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19. Early in November
General James Wilkinson1 having succeeded Dearborn in
command of 
the
Army of the Centre,2 set about the long proposed
expedition against Montreal; but the lateness of the
season, and want of support from the Army of the
North,2 caused the failure of the enterprise.
Wilkinson embarked, with seven thousand
infantry, to descend the St. Lawrence. Five hundred cavalry
advanced by land. Near Williamsburg he landed a body of men to
disperse parties of British on the Canada shore, that were
hovering near his flotilla. November 11, an indecisive action took
place, known as the battle of Chrystler's Farm.3
The Americans lost severely. Wilkinson proceeded as far as St.
Regis, where he expected Hampton2 to meet him with
troops from the northern army. This, however, Hampton declined to
do, and the expedition against Montreal was given up. Wilkinson
went into winter quarters at French Mills, Hampton at Plattsburg.
The latter was soon succeeded by General
Izard.
20. Tidings from the Niagara
frontier but added to the mortification at the failure of the
expedition under Wilkinson. General George McClure, who had been
left in command in that quarter, destroyed Fort George, with the
neighboring village of Newark, and abandoned the Canada shore
early in December. Before the end of the month, parties of British
and Indians crossed the river, took Fort Niagara, and, in revenge
for the burning of Newark, laid waste the New York border, as far
as Buffalo, with fire and sword. The invaders then retired, except
from Niagara, which they held until the end of the
war.4
21. The British, during this year, held
in close blockade the Atlantic coast from the Mississippi to Cape
Cod, and made many forays upon exposed places.
Lewiston, on Delaware Bay, was bombarded;
Havre de Grace, and several other villages on the Chesapeake, were
plundered and burned. The enemy were repulsed in an attempt to
capture Norfolk and Portsmouth, in Virginia; but landing at
Hampton, they perpetrated the grossest outrages. They then sailed
along the Carolina coast, robbing the people of their crops, live
stock, and slaves. The name of Cockburn, the commander of the
British blockading squadron, became another term for
cruelty.
22. The career of the American
navy,5 this year, though not so brilliant as that
of 1812, was very creditable. So strict was the blockade that
cruisers found great difficulty in getting to sea.
1 See p. 182, ¶ 26. 2 See p. 176, ¶ 9. 3 Called also the battle of Williamsburg.
4 See p. 182, ¶ 27. 5 See p. 174, ¶ 7, and p. 177, ¶ 12.
QUESTIONS .-- 19. What is said of the expedition against Montreal? -- Give some particulars of this expedition. 20. Meanwhile what had been done by General McClure on the Niagara frontier? How was the burning of Newark avenged? 21. What is said of the British blockade this year? -- What of Lewiston? Of Havre de Grace, and other villages on the Chesapeake? Of Hampton? Of the Carolina coast? What is said of Cockburn? 23. What is said of the career of the American navy this year?
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February 24, the United States sloop-of-war
Hornet, Captain James Lawrence, encountered the British
brig Peacock, off the coast of Guiana. After an action of
fifteen minutes the Peacock struck her colors, and soon sunk,
carrying down nine of her own crew and three Americans who bad
gone to their rescue. After his return to the United States,
Captain Lawrence was promoted to the command of the frigate
Chesapeake, then lying in Boston Harbor. June 1, with a raw
crew, and short of officers, he put to sea to engage the British
frigate Shannon, which was lying off the harbor inviting an
attack. Early in the action the Chesapeake became exposed to a
raking fire from the Shannon, and in a few moments every officer
on (leek was killed or Wounded. The enemy immediately boarded and
hoisted the British flag. Captain Lawrence, as he was carried
below, mortally wounded, issued his last heroic order, "Don't
give up the ship."
23. The American brig Argus,
Captain Allen, after a cruise on the English coast in which
she had made prizes of more than twenty merchantmen, was herself
captured, after a severe fight, August 14, by the British brig
Pelican, of superior force. September 5, victory returned
to the American flag. The British brig Boxer, Captain
Blythe, surrendered to the American brig Enterprise,
Lieutenant Burrows, after a hot engagement of little more
than half an hour, off Monhegan,1 on the coast of
Maine. Both commanders fell in the action, and were buried with
the honors of war in Portland.2
24. In December, a new
Congress (the thirteenth) assembled. In this Congress the
peace party had increased, though the war party was still largely
in the majority. Daniel Webster3 began his
congressional career this session as a Federalist representative
from New Hampshire. There was a growing opposition to the
war4 in New England and the other commercial states.
Massachusetts, though not going to the extent of nullification,
took the lead against the war, considering it ruinous to the
interests of the country, wrong in its origin, and in its progress
characterized by the grossest mismanagement. She even refused to
join in votes of thanks to the victorious heroes of the American
navy.
1 See p. 36, ¶ 2, note 4. 2 see p. 19, ¶ 9. 3 See p. 221, ¶ 5. 4 See p. 184, ¶ 3.
QUESTIONS. -- What of Captain Lawrence and the Hornet? Give an account of the engagement between the Chesapeake and Shannon. 23. What of Captain Allen and the Argus? Of the engagement between the Boxer and the Enterprise? 24. What of the peace and war parties in the thirteenth congress? Where was there a growing opposition to the war? What was the course of Massachusetts?
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25. Events of 1814. --
On the 27th of March General Andrew Jackson,' with an
army Of Volunteers, completely broke the power of the
Creeks, in a battle fought at Tohopeka, or
Horse-shoe Bend, on the Tallapoosa River.
The fall of Tecumseh has already been
noticed. 2 That chieftain's influence was felt beyond
the tribes of the north-west. He had stirred up the Creeks to war.
The inhabitants of Southern Alabama took refuge in forts, one of
which, Fort Mims, was surprised and captured, August 30,
1813. Nearly four hundred men, women, and children were consigned
to death within its walls. Volunteers from all quarters flocked in
to avenge this horrid massacre. The principal body of these was
from Tennessee, under Jackson, whose standard was also joined by
friendly Indians. In a series of conflicts, beginning with
the early part of November and ending with the battle of Tohopeka,
the Creeks were defeated, yet at a great sacrifice of life to the
victors. The next August Jackson concluded a treaty with
them, by which they surrendered a large part of their
territory.
26. In March General
Wilkinson3 attempted to enter Canada by way of
Lake Champlain, but was repulsed, and soon after resigned his
command. The abdication of Napoleon, in April,4 left
England at liberty to bring several thousand veteran troops
from the European struggle to America, and with the exception of
some brilliant exploits on the Niagara frontier, the United
States acted mainly on the defensive for the rest of the
war.
27. Early in July General
Brown,5 who had reached the Niagara
frontier6 from Sackett's Harbor, crossed the river with
two brigades, commanded by Generals Scott7 and Ripley,
and captured Fort Erie. He then proceeded down the river,
General Scott leading the advance, and on the 5th gained a
brilliant victory over the enemy, strongly intrenched behind the
Chippewa, under General Riall. The latter withdrew to the
shore of Lake Ontario, where he was joined by a large force under
Lieutenant-General Drummond, who, taking the command, marched
against the Americans. Near sunset, July 25, he met them. at
Lundy's Lane, advancing, led by General Scott.
1 Jackson, at the early age of fourteen, first took up arms for his country under Sumter (see p. 137, ¶ 4), in the war of the Revolution. See p. 195.
2 See p. 178, ¶ 13. 3 See p. 180, ¶ 19
4 Napoleon (see p. 164, ¶ 2, and 171, ¶ 2) 1 as consul and emperor, enjoyed sovereign power in France from 1799 till 1814, when a combination against him, consisting of Great Britain and all the principal European states, compelled him to abdicate the throne, and retire to the Land of Elba. 5 See p. 179, ¶ 18. 6 See pp. 179, 180. 7 See p. 179, ¶ 16.
QUESTIONS. -- 25. Give an account of the battle of Tohopeka. -- Who had excited the Creek to war? Give an account of the massacre at Fort Mims. Effect of this massacre? What is said of the series of conflicts which Jackson carried on against the Creeks? Of the treaty concluded with them? 26. What did Wilkinson attempt in March? How did the abdication of Napoleon affect the conflict in America? How did the United States mainly act during the rest of the war? 27. Give an account of the capture of Fort Erie. Of the battle of the Chippewa. Of the battle of Lundy's Lane.
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A battle ensued, which lasted till midnight,
and was one of the most obstinate of the War.1 The
Americans were left in possession of the field.
The enemy's artillery was captured in a
gallant charge by Colonel James Miller.2 Three times
were the British repulsed in their efforts to recover their guns.
After holding the field a short time the Americans retired to
their camp, and as they had not the means of removing the captured
artillery, the enemy soon took possession of it. The British force
was much superior to that of the Americans, the latter numbering
less than three thousand. Each army lost over eight hundred men.
Generals Drummond and Riall were both wounded, and the latter was
taken prisoner. Generals Brown and Scott were among the Americans
wounded. General Ripley, who was left in command, returned to Fort
Erie. In August this fort was invested by Drummond, but after a
siege of more than a month, in which he lost about two thousand
men, he was obliged to retire beyond the Chippewa.
1 This battle is also known as the battle of Bridgewater; also as the battle of Niagara Falls.
2 Colonel Miller, being asked by his commanding officer if he could capture the enemy's battery, replied, "I'll try, sir!" which words were afterwards, by order, put on the buttons of his regiment.
QUESTIONS. -- What is said of the battle of Lundy's Lane? -- Give a more particular account of this battle. What is said of Fort Erie?
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III. FROM
THE BATTLE OF
PLATTSBURG TO THE CLOSE OF
THE WAR. --
WAR CHIEFLY
DEFENSIVE. -- Events of 1814 and 1815.
-- 1. In November Fort Erie was destroyed by the Americans,
who then withdrew from the Canada shore. Meanwhile the American
army at Plattsburg, under General Macomb, and the fleet on
Lake Champlain, under Captain McDonough, gained, September
11, a decisive victory over a vastly superior land and naval force
of the British.
General Izard1 had been ordered to
Sackett's Harbor with the greater part of his army. Only fifteen
hundred effective men remained at Plattsburg. The American
squadron on the lake consisted of fourteen vessels, carrying
eighty-six guns and eight hundred and fifty men. Early in
September General Prevost2 confronted Macomb with more
than twelve thousand veteran troops,3 and on the 11th
the British squadron under Captain Downie, consisting of sixteen
vessels, carrying ninety-five guns and one thousand men, bore down
upon the American fleet lying off Plattsburg. An engagement
followed, which lasted more than two hours, when the entire fleet
of the enemy was captured, with the exception of some small
gunboats, which stole away after hauling down their flags. When
the naval battle began, Prevost advanced upon Macomb, whose little
army, reënforced by about three thousand neighboring militia,
kept him at bay till the battle on the lake had ended. Prevost
then abandoned the assault upon Plattsburg, and that night began a
hasty and disorderly retreat, leaving behind his sick and wounded,
and vast quantities of military stores. This fruitless attack by
land and water cost the enemy, in killed, wounded, and missing,
more than twenty-five hundred men. The Americans lost about two
hundred. The brilliant successes at Plattsburg and on the lake
diffused the greatest joy throughout the land.
2. The British
blockade this year was made to include the whole New
England shore.4 Eastport, Machias, and 
Belfast,
in Maine, were taken. Stonington, in Connecticut, was bombarded.
The seaboard states and cities began to take measures for their
own defence.
3. Hartford
Convention. -- The dissatisfaction of the Eastern
States5 increased, and December 15, at the suggestion
of Massachusetts, delegates from that state, from Connecticut and
Rhode Island, with partial representation front New Hampshire and
Vermont, met at Hartford to consider the condition of the states
represented, their relation to the
1 See p. 180, ¶ 19. 2 See p. 179, ¶ 18. 3 See p. 182, ¶ 26.
4 See p. 180, ¶ 21. 5 See p. 181, ¶ 24.
QUESTIONS. -- 1. What happened in November? What is said of the victory at Piattsburg and on Lake Champlain? -- Give a more particular account of this victory. What was the effect of these successes? 2. How was the British blockade extended this year? What places in Maine were taken? What of Stonington? What did the seaboard states and cities begin to do? 3. What is said of the dissatisfaction of the Eastern States? What was done on the suggestion of Massachusetts?
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war and to the general government. Nothing came of this
convention.1 Soon after its adjournment, the
legislatures of Connecticut and Massachusetts passed laws
directly in opposition to the statute of the United States
providing for the enlistment of minors. These state laws subjected
to fine and imprisonment those engaged in carrying out the
national statute. The return of peace prevented any direct
collision between the nation and the states.
4. Cockburn2 continued his
depredations on the Chesapeake. In August a British fleet
entered the Patuxent, and landed about five thousand men, under
the command of General Robert Ross, who immediately marched for
Washington, by way of Bladensburg. Meeting with but little
resistance, the British on the 24th entered the capital of the
United States, then a stragggling village of eight thousand
inhabitants, burned the Capitol and other public buildings, the
libraries, valuable records, and works of art, belonging to the
government, together with several private dwellings and
warehouses.3 The British then hastily returned to their
ships.
5. This was one of
the most disgraceful events of the war -- as disgraceful to the
inefficent Americans as to the marauding enemy. From the first
landing of the British, the authorities in Washington presented
but a pitiable spectacle of indecision and helplessness. When the
invaders reached Bladensburg they were almost ready to
drop, from the excessive heat and fatigue; but General
Winder,4 in command there, could not infuse into the
raw militia courage enough to oppose the drooping, faltering foe.
Only Captain Barney, with about five hundred sailors and marines
from the Chesapeake flotilla, which had been destroyed on the
approach of the enemy, made a stand, and they were too few to
serve any efficient purpose. Cockburn was the ruling spirit of the
invasion, and in keeping with his general reputation, the
presiding genius of the ruthless destruction in Washington. A part
of the British fleet, in the mean time, went up the Potomac, and
compelled Alexandria to purchase safety by giving up its
shipping and merchandise.
1 The delegates simply suggested that the general government be requested to permit the states represented to assume their own defence, and recommended several alterations in the constitution of the United States. The war closed before any action could be taken on the propositions for defence, and the proposed amendments of the constitution were not viewed with favor. 2 See p. 180, ¶ 21.
3 The enemy pleaded in excuse for this vandalism the burning of the Parliament House, at the capture of York (see p. 179,4115), which, however, General Dearborn believed to have been done by disaffected Canadians.
4 Winder had but recently been released from captivity. See p. 179, ¶ 17.
QUESTIONS. -- What did the Hartford Convention meet to consider? Result? What laws were passed by Connecticut and Massachusetts? How was collision between the nation and the states prevented? 4. Where did Cockburn continue his depredations? Give an account of the March of the British upon Washington, and of their proceedings in that city. 5. What is said of this event? Of the authorities in Washington? What resistance did the British meet? How was part of the British fleet employed in the mean time?
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© 1999, 2000, 2001 for NEGenWeb Project by Ted & Carole Miller