USA > New York > New York City > History of the city of New York : its origin, rise, and progress Vol. III > Part 31
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The merchants of New York had studied the movements of their cruisers with observant eyes, and knew they were as well built, sailed as fast, and were worked as well, as those of England. The officers of the navy had enjoyed means of comparison denied the mass of their fellow-citizens, and were willing to contend with that superiority which the nation feared. In the short period of six months from the declaration of war, three hun- dred and nineteen British vessels, three of them frigates of the first class, others ships of war of a smaller size, were either destroyed at sea or brought into port by our public and private vessels ; and it was estimated that the damage done to British commerce exceeded twelve million dollars.2
These facts were not yet known when the Constitution rode proudly into port a conqueror - the very frigate which had been held up to the derision of Europe as " a bunch of pine boards "-an occurrence of mo-
1 Cooper's Naval History, II. pp. 168, 169. .
2 Hardie's Description of New York City, p. 131.
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mentous bearing upon the future of the war.1 It was found that Commo- dore Hull had evinced great skill and seamanship in one of the most remarkable naval retreats on record, only a short time prior to his conflict with the Guerriere. The Constitution was chased by a British squadron, and escaped in such a manner as to extort unqualified admiration from her pursuers. And the engagement with the Guerriere was character- ized by features which became identified with nearly all the subse- quent naval battles of the war, showing that they were intimately connected with the discipline and system of the American marine. There was nothing hap-hazard in the style in which the Constitution had been handled ; she had been carried earnestly and deliberately into battle. Hull with admirable coolness received the enemy's fire without returning it until quite close. His crew, though burning with impatience, silently awaited his orders. His sailing-master seconded his views with admirable skill, bringing the vessel exactly to the station intended, within half pistol-shot of her adversary; the orders were to fire broadside after broadside, from guns double-shotted with round and grape, in rapid suc- cession. The crew instantly comprehended the plan, and entered into it with spirit. For fifteen minutes the roar and the vivid lightning of the Constitution's guns were without intermission. The British commander fought gallantly, and submitted when further resistance would have been as culpable as it was impossible. The Guerriere's batteries were not equal to the mode of fighting introduced by her antagonist - and which, in fact, was the commencement of a new era in combats between single ships upon the ocean.
Men of all ranks and political creeds hastened to pay homage to Com- modore Hull. Boston received him with a triumphal procession and a splendid banquet. The citizens of New York subscribed money to buy gifts of swords for him and his officers ; the corporation ordered a richly embossed gold box, with a representation of the battle between the Con- stitution and the Guerriere, at the same time requesting the conqueror to sit for his portrait - which now graces the wall of the governor's room in the City Hall. Congress voted him a gold medal, and distributed fifty thousand dollars among his officers and men. From many other sources came beautiful and costly testimonials.
The public mind was greatly agitated in both hemispheres, and men competent to form intelligent opinions on such subjects, in Europe as well as America, predicted many future conquests of a similar character. And they came in swift succession. A squadron sailed from Boston on a cruise, October 8, consisting of the President, under Commodore Rodgers, 1 Cooper's Naval History, II. p. 171 ; Lossing ; Dawson ; Hildreth ; Schaffner ; Thompson.
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the United States, the Congress, and. the Argus. Five days later they parted company in a gale of wind, soon after which the President and the Congress captured the British packet Swallow, with two hundred thousand dollars on board, and brought her proudly into Boston on the 30th of December. The Argus about the same time returned to New York with prizes valued at two hundred thousand dollars. The United States, under Commodore Decatur met the British war-frigate Macedonian on the 25th of October, and captured her after an action of two hours. The American gunnery in this affair, like that of the Constitution with the Guerri- ere, was remark- able for rapidity and effect. Its perpetual blaze led the enemy to suppose at one time the United States was on fire. The mizzen-mast and main and foretop-mast of the Macedonian were shot away, and her colors disappeared. She received no less than one hun- dred round shot in her hull alone, and all her boats were rendered Stephen Decatur. [From the painting by Sully. ] useless but one. Her killed and wounded numbered one hundred and four, while the loss of Decatur was only five killed and seven wounded. Carden, the British commander, fought with consummate skill; when after the surrender he came upon the United States and offered his sword to Decatur, the latter generously exclaimed, "Sir, I cannot receive the sword of a man who has so bravely defended his ship, but I will receive your hand," and suiting the action
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to the word grasped that of the gallant Carden and led him to the cabin where refreshments were bountifully served.
While these events were taking place the Wasp, under Commodore Jacob Jones, encountered the Frolic, a British war-vessel of su- Oct. 18. perior force, and after a bloody conflict of forty-three minutes made the latter captive ; thirty were killed and fifty wounded upon her decks, while upon the Wasp five only were killed and five wounded. But the victors were not able to take their prize into port, as a large man-of-war bore immediately down upon them necessitating their sur- render. The officers of the Wasp were taken to Bermuda, paroled and sent home. In November the lakes began to assume a warlike aspect. Commodore Chauncey's preparation had progressed with such rapidity that he considered himself able to contend with the whole British fleet. Thus the waves of our inland waters were soon to be lighted with all the sub- limity of naval combat.
The year 1812 closed with still another brilliant affair upon the ocean. Commodore Hull, content with the glories already won, went to Saybrook, Connecticut, to be married,1 and was succeeded in command of the Constitution by Commodore William Bainbridge, a real naval hero, who sailed from Boston October 26, accompanied by the Hornet, also under his command. Upon the South American coast the Hornet was left to blockade a British sloop-of-war which had a large amount of specie on board. The Constitution, cruising near the Brazils, encountered the Java, a large British frigate bound for the East Indies, and preparations were quickly made on both sides for battle. The fire of the Constitution was directed with so much precision that the Java was soon disabled in her spars and rigging; within two hours she surrendered, but was too badly injured to be preserved as a trophy, and was blown up. The loss of the Java was a severe blow to the British, and her brave commander, Lambert, was killed.
On the very same day of this victory of Bainbridge, and at the very same afternoon hour, a magnificent banquet in honor of Hull, Decatur, and Jones, was in progress in New York City. Five Dec. 26. hundred gentlemen were seated at the tables. The banqueting hall, in the City Hotel just above Trinity Church in Broadway, had the effect of
1 Commodore Isaac Hull married Anna McCurdy Hart, one of seven sisters who were reputed the most beautiful and brilliant women in America. She was the daughter of Cap- tain Elisha and Jennette Mccurdy Hart of Saybrook, Connecticut ; her father being the son of the old Saybrook minister, and her mother, the daughter of John McCurdy of Old Lyme, of Revolutionary renown (see Vol. I. 719 ; Vol. II. 70). One of Mrs. Hull's sisters married the Rev. Dr. Samuel Farmer Jarvis, another, Hon. Heman Allen of Vermont, U. S. Minister to Chili in 1823-8, and a third, Commodore Joseph Hull, nephew of Commodore Isaac Hull.
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a great marine palace. The genius and taste as well as the money of New York had been lavishly expended upon its adornment. "It was colonnaded round with the masts of ships, entwined with laurels, and bearing the flags of all the world." Upon each individual table was a ship in miniature with the American flag displayed. At the head of the room, one long table, elevated some three feet above the others, was graced by Mayor De Witt Clinton, the president of the feast, with Decatur upon his right, and Hull upon his left hand. In front of this, appeared in the midst of a grassy area, a real lake of water upon which floated a miniature frigate. And back of all hung the mainsail of a ship, thirty-three by sixteen feet. At the moment of the utterance of the third toast, "Our Navy," this great mainsail was furled, revealing an immense transparent painting representing the three naval battles in which Hull, Decatur, and Jones had been respectively engaged.1
Other surprises of the most novel and charming character enraptured the assemblage. The poets of the land, catching inspiration from the shouts of triumph that filled the air, had written a score or more of stir- ring banquet-songs, several of which were rendered on this occasion with great effect, alternating with happy speeches, and deafening cheers.
Decatur's victory, following so closely upon that of Hull, produced a perfect delirium of ecstasy. He brought the victorious United States and the conquered Macedonian safely through the Sound and East River into New York harbor about the middle of December; and the noise and tumult of wild enthusiasm which greeted his arrival exceeded any- thing New York had ever before witnessed. An occasional blockade of what was to the enemy "the troublesome port of New York " had all along been maintained by the British cruisers, and at this juncture, astounded at the heavy and ominous blows dealt at her supremacy of the seas, Great Britain determined to cripple New York by compelling her to keep her private-armed cruisers at home. One or two large war-vessels could already be seen off Sandy Hook, precursors of a formidable British fleet which took possession of Gardiner's Bay and the surrounding waters early in the following April, and kept New York under strict blockade for a year and ten months. Decatur was overwhelmed with compliments and testimonials, banquets, and balls ; and such honors were attended with genuine appreciation of his distinguished services. In New York, among other public gifts he received the freedom of the city in a gold box ; and he was requested to sit for his portrait.
Decatur's gallant crew were complimented with a banquet at the City Hotel, January 7, 1813, the room being decorated as at the imposing en-
1 The War, I. 119. Jones was not able to be present at this banquet.
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" While celebrating victories that enveloped the little American navy upon the ocean in a blaze of glory, and with fleets in readiness to dispute the sovereignty of her lakes, New York shuddered at the war cry of the savages in the wilds of Ohio as they made their easterly way in the bloody work of extermination begun at Chicago, and turned oceanward only to find egress from her harbor effectually closed by the great war ships of the haughty foe.' Page 621.
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tertainment given to the heroic commanders. At the table the sailors were addressed by Alderman John Vanderbilt. In the evening they were conducted to Park Theater by invitation of the manager. The whole pit was reserved for their accommodation. The drop-curtain in the form of a transparency, bore a representation of the fight between the United States and the Macedonian. Children danced on the stage, carry- ing large letters of the alphabet in their hands, which being joined in the course of the dance produced in transparency the names of Hull, Deca- tur, and Jones ; and an Irish clown sang a comic song of seven stanzas, written for the occasion, beginning : -
" No more of your blathering nonsense 'Bout Nelsons of old Johnny Bull ; I'll sing you a song, by my conscience, 'Bout Jones and Decatur and Hull."
It was on Christmas, 1812, the day before the banquet, that the cere- mony of presentation to Hull occurred in the council chamber of City Hall. A committee, consisting of Colonel Nicholas Fish, General Jacob Morton, and Peter Mesier, introduced him to the common council, when Mayor De Witt Clinton arose and addressed him in the most felicitous manner, presenting a diploma superbly executed in vellum, and the ex- quisite gold box containing the freedom of the city, which had been prepared for his acceptance.
The situation of New York at this crisis was peculiar. The war men- aced the great commercial capital of the continent on every side. Nobly had she sent forth her blood and treasure towards the several points of the compass to grapple with the enemy. Now the pride and the energy of Great Britain were thoroughly aroused. On one of the last days of the year 1812 it was determined in British council to send out a land and naval force sufficient to chastise the Americans ; in short, to blockade and desolate the coasts of the United States, and destroy the centers of Amer- ican commercial and naval power.
While celebrating victories that enveloped the little American navy upon the ocean in a blaze of glory, and with fleets in readiness to dispute the sovereignty of her lakes, New York shuddered at the war-cry of the savages in the wilds of Ohio as they made their easterly way in the bloody work of extermination begun at Chicago, and turned oceanward only to find egress from her harbor effectually closed by the great war- ships of the haughty foe.
The Constitution reached Boston on the 15th of February, 1813, and Commodore Bainbridge immediately despatched Lieutenant Lud- 1813.
low with a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, giving an account
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of the capture of the Java. The popular honors accorded to the hero of this fourth brilliant naval triumph, exceeded, if possible, all others. Processions, receptions, banquets, and testimonials attended him wherever he went. Men of all political parties united in giving proofs of their gratitude to one who had so signally benefited his country. The dis- cipline and bravery of American seamen were not only rendered conspicuous, but also their generosity and humanity to their captives, of which the British officers bore strong testimony in their official letters. New York and Albany each presented Bainbridge with a gold box con- taining the freedom of the city, and Philadelphia gave him an elegant service of silver plate, the most remarkable piece of which was a massive Bainbridge Urn. and costly urn, eighteen inches in height, upon which was elegantly wrought the wrecked Java and the triumphant Con- stitution. The corporation of New York invited him to sit for his por- trait, which was painted by John Wesley Jarvis.
In the mean time, news reached the city of the defeat of a detachment of General Harrison's army in Ohio, sent forward through the midwinter snows to disperse a party of British and Indians quartered at French- town, now Monroe, in Michigan, only eighteen miles across the river from Malden. They performed the service gallantly. The enemy was routed and driven two miles on the 18th of January ; but on the cold night of the 22d returned three thousand strong in profound silence - the savages led by Roundhead and the British by Proctor -and at daylight attacked the Americans with such terrible vigor that the latter surrendered. Scarcely had they laid down their arms, under promise of protection from the British commander, when they found themselves e- serted, left to the mercy of the Indians - in other words, reserved to be butchered in cold blood. Five hundred were slain. The scene was one of the most horrible on record. The tomahawk was employed to fell the strongest; and at the same time the knife was severing scalps from the heads of both the dead and the living. Men lay weltering in their blood, suffering most excruciating agonies, when the fiends in human shape, hav- ing secured their plunder and scalps, set fire to the houses and consumed the dying and the dead. The atrocious barbarities attending this massa- cre thrilled the American heart with unspeakable indignation.
Congress assembled in November, and legislation was speedily directed towards the increase of the army and navy. To provide for defraying the
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augmented expense the President was authorized to borrow a sum of money not exceeding sixteen millions, and to issue treasury notes to the amount of five millions. In the heat of the exciting debates over these various bills, the results of the election were disclosed. New York, New Jersey, and all the New England States except Vermont, had voted for De Witt Clinton ; but Madison was re-elected, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachu- setts became Vice-President. The election for members of Congress re- sulted in favor of the administration ; but there was a powerful opposition to the war candidates in the New England, or ship-owning States, and the Federal side of the House was stronger and abler than it had been for many sessions. Quincy declining re-election, his place was well sup- plied by Artemas Ward, son of the Revolutionary General, and by the aged Pickering from the Salem district. Cyrus King of Massachusetts, a half-brother of Rufus King who had been chosen to the Senate, 1813. was also among the new members, and Daniel Webster of New
Hampshire. Judge Egbert Benson and Thomas P. Grosvenor were the leading representatives from New York, and Grosvenor soon proved him- self the readiest debater in the House.
In the State, contrary to general expectation, Tompkins was re-elected governor by a considerable majority over Stephen Van Rensselaer, the Federal candidate, and John Tayler became lieutenant-governor. De Witt Clinton was reappointed mayor of New York; and General Arm- strong was made Secretary of War by the President.
On the 25th of March, the city was in proud, joyful commotion over the arrival of the Hornet, under Captain James Lawrence, who had added one more naval victory to those already recorded. He had attacked the British frigate Peacock off the South American coast on the 22d of Feb- ruary, and with such a blaze of fire that in fourteen minutes she not only struck her colors, but raised a signal of distress. Her commander was slain, a great portion of her crew had fallen, and with six feet of water in her hold she was verily in a sinking condition. Only one American was killed in the action and two wounded. So severely riddled was the Peacock that it was impossible to keep her afloat until all the prisoners were removed, although the most strenuous exertions were made. The vessel filled with water rapidly, and nine of her crew and three from the Hornet in the act of saving them, went down with her and perished.
Captain Lawrence was thirty-two, tall, splendidly developed, with much personal beauty and captivating manners - one of the chivalrous, fiery-souled heroes who went forth singly to do or die for the honor of his country. He was quick and impetuous in his feelings, greatly be- loved, and inspired all about him with ardor; but in all critical situa-
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tions his coolness was remarkable. Decatur said, "He always knew the best thing to be done, he knew the best way to execute it, and he had no more dodge in him than the mainmast."
Intelligence of the exploit of the Hornet produced a profound sensation in both countries. "The Americans are a dead nip," said a British news-
paper. " It will never do for our vessels to fight theirs single-handed." The mortified Britons investi- gated causes, and exerted themselves to the utmost in the selection of crews and in their discipline and practice of manœuvres, to render them more fit to cope with the American vessels. President Madi- son, in his message to Con- gress at its special session in May, spoke of the bril- liant achievement of Cap- tain Lawrence and his brave companions, as one "gained with a celerity so unexampled, and with a slaughter so dispropor- James Lawrence. [From the painting by Stuart.] tionate to the loss in the Hornet as to claim for the conqueror the highest praise."
The corporation of New York presented Lawrence with a gold box con- taining the freedom of the city, and with a piece of plate bearing unique devices and inscriptions ; also tendered him a dinner, the invitations being headed with a wood-cut by Anderson, representing a naval battle. The corporation committee, Augustus H. Lawrence, Elisha W. King, and Peter Mesier, made the arrangements for the banquet, which took place on the 4th of May at Washington Hall, then occupying the site of Stewart's wholesale store. In the evening the officers and seamen of the Hornet were treated to an entertainment at the Park Theater. When Lawrence entered, accompanied by General Van Rensselaer, General Jacob Morton, and other official characters, the house rang with the wildest huzzas. Everywhere throughout the land the name of Lawrence was honored.
Before the end of the month Lawrence was in Boston, assigned to the
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THE CHESAPEAKE AND THE SHANNON.
command of the Chesapeake. At that moment blockading ships hovered like hawks along the New England coast. The Shannon appeared alone off Boston Harbor, in the attitude of a challenger, on the very day the Chesapeake was ready for sea ; and before evening her commander, June 1. Philip Vere Broke, wrote to Lawrence, "As the Chesapeake ap- pears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favor to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortunes of our respec- tive flags." In a long appendix the challenger designated the place of combat, and promised to send all other ships beyond the power of inter- fering.
Unfortunately, the challenge never reached Lawrence or he might have made preparations more conformable to those of his antagonist. The Chesapeake's contemplated cruise was to the northward and eastward, with a view to intercept the store-ships and troop-ships steering for the St. Lawrence. A collision with the Shannon was inevitable. It is known that Lawrence went into the combat with reluctance, because of his lack of experienced officers and the peculiar condition of his crew, and also on account of a prejudice against the Chesapeake itself.1 His first lieu- tenant was ill on shore and died soon after; the acting first lieutenant, Augustus C. Ludlow of New York, though an officer of merit, was scarcely twenty-one. There was but one other commissioned sea-officer upon the ship - and midshipmen performed the duties of third and fourth lieuten- ants for the first time.
It was five o'clock in the afternoon when the two vessels met. The Chesapeake was silent until her commander had brought her so near that all her guns bore upon the Shannon. Then her broadside was delivered with terrific vigor and terrible execution ; for six or eight minutes the cannonading was incessant, and to all appearances the Americans had the best of the action ; but suddenly the Chesapeake's rigging became entan- gled with the Shannon's fore-chains, and at the same moment Lawrence fell mortally wounded. As he was carried dying below, he cried, " Tell the men to fire faster-don't give up the ship-fight her till she sinks!"
Alas ! a ship without a commander is like a man without a soul. Lud- low was also wounded and dying, William Augustus White lay dead, and James Broome, Edward J. Ballard, and Peter Adams were in the agonies of death ; the second and third lieutenants, Budd and Cox, were wounded ; and Samuel Livermore, who from personal attachment to Lawrence had accompanied him as chaplain, was weltering in blood. Broke boarded the Chesapeake, but was quickly and severely wounded ; his first lieuten- ant hauled down the American colors and hoisted the British flag, and
1' Letter of Captain Lawrence to Captain Biddle of the Hornet, May 27, 1813.
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was slain in the act by one of the Shannon's guns. The British victory was dearly purchased; their loss was twenty-three killed and fifty-six wounded. The battle lasted, altogether, not more than fifteen minutes, and yet "both ships were charnel-houses." Of the Americans forty-eight were killed and ninety-eight wounded.
Thus terminated one of the most extraordinary combats of the age. The capture of a single ship of war probably never produced a greater effect upon the contending parties. The joy in England was only equaled by the depression in America. Public speeches in and out of Parliament, the Tower guns, bonfires, illuminations, presentations, and compliments in showers from every quarter, greeted the conqueror, who was knighted by the Prince Regent. A gorgeous piece of silver plate, forty-four inches in diameter, and enriched with emblematical devices, was presented him by the inhabitants of Suffolk, his native county. Lawrence died on the
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