1814]

BATTLES NEAR NIAGARA.

363 manded the breast-work to be stormed. The resistance of the Indians proving ineffectual, their extermination began: 550 were killed on the peninsula, and many who endeavored to cross the river were shot down by the mounted troops, so that it was not believed that more than 20 of the warriors escaped. "We continued," wrote Jackson, in his report, "to destroy many who had concealed themselves under the banks of the river, until we were prevented by night: this morning we killed 16 who had been concealed." The Creek nation made peace, according to the terms dictated by their conquerors, ceding the larger part of their territory to the United States. General Jackson was rewarded by receiving the appointment of commander of the forces at New Orleans.

1814.

BATTLES NEAR NIAGARA AND PLATTSBURG.

WASHING

TON CITY TAKEN. HARTFORD CONVENTION.

The downfall of Napoleon and the partial pacification of Europe, enabled the British government to detach a greater force than previously, for the protection of Canada: consequently, in the beginning of 1814, an army of 14,000 men who had fought with Wellington in Spain, was embarked at Bordeaux, to join the army of Sir George Prevost in Canada. The English naval force was likewise increased, and was ordered to effectually blockade the Atlantic coast of the Republic, and to devastate the sea-coast cities as occasion should permit.

In the 7th month (July) an American army of 3500 men under General Brown, crossed the Niagara river, and obtained possession of the British post of Fort Erie. The Americans then advanced along the west bank of the Niagara to the mouth of the Chippewa river, where they encountered a strong force of the British, commanded by General Riall. The battle of Chippewa, which ensued, terminated in favor of the Americans, the British commander being obliged to fall back until

he reached Fort George, where he was reinforced by General Drummond. His army then amounting to 5000 men, Riall advanced to Queenstown and thence to Lundy's Lane, where a hard-fought battle took place, in which the thunder of artillery, the curses of the combatants, the shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying, mingled with the roar of the adjacent cataract. Finally, the Americans, after great sacrifice of life, obtained possession of an important fortified eminence, and being successful in other directions, obliged their opponents to give way. The British generals Riall and Drummond, were both wounded; so also, on the side of the Americans, were Generals Brown and WINFIELD SCOTT, beside over fifty of their officers. The command of the American army then devolved upon General Ripley, who retreated to Fort Erie. The British endeavored to dislodge the Americans from the fort, but the attempt did not succeed.

While these active operations were transpiring along the Niagara river, Prevost with a formidable army had invaded. the territory of the United States, and, marching down the west side of Lake Champlain, had laid siege to Plattsburg. Before attempting to capture the place, Prevost awaited the result of the contest between the British and American squadrons, both of which had taken positions in Plattsburg bay. The British fleet was commanded by Commodore Downie, the American by Commander Macdonough. The engagement, which happened 9th month (September) 11th, resulted in the defeat and capture of the British vessels; whereupon Prevost withdrew his army from before Plattsburg, and, leaving behind him a large quantity of military stores, retreated hastily into Canada.

Farther to the eastward, however, the governor of New Brunswick had invaded the district of Maine (which was yet an appendage of Massachusetts) and, aided by a British fleet, had taken possession of the country as far as the Penobscot

1814]

WASHINGTON CITY TAKEN.

365

river. Another British fleet also appeared on the Connecticut coast, but their predatory attempts did not meet with much

success.

A far more formidable invasion occurred at the southward, having for its initial object the capture of the national capital. One part of the British fleet ascended the Potomac, but the main portion, under Admiral COCHRANE, proceeded up the Patuxent. The Americans burnt all but one of their squadron of 17 vessels, to prevent their falling into the hands of the invaders. At Bladensburg, the militia under General Winder, unavailingly disputed the advance of the British.

On the evening of the 24th day of 8th month (August), the British army under General Ross entered Washington. The Capitol, the president's house and other public buildings and works, were committed to the flames. But, meeting with no display of royalist sentiment on the part of the populace, Ross evacuated the city the next day, and re-embarked on the fleet in the Patuxent. Designing to attack Baltimore, Cochrane's fleet sailed up the Chesapeake to North Point, at the entrance of the Patapsco, where Ross' troops were again landed, and marched toward the city. In a skirmish which ensued the British general was killed. The admiral, finding that the entrance to the harbor was obstructed by sunken vessels, while Fort McHenry resisted his efforts at capture, gave the command to retire.

Of several naval encounters which occurred during the year, the most important was that between the American frigate Essex, commanded by Commodore Porter, and the British frigate Phebe. The former vessel had proved very destructive to British commerce, but was at last blockaded in the port of Valparaiso. Having been detained several weeks, Porter endeavored to make his escape, but the Phebe and another vessel disputing the attempt, a fierce contest ensued. Finally the Essex caught fire and part of the ammunition exploded; when,

the larger part of the crew being killed or wounded, Porter surrendered.

As the war between the United States and Great Britain grew out of the great European quarrel, it was not believed that it would continue long after the European powers had made peace. Indeed, as early as the spring of 1813, Alexander, the emperor of Russia, had offered to mediate between the two countries. The United States government, accepting the offer, had sent three commissioners-John Quincy Adams, Albert Gallatin and James A. Bayard-to negotiate with those to be appointed by England; but the latter power preferred that their commissioners should treat directly with the commissioners of the Republic, without the intervention of Russia, and accordingly it was agreed that negotiations should be entered into at Ghent.

But as that year and the next wore away without anything being accomplished, the discontent of the opposition party in the United States increased. This opposition, as already intimated, was greatest in the New England states, whose capitalists, perceiving no necessity for the war, refused to loan their money for its prosecution, and were hence accused of being enemies to their country. While it is not unlikely that self-interest and party feeling on the part of many had much to do with this antagonism to the administration, yet there is no doubt of the fact that a large number were sincere in their convictions that the continuation of the struggle, as well as its beginning, was absolutely wrong in principle.

Near the close of the year (12th month, 15th) an important convention of delegates from several of the New England states was held at Hartford, for the purpose of considering the defenceless condition of their sea-port towns, the state of the country generally, and also to suggest sundry amendments to the constitution. The amendments which they agreed to report were seven in number, to wit: that all acts placing

1814]

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

367 restrictions on commerce, as also declarations of war, should only be valid upon the concurrence of two-thirds of both houses of Congress; that a similar majority should be requisite for the admission of new states; that no embargo should be laid for a longer period than sixty days; that naturalized persons should not be eligible to the national offices; that the office of president should not be held by the same individual oftener than for one term ;. and that representation and direct taxes should be apportioned among the respective states according to the number of free persons therein. The resolutions adopted by the convention, and the proposed amendments, were forwarded by a committee to Congress; but about the same time news arrived that a treaty of peace had been signed. The proposed amendments were subsequently submitted to the several states, but were concurred in by only three of them.

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS AND END OF THE WAR.

Although the treaty of peace had been signed by the commissioners at Ghent, on the 24th day of 12th month, 1814, yet it was not until after a great battle had been fought at New Orleans that the joyful news of the treaty was received in this country. Information of a projected attack by the British, somewhere upon the gulf-coast, had been divulged to Governor Claiborne, of Louisiana. It also became known that a large quantity of arms and ammunition, for arming the Indians against the United States forces, had been landed at Pensacola. Florida still being a Spanish province, General Jackson marched against Pensacola and captured it, alleging that the Spaniards had violated their neutrality in allowing that harbor to be used for hostile purposes.

Meanwhile, the British squadron, having entered the Gulf of Mexico, directed its course to the north of the Mississippi