 27—He is authorized to issue Treasury notes to the amount
of $5,000,000.

Feb. 24—The Hornet captures the British brig Peacock, on the
coast of South America.

The Delaware and Chesapeake bays are blockaded by the British
about this time.

Mar. 4—Madison is inaugurated for his second term.

” 8—The emperor of Russia having offered his services as
mediator between the United States and England, the President
appoints commissioners to treat for peace.

Apr. 10—The British attack Lewiston, Del., but are repulsed
after having bombarded it several days.

” 27—Americans under Gen. Pike, capture York, Upper Canada,
with a large quantity of stores. Gen. Pike is killed.

May 1—The British Gen. Proctor besieges Gen. Harrison in Fort
Meigs.

” 5—Gen. Clay coming to his assistance Proctor retreats. Col.
Dudley, making a sortie from Ft. Meigs, is drawn into an
ambuscade and loses 650 men. He is himself mortally wounded.

The British Admiral Cockburn barbarously ravages the shores
of Chesapeake bay.

” 27—Ft. George, at Niagara, surrenders to the Americans, and
Sir Geo. Prevost is repulsed from Sacketts Harbor, N. Y., by
Gen. Brown.

June 1—The U. S. frigate Chesapeake captured by the British
frigate Shannon. American loss 133; British loss about half
as many. Capt. Lawrence of the Chesapeake is mortally wounded.

” 6—Gens. Chandler and Winder surprised in the night by the
enemy they were going to attack. The two generals are taken
prisoners, but their troops repulse the enemy and retire.

” 23—Col. Boerstler, in command of an American force of 600
men, is surrounded by a superior force at Beaver Dams and
compelled to surrender.

” 25—Admiral Cockburn, failing in his attack on the American
forces at Craney Island, Va., lands at Hampton and commits
many outrages.

July 31—American Com. Chauncy lands at York, U. C., captures
and destroys stores, and the British do the same at
Plattsburg, on lake Champlain.

Aug. 2—Gen. Proctor with 1,000 British and Indians attacks
Col. Croghan with 160 men, at Ft. Stephenson, Lower Sandusky,
O., and is repulsed with a loss of 150.

About this time the American frigate Essex, Capt. Porter,
cruising in the Pacific ocean, captured 12 armed British
whalers.

” 13—The American sloop-of-war Argus, cruising in the English
Channel, captured 21 British merchantmen, but was herself
captured by the Pelican after a severe engagement.

” 30—Tecumseh had stirred up the Creek Indians to war, and
they attacked Ft. Mims, which they set on fire and captured,
massacring all but 20 out of 400 men, women and children.

Sept. 3—The American brig Enterprise captures the Boxer on
the coast of Maine.

” 10—Perry’s victory on Lake Erie. He captures the whole
fleet (6 vessels) of the enemy. His laconic dispatch to Gen.
Harrison was, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.”

Oct. 5—Battle of the Thames (Upper Canada). Gen. Harrison,
commanding the Americans, defeated the British and Indians,
under Gen. Proctor and Tecumseh. The latter was slain. The
British lost about 600 in killed, wounded and prisoners; the
Americans 17 killed and 30 wounded.

” ”—Commodore Chauncy captures 5 British vessels on Lake
Ontario.

Nov. 2—Gen. Coffee attacks the Creek Indians at
Tallushatches, Ala. 200 warriors are killed.

” 9—Gen. Jackson defeats the Indians at Talladega, Ala.,
killing 290 of them. Two other battles with the Indians
occurred this month, and one in Dec. in which they were
defeated with great slaughter, and little loss to the
Americans. Yet so spirited and resolute were they as to
require to be almost exterminated before they would make
peace.

” 11—1,200 Americans, under Gen. Boyd, engage 2,000 British,
under Lt. Col. Morrison, and are repulsed with a loss of 339.
British loss 180.

Dec. 10—Ft. George, at Niagara, evacuated and the town of
Newark burned by the Americans.

” 19—Ft. Niagara is taken by the British and Indians who
massacre the garrison. Youngstown, Lewistown, the Tuscarora
Indian village, and Manchester, all in N. Y., are burned, in
retaliation of the destruction of Newark.

” 30—The British burn Black Rock, Buffalo, three vessels
of Perry’s fleet, and large quantities of provisions. Gen.
Proctor justifies it as a proper retaliation. The burning of
Newark was barbarous, but was avenged tenfold. Naturalized
Irishmen, taken by the British in our armies this year,
were sent to England to be tried for treason. An equal
number of English officers were imprisoned by the American
government and notice given to the governor of Canada that
they should receive the same treatment and fate as our Irish
soldiers. This had its effect, and the latter remained simply
prisoners of war. This claim, and corresponding action on
the part of the English government, which was one of the
principal causes of the war, was, from this time, practically
relinquished. In December an embargo was laid by Congress
on American goods and provisions, to prevent their being
employed to supply the British blockading force and armies.
It produced great discontent in New England, where a large
part of the people were dependent on commerce, and were
thrown into great distress. There was much factious, and even
seditious, opposition to the government.

1814.

The army operations had been unsuccessful in Canada during the last of the campaign, owing, it was thought, to the inefficiency of the commanders, and perhaps partly to the want of experience of their subalterns. Changes, that were proved much for the better, were made, and the campaign of this year, in this quarter, showed a more honorable record. Since the commencement of the war till this year, the English government had been carrying on an immense European war, which was closed by the abdication of Bonaparte and his banishment to the island of Elba. They prepared for a more vigorous effort in America, by sending considerable armies of the veterans of Wellington, who had conquered in Europe. They had received, the impression that the opposition to the war and the republican party, would coöperate with them, and that they might re-establish their dominion over their former colonies.

But they did not comprehend American character. Party politics have always been conducted in a bitter and hostile spirit, but that hostility has not been directed against their _institutions_. Extreme attachment to these, and jealous care to preserve all rights guaranteed by the Constitution, has always led the opposition to a close and sharp criticism of all measures of the party in power differing from their own interpretation of Constitutional rights. When these institutions are really in danger all parties unite in a defense, the obstinacy and vigor of which carries everything before it. It stops at no obstacles, hesitates before no sacrifices, and counts no odds. This became apparent to the British during the summer, dispelled forever their dream of conquest, and led to a peace at the close of the campaign. The British sent 14,000 troops to Canada this spring, which was supported, in July and August, by a large reinforcement. A strong naval force, with a large body of troops, was sent to invade the heart of the country and capture Washington. After failing in maintaining their ground here, they were directed against the gulf coast and the Mississippi river, ending in their decisive defeat by Gen. Jackson, at New Orleans, Jan. 8th, 1815, nine days before the treaty of peace, signed at Ghent, in Belgium, Dec. 24, was known in America.

Mar. 24—A loan of $25,000,000 authorized by Congress.

” 27—Gen. Jackson’s defeat of the Indians at Great Horseshoe
Bend, Ala. This battle accomplished the subjection of the
Creek Indians. Jackson had fought them on the 21st, 24th
and 27th of Jan., when they came near defeating him, but
notwithstanding their fierce and obstinate bravery, he
conquered each time, and finally, nearly exterminated them.

” 28—The brilliant career of the U. S. frigate Essex, in the
Pacific ocean, is terminated by its capture, at Valparaiso,
Chili, by the British frigate Phebe and another sloop of war.

” 30—Gen. Wilkinson is repulsed in an advance into Canada,
at La Colle, and is afterwards tried by court martial. Gen.
Brown is given the command of the Niagara frontier, and Gen.
Izard of northern N. Y.

April 21—The U. S. sloop of war Frolic captured by the
British frigate Orpheus.

” 27—The U. S. sloop of war Peacock captures the British
brig-of-war Epervier with $118,000 specie on board.

May 7—A British force captures and destroys the American fort
at Oswego, N. Y., and carries off several guns.

” 29—The Americans capture a British force at Sandy Creek, N.
Y.

June 9—The U. S. sloop of war Rattlesnake captured by a
British 50 gun ship.

” 12—The U. S. sloop Syren captured by a British 74.

” 28—The U. S. sloop of war Wasp captures the British sloop
of war Reindeer, in the British Channel.

July 3—Gen. Brown captures Ft. Erie, near Niagara, U. C.

” 5—Battle of Chippewa, Canada. Gens. Brown, Scott, and
Ripley, with about 3,000 men, were opposed by the British
Gen. Riall with an equal number of the veterans of Waterloo.
Gen. Scott attacked them with such prudence and valor as to
conquer a largely superior force before Gen. Ripley could
come up to his aid. It was a splendid test of American
mettle. Loss of the British 514, of Scott 328. The British
fall back to Ft. George.

” 11—The British make a descent on the coast of Maine.

” 25—Gen. Scott engages a British force of seven times his
number, and holds his ground for some hours when Gen. Ripley
comes to his aid, and they drive the British from the field;
but having only 1,600 men left, while the British have 5,000,
they retire next day. The British lost 878, the Americans 860.

Aug. 4—Americans besieged in Ft. Erie.

” 8—First meeting of the U. S. and English commissioners to
treat for peace, who arranged the terms at the close of this
year. The English were very high in their demands till the
failure of their much vaunted veteran troops.

” 9—The British make an unsuccessful attack on Stonington,
Conn. A treaty is made with the Creek Indians.

” 15—The British repulsed from Ft. Erie with the loss of 962
men. The Americans lost 84.

” 20—A British force landed from the fleet in the Chesapeake,
marches on Washington.

” 24—The battle of Bladensburg, near Washington. The
Americans, much inferior in numbers, were defeated. The
British, under Gen. Ross, entered Washington the same day.
They destroyed much private property, as well as public
stores, buildings and documents.

Not deeming it prudent to remain, the British retreated from
Washington to their vessels, leaving the people greatly
exasperated at conduct unworthy of the army of a civilized
nation.

” 27—Alexandria, Va., delivers up the public stores and
shipping there and much merchandise as a ransom from plunder
and burning.

Sept. 1—The U. S. sloop of war Wasp captures the British
sloop Avon. After taking three other prizes in European
waters, she disappeared and was never again heard of—supposed
to have foundered at sea. The British Gen. Prevost advances
toward Plattsburg, N. Y., with 12,000 veteran troops.

” 11—The battle of Plattsburg. Com. McDonough, American, with
4 vessels, 10 gun boats and 850 men, captures the British
Com. Downie’s fleet of 4 vessels, 12 gun boats and 1,000 men.
A simultaneous attack by Prevost on Plattsburg miscarried
by the failure of the fleet and panic of the soldiers. They
return, in disorder, to Canada.

” 12—The British who had captured Washington, appear near
Baltimore and land a force which repulses the Baltimore
militia, and, next day advances toward the city; but the
attack seems so formidable to them that they retreat in the
night to their vessels and depart. The British admiral could
not reduce Ft. M’Henry so as to co-operate in an attack on
the city by water. The patriotic song, “The Star Spangled
Banner,” was written during this bombardment of Fort M’Henry.
Gen. Ross, the British commander, was killed soon after the
landing of the troops.

About this time various attacks are made at different places
on the coast of New England, and the British pretend, by
proclamation, to take possession of all of Maine east of the
Penobscot river and annex it to New Brunswick.

” 17—A sortie is made from Ft. Erie and the works of the
enemy surprised and taken with a loss to him of 1,000 men in
killed, wounded and prisoners.

Thus, in the midst of ravages and alarms on the coast, the
destruction of our commerce, the stagnation of business,
the financial difficulties of the government that almost
amounted to bankruptcy, and the complaints of the peace
party, (which produced much alarm by the calling of a
convention of the New England States, in December of this
year, at Hartford, Conn.,) the honor of the United States
was preserved. The formidable armies in Canada had been
baffled and defeated, the capture of Washington followed
immediately by the withdrawal of the invaders, and a strong
point made which had its effect in substantially gaining the
cause that had brought on the war, for the Americans, in the
treaty negotiations in progress. The British now turned their
attention to the Mississippi river and the coast of the gulf
of Mexico.

Nov. 7—Gen. Jackson takes Pensacola from the British, who
were laboring to raise the Indians to war again.

Dec. 15—A British fleet captures the flotilla on Lake Borgne,
La.

” 22—12,000 British troops land below New Orleans, and
repulse the Americans.

” 24—The treaty of peace is signed at Ghent, but is not known
in America until Feb. following.

1815.

Jan. 8—Gen. Jackson, with only 6,000 men, had intrenched
himself in front of the British, who now made an assault on
his position. They were repulsed with great slaughter, losing
their general, Packingham, and near 2,000 men. Jackson lost
but 7 killed and 6 wounded. The British retreated to their
vessels.

” 15—The U. S. frigate President captured by four English
vessels.

Feb. 18—Ft. Bowyer, near Pensacola, Fla., invested by the
British fleet. It surrenders on the 21st.

” 17—The treaty of peace which arrived at New York on the
11th by the British sloop of war Favorite, ratified by the
American government and Peace proclaimed.

” 24—Congress authorizes the loan of $18,400,000, and the
issue of treasury notes to the amount of $25,000,000.

” 28—The naval war was continued some time longer. The U.
S. frigate Constitution captures two British vessels of
war, the frigate Cyane and the sloop Levant, off the island
of Madeira. In March the U. S. frigate Hornet captured the
British brig Penguin, on the coast of Brazil.

The British government, elated by their triumph over
Bonaparte, their large army accustomed to conquer in Europe,
and the fleets set free from the blockade of the Continent,
thought to make an easy conquest of America. But all their
attempts were defeated. Had peace been made a little later
the Americans might have obtained much better terms.

This war had been waged under many difficulties by the
American administration. The country and its institutions,
were new, and there was no such reserved fund of wealth and
credit, as is always found in an old and well organized
state. They depended largely on commerce, which was almost
destroyed by the great naval force of Great Britain, and the
embargo policy. Our navy was gallant and successful; but the
government lacked the means, and the unanimous support of the
people, requisite to increase it to the necessary strength.
The administration did not act with the vigor and efficiency
calculated to bring all sections and classes to its support,
and the people had not yet the experience and knowledge of
the value and strength of their own institutions needful to
inspire confidence, so that they were critical and difficult
to please, and this spirit impaired the efficiency of nearly
all government measures. What they undertook could be only
imperfectly done. The old soldiers of the Revolution were
dead or unfit by age for good service, and time was necessary
to train others and ascertain who had the necessary military
capacity for conducting operations with success. Yet, under
all these great difficulties, the United States came out of
the war with the respect of the world, such as it had never
before enjoyed. It became formidable to Europe as a great and
vigorous power with which it was not safe to trifle.

This was still more clear when the government declared war on
the Dey of Algiers, one of the pirate princes of the North
of Africa, which, for hundreds of years, had made war on the
commerce of all nations almost with impunity. Having violated
their treaty with us, the President sent out an adequate
naval force

June 17-19—which captured two Algerine vessels of war, and
threatened Algiers. The Dey, intimidated, immediately made
peace, giving liberty to all prisoners without ransom, and
full satisfaction for the injuries done to our commerce. No
European nation had before so humbled these pirates, and it
at once raised the credit of our government, and gained us
respect and esteem.

June 30—The last hostile act at sea took place in the Straits
of Sunda, in the East Indies, where the U. S. brig of war
Peacock captured the Nautilus, a British sloop of war. Thus
the three American vessels at sea when the war closed, each
came home crowned with laurels. The British vessels captured
during the war numbered 1,750—the American 1,683. The spirit
and energy of the Americans, under all their embarrassments,
gave an unmistakable indication of the future greatness and
power of the United States.

1816.

The last two years’ experience had taught the government and the people many important lessons by which they hastened to profit. The coast was fortified, the navy increased, manufactures and commerce encouraged, and the best measures that the wisdom of the times could suggest, employed to restore the finances. The violently factious opposition of parties was much moderated by the confidence gained to our government and institutions, and the evident folly of excessive fears. The Second U.S. Bank was chartered for 20 years, with a capital of $35,000,000.

Nov. 5—Governeur Morris, an eminent and excellent American
statesman died.

Dec. 11—Indiana admitted into the Union as a State. James
Monroe was, this autumn, elected President.