1812: The Navy's War (85 page)
278
“be taught to know”:
James A. Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House: Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987), 166–67.
“be taught to know”:
James A. Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House: Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987), 166–67.
278
“free settlers into some”:
Quoted in J. Mackay Hitsman,
The Incredible War of 1812: A Military History
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 1999), 238.
“free settlers into some”:
Quoted in J. Mackay Hitsman,
The Incredible War of 1812: A Military History
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 1999), 238.
278
Bathurst prohibited Cochrane:
Bathurst to Major General Edward Barnes, May 20, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:72–74.
Bathurst prohibited Cochrane:
Bathurst to Major General Edward Barnes, May 20, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:72–74.
280
Decatur had some hope:
Spencer Tucker,
Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2005), 133–34.
Decatur had some hope:
Spencer Tucker,
Stephen Decatur: A Life Most Bold and Daring
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2005), 133–34.
280
Beginning on March 17:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 137; Robert J. Allison,
Stephen Decatur: American Naval Hero, 1779–1820
(Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2005), 136–37.
Beginning on March 17:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 137; Robert J. Allison,
Stephen Decatur: American Naval Hero, 1779–1820
(Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2005), 136–37.
280
With the coming of warm spring:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 137; and David Long,
Sailor-Diplomat: A Biography of Commodore James Biddle, 1783–1848
(Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1983), 48–49.
With the coming of warm spring:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 137; and David Long,
Sailor-Diplomat: A Biography of Commodore James Biddle, 1783–1848
(Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1983), 48–49.
280
“It is a most infamous arrangement”:
Long,
Sailor-Diplomat
, 50.
“It is a most infamous arrangement”:
Long,
Sailor-Diplomat
, 50.
281
At one point in July:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 139.
At one point in July:
Tucker,
Stephen Decatur
, 139.
281
“a challenge ship”:
Jones to Gordon, Jan. 5, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:6–7.
“a challenge ship”:
Jones to Gordon, Jan. 5, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:6–7.
281
In April, Jones directed:
Jones to Gordon, April 15, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:13.
In April, Jones directed:
Jones to Gordon, April 15, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:13.
281
Jones gave up on Ridgely:
Jones to Ridgely, April 4, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:31–32.
Jones gave up on Ridgely:
Jones to Ridgely, April 4, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:31–32.
282
The
Ontario
was ready:
Jones to Spence, April 4, 1814; Spence to Jones, April 9, 1814; Jones to Spence, April 18, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:23–24.
CHAPTER 23The
Ontario
was ready:
Jones to Spence, April 4, 1814; Spence to Jones, April 9, 1814; Jones to Spence, April 18, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:23–24.
283
On July 6, 1814, at five:
Porter to Jones, July 9, 1814, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. Michael Crawford (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 2002), 3:764–65.
On July 6, 1814, at five:
Porter to Jones, July 9, 1814, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. Michael Crawford (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 2002), 3:764–65.
283
on January 5, 1813, the ubiquitous:
Lieutenant William B. Finch to Secretary Jones, Feb. 13, 1813, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. William S. Dudley (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 1992), 2:684–85.
on January 5, 1813, the ubiquitous:
Lieutenant William B. Finch to Secretary Jones, Feb. 13, 1813, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. William S. Dudley (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 1992), 2:684–85.
283
Porter continued to the second:
Porter to Bainbridge, March 23, 1813, in Dudley, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 2:688–89.
Porter continued to the second:
Porter to Bainbridge, March 23, 1813, in Dudley, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 2:688–89.
285
“perhaps the most barren”:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:730–33.
“perhaps the most barren”:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:730–33.
285
Porter turned his finest:
Porter to Secretary of the Navy Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 2:697–99.
Porter turned his finest:
Porter to Secretary of the Navy Hamilton, July 2, 1813, in Dudley, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 2:697–99.
285
“It seems somewhat”:
David Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
(1815; reprint, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1986), 204.
“It seems somewhat”:
David Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
(1815; reprint, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1986), 204.
286
Viewing the natives:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 355.
Viewing the natives:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 355.
286
To support Gamble:
John M. Gamble to Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 28, 1815, in John Brannan,
Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the United States During the War with Great Britain, in the Years 1812–1815
(Washington City: Way and Gideon, 1823), 362.
To support Gamble:
John M. Gamble to Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 28, 1815, in John Brannan,
Official Letters of the Military and Naval Officers of the United States During the War with Great Britain, in the Years 1812–1815
(Washington City: Way and Gideon, 1823), 362.
287
Porter held his fire:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 476.
Porter held his fire:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 476.
288
The
Essex
had forty:
Theodore Roosevelt,
The Naval War of 1812
(New York: Modern Library, 1999), 170; Alfred T. Mahan,
Sea Power in Its Relations to the War of 1812
(Boston: Little, Brown, 1905), 2:248.
The
Essex
had forty:
Theodore Roosevelt,
The Naval War of 1812
(New York: Modern Library, 1999), 170; Alfred T. Mahan,
Sea Power in Its Relations to the War of 1812
(Boston: Little, Brown, 1905), 2:248.
288
“appeared determined to defend”:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:734.
“appeared determined to defend”:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:734.
288
The grisly slaughter went on:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:733–37; Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 452–60.
The grisly slaughter went on:
Porter to Jones, July 3, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:733–37; Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 452–60.
288
“history does not afford”:
Roosevelt,
The Naval War of 1812
, 171.
“history does not afford”:
Roosevelt,
The Naval War of 1812
, 171.
288
“More bravery, skill, patriotism”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 458.
“More bravery, skill, patriotism”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 458.
288
“We have been unfortunate”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 459.
“We have been unfortunate”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 459.
289
“I must in justification of myself”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 460.
“I must in justification of myself”:
Porter,
Journal of a Cruise
, 460.
289
“In the first place, I consider that”:
David G. Farragut, “Some Reminiscences of Early Life,” in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:751–52.
“In the first place, I consider that”:
David G. Farragut, “Some Reminiscences of Early Life,” in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:751–52.
289
Good weather accompanied:
David Long,
Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1780–1843
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1970), 165.
Good weather accompanied:
David Long,
Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1780–1843
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1970), 165.
289
Lieutenant Gamble, meanwhile:
Gamble to Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 28, 1815, in Brannan,
Official Letters
, 362–66; Long,
Nothing Too Daring
, 135–41.
Lieutenant Gamble, meanwhile:
Gamble to Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 28, 1815, in Brannan,
Official Letters
, 362–66; Long,
Nothing Too Daring
, 135–41.
290
“the loss is hidden”:
President’s Message to Congress, Sept. 20, 1814, in Brannan,
Official Letters
, 431–35. The
Essex
, despite her injuries, was repaired and brought to England, where she was taken into the Royal Navy and served until 1837.
CHAPTER 24“the loss is hidden”:
President’s Message to Congress, Sept. 20, 1814, in Brannan,
Official Letters
, 431–35. The
Essex
, despite her injuries, was repaired and brought to England, where she was taken into the Royal Navy and served until 1837.
291
On April 4, Rear Admiral Cockburn:
Roger Morriss,
Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition: Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1997), 99; Donald G. Shomette,
Flotilla
:
The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812
(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009), 74.
On April 4, Rear Admiral Cockburn:
Roger Morriss,
Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition: Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1997), 99; Donald G. Shomette,
Flotilla
:
The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812
(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2009), 74.
293
On June 10 Barrie made:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 92–101; Louis Arthur Norton,
Joshua Barney: Hero of the Revolution and 1812
, Library of Naval Biography (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000), 168–77.
On June 10 Barrie made:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 92–101; Louis Arthur Norton,
Joshua Barney: Hero of the Revolution and 1812
, Library of Naval Biography (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2000), 168–77.
293
“so far into the country”:
Croker to Cochrane, April 4, 1814, and Crocker to Cochrane, May 19, 1814, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. Michael Crawford (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 2002), 3:70–72.
“so far into the country”:
Croker to Cochrane, April 4, 1814, and Crocker to Cochrane, May 19, 1814, in
The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History
, ed. Michael Crawford (Washington, DC: Naval Historical Center, 2002), 3:70–72.
293
“effect a diversion”:
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Earl Bathurst to Major General Edward Barnes, British Army, May 20, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:72–74.
“effect a diversion”:
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies Earl Bathurst to Major General Edward Barnes, British Army, May 20, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:72–74.
293
“assist in inflicting”:
Quoted in Henry Adams,
History of the United States of America During the Administrations of James Madison
(New York: Library of America, 1986), 998.
“assist in inflicting”:
Quoted in Henry Adams,
History of the United States of America During the Administrations of James Madison
(New York: Library of America, 1986), 998.
294
“to destroy and lay waste”:
Orders of Vice Admiral Cochrane, July 18, 1814, in Bryan Perrett,
The Real Hornblower
:
The Life of Admiral Sir James Gordon, GCB
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997), 106.
“to destroy and lay waste”:
Orders of Vice Admiral Cochrane, July 18, 1814, in Bryan Perrett,
The Real Hornblower
:
The Life of Admiral Sir James Gordon, GCB
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997), 106.
294
Over a month later Cochrane:
Cochrane to Monroe, Aug. 13, 1814, and Monroe to Cochrane, Sept. 6, 1814, reprinted in
Salem Gazette
, Sept. 16, 1814, 6.
Over a month later Cochrane:
Cochrane to Monroe, Aug. 13, 1814, and Monroe to Cochrane, Sept. 6, 1814, reprinted in
Salem Gazette
, Sept. 16, 1814, 6.
294
“from his throne”:
Cochrane to Cockburn, July 1, 1814, in Crawford ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:129–30.
“from his throne”:
Cochrane to Cockburn, July 1, 1814, in Crawford ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:129–30.
294
He was also impressed:
Anthony S. Pitch,
The Burning of Washington
:
The British Invasion of 1814
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1998), 19; Cochrane to Croker, July 23, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:135–36.
He was also impressed:
Anthony S. Pitch,
The Burning of Washington
:
The British Invasion of 1814
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1998), 19; Cochrane to Croker, July 23, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:135–36.
294
“It is quite impossible”:
Cockburn to Cochrane, July 17, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:136–37.
“It is quite impossible”:
Cockburn to Cochrane, July 17, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:136–37.
294
“within forty-eight hours”:
Cockburn to Cochrane, July 17, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:137–39; Irving Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief, 1812–1836
(Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1961), 285; Shomette,
Flotilla
, 253.
“within forty-eight hours”:
Cockburn to Cochrane, July 17, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:137–39; Irving Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief, 1812–1836
(Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1961), 285; Shomette,
Flotilla
, 253.
295
At one time Monroe:
Harry Ammon,
James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
(Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990), 328–29.
At one time Monroe:
Harry Ammon,
James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
(Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1990), 328–29.
295
“the éclat that would”:
Rush report in Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 270–71.
“the éclat that would”:
Rush report in Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 270–71.
295
Madison thought a force:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 271–72.
Madison thought a force:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 271–72.
295
Secretary Armstrong was in charge:
C. Edward Skeen,
John Armstrong, Jr.: A Biography 1758–1843
(Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1981), 189.
Secretary Armstrong was in charge:
C. Edward Skeen,
John Armstrong, Jr.: A Biography 1758–1843
(Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1981), 189.
295
He had been one of the key:
James E. Elliott,
Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 2009).
He had been one of the key:
James E. Elliott,
Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 2009).
296
Armstrong was indifferent:
John K. Mahon,
The War of 1812
(1972; reprint, New York: DaCapo Press, 1991), 292; Skeen,
John Armstrong, Jr.,
187–93.
Armstrong was indifferent:
John K. Mahon,
The War of 1812
(1972; reprint, New York: DaCapo Press, 1991), 292; Skeen,
John Armstrong, Jr.,
187–93.
297
Gordon, who had the temporary rank:
Perrett,
The Real Hornblower
, 111.
Gordon, who had the temporary rank:
Perrett,
The Real Hornblower
, 111.
298
“The enemy has entered”:
Charles O. Paullin,
Commodore John Rodgers A Biography
(Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark, 1910), 284.
“The enemy has entered”:
Charles O. Paullin,
Commodore John Rodgers A Biography
(Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark, 1910), 284.
298
Barney knew they were:
Norton,
Joshua Barney
, 178–79.
Barney knew they were:
Norton,
Joshua Barney
, 178–79.
298
The night of the twenty-second:
Cockburn to Cochrane, Aug. 22, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:195–96.
The night of the twenty-second:
Cockburn to Cochrane, Aug. 22, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:195–96.
299
“the sooner the army”:
Morriss,
Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition,
106.
“the sooner the army”:
Morriss,
Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition,
106.
299
Incredibly, Winder at no time:
Court of Inquiry on Winder, in
Niles’ Weekly Register
, Feb. 25, 1815. General Winfield Scott presided. The court exonerated Winder.
Incredibly, Winder at no time:
Court of Inquiry on Winder, in
Niles’ Weekly Register
, Feb. 25, 1815. General Winfield Scott presided. The court exonerated Winder.
300
President Madison was on:
Mahon,
War of 1812
, 295–300; Shomette,
Flotilla
, 306–27; Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 301–3.
President Madison was on:
Mahon,
War of 1812
, 295–300; Shomette,
Flotilla
, 306–27; Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 301–3.
301
Barney could not go:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 326–27; James A. Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House
:
Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987), 15.
Barney could not go:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 326–27; James A. Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House
:
Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 1772–1853
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1987), 15.
301
There were 71 American:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 329.
There were 71 American:
Shomette,
Flotilla
, 329.
301
An hour earlier:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 306–7.
An hour earlier:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 306–7.
301
The day before:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief,
295.
The day before:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief,
295.
301
Many of the documents dated:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 292; Edward D. Ingraham,
Sketches of the Events Which Preceded the Capture of Washington
(Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1849), 48.
Many of the documents dated:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 292; Edward D. Ingraham,
Sketches of the Events Which Preceded the Capture of Washington
(Philadelphia: Carey and Hart, 1849), 48.
301
Shortly after Dolley’s:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 306–8.
Shortly after Dolley’s:
Brant,
James Madison
, vol. 6:
Commander in Chief
, 306–8.
302
Ross and Cockburn entered:
Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House
, 187–90;
National Intelligencer
, Aug. 24, 1814.
Ross and Cockburn entered:
Pack,
The Man Who Burned the White House
, 187–90;
National Intelligencer
, Aug. 24, 1814.
302
The British rampage through the city:
Ross’s account of the entire battle and the burning of Washington is given in his letter, Ross to Bathurst, Aug. 30, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:223–26.
The British rampage through the city:
Ross’s account of the entire battle and the burning of Washington is given in his letter, Ross to Bathurst, Aug. 30, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:223–26.
302
“If . . . you should attack”:
Quoted in Robin Reilly,
The British at the Gates: The New Orleans Campaign in the War of 1812
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 2002), 167–68.
“If . . . you should attack”:
Quoted in Robin Reilly,
The British at the Gates: The New Orleans Campaign in the War of 1812
(Montreal: Robin Brass Studio, 2002), 167–68.
303
“a deliberate disregard”: National Intelligencer
, Sept. 1.
“a deliberate disregard”: National Intelligencer
, Sept. 1.
304
The fort had a battery:
Gordon to Cochrane, Sept. 9, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:238; Walter Lord,
The Dawn’s Early Light
(New York: Norton, 1972), 197.
The fort had a battery:
Gordon to Cochrane, Sept. 9, 1814, in Crawford, ed.,
Naval War of 1812
, 3:238; Walter Lord,
The Dawn’s Early Light
(New York: Norton, 1972), 197.
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