USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. I > Part 9
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It was not necessary that every privateer vessel should be built especially for that service. Many merchant vessels could readily be equipped with a
122
PRIVATEERS
few pieces of cannon and sail forth, being careful to avoid the enemy's armed vessels. Several crafts of this kind, carrying one or two guns and some- times as many as six guns on the upper deck, were soon equipped and went forth as privateers. But a regular privateer prepared for full service and ready to give a sharp skirmish to some of the British cruis- ers when assailed, had to be built something like a war vessel, pierced with portholes for many guns, and with speed to chase a prize or flee from the enemy.
There seemed to be no difficulty in getting the requisite number of men for such enterprises, but cannon and other warlike equipments were not so easy to be had. On the 6th of July, one called Teazer, with two guns and fifty men, commanded by Captain W. B. Dobson, sailed from New York, and the same day another, called Paul Jones, with one hundred and twenty men and sixteen guns, under John Hazard, captain, also started on a like cruise.
On the 22d of July, a pilot-boat built schooner sailed out of New York as a privateer, called Bun- ker Hill, in command of Jacob Lewis, who after- wards became known as Commodore Lewis, com- mander of the gunboats in New York harbor.
On Saturday morning, July 25th, 1812, was launched from the shipyard of Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown, a schooner of 220 tons, 83 feet keel, 24 feet beam and 100 feet on deck. She was built for a privateer and was pierced for 22 guns. Her keel was laid but four weeks previous.
S me marvelous tales were told of the speed of some of these vessels. When the privateer Ana- conda, Capt. Nat. Shaler, started out of New York n September, 1812, she sailed {from Hart's Island
.
123
FROM NEW YORK CITY.
to New London in eight hours, a distance of 120 miles, which was said to be the shortest time ever known for the passage.
Those sailing from the port of New York, put to sea up the East River and through Long Island Sound so as to avoid the British war vessels about the Narrows. There was no difficulty in getting to sea that way as the Sound was not frequented by the enemy's vessels and was not yet included in the British blockade orders.
On September 1st there were nineteen privateers belonging to the port of New York and eleven of them were then at sea, and on October 15th there had been twenty-six privateers with two hundred and twelve guns and 2,239 men from the port of New York alone. They were as follows :
Name of Vessel.
Commanders.
No. Guns
No. Men.
Teazer. . ..
W. B. Dobson
2
50
Paul Jones
John Hazard.
16
120
Marengo.
J. Bedois
6
50
Eagle ..
Beaufon
1
45
Rosamond
J. Campen
12
132
Benj. Franklin
Josiah Ingersol.
8
120
Black Joke.
B. Brown.
2
60
Rover
O. Ferris.
1
35
Orders in Council
J. Howard
16
120
Saratoga.
Andrew Riker
18
140
United We Stand.
Wm. Storey.
2
50
Divided We Fall.
Jasper Cropsey
2
50
Gov. Tompkins
Joseph Skinner
14
143
Retaliation
Sam. Newson.
6
100
Spitfire
Z. Miller.
2
54
Gen. Armstrong.
Tim Barnard.
18
140
Jack's Favorite.
Johnson
4
80
Yorktown.
T. W. Storey
18
160
Tartar
F. King.
6
80
Holkar.
Jon. Rowland.
16
150
Pnaconda
Nat. Shaler.
16 160
Aatriot.
W. Merrihew
2
50
Union .
O. Hicks.
1
24
Turn Over. .
Southmeade
1
16
Right of Search
1 50
Bunker Hill
Jacob Lewis.
.
4 60
1
124
LETTERS OF MARQUE.
Twenty-six vessels with 194 guns, 2,239 men, and 18 "long toms."
Each of these privateers had a "long tom," ex- cepting the Eagle, Orders in Council, Saratoga, Yorktown, Holkar, Anaconda, Union and Turn Over. The term "long tom " was applied to any piece of cannon which was nine feet in length, with- out regard to its size in other respects. They were generally mounted on a swivel in the middle of the vessel, but some had one on each side. Most of the guns on privateers were of the kind called carron- ades.
Probably the largest gun carried by any privateer was on board the General Armstrong, which sailed from New York in the summer of 1812. She had eighteen long nines and a 12-pounder amidship and 150 men. The large gun weighed three tons and a half, and was nine and one-half feet long. The long nines were seven and one-half feet in length and each weighed 2,500 pounds. The brig was of 246 tons burden. The principal owners were Rens- selaer Havens, Thomas Formar, and Thomas Jen- kins, of New York.
Many of these privateers were not fully manned and equipped when they sailed out of New York through Hell Gate, but were fully supplied at the various ports and places along the Connecticut shore before they put out to sea.
Besides these there were a large number of ves- sels with letters of marque, that is, they were mer- chant vessels on a voyage to a friendly port but armed for their own defence in case of attack by an enemy.
In September Matthew L. Davis (subsequently
125
NEW YORK SHIP-BUILDERS.
the biographer of Aaron Burr), and Ogden Edwards, afterwards a judge in the New York Supreme Court, were appointed commissioners to take testi- mony in prize cases in the United States District Court sitting in New York city.
At that time the jurisdiction of the Prize Court (United States District Court), held in New York city, covered the entire State. All captures on Lakes Champlain and Ontario and such others as were brought into ports on the lakes and rivers in New York State were adjudicated upon by the Prize Court (United States District Court) in New York city. The judge of the court during the war was Hon. William P. Van Ness.
The great ship-yard of the period was that of Adam and Noah Brown. It was located on the East River and bounded on the north by Houston street, and on the west by Goerck street, and on the south by Stanton street. The greatest activity prevailed in this yard from the declaration of war until long after the treaty of peace.
Another large ship-yard on the East River was that of Christian Bergh, the father of the late Hen- ry Bergh, the founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Bergh built the President for the government before the war. All his vessels were noted for their speed. His ship-yard was on the East River near Gouverneur slip. The President became notorious as being the one from which the first shot was fired at the enemy (the Belvidera) after the declaration of war .*
Another prominent ship builder was Henry Eck-
* Ante, p. 6.
126
NEW YORK SHIPBUILDERS.
ford, whose yard was near that of Bergh's. These two men were great personal friends. Bergh was sent up to Lake Ontario in the summer to superin- tend the building of war vessels on the lakes for the government. The Oneida, which became the flagship of Commodore Chauncey as soon as he arrived at Lake Ontario, was built by Bergh. The first week in September, Commodore Chauncey sent forward from New York to Lake Ontario forty ship carpenters, with Henry Eckford at their head, to build more war ves- sels. He was soon after sent to the Black Rock ship-yard near Buffalo, and there built some of the vessels which were placed in Perry's navy on Lake Erie in the spring of 1813. Noah Brown went to Erie, Pa., to superintend the building of vessels for the navy early in 1813. In February, 1814, Eckford built more vessels on Lake Ontario. These three ship builders mentioned were the principal superintend- ents employed by the government at the Brooklyn navy yard and those vessels built on the lakes border- ing on New York during the war; at the same time they were turning out much work from their own ship-yards in New York city, some for the govern- ment by contract and some for private individuals.
When American privateers began to reach French ports the Emperor Napoleon issued orders for his offi- cers to admit into all French ports all prizes captured by Americans on the same terms as if captured by the French. This was a great advantage to American privateers. They could then take their prizes into a French port for adjudication on short voyages and not run the risk of being captured by the British on their way to American ports where they must other- wise be taken. This greatly stimulated the fitting
127
FIRST NAVAL VICTORY.
out of privateers in America, particularly in New York. It was not long before the British channel was filled with American privateers, to the great consternation of British merchants and marine in- surance companies.
Very little use had been required of the navy in the port of New York. On Sept. 7, 1812, a notice was published in some of the New York papers by Cap- tain Chauncey, requiring all officers of the navy in New York to report to Isaac Chauncey at Brooklyn Navy Yard on Sept. 9, 1812.
He had been promoted to Commodore and was about to take action against the enemy on the lakes. On the 23d of September, 1812, Commodore Chauncey left New York city with 600 seamen for lakes Ontario and Champlain. These seamen were part of the crew of the John Adams, United States frigate, which was taken out of service a short time previous.
The first British war vessel that had ever struck her flag to an American ship-of-war (so far as then known) was the Guerriere, Capt. Dacres, who surrendered to Capt. Hull and the United States war frigate Constitution on August 19th at the east of Newfoundland.
The news of this victory was received with the greatest enthusiasm about September 1st. The joy of this first victory on the ocean was greatly en- hanced because it was over the haughty and boast- ful Capt. Dacres.
On September 4, the brig John Adams, Capt. Fash, under a British license, arrived at New York. She was boarded by the British war frigate Guerriere two or three days previous to the latter's meeting
128
HONORS TO
the Constitution (Capt. Hull), and Capt. Dacres wrote the following challenge on the margin of the certificate of registry of the John Adams :
"Capt. Dacres, commander of his Britannic majes- ty's frigate Guerriere of 44 guns, presents his com- pliments to Commodore Rogers, of the United States frigate President, and will be very happy to meet him or any other American frigate of equal force to the President, off Sandy Hook, for the purpose of having a few minutes' tête-à-tête."
It was fitting that the city of New York should take special notice of this victory.
At a meeting of the New York Common Council on September 8th, it was resolved : "That the freedom of the city be presented to Capt. Hull in a gold box, with an appropriate inscription, and that his honor, the Mayor, be requested to forward the same, with a copy of this resolution."
This was the first time in the war of 1812 that the honor of that kind was conferred on any person for services in that war although it was afterward con- ferred upon several hereafter mentioned.
The "freedom of the city " was the greatest honor that could be conferred by a city upon an individual. It was given by the mayor and aldermen of the city. Under it was certified that the donee, person named, " is admitted and allowed a freeman and a citizen of the said city, to have, to hold, to use and en- joy the freedom of city, together with all the bene- fits, privileges, franchises and immunities whatso- ever granted or belonging to the said city."*
The old city charter allowed this, and the donee
* The donee had first to subscribe an oath that he would maintain the cha ter and obey the laws and ordinances enacted thereunder.
129
CAPT. HUIL.
was allowed to vote at charter elections for city of- ficers. Before the Revolution and the State consti- tution of 1777 a freeman of either of the cities of Albany or New York was entitled to vote for any State officer the same as any freeholder.
A freeman of New York city prior to Oct. 14th, 1775, and also those of Albany made so prior to 20th April, 1777, were entitled to vote for members of assembly by the constitution of 1777, and under the United States constitution could vote for mem- bers of Congress.
No other city in the colony or State of New York had the right to confer such a privilege and, so far as I have been able to ascertain, there were none in any of the other colonies that had that right. It was, and is still peculiar to many of the old cities in Europe, and is yet exercised by them as a mark of respect and honor shown to the person upon whom it is conferred.
The old charters of New York city that author- ized it provided that a fee of not exceeding five pounds New York money (equal to $12.50) should be paid to the city for the privileges so conferred. At the time of the old charters it was a very sub- stantial benefit and was sought after by many. While these charters granted the power of confer- ring it, they also prohibited all persons other than such free citizens to use any art, trade, mystery or manual occupation within the city (saving in the time of fairs); or to sell or expose for sale any man- ner of merchandise or wares whatsoever by retail when no fair was at the time kept in the city, under a penalty for each offence. It was further provided that no person should be made free as aforesaid,
130
FREEDOM OF THE CITY.
but native-born or naturalized or denizenated sub- jects.
The law of April 5, 1804, provided that "all per- sons who are qualified by the charter of the city to vote for charter officers and every male citizen of this State or of any of the United States of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, who shall have re- sided in the said city (New York) for the space of six months preceding said election, and shall during that time have rented a tenement of the yearly value of $25 and have paid any taxes within the said city, and is not disqualified by law, shall vote at such elec- tion for charter officers and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of a freeman of the said city."
He must vote in the ward where he resides, and a mortgagor or mortgagee in possession was deemed a freeholder.
The right of a freeman to vote for member of as- sembly was taken away by act of April 9, 1811, which required that the freehold qualification be $50, or he must have for six months next preceding the election, rented a tenement of the value of five dollars within the county, and have been rated and actually paid taxes to the State, and must be an actual resident of the town or ward where such vote was offered. This did not affect freemen who were qualified by the constitution of 1777, or the right of a freeman to vote at charter elections.
The right to make a freeman who had the right to vote at charter elections continued until the new charter of 1830, since which time that and all the other charters required the same qualifications to vote at charter elections as was and is required to vote for member of assembly. ...
131
PUBLIC DINNER OFFERED.
If any proceedings are now taken by the board of aldermen similar to those allowed by the old charters to make a freeman of the city, it is only nominal and of no substantial effect.
Still further desiring to show the popular feeling at the time a body of citizens of New York, without regard to distinction of party, met on the 10th of September for the purpose of considering the ar- ranging of giving a public reception and dinner to Capt. Hull when he arrived in the city. The com- mittee of arrangements appointed was composed of Messrs. Mathew Clarkson, Benj. G. Minturn, Zachariah Lewis, Henry T. Wyckoff, John Hone, Oliver Wolcott, Richard Varick, Isaac Sebring, Jacob Radcliff, Archibald Gracie, William Bayard, Josiah Ogden Hoffman. This committee met at the Tontine Coffee House on September 11th and selected three of their number to write a letter to Capt. Hull and ascertain when he could be in the city, as the citizens anxiously desired an opportunity to ex- press to him personally the sentiments of esteem, admiration and gratitude with which their minds were penetrated. The letter concluded as follows :
"Without presuming to anticipate in any degree those demonstrations of public affection which have been so richly earned, we cannot forbear to express our congratulations on an event which has sur- rounded your character with glory, and which we trust will be decisive in inducing the government of our country to increase in an adequate manner the naval establishment as the most effectual means of promoting national prosperity and receiving national respect."
The names signed to this letter were Isaac Se-
132
CAPT. HULL IN THE CITY.
bring, Jacob Radcliff, and Oliver Wolcott, the two first were ardent Federalists and opposed to the war. The Federalists of New York were in favor of a navy as the best means of protecting our ocean commerce.
Capt. Hull replied from Boston by letter dated September 17, saying that he could not inform them when he could be in New York, as he had private business to attend to on his way there, and also that an unfortunate occurrence (the death of his brother), would be a sufficient excuse for his declin- ing the honor intended for him on his arrival.
On Capt. Hull's arrival in the city about a week later the committee waited on him personally and renewed the request that he would favor them with his company at a public dinner, but for the reasons assigned in his written answer his feelings com- pelled him to decline the invitation.
The common council desiring still further to honor and compliment Capt. Hull, on the 16th of September passed a resolution that he be requested to sit for his portrait, that it be painted at the expense of the city and placed in the picture gallery in the City Hall.
When Captain Hull arrived he was placed in command of the flotilla of gunboats in New York harbor after the departure of Commodore Chauncey for the lakes on the 23d of September. In December Jacob Lewis was appointed commander (usually called commodore) in place of Capt. Hull who was transferred to Boston Navy Yard.
There were many naval victories and gallant ex- ploits of our seamen during the year. Some of them were in far away seas and the information was not
133
OTHER NAVAL VICTORIES.
received in New York until several weeks or months after the occurrences. It was the early victories that received the greatest attention.
The first British flag that was struck to an American victor during the war was on the ocean on the 13th of August. It was the British war vessel, Alert, that surrendered to Capt. Porter and the Essex on that day, but the news of the capture did not reach the United States until several weeks afterwards, and Capt. Hull's great victory over the Guerriere had drawn the additional enthusiasm of the belief that it was the first time a British war vessel had struck her colors to an American. The Alert was captured so easily by stratagem and a light skirmish on the part of Capt. Porter and the Essex, and he and his crew were absent so long afterwards that other and greater victories inter- vened and received the popular enthusiasm at its flood.
The principal victories at sea during the year 1812 that we have a particular interest in were the cap- ture of the British war frigate Guerriere by Capt. Hull and the United States frigate Constitution on August 19th, the capture of the British war frigate Frolic by the Wasp in command of Capt. Jones on October 18th, and the capture of the British war frigate Macedonian by the frigate United States, commanded by Commodore Decatur, on October 25th.
The honors and attention that were paid to the victors, and the enthusiasm their presence inspired in the citizens of New York, will be detailed in a sub- sequent chapter.
CHAPTER VIII.
Evacuation' Day Celebration-Military Parade and Review
-Salutes from the Forts-Dinners at the City Hall and at other places by Societies, etc .- Military Dinner given by Third Regiment-Present, Gov. Tompkins, Gen. Armstrong, Gen. Morton and other notables-Toasts and Music-Campaign ended-Militia Discharged and Return Home.
ANY parades and reviews of the militia took place in the city dur- ing the summer and autumn. The enemy made no demonstra- tions of attacking the city during the year and no attack was fear- ed.
The militia stationed here were in good spirits and had a sociable time among themselves. The calamities of war had not been felt by them or their families.
Nearly all of those in service here were volunteers or substitutes of drafted men. In November, Major Isaac Andrus' detachment of New Jersey militia in service at Fort Richmond, Staten Island, were relieved by Lieut .- Col. Joseph Jackson's detachment of six companies of New Jersey militia.
The detached New York militia and volunteers called into service by requisition on 27th of August were not liable to serve more than ninety days after arriving at the place of their destination. Their time of service accordingly expired on the 27th of
135
EVACUATION-DAY PARADE.
November. They composed Lieut .- Col. Robert Swartwout's command on Staten Island.
The most notable parade and review of the year was planned to take place on the anniversary of the evacuation of the city by the British on November 25th, 1783. It was celebrated with zeal and sincer- ity increased by the incidental interest given by the hostile attitude of the country to the occasion. The city artillery not on actual duty, paraded as usual, and with the corps of veterans joined the regiment of artillery and infantry from Albany, Hudson, Cats- kill, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh (who had com- pleted their three months' tour of duty at Staten Island) on the Battery. At noon the line was formed, and national salutes were fired from the new Fort Gansevoort, the West and South Batteries, Castle Williams, Bedloe's Island, Fort Richmond, the veteran corps on the battery, the United States ship John Adams and the privateer Teazer, which was handsomely dressed in honor of the day. At half past 12 o'clock the troops were reviewed by his excellency, Gov. Tompkins, and Gen. Armstrong and Gen. Morton, and with their suites, took up their line of march through the principal streets and were dismissed. The flag of the United States was dis- played from the different public edifices and from the shipping in the harbor. In the afternoon public dinners were provided by the corporation at the City Hall, by the Tammany Society at Tammany Hall, and by parties at Washington Hall, Mechanic's Hall, and the City Hotel. The veteran corps of artillery had a dinner at Becanon's restaurant and drank patriotic toasts.
The dinner at Mechanic's Hall was notable for
136
MILITARY DINNER
being given by the officers of the third regiment of New York State artillery, Col. Sitcher's, on the oc- casion of their induction into Fort Gansevoort, and being honored by the presence of Governor Tomp- kins, Gen. Armstrong, Gen. Morton, Adjt .- Gen. Paulding, and many other prominent military men.
After dinner the following toasts and sentiments were drank, accompanied by appropriate music by the military band:
"1. The day we celebrate .- May this and each suc- ceeding anniversary, teach Americans to remember that it sealed their birthright as a nation. This right we early bought, we will support and maintain."
Music -- " Yankee Doodle."
"2. The Constitution of the United States .- The grand palladium of our liberty. May its sacred principles be respected, and its meaning never per- verted or misconstrued amid the confusion or broils of contending interests."
Music-" Washington's March."
"3. The national government .- May Minerva pre- side at their councils; Mars direct their officers in the field, and may their united efforts be crowned with glory."
Music-" Hail Columbia."
"4. National justice .- Words erased from the vocabulary of nations. May America never sheath the sword until the whole world agree that they shall be reinserted."
Music-" Mary La Moore."
"5. The State of New York .- The fairest and most exposed pillar in the Temple of Liberty. May her sons repulse with indignation the ruffian hand that would disfigure it." (Three cheers.)
-
137
AT MECHANIC'S HALL.
Music-" Tompkins' March."
"6. The People of the United States .- May virtue, the vital principle of republics, animate every breast."
Music-"Hail Liberty."
" 7. The City of New York .- The great emporium of commerce, industry and wealth. 'That spot in which the hope of freedom should desert me, that spot would I make my grave.'"
Music-" America, Commerce and Freedom."
"8. The Gallant Capt. Hull .- Whose valor is only equalled by his modesty. His enemies admire and fear him. May his future achievements be as splendid as his first." ; (Nine cheers.)
Music-" There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft."
" 9. The brave associates of Capt. Hull .- On board the Constitution they silenced the roaring of the British lion and clearly proved that more could have been done if more had been required." (Three cheers.) Music-"Sailor's Return."
"10. The band of warriors on the Canada lines .- Although surrounded with difficulties and encom- passed by perils, they imitate the patriotism of Cono, and like Antæus of old, 'rise more vigorous from every fall.'" (Six cheers.)
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