and rigging, Captain Jones at first decided to board; but, soon after,
finding his ship in a favorable position to rake, he directed a fresh
broadside to be delivered. The vessels had gradually approached, and
were now so near, that in loading some of the guns of the Wasp, the
rammers hit against the bows of her antagonist, and the men of the
Frolic could no longer be kept at their quarters forward. The
discharge of one or two carronades swept the enemy's decks. The
impetuosity of the Wasp's crew could be no longer restrained, and
they began to leap into the rigging, and from thence on to the
bowsprit of the brig. In this movement, however, they were preceded by
Mr. Biddle, the first lieutenant. On reaching the deck, judge his
surprise, only three officers and a seaman at the wheel were to be
seen! The bodies of the slain were lying here and there, and the deck
was slippery with blood.
The colors were still flying, there being no seaman to pull them down.
This grateful service was performed by Mr. Biddle himself. The officers
now stepped forward, and surrendered their swords in submission. Thus,
in forty-three minutes, possession was taken of the Frolic, after one of
the most bloody conflicts recorded in naval history.
The Frolic was commanded by Captain Whinyates. She mounted on her main
deck sixteen thirty-two-pound carronades, four long guns, differently
stated to be sixes, nines, and twelves, with two twelve-pound
carronades on a top-gallant forecastle. The Wasp had five killed and
five wounded. Her hull sustained but trifling injury. The loss of the
Frolic was seventy or eighty in wounded and killed. Both these vessels
were captured the same day by the Poictiers, seventy-four, and taken
to Bermuda.
This and other naval victories, while they served to animate and
gratify the whole American people, were humbling to the pride of Great
Britain. She had made her boast that she would drive our "bits of
striped bunting" from the ocean; but she found herself mistaken; nor
was a committee of investigation able to solve the mystery, except
that the American frigates were seventy-fours in disguise!
_United States and Macedonian._--The capture of the Frolic was almost
immediately succeeded by the capture, off the Western Isles, October
25th, of the British frigate Macedonian, mounting forty-nine
carriage-guns, by the American frigate United States, forty-four guns.
The former was commanded by Captain John S. Carden; the latter by
Captain Stephen Decatur.
The engagement, from its commencement, lasted for nearly an hour and a
half--the early part being occupied in firing long-shot; but it was
terminated in a very short period, after the vessels came into close
action. For a time, the advantage of position was with the Macedonian;
but, notwithstanding this, the fire of the Americans was so superior,
that, in a brief space, the mizen-mast, fore and maintop-mast, and
main-yard of the enemy, were cut down; besides receiving not less than
one hundred round shot in her hull. Of her crew, three hundred in
number, thirty-six were killed, and sixty-eight wounded.
The damage sustained by the United States was comparatively small. She
lost one of her top-gallant-masts, received some wounds in her spars,
had a good deal of rigging cut, but was hulled only a few times. Of
her officers and crew, five were killed and seven wounded.
The manner in which the brave Decatur received Captain Carden on board
the United States did him great honor. When the latter presented his
sword, as in such cases is usual, the former assured him that "he
could not think of taking the sword of an officer who had defended his
ship so gallantly, but he should be happy to take him by the hand."
The United States, after the action, was in a condition to pursue her
course; but, desirous of securing a prize so valuable as the
Macedonian, Captain Decatur determined to make the attempt,
notwithstanding her disabled state. Accordingly, having made such
repairs upon her as circumstances allowed, the two ships made the best
of their way to the United States.
The Macedonian was a fine ship of her class. She was smaller, of
lighter armament, and had fewer men than the United States; but the
disproportion between the force of the two vessels was much less than
between the execution.
The reputation of Captain Decatur, already high, was added to by the
manner in which the Macedonian was captured; and another testimony
was added to the skill and bravery of the naval officers of the United
States.
If such warfare must be--yet it is gloomy to think of it among
rational and immortal beings, made of one blood, and having one common
destiny--it may not be criminal, perhaps, to desire that our country's
cause should be crowned with success, if that cause be just.
_Constitution and Java._--The naval campaign of 1812 closed with
another American victory, equal in brilliancy to any which had
preceded. On the 29th of December, a few leagues west of St. Salvador,
on the coast of Brazil, the Constitution, now under command of
Commodore Bainbridge, descried the British frigate Java, forty-nine
guns, and four hundred men, commanded by Captain Lambert. Both
vessels, for some time, manœuvred to obtain a position that would
enable them to rake, or avoid being raked. In the early part of the
engagement, the wheel of the Constitution was shot away. Commodore
Bainbridge determined to close with the British vessel,
notwithstanding, in so doing, he should expose his ship to be several
times raked. He ordered the fore and main-sails to be set, and luffed
up close to the enemy, in such a manner that his jib-boom got foul of
the Constitution's mizen-rigging. About three o'clock, the head of the
British vessel's bowsprit and jib-boom were shot away; and, in the
space of an hour, her fore-mast was shot away by the board, her
main-topmast just above the cap, her gaff and spanker-boom, and her
main-mast nearly by the board.
About four o'clock, the fire of the British vessel being completely
silenced, and her colors in the main rigging being down, she was
supposed to have struck. The courses of the Constitution were now
hauled on board, to shoot ahead, in order to repair her rigging, which
was very much cut. The British vessel was left a complete wreck. Her
flag was soon after discovered to be still flying. The Constitution,
however, hove to, to repair some of her damages. About a quarter of
an hour after, the main-mast of the British vessel went by the board.
About three-quarters of an hour after four, the Constitution wore, and
stood for the British vessel, and got close athwart her bows, in a
very effectual position for raking, when she prudently struck her
flag. The Constitution had nine men killed and twenty-five wounded;
the Java had sixty killed and one hundred and twenty wounded. Captain
Lambert was mortally wounded.
[Illustration: CONSTITUTION & JAVA.]
The great distance from the United States, and the disabled state of
the Java, forbade every idea of attempting to bring her to the United
States. No alternative was therefore left but to burn her, which was
done, after the prisoners and their baggage were removed to the
Constitution. They were all landed at St. Salvador, and paroled. The
commander of the Java, Captain Lambert, died soon after he was put on
shore.
Lieutenant Aylwin, of the Constitution, was severely wounded during the
action. When the boarders were called to repel boarders, he mounted the
quarter-deck hammock-cloth, and, in the act of firing his pistol at the
enemy, received a ball through his shoulder. Notwithstanding the
severity of his wound, he continued at his post until the enemy struck.
He died, however, on the 28th of January, at sea.
_Close of the Campaign of 1812._--The naval victories, which have been
noticed, were peculiarly gratifying to the Americans; the more so, from
the humiliating fact that, on the land, not a single achievement had
been made worthy the American valor. Not one victory had been gained
which lasted--nor one foot of territory acquired, of which possession
was retained. But the navy had triumphed. The victories gained, were by
that class of citizens whose rights had been violated; and over a
nation, whose long-continued success had led them to consider themselves
lords of the sea. Many British merchantmen were also captured, both by
the American navy and by privateers. The number of prizes, made during
the first seven months of the war, exceeded five hundred.
_Campaign of 1813._--The scene of the campaign of 1813, comprehended
the whole northern frontier of the United States. The army of the
West, under General Harrison, was stationed near the head of Lake
Erie; the army of the centre, under General Dearborn, between Lakes
Ontario and Erie; and the army of the North, under General Hampton,
occupied the shores of Lake Champlain. The invasion of Canada was the
grand project of the campaign. The British forces in Canada were under
the general command of Sir George Prevost. The defence of the Upper
Provinces was committed to Colonels Procter and Vincent; that of the
Lower Provinces was entrusted to General Sheaffe.
_Battle of Frenchtown._--Michigan, of which Detroit was the prominent
town, was still in possession of the British. The citizens of the
western country, being anxious to regain possession of it, General
Harrison determined to undertake a winter campaign, having the
rëconquest of that territory in view. Accordingly, General Winchester,
with about eight hundred men, principally from the most respectable
families in Kentucky, was directed to proceed in advance of the main
army. Learning, during his march, that a party of British were
stationed at Frenchtown, situated on the river Raisin, twenty-six
miles from Detroit, he attacked and dispersed them.
The Americans encamped near the field of battle, a part of them being
protected by close garden pickets. "Although near an enemy's post, but
little precaution was taken to prevent a surprise. Early in the
morning of the 22d of January, they were attacked by a large force of
British and Indians; the former commanded by Colonel Procter, the
latter by the chiefs Round-head and Split-log. The troops on the open
field were thrown into disorder. General Winchester and other officers
made an ineffectual attempt to rally them. They fled, but while
attempting to escape, were mostly killed by the Indians. The general
and Colonel Lewis were made prisoners.
"The troops behind the pickets maintained the contest with undaunted
bravery. At length, Colonel Procter assured General Winchester, that
if the remainder of the Americans would immediately surrender, they
should be protected from massacre; but otherwise, he would set fire to
the village, and would not be responsible for the conduct of the
savages. Intimidated by this threat, General Winchester sent an order
to the troops to surrender.
"Colonel Procter, leaving the wounded without a guard, marched
immediately back to Malden. The Indians accompanied them a few miles,
but returned early the next morning. Deeds of horror followed: the
wounded officers were dragged from the houses, killed, and scalped in
the streets. The buildings were set on fire. Some who attempted to
escape, were forced back into the flames. Others were put to death by
the tomahawk, and left shockingly mangled in the highway. The infamy
of this butchery should not fall upon the perpetrators alone. It must
rest equally upon those who instigated them to hostility, by whose
side they fought, who were able, and were bound by a solemn engagement
to restrain them."[73] "By this bloody tragedy," observes Mr.
Breckenridge, "all Kentucky was literally in mourning; for the
soldiers thus massacred, tortured, burned, or denied the common rites
of sepulture, were of the most respectable families of the state; many
of them young men of fortune and property, with numerous friends and
relatives. The remains of these brave youth lay on the ground, beat by
the storms of heaven, and exposed to the beasts of the forest, until
the ensuing autumn, when their friends and relatives ventured to
gather up their bleaching bones, and consigned them to the tomb."
_Hornet and Peacock._--The day following the tragical affair of
Frenchtown, a signal naval battle was fought off South America, between
the Hornet, Captain Lawrence, and the Peacock, Captain Peake. "In less
than fifteen minutes the Peacock struck her colors, displaying at the
same time a signal of distress. The victors hastened to the relief of
the vanquished; but the Peacock sank before all her crew could be
removed, carrying down nine British seamen, and three brave and generous
Americans. "Of all our naval victories," remarks a writer, "this is the
one which the Americans recollect with most pleasure." Not that there
was more glory in the achievement, but there was such high-souled
generosity, such unwonted effort, such risk of life to save the crew of
the conquered ship, as rarely, if ever, before occurred. Her guns were
thrown overboard--her shot-holes plugged--every thing done--but she went
down, and some noble hearts with her. And, then, as if what had been
done were not enough, to crown the whole, the crew of the Hornet divided
their clothes with the prisoners. On his return to the United States,
Captain Lawrence was promoted to the command of the frigate Chesapeake,
then in the harbor of Boston. For several weeks the British frigate
Shannon, of equal force, had been cruising before that port; and Captain
Broke, her commander, had announced his wish to meet, in single combat,
an American frigate. Inflamed by this challenge, Captain Lawrence,
although his crew was just enlisted, set sail on the 1st of June to seek
the Shannon. Towards evening of the same day they met, and instantly
engaged with unexampled fury. In a very few minutes, and in quick
succession, the sailing-master of the Chesapeake was killed, Captain
Lawrence and three lieutenants were severely wounded, her rigging was so
cut to pieces that she fell on board the Shannon; Captain Lawrence
received a second and mortal wound, and was carried below; at this
instant, Captain Broke, at the head of his marines, gallantly boarded
the Chesapeake, when resistance ceased, and the American flag was struck
by the British. Of the crew of the Shannon, twenty-four were killed and
fifty-six wounded. Of that of the Chesapeake, forty-eight were killed
and nearly one hundred wounded. This unexpected defeat impelled the
Americans to seek for circumstances consoling to their pride, and, in
the journals of the day, many such were stated to have preceded and
attended the action. The youthful and intrepid Lawrence was lamented
with sorrow--deep, sincere, and lasting. When carried below, he was
asked if the colors should be struck: "No," he replied; "they shall wave
while I live!" Delirious from excess of suffering, he continued to
exclaim, "Don't give up the ship!"--an expression consecrated by his
countrymen. He uttered but few other words during the four days that he
survived his defeat."
_Rëelection of Mr. Madison._--The period for the election of president
of the United States having again arrived Mr. Madison was a second
time placed at the head of the nation, and Elbridge Gerry chosen
vice-president. They were inaugurated on the 4th day of March, 1813.
The following table exhibits the result of the electoral vote:
Key: A. James Madison, of Virginia.
B. DeWitt Clinton, of New York.
C. Elbridge Gerry, of Massa'tts.
D. Jared Ingersoll, of Pennsylv'a.
---------+-----------------+----------+----------------
No. of | |PRESIDENT.|VICE-PRESID'T.
Electors | STATES. |----------+----------------
from each| | A. | B. | C. | D.
State. | | | | |
---------+-----------------+----+-----+-------+--------
8 | New Hampshire, | | 8 | 1 | 7
22 | Massachusetts, | | 22 | 2 | 20
4 | Rhode Island, | | 4 | | 4
9 | Connecticut, | | 9 | | 9
8 | Vermont, | 8 | | 8 |
29 | New York, | | 29 | | 29
8 | New Jersey, | | 8 | | 8
25 | Pennsylvania, | 25 | | 25 |
4 | Delaware, | | 4 | | 4
11 | Maryland, | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5
25 | Virginia, | 25 | | 25 |
15 | North Carolina, | 15 | | 15 |
11 | South Carolina, | 11 | | 11 |
8 | Georgia, | 8 | | 8 |
12 | Kentucky, | 12 | | 12 |
8 | Tennessee, | 8 | | 8 |
7 | Ohio, | 7 | | 7 |
3 | Lousiana, | 3 | | 3 |
---------+-----------------+----+-----+-------+--------
217 | Whole No. of | | | |
| electors, |128 | 89 | 131 | 86
| Majority, 109 | | | |
_Capture of York._--York, the capital of Upper Canada, was, at this
time, the great depository of British military stores for the western
posts, and hence its capture was deemed an object of great importance,
besides that it would be the means of thwarting the plans of the
enemy. With this object in view, about the middle of April, General
Dearborn issued orders to General Pike to embark on board a flotilla,
with seventeen hundred men, and proceed to its reduction.
"The force of the enemy, under the command of General Sheaffe,
consisted of seven hundred and fifty regulars, and five hundred
Indians, besides a body of grenadiers and a corps of Glengary
fencibles. These troops had collected near the place of debarkation,
which was nearly a mile and a half from the fort. Major Forsyth was
the first who landed. General Pike soon followed with the remainder of
the troops. After a severe contest of half an hour, the enemy
retreated to their works. The Americans followed; they had destroyed
one battery, and were now within sixty yards of the main works, when
the sudden and tremendous explosion of a magazine near by filled the
air in every direction with huge stones and fragments of wood, which
caused a dreadful havoc among the troops. One hundred of the Americans
and forty of the British were killed. General Pike fell mortally
wounded. Finding resistance unavailing, General Sheaffe, with the
British regulars, retreated towards Kingston, leaving the commanding
officer of the militia to make the best terms in his power. The brief
outlines of a capitulation were soon agreed on, and the Americans took
possession of the town. The brave Pike survived but a few hours; and,
like Wolfe at Quebec, drew his last breath amidst the cheering shouts
of victory. His dying head reposed upon the banner that had lately
floated over the fortress which his valor had aided to conquer.
"General Dearborn now took command of the troops. The loss of the
British was ninety killed, two hundred wounded, and three hundred
prisoners, besides five hundred militia, released upon parole. A great
quantity of stores was likewise found here, as York was the naval and
military _dépôt_ for Upper Canada. General Sheaffe's baggage and
papers fell into the hands of the Americans.
"On the 8th of May, General Dearborn evacuated the capital of Upper
Canada: and having crossed the lake, for the purpose of leaving the
wounded at Sackett's Harbor, again set sail, and disembarked his
troops at Niagara."[74]
_Siege of Fort Meigs._--General Harrison was marching to the support
of General Winchester, when the tidings of the defeat and massacre at
Frenchtown reached him. As he could now be of no service to that
general, he took post at a place called the Rapids, on the south side
of the Maumee, a river flowing into the west end of Lake Erie, where
he erected a fort, which he named Fort Meigs, in honor of the governor
of Ohio.
The erection of this fortification was by no means agreeable to the
British, and a plan was early laid to capture and destroy it. On the
26th of April, a large party of British and Indians, combined, made
their appearance on the opposite side of the river; and, on the
morning of the 26th, the Indians were conveyed over in boats, and
surrounded the fort in every direction.
On the 29th, the siege began, all intercourse with other posts being
cut off. During the preceding night, the British had thrown up a
mound, on which to plant their guns, and behind which they could
secure themselves from the fire of the Americans.
Next day, several of the Americans were wounded; and General Harrison
himself, being continually exposed, had several narrow escapes. On the
following day, the enemy fired two hundred and fifty-six times from
their batteries. The Americans fired less rapidly, but with greater
effect. A bullet struck the seat on which General Harrison was
sitting, and at the same time a volunteer was wounded, as he stood
directly opposite to him.
In this manner, several days passed; during which, General Harrison
and his soldiers displayed the utmost coolness and determination. They
were resolved to surrender only when they could fight no longer--when
ammunition failed, or food and water could no longer be obtained.
At this critical juncture, intelligence was received that General Clay,
with twelve hundred men, was hastening to their relief. He was already
but a few miles up the river, and an officer was immediately dispatched,
directing him to land one-half of his force on the opposite side, for
the purpose of forcing the enemy's batteries and spiking his cannon.
The gallant Colonel Dudley was deputed to execute this order; but,
unfortunately, his troops pursued the retreating enemy until,
suddenly, a party of Indians, under command of the celebrated
Tecumseh, rose from ambush upon them. The slaughter was terrible. The
brave Colonel Dudley was among the killed, and more than five hundred
of his detachment were taken prisoners. The other part of General
Clay's troops were more fortunate. And yet, lured by a party of
Indians, whom they wished to destroy, they proceeded into the woods,
where they would have been cut off, had not General Harrison
dispatched a company of cavalry to cover their retreat.
At length, the British gave up the contest. Although they had made
many prisoners, this did not aid them, in relation to the fort. The
8th of May brought an end to the toils of the Americans in the fort of
Camp Meigs. An exchange of prisoners took place, and on the morning of
the 9th, the enemy commenced their retreat. Thus did Harrison sustain,
in effect, a siege of twelve days; during which, the enemy had fired
eighteen hundred shells and cannon-balls, besides keeping up an almost
continual discharge of small arms. The loss of each was about equal.
_Perry's Victory._--During the summer, by the exertions of Commodore
Perry, an American squadron had been fitted out on Lake Erie. It
consisted of nine small vessels, carrying fifty-four guns. A British
squadron had also been built and equipped, under the superintendence of
Commodore Barclay. It consisted of six vessels, mounting sixty-three
guns. Commodore Perry, immediately sailing, offered battle to his
adversary; and on the 10th of September the British commander left the
harbor of Malden, to accept the offer. In a few hours, the wind shifted,
giving the Americans the advantage. Perry, forming the line of battle,
hoisted his flag, on which was inscribed the words of the dying
Lawrence, "Don't give up the ship!" Loud huzzas from all the vessels
proclaimed the animation which this motto inspired. About noon, the
firing commenced; after a short action, two of the British vessels
surrendered; and the rest of the American squadron now joining in the
battle, the victory was rendered decisive and complete. The British loss
was forty-one killed and ninety-four wounded. The American loss was
twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded; of which number, twenty-one
were killed and sixty wounded on board the flag-ship Lawrence, whose
whole complement of able-bodied men, before the action, was about one
hundred. The commodore gave intelligence of the victory to General
Harrison in these words: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours. Two
ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop."
[Illustration: PERRY'S VICTORY.]