ships. The capture of an English man-of-war was so unusual that the success of the Americans at sea almost made up for the disastrous failures on land. While in not a few instances the advantage of size was in favor of the Americans, their success was mainly due to their superior seamanship and discipline. The people of the United States were greatly elated over these victories, and several of the sayings of the naval captains, such as, "Don't give up the ship," and "We have met the enemy, and they are ours," became watchwords during the war. One of the most successful frigates was the Constitution, which received the name of " Old Ironsides." 1 186. The Creek War; Jackson. (1813-1814.) - During the year 1813, incited by the influence of Tecumseh and British and Spanish emissaries, the Creek Indians in southwestern Georgia and in Alabama, led by a chief named Weathersford, a half-breed, had surprised and taken Fort Mims, near the junction of the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers. The garrison and most of those who had taken refuge in the fort, including many women and children, in all over 400, were cruelly put to death. Expeditions were soon organized, and after two campaigns the Indians were conquered, the whites showing no quarter, and seemingly trying to surpass the red men in cruelty. Andrew Jackson was chief commander in these expeditions, and his success in this Creek war made him one of the most prominent generals in the country. A great number of the Creek Indians were killed, and, as usual, the survivors were forced to give up most of their lands and move farther west. 187. American Success; British Plans. (1814.) - Taught by their reverses, the Americans set about reorganizing their 1 This vessel having been repaired so many times as to be really another ship, is still (1893) in the navy. CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON. 175 armies, and, under the instructions of Winfield Scott, a young officer, and others, the troops greatly improved in discipline and confidence. Several victories over the British in Canada were the results of this training. Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie, all in the neighborhood of Niagara Falls, were the chief successes; but, as the United States troops had to retreat across the river Niagara, no real advantage was gained. Later the British invaded the United States by way of Lake Champlain, but were defeated at the naval battle of Plattsburg. Peace had now been made in Europe by the success of the allied forces against Napoleon, who was compelled to abdicate, and was banished to the island of Elba. This enabled England to send more men and more vessels to America. So many ships were sent that the whole coast from Maine to Florida was blockaded, and the United States vessels found it a hard matter to get in and out of ports. The plan of the English was to invade the country from three points: on the north, on the Atlantic coast, and on the south. The attack from the north had been so far a failure. It was also, in connection with the attack upon the Atlantic seaboard, a part of the British plan to make descents at various places, in order to keep the Americans in a state of continual fear and uncertainty. All along the coast descents were made, the larger towns being avoided on account of their better defences. In this way Stonington, Connecticut, Lewes, Delaware, Havre de Grace, Maryland, and other places were plundered. Maine, as far as the Penobscot River, was seized and held by the British until the end of the war. 188. Capture of Washington. (1814.) The chief attack was that made upon the city of Washington late in the summer of 1814. A strong fleet accompanied by an army of about 4500 men, under General Ross, appeared in Chesapeake Bay in July. The forces were landed at Benedict, near the mouth of the Patuxent River, and marched towards the capital. No resistance was made until Bladensburg, a short distance from Washington, was reached. Here a force of about 6000 men, consisting of a few regular troops and marines, and militia was hastily drawn up to defend Washington. But the militia were without training, the authority was divided and in the hands of incompetent men, so the battle speedily ended in a rout. The British followed and entered Washington, burnt the Capitol and most of the government buildings. So hasty was the flight of the Americans, that Mrs. Madison, the wife of the President, gathered up some of the silver in her reticule as she fled from the White House. and the British "ate up the very dinner, and drank the wine, etc., prepared for the President's party." 189. British repulsed at Baltimore. (1814.) The loss from a money point of view was very great, but was nothing in comparison with the loss of public records, which could not be replaced. This action of the British has always been viewed as an act of barbarism, for which the burning of the Parliament House in York, Toronto, by General Dearborn (sect. 185) offered the only justification. But there was this difference, the one was done on the responsibility of the general, while the other was done under strict orders from the British government. After burning the city, the English forces retreated and shortly after attempted to take the city of Baltimore. But the attack was successfully repelled at North Point, a few miles below the city, and a bombardment of Fort McHenry by the fleet also proved a failure.1 1 During this bombardment, Francis Scott Key, a Baltimorean, who had gone to the British fleet to negotiate for the release of prisoners and was detained by the British, wrote the song "The Star-spangled Banner." |