1812: The Navy's War (73 page)
FOR THE AMERICAN navy the war did not end with the signing of the treaty at Ghent. Warships were already at sea and did not receive word of peace, and neither did their British counterparts. While the celebration was going on in Washington, the
Constitution
was still at sea. Captain Charles Stewart had slipped out of Boston on December 17, 1814. The blockading squadron, composed of three frigates and a brig of war, were not on guard. The frigates had departed for repairs at the Royal Navy Dockyards at Halifax, and the brig was in Provincetown. Stewart had a clear field. When he was well out into the Atlantic, he painted the
Constitution
’s sides black with a distinctive thick yellow stripe across her gun ports, making her appear British, and he flew the Union Jack.
Constitution
was still at sea. Captain Charles Stewart had slipped out of Boston on December 17, 1814. The blockading squadron, composed of three frigates and a brig of war, were not on guard. The frigates had departed for repairs at the Royal Navy Dockyards at Halifax, and the brig was in Provincetown. Stewart had a clear field. When he was well out into the Atlantic, he painted the
Constitution
’s sides black with a distinctive thick yellow stripe across her gun ports, making her appear British, and he flew the Union Jack.
On Christmas Eve he captured the brig
Nelson
. Days and then weeks passed uneventfully, however. On February 10, he was ten miles off Cape Finisterre, on the northwest coast of Spain. By that time, he knew for certain that a peace treaty had been signed. He did not know if it had been ratified, but he could assume that it had. Nonetheless, he continued the hunt. On February 16, he captured a small British merchantman and sent her to New York as a prize.
Nelson
. Days and then weeks passed uneventfully, however. On February 10, he was ten miles off Cape Finisterre, on the northwest coast of Spain. By that time, he knew for certain that a peace treaty had been signed. He did not know if it had been ratified, but he could assume that it had. Nonetheless, he continued the hunt. On February 16, he captured a small British merchantman and sent her to New York as a prize.
Four days later, Stewart was sailing a hundred eighty miles west-southwest of Madeira when lookouts spotted a stranger two points off the larboard bow. Stewart immediately hauled up and gave chase. Forty-five minutes later, a second ship appeared ahead. It was soon apparent they were both enemy warships. In fact, they were the British men-of-war
Cyane
(Captain Gordon Falcon) and
Levant
(Captain George Douglas). The
Cyane
was a small frigate with a battery of thirty thirty-two-pound carronades, two eighteen-pound carronades, and two long nines. Her companion, the
Levant
, was a sloop of war carrying eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades and two long nines.
Cyane
(Captain Gordon Falcon) and
Levant
(Captain George Douglas). The
Cyane
was a small frigate with a battery of thirty thirty-two-pound carronades, two eighteen-pound carronades, and two long nines. Her companion, the
Levant
, was a sloop of war carrying eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades and two long nines.
Signals from the British ships quickly identified the
Constitution
as an enemy. Falcon and Douglas were ten miles apart, and they closed ranks to fight the larger frigate together, rather than separating and trying to outrun her. By four o’clock the
Cyane
was ten miles to leeward of the
Constitution
. Stewart “bore up after her, and set lower topmast, topgallant, and royal studding sails.”
Constitution
as an enemy. Falcon and Douglas were ten miles apart, and they closed ranks to fight the larger frigate together, rather than separating and trying to outrun her. By four o’clock the
Cyane
was ten miles to leeward of the
Constitution
. Stewart “bore up after her, and set lower topmast, topgallant, and royal studding sails.”
In thirty minutes the
Constitution
’s main royal mast carried away, but Stewart had a crew clear the wreckage and prepare a replacement, while he kept on after the enemy. At five o’clock he opened fire with two larboard bow guns but with little effect. By 5:30 the two enemy ships had come together. They hauled up their courses and prepared for battle. At first they tried to obtain the weather gauge, but failing that, they formed a line a half cable’s length from each other (a hundred yards).
Constitution
’s main royal mast carried away, but Stewart had a crew clear the wreckage and prepare a replacement, while he kept on after the enemy. At five o’clock he opened fire with two larboard bow guns but with little effect. By 5:30 the two enemy ships had come together. They hauled up their courses and prepared for battle. At first they tried to obtain the weather gauge, but failing that, they formed a line a half cable’s length from each other (a hundred yards).
At six o’clock all the ships raised their flags and commenced firing at about three hundred yards. Stewart concentrated on the
Cyane.
Both enemy ships fired on the
Constitution
. The exchange lasted for fifteen minutes, when the
Constitution
’s heavy twenty-four-pounders began to tell, and the
Cyane
’s fire slackened. Great columns of smoke now surrounded the
Constitution
, and Stewart ceased firing. In three minutes the smoke cleared, and he saw that the
Constitution
was abreast of the much smaller
Levant
. Stewart poured a punishing broadside into her, as the
Cyane
came up on the
Constitution
’s larboard quarter.
Cyane.
Both enemy ships fired on the
Constitution
. The exchange lasted for fifteen minutes, when the
Constitution
’s heavy twenty-four-pounders began to tell, and the
Cyane
’s fire slackened. Great columns of smoke now surrounded the
Constitution
, and Stewart ceased firing. In three minutes the smoke cleared, and he saw that the
Constitution
was abreast of the much smaller
Levant
. Stewart poured a punishing broadside into her, as the
Cyane
came up on the
Constitution
’s larboard quarter.
Stewart reacted quickly. He “braced aback . . . main and mizzen topsails, and backed astern under cover of the smoke” that had hung around. He pulled abreast of the
Cyane
, and both ships blazed away at each other for fifteen minutes, when the
Cyane
’s fire slackened once more. She had been badly cut up. Stewart then discovered the gallant
Levant
bearing up. He filled his topsails, shot ahead, and raked her by the stern twice with his larboard guns, severely damaging her. Meanwhile, the struggling
Cyane
had worn, and Stewart wore short round and raked her by the stern. The nearly crippled
Cyane
managed to then luff to on the
Constitution
’s starboard bow and fire a broadside into her from her larboard battery. But Stewart then ranged up on the
Cyane
’s larboard quarter within hail and was about to unleash a crushing broadside when she fired a gun to leeward, signaling surrender. It was ten minutes before seven o’clock. The action had lasted for fifty minutes.
Cyane
, and both ships blazed away at each other for fifteen minutes, when the
Cyane
’s fire slackened once more. She had been badly cut up. Stewart then discovered the gallant
Levant
bearing up. He filled his topsails, shot ahead, and raked her by the stern twice with his larboard guns, severely damaging her. Meanwhile, the struggling
Cyane
had worn, and Stewart wore short round and raked her by the stern. The nearly crippled
Cyane
managed to then luff to on the
Constitution
’s starboard bow and fire a broadside into her from her larboard battery. But Stewart then ranged up on the
Cyane
’s larboard quarter within hail and was about to unleash a crushing broadside when she fired a gun to leeward, signaling surrender. It was ten minutes before seven o’clock. The action had lasted for fifty minutes.
An hour later, Stewart went after the
Levant
, which was not running, despite the
Constitution
’s overwhelming superiority. In fact, to Stewart’s amazement, Captain Douglass was standing toward him. At ten minutes before nine the two ships ranged close alongside on opposite tacks and exchanged broadsides. Stewart wore immediately under
Levant
’s stern and raked her with a broadside. Only then did the plucky Douglass try to escape. Stewart chased him, firing his starboard bow chaser to good effect, cutting the
Levant
’s sails and rigging, which slowed her considerably. At ten o’clock Douglass fired a single gun to leeward indicating surrender. The
Constitution
had 3 killed and 12 wounded, while the two British ships had 35 killed and 42 wounded. Stewart took 313 prisoners.
Levant
, which was not running, despite the
Constitution
’s overwhelming superiority. In fact, to Stewart’s amazement, Captain Douglass was standing toward him. At ten minutes before nine the two ships ranged close alongside on opposite tacks and exchanged broadsides. Stewart wore immediately under
Levant
’s stern and raked her with a broadside. Only then did the plucky Douglass try to escape. Stewart chased him, firing his starboard bow chaser to good effect, cutting the
Levant
’s sails and rigging, which slowed her considerably. At ten o’clock Douglass fired a single gun to leeward indicating surrender. The
Constitution
had 3 killed and 12 wounded, while the two British ships had 35 killed and 42 wounded. Stewart took 313 prisoners.
He brought his prizes to Porto Praya in the Cape Verde Islands, arriving on March 10. The next day, lookouts spied three British frigates approaching the roadstead. Stewart tried to escape with his prizes, and the frigates chased him. The
Cyane
, the dullest sailer, fell behind and disappeared into a providential fog, but the enemy frigates kept after the
Constitution
and the
Levant
. The
Levant
soon lost ground, and she was recaptured. Oddly, all three frigates went after her and let the
Constitution
escape. The
Cyane
struggled into New York on April 9. On April 28 Stewart finally received confirmation that the war was indeed over, and he steered for Boston.
Cyane
, the dullest sailer, fell behind and disappeared into a providential fog, but the enemy frigates kept after the
Constitution
and the
Levant
. The
Levant
soon lost ground, and she was recaptured. Oddly, all three frigates went after her and let the
Constitution
escape. The
Cyane
struggled into New York on April 9. On April 28 Stewart finally received confirmation that the war was indeed over, and he steered for Boston.
THE
CONSTITUTION
WAS not the only American fighting ship at large when the war ended. On January 23, 1815, five days after the
President
departed New York, the sloop of war
Peacock
, under Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, swept passed Sandy Hook in a strong northeasterly gale and sped out to sea in full view of the slower British sentinels. Right on Warrington’s tail were the sloop of war
Hornet
, under Master Commandant James Biddle, the 12-gun store-brig
Tom Bowline
, under Lieutenant B. V. Hoffman, and the private armed merchant brig
Macedonian.
The
Peacock
,
Hornet
, and
Tom Bowline
were under orders to rendezvous with Decatur and the
President
at the island of Tristan da Cunha in the remote South Atlantic, 1,750 miles west of the Cape of Good Hope, 2,088 miles east of South America, and 1,510 miles south of St. Helena. Decatur had planned to use the prevailing westerlies in those latitudes to sail east beyond the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean, perhaps even visiting the East Indies. Warrington and Biddle had no idea the
President
had been captured.
CONSTITUTION
WAS not the only American fighting ship at large when the war ended. On January 23, 1815, five days after the
President
departed New York, the sloop of war
Peacock
, under Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, swept passed Sandy Hook in a strong northeasterly gale and sped out to sea in full view of the slower British sentinels. Right on Warrington’s tail were the sloop of war
Hornet
, under Master Commandant James Biddle, the 12-gun store-brig
Tom Bowline
, under Lieutenant B. V. Hoffman, and the private armed merchant brig
Macedonian.
The
Peacock
,
Hornet
, and
Tom Bowline
were under orders to rendezvous with Decatur and the
President
at the island of Tristan da Cunha in the remote South Atlantic, 1,750 miles west of the Cape of Good Hope, 2,088 miles east of South America, and 1,510 miles south of St. Helena. Decatur had planned to use the prevailing westerlies in those latitudes to sail east beyond the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean, perhaps even visiting the East Indies. Warrington and Biddle had no idea the
President
had been captured.
In a few days, the
Hornet
separated from the others and made her way to the South Atlantic. During the trip a neutral vessel told her the war had ended, but Biddle chose not to believe it. He pressed on to the place of rendezvous, arriving at Tristan da Cunha on March 23. Biddle was about to drop anchor at 10:30 in the morning when he spied a British warship of his same size, the
Penguin
, under Commander James Dickinson. Biddle went after her.
Hornet
separated from the others and made her way to the South Atlantic. During the trip a neutral vessel told her the war had ended, but Biddle chose not to believe it. He pressed on to the place of rendezvous, arriving at Tristan da Cunha on March 23. Biddle was about to drop anchor at 10:30 in the morning when he spied a British warship of his same size, the
Penguin
, under Commander James Dickinson. Biddle went after her.
When Dickinson saw the
Hornet
, he came up to her prepared for battle. The two ships were evenly matched. The
Penguin
carried eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades; one twelve-pound carronade; and two six-pound long guns. The
Hornet
had eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades and two twelve-pound long guns. A little over two hours later, the action commenced at around a hundred yards with murderous broadsides for about twenty-five minutes, during which Dickinson was cut in half by a ball. The superior gunnery of the
Hornet
devastated the
Penguin
.
Hornet
, he came up to her prepared for battle. The two ships were evenly matched. The
Penguin
carried eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades; one twelve-pound carronade; and two six-pound long guns. The
Hornet
had eighteen thirty-two-pound carronades and two twelve-pound long guns. A little over two hours later, the action commenced at around a hundred yards with murderous broadsides for about twenty-five minutes, during which Dickinson was cut in half by a ball. The superior gunnery of the
Hornet
devastated the
Penguin
.
Lieutenant McDonald, who had taken command on the
Penguin
, decided his only hope was to board. He bore up and ran his bowsprit into the
Hornet
’s mizzen shrouds on her starboard side, but when he tried to board, the
Hornet
’s marines and sailors fired their muskets with good effect and drove the boarders back to their crippled ship. A heavy sea was running, causing the
Penguin
to pull free of the
Hornet
, but when she did, her bowsprit tore away, carrying away the
Hornet
’s mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker boom. It also brought down the
Penguin
’s foremast, and when McDonald saw Biddle preparing to fire another broadside, he surrendered. The fight lasted for twenty-two minutes.
Penguin
, decided his only hope was to board. He bore up and ran his bowsprit into the
Hornet
’s mizzen shrouds on her starboard side, but when he tried to board, the
Hornet
’s marines and sailors fired their muskets with good effect and drove the boarders back to their crippled ship. A heavy sea was running, causing the
Penguin
to pull free of the
Hornet
, but when she did, her bowsprit tore away, carrying away the
Hornet
’s mizzen shrouds, stern davits, and spanker boom. It also brought down the
Penguin
’s foremast, and when McDonald saw Biddle preparing to fire another broadside, he surrendered. The fight lasted for twenty-two minutes.
The
Penguin
was so badly damaged she had to be scuttled. She had 14 killed and 28 wounded out of a crew of 132. The
Hornet
had 1 killed and 11 wounded, including Biddle, who was shot in the neck but soon recovered. The
Hornet
did not receive a single round shot in her hull or any material wound to her spars, and although her rigging and sails were cut up, Biddle quickly repaired them.
Penguin
was so badly damaged she had to be scuttled. She had 14 killed and 28 wounded out of a crew of 132. The
Hornet
had 1 killed and 11 wounded, including Biddle, who was shot in the neck but soon recovered. The
Hornet
did not receive a single round shot in her hull or any material wound to her spars, and although her rigging and sails were cut up, Biddle quickly repaired them.
Immediately after the battle, the
Peacock
and
Tom Bowline
appeared. Biddle transferred 118 prisoners to the store ship and then waited with Warrington for three weeks for Decatur. When he failed to appear, they sailed east on April 12 for the second place of rendezvous, running before the westerlies beyond the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean, where on April 27 they sighted what they thought was a large East Indiaman. When they closed with her, however, they discovered she was a battleship, the 74-gun
Cornwallis
, and they fled, separating as they went. The
Peacock
was the fastest ship and soon disappeared, while the
Cornwallis
went after the slower
Hornet
. The big battleship turned out to be far more weatherly than Biddle had supposed, and she kept up with him, even gaining, as he sailed close-hauled trying to shake her. In desperation Biddle started lightening his ship, throwing overboard heavy spars, boats and ballast, anchors and cables, shot, and six guns. He thought when night came he’d sneak away, but the
Cornwallis
stayed right on his tail. At first light her big bow guns fired from long range and just missed touching the
Hornet
’s masts.
Peacock
and
Tom Bowline
appeared. Biddle transferred 118 prisoners to the store ship and then waited with Warrington for three weeks for Decatur. When he failed to appear, they sailed east on April 12 for the second place of rendezvous, running before the westerlies beyond the Cape of Good Hope into the Indian Ocean, where on April 27 they sighted what they thought was a large East Indiaman. When they closed with her, however, they discovered she was a battleship, the 74-gun
Cornwallis
, and they fled, separating as they went. The
Peacock
was the fastest ship and soon disappeared, while the
Cornwallis
went after the slower
Hornet
. The big battleship turned out to be far more weatherly than Biddle had supposed, and she kept up with him, even gaining, as he sailed close-hauled trying to shake her. In desperation Biddle started lightening his ship, throwing overboard heavy spars, boats and ballast, anchors and cables, shot, and six guns. He thought when night came he’d sneak away, but the
Cornwallis
stayed right on his tail. At first light her big bow guns fired from long range and just missed touching the
Hornet
’s masts.
As tenacious as ever, Biddle threw more gear over the side, including small arms, all his remaining guns except for one, all his shot, the rest of his spare spars, and whatever else he could think of. He kept just ahead, while the
Cornwallis
fired and scored three hits, but nothing fatal. The ships were now less than a mile apart in a smooth sea. Fortunately for Biddle, in the afternoon the wind hauled to the westward, enabling him to lengthen his lead to four miles. During the night he manage to sail at nine knots with a fresh wind.
Cornwallis
fired and scored three hits, but nothing fatal. The ships were now less than a mile apart in a smooth sea. Fortunately for Biddle, in the afternoon the wind hauled to the westward, enabling him to lengthen his lead to four miles. During the night he manage to sail at nine knots with a fresh wind.
At daylight on April 30 he was twelve miles from the
Cornwallis
, and she gave up the chase. Her remarkably poor shooting saved the
Hornet
. Biddle now had to get his toothless ship home. On June 9 he reached the neutral port of San Salvador, where he finally allowed himself to be convinced that the war was over.
Cornwallis
, and she gave up the chase. Her remarkably poor shooting saved the
Hornet
. Biddle now had to get his toothless ship home. On June 9 he reached the neutral port of San Salvador, where he finally allowed himself to be convinced that the war was over.
All the while, Captain Warrington and the
Peacock
kept sailing to the East Indies, capturing four large prizes as she went, before finding out on June 30 in the Straits of Sundra that the war was long over.
Peacock
kept sailing to the East Indies, capturing four large prizes as she went, before finding out on June 30 in the Straits of Sundra that the war was long over.
THE WAR DID not end immediately for American prisoners either. When the peace treaty was signed, 6,000 of them were still in Dartmoor Prison. The British and Americans had exchanged prisoners during the war, but Britain had accumulated far more than the United States, and these remained at Dartmoor. During the last year of the war the British had moved all their naval prisoners to Dartmoor. They were gathered from places like Chatham, Stapleton, Plymouth, and Portsmouth and from Halifax, Bermuda, the Cape of Good Hope, Jamaica, Barbados, New Providence, and Newfoundland. Many had been on Melville Island, a prison in Halifax Harbor that became known as Deadman’s Island because 195 prisoners had died there, most of them Americans. Men had also been kept in prison hulks in various ports, including St. Helena. These decrepit ships were often death traps full of disease.
At the end of the war the colossally inefficient American government could not manage to bring the Dartmoor prisoners home. The prisoners were not fed or clothed properly, and the prison was rife with disease, particularly smallpox. In addition, there were 1,000 black prisoners who naturally refused to go to a port in the southern part of the United States.
On April, 6, 1815, the American prisoners complained more forcefully than usual about food and other poor conditions at Dartmoor, and the rattled commandant, naval captain Thomas G. Shortland, ordered his troops to fire on them, killing seven and wounding fifty-four. Not wanting this tragedy to upset relations with America while Napoleon remained to be dealt with, Castlereagh organized a commission to look into the matter. It was composed of one American (Charles King, the son of Rufus King) and one Briton (Mr. Seymour Larpent). They concluded that the troops were poorly disciplined but that the incident was an accident. Castlereagh wrote to Chargé Baker in Washington and to Gallatin and Clay in London expressing “sincere regret on this unfortunate affair, and of [the government’s] . . . desire to make every suitable compensation to the families of the persons who suffered on this melancholy occasion.”
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