Chapter 5

SEABOARD MARITIME OPERATIONS, 1813

United States on the defensive on the seaboard 126

British reasons for partially relaxing severity of blockade 127

Reasons do not apply to armed vessels or coasting trade 127

American Navy powerless to protect commerce 127

To destroy that of the enemy its principal mission 128

Cruises of the "President" and "Congress" 128

Efficacy of the British convoy system 130

Its chief failure is near ports of arrival 131

This dictates the orders to Captain Lawrence 131

Importance of the service 132

Imperfect preparation of the "Chesapeake" 132

Efficiency of the "Shannon." Broke's professional merit 133

His challenge to Lawrence. Not received 134

The "Chesapeake" sails, purposely to fight 135

Account of the action 136

The "Chesapeake" captured 140

Analysis of the engagement 141

Decatur fails to get to sea with a squadron 148

Driven to take refuge in New London 148

Frigates confined there for the war 149

Particular anxiety of the British Government about American frigates 150

Expectations of the Admiralty and the country from Warren's fleet 151

Effects of the blockade of New London on local coasting 152

Evidence of the closeness of the whole blockade south of New London 153

Conditions at New York 154

British operations in the upper Chesapeake, 1813 156

Conditions in Delaware Bay 158

American precautions in Chesapeake and Delaware 159

Circumspect conduct of the British vessels in the Chesapeake 161

Warren brings a detachment of troops from Bermuda 162

Rencounters in and near Hampton Roads 163

British attack upon Craney Island. Fails 164

Attack upon Hampton. Ineffective 166

Further movements of the British in the Chesapeake 167

Movement of licensed vessels in Chesapeake Bay during these operations 170

Consequent recommendation of President to prohibit all exports during the blockade 173

Rejected by Senate. Enforced in Chesapeake by executive order 174

Glaring necessity for such action 175

Embargo law passed in December, 1813 176

Main British fleet quits the Chesapeake. Its failure in direct military operation 177

Efficacy of the blockade 177

Characteristics of the different sections of the United States, as affecting their suffering from blockade 178

Statistical evidences of its effects 181

Prices of great staples: flour and sugar 184

Dependence of Eastern and Southern States upon coasting, greater than that of Middle States 186

Captain Hull's reports on Eastern coasting 187

Action between the "Boxer" and "Enterprise" 188

Intermission of Eastern blockade during winter 192

Its resumption in increased vigor in 1814 192

Undefended conditions of the American coast 193

Conditions of Southern coasting trade 195

British blockade severs the mutual intercourse of the different sections of the United States 198

Remarks of Representative Pearson, of North Carolina 199

Message of the Governor of Pennsylvania 200

Rigors of the blockade shown by figures 201

Momentary importance of the North Carolina coast 203

Advocacy of an internal navigation system 204

Evidence of privation in the rebound of prices and shipping movement after peace 205

Exposition of conditions, in a contemporary letter by a naval officer 207

The experiences of the War of 1812 now largely forgotten 208

Lessons to be deduced 208

Pressure upon the British Government exerted, even by the puny contemporary American Navy 209

Advantage of the American position 211

Opinions of Presidents Washington and Adams as to the international advantage of a navy 212

Policy of President Jefferson 213