Chapter 30

[Footnote 91: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the victory on Lake Champlain, are given under No. 34, page 189.]

ROBERT HENLEY was born in James City County, Virginia, January 5, (p. 194) 1783. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1799, and was on board of the Constellation, under Captain Truxtun, during her combat with La Vengeance; he was a lieutenant in 1807; a commander August 12, 1814; obtained the Eagle, and was second in command to Macdonough in his victory on lake Champlain, September 11, 1814, receiving for his conduct on that occasion the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He was appointed captain, March 3, 1825; served in the home squadron and in the West Indies, and died on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, October 7, 1828.

No. 36. (p. 195) PLATE XXXVII.

_September 11, 1814._

Step. Cassin Ticonderoga præfect. Quæ regio in terris nos. non plena lab. [Rx]. Uno latere percusso. alterum impavide vertit.

LIEUTENANT STEPHEN CASSIN.

[_Victory of Lake Champlain._]

STEP. CASSIN TICONDEROGA PRÆFECT. QUÆ REGIO IN TERRIS NOS. NON PLENA LAB.[92] (_Stephanus Cassin, Ticonderoga præfectus. Quæ regio in terris nostri non plena laboris: Stephen Cassin, commander of the Ticonderoga. What region of the earth is not full of our works._) Bust of Lieutenant Cassin, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

[Footnote 92: Virgil, Æneid, Book I, 464.]

UNO LATERE PERCUSSO. ALTERUM IMPAVIDE VERTIT. (_Beaten on one side, he fearlessly turns the other._) Naval action on Lake Champlain, between the United States fleet, carrying eighty-six guns, under the command of Captain Macdonough, and the British fleet, with ninety-five guns, commanded by Commodore Downie. To the right the city of Plattsburgh in flames. Exergue: INTER CLASS. AMERI. ET BRIT. DIE XI SEPT. MDCCCXIIII. (_Inter classim Americanam et Britannicam, die 11 Septembris, 1814: Between the American and British fleets, September 11, 1814._) On the platform, FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).[93]

[Footnote 93: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the action on Lake Champlain, are given under No. 34, page 189.]

STEPHEN CASSIN was born in Philadelphia, February 16, 1783. He (p. 196) entered the navy as a midshipman in 1800, served in the Tripolitan campaign, and became a lieutenant in 1807. He commanded the Ticonderoga in Macdonough's victory on Lake Champlain, September 11, 1814, and for his conduct on that occasion was promoted to the rank of master, and received a vote of thanks and a gold medal from Congress. He was made captain, March 3, 1825, commanded for some time the navy yard at Washington, District of Columbia, and died there, April 29, 1857.

No. 37. (p. 197) PLATE XXXVIII.

_March 29, 1814._

Ludovicus Warrington dux navalis Ameri. [Rx]. Pro patria paratus aut vincere aut mori.

CAPTAIN LEWIS WARRINGTON.

[_Capture of the Épervier._]

LUDOVICUS WARRINGTON DUX NAVALIS AMERI. (_Americanus_) (_Lewis Warrington, American naval commander._) Bust of Captain Warrington, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

PRO PATRIA PARATUS AUT VINCERE AUT MORI. (_Prepared to conquer or die for his country._) Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war Peacock, of eighteen guns, Captain Warrington, and the British brig-of-war Épervier, of eighteen guns, Captain Wales; the Peacock, to leeward, is firing her port broadside. The Épervier has lost her main-topmast Exergue: INTER PEACOCK NAV. AMERI ET EPERVIE (_sic_) NAV. ANG. DIE XXIX MAR. MDCCCXIV. (_Inter Peacock navem Americanam et Épervier navem Anglicanam, die 29 Martii, 1814: Between the American vessel Peacock and the English vessel Épervier, March 29, 1814._) FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

LEWIS WARRINGTON was born in Williamsburgh, Virginia, November 3, 1782. He entered the navy as a midshipman in 1800, and served under Commodore Preble in the Tripolitan campaign; was lieutenant, 1807; and master-commandant, 1813. He sailed from New York in March, 1814, (p. 198) in command of the sloop-of-war Peacock, and on the 29th of the same month took the British brig-of-war Épervier, Captain Wales, for which gallant deed he received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal. He was promoted to the rank of captain in November of the same year, and subsequently served on the Naval Board. In 1842 he became chief of the ordnance and hydrographic bureau of the Navy Department, in which capacity he died in Washington, October 12, 1851.

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Warrington, etc._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Lewis Warrington, of the sloop-of-war Peacock, a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices, and a silver medal,[94] with like emblems and devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and a sword to each of the midshipmen, and to the sailing-master of said vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British brig Épervier, on the 29th day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, in which action the decisive effect and great superiority of the American gunnery were so signally displayed.

[Footnote 94: The silver medals are copies of the one in gold to Captain Warrington.]

Approved October 21, 1814.

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_Captain Warrington to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States sloop Peacock, at sea, William JONES, Latitude 27° 47´, longitude 89°. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. April 29th, 1814.

Sir: I have the honour to inform you that we have this morning captured, after an action of 42 minutes, His Majesty's brig Épervier, Captain Wales, rating and mounting 18 thirty-two pound carronades, with 128 men, of whom 8 were killed and 15 wounded, according to the best information we could obtain. Among the latter is her first lieutenant, who has lost an arm, and received a severe splinter wound in the hip. Not a man in the Peacock (p. 199) was killed, and only two wounded, neither dangerously so. The fate of the Épervier would have been determined in much less time, but for the circumstance of our fore-yard being totally disabled by two round shots in the starboard quarter from her first broadside, which entirely deprived us of the use of our fore and fore-top sails, and compelled us to keep the ship large throughout the remainder of the action. This, with a few top-mast and top-gallant back-stays cut away, a few shots through our sails, is the only injury the Peacock has sustained. Not a round shot touched our hull; our masts and spars are as sound as ever. When the enemy struck he had five feet water in his hold, his main top-mast was over the side, his main-boom shot away, his fore-mast cut nearly in two and tottering, his fore rigging and stays shot away, his bowsprit badly wounded, and forty-five shot holes in his hull, twenty of which were within a foot of his water line. By great exertion we got her in sailing order just as dark came on.

In fifteen minutes after the enemy struck, the Peacock was ready for another action, in every respect but her fore-yard, which was sent down, finished and had the fore-sail set again in forty-five minutes: such was the spirit and activity of our gallant crew. The Épervier had under her convoy an English hermaphrodite brig, a Russian and a Spanish ship, which all hauled their wind, and stood to the east-northeast. I had determined upon pursuing the former, but found that it would not answer to leave our prize in her then crippled state, and the more particularly so, as we found she had in her $120,000 in specie, which we soon transferred to this sloop. Every officer, seaman, and marine did his duty, which is the highest compliment I can pay them.

I am, respectfully, L. WARRINGTON.

No. 38. (p. 200) PLATE XXXIX.

_June 28, 1814._

Johnston Blakeley Reip. Fæd. Am. nav. Wasp dux. [Rx]. Eheu! bis victor patria tua te luget plauditq.

CAPTAIN JOHNSTON BLAKELEY.

[_Capture of the Reindeer._]

JOHNSTON BLAKELEY REIP. FÆD. AM. NAV. WASP DUX. (_Johnston Blakeley, Reipublicæ Fæderatæ Americanæ navis Wasp dux: Johnston Blakeley, Captain of the American Federal Republic's vessel Wasp._) Bust of Captain Blakeley, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

EHEU! BIS VICTOR PATRIA TUA TE LUGET PLAUDITQ. (_Plauditque_) (_Alas! twice conqueror, thy country laments and applauds thee._) Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war Wasp, of eighteen guns, Captain Blakeley, and the British sloop-of-war Reindeer, of eighteen guns, Captain Manners; the Wasp, to windward, is firing her port broadside. The British vessel is striking her colors. Exergue: INTER WASP NAV. AMERI. ET REINDEER NAV. ANG. DIE XXVIII JUNIUS (_sic_) MDCCCXIV. (_Inter Wasp navem Americanam et Reindeer navem Anglicanam, die 28 Junius, 1814: Between the American vessel Wasp and the English vessel Reindeer, June 28, 1814._) On the platform, FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

JOHNSTON BLAKELEY was born at Seaford, County Down, Ireland, (p. 201) October, 1781. He was brought, when very young, to North Carolina, where his parents settled, and where they died while he was still a child. He entered the navy as a midshipman, February 5, 1800, and served under Commodore Preble in the Tripolitan campaign. In 1813, when a lieutenant, he commanded the Enterprize, and in the same year became master-commandant of the sloop-of-war Wasp, with which, on June 28, 1814, he took the British sloop-of-war Reindeer, Commander William Manners. For this memorable action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He afterward cruised off the coast of France, and was lost at sea in the Wasp, of which no news has ever been received.

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting Medals to Captain Blakeley, etc._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the President of the United States be requested to present to Captain Johnston Blakeley, of the sloop Wasp, a gold medal, with suitable devices, and a silver medal,[95] with like devices, to each of the commissioned officers, and also a sword to each of the midshipmen, and the sailing-master of the aforesaid vessel, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry and good conduct of the officers and crew, in the action with the British sloop-of-war Reindeer, on the twenty-eighth of June, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen; in which action determined bravery and cool intrepidity, in nineteen minutes, obtained a decisive victory by boarding.

[Footnote 95: The silver medals are copies of the medal in gold to Captain Blakeley.]

Approved November 3, 1814.

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_Captain Blakeley to the Secretary of the Navy._

To the Honourable United States Ship Wasp, William JONES L'Orient, July 8th, 1814. Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

Sir: On Tuesday, the 28th instant, being then in latitude 48° 36´, north, and longitude 11° 15´ west, we fell in with, engaged, and after an action of nineteen minutes, captured His (p. 202) Britannic Majesty's sloop-of-war the Reindeer, William Manners, Esquire, commander.

Where all did their duty and each appeared anxious to excel, it is very difficult to discriminate. It is, however, only rendering them their merited due, when it is declared of Lieutenants Reily and Bury, 1st and 3d of this vessel, and whose names will be found among those of the conquerors of the Guerrière and Java; and of Mr. Tillinghast, 2d lieutenant, who was greatly instrumental in the capture of the Boxer; that their conduct and courage on this occasion fulfilled my highest expectations and gratified every wish. Sailing-master Carr is also entitled to great credit for the zeal and ability with which he discharged his various duties.

The cool and patient conduct of every officer and man, while exposed to the fire of the shifting gun of the enemy, and without an opportunity of returning it, could only be equalled by the animation and ardour exhibited when actually engaged, or by the promptitude and firmness with which every attempt of the enemy to board was met and successfully repelled. Such conduct may be seen, but cannot well be described.

The Reindeer mounted sixteen 24 pound carronades, two long 6 or 9 pounders, and a shifting 12 pound carronade, with a complement (on board) of 118 men. Her crew were said to be the pride of Plymouth.

Our loss in men has been severe, owing in part to the proximity of the two vessels and the extreme smoothness of the sea, but chiefly in repelling boarders. That of the enemy, however, was infinitely more so, as will be seen by the list of killed and wounded on both sides.

Six round shot struck our hull, and many grape which did not penetrate far. The fore-mast received a 24 pound shot, which passed through its centre, and our rigging and sails were a good deal injured.

The Reindeer was literally cut to pieces in a line with her ports; her upper works, boats and spare spars, were one complete wreck. A breeze springing up next afternoon, her fore-mast went by the board.

Having received all the prisoners on board, which from the number of wounded occupied much time, together with their baggage, the Reindeer was on the evening of the 29th, set on fire, and in a few hours blew up.

I have the honour to be, etc., J. BLAKELEY.

_Killed and Wounded._ The loss on board the Reindeer was 25 killed and 42 wounded, total 67. On board the Wasp, 5 killed and 21 wounded, principally in boarding; among the latter, midshipmen Langdon and Toscan, both of whom expired some days after the action.

No. 39. (p. 203) PLATE XL.

_July 5 and 25, and September 17, 1814._

Major General Jacob Brown. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress November 3. 1814.

MAJOR-GENERAL JACOB BROWN.

[_Victories of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie._]

MAJOR GENERAL JACOB BROWN. Bust of General Brown, in uniform, facing the right. FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS NOVEMBER 3. 1814. In the center of a trophy, composed of the enemy's arms and flags, are the Roman fasces, emblem of the strength and of the union of America. The fasces are surrounded by a crown of laurel, from which hang three cartoons, each bearing the name of one of the three victories: "NIAGARA" "ERIE" "CHIPPEWA". At the foot of the trophy the American eagle, with outspread wings, holds in its talons a British standard. Exergue: BATTLES OF CHIPPEWA. JULY 5. 1814. NIAGARA. JULY 25. 1814. ERIE. SEP. (_September_) 17. 1814. FÜRST. F. (_fecit_).

JACOB BROWN was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1775. He began life as a school teacher, and afterward became a land surveyor in Ohio. He removed to Jefferson County, New York, in 1799; was made a colonel of New York militia, 1809; a brigadier-general of the same, 1810; and distinguished himself by his defence of Sackett's Harbor, May 29, 1813. He was appointed a brigadier-general in the United (p. 204) States army, July 19, 1813; major-general, January 24, 1814; and, in the same year, commander-in-chief on the Canada frontier. In this capacity he won the battles of Chippewa, July 5; Niagara, July 25; and Erie, September 17. For these victories Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He became commander-in-chief of the army in 1821, and died at head-quarters in Washington, February 24, 1828.

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ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting Medals to Generals Brown, Scott, Porter, Gaines, Macomb, Ripley, and Miller._

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_: That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major General Brown, and through him, to the officers and men of the regular army, and of the militia under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in the successive battles of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie, in Upper Canada, in which British veteran troops were beaten and repulsed by equal or inferior numbers; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of these triumphs, and presented to Major-General Brown.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Major-General Scott, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his distinguished services in the successive conflicts of Chippewa and Niagara, and of his uniform gallantry and good conduct in sustaining the reputation of the arms of the United States.

_Resolved_, That the President of the United States be requested to cause gold medals to be struck, with suitable emblems and devices, and presented to Brigadier-General Ripley, Brigadier-General Miller, and Major-General Porter, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of their gallantry and good conduct in the several conflicts of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie.

_Resolved_, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General Gaines, and through him to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry and good conduct in defeating the enemy at Erie on the fifteenth of (p. 205) August, repelling with great slaughter the attack of a British veteran army, superior in numbers; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major-General Gaines.

_Resolved_, That the thanks of Congress be, and they are hereby, presented to Major-General Macomb, and through him to the officers and men of the regular army under his command, and to the militia and volunteers of New York and Vermont, for their gallantry and good conduct, in defeating the enemy at Plattsburgh on the eleventh of September, repelling with one thousand five hundred men, aided by a body of militia and volunteers from New York and Vermont, a British veteran army, greatly superior in number; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, emblematical of this triumph, and presented to Major-General Macomb.

Approved November 3, 1814.

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_Major-General Brown to the Secretary of War._

To the Honourable Head Quarters, Chippewa Plains, John ARMSTRONG, July 7th, 1814. Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.

Sir: On the 2d instant I issued my order for crossing the Niagara river, and made the arrangements deemed necessary for securing the garrison of Fort Erie. On the 3d that post surrendered at 5 P.M. Our loss in this affair was four of the 25th regiment, under Major Jessup, of Brigadier-General Scott's brigade, wounded. I have enclosed a return of the prisoners, of the ordnance and ordnance stores captured.

To secure my rear, I have placed a garrison in this fort, and requested Captain Kennedy to station his vessels near the post.

On the morning of the 4th, Brigadier-General Scott, with his brigade and a corps of artillery, was ordered to advance toward Chippewa, and be governed by circumstances; taking care to secure a good military position for the night. After some skirmishing with the enemy, he selected this plain with the eye of a soldier, his right resting on the river, and a ravine being in front. At 11 at night I joined him with the reserve, under General Ripley, our field and battering train, and corps of artillery under Major Hindman. General Porter arrived the next morning with a part of the New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, and some of the warriors of the Six Nations.

Early in the morning of the 5th, the enemy commenced a petty war upon our pickets, and, as he was indulged, his presumption increased; by noon he showed himself on the left of our extensive line, and attacked one of our pickets as it was returning to camp. Captain Treat, who commanded it, retired disgracefully, leaving a wounded man on the ground. Captain Biddle, of the artillery, who was near the scene, impelled by feelings highly honourable to him as a soldier and officer, promptly assumed the command of this picket, led it back to the wounded man and brought him off the field. I ordered Captain Treat, on the post, to retire from the army, as I am anxious that no officer (p. 206) shall remain under my command who can be suspected of cowardice. I advise that Captain Treat[96] be struck from the rolls of the army.