298 P'T. IV. P'D. II. A GREAT DAY AT PLATTSBURG. 11. Sir George Prevost advanced upon Plattsburg. His way was obstructed by the felling of trees, and by CH. VII. a party, who in a skirmish, killed or wounded 120 of his men. But there was not a force at Plattsburg, 1814. Condi- which, at that time, could have resisted so formidable an army. Gen. Izard's departure had left Gen. Maforce. comb, his successor, not more than 2,000 regulars. Volunteers were, however, hourly arriving. tion of the Am. 12. Sir George waited, expecting that his navy would get the control of the waters of Lake Champlain. It was commanded by Com. Downie, and was composed of the Confiance, a frigate of thirty-nine guns, with val force several smaller vessels, mounting, in the whole, ninetyon Lake five guns, and having 1,000 men. The American plain. squadron, under Com. Macdonough, which was an The na Cham chored in the bay, mounted no more than eighty-six guns, and had only 820 men. It consisted of the Saratoga of twenty-six guns, three small vessels, and ten galleys. 13. Com. Downie chose his position and made the attack. The fleets engaged at nine in the morning. The eager crowds upon the shore, beheld the combat under circumstances of intense and various interest. Sept. 11. Naval The powerful army of Prevost, was formed in order battle on of battle, to follow up the striking of the American plain flag, with an assault, which the Americans, who beheld Br; the fight, had reason to believe must be successful. 110, pris. But it was the British, and not the American flag, Am. k. which was struck. Great was the joy of the inhabi52, w.58. tants. Sir George Prevost retreated in such haste, that Cham k. 84, w. 800. he left a quantity of stores and ammunition behind. He was pursued by the Vermont volunteers under Gen. Strong, who cut off a straggling party. The whole of the British fleet remained the prize of the Com. Americans. Porter in the 14. Com. Porter, who sailed in the frigate Essex, Pacific. had cruised in the Pacific Ocean. He had greatly 11. What resistance was made by the Americans? What force had Gen. Macomb ?-12. Why did Sir George suspend his attack? What naval force had the British on the Lake? What had the Americans?-13, Describe the naval battle on Lake Champlain ? THE ESSEX CAPTURED. 299 annoyed the enemy's commerce, having captured PT. IV. twelve armed whale ships, whose aggregate force P'D. II. amounted to 107 guns, and 302 men. One of these CH. VII. prizes was equipped,-named the Essex Junior, and 1814. given in command to Lieut. Downes. meet him. 15. To meet the Essex, the British admiralty had Com. sent out Com. Hillyar, with the Phebe frigate, accom- Hillyar panied by Capt. Tucker, with the Cherub sloop of sent to war. Com. Porter finding that this squadron was greatly his superior in force, remained in the harbor of Valparaiso. But at length the Phebe approached, when by a storm the Essex had been partially dis- The Esabled. Porter, however, joined battle, and fought the sex cap most severe naval action of the whole war. He did Am. loss, not surrender until all his officers but one were disabled, and nearly three-quarters of his crew. 227. April 29. War rington takes a prize. 16. The sloop of war Frolic, was captured by a April 21. British frigate. The American sloop of war Peacock, fought and took the brig Epervier. The Wasp, in command of Capt. Blakeley, sailed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She fought the brig Rein-deer, and was conqueror after a desperate battle. Continuing her cruise, she next met, fought, and conquered the brig Avon. Three British vessels hove in sight and the Wasp left her prize. She afterwards captured fif- founders teen merchant vessels. But the gallant ship was heard of no more; and she probably went down at sea. The Wasp at sea. Conven 17. The discontents of the opposition party, produced a convention, which met at Hartford. Delegates were appointed by the legislatures of three Dec. 14. states, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. tion This assemblage, and the resolutions which they meet at passed, were considered by the people generally, as tending to separate New England from the Union, at least in degree; and the convention was therefore very 14. Where was Com. Porter? What had he done? - 15. Who was sent to meet him? What was the consequence? What was the American loss? - 16. What naval actions occurred in April and May? Give an account of the Wasp?- 17. On what occasion did a convention meet at Hartford? Was this an affair of individuals acting in their private capacity, or one in which state governments were implicated? Why was it unpopular? Hartford 300 JACKSON TAKES PENSACOLA. P'T. IV. unpopular. The committee by whom the resolutions were to be transmitted, met the news of peace, on their CH. VIII. Way to Washington. P'D. II. 1814. Pensaco a hostile post. CHAPTER VIII. British invasion and defeat at New Orleans. 1. AFTER the treaty with the Creeks, Gen. Jackson la used as had fixed his head-quarters at Mobile. Here he learned that three British ships had entered the harbour of Pensacola, and landed about 300 men, under Col. Nicholls, together with a large quantity of guns and ammunition, to arm the Indians; and that he had published a proclamation, endeavoring to incite the people to rise against the government. La Fitte and the rians. 2. There were a band of pirates, called the BarraBarrata- tarians, from their island of Barrataria. Col. Nicholls attempted to gain La Fitte, the daring chief of the band. He gave Nicholls to think that he would aid him, until he had learned from him, that the British were to make a powerful attempt upon New Orleans. La Fitte then went to Claiborne, the governor of Louisiana, and laid open the whole scheme. The pirates were promised pardon, if they would now come forward, in defense of their country. These conditions they gladly accepted; and rendered efficient service. Nov. 7. 3. Gen. Jackson, seeing how the British were using Jackson a Spanish port, for hostile acts against the United takes States, went to Pensacola, and forcibly took possescola. sion of the place. The British destroyed the forts at Pensa the entrance of the harbor, and with their shipping, evacuated the bay. 4. There Gen. Jackson was informed, that Admiral CHAPTER VIII.-1. Where was Gen. Jackson after the peace with the Creeks? What did he learn had happened at Pensacola? 2. Give an account of the Barratarians?-3. What course did Jackson take with respect to Pensacola? INVASION AT NEW ORLEANS. 301 Cochrane had been reinforced at Bermuda, and that PT. IV. thirteen ships of the line, with transports, and an army P’D. II. of ten thousand men, were advancing. Believing New сн. VIII. Orleans to be their destination, he marched for that 1814. place, and reached it on the 1st of December. placed at 5. The inhabitants were already preparing for invasion, particularly Gov. Claiborne, and Edward Livingston. On Gen. Jackson's arrival, all agreeing to put Gen. him at the head of affairs, he spared no pains, nor Jackson forgot any possible resourse to enable the Louisianians the head. to meet the coming shock. He had a motley mass of persons under his direction; and a few days must decide the fate of New Orleans. To direct their energies, and to keep them from favoring the enemy, which he had reason to fear some were induced to do, he took the daring responsibility of proclaiming martial law. 6. The enemy passed into Lake Borgne. They then Dec. 13. mastered a flotilla, which, commanded by Capt. Jones, guarded the passes into Lake Pontchartrain. Gen. Dec. 22 Kean, at the head of 3,000 British troops, landed at the head of Lake Borgne, and took post on the Mississippi, nine miles below New Orleans. The next Dec. 23. day, late in the afternoon, Gen. Jackson attacked him; Whole but the British troops stood their ground. The Ame- 100, Br. ricans retired to a strong position, which was fortified 224, w. with great care and skill, and in a novel and effectual known. manner. Bags of cotton were used in making the breast work; the river was on one side of the army, and a thick wood on the other. Am. loss un 7. Sir Edward Packenham, the commander-in-chief Dec. 15. of the British force, accompanied by Major Gen. Gibbs, arrived at the British encampment with the main army, and a large body of artillery. On the 28th, Sir Edward advanced with his army and artillery, and attacked 4. What did he hear, and what do?-5. What course did the inhabitants of New Orleans take? What bold measures did Gen. Jackson pursue? - 6. Describe the course of the enemy? What occurred on the 23d of Dec.? What was the loss on both sides? What can you say of the position where Gen. Jackson entrenched his army? Of his manner of fortification?-7. What happened on the 28th? 302 THE EIGHTH OF JANUARY. PEACE. PT. IV. the American camp. For seven hours he continued the assault, when he retired. P'D. II. CH. IX. 1815. Jan. 1. Jan. 8. New 8. On the first day of the new year, both armies received reinforcements. That of the British now amounted to 14,000, while all that Jackson had under his command were 6,000, and a part of these undisciplined. 9. On the 8th of January, the British made their Battle of grand assault on the American camp, and were entirely Orleans. defeated. They attacked three times with great spirit, and were three times repulsed by the well-directed fire of the American marksmen. Sir Edward Packenham was killed, and the two generals next in command were wounded. The disparity of loss on this occasion is utterly astonishing. While that of the enemy 2,600, was 2,600, that of the Americans was but seven killed, Am loss, and six wounded. Completely disheartened, the Bri6. tish abandoned the expedition on the night of the 18th, leaving behind, their wounded and artillery. Br. loss k. 7, w. Feb. 17. CHAPTER IX. Peace with England.-Naval combats.-War with Algiers. 1. On the 17th of February, while the Americans were yet rejoicing for the victory at New Orleans, a laimed. special messenger arrived from Europe, bringing a treaty of peace, which the commissioners had concluded in the month of December, at Ghent. This treaty, which was immediately ratified by the president and senate, stipulated that all places taken during the war should be restored, and the boundaries between the American and British dominions revised..... The motives for the impressment of seamen had ceased 8. What was the numerical force of each army?-9. Describe the remarkable battle of the 8th of January? CHAPTER IX.-1. What news arrived on the 17th of February, 1815? At what time was the treaty concluded? What were some of its stipulations? |