USA > Vermont > The history of Vermont, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 14
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242
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1812.
strong laws in aid of the general cause. Inter- course between the people of the state and Ca- nada was forbidden under a penalty of $1,000, and seven years imprisonment. A stringent draft- ing law was passed, thirty dollars bounty was offered to volunteers, and the pay of the Ver- mont militia in the service of the United States was doubled by as much more from the state as was paid by the United States. The person and property of soldiers was exempted from attach- ment while they were in service. To meet the presumed expenses of these measures, an addi- tional tax of one per cent. was levied.
While these measures were very effective in bringing a force into the field, they operated in another direction in quite as efficient a manner. At the election in 1813 the majority of the as- sembly was precisely reversed. The actual bur- den of taxation-more tangible than mere words and resolves-produced such an overturn as put the Democrats in the protesting ranks. There was no choice of governor by the people. Mar- tin Chittenden, the Federal candidate, was elected after several trials, by a small majority. The governor's speech, and the answer to it, were in strong condemnation of the war and the measures of the government. Seventy-five democratic members of the legislature "protested," and their protest was entered on the journal. The Democratic officers were removed, and the laws
243
CAPITULATION OF HULL.
1812.]
above mentioned as passed during the preceding session were repealed. Party spirit reached its climax of bitterness and anger. Opprobrious names were applied, social relations were inter- rupted, and it seemed almost as if civil war was impending.
While these party evolutions were performing in Vermont, war had already commenced with Great Britain-and most disastrously. Detroit, with a large portion of the American territory in the then "North-west," fell into the hands of the British, in August, 1812, by the capitulation of General Hull ; and perhaps this event, which was appealed to by those opposed to the war, as an illustration of the folly of it, had no small influence in defeating the war party in Vermont, and the events of 1812 and 1813 on Lake Cham- plain had not a much better moral effect. Two armed American sloops, the Eagle and the Growler, in the pursuit of some British gun- boats, fell into the hands of the enemy, June 2d, 1812. One of them, the Eagle, sunk within musket-shot of the Canadian shore, and the other, the Growler, being prevented from retreat- ing by a strong southerly wind, was compelled to strike. A hundred prisoners were, in this affair, taken by the British. On the 30th of July these American sloops, in the charge of their new masters, paid a visit to Plattsburg, where they destroyed some military stores, esti-
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1812.
mated to be worth about $25,000. They also captured some small trading vessels, and de- stroyed other property. These indications of an intention to make Lake Champlain the scene of military operations, turned the attention of the United States government to that quarter. A naval force was equipped, mounting forty- eight guns, which was in the following year doubled. But no naval operations took place · upon the lake during this season-the British, overawed by a superior force, declining an en- gagement. The winter was employed, on both sides, in building and refitting naval armaments, which were during the next year to furnish one of the most spirited pages in the history of naval warfare.
The northern army of the United States, under command of General Hampton, made unsuccess- ful attempts to enter Canada by two different routes, but retired into winter quarters at Platts- burg without having effected any thing, except to discover that to force their way into Canada, in this direction, would be an enterprise costing more in blood and treasure than any advantage of success would compensate for. The most curious result of the campaign was the surprise and capture of one hundred and one British soldiers, by one hundred and two Americans, at St. Amand's. Great excitement grew out of an act of Governor Chittenden's. A brigade of
1812.]
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.
245
Vermont militia had been detailed by the prede- cessor of Governor Chittenden into the service of the United States. This brigade Governor Chittenden recalled by proclamation, denying the legality of such a draft, except to execute the laws of the Union, to suppress insurrection, or to repel invasio Neither of these three emergencies existed in the present case. The officers of the brigade refused obedience, and made a written protest against the proclamation. But as it was issued within a few days of the time when the militia were entitled to their dis- charge, and after the army had retired to winter quarters, the difficulty was adjusted by the dis- charge of the militia.
But while little of moment had occurred on Lake Champlain, Lake Erie had been the scene of the brilliant victory of Capt. Perry, and the command of the lake was now, and remained during the war in the hands of the Americans. The British made no serious efforts to recover ascendency. Michigan, lost by the sur- render of Hull, was restored to the United States, and the northern frontier was relieved of the dangers with which Hull's disaster had seemed to threaten it. The territorial govern- ment of Michigan was reorganized. The vessels captured by Perry were used as transports, and General Harrison's troops were conveyed to the Canada side. Pursuing Procter, the English
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246
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1814.
general, who had twice invaded Ohio, the battle of the Thames restored the confidence of the Ame- rican forces. Procter lost all his ammunition and baggage, and narrowly escaped himself. The American force returned triumphant, but without any attempt at a permanent occupation of Canada.
Early in the spring of 1814, the old war-path on Lake Champlain began to resume its interest. General Wilkinson added the testimony of his experience to the fact that no successful inva- ison could be attempted from either side of the da line upon the oth Advancing with four thousand men along the west side of Lake Champlain, he attempted to enter Canada, but was repulsed at the British outposts, and returned to Plattsburg. In July of the same year General Brown invaded Canada from Buf- falo, and the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane, while they exhibited the bravery of the American forces, again demonstrated that the permanent occupation of any part of Canada by the United States troops was an impossi- bility. The burning of towns and villages on either frontier, and the most barbarous exhi- bitions of partizan anger, were the aspects in which war was usually presented between Ca- nada and the Northern states. From the pre- vious intercourse and neighbourhood attach- ments of the parties, hostilities had all the bad
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247
1814.] ADVANCE ON PLATTSBURG.
characteristics of civil war-the most inhuman description of warfare.
A ship, a schooner, a brig, and several gun- boats were built under the superintendence of Captain McDonough, during the winter and spring of 1814. They were constructed on the borders of Otter Creek, and the operations of the campaign were opened by an effort of the enemy to destroy the flotilla while yet incom- plete. The invading force was, however, repuls- ed by the batteries at the mouth of the creek, and by the Vermont militia, and returned with- out effecting any thing. Nothing of moment occurred until the month of September, when the British naval and land forces made an ad- vance upon Plattsburg. The fort was garrisoned by General Macomb, with a force of about fifteen hundred effective men. The flotilla of Captain McDonough carried eighty-six guns, and was manned by eight hundred and twenty men. Sir George Prevost, the English commander-in- chief, had a force of twelve thousand, and the English flotilla, commanded by Captain Downie, carried ninety-six guns, and was manned by one thousand and fifty men. The American fleet chose a position, and waited at anchor for the approach of the enemy. On the morning of the 11th of September, the British fleet entered the harbour of Plattsburg in the full confidence of victory.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1814.
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Great efforts had been made, and with good success, to reinforce General Macomb in his po- sition at Plattsburg. Expresses had been sent into Vermont, and Governor Chittenden called earnestly upon the people to volunteer for the defence of Plattsburg. The fort was in full view of the fleet, and the soldiers waited in a fever of impatience for the double assault, by land and by water. General Prevost moved slowly to the attack, apparently waiting for the commencement of the naval action as the signal for the land assault.
The two larger vessels of the American flo- tilla, were the Saratoga, twenty-six guns, and the Eagle, twenty. The Eagle opened the en- gagement. In his Naval History, Cooper gives a very interesting anecdote respecting the com- mencement of the engagement. A few minutes passed in the solemn and silent expectation that, in a disciplined ship, always precedes a battle. Suddenly the Eagle discharged, in quick succes- sion, four guns in broadside. In clearing the decks of the Saratoga some hen-coops were thrown overboard, and the poultry had been per- mitted to run at large. Startled by the reports of the guns, a young cock flew upon a gun-slide, clapped his wings and crowed. At this animat- ing sound the men spontaneously gave three cheers. This little occurrence relieved the breathing time between preparation and the
249
BATTLE OF PLATTSBURG.
1814.]
combat, and it had a powerful influence upon the known tendencies of the seamen. Still Captain McDonough did not give the order to commence, for it was apparent that the fire of the Eagle, which vessel still continued to engage, was use- less. As soon, however, as it was seen that her shot told, Captain McDonough himself sighted one of the Saratoga's long twenty-fours, and the gun was fired. This shot is said to have struck the Confiance near the outer hawsehole, and to have passed the length of her deck, killing and wounding several men, and carrying away the steering wheel.
The English vessels came up in gallant style. and anchored in the face of this cannonade. The Confiance carried thirty-seven guns, thirty- one of which were long twenty-fours, and she had been built in defiance of any force which could be opposed to her. Could this vessel once get the desired position, it was considered that she would decide the fate of the day. But she was handled too roughly in coming up; and when at last she came to anchor, it was at an unfavour- able distance from the American line. Her first broadside told terribly on the Saratoga. Forty men were killed and wounded by this single dis- · charge.
The engagement now became general, and after an action of about three hours, not an English flag floated in the bay-all were lowered.
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HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1814.
The Confiance, terribly crippled, and the com- mander of the flotilla killed, being the first to strike. The smaller vessels followed the ex- ample; but, by a curious accident, related by Cooper, the British galleys escaped. They were drifting with their flags down, ready to be taken possession of as prizes, when an accidental dis- charge of a gun on board the Confiance was mis- taken for a signal, and the English galleys made off slowly and irregularly, as if distrusting their own liberty. There was not a vessel among the larger ones whose masts would bear a sail, and the men from the American galleys were wanted at the pumps of the prizes to keep them afloat. No accurate report of the killed and wounded has been obtained. The British loss must have exceeded two hundred and fifty killed and wounded, and among the former were Cap- tain Downie and three lieutenants. The Ame- rican loss was one hundred and ten killed and wounded, and among the former were lieutenants Gamble and Stansbury.
Sir George Prevost, who had hardly com- menced the action on shore when the fate of the fleet was decided, made a most unmilitary and precipitate retreat, leaving all his baggage and military stores, and losing in killed, wounded, pri- soners and deserters, over twenty-five hundred men. The loss of the Americans in the land en- gagement did not exceed one hundred and fifty.
251
CHITTENDEN RE-ELECTED. -
1814.]
CHAPTER XVII.
Re-election of Governor Chittenden-His annual address -- Vermont refuses to send delegates to the Hartford Conven- tion-The victors of Plattsburg complimented for their ser- vices-Grant of land to McDon ugh-Treaty of Ghent- Review of the war-Honesty of the war and peace parties -Statistics of Vermont-Population, agriculture, manufac- tures-Cotton, wool, and iron-The lumber business-Mis- cellaneous statistics-Inland navigation-Railroads-Banks -Benevolent institutions-State income and expenditure- Religious denominations-Closing remarks.
WITH the victory of Plattsburg, the war, so far as Vermont was concerned, was at an end. The Vermont volunteer soldiery had highly dis- tinguished themselves by the alacrity with which they responded to the call of their country, for- getful of all party differences. Governor Chit- tenden, who was re-elected by the legislature, by a majority of twenty-nine votes, in his annual address, paid a high compliment to the soldiers
who had repulsed the enemy. He said they had taught them the " mortifying lesson that the soil of freedom will not bear the tread of hostile feet with impunity," and he pronounced their achieve- ments "unsurpassed in the records of naval and military warfare." But he manfully ad- hered to his opinion of the war, and declared
252
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1814.
that he " conscientiously disapproved of it as unnecessary, unwise, and hopeless in all its of- fensive operations." In the same address he adverted to the complaints which had been made that he did not order out the militia for the de- fence of Plattsburg, instead of calling for volunteers. He said that as no portion of the militia of Vermont had been detached by the president, the call upon them as volunteers was the only mode in which efficient and timely aid could be afforded. The house returned a digni- fied and respectful answer, avoiding such topics as would have elicited debate. Indeed, the pres- sure from without, and the actual invasion of the country, seemed to have calmed the angry waters of strife.
An invitation from Massachusetts to send de- legates to the Hartford Convention, was unani- mously declined by the same legislature which had elected a Federal governor. And this Fe- deral governor, it should be noticed, was a man of character and decided opinions. In Congress he had distinguished himself as the opponent of the embargo ; and as governor, during his first term, he issued the proclamation mentioned in the last chapter, for which there was a proposi- tion made in Congress to instruct the attorney- general to impeach him. The Massachusetts legislature supported him in a series of resolu- tions. The legislature of Pennsylvania denounced
1814.]
PEACE NEGOTIATED. 253
him, and the legislature of New Jersey charac- terized him as a "maniac governor." Little Vermont has had the fortune to make a sensa- tion in the confederacy altogether greater than her importance in regard to population and wealth. But her sturdy independence has done good service in vindicating the rights of small states to be respected, and in practically defend- ing that wise theory of the Union, which bases the privileges of the commonwealths in the Union, not on their power, but on their rights.
At this session of the legislature, resolutions were passed highly complimentary to General Macomb, to Captain McDonough, and their of- ficers and men, and to General Strong and the Vermont volunteers. To Captain McDonough, the legislature presented a farm on Cumberland Head, in sight of the scene of his victory. Other compliments and gifts were made him by Con- gress, and different states and towns.
In December, 1814, the plenipotentiaries of the respective nations signed a treaty of peace at Ghent, between the United States and Great Britain. In reviewing the events of the war, so far as they have entered into the history of Vermont, or have been necessary to illustrate our narrative, we have endeavoured to be im- partial. In the Revolutionary War there was but one American party. Whoever opposed that war befriended the claims of a foreign power.
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254
HISTORY OF VERMONT.
[1815.
But in the last war there could be an honest difference of opinion without prejudice to the patriotism of the holders. In the heat of party excitement it was natural to charge, and even to suspect improper motives. But as time gives us more impartial views, and removes the exaspera- tion of party feeling, we must concede to the opponents, as well as to the friends of the war, true patriotism. And we must concede also that many of the selfish and designing had no higher object than their own advantage in opposition or in defence of the measure. We should trem- ble for the republic if, in this century, the people should be found unanimously in favour of war with any people, or under any circumstances. At this distance of time we can perceive that so far as any war can be conducive to the advan- tage of a nation, this war was to the United States in some important particulars. But we are free from the losses, the sufferings, and the perils which entered into the estimate of con- temporaries ; and we, too, in a time of peace, can condemn all war as unchristian and unnecessary without being suspected of treachery to our country. Could not those who honestly held the same opinion then, hold it without a treacherous wish or purpose ?
At the election in 1815, it was found that the democratic party was again in the ascendency. And as party spirit died away with the removal
255
1850.] AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
of causes of excitement, the words Federalist and Democrat ceased to be a rallying cry, or to be applied as terms of opprobrium. It would be neither profitable nor interesting to follow all the party contests which have taken their rise from temporary or local causes, or the preference of the people for particular men. Suffice it of the noble and patriotic state of Vermont to say, that she has ever shown herself practically re- publican.
We have stated the increase of population in a preceding chapter, the present population of the state being 314,120. A few statistics of agricultural and other, productions, will exhibit what this population is capable of effecting. The number of acres of land under cultivation, in 1850, was 2,322,923; value of farming imple- ments and machinery, $2,774,959; of live stock, $11,292,748; of home-made manufac- tures, $261,589. The number of bushels of wheat raised, was 493,666; of Indian corn, 1,625,776. The number of pounds of wool produced was 3,492,087 ; of butter, 12,128,095; of cheese, 6,755,006 ; of maple sugar, 5,159,641 ; tons of hay, 763,579. The cotton manufacture of the state is carried on by nine establishments, in which a capital of $202,500 is invested. The annual value of all raw material is $114,115; of products, $196,100 ; operatives, 250; month- ly wages, $3,321. In the woollen manufacture
256
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1850.
there is a capital of $886,300, invested in seventy-two establishments, using in a year raw material to the amount of $830,684, and producing an annual value of $1,579,161. The number of operatives is 1493, receiving month- ly wages amounting to $25,100. The capital invested in iron works in 1850, was $325,920; raw material, $206,972; value of products, $692,817. These statistics do not include, of course, all the products of the industry of the people ; nor is it possible, by the most careful estimates and inquiries, to obtain any thing more than an approximation to the whole pro- ductions of the state. Besides the great staples of agriculture mentioned above, the smaller ones are produced in abundance, although the state is better adapted to grazing than to grain.
The lumber business annually produces about $400,000, and about seven hundred tons of pot and pearl ashes; its orchard products are $200,000 ; poultry, $200,000 ; hats, caps, and bonnets, $70,000 ; bricks and lime, $300,000; marble and granite, $70,000. The chief supply of black marble used in the United States comes from the quarries on Lake Champlain; and some beautiful varieties of dove-coloured, white and clouded marbles are found in Vermont. Vessels for lake and river navigation are annually built, to the value of about $80,000, and these are
257
RAILROADS.
1850.]
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employed in the trade of the state with New York and Canada on Lake Champlain, and the rivers and canals with which the waters of that lake are connected. And we may here observe that this important avenue to the interior of the country, which has during two wars been the path of foreign invasion, is now guarded by fortifications which can easily be made impreg- nable. Rouse's Point, near the Canadian line, has fortifications which cannot be passed by water. At the close of the last war the United States government caused this point to be forti- fied, but the awkward discovery was made that the point was not within the United States boundary, and the work was therefore abandon- ed. By the treaty of Washington, negotiated in 1842, by Mr. Webster and Lord Ashburton, Rouse's Point was obtained for the United States, thus securing the key of Lake Cham- plain ; and the state of Vermont obtained also about sixty-one thousand acres which would have been left, by the true parallel of 45°, on the Canada side of the line.
Vermont has her share of railroads, which intersect the state in all desirable and profita- ble directions, in length over four hundred miles. Less accidents have occurred upon them than on any other roads in the United States. Her banking capital is about a million and a half. She has a state institution for the in-
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258
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1850.
sane, and' other public buildings, on a scale commensurate with her wants, and adapted to modern views of philanthropy. She has no town with a population exceeding five thousand, and thus escapes the difficulties in enforcing whole- some general laws-a disadvantage which large cities impose as a counterpoise to their bene- fits. Her annual state income is about one hundred thousand dollars ; and her expenses fall so far short of this, that although she has had temporary debts for specific purposes they were soon extinguished.
The preponderating religious denominations are the Congregationalists, Baptists, and Me- thodists. Next to these come the Episcopa- lians. The smaller denominations are also re- presented, and the regard paid to the Sabbath and to religious instructions and institutions is general and evident in the character of the people. Printing presses, periodicals, daily, semi-weekly, weekly, and monthly, abound in the true New England proportion ; and books, with the Vermont imprint, chiefly Bibles, his- torical works, and other standards, are found throughout New England.
Montpelier has been for nearly half a cen- tury the capital of the state-the legislature in its first years being migratory. The State House is a beautiful building, in a mixed style of Grecian architecture, and, with the other public
259
CLOSING REMARKS.
1850.]
buildings, is worthy of the state. The State House has, as trophies, the four cannon cap- tured by Stark in the Battle of Bennington. These cannon tell the story of two wars. They were lost by Hull at the surrender of Detroit, recaptured by the Americans at the taking of Fort George, and remained many years un- claimed and forgotten by Vermont, in the arsenal at Washington. There they were ob- served, with their inscription, by Hon. Henry Stevens ; and, at his request, restored by Con- gress to the gallant state, on the soil where they were captured. Another memorial of her services and sufferings in the wars of the Union is found in her military pension list, which, even as late as 1840, numbered 1,320 out of 291,948 inhabitants, a proportion greatly diminished from the earlier pension roll.
Such are some of the facts in the history and statistics of Vermont. We have given without partiality the narrative of her progress, from the early days when resistance to wrong exposed her rude patriots to error, down to her present quiet and orderly condition. The services she has rendered to the Union as a frontier state, entitle her to our highest grati- tude; for while in war she was distinguished in arms, in peace she has proved herself equal to the maintenance of a delicate and trouble- some position. She sheltered the fugitives
260
HISTORY OF VERMONT. [1850.
during the Canadian rebellion without com- promising the country ; and her people followed the natural sympathies of republicans, without doing violence to her duty, as one of the United States, to a friendly government. The stranger from Europe, who enters the United States at the great commercial sea-ports, with their half foreign aspects, has not the advantages of ob- servation which those possess, who find the Genius of America " at home" in Vermont, as soon as they cross her threshhold. And through this entrance the American may proudly welcome those who come hither seeking a home, or de- siring to see the wonderful political and social experiment of the nineteenth century-a govern- ment strong without antique precedents-sup- ported by citizens of distinct state sovereignties, with great local diversities of character and pursuits, yet moving harmoniously together by a common vigorous impulse to maintain the na- tional honour and the integrity of the Federal. compact.
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THE END.
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