Sea Power in Its Relations to the War of 1812. Volume 2

CHAPTER IX. The Winter of 1812-1813--Bainbridge's Squadron: Actions Between

THE WINTER OF 1812-1813--BAINBRIDGE'S SQUADRON: ACTIONS BETWEEN "CONSTITUTION" AND "JAVA," "HORNET" AND "PEACOCK"--INCREASING PRESSURE ON ATLANTIC COAST Page

Bainbridge's squadron sails 1

His plans for the cruise 2

The "Essex" fails to join 3

Proceedings of "Constitution" and "Hornet" 3

Action between "Constitution" and "Java" 4

The "Constitution" returns to the United States 7

Proceedings of the "Hornet" 7

Action between the "Hornet" and "Peacock" 8

The "Hornet" returns 9

The Chesapeake and Delaware blockaded 9

Subsequent extension of blockade to the whole coast south of Newport 10

Three periods into which the War of 1812 divides 10

Difficulty of American frigates in getting to sea 11

Difficulty of manning the navy 12

Cruise of the "Chesapeake" 13

Gradual suppression of American commerce 14

Increasing stringency of the commercial blockade 15

British occupation of Delaware and Chesapeake Bays 16

Diminution of the coasting trade, and increase of land carriage 17

Effects upon prices 18

Abandoned condition of the western Atlantic 20

Diminution in number of prizes taken by Americans 20

Estimate of relative captures by the two belligerents 21

Relative captures no indication of relative immunity 23

American deprivation makes for the prosperity of Halifax and Canada 23

The blockade the chief offensive maritime operation of Great Britain, in 1813 24

No opposition longer possible to the American Navy 25

Strength of the British blockading divisions 25

Escape possible only by evasion 25

The brunt of the British naval operations falls upon the Chesapeake and Delaware 26

CHAPTER X. Campaign of 1813 on the Lake Frontier, to the Battle of Lake Erie

CAMPAIGN OF 1813 ON THE LAKE FRONTIER, TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

The British naval service on the lakes under Warren's supervision 28

Sir James Yeo appointed to the local command 29

Appoints Captain Barclay to take charge of British vessels on Lake Erie 29

The Americans now superior on Ontario 29

Montreal the true American objective 29

Dearborn ordered to concentrate effort upon Lake Ontario 30

Chauncey's first plan, to capture Kingston 30

Dearborn and Chauncey ordered to proceed first against Kingston, then Toronto, then Niagara 31

Dearborn's objections 32

His reports obtain change of plan from the Government 33

Chauncey's new plan 33

The expedition leaves Sackett's Harbor 36

Capture of Toronto 36

Chauncey's anxiety for Sackett's Harbor 37

Capture of Fort George, and British retreat from Niagara 38

Effects of the American occupation of the Niagara peninsula 40

American naval vessels escape from Black Rock to Erie 41

British attack upon Sackett's Harbor 42

Premature firing of the naval yard and vessels 45

Consequent delay in Chauncey's preparations 45

Yeo takes the lake with his squadron 46

American reverse at Stony Creek 46

The army retreats upon Fort George 47

The British re-occupy the peninsula, except Fort George 47

Dearborn is relieved from command 48

Paralysis of the American forces at Niagara 48

Yeo in temporary control of Lake Ontario 49

Chauncey sails to contest control 51

Characteristics of the ensuing naval campaign 52

Predominant idea of Chauncey and Yeo 52

Relative powers of the two squadrons 53

Their encounter of August 10, 1813 56

Chauncey's extreme caution 59

The engagement of September 11 60

Expediency of a "general chase" under the conditions 61

CHAPTER XI

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1813 ON THE LAKES AND NORTHERN FRONTIER--THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

The American Navy on Lake Erie 62

Perry's eagerness for active operations 63

Coincidence of events on Lakes Erie and Ontario 64

Inferiority of Perry's crews in numbers and quality 64

Professional contrast between Chauncey and Perry 65

Personal difficulty. Perry applies to be detached 66

The Navy Department refuses 67

Position of the American army on the Maumee 67

Procter's attack upon Fort Meigs 68

Procter and Barclay plan attack on Erie 69

Re-enforcements of troops refused them 69

Barclay blockades Erie 70

Barclay visits Long Point 71

Perry's squadron crosses the bar at Erie 72

Procter attacks Fort Stephenson, and is repulsed 73

Barclay retires to Malden 74

Perry in control of the lake 74

Destitution of provisions in the British camp and fleet 75

Barclay goes out to fight 76

Composition and armament of the two squadrons 76

Controversy about the battle 78

Dispositions of the two commanders 80

Opening of the battle 81

Examination of the controversy between Perry and Elliott 82

Progress of the engagement 88

Second stage of the battle 89

The British surrender 94

Meritorious conduct of Captain Barclay 94

Question of credit on the American side 95

Comparison of the campaigns on Erie and on Ontario 99

Effect of the battle on the fate of the Northwest 99

Its bearing upon the peace negotiations of the following year 100

Influence of control of the water illustrated on the lakes 101

CHAPTER XII. The Campaign of 1813 on the Lakes and Northern Frontier, After

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1813 ON THE LAKES AND NORTHERN FRONTIER, AFTER THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

Perry's victory promptly followed up 102

General Harrison lands his army at Malden 103

Recovery of Detroit. Battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813 103

The Indians fall away from the British 103

Harrison's army transferred to Niagara 104

Perry detached from the lake service 104

Changed American plan of campaign on Ontario 104

General James Wilkinson replaces Dearborn 104

The Government designates Kingston as the objective 105

The embarkation begins at Niagara under cover of the navy 106

Yeo's squadron appears in the neighborhood 106

Encounter between the two squadrons, September 28, 1813 107

Criticism of Chauncey's management 108

Wilkinson's troops reach Sackett's Harbor 110

The British re-enforce Kingston 110

New change of American plan. The army to be directed on Montreal 111

Intended junction with the troops from Lake Champlain, under General Hampton 111

Wilkinson's army assembled within the mouth of the St. Lawrence 114

It proceeds down the river 114

Pursuit by a British detachment 114

American reverse at Chrystler's Farm 115

Hampton fails to join Wilkinson, and returns to Plattsburg 116

The expedition abandoned. Wilkinson goes into winter quarters at French Mills 116

Chauncey returns to Sackett's Harbor from the St. Lawrence 117

Transports Harrison's division from Niagara to Sackett's Harbor 117

Fleets lay up for the winter 117

Disastrous close of the campaign upon the Niagara 118

Americans evacuate Fort George and the peninsula 120

They burn Newark 120

Act disavowed by the American Government 120

Sir Gordon Drummond in command in Upper Canada 120

The British, under General Riall, cross the Niagara and capture Fort Niagara 121

Lewiston, Youngstown, and Manchester burned in retaliation for Newark 121

Buffalo burned, and three naval vessels at Black Rock 121

General failure of the campaign about Lake Ontario 122

Discussion of the causes 123

CHAPTER XIII. Seaboard Maritime Operations, 1813

SEABOARD MARITIME OPERATIONS, 1813

United States on the defensive on the seaboard 126

British reasons for partially relaxing severity of blockade 127

Reasons do not apply to armed vessels or coasting trade 127

American Navy powerless to protect commerce 127

To destroy that of the enemy its principal mission 128

Cruises of the "President" and "Congress" 128

Efficacy of the British convoy system 130

Its chief failure is near ports of arrival 131

This dictates the orders to Captain Lawrence 131

Importance of the service 132

Imperfect preparation of the "Chesapeake" 132

Efficiency of the "Shannon." Broke's professional merit 133

His challenge to Lawrence. Not received 134

The "Chesapeake" sails, purposely to fight 135

Account of the action 136

The "Chesapeake" captured 140

Analysis of the engagement 141

Decatur fails to get to sea with a squadron 148

Driven to take refuge in New London 148

Frigates confined there for the war 149

Particular anxiety of the British Government about American frigates 150

Expectations of the Admiralty and the country from Warren's fleet 151

Effects of the blockade of New London on local coasting 152

Evidence of the closeness of the whole blockade south of New London 153

Conditions at New York 154

British operations in the upper Chesapeake, 1813 156

Conditions in Delaware Bay 158

American precautions in Chesapeake and Delaware 159

Circumspect conduct of the British vessels in the Chesapeake 161

Warren brings a detachment of troops from Bermuda 162

Rencounters in and near Hampton Roads 163

British attack upon Craney Island. Fails 164

Attack upon Hampton. Ineffective 166

Further movements of the British in the Chesapeake 167

Movement of licensed vessels in Chesapeake Bay during these operations 170

Consequent recommendation of President to prohibit all exports during the blockade 173

Rejected by Senate. Enforced in Chesapeake by executive order 174

Glaring necessity for such action 175

Embargo law passed in December, 1813 176

Main British fleet quits the Chesapeake. Its failure in direct military operation 177

Efficacy of the blockade 177

Characteristics of the different sections of the United States, as affecting their suffering from blockade 178

Statistical evidences of its effects 181

Prices of great staples: flour and sugar 184

Dependence of Eastern and Southern States upon coasting, greater than that of Middle States 186

Captain Hull's reports on Eastern coasting 187

Action between the "Boxer" and "Enterprise" 188

Intermission of Eastern blockade during winter 192

Its resumption in increased vigor in 1814 192

Undefended conditions of the American coast 193

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