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The Naval War of 1812

T >> Theodore Roosevelt >> The Naval War of 1812




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* Poster's note: the date 1851 above may well have been 1815
in the original; if you have a copy of this book, we would
appreciate confirmation.
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I have in this case, as usual, taken each commander's account of
his own force and loss. Lieut. Jones states the British force to
have been 1,000, which tallies almost exactly with their own account;
but believes that they lost 300 in killed and wounded. Captain
Lockyer, on the other hand, gives the Americans 225 men and three
additional light guns. But on the main points the two accounts agree
perfectly. The victors certainly deserve great credit for the
perseverance, gallantry and dash they displayed; but still more
belongs to the vanquished for the cool skill and obstinate courage
with which they fought, although with the certainty of ultimate defeat
before them,--which is always the severest test of bravery. No comment
is needed to prove the effectiveness of their resistance. Even James
says that the Americans made an obstinate struggle, that Lieut. Jones
displayed great personal bravery, and that the British loss was very
severe.

On the night of Dec. 23d Gen. Jackson beat up the quarters of the
British encamped on the bank of the Mississippi. The attack was
opened by Capt. Patterson in the schooner _Carolina_, 14; she was
manned by 70 men, and mounted on each side six 12-pound carronades
and one long 12. Dropping down the stream unobserved, till opposite
the bivouac of the troops and so close to the shore that his first
command to fire was plainly heard by the foe, Patterson opened a
slaughtering cannonade on the flank of the British, and kept it up
without suffering any loss in return, as long as the attack lasted.
But on the 27th the British had their revenge, attacking the little
schooner as she lay at anchor, unable to ascend the current on account
of the rapid current and a strong head-wind. The assailants had a
battery of 5 guns, throwing hot shot and shell, while the only gun
of the schooner's that would reach was the long 12. After half an
hour's fighting the schooner was set on fire and blown up; the crew
escaped to the shore with the loss of 7 men killed and wounded. The
only remaining vessel, exclusive of some small, unarmed row-boats,
was the _Louisiana_, 16, carrying on each side eight long 24's. She
was of great assistance in the battle of the 28th, throwing during
the course of the cannonade over 800 shot, and suffering very little
in return. [Footnote: Cooper, ii, p. 320.] Afterward the American
seamen and marines played a most gallant part in all the engagements
on shore; they made very efficient artillerists.

SUMMARY.
The following vessels were got ready for sea during this year:
[Footnote: Am. State Papers, xiv, p. 828; also Emmons' statistical
"History."]

Name. Rig. Where Built. Cost. Men. Guns. Tons. Remarks

_Wasp_, Ship Newburyport $77,459.60 160 22 509 Built
_Frolic_, " Boston 72,094.82 " " " "
_Peacock_, " New York 75,644.36 " " " "
_Ontario_, " Baltimore 59,343.69 " " " "
_Erie_, " " 56,174.36 " " " "
_Tom Bowline_, Schooner Portsmouth 13,000.00 90 12 260 Purchased
_Lynx_, " Washington 50 6 Built
_Epervier_, Brig England 50,000.00 130 18 477 Captured
_Flambeau_, " Baltimore 14,000.00 90 14 300 Purchased
-+- _Spark_, " " 17,389.00 " " " "
| _Firefly_, " " 17,435.00 " " 333 "
| _Torch_, Schooner " 13,000.00 60 12 260 "
| _Spitfire_, " " 20,000.00 " " 286 "
'- _Eagle_, " N.O. " " 270 "
-+- _Prometheus_, " Philadelphia 20,000.00 " " 290 "
| _Chippeway_, Brig R.I. 52,000.00 90 14 390 "
| _Saranac_, " Middleton 26,000.00 " " 360 "
'- _Boxer_, " " 26,000.00 " " 370 "
_Despatch_, Schooner 23 2 52


The first 5 small vessels that are bracketed were to cruise under
Commodore Porter; the next 4 under Commodore Perry; but the news
of peace arrived before either squadron put to sea. Some of the
vessels under this catalogue were really almost ready for sea at
the end of 1813; and some that I have included in the catalogue of
1815 were almost completely fitted at the end of 1814,--but this
arrangement is practically the best.

LIST OF VESSELS LOST TO THE BRITISH.

1. Destroyed by British Armies.

Name. Tons. Guns.
_Columbia_, 1,508 52-+- Destroyed to prevent them
_Adams_, 760 28 | falling into hands of enemy.
_Argus_. 509 22 '-
_Carolina_. 230 14 Destroyed by battery.
----- ----
3,007 116

2. Captured, Etc., By British Navy on Ocean.

Name. Tons. Guns.
_Essex_. 860 46 Captured by frigate and corvette.
_Frolic_. 509 22 " by frigate and schooner.
_Rattlesnake_, 258 16 " by frigate.
_Syren_, 250 16 " by seventy-four.
--- ----
1,877 100

Total, 4,884 tons. 216 guns


There were also a good many gun-boats, which I do not count, because,
as already said, they were often not as large as the barges that
were sunk and taken in attacking them, as at Craney Island, etc.

LIST OF VESSELS TAKEN FROM THE BRITISH.

1. Captured by American Privateers.

Name. Tons. Guns.
_Ballabou_, 86 4
_Landrail_, 76 4

2. Captured, Etc., By British Navy on Ocean.

Name. Tons. Guns.
_Epervier_, 477 18 captured by sloop _Peacock_.
_Avon_, 477 20 sunk " " _Wasp_.
_Reindeer_, 477 19 " " " ".
_Pictou_, 300 14 captured by frigate.

3. Sunk in Attacking Fort.

Name. Tons. Guns.
_Hermes_, 500 22
----- -----
2,393 101


Taking into account the losses on the lakes, there was not very much
difference in the amount of damage done to each combatant by the other;
but both as regards the material results and the moral effects, the
balance inclined largely to the Americans. The chief damage done
to our navy was by the British land-forces, and consisted mainly
in forcing us to burn an unfinished frigate and sloop. On the ocean
our three sloops were captured in each case by an overwhelming force,
against which no resistance could be made, and the same was true
of the captured British schooner. The _Essex_ certainly gained as
much honor as her opponents. There were but three single ship actions,
in all of which the Americans were so superior in force as to give
them a very great advantage; nevertheless, in two of them the victory
was won with such perfect impunity and the difference in the loss
and damage inflicted was so very great, that I doubt if the result
would have been affected if the odds had been reversed. In the other
case, that of the _Reindeer_, the defeated party fought at a still
greater disadvantage, and yet came out of the conflict with full
as much honor as the victor. No man with a particle of generosity
in his nature can help feeling the most honest admiration for the
unflinching courage and cool skill displayed by Capt. Manners and
his crew. It is worthy of notice (remembering the sneers of so many
of the British authors at the "wary circumspection" of the Americans)
that Capt. Manners, who has left a more honorable name than any other
British commander of the war, excepting Capt. Broke, behaved with
the greatest caution as long as it would serve his purpose, while
he showed the most splendid personal courage afterward. It is this
combination of courage and skill that made him so dangerous an
antagonist; it showed that the traditional British bravery was not
impaired by refusing to adhere to the traditional British tactics
of rushing into a fight "bull-headed." Needless exposure to danger
denotes not so much pluck as stupidity. Capt. Manners had no intention
of giving his adversary any advantage he could prevent. No one can
help feeling regret that he was killed; but if he was to fall, what
more glorious death could he meet? It must be remembered that while
paying all homage to Capt. Manners, Capt. Blakely did equally well.
It was a case where the victory between two combatants, equal in
courage and skill, was decided by superior weight of metal and number
of men.

PRIZES MADE.

Name of ship. Number of prizes.
_President_ 3
_Constitution_ 6
_Adams_ 10
_Frolic_ 2
_Wasp_ 15
_Peacock_ 15
_Hornet_ 1
Small craft 35
---
87



Chapter VIII


1814

ON THE LAKES

_ONTARIO-The contest one of ship-building merely--Extreme caution
of the commanders, verging on timidity--Yeo takes Oswego, and
blockades Sackett's Harbor--British gun-boats captured--Chauncy
blockades Kingston--ERIE--Captain Sinclair's unsuccessful
expedition--Daring and successful cutting-out expeditions of the
British--CHAMPLAIN--Macdonough's victory._

Ontario.

The winter was spent by both parties in preparing more formidable
fleets for the ensuing summer. All the American schooners had proved
themselves so unfit for service that they were converted into
transports, except the _Sylph_, which was brig-rigged and armed like
the _Oneida_. Sackett's Harbor possessed but slight fortifications,
and the Americans were kept constantly on the alert, through fear
lest the British should cross over. Commodore Chauncy and Mr. Eckford
were as unremitting in their exertions as ever. In February two 22-gun
brigs, the _Jefferson_ and _Jones_, and one large frigate of 50 guns,
the _Superior_, were laid; afterward a deserter brought in news of
the enormous size of one of the new British frigates, and the
_Superior_ was enlarged to permit her carrying 62 guns. The _Jefferson_
was launched on April 7th, the _Jones_ on the 10th; and the _Superior_
on May 2d,--an attempt on the part of the British to blow her up
having been foiled a few days before. Another frigate, the _Mohawk_,
42, was at once begun. Neither guns nor men for the first three ships
had as yet arrived, but they soon began to come in, as the roads
got better and the streams opened. Chauncy and Eckford, besides
building ships that were literally laid down in the forest, and
seeing that they were armed with heavy guns, which, as well as all
their stores, had to be carried overland hundreds of miles through
the wilderness, were obliged to settle quarrels that occurred among
the men, the most serious being one that arose from a sentinel's
accidentally killing a shipwright, whose companions instantly struck
work in a body. What was more serious, they had to contend with such
constant and virulent sickness that it almost assumed the proportions
of a plague. During the winter it was seldom that two thirds of the
force were fit for duty, and nearly a sixth of the whole number of
men in the port died before navigation opened. [Footnote: Cooper
mentions that in five months the _Madison_ buried a fifth of her crew.]

Meanwhile Yeo had been nearly as active at Kingston, laying down
two frigates and a huge line-of-battle ship, but his shipwrights
did not succeed in getting the latter ready much before navigation
closed. The _Prince Regent_, 58, and _Princess Charlotte_, 42, were
launched on April 15th. I shall anticipate somewhat by giving tabular
lists of the comparative forces, after the two British frigates, the
two American frigates, and the two American brigs had all been equipped
and manned. Commodore Yeo's original six cruisers had been all renamed,
some of them re-armed, and both the schooners changed into brigs.
The _Wolfe_, _Royal George_, _Melville_, _Moira_, _Beresford_, and
_Sydney Smith_, were now named respectively _Montreal_, _Niagara_,
_Star_, _Charwell_, _Netly_, and _Magnet_. On the American side there
had been but slight changes, beyond the alteration of the _Sylph_
into a brig armed like the _Oneida_. Of the _Superior's_ 62 guns,
4 were very shortly sent on shore again.

CHAUNCY'S SQUADRON.

Broadside
Name. Rig. Tonnage. Crew. Metal. Armament.
_Superior_, ship, 1,580 500 1,050lbs. +- 30 long 32's
| 2 " 24's
- 26 short 42's
_Mohawk_, " 1,350 350 554 lbs. -+- 26 long 24's
| 2 " 18's
'- 14 short 32's
_Pike_, " 875 300 360 " -+- 26 long 24's
'- 2 " 24's
_Madison_, " 593 200 364 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 22 short 32's
_Jones_, brig, 500 160 332 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 20 short 32's
_Jefferson_, " 500 160 332 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 20 short 32's
_Sylph_, " 300 100 180 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 14 short 24's
_Oneida_, " 243 100 180 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 14 short 24's
__________ _____ _____ __________ ________
8 vessels, 5,941 1,870 3,352 lbs. 228 guns.

This is considerably less than James makes it, as he includes all
the schooners, which were abandoned as cruisers, and only used as
transports or gun-boats. Similarly Sir James had a large number of
gun-boats, which are not included in his cruising force. James thus
makes Chauncy's force 2,321 men, and a broadside of 4,188 lbs.

YEO'S SQUADRON

Broadside
Name. Rig. Tonnage. Crew. Metal. Armament.
_Prince ship, 1,450 485 872 lbs. -+- 32 long 24's
Regent_, | 4 short 68's
'- 22 " 32's
_Princess " 1,215 315 604 " -+- 26 long 24's
Charlotte_, | 2 short 68's
'- 14 " 32's
_Montreal_, " 637 220 258 " -+- 7 long 24's
'- 18 " 18's
_Niagara_, " 510 200 332 " -+- 2 long 12's
'- 20 short 32's
_Charwell_, brig, 279 110 236 " -+- 2 long 12's
'-14 short 32's
_Star_, " 262 110 236 " -+- 2 long 12's
'-14 short 32's
_Netly_, " 216 100 180 " -+- 2 long 12's
'-14 short 24's
_Magnet_, " 187 80 156 " -+- 2 long 12's
'-12 short 24's
__________ _____ _____ _________ ________
8 vessels, 4,756 1,620 2,874 lbs. 209 guns.

This tallies pretty well with James' statement, which (on p. 488)
is 1,517 men, and a broadside of 2,752 lbs. But there are very
probably errors as regards the armaments of the small brigs, which
were continually changed. At any rate the American fleet was certainly
the stronger, about in the proportion of six to five. The disproportion
was enough to justify Sir James in his determination not to hazard
a battle, although the odds were certainly not such as British
commanders had been previously accustomed to pay much regard to.
Chauncy would have acted exactly as his opponent did, had he been
similarly placed. The odds against the British commodore were too
great to be overcome, where the combatants were otherwise on a par,
although the refusal to do battle against them would certainly preclude
Yeo from advancing any claims to _superiority_ in skill or courage.
The _Princess Charlotte_ and _Niagara_ were just about equal to the
_Mohawk_ and _Madison_, and so were the _Charwell_ and _Netly_ to
the _Oneida_ and _Sylph_; but both the _Star_ and _Magnet_ together
could hardly have matched either the _Jones_ or the _Jefferson_,
while the main-deck 32's of the _Superior_ gave her a great advantage
over the _Prince Regent's_ 24's, where the crews were so equal; and
the _Pike_ was certainly too heavy for the _Montreal_. A decided
superiority in the effectiveness of both crews and captains could
alone have warranted Sir James Lucas Yeo in engaging, and this
superiority he certainly did not possess.

This year the British architects outstripped ours in the race for
supremacy, and Commodore Yeo put out of port with his eight vessels
long before the Americans were ready. His first attempt was a
successful attack on Oswego. This town is situated some 60 miles
distant from Sackett's Harbor, and is the first port on the lake
which the stores, sent from the seaboard to Chauncy, reached.
Accordingly it was a place of some little importance, but was very
much neglected by the American authorities. It was insufficiently
garrisoned, and was defended only by an entirely ruined fort of 6
guns, two of them dismounted. Commodore Yeo sailed from Kingston
to attack it on the 3d of May, having on board his ships a detachment
of 1,080 troops. Oswego was garrisoned by less than 300 men, [Footnote:
General order of Gen. Jacob Brown, by R. Jones, Ass. Adj.-General,
May 12, 1814.] chiefly belonging to a light artillery regiment, with
a score or two of militia; they were under the command of Colonel
Mitchell. The recaptured schooner _Growler_ was in port, with 7 guns
destined for the Harbor; she was sunk by her commander, but afterward
raised and carried off by the foe.

On the 5th Yeo appeared off Oswego and sent in Captain Collier and
13 gun-boats to draw the fort's fire; after some firing between them
and the four guns mounted in the fort (two long 24's, one long 12,
and one long 6), the gun-boats retired. The next day the attack was
seriously made. The _Princess Charlotte_, _Montreal_, and _Niagara_
engaged the batteries, while the _Charwell_ and _Star_ scoured the
woods with grape to clear them of the militia. [Footnote: Letter of
General Gordon Drummond, May 7, 1814.] The debarkation of the troops
was superintended by Captain O'Connor, and until it was accomplished
the _Montreal_ sustained almost the whole fire of the fort, being
set on fire three times, and much cut up in hull, masts, and rigging.
[Footnote: Letter of Sir James Lucas Yeo, May 17, 1814.] Under this
fire 800 British troops were landed, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fischer,
assisted by 200 seamen, armed with long pikes, under Captain Mulcaster.
They moved gallantly up the hill, under a heavy fire, and carried
the fort by assault; Mitchell then fell back unmolested to the Falls,
about 12 miles above the town, where there was a large quantity of
stores. But he was not again attacked. The Americans lost 6 men killed,
including Lieutenant Blaeny, 38 wounded, and 25 missing, both of
these last falling into the enemy's hands. The British lost 22
soldiers, marines, and seamen (including Captain Hollaway) killed,
and 73 (including the gallant Captain Mulcaster dangerously, and
Captain Popham slightly) wounded, [Footnote: Letter of Lieut.-Col.
V. Fischer, May 17, 1814. James says "18 killed and 64 wounded,"
why I do not know; the official report of Col. Fischer, as quoted,
says: "Of the army, 19 killed and 62 wounded; of the navy, 3 killed
and 11 wounded."] the total loss being 95--nearly a third of the
American force engaged. General Drummond, in his official letter,
reports that "the fort being everywhere almost open, the whole of
the garrison * * * effected their escape, except about 60 men, half
of them wounded." No doubt the fort's being "everywhere almost open"
afforded excellent opportunities for retreat; but it was not much
of a recommendation of it as a structure intended for defence.

The British destroyed the four guns in the battery, and raised the
_Growler_ and carried her off, with her valuable cargo of seven long
guns. They also carried off a small quantity of ordnance stores and
some flour, and burned the barracks; otherwise but little damage was
done, and the Americans reoccupied the place at once. It certainly
showed great lack of energy on Commodore Yeo's part that he did not
strike a really important blow by sending an expedition up to destroy
the quantity of stores and ordnance collected at the Falls. But the
attack itself was admirably managed. The ships were well placed,
and kept up so heavy a fire on the fort as to effectually cover the
debarkation of the troops, which was very cleverly accomplished; and
the soldiers and seamen behaved with great gallantry and steadiness,
their officers leading them, sword in hand, up a long, steep hill,
under a destructive fire. It was similar to Chauncy's attacks on
York and Fort George, except that in this case the assailants suffered
a much severer loss compared to that inflicted on the assailed. Colonel
Mitchell managed the defence with skill, doing all he could with
his insufficient materials.

After returning to Kingston, Yeo sailed with his squadron for
Sackett's Harbor, where he appeared on May 19th and began a strict
blockade. This was especially troublesome because most of the guns
and cables for the two frigates had not yet arrived, and though the
lighter pieces and stores could be carried over land, the heavier
ones could only go by water, which route was now made dangerous by
the presence of the blockading squadron. The very important duty
of convoying these great guns was entrusted to Captain Woolsey, an
officer of tried merit. He decided to take them by water to Stony
Creek, whence they might be carried by land to the Harbor, which
was but three miles distant; and on the success of his enterprise
depended Chauncy's chances of regaining command of the lake. On
the 28th of May, at sunset, Woolsey left Oswego with 19 boats,
carrying 21 long 32's, 10 long 24's, three 42-pound carronades, and
10 cables--one of the latter, for the _Superior_, being a huge rope
22 inches in circumference and weighing 9,600 pounds. The boats
rowed all through the night, and at sunrise on the 29th 18 of them
found themselves off the Big Salmon River, and, as it was unsafe
to travel by daylight, Woolsey ran up into Big Sandy Creek, 8 miles
from the Harbor. The other boat, containing two long 24's and a
cable, got out of line, ran into the British squadron, and was
captured. The news she brought induced Sir James Yeo at once to
send out an expedition to capture the others. He accordingly
despatched Captains Popham and Spilsbury in two gun-boats, one armed
with one 68-pound and one 24-pound carronade, and the other with
a long 32, accompanied by three cutters and a gig, mounting between
them two long 12's and two brass 6's, with a total of 180 men.
[Footnote: James, vi. 487; while Cooper says 186, James says the
British loss was 18 killed and 50 wounded; Major Appling says "14
were killed, 28 wounded, and 27 marines and 106 sailors captured."]
They rowed up to Sandy Creek and lay off its mouth all the night,
and began ascending it shortly after daylight on the 30th. Their
force, however, was absurdly inadequate for the accomplishment of
their object. Captain Woolsey had been reinforced by some Oneida
Indians, a company of light artillery, and some militia, so that
his only care was, not to repulse, but to capture the British party
entire, and even this did not need any exertion. He accordingly
despatched Major Appling down the river with 120 riflemen [Footnote:
Letter from Major D. Appling, May 30, 1814.] and some Indians to
lie in ambush. [Footnote: Letter of Capt. M. T. Woolsey, June 1,
1814. There were about 60 Indians: In all, the American force amounted
to 180 men. James adds 30 riflemen, 140 Indians, and "a large body
of militia and cavalry,"--none of whom were present.] When going
up the creek the British marines, under Lieutenant Cox, were landed
on the left bank, and the small-arm men, under Lieutenant Brown,
on the right bank; while the two captains rowed up the stream between
them, throwing grape into the bushes to disperse the Indians. Major
Appling waited until the British were close up, when his riflemen
opened with so destructive a volley as to completely demoralize and
"stampede" them, and their whole force was captured with hardly any
resistance, the American having only one man slightly wounded. The
British loss was severe,--18 killed and 50 dangerously wounded,
according to Captain Popham's report, as quoted by James; or "14
killed and 28 wounded," according to Major Appling's letter. It was
a very clever and successful ambush.

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