Thomas Wyatt

“ No act of Commodore Hull’s life can be quoted as a drawback upon the immense debt of gratitude due him by his fellow-citizens. He did not, in the midst of the continued praise that followed him, yield to a single suggestion of wrong, nor presume, for a moment, upon the hold which he had on the affections of the nation. Every day of his life seemed to be spent as if he felt that day had its special duty, which, if unperformed, would leave incomplete his honors, and perhaps, tarnish the laurels he had already acquired. ”

“ The moment arrived, and young Wayne was only six weeks in completing a regiment, of which he was unanimously chosen colonel. At the sound of taxation the undaunted spirit of liberty burst forth, and thousands of young and fearless patriots thronged around the sacred banner to enrol themselves in a cause which must eventually end in freedom. News of the opening of the revolution at Bunker’s Hill and Lexington arrived, and Washington, who had accepted the command of the army, repaired to the seat of war. ”

“ Tell those Philadelphia ladies who attended Howe’s assemblies and levees, that the heavenly, sweet red-coats, the accomplished gentlemen of the guards and grenadiers, have been humbled on the plains of Monmouth. These knights have resigned their laurels to rebel officers, who will lay them at the feet of those virtuous daughters of America, who cheerfully gave up ease and affluence in a city, for liberty and peace of mind in a cottage. ”

“ Contempt of danger was so rigidly enforced, that when one of our subordinate officers showed symptoms of fear in an engagement, and was tried by a court martial, the commodore assigned for his acquittal, a reason no less curious than just: viz., that the bare supposition that one coward existed on board of the American fleet was, of itself, a greater injury than the condemnation of this man could possibly be a benefit, as it would establish the fact. The British squadron in the Mediterranean minutely watched the movements of our little fleet for the purpose of sarcasm and jest. ”

“ He has signalized himself in more than one instance since; and in the late assault of Stony Point, he commanded one of the attacks, was the first that entered the enemy’s works, and struck the British flag with his own hands, as reported by General Wayne. It is but justice to him to declare, that, in the different services he has been [46] of real utility, and has acquitted himself in every respect as an officer of distinguished merit, one whose talents, zeal, activity, and bravery, alike entitle him to particular notice. I doubt not Congress will be disposed to grant him every indulgence. ”

“ Throughout these several and varied attacks from a force so overwhelming, the second brigade evinced its accustomed discipline, and its officers the high and gallant spirit they held in common with their leader. Reinforcements were detached to different points, changes of position made, new shapes of the enemy’s attack on the right, a part deemed the least vulnerable, were found more effectual. He had succeeded in making a lodgement in the bastion, which was left to the defence of artillery only, unsupported by infantry, as had been the previous custom. ”

“ No man appeared better qualified for the part he had to perform. Nature had made him a hero, and circumstances had prepared him to command men, as well as to give direction to the development of their energies; and these qualifications united with a brave heart and chivalrous spirit, rendered him able to vindicate the rights, which he knew so well how to assert.
The American navy at this time consisted of the following vessels:
Jones, who had been appointed lieutenant of the flag ship, Alfred, hoisted with his own hands the first American flag that ever waved over the ocean. ”

“ The whole British land and naval force was in motion. But, however great the importance or value of Stony Point and Verplanck’s, Washington was by no means disposed to hazard a general engagement on their account; more especially in a situation where the command of the river would afford such decisive advantages to his enemy in the disposition and sudden movement of their troops, whether with respect to the immediate point of action, or to the seizing of the passes, and cutting off the retreat of his army, as might probably be attended with the most fatal consequences. ”

“ When the troops were formed in line, Colonel Miller rode in front and addressed them in the following words:—“My brave fellows! you have done well! every man has done his duty. I give you my hearty thanks for your conduct on this day; you have gained my highest esteem; you have gained fresh honor to yourselves, and to the American arms; your [126] fellow soldiers in arms will love you, and your country will reward you. You will return to the field of battle, to collect those who have gloriously fallen; your friendly attentions to your wounded companions are required.” ”

“ At a quarter past three o’clock, P. M., the captain was hailed by the French commander, and the Constellation, ranging along side of the enemy’s frigate, who had declared herself to be such by firing a gun to windward, poured in a close and extremely well-directed broadside. This was instantly returned by her antagonist, who, after a very warm engagement of an hour and a quarter, hauled down her colors, and proved to be L’Insurgente, of forty guns and four hundred and seventeen men; twenty-nine of whom were killed and forty-four wounded. ”

“ The capture of the Frolic by the Wasp, not only broke the charm of British naval superiority, but showed a decided superiority in favor of America. The capture of the Penguin was not less decisive; and if, at the commencement of the war, the British navy was surprised, from habits of security and contempt for their enemies, they had, before the victory of the Hornet, learned their error and corrected their conduct. ”

“ He was hailed by the brig, supposing him to be the tender, with “You will run us aboard!” “Ay!” shouted Preble, “I am coming aboard!” and he immediately jumped into the vessel with fourteen of his men. The rapidity of the vessel was such, that it prevented the remainder from following them. Little cried out to his lieutenant to know if he would not have more men; “No!” he answered with great coolness, (expecting to be overheard by the enemy,) “we have more than we want already; we stand in each other’s way.” ”

“ There was such a calmness in the conduct of Lieutenant Macdonough, such a solemnity in his language, such a politeness in his manner, that the British officer saw that he had to deal with no ordinary man, and that it was not prudent to put him on his metal. In that garden of the world, the shores of the Mediterranean, where nations have grown up and decayed, and others have taken their places ”

“ Money, arms, and [179] men must be raised, but who would assume the responsibility of procuring them?
All the talents and energies of our hero were called into action. He organized his army, obtained money, arms, and ammunition, and on the 5th of October, 1813, he brought the British army, with their Indian allies under Tecumseh, to action, near the river Thames. The decisive victory achieved by militia over the disciplined troops of England, was a matter of joy and exultation through the whole Union. ”

“ Early the following morning, Wayne believing that the main army of the British had effected its passage, was determined to march forward and attack the rear guard; but upon arriving within sight he found he was mistaken, and that he had now to confront the whole British force with only five hundred men; the only safe mode which he could now calculate upon, was that of attacking vigorously and retreating precipitately. “For,” said he, “moments decide the fate of battles,” and accordingly the firing was commenced with great firmness at three o’clock, and continued till five in the afternoon. ”

“ The Mediterranean has been the birth-place of more naval reputations than all the waters of the world beside, and it was there, too, that our infant navy displayed some of those acts of valor and good conduct which were of importance in themselves, and were hailed as presages of future glory for our country. When Macdonough was first lieutenant of the Syren, under command of Captain Smith, a circumstance occurred in the harbor of Gibraltar sufficiently indicative of the firmness and decision of his character. An American merchant brig came to anchor near the United States vessel. ”

“ It was now midnight, and the enemy being reinforced, advanced to his third and most vigorous effort. The same deadly assault was made, which in like manner was frustrated and forced back. This was a perfect skirmish; the enemy mingled himself with our ranks; two of our guns were spiked, and the utmost confusion prevailed in every direction; but by the firmness and bravery of the 21st regiment and its gallant officers, the line was preserved, and the enemy again, and for the last time, recoiled from it in confusion and dismay; leaving the line under General Ripley master of the field. ”

“ After the close of the war, General Miller retired to his estate at Peterborough, New Hampshire, where he resided for some time, enjoying the sweets of quietude and the pleasures of agricultural pursuits; subsequently he received the appointment of collector of the port at Salem, Massachusetts, where he is now living in the bosom of his family. Although nearly deprived of the powers of articulation by paralysis, he enjoys his other faculties with comfort to himself and happiness to all around him. ”

“ John Andre, a British officer, was clerk in a mercantile house in London; being anxious for a military life, he obtained a commission as ensign in the regiment commanded by Sir Henry Clinton, then about to embark for America. His energetic and enterprising spirit soon raised him to the rank of major and aid-de-camp to Sir Henry. Benedict Arnold, the American traitor, a man guilty of every species of artifice and deception, smarting under the inflictions of a severe reprimand from his superiors, for misconduct, was resolved to be revenged by the sacrifice of his country. ”

“ At that juncture, a countryman living just at hand, came up and informed Colonel Shelby, that the [169] enemy had been reinforced the evening before with six hundred regular troops from New York, under Colonel Innes, destined to reinforce Ferguson’s army. This intelligence, which was found to be correct, changed the movement of the troops, for, fatigued and exhausted as they were, it was deemed improper to march on and attack the enemy. They instantly determined to form a breastwork of old logs and brush, and make the best defence in their power. ”

“ The loss of the Americans was fifty-two killed, and fifty-eight wounded; that of the British, eighty-four killed and one hundred and ten wounded. The prisoners taken far exceeded the whole number of Americans in the action. This victory was hailed by the whole nation with great joy. The state of New York, in justice and gratitude, gave the gallant captain a thousand acres of land, of no small value, and the state of Vermont made a grant of two hundred acres, within a short distance of the battle ground. ”

“ The gallant Warrington, therefore, achieved his victory with triumphant facility; not because he had thirty men and one fighting gun more than his enemy, but because he was himself superior to the British captain in skill, and his officers and crew superior to their opponents in firmness and gunnery.
Congress ordered a gold medal (see Plate XIII.) to be struck and presented to “Captain Lewis Warrington, of Virginia, commander of the sloop-of-war Peacock, for the capture of the British brig L’Epervier, Captain Wales, April 29th, 1814.” ”

“ Soon after General Brown was called to Sacket’s Harbor, and the command, in consequence, devolved upon General Scott, who immediately assembled the army and established a camp of instruction. His whole attention was now given to perfecting the discipline of the troops, to give them that celerity and combination of movement, which in modern times has made war a science, and rendered individual prowess of so little avail. ”

“ The Hornet had one man killed and lost three brave fellows while attempting to rescue the vanquished from a watery grave; four of her seamen were taken from the tops just before the Peacock had entirely disappeared. Captain Lawrence now determined to sail for New York; no sooner had he arrived there, than the officers of the Peacock honorably made public their grateful feelings for the kindness of Captain Lawrence and the officers under him. They said, “we ceased to consider ourselves prisoners.” The crew most heartily vied with their captain in generosity as well as bravery. ”

“ The enemy was not entirely subdued, but all his vessels were taken and brought to the American side of the lake. Commodore Barclay, commander of the British squadron, was a man of no ordinary fame; he had gained laurels at the battle of Trafalgar and other memorable battles by sea, where Englishmen had bled and won the victory; but this day his experience did not avail him—he was forced to yield. The loss was great on both sides, but much more severe on the British. They had two hundred killed and wounded, the Americans about one hundred and twenty-three. ”

“ The time had now arrived, when every true son of America felt bound to participate in the approaching struggle for liberty and independence, and John Eager Howard received a commission as captain, in one of those bodies of militia termed flying camps in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hall. The commission depended upon his raising thirty men in a given time; but such was the esteem in which our hero was held, that he formed his company required in two days, and marched direct to the army. ”

“ After the British frigate had struck, the Constitution wore and reefed top-sails. One of the only two remaining boats out of eight, was then hoisted out, and Lieutenant Parker, of the Constitution, was sent to take possession of the frigate. She proved to be his Britannic majesty’s frigate Java, rating thirty-eight, but carrying forty-nine guns. She was manned by upwards of four hundred men, and was commanded by Captain Lambert, a very distinguished naval officer, who was mortally wounded. The Constitution had nine men killed, and twenty-five wounded. ”