Transcriber’s Note: Italic text is enclosed in _underscores_.
Superscripts are shown as ^x. Other notes will be found near the end of
this eBook.
THE HISTORY OF OUR NAVY
[Illustration: THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _GUERRIÈRE_.
_From a French water-color drawing in the possession of Mr. W. C.
Crane._]
THE
HISTORY OF OUR NAVY
FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT DAY
1775–1897
BY
JOHN R. SPEARS
AUTHOR OF “THE PORT OF MISSING SHIPS,” “THE GOLD DIGGINGS
OF CAPE HORN,” ETC.
WITH MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED ILLUSTRATIONS
MAPS AND DIAGRAMS
_IN FOUR VOLUMES_
_VOLUME II._
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
1897
COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS
MANHATTAN PRESS
474 W. BROADWAY
NEW YORK
TO ALL WHO WOULD SEEK PEACE
AND PURSUE IT
CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER I. TROUBLES ON THE EVE OF WAR. 1
A Fair Estimate of the Number of Americans Enslaved by the
Press-Gangs--A Braggart British Captain’s Work at Sandy Hook--A
Search for the _Guerrière_--Attack on the British Ship _Little
Belt_--A Feature of the Battle that was Overlooked--When the
_Constitution_ Showed her Teeth the British Ship Brailed its Spanker
and Headed for Safer Waters--An Eager Yankee Sailor who Couldn’t Wait
for an Order to Fire--War Unavoidable.
CHAPTER II. THE OUTLOOK WAS, AT FIRST, NOT PLEASING 20
The Silly Cry of “On to Canada!”--The Naval Forces of the United
States Compared with Those of Great Britain--The Foresight and Quick
Work of Captain Rodgers in Getting a Squadron to Sea--But he Missed
the Jamaica Fleet he was After, and when he Fell in with a British
Frigate, the Results of the Affair were Lamentable.
CHAPTER III. THE FIRST EXHIBIT OF YANKEE METTLE 33
Captain David Porter’s Ideas about Training Seamen--The Guns of the
_Essex_--Taking a Transport out of a Convoy at Night--A British
Frigate Captain who was Called a Coward by his Countrymen--Captain
Laugharne’s Mistake--A Fight that began with Cheers and ended in
Dismay for which there was Good Cause--Work that was Done by Yankee
Gunners in Eight Minutes--When Farragut Saved the Ship--An Attack on
a Fifty-gun Ship Planned.
CHAPTER IV. A RACE FOR THE LIFE OF A NATION 51
Story of the _Constitution’s_ Escape from a British Squadron off the
Jersey Beach--Four Frigates and a Liner were after her--For more
than two Days the Brave Old Captain Stood at his Post while the Ship
Tacked and Wore and Reached and Ran, and the tireless Sailors Towed
and Kedged and Wet the Sails to Catch the Shifting Air--Though once
Half-surrounded and once within Range, _Old Ironsides_ Eluded the
whole Squadron till a Friendly Squall Came to Wrap her in its Black
Folds and Carry her far from Danger.
CHAPTER V. THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_ 71
The British Captain could scarcely Believe that a Yankee would be
Bold Enough to Attack him, and was Sure of Victory in Less than an
Hour, but when the Yankees had been Firing at the _Guerrière_ for
Thirty Minutes she was a Dismantled Hulk, Rapidly Sinking out of
Sight--“The Sea never Rolled over a Vessel whose Fate so Startled
the World”--Sundry Admissions her Loss Extorted from the Enemy--A
Comparison of the Ships.
CHAPTER VI. FOUGHT IN A HATTERAS GALE 104
When the Second Yankee _Wasp_ Fell in with the British _Frolic_--They
Tumbled about in the Cross Sea in a Way that Destroyed the British
“Aim,” but the Yankees Watched the Roll of their Ship, and when they
were Done they had Killed and Wounded Nine-tenths of the Enemy’s Crew
and Wrecked his Vessel--the _Frolic_ was a Larger Ship, carried more
Guns, and had all the Men she could Use, “Fine, Able-bodied Seamen,”
sure enough!
CHAPTER VII. BROUGHT THE _MACEDONIAN_ INTO PORT 120
Story of the Second Frigate Duel of the War of 1812--The _Macedonian_
was a new Ship, and had been Built with a full Knowledge of the
Yankee Frigates--Whipped, but not Destroyed--Estimating a Crew’s
Skill by the Number of Shots that Hit--Suppose the Armaments of
the Ships had been Reversed--Impressed Americans Killed when
Forced to Fight against their own Flag--“The Noblest Sight in
Natur’”--A First-rate Frigate, as a Prize, Brought Home by Brave
Decatur--Enthusiastic Celebrations of the Victory throughout the
United States.
CHAPTER VIII. WHEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ SANK THE _JAVA_ 152
The British had Plenty of Pluck, and Lambert was a skilful Seaman;
but his Gunners had not Learned to Shoot, while the Yankees were able
Marksmen--The _Java_ was Ruined beyond Repair--Proof that the British
Published Garbled Reports of Battles with the Americans--Though
Twice Wounded, Bainbridge Remained on Deck--Wide Difference in
Losses--Story of a Midshipman--When Bainbridge was a Merchant Captain.
CHAPTER IX. WHIPPED IN FOURTEEN MINUTES 178
The Remarkable Battle between the Yankee _Hornet_ and the British
_Peacock_--The British Ship was so Pretty she was Known as “The
Yacht,” but her Gunners could not Hit the Broadside of the _Hornet_
when the Ships were in Contact--As her Flag came Down a Signal of
Distress went Up, for she was Sinking--The Efforts of two Crews could
not Save her--“A Vessel Moored for the Purpose of Experiment could
not have been sunk Sooner”--Infamous Treatment of American Seamen
Repaid by the Golden Rule--Captain Greene, of the _Bonne Citoyenne_,
did not dare Meet the _Hornet_.
CHAPTER X. LOSS OF LAWRENCE AND THE _CHESAPEAKE_ 193
The Yankees had Won so Often that they were Underestimating the Enemy
and were Over-confident in Themselves--A Mixed Crew, Newly Shipped,
Untrained and Mutinous, Ten Per Cent. of them being British--The
Result was Natural and Inevitable--Chivalry a Plenty; Common-sense
Wanting--The “Shannons” were Trained like Yankees--A Fierce
Conflict--Significance of the Joy of the British over the _Shannon’s_
Victory.
CHAPTER XI. THE PRIVATEERS OF 1812 233
Property Afloat as a Pledge of Peace--Foreign Aggression had Taught
the Americans how to Build and Sail swift Cruisers--Odd Names--The
First Prizes--Commodore Joshua Barney and the _Rossie_--A Famous
Cruise--Some Rich Prizes were Captured, but only a Few of the
Privateers made Money--Beat off a War-ship that Threw Six Times her
Weight of Metal--A Battle in Sight of La Guayra.
CHAPTER XII. EARLY WORK ON THE GREAT LAKES 259
It was a beautiful Region unmarred by the Hand of Man in those
Days--The Long Trail to Oswego--The First Yankee War-ship on Fresh
Water--The British Get Ahead of us on Lake Ontario--Good Work of “The
Old Sow” at Sackett’s Harbor--A Dash into Kingston Harbor--The Story
of the Brilliant Work by which Jesse D. Elliott Won a Sword and the
Admiration of the Nation.
CHAPTER XIII. THE BATTLE ON LAKE ERIE 280
Building War-ships and Gun-boats in the Wilderness--Lifting the
Vessels over a Sand-bar--Fortunately the British Commander was
Fond of Public Entertainments--The two Squadrons and their Crews
Compared--The Advantage of a Concentrated Force was with the
British--On the Way to Meet the Enemy--“To Windward or to Leeward
they shall Fight To-day”--The Anglo-Saxon Cheer--The Brunt of
the Fight Borne by the Flag-ship--A Frightful Slaughter there
in Consequence--When Perry Worked the Guns with his own Hands,
and even the Wounded Crawled up the Hatch to Lend a Hand at the
Side-tackles--An Able First Lieutenant--Wounded Exposed to the Fire
when under the Surgeon’s Care--The Last Gun Disabled--Shifting
the Flag to the _Niagara_--Cheers that were Heard above the Roar
of Cannon--When the Wounded of the _Lawrence_ cried “Sink the
Ship!”--Driving the _Niagara_ through the British Squadron--The White
Handkerchief Fluttering from a Boarding-pike--“We have Met the Enemy,
and they are Ours.”
CHAPTER XIV. INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE ON LAKE ERIE 326
Two of the Enemy’s Vessels that Tried to get Away--A Yankee
Sailor’s Reason for Wanting one more Shot--When Perry Returned
to the _Lawrence_--The Dead and Wounded--Effect of the Victory
on the People--Honors to the Victors--The Case of Lieutenant
Elliott--Ultimate Fate of some of the Ships.
CHAPTER XV. THE WAR ON LAKE ONTARIO 339
The Capture of York (Toronto) by the Americans--A Victory at
the Mouth of the Niagara River--British Account of the Attack
on Sackett’s Harbor--Tales of the Prudence of Sir James Yeo and
Commodore Chauncey--The Americans did somewhat Better than the
British, but Missed a great Opportunity--Small Affairs on Lake
Champlain during the Summer of 1813.
CHAPTER XVI. LOSS OF THE LITTLE SLOOP _ARGUS_ 356
She was Captured by the _Pelican_, a Vessel that was of slightly
superior Force--A Clean Victory for the British, but one that in no
Way Disheartens the Fiercest of the American Patriots--Ill-luck of
“the Waggon.”
CHAPTER XVII. THE LUCK OF A YANKEE CRUISER 372
There was never a more fortunate Vessel than the Clipper-schooner
_Enterprise_--As originally Designed she was the Swiftest and Best
All-around Naval Ship of her Class Afloat--Men she made Famous in
the West Indies--A Glorious Career in the War with the Mediterranean
Pirates--Even when the Wisdom of the Navy Department Changed her
to a Brig and Overloaded her with Guns so that she “Couldn’t Get
Out of her own Way,” her Luck did not Fail her--Her Fight with the
_Boxer_--Even a good Frigate could not Catch her.
CHAPTER XVIII. GUN-BOATS NOT WHOLLY WORTHLESS 388
Even in the worst View of them they are Worth Consideration--The
Best of them Described--The Hopes of those who, like Jefferson,
Believed in them--Reasons for their General Worthlessness that should
have been Manifest before they were Built--Promoted Drunkenness
and Debauchery--They Protected Yankee Commerce in Long Island
Sound--A Fight with a Squadron in Chesapeake Bay--When the Braggart
Captain Pechell Met the Yankees--Sailing-master Sheed’s Brave
Defence of “No. 121”--Commodore Barney in the Patuxent River--When
Sailing-master Travis of the _Surveyor_ made a good Fight--A Wounded
Yankee Midshipman Murdered--Men who made Fame in Shoal Water below
Charleston.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _GUERRIÈRE_. (From a French water-color
drawing in the possession of Mr. W. C. Crane), _Frontispiece._
ENGLISH VESSEL OF ONE HUNDRED GUNS. (From an engraving by
Verico), 3
A FRIGATE WITH HER SAILS LOOSE TO DRY. (From a wood-cut in the
“Kedge Anchor”), 5
JOHN RODGERS. (From the portrait by Jarvis at the Naval
Academy), 9
THE _LITTLE BELT_ BREAKING UP AT BATTERSEA. (From an engraving
by Cooke of a drawing by Francia), 12
THE SECTION OF A FIRST-RATE SHIP. (From an old engraving), 17
A BRIGANTINE OF A HUNDRED YEARS AGO AT ANCHOR. (From a picture
drawn and engraved by Baugean), 22
AN ENGLISH ADMIRAL OF 1809. (From an engraving at the Navy
Department, Washington), 24
REPRESENTATION OF A SHIP-OF-WAR, DRESSED WITH FLAGS, AND YARDS
MANNED. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 27
THE INTERNAL ARRANGEMENTS AND STOWAGE OF AN AMERICAN
SLOOP-OF-WAR. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 28
GUNS SECURED FOR A GALE. (From the “Kedge Anchor”), 30
DAVID PORTER. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Wood), 35
FIGHT OF THE _ESSEX_ AND THE _ALERT_. (From an old wood-cut), 41
AN ENGLISH THIRTY-GUN CORVETTE. (From an engraving by Merlo in
1794), 45
SIR JOHN THOMAS DUCKWORTH. (From an English engraving), 48
ISAAC HULL. (From an engraving at the Navy Department,
Washington, of the painting by Stuart), 54
THE _CONSTITUTION’S_ ESCAPE FROM THE BRITISH SQUADRON AFTER A
CHASE OF SIXTY HOURS. (From an engraving by Hoogland of the
picture by Corné), 57
TOWING A BECALMED FRIGATE. (From a picture drawn and engraved
by Baugean), 59
CHASE OF THE _CONSTITUTION_ OFF THE JERSEY COAST. (From the
painting by Inch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 65
THE _CONSTITUTION_ BEARING DOWN FOR THE _GUERRIÈRE_. (From an
old wood-cut), 71
ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--I.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 77
ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--II.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 81
THE _CONSTITUTION_ IN CLOSE ACTION WITH THE _GUERRIÈRE_. (From
an old wood-cut), 83
ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--III.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 85
DIAGRAM OF THE _CONSTITUTION-GUERRIÈRE_ BATTLE, 87
ACTION BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _GUERRIÈRE_.--IV.
(From the painting by Birch at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 89
SIR JAMES RICHARD DACRES. (From an English engraving published
in 1811), 93
MEDAL AWARDED TO ISAAC HULL AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_GUERRIÈRE_ BY THE _CONSTITUTION_, 102
JACOB JONES. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Rembrandt Peale), 105
DIAGRAM OF THE _WASP-FROLIC_ BATTLE, 108
THE _WASP_ BOARDING THE _FROLIC_. (From an old wood-cut), 111
THE _WASP_ AND _FROLIC_. (From an original water-color by H.
Rich, at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 113
JAMES BIDDLE. (From an engraving by Gimbrede of the portrait by
Wood), 115
MEDAL AWARDED TO JACOB JONES AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE _FROLIC_
BY THE _WASP_, 118
CAPTURE OF THE _MACEDONIAN_. (From an engraving in Waldo’s
“Decatur”), 123
DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND
_MACEDONIAN_, 127
BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND THE _MACEDONIAN_. (From
an engraving by Duthie of the drawing by Chappel), 129
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _UNITED STATES_ AND THE _MACEDONIAN_.
(Drawn by a sailor who was on the _UNITED STATES_. From the
original drawing at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 135
STEPHEN DECATUR. (From the portrait by Thomas Sully at the
Naval Academy, Annapolis), 145
MEDAL AWARDED TO STEPHEN DECATUR AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_MACEDONIAN_ BY THE _UNITED STATES_, 150
BILLET-HEAD OF THE _CONSTITUTION_. (From the original at the
Naval Institute, Annapolis), 153
DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE OF THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND _JAVA_, 158
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _JAVA_.--I. (“At
five minutes past three o’clock, as the _Java’s_ foremast
fell.” From an engraving by Havel, after a sketch by
Lieutenant Buchanan), 159
THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE _CONSTITUTION_ AND THE _JAVA_.--II.
(“At half-past four o’clock, as the _Constitution_ began to
make sail.” From an engraving by Havel, after a sketch by
Lieutenant Buchanan), 163
THE _JAVA_ SURRENDERING TO THE _CONSTITUTION_. (From an old
wood-cut), 167
MEDAL AWARDED TO WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_JAVA_ BY THE _CONSTITUTION_, 175
THE _HORNET_ BLOCKADING THE _BONNE CITOYENNE_. (From an old
wood-cut), 180
DIAGRAM OF THE _HORNET-PEACOCK_ BATTLE, 183
JOHN T. SHUBRICK. (From an engraving by Gimbrede), 185
THE _HORNET_ SINKING THE _PEACOCK_. (From an old wood-cut), 186
MEDAL AWARDED TO JAMES LAWRENCE, AFTER THE CAPTURE OF THE
_PEACOCK_ BY THE _HORNET_, 191
JAMES LAWRENCE. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Stuart), 195
SIR PHILIP BOWES VERE BROKE, BART. (From a lithograph of the
portrait by Lane), 201
JAMES LAWRENCE. (From an engraving by Edwin), 205
THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--COMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 207
THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--AFTER THE FIRST TWO BROADSIDES
FROM THE LATTER. (From an engraving at the Navy Department,
Washington), 211
DIAGRAM OF THE _CHESAPEAKE-SHANNON_ BATTLE, 213
“DON’T GIVE UP THE SHIP!”--DEATH OF CAPTAIN LAWRENCE. (From an
engraving by Hall of the picture by Chappel), 215
THE _CHESAPEAKE_ AND _SHANNON_.--THE _SHANNON’S_ MEN BOARDING.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 219
THE FIGHT ON THE _CHESAPEAKE’S_ FORECASTLE. (From a lithograph
in the “Memoir of Admiral Broke”), 223
THE _SHANNON_ TAKING THE _CHESAPEAKE_ INTO HALIFAX HARBOR.
(From an engraving at the Navy Department, Washington), 227
“IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE.” (From an old engraving), 231
SHIP’S PAPERS OF THE _WILLIAM BAYARD_ IN 1810, SIGNED BY
NAPOLEON. (From the original at the Naval Institute,
Annapolis), 236–7
BATTLE BETWEEN THE SCHOONER _ATLAS_ AND TWO BRITISH SHIPS,
AUGUST 5, 1812. (From a lithograph in Coggeshall’s
“Privateers”), 243
THE _ROSSIE_ AND THE _PRINCESS AMELIA_. (From a lithograph in
Coggeshall’s “Privateers”), 249
BATTLE BETWEEN THE SCHOONER _SARATOGA_ AND THE BRIG _RACHEL_.
(From a lithograph in Coggeshall’s “Privateers”), 255
JESSE D. ELLIOTT. (From a lithograph at the Navy Department,
Washington), 260
SACKETT’S HARBOR, 1814. (After an old engraving), 264
MAP, SCENE OF NAVAL OPERATIONS ON LAKE ONTARIO, 1812–1813, 266
CAPTAIN WOOLSEY. (From a painting at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis), 269
WILKINSON’S FLOTILLA. (From an old wood-cut), 272
DETROIT IN 1815. (After an old engraving), 274
CAPTURE OF THE BRITISH BRIGS _DETROIT_ AND _CALEDONIA_, OCTOBER
12, 1812. (From a wood-cut prepared under the supervision of
Lieutenant Jesse D. Elliott himself), 277
O. H. PERRY. (From an engraving by Forrest of the portrait by
Jarvis), 281
PORT OF BUFFALO IN 1815. (After a contemporary engraving),
284–5
MAP OF THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, 293
PERRY AND HIS OFFICERS ON BOARD THE FLAG-SHIP _LAWRENCE_,
PREPARING FOR THE ENGAGEMENT. (From an old wood-cut), 303
DIAGRAM OF PERRY’S VICTORY--THE APPROACH. (After Ward’s “Naval
Tactics”), 304
THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. (From an old engraving), 308
FIRST VIEW OF PERRY’S VICTORY. (From an engraving of a drawing
by Corné), 310
“PERRY’S SIEG.”--A GERMAN VIEW OF THE VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE.
(From an old engraving), 312
DIAGRAM OF PERRY’S VICTORY.--POSITIONS AT HEIGHT OF BATTLE, 314
SECOND VIEW OF PERRY’S VICTORY. (From an engraving of a drawing
by Corné), 316
PERRY TRANSFERRING HIS COLORS. (After the painting by Powell), 319
“WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND THEY ARE OURS.” (From the “Naval
Monument”), 324
STEPHEN CHAMPLIN. (From a painting at the Naval Academy,
Annapolis), 327
THE MEDAL AWARDED TO OLIVER H. PERRY AFTER HIS VICTORY ON LAKE
ERIE, 334
MEDAL AWARDED TO JESSE D. ELLIOTT, 335
MAP OF NIAGARA RIVER, 340
THE DEATH OF GENERAL PIKE. (From an old wood-cut), 342
THE NIAGARA RIVER AND SCENES FROM THE WAR OF 1812. (From an
engraving in Hinton’s “History of the United States”), 343
ISAAC CHAUNCEY. (From an engraving by Edwin of the portrait by
Wood), 345
CAPTAIN SIR JAMES LUCAS YEO. (From an engraving by Cook of the
portrait by Buck), 347
BUFFALO, N. Y., BURNED BY THE BRITISH, DECEMBER 30, 1813. (From
an old wood-cut), 354
THE _ARGUS_ BURNING BRITISH VESSELS. (From an old wood-cut), 361
THE _ARGUS_ CAPTURED BY THE _PELICAN_, AUGUST 14, 1813. (From
an engraving by Sutherland of the painting by Whitcombe), 365
THE _ENTERPRISE_ AND _BOXER_. (From a wood-cut in the “Naval
Monument”), 377
DIAGRAM OF THE _ENTERPRISE-BOXER_ BATTLE, 378
MEDAL AWARDED TO EDWARD R. MCCALL AFTER THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE
_ENTERPRISE_ AND THE _BOXER_, 385
OLD-TIME NAVAL GUNNERY. (From a wood-cut), 391
JOHN CASSIN. (From a lithograph at the Navy Department,
Washington), 399
JOSHUA BARNEY. (From an engraving of the painting by Chappel), 404
MAP OF CHESAPEAKE BAY, 411
THE FLAG OF FORT MCHENRY--AFTER THE BRITISH ATTACK IN 1814.
(From a photograph at the Naval Academy, Annapolis), 415
THE CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON. (From an old wood-cut), 416
THE HISTORY OF OUR NAVY
CHAPTER I
TROUBLES ON THE EVE OF WAR
A FAIR ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS ENSLAVED BY THE PRESS
GANGS--A BRAGGART BRITISH CAPTAIN’S WORK AT SANDY HOOK--A SEARCH
FOR THE _GUERRIÈRE_--ATTACK ON THE BRITISH SHIP _LITTLE BELT_--A
FEATURE OF THE BATTLE THAT WAS OVERLOOKED--WHEN THE _CONSTITUTION_
SHOWED HER TEETH THE BRITISH SHIP BRAILED ITS SPANKER AND HEADED
FOR SAFER WATERS--AN EAGER YANKEE SAILOR WHO COULDN’T WAIT FOR AN
ORDER TO FIRE--WAR UNAVOIDABLE.
By base arts and promises intended to be broken--by sending, for
instance, one George Rose as a commissioner to Washington, ostensibly
to adjust the whole matter amicably, but in reality to gain time, the
British Prime Minister (the “impetuous Canning”) succeeded in getting
the _Chesapeake_ affair “put out to nurse.” The three American seamen
were “reprieved on condition of re-entering the British service; not,
however, without a grave lecture from Berkeley on the enormity of
their offence, and its tendency to provoke a war.” Berkeley himself was
called home. The British Minister told the American Government this was
done by way of reproval for Berkeley’s act in ordering the assault on
the _Chesapeake_. As a matter of fact, he was at once rewarded with a
more important command than that he had held--just as the commander of
the _Leander_ was promoted after having shot to death the man at the
tiller of an American coaster.
Not only was the _Chesapeake_ affair “put out to nurse,” it was
actually nursed to sleep. The people waited for the politicians to
adjust it, but waited in vain, waited and watched while the brutal
press-gangs continued their work. The results of these press-gang
assaults upon American seamen seem--as seems the patience of the
American people--almost incredible. But the figures are a matter of
undisputed record. The American Minister in London, during one period
of nine months, presented two hundred and seventy one petitions,
begging the release of that number of American impressed seamen.
The British Admiralty at one time reported 2,548 seamen in the service
who had refused to do duty on the ground that they were enslaved
American citizens.
[Illustration: English Vessel of One Hundred Cannons]
Lord Castlereagh admitted in a speech before Parliament on February
18, 1811, that “out of 145,000 seamen employed in the British service
the whole number of American subjects amounts to more than 3,300.” And
when the papers of the State Department at Washington were searched it
was found that the friends of the enormous number of 6,257 different
American citizens, impressed into the British service, had filed
protests there.
That more than two men would be so impressed without having a protest
filed, to every one for whom such a protest was filed, is a matter of
course. And what is the moderate conclusion drawn from these facts? It
is that more than twenty thousand free American men were forced into
the service of the British navy by the press-gangs. Their fate, save
in a few cases, is unrecorded, but we know that some met the perils of
the deep and were lost. Many were sent to the fever coasts of Africa
and there died. Some were flogged to death at the order of officers
who laughed at their tortures. And of the rest--the few--we shall read
farther on. For their cries to righteous heaven for help, and the wails
of mothers and wives and children left helpless by these aggressions,
were to be heard at last.
[Illustration: A Frigate with her Sails Loose to Dry.
_From a wood-cut in the “Kedge Anchor.”_]
A body of Massachusetts Tory merchants strove wickedly and falsely to
make the world believe that Massachusetts homes had not been invaded
by the press-gangs; a member of Congress stood in his place to say that
in spite of restrictions the nation had “profitably exported” goods
worth forty-five millions of dollars during one year, and asked if all
that trade was to be sacrificed in order to strike a blow for mere
sentiment; the faint-hearted pointed to the exhausted condition of the
national treasury, to the utter lack of trained soldiers, and to the
feebleness of the navy when it was compared with that of the nation
whose “naval supremacy was become a part of the law of nations.” But
all these were at last brushed aside by the indignant host that arose
to strike another blow for liberty--they were brushed aside so rudely,
that, in one place, at least, a mob violently assaulted the toady
element as represented by a Tory newspaper.
It happened that actual fighting occurred before war was declared, and
most significant was one feature of the first battle of the war of
1812. The British frigate _Guerrière_, of thirty-eight guns, commanded
then by Captain Samuel John Pechell, was one of the great host of
war-ships that hovered about the American coast in 1811, picking
able-bodied sailors from American ships, and in other ways annoying
American commerce. Captain Pechell’s contempt for the young republic
and his personal vanity were so great that he caused the name of his
ship to be painted in huge letters across his foretopsail. Like a
mine-camp bad man, he wanted every one to know who it was that tore
open the water and split the air off the American coast. He was looking
for trouble and his ship found enough of it, later on, although under
another commander. Pechell himself found it, also, but he did not stay
long to face it. In fact he fled from a very inferior force the moment
he smelled the burning powder.
On May 1, 1811, the American merchant brig, _Spitfire_, while en
route from Portland (formerly Falmouth), Maine, to New York, passed
the _Guerrière_, that was lying-to at Sandy Hook, and but eighteen
miles from New York City. The _Guerrière_, finding the brig bound in,
deliberately stopped her there within the waters of New York and took
off John Deguyo, an American citizen, who was a passenger.
At the time of this outrage the United States frigate _President_,
of forty-four guns, commanded by Captain John Rodgers, was lying
off Fort Severn, at Annapolis, Maryland. Captain Rodgers was at
Havre de Grace, her chaplain and purser were at Washington, and her
sailing-master was at Baltimore. That was in the days of stage coaches,
as the reader will recall, but in spite of the slowness with which
mails travelled--especially official mails--the _President_ tripped
her anchor at dawn on the morning of May 12th, and headed away for
the ocean, with her name painted on each of her three topsails. As a
poker-player might say, Captain Rodgers was holding three of a kind
to Captain Pechell’s ace high. That he had been sent to sea to look
for the _Guerrière_ and get John Deguyo from her does not admit of
a doubt, although he had not been specifically ordered to do so. He
had been ordered to cruise up and down the coast to “protect American
commerce,” and the facts of the _Guerrière’s_ assault upon the liberty
of John Deguyo had been communicated to him. The proper proceedings
in the matter should he fall in with the _Guerrière_ were left to his
discretion. That he assumed the responsibility gladly may be inferred
from what he said before sailing. He said that if he fell in with the
_Guerrière_ “he hoped he might prevail upon her commander to release
the impressed young man.”
Four days after leaving Annapolis (on May 16, 1811) the look-out
saw a man-of-war approaching, and the looked-for _Guerrière_ was
supposed to be at hand. But while yet too far away for her name to be
distinguished, the stranger wore around and headed away south. Still
supposing it was the _Guerrière_, Captain Rodgers made sail after her.
This was soon after the noonday meal. The _President_ steadily gained
on the stranger, but the wind was light, and a stern chase is a long
one. As night came on the stranger hauled to the wind and tacked, and
did various things, manifestly in the hope of evading the Yankee, but
all in vain, even though night and thick weather came on to help.
[Illustration: John Rodgers.
_From the portrait by Jarvis at the Naval Academy._]
Finally, at 8.20 o’clock the _President_, with her crew at quarters,
drew up close on the weather bow of the stranger, and Captain Rodgers
hailed from the lee rail:
“What ship is that?”
Instead of an answer, the stranger replied by hailing in turn:
“What ship is that?”
Captain Rodgers repeated his question, and to his intense surprise
he got for an answer a shot from the stranger that struck the
_President’s_ mainmast. Like an echo to this shot was one, fired
without orders, from the _President_. To this the stranger replied
with three shots in quick succession, and then with a broadside. At
that the impatient gunner who had fired from the _President_ without
orders had opportunity to try again under orders, and the rest of the
crew joined in. For ten minutes they loaded the guns with a rapidity
well worth noting, and fired with a deliberation and precision never to
be forgotten. And then the stranger almost ceased firing. Because she
was manifestly much inferior to the _President_ in armament, Captain
Rodgers ordered his men to cease firing, but no sooner had this order
been obeyed than the stranger opened once more, and his fire had to
be returned. The order was obeyed with such increasing good-will that,
in spite of darkness and growing wind and sea, one broadside knocked
the stranger helpless, so that she wore around stern on, where another
broadside might rake her fore and aft.
Now when Rodgers once more hailed he received a reply, but owing to his
position to windward he could not understand it, but it is recorded
that the captain pluckily said “no” when asked if he had struck.
However, Rodgers ran down under the stranger’s lee and hove to, where
he might be of service in case she should sink, and there he waited for
daylight.
During the night the two vessels drifted apart, but at 8 o’clock the
next morning the _President_ ranged up and sent Lieutenant Creighton on
board the stranger, to “regret the necessity which had led to such an
unhappy result,” and offer assistance, if any were needed.
It was then learned that she was the “twenty-gun corvette _Little
Belt_, Commander Arthur B. Bingham.” She had carried a crew of one
hundred and twenty-one all told, and of these no less than eleven were
killed, and twenty-one wounded--a list of casualties amounting to more
than one-fourth of all she carried, although, even by the British
account (see Allen) the time that elapsed between the first hail and
the last was but half an hour, while the time passed in actual combat
did not exceed fifteen minutes. On the _President_ one boy was slightly
hurt by a splinter.
[Illustration: The _Little Belt_ Breaking up at Battersea.
_From an engraving by Cooke of a drawing by Francia._]
In the controversy that followed this conflict the significance of the
figures--significance of the deadly fire of the Americans--was wholly
lost to sight. The whole affair was, of course, carefully investigated
by both Governments. The officers on each ship swore that the other
fired the first gun. The British captain’s statement, however, was
greatly weakened by his assertion that he had kept up the fight for
three-quarters of an hour and that he had really beaten off his bigger
opponent. So Allen, already quoted, says that “a gun was fired from
each ship, but whether by accident or design, or from which ship first,
remains involved in doubt.”
This fight occurred, as the reader remembers, when the two nations were
nominally at peace, but it was a blow--the first blow struck at the
press-gangs.
Another incident of similar import, though bloodless, occurred before
the end of the year 1811. The _Constitution_, Captain Isaac Hull,
had gone to Texel to carry specie for the payment of interest on the
American bonds held there, and when returning had called at Portsmouth
to enable Captain Hull to communicate with the American legation in
London. One night, while the captain was in London, a British officer
came on board the _Constitution_ to say that an American deserter was
on the British war-ship _Havana_, lying near by, and the _Constitution_
could have him by sending for him. So the executive officer,
Lieutenant Morris, sent a boat next morning, but it came back with a
notice that an order for the man must first be obtained from Admiral
Sir Roger Curtis. To this official then went Lieutenant Morris, when
the admiral calmly informed him that the man claimed to be a British
subject, and therefore he should not be returned.
It was fairly manifest that the British officials had for some reason
been playing with the temporary commander of the _Constitution_, but
Lieutenant Morris had his revenge within a day, for on the next night
a British sailor boarded the _Constitution_, admitted that he was a
deserter from the _Havana_, and said, when asked his nationality, that
he was “An American, sor.”
At that, word was sent the commander of the _Havana_ that a deserter
from his ship was on the _Constitution_, but when an officer from the
_Havana_ came after the man, Lieutenant Morris blandly informed him
that the man claimed to be an American and therefore he could not be
given up.
This threw the British naval people into a turmoil, and a little later
two British frigates shifted their berths and anchored where it was
probable that the _Constitution_ would, on getting under way, foul one
or the other.
Seeing they were laying a trap for him, Lieutenant Morris got up
anchor, and by the skill in handling a ship common among American
officers, dropped clear to a new berth.
Hardly was he at anchor again, however, before the two frigates once
more drew near and again anchored to trap the Yankee frigate.
The three ships were lying so when Captain Hull returned from London
that evening. That the Englishmen were intending to make trouble about
the sailor with a brogue seemed plain, but Captain Hull, remembering
the trick played on the _Chesapeake_, was not to be caught napping. He
cleared the ship for action, and, with battle-lanterns burning, guns
loaded, and extra ammunition at each gun, he made sail, got up his
anchor, and, slipping clear of the British frigates, put to sea. There
were two Britishers to the one Yankee, but the Yankee was ready to
fight.
As the _Constitution_ stood away down the roads the British frigates
made sail in chase. For a time the _Constitution_ carried a press of
canvas, but when it was seen that one of the enemy was dropping out of
sight Captain Hull backed his main-yard and waited for the other.
“If that fellow wants to fight we won’t disappoint him,” said the
captain.
As the enemy ranged up within hail Lieutenant Morris walked forward
along the gun-deck to encourage the men, and found that never did a
crew need encouragement less. Gun-captains were bringing their guns to
bear on the enemy, and their men, stripped to the waist in many cases,
were hauling on the side-tackles with a vigor that made the carriages
jump.
But they were to be disappointed. The Englishman came yapping up
till he saw the teeth of the silent Yankee turned upon him, when he
hesitated, turned, brailed in his spanker as a dog tucks its tail
between its legs, and ran back to his own enclosure.
And then there was the occasion when the _United States_, commanded
by Captain Stephen Decatur, of Tripoli fame, fell in with the British
ships _Eurydice_ and _Atalanta_ while cruising off Sandy Hook. Decatur
had his men at their guns, of course, though he had no reason for
trying either to force or to avoid a fight. But while he was exchanging
hails with one of the other ships an impatient gunner on the _United
States_ pulled his lanyard and sent a ball into one of the British
ships. It was unquestionably done by the man to force a fight, though
when he saw that it did not bring a single return shot he said he did
it accidentally, and the shot was so explained to the British captains.
[Illustration: The Section of a First-rate Ship.
_Being cut or divided by the middle from the stem to the stern, at one
view discovering the decks, guns, cabins, etc._]
This incident, like that of the _Constitution_ at Plymouth, is worth
mentioning to show the feeling of the American seamen regarding
the British theory and practice of impressment. And this feeling was
becoming well known to all informed and thinking persons in both
countries. It could now no longer be doubted that the American people
would fight to gain freedom for their countrymen enslaved in British
warships.
It is admitted that the politicians at Washington still talked as
loudly of free trade on the high seas as ever they had done; it is
admitted that “free trade” stood before “sailors’ rights” in the motto
of the day--but it is declared, nevertheless, that the sentiment of the
people, which alone can declare a war in this republic, was roused by
the outrages upon man, and not upon property.
Had the British been animated by any other feeling than “the spirit
of animosity and unconciliating contempt,” they could have averted
further trouble by definitely abandoning their hostile attitude toward
the young republic. They had opportunity to do this gracefully, for,
yielding to the sentiment of the humane element of their nation, the
Ministry had decided to once more disavow the _Chesapeake_ affair and
to return the men to the deck of the ship from which they had been
taken. Two only remained alive, one having been hanged and the other
having succumbed to the hardships to which he was subjected, but these
were in fact put on the _Chesapeake_ in Boston Harbor. Nevertheless,
instead of abandoning the practice which led to the outrage, the right
to continue it was reaffirmed. Indeed, every proposition made by the
portion of the nation that loved justice more than conquest excited
only derision among the nation’s rulers, and among the masses, too, for
that matter. War was inevitable, and on June 18, 1812, it was declared
to exist.