For their amiable and expert assistance in the selection of the illustrations in this volume, thanks are due to Mr. James W. Cheevers, curator of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum; Ms. Sigrid Trumpy, curator of the museum's Beverley R. Robinson Collection of naval prints; and Mrs. Patty Maddocks, director of the Naval Institute Library and Photographic Service....

The history of the naval events of the War of 1812 has been repeatedly presented both to the American and the English reader. Historical writers have treated it either in connection with a general account of the contest on land and sea, or as forming a part of the complete record of the navies of the two nations. A few monographs, which confine themselves strictly to the naval occurrences, have also appeared. But none of these works can be regarded as giving a satisfactorily full or impartial ac

I originally intended to write a companion volume to this, which should deal with the operations on land. But a short examination showed that these operations were hardly worth serious study. They teach nothing new; it is the old, old lesson, that a miserly economy in preparation may in the end involve a lavish outlay of men and money, which, after all, comes too late to more than partially offset the evils produced by the original short-sighted parsimony. This might be a lesson worth dwelling o

( See also in alphabetical place in index .) American State Papers. Brenton, E. P. Naval History of Great Britain, 1783 to 1836. 2 vols., octavo. London, 1837. Broke, Adm., Memoir of, by Rev. J. G. Brighton. Octavo, London, 1866. "Captains' Letters" in Archives at Washington. Codrington, Adm. Sir E. Memoirs, edited by his daughter. 2 vols., octavo. London, 1873. Coggeshall, George. History of American Privateers. New York, 1876. Cooper, J. F. Naval History of the United States. New York, 1856. D

Alison, Sir A. History of Europe. Ninth edition. 20 vols. London, 1852. Butler, Adjutant-General Robert. Official Report for the Morning of Jan. 8, 1815. Codrington, Admiral Sir Edward. Memoir of, by Lady Bourchier. London, 1873. Cole, John William. Memoirs of British Generals Distinguished during the Peninsular War. London, 1856. Court of Inquiry on Conduct of General Morgan. Official Report. Gleig, Ensign H. R. Narrative of the Campaigns of the British Army at Washington, Baltimore, and New Or

Causes of the War of 1812—Conflicting views of America and Britain as regards neutral rights—Those of the former power right—Impossibility of avoiding hostilities—Declaration of war—General features of the contest—Racial identity of the contestants—The treaty of peace nominally leaves the situation unchanged—But practically settles the dispute in our favor in respect to maritime rights—The British navy and its reputation prior to 1812—Comparison with other European navies—British and American au

Overwhelming naval supremacy of England when America declared war against her—Race identity of the combatants—The American navy at the beginning of the war—Officers well trained—Causes tending to make our seamen especially efficient—Close similarity between the British and American sailors—Our ships manned chiefly by native Americans, many of whom had formerly been impressed into the British navy—Quotas of seamen contributed by the different States—Navy-yards—Lists of officers and men—List of ve

1812 Commodore Rodgers' cruise and unsuccessful chase of the Belvidera—_Cruise of the _Essex— Captain Hull's cruise, and escape from the squadron of Commodore Broke —Constitution captures Guerrière—Wasp captures Frolic— Second unsuccessful cruise of Commodore Rodgers —United States captures Macedonian—Constitution captures Java—Essex starts on a cruise—Summary At the time of the declaration of war, June 18, 1812, the American navy was but partially prepared for effective service. The Wasp , 18,

1813 Blockade of the American coast—The Essex in the South Pacific—The Hornet captures the Peacock— American privateers cut out by British boats—Unsuccessful cruise of Commodore Rodgers—The Chesapeake is captured by the Shannon— Futile gun boat actions—Defence of Craney Island—Cutting out expeditions—The Argus is captured by the Pelican— The Enterprise captures the Boxer— Summary. By the beginning of the year 1813 the British had been thoroughly aroused by the American successes, and active meas

1813 ONTARIO—Comparison of the rival squadrons—-Chauncy takes York and Fort George—Yeo is repulsed at Sackett's Harbor, but keeps command of the lake—Chauncy sails—Yeo's partial victory off Niagara—-Indecisive action off the Genesee—Chauncy's partial victory off Burlington, which gives him the command of the lake—ERIE—Perry's success in creating a fleet—His victory—CHAMPLAIN—Loss of the Growler and Eagle—Summary. Winter had almost completely stopped preparations on the American side. Bad weather

1814 ONTARIO-The contest one of ship-building merely—Extreme caution of the commanders, verging on timidity—Yeo takes Oswego, and blockades Sackett's Harbor—British gun-boats captured—Chauncy blockades Kingston—ERIE—Captain Sinclair's unsuccessful expedition—Daring and successful cutting-out expeditions of the British—CHAMPLAIN—Macdonough's victory. Ontario. The winter was spent by both parties in preparing more formidable fleets for the ensuing summer. All the American schooners had proved them

a.—By Privateers. Name. Guns. Tonnage. Remarks. Chasseur 12 240 by privateer St. Lawrence .                b.—By Ocean Cruisers Cyane 34 659 by Constitution . Levant 20 500 retaken. Penguin 19 477 by Hornet .                  —- ——-                   85 guns 1,876 tons.                   20 500 (subtracting Levant ).                   65 guns, 1,376 tons. In summing up the results of the struggle on the ocean it is to be noticed that very little was attempted, and nothing done, by the American N

1815 The war on land generally disastrous—British send great expedition against New Orleans—Jackson prepares for the defence of the city—Night attack on the British advance guard—Artillery duels—Great battle of January 8, 1815—Slaughtering repulse of the main attack—Rout of the Americans on the right bank of the river—Final retreat of the British—Observations on the character of the troops and commanders engaged. While our navy had been successful, the war on land had been for us full of humilia