The Naval History of the United States. Volume 2

This volume offers a chronological account of American naval operations from the War of 1812 through mid‑19th century conflicts and peacetime duties. It narrates sea battles, single-ship actions, blockades, and flotilla and Great Lakes campaigns, including the Battle of Lake Champlain and coastal defenses, and documents privateering, prisoner experiences, and the capture and loss of individual vessels. Later chapters treat the navy's role in the Mexican War and postwar activities such as surveying, anti‑slave‑trade patrols, and relief and exploration efforts, combining tactical descriptions with operational context and episodic narratives of bravery and hardship.