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gunboats had to encounter the English navy of more than a thousand vessels. But every American sailor was fighting for his rights as well as for his country. Within an hour after the declaration of war was known, Commodore John Rodgers, of the President, weighed anchor and was off to catch the nearest British ship. He chased a frigate, which escaped. He crossed the Atlantic, and captured a privateer and seven merchantmen. He retook an American ship which had been captured by the enemy, returned with his prizes to America, and was off again.

1812.

Naval Victories. Other American ships were equally active. The frigate Constitution, Captain Isaac Hull, who was a nephew of General Hull, fought the British frigate Guerrière, and in half an hour made her strike her colors. He put back to Boston to land his prisoners. Aug. 19, The whole town turned out to meet him, and people were wild with delight at the bravery of their sailors. Stephen Decatur, who was now commodore, and in command of the frigate United States, captured the frigate Macedonian, and brought his prize into New York on New Year's day. The Constitution, again, now under Commodore Bainbridge, attacked the British ship Java off the South 1812. American coast, and demolished it.

Oct. 25,

People gave to the Constitution the name "Old Ironsides." 1 Besides the little navy, many merchantmen were turned into privateers, and went roving about the seas. Nearly three hundred British vessels, with three thousand prisoners, were brought into United States ports before winter. There were occasional losses, but the advantage was decidedly with the Americans. The British, after the defeat which they had suffered from the American navy in 1812, strengthened their Atlantic squadron. During the summer of 1813 they at

1 In 1833, when it was proposed to destroy her as unseaworthy, Holmes wrote the stirring poem, "Old Ironsides," and saved her. She was rebuilt, and did service until she was formally put out of commission, in 1881, and taken to Portsmouth Navy Yard. Congress has again voted to repair her (1897).

tempted to blockade the coast from Maine to Georgia. Congress, in turn, hastened to build new ships; and the courageous privateers continued to fight pluckily, and to bring prizes into United States ports.

1813.

113. Harrison's Campaign. The disasters on land had led the government to collect a larger army, which was placed under command of General Harrison. The British Jan. 22, and Indians, led by General Proctor and Tecumseh, made several attempts against Harrison's forces. They succeeded at Frenchtown, where a portion of Harrison's army was placed; but they failed at Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson.

Perry's Victory on Lake Erie. So much of the frontier was occupied by the Great Lakes that it was of the greatest importance to get control of these. Captain Oliver H. Perry directed the building of a fleet on Lake Erie, and sailors were sent forward from the seacoast. He had just completed nine vessels, which were at anchor in Put-in Bay, when he saw the British approaching. He at once moved out to meet the Sept. 10, 1813. enemy, and in a little more than two hours was able to send this despatch to General Harrison: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop."

The Battle of the Thames. Harrison was anxious to recover possession of Michigan, which had been lost when Hull surrendered Detroit. With the aid of Perry's fleet, which transported some of his troops, he moved upon Fort Malden. Proctor set fire to the fort and retreated with Oct. 5, 1813. Tecumseh, meaning to join the other British forces at Niagara. Harrison set out in pursuit, and Proctor halted on the river Thames, near Moravian Town, where a battle was fought. The British were defeated; Proctor escaped, but Tecumseh was killed. The American success restored Michigan to the country, and Harrison became very popular.

114. Operations in the Southwest. - The war gave the Indians an opportunity which they were quick to seize. In the South

the Americans had taken possession of Mobile, which was held by a few Spaniards. It was in territory claimed both by Spain and by the United States. The Spaniards had no power to resist, but they incited the Creek Indians to take up arms against the Americans. The people of the southwestern States raised companies to fight an enemy which was thus at their very doors.

The Creeks were a vigorous tribe, and were partly supplied with arms and ammunition. They surprised Fort Mimms, and destroyed the garrison. Then they marched into the interior, and up the Alabama River. Tennessee was prompt in raising men, and placed Andrew Jackson in command.

He was aided by

pioneers who were skilled in Indian warfare. Other forces, also, came from Georgia and Mississippi, and during the rest of the year and the begin

ning of 1814 the Creeks were

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pushed. The whites, who hated the Indians, and were never sorry of an excuse to get rid of them, killed great numbers and showed no quarter.

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Map illustrating the Creek War.

- The Americans made a fresh

115. The Campaigns of 1814. effort to invade Canada in 1814.

They failed in an

July 5, 1814.

attempt to retake Fort Mackinaw, but a movement on the Niagara River was more successful. At the

battle of Chippewa they put the British to rout, and then determined to move upon Kingston.

Battle of Lundy's Lane. To do this, it was necessary to have the coöperation of the fleet; but the fleet was not ready. The British had been reënforced, and were strongly posted at Queenstown. General Scott was sent forward to make observations, and came upon the entire British force drawn up at Lundy's Lane, opposite Niagara Falls. Here the Americans attacked the British, and sent back for reënforcements. A

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cans destroyed the fort and returned to their side of the river. The campaign had cost many lives, and neither party had gained any real advantage.

Burning of Washington. The British, however, seemed to be gaining. In Europe Napoleon had been defeated, and England was thus enabled to spare more men for the war in America. Her policy was to march two armies into the United States. One army was to descend from Canada, and

1814.

the other was to land at New Orleans and march northward. To divert attention, a fleet under Admiral Cockburn sailed up the Potomac and attacked the capital. There was scarcely any resistance, and, to their disgrace, the Aug. 24, British destroyed public buildings, books, and papers; nothing was spared except the Patent Office and the jail. British Repulse at Fort McHenry and at Plattsburg. Another attack was made by a British fleet upon Baltimore. enemy landed men a few miles below the town, but the Americans gallantly repulsed them. Then the Sept. 12, fleet bombarded the forts which protected Baltimore,

The

1814.

and tried to land men to attack them in the rear. The forts could not reach the vessels, but they drove back the land forces. Fort McHenry received the hottest fire from the fleet.

It was upon seeing the flag still flying from the fort, when the smoke cleared away, that Francis Scott Key wrote the national song, "The Star-spangled Banner." The fleet finally abandoned the attempt, and sailed away. The British undertook to bring their army from Canada to New York by the familiar Lake Champlain route. General Macomb, in command of a small force at Plattsburg, and Sept. 11, Lieutenant Macdonough, with a little fleet, completely repulsed the British at the battle of Plattsburg, and compelled them to return to Canada.

1814.

116. The Operations about New Orleans. - The army and fleet which were to take New Orleans made their rendezvous at Pensacola. Louisiana had been admitted to the Union in 1812, and every one felt the importance of New Orleans.

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1 The importance of New Orleans was early perceived, as will be seen by Section 24 of the Introduction. The free passage of the river was a matter of the greatest consequence to the Western settlers. See Sections 49, 61, 97-99, above. It was a matter of the utmost importance during the war for the Union; but perhaps no struggle has been so severe as that of science to keep the channel free. The engineering works at the mouth of the Mississippi, built under the direction of Captain J. B. Eads, under contract with the United States government, resulted in keeping clear a channel of two hundred feet in width, and more than twenty feet in depth.

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