UNTIL 1815 nothing in the future of the American Union was regarded as
settled. As late as January, 1815, division into several nationalities
was still thought to be possible. Such a destiny, repeating the usual
experience of history, was not necessarily more unfortunate than the
career of a single nationality wholly American; for if the effects
of divided nationality were certain to be unhappy, those of a single
society with equal certainty defied experience or sound speculation.
One uniform and harmonious system appealed to the imagination as a
triumph of human progress, offering prospects of peace and ease,
contentment and philanthropy, such as the world had not seen; but it
invited dangers, formidable because unusual or altogether unknown.
The corruption of such a system might prove to be proportionate with
its dimensions, and uniformity might lead to evils as serious as were
commonly ascribed to diversity.
The laws of human progress were matter not for dogmatic faith, but for
study; and although society instinctively regarded small States, with
their clashing interests and incessant wars, as the chief obstacle
to improvement, such progress as the world knew had been coupled
with those drawbacks. The few examples offered by history of great
political societies, relieved from external competition or rivalry,
were not commonly thought encouraging. War had been the severest test
of political and social character, laying bare whatever was feeble, and
calling out whatever was strong; and the effect of removing such a test
was an untried problem.
In 1815 for the first time Americans ceased to doubt the path they were
to follow. Not only was the unity of their nation established, but
its probable divergence from older societies was also well defined.
Already in 1817 the difference between Europe and America was decided.
In politics the distinction was more evident than in social, religious,
literary, or scientific directions; and the result was singular.
For a time the aggressions of England and France forced the United
States into a path that seemed to lead toward European methods of
government; but the popular resistance, or inertia, was so great that
the most popular party leaders failed to overcome it, and no sooner did
foreign dangers disappear than the system began to revert to American
practices; the national government tried to lay aside its assumed
powers. When Madison vetoed the bill for internal improvements he could
have had no other motive than that of restoring to the government, as
far as possible, its original American character.
The result was not easy to understand in theory or to make efficient
in practice; but while the drift of public opinion, and still
more of practical necessity, drew the government slowly toward the
European standard of true political sovereignty, nothing showed that
the compromise, which must probably serve the public purpose, was to
be European in form or feeling. As far as politics supplied a test,
the national character had already diverged from any foreign type.
Opinions might differ whether the political movement was progressive or
retrograde, but in any case the American, in his political character,
was a new variety of man.
The social movement was also decided. The war gave a severe shock
to the Anglican sympathies of society, and peace seemed to widen
the breach between European and American tastes. Interest in Europe
languished after Napoleon’s overthrow. France ceased to affect
American opinion. England became an object of less alarm. Peace
produced in the United States a social and economical revolution
which greatly curtailed the influence of New England, and with it the
social authority of Great Britain. The invention of the steamboat
counterbalanced ocean commerce. The South and West gave to society a
character more aggressively American than had been known before. That
Europe, within certain limits, might tend toward American ideas was
possible, but that America should under any circumstances follow the
experiences of European development might thenceforward be reckoned as
improbable. American character was formed, if not fixed.
The scientific interest of American history centred in national
character, and in the workings of a society destined to become vast,
in which individuals were important chiefly as types. Although this
kind of interest was different from that of European history, it was
at least as important to the world. Should history ever become a true
science, it must expect to establish its laws, not from the complicated
story of rival European nationalities, but from the economical
evolution of a great democracy. North America was the most favorable
field on the globe for the spread of a society so large, uniform,
and isolated as to answer the purposes of science. There a single
homogeneous society could easily attain proportions of three or four
hundred million persons, under conditions of undisturbed growth.
In Europe or Asia, except perhaps in China, undisturbed social
evolution had been unknown. Without disturbance, evolution seemed to
cease. Wherever disturbance occurred, permanence was impossible. Every
people in turn adapted itself to the law of necessity. Such a system as
that of the United States could hardly have existed for half a century
in Europe except under the protection of another power. In the fierce
struggle characteristic of European society, systems were permanent in
nothing except in the general law, that, whatever other character they
might possess they must always be chiefly military.
The want of permanence was not the only or the most confusing obstacle
to the treatment of European history as a science. The intensity of
the struggle gave prominence to the individual, until the hero seemed
all, society nothing; and what was worse for science, the men were far
more interesting than the societies. In the dramatic view of history,
the hero deserved more to be studied than the community to which he
belonged; in truth, he was the society, which existed only to produce
him and to perish with him. Against such a view historians were among
the last to protest, and protested but faintly when they did so at all.
They felt as strongly as their audiences that the highest achievements
were alone worth remembering either in history or in art, and that a
reiteration of commonplaces was commonplace. With all the advantages
of European movement and color, few historians succeeded in enlivening
or dignifying the lack of motive, intelligence, and morality, the
helplessness characteristic of many long periods in the face of
crushing problems, and the futility of human efforts to escape from
difficulties religious, political, and social. In a period extending
over four or five thousand years, more or less capable of historical
treatment, historians were content to illustrate here and there the
most dramatic moments of the most striking communities. The hero was
their favorite. War was the chief field of heroic action, and even the
history of England was chiefly the story of war.
The history of the United States promised to be free from such
disturbances. War counted for little, the hero for less; on the
people alone the eye could permanently rest. The steady growth of
a vast population without the social distinctions that confused
other histories,--without kings, nobles, or armies; without church,
traditions, and prejudices,--seemed a subject for the man of science
rather than for dramatists or poets. To scientific treatment only one
great obstacle existed. Americans, like Europeans, were not disposed
to make of their history a mechanical evolution. They felt that they
even more than other nations needed the heroic element, because they
breathed an atmosphere of peace and industry where heroism could seldom
be displayed; and in unconscious protest against their own social
conditions they adorned with imaginary qualities scores of supposed
leaders, whose only merit was their faculty of reflecting a popular
trait. Instinctively they clung to ancient history as though conscious
that of all misfortunes that could befall the national character,
the greatest would be the loss of the established ideals which alone
ennobled human weakness. Without heroes, the national character of the
United States had few charms of imagination even to Americans.
Historians and readers maintained Old-World standards. No historian
cared to hasten the coming of an epoch when man should study his own
history in the same spirit and by the same methods with which he
studied the formation of a crystal. Yet history had its scientific as
well as its human side, and in American history the scientific interest
was greater than the human. Elsewhere the student could study under
better conditions the evolution of the individual, but nowhere could he
study so well the evolution of a race. The interest of such a subject
exceeded that of any other branch of science, for it brought mankind
within sight of its own end.
Travellers in Switzerland who stepped across the Rhine where it flowed
from its glacier could follow its course among mediæval towns and
feudal ruins, until it became a highway for modern industry, and at
last arrived at a permanent equilibrium in the ocean. American history
followed the same course. With prehistoric glaciers and mediæval
feudalism the story had little to do; but from the moment it came
within sight of the ocean it acquired interest almost painful. A child
could find his way in a river-valley, and a hoy could float on the
waters of Holland; but science alone could sound the depths of the
ocean, measure its currents, foretell its storms, or fix its relations
to the system of Nature. In a democratic ocean science could see
something ultimate. Man could go no further. The atom might move, but
the general equilibrium could not change.
Whether the scientific or the heroic view were taken, in either case
the starting-point was the same, and the chief object of interest was
to define national character. Whether the figures of history were
treated as heroes or as types, they must be taken to represent the
people. American types were especially worth study if they were to
represent the greatest democratic evolution the world could know.
Readers might judge for themselves what share the individual possessed
in creating or shaping the nation; but whether it was small or great,
the nation could be understood only by studying the individual. For
that reason, in the story of Jefferson and Madison individuals retained
their old interest as types of character, if not as sources of power.
In the American character antipathy to war ranked first among political
traits. The majority of Americans regarded war in a peculiar light,
the consequence of comparative security. No European nation could have
conducted a war, as the people of America conducted the War of 1812.
The possibility of doing so without destruction explained the existence
of the national trait, and assured its continuance. In politics, the
divergence of America from Europe perpetuated itself in the popular
instinct for peaceable methods. The Union took shape originally on the
general lines that divided the civil from the military elements of the
British constitution. The party of Jefferson and Gallatin was founded
on dislike of every function of government necessary in a military
system. Although Jefferson carried his pacific theories to an extreme,
and brought about a military reaction, the reactionary movement was
neither universal, violent, nor lasting; and society showed no sign
of changing its convictions. With greater strength the country might
acquire greater familiarity with warlike methods, but in the same
degree was less likely to suffer any general change of habits. Nothing
but prolonged intestine contests could convert the population of an
entire continent into a race of warriors.
A people whose chief trait was antipathy to war, and to any system
organized with military energy, could scarcely develop great results in
national administration; yet the Americans prided themselves chiefly on
their political capacity. Even the war did not undeceive them, although
the incapacity brought into evidence by the war was undisputed, and
was most remarkable among the communities which believed themselves to
be most gifted with political sagacity. Virginia and Massachusetts by
turns admitted failure in dealing with issues so simple that the newest
societies, like Tennessee and Ohio, understood them by instinct. That
incapacity in national politics should appear as a leading trait in
American character was unexpected by Americans, but might naturally
result from their conditions. The better test of American character was
not political but social, and was to be found not in the government but
in the people.
The sixteen years of Jefferson’s and Madison’s rule furnished
international tests of popular intelligence upon which Americans
could depend. The ocean was the only open field for competition among
nations. Americans enjoyed there no natural or artificial advantages
over Englishmen, Frenchmen, or Spaniards; indeed, all these countries
possessed navies, resources, and experience greater than were to be
found in the United States. Yet the Americans developed, in the course
of twenty years, a surprising degree of skill in naval affairs. The
evidence of their success was to be found nowhere so complete as in
the avowals of Englishmen who knew best the history of naval progress.
The American invention of the fast-sailing schooner or clipper was the
more remarkable because, of all American inventions, this alone sprang
from direct competition with Europe. During ten centuries of struggle
the nations of Europe had labored to obtain superiority over each other
in ship-construction, yet Americans instantly made improvements which
gave them superiority, and which Europeans were unable immediately to
imitate even after seeing them. Not only were American vessels better
in model, faster in sailing, easier and quicker in handling, and more
economical in working than the European, but they were also better
equipped. The English complained as a grievance that the Americans
adopted new and unwarranted devices in naval warfare; that their
vessels were heavier and better constructed, and their missiles of
unusual shape and improper use. The Americans resorted to expedients
that had not been tried before, and excited a mixture of irritation
and respect in the English service, until Yankee smartness became a
national misdemeanor.
The English admitted themselves to be slow to change their habits,
but the French were both quick and scientific; yet Americans did on
the ocean what the French, under stronger inducements, failed to do.
The French privateer preyed upon British commerce for twenty years
without seriously injuring it; but no sooner did the American privateer
sail from French ports, than the rates of insurance doubled in London,
and an outcry for protection arose among English shippers which the
Admiralty could not calm. The British newspapers were filled with
assertions that the American cruiser was the superior of any vessel of
its class, and threatened to overthrow England’s supremacy on the ocean.
Another test of relative intelligence was furnished by the battles
at sea. Instantly after the loss of the “Guerriere” the English
discovered and complained that American gunnery was superior to their
own. They explained their inferiority by the length of time that had
elapsed since their navy had found on the ocean an enemy to fight.
Every vestige of hostile fleets had been swept away, until, after
the battle of Trafalgar, British frigates ceased practice with their
guns. Doubtless the British navy had become somewhat careless in the
absence of a dangerous enemy, but Englishmen were themselves aware
that some other cause must have affected their losses. Nothing showed
that Nelson’s line-of-battle ships, frigates, or sloops were as a
rule better fought than the “Macedonian” and “Java,” the “Avon” and
“Reindeer.” Sir Howard Douglas, the chief authority on the subject,
attempted in vain to explain British reverses by the deterioration of
British gunnery. His analysis showed only that American gunnery was
extraordinarily good. Of all vessels, the sloop-of-war,--on account
of its smallness, its quick motion, and its more accurate armament
of thirty-two-pound carronades,--offered the best test of relative
gunnery, and Sir Howard Douglas in commenting upon the destruction of
the “Peacock” and “Avon” could only say,--
“In these two actions it is clear that the fire of the British
vessels was thrown too high, and that the ordnance of their
opponents were expressly and carefully aimed at and took effect
chiefly in the hull.”
The battle of the “Hornet” and “Penguin” as well as those of the
“Reindeer” and “Avon,” showed that the excellence of American gunnery
continued till the close of the war. Whether at point-blank range or at
long-distance practice, the Americans used guns as they had never been
used at sea before.
None of the reports of former British victories showed that the
British fire had been more destructive at any previous time than in
1812, and no report of any commander since the British navy existed
showed so much damage inflicted on an opponent in so short a time as
was proved to have been inflicted on themselves by the reports of
British commanders in the American war. The strongest proof of American
superiority was given by the best British officers, like Broke, who
strained every nerve to maintain an equality with American gunnery.
So instantaneous and energetic was the effort that, according to the
British historian of the war, “a British forty-six-gun frigate of 1813
was half as effective again as a British forty-six-gun frigate of
1812;” and, as he justly said, “the slaughtered crews and the shattered
hulks” of the captured British ships proved that no want of their old
fighting qualities accounted for their repeated and almost habitual
mortifications.[165]
Unwilling as the English were to admit the superior skill of Americans
on the ocean, they did not hesitate to admit it, in certain respects,
on land. The American rifle in American hands was affirmed to have no
equal in the world. This admission could scarcely be withheld after the
lists of killed and wounded which followed almost every battle; but the
admission served to check a wider inquiry. In truth, the rifle played
but a small part in the war. Winchester’s men at the river Raisin may
have owed their over-confidence, as the British Forty-first owed its
losses, to that weapon, and at New Orleans five or six hundred of
Coffee’s men, who were out of range, were armed with the rifle; but the
surprising losses of the British were commonly due to artillery and
musketry fire. At New Orleans the artillery was chiefly engaged. The
artillery battle of January 1, according to British accounts, amply
proved the superiority of American gunnery on that occasion, which was
probably the fairest test during the war. The battle of January 8 was
also chiefly an artillery battle; the main British column never arrived
within fair musket range; Pakenham was killed by a grape-shot, and the
main column of his troops halted more than one hundred yards from the
parapet.
The best test of British and American military qualities, both for
men and weapons, was Scott’s battle of Chippawa. Nothing intervened
to throw a doubt over the fairness of the trial. Two parallel lines
of regular soldiers, practically equal in numbers, armed with similar
weapons, moved in close order toward each other, across a wide open
plain, without cover or advantage of position, stopping at intervals
to load and fire, until one line broke and retired. At the same time
two three-gun batteries, the British being the heavier, maintained
a steady fire from positions opposite each other. According to the
reports, the two infantry lines in the centre never came nearer than
eighty yards. Major-General Riall reported that then, owing to severe
losses, his troops broke and could not be rallied. Comparison of the
official reports showed that the British lost in killed and wounded
four hundred and sixty-nine men; the Americans, two hundred and
ninety-six. Some doubts always affect the returns of wounded, because
the severity of the wound cannot be known; but dead men tell their
own tale. Riall reported one hundred and forty-eight killed; Scott
reported sixty-one. The severity of the losses showed that the battle
was sharply contested, and proved the personal bravery of both armies.
Marksmanship decided the result, and the returns proved that the
American fire was superior to that of the British in the proportion of
more than fifty per cent if estimated by the entire loss, and of two
hundred and forty-two to one hundred if estimated by the deaths alone.
The conclusion seemed incredible, but it was supported by the results
of the naval battles. The Americans showed superiority amounting in
some cases to twice the efficiency of their enemies in the use of
weapons. The best French critic of the naval war, Jurien de la Gravière
said: “An enormous superiority in the rapidity and precision of their
fire can alone explain the difference in the losses sustained by the
combatants.”[166] So far from denying this conclusion the British
press constantly alleged it, and the British officers complained of
it. The discovery caused great surprise, and in both British services
much attention was at once directed to improvement in artillery and
musketry. Nothing could exceed the frankness with which Englishmen
avowed their inferiority. According to Sir Francis Head, “gunnery was
in naval warfare in the extraordinary state of ignorance we have just
described, when our lean children, the American people, taught us, rod
in hand, our first lesson in the art.” The English textbook on Naval
Gunnery, written by Major-General Sir Howard Douglas immediately after
the peace, devoted more attention to the short American war than to
all the battles of Napoleon, and began by admitting that Great Britain
had “entered with too great confidence on war with a marine much
more expert than that of any of our European enemies.” The admission
appeared “objectionable” even to the author;[167] but he did not add,
what was equally true, that it applied as well to the land as to the
sea service.
No one questioned the bravery of the British forces, or the ease with
which they often routed larger bodies of militia; but the losses
they inflicted were rarely as great as those they suffered. Even at
Bladensburg, where they met little resistance, their loss was several
times greater than that of the Americans. At Plattsburg, where the
intelligence and quickness of Macdonough and his men alone won the
victory, his ships were in effect stationary batteries, and enjoyed
the same superiority in gunnery. “The ‘Saratoga,’” said his official
report, “had fifty-five round-shot in her hull; the ‘Confiance,’ one
hundred and five. The enemy’s shot passed principally just over our
heads, as there were not twenty whole hammocks in the nettings at the
close of the action.”
The greater skill of the Americans was not due to special training, for
the British service was better trained in gunnery, as in everything
else, than the motley armies and fleets that fought at New Orleans and
on the Lakes. Critics constantly said that every American had learned
from his childhood the use of the rifle, but he certainly had not
learned to use cannon in shooting birds or hunting deer, and he know
less than the Englishman about the handling of artillery and muskets.
As if to add unnecessary evidence, the battle of Chrystler’s Farm
proved only too well that this American efficiency was not confined to
citizens of the United States.
Another significant result of the war was the sudden development
of scientific engineering in the United States. This branch of the
military service owed its efficiency and almost its existence to the
military school at West Point, established in 1802. The school was at
first much neglected by government. The number of graduates before the
year 1812 was very small; but at the outbreak of the war the corps of
engineers was already efficient. Its chief was Colonel Joseph Gardner
Swift, of Massachusetts, the first graduate of the academy: Colonel
Swift planned the defences of New York harbor. The lieutenant-colonel
in 1812 was Walker Keith Armistead, of Virginia,--the third graduate,
who planned the defences of Norfolk. Major William McRee, of North
Carolina, became chief engineer to General Brown, and constructed the
fortifications at Fort Erie, which cost the British General Gordon
Drummond the loss of half his army, besides the mortification of
defeat. Captain Eleazer Derby Wood, of New York, constructed Fort
Meigs, which enabled Harrison to defeat the attack of Proctor in May,
1813. Captain Joseph Gilbert Totten, of New York, was chief engineer
to General Izard at Plattsburg, where he directed the fortifications
that stopped the advance of Prevost’s great army. None of the works
constructed by a graduate of West Point was captured by the enemy; and
had an engineer been employed at Washington by Armstrong and Winder,
the city would have been easily saved.
Perhaps without exaggeration the West Point Academy might be said to
have decided, next to the navy, the result of the war. The works at
New Orleans were simple in character, and as far as they were due to
engineering skill were directed by Major Latour, a Frenchman; but the
war was already ended when the battle of New Orleans was fought. During
the critical campaign of 1814, the West Point engineers doubled the
capacity of the little American army for resistance, and introduced a
new and scientific character into American life.
In the application of science the steamboat was the most striking
success; but Fulton’s invention, however useful, was neither the
most original nor the most ingenious of American efforts, nor did it
offer the best example of popular characteristics. Perhaps Fulton’s
torpedo and Stevens’s screw-propeller showed more originality than
was proved by the “Clermont.” The fast-sailing schooner with its
pivot-gun--an invention that grew out of the common stock of nautical
intelligence--best illustrated the character of the people.
That the individual should rise to a higher order either of
intelligence or morality than had existed in former ages was not to be
expected, for the United States offered less field for the development
of individuality than had been offered by older and smaller societies.
The chief function of the American Union was to raise the average
standard of popular intelligence and well-being, and at the close of
the War of 1812 the superior average intelligence of Americans was so
far admitted that Yankee acuteness, or smartness, became a national
reproach; but much doubt remained whether the intelligence belonged
to a high order, or proved a high morality. From the earliest ages,
shrewdness was associated with unscrupulousness; and Americans were
freely charged with wanting honesty. The charge could neither be
proved nor disproved. American morality was such as suited a people so
endowed, and was high when compared with the morality of many older
societies; but, like American intelligence, it discouraged excess.
Probably the political morality shown by the government and by public
men during the first sixteen years of the century offered a fair gauge
of social morality. Like the character of the popular inventions,
the character of the morals corresponded to the wants of a growing
democratic society; but time alone could decide whether it would result
in a high or a low national ideal.
Finer analysis showed other signs of divergence from ordinary
standards. If Englishmen took pride in one trait more than in another,
it was in the steady uniformity of their progress. The innovating and
revolutionary quality of the French mind irritated them. America showed
an un-English rapidity in movement. In politics, the American people
between 1787 and 1817 accepted greater changes than had been known
in England since 1688. In religion, the Unitarian movement of Boston
and Harvard College would never have been possible in England, where
the defection of Oxford or Cambridge, and the best educated society
in the United Kingdom, would have shaken Church and State to their
foundations. In literature the American school was chiefly remarkable
for the rapidity with which it matured. The first book of Irving was a
successful burlesque of his own ancestral history; the first poem of
Bryant sang of the earth only as a universal tomb; the first preaching
of Channing assumed to overthrow the Trinity; and the first paintings
of Allston aspired to recover the ideal perfection of Raphael and
Titian. In all these directions the American mind showed tendencies
that surprised Englishmen more than they struck Americans. Allston
defended himself from the criticism of friends who made complaint of
his return to America. He found there, as he maintained, not only a
growing taste for art, but “a quicker appreciation” of artistic effort
than in any European land. If the highest intelligence of American
society were to move with such rapidity, the time could not be far
distant when it would pass into regions which England never liked to
contemplate.
Another intellectual trait, as has been already noticed, was the
disposition to relax severity. Between the theology of Jonathan
Edwards and that of William Ellery Channing was an enormous gap, not
only in doctrines but also in methods. Whatever might be thought of
the conclusions reached by Edwards and Hopkins, the force of their
reasoning commanded respect. Not often had a more strenuous effort than
theirs been made to ascertain God’s will, and to follow it without
regard to weaknesses of the flesh. The idea that the nature of God’s
attributes was to be preached only as subordinate to the improvement of
man, agreed little with the spirit of their religion. The Unitarian and
Universalist movements marked the beginning of an epoch when ethical
and humanitarian ideas took the place of metaphysics, and even New
England turned from contemplating the omnipotence of the Deity in order
to praise the perfections of his creatures.
The spread of great popular sects like the Universalists and
Campbellites, founded on assumptions such as no Orthodox theology could
tolerate, showed a growing tendency to relaxation of thought in that
direction. The struggle for existence was already mitigated, and the
first effect of the change was seen in the increasing cheerfulness of
religion. Only when men found their actual world almost a heaven, could
they lose overpowering anxiety about the world to come. Life had taken
a softer aspect, and as a consequence God was no longer terrible. Even
the wicked became less mischievous in an atmosphere where virtue was
easier than vice. Punishments seemed mild in a society where every
offender could cast off his past, and create a new career. For the
first time in history, great bodies of men turned away from their old
religion, giving no better reason than that it required them to believe
in a cruel Deity, and rejected necessary conclusions of theology
because they were inconsistent with human self-esteem.
The same optimism marked the political movement. Society was weary of
strife, and settled gladly into a political system which left every
disputed point undetermined. The public seemed obstinate only in
believing that all was for the best, as far as the United States were
concerned, in the affairs of mankind. The contrast was great between
this temper of mind and that in which the Constitution had been framed;
but it was no greater than the contrast in the religious opinions
of the two periods, while the same reaction against severity marked
the new literature. The rapid accumulation of wealth and increase in
physical comfort told the same story from the standpoint of economy. On
every side society showed that ease was for a time to take the place
of severity, and enjoyment was to have its full share in the future
national existence.
The traits of intelligence, rapidity, and mildness seemed fixed in
the national character as early as 1817, and were likely to become
more marked as time should pass. A vast amount of conservatism still
lingered among the people; but the future spirit of society could
hardly fail to be intelligent, rapid in movement, and mild in method.
Only in the distant future could serious change occur, and even then
no return to European characteristics seemed likely. The American
continent was happier in its conditions and easier in its resources
than the regions of Europe and Asia, where Nature revelled in diversity
and conflict. If at any time American character should change, it might
as probably become sluggish as revert to the violence and extravagances
of Old-World development. The inertia of several hundred million
people, all formed in a similar social mould, was as likely to stifle
energy as to stimulate evolution.
* * * * *
With the establishment of these conclusions, a new episode in American
history began in 1815. New subjects demanded new treatment, no longer
dramatic but steadily tending to become scientific. The traits of
American character were fixed; the rate of physical and economical
growth was established; and history, certain that at a given distance
of time the Union would contain so many millions of people, with wealth
valued at so many millions of dollars, became thenceforward chiefly
concerned to know what kind of people these millions were to be. They
were intelligent, but what paths would their intelligence select? They
were quick, but what solution of insoluble problems would quickness
hurry? They were scientific, and what control would their science
exercise over their destiny? They were mild, but what corruptions would
their relaxations bring? They were peaceful, but by what machinery were
their corruptions to be purged? What interests were to vivify a society
so vast and uniform? What ideals were to ennoble it? What object,
besides physical content, must a democratic continent aspire to attain?
For the treatment of such questions, history required another century
of experience.
GENERAL LISTS OF MAPS AND PLANS.
VOLUME I.
PAGE
THE STATES OF NORTH AFRICA 244
VOLUME II.
THE COAST OF WEST FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA 1
VOLUME VI.
INDIANA TERRITORY 67
SEAT OF WAR ABOUT LAKE ERIE 299
DETROIT RIVER 312
STRAITS OF NIAGARA FROM LAKE ERIE TO LAKE ONTARIO 336
VOLUME VII.
BATTLE OF THE THAMES 137
EAST END OF LAKE ONTARIO AND RIVER ST. LAWRENCE FROM
KINGSTON TO FRENCH MILLS 144
EAST END OF LAKE ONTARIO 164
RIVER ST. LAWRENCE FROM WILLIAMSBURG TO MONTREAL 172
SEAT OF WAR AMONG THE CREEKS 217
ATTACK ON CRANEY ISLAND 272
VOLUME VIII.
BATTLE OF CHIPPAWA 40
BATTLE OF LUNDY’S LANE, AT SUNSET 50
BATTLE OF LUNDY’S LANE, AT TEN O’CLOCK 56
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF FORT ERIE 67
NAVAL BATTLE AT PLATTSBURG 107
POSITION OF BRITISH AND AMERICAN ARMIES AT PLATTSBURG 111
CAMPAIGN OF WASHINGTON AND BALTIMORE 120
BATTLE OF BLADENSBURG 139
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF BALTIMORE 168
SEAT OF WAR IN LOUISIANA AND WEST FLORIDA 311
ATTACK ON FORT BOWYER 322
LANDING OF BRITISH ARMY AT NEW ORLEANS 337
ATTACK MADE BY MAJOR-GENERAL JACKSON, DEC. 23, 1814 347
BRITISH AND AMERICAN POSITIONS AT NEW ORLEANS 359
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF THE AMERICAN LINES, JAN. 8, 1815 367
CAPTURE OF FORT BOWYER 383
GENERAL INDEX.
Abbot, Charles, Speaker of the House of Commons, iv. 97.
Abolition Society, an early, i. 128.
Acts of Congress, of Sept. 24, 1789, to establish the Judiciary, i.
259, 260, 275, 276;
of June 13, 1798, to suspend intercourse with France, 383;
of June 25, 1798, concerning aliens, 140, 141, 206, 207, 259,
286;
of July 14, 1798, concerning sedition, 140, 141, 206, 207, 259,
261, 286; vi. 146;
of Jan. 30, 1799, called Logan’s Act, ii. 259; iv. 236;
of Feb. 9, 1799, further to suspend intercourse with France, i.
384;
of Feb. 13, 1801, to provide for the more convenient organization
of the courts, 274–276, 278, 280, 288, 293, 297;
of Jan. 14, 1802, for the apportionment of representatives, 301;
of March 8, 1802, to repeal the Judiciary Act of 1801, 280, 281,
284–298;
of March 16, 1802, fixing the military peace establishment, 301;
of April 6, 1802, to repeal the internal taxes, 272;
of April 29, 1802, for the redemption of the public debt, 272;
of April 29, 1802, to amend the judicial system, 298;
of April 30, 1802, to enable Ohio to form a State government,
302;
of Feb. 28, 1803, for building four sloops-of-war and fifteen
gunboats, ii. 77;
of Oct. 31, 1803, to take possession of Louisiana, 119, 120;
of Feb. 24, 1804, for collecting duties within the territories
ceded to the United States, 257, 260–263, 291, 293, 304, 380
(Mobile Act);
of March 25, 1804, to establish the Mediterranean Fund, 141;
of March 26, 1804, for the temporary government of Louisiana,
120–129;
of Jan. 19, 1805, to erect a dam from Mason’s island, 209;
of March 2, 1805, further providing for the government of Orleans
Territory, 401;
of March 3, 1805, for the more effectual preservation of peace in
the ports and harbors of the United States, 397, 398;
of March 3, 1805, regulating trade with St. Domingo, iii. 88;
of Feb. 13, 1806, called the Two Million Act, 138, 139, 147, 170;
of Feb. 28, 1806, prohibiting trade with St. Domingo, 140, 141;
of April 18, 1806, prohibiting the importation of certain goods
from Great Britain, 175;
of March 29, 1806, for laying out the Cumberland Road, 181;
of April 21, 1806, for continuing the Mediterranean Fund, 183;
of Dec. 19, 1806, for suspending the Non-importation Act of April
18, 1806, 349;
of March 3, 1807, repealing the salt-tax and continuing the
Mediterranean Fund, 349, 367, 369;
of Feb. 10, 1807, establishing a coast survey, 355;
of March 2, 1807, prohibiting the importation of slaves, 356–365;
of Dec. 18, 1807, providing for the building of one hundred and
eighty-eight gunboats, iv. 161;
of Dec. 22, 1807, for laying an embargo, 168–176;
of Jan. 9, 1808, supplementary to the embargo, 200;
of March 12, 1808, supplementary to the embargo, 201–204;
of April 12, 1808, to raise eight new regiments, 212–218;
of April 22, 1808, authorizing the President under certain
conditions to suspend the embargo, 223, 306;
of Jan. 9, 1809, to enforce the embargo, 398–400;
of Jan. 30, 1809, calling an extra session on the fourth Monday
in May, 424;
of March 1, 1809, to interdict commercial intercourse between the
United States and Great Britain and France, 444–453;
of June 28, 1809, restoring intercourse with Great Britain, v.
80;
of June 28, 1809, suspending the recruiting service, 85;
of June 28, 1809, reducing the naval establishment, 85;
of March 1, 1810, concerning the commercial intercourse between
the United States and Great Britain and France, 194–198 (see
Non-intercourse);
of Feb. 14, 1810, appropriating sixty thousand dollars for the
Cumberland Road, 209;
of March 26, 1810, providing for the Third Census, 209;
of March 30, 1810, appropriating five thousand dollars for
experiments on the submarine torpedo, 209;
of Feb. 20, 1811, admitting the State of Louisiana into the
Union, 326;
of Jan. 15, 1811, authorizing the occupation of East Florida,
327;
of March 2, 1811, reviving non-intercourse against reat Britain,
338–354 (see Non-intercourse);
of Jan. 11, 1812 to raise an additional military force of
twenty-five thousand men, vi. 147, 153;
of Feb. 6, 1812, to accept volunteers, 159–161;
of March 14, 1812, authorizing a loan for eleven million dollars,
169;
of April 4, 1812, laying an embargo for ninety days, 201, 202,
203;
of April 8, 1812, admitting the State of Louisiana into the
Union, 235;
of April 10, 1812, authorizing a call for one hundred thousand
militia, 204;
of April 14, 1812, to enlarge the limits of the State of
Louisiana, 236;
of May 14, 1812, to enlarge the boundaries of the Mississippi
Territory, 236;
of June 18, 1812, declaring war against Great Britain, 228, 229;
of July 1, 1812, doubling the duties on imports, 235;
of Dec. 12, 1812, increasing the pay of the army, 435;
of Jan. 20, 1813, increasing the bounty for recruits, 436;
of Jan. 2, 1813, for building four seventy-fours and six
frigates, 436;
of Jan. 5, 1813, remitting fines, forfeitures, etc., 443;
of Jan. 29, 1813, for raising twenty regiments for one year, 449;
of Feb. 8, 1813, authorizing loan of sixteen millions, 448;
of Feb. 24, 1813, for appointing six major-generals and six
brigadiers, 449;
of Feb. 25, 1813, authorizing the issue of Treasury notes for
five millions, 448;
of March 3, 1813, to provide for the supplies of the army, 449;
of March 3, 1813, for the better organization of the general
staff, 449;
of March 3, 1813, for building six sloops-of-war, 449;
of March 3, 1813, for the regulation of seamen on board the
public and private vessels of the United tates, 453–458;
of Feb. 24, 1813, for appointing six major-generals and six
brigadiers, vii. 36, 37;
of March 3, 1813, for the regulation of seamen, etc., 47;
of July 22, 1813, for the assessment and collection of direct
taxes and internal revenue, 55, 71;
of July 24, 1813, laying duties on carriages, 55, 71;
of July 24, 1813, laying duties on licenses to distillers, 55,
71;
of July 24, 1813, laying duties on sales at auction, 71;
of July 29, 1813, laying a duty on imported salt, 71;
of Aug. 2, 1813, to lay and collect a direct tax, 71;
of Aug. 2, 1813, laying duties on licenses to retailers, 71;
of Aug. 2, 1813, authorizing a loan for seven million, five
hundred thousand dollars, 71;
of Aug. 2, 1813, laying stamp duties, 71;
of Aug. 2, 1813, to prohibit British licenses of trade, 71;
secret, of Feb. 12, 1813, authorizing the President to seize West
Florida, 208, 209;
of Aug. 2, 1813, reducing duties on prize goods, 336;
of Aug. 3, 1813, allowing a bounty for prisoners taken by
privateers, 336;
of Aug. 2, 1813, extending the pension law to privateers, 337;
of Dec. 17, 1813, laying an embargo, 369;
of Jan. 25, 1814, relieving Nantucket from the Embargo Act, 369;
of Jan. 27, 1814, for filling the ranks of the regular army,
381–384;
of March 9, 1814, for building steam-batteries, 385;
of March 24, 1814, authorizing a loan for twenty-five millions,
389, 390;
of March 4, 1814, authorizing the issue of ten million treasury
notes, 389, 390;
of March 31, 1814, for the indemnification of Mississippi land
claimants (Yazoo Act), 402;
of Nov. 15, 1814, for building twenty 16-gun sloops-of-war, viii.
281;
of Dec. 10, 1814, making further provision for filling the ranks
of the army, 268, 273, 274;
of Dec. 21, 1814, laying additional duties on stills, 248, 255;
of Dec. 23, 1814, doubling the internal revenue taxes, 248, 255;
of Dec. 26, 1814, authorizing the issue of treasury notes to the
amount of ten million five hundred thousand dollars, 254;
of Jan. 9, 1815, raising the direct tax to six million dollars,
248, 255;
of Jan. 18, 1815, increasing the customs duties, 248, 255;
of January 18, 1815, increasing the duties on household
furniture, etc., 248, 255;
of Jan. 27, 1815, authorizing the President to accept the
services of State troops, 282–285;
of Feb. 7, 1815, creating a board of navy commissioners, 281;
of March 2, 1815, fixing the military peace establishment, ix.
84–86;
of Feb. 27, 1815, concerning the flotilla service and gunboats,
87;
of March 3, 1815, for the support of the navy, 87;
of March 3, 1815, for protecting commerce against Algerine
cruisers, 87;
of March 3, 1815, authorizing a loan for eighteen millions,
100–102;
of March 5, 1816, to reduce the amount of direct tax, 112, 114;
of April 10, 1816, to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of
the United States, 116–118;
of April 27, 1816, to regulate the duties on imports, 114–116;
of April 29, 1816, for the gradual increase of the navy, 119;
of March 19, 1816, to change the mode of Compensation to the
members of the Senate and ouse of Representatives, 120–122;
of April 19, 1816, to admit Indiana into the Union, 119;
of Feb. 6, 1817, to repeal the Compensation Act, 144–146;
of March 1, 1817, concerning the navigation of the United States,
146, 147;
of March 3, 1817, to regulate the trade in plaster of Paris, 147;
of March 3, 1817, to provide for the prompt settlement of public
accounts, 147;
of March 3, 1817, more effectually to preserve the neutral
relations of the United States, 147.
Act of the territorial legislature of Indiana, permitting the
introduction of slaves, vi. 76.
Acts of Parliament, on navigation, ii. 319, 320, 327, 413, 414;
of 6th Anne, naturalizing foreign seamen, ii. 338; vii. 21–23;
on merchant-shipping, ii. 345;
of 13th George II. naturalizing foreign seamen, vii. 21–23.
Adair, John, senator from Kentucky, iii. 127, 139;
in Wilkinson’s confidence, 220, 223, 241, 255, 274;
refuses to testify, 282;
accompanies Burr to Nashville, 287;
his remarks on Andrew Jackson, 288;
starts for New Orleans by land, 291;
Burr’s despatches to, 295;
arrives in New Orleans, and is arrested, 324;
discharged from custody, 340;
commands Kentucky militia at New Orleans, viii. 368;
his dispute with Jackson, 371, 373, 378;
his account of the battle on the west bank, 379.
Adams, John, i. 181, 191, 290, 311, 358, 384, 386, 412; ii. 110,
309; iii. 452; iv. 455;
his description of Pickering, 402;
expenditures of his administration, v. 200, 205, 206;
Randolph’s allusion to, in 1814, viii. 265;
George Ticknor’s account of his remarks on the Hartford
Convention, 307, 308;
his struggle for the fisheries in 1783, ix. 44, 45;
his “Defence of the Constitutions,” 195.
Adams, John Quincy, senator from Massachusetts, ii. 110, 117,
184–379;
proposes draft of Constitutional amendment, 118, 160, 164;
his interviews with Jefferson, iii. 129, 430, 431;
his part in the Non-importation Resolutions, 151;
his remarks on Yrujo, 188;
attends “Chesapeake” meetings in Boston, iv. 29;
pledged to support opposition to England, 146;
chairman of the committee on the embargo, 171;
urges the passage of the Embargo Act, 173;
offers a resolution for removing the embargo, 187;
votes for Clinton and replies to Pickering’s letter, 240
_et seq._;
resigns his seat in the Senate, 242, 255, 283, 401;
nominated as minister to Russia, v. 11;
renominated and confirmed, 86;
nominated and confirmed Justice of the Supreme Court, 360;
sails for Russia, 408;
arrives, 409;
his negotiations in 1809, 409, 411;
his negotiations in 1810, 412–418;
his success, 419, 420, 422;
receives and forwards the Czar’s offer of mediation, vii. 27–29;
nominated as joint envoy to treat of peace at St. Petersburg, 59;
his appointment confirmed, 61;
ignorant of the Czar’s motives, 344;
informed by Roumanzoff that England refused mediation, 346;
designated as minister to London, 347;
informed that the Czar would renew offer, 348;
surprised by Roumanzoff’s contradictions, 349;
nominated and confirmed as joint envoy to treat of peace at
Ghent, 371;
chief of the commission, ix. 15;
his difficulties, 16;
his account of the American note of August 24, 21;
despairs of peace, 22;
insists on defending the Florida policy, 29, 30;
struggles to preserve the fisheries, 44–50;
his opinion of Gallatin and Bayard, 51;
appointed minister to England, 89;
appointed Secretary of State by Monroe, 139, 140;
Professor of Rhetoric at Harvard College, 205.
Adams. William, LL.D., British commissioner at Ghent, ix. 13;
states British demands, 20;
on the fisheries, 47.
“Adams,” brig, launched at Detroit, vi. 304;
captured and recaptured, 347;
destroyed, 347.
“Adams,” 28-gun corvette, vi. 364;
at Washington, vii. 56, 277, 287, 311;
her cruise in 1814, viii. 95;
her destruction in the Penobscot, 96.
Addington ministry, ii. 358, 416.
Addington, Henry (Lord Sidmouth), succeeds Pitt, ii. 342, 347;
retires from office, 418.
(See Sidmouth.)
Addison, Judge, impeached, ii. 195.
Admiralty courts in the West Indies, ii. 340.
“Aeolus,” case of, vi. 273.
“Aeolus,” British frigate, vi. 368.
“Africa,” British frigate, vi. 368.
Alabama Indians, members of the Creek nation, vii. 222;
the centre of Creek fanaticism, 222, 223;
outbreak among, 226, 227;
escape of, 257.
Albany in 1800, i. 3;
headquarters of Dearborn, vi. 304, 305, 308, 309, 310;
increase in population of, ix. 156.
“Alert,” British sloop-of-war, her action with the “Essex,” vi.
35, 377.
“Alexander,” Salem privateer captured, vii. 329.
Alexander, Czar of Russia, iii. 425;
signs treaty of Tilsit, iv. 62;
wishes diplomatic relations with Jefferson, 465;
with Napoleon at Erfurt, v. 23;
his alliance with Napoleon, 134, 257;
his approaching rupture with Napoleon, 385, 408–424;
interferes for American commerce in Denmark, 410, 411;
his reply to Napoleon’s demands, 413, 414;
gives special orders to release American ships, 415;
his attachment to the United States, 415;
his ukase on foreign trade, 418;
offers mediation, vii. 26–29, 41, 353;
continues war in Germany, 339, 345;
forced back to Silesia, 340;
at Gitschin during armistice, 340;
his difficulties and hesitations, 344, 345;
orders Nesselrode, July 9, 1813, to acquiesce in British refusal
of mediation, 345, 346, 349;
orders Roumanzoff, July 20, to renew offer of mediation, 348,
353;
acquiesces, August 20, in British refusal of mediation, 350;
orders Roumanzoff, September 20, to renew offer of mediation,
352;
his motives, 353, 354;
takes no notice of American commissioners, 351, 352, 354, 355;
Andrew Jackson’s report of, viii. 320;
visits London, ix. 8;
his conduct at Vienna, 38.
Alexandria, town of, capitulates to British fleet, viii. 157, 158.
Alfred, Maine, the town of, protests against the embargo, iv. 415.
Algiers, hostilities against, in 1815, ix. 87, 105.
Allen, John, colonel of Kentucky Rifles, vii. 88, 89;
killed at the River Raisin, 96.
Allen, W. H., third lieutenant of the “Chesapeake,” iv. 19;
commander in U. S. navy, vii. 303;
commands “Argus,” 304;
his action with the “Pelican,” 305;
killed, 306.
Alien and sedition laws, i. 140, 206, 259.
(See Acts of Congress.)
Allston, Joseph, Burr’s son-in-law, iii. 220, 240;
guarantees Blennerhassett from loss, 260;
with Burr in Kentucky, 260, 268;
to go with recruits from Charleston, 265, 266;
his part in Burr’s trial, 463 _et seq._
Allston, Mrs. (Theodosia Burr), accompanies Burr on his expedition,
iii. 255;
at Blennerhassett’s island, 257;
to be Queen of Mexico, 259;
infatuation of Luther Martin for, 444.
Allston, Washington, i. 149, 238; ix. 208;
his art, 213–217.
Alquier, French minister at Madrid, i. 363, 368.
Alsop, Richard, i. 102.
Alston, Willis, member of Congress from North Carolina, iii. 354;
on war with England, iv. 376.
Amelia Island, v. 165; vii. 206, 208, 210.
Amendment to the Constitution, the twelfth, ii. 132.
Amendments of the Constitution, proposed by the Hartford
Convention, viii. 297, 298.
“American Citizen,” the, i. 331.
Ames, Fisher, i. 82, 83; iv. 348;
his opinion of democracy, i. 84;
in conversation, 86;
speech of, on the British treaty, 88, 93;
his language toward opponents, 119; ii. 164.
Amherst, town-meeting address voted, January, 1814, viii. 5.
Amherst, Jeffery, British major-general, his expedition against
Montreal in 1760, vii. 178.
Amiens, peace of, i. 370; ii. 59, 290, 326, 347, 385.
(See Treaties.)
Amusements in 1800, in New England, i. 50;
in Virginia, 51.
“Anaconda,” privateer, captured, vii. 277, 329.
Anderson, Joseph, senator from Tennessee, ii. 157;
his remark on the two-million bill, iii. 139;
defeats mission to Russia, v. 12;
criticises Giles, vi. 150;
chairman of committee on declaration of war, 228;
chairman of committee on Gallatin’s mission, vii. 59, 60;
member of committee on Swedish mission, 62;
reports bill for seizing Florida, 208;
votes against Giles’s militia bill, viii. 273;
appointed first comptroller, ix. 107.
Anderson, Patton, iii. 287.
Andover, foundation of theological school at, ix. 176, 177.
“Annual Register,” on the battle of Plattsburg, viii. 112;
on privateers in 1814, 197.
“Anthology and Boston Review,” ix. 201–203, 207.
Arbuthnot, James, captain of British sloop-of-war “Avon,” viii.
188;
his report of action with the “Wasp,” 189, 190.
“Argus,” sloop-of-war, vi. 363, 364, 378, 381; vii. 303;
carries W. H. Crawford to France, 304;
captured by the “Pelican,” 305–308;
number of her prizes, 312, 333, 334.
“Aristides.” Pamphlet by W. P. Van Ness, ii. 73, 172; iii. 209.
Armistead, George, major of Artillery Corps, commands Fort McHenry
at Baltimore, viii. 166.
Armistead, Walker Keith, captain of U. S. engineers, fortifies
Norfolk, vii. 271; ix. 235.
Armistice, between Dearborn and Prevost, vi. 322, 323, 324, 404;
known to Brock, 330;
disavowed by Madison, 340, 404; ix. 33;
an advantage to Dearborn, vi. 343;
proposed by Monroe, 403;
proposed by Admiral Warren, 416.
Armstrong, John, senator from New York, i. 108, 113, 230, 234, 281;
ii. 157;
succeeds Livingston as minister at Paris, 291, 308;
notifies Monroe of Napoleon’s decision on Spanish claims and
boundaries, iii. 31, 32;
recommends a course toward Texas and Florida, 39;
to be employed in the Florida negotiation, 78;
receives Talleyrand’s conditions for an arrangement with Spain,
104;
attacked in the Senate, 153;
opposition to his appointment with Bowdoin to conduct the Florida
negotiation, 153, 172;
watching Talleyrand in Paris, 370;
offers to execute Talleyrand’s plan, 376;
approaches Napoleon through Duroc, 386;
asks Decrès for an explanation of the Berlin Decree, 390;
refused passports for Napoleon’s headquarters, iv. 105;
protests against the “Horizon” judgment, 110;
reports Napoleon’s order relating to the Berlin Decree, 112;
well informed with regard to Napoleon’s projects, 113;
remonstrates against the Milan Decree, 292;
receives from Champagny an offer of the Floridas as the price of
an alliance with France, 294;
replies to Champagny, 294;
refuses to present the case of the burned vessels to the French
government, 313;
his discontent, v. 28;
his relations with Roumanzoff, 29;
his complaints in 1809, 39;
communicates Non-intercourse Act of March 1, 1809, 135, 235;
his comments on the right of search, 145;
his interview with King Louis of Holland, 147, 148;
his despatch on Fouché and Montalivet, 224;
on Napoleon’s motives, 225;
his minute for a treaty, 228;
his recall asked by Napoleon, 228, 229, 252;
his remonstrance against the doctrine of retaliation, 233, 234;
his report of Jan. 10, 1810, 238;
inquires condition of revoking decrees, 251;
communicates Non-intercourse Act of May 1, 1810, 252;
his reception of Cadore’s letter of Aug. 5, 1810, 259, 260;
returns to America, 260, 261, 381;
declares Napoleon’s conditions to be not precedent, 261;
silent about indemnity, 260, 296;
Virginian jealousy of, 370;
on Napoleon’s designs on the Baltic, 417;
becomes brigadier-general, vi. 427;
his attitude toward Monroe and Madison, 426, 427;
nominated Secretary of War, 428;
his character, 428;
a source of discord, vii. 34;
Dallas’s opinion of, 35;
nominates Monroe as major-general, 36;
intends to command in chief, 37, 38;
alienates Gallatin, 39–41;
comments on military diplomacy, 100;
changes the plan of campaign in the northwest, 102, 103, 115;
comments on Harrison and Proctor, 114;
comments on strategy, 144;
his plan for attacking Kingston, in April, 1813, 148–150;
his plan changed by Dearborn and Chauncey, 153;
issues order dividing the Union into military districts, 156;
removes Dearborn from command, 171;
orders Wilkinson to Sackett’s Harbor, 172, 173, 215;
orders Hampton to Plattsburg, 174;
orders Wilkinson to attack Kingston, 175, 176;
goes to Sackett’s Harbor, 179;
his difficulties with Wilkinson, 180–182;
orders Hampton to prepare winter quarters, 183;
returns to Washington, 185, 186, 198;
his treatment of Hampton, 199, 200;
his orders for the defence of Fort George, 201, 202;
his responsibility for the loss of Fort Niagara, 203;
dismisses Andrew Jackson’s corps, 209, 210;
orders withdrawal from Amelia Island, 210;
orders Wilkinson to seize Mobile, 213, 214;
his instructions on capitulation of the Creeks, 259;
orders the confinement of hostages for naturalized soldiers, 361;
disliked by Virginians, 403, 404;
disliked by Madison, 405, 406;
feared, 406;
introduces new energy into the army, 407–409;
his irregular conduct in the appointment of Andrew Jackson, 410,
411;
his removal urged by Monroe, 411–414;
his share in the court-martial of William Hull, 414, 415;
his treatment of Hampton, 416;
Wilkinson’s remarks on, viii. 25;
orders Brown to attack Kingston, 27;
his letter to Brown on mistakes, 28;
his plan of a campaign at Niagara, 30–33;
orders Brown to cross the Niagara River, 33;
orders Izard to fortify Rouse’s Point, 97;
orders Izard to move his army to Sackett’s Harbor, 98–101;
his severity toward Izard, 114;
his neglect of the defences of Washington, 120;
his excuses, 121;
his attitude toward the defence of Washington, 122;
after August 20 alive to the situation, 132;
joins Winder on the morning of August 24, 137;
on Bladensburg battle-field, 149;
his conduct during the British advance, 155;
retires to Frederick, 156, 157;
militia refuse to serve under, 159;
returns to Washington, 160;
goes to Baltimore and resigns, 161;
cause of his retirement, 162;
his provision for the defence of New Orleans, 316, 317;
his criticism on Jackson’s Pensacola campaign, 330;
his criticism on Jackson’s first measures at New Orleans, 334;
his criticism on Jackson’s loss of Fort Bowyer, 384.
Army, Jefferson’s chaste reformation of, i. 238;
peace establishment in 1801 three thousand men, organized in one
regiment of artillery and two of infantry, 242, 261, 272, 301;
Jefferson’s principle regarding the, iii. 14, 15;
its condition in 1806, 334;
popular antipathy to, 349, 350–354;
increase of, to ten thousand men, in 1808, iv. 195, 198;
debate on increase of, 212–218;
establishment of 1808, one regiment of artillery, one regiment of
light artillery, one regiment of dragoons, one regiment of
riflemen, and seven regiments of infantry, 222–224;
enlistments stopped in June, 1809, v. 85;
its condition in 1809, 164, 169–171, 289;
encampment of, at Terre aux Bœufs, 171–175;
debate on reduction of, in 1810, 199–207;
raised to thirty-five thousand men by Act of Jan. 11, 1812, vi.
147, 148, 151, 153;
useless, 165;
condition of, 289, 292;
recruiting for, in May, 1812, 294;
war establishment in 1812, corps of engineers, two regiments of
light dragoons, one regiment of light artillery, three
regiments of artillerists, one regiment of riflemen, and
twenty-five regiments of infantry,--by law thirty-five
thousand men, 295;
enlistments in, 337, 390, 391, 401;
difficulty of filling ranks of, 394;
acts of Congress for filling ranks of, 435, 436;
war establishment of 1813, corps of engineers, two regiments of
light dragoons, one regiment of light artillery, three
regiments of artillery, one regiment of riflemen, and
forty-four regiments of infantry, rangers, and
sea-fencibles,--by law fifty-eight thousand men, 449; vii.
148, 381;
Monroe’s estimate of number of troops required in 1813, vii. 148;
actual force, in February, 1813, nineteen thousand men, 148, 149,
380;
mode of stating force of, in rank-and-file, 150;
aggregate strength of, in February, June, and December, 1813, and
January, 1814, 380, 381;
Troup’s bill for filling ranks of, 381, 382;
bounty and pay of, 382;
appropriations for, in 1814, 384;
organization of, in 1814, 384;
condition of, in 1814, viii. 17;
aggregate strength of, June and December, 1813, January, July,
and September, 1814, 216;
weakness of, in the field, 217;
bounties for, paid in Massachusetts and Virginia, 235;
Monroe recommends raising to one hundred thousand men by draft,
264, 265;
failure in recruiting service for, 266;
Congress unwilling to adopt efficacious measures for, 266, 267;
Giles’s bill for filling, 268, 273, 280;
“a mere handful of men,” 279;
aggregate strength of, December, 1814, and Feb. 16, 1815, 281;
allotment of, to military districts, 316, 317;
peace establishment discussed, ix. 83–86;
peace establishment fixed at ten thousand men, 86;
reduction of, 87–88.
(See Artillery, Infantry, Engineers.)
Artillery, one regiment of, on the army establishment of 1801, i.
301;
one regiment of light, added in 1808, iv. 223;
two regiments of, added in 1812, vi. 295, 345, 347;
corps of, vii. 384;
Hindman’s battalion of, viii. 37;
Towson’s company at Chippawa, 43, 44;
Hindman’s battalion at Lundy’s Lane, 50–53, 56–59;
and at Fort Erie, 71, 72, 75, 76, 83;
in military district No. 7, viii. 316;
in the night battle at New Orleans, 344, 345, 348;
in Jackson’s lines, 355, 358, 359, 361;
in the battle of Jan. 1, 1815, 361–366;
in the battle of Jan. 8, 374, 375.
(See Gunnery.)
Ash Island in the Richelieu River, a fortified British post, viii.
97.
Ashe, an English traveller, i. 43, 52, 53, 54.
Ashmun, Eli Porter, senator from Massachusetts, votes against
internal improvements, ix. 151.
“Asia,” American ship, burned by French squadron, vi. 193, 198.
Aspinwall, Thomas, lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Infantry, viii.
35;
commands Scott’s brigade, 71;
wounded in the sortie from Fort Erie, 88.
Astor, John Jacob, i. 28; vi. 301;
shares loan of 1813, vii. 44, 45;
director of United States Bank, ix. 131.
“Atlas,” privateer, captured, vii. 277.
Attorney General. (See Levi Lincoln, Robert Smith, John
Breckinridge, Cæsar A. Rodney, William Pinkney, Richard Rush.)
Auckland, Lord, iii. 407.
“Aurora” newspaper, i. 118, 121; iii. 119.
Austerlitz, battle of, iii. 163, 370.
Austria, v. 27, 134;
fights battles of Essling and Wagram, 106;
interferes in Russian war, vii. 340;
declares war on Napoleon, 350.
“Avon,” British 18-gun sloop-of-war, sunk by the “Wasp,” viii.
188–192.
“Avon,” privateer, viii. 194.
Bacon, Ezekiel, member of Congress from Massachusetts, determined
to overthrow the embargo, iv. 432, 436, 441, 450, 455, 463;
chairman of ways and means committee, vi. 156;
votes against frigates, 164;
moves war taxes, 165, 166.
Baen, William C., captain of Fourth U. S. Infantry, killed at
Tippecanoe, vi. 104.
Bailen, capitulation at, iv. 315, 341.
Bailey, Dixon, Creek half-breed, attacks Peter McQueen at Burnt
Corn, vii. 228, 229;
surprised and killed at Fort Mims, 229–231.
Bailey, Theodorus, i. 231, 266, 296.
Bainbridge, William, captain in U. S. navy, ii. 137, 426; vi. 384;
takes command of the “Constitution,” 384;
captures “Java,” 385, 386;
blockades the “Bonne Citoyenne,” vii. 288.
Baldwin, Abraham, senator from Georgia, i. 305; iii. 126.
Ball, James V., lieutenant-colonel of Second U. S. Light Dragoons,
vii. 128.
Ballou, Hosea, his Universalism, ix. 183, 184.
Ballston Spa, i. 92.
Baltimore in 1800, i. 29, 131;
population in 1810, v. 289;
threatened by Cockburn, vii. 269;
chief object of British attack, viii. 121, 127;
defences of, 166, 167;
British attack on, 168–172;
banks suspend payment, 213;
saved by engineers and sailors, 219;
inhabitants to feel Ross’s visit, 315;
effect of repulse at Ghent, 35, 36;
depreciation of currency, ix. 62;
shares loan of 1815, 102;
growth of, 156;
steamboat at, 172.
Baltimore riot, July 27, 1812, vi. 406–409.
Bancroft, George, ix. 206.
Bangor, in Maine, plundered by British expedition, viii. 96.
Bank of England, drain of specie from, 1817–1819, ix. 127.
Bank of the United States, Jefferson’s hostility to, ii. 130, 131;
Gallatin’s dependence on, v. 167;
bill introduced for rechartering, 207, 208;
hostile influence of State Banks, 327, 330, 332, 335, 336;
pretexts for opposition to charter of, 328, 329;
necessity for, 329;
Crawford’s bill for rechartering, 332;
debate on, 332–336;
defeat of, 337;
a fatal loss to the Treasury, vii. 386; viii. 214;
plan for, with fifty millions’ capital, recommended by Dallas in
October, 1814, 249, 250;
Dallas’s plan of, approved by House, October 24, 250;
Calhoun’s plan of, approved by House, 251;
Senate bill, 257;
defeated in the House, 257–258;
Webster’s plan adopted by Congress, 259, 260;
vetoed, 260;
new bill introduced, passes the Senate Feb. 11, 1815, ix. 56, 57,
82;
postponed by the House, 82;
recommended by Dallas in his annual report of 1815, 106;
Dallas’s scheme of 1816, 111;
bill for incorporating, 116, 117;
bill passes and becomes law, 118;
capital subscribed, 131;
begins operations, January, 1817, 131.
Banks, State, in Boston in 1800, i. 22;
in New York, 25;
in the South, 31;
hostility to, in 1800, 65;
popularity of, in 1812, vi. 208, 209;
their capital in 1813, vii. 386;
their circulation, 386, 388;
of New England financial agents of the enemy, 387;
capital of New England, 387;
specie in New England, 388;
pressure of New England on other, 389;
suspend specie payments in September, 1814, except in New
England, viii. 213, 214;
worthlessness of the suspended notes of, 215, 244–246;
suspended notes taken in payment of taxes, 256, 257;
of Massachusetts refuse loans to State government, 302, 303;
currency of, affected by the peace, ix. 61, 62, 98–103;
of Massachusetts drained of specie after the peace, 97;
discount on notes of, in the autumn of 1815, 98;
special treasury accounts in notes of, 98, 99;
resist return to specie payments, 128–130;
resume specie payments, Feb. 20, 1817, 131, 132;
increase of, in Massachusetts, 157, 158;
increase of, in Virginia, 162;
in New York and Pennsylvania, 166.
Bankhead, Dr., vi. 414.
Bankruptcy, of the national government, in 1814, viii. 213–215;
formally announced, Nov. 9, 1814, 244, 245, 252, 254, 260–262.
Baptists in New England, i. 89.
Baptists, ix. 133.
Barataria, smuggling station at, viii. 321;
“hellish banditti” of, 325;
work guns at New Orleans, 359.
Barbary Powers, war with the, i. 244 _et seq._; ii. 425 _et seq._
Barbour, James, senator from Virginia, ix. 107, 108.
Barbour, Philip P., member of the Fourteenth Congress, from
Virginia, ix. 107;
on the effect of the Compensation Act, 137;
opposes internal improvements, 150.
Barclay, Captain Robert Heriot, of the Royal Navy, sent to command
the British squadron on Lake Erie, vii. 119;
his fleet, 120;
his report of the battle, 124;
his losses, 127.
Barclay, John, iii. 231.
Baring, Alexander, ii. 358;
on neutral frauds, iii. 52; iv. 69;
his reply to “War in Disguise,” 317;
on British policy, vi. 276;
on impressment, vii. 24;
correspondence with Gallatin in July, 1813, 343, 349;
assists Gallatin to negotiate, 355.
Baring, Sir Francis, at the dinner to the Spanish patriots, iv.
331.
Barker, Jacob, takes five millions of the loan in 1814, viii. 17,
18;
fails to make his payments, 213, 241.
Barlow, Joel, i. 69, 99;
his “Columbiad,” 103 _et seq._, 106, 182;
on Robert Smith’s appointment, v. 10;
on Smith’s opposition to Macon’s bill, 187;
his defence of the President, 299, 301, 378;
appointed minister to France, 359;
his instructions on revocation of French Decrees, 427;
his departure delayed by Monroe, vi. 50;
ready to start, 55;
order for his departure countermanded, 56;
order finally given, 61;
his instructions, 66;
his want of success, 217;
arrives in Paris, Sept. 19, 1811, 245;
his negotiation with Bassano, 248–263;
his journey to Wilna, 263, 264;
his death, 265.
Barney, Joshua, commands privateer “Rossie,” vii. 316;
his cruise, 335;
commands gunboats in Chesapeake Bay, viii. 127;
burns his gunboats, 129, 130;
joins Winder’s army, 134;
ordered to defend the navy-yard bridge, 137;
remonstrates and marches to Bladensburg, 139;
his battle and capture, 142, 143.
Barron, Captain James, appointed Commodore of the Mediterranean
squadron in 1807, iv. 5;
replies to Captain Humphrey’s note, 13;
orders his flag to be struck, 19;
blamed by his brother officers, 20;
trial of, 21;
result of the trial, 22.
Barron, Commodore Samuel, at Tripoli, ii. 428;
yields the command to Rodgers, 429.
“Barrosa,” 42-gun British frigate, vii. 270.
Bartram, William, i. 124.
Bassano, Duc de. (See Maret.)
Bassett, Burwell, member of Congress from Virginia, v. 206.
Bastrop grant, the, Burr’s proposal to Blennerhassett to buy, iii.
256;
bought by Burr, 260, 274.
Bath, town-meeting in December, 1808, iv. 409.
Bathurst, Lord, President of the Board of Trade, disapproves of
Perceval’s general order, iv. 93 _et seq._, 100, 325;
on the Orders in Council, vi. 275;
on the right of impressment, vii. 17;
sends ten thousand men to Canada, viii. 31;
his instructions to Cochrane and Ross regarding an expedition to
the Chesapeake, 124, 125;
his instructions to Ross regarding an expedition to the Gulf of
Mexico, 311–314;
approves Ross’s Washington campaign, 314;
advises severity to Baltimore, 315;
sends Pakenham to succeed Ross, 315;
his under-secretary commissioner at Ghent, ix. 13;
keeps the Ghent negotiation alive, 23;
takes charge of the negotiation, 25;
his instructions of Sept. 1, 1814, 26, 27;
yields the Indian _sine qua non_, 31, 32;
claims the basis of _uti possidetis_, 34, 37;
hastens the peace, 44;
concedes the fisheries, 47, 52.
Baton Rouge, seizure of, v. 305–307;
Jackson orders troops to, viii. 332, 333, 336.
Bayard, James A., member of Congress from Delaware, i. 269, 271;
his reply to Giles, 291 _et seq._;
beaten by Cæsar A. Rodney, retires to the Senate, ii. 76;
re-elected to the House, 201;
moves the form of question in the Chase impeachment, 237, 241;
senator from Delaware, iii. 339, 461; iv. 146; vi. 229;
appointed peace commissioner to Russia, vii. 42;
sails for St. Petersburg, 46;
nominated and confirmed, 59, 61;
arrives at St. Petersburg, 339, 340;
obliged to wait at St. Petersburg, 349;
goes to London with Gallatin, 355, 363; ix. 1;
nominated and confirmed as joint commissioner to Ghent, vii. 371;
at Ghent, ix. 14, 15;
his remarks to Goulburn, 22;
on the Florida policy, 29;
Adams’s opinion of, 51;
secures the success of the negotiation, 52;
appointed minister to Russia, 89;
his death, 89.
Bayonne Decree. (See Decrees.)
Baynes, Edward, colonel of Glengarry Light Infantry, British
adjutant-general, negotiates armistice with Dearborn, vi. 323;
commands expedition against Sackett’s Harbor, vii. 164, 165;
his report, 167.
Bayou Bienvenu, selected as line of British advance to New Orleans,
viii. 337–339.
Beall, William D., colonel of Maryland militia at Bladensburg,
viii. 143, 153.
Beasley, Daniel, commands at Fort Mims, vii. 229;
surprised and killed, 230.
Beaujour, Felix de, quoted, i. 46, 165.
Beckwith, Sir Sydney, British major-general, repulsed at Craney
Island, vii. 272, 274;
captures Hampton, 276.
Beecher, Lyman, ix. 206.
Belden, Lieutenant, iv. 32.
Belknap, Jeremy, i. 93.
Bellechasse, M., of New Orleans, iii. 300, 305 _et seq._
“Belvidera,” British frigate, blockading New York, vi. 364, 365;
escapes from Rodgers’ squadron, 366;
chases “Constitution,” 368, 370.
Benedict on the Patuxent, Ross’s army lands at, viii. 123, 128;
Monroe scouts to, 131.
Bentham, George, commander of British sloop-of-war “Carnation,” his
part in destroying the “General Armstrong,” viii. 202–207.
Benton, Thomas Hart, his opinion of the Louisiana legislation, ii.
119;
his brawl with Andrew Jackson, vii. 235.
Berkeley, Admiral George Cranfield, issues orders to search the
“Chesapeake” for deserters, iv. 3;
approves the attack on the “Chesapeake,” 25;
recalled and his attack on the “Chesapeake” disavowed, 51.
Berlin Decree of Nov. 21, 1806, iii. 389, 412, 416, 427;
enforced in August, 1807, iv. 82, 109;
Napoleon’s defence of, 221, 295;
his persistence in, 295.
(See Decrees.)
Bermuda, governor of, licenses importation from eastern States,
vii. 31.
Bernadotte, Jean Baptiste, appointed minister at Washington, ii.
10;
Talleyrand’s instructions to, 11.
(See Sweden.)
Berthier, Louis Alexandre, Napoleon’s agent for the retrocession of
Louisiana, i. 366.
Beurnonville, Pierre de Ruel, French ambassador at Madrid, ii. 59,
277.
Beverly, town-meeting in January, 1809, iv. 413.
Bibb, William A., member of Congress from Georgia, on the
annexation of West Florida to Louisiana, v. 324.
Biddle, James, commander in U. S. navy, commands the “Hornet,” vii.
293; ix. 63;
captures “Penguin,” 71, 72;
escapes “Cornwallis,” 72, 73.
Biddle, Thomas, captain of artillery in Hindman’s battalion, viii.
37;
at Lundy’s Lane, 53, 56;
at Fort Erie, 71.
Bidwell, Barnabas, member of Congress from Massachusetts, iii. 127;
supports Jefferson’s Spanish message in committee, 132, 137;
urged by Jefferson to take the leadership of the Democrats in
Congress, 207;
in the slave-trade debate, iii. 360, 363;
a defaulter, v. 359.
Bigelow, Jacob, professor of medicine at Harvard College, ix. 206.
Bigelow, Timothy, speaker of Massachusetts legislature, iv. 456.
Bingham, A. B., captain of the British corvette “Little Belt,” his
account of his action with the “President,” vi. 30, 31, 33–36.
Birmingham, remonstrates against Orders in Council, vi. 271;
treaty of Ghent received at, ix. 54, 55.
Bishop, Abraham, collector of New Haven, i. 226.
Bissell, Daniel, captain of the First Infantry, iii. 284, 290;
welcomes Burr at Fort Massac, 291;
receives a letter from Andrew Jackson warning him to stop
expedition, 291;
colonel of Fifth U. S. Infantry, promoted to brigadier, vii. 409;
his skirmish with Drummond’s forces in October, 1814, viii. 116.
Bladensburg, designated as the point of concentration for the
defence of Washington, viii. 123, 135, 139, 140;
citizens erect works at, 132;
the necessary point of British attack, 134, 136, 138;
battle-field of, 139, 140;
battle of, 141–144;
Ross retreats through, 148;
relative losses at, ix. 234.
Blakeley, Johnston, commander in U. S. navy, commands the “Wasp” in
1814, viii. 184, 237;
cruises in the British Channel, 185;
captures British sloop-of-war “Reindeer,” 186, 187, 196;
sinks the “Avon,” 188–192;
lost at sea, 193.
“Blakeley,” privateer, viii. 194.
Bleecker, Harmanus, member of Congress from New York, vi. 211.
Blennerhassett, Harman, iii. 220, 233;
duped by Burr, 247, 256 _et seq._;
his indiscreet talk, 259, 275, 281;
returns to his home, 276;
driven from his island, 286;
rejoins Burr, 291;
indicted, 457;
keeps a record of Burr’s trial, 462 _et seq._;
Allston tries to conciliate, 464;
Duane visits, 464.
Blennerhassett, Mrs., iii. 220;
sends a warning letter to Burr, 275.
Blockade, law of, ii. 382, 385;
preferred by Bathurst to municipal regulations, iv. 95;
Napoleon’s definition of, v. 149, 227, 250;
Pinkney’s definition of, 287; vi. 10;
Napoleon abandons for municipal regulations, v. 402;
alleged by Madison as the third _casus belli_, vi. 222;
offered by American Ghent commissioners for discussion, ix. 12,
18;
omitted from treaty, 33, 52.
Blockades, British, of Martinique and Guadeloupe, in 1803, ii. 381.
---- (Fox’s) of the French and German coasts, May 16, 1806, iii.
398;
Pinkney inquires whether still in force, v. 277–279;
Wellesley’s conduct regarding, 279;
express withdrawal of, required by Madison, 318, 383;
withdrawal of, demanded by Pinkney, vi. 4, 5, 17;
British reply to demand of withdrawal of, 6, 9, 15, 23;
becomes the only apparent _casus belli_, 221.
---- of Venice, July 27, 1806, v. 279.
---- of all ports and places under the government of France, April
26, 1809, v. 63, 64, 103, 277;
repeal of, demanded by Pinkney, vi. 3, 8;
offered by Wellesley on condition that the French decrees should
be effectually withdrawn, 9;
repeal refused by Wellesley, 14;
repeal again asked by Pinkney and refused by Wellesley, 17, 18.
(See Order in Council of April 26, 1809.)
---- of the ports and harbors of Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River,
Dec 26, 1812, vii. 30, 33; viii. 234;
raised, ix. 62.
---- of New York, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, and the River
Mississippi, May 26, 1813, vii. 262;
effects of, 263–265, 334; viii. 214;
raised, ix. 62.
---- of New London and Long Island Sound, vii. 262, 278;
raised, ix. 62.
---- of the coast of New England, April 25, 1814, viii. 3; ix. 36;
raised, 62.
Blockades, French, of Great Britain, Nov. 21, 1806. (See Decree of
Berlin.)
Blockades, _quasi_, of New York, in 1803–4, ii. 396;
in 1805, iii. 91–93;
in 1807, iv. 143, 144;
in 1811, vi. 25, 118, 222.
Blockades of Great Britain by American cruisers in 1813–1814, vii.
332, 333;
in 1814, viii. 195–201.
Bloomfield, Joseph, brigadier-general, vi. 291;
at Plattsburg, 359, 360.
Blount, Willie, governor of Tennessee, orders out two thousand
militia for service in Florida, vii. 206;
advises Jackson to withdraw from the Creek country, 240;
orders out four thousand militia, 251;
required to provide for defence of New Orleans, viii. 320, 326,
327.
Blue, Uriah, major of Thirty-ninth U. S. Infantry, commands
expedition to the Appalachicola, viii. 330, 333.
Blyth, Samuel, commander of British sloop-of-war “Boxer,” his death
and burial, vii. 282, 283.
Boerstler, C. G., colonel of Fourteenth U. S. Infantry, vii. 162;
his surrender at Beaver Dam, 163.
Bollman, Eric, to be sent to London by Burr, iii. 248, 251;
starts for New Orleans, 255;
arrives, 296, 306;
reports to Burr, 309;
sees Wilkinson, 318;
arrested, 319, 338;
discharged from custody, 340.
Bonaparte, Jerome, his marriage to Miss Patterson and his reception
by the President, ii. 377 _et seq._
Bonaparte, Joseph, negotiates treaty of Morfontaine, i. 360, 362;
scene of, with Napoleon, ii. 35 _et seq._;
crowned King of Spain, iv. 300;
driven from Madrid, 315;
deserted by Napoleon, v. 27, 28;
driven from Spain, vii. 356.
Bonaparte, Lucien, appointed ambassador at Madrid, i. 371, 373;
opposes the cession of Louisiana, ii. 34;
scene of, with Napoleon, 35 _et seq._;
offered the crown of Spain, iv. 113;
his story of the offer, 124.
Bonaparte. (See Napoleon.)
Bonds, U. S., six per cent., their market value, Feb. 1, 1815,
viii. 214, 261, 267;
on Feb. 13, 1815, ix. 62;
in March, 1815, 160;
in 1816, 127, 128.
“Bonne Citoyenne,” British sloop-of-war, vi. 384;
blockaded at San Salvador, vii. 288.
Bordeaux, Wellington advances on, vii. 373.
Boré, M., of New Orleans, iii. 300.
Borodino, battle of, vii. 27.
Boston, population and appearance of, in 1800, i. 20;
business, 21;
an intellectual centre in 1800, 75;
sentiment of, 87;
social customs of, in 1800, 91;
a summer watering-place, 92;
reception of F. J. Jackson in, v. 214, 216;
population in 1810, 289;
takes one million of loan of 1814, viii. 17, 18;
blockaded, ix. 36;
welcomes peace, 59;
harshly treated by Dallas, 98–100;
treasury payments resumed at, 128;
growth of, 156;
immigrants to, 161;
its society in 1817, 182;
takes the lead of American literature, 201, 205–207.
Boston town-meeting in January, 1809, iv. 411;
town-meeting on Baltimore riot, vi. 409.
Botts, Benjamin, Burr’s counsel, iii. 444.
Bowditch, Nathaniel, i. 93.
Bowdoin, James, appointed minister to Madrid, iii. 57;
Jefferson’s letter announcing appointment, 57;
suggestions of plans for his negotiations, 59–61, 71;
reveals Talleyrand’s plan for a settlement with Spain, 378;
letter to, 436.
Bowyer, Fort. (See Fort Bowyer.)
“Boxer,” British sloop-of-war, captured by “Enterprise,” vii.
281–283.
Boyd, Adam, member of Congress from New Jersey, v. 206.
Boyd, John Parke, colonel of Fourth U. S. Infantry, vi. 92, 93;
arrives at Vincennes, 94;
brigadier-general, vii. 156;
Morgan Lewis’s opinion of, 162;
ordered to cease offensive operations, 179;
commands brigade in Wilkinson’s expedition, 184;
favors moving on Montreal, 185;
covers the rear, 187;
Brown’s and Scott’s opinion of, 188;
his defeat at Chrysler’s Field, 190, 191.
Boyle, John, a manager of Chase’s impeachment, ii. 228.
Boyle, Thomas, commands Baltimore privateer “Comet,” vii. 316;
commands “Chasseur,” and notifies a blockade of the British
coast, viii. 196, 197.
Brackenridge, H. H., author of “Modern Chivalry,” i. 124; ii. 195.
Bradley, Captain, of the “Cambrian,” ii. 393, 396;
recall and promotion, iii. 48.
Bradley, Stephen R., senator from Vermont, ii. 157, 158, 218, 235,
238, 259; iii. 126, 139;
offers a resolution opposing the appointment of a minister to
Russia, iv. 466;
votes against occupying East Florida, vi. 243.
Brady, Hugh, colonel of Twenty-second Infantry, viii. 35;
at Lundy’s Lane, 50;
wounded, 52.
Brazil, glutted with British goods in 1808, v. 46.
Breckinridge, John, senator from Kentucky, i. 269;
moves the repeal of the Judiciary Act, 278, 280;
Jefferson’s letter to, on the Louisiana purchase, ii. 85;
on the admission of Louisiana to the Union, 94, 108;
his bill for the territorial government of Louisiana, 120;
appointed attorney general, iii. 11, 127;
his death, 444.
Brenton, E. B., staff officer of Sir George Prevost, his account
of the attack on Sackett’s Harbor, vii. 167, 168.
Brisbane, major-general in British army, commanding a brigade at
Plattsburg, viii. 101.
Bristol, memorial of merchants in September, 1814, viii. 198, 200.
Brock, Isaac, governor of Upper Canada, his career, vi. 316;
his military precautions, 317;
his military force, 317;
his civil difficulties, 318, 319;
orders expedition to Mackinaw, 320;
his proclamation, 320;
dismisses his legislature, 320;
passes Long Point, 321, 322;
arrives at Malden, 329;
decides to cross the Detroit River, 330;
his march on Detroit, 332;
returns to Niagara, 341;
his military wishes, 342;
distressed by loss of vessels, 347;
his force at Niagara, 348;
surprised on Queenston Heights, 349;
his death, 350; ix. 42.
Broke, P. B. V., captain of British frigate “Shannon,” commands
squadron, vi. 368, 369;
chases “Constitution,” 370, 371;
invites battle with Rodgers, vii. 285;
challenges “Chesapeake,” 286;
his qualities, 292;
his battle with the “Chesapeake,” 293–302;
captures “Nautilus,” 313;
a lifelong invalid, ix. 42;
his gunnery, 230.
Brooke, Arthur, colonel of the British Forty-fourth Infantry, at
the advance on Baltimore, viii. 169;
succeeds Ross in command, 170;
studies the lines of Baltimore, 171;
decides to retreat, 172.
Brooke, G. M., major in Twenty-third Infantry, viii. 37.
Brooks, John, elected governor of Massachusetts, in 1816, ix. 133.
Brookville, in Maryland, viii. 156, 157.
Brougham, Henry, his speculations on the cause of English prejudice
against America, iv. 73;
his hostility to Perceval’s orders, 318;
at the bar of the House opposing the Orders in Council, 321;
organizes agitation against Orders in Council, vi. 271, 280, 283;
his speech of March 3, 1812, 276;
obliges ministers to grant a committee of inquiry, 283–285;
moves repeal, 285.
Brown, Charles Brockden, i. 123.
Brown, Jacob, brigadier-general of N. Y. militia, vii. 164, 408;
takes command at Sackett’s Harbor, 165;
his remarks on the battle at Sackett’s Harbor, 165, 166, 169;
appointed brigadier-general in the U. S. army, 170;
commands a brigade in Wilkinson’s expedition, 177, 184;
favors moving on Montreal, 185;
landed on north bank of the St. Lawrence, 187;
clears the bank, 188, 191;
his opinion of Boyd, 188;
appointed major-general, 408;
his fitness described by Wilkinson and Scott, 408, 409;
ordered to Sackett’s Harbor in February, 1814, viii. 24;
carries his army to Niagara, 27;
returns to Sackett’s Harbor, 28;
at Buffalo in June, ordered to capture Fort Erie, 33;
his forces, 34–38;
crosses the Niagara River, 39;
fights the battle of Chippawa, 40–42;
his letter to Commodore Chauncey, 45–46;
falls back from Queenston to Chippawa, 47, 48;
orders Scott to march toward Queenston, 50;
his order to Miller at Lundy’s Lane, 54;
his position at Lundy’s Lane, 57;
wounded, 58;
orders the array to retire, 59;
orders Ripley to return to Lundy’s Lane, 64;
taken to Buffalo, 66;
summons Gaines to Fort Erie, 67;
his quarrels with Chauncey and Ripley, 81;
his qualities, 82, 218;
resumes command, 82, 83;
his sortie from Fort Erie, 84–89;
asks Izard’s aid, 113;
meets Izard at Batavia, 114;
distrusts Izard, 115;
favors attack on Chippawa in October, 1814, 115;
sent to Sackett’s Harbor, 116;
Izard’s opinion of, 117;
his letter of August 19, 1814, complaining of being left to
struggle alone, 218;
head of army board for reducing the army, ix. 88;
commands northern military district, 88.
Brown, James, secretary of the Louisiana Territory, ii. 220; iii.
219, 280.
Bruff, Major of Artillery, sounded by General Wilkinson, iii. 222,
241;
his charge against Wilkinson, 454.
Bruin, Judge, iii. 325.
Bryant, William Cullen, i. 110, 132;
his poem “The Embargo,” iv. 279;
his poem “Thanatopsis,” ix. 207, 208, 213, 216, 217, 238.
Buckminster, Joseph, i. 81;
remonstrates with Hosea Ballou, ix. 183, 184.
Buckminster, Joseph Stevens, i. 90, 162; ix. 177;
his Phi Beta Kappa oration, 199, 204;
one of the Anthology Club, 202, 203.
Budd, George, second lieutenant of the “Chesapeake,” vii. 293;
stationed below, 295;
leads boarders, 297.
Buffalo, burned by British, vii. 204.
Bullus, Dr., on the “Chesapeake,” iv. 11, 13, 21.
Bülow, Heinrich Wilhelm, i. 41, 48.
Bunker, Elias, captain of the Albany packet “Experiment,” i. 6.
Burling, Colonel, iii. 313.
Burnt Corn Creek, Indians attacked at, vii. 229, 232.
Burr, Aaron, Vice-President, i. 65, 93, 109, 112;
his character, 195;
centre of intrigue, 229 _et seq._;
takes the chair of the Senate, 279;
votes to recommit the Judiciary Bill, 280;
his toast at the Federalist dinner, 282;
attacked by the “American Citizen” and “Aurora,” 283;
in the Pickering impeachment, ii. 154;
invoked by Pickering and Griswold, 171;
his defence by “Aristides,” 172;
his interview with Jefferson, 175;
nominated for governor of New York, 177;
confers with Griswold, 183;
defeated, 185;
his hostility to Hamilton, 185;
his duel with Hamilton, 187 _et seq._;
presides at the Chase impeachment, 227, 238, 368;
communicates with Merry, 395;
his plan of creating a western confederacy, 402;
asks the aid of the British government, 403;
Turreau’s opinion of, 407;
his plan, 408;
gives the casting vote against Dr. Logan’s amendment to the St.
Domingo bill, iii. 88;
jealous of Miranda, 189, 218;
his conspiracy and connections, 219;
on his way to New Orleans, in April, 1805, 220;
his plans notorious in New Orleans, 224 _et seq._;
returns and visits Andrew Jackson and Wilkinson, 227;
his expectations of aid from England disappointed, 229;
his report to Merry, 231;
received at the White House, 233;
his advances to Yrujo and the Spanish government, 234;
his plot to seize the heads of government and the public money,
239;
his contempt for Jefferson, 244;
his communication with Yrujo, 247;
rebuffed by Fox, 250;
his imposture, 251;
his cipher despatch to Wilkinson, 253;
starts for New Orleans with Mrs. Allston and De Pestre, 255;
secures Blennerhassett’s fortune, 256;
arouses opposition in Kentucky, 268;
orders the purchase of supplies, 274;
denies intention to separate the Eastern from the Western States,
276;
attacked in court by District-Attorney Daveiss, 277;
a second time accused, 282;
acquitted, 282;
repeats his disavowal to Andrew Jackson, 287;
escapes from Nashville, 289;
received at Fort Massac, 291;
his relations in New Orleans, 296;
his visit to New Orleans in 1805, 302;
denounced by Wilkinson, surrenders to Governor Meade, 325
_et seq._;
deserts his friends, 327;
arrested and sent to Richmond, Va., 327;
brought to trial before Chief-Justice Marshall, 441;
committed for misdemeanor only, 446;
indicted, 459;
his demeanor under trial, 464;
acquitted, 469;
his memoir to Napoleon, v. 239.
Burrows, William, lieutenant in U. S. Navy, captures the “Boxer,”
vii. 281, 282;
his death and burial, 282, 283.
Burwell, William A., member of Congress from Virginia, on reducing
the army and navy in 1810, v. 202.
Cabinet. (See James Madison, Robert Smith, James Monroe, William
Jones, Secretaries of State; Albert Gallatin, G. W. Campbell,
A. J. Dallas, W. H. Crawford, Secretaries of the Treasury;
Henry Dearborn, William Eustis, James Monroe, John Armstrong,
A. J. Dallas, Secretaries of War; Robert Smith, Paul Hamilton,
William Jones, B. W. Crowninshield, Secretaries of the Navy;
Levi Lincoln, John Breckinridge, Cæsar A. Rodney, William
Pinkney, Richard Rush, Attorneys General.)
Cabot, George, his opinion of democracy, i. 84, 86 _et seq._;
letter of, opposing Pickering’s scheme, ii. 164;
inclines to Burr, 182;
opposed to neutral claims, iii. 95, 144; iv. 29;
letters from, given to Rose by Pickering, 235, 412;
at the head of the Massachusetts delegation to the Hartford
Convention, viii. 225, 227, 288;
his conservative character, 291, 292;
chosen president of the Hartford Convention, 292, 293;
authorized to call another meeting, 295;
defence of, 305;
John Adams’s remark about, 308.
Cadore, Duc de (see Champagny).
“Caledonia,” 2-gun British brig, captured by Lieutenant Elliott,
vi. 347;
in Perry’s squadron, vii. 116, 120, 122;
in Perry’s action, 124, 125.
Calhoun, John C., i. 154;
member of Congress from South Carolina, vi. 122;
on Committee of Foreign Relations, 124, 128;
his war-speech of Dec. 12, 1811, 143, 144;
votes for frigates, 164;
warns Quincy of the embargo, 201;
on the conquest of Canada, 212;
his war-report, 226;
his bill declaring war, 228;
his speech of June 24, 1812, against the restrictive system, 233;
favors war-taxation, 235;
opposes compromise of forfeitures under Non-importation Act, 442;
favors high import duties, 444;
his remark on inconsistency, vii. 374, 375;
his plan for a national bank, viii. 250–253;
votes against legal tender, 254;
accepts Giles’s militia bill, 274;
not a good judge of treason, 286;
in the Fourteenth Congress, ix. 107;
his view of extremes in government, 108, 109;
chairman of committee on currency, 111;
favors protection, 115;
reports bill for a national bank, 116, 117;
supports compensation bill, 121;
his remark that the House of Representatives was not a favorite
with the American people, 134, 137;
his defence of the House, 145;
his bill for internal improvements, 148, 149, 152, 169.
Callender, James T., his libels on Jefferson, i. 322 _et seq._
Calvinism, popular reaction against, in New England, i. 82;
rupture of church in 1815, ix. 175–187.
“Cambrian,” British frigate, iii. 48.
Campbell, George W., member of Congress from Tennessee, ii. 123;
a manager in impeachment of Judge Chase, 224, 228, 230;
chairman of Ways and Means Committee, iv. 153;
challenged by Gardenier, 203, 217;
his argument for the embargo, 267;
his report to Congress on measures of force, 370;
defends his report, 380;
his Resolution adopted, 383;
opposes fitting out the navy, 426, 441;
speech of, on the Non-intercourse Act, 448;
his report reaches Canning, v. 49;
not a member of the Eleventh Congress, 76;
senator from Tennessee, his criticism of Giles, vi. 150, 151;
appointed Secretary of the Treasury, vii. 371, 397;
negotiates loan in May, 1814, viii. 17, 18;
accedes to abandoning impressment as a _sine qua non_, 122;
at Winder’s headquarters, August 24, 137;
goes to Frederick, 152;
fails to negotiate loan of six millions in July, 1814, 213;
his annual report of Sept. 23, 1814, 240;
announces the impracticability of raising loans, 241, 242;
makes no suggestion for supplying deficit, 242;
resigns, 240;
returns to the Senate, ix. 108.
Campbell, John, member of Congress from Maryland, iii. 356.
Campbell, John A., Justice of the Supreme Court, on the Louisiana
precedent, ii. 127.
Campbell, Thomas, borrows from Freneau, i. 126;
his Declaration of Sept. 9, 1809, ix. 184, 185, 239.
Canada, intended conquest of, vi. 136, 141, 142, 145, 146, 150,
212;
invasion planned at Washington, 297;
ordered by Eustis, 302;
conquest attempted by Hull, 296;
invaded by Hull, 302;
evacuated, 315;
difficulties of defending, 316–319;
extent of Upper, 316;
military force in 1812, 317, 338;
Jefferson and Madison on campaign in, 337;
invasion of, at Niagara, 344, 345;
Van Rensselaer’s attack on, 346–353;
Smyth’s attempts against, 354–358;
Dearborn’s march to, 360;
British garrisons in, vii. 151, 194–196;
reinforcements for, in 1814, viii. 91, 99–102;
proper method of attacking, vii. 144–147;
difficulties of defence, 145; viii. 91, 93;
frontier to be rectified, 94–97;
regular troops in, December, 1814, 118;
demands of, at Ghent, ix. 7, 8;
cession of, asked by Monroe, 11, 12;
British reproach about, 29, 30.
Canals in 1800, i. 8–10, 26, 29, 38, 94;
proposed by Gallatin in 1808, iv. 364.
(See Erie Canal.)
Canning, George, rise of, ii. 417;
becomes Foreign Secretary, iv. 56;
his character, 57, 73; v. 56;
his opinion of democrats, iv. 59;
his wit, 60;
his eloquence, 61;
his negotiation with Monroe respecting the “Chesapeake” affair,
40 _et seq._;
his reasons for disavowing Berkeley’s act, 76 _et seq._;
his opinion on Spencer Perceval’s proposed Order in Council, 92,
97;
instructs Erskine with regard to the Orders in Council, 99;
instructions to Rose, 178 _et seq._;
opposes interference with the effect of the embargo, 326;
his confidence in Napoleon’s overthrow in 1808, 331;
on the causes of the embargo, 332;
replies to Pinkney’s conditional proposition to withdraw the
embargo, 334 _et seq._;
letter of, to Pinkney published in the “New England Palladium,”
419;
his reply to Napoleon and Alexander, v. 23;
his notice to Pinkney of possible change in the Orders, 42;
his note of Dec. 24, 1808, announcing a change, 43;
his anger at Pinkney’s reply, 44, 45;
his willingness for further relaxations, 45;
his discontent with Castlereagh and Perceval, 48, 106;
his reception of Erskine’s despatches and Campbell’s Report, 49,
50, 51;
his assertion as to the cause of the embargo, 51;
his instructions to Erskine of Jan. 23, 1809, 52–57, 66, 70–73,
90;
his influence declining, 57, 58;
his speech of March 6, 1809, on the Orders, 61;
his remark to Pinkney on the Order of April 26, 64;
his disavowal of Erskine’s arrangement, 87–95;
his statement to the House of Commons, 97, 98;
his instructions to F. J. Jackson, July 1, 1809, 98–105;
his charge of duplicity against Madison, 99, 100, 114, 125;
his resignation, 107;
his duel with Castlereagh, 107;
his relations with Wellesley, 266, 267;
his speech on the renewal of intercourse between the United
States and Great Britain, 276;
his speech of March 3, 1812, on the Orders in Council and
licenses, vi. 277, 278;
on the loss of the “Guerriere” and “Macedonian,” vii. 6;
on the conduct of the war, 10, 11, 23;
his failure as a minister, 20, 21;
his view of British naturalization acts, 21–23.
“Canons of Etiquette,” the, ii. 365.
Cantrelle, M., iii. 300.
Capitol at Washington in 1800, i. 30, 198;
designed by Dr. Thornton, 111;
the south wing completed, iv. 152, 209;
burned, viii. 145;
rebuilt, ix. 142.
Caramelli, Hamet, ii. 430, 436.
Carden, J. S., captain of the British frigate “Macedonian,” vi.
382, 383.
“Carnation,” British sloop-of-war, attacks and destroys the
“General Armstrong,” viii. 202–207.
“Carolina,” American 14-gun sloop-of-war, at New Orleans, viii.
344;
her share in the night battle, 346, 347, 349, 350;
her fire imprisons the British troops, 352, 355;
destroyed, Dec. 27, 1814, 356, 359.
Carroll, William, major-general of Tennessee militia, arrives at
New Orleans, viii. 336, 337;
his brigade, 344;
posted on the Gentilly road, 345.
“Carron,” 20-gun British sloop-of-war, sent to Pensacola, viii.
319, 322;
attacks Fort Bowyer, 323, 324.
Carronades, their range, viii. 109.
Casa Calvo, Marquis of, iii. 71, 73, 74, 79.
Cass, Lewis, colonel of Ohio militia, vi. 298;
refuses to abandon Detroit, 315;
his discontent with Hull, 326;
detached to open an interior road to the river Raisin, 328;
ordered to return, 329;
included in Hull’s capitulation, 334;
brigadier-general U. S. army, vii. 128;
treats with Indians, 261.
Cassin, John, captain in U. S. navy, vii. 270, 271.
“Castilian,” British sloop-of-war, cruises in company with the
“Avon,” viii. 189;
her commander’s report on the loss of the “Avon,” 190–192.
Castine, occupied by British expedition, viii. 95, 96;
offered to be restored at Ghent, ix. 34.
Castlereagh, Lord, on Howick’s Order in Council, iv. 80, 81;
becomes War Secretary, 81;
urges retaliation on France, 83, 90, 325, 421;
his supposed failures as Secretary of War, v. 47, 48, 106, 107;
his quarrel with Canning, 56, 57;
his duel with Canning, 107;
retires from the cabinet, 107;
becomes Foreign Secretary, vi. 216;
his instructions to Foster of April 10, 1812, 216, 220;
announces suspension of Orders in Council, 286;
his statement of number of American seamen in British service,
456;
his remarks to Russell, Aug. 24, 1812, vi. 416; vii. 2, 3;
defends course of ministry, 11;
his remarks on impressment, 19, 20;
his remarks on the Czar’s offer of mediation, 29;
declines Russian mediation in May, 1813, 340, 345, 346;
his letter of July 5, declining mediation, 341, 342;
his letter to Cathcart, July 13, offering direct negotiation with
United States, 342, 343, 349, 350, 355;
lukewarm about the American war, 356, 358, 360;
his letter to Monroe, November 4, offering to negotiate directly,
360, 370;
his offer accepted by Madison, 363, 371;
his irresistible influence, 394;
his disposition toward America, ix. 2, 7, 9;
his instructions of July 28, 9, 10, 24;
his choice of negotiators, 14;
delays negotiation until August, 17;
his instructions of August 14, 19;
keeps the negotiation alive until October, 23;
at Ghent, August 19, 24;
his letter to Bathurst suggesting immediate peace, 25;
at Vienna, embarrassed by the American war, 36;
negotiates commercial convention with the United States, 104.
Cathcart, Lord, iv. 64;
British ambassador at St. Petersburg, vii. 28;
his instructions of July 5, 1813, 341, 342;
his comments on the Czar’s conduct, 350–354.
Caulaincourt, Duc de Vicence, French ambassador in Russia, v. 412;
recalled, 418;
congratulates Adams, 419.
Cazeneau, Mr., iii. 379.
Census, of 1800, i. 1, 2;
of 1810, Act for, v. 209.
“Centinel,” Boston newspaper, of Sept. 10, 1814, quoted, viii. 223,
288, 289, 291, 299, 300;
publishes peace, ix. 59, 60.
Cevallos, Don Pedro de, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, i.
371; ii. 23;
remonstrates against the sale of Louisiana, 58;
refuses to pay for French spoliations, 276, 279;
his conditions on ratification of Spanish claims convention, 280;
his comments on the Americans, 282, 283;
alarmed by Pinckney, 284;
complains of Pinckney’s conduct, 294;
his negotiation with Monroe, iii. 24–36;
refuses to countenance Burr’s designs, 249.
Chamier, Frederick, lieutenant on the British frigate “Menelaus,”
his account of house-burning on the Potomac, viii. 164.
Champagny, Jean Baptiste de, succeeds Talleyrand as Minister of
Foreign Affairs, iv. 107;
his letter of Jan. 15, 1808, declaring war to exist between
England and the United States, 221;
his instructions to Turreau in defence of the Decrees, Dec. 10,
1808, v. 31;
in defence of the Spanish colonies, 33;
his remonstrances to Napoleon against severity to the United
States, 138, 139;
complains of the Non-intercourse Act, 140;
his instructions to Hauterive, June 13, 1809, on concessions to
the United States, 140;
his note on the right of search and blockade, 149, 150, 250;
his efforts on behalf of neutral commerce, 222;
his interview with Armstrong, Jan. 25, 1810, 229, 230;
his note of Feb. 14, 1810, announcing reprisals for the
Non-intercourse Act, 232;
his letter of August 5, 1810, announcing that the decrees are
revoked, 253–256, 286, 296–302, 383, 414, 415; vi. 7;
creates a contract by letter of August 5, v. 342;
his report on the decrees, 348, 349, 382, 388; vi. 8;
his phrase _bien entendu_, v. 387, 388;
declares the decrees revoked on Feb. 2, 1811, 386, 389, 390;
removed from office, 401.
Champlain, Lake. (See Plattsburg.)
Champlin, Guy R., captain of the privateer “General Armstrong,”
vii. 316;
his escapes, 325–327.
Chandler, John, brigadier-general in U. S. army, vii. 156;
engaged in capturing Fort George, 157;
advances to Stony Creek, 159;
captured, 160.
Channing, William Ellery, i. 90;
his impressions of Virginia manners, 132, 171;
takes charge of church at Boston, ix. 178;
his letter to Thacher, 178;
his Unitarianism, 179–182;
his Fast-Day Sermon in 1810, 203–205.
Charles IV. of Spain, his character, i. 341;
refuses papal territory, 354;
his delight at the offer of Tuscany, 369;
refuses to sell Florida, 401;
delivers Louisiana to Napoleon, 401;
distressed by Napoleon, ii. 56;
his demands on Napoleon, 59;
withdraws protest against the sale of Louisiana, 277;
declares war on England, 309;
abdication of, iv. 117, 298.
Charleston, in Maryland, vii. 268.
Charleston, S. C., in 1800, i. 37 _et seq._, 92, 149;
in 1816, ix. 156.
Chase, Samuel, Justice of the Supreme Court, his charge to the
Baltimore grand jury, ii. 147;
his impeachment, 149 _et seq._, 158;
scene of impeachment, 227;
his counsel, 229;
the managers of his impeachment, 229;
articles of impeachment, 229;
the trial, 230 _et seq._;
the votes on the articles, 238;
his acquittal, 239.
“Chasseur,” privateer, her blockade, viii. 196, 197.
Chateaugay, Hampton’s campaign at, vii. 192–197.
Chatillon, Congress of, vii. 394.
Chauncey, Isaac, at Tripoli, ii. 428;
captain in U. S. navy, takes command on Lake Ontario, vi. 344;
arranges plan of campaign with Dearborn, vii. 152, 153, 154;
controls the lake, 153;
crosses to Niagara, 155;
aids capture of Fort George, 157;
returns to Sackett’s Harbor, 159;
loses control of the lake, 171;
recovers control of the lake, 179;
dissuades Brown from attacking Kingston, viii. 27, 28;
shut up in Sackett’s Harbor in the spring of 1814, 28–30, 33;
Brown’s irritating letters to, 34, 45, 46;
sails from Sackett’s Harbor, 80;
his reply to Brown’s letters, 81;
carries Izard’s army to the Genesee River, 114;
loses control of the lake in October, 1814, 115.
Cheetham, James, editor of the “American Citizen and Watchtower,”
i. 121;
attacks Burr, 331; iii. 272, 273.
Cherokee Indians, i. 4; iii. 16;
with Jackson in the Creek war, vii. 246.
“Cherub,” British 18-gun sloop-of-war, viii. 178;
assists the “Phoebe” to blockade and capture the “Essex,” 179,
180.
“Chesapeake,” 38-gun frigate, the desertion of British seamen to,
iv. 2;
delay in getting her ready for sea, 5;
starts for sea, 9;
fired on by the “Leopard,” 16;
strikes her flag, 19;
returns to Norfolk, 20; vi. 29, 36; vii. 54, 311;
arrives at Boston, April 9, 1813, 285, 287;
her force, 292;
her action with the “Shannon,” 293–303;
effect of capture, 303, 309;
cause of capture, 337.
“Chesapeake Affair,” measures taken by the Cabinet after the, iv.
31, 163;
Madison’s instructions on, 39, 45;
its effect on English society, 44;
attack disavowed by the British Ministry, 51, 149;
Canning’s instructions on, 178–182;
Rose’s negotiation on, ii. 187–197;
laid aside, 199;
Gallatin’s plan for settling, 388;
Canning’s instructions of Jan. 23, 1809, for settling, v. 52, 53;
Erskine’s settlement of the, 67, 68;
settlement disavowed, 88–90;
Canning’s instructions of July 1, 1809, for settling, 101;
Jackson’s offer to settle, 126, 130;
untouched by Wellesley, 285;
Foster’s instructions to settle, vi. 23;
American indifference to settlement, 37;
its effect on the Indians, 79;
settled by Foster, 121, 122, 270;
remembered too well, ix. 73.
Chesapeake Bay, British naval force in, vii. 14, 24;
blockade of, announced Dec. 26, 1812, vii. 30, 33;
severity of blockade in, 264, 265;
Admiral Cockburn’s operations in, 266–269;
Admiral Warren’s operations in, 277;
Cochrane’s marauding in, viii. 164;
in October, 1814, left to repose, 173;
steamboat on, ix. 172.
Cheves, Langdon, member of Congress from South Carolina, asserts
contract with Napoleon, v. 342, 343;
in the Twelfth Congress, vi. 122;
chairman of naval committee, 124;
on Committee on Ways and Means, 124;
his opinion on the war-power, 160;
his motion to build a navy, 162;
his argument in favor of seventy-fours, 163;
his hostility to non-importation, 205, 230, 232, 446, 447, 448;
favors war-taxation, 235;
opposes forfeitures under Non-importation Act, 441;
on war-taxes, 444;
elected speaker, Jan. 19, 1814, vii. 396;
defeats Dallas’s scheme for a national bank, viii. 259.
Chew, Captain Samuel, deposition of, vi. 193, 196.
Chicago. (See Fort Dearborn.)
Chickasaw Bluff, iii. 284, 290, 325.
Chickasaw Indians, iii. 16; vii. 216.
“Childers,” 18-gun British sloop-of-war sent to Pensacola, viii.
322;
in the attack on Fort Bowyer, 323, 324.
Chillicothe in 1800, i. 2.
Chippawa, British force at, viii. 38;
Riall takes position at, 39;
battle at, 40–45;
Brown withdraws to, 47–50;
Ripley retreats from, 66, 67;
Drummond’s delay at, 68;
Drummond retires to, 90;
Izard’s failure at, 116.
“Chippeway,” 1-gun British schooner on Lake Erie, vii. 120.
Chittenden, Martin, governor of Vermont, his proclamation recalling
the State militia, Nov. 10, 1813, vii. 366;
refuses to call out the State militia to defend Plattsburg, viii.
222.
Choctaw Indians, vii. 216;
with Jackson at Mobile, viii. 328;
at New Orleans, 346.
Christie, John, lieutenant-colonel of Thirteenth Infantry, vi. 349,
350, 351.
Christophe, i. 394, 395, 416.
Chrystler’s Farm, battle at, vii. 188–191.
Cincinnati in 1800, i. 2.
Cintra, convention of, v. 48.
Claiborne, Ferdinand Leigh, brigadier-general of Mississippi
militia, vii. 243;
penetrates Creek country, 244.
Claiborne, William Charles Cole, appointed governor of Mississippi
Territory, i. 295, 403;
receives possession of Louisiana, ii. 256;
governor of Orleans Territory, 400;
character of, iii. 297 _et seq._;
his anxieties, 304;
his ignorance of Burr’s conspiracy, 308;
warned by Wilkinson and Andrew Jackson, 316 _et seq._;
takes possession of West Florida, v. 310–314;
left by Jackson in charge of military defence of New Orleans,
viii. 325;
his want of authority, 341;
commands on the Chef Menteur Road, 369.
Claims, American, on France (see French spoliations).
Claims, American, on Spain (see Pinckney), iii. 23–26, 28–30, 32,
35, 107.
Clark, Christopher, a manager of Chase’s impeachment, ii. 228.
Clark, Daniel, of New Orleans, iii. 222;
in sympathy with Burr and the Mexican Association, 223, 236;
his letter to Wilkinson complaining of Burr’s indiscretion, 224;
Burr’s drafts to be drawn in his favor, 231;
a correspondent of Burr in New Orleans, 296, 322;
his hatred for Claiborne, 300;
delegate to Congress, 302, 303;
secures affidavits in evidence of his innocence, 306 _et seq._;
in Washington, 307;
preserves silence respecting the conspiracy, 308;
Wilkinson’s letters to, 321, 322;
turns against Wilkinson, 454.
Clark, William, explores Louisiana Territory with Captain Lewis,
iii. 12, 215.
Clay, Green, brigadier-general of Kentucky militia, surprises
Proctor, vii. 105, 107;
commands Fort Meigs, 109, 114.
Clay, Henry, i. 133;
Burr’s counsel, iii. 278, 282;
senator from Kentucky, his war-speech of Feb. 22, 1810, v. 189;
his speech on the occupation of West Florida, 320, 321;
his speech on the Bank Charter, 333, 334;
elected speaker, vi. 122, 124;
favors army of thirty-five thousand men, 151;
favors war-power, 161;
favors navy, 164;
supposed to have coerced Madison to war, 196;
urges embargo, 201;
suppresses discussion in the House, 227;
his vote defeats repeal of non-importation, 234;
his account of the military efforts of Kentucky, 390–393;
his comments on Hull’s surrender, 392, 393;
opposes compromise of forfeitures under Non-importation Act, 442;
elected speaker of Thirteenth Congress, vii. 53;
assists Harrison, 73, 74;
nominated and confirmed as joint envoy to negotiate peace at
Ghent, 371, 393;
resigns speakership and sails for Europe, 396; ix. 10;
at Ghent, ix. 14, 16;
insists that the British will recede, 20;
combative, 29;
his speeches, 31;
drafts Indian article, 32;
opposed to recognizing the British right of navigating the
Mississippi, 46–48;
his opinion of the treaty, 50, 58;
his character, 51, 52;
Speaker in the Fourteenth Congress, 107, 108;
favors strong foreign policy, 109;
favors protection, 113–115;
recants his errors in regard to the national bank, 117;
attacked on account of the Compensation Act, 136;
offered the War Department, 142;
supports internal improvements, 149, 150.
Clergy, of New England, their authority, i. 79–82;
Jefferson’s quarrel with, 313–318;
their opinion of Jefferson, 321;
their attitude toward the war, viii. 20–23;
their division into Orthodox, Unitarian, and Universalist, ix,
175–187.
“Clermont,” Fulton’s steamboat, makes her first voyage August 17,
1807, iv. 135.
Cleveland in 1800, i. 3.
Clifton, William, i. 98.
Clinton, De Witt, i. 112, 228, 233;
resigns his senatorship to become mayor of New York, 266, 281;
attacks Burr through Cheetham, 331;
his duel with Swartwout, 332; ii. 206;
presides over a “Chesapeake” meeting in New York, iv. 28;
his attitude toward the embargo, 283;
takes electoral votes from Madison, 287;
nominated for the Presidency by New York, vi. 215;
his canvass, 409, 410;
his electoral vote, 413; vii. 48;
favors Erie Canal, ix. 168.
Clinton, George, i. 114;
governor of New York, 228; ii. 173;
nominated for Vice-President, 180;
Vice-President, iii. 126;
his casting vote confirms Armstrong, 153, 172;
renominated for Vice-President in 1808, iv. 226, 287;
his hostility to Madison, 227;
supported by Cheetham for the Presidency, 227, 284;
his opinions reported by Erskine, 385;
his opposition to Madison, 428, 430;
presides in the Senate, v. 76, 190;
his vote against the Bank Charter, 337;
his political capacity, 363, 364;
his death, vi. 214.
Clopton, John, member of Congress from Virginia, on the army bill,
iv. 212.
Coast survey, appropriation for, by Congress, iii. 355.
Coasting trade under the embargo, iv. 251 _et seq._;
tonnage employed in 1807–1810, v. 15.
Cobbett, William, i. 46;
in Philadelphia, 118;
on the “Chesapeake” affair, iv. 44, 73, 329;
his “Weekly Register” on the American war, vii. 356.
Cochrane, Sir Alexander, British vice-admiral succeeding Sir John
Borlase Warren, communicates with refugee Creeks, vii. 258;
joint commander with Ross of expedition in the Chesapeake, viii.
124;
his instructions, 124, 125;
his orders for general retaliation, 125–127;
his letter to Monroe, 128;
fails to capture Fort McHenry, 171, 172;
sails for Halifax, 173;
recommends expedition to Mobile, 311;
at New Orleans, 365;
suggests canal, 367.
Cockburn, Sir George, British rear-admiral, his operations in
Chesapeake Bay, vii. 265–269, 274, 276;
at Ocracoke, 277, 329;
at Cumberland Island, 277, 278;
lands with Ross, and urges attack on Washington, viii. 127;
pursues and destroys Barney’s flotilla, 129, 130;
enters Washington and burns the White House, 145, 146;
destroys the type of the “National Intelligencer,” 147;
an incendiary, 164;
at the attack on Baltimore, 170.
Cocke, John, major-general of Tennessee militia, vii. 240;
surprises Hillabee village, 241;
put under arrest, 252.
Cocke, William, senator from Tennessee, ii. 113;
censures Randolph, 240.
Codrington, Sir Edward, British admiral, his account of the
artillery battle at New Orleans, viii. 364.
Coffee, John, colonel of Tennessee militia, commands mounted force
in Jackson’s Creek campaign, vii. 236;
destroys Talishatchee, 237;
at Talladega, 238;
abandoned by his men, 246;
wounded at Emuckfaw, 246, 247;
engaged at the Horse-shoe, 255;
his account of the slaughter, 256;
marches with Tennessee militia to Mobile, viii. 326, 328;
ordered to Baton Rouge, 332, 333;
hurries to New Orleans, 336, 337;
his brigade, 344;
his share in the night battle, 345, 346, 349–351;
stationed on the left of Jackson’s line, 373.
Coggeshall, George, author of “History of American Privateers,”
vii. 325;
his escape in privateer “David Porter,” 325.
Coleman, William, editor of the New York “Evening Post,” i. 119.
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, ix. 215.
“Comet,” Baltimore privateer, vii. 316.
Colonial system of the European Powers, ii. 323.
Colonial trade, ii. 319, 322, 327–329;
direct and indirect, 324, 325;
West Indian, value of, 331, 332;
rule of, established by case of “Essex,” iii. 45;
distress of, 49;
arrangement of, in Monroe’s treaty, 409, 412;
parliamentary report on, iv. 67;
the only object of Perceval’s Orders in Council, 95.
Columbia College, i. 101.
“Columbiad,” the, of Joel Barlow, i. 103 _et seq._
Commerce, foreign and domestic, in 1800, i. 5, 14;
nature and value of American, v. 290, 291.
Commercial Intercourse, Act of May 1, 1810, regarding (see
Non-intercourse).
Commercial restrictions, list of measures of, v. 152, 194;
Madison’s devotion to, 293, 295;
Madison’s return to, 304.
Compensation Act, ix. 119–122;
popular protest against, 134–138;
repeal of, 144–146.
“Confiance,” British 36-gun ship, on Lake Champlain, viii. 103;
her armament and crew, 104, 105, 106;
fights the battle of Plattsburg, 108–110; ix. 234.
Congress, the Seventh, first session of, i. 264–307;
second session, 427–433; ii. 74–77;
the Eighth, first session of, 92, 96–159;
second session, 206–242, 396;
session of 1804–1805, iii. 9;
problems before, December, 1805, 91;
meeting of the Ninth, Dec. 2, 1805, 126;
close of first session, 196;
opening of second session, Dec. 1, 1806, 328;
close of, 369;
Tenth, character of, iv. 146;
meeting of, Oct. 26, 1807, 152;
close of the first session, 223;
meeting of second session, Nov. 7, 1808, 354, 361;
close of, 453, 454;
first session of Eleventh, meets, May 22, 1809, v. 76;
proceedings of, 77–86;
adjourns June 28, 86;
second session meets, Nov. 27, 1809, 176;
proceedings of, 178–209;
adjourns, May 2, 1810, 209;
character of, 316;
election of Twelfth, 316;
third session of Eleventh, 319–358;
close of Eleventh, 358;
first session of Twelfth, meets Nov. 4, 1811, vi. 118;
its composition, 122;
chooses Henry Clay speaker, 124;
war-debate in, 133–153;
proceedings of, 133–175, 201, 202, 204;
declares war against England, 228, 229;
adjourns, July 6, 1812, 235;
decline of influence, 437;
second session of Twelfth, 435–458;
meeting of Thirteenth, May 24, 1813, vii. 53;
proceedings of first session, 54–64, 67, 70, 71;
meeting of second session, Dec. 6, 1813, 364;
proceedings of, 369, 372–379, 381–390;
Federalist strength in, viii. 228;
meeting of third session, Sept. 19, 1814, 239;
proceedings of, 247–262, 266–280;
peace legislation of, ix. 82–87;
close of, 87;
meeting of Fourteenth, 106, 107;
superiority of Fourteenth, 108–111, 138;
proceedings of first session of, 112–122;
close of first session, 125;
popular rebuke of, 138;
second session of, 143;
proceedings of second session, 144–153.
(See Acts of.)
“Congress,” 38-gun frigate, vi. 363;
at Boston, 378;
her cruise in 1812, 381;
returns to Boston, Dec. 31, 1812, vii. 285;
goes to sea, April 30, 1813, 285;
unseaworthy, 287;
returns to Boston, Dec. 14, 1813, 310, 311.
Connecticut, i. 105;
legislature, action of, in February, 1809, iv. 418, 455;
disaffection of, vii. 33, 34; viii. 13;
prosperity of, during the war, 15;
withdraws militia, Aug. 24, 1814, from national service, 221;
appoints delegates to the Hartford Convention, 227;
resolutions of legislature against the militia bill, in October,
1814, 278;
approves report of the Hartford Convention, 304;
regular troops stationed in, 317;
elections of 1816, ix. 133, 139;
growth of population, 154, 155;
increase of wealth in, 157.
“Constellation,” 38-gun frigate, at Washington, vi. 364, 372, 378;
at Norfolk, vii. 269, 270, 274, 287.
“Constitution,” 44-gun frigate, at Tripoli, ii. 426; iv. 5;
chased by British squadron, vi. 364, 369, 372;
captures “Guerriere,” 373–375;
captures “Java,” 385, 386;
arrives at Boston, Feb. 27, 1813, vii. 285;
replaces her masts, 287;
goes to sea, Jan. 1, 1814, 311;
imperilled by privateering, 337;
sails from Boston in December, 1814, ix. 74;
her action with the “Cyane” and “Levant,” 75–78;
escapes British squadron, 78.
Constitution, the (see Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798,
Treaty-making Power, War Power, Militia, Internal Improvement,
Amendment, Bank of the United States, Impeachment, Embargo,
New England Convention, Marshall, and Story).
Cook, Orchard, member of Congress from Massachusetts, his letter
describing Gallatin’s plan, iv. 369.
Cooper, Dr. Charles D., his letter on Hamilton and Burr, ii. 178,
186.
Cooper, James Fenimore, i. 110;
quotation from “Chainbearer,” 43.
Coosa River, home of the Upper Creeks, vii. 217, 224, 234;
Jackson’s march to the, 237, 238;
Cocke’s march to the, 240.
Coosadas (see Alabamas).
Copenhagen, the British expedition against, iv. 63;
bombardment of, 65.
Copley, John Singleton, ix. 213.
“Cornwallis,” British seventy-four, chases “Hornet,” ix. 72, 73.
Cordero, Governor, iii. 311.
Cotton, export to France prohibited by England, iv. 101, 219, 322,
323;
manufacturers of, v. 16;
American, prohibited in France, 151;
price of, affected by blockade, vii. 263;
value of export in 1815, ix. 94;
manufactures depressed by the peace, 96;
fabrics, in the tariff of 1816, 111, 114, 116;
export in 1816, 126.
“Courier,” the, London newspaper, on the American war, vii. 358;
on the Americans, 359;
on Perry’s victory, 359;
on Proctor’s defeat, 360;
on the necessity of retaliation, 362;
on privateers, viii. 197;
on Madison, ix. 5;
on terms of peace, 6, 7, 31, 35;
on the news of peace, 54.
Covington, Leonard, brigadier-general in the U. S. army, commands
brigade in Wilkinson’s expedition, vii. 184;
his opinion in council of war, 185;
killed at Chrystler’s Farm, 189.
Coxe, William S., third lieutenant on the “Chesapeake,” vii. 295;
fires the last guns, 298.
Craig, Sir James, governor-general of Canada, calls on the Indians
for assistance in case of war with the United States, iv. 137;
governor of Lower Canada, 243;
warned by Erskine to be on his guard against attacks from the
United States, 395;
his instructions to John Henry, 460;
recalls John Henry, v. 86.
Craney Island, fortified, vii. 271;
attacked, 272–275.