Title: Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812. Volume 2
Author: A. T. Mahan
Release date: June 30, 2008 [eBook #25912]
Most recently updated: October 30, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Steven Gibbs, Jeannie Howse and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For a complete list, please see the end of this document.
Click on the images to see a larger version.
From a Copley Print copyright 1899 by
Curtis & Cameron, Publishers, Boston.
The ConstitutionToList
| CHAPTER IX The Winter of 1812-1813—Bainbridge's Squadron: Actions Between "Constitution" and "Java," "Hornet" and "Peacock"—Increasing Pressure on Atlantic Coast |
|
| Page | |
| Bainbridge's squadron sails | 1 |
| His plans for the cruise | 2 |
| The "Essex" fails to join | 3 |
| Proceedings of "Constitution" and "Hornet" | 3 |
| Action between "Constitution" and "Java" | 4 |
| The "Constitution" returns to the United States | 7 |
| Proceedings of the "Hornet" | 7 |
| Action between the "Hornet" and "Peacock" | 8 |
| The "Hornet" returns | 9 |
| The Chesapeake and Delaware blockaded | 9 |
| Subsequent extension of blockade to the whole coast south of Newport | 10 |
| Three periods into which the War of 1812 divides | 10 |
| Difficulty of American frigates in getting to sea | 11 |
| Difficulty of manning the navy | 12 |
| Cruise of the "Chesapeake" | 13 |
| Gradual suppression of American commerce | 14 |
| Increasing stringency of the commercial blockade | 15 |
| British occupation of Delaware and Chesapeake Bays | 16 |
| Diminution of the coasting trade, and increase of land carriage | 17 |
| Effects upon prices | 18 |
| Abandoned condition of the western Atlantic | 20 |
| Diminution in number of prizes taken by Americans | 20 |
| Estimate of relative captures by the two belligerents | 21 |
| Relative captures no indication of relative immunity | 23 |
| American deprivation makes for the prosperity of Halifax and Canada | 23 |
| The blockade the chief offensive maritime operation of Great Britain, in 1813 | 24 |
| No opposition longer possible to the American Navy | 25 |
| Strength of the British blockading divisions | 25 |
| Escape possible only by evasion | 25 |
| The brunt of the British naval operations falls upon the Chesapeake and Delaware | 26 |
| CHAPTER X Campaign of 1813 on the Lake Frontier, To the Battle of Lake Erie |
|
| The British naval service on the lakes under Warren's supervision | 28 |
| Sir James Yeo appointed to the local command | 29 |
| Appoints Captain Barclay to take charge of British vessels on Lake Erie | 29 |
| The Americans now superior on Ontario | 29 |
| Montreal the true American objective | 29 |
| Dearborn ordered to concentrate effort upon Lake Ontario | 30 |
| Chauncey's first plan, to capture Kingston | 30 |
| Dearborn and Chauncey ordered to proceed first against Kingston, then Toronto, then Niagara | 31 |
| Dearborn's objections | 32 |
| His reports obtain change of plan from the Government | 33 |
| Chauncey's new plan | 33 |
| The expedition leaves Sackett's Harbor | 36 |
| Capture of Toronto | 36 |
| Chauncey's anxiety for Sackett's Harbor | 37 |
| Capture of Fort George, and British retreat from Niagara | 38 |
| Effects of the American occupation of the Niagara peninsula | 40 |
| American naval vessels escape from Black Rock to Erie | 41 |
| British attack upon Sackett's Harbor | 42 |
| Premature firing of the naval yard and vessels | 45 |
| Consequent delay in Chauncey's preparations | 45 |
| Yeo takes the lake with his squadron | 46 |
| American reverse at Stony Creek | 46 |
| The army retreats upon Fort George | 47 |
| The British re-occupy the peninsula, except Fort George | 47 |
| Dearborn is relieved from command | 48 |
| Paralysis of the American forces at Niagara | 48 |
| Yeo in temporary control of Lake Ontario | 49 |
| Chauncey sails to contest control | 51 |
| Characteristics of the ensuing naval campaign | 52 |
| Predominant idea of Chauncey and Yeo | 52 |
| Relative powers of the two squadrons | 53 |
| Their encounter of August 10, 1813 | 56 |
| Chauncey's extreme caution | 59 |
| The engagement of September 11 | 60 |
| Expediency of a "general chase" under the conditions | 61 |
| CHAPTER XI The Campaign of 1813 on the Lakes and Northern Frontier—The Battle of Lake Erie |
|
| The American Navy on Lake Erie | 62 |
| Perry's eagerness for active operations | 63 |
| Coincidence of events on Lakes Erie and Ontario | 64 |
| Inferiority of Perry's crews in numbers and quality | 64 |
| Professional contrast between Chauncey and Perry | 65 |
| Personal difficulty. Perry applies to be detached | 66 |
| The Navy Department refuses | 67 |
| Position of the American army on the Maumee | 67 |
| Procter's attack upon Fort Meigs | 68 |
| Procter and Barclay plan attack on Erie | 69 |
| Re-enforcements of troops refused them | 69 |
| Barclay blockades Erie | 70 |
| Barclay visits Long Point | 71 |
| Perry's squadron crosses the bar at Erie | 72 |
| Procter attacks Fort Stephenson, and is repulsed | 73 |
| Barclay retires to Malden | 74 |
| Perry in control of the lake | 74 |
| Destitution of provisions in the British camp and fleet | 75 |
| Barclay goes out to fight | 76 |
| Composition and armament of the two squadrons | 76 |
| Controversy about the battle | 78 |
| Dispositions of the two commanders | 80 |
| Opening of the battle | 81 |
| Examination of the controversy between Perry and Elliott | 82 |
| Progress of the engagement | 88 |
| Second stage of the battle | 89 |
| The British surrender | 94 |
| Meritorious conduct of Captain Barclay | 94 |
| Question of credit on the American side | 95 |
| Comparison of the campaigns on Erie and on Ontario | 99 |
| Effect of the battle on the fate of the Northwest | 99 |
| Its bearing upon the peace negotiations of the following year | 100 |
| Influence of control of the water illustrated on the lakes | 101 |
| CHAPTER XII The Campaign of 1813 on the Lakes and Northern Frontier, After the Battle of Lake Erie |
|
| Perry's victory promptly followed up | 102 |
| General Harrison lands his army at Malden | 103 |
| Recovery of Detroit. Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813 | 103 |
| The Indians fall away from the British | 103 |
| Harrison's army transferred to Niagara | 104 |
| Perry detached from the lake service | 104 |
| Changed American plan of campaign on Ontario | 104 |
| General James Wilkinson replaces Dearborn | 104 |
| The Government designates Kingston as the objective | 105 |
| The embarkation begins at Niagara under cover of the navy | 106 |
| Yeo's squadron appears in the neighborhood | 106 |
| Encounter between the two squadrons, September 28, 1813 | 107 |
| Criticism of Chauncey's management | 108 |
| Wilkinson's troops reach Sackett's Harbor | 110 |
| The British re-enforce Kingston | 110 |
| New change of American plan. The army to be directed on Montreal | 111 |
| Intended junction with the troops from Lake Champlain, under General Hampton | 111 |
| Wilkinson's army assembled within the mouth of the St. Lawrence | 114 |
| It proceeds down the river | 114 |
| Pursuit by a British detachment | 114 |
| American reverse at Chrystler's Farm | 115 |
| Hampton fails to join Wilkinson, and returns to Plattsburg | 116 |
| The expedition abandoned. Wilkinson goes into winter quarters at French Mills | 116 |
| Chauncey returns to Sackett's Harbor from the St. Lawrence | 117 |
| Transports Harrison's division from Niagara to Sackett's Harbor | 117 |
| Fleets lay up for the winter | 117 |
| Disastrous close of the campaign upon the Niagara | 118 |
| Americans evacuate Fort George and the peninsula | 120 |
| They burn Newark | 120 |
| Act disavowed by the American Government | 120 |
| Sir Gordon Drummond in command in Upper Canada | 120 |
| The British, under General Riall, cross the Niagara and capture Fort Niagara | 121 |
| Lewiston, Youngstown, and Manchester burned in retaliation for Newark | 121 |
| Buffalo burned, and three naval vessels at Black Rock | 121 |
| General failure of the campaign about Lake Ontario | 122 |
| Discussion of the causes | 123 |
| CHAPTER XIII Seaboard Maritime Operations, 1813 |
|
| United States on the defensive on the seaboard | 126 |
| British reasons for partially relaxing severity of blockade | 127 |
| Reasons do not apply to armed vessels or coasting trade | 127 |
| American Navy powerless to protect commerce | 127 |
| To destroy that of the enemy its principal mission | 128 |
| Cruises of the "President" and "Congress" | 128 |
| Efficacy of the British convoy system | 130 |
| Its chief failure is near ports of arrival | 131 |
| This dictates the orders to Captain Lawrence | 131 |
| Importance of the service | 132 |
| Imperfect preparation of the "Chesapeake" | 132 |
| Efficiency of the "Shannon." Broke's professional merit | 133 |
| His challenge to Lawrence. Not received | 134 |
| The "Chesapeake" sails, purposely to fight | 135 |
| Account of the action | 136 |
| The "Chesapeake" captured | 140 |
| Analysis of the engagement | 141 |
| Decatur fails to get to sea with a squadron | 148 |
| Driven to take refuge in New London | 148 |
| Frigates confined there for the war | 149 |
| Particular anxiety of the British Government about American frigates | 150 |
| Expectations of the Admiralty and the country from Warren's fleet | 151 |
| Effects of the blockade of New London on local coasting | 152 |
| Evidence of the closeness of the whole blockade south of New London | 153 |
| Conditions at New York | 154 |
| British operations in the upper Chesapeake, 1813 | 156 |
| Conditions in Delaware Bay | 158 |
| American precautions in Chesapeake and Delaware | 159 |
| Circumspect conduct of the British vessels in the Chesapeake | 161 |
| Warren brings a detachment of troops from Bermuda | 162 |
| Rencounters in and near Hampton Roads | 163 |
| British attack upon Craney Island. Fails | 164 |
| Attack upon Hampton. Ineffective | 166 |
| Further movements of the British in the Chesapeake | 167 |
| Movement of licensed vessels in Chesapeake Bay during these operations | 170 |
| Consequent recommendation of President to prohibit all exports during the blockade | 173 |
| Rejected by Senate. Enforced in Chesapeake by executive order | 174 |
| Glaring necessity for such action | 175 |
| Embargo law passed in December, 1813 | 176 |
| Main British fleet quits the Chesapeake. Its failure in direct military operation | 177 |
| Efficacy of the blockade | 177 |
| Characteristics of the different sections of the United States, as affecting their suffering from blockade | 178 |
| Statistical evidences of its effects | 181 |
| Prices of great staples: flour and sugar | 184 |
| Dependence of Eastern and Southern States upon coasting, greater than that of Middle States | 186 |
| Captain Hull's reports on Eastern coasting | 187 |
| Action between the "Boxer" and "Enterprise" | 188 |
| Intermission of Eastern blockade during winter | 192 |
| Its resumption in increased vigor in 1814 | 192 |
| Undefended conditions of the American coast | 193 |
| Conditions of Southern coasting trade | 195 |
| British blockade severs the mutual intercourse of the different sections of the United States | 198 |
| Remarks of Representative Pearson, of North Carolina | 199 |
| Message of the Governor of Pennsylvania | 200 |
| Rigors of the blockade shown by figures | 201 |
| Momentary importance of the North Carolina coast | 203 |
| Advocacy of an internal navigation system | 204 |
| Evidence of privation in the rebound of prices and shipping movement after peace | 205 |
| Exposition of conditions, in a contemporary letter by a naval officer | 207 |
| The experiences of the War of 1812 now largely forgotten | 208 |
| Lessons to be deduced | 208 |
| Pressure upon the British Government exerted, even by the puny contemporary American Navy | 209 |
| Advantage of the American position | 211 |
| Opinions of Presidents Washington and Adams as to the international advantage of a navy | 212 |
| Policy of President Jefferson | 213 |
| CHAPTER XIV Maritime Operations External to the Waters of the United States, 1813-1814 |
|
| Commerce destruction the one offensive maritime resort left open to the United States | 215 |
| Respective objects of privateers and of naval vessels | 216 |
| The approaches to the British islands the most fruitful field for operations against commerce | 216 |
| Cruise of the "Argus" | 217 |
| Capture of the "Argus" by the "Pelican" | 217 |
| Significance of the cruise of the "Argus" | 219 |
| Great number of captures by American cruisers | 220 |
| Comparatively few American merchant ships captured at sea | 221 |
| Shows the large scale on which British commerce throve, and the disappearance of American shipping | 221 |
| Control of British Navy shown by American practice of destroying prizes | 222 |
| Successes of the privateers "Scourge" and "Rattlesnake" in the North Sea | 223 |
| The "Leo" and "Lion" off coast of Portugal | 224 |
| British army in southern France incommoded by cruisers off Cape Finisterre | 224 |
| American cruises based on French ports | 225 |
| The privateer "Yankee" on the gold-coast of Africa | 226 |
| Action between the American privateer "Globe" and two British packets, off Madeira | 227 |
| Captures in the same neighborhood by privateers "Governor Tompkins" and "America" | 228 |
| The West Indies as a field for warfare on commerce | 229 |
| Activity there of American cruisers | 230 |
| Stringency of the Convoy Act in the West Indies. Papers captured there by the "Constitution" | 230 |
| Indirect effects of the warfare on commerce | 231 |
| Cruise in the West Indies of the naval brigs "Rattlesnake" and "Enterprise" | 232 |
| Combat between the privateer "Decatur" and British war schooner "Dominica" | 233 |
| The "Comet" and the British ship "Hibernia" | 234 |
| The "Saucy Jack" and the British ship "Pelham" | 235 |
| The "Saucy Jack" with the bomb-ship "Volcano" and transport "Golden Fleece" | 236 |
| Remarkable seizure by the privateer "Kemp" | 237 |
| The cruises of the privateer "Chasseur" | 237 |
| Combat between the "Chasseur" and the British war schooner "St. Lawrence" | 238 |
| Contrasted motives of the ship of war and the privateer | 241 |
| Relative success of American naval vessels and privateers in the war upon commerce | 242 |
| Cruise of the frigate "Essex" | 244 |
| Arrival in Valparaiso of the "Essex," and of the British ships, "Phœbe" and "Cherub" | 247 |
| Action between the "Essex" and the "Phœbe" and "Cherub" | 249 |
| Cruise of the "Wasp" | 253 |
| Action between the "Reindeer" and "Wasp" | 254 |
| Action between the "Avon" and "Wasp" | 256 |
| Disappearance of the "Wasp" | 257 |
| Cruise of the "Peacock" | 258 |
| Action between "Epervier" and "Peacock" | 259 |
| Further cruise of the "Peacock" | 261 |
| Activity of American cruisers in British waters | 262 |
| Agitation in Great Britain | 263 |
| The effect produced due to the American people severally | 265 |
| Prostration of the Government in the United States, 1814 | 265 |
| Determination to accept peace without relinquishment of impressment by Great Britain | 266 |
| Development of privateering | 267 |
| Adaptation of vessels to the pursuit | 268 |
| Practical considerations determining vessels to be employed | 269 |
| Secretary of the Navy recommends squadrons of schooners for action against commerce | 270 |
| Debate in Congress | 271 |
| Recommendation adopted | 272 |
| CHAPTER XV The Niagara Campaign, and Events on the Great Lakes, in 1814 |
|
| British advantages of position on the Niagara line | 274 |
| Unusual mildness of winter 1813-1814 | 276 |
| Effect on operations | 276 |
| British project against the vessels in Put-in Bay | 277 |
| Difficulty of maintaining British garrison at Mackinac | 278 |
| American army abandons cantonments at French Mills | 278 |
| Part goes to Lake Champlain, part to Sackett's Harbor | 278 |
| American project against Kingston | 279 |
| General Brown's mistake as to the Government's purpose | 280 |
| Carries his army to the Niagara frontier | 281 |
| Chauncey's fears for Sackett's Harbor | 281 |
| Wilkinson's expedition to La Colle. Failure | 282 |
| Wilkinson superseded by General Izard | 283 |
| Yeo obtains momentary superiority on Ontario | 283 |
| Importance of Oswego | 284 |
| British capture Oswego, and destroy depots | 284 |
| Yeo blockades Sackett's Harbor | 285 |
| Difficulty of American situation on Ontario | 285 |
| British naval disaster in attempting to intercept convoy from Oswego to Sackett's Harbor | 286 |
| Yeo abandons blockade of Sackett's Harbor | 290 |
| American plan of operations on northern frontier | 291 |
| Brown crosses the Niagara. Surrender of Fort Erie | 294 |
| Advance towards Fort George | 294 |
| Battle of Chippewa | 295 |
| Brown advances to Queenston | 298 |
| Chauncey's failure to co-operate | 298 |
| Consequent anxiety of the Government | 299 |
| Decatur ordered to relieve Chauncey | 300 |
| Chauncey's defence of his conduct | 300 |
| Discussion of his argument | 301 |
| British advantage through his inaction | 304 |
| Leads to the battle of Lundy's Lane | 306 |
| Battle of Lundy's Lane | 309 |
| Value to Americans of the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane | 311 |
| Improvement in the militia through association with Brown's army | 312 |
| Brown unable longer to keep the field. Retires to Fort Erie | 314 |
| British assault upon Fort Erie. Disastrous repulse | 314 |
| British now embarrassed by Chauncey's blockade | 315 |
| American successful sortie from Fort Erie | 316 |
| Drummond abandons the siege, and retires to the Chippewa | 317 |
| Brown unable to follow him | 317 |
| Izard ordered from Lake Champlain to Brown's aid | 318 |
| His march | 320 |
| His corps arrives at the Niagara frontier | 321 |
| Strength of the British position on the Chippewa | 322 |
| Izard's hopelessness | 322 |
| Blows up Fort Erie and retires across the Niagara | 323 |
| Naval and military expedition against Mackinac | 324 |
| Unsuccessful, except in destroying British transports | 324 |
| British capture the American naval schooners "Tigress" and "Scorpion" | 325 |
| American schooners "Ohio" and "Somers" also captured, off Fort Erie | 327 |
| Loss of the "Caledonia" and "Ariel" | 327 |
| The Erie fleet lays up for the winter, after the British abandon the siege of Fort Erie | 328 |
| CHAPTER XVI Seaboard Operations in 1814. Washington, Baltimore, and Maine |
|
| Defensive character of the British northern campaign in 1814 | 329 |
| Increase of vigor in their seaboard operations | 330 |
| Warren relieved by Cochrane | 330 |
| Intentions of the British Government | 331 |
| Retaliation for American actions in Canada | 333 |
| Prevost's call upon Cochrane to retaliate | 334 |
| Cochrane's orders to his vessels | 334 |
| Attitude of British officers | 335 |
| Early operations in Chesapeake Bay, 1814 | 336 |
| Relations of Barney's flotilla to the British project against Washington | 337 |
| Assembling of the British combined forces in the Chesapeake | 340 |
| Condition of American preparations | 342 |
| British advance. Destruction of Barney's flotilla | 344 |
| Retreat of American forces | 345 |
| American position at Bladensburg | 346 |
| Battle of Bladensburg | 347 |
| Burning of Washington | 349 |
| Capture and ransom of Alexandria by British frigates | 350 |
| Failure of British attempt on Baltimore | 351 |
| British harrying of New England coast | 352 |
| Occupation of Castine, in Maine | 353 |
| Destruction of the American frigate "Adams" | 354 |
| CHAPTER XVII Lake Champlain and New Orleans |
|
| Arrival of large British re-enforcements in Canada | 355 |
| Objects of the British northern campaign of 1814 | 356 |
| Previous neglect of lake Champlain by both belligerents | 357 |
| Operations on the lake in 1813 | 358 |
| British attempt in spring of 1814 | 361 |
| Macdonough in control of lake, in summer of 1814 | 362 |
| British "Confiance" building to contest control | 362 |
| Instructions of British Government to Prevost | 362 |
| Prevost in August reports approaching readiness to move | 363 |
| Treasonable actions of American citizens about Lake Champlain | 364 |
| Izard, with four thousand troops, leaves Plattsburg for Sackett's Harbor | 365 |
| Consequent destitution of the Champlain frontier | 365 |
| British advance to Plattsburg | 366 |
| Relative positions of American squadron and land forces | 367 |
| Question of distance between squadron and land batteries | 368 |
| Opinions of Izard and Yeo as to the relations of the batteries to the squadron | 370 |
| Proper combination for Prevost | 371 |
| Backward state of "Confiance" upon Downie's taking command | 372 |
| Urgent letters of Prevost to Downie | 373 |
| Downie's expectations in attacking | 375 |
| Macdonough's dispositions | 376 |
| Downie's consequent plan of engagement | 377 |
| Naval battle of Lake Champlain | 377 |
| Decisive character of the American victory | 381 |
| Preoccupation of the British Government with European conditions | 382 |
| Episodical character of the New Orleans expedition | 382 |
| Negotiations of Admiral Cochrane for the co-operation of the Creek Indians | 383 |
| His measures for training them, and preparations for the expedition | 384 |
| Objects of the British ministry | 385 |
| Attack upon Fort Bowyer, Mobile Bay, by a British squadron | 386 |
| Previous occupation of West Florida to the Perdido, by the United States | 387 |
| Pensacola, remaining in Spanish hands, utilized by British | 387 |
| Seized by Jackson, and works destroyed | 388 |
| Arrival of British expedition in Mississippi Sound | 388 |
| Gunboat battle of Lake Borgne | 390 |
| British advance corps reaches the bank of the Mississippi | 391 |
| Night attack by American Navy and Jackson | 391 |
| Sir Edward Pakenham arrives from England | 392 |
| His preliminary movements | 392 |
| Particular danger of Jackson's position | 393 |
| Details of the final day of assault, January 8, 1815 | 394 |
| The British withdraw after repulse | 396 |
| Capture of Fort Bowyer, Mobile Bay | 397 |
| Final naval episodes | 397 |
| Sailing of the "President." She grounds on the New York bar | 398 |
| Overtaken, and is captured, by the British blockading division | 398 |
| The "Constitution" captures the "Cyane" and "Levant" | 404 |
| Capture of the British sloop "Penguin" by the "Hornet" | 407 |
| CHAPTER XVIII The Peace Negotiations |
|
| Early overtures towards peace by the United States | 409 |
| Castlereagh refuses to entertain the project of abandoning impressment | 410 |
| Russia, in 1812, suggests negotiations for peace under mediation of the Czar | 411 |
| United States accepts, but Great Britain refuses | 412 |
| Great Britain, through the Czar, offers a direct negotiation, 1813 | 412 |
| The United States accepts, and names five commissioners | 413 |
| The original instructions to the American Commission, 1813 | 413 |
| Reduced, 1814, through pressure of the war | 414 |
| Confident attitude of Great Britain at the opening of the negotiations | 415 |
| Hostile spirit in Great Britain towards the United States | 415 |
| The instructions to the British Commission | 416 |
| The demand on behalf of the Indians | 417 |
| Faulty presentation of it by the British Commission | 418 |
| British claim concerning the Great Lakes and boundaries | 419 |
| Discussion of these propositions | 419 |
| Reasons for British advocacy of the Indians | 421 |
| Final reduction of British demand for the Indians and acceptance by American Commission | 423 |
| Concern of British ministry for the opinion of Europe | 424 |
| News received of the capture of Washington | 424 |
| Sanguine anticipations based upon reports from Cochrane and Ross | 424 |
| The British Government suggests the uti possidetis as the basis of agreement | 425 |
| The American Commission refuse, and offer instead the status ante bellum | 426 |
| News arrives of the British defeat on Lake Champlain | 426 |
| The political instructions to the commanders of the New Orleans expedition, to be communicated for the satisfaction of the continental powers | 427 |
| Urgency of the European situation | 428 |
| Dangerous internal state of France | 428 |
| Consequent wish of the British ministry to withdraw Wellington from Paris | 429 |
| He is pressed to accept the American command | 429 |
| Wellington thus brought into the discussion of terms | 430 |
| He pronounces against the basis of uti possidetis | 431 |
| The British ministry accept his judgment | 431 |
| The status ante bellum accepted by Great Britain | 431 |
| Subsequent rapid conclusion of agreement | 432 |
| Terms of the Treaty | 432 |
| Signed by the commissioners, December 24, 1814 | 434 |
| Despatched to America by a British ship of war | 435 |
| Ratified by the United States, February 17, 1815 | 435 |
| Gallatin's opinion of the effect of the war upon the people of the United States | 436 |
| INDEX | 439 |