Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812. Volume 2. Alfred Thayer Mahan
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72
Chauncey's Report of this cruise is in Captains' Letters, Aug. 13, 1813. Also, in Niles' Register, vol. iv. p. 421.
73
James, Naval Occurrences. Appendix, p. lxxiv.
74
Captains' Letters, Navy Department MSS.
75
Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 166.
76
Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 186.
77
Perry to the Secretary of the Navy, Aug. 10, 1813. Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. i. p. 191.
78
Secretary's Letters, Aug. 18, 1813. Navy Department MSS.
79
Otherwise known by the name of the River Raisin. Ante, vol. i. p. 370.
80
The data of this paragraph are taken from the Report on Canadian Archives, 1896, Lower Canada, pp. 132, 138-140. Barclay in his Defence before the Court Martial mentions the designs on Erie.
81
Harm Jan Huidekoper, by Nina Moore Tiffany and Francis Tiffany. 1904. p. 187. Mr. Huidekoper speaks admiringly of the unfaltering composure and cheerfulness which under these circumstances accompanied Perry's energy.
82
See ante, p. 41.
83
Report on Canadian Archives, 1896. Lower Canada, p. 133.
84
This statement appeared in the course of a
85
In the finding—or verdict—of the British Court, as in the evidence, there is no expression of a charge that the "Niagara" was making away. The finding restricted itself to the matter before the Court, namely, Barclay's official conduct.
86
There was a question whether the "Hunter" was ahead or astern of the "Queen Charlotte." In the author's opinion the balance of evidence is as stated in the text. Perry rearranged his line with reference to the British, upon seeing their array. Had the "Charlotte" been next the "Detroit," as James puts her, it seems probable he would have placed the "Niagara" next the "Lawrence."
87
Cooper, Battle of Lake Erie, p. 63.
88
See Mackenzie's Life of Perry, 5th edition, vol. ii. pp. 251-252. Perry's charges against Elliott, dated Aug. 8, 1818, are there given in full.
89
See Mackenzie's Life of Perry, 5th edition, vol. ii. pp. 251-252.
90
Cooper's Battle of Lake Erie, p. 63.
91
Barclay's Report, Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 251.
92
The range of a 32 pdr. carronade, with which the "Niagara" was armed, throwing one solid shot, with ¼ degree elevation,—substantially point-blank,—was 260 yards; at 5 degrees, 1260 yards. The difference, 1000 yards, is just half a sea mile. A British professional writer of that day, criticising their commander's choice of position at Lake Champlain, says: "At 1000 or 1100 yards the elevation necessary to be given a carronade would have been so great that none but chance shots [from the Americans] could have taken effect; whereas, in closing, he gave up this advantage." Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxiii. p. 132.
93
The "Caledonia" had two long 24-pounders, and one other lighter gun, variously stated. The "Detroit's" heaviest were also two long 24's; she had besides one long 18, six long 12's, etc.
94
With reference to times, always very difficult to establish, and often very important as bases of calculation, the following extract from the Diary of Dr. Usher Parsons, surgeon of the "Lawrence," possesses value; the more so as it is believed to have been copied from the log of the vessel, which afterwards disappeared. The phraseology is that of a log and a seaman, not of a physician. "At 10 called all hands to quarters. A quarter before meridian the enemy began action at one mile distance. In a half hour came within musket-shot of the enemy's new ship.... At 1.30, so entirely disabled we could work the brig no longer. At 2 P.M., most of the guns were dismounted, breechings gone, or carriages knocked to pieces. At half-past two, when not another gun could be worked or fired, Captain Perry hauled down the fighting flag [not the national flag], which bore this motto 'Don't give up the ship,' and repaired on board the 'Niagara,' where he raised it again. In ten minutes after we struck." Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society, vol. vii. p. 244. This was called to the author's attention after the account in the text was written.
95
Mackenzie's Life of Perry, vol. ii. p. 283.
96
Evidence of Midshipman Montgomery of the "Niagara," before the Court of Inquiry.
97
Naval Chronicle, vol. xxxi. p. 252.
98
Richardson, War of 1812, p. 243.
99
Barclay's Report.
100
British Court Martial Record.
101
Navy Department, MSS. Miscellaneous Letters. My italics.
102
This scheme appears outlined in a letter of Oct. 5, 1812, to Lord Bathurst from Sir George Prevost, who in support of it adduces Brock's opinion (Canadian Archives MSS). Bathurst replied, Dec. 9, 1812, "I so entirely concur in the expediency of the suggestions contained in your despatch, as to the necessity of securing the territories of the Indians from encroachment, that I have submitted it to His Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in order that whenever negotiations for peace may be entered into, the security of their possessions may not be either compromised or forgotten." (British Colonial Office Records). Prevost transmitted a copy of the letter to Admiral Warren, in his early diplomatic capacity as a peace envoy. Gordon Drummond, the successor of Brock, and later of Prevost, expressed the same interest (Canadian Archives MSS., April 2, 1814).
103
American State Papers, Foreign Affairs, vol. iii. pp. 710-713.
104
Canadian Archives MSS.
105
Scott says, "The selection of this unprincipled imbecile was not the blunder of Secretary Armstrong." Memoirs, vol. i. p. 94, note.
106
Both these names are used, confusingly, by Armstrong. Madrid was the township, Hamilton a village on the St. Lawrence, fifteen to twenty miles below the present Ogdensburg.
107
American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 464. Armstrong's italics.
108
Ante, p. 60.
109
Chauncey's report, Oct. 1, 1813, Niles' Register, vol. v. p. 134. The extract has been verified from the original in the Captains' Letters. The report of Sir James Yeo (British Records Office) agrees substantially with Chauncey's accounts of the movements, but adds that upon the fall of the "Wolfe's" topmasts the "Pike" immediately took a distance out of carronade range, whence her long 24's would tell. "I can assure you, Sir, that the great advantage the enemy have over us from their long 24-pounders almost precludes the possibility of success, unless we can force them to close action, which they have ever avoided with the most studied circumspection."
110
Chauncey to Navy Department, Dec. 17, 1813. Captains' Letters.
111
Armstrong, Oct. 5, 1813. American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 470.
112
Ibid., p. 471.
113
Armstrong, Oct. 20, 1813. American State Papers, Military Affairs, vol. i. p. 473.
114
Scott's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 106. In consequence, though Sc