Blue Jackets of 1812. A history of the naval battles of the second war with Great Britain, to which is prefixed an account of the French War of 1798 ... With illustrations by W. C. Jackson and H. W. McVickar

Chapter I

The Gathering of the War-Cloud. — The Revolution ended, but the War for Independence yet unfought. — Outrages upon American Sailors. — The Right of Search. — Impressment. — Boyhood of Commodore Porter. — Early Days of Commodores Perry and Barney. — Burning a Privateer. — The Embargo. — War Inevitable i

Decatur blockaded at New York. — Attempts to escape through Long Island Sound. — The Flag-Ship struck by Lightning. — Torpedoes. — Fulton's Steam- Frigate. — Action between the "Chesapeake" and "Shannon" .... 217

Chapter X

Cruise of the "Essex." — A Rich Prize. — The Mysterious Letter. — Cape Horn rounded. — Capture of a Peruvian Privateer. — Among the British Whalers. — Porter in Command of a Squadron. — A Boy Commander. — The Squadron LAYS UP AT NOOKAHEEVAH 236

Chapter XI

War with the Savages. — The Campaign against the Typees. — Departure from nookaheevah. — the " essex " anchors at valparaiso. — arrival of the "Phœbe" and "Cherub." — They capture the "Essex." — Porter's Encounter with the " Saturn." — The Mutiny at Nookaheevah 254

Chapter XII

Capture of the "Surveyor."— Work of the Gunboat Flotilla. — Operations on Chesapeake Bay. — Cockburn's Depredations. — Cruise of the "Argus." Her Capture by the " Pelican." — Battle between the "Enterprise" and "Boxer." — End of the Year 1813 on the Ocean 2gQ CONTENTS. V PAGE 296

Chapter XIII

On the Lakes. — Close of Hostilities on Lakes Erie and Huron. — Desultory Warfare on Lake Ontario in 1813. — Hostilities on Lake Ontario in 1814.— The Battle of Lake Champlain. — End of the War upon the Lakes

Chapter XIV

On the Ocean. — The Work of the Sloops-of-War. — Loss of the "Frolic." — Fruitless Cruise of the "Adams." — The "Peacock" takes the "Epervier." — The Cruise of the "Wasp." — She captures the "Reindeer." — Sinks the "Avon." — Mysterious End of the "Wasp" 314

Chapter XV

Operations on the New England Coast. — The Bombardment of Stonington. — Destruction of the United States Corvette "Adams." — Operations on Chesapeake Bay. — Work of Barney's Barge Flotilla. — Advance of the British upon Washington. — Destruction of the Capitol. — Operations against Baltimore. — Bombardment of Fort McHenry 335

Chapter XVI

Desultory Hostilities on the Ocean. — Attack upon Fort Bowyer. — Lafitte the Pirate. — British Expedition against New Orleans. — Battle of the Rigolets. — Attack on New Orleans, and Defeat of the British. — Work of the Blue- Jackets. — Capture of the Frigate "President." — The "Constitution" takes the "Cyane" and "Levant." — The "Hornet" takes the "Penguin." — End of the War 361

Chapter XVII

Privateers and Prisons of the War. — The "Rossie." — Salem Privateers. — The " Gen. Armstrong" gives Battle to a British Squadron, and saves New Orleans. — Narrative of a British Officer. — The "Prince de Neufchatel." — Experiences of American Prisoners of War. — The End -387 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Battle of Lake Champlain ........ Frontispiece Derelict ••....,..... 3 Cutting away the Flag ......... 5 The Last of the British .......... 7 The Right of Search .......... 21 Barney regains his Ship .......... 24 Burning a Bermudian Privateer ........ 31 Toasting the Wooden Walls of Columbia . . . . . . .39 A Lesson to Privateers ......... 48 Hull makes a Reconnoissance ......... 51 The Midnight Battle .......... 58 The Fight with the Picaroons ......... 63 The British Squadron .......... 72 The "Chesapeake" and the "Leopard" . . . . . . .So Lieut. Allen fires a Shot ......... 82 Commodore Rodgers hails .......... 86 The Press-Gang ........... 93 Explosion on the "President" ......... 100 The Escape of the "Constitution". ....... 106 "Hull her, Boys!" ........... 117 "Constitution" and "Guerriere" . . . . . . . .120 Prisoners in the Hulks .......... 127 Loading ............ 131 Boarding the "Frolic" .......... 134 Ready to board ........... 136 Assuming to be British Men-of-War . . . . . . . .154 Marines picking off the Enemy . . . . . . . .157 In the Cross-Trees . . . . . . . . . . • '59 The Last of the "Java" ......... 163 Sailors bound for the Lakes . . . . . . . . .175 Perry's Recruits . . ......... 180 Drilling the Raw Recruits . . . . . . . . .182 ILLUSTRATIONS.

VIII PAGE Before the Battle .....••••■ lS5 Commodore Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie . . . • • .188 Making Ready to leave the "Lawrence" ...••• l9l Perry under Fire ...... .... 193 Awaiting the Boarders .......•• 2°8 Cutting out Prizes . . . . . . . • • • • 2I1 "I am Commodore Rodgers" .......•• -'5 Jack at Home. ........... 216 Beating to Quarters .......... -27 The Death of Lawrence .......... -30 On Board the "Chesapeake". . ..... . .232 The Peruvian Privateer .......... 243 The Duel at the Galapagos Islands ........ 248 The War Dance ........... 251 Firing the Howitzer .......... 256 The Fight at Xookaheevah ......... 259 Capture of the "Essex" ......... 274 Blue-Jackets at the Guns .......... 288 The Fight with the "Boxer" ........ 292 The Surrender of the "Boxer". ........ 294 On the Way to Lake Erie ......... 297 Hiram Paulding fires the Guns ......... 308 Boarding the "Reindeer" ......... 323 The Captain of the "Reindeer" ........ 325 The End of the "Reindeer" ......... 327 The End of the "Wasp" .......... 331 The Descent on Wareham ......... 337 The Battle of the Barges ......... 342 Sharp-shooters ........... 347 The March on Washington ......... 349 The Burning of Washington . . . ' . . . . . -351 Planning the Attack ••........ 354 The Star Spangled Banner ......... 358 " President" and "Endymion" ......... 372 The " President " tries to escape ........ 374 Foundered at Sea . . . . ... . , . , _ ,g. Privateersmen at Home •••••.... 394 Prison Chaplain and Jailor . . . . . . , m .OI King Dick and his Chaplain ....... 406 The Last Volley of the War ...... .

Chapter I. The Gathering Of The War-cloud

- THE REVOLUTION ENDED, BUT THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE YET UNFOUGHT. — OUTRAGES UPON AMERICAN SAILORS. — THE RIGHT OF SEARCH. — IMPRESSMENT. — BOYHOOD OF COMMODORE PORTER. — EARLY DAYS OF COMMODORES PERRY AND BARNEY. — BURNING A PRIVATEER. — THE EMBARGO. — WAR INEVITABLE. N a bright November afternoon in the year 1783, the streets of New York City, bordering on the bay, were crowded with excited people, pushing and elbowing each other rudely, and all pressing down to the water-side, where was collected a huge crowd, looking anxiously across the broad waters of the noble bay, to a spot where lay anchored a large squadron of ships. The taut cordage, 1812. 2 the trimly squared yards, and the rows of cannon protruding from the open ports made it evident to the veriest landsman that many of the ships were men-of-war; while the scarlet flags crossed by the emblem of St. George, flaunting from the peak of every vessel, declared the allegiance of the fleet to the monarch of Great Britain, against whose rule the hardy Colonists had been for years waging a warfare, now to end in victory.

Between the ships and the landing-place of old Fort George, that then stood where now extends the green sward of the Battery park, a fleet of long-boats was actively plying ; the long, swinging strokes of the blue-clad sailors stamping them as men-o'-war's men beyond doubt. The landing-place was thronged with troops, whose glistening muskets, scarlet coats, gold trimmings, and waving plumes contrasted beautifully with the bright blue jackets of the sailors, as file after file of the soldiers boarded the boats, and were rowed away to the waiting ships. The troops drawn up on the shore formed long lines of scarlet against the green back ground of the bastions of Fort George. The men standing at rest talked loudly to each other of the coming voyage, and now and again shouted fiercely at some soberly clad citizen who strolled too near the warlike ranks ; for had not all the sturdy citizens of New York come down to see the hated British evacuate the city, forced out by the troops of Gen. Wash ington (plain Mr. Washington, the British liked to call him) ?

The ragged gamins scurried here and there, yelling ribald jests at the departing soldiers ; and the scarlet-coated troopers had hard work keeping down their rising anger, as suggestive cries of "boiled lobsters" rose on every side. Even the staid citizens could hardly conceal their exultation, as they thought that with those soldiers departed forever the rule of Great Britain over the Colonies. It was a quaint-looking crowd that had gathered that day, at the end of the little town. The sturdy mechanics and laborers, who were most numerous, were dressed in tight leather or yellow buck skin breeches, checked shirts, and flaming red flannel jackets. Their heads were covered with rusty felt hats, cocked up at the sides into a triangular shape, and decorated with feathers or bright buckles. On their feet were heavy leathern shoes, fastened with huge brass buckles that covered the 1812. 3 entire instep.

Here and there in the crowd stood a prosperous merchant or man of fashion, whose garb, if less rough than that of his humbler DERELICT. fellow-citizen, was no less odd and picturesque. At first sight, an observer might think that all the men of New York were white-haired ; but a closer examination would show that the natural color of the hair was hid by dense layers of white powder. The hair was done up in a short cue 1812. 4 tied by black ribbons, and on top of all rested a three-cornered cocked hat, heavily laced with gold or silver braid. The coat was light-colored, with aprofusion of silver buttons, stamped with the wearer's monogram, decorating the front. Over the shoulders hung a short cape. The knee breeches, marvellously tight, ended at the tops of gaudy striped stockings, which in turn disappeared in the recesses of pointed shoes adorned with gleaming buckles.

The broad cuffs of the coat-sleeves were heavily laden with lead, to keep them in proper position. Such were the characteristics of the crowd that had assembled that day to witness the closing scene of British domination in America. Even as they stood there, they heard, faintly rising on the autumnal air, the sound of the fife and drum, as the American troops came marching down into the city, from their camp at the upper end of the island. And, as the last boat-load of grenadiers pushes off from the shore, the crowd, no longer restrained by the glittering bayonets, rushes down to the water's edge, and hurls taunts and gibes after the retreating boats, until the grizzled old soldiers curse the "Yankee rebels" fiercely, under their mus taches, and beg the officers to give them a volley. Now the advance guard of the little American army, with fifes shrill ing out the notes of " Yankee Doodle," comes marching down to the fort.

No gay trappings, scarlet or gold lace about these soldiers, but ragged suits of homespun and homely flint-lock' muskets, whose barrels are better burnished within than without. They march quickly to the water-front, and halt. The captain looks at the British squadron, now getting under way, and then, with true soldierly instinct, flashes a glance to the top of the flag-staff in the centre of the fort. His brow contracts, he stamps his foot, and the soldiers and citizens who have followed his glance break out into a cry of rage that rings far out over the placid waters of the bay, and makes the tough old British veterans chuckle grimly over the success of their little joke upon the Yankees ; for there, high above the heads of the wrathful crowd, flaunting its scarlet folds over the roofs of the liberated city, floats proudly the British Flag.

"Tear it down!" The cry rises hoarsely from a thousand throats; 1812. 5 and the Colonial officer springs with glittering sword to cut the halliards, but finds them cut away already, and the flag nailed to the mast. Then a CUTTING AWAY THE FLAG. trim sailor-boy works his way through the crowd, and, grasping the pole firmly, attempts to climb up, but soon slides down ingloriously over the greasy surface, freshly slushed by the British before their departure. The crowd yells in wrathful impotence ; and a few hot-headed youths spring 1812. 6 forward, axe in hand, to bring down pole and all to the earth. But the firm hand of the commanding officer restrains them. He whispers a few words into their ears ; and they start briskly away, followed by a dozen or two of the steadily growing crowd. "Gen. Washington will be here soon," says the captain; "we must get that rag down at once."

In a few minutes the messengers return. They have been to a neighboring hardware store, and startled the gray-haired old merchant so that he stared vaguely at them through his spectacles, as they fiercely demanded hammers, nails, and wooden cleats. Loaded with these, they dash back to the scene of action ; and again the sailor-boy becomes the hero of the moment. With his pockets filled with cleats, and his mouth stuffed with nails, he begins again his ascent of the slippery staff. He nails cleat after cleat upon the pole, and step by step mounts toward the top. At last he reaches the flag; and, with a few quick jerks, it is torn from the pole, and thrown contemptuously out into the air, to float down upon the crowd, and be torn to pieces by curiosity seekers. Then the halliards are lowered, and soon the flag of the young and struggling nation floats in the cool breeze ; while from the neighboring heights the cannon of the forts speak in deep-mouthed salvos of applause, that mingle with the rejoicings of the people, and do not cease until the ships of the enemy have passed through the Narrows, and are out of sight and hearing.

The British had evacuated New York, and America had won her independence. Not many years, however, had passed after this memorable event, when the citizens not only of New York, but the people of all the United States, began to find out that America had not won her true indepen dence, but merely a slight relief from the oppressions of Great Britain. Already the nations of Europe were beginning to encroach upon the rights and liberties of the infant nation. For this the States were themselves greatly to blame. Nobly as they had fought in unison to throw off the yoke of Great Britain, they fell into strife among themselves as soon as the war was at an end, and by their quarrels and bickerings led all the European nations to believe that the contentious Colonies, like the Kil- THE LAST OF THE BRITISH. 1812. 9 kenny cats, would end by destroying each other.

Such a nation could command little respect, and the stronger powers were not slow to show their contempt for the United States. American vessels, coming back to port, would report that a British ship-of-war had halted them in mid-ocean, and seized American sailors as suspected British deserters. Other Ameri can ships, sailing full of hope from American ports, would never re-appear, and their fate would be a mystery, until, after many months, some sailor wandering home told of his ship's capture by a French privateer or Tri politan war vessel. For years a debasing tribute was paid to the Bashaw of Tripoli, upon condition of his granting to American ships the privileges of the sea, that are the undoubted rights of every nation ; yet even this compact was more often ignored than observed. Small wonder was it that the sage old statesman, Benjamin Franklin, on hearing a young man speak of the " glorious war for independence," responded gravely, " Say rather the war of the revolution : the war for independence is yet to be fought."

In the year 1789, the States, after much debate and bickering, finally ratified the document known as the Constitution of the United States. While the work of the American Revolution was thus being completed, and a new nation was being formed, events were transpiring on the other side of the Atlantic that were destined to affect gravely the growth of the new nation. The oppressed peasantry and laborers of France, smarting under the wrongs of centuries, rose in a mighty wave, and swept away the nobles, their masters. The royal head of King Louis fell a prey to the remorseless spirit of the guillotine, and the reign of terror in Paris began. Soon the roll of the drum was heard in every European city, and the armies of every nation were on the march for France. England was foremost in the fray ; and the people of the United States, seeing their old enemy at war with the country of Lafayette, fired by generous enthu siasm, were ready to rush to the aid of their old ally.

But the wise prudence of their rulers restrained them ; and for the next twenty years the United States were neutrals, while all the nations of Europe were plunged in war. 1812. The first effect of this condition of affairs was most beneficial. As neutrals, the ships of the United States could trade with all the battling peoples ; while any vessel flying a European flag was sure to find an enemy somewhere on the broad seas, and suffer confiscation. While France was giving her farmers and mechanics to follow in the glorious footsteps of Napoleon, the industrious citizens of the United States were reaping a rich reward in trade with the warring nation. The farmers received the highest prices for their grain, the ingenious mechanics of New England reaped fortunes from the sale of their wares, and the ship yards were filled to their greatest capacity with the graceful frames of fast clipper vessels destined for the trade with Europe.

In 17S0 the shipping of the United States was confined to a few coasting-vessels, and the American flag was seldom seen beyond the Atlantic. Fifteen years later, the white sails of American ships dotted every sea, and but few European ports did not show some trim clipper floating in the harbor, bearing at her peak the stars and stripes. From Maine to Georgia the people were building ships, and manning them. The vast forests resounded with the strokes of the woodman's axe, getting out the timber ; and the seaport towns were given over to ship wrights, who worked day and night at their craft. In New England there sprung up a race of hardy seamen. Boys of twelve or fourteen ran away to sea, made a coasting voyage or two, and, after a voyage to some European port, became captains of ocean-going ships, — often before they were twenty years of age.

The people of the coastwise towns of New England can tell of hundreds of such cases. There was " Nat " Palmer of Stonington, who shipped when a boy of fourteen, and, after four years' coasting, was made second mate of the brig " Herselias," bound around Cape Horn, for seals. On his first voyage the young mate distinguished himself by discovering the South Shetland Islands, guided by the vague hints of a rival sealer, who knew of the islands, and wished them preserved for his own trade, as the seals swarm there by the hundred thousands. The discovery of these islands, and the cargo of ten thousand skins brought home by the " Herselias," made young Palmer famous ; and, at the age 1812. 1 1 of twenty, he was put in command of a sloop, and sent to the South Seas again. One day he found his passage in the desired direction blocked by two long islands, with a narrow opening between them.

To go around the islands would have been a long voyage ; and the young captain headed his craft for the opening, but soon found himself on the rocks. Luckily, the vessel backed off, and the crew set about repairing damages. While thus engaged, the great, blunt head of a whale was seen in the narrow channel ; and, after blowing a column of water high in the air, the monster swam lazily through the strait. " If a whale can go through that channel, I can," quoth "Cap'n Nat." And he forthwith did so. Quick of observa tion, and prompt of action, the sailors of the United States became the foremost seamen of the world, and guided their little vessels over every known sea. But the growing commerce of the United States was destined to meet a series of checks, that seemed for a time likely to destroy it forever.

England, jealous of the encroachments of the Americans upon the broad seas of which she had long called herself the mistress, began a series of outrages upon American ships, and, not content with acting in open hostility, incited the piratical rulers of Tripoli and Algiers to make war upon American shipping. In this volume it is not my purpose to tell of the means adopted by England to let the swarming ships of the Barbary pirates out of the Mediterranean Sea, to prey upon the vessels of the United States ; nor do I intend to tell how, after peaceful arguments had been exhausted, Decatur and Preble, with a fleet of American vessels and a handful of fighting jack-tars, crossed the ocean, and thrashed the pirates of the Mediterranean into subjection. That may well be left for future consideration, and this chapter devoted to a history of the acts of inso lence and oppression on the part of England, that finally forced the United States to declare war against a power so vastly superior to them in wealth, population, and military and naval strength.

The first great and crying outrage, protested against by the statesmen, the newspapers, and the people of the United States, was the so-called right of search. By this was meant the right claimed by every British 1812. 12 man-of-war to stop an American vessel on the high seas, muster her crew on the forecastle, and seize and carry away any sailor thought to be a native of Great Britain. This outrageous act was committed time and time again by the commanders of British frigates, who knew no easier way of filling up a short-handed crew than by stopping some passing vessel flying the stars and stripes, and taking from her the best-looking sailors of her crew. Hardly a week passed without the arrival of a ship at New York, New London, or any of the shipping towns of New England, bringing some such tale.

The merchant-vessel, skimming lightly over the ocean, at peace with all the world, and with nothing to fear save the terrors of the storms, against which the sturdy mariners knew so well how to guard, would be suddenly halted by a shot from a frigate of a nation with whom the United States had no quarrel. A hail from the frigate told the American to come up into the wind, while a boat was sent aboard. Soon a long-boat filled with man-o'-war's men, and with a beardless young midshipman in the stern-sheets, came dancing over the water; and in a minute or two a lieutenant, the middy, and a few sailors clambered aboard the wondering merchantman. There was small ceremony about the proceedings then. "Muster your men aft," quoth the middy peremptorily; "and you'd better be quick about it, too." Perhaps the American captain protested, — they generally did, — and talked about the peace between the nations, and the protection of his flag ; but his talk was usually of little avail.

"Get those man aft, and be quick about it," orders the British officer. "You've got deserters from his Majesty's service in your crew; and I'll have them. Do you want me to send the boat back for the marines ? " The American crew came aft unwillingly, grumbling, and cursing his Majesty's service under their breath, and formed a line before the boarding officer. That worthy whispered a minute or two with the boatswain and sailors who came aboard with him, and then, pointing out one man, boldly claimed him as a British subject. American captains declared that the man so chosen was generally the most ship-shape sailor aboard ; and 1812. 13 indeed it seemed but natural that the English, in filling out their crew, should choose the best. Sometimes the American captain went on board the British ship, to protest against so summary a draft upon his crew.

In such a case he was usually received with courtesy by the commander, but never did he regain his kidnapped sailors. The commander trusted in every thing to his first lieutenant, who boarded the merchantman ; and that officer was thus made, in the words of an English journalist, "at once accuser, witness, judge, and captor." The men thus pressed were expected to serve with all the zeal and bravery of regularly enlisted sailors. The slightest sign of hesitation or unwillingness was met with blows. A pressed man who refused to serve was triced up, and lashed with the cat-o'-nine tails until his back was cut to ribbons, and the blood spurted at every blow. Few cared to endure such punishment twice. Yet the sailors taken from the American ships lost no opportunity for showing their desire to get out of the service into which they had been kidnapped.

Desertions from ships lying near the coast were of weekly occurrence, although recaptured deserters were hanged summarily at the yard-arm. Sailors who found no chance to desert made piteous appeals to the American consuls in the ports at which they stopped, or wrote letters to their friends at home, begging that something should be done to release them from their enforced service. It was not the severity of man-o'-war discipline that so troubled the poor fellows : many of them were old man-o'-vvar's men, and all would have been glad of berths in the United States navy ; but the sight of the red flag of Great Britain waving above their heads, and the thought that they were serving a nation with which their country had just fought a bloody war, were intolerable. One "pressed man," on a British ship lying in the West Indies, man aged to write the following letter to a newspaper editor in New York, and, after much planning, succeeded in mailing it.

Port Royal, Jamaica, June 30, 181 1. Mr. Snowden, — I hope you will be so good as to publish these few lines. I, Edwin Bouldin, was impressed out of the barque " Columbus " of Elizabeth City, 1812. 14 and was carried on board his Britannic Majesty's brig "Rhodian," in Montego Bay, commanded by Capt. Mowbary. He told me my protection was of no consequence, and he would have me whether or not. I was born in Baltimore, and served my time with Messrs. Smith & Buchanan. I hope my friends will do something for me to get my clearance ; for I do not like to serve any other country but my own, which I am willing to serve. I am now captain of the forecastle, and stationed captain of a gun in the waist. I am treated very ill, because I will not enter. They request of me to go on board my country's ships to list men, which I refused to do, and was threatened to be punished for it.

I remain a true citizen of the United States EDWIN BOULDIN. Pathetic, letters such as this appear often in the columns of the news papers published in the early part of this century, and are usually accom panied by petitions from the relatives and friends of the pressed man, begging that Congress take some action to secure American sailors from such outrages. But year after year the practice went on, and higher and higher grew the enmity between England and the United States. Among the sailors who suffered impressment at the hands of the British were many who afterward in the naval battles of the ensuing war won ample revenge from the nation that had so abused their liberties. Most prominent of all these men was David Porter, who, from the humble station of a cabin boy on his father's ship in 1796, rose in twenty years to be commodore in the United States navy.

The name of Porter is one famous in the naval annals of the United States ; and probably there never existed a family in which the love for the life of a fighting jack-tar was so strong as among these representative American sailors. David Porter, sen., and Samuel Porter served the American Colonies dashingly upon the sea in the Revolution. Of David Porter, jun., we shall have much to say in this volume. Of his children, the eldest, William D., rose to the post of commodore, United States navy, and died of wounds received in the civil war; Henry O. Porter was first lieutenant of the " Hatteras " when she sunk before the fire of the Confederate ship " Ala bama ; " Thomas Porter served in the Mexican navy ; Hambleton Porter 1812. 15 died of yellow-fever while a midshipman in the United States navy ; Lieut. Theodoric Porter, U.S.A., was the first officer killed in the Mexi can war; and Admiral David D. Porter, U.S.N., by virtue of his exploits on blue water and in the ditches and bayous back of Vicksburg during the civil war, now stands at the head of living naval officers.