Chapter I: Preface

More books, probably, have been written on the War of 1812 than on any other portion of our history. The great political leaders of that time were so vindictive in their animosities, and took such strong and decided ground on all political questions, that the success of one or the other afterwards in public life depended very much on his conduct during the war. Hence, much detached and personal history has been written in order to clear up or illustrate some particular event. A candidate for public office was often chosen for his services in the war; hence, every portion of it in which he took part was thoroughly investigated by both friends and foes. So if one had failed in that trying period of the country, the world was sure to hear of it when he came up for the suffrages of the people. The war proved very unfortunate for some of the leaders, and court martials and disgrace closed the career of many which had hitherto been bright and prosperous. These men have written long pamphlets and books in self-defence, or they have been written by their descendants, so that if hearing both sides would aid the reader in coming to a correct conclusion, he was pretty sure to reach it. When so many quarrels are to be settled the public will not fail to be informed all about the origin of them. Another class of works have been written, designed only to furnish a synopsis of the war, and scarcely reach to the value of histories. Others have been confined solely to the military and naval movements--others still are devoted almost exclusively to political matters of that period; so that notwithstanding the large supply of works on the War of 1812, I know of none in which all these different topics are even attempted to be combined in proper proportions. The present work is an effort to accomplish that end without being too voluminous on the one hand, or too general on the other. I have endeavored to give impressions as well as facts--to trace the current and depict the phases of public feeling, rather than inflict on the reader long documents and longer debates, in which everything that gave them life and interest was carefully excluded by the reporter.

The effects of the fierce conflict waged between the Federalists and Democrats during the war have not yet passed away, and many of the actors in it are still living, who retain their old prejudices and hatred. Their near descendants and relatives, though so many of them are found in the ranks of democracy, still defend the memory of those whose names they bear, and endeavor to throw discredit on the writer who would rob them of reputation, and consign them to the obloquy they deserve. In a war like the late one with Mexico, where almost every officer was a hero, and in narrating the progress of which the historian is called upon only to eulogize, his task is an easy one. But in one like that of 1812, in which the most conspicuous leaders met with signal defeat and disgrace, and instead of winning reputation, lost that which had illustrated them in the revolutionary struggle, the historian necessarily recalls feuds and assails character, which is sure to bring down on him the maledictions and open condemnation of friends and relations. A noble man and true patriot, like General Dearborn, will never want friends who will deny his incompetency as commander-in-chief, while one who had won so brave a name in the revolution, and was so estimable a man in social life as General Hull, must always be defended by those in whose veins his blood flows. The inefficiency and blunders of the government remain to this day to many a sufficient apology for the conduct of Wilkinson, Hampton and others.

Having no animosities to gratify, and no prejudices to favor, I have set down nought in malice, but have endeavored to ascertain, amid conflicting testimony, the exact truth, without regarding the friendly or hostile feelings the declaration of it might awaken. In many cases I have withheld much that was personal, because it was not necessary to my purpose, and useless only in self-defence. That I should reconcile difficulties which have never yet been healed, and please rivals who have ever hated each other, was not to be expected. I have attempted also to give a clear impression of the political and social feelings of the times, and make the reader, as far as lay in my power, live amid the scenes I depict.

Two new features have been introduced into the present work, which I though necessary to a complete history of the war, viz., privateering and the Dartmoor Prison.

It would be impossible to give all the authorities to which I am indebted. State papers, records, journals, Gazettes of the time have been consulted, as well as histories, while I have earnestly sought for information from the survivors of the war. In many cases I have omitted references to books in which facts I state are found recorded, because I came across them in old pamphlets, letters, and newspaper paragraphs, where, probably, the original compiler also obtained them. I cannot omit, however, acknowledging the vast aid I have derived from Niles' Register. A more valuable periodical was never published in this country. Ingersoll's History also, though very deficient in arrangement, contains more valuable material than any other work embracing the same period.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

A REVIEW OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND.

Duplicity and oppressive acts of the British Government
contrasted with the forbearance of the United States --
Character of Madison -- Debates in Congress on War measures
-- Declaration of War, 15

CHAPTER II.

Different feelings with which the Declaration of War was
received -- State of the parties at the commencement --
Federalists and Democrats -- Their hostility -- Absurd
doctrines of the Federalists -- Hostility of New England --
Unprepared state of the country -- Culpable neglect of the
government -- Comparative strength of the two navies --
Empty state of the Treasury -- Inefficiency of the Cabinet, 58

CHAPTER III.

Plan of the Campaign -- General Hull sent to Detroit --
British officers first receive news of the declaration of
war -- Capture of Hull's baggage, etc. -- Enters Canada and
issues a proclamation, and sends out detachments -- Colonels
McArthur and Cass advance on Maiden -- Hull refuses to
sustain them -- Recrosses to Detroit -- Van Horne's defeat
-- Colonel Miller defeats the enemy, and opens Hull's
communications -- Strange conduct of Hull -- Advance of the
British -- Surrender of Detroit -- Indignation of the
officers -- Review of the Campaign -- Rising of the people
-- Harrison takes command -- Advance of the army, 70

CHAPTER IV.

Operations on the New York frontier -- Battle of Queenstown
-- Death of Brock -- Scott a prisoner -- General Smythe's
Proclamation and abortive attempts -- Cursed by the army --
Duel with General Porter -- Retires in disgrace --
Dearborn's movements and failures -- Review of the campaign
on the New York frontier -- Character of the officers and
soldiers, 98

CHAPTER V.

THE NAVY.

The Cabinet resolves to shut up our ships of war in port --
Remonstrance of Captains Bainbridge and Stuart -- Rodgers
ordered to sea -- Feeling of the crews -- Chase of the
Belvidere -- Narrow escape of the Constitution from an
English fleet -- Cruise of the Essex -- Action between the
Constitution and Guerriere -- Effect of the victory in
England and the United States -- United States takes the
Macedonian -- Lieutenant Hamilton carries the captured
colors to Washington -- Presented to Mrs Madison in a
ball-room -- The Argus -- Action between the Wasp and Frolic
-- Constitution captures the Java -- Hornet takes the
Peacock -- Effect of these Victories abroad, 125

CHAPTER VII.

Harrison plans a winter campaign -- Advance of the army --
Battle and massacre at the River Raisin -- Baseness of
Proctor -- Promoted by his Government -- Tecumseh, his
character and eloquence -- He stirs up the Creeks to War --
Massacre at Fort Mimms -- Investment of Fort Meigs --
Advance of Clay's reinforcements and their destruction --
Successful sortie -- Flight of the besiegers -- Major
Croghan's gallant defence of Fort Stephenson, 177

CHAPTER VIII.

Chauncey ordered to Lake Erie to build a fleet -- A plan of
the campaign -- Woolsey -- Attack on York -- Death of
General Pike -- His character -- Capture of Fort George --
Gallantry of Scott -- Repulse of the British at Sackett's
Harbor by General Brown -- Dearborn pursues Vincent -- Night
attack on the American encampment -- Generals Winder and
Chandler taken prisoners -- Retreat of the army --
Reinforced by General Lewis -- Dearborn at Fort George --
Defeat of Colonel Boestler at Beaver Dams -- Attack on Black
Rock -- Dearborn withdrawn from the command of the northern
army, 205

CHAPTER IX.

SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS.

Army bill -- Quincy and Williams -- Debate on the bonds of
merchants given for British goods imported in contravention
of the non-importation act -- Debate on the bills increasing
the army to 55,000 men -- Williams' report -- Quincy's
attack -- Clay's rejoinder -- Randolph, Calhoun, Quincy,
Lowndes and Clay -- State of the Treasury, 224

CHAPTER X.

Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon -- Rejoicing in
England over the victory -- The Enterprise captures the
Boxer -- Death of Lieutenant Burrows -- Daring cruise of the
Argus in the English and Irish channels -- Lieutenant
Allen's humanity -- Action with the Pelican -- Death of
Allen -- His character, 244

CHAPTER XI.

Cost of transportation to the northern frontier -- English
fleet on our coast -- Chesapeake blockaded -- Blockade of
the whole coast -- Cockburn attacks Frenchtown -- Burns
Havre De Grace -- Attacks Georgetown and Frederickstown --
Arrival of British reinforcements -- Attack on Craney Island
-- Barbarities committed in Hampton -- Excitement caused by
these outrages -- Commodore Hardy blockades the northern
coast -- Torpedoes -- Hostile attitude of Massachusetts --
Remonstrances of its legislature -- Feeling of the people, 257

CHAPTER XII.

Perry obtains and equips a fleet on Lake Erie -- Puts to sea
-- Kentucky marines -- Description of the battle -- Gallant
bearing of Perry -- Slaughter on the Lawrence -- Perry after
the battle -- Burial of the officers -- Exultation of the
people -- Harrison advances on Maiden -- flight of Proctor
-- Battle of the Thames, and death of Tecumseh, 271

CHAPTER XIII.

Wilkinson takes command of the northern army -- Plan of the
campaign -- Hampton entrusted with the 5th military district
and takes position at Plattsburg -- Quarrel between the two
Generals -- Hampton advances, against orders, into Canada:
is defeated -- Concentration of Wilkinson's army -- Moves
down the St. Lawrence -- Its picturesque aspect -- Harassed
by the enemy -- Battle of Chrystler's field -- Hampton
refuses to join him -- The expedition abandoned and the
armies retire to winter-quarters -- Disappointment and
indignation of the war party, and gratification of the
Federalists -- Abandonment of Fort George and burning of
Newark -- Loss of Fort Niagara and burning of Buffalo and
the settlements along the river -- Retaliation -- Gloomy
close of the campaign, 291

CHAPTER XIV.

1813--1814.

Winter operations -- Decatur challenges Commodore Hardy to
meet the United States and Macedonian with two of his
frigates -- Wilkinson's second invasion, of Canada -- Battle
of la Cole Mill -- Holmes' expedition into Canada --
Romantic character of our border warfare -- Inroad of the
British marines to Saybrook and Brockaway's Ferry, 310