of Canada. As we have seen, the main efforts of our armies had been directed, though without success, to this object. 2. But now Napoleon was overthrown,* and the British armies and navies, being released from the European war, were sent to this country. Instead, therefore, of conquering the enemy's territories, we were called to the defence of our own. In the spring and summer of 1814, no less than forty thousand men, soldiers and sailors, were sent against us. 3. One portion of these troops was despatched to the Chesapeake Bay They arrived in a squadron of fifty or sixty sail, and, having entered the bay, proceeded slowly up the Potomac River. At a considerable distance below Washington, five thousand men, under General Ross, were put on shore, who marched, as rapidly as circumstances permitted, toward the capital; a part of the fleet following them. 4. They met with little resistance till they came to Bladensburg, six miles from Washington. Here General Winder had collected together a body of militia, and Commodore Barney, of the navy, had the command of a few cannon and about four hundred men. The latter behaved with great courage, but being deserted by the militia, who fled at the first approach of the foe, they were soon obliged to surrender. 5. The British proceeded to the capital. They reached it on the 23d of August, in the evening. The main body of the army, meeting with little resistance, halted a mile and a half out of the city. General Ross, with only seven hundred men, entered the place and burned the capitol, the president's house, the public offices, the arsenal, and the navy-yard. 6. In burning the capitol, they destroyed its valuable library and furniture. Private property was respected but little inore than public. One hotel, with several private buildings, was destroyed. The bridge west of the city, across the Potomac, was also burned. 7. The British boasted much of their success in taking the seat of government of the United States, and some of them seemed to think the whole country would be soon ready to submit to the British yoke. However, it was discovered that to conquer a single city, is not to enslave a whole country. 2. What of Napoleon? What was the condition of our country at this time? 3. What of one portion of the British troops? 4. Who were collected together at Bladensburg? What of the American militia? The men from the navy? 5. What did the British then do? What of General Ross? 6. What was destroyed by the British? 7. What was thought by the British? *The leading powers of Europe, which had combined for the overthrow of Napoleon, entered Paris in March, 1814. Napoleon abdicated and was sent to Elba. Thus the British forces were set at liberty Napoleon returned to Paris, but was finally defeated at Water. 'oo, June 18, 1815. BATTLE NEAR BALTIMORE. 353 8. After the capture and destruction of Washington, the British re-embarked on board their fleet and returned down the river. On their way, however, they halted at Alexandria long enough to demand and receive the surrender of the city. This took place August 29th. 9. This expedition on the part of the British afforded a brilliant triumph to them, and caused great humiliation to the Americans. It, however, was in two ways disastrous to the victors; their conduct in several respects was a shameful outrage on the customs of civilization, even in warfare, and left a permanent bitterness of feeling in the hearts of the Americans toward Great Britain; it also roused the people of this country to greater activity in the struggle that was then impending. CHAPTER CLXXVII. MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.-Battle near Bal timore. 1. THE British sailed as rapidly as possible from Washington to Baltimore. They reached the mouth of the Patapsco, fourteen miles below the city, on the 11th of September. The next day six thousand men were landed from the fleet, at North Point, and, under the command of General Ross, they proceeded toward the city. 2. But they found more opposition here than in the neighborhood of Washington. An army of three thousand two hundred men had been collected and placed under the command of General Stricker, to annoy the British and keep them in check as much as possible, in order, at least, to give more time for putting the forts and batteries about the city in a proper condition for defence. A severe battle was fought, and the Americans were obliged to retire with considerable loss. The killed and wounded amounted to one hundred and three among whom were many of the first inhabitants of Baltimore. 3. Next morning, the British advanced to the intrenchments, about two miles from the city. At the same time, a vigorous attack had been made on Fort McHenry from the fleet. Great numbers of bombs were thrown toward the fort for a whole day and night, but they produced very little effect. All this while preparation was making in the city to give the enemy a warm reception if they should determine on an attack. S. What more was done by the British? 9. What was the effect of the British capture and burning of Washington? CHAP. CLXXVII.-1. To what place did the British now proceed? 2. Who did they find there to oppose them? What of the battle? 3. What fort was attacked? 4. After remaining before the city, however, at a somewhat respectful distance, till the evening of the 13th, the British retired to their shipping, and abandoned the enterprise. They had lost, in the battle of the 12th, their commander, General Ross, which doubtless had its effect in discouraging them from carrying out their plan. 5. During these events, the enemy ravaged the coasts of the Chesapeake, in a manner which reflected little credit. on the British character, and only served to exasperate the Americans, and to unite ther in the attempt to repel a foe that paid so little regard either to the law of nations or to that of honor. CHAPTER CLXXVIII. MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED. - The War on Lake Champlain and in the vicinity. 1. THE army of the United States at the north, had been greatly reduced during the spring and summer of 1814; large portions having been ordered to other stations. On the 1st of September the whole effective force at Plattsburg, the head-quarters of the army, did not exceed fifteen hundred men. 2. About this time, intelligence was received that the British, under General Prevost, the governor-general of Canada, with a force of fourteen thousand men, were on their way to Plattsburg. These forces, for the most part, were of a character calculated to intimidate. for they were from well-fought fields of battle, the conquerors of the conquerors of Europe. COMMODORE MCDONOUGH. 3. But, though the land forces of this division of our army were in considerable, the naval force had been raised, during the war, so as to 4 What did the British do on the 13th? 5. What served to exasperate the Americans" What had the enemy done, about this time, along the coasts of the Chesapeake? CHAP. CLXXVIII-1. What of the army of the United States in 1814? 2. What news was now received What of the British troops now approaching Plattsburg? be at this time quite respectable. It consisted of a brig, a ship, a schooner, and a sloop, and ten gunboats, mounting, in all, about ninety guns, and manned by eight hundred and fifty men; the whole under the direction of Commodore Thomas McDonough. 4. The British, too, had a navy on the lake, equal, if not somewhat superior to that of the United States. Of men, it contained at least two hundred more. One of the vessels was, moreover, equal in force to an ordinary frigate of thirty-two or thirty-six guns. 5. General Prevost and his army arrived in the neighborhood of Plattsburg about the time expected, and General Macomb, the com mander at that place, had ordered out a body of militia, and made every preparation which the nature of the case and the time admitted. The fleet was lying near, ready to aid him if necessary. 6. While the two armies were thus before each other, the British fleet appeared in sight, and gave battle to the American. The contest was a fearful one, and lasted two hours and twenty minutes; terminating in the surrender of the British fleet to Commodore McDonough. A few of the smaller vessels only escaped. 7. While the battle was going on by water, the British general began his attack on Plattsburg--pouring upon it a shower of bombshells, balls, and rockets. The Americans answered them by a destructive fire from the fort. Before sunset, the attack ceased, and the British retreated, with the loss, in killed, wounded, and missing, of about twenty-five hundred men. 8. This was a most signally fortunate day to the Americans. The British were, in fact, so completely defeated that they did not attempt to renew the war in that quarter. They lrastened down the shore of the lake as fast as they could, not even taking with them their wounded or their military stores. 9. The loss in the engagement on the lake was great on both sides, but greatest, by far, on the side of the British. They had eighty-four killed and one hundred and ten wounded; the Americans had only fifty-two killed and fifty-four wounded. So, at least, it was reported. And yet it is stated by Cooper in his Naval History, that nearly every soldier on board of the Saratoga, Commodore McDonough's vessel, was more or less injured. íú. Commodore McDonough was twice supposed to be killed during the action. In the first instance, a broken boom was thrown against 3. What was the extent of the United States navy on Lake Champlain? Who was the commander? 4. What of the British navy on the lake? 5. What preparation was now made for battle? 6. Describe the action between the two fleets. Which was victo rious? 7. What attack was made by land? S. What was the effect of this battle on the British? 9. What was the loss, on both sides, in the naval engagement? him with such violence as to leave him, for a few moments, senseless. A little while afterward, he was knocked down, and besmeared with blood, by the head of one of the seainen, which had been shot off and thrown against him. 11. However, he survived, and was not even reckoned among the wounded. It seems to have been agreed, beforehand, to call no person wounded as long as he could keep out of the sick room. One man, like the commodore, was knocked down by the head of a seaman, and yet returned to his post and said nothing, though he did not im mediately recover from the shock. 12. One venerable old sailor had his clothes actually stripped off by a splinter, without breaking or, so far as could be perceived, so much as injuring the skin. He tied his pocket handkerchief around him and went to work again, and continued at his post till the contest was over; though he died a few months afterward, as it was thought, of some internal injury. 13. Another anecdote of the battle of Lake Champlain is commonly reported, and is doubtless true. Some hens, confined on board Commodore McDonough's vessel at the commencement of the battle, got loose during the tumult, upon which a cock, which was among them, flew to an elevated part of the vessel, and crowed vigorously. Not a few of the seamen regarded this as foretelling victory, and were encouraged by it to fight on, despite the danger, CHAPTER CLXXIX. MADISON'S ADMINISTRATION, CONTINUED.-Convention at Hartford. 1. THE refusal of three of the New England states to order out their militia, to be subject to other officers than their own, at the opening of the war, has been mentioned. Demands were subsequently made by the governors of the several states respectively, on the militia, to repel the attacks of the enemy, especially at Saybrook, New London Stonington, Castine, etc., and these were readily complied with. 2. But the opposition to the war in the New England states had been increasing rather than diminishing. In October, 1814, it was 10. How did Commodore McDonough narrowly escape death? 11. What was agreed apon before the battle? What of a seaman knocked down? 12. What can you say of au old sailor? 13. Relate the anecdote of the cock. CHAP. CLXXIX.-1. What had been demanded by the governors of some of the states? What was the result of these demands? |