The Army and Navy of America; containing a view of the heroic adventures, battles ... and glorious achievements in the cause of freedom, from the period of the French and Indian wars to the close of the Florida war; ... enlivened by a variety of the most interesting anecdotes, etc

Front matter

PI TUK KRANC1SCG& (.ALLAN TACTIOH WITH NirŒ DF TAKliKTONS CAVAMtYliN SHHITOFiA TROOP OF FOUR IUJNDKKI) MRF. I""k Hi'M II i 'tl| • THE ARMY AND NAVY OF AMERICA: CONTAINING A VIEW OF THE HEROIC ADVENTURES, BATTLES, NAVAL ENGAGE- MENTS, REMARKABLE INCIDENTS, AND GLORIOUS ACHIEVE- MENTS IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, FROM THE PERIOD OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS TO THE CLOSE OF THE FLORIDA WAR ; INDEPENDENT OF AN ACCOUNT OF WARLIKE OPERATIONS ON LAND AND SEA; ENLIVENED BY A VARIETY OF THE MOST INTERESTING ANECDOTES; AUD SPLENDIDLY EMBELLISHED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. BY JACOB K. NEFF, M.D. "Concordia res parvæ cre§cunt, discordia maxima dilabuntur.** PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY J. H PEARSOL & CO. Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1845, by J. H. PEARSOL & CO. in the clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN, PHILADELPHIA. PRINTED BY J. H. FEARSOL, LANCASTER. (S)

Preface

. The work now presented to the public is one of a peculiar character, and the only one that gives the reader a good idea of the battles fought in our country, unless he searches for a description of them through prosy and ponderous volumes. Too much space has hitherto been devoted to legisla tive proceedings, and too little to the battles. Nor is this all. The various military operations are mixed together in inextricable confusion in our ordi nary histories, the same chapter often containing a number of battles. We have corrected this, and made a chapter of every battle, to set it forth clearly and distinctly, connecting only those extended operations, that were intended to aid each other. Part I Contains the nature of campaigns — the advance — the retreat — the encampment of armies — together with the plans of battles ; military maxims, from the great generals of every age and country, illustrated by their own battles ; with all the manœuvres of fleets, and war at sea.

This part prepares the reader to understand warlike operations on land and sea ; a kind of information, the want of which every reader of ordinary history must have felt. Such an arrangement has never been attempted before, and in this, especially, our work differs from all others ; we hope to the advantage of the reader. Part IL — Gives an account of the battles of the French and Indian wars, which were of the greatest importance to our fathers. It was a struggle between France and England as to which government should rule the American continent. To our fathers it was important, not only because it would decide whether they should be ruled by the French or English, Catholics or Protestants, but it even decided whether they should at all exist as a nation. This, independent of the interesting nature of many of these forest battles, will make this part of the work of infinitely greater importance than is generally imagined. Independent of all this, the heroes of our revolution were nearly all schooled in this war. Washington himself received his first lessons of in

PREFACE.

. war during this period, and terrible lessons they were indeed, which pre pared him for those great achievements which he performed at a subsequent period. Nor is this all the interest this war possesses. As taxation was the cause of the revolution, so this war was the cause of taxation. Part III. — Contains the battles of the revolution. Omitting all the more dull proceedings of Congress, and giving only the most important, so as to keep up the historical connection, we had ample space to make the descrip tion of all the battles very full. These are interspersed by poetical quota tions, from all the great authors of ancient and modern times. We culled these flowers from many a beautiful garden, to strew them into the rugged paths of war, and to give interest and variety to the work. This is a new plan ; and if the reader is willing to allow us to claim any merit for writing this work, we would ask it for the revolution.

The heroes of the revolution are set forth in a more conspicuous light than they have ever before appeared in, and the brilliant talents of Wash ington, often spoken of too lightly even by Americans, are made to appear, by giving a full account of those bold and mighty efforts, which were ultimately crowned with success. Part IV. — The late war, of which this part treats, is more distinguished for the numerous naval victories which the Americans gained over the most powerful nation that ever existed. These are all fully described, as well as the battles on land, fought during the same period. Severe and protracted indisposition rendered it necessary for us to avail ourselves more freely of the labours of others here than we should have done if in health ; but the selections were made with such care, and from such high and rare authorities, that we have no doubt that the reader will profit by this arrangement.

We make this general acknowledgment here, for this part of the work, to throw off the odium of plagiarism. Part V. — Gives a general account of the Florida war ; and, by sketches of battles, developes the general character of this Indian warfare. Part VI. — Closes the work by a general description of the calamities of war — giving examples from the wars of ancient and modem times ; showing, in the meantime, when war is just or tyrannical. A* V CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Military Maxims And Warlike Operations

Introductory Remarks. § I. Principle of Strength in an Army. II. Plan of Campaign — Definitions of Military Terms — Importance of Rapidity of Move ment — Operations of large Masses on a single Point. III. Adaptation of Means to Circumstances — Genius of Napoleon. IV. Offensive Operations. V. Con centration of separate Forces. VI. Modifications of original Plans. VII. Of supporting the Wings of an Army. VIII. Depots. IX. Various Lines of Ope rations. X. Configuration of the Theatre of War — Illustrations. XI. Of passive Defence. XII. Fortresses. XIII. Advances and Retreats. XIV. Attacks on both Extremities. XV. Spies. XVI. Order of Battle. XVII. Angles of Of fence and Defence. XVIII. Oblique Attack. XIX. Importance of constant Preparation. XX. Difficulties of Commander-in-Chief. XXI. Efficacy of Va lour and Discipline.

XXII. Operations when inferior in Force. XXIII. Of acting in detached Lines — Brilliant Success of Napoleon. XXIV. Of Flank Attacks. XXV. Importance of a single Line of Operations. XXVI. Of Dis tances between Marching Corps — Retreat of Moreau — Mountain Campaigns, XXVII. Of disappointing an Enemy's Wishes. XXVIII. Of the Importance of frequent Entrenchment — Success ofthe Duke of Berwick — Of Marshal Turenne. XXIX. Of Courage and Decision when surprised by a superior Force — Marshal Turenne and the Prince de Conde. XXX. Transition from Defensive to Offen sive — Napoleon's first Campaigns in Italy. XXXI. Of abandoning and chang ing Line of Operations — Examples of Frederick the Great and Marshal Turenne. XXXII. Operations with heavy Trains of Artillery, &c. XXXIII. Encamping in Position. XXXIV.

Conduct when menaced with being surrounded. CONTENTS. VI Proper Position of Cantonments. XXXVI. Dangers in crossing Bridges in Rear. XXXVII. Of employing separate Corps against a central Force— Battle of Hohenlinden. XXXVIII. Conduct when driven from first Position— Battle of Genola— Of Milesimo. XXXLX. Movements of a retreating Army. XL. Concentration of Forces on the Eve of Battle — Defeat of Jourdan. XLI. Duty of Commander previous to Battle. XLII. Of avoiding a Flank March before an Army in Position— Battle of Kolin— Of Rosbach. XLLTI. Of Prudence in View of Battle — Resumption of Offensive during Retreat — Defeat of the Austrians at Marengo— At Torgau— Battle of Ulm— Of Jena— Of Waterloo. XLIV. Of the Advanced Guard. XLV. Demosthenes and Phocion. XLVI. Disposition of Artillery. XLVII.

Conduct of Alexander the Great. XL VIII. Of Intervals between Corps — Defeat of the Prince of Lorraine by Frederick — Of throwing Forces into the Intervals of an Enemy's Line. XLIX. Qualifications of a Gene ral. L. Of Operations in the neighbourhood of a River. LI. Of the Passage of a River — Prince Eugene and the Duke of Savoy. LII. Of defending the Pas sage of a River. LIU. of Tetes du Pont. LIV. Of Encampments. LV. Of Sieges. LVI. Citadels. LVII. Of surrendering a Fortress. LVIII. Of Capitu lations. LIX. Obedience of Soldiers. LX. Union of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. LXI. Mingling of Infantry and Cavalry. LXII. Charges of Cavalry. LXIII. Duties of Cavalry. LXIV. Artillery. LXV. Batteries. LXVI. Treat ment of Prisoners. LXVII. Of Prisoners of War. LXVIIT. Qualifications of General-in-chief. LXIX. Of the Staff. LXX. Unanimity of Principle of great Warriors. LXXI. Battle of Waterloo Page 9—76

Chapter II

■WARLIKE OPERATIONS AT SEA. Of absolute and relative Force — Line of Battle — Modifications of naval Warfare — Pell-mell Actions — Various Manœuvres — Steam Vessels — Naval Tactics Ordinary Division of Fleets — Definitions of Terms — Five Orders of Sailing — Order of Battle — Order of Retreat — Order of Convoy — Method of Forming the various Orders of Sailing — To form Line of Battle — To manœuvre in Line of Battle — In Fifth Order — Of the Naval Square — To restore the Order of Battle on Shifts of the Wind — Circumstances to be considered in forming a Fleet for Action — Of the Weather-gage — Engagement between two Ships — Preparation Action — Repair — Engagement between two Fleets — To dispute the Weather gage — To force an Enemy to Action — To avoid coming to Action — To Double an Enemy — To avoid being Doubled — Of Chasing — Defects of usual Line of Battle — De Grenier's Method of Tactics — Clerk's Tactics — Of firing at Hull or Rigging— One Ship cannot be exposed to the Fire of many — Principles used in bringing Ships to Action — New Mode of Attack from Windward From Leeward Page 76—137 CONTENTS. VII

Part II. French And Indian War

Page Chapter I. — Introduction — Cause of the War — Washington's Mission 138 II. — Washington's first Campaign — Bravery of Provincials 145 III. — Expedition against Fort Du Quesne — Braddock's Defeat .... 148 IV. — Formal Declaration of War — Plan of Campaign 160 V. — Expedition against Louisbourg — Siege of Fort William Henry. 161 VI. — Siege of Louisbourg — Frontignac and Fort Du Quesne taken. 165 VII.— Defeat of Montcalm— Death of Wolfe— End of the War 175

Part III. The Revolution

Chapter I — Cause of the Revolution — Stamp Act — Boston Tea Party. . . 195 II. — Pitt's Peace Bill — Battle of Lexington — Boston blockaded. . . 223 III. — Preparations — Ticonderoga, Crown Point, &c, taken 230 IV. — Investment of Boston continued — Battle of Breed's Hill 235 V. — Meeting of Continental Congress — Washington in command. 253 VI. — Americans fortify Dorchester Heights — Boston evacuated. . . . 272 VII. — Siege of Charleston — Declaration of Independence 278 VIII — Battle of Long Island — Defeat of American Troops 299 IX. — Capture of General Lee — Defeat of British at Trenton 318 X. — Expedition against Danbury — Death of Wooster 328 XI. — Arrival of Lafayette — Battle of Brandywine 330 XII. — Philadelphia taken — Battle of Germantown 346 XIII. — Battle of Bennington — Of Saratoga — Surrender of Burgoyne. 354 XIV. — Attack on Forts Mifflin and Mercer — Death of Count Donop. 404 XV. — British evacuate Philadelphia — Battle at Freehold 409 XVI. — Arrival of Count D'Estaing — Attack on Newport 415 XVII Shocking Barbarity of the Indians — Massacre of Wyoming. . 460 XVIII. — Campaign in the South — Savannah taken 427 XIX Piratical Warfare of the British — Putnam's Escape 429 XX. — Storming of Stony Point 431 XXI. — Operations against the Indians 434 XXII. — Expedition against Charleston — Capitulation 434 XXIII.— Battle of Camden— Return of Lafayette 447 XXIV Treason of Arnold — Execution of Andre 451 XXV. — Operations in the South — Battle of the Cowpens 456 XXVI. — Battle of Camden— Battle of Eutaw Springs 458 XXVII Siege of Yorktown— Surrender of Cornwallis CONTENTS,

Part IV. The Late War

*■ — ■ ■— Page Chapter I. — Declaration of War against England — Battle of Tippecanoe . . 490 II General Hull's disgraceful Surrender 498 III Engagement between the Constitution and Guerriere 499 IV. — Invasion of Canada — Achievements of Col. Van Rensselaer. . . 502 V. — Capture of the Wasp by the Frolic 504 VI. — The United States and Macedonian 509 VII. — The Constitution and Java 524 VIII. — Bloody Action at the River Raisin 526 IX. — The Hornet and Peacock — Generosity of Americans 528 X. — Americans attack York — Death of General Pike 529 XI. — Loss of the Chesapeake— Death of Lawrence 530 XII. — Capture of the United States Sloop Argus 537 XIII Boxer captured by the Enterprise — Cruise of the President ... 537 XIV. — Perry's Victory on Lake Erie 539 XV. — Maiden taken — Battle of the Thames — Death of Tecumseh. . 564 XVI. — Harrison resigns — Invasion of Canada — Battle of Chippewa. . 571 XVII Cruise of the Essex — Captured by a superior Force 587 XVIII. — Capture of the Epervier by the Peacock 589 XIX — Burning of the Capitol at Washington by Ross 589 XX. — Attack on Baltimore by Ross — Enemy repulsed 591 XXI — Macdonough's Victory on Lake Champlain 592 . XXII. — Battle of New Orleans — Treaty of Peace 595

Part VI. The Calamities Of War

ReBections on the Calamities of War— Beautiful Extract from Channing.. . CM