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. II > Part 4
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" By Order the Commander-in-Chief,
"SOL. VAN RENSSELAER, "Adjt .- General."
Many of the military organizations that started up in the previous spring had been dormant during the year 1813.
39
VOLUNTEERS WANTED.
In January, 1813, Washington Irving, the emi- nent author, wrote :
"This war has completely changed the face of things. You would scarcely recognize our old peaceful city. Nothing is talked of but armies, navies, battles, etc.
" Had not the miserable accounts from our fron- tiers dampened in some measure the public zeal, I believe half of our young men would have been military mad."
Now, it was a year later than when Irving wrote the above, and the war on the frontiers had been even more discouraging, and the rumors and hopes of an armistice, and a prevalent repugnance to enter the ranks as a common soldier, all had a ten- dency to render volunteering even more dull than at any previous time during the war, although the in- ducements were much more enticing. Increased pay and large bounties were offered by laws of Con- gress, and the volunteer could in a great measure choose the place and kind of service deemed most. desirable. Everything was done to arouse the lag- ging military spirit.
A writer at that time said :
" At length we have the pleasing satisfaction of beholding the stripes of our country suspended from the windows of public buildings, which to the be- holders speaks a language that would emulate any being who possesses the least particle of navy or military spirit. It is very common to see at the same view '124 dols. bounty, and 160 acres of good land, clothing, pay, rations, etc., too,' given to everyone who voluntarily comes forth to defend his
40
BOUNTIES OFFERED.
country, and three months' advance, and fifteen dollars bounty to go to the Lakes with Commodores Chauncey or Perry.'.
" These men are wanted principally to defend our extensive frontier, and no doubt but our rulers will receive the thanks of the people for coming forth in such a manner as to induce every well- wisher to his country to turn out and rally round the standard which our fathers so nobly fought and bled for.
" Turn your eyes to the left, there your attention is attracted by large capitals, reading thus : 'Wanted -Seamen, Landsmen, and Boys for the U. S. Flotilla, for the sole defence of New York ; good pay, provisions, etc.' This is an opportunity which ought to be embraced by every seafaring man who has a family in New York."
The flotilla (gunboat) service at that time had be- come a very important arm of protection for the bays and harbors of the United States. This service was unpopular with the regular officers of the navy, because of its narrow opportunities and the class of men of which the service was composed. They were usually bay and river craftmen, seamen, ordinary seamen with families which were nearby riggers, and naval mechanics out of employ, etc., and many others who would not engage in the regular naval service. The temptations to insubordination and vice were much greater in this scattered and amphi- bious kind of force than on board our ships of war, and the rigors of naval discipline, unless tempered with judgment and great moderation, discouraged the recruiting for this service.
The flotilla service in New York harbor was pre-
.
41
COMMODORE LEWIS' FLOTILLA.
ferrable to that in some other places, while at the same time it was the most useful and most im- portant to this seaboard. It was under the com- mand of "Commodore " Jacob Lewis, as he was usually designated, although he held only the com- mission of a commander in the United States Navy. He had been captain of the privateer Bunker Hill, of four guns and sixty men, in the early part of the war, and was a brave, venturesome, dashing sailor. Every movement of his while in command of the flotilla of gunboats was paraded before the public in the most favorable light, and he made his reports of his movements, attacks, skirmishes, captures, etc., direct to the Secretary of the Navy, as if he was a veritable commodore. The services that his little fleet of gunboats rendered in the protection and defense of New York harbor and vicinity cannot be over-estimated.
A letter from a prominent exchanged prisoner of war, who had been held on board the Plantagenet, in March, said of Commodore Lewis and the fleet of gunboats under his command :
"In my humble opinion, this little band of heroes have been the whole safeguard of Amboy and the towns adjacent ; and should these places be de- stroyed, in all human probability a descent upon this city would immediately follow. For the grounds of my suspicion I will state that while on board the seventy-four a month since, off Sandy Hook, as a prisoner I was informed that an excur- sion on the Highlands, thence to Amboy, had been long contemplated, but that they were deterred by the gunboats at Sandy Hook.
" The flotilla appears to be a permanent thing,
42
FULTON'S IRONCLAD
and those who volunteer for this necessary service are not liable to be taken anywhere else. They are commanded by an able and experienced officer, who, should an opportunity offer, will evince to the world the wise policy of Mr. Jefferson in causing to be built the lately detested boats."
The number of gunboats in New York harbor fit for service was thirty-eight. Thirty-one were in service, and seven were subject to orders. The force consisted of about five hundred men.
The regular naval force at New York in March, 1814, consisted of the President, 44; Alert, 18 (guard ship), and Peacock, 18, Lewis Warrington, master and commander. The latter was under sail- ing orders and was watching to run the blockade and put to sea. (See ante, p. 29.)
Floating batteries of various kinds were sug- gested from time to time for the defence of New York harbor.
Many attempts had been made by several in- ventors to have the government build an ironclad or floating battery on their models. Robert Fulton, of steamboat fame, was one of the most prominent and influential. He induced a committee of promi- nent persons to examine his models and report on his plans. It was as follows :
"NEW LONDON, Jan. 3d, 1814.
"We, the undersigned, have this day examined the model and plans of a vessel of war submitted to us by Robert Fulton, to carry 24 guns, 24 or 32- pounders, and use red hot shot ;- to be propelled by steam at the speed of from four to five miles an hour, without the aid of wind or tide. The proper
43
STEAM WAR VESSEL.
ties of which vessel are : that without masts or sails, she can move with sufficient speed ; that her ma- chinery being guarded she cannot be crippled ; that her sides are so thick as to be impenetrable to every kind of shot ; and in a calm or light breeze she can take choice of positions or distance from an enemy. Considering the speed which the application of steam has already given to heavy floating bodies, we have full confidence that should such a vessel move only four miles an hour, she could, under the favorable circumstances which may always be gained over enemies' vessels in our ports, harbors, bays and sounds, be rendered more formidable to an enemy than any kind of engine hitherto invented. And in such case she would be equal to the de- struction of one or more seventy-fours, or of com- pelling her or them to depart from our waters. We therefore give it as our decided opinion, that it is among the best interests of the United States to carry this plan into immediate execution.
" STEPHEN DECATUR, " JACOB JONES, " JAS. BIDDLE." "NEW YORK, Jan. 10th, 1814.
" We, the subscribers, having examined the model of the above described vessel of war to be propelled by steam, do fully concur in the above opinion of the practicability and utility of the same.
" SAMUEL EVANS, "O. H. PERRY, "L. WARRINGTON, "JACOB LEWIS."
An appropriation was asked for from the Presi-
44
CONDITION OF FORTIFICATIONS
dent for the purpose of building this battery, but as he had not the authority to make the appropriation, the Naval Committee agreed to have the vessel cou- structed at their own expense and risk, provided assurances should be given that the National gov- ernment would receive and pay for her when her utility should be demonstrated. This offer was ac- cepted by the government, and in March, 1814, Con- gress, on the application of many of the officers of the government, and actuated by the earnest solici- tation of many influential citizens of the city of New York, passed a law authorizing the President of the United States to cause to be built, equipped and employed, one or more floating batteries for the defence of the waters of the United States.
The fortifications for the defence of the harbor required attention.
The completion of the works on Staten Island and on Hendrick's Reef were not hastened during the summer of 1813, and no other works in the vicinity of New York were erected in addition to those al- ready mentioned in Chapter X. .
A redoubt or protecting work on Signal Hill, on Staten Island, near the Narrows, for which the State made an appropriation of $22,000 in April, 1813, had been partly completed. Other works were much needed there. In April, 1814, the State Legislature made a further appropriation of $50,000 to complete the fort on Staten Island, "or applied to such other works of defence in the vicinity as may be deemed necessary to promote public security."
These sums were to be expended by the State Commissioners of Fortifications, subject to the ap- proval of Gen. Swift, of the corps of engineers.
45
AT THE NARROWS.
On the east side of the Narrows very little had been done during the year. Work had been barely commenced on Hendrick's Reef (see ante Vol. I., p. 178). Nothing had been done towards building a fort on Denyse's Heights, for the protection of Hendrick's Reef. The fortifications there were tem- porary earthworks.
Gen. Armstrong had recommended to the National government, in January, 1813, that the land in that vicinity be purchased for the erection of fortifica- tions, according to the plans of Gen. Swift (ante Vol. I, p. 178). The matter had laid dormant ever since.
The State Commissioners of Fortifications now took the matter in hand and commenced negotia- tions for the purpose of purchasing the farm land about there. Their negotiations resulted in a deed dated April 22, 1814, from William Denyse to the Mayor, Aldermen, etc., of New York City, in con- sideration of $8, 875, by which he sold his farm, con- sisting of sixty-three acres, twelve roods and one hundred and thirty perches. And about the same time Jacques Cortelyou sold a plot adjoining, of one acre and thirty-three perches, for $1,000, to the Mayor, Aldermen, etc., of New York City.
When Gen. Joseph G. Swift took charge of super- intending the land fortifications for the defence of New York harbor, the plan comprised a system of blockhouses to prevent the enemy landing by flo- tilla at such points as were most liable to such an invasion. They were to be at Bath Beach, at Utrecht Bay, at Denyse's Heights at west end of Long Island, and at Jamaica Bay, and at Princess Bay on Staten Island, and near Sandy Hook light-
46
BLOCKHOUSES NEEDED.
house, and at the Highlands of Navesink and several other places in the neighborhood of the places above mentioned. They were of easy construction. A Mr. Cropsy, a carpenter of Utrecht, was employed by Gen. Swift to construct these buildings .*
The blockhouses of those days were a kind of wooden fort built of square timbers, bullet proof, and to protect against light artillery. They were about twenty feet square and two stories high ; the upper story projected two or three feet beyond the walls of the lower one. Loopholes were in the walls, the floor and projection, to fire through on the enemy with musketry, and the upper room was usually furnished with cannon.
They were effective to prevent an assault with small arms, and often were built to protect a line of earthworks. Those built along the sea coast were at some points to prevent the landing of a flotilla, and out of reach of the enemy's war vessels. They were two stories high, and according to the location of the spot they wished to command, and had two or three small cannon on top. The lower story was sometimes built of stone. They were manned by detachments detailed each day for guard duty from the soldiers stationed near them.
The building of these structures was not hastened during the year 1813, only at places where they were immediately needed. There were some built at Sandy Hook and at the Highlands in 1813 (ante
* Sandy Hook at that time belonged to Richard Hartshorne. It was covered with cedar. In 1817 the peninsula extending from Portland Highlands to the sea, a distance of seven miles, was pur- chased by the Government for the sum of $20,000. Its extent has grown by accretions, which make it now nearly double its former size.
47
GOVERNOR'S ROOM IN CITY HALL.
Vol. II., p. 180), and one at Spermaceti Cove (ante Vol. II., p. 301). Those intended at the Narrows, and on Jamaica Bay, and 'at Rockaway and some other places had been neglected.
The blockhouses and earthworks and other ten- porary fortifications which had been erected during the summer and fall of 1813 were mostly built at the instance and expense of the State authorities within whose borders they were placed. Block- houses and intrenchments were the usual form of those forts about the port and harbor of New York.
The reason of this delay in the construction of de- fences and fortifications was not because they were not deemed necessary, but because of the general apathy of public opinion to the importance of works of defence.
A room in the City Hall had been set apart by the Common Council for the use of the Governor. On April 15, 1814, $1,000 was appropriated bythe State to furnish it, but it was not deemed sufficient, and the Common Council, on May 9th, made a further appropriation of $1.000 to complete the furnishing of it. It is still known as the " Governor's Room" in the City Hall.
A concurrent resolution of the State Senate and Assembly requested Governor Tompkins to inquire as to the accommodation that might be obtained for holding the next session of the Legislature in the city of New York, and also to ascertain what would be the probable expense of a temporary re- moval of the seat of government to New York City.
At the meeting of the Common Council on July 1, 1814, a letter from the Governor, inclosing the resolution, was laid before the Common Council.
-
48
LEGISLATURE INVITED TO NEW YORK.
It was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Fish, Wendover and King, who reported, August. 15th, that rooms could be provided for the purpose in the new City Hall.
The following was then adopted over four nega- tive votes :
" Resolved, That as soon as the Common Council is informed that the honorable the Legislature have determined to hold their next session in this city, immediate measures be taken to fit up and furnish, at the expense of this corporation, suitable rooms for the honorable Senate and for the honorable the Assembly, and for such of the officers of govern- ment as are necessarily connected with the Legis- lature at their place of meeting, and that the papers and other articles belonging to said offices be re- moved to this city at the expense of this corpora- tion."
The next session of the Legislature would not take place until January, 1815, unless sooner con- vened by the Governor. It would be of new mem- bers of Assembly, elected in April, 1814.
ยท
CHAPTER XXV.
Enforcing the Embargo-Seizure of Specie at New York-Unpopu- larity of the Embargo-Repeal of the Embargo Laws-Revival of Trade-Local Politics-Election of State Officers and Members of Congress.
MBARGO laws were very unpopular among all classes of people at that time. All the ills felt, and which usually exist in a community in a time of war, were attributed to the embargo. The President was em- powered to be a dictator in the en- 1 forcement of it.
Under that law (section 11) the powers given to the collectors to re- fuse permission to put any cargo on board of any vessel, boat or other water craft, or to detain any vessel or to take into their custody any articles for the purpose of preventing violations of the embargo, were to be exercised in conformity with such in- structions as the President should give, and under such rules as he (the President) might prescribe for that purpose, made in pursuance thereof, "which instructions and rules the collector shall be bound to obey." These rules were issued, dated December 24, 1813. They were very explicit in regard to American vessels and their giving bonds, etc.
50
ENFORCING THE EMBARGO.
Vessels licensed for the coasting trade or fisheries were not allowed to depart from the port they were in when notice of the embargo was received, with- out a clearance or permit, but collectors were all- thorized and empowered to grant permission to vessels or boats whose employment had uniformly been confined to the navigation of bays, sounds, rivers or lakes within the jurisdiction of the United States, or the Territories thereof, in those cases where, in the opinion of the collector, there would be ' no danger of the embargo being violated. All ves- sels laden with a cargo were not allowed to depart from the port without giving bonds, and those with- out cargo were not allowed to take one without giving bonds. These bonds were conditioned as to the landing of the cargo at the port for which they were cleared.
David Gelston was the Collector of Customs for the district of New York at that time. He was ap. pointed by Mr. Jefferson in July, 1801, and held the office up to November, 1820. He was an ardent democrat and was called " Mr. Jefferson's collector."
The Surveyor of Customs was John Haff, ap- pointed in August, 1813, as successor of Peter A. Schenck. The naval officer of customs was John Ferguson, appointed in August, 1813, as successor of Samuel Osgood.
In the fore part of January, Mr. Gelston, as Col- lector of the port of New York, seized, under the embargo law, a quantity of specie, about $140,000, which was boxed up and on the way to Boston, ostensibly for the "New England Bank." It was brought back and deposited in the Manhattan Bank, to ascertain if it really belonged to the New Eng-
51
SEIZURE OF SPECIE.
land Bank, or was intended for the Canada market, where British government bills were at a great discount. At that time the demand for specie in Albany and other places, for the Canada market and for the banks, was such that ten per cent premium had been paid for it in exchange for paper.
The stockholders of the New England Bank pe- titioned the Legislature of Massachusetts to demand of the President of the United States the restitution of the money so illegally seized by Mr. Gelston, and the punishment of the offender. The legislative committee to whom the question was referred com- mented severely on the act of Mr. Gelston, and di- rected the Governor of Massachusetts to express to the President of the United States " the great sensi- bility which the Legislature of Massachusetts feels at the outrage, and its expectance that the money will be immediately restored," and as an atonement to the injured citizens of Massachusetts, that the President remove the said collector from office. The resolution passed both Houses on the 27th of January.
The Governor (Caleb Strong) transmitted to the President a copy of the resolution as requested, to- gether with the evidence in support of the complaint. The President replied to the Governor's request that "as the course of proceeding marked out by the law for the parties complaining is sufficiently under- stood, it remains only to assure your Excellency that the case will receive whatever interposition may be necessary and proper in their behalf from the executive authority of the United States. The case as it relates to the responsible officer will be duly inquired into, with a view to ascertain the circum-
52
UNPOPULARITY OF EMBARGO LAWS.
stances on which the seizure and detention in ques- tion were grounded, and by which the conduct therein ought to be tested."
As it was subsequently ascertained that the money was really destined for Boston, it was given up by Mr. Gelston to the New England Bank, after several weeks' detention.
One hardship of the embargo law was in prevent- ing the coasting vessels from returning to the places to which they belonged without bonds. A bill was presented in Congress in January for the relief of coasters so situated. It was delayed from time to time until February 9th, when it passed the House by a vote of 100 to 40. It afterwards passed the Senate and became a law on March 4th.
The embargo law was most severely felt by Massa- chusetts, which then included Maine. None of her ports were blockaded. The only other ports left open by the enemy were four, to wit :- Portsmouth, N. H. ; Newport, Bristol and Providence, R. I.
It caused the most bitter expressions of feeling from Massachusetts against the administration. When the embargo of 1807 was enacted they claimed that it was to help the French by diverting English vessels from war service against the French, to trading vessels to take supplies to the English ar- mies. The embargo of 1813 might have been said to the people to be in aid of the blockade of American ports, because a less number of British vessels were required to enforce a blockade. Had the law been enacted by an avowed Federal administration, and one opposed to the war, it would probably have been said to the people (and many would have believed it), that it was to aid the enemy in their blockade.
53
REPEAL OF EMBARGO LAWS.
Perhaps some future writer will draw a similar conclusion from it.
The feeling was so strong against it among the commercial community of the seaboard States, and the action of Massachusetts was such, that to the great surprise of the nation, the President sent in a Message on April 1st which in effect was a sugges- tion to repeal the embargo laws.
The subject was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, who on April 4th reported to the House in favor of the measure, stating that previ- ous to the late changes in Europe the bearing of the restrictive measures was for the most part confined to the enemy ; that at present a prospect existed of extended commercial intercourse with friendly pow- ers in Europe ; that all Germany, Denmark and Holland, heretofore under the double restraint of internal regulation and external blockades, were liberated therefrom, and changes equally favorable to commerce appeared then to be taking place in Spain, Portugal and Italy and the more extreme ports of the Mediterranean. These considerations and others, among which are the augmentation of the revenue, maintenance of the public credit, in- creasing the price and promoting the circulation of the produce of the country, they reported a bill for the repeal of the embargo and modification of the non-importation laws.
After many modifications and changes the bill in express terms repealed the embargo law of De- cember 17th, 1813, and modified the non-importation laws.
The modification of the non-importation law con- sisted in allowing the ships and vessels of neutral
54
RESTRICTIONS AGAINST TRADE
nations to import any goods, wares or merchandise of the growth, produce or manufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, or any of the colonies or depend- encies thereof, or of any place or country in the actual possession of Great Britain.
It also provided, " That nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize or permit the import- ation of goods, wares or merchandise, or of any article the property of, or belonging at the time of such importation, to the enemy or enemies of the United States."
The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 115 to 37, and the Senate by a vote of 29 to 4. It was sent to the President and became a law on April 14th.
When this bill passed the House of Represent- atives, Mr. William Irving voted against it, while Mr. Jotham Post voted for the bill. In the Senate Messrs. Rufus King and German, the Senators from New York, voted for the bill as passed. Mr. Lefferts, from Brooklyn, also voted for this bill. Dr. Sage, from Sagg Harbor, was not present.
The removal of the embargo and allowing im- portations at once revived the shipping and coasting trade, and running the blockade was constantly done at little danger. There were still many re- strictions that would greatly affect commerce and intercourse with the British colonies and with neu- tral countries.
The law prohibiting non-intercourse with the en- emies of the United States, passed July 6, 1812, still prevented many vessels from entering seaports of the United States.
Under that law ($ 1), any ship or vessel owned
55
WITH THE ENEMY.
in whole or in part by any citizen of the United States would not be permitted to depart therefrom to any port or place without the United States, without giving a bond with sureties to the amount of uch vessel and cargo, conditioned that such ship or vessel should not proceed to or trade with the enemies of the United States. If any vessel at- tempted to proceed without first giving such bond, such vessel and cargo should be forfeited to the United States, and the master or commander thereof be subject to fine and imprisonment.
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