History of the late war between the United States and Great Britain: comprising a minute account of the various military and naval operations ...

Front matter

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Preface

The work here presented to the public, after passing through five .arge editions, had been for years entirely out of circulation, when the Publishers, urged by its continued popularity, prevailed on the Author to prepare it for a sixth edition. This last impression having gone off with remarkable rapidity, the Publishers have now stereotyped the work, after again submitting it to the ordeal of a careful and scrutinizing revision.

As to the merit of the work, the reader must judge for himself. Its general accuracy has received the approbation of those most capable of judging. It has been translated into Italian, by a writer of eminence ; and also into French, by the celebrated M. Dalmas, who speaks in high terms of the energy of the style, and the clearness of the narrative.

The design of the work was not a history of the times, embracing the legislative, diplomatic and statistical subjects connected with the war. These are glanced at. But it was the intention of the Author to bring within one narrative, as far as it was practicable, all the campaigns, battles, skirmishes and incidents wliich may properly be considered as constituting the Events of the War.

It was difficult, if not impossible, to weave all these materials into one connected story, especially when we consider that the war was carried on simultaneously at so many points having no connection with each other. There was the war of the south, that of the northwest, that on the Niagara, that along the seabord at various points ; and there was the maritime contest, which was entirely distinct from that along the coast. On the Niagara frontier there was much hard fighting; but every campaign opened under a new general, and sometimes before its close that general was superseded. After the fall of general Pike, the war in that quarter was carried on without any settled plan ; and ended without accomplishing any one of its objects. It served, however, to afford opportunity to a number of officers to distinguish themselves for their military talents and intrepidity : among these, generals Brown, Scott, Jesup, Miller, Ripley, TowsoN are deservedly eminent. To the Northwest our military affairs were conducted on a systematic plan, and under a commander who was completely successful in what he undertook : in the South, the war was also confided to a single individual, who was found abundantly competent to the duties assigned him. Harrison and Jackson therefore are the only generals who can be said to have conducted entire plans of operation to a successful issue ; and their names are decidedly the most conspicuous in the History of the War.

Philadelphia, January 1839.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page

BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE —

COMMODORE HULL 47

BATTLE OF THE WASP AND FROLIC — COMMODORE

JONES 51

TAKING OF YORK, AND DEATH OF GENERAL PIKE . . 103

GALLANT DEFENCE OF FORT SANDUSKY, BY MAJOR

CROGHAN 150

BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE — COMMODORE PERRY 155

BATTLE OF THE THAMES, AND DEATH OF TECUM-

SEH— GENERAL HARRISON 161

COMMODORE PORTER, THE HERO OF THE PACIFIC —

Vignette 313

BATTLE OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH THE CYANE

AND LEVANT — COMMODORE STEWART 223

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT M'HENRY — MAJOR ARMI-

STEAD 271

BATTLES OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN, AND PLATTSBURGH — COMMODORE M'DONOUGH, AND GENERAL MA- COMB 279

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS — GENERAL JACKSON—

Frontispiece 294

Contents

Causes of the War wiln Great Britain. 13

Rule of 1756 14

Attack on the Chesapeake 19

Differences with France 21

French Decrees 21

CHAPTER I. Non-Intercourse 22

Indian Hostilities 23

Tecumseh 23

General Harrison 24

Battle of Tippecanoe 24

Honours paid to General Harrison 26

Embargo 22 War with Great Britain inevitable 27

Chapter II

Declaration of War by the U. States. .28

General Hull reaches Detroit 31

He crosses into Canada 32

Successful Skirmishes on the River Aux Canards 33

Taking of Michilimackinac 34

Battle of Brownstown 35

Battle of Magagua 36

Taking of Chicago 37

CHAPTER III. Naval Events 43 Cruise of the Argus 50

Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 43 The United States captures the Mace-

The President chases the Belvidera 44

Cruise of Captain Hull 44

The Constitution captures theGuerriere45 Commodore Porter captures the Alert. .49 Cruise of the President and Congress. .50 donian 51

The Wasp captures the Frolic 51

Exploits of American Privateers 53

Results of the Naval Warfare 54

Sensations excited in England 55

CHAPTER IV. Military Enthusiasm in the West 56

General Harrison takes command of the Northwestern Army 57

The Army advances under General Winchester 58

Expedition to the Rapids under General Tupper 59

Failure of the Expedition to the Rapids 60

Second Expedition to the Rapids under General Tupper 61

Foray under General Hopkins 62

Second Expedition under General

Hopkins 63

Defence of Fort Harrison 64

Expedition under Colonel Russell 65

Expedition under Colonel Campbell . ..65 Security of the Frontier established... 66

Chapter V

Troops on the Canada Frontier 66 Abortive attempt of General Smyth. .73

Capture of the Caledonia 67 Northern Army 75

Battle of Queenstown 68 Incursion of Forsythe— of Colonel Pike 76

Death of General Brock 70 War on the Lakes 77

British bombard Fort Niagara 72 First Cruise of Commodore Chauncey . .77

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. Meeting of Congress 78

Proposal of an Armistice 7D

Reverses of Napoleon 80

Measures for carrying on the War 81

Blockade of our Coasts 81

War with the Southern Indians 82

Tecumseh's Visit to the Creeks 83

War with the Seminoles 84

Third British Frigate taken— the Java. 86 Disasters of our Arms to the West ... .88

CHAPTER VII. General Harrison returns to Ohio 88

General Winchester sends a Detachment to the relief of Frenchtown. .89

Defeat of the British and Indians 90

Winchester arrives with Reinforcements 90

Defeat and Surrender of the Americans at the River Raisin 91

Cruelty of the British and Indians 92

Humanity of the People of Detroit 95

March of General Harrison 96

Siege of Fort Meigs 97

Defeat of Colonel Dudley 99

Sortie under Colonel Miller 99

Siege of Fort Meigs raised 100

Exploit of Major Ball 102

CHAPTER VIII. British Preparations in Canada 102

Incursion of Forsy the 103

Attack on Ogdensburgh 103

General Pike 104

Explosion of a Magazine 109

Death of General Pike 109

Taking of Forts George and Erie . . . .112

Battle of Stony Creek 116

Capture of Generals Chandler and

Winder 118

British attack Sackett's Harbour 120

Repulsed by General Brown 121

Resignation of General Dearborne . ..123

Town of Sodus attacked 123

Affair at Beaver Dams 123

Lieutenant Eldridge 124

Indians enter the American Service. .124

British attack Black Rock 124

Second Taking of York 125

British devastate the Borders of Lake

Champlain 125

Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on

Lake Ontario 126

CHAPTER IX. War on the Coast 127

British attack Lewistown 128

Gun-Boats attack some British Vessels of War 129

Exploits of Admiral Cockburn 129

Attack on Frenchtown 130

Plundering and Burning of Havre de

Grace 130

Plundering and Burning of Georgetown and Fredcricktown 132

Arrival of Admiral Warren and Sir Sydney Beckwith 132

Southern Cities threatened 133

Attack on Craney Island— gallantly

repulsed 133

Hampton assaulted and plundered. .. .135

Enormities committed there 135

Correspondence between General

Taylor and Sir Sydney Beckwith. 130 Cockburn plunders the Coast of North

Carolina 137

Blockade of the American Squadron at

New London by Commodore Hardy 138 Torpedo System 138

CHAPTER X. Naval Affairs 139

The Hornet captures the Peacock . . . .140 Humane and generous Conduct of Captain Lawrence, and the Crew of the Hornet 141

Captain Lawrence appointed to the Chesapeake 141

The Shannon challenges the Chesapeake 142

The Shannon captures the Chesapeake 143

CONTENTS.

Death of Captain Lawrence 143

The Pelican captures the Argus 145

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the

Soutli Seas 146

The Enterprize captures the Boxer. . .146 Cruise of Commodore Rodgers 147

Cruise of the Congress 147

Gallant Conduct of American Privateers— of the Comet — of the General Armstrong 147

The Privateer Decatur captures the Dominica 148

CHAPTER XI. Affairs of the West 149

Patriotic Enthusiasm of Ohio and

Kentucky 149

Governor Shelby 150

Character of the Kentuckians 150

Gallant Defence of Fort Sandusky by

Major Croghan 151

Humane Conduct of the Besieged 152

Tecumseh raises the Siege of Fort

Meigs 153

Naval Preparations on Lake Erie 153

Commodore Perry sails with his Fleet

in quest of the Enemy 153

Battle of Lake Erie 154

Gallant Behaviour of Perry 154

Capture of the Enemy's Squadron. .. .157

" We have met the Enemy, and they

are ours" 157

Northwestern Army reinforced 158

Capture of Maiden 158

Skirmish at Chatham 158

Battle of the Thames 159

Capture of the British Regulars 160

Colonel Johnson wounded 160

Death of Tecumseh 160

Character of Tecumseh 163

Escape of General Proctor 164

Public Testimonials of Respect to

General Harrison 164

Generous Treatment of the British

Prisoners— of the Savages 165

Interesting Correspondence 165

CHAPTER XII. Preparations for invading Canada 166

General Armstrong appointed Secretary of War 167

General Wilkinson appointed Commander-in-Chief 167

General Hampton takes command of

the Army of the North 168

Rendezvous of the American Forces

at Grenadier Island 168

General Wilkinson descends the St.

Lawrence 169

British harass the American Army. ..170

Battle of Chrystler's Field 172

General Hampton descends the Chateaugay River 174

Is attacked by the British, and retreats 174 His Inability or Unwillingness to co-operate with General Wilkinson. 175 Both American Armies go into Winter Quarters 175

Failure of the Canadian Expedition.. 175 Cruise of Commodore Chauncey on

Lake Ontario 176

He captures five British armed

Schooners 1 77

Burning of Newark by the Americans. 178

British Retaliation 178

Fort Niagara surprised 179

Destruction of Lewistown, Buffalo, and other places 179

CHAPTER XIII. Meeting of Congress 180

Violence of Party Spirit 180

Lukewarm Deportment of the New

England States 181

Measures for carrying on the War. . . .182

Recourse to Taxation 182

Adoption of means for recruiting the

Army 183

Interesting case of twenty-three

American Prisoners 183

Arrogance of the British Government. 184 Debates in Congress on the subject. ..184

Result of the Debates 185

Inquiry by Congress into the manner in which the War had been carried on by the Enemy 186

American Commissioners of Peace

sent to Gotten burg 187

The War gains ground in Public Opinion 187

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV. War with the Creek Indians 188

Massacre by the Creeks at Fort Mims.188 Expedition under Generals Jackson

and Cocke against Tallushatches.190

Battle of Talladega 190

General Cocke surprises the Indians

on the Tallapoosa River 191

General Floyd's Expedition against

the Autossee Towns 191

General Claiborne's Expedition af ' gainst the Towns of Eccanachaca . 191

General Jackson marches to the relief of Fort Armstrong 192

His Critical Situation, and Retreat. ..19a

Defeats an Indian Ambuscade 193

Indians attack General Floyd at

Camp Defiance, and are repulsed. 193 General Jackson gains the sanguinary Victory of Horse-Shoe-Bend . . .194 Terminates the War with the Creeks, and dictates Peace to them on Severe Terms 196

CHAPTER XV. Plans of Operations against Canada

proposed 197

General Brown marches to Sackett'a

Harbour 197

General Wilkinson retires to Platts-

burg 198

Attacks the British at La Colle, and

is repulsed 198

Suspended from the command 199

Discouraging difficulties in the Economy of the Army 199

Smuggling 200

Unsuccessful Attack by the British at

Otter Creek 200

British Fleet enters Lake Champlain.201 Lake Ontario— Contest for superiority 201

Gallant Defence of Oswego 202

British land at Pulteneyville 202

Blockade of Sackett's Harbour 202

Engagement at Sandy Creek and Capture of the British there 203

Death of Colonel Forsythe— of Captain Malloux, in a Skirmish 204

Colonel Campbell's Expedition a-

gainst Dover, Canada 204

Affairs to the Westward 205

Colonel Baubee taken Prisoner 205

Gallant Defence by Captain Holmes. .205

Serious Crisis in our Affairs 206

Napoleon overthrown 207

Great Britain directs her undivided

energies against the United States 208 Northern Sea Coast invaded by Commodore Hardy .208

Attack on Saybrook and Brockway's

Ferry 208

Engagement in Long Island Sound. . .209 Ravages at Wareham and Scituate. ..209

Attack on Booth Bay repelled 209

Occupation of all the Islands in Passamaquoddy Bay by the British. . .210

Gallant Defence of Stonington 210

Territory east of the Penobscot River claimed and occupied by the British 211

Destruction of the Frigate John Adams 211

CHAPTER XVI. Naval Events 212

The Plantagenet Seventy-Four declines a Contest with the President, Commodore Rodgers 212

Captain Stewart chases a British Frigate of equal force 212

Cruise of Commodore Porter in the Essex 213

He captures twelve armed British Whale Ships 213

Arrives at the Island of Nooaheevah.213

Takes possession of it in the name of the American Government. .. .213

His Difficulties with the Savages there 213

He burns their Villages 214

British Comments on his Conduct 214

Commodore Porter arrives at Valparaiso 215

Is attacked by the Phoebe and Cherub 216

His Desperate Resistance 217

Capture of the Essex and Essex Junior 218 The Peacock captures the British Brig

Epervier 219

The Wasp captures the Reindeer 220

The Wasp sinks the Avon 221

Mysterious Loss of the Wasp 221

CONTENTS.

Cruise of the Presiilcnt, the Peacock and the Hornet 221

The President captured by a British

Squadron 222

The Constitution engages and captures the Cyane and the Levant. .225

The Hornet, Captain Biddle, captures

the Penguin 226

Exploits of American Privateers 226

Capture of the American Privateer Armstrong, after a dreadful Carnage of the Enemy 227

CHAPTER XVII. Plan of Campaign on the Canada

Frontier 228

General Brown collects an Army at

Black Rock and Buffalo 229

Captures Fort Erie 229

Battle of Chippewa 230

Gallantry of Major Jesup 231

British retreat 232

American Army advances 232

Death of General Swift 233

Movement on Fort George 233

General Brown retreats to the Chippewa 233

Battle of Niagara 234

General Riall taken Prisoner 235

Colonel Jesup 236

Colonel Miller—" I will try, Sir" 236

British Cannon charged upon and

taken 237

Desperate Efforts of the British to regain their Cannon 238

Generals Scott and Brown wounded. .238

British recover their Cannon 240

Both Armies retire from the Field 240

British advance next Morning 241

Americans retreat to Fort Erie 241

Defences of Fort Erie enlarged and

extended 241

Siege of Fort Erie 242

Projected Attack on Buffalo repulsed. .242 General Gaines assumes the Command at Fort Erie 242

Assault on Fort Erie 243

Death of Colonel Drummond 244

Tremendous Explosion 245

The Besiegers driven back to their

Works 245

Renewal of the Cannonade 246

Sortie from Fort Erie 246

Destruction of the Enemy's Works. ..247 British raise the Siege, and retreat to

Fort George 248

Arrival of General Izard at Fort Erie. 248 Americans advance along the Niagara 249

Engagement at Lyon's Creek 249

Destruction of Fort Erie by the Americans 249

Evacuation of Upper Canada 249

Close of the Third Invasion of Canada 250

Important Results of the Campaign. .250

Affairs of the West 251

Unsuccessful Expedition against Mi-

chilimackinac 251

Capture of two American armed

Schooners 251

General M' Arthur's Expedition into Canada 251

CHAPTER XVIII. War on the Sea Coast 252

Engagements between the Enemy and Commodore Barney's Flotilla

in Chesapeake Bay 252

Pliinderings of the British 253

Washington and Baltimore threatened 253

Preparations for Defence 254

General Winder appointed to command the Troops to be assembled. .255 Impracticability of collecting a sufficient Force 255

The Enemy are reinforced 256

Landing of the British Army under General Ross 256

Advance of the British Army on

Washington 257

American Army takes post at Bla-

densburg '. 258

Battle of Bladensburg 259

Defeat of the Americans 260

Washington abandoned to the Enemy 261

British burn the Public Buildings 261

Retreat of the British to their shipping262

Plunder of Alexandria 262

Repulse of the British at Moors Fields,

and Death of Sir Peter Parker . . .263 Resignation of the Secretary of War. 263 Trial and acquittal of General Winder 264

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIX. Sensations produced by the Capture of Washington in Europe and in

England 264

EfFect of it in the United States 264

Preparations for defending Baltimore. 265 Admiral Cochrane appears at the

mouth of the Patapsco 266

Debarkation of the British Troops at

North Point 267

General Strieker marches from Baltimore to meet them 267

Battle of North Point 268

Death of General Ross 268

Retreat of the American Army 269

British Army appears before Baltimore 270

Bombardment of Fort M'Henry 271

Attack on Baltimore abandoned 272

British fleet retires to the West Indies. 272

Affairs on the Northern Frontier 273

Invasion of New York State by the

British under Sir George Prevost. .273 Progress of the British impeded by

General Macomb 274

British Array occupies Plattsburg opposite the American Works 275

Gallant Affair of Captain M'Glassin. .276 British and American Fleets on Lake

Champlain 276

Battle of Lake Champlain 277

Battle of Plattsburg 277

Defeat of the British Squadron, and

Capture of its principal Vessels. .278 Retreat of the British Army from the American Territory 278

CHAPTER XX. Unanimity of Sentiment in Congress. 282

Negotiations with Great Britain 282

British Sine Qua Non 283

Hartford Convention 284

Mr. Biddle's Report in the Legislature of Pennsylvania 284

Removal of the Seat of Government

from Washington agitated 284

Mr. Dallas appointed Secretary of the

Treasury 285

Improvement in our Finances 285

Affairs to the Southward 285

Attack on Fort Bowyer most gallantly repulsed 286

Inroad into Florida, and Capture of

Pensacola, by General Jackson. ..286 Invasion of Louisiana meditated by

the British 287

Preparations to resist the Invasion. ..288 Arrival of General Jackson at New

Orleans 289

His Presence inspires Confidence 289

British Fleet arrives off the Coast 289

Capture of the American Gun-Boats. .289 Martial Law proclaimed by General

Jackson 290

The Pirate Lafitte 290

British Forces land within seven

Miles of New Orleans 291

Battle of the 23d of December 291

Results of the Battle 292

General Jackson encamps, and fortifies himself 292

Affairs of the 28th of December, and

of the 1st of January 1815 293

Position of the American Troops 294

British prepare to storm the American Works on both sides of the

Mississippi 294

Memorable Battle of the 8th January. 294

Death of General Packenham 295

Defeat and Terrible Carnage of the British on the Left Bank of the

River 295

Americans driven from their In-

trenchments on the Right Bank . .295 Louisiana evacuated by the British. ..296 Unsuccessful Bombardment of Fort

St. Philip by the British 296

Depredations of Admiral Cockburn

along the Southern Coast 297

Peace with Great Britain 297

Terms of the Treaty of Peace 297

Conclusion 298

HISTORY OF THE WAR.