Chapter 6

MARITIME OPERATIONS EXTERNAL TO THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES, 1813-1814

Commerce destruction the one offensive maritime resort left open to the United States 215

Respective objects of privateers and of naval vessels 216

The approaches to the British islands the most fruitful field for operations against commerce 216

Cruise of the "Argus" 217

Capture of the "Argus" by the "Pelican" 217

Significance of the cruise of the "Argus" 219

Great number of captures by American cruisers 220

Comparatively few American merchant ships captured at sea 221

Shows the large scale on which British commerce throve, and the disappearance of American shipping 221

Control of British Navy shown by American practice of destroying prizes 222

Successes of the privateers "Scourge" and "Rattlesnake" in the North Sea 223

The "Leo" and "Lion" off coast of Portugal 224

British army in southern France incommoded by cruisers off Cape Finisterre 224

American cruises based on French ports 225

The privateer "Yankee" on the gold-coast of Africa 226

Action between the American privateer "Globe" and two British packets, off Madeira 227

Captures in the same neighborhood by privateers "Governor Tompkins" and "America" 228

The West Indies as a field for warfare on commerce 229

Activity there of American cruisers 230

Stringency of the Convoy Act in the West Indies. Papers captured there by the "Constitution" 230

Indirect effects of the warfare on commerce 231

Cruise in the West Indies of the naval brigs "Rattlesnake" and "Enterprise" 232

Combat between the privateer "Decatur" and British war schooner "Dominica" 233

The "Comet" and the British ship "Hibernia" 234

The "Saucy Jack" and the British ship "Pelham" 235

The "Saucy Jack" with the bomb-ship "Volcano" and transport "Golden Fleece" 236

Remarkable seizure by the privateer "Kemp" 237

The cruises of the privateer "Chasseur" 237

Combat between the "Chasseur" and the British war schooner "St. Lawrence" 238

Contrasted motives of the ship of war and the privateer 241

Relative success of American naval vessels and privateers in the war upon commerce 242

Cruise of the frigate "Essex" 244

Arrival in Valparaiso of the "Essex," and of the British ships, "Phoebe" and "Cherub" 247

Action between the "Essex" and the "Phoebe" and "Cherub" 249

Cruise of the "Wasp" 253

Action between the "Reindeer" and "Wasp" 254

Action between the "Avon" and "Wasp" 256

Disappearance of the "Wasp" 257

Cruise of the "Peacock" 258

Action between "Epervier" and "Peacock" 259

Further cruise of the "Peacock" 261

Activity of American cruisers in British waters 262

Agitation in Great Britain 263

The effect produced due to the American people severally 265

Prostration of the Government in the United States, 1814 265

Determination to accept peace without relinquishment of impressment by Great Britain 266

Development of privateering 267

Adaptation of vessels to the pursuit 268

Practical considerations determining vessels to be employed 269

Secretary of the Navy recommends squadrons of schooners for action against commerce 270

Debate in Congress 271

Recommendation adopted 272