USA > Rhode Island > History of Rhode Island > Part 23
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In 1812, the American government formally declared war with Great Britain, when Newport was again exposed to all the apprehensions of being visited by a hostile foe, whose ships of war were frequently seen during its continuance, hovering round her shores. A memorial was sent from Newport to the Gene- ral Government, setting forth her exposed and defenceless con- dition in case of an invasion. But little regard was paid to it, for we had hardly a corporal's guard from the General Govern- ment. But fortunately, Newport was not mach annoyed by the enemy. Our militia and independent companies were all that Newport had to depend upon for protection, for some time
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
after war was declared, the Government having drawn away the United States troops stationed in the forts of her harbor. But notwithstanding this impolitic measure, the inhabitants were resolved to repel any attempts made by the enemy, and their forces were ever ready to repair to their posts, on any alarm. One day, towards evening, the British fleet, which lay but a short distance south of the Island, made demonstrations as though it was their design to enter the harbor. The tele- graph, which was erected on high land in the neck, gave the concerted signal, and the inhabitants of the town were thrown into great consternation. The military were instantly mustered, and with beat of drum, and swords flourishing, and bayonets glistening, they marched by the 2d Baptist Church, who that evening had a lecture, which so terrified the congregation that they immediately broke up. It was quite a busy night, but nobody was hurt. The ships wore about, and stood off to their usual place of rendezvous. The British ships obtained all the provisions they required from the farmers who resided near the shore ; it was impossible for them, in their defenceless state, to prevent it. And if they had not sold it to them, they would have taken it by force. Fishing boats from Newport were compelled to sell their fish, or have them taken from them by the enemy. It is said that they procured the newspapers wet from the press, by which they obtained the weekly intelligence. The principal seat of war lay South, while the North escaped the horrors of war in a great degree.
On the 6th of December, the inhabitants of Newport had the pleasure of seeing the British frigate Macedonian arrive in the harbor, a prize to the American frigate United States, Cap- tain Stephen Decatur. Her wounded were landed at Coaster's Harbor, and conveyed to the hospital on the Island ; they re- ceived every attention their situation demanded. At the com- mencement of hostilities, the British blockaded the coast of America-at first the southern coast, but afterwards it extend- ed as far north as the east end of Long Island Sound. This gave the ports of Massachusetts and Rhode Island the advan- tage of the neutral trade, until the blockade of the whole Amer- ican coast.
Newport for a while enjoyed a large share of the trade, and the arrival and clearances of the neutral vessels, the sale of
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BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
their cargocs, &c., gave employment to many of her citizens. The inhabitants of. Newport took the precaution to send from the Island the records of the town, made since the revolution. They were deposited with the town of South Kingston, for safe keeping, where they remained until peace was again proclaimed. The Banks of Newport also removed their specie from the town.
The late Commodore Oliver H. Perry, was a descendant of Thomas Hazard, the first settler, in the sixth degree. Ray. mond, father of the Commodore, was the son of Judge Free- man Perry, who married the daughter of Oliver Hazard, of South Kingston. The Commodore was named after his mater- nal great-grandfather, Oliver Hazard.
Commodore Perry had a most expressive and charming countenance, which, added to his graceful form, rendered him an object of admiration. He possessed a noble spirit, a gene- rous expansion of soul, and an understanding chaste and refined ; while liberality, gratitude, and generosity, were the aspiring virtues of his heart. He took the most lively interest in the welfare and prosperity of Newport, and through his in- fluence, many natives of the town were elevated to posts of honor and distinction.
The present Commodore, M. C. Perry, brother of the late naval hero, was born in Newport, Rhode Island. This gallant officer has distinguished himself in the Mexican war, and he alone of the five brothers, Oliver H., Raymond, Alexander, and Nathaniel, all of the United States' navy, survives.
We have alluded to the pedigree of Commodore Perry, before adverting to his naval career, which so highly distinguished him, and added fresh laurels to his country's glory. In 1813, he left Newport, with a detachment of seamen from the gun- boats in the harbor, to take the command of the American squadron on Lake Eric. On the arrival of Capt. Perry at the lake, there was no squadron there, and it was found that measures must be immediately taken to construct a fleet, which should be able to grapple with the British lion. Capt. Perry had taken with him some ship carpenters from Newport, and such was the rapidity in felling trees, and preparing the requisite materials, that the work was soon completed, and the vessels ready for service.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
1
As this was a battle fought, and a victory won, principally by natives of Newport, it requires a more particular notice. It was on the 10th of September, 1813, when the struggle between the British and American squadrons for the victory, took place. It was a moment of painful anxiety, as, on the issue, very much depended. The American squadron consisted of nine vessels, carrying 54 guns ; that of the British, of six vessels, and 63 guns.
There was in all, five hundred and two men in the British squadron, and deducting those on the sick list, we know for certainty that there were four hundred and fifty in health when it went into action. The Americans numbered by the muster- roll, four hundred and fifty, of whom one hundred and sixteen were sick on the morning of the action. Say that sixteen of these sick Americans came on deck and took part in the battle, it would leave us with one hundred fighting men less than the British.
The circumstances under which the battle was fought, gave to the British the full benefit of their substitution of length of gun for calibre.
Perry, before the battle commenced, went round the deck, carefully examining his battery gun by gun, to see that every thing was in order, stopping at each, and exchanging words with the captains. For all he had some pleasant joke, or some expression of encouragement. Secing some of the Constitu- tion's, he said to them, " Well, boys ! are you ready ?" " All ready, your honor," was the brief reply, with a general touch of the hat. " But I need not say anything to you," he added, " you know how to beat those fellows !" Passing on, with a smile of recognition, he exclaimed, " Ah, here are the Newport boys ! they will do their duty, I warrant." Having mounted on a gun slide, and calling his crew about him, he thus briefly addressed them : " My brave lads," at the same time unfurl- ing a flag, " this flag contains the last words of Capt. Lawrence ! Shall I hoist it?" " Ay ! ay ! sir !" resounded from every voice in the ship, and the flag was briskly run up to the main- royal-mast-head of the Lawrence.
The line of battle was formed at eleven, and at a quarter before twelve, the enemy's flag-ship, Queen Charlotte, opened a tremendous fire upon the Lawrence, the flag-ship of Commo-
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BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
dore Perry, which was stationed by the latter full ten minutes before she could bring her carronades to bear. At length she bore up and engaged the enemy, making signals to the remain- der of the squadron, to hasten to her support. Unfortunately, the wind was too light to admit of a compliance to the order, and she was compelled to contend, for two hours, with two ships of equal force. By this time the brig had become un- manageable, and her crew, excepting four or five, were either killed or wounded.
While thus surrounded with death, and destruction still pouring in upon him, Perry left the brig, now only a wreck, in an open boat, and heroically waving his sword, passed unhurt to the Niagara, of twenty guns. The wind now rose, and order- ing every canvass to be spread, he bore down upon the enemy, passing the enemy's vessels, Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Lady Prevost on the one side, and the Chippewa and Little Belt on the other, into each of which he poured a broadside ; he at length engaged the Lady Prevost, which received so heavy a fire, as to compel her men to retire below. The remainder of the American squadron, now, one after another, arrived, and following the example of their intrepid leader, now closed in with the enemy, and the battle became general. Three hours finished the contest, and enabled Perry to an- nounce to General Harrison the capture of the whole squadron, which he did in this modest, laconic, and emphatic style, " We have met the enemy, and they are ours." The loss in the con- test was great, in proportion to the numbers engaged. The Americans had twenty-seven killed, and ninety-six wounded ; but the British loss was still greater, being about two hundred in killed and wounded.
The following persons, belonging to Newport, were engaged in the battle, viz. :-
OFFICERS :
Commodore Oliver H. Perry,
A. Perry,
Daniel Turner, William V. Taylor,
Thomas Brownell,
Thomas Almy,
Thomas Breeze,
Peleg Dunham,
Stephen Champlin.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
PETTY OFFICERS AND SEAMEN :
George Cornell, Carpenter,
Wilson Mays, ditto's mate,
- Allen, John Coddington,
Lemuel Palmer,
Isaac Peckham,
George Southwick,
Joseph Southwick,
J. Phillips, Hannibal Colins, colored,
John Lawton,
And many others, not recollected at this distant period.
The above list was furnished the author by Capt. Thomas Brownell, who, with the others, highly distinguished himself in that memorable battle.
There was one individual who kept at a respectful distance in the battle, and that was Commodore Elliott. While Perry was engaged in the hottest of the fight, and had to abandon the Lawrence, she having become unmanageable, and all of the crew but four or five either killed or wounded, Elliott labored to pluck the laurels from the victor's brow, to grace his own ; but his ungentlemanlike course of conduct, only tended to throw him further into the shade, and exalt Commodore Perry in the estimation of his countrymen.
To show that Commodore Perry was not deceived in the high opinion which he had formed of the " Newport boys," we will give an anecdote, taken from the " Life of Commodore O. H. Perry, by Alex. Slidell Mackenzie, U.S.N." " There was a young man from Newport, named Wilson Mays, and rated a carpenter's mate. Ile was much reduced by the lake sickness, and entirely unfit for duty : but, while the crew were going to quarters he came on deck. He was directed to go below, as being too sick to render service ; but he remarked, that the vessel was short of men, and that he could supply the place of a well-man, by sitting on the pumps, where he was stationed, and using the sounding rod. The poor fellow was killed in that situation."
On the 4th of October, 1813, a small British privateer, called the Dart, which had been hovering about the harbor of New- port, was seen, having in company a ship, a brig, and schooner, which she had detained. The revenue cutter, Vigilant, Capt.
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CAPTURE OF A FORT.
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John Cahoone, was manned with volunteers from Newport, and seamen from the gun-boats, and went out in pursuit of her. They soon came up with and carried her, after a slight resist- ance, and brought her into Newport. The first lieutenant of the Dart was killed. The capture of this privateer was un- questionably the means of saving a large amount of property from being captured.
The sloop Providence, a privateer of eight guns, and manned principally by citizens from Newport, viz .: John Trevett, lieutenant, Peleg Hull, sailing master, Edward Clanning, Henry Clanning, John Scranton, &c. In the course of the war, she captured many valuable prizes ; and, in one of her cruizes, she entered the harbor of New Providence, when a detachment of men, under the command of Lieutenant Trevett surprised the fort, and there being but few men in the garrison, resistance was useless. Scranton at once climbed the flag-staff, and flung + out the American banner to the breeze. They then dispatched an order to the Governor, to furnish instanter a dinner for thirty officers, or, otherwise, they would turn the guns and batter down the town. The order was quickly complied with, and turtle-soup was one of the dishes provided for the occasion, when the officers regaled themselves to their hearts' content. After remaining in quiet possession of the fort three days, they then spiked the cannon, returned on board, and soon sailed out of the harbor. It was an adroit and gallant movement, con- sidering there were but twenty-eight men, all told, engaged in the enterprise.
In the War of the Revolution, Rhode Island furnished more men, in proportion to her ability, than any of the thirteen Colonies.
A vessel, called the Wampoa, loaded with French brandy, was driven on the Narragansett shore by a British armed ves- sel; the inhabitants turned out to defend her from the British boats, who were attempting to destroy her. The militia of Narragansett succeeded in saving the cargo, which was brought round to Newport, and sold.
A wealthy gentleman purchased a pipe of it, on account of its superior quality. The society of which he was a member, had long considered that he was in the too frequent practice of using alcoholic drinks ; a committee was accordingly ap-
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
pointed to wait on him, and labor to persuade him to cease from the evil and pernicious habit. He received them with all that courtesy which distinguished the gentleman, and as the day was unusually cold, and they had rode quite a distance, he very soon ordered his servant to bring in some of the " Wam- poa." They partook of it very lightly, but soon the effect was quite visible, and they forgot entirely the object of their mis- sion. At the next annual meeting there was a gift of $100, which acted as a quietus, and the gentleman died in full fellow- ship with the society.
In December, the President of the United States, in a message to Congress, says, " The tendency of our commercial and navigation laws, in their present state, to favor the enemy, and thereby prolong the war, is more and more developed by experience. Supplies of the most essential kind find their way, not only to British ports and British armies at a distance, but the armies in our neighborhood, with which our own are contending, derive from our ports and outlets, a subsistence attainable with difficulty, if attainable at all from other sources. Even the fleets and troops infesting our coasts and waters, are by like supplies accommodated, and encouraged in their peda- tory and incursive warfare."
Much of this was to be attributed to the want of action, on the part of the Federal Government, in not placing the coast in a proper state of defence. It has been already remarked, that if the people had not disposed of their produce, for a proper equivalent, that the enemy would have taken it by force. An embargo was immediately laid by Congress on all vessels, except neutrals, which were permitted to depart, pro- vided they carried nothing with them but sea stores.
The embargo at once suspended all business, and the streets of Newport wore a sad and gloomy appearance.
On the 30th of May, 1814, a Swedish brig, from St. Barts, attempting to violate the blockade, was chased on shore by the British armed brig, Nimrod, in the East Passage, on Smith's Beach. The next morning the Nimrod came to anchor about a mile from the shore, and sent a barge to set fire to the brig, which they effectually accomplished. Whether they sustained any loss of life, was not exactly known. Every exertion was made by the militia of Middletown, the artillery company of
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OCCUPATION OP FORT GREEN.
Newport, under the command of Colonel Fry, and a detachment of seamen from the United States flotilla, to prevent it; but having nothing but small arms with them, their efforts were ineffectual. It would have been far more politic to have taken ยท the brass field-piece belonging to the Artillery Company, the night previous, and thrown up a breast-work which would have prevented the success of the enemy. The Nimrod fired about 200 cannon-balls, one of which killed Mr. John Smith of the Middletown militia, took off the leg of Isaac Basset, a seaman belonging to the flotilla, and knocked down Oliver Wood.
The skill and nerve of Doctor William Turner, was displayed on this occasion, when the chicken-heart of another had failed. He in a very few moments amputated and dressed the leg of Basset, proving his superiority as a surgeon. The boys who had assembled on the beach would, the very moment the shot struck, commence digging them out of the sand, and some made a profitable day's work of it, for Greene Burroughs was ready to cash them.
A few days previous to this, the barges of the Nimrod had chased two sloops on shore in the cast passage ; but the militia of Little Compton having assembled in considerable numbers, they were prevented from taking possession of them. The sloops were got off, and proceeded up the river.
In June, 1814, the General Assembly passed an act author- izing the Town Councils of the several seaport towns to cause the shipping to be removed from their wharves and harbors, whenever by them it should be thought advisable. The Town Council of Newport accordingly, ordered the shipping to be re- moved, lest it should be an inducement for the enemy to visit Newport.
In July, 1814, the Artillery Company of the town of New- port, under command of Col. Benjamin Fry, took possession of Fort Green, at the north end of Washington-street, on the Point, by order of the United States Government. The com- pany, rank and file, numbered about one hundred and fifty men. Col. Fry was to have the entire command of the fort, and the company to be under the control of the Governor of the State. While the company were in possession of the fort, they kept it in fine order; the parade ground was gravelled, &c., by the labor of the company, and they were ready to defend the town in case of invasion.
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
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DARTMOOR PRISON.
In the course of the war of 1812, one of the sons of Capt. Evan Malborn, was taken prisoner by the British and confined in Dartmoor prison. He wished the keeper to take a note to Lord Stanhope; the keeper seemed greatly surprised at his presumed acquaintance with so illustrious a personage ; without condescending to enter into particulars, he urged the forward- ing of the note, which was complied with, and on its reception Lord Stanhope repaired to the prison with all possible haste, in his State carriage, attended by his servants in livery, when orders were instantly issued for the liberation of Mr. Malborn from confinement.
Having lost his all, he stood in need of pecuniary aid, which was quickly furnished by Lord Stanhope, who placed at his dis- posal fifty guineas, in order that he might clothe himself in a manner becoming his rank and as a relative of his wife. He was then taken to his princely mansion, where he tarried for a few weeks, enjoying the munificent hospitality of the noble Lord. When the period for his leaving had arrived, funds were furnished, and a free passport granted him to America. They were chased by a British man-of-war, and in the confu- sion he forgot his passport, the vessel was run on shore, and he at last arrived home, having, however, again lost his all, which a moment's thought might have prevented. Lord Stanhope's bust still occupies a place over the mantle-piece in the Malborn house, now owned and occupied by James R. Newton, Esq.
The entrance to the harbor was also garrisoned about this time, by the enlisted State Corps, under command of Col. John Wood, father of Dr. Wood of the U. S. Army. These posts were occupied until the proclamation of peace.
Provisions, in the time of the war, were extravagantly high ; flour sold for $15 00 per barrel, meal $2 00 per bushel, molas- ses $2 00 per gallon, sugar and coffee 2s. per lb., and so in pro- portion with all articles of merchandize. The difficulty of obtain- ing every kind of articles, owing to the coast being so completely blockaded, was one great cause of the high price of provi- sions. As there was little or nothing doing in Newport, during
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SUCCESS OF THE WAR.
a great part of the war, it rendered the condition of the laboring classes very trying. Newport had every reason to wish for the termination of a war so injurious to her commercial prosperity. On the 14th of February, 1815, the joyful news of peace was proclaimed by the merry peal of bells, the roar of cannon, and the display of the military. In the evening, a most splendid and general illumination of the town took place, and a display. of paper lanterns with emblematic devices, suspended in the streets, which, notwithstanding the great quantity of snow that had fallen, were thoroughly promenaded by nearly all the inhabi- tants of the place.
This war, though of short duration, was signalized by many splendid victories, both by land and sea, and proved that Great Britain was not invincible. Having been so long mistress of the ocean, she felt an assurance that she should be able to sweep the ocean of everything that floated, and capture our vessels of war, whenever fortune should throw them in her way. But in this she was most egregiously disappointed. The victories of Hull, Decatur, Porter, and Jones, on the ocean, and Perry and Lawrence on the lakes, evidenced to the British, that they had an enemy to compete with, who proved themselves their superiors. The arrogance of the English nation has never been equalled ; assuming to control the destinies of the world, she looked on this growing republic with jealousy, and flattered her- self that she might yet be able to humble her pride, and subject her to British domination.
At a meeting of the merchants, manufacturers, ship-owners, and underwriters, in the city of Glasgow, in 1814, it was de- clared by them : " There is reason to believe, in the short space of twenty-four months, above eight hundred vessels have been captured by a power whose maritime strength we have hitherto held in contempt. The number of privateers that infest our coast, and the audacity with which they approach our shores, ' and their success, is humiliating to our pride." And they fur- ther say : " Our nation have declared the whole coast of America in blockade, and it is mortifying that our ships cannot traverse our own channels in safety. Insurance cannot be effected, but at an excessive premium."
The war of 1812, demonstrated to the British Government our maritime power, and that it was a fruitless attempt to labor
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HISTORY OF RHODE ISLAND.
to overcome us, and we trust that England will learn a wise les- son from the past, and never again attempt to come in collision with America, whose power is gigantic, and whose overthrow is impossible.
Rhode Island can justly boast of having furnished a Greene for her country, in the war of the Revolution, who in rank and generalship, was second to none, save the immortal Washington himself. And the war of 1812, brought forth and contributed to her country's glory, the mighty energies of her gallant Perry.
Mr. Hunter, who was then Senator to Congress from Rhode Island, in a speech in the Senate of the United States, on the resolutions complimentary of Commodore Perry's victory, said : " While I hold in my hand this resolution expressive of a nation's gratitude toward this youthful Rhode Island hero, for his deliv- erance of the West, I can point the other to the likeness of that illustrious Rhode Island veteran, (alluding to the likeness of Gen. Greene, in the Senate,) who in the sacred war of the Revo- lution, saved the South, and accelerated and ascertained the in- dependence of his country."
The sentiments expressed by Mr. Hunter were truly patri- otic, evincing his love of country, and that he gloried in the suc- cess of the American arms over a foreign enemy.
The brilliant career of Commodore Perry was short. He died in the 34th year of his age, August 23d, A. D., 1819, on board the U. S. schooner, Nonsuch, at the moment the schooner was entering the harbor of Port Spain, in the island of Trini- dad. He died of the yellow fever, contracted at Angostura, where he had been transacting business for our Government. His remains were interred on the 24th, at Port Spain, with every mark of respect from Sir Ralph Woodford, Governor of Trinidad, and the inhabitants of the place.
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