History of Delaware : 1609-1888, Part 73

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards
Number of Pages: 776

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The report suggested to Commodore Rodgers the propriety of sinking fifty hulks near the island to prevent the enemy from sailing up the river. An interesting report was subjoined from James Ramage, sailing-master of the United States frigate "Guer- rière," who, in obedience to instructions from Com- modore Rodgers, had gone out from New Castle to the Pea Patch to measure the depth and width of the channels on both sides of the island. On the Dela- ware side he found the channel deepest near New Castle, and again at Reedy Island.

Another committee was appointed to confer with General Gaines,2 commander of the military district,

1 George Read, who commanded the Flying Artillery, at New Castle, at the close of the war refused to Recept pay for his services from the United States Government but secured pay for late non to the amount of twenty-four hundred dollars. Captain Head at one time pard thirty- seven dollars of his ewn fatals for provisions, and eighty dollars for caps to supply his nin.

General Gaines was nt pointed to the command of the Fourth Military Distrlet, which in foled Wilangton and Philadelphia, on October 1st, to succeed General Bloomfield.

on the best and cheapest mode of defense of the forts and obstrutions at the Pea Patch and New- bold's Point. The estimates submitted by them after the conference showed that one hundred thousand dollars would be required for the land fortification-, and the obstruction near the island. and a resolution was at once passe t by the general Committee of Dr .- fense off, ring to tilvance this amount, if the govern- ment authorized the work, and appointed Mes-rs. Williams, J riah. Eyre, MeFaden and Leiper to co- operate with Commodore Rodger- in superintending it. T'he plans were immediately prepared by Gen- eral Gainos.

At the same time an offer was made by the Secre- tary of the Navy to appropriate one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a steam frigate for the de- fense of the Delaware, provided the money could be raised on the credit of the United States. The gen- eral committee, on the receipt of this, ordered the money to be placed to the account of the treasurer of the United States. The committee of correspond- ence and Mr. Leiper were then appointed to eall up- on the corporations of New Castle and Wilmington and the inhabitants of the adjacent country and ask them to contribute toward the funds necessary to defray the co-t of the Pea Patch fortifications. On November 29th, they had a conference with the Council of Wilmington, and afterwards discussed the matter with private citizens, and received encourag- ing assurances that liberal sums would be raised and forwarded to Philadelphia. On the following day, the committee went to New Castle, and met Chief Justice Johns, George Reid, Es., and Nicholas Van Dyke, a part of the delegation appointed to meet them, the others being detained by sickness. Here also the result of the consultation was most flatter- ing. The placing of contracts was at once begun, and the construction of a frigate similar to the one known as " Fulton the First," built for the defense of New York, by Robert Fulton, the inventor, was also contemplated.

In addition to these mensurers for the protection of the water-ways, the committee had also sent a number of troops into Delaware to remain until there seemed no longer any prospect of an invasion. A brigade had been sent from Philadelphia and was stationed at Camp Du Pont, about three miles from Wilmington. They were constantly drilled through- out the summer. About the middle of November six companies under Lieutenant-Colonel Raguet were marched to Camp Gaines, situated two miles below New Castle. Colonel Irvine, who, previously oceu- pied this post, now moved farther down the bay to prevent the enemy from landing. Colonel Raguet remained at Camp Gaines until a severe storm broke up the eamp, and drove the troops into New Castle. There they were quartered in a church, the court- house and a private dwelling until late in Novem- her. On the 80th of that month the " Advance Light Brigade " broke up Camp Du Pont and after

299

. THE WAR OF 1812-15.

they were joined by the detachments at New Castle and Camp Gaines, about three thousand in all, they returned to Philadelphia.

The presence of British vessels in the Delaware made it necessary for the committee to continue their other labors. The result to the Wilmington conference was soon praved to be a material success by the receipt of the following letter by the first bur- ges of the borough :

"WILMINGTON, December 7, 1814.

" Gentlemen: Your letter of the 4th instant, covering one from the Secretary of War, is received, and on Monday was Ind bebre the Canil, and I am ihrerted to inform you that the Control of the Bor- or ghiof Wilmington have appropriated filtern thousand dollars but the ju1 ]voor's mentioned in your letter, and as soon as the first five thousand Jol'ar, is placed in one of our banks, you shall be notified.

" I am, Gentlemen,

" With great respect, Your oleibent servant, "JAS. BROBSON, First Burgess. "Committee of Correspondence."

An extensive correspondence also ensued between the Philadelphia committee and the government offi- cials at Washington, relative to an arrangement for handling the money, and for some time there was much dithenlty in getting warrants from the War Department. This occasioned much inconvenience, and although the work was progressing satisfactorily, much uneasiness was felt by Captain Thomas Clark, who had been stationed at the Pea Patch, as com- manding engineer. January 5, 1815, he wrote to Captain Josiah, stating that the wharf had been sunk and was perfectly secure, and that they were proceeding smoothly and satisfactorily with the other work, but at the same time it was absolutely necessary to have some more money. The urgency of the situation may well be imagined from his own words, as in the letter he said, " For God's sake let me have some money by the ensuing week; if it be only a thousand dollars, it will keep the credit of the place good until better arrangements can be made." The committee avoided any trouble, however, by ad- vancing the necessary amonnt until the government issued its warrants.1

On January 12th the first installment of five thousand dollars was deposited in Wilmington by the borough, payable to the order of George Latimer, and interest was made payable from the day of the cash- ier's receipt, and a certificate of stock was forwarded to Allen Thompson, treasurer of the town. The peo- ple of New Castle had more difficulty in raising a loan, and the committee becoming impatient, ad- dressed a letter to three of the citizens, of which the following is a copy :

" PHILADELPHIA, January 25, 1813. " Gentlemen : The connnittee of tlos city mil its vicinities have in- erarted us to mblies yon as a committee of the inhabitants of New Lastle, on the subjret of a loan to the United states for the jen ial jur. Per of making defences on the Delaware at an trar the Pea Patch " In confidence that money, competent to the object, wenbl le provid- el, by Jeans, the Government have given directions to their others to proceed with as much expedition as posible to erect the ne westry de-

1 In March, 1917, Captam Badluck, of the U'inted Stites corps of enginerts, advertised Jor twenty-four thousand jarelury of biurahing stone and sixty thousand bushels of mine, to be delivered at the Pea Patch.

fences at that important situation. General Galnes, while In command,

amlyon, no dente, know that Cap in Chuk, an who of the rotpe of Crate due todis at the Pea Patch. Everything is in a state of forward- news, andart derments are makingty wazige the necessary workson that the chevaux-de fire and whirses may be sunk, The funeral Government has ho money at command, but have given asmnancy to nigdy lely to the purpose intended whatever sums may be Jane for thise defences, and there can be no doubt but the same will be so applied.

" For the amount loaned, certificates of funded delt, on the terms of the loan of 1814, will be issued, bearing equal date with the deposit in bank.

"In this way we have ulirady received certificates for $ (,ou, de- posited in November, and will no doubt receive the same evidence of debt for our stlerquent advanie. 4. The Bor nigh ot Wilunngton have agreed to lom fifteen thousand doff os, of which $5,Dthas been depus- iteil in the Bink of Wimmerton and Brandywine to the credit of our Treasurer, This sum will be expen led by of under the ditcetion of the enginrer to whom the Government have intinsted the superintendetico of the wutks, and expendal as far as practicable in the vicinity of that place; in like manter, whatever suas you may lead will be deposited in yintt bank, di iwn from theme an I used in like manner. Ourrom- mittee will charge itself with proinring for you the certificates of stuck, yon advising ns in whose name or Banies you wish them to be issued,

" While the labors and expenditures of the committee were confined to our own inmie hate vicinity, it was not inte u led to call on you to an it- with money, but as the contemplated deteness on the Delaware are as important and ja rhaps mate sa to the citizens of New Castle than to u-, we now solicit your aid. As you will receive certificates of funded debt, with suterist, payable quartrily, you only inter pose your credit, even if you borrow of the bank, between the Government of the United Statesand bank.

" Whatever sum you may loan you will be pleased to deposit in your bink to the credit of George Latimer, Esquire, Treasurer of the Com- mittre of Defence of this city, and send us the receipt of the cashier. For the sum so deposited we will procure you a certificate, or certifi- cat's of six per cent, stock in the Dans of such persons as you shall appoint,

" We are, gentlemen, " Your obedient, humble servants, " GEO. LATIMER, " JNO . SERGEANT, " Jos. Bern, " Committee of Correspondence. "James Riddle, George Reid, Nicholas Van Dyke, Esquires, New Castle."

It appears, however, that the citizens of New Castle were unable to raise a loan before the work was com- pleted, as no trace of a reply to this letter can be found in the proceedings of the committee. The sum raised for the steam frigate did not prove sufficient and early in 1815 the five thousand dollars subscribed, by Wilmington was refunded. The Secretary of the Navy had, however, authorized Navy Agent George HIarrison, to have one built.

On the 11th of September, 1814. the British Jand and naval forces determined to make a combined attack on the Americans at Plattsburg Bay. The British squad- ron was under the command of Captain George Downie, of the royal navy, and Captain Thomas Macdonough,2 a native of Delaware, commanded the

2 Commodore Thomas Mardonough, United States Navy, was born in New Castle County, Tweeember 21, 17 -. Il4 father, Myor Mindenough, was a physician and a distingueand officer of the Delaware line in the Revolutionary army. Commodore Mar Donough was appointed a und-hopman in 17 is, and promoted to hentenant Febru- ary 6, Is G. an I commodore July 21, Ist :. In 19 33 he was asequel to the frigate " l'inladelphi "a vaselin the squadron aguest Tripoli, at. I rendel distinguished servies. When the " Phile delphia " was . aptitud Madenough " god the fateed the officers and crew by long J. It at trltalia, with the prize " Mentes " He afterwards served in the showtry " Enterprise," maler Destur, and was one of the puty which tex tured au! burned the " Philadelphia " on the night of Fil- in Ist, and on September 11th of that year defeated the British sandton, under Commodore George Downte, who greatly outnumbered him in

300

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

American squadron. At eight o'clock in the morning of the 11th, Captain Macdonough calmly awaited the approach of the British fleet, which consisted of the frigate " Confiance," thirty-eight, Downie's Hag-hip ; the brig " Linnet," sixteen, Captain Pring ; the -loops " Chub," Lieutenant MeGhee, and " Finch," Lieuten- ant Hicks, carrying eleven guns each ; and twelve gunboats, manned by about forty-tive men each. Eight of them carried two guns, and four of them one gun each ; carrying in all ninety-five guns, and manned by a little more than one thousand men. The American force consisted of Captain Maedonough's flagship the "Saratoga," of twenty-six guns; the brig "Eagle," twenty-six guns, Captain Henly ; the schooner " Ti- conderoga," seventeen guns, Lieutenant Cassin ; sloop " Preble," seven guns, Lieutenant Charles Budd, and ten gunboats, carrying eighty-six guns in all, and manned by eight hundred and eighty-two men.

Lossing 1 says, the American line of battle bad

COMMODORE THOMAS MACDONOUGH.

been formed with great skill by the young commander, reference being had to the conformation of the land. It extended completely across the entrance to Platts- burg Bay from Crab Island to Cumberland Head, and the British, rounding the latter, was compelled to ap- proach the American squadron with his bows on, giving the latter a great advantage at the beginning. The British line was headed by a sloup followed by the " Finch," which led the van of the British squad- ron, and made for the right of the American line, in the direction of the " Preble." near Crab Island. At the same time the "Chub " moved toward the head or left of the Americans, near Cumberland Head, keeping well to the windward of the " Eagle." to sup- port the "Linnet" in a direct attack on that ves-el,

while the gunboats coming up in order, their com- manders received from Commodore Downie final in- structions for action. Hle then attempted to lay the "Confiance" athwart the "Saratoga," while the " Finch " and the gun-boats should attack the " Ti- conderoga " and " Preble." He was batiled by shift- ing winds, and was compelled to anchor bis ves-el within two cable-lengths of its antagonist. In the mean time Macdonough had thoroughly prepared to receive the enemy. When his vessel was cleared for action, springs placed on his cables, and all was in readi- ness, he knelt on the deck of the "Saratoga," near one of its heaviest guns, with his officers and men around him, and, in few words, asked Almighty God for aid, and committed the issue into His hands. Hle arose with as-ured courage, and as the enemy came down upon him, his vessels sprang their broadsides to bear, and the " Eagle " opened the action by hurl- ing the first shot. It discharged in quick succes-ion its four long eighteen-pounders in broadside. This was followed by the fire of a long twenty-four-pound- er on the "Saratoga," which the young and gallant Commodore Macdonough had sighted himself. The ball entered the outer hawse-hole of the "Confiance," the enemy's flagship, and went crushing through every obstacle the entire length of her deck, killing several men on its way, and demolishing the wheel. The "Linnet," as she was passing to attack the "Eagle," gave the " Saratoga " a broadside, but withi- out serious effect. One of her shnts demolished a hen-coop on the " Saratoga," in which was a young game cock, and released the fowl. Startled by the noise of cannon, Mr. Lossing says, the cock flew upon a gun-slide, and, clapping its wings, crowed lustily and defiantly. The sailors cheered, and the incident, appearing to them as ominous of victory for the Ameri- cans, strengthened the courage of all.

The " Confiance " made no reply to the "Saratoga's " savage twenty-four-pounder until she had secured a de-irable position, when she exhibited a sheet of ! flame. Her entire larboard broadside guns, consisting of sixteen twenty-four-pounders, double-shotted, lev- eled at point-blank range, coolly sighted, and favored by -mooth water, were discharged at one time. The effect was terrible. The "Saratoga " shivered from round-top to hull as with an ague, and forty of her people, or almost one-fifth of her complement, were di-abled. Almost immediately, however, Macdonough resumed the contliet, and the fire of the " Saratoga " was steady and gallantly conducted. Among her lost was her first lieutenant, Peter Gamble, but Com- modore Downie, of the " Confiance," was also killed.

The contest had now become general, steady and aetive. The " Chub" struck her flag and was taken possessionof by Midshipman Platt, of the "Saratoga," who had her towed to Platt-burg Bay, and anchored near the mouth of the Saranac. Almost half of her people were killed or wounded. An hour later the " Finch " drifted upon Crab Island shoal, where she struck, and surrendered to a little two-gun battery.

vessels und gang From the close of the war his health pave way, yet he lived for more trin ten wats with consumption He dil at Middle- town, Conn., '0 1:2, where he married his wife, Mes shaler, who bad did only a few months before.

1 " Pictorinl Field-Book of the War of 1812," p. 806.

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THE WAR OF 1812-15.

The British gun-boats now entered vigorously into the action and soon compelled the "Preble" 16 rut her cables and flee to a safer place, near the shore, where she went out of action. The attack on the "Ticonderoga" was redoubled by the fourteen gun- boats, but the gallant " Ca-sin " walked the taffrail in a storm of grape and canister shot, watching the movements of the assailants, and directing effective discharges of musket-balls and other light missiles, which kept the enemy at bay. Several times the British were within a few feet of the sides of the "Ticonderoga " with the intention of boarding ber, but they were repulsed.

In the mean time the " Eagle" lost the springs of her cable, and became exposed to the combiard fire of the "Linnet" and " Confiance." Very soon the two flagships became disabled. The "Saratoga " had not a single serviceable starboard-gun left, and was silent. The "Confiance" was not much better off. Now was the moment for Macdonough to exhibit his splendid seamanship. He did so quickly and effect- ively. With the aid of Philip Brum, bis skillfd sailing-master, he wound the ship, by means of a stream-anchor and hawsers, so that he brought the guns of his larboard quarter to bear on the "Conf- ance," which had vainly endeavored to imitate the movement. Macdonough now poured such a destrac- tive fire on the British flag-ship that she soon surren- dered. The "Saratoga's " fire was then directed upon the "Linnet," and in the course of fifteen minutes she too struck her colors. The British galleys in the mean time had been driven by the "Ticonderoga" half a mile in the rear of the larger vessels, and they lay scattered, and giving feeble aid to them. Seeing the colors of the larger vessels go down, they too dropped their ensigns, and at a little past noon not one of the sixteen national flags, which were so proudly floating over the British squadron when it rounded Cumberland Head, could be seen.

Finding that they would not be pursued, the galleys escaped down the lake. The Americans were too crippled to follow. "I could only look at the enemy's galleys going off in a shattered condition," Macdonough wrote the Secretary of War, " for there was not a mast in either squadron that could stand to make sail on ; the lower rigging, being nearly all shot away, hung down as if it had just been placed over the mast-heads." "Our masts, yards and -ails were so shattered," wrote Midshipman Lee, of the "Confiance," who was wounded in the action, "that we looked like so many bunches of matches and the other like a bundle of rags."

For two hours and twenty minutes this severe naval battle raged, while the thunder of cannon, the hi-s of rockets, the scream of bombs and the rattle of musketry were heard on the shore. It was a grand sight, and was witnessed by hundreds of spectators on the headlands of the Vermont shore, who greeted the victory with shouts. It was a battle character- ized by a vigor and destructiveness not excelled by

any during the war ; indeed, seldom equaled any- where er at any time. The victory for the Ameri- cans was complete and substantial; the " Saratoga" had fifty round sshet in her bull, and the " Confiance" one hundred and rive. The " Saratoga" was twice set on fire by hot shot from the enemy's ship. Very few officers of either of the ships were uninjured. Maelenough sightal a favorite gun much of the time during the action. While doing so at one time, bending his body, a shot cut the spanker-boom in two, and it fell upon his back with such force as to prostrate him senseless on the deck. The cry went through the ship that the commodore was killed. He scon recovered and resumed his station. A few minutes afterwards a shot drove the head of the captain of his favorite gun in upon him, and knocked him senseless into the scuppers, when his death was again announced; but he speedily recovered. His venerable sailing master, Peter Brum, had his clothes nearly turn offby a splinter while winding the ship. Lieutenant Lovelace had a shot-box, on which he was standing driven, from under him by a ball, and was knocked down by the flying head of a seaman. Lientenants Gamble and Stansbury were killed. The British officers suffered severely. Commander Downie, Capt. Anderson of the marines. Midshipman Gunn of the "Confiance," and Lieutenants Paul and Boat- swain Jackson, of the " Linnet," were also killed and many others were wounded. The entire loss of the Americans was one hundred and ten, of whom fifty- two were killed. The total British loss was more than two hundred.

Sir George Prevost, who commanded the British land forces, was also defeated at the battle of Platts- burg by General Macomb. Spontaneous honors and praises were given by the people to him and Mac- donough conjointly. Bonfires and illuminations blazed in almost every city and village in the land, and recent disaster at the national capital was almost unthought of for the moment. Legislative resolves, artillery, 1 oratory and song were pressed into the service of rendering homage to the two heroes and their men. The newspapers teemed with eulogies, and at all public gatherings and entertainments their names and deeds were mentioned with applause. Macdonough was nobly honored. The State of New York gave him two thousand acres of land. The State of Vermont purchased two hundred acres on Cum-

1 On Sutulay, September 18th, at the military camp near the arsenal in Wilmington, a feu de joie was fired by the troops under the command of Gen. Cadwallader, ot Phila,leldua, in honor of Commodore Mac- donough's victory. On the following day a salute was fired at Camp Stockton, near Elkton, by the Wilnungton Artilletists, under the com- mind of Captain Rodney, On the 20th the third company of Wilting- ton Artillerists, under the command of Capt. D. C. Wilson, fixed a Jen de inte at Fuat Hollingsworth, near Liktou, in honor of the same event. The Veteran Corps of Wilmington, commanded by Col. Allet Me Lane, assembled on thecorner of I reach and second Streete, on the Ist of Ue- tobet, and also fired a salute in honor of Mardemach's victory John Washington, who died in Wienacton November 1, Iss , aged eighty- six years, was one of the best survivors of Casar A. Rodney's artillery company in the War of 1.12. For a long time during the war this company was at "The Books," the end of Seventh Street, guarding the entrance tu the Christian. Afterwards this company was ordered to Elkton, and toward the close of the war to the Niagara frontier

302

HISTORY OF DELAWARE.

berland Head and presented it to him. It was on the and remarking that " the practice is utterly repugnant borders of Cumberland, or Plattsburg Bay, and the to the laws of nations; it is supported by no treaty farm-house upon it overlooked the scene of his gallant exploits. The cities of New York and Albany each gave the hero a valuable lot of land. "Thus," said Macdonough to a friend, while tears stood in his eyes, " in one month, from a poor lieu- tenant I became a rich man." Congress gave him the thanks of the nation, and with his brave com- manders, Henley and Cas-in, voted him a gold medal with suitable devices and inscriptions. On one side of Macdonough's medal was a bust of the hero in

INTER CLINS ET GJIT DENTYP:

THE MACDONOUGH MEDAL.

profile, with the legend. "THO. MACDONOUGH, STAGNO CHAMPLAIN CLAS. REG. BRIT. SUPERAVIT." The reverse side bore a representation of a fleet en- gaged before a town (Plattsburg), enveloped in smoke. Several small boats on the lake ; legend : "UNO LATERE PERCURSO, ALTERUM, Superavit." Exergue, " Inter Class. Ameri. ET BRIT. DIE XI. SEPT., MDCCCXIIII."

One of the last acts of the Delaware Legislature in connection with the War of 1812 was to take appro- priate steps in recognition of the bravery of her gal- lant sons. A resolution was passed in January, 1815, expressing the " pride and pleasure felt by the General Assembly in recognizing Commodore Mac- donough as a citizen of Delaware." They appropri- ated a sum of money for a piece of plate, and also for a portrait of the commodore.

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History of Delaware : 1609-1888, Part 73

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards Number of Pages: 776

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : L. J. Richards
Number of Pages: 776