District of Vermont, to wit: (L. S.) SEIT REMEMBERED, that on the twentieth day of January, in the thirt ninth year of the independence of the United States of America, Messrs. Fay and Davison, of the said district. have deposited in this office the title of a book the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit: "Sketches of the War between the United States and the British Isles intended as a faithful "history of all the material events from the time of the declaration in 1812, to and including the "treaty of peace in 1815 interspersed with geographical descriptions of places and biographical "notices of distinguished military and naval commanders." In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, entitled "an act for the encourage ment of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors o! such copies during the times therein mentioned." JESSE GOVE Clerk of the District of Vermont. READERS, Who may not have perused this work, as it progressed from the press, will perceive, that these numbers were commenced, and that part of them were written for a family record, while the war was continually proclaiming its events from the embattled field. Hence, the work, from a seeming necessity, and from the then unknown duration of the war, assumed its present form. Had all the events herein registered in our numbers been matter of history, before the first was printed, they would have enabled us to have given to this work a more dignified character. Perhaps, however, what we may lose in respect, the reader may gain in information. The simple "unvarnished tale" often more instructs than the leisurely composed and rounded periods of some better writer, but semi-romantic historian. CHAPTER I-The president's manifesto-Act of congress declaring war-President's pro- clamation-General Bloomfield issues his orders-Commodore Rodgers sails-First prisoner and first prize-Naval force of the United States-Schedule of the apportionment of 100,000 militia, by act of congress of the 12th April, 818-Instructions for private armed vessels, CHAPTER II -Northwestern army-General Hull-his march and advance into Canada-- His retreat, capitulation, surrender and trial, CHAPTER III.-Capture of Michillimackinac and geographical description of the upper CHAPTER IV -Operations of the army of the centre-Battle of Queenstown-Bombard- ment of fort Niagara-Attack on the British lines opposite and below Black Rock-Geogra- phical description of the Niagara frontier, CHAPTER V-Massacre at fort Dearborn-Gallant defence of forts Harrison and Bellevue- Forsyth's expedition-Defeat of the enemy at Ogdensburgh-Observations on the campaign CHAPTER VI.-Naval operations on lakes Ontario and Erie-Attack on Sacket's Harbour- The Julia-Captain Chauncey's cruise-Battle in Kingston harbour-Capture of the Detroit and Caledonia-Biography of Captain Elliot, CHAPTER VII -Naval operations on the ocean-Commodore Rodgers' cruise-Chase of the Constitution- Capture of the Guerriere-Comparison of American and British frigates-Bio- graphy of Captain Hull, CHAPTER VIII-Cruise of the Essex-Cruise of the Wasp-Capture of the Frolic-Loss of CHAPTER IX -Commodore Rodgers' second cruise-Capture of the Swallow-Capture of the Macedonian-Chase of the Argus-Biography of Commodore Decatur, CHAPTER X.-Cruise of the Constitution and Hornet-Capture of the Java-Biography of CHAPTER XI-Private armed vessels-The Atlas-Highflyer-Rossie-Young Eagle-Mont- gomery-Dolphin-British vessels captured in 1812. CHAPTER XII.-Official despatches-Observations on Hull's capture-Organization of the new army-Relief of fort Wayne-General Payne's expedition-Colonel Wells' expedition- Colonel Campbell's expedition-Defeat of General Winchester, CHAPTER XIII.-Retreat of General Harrison--Fort Meigs-Expedition to Presque Isle- Attempt upon the Queen Charlotte-Preparations for a fleet upon lake Erie-Defeat of the enemy at fort Meigs-Gallant defence of fort Stephenson. CHAPTER XIV.-Preparations for the invasion of Canada-Capture of Malden-Pursuit and capture of the British army-Return of the army to Detroit, and embarkation for Buffalo. CHAPTER XV.-Army of the centre-Capture of York-Biography of General Pike. CHAPTER XVI-Capture of forts George and Erie- Battle at Stony Creek-Defeat of Col. Boentler-Defeat of the enemy at Sacket's Harbour. CHAPTER XVII-Expedition down the St. Lawrence-its progress-Battle of Williams- burgh-Abandonment of the expedition. CHAPTER XVIII -Northern army-Colonel Clark's expedition-Battle of Chataugay-Re- fusal of General Hampton to join General Wilkinson at St. Regis-Close of the campaign, CHAPTER XIX-Fort George-Burning of Newark-Capture of fort Niagara-Burning of CHAPTER XX.-Creek war-Preliminary observations-Massacre at fort Mims-Battle at 233 CHAPTER XXI-Creek war continued-Battle at Autosse-Attack upon camp Defiance— 242 CHAPTER XXII-Conclusion of the Creek war-Brilliant and decisive victory at the bend 253 CHAPTER XX¡II-Naval-Lake Erie-Battle with and capture of the British fleet-Inte- 267 Y CHAPTER XXIV.-Lake Ontario-Comparative view of the American and British forces in 18:3-Co-operation of the American fleet in the captures of York and fort George-Commo- dore Chauncey's first cruise-Loss of the Growler and Julia-Chauncey's second and third cruises-His fourth cruise-Capture of five British transports-Lake Champlain-Loss of the Growler and Eagle-Descent of the enemy on Plattsburgh-American naval force on the CHAPTER XXV.-Naval events on the ocean-Cruise of the Hornet and capture of the Pea- CHAPTER XXVII.-Cruise of Commodore Rodgers-Cruise of the Congress-Cruise and loss CHAPTER XXVIII-Blockade of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays-Loss of the schooner Lottery-Loss of the privateer Dolphin-Burning of Frenchtown, Havre-de-Grace, &c.- Commodore Cassin's expedition-Outrages at Hampton-Attack on the schooner Asp-At- tempt to blow up a British 74-Attack on Lewistown-Blockade of Commodore Decatur's squadron-Capture of the Eagle-Private armed vessels-List of British vessels captured CHAPTER XXIX.-Northern_army-Battle at La Cole-Attack on Oswego-Geographical CHAPTER XXX-Capture of fort Erie-Battle at Chippewa-Draft of the scene of action CHAPTER XXXI.-Repulse of the enemy at Conjocketa creek,&c.-Bombardment and bat- CHAPTER XXXII-Lake Ontario-Michigan Territory-Captain Holmes' expedition-Mi- CHAPTER XXXIII-Lake Champlain-Repulse of the enemy at the mouth of Otter Creek CHAPTER XXXIV-Depredations of the enemy in Connecticut, Massachusetts and the Dis- CHAPTER XXXV.-Naval-Cruise of the Essex-Action at Valparaiso and loss of the Es- sex-The Alligator-Cruise of Commodore Rodgers-Gapture of the British brig Epervier- Cruise of the Wasp-Capture of the Reindeer and Avon-Cruise of the Peacock-Gunboat action-Private armed vessels-Destruction of the General Armstrong-List of British ves- CHAPTER XXXVI.-Arrival of General Jackson at Mobile-Splendid defence of fort Bow- yer-Destruction of the pirates of Barataria--Entrance of General Jackson into Pensacola-- His arrival at Neworleans--Arrival of the enemy off Ship Island-Capture of the American gunboats near the bay of St. Louis--Landing of the enemy below, Neworleans--Actions of the 23d and of the 28th December, CHAPTER XXXVII -Action of the 1st January-Burning of a British transport &c.-Ar rival of the British reinforcements-Great battle of the 8th of January-Retreat of the Bri- tish-Purser Shields' expedition, &c. CHAPTER XXXVIII-Address and general orders of General Jackson to the troops under his command, after the retreat of the enemy-Apostolic mandate-Address of the adminis trator of the diocese of Louisiana to General Jackson, and the general's answer-Capture of fort Bowyer Cessation of hostilities-Biographical sketch of General Jackson-Description of Neworleans and the surrounding country, CHAPTER XXXIX.-Point-Petre and St. Mary's-Loss of the U. S. frigate President-Cap- ture of the Cyane and Levant-List of British vessels captured in 1814-15-Close of the war 324 337 343 367 $93 399 491 430 450 462 469 487 PREFACE. To our fellow citizens we do not promise a perfect and an im partial history of this war. To depict with perfect accuracy the embattled plain, while the roar of cannon yet lives in our ears, and the dust, excited by the conflict, yet obscures the contending legions, is more than the discerning public will demand or we can perform. The agitations of the flood may distort and render indistinct the images which the sun has painted on its bosom. We profess to love our country, feel for its honour and hope for its glory. With this partiality, though we would, we may not always be just. We may also be embarrassed by the necessary policy of war, which conceals as much as possible, that the enemy by no chance of information may profit. Any occasional excess of feeling in us may usually be either restrained or rendered harmless to others, as we shall endeavor to collate official or other accredited public documents, to present rather faithful sketches of the war, than ourselves as historians, imposing upon the world the hasty deductions of our own mind, perhaps often partial and incorrect. In the compilation of this work, in which genius can take no part, we would labor to exhibit concisely and truly this war to our citizens. By the method attempted to be pursued, the illusions of fancy, and the vagaries of a distorted imagination will be excluded from our pages, The present is a nameless moment. Political partizans, like prophecy, effect not the past; they operate only on the future..... In this presage, even honest men have differed, may now differ, and will hereafter differ: but the evidence of the past is testimony growing into historic fact. The curses of the law are against him who perverts it. This is a hallowed ark, which no man may touch. One, whose political sentiments differ from those of the publishers, being associated with this press, for the sole purpose of compiling these sketches of the war, opposite politics will balance in even scales, and our patrons may less apprehend any of the excesses of party. The work shall be for our country, truth shall be our aim, and we hope a general patronage our reward. Surely no good citizen would be regardless, and no proud one ignorant of the martial achievements of our country. Useful to ourselves and to posterity may be the knowledge of the causes, which have occasionally operated victory or disgrace to our arms. It is profitable to be taught, even by the enemy, and to learn from defeat to achieve victories. When believed to be necessary for understanding the subject, geographical descriptions and biographical sketches will be interspersed, and every elucidation, which we may be enabled to give, shall appear on our pages. With the generous patronage of our fellow citizens, our mountains may echo the storm of battle, and the gleam of the sword of our warriors be seen afar. |