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

Not the least of objections was the risk to which Sackett's Harbor, the naval base, was to be exposed. After October 16, Chauncey had remained cruising between there and Kingston, covering the approaches to the St. Lawrence. His intended trip to Genesee, to bring up Scott's eight hundred regulars, had been abandoned at the urgent demand of Wilkinson, who, while the troops were being transferred from Sackett's to Grenadier Island, at the outlet of the lake to the river, "would not allow any part of the fleet to be absent four days without throwing the responsibility, in case of a failure of his expedition, wholly on the navy."114 The commodore did not learn of the new scheme until October 30, ten days after its adoption, when he was asked to cover the rear of the army from pursuit by water, by taking position inside the St. Lawrence. While objecting strongly to the change of plan, he of course consented to afford all the co-operation in his power; but he wrote to the Navy Department, "If Sir James Yeo knows the defenceless situation of Sackett's, he can take advantage of a westerly wind while I am in the river, run over and burn it; for to the best of my knowledge there are no troops left there except sick and invalids, nor are there more than three guns mounted."115

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1

Captains' Letters. Navy Department.

2

Ibid., Bainbridge, Oct. 13, 1812.

3

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 25.

4

Bainbridge's report is in the Captains' Letters. Navy Department, Jan. 3, 1813. It will be found also in Niles' Register, vol. iii. p. 410. Both give extracts from Bainbridge's journal, which is very full on the subject of manœuvres and times. The British account will be found in the Naval Chronicle, vol. xxix. pp. 403-408, from which the plan of the battle is copied.

5

James' Naval History, edition 1824, vol. v. p. 313.

6

Bainbridge in a private letter speaks of the men looking forward to prize money for the "Guerrière" on their return. Niles' Register, vol. iii. p. 411.

7

Lawrence's Report of these transactions is in Captains' Letters, March 19, 1813. It will be found also in Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 84.

8

Naval Chronicle, vol. xxviii. p. 305.

9

Admiralty to Warren, British Records Office.

10

Niles' Register, vol. iii. p. 383.

11

Captains' Letters.

12

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 159. The Admiralty's letter to Warren to institute this blockade is dated March 25. British Records Office.

13

Niles' Register, vol. v. p. 264.

14

Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 464.

15

Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 475.

16

Captains' Letters.

17

American State Papers, Naval Affairs, vol. i. p. 280.

18

Captain Evans' Report, April 10, 1813. Captains' Letters.

19

Captains' Letters.

20

Ibid, Dec. 17, 1812.

21

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 119. Naval Chronicle, vol. xxix. p. 501.

22

March 17, 1813. Captains' Letters.

23

March 17, 18, and 21. Ibid.

24

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 222.

25

Columbian Centinel.

26

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 117.

27

Captains' Letters.

28

Message of the Governor of Rhode Island, May 5, 1813.

29

Niles' Register, vol. iv. pp. 200, 209. There were reported in Cadiz at this time 160,000 barrels of flour, unsold. The Columbian Centinel (Feb. 17) speaks of the Lisbon market as deplorable.

30

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 150.

31

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 101.

32

Ibid., p. 117.

33

American State Papers, Foreign Relations, vol. iii. p. 584. France in the same period had seized five hundred and fifty-eight.

34

Naval Chronicle, vol. xxix. p. 497. The following extract from an American journal may have interest as indicating the extent of the British convoy movement. "American brig 'Hazard,' arrived at New York from Madeira, June 5, reports: 'April 11, arrived at Funchal the outward bound East India and Brazil fleets, forty sail, under convoy. Sailed April 12. April 21, arrived outward bound Cork fleet, one hundred and eighty sail convoyed by a seventy-four, a frigate, and a sloop.' April 30, sailed from Jamaica, three hundred merchantmen, under convoy of a seventy-four, two frigates and a sloop." (Columbian Centinel, of Boston, June 9, 1813.)

35

Murdoch's History of Nova Scotia, vol. iii. p. 351.

36

Captains' Letters, April 13, 1813.

37

Ibid., May 22.

38

Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 134.

39

Letter of Governor Winder, April 26, 1813. Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 204.

40

Yeo to Croker, May 26, 1813. Admiralty In-Letters, Records Office.

41

Captains' Letters, Navy Department.

42

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 439.

43

Between July, 1812, and March 25, 1813, Prevost received re-enforcements amounting in all to 2,175 regulars. His total force then, for all Canada, excluding militia, was 9,177; of which 2,000 were provincial corps. British Records Office.

44

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 441.

45

Chauncey to Navy Department, March 8, 12, and 16, 1813. Captains' Letters.

46

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 442.

47

Captains' Letters.

48

Captains' Letters, Nov. 5, 1814.

49

Captains' Letters, May 7, 1813.

50

Ibid., May 15.

51

Canadian Archives. C. 678, p. 332.

52

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 445.

53

Ibid., p. 449. Armstrong's italics.

54

Barclay's Narrative before the British Court Martial on the Battle of Lake Erie. British Records Office.

55

Prevost to Bathurst, Canadian Archives.

56

Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 148.

57

Barclay's Narrative.

58

Brown's and Prevost's Reports of this affair may be found in Niles' Register, vol. iv. pp. 260, 261. That of Yeo is in the Canadian Archives; M. 389, 6, p. 22.

59

Captains' Letters, June 11, 1813.

60

Captains' Letters.

61

The account of these transactions is summarized from American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. pp. 445-449. For Vincent's report of the Stony Creek affair see Cruikshank's Documentary History of the Campaign on the Niagara Frontier, 1813, Part II, p. 8.

62

Smyth's Précis of Wars in Canada, p. 137.

63

Scott's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 94.

64

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. pp. 450, 451.

65

Formerly the "Prince Regent."

66

Yeo's Report of the Vessels on the Lakes, July 15, 1813. British Records Office.

67

Woolsey to Chauncey, June 20 and 21, 1813. Captains' Letters.

68

Chauncey to the Department, July 5, 1813. Captains' Letters.

69

Captains' Letters. Navy Department MSS.

70

"History of the Royal Navy," edited by Sir W.L. Clowes, vol. iii. p. 411.

71

That is,—row

72

Chauncey's Report of this cruise is in Captains' Letters, Aug. 13, 1813. Also, in Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 421.

73

James, Naval Occurrences. Appendix, p. lxxiv.

74

Captains' Letters, Navy Department MSS.

75

Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 166.

76

Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 186.

77

Perry to the Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 10, 1813. Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 191.

78

Secretary's Letters, Aug. 18, 1813. Navy Department MSS.

79

Otherwise known by the name of the River Raisin. Ante, vol. i. p. 370.

80

The data of this paragraph are taken from the Report on Canadian Archives, 1896, Lower Canada, pp. 132, 138-140. Barclay in his Defence before the Court Martial mentions the designs on Erie.

81

Harm Jan Huidekoper, by Nina Moore Tiffany and Francis Tiffany. 1904. p. 187. Mr. Huidekoper speaks admiringly of the unfaltering composure and cheerfulness which under these circumstances accompanied Perry's energy.

82

See ante, p. 41.

83

Report on Canadian Archives, 1896. Lower Canada, p. 133.

84

This statement appeared in the course of a summary of the evidence before the British Court, given by the Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxii. pp. 241-242. The only support to it in the evidence, as recorded, is Barclay's official letter, which he appears to have confirmed under oath, that the "Niagara" kept out of carronade range, and "was perfectly fresh at 2.30," when Perry went on board her. The first lieutenant of the "Queen Charlotte," who remained in command, the captain being killed, corroborated Barclay as to her distance.

85

In the finding—or verdict—of the British Court, as in the evidence, there is no expression of a charge that the "Niagara" was making away. The finding restricted itself to the matter before the Court, namely, Barclay's official conduct.

86

There was a question whether the "Hunter" was ahead or astern of the "Queen Charlotte." In the author's opinion the balance of evidence is as stated in the text. Perry rearranged his line with reference to the British, upon seeing their array. Had the "Charlotte" been next the "Detroit," as James puts her, it seems probable he would have placed the "Niagara" next the "Lawrence."

87

Cooper, Battle of Lake Erie, p. 63.

88

See Mackenzie's Life of Perry, 5th edition, vol. ii. pp. 251-252. Perry's charges against Elliott, dated Aug. 8, 1818, are there given in full.

89

See Mackenzie's Life of Perry, 5th edition, vol. ii. pp. 251-252.

90

Cooper's Battle of Lake Erie, p. 63.

91

Barclay's Report, Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 251.

92

The range of a 32 pdr. carronade, with which the "Niagara" was armed, throwing one solid shot, with ¼ degree elevation,—substantially point-blank,—was 260 yards; at 5 degrees, 1260 yards. The difference, 1000 yards, is just half a sea mile. A British professional writer of that day, criticising their commander's choice of position at Lake Champlain, says: "At 1000 or 1100 yards the elevation necessary to be given a carronade would have been so great that none but chance shots [from the Americans] could have taken effect; whereas, in closing, he gave up this advantage." Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxiii. p. 132.

93

The "Caledonia" had two long 24-pounders, and one other lighter gun, variously stated. The "Detroit's" heaviest were also two long 24's; she had besides one long 18, six long 12's, etc.

94

With reference to times, always very difficult to establish, and often very important as bases of calculation, the following extract from the Diary of Dr. Usher Parsons, surgeon of the "Lawrence," possesses value; the more so as it is believed to have been copied from the log of the vessel, which afterwards disappeared. The phraseology is that of a log and a seaman, not of a physician. "At 10 called all hands to quarters. A quarter before meridian the enemy began action at one mile distance. In a half hour came within musket-shot of the enemy's new ship.... At 1.30, so entirely disabled we could work the brig no longer. At 2 P.M., most of the guns were dismounted, breechings gone, or carriages knocked to pieces. At half-past two, when not another gun could be worked or fired, Captain Perry hauled down the fighting flag [not the national flag], which bore this motto 'Don't give up the ship,' and repaired on board the 'Niagara,' where he raised it again. In ten minutes after we struck." Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, vol. vii. p. 244. This was called to the author's attention after the account in the text was written.

95

Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. ii. p. 283.

96

Evidence of Midshipman Montgomery of the "Niagara," before the Court of Inquiry.

97

Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 252.

98

Richardson, War of 1812, p. 243.

99

Barclay's Report.

100

British Court Martial Record.

101

Navy Department, MSS. Miscellaneous Letters. My italics.

102

This scheme appears outlined in a letter of Oct. 5, 1812, to Lord Bathurst from Sir George Prevost, who in support of it adduces Brock's opinion (Canadian Archives MSS). Bathurst replied, Dec. 9, 1812, "I so entirely concur in the expediency of the suggestions contained in your despatch, as to the necessity of securing the territories of the Indians from encroachment, that I have submitted it to His Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in order that whenever negotiations for peace may be entered into, the security of their possessions may not be either compromised or forgotten." (British Colonial Office Records). Prevost transmitted a copy of the letter to Admiral Warren, in his early diplomatic capacity as a peace envoy. Gordon Drummond, the successor of Brock, and later of Prevost, expressed the same interest (Canadian Archives MSS., April 2, 1814).

103

American State Papers, Foreign Affairs, vol. iii. pp. 710-713.

104

Canadian Archives MSS.

105

Scott says, "The selection of this unprincipled imbecile was not the blunder of Secretary Armstrong." Memoirs, vol. i. p. 94, note.

106

Both these names are used, confusingly, by Armstrong. Madrid was the township, Hamilton a village on the St. Lawrence, fifteen to twenty miles below the present Ogdensburg.

107

American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 464. Armstrong's italics.

108

Ante, p. 60.

109

Chauncey's report, Oct. 1, 1813, Niles' Register, vol. v. p. 134. The extract has been verified from the original in the Captains' Letters. The report of Sir James Yeo (British Records Office) agrees substantially with Chauncey's accounts of the movements, but adds that upon the fall of the "Wolfe's" topmasts the "Pike" immediately took a distance out of carronade range, whence her long 24's would tell. "I can assure you, Sir, that the great advantage the enemy have over us from their long 24-pounders almost precludes the possibility of success, unless we can force them to close action, which they have ever avoided with the most studied circumspection."

110

Chauncey to Navy Department, Dec. 17, 1813. Captains' Letters.

111

Armstrong, Oct. 5, 1813. American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 470.

112

Ibid., p. 471.

113

Armstrong, Oct. 20, 1813. American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 473.

114

Scott's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 106. In consequence, though Scott personally succeeded in joining the movement from which so much was expected, this considerable number of regulars were withdrawn from it. They ultimately reached Sackett's, forming the nucleus of a garrison.

115

Captains' Letters, Oct. 30, 1813.