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BATTLES
^
,^ and ]KjA^ W in
BY
1, .
LUSTR/^TFP BY ALOf^ZO CHAFPEL
; - -_. ,.. - - _ . . . . " ■-■ 3££.ce of flxedistrr.; . .. :■"
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V
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Ajhau
BATTLES
THE USITED STATES
BY SEA AND LAND:
EMBRACING THOSE OF THE
REYOLUTIOI^ARY Al^J) I^^DIAl^ WARS.
THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE MEXICAN WAR:
WITH r OETANT OFFICIAL DOCUMEIv'TS.
BY HENRY B. DAWSON,
MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC.
Illwstratelj toitl] numerous pgb:lg-fiiusl]£iJ Stnl ^ngraJjiup,
INCLUDING BATTLE SCENES AND FULL-LENGTH PORTRAITS —FR03I ORIGINAL PAINTINGS
BY ALONZO CHAPPEL.
IN TWO VOLUMES.— VOL. IL
NEW YORK: JOHNSON, FRY, AND COMPANY,
37 BE E KM AN - S T RE E T.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by
JOHNSON, FRY & COMPANY,
In. the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
TStn
CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.
I. Defeat of General Harman 3
II. Defeat of General St. Clair 7
III. Fort St. Olair 16
lY. TheMiamis 19
V. Constellation and L'Insurgente 27
VI. Constellation and La Vengeance 31
VII. Entei-prise and the Tripoli 35
VIII. Bombardment of Tripoli 38
IX. The second bombardment of Tripoli . . 46
X. The third bombardment of Tripoli ... 49
The fourth bombardment of Tripoli . . 49
XI. The fifth bombardment of Tripoli .... 53
XII. Derne 56
XIIL President and Little Belt 63
XIV. Tippecanoe 73
XV. Michilimacinac 88
XVL Sackett's Harbor 94
XVII. Defeat of Major Van Horn 96
XVIIL Maguaga 98
XIX. Essex and Alert 102
XX. Chicago 103
XXL Detroit 110
XXII. Constitution and Guerriere 119
XXIII. Fort ^yayne - 125
XXIV. Fort Harrison 127
XXV. Fort Madison 133
XXVI. Gananoqui 135
XXVII. The privateer " Nonsuch" 136
XXVIII. Ogdensburg 187
XXIX. The Detroit and Caledonia 139
XXX. Queenstown 143
XXXI. Wasp and Frolic 168
XXXII. St. Eegis 173
XXXIII. United States and Macedonian 175
XXXIV. Expedition against the Mississineway
Towns 180
XXXV. Constitution and Java 183
XXXVI. The privateer " Comet" ' 189
CHAPTER PAGE
XXXVII. Frenchtown 191
XXXVIIL River Raisin 194
XXXIX. Expedition against Elizabethtown . . 201
XL. Ogdensburg 203
XLI. Hornet and Peacock 206
XLII. Privateer " General Armstrong" ... 209
XLIII. Adeline and the gunboats 21 2
XLIV. York, H. C 214
XLV. Fort Meigs 221
XLVI. Havre de Grace 226
XLVIL Fort George 231
XL VIII. Sackett's Harbor 235
XLIX. Chesapeake and Shannon 240
L. Stony Creek 244
LI. Asp and the gunboats 248
LII. Attack on the Junon 250
LIIL Craney Island 251
LIV. Beaver Dams 253
LV. Hampton, Va 255
LVI. Black Rock 259
LVII. Fort Stephenson 260
LVIII. Decatur and Dominica 264
LIX. Argus and Pelican 206
LX. Fort Mimms 269
LXI. Enterprise and Boxer 272
LXII. Lake Erie 274
LXIIL The Thames 291
LXIV. Cheteaugua 297
LXV. Tallushatches 301
LXVI. Talladega 303
LXVII. Chrystler's Farm 305
LXVIIL Hillibee Towns 309
LXIX. Autossee 311
LXX. Invasion of Kew York —
Fort Niagara 314
Lewiston 315
Canjokatie's Creek 316
Black Rock and Buffalo 317
CONTENTS TO VOLUME II.
CHAPTER
LXXI.
LXXII. LXXill. LXXIV.
LXXV.
Lxxvr.
LXXVII. LXXVIII.
Lxxrx.
LXXX. LXXXI.
Lxxxn.
LXXXIII.
LXXXIV. LXXXV.
LXXXVI.
LXXXVII.
LXXXVIII.
LXXXIX.
XO.
XCI.
XOII.
XOIII.
XOIV.
XCV.
XCVI.
XCVII.
XCVIII. XCIX.
c.
Eccanachaca 317
Emuckfau 319
Enotochopco 321
Ohalibee 823
Longwood 324
Toliopaka, or Horseshoe Bend 827
Loss of the Essex 330
La Colle Mill 836
Capture of L'Epervler 338
Oswego 839
Sandy Creek 342
Wasp and Reindeer 345
Michilimacinac 846
Chippewa 348
Lundy's Lane 852
Fort Erie 368
Washington City 371
Wasp and Avon 377
Second Invasion of New York .... 378
Beekmantown 381
Plattsburg , 884
Lake Champlain 885
Expedition against Baltimore 390
North Point 892
Fort McHenry 893
Privateer "General Armstrong". . . 896
Lyons' Creek 398
Invasion of Louisiana 399
The attack on the gunboats 400
Action of December 23 . 406
Action of December 28 410
Action of January 1 412
Action of January 8 415
Attack on St. Phillips 419
Loss of the President 420
Constitution and Cyane and Levant 422
Hornet and Penguin 424
Black Hawk War 426
Battle at Stillman's Run 428
Battle near Kellogg's Grove 480
Battle of Pecatonica 481
Attack on Apple River Fort . . . 432
Action at Kellogg's Grove 432
Action at Wisconsin Heights 485
Action at Bad Axe 436
Florida War 439
Capture of Captain Thornton 444
Palo Alto 445
CHAPTER FACT,
CI. Resaca de la Palma 450
CII. Conquest of New Mexico and California . 454
cm. Monterey 463
CIV. Expedition against Chihuahua 478
Action at Brazito 479
Action of the Sacramento 481
CV. Insurrection of New Mexico 483
Action of the Canada 483
Action of Pass of Embudo 484
Action of Pueblo de Taos 485
CVI. Buena Vista 486
CVII. Campaign under General Scott 498
Vera Cruz 498
Puenta del Medio 500
Medellin 500
Alvarado 503
Cerro Gordo 502
Perote 507
La Haya 507
Tuspan 508
Tobasco 508
Amozoque 508
Paso de Ovejas 508
National Bridge 508
San Juan de los Llanos 508
Mira Flores 509
Oka Lake 511
Contreras 512
San Antonio 515
Ohurubusco 515
Molino del Rey 518
Chapultepec 520
Mexico 523
Paso de Ovejas 528
National Bridge 528
Cerro Gordo 528
Puebla 528
Huamantla , 529
Atlixco 529
Matamoras 529
Galaxara 529
Orizaba 529
Cordova 529
Sequalteplan 529
San Jose 629
La Paz 529
Santa Cruz de Resales 529
BATTLES
OF
THE UNITED STATES
BOOK 11.
THE INDIAN, FRENCH, AND ALGERINE WARS, THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE MEXICAN WAR.
1790-1847.
CHAPTER I
September and October, 1790.
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL HARMAR.
Among- the many difficulties whicli the new government of the United States had to encounter, in the earlier days of General Washington's adminis- tration, none was more annoying than the disaffection of the Indian tribes which then inhabited the Northwest- ern Territory, which had, even at that early day, attracted the attention of the older States. While the Confederacy was yet governed by the Congress of the United States, under the " Articles of Confederation," the tide of emigra- tion had flowed in that direction ; and the foundations had been laid for those mighty Commonwealths, which, in our day, exercise so great an influence over the destinies of our country. Without stopping to inquire what causes pro- duced these troubles, which, from their complicity, would require more space than can be devoted to the subject in this chapter, suffice it to say, that, at an early day, Brevet Brigadier-general Jo- siah Harmar had been ordered to this part of the country;^ and that, with a
' It appears to be disputed whether or not Gen. Harmar was ia the Territory before the accession of Gen. Wash- ington to the Presidency. Mr. Atwater (History of Ohio, first ed., p. 132) says he " had been ordered to this frontier by the old Congress, and he was here at a very early day ; " and Chief-justice Marshall {Life of Washington, v. p. 359) agrees with him ; while Mr. S. Wilkeson {American Pio-
respectable force of regulars, he had oc- cupied, and fortified, the sites now oc- cupied by the cities of Cincinnati^ {Fort WasTiingtori) and Marietta {Fort Har- mar')?
The troubles still continuing, and the grievances of the settlers demand- ing reparation, in December, 1789, Gen- eral Harmar, with three hundred men, moved down to Fort Washing-ton, — where Major Doughty and one hundred and forty men were stationed, — and preparations were made to chastise the offenders.^ Notwithstanding the efforts which were made, however, it was not until the thirtieth of September, 1T90, that a movement could be made,* when General Harmar, — who had remained in camp, on the southern bank of the Ohio, opposite Fort Washington,^ and had been strengthened by the arrival of Colonel John Hardin, of Kentucky, and Major James Paul, of Pennsylvania, with eleven hundred and thirty-three volunteers from Kentucky, Western
neer, i. p. 20-5) maintains that he was appointed by the new government.
' Burnett's Notes, pp. 54, 55 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 132.
'Burnett's Notes, p. 43 ; Hildreth's Pioneer Hist, of the Ohio Valley, p. 213.—' Burnett's Notes, pp. 99-101 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 133 ; Butler's Kentucky, p. 191 ; Mar- shall's Kentucky, i. p. 362.—' Burnett's Notes, p. 102 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 133 ; Marshall's Ky.. 1. p. 363 ; Mar- shaU's Washington, v. p. 359. — ' Atwater's Ohio, p. 133.
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book H.
Virginia, and Pennsylvania/ — taking with hini three hundred and twenty regulars,^ crossed the Ohio River, struck into the old Indian war-path, and marched to the villages on the head- waters of the Little Miami,^ near where Fort Wayne now stands. The march was conducted in good order, and the standing corn was destroyed;* after which the expedition, striking across the woods, marched to wards the towns on the Great Miami, where Piqua now stands.^ When the expedition had reached the place where Loramie's Ferry now is, and where it had encamped for the night, three Indians were seen and pur- sued ; one of whom was taken prisoner, while the others escaped.® From this prisoner information was obtained that the inhabitants of the villas^es wei*e unapprised of the approach of the ex- pedition, that no I'einforcements had come in, and that they were quarrelling among themselves ; ^ and, evidently for- getting that this information was not to be depended on, and that the two scouts who had escaped would convey full information of the approach and the strength of the expedition. General Harmar resolved to send forward a de- tachment, under Colonel Hardin, to at- tack and destroy the village.® Accord- ingly six hundred volunteers, includ- ing fifty regulars,^ moved forward, by
1 Atvvater's Ohio, pp. 133, 134 ; MaishaU's Ky., i. p. 362 ; MarshaU's Washington, v. p. 359.—' MavshaU's Ky., i. p. 363 ; Marshall's Washington, v. p. 359.
' Atwater's Ohio, p. 134 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 102.
* Marshall's Ky., i. p. 363.—* Atwater's Ohio, p. 134 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 102.—° Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.
' Burnett's Notes, p. 103. — ° Marshall's Washington, V. p. 359 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 134 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 103.
" Burnett's Notes, p. 103 ; Marshall's Washington, v. p. 359.
forced marches;^ and, on the second day of its march,'^ the detachment reached the villages.^ With great fore- thought— worthy of more enlightened warriors — the Indians had removed their women and children to places of greater safety ; burned their wigwams ; and, with the exception of a small party of observation, had retired into the woods.*
The main body of the army moved slowly forward, over roads which were constructed by itself;^ and, four days after the villages had been occupied by Colonel Hardin, General Harmar reached them.® A week was spent among the ashes of the settlements, and the hidden stores of the savages, including not less than twenty thou- sand bushels of corn, were discovered and destroyed;'^ while, emulous of re- nown. General Harmar disgraced him- self, as General Sullivan had done in New York, by cutting down or gird- ling the fine orchards with which the settlements were surrounded.^
Without being contented with this complete, and, almost bloodless, accom- plishment of the purposes for which the expedition had been organized. General Harmar appears to have been ambitious of still greater exploits ; and, forgetful of the peculiar character of his troops, he sent out three several de- tachments in pursuit of the enemy.
The first, composed of three hundred men,® under Colonel Trotter, returned
1 Burnett's Notes, p. 103 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.
" Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.—' Ibid. ; Marshall's Wash- ington, V. p. 359 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 103.—* Marshall's Washington, v. p. 359 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.—'* Bur- nett's Notes, p. 103 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.—* Atwater's Ohio, p. 134.—' Burnett's Notes, p. 103.—' Ibid.—' Ibid.
Chap. I.]
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL HARMAR.
to the camp on the same day on which it left it, after killing two Indians.^ With some insinuations against the prudence of Colonel Trotter, the same party was again detached, under Col- onel Hardin.^ When this officer had marched six miles from the camp he fell into an ambuscade which had been prepared for him;^ when the Kentuck- ians, who led the militia, in the column,^ with the greatest cowardice, " ran away and threw down their arms, without firing scarcely a single gun,"* and left the handful of regulars — thirty in num- ber— to oppose the enemy single-hand- ed and alone.® Notwithstanding the overpowering force of the enemy, the little party maintained its ground until twenty-three of the number had fallen, when the remainder fled, and reached the camp in safety.^
After remaining at the villages a day or two longer, and discovering that the enemy was gradually concentrating his strength around the encampment. Gen- eral Harmar considered it prudent to retire to Fort Washington, without farther pursuing the objects which had originally led to the expedition.^ But in this the Greneral's wonted impru- dence did not forsake him. Without considering the character and strength of his enemy, on the second day of his march, he detached Colonel Hardin, with three hundred volunteers* and sixty regulars, under Major Wyllys,^"
' Burnett's Notes, p. 103.—' Ibid.—' Marshall's Ky., i. p. 363 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 134. — * Marshall's Washing- ton, V. p. 359. — ^ Order Book of G-en. Harmar.
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 360.— ' Marshall's Ky., i. p. 363.—' Ibid., p. 364.—' Marshall's Washington, t. p. 360.—" Marshall's Ky., i. p. 364.
with orders to return to the villages, and bring the enemy to an action. When this detachment reached the confluence of the St. Joseph's and St, Mary's rivers, it divided into three col- umns, each of whom speedily encoun- tered considerable bodies of Indians, and a series of severe, but unsuccessful, actions ensued, in which the enemy was the victor ; Major Wyllys, Lieutenant Frothingham, and fifty of the regulars, and nine ofiicers and about one hun- dred militiamen, being among the slain.^
The army moved by slow and easy marches to Fort Washington, where the militia were dismissed; and General Har- mar, after proceeding to the seat of gov- ernment, resigned his command.^
The loss of the regulars, in this afikir, was seventy-three killed, besides the wounded ; that of the militia was nine- ty-eight killed and ten wounded.^
This expedition, without any appar- ent reason, was claimed as a victory by the commanding General, on the ground " that any battle in which the Indians might lose a considerable number of men, would be fatal to them, although a still greater loss should be sustained by the Americans, because the savages did not possess a population from which they could replace the warriors who had fallen ;"* yet it is proper to remark that the Court of Inquiry which was appointed to investigate the matter, ac- quitted the General with honor.^ In that inquiry it was found that the mi- litia were very badly equipped ; that
> Marshall's Washington, v. pp. 361, 362.—" Burnett's Notes, p. 104; Marshall's Ky., p. 365.—' Ibid. * Marshall's Washington, v. pp. 362, 363. ' Ibid. ; Marshall's Ky., i. p. 366.
6
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
their arms were very had and out of repair ; that the men themselves were unfit for service and insubordinate ; that the heavy loss was occasioned by the ignorance, imbecility, insubordina- tion, and defective equipment of the militia, and not to any defect of ca- pacity or bravery, in the commanding
General, or in the ofScers who served under him ;^ and, although General Harmar's name has come down to us in association with a " defeat," there is but little doubt that the mischief was really produced by causes over which the General had not, and could not ex- ercise the least possible control.
DOCUMEIN^T.
GENERAL HAKMAB S DISPATCH TO THE SECKE- TART OF WAR.
'■\
Head-quarters, Fort Washington November 4, 1790.
Sir : — I have the honor to inform yon, that on the 30th of September I marched with three hundred and twenty federal troops, and eleven hundred and thirty-three militia — total, four- teen hundred and fifty-three; after encounter- ing a few difficulties, we gained the Miami vil- lage. It was abandoned before we entered it, which I was very sorry for. The villanous traders would have been a principal object of attention. I beg leave to refer you to my or- ders, which are inclosed. The substance of the work is this : our loss was heavy, but the head- quarters of iniquity were broken up. At a moderate computation, not less than one hun- dred, or one hundred and twenty warriors were slain, and three hundred log-houses and wig- wams burned. Our loss, about one hundred and eighty. The remainder of the Indians will be ill off for sustenance. Twenty thousand bushels of corn, in the ears, were consumed, burned, and destroyed by the army, with vege- tables in abundance. The loss of Major Wyl- lys and Lieutenant Frothingham, of the federal troops, and a number of valuable militia officers, I sincerely lament.
The brave Lieutenant Denny is my adjutant. It will afford me great satisfaction to know that some mark of honor will be shown to him — his long and faithful services merit it. There is a vast deal of business in this western world. If
there is no impropriety in giving me an aid-de- camp, I wish him to be the person.
In my next dispatches I shall enter into the minutiae of business, and give you a particular description of each day's march, with all the oc- currences, observations, &c., &c.
I have the honor to be, sir, with perfect esteem, your most humble and obedient ser- vant, J. Harmar,
Lieut.- Col. 1st U. S. Eegt.
The Hon. Maj.-Gen. Knox, Secretary at War.
Return of tTie Tcilled and wounded upon the expedition against the Miami Towns., under the command of Brigadier-general Harmar.
Head-Quarters, Fort Washington, ) November 4, 1790. i
Killed. — Federal Troops. — One major, one lieutenant, seventy-three rank and file. Militia. — One major, three captains, two lieutenants, four ensigns, ninety-eight rank and file.
WoinsTDED. — Federal Troops. — Three rank and file. Militia. — Two lieutenants, one en- sign, twenty-five rank and file.
Killed. — Federal Troops. — Major Wyllys, Lieutenant Frothingham. Militia. — Major Fon- taine ; Captains Sharp, Scott, and McMurtrey ; Lieutenants Clark and Rogers ; Ensigns Brid- ges, Higgens, Sweet, and Threlheld.
Wounded. — Lieutenants Sanders and "Wor-
ley, and Ensign Arnold.
E. Denny, Lieut and Adjt. J. Harmar.
' Burnett's Notes, pp. 104, 105.
CHAPTER II
November 4, 1791.
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL St. CLAIR,
The expedition under General Har- mar was closely followed by the most desperate efforts of the savages to har- ass and destroy the neighboring set- tlements, in which the enemy felt the want of those provisions which had been then destroyed. In these pred- atory attacks the enemy received the countenance and support of the British authorities ; and British subjects, more savage even than the Indians, not un- frequently led the latter on their er- rands of destruction.-^
In January, 1791, the President {Oeneral Washington) laid before the Senate of the United States " a state- ment relative to the frontiers, which had been submitted to him by the Sec- retary for the Department of War," " relying upon its wisdom to make such arrangements as might be essential for the preservation of good order, and the effectual preservation of the frontiers."^ Three days afterwards he transmitted a second message,^ with intelligence re- ceived by him from General Rufus Put- nam, in which not only the audacity of the enemy, but the weakness of the set-
' N. Y. Journal, No. 2614, Saturday, Nov. 16, 1791 ;
' President's Message, in the Jour, of the Senate, Mon- day, Jan. 24, 1791. I find no reference to the message in the House Journal, and suppose, therefore, that it was not sent to that body.
° President's Message, in the Jour, of the Senate and the House, Thursday, Jan. 27, 1791.
tlements, was fully detailed.^ The Fed- eral Congress promptly authorized the President to raise a corps of volunteers for the immediate relief of the settle- ments ; while, for permanent service, an army of three thousand men, the num- ber asked for,^ of which Governor Arthur St. Clair, to whom the rank of Major- general was assigned, as the command- er, was afterwards placed in command.
The volunteers, under General Scott, marched on the twenty-third of May, and between that time and the four- teenth of June, they had destroyed sev- eral villages, with large quantities of provisions, peltry, <fec. ; killed thirty- two and captured fifty-seven warriors ; and returned to the settlements without losing a single man, and with only four wounded.^
A second volunteer force, led by Colonel Wilkinson, was also similarly successful ; and it also had returned to Fort Washington without serious loss.*
In the mean time General St. Clair, and his second in command. General Butler, had been actively engaged in
' Burnett's Notes on the Northwest, p. 114.
' "An Act for raising and adding another regiment to the military establishment of the United States, and for making further provision for the protection of the fron- tiers." Approved Marcli 3, 1791.
'Burnett's Notes, pp. 115-118; N.T. Journal, No. 2582, Saturday, Aug. 6, 1791.
< Burnett's Notes, pp. 118-121.
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
preparing for tlie campaign ; yet the enlistments proceeded so slowly, and the appointments which had been pro- vided were so scanty, that, although the first of July had been appointed for the opening of the campaign,^ it was several weeks after that date be- fore any of the new levies reached Fort Washington, the appointed place of rendezvous.^ The ammunition for the campaign had also to be made up ; the gun-carriages had to be renewed ; an armory for the repair of arms had to be erected ; and stores had to be col- lected for the forts which it had been designed to establish in the enemy's country. Nearly all the arms required repairs ; tools, kegs for cartiidges, box- es for fixed ammunition, splints for the wounded, and bells for the horses had to be made on the spot, by such artif- icers as could be selected from the re- cruits, aftei- they reached Fort Wash- ington.* In addition to these difficul- ties, the supplies were insufficient ; and, in the latter part of August, not more than two thirds of the requisite force had come in, compelling the General to seek the assistance of volunteers from Kentucky, to complete his force.*
With these difficulties to contend with, about the first of September, 1791, Colonel Darke was ordered to move, with the greater part of the troops then at Fort Washington, to the Great Miami ; and, on the site of Ham- ilton, Butler County, Ohio, to build a stockade-fort, which would serve as a
'St. Clair's Narrative, p. ix. — ^Adj.-Gen. Saigent's Diary, pp. 6-8.—' St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 10-13.
^ St. Clair's Narrative, p. 9 ; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Sept. 5, 1791.
deposit for provisions, and, at the same time, form the first link in the chain of works which General St. Clair designed to construct.-^
The fort having been so far com- pleted as to be ready to receive and af- ford shelter for a garrison, on the thir- tieth of September, the General returned to Fort Washington " to forward the preparations of the campaign," leaving General Butler in command, with orders to push forward still farther in the ene- my's country.^
On the fourth of October the army left Fort Hamilton ;* and, on the thir- teenth of that month, having advanced forty-five miles, and a proper place pre- senting itself for another post, the army halted and encamped, and proceeded to erect another fort.* This post — which is about six miles south of the present town of Greenville, in Darke County, Ohio — was called Fort Jefiferson,^ and so vigorously were the men employed that on the twenty-fourth of October it was in such forwardness that the garri- son, composed of ninety men, which was detached to occupy it, could readily complete it.^
On that day (October 24:t7i) the army moved six miles, when it halted to await the arrival of provisions.'^ The force, including the First regiment, was
1 Burnett's Notes, p. 122; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Sept. 6 to Sept. 11.—° Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 1 to Oct. 9.—= Ibid., Oct. 4 ; Burnett's Notes, pp. 122, 123 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 15. — * Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 13, 14 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 18. Judge Burnett {Notes, p. 123) supposes the army halted on the 24th October.—'' Atwater's Hist, of Ohio, p. 137.
° Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 24 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 18. — ' Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 24, 25 ; Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 1, 1791 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 18.
Chap. II.]
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL St. CLAIR.
now reduced, by the withdrawal of the detachments for the forts, to less than two thousand effective men ; ^ the coun- try through which the expedition had to pass was a dense forest, through which roads had to be cut for the passage of the artillery, baggage, and stores;^ the provisions had become so scarce that the army had been reduced to short allowance f and the enemy had began to show himself and oppose the progress of the army.* Add to this a spirit of insubordination among the vol- unteers, a large number of whom de- serted, with the expressed determina- tion of seizing a convoy of flour which was then on its way to the army ;^ and General St, Clair was obliged to detach the First regiment of United States troops, under Major Hamtramck, to protect the flour, and, if possible, to bring the deserters back to their duty.^ Under these circumstances the prog- ress of the army was necessarily slow ; and on the afternoon of the . third of November it encamped on the eastern bank of a small stream, which was sup- posed to have been the St, Mary's, one of the main branches of the Maumee.^ It was afterwards found to be a branch of the Wabash, — near the site of Fort
' Report of the Committee of Cong. — ^ Adj. -Gen. Sar- gent's Diary, Oct. 26 ; Observations of Gen. St. Clair on the Report of the Committee ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 137.
' Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 27 ; Testimony of Count de Malartie. — * Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 18, 28; Atwater's Ohio, p. 137; Marshall's Washington, v. p. 389.— 'Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 31 ; Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 1, 1791 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narra- tive, pp. 19, 27. — "Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 31; Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 1, 1791 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 27, 28.
' Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Nov. 3; His "Narrative of the Unfortunate Affair of Friday," &c., p. 30 ; Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9. Vol XL— 2
Recovery, in Mercer County, Ohio,^ — about ninety-seven miles from Fort Washington, and about twenty from the Miami Towns, which was the point of the projected attack on the enemy.^
The site of the encampment was " a small rising ground, descending grad- ually in front to a stream," already re- ferred to, " of fifty feet wide, and ford- able at this time."^ On this ground, in accordance with general orders, the army encamped in two lines — the first, under General Butler, composed of Pat- terson's New Jersey Volunteers on the right, Clarke's Pennsylvanians in the centre, and Butler's Pennsylvanians on the left; and the second, under Lieu- tenant-colonel Darke, composed of Sec- ond United States regiment, on the right, Gaither's Maiylanders in the centre, and Beddinger's Virginians on the left. Four pieces of artillery were posted between the centre and the left wing of each of these lines ; Captain Truman's troop of Kentucky horse, and Captain Faulkner's company of riflemen, guarded the right flank, and Captain Snowden's troop of horse the left flank ; a camp-guard of two officers and' fifty-four men ; a picket of a cap- tain and thirty men ; four guards of an officer and fifteen men each ; and a pick- et of a captain and thirty men, on the road over which the army had march- ed, two hundred and fifty yards in the rear of the second line ; while, in front of the whole, three hundred yards in
1 Burnett's Notes, p. 123. — ^ Adj.-Gen. Sargent's Diary, Nov. 3 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 137 ; Adj.-Gen. Sargent's Nar- rative, p. 30. — ' Adj.-Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 30, and the map therein. Gen. St. Clair (Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791), says it was " about twelve yards wide."
10
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
advance of the stream, " across a piece of bottom land, and possessing a fine high flat and open wood, with proper pickets," were posted the militia under Lieutenant-colonel Oldham.^
On this spot it had been determined to construct a slight work for the safe keeping of the knapsacks, and " every thing else that was not of absolute ne- cessity," by which means the troops would have been ti-ansformed into light troops, and rendered more efficient in the peculiar service in which they were engaged. With this intention, on the evening of the third, the general-in- chief had consulted with Major Fergu- son and adopted a plan for the con- struction of the work ; and it was designed to engage the entire force in that laboi", until the First regiment, which had been sent after the deserters, should have reached the camp, with its convoy of flour.^
At a very early hour in the morning of the fourth of November, according to his usual practice. General St. Clair had paraded his troops f and, about half an hour before sunrise, had dis- missed them from parade,* when the enemy fell upon the advanced body of militia, under Lieutenant-colonel Old- ham, without any warning and with great fury.^ The first evidence of the enemy's presence was the discovery, by
'Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Narrative, pp. 30, 31, and the map tlierein.
'Gen. St. Clair's -Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791. See also Burnett's Notes, p. 123. — ' Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Marshall's Ky., i. p. 381 ; Adj.-Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 33. — * Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 123 ; Keport. of Com. of Cong. ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 138.—^ Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Adj.-Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 34.
Ensign Pope, of a party of about thirty savages in pursuit of a pack-horseman, when the guai'd was advanced to cover the retreat of the fugitive.^ At that moment a yell, as from three hundred Indians, arose "in the quarter where Captain Simmons was stationed ;"^ and, although but few of the enemy showed themselves — the policy of the Indians, during the entire action, having been to lay flat on the ground, and to deliver their fire from that position ^— the mili- tia were filled with alarm, and fled with great precipitation, without attempting to defend themselves.* Rushing over the stream, with the Indians following in pursuit, close on their heels, they broke through the first line, throwing the battalions of Pennsylvanians, under Majors Clarke and Butler, into consid- erable disorder, which was never wholly remedied.^
When the character of the attack on the militia, on the opposite side of the stream, and of its retreat, was fully un- derstood. Major Ferguson prepared to cover the retreat of that body with his artillery ; ^ and this, with a fire which was opened by the first line, served to check the advance of the enemy, and to throw him, in his turn, into some confusion.'^ Under the directions of "their leader, on liorsebac\ dressed in a red coat^'' however, the savages soon
' Testimony of Ensign Pope before the Com. of Cong.
2 Ibid.— ^ Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.
* Burnett's Notes, p. 123 ; St. Clair's Narrative, p. 54 ; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 138 ; Adj.- Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 34. — ' Gen. St. Clair's Dis- patch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 123 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 54; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Adj.- Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 34.
° Testimony of Col. Semple.
■■ Gen, St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.
Chap. II.]
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL St. CLAIR.
11
rallied/ and, attacking the centre of tlie line, where the artillery was posted, with great fury, they repeatedly drove the artillerists from their guns wdth great slaughter.^
With the celerity and secrecy of movement which characterize the war- fare of the Indian tribes, the enemy quickly turned the left flank of the first line, and, with equal fuiy, assailed the second, directing his efforts in this, as in the other case, to the centre, where the artillery was posted.^ A large body of savages, who had been directed to turn the right flank of the first line, was kept in check by Captain Faulk- ner's riflemen ; but the peculiarity of the enemy's movements, and the weight of numbers, speedily overcame the gal- lant little band of sharp-shooters by whom he was opposed, and both flanks of the first line were turned.*
"Finding no great effect from his fire, and confusion beginning to spread, from the o^reat number of men who were falling, in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done with the bayonet."^ Accordingl}", Lieu- tenant-colonel Darke was ordered to make a charge, with part of the second line, and turn the left flank of the ene- my ;^ while the general, in person, "led up the troops which drove them back when they first entered the camp by
' Testimony of Col Semple. — " Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch. Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 124.—' Burnett's Notes, p. 124. — * Gen. St. Clair's "Observations on the Report of the Com. of Cong." — ' Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791. See also Atwater's Ohio, p. 138.
^ Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 50. Adj. -Gen. Sargent {Narraiive, p. 44-) says this was "beyond his (Darke's) capacity" — evi- dently censuring his conduct.
the left flank," or, in other words, the charge which was made on the enemy's right} These movements were made with great spirit, and as the troops ap- proached the crouching and concealed savages, the latter instantly gave way and were driven back three or four hundred yards ^ — beyond the creek be- fore referred to.^ The advantage which had thus been gained could not be held, in consequence of the want of light troops to pursue the fugitives* — the small corps of riflemen, under Cap- tain Faulkner, being the only light in- fantry in the army,* and the cavalry having been rendered useless by the want of provender for the horses^ — • and the enemy speedily rallied and compelled the troops to give way.'^
Pressing forward towards the camp, the enemy forced the left of the line, when the Second regiment of United States troops, supported by Clarke's and Butler's battalions, made a second charge, and a second time drove him from the ground.^ The same deficiency of light troops, which had destroyed the effect of the first charges, before I'eferred to, also rendered this useless ; and the enemy returned to the attack with greater fury. These movements — alternate charges by the troops, and successful renewals of the action by the enemy — continued for several hours,'
' Gen St. Clair's Narrative, p. .50.—^ Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—' Burnett's Notes, p. 124.
* Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—' Roster of the Army, in Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary. — ° Gen. St. Clair's "Observations," &c. — '' Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 124.—' Geu. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's' Narrative, p. 36.—° Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 124 ; Report of Com. of Cong.
12
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[Book II.
by which time the greater part of the officers had been either killed or wound- ed, the artillery silenced, and the line of retreat cut off by the occupation of the road by the enemy ;^ and, at half- past nine o'clock^ — four hours after the action commenced^ — it was considered useless to attempt to hold the ground any longer. Accordingly, ^ the remains of the army were formed, as well as circumstances would admit, towards the right of the encampment, from which, by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn his left flank, but, in fact, to gain the road."* Under the personal direction of General St. Clair,^ "this was effected; and, as soon as it was open, the militia took along it, followed by the troops. Major Clarke, with his battalion, covering the rear." ®
As may be supposed, the retreat was a precipitate one, especially while the pursuit, which continued four miles, was continued.'^ The militia, panic-stricken, not only hastened from the field of bat- tle in the greatest confusion, but they actually threw away their ai-ms and ac- coutrements, as they hastened through the woods, — even after the enemy had ceased to pursue them, — in order that their progress might not be impeded by what, in the time of their greatest need, they had found so little use for.®
1 Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—' Ibid. ; Bur- nett's Notes, p. 125. — ' Report of Com. of Cong.
* Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—' Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, p. 50. — ° Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 124.—' Gen. St. Clair's Dis- patch, Nov. 9, 1791. Adj. -Gen. Sargent (Narrative, p. 38) says, " the enemy scarcely pursued beyond a mile and a half."— « Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791; St. Clair's Narrative, p. 47.
The camp and the artillery were aban- doned to the enemy — not a horse being left alive to draw them off, had it been otherwise practicable^ — and the spoils of the victors were exceedingly valua- ble to them.^
During the entire day the shattered remains of the army pursued their weary way through the wilderness ; and, a little after sunset, they reached Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles from the field of battle.^ At this place the First regiment was met ; but, as it would not add sufficient strength to the wreck of the army, it was deter- mined to leave the wounded at Fort Jefferson, and continue the retreat to Fort Washington.*
In this disastrous action the loss of the Americans was very severe — thirty- eight officers, and five hundred and ninety-three non-commissioned officers and privates having been killed or missing ; and twenty-one officers, and two hundred and forty-two non-com- missioned officers and privates wound- ed, of whom many subsequently died.^ Of the enemy's loss there is no reliable knowledge : and there is but little doubt that it was small when compared with that of the Amei'icans.^
Of the relative strength of the two there is, also, no definite knowledge. While the American forces numbered about sixteen hundred men;^ that of
' Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—" John Brick- ell's Narrative, (American Pioneer), i. p. 50; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Narrative, p. 43. — ' Gen. St. Clair's Dispatch, Nov. 9, 1791.—* Marshall's Washington, v. p. 395 ; Bur- nett's Notes, pp. 126, 127. — ' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 395.— « Ibid., p. 396.—'' Report of Com. of Cong. ; Mar- shall's Washington, v. p. 390 j Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Nar- rative, p. 35.
Chap. II.]
THE DEFEAT OF GENERAL St. CLAIR.
13
the enemy is said to have been from five hundred to fifteen hundred*/ and there is but little doubt that among the latter were many British subjects or disafi'ected Americans who were not less savage than their more swarthy associates. That a red-coated ofiicer on horseback directed the enemy's movements has appeared in the evi- dence;^ while there is no doubt ex- pressed, by the writers of that day, that the British post at Detroit — one of the posts which had been retained, in violation of the treaty of 1783 — sup- plied arms and ammunition for the pur- poses of the war.^
Of the causes of this disaster, there appears to be but little doubt. The commander-in-chief was one of the few genei-al officers who had passed through the War of the Revolution with the en- tire confidence of General Washington. A veteran of the war with the French, he possessed a degree of professional skill which but few others enjoyed ; while the honest sincerity of the man had rendered him, as similar traits of character had rendered some others, the object of ridicule and persecution by the cliques and cabals of that day, without impairing the confidence which his commander had reposed in him. He had assumed the command of the expedition in question, at the request of the President ; but the inefficiency of
• Chief-justice Marshall supposes there were " from one thousand to fifteen hundred warriors" {Life, of Washington, V. p. 396). The Com. of Cong, reported that the opin- ions of witnesses varied from five hundred to twelve hun- dred. Adj. -Gen. Sargent (Narrative, p. 35) estimates them at " upwards of a thousand."
"^ Testimony of Ensign Pope before the Com. of Cong.
= Adj. -Gen. Winthrop Sargent's Diary, Nov. 22, 1792.
the Department of War,^ the favoritism or the speculation which attended the movements of the Quartermaster's De- partment,* the refuse of the Eastern population which was sent out as his troops,* the discontent or the heart- burnings which crept into the force from the improper selection of officers, and other causes,* not less influential, among the troops, had rendered his skill and his patriotism entirely un- availing. He asked for a court-martial, but the service did not furnish officers of a grade to form a court for his trial.^ A committee of the House of Repre- sentatives, late in the season, inquired into the circumstances which led to the defeat, taking the testimony of both officers and civilians, and in its report it conceived "it but justice to the com- mander-in-chief to say, that, in its opin- ion, the failure of the late expedition can in no respect be imputed to his conduct, either at any time before or during the action ; but that, as his con- duct in all the preparatory arrange- ments was marked with peculiar ability and zeal, so his conduct during the ac- tion furnished strong testimonies of his coolness and intrepidity."^ The claims of party, however, prevented the Con-
1 Burnett's Notes, p. 128 ; St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 10-13, 41-44; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Adj. -Gen. Sar- gent's Diary, Oct. 10, 14. — ^ Burnett's Notes, p. 127 ; Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 20-22, 40, 41 ; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Testimony of Gen. Harmar ; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 10, 14, 17.
' Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 14, 45, 266 ; Report of Com. of Cong. ; Testimony of Col. Mentgetz, Inspector ; Adj. -Gen. Sargent's Diary, Oct. 10 (pp. 9, 10).
^ Gen. St. Clair's Narrative, pp. 36, 37.
^ Marshall's Washington, v. p. 397 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 142.
* Report of Committee of Congress.
14
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
gress from acting on this report ; ^ and General St. Clair, like many other wor- thy men in more recent times, suflPered the consequences of persecution — al- though he retained the confidence of
General Washington — and he died the death of the needy, without a recog- nition of his merits on the part of that country for which he had suffered so severely.
D OCUME^T.
GENERAL ST. CLAIR TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
Fort Washington, Nov. 9, 1791.
Sir: — Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army under my command got back to this place, and I have now the painful task to give you an account of as warm and unfortunate an action as almost any that has been fought, in which every corps was engaged and worsted, except the First regiment— that had been de- tached uf)on a service I had the honor to in- form you of in my last dispatch, and had not joined me.
On the 3d instant the army had reached a creek about twelve yards wide, running to the southward of west, which I believe to have been the River St. Mary, that empties itself into the Miami of the lake, at the Miami vil- lage, about four o'clock in the afternoon, hav- ing marched near nine miles, and were imme- diately encamped upon a very commanding piece of ground in two lines, having the above- mentioned creek in front. The riijht wins, composed of Butler's, Clarke's, and Patterson's battalions, commanded by Major-general But- ler, formed the first line ; and the left wing, consisting of Bedincrer's and Gaither's bat- talions, and the Second regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Darke, formed the second line, with an interval between them of about seventy yards, which was all the ground would allow.
The right flank was pretty well secured by the creek, a steep bank, and Faulkner's corps ; some of the cavalry and their pickets covered
' Burnett's Notes, pp. 128, 129.
the left flank. The militia were thrown over the creek, and advanced about a quarter of a mile and encamped in the same order. There were a few Indians who appeared on the oppo- site side of the creek, but fled with the utmost precipitation on the advance of the militia. At this place, which I judged to be about fifteen miles from the Miami village, I had determined to throw up a slight work, the plan of Avhich was concerted that evening with Major Fergu- son, wherein to have deposited the men's knap- sacks, and every thing else that was not of ab- solute necessity, and to have moved on to at- tack the enemy as soon as the First regiment had come up; but they did not permit me to execute either ; for on the fourth, about half an hour before sunrise, and when the men had been just dismissed from the parade (for it was a constant practice to have them all under arms a considerable time before daylight), an attack was made upon the militia, those gave way in a very little time, and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battalion, which, together with jDart of Clarke's, threw them into considerable disorder, which, notwithstanding the exertions of both, and those oflicers, was never altogether remedied, the Indians following close at their heels. The fire, however, of the first line, checked them, but almost instantly a very heavy attack began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was extended to the second like- wise. The great weight of it was directed against the centre of each, where the artillery was placed, and from which the men were re- peatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no great effect from our fire, and confusion be- ginning to spread from the great number of
Chap. II.]
DOCUMENT.
15
men wlio were falling in all quarters, it became necessary to try what could be done by the bayonet. Lieutenant-colonel Darke was ac- cordingly ordered to make a charge with part of the second line, and to turn the left flank of the enemy. This was executed with great spirit. The Indians instantly gave way, and were driven back three or four hundred yards ; but for want of a sufiicient number of riflemen to pursue this advantage, they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to give back in their turn. At this moment they had entered our camp by the left flank, having pushed back the trooi:)s that were posted there. Another charge was made here by the Second regiment, But- ler's and Clarke's battalions, with equal effect, and it was repeated several times, and always with success. In all of them many men were lost, and particularly the officers, which, with so raw troops, was a loss altogether irreme- diable.
In that just spoken of, made by the Second regiment and Butler's battalion, Major Butler was dangerously wounded, and every oflScer of the Second regiment fell except three, one of whom, Mr. Greaton, was shot through the body. Our artillery being now silenced, and all the officers killed, except Captain Ford, who was very badly wounded, and more than half the army fallen, being cut off" from the road, it be- came necessary to attempt the regaining it, and to make a retreat, if possible. To this purpose the remains of the army were formed, as well as circumstances Avould admit, towards the right of the encampment, from which, by the way of the second line, another charge was made upon the enemy, as if with the design to turn their right flank, but, in fact, to gain the road. This was effected ; and as soon as it was open, the militia took along it, followed by the troops. Major Clarke, with his battalion, cover- ing the rear. The retreat, in these circum- stances, was, you may be sure, a very precipi- tate one — it was, in fact, a flight.
The camp and the artillery were abandoned ; but that was unavoidable, for not a horse was left alive to have drawn it off", had it otherwise been practicable. But the most disgraceful part of the business is, that the greatest part of the men threw away their arms and accoutre-
ments, even after the jjursuit (which continued about four miles) had ceased. I found the road strewed with them for many miles, but was not able to remedy it ; for, having had all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one that could not be pricked out of a walk, I could not get forward myself; and the orders I sent forward, either to halt the front, or to prevent the men from parting with their arms, were unattend- ed to.
The rout continued quite to Fort Jefferson, twenty-nine miles, which was reached a little after sunsetting.
The action began about half an hour before sunrise, and the retreat was attempted at half an hour after nine o'clock.
I have not yet been able to get returns of the killed and wounded ; but Major-general Butler, Lieutenant-colonel Oldham, of the militia. Major Ferguson, Major Heart, and Major Clarke, are among the former. Colonel Sai'gent, my Adju- tant-general, Lieutenant-colonels Darke and Gib- son, Major Butler, and the Viscount Malartie, who served me as an aide-de-camp, are among the latter ; and a great number of captains and subalterns in both.
I have now, sir, finished my melancholy tale — a tale that will be felt sensibly by every one that has sympathy for private distress, or for public misfortune. I have nothing, sir, to lay to the charge of the troops but their want of discipline, which, from the short time they had been in service, it was impossible they should have acquired, and which rendered it very dif- ficult, when they were thrown into confusion, to reduce them again to order, and is one rea- son why the loss has fallen so heavily upon the officers, who did every thing in their power to effect it ; neither were my own exertions want- ing ; but, worn down with illness, and suffering under a painful disease, unable either to mount or dismount a horse without assistance, they were not so great as they otherwise would, or, perhaps, ought to have been. We were over- powered by numbers ; but it is no more than justice to observe, that though composed of so many difiierent species of troops, the utmost harmony prevailed through the whole army during the campaign.
:{: H: H: * 4: «
16
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
I have said, sir, in a former part of this let- ter, that we were overpoAvered by numbers ; of that, however, I have no other evidence than the weight of the fire, which was always a most deadly one, and generally delivered from the ground, few of the enemy showing themselves on foot, except when they were charged ; and that in a few minutes our whole camp, which extended above three hundred and fifty yards
in length, was entirely surrounded and attacked on all sides.
****** With every sentiment of respect and regard, I have the honor to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Arthur St. Clair.
The Honorable Major-general Knox, Secretary of War.
CHAPTER III
November 6, 1T92.
THE ACTION NEAR FORT St. CLAIR, OHIO.
The outrages committed by the sav- ages, on the Western frontiers, contin- ued without abatement ; and the sev- eral expeditions which had moved against them, from time to time, had served rather to exasperate than to cripple them. The frontier settlements, therefore, as well as the troops which had been ordered to occupy the ad- vanced posts of the army, were made the constant objects of the enemy's as- saults ; and many and severe were the losses which were imposed on the set- tlers and the troops.^
One of these advanced posts — Fort St, Clair, near the present site of Eaton, the county-seat of Preble County, Ohio'^ — during this "reign of terror," to which allusion has been made, became the scene of an animated conflict between the troops and the Indians, from which much encouragement was received.
It appears that a detachment of about one hundred Kentucky mounted
' Burnett's Notes, p, 132 ; MarshalFs Kentucky, ii. pp. 39-41.—" Burnett's Notes, pp. 133, 134.
infantry (volunteers) were encamped near Fort St. Clair, and that, at day- break, on the morning of the sixth of November, 1*792, it was suddenly at- tacked, with great fury, by a large body of hostile Indians.^ No notice whatever of the approach of the enemy appears to have been given, from which it is to be inferred that no pickets or patrols had been thrown out to protect the camp, yet the troops appear to have resisted the assailants, even until the latter reached the line, and had en- gaged with the troops in a hand-to- hand conflict.^
Major John Adair, who commanded the detachment,® perceiving the des- perate character of the assault, ordered his men to fall back to a stockade, which had been erected for the purpose of stables, — about eighty yards in the
' Maj. Adair's Dispatch, Nov. 6 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 134 ; Letter of Gen. Wilkinson, dated Nov. 6, 1792, copied into the "Gazette of the United Slates," No. 381, Phila., Dec. 22, 1792.— ^ Maj. Adair's Dispatch, Nov. 6.
^ Ibid. ; Gren. Wilkinson's Dispatch to the Secretary of War, Nov. 6, 1792.
Chap. III.]
THE ACTION NEAR FORT St. CLAIR, OHIO.
rear of the line, — from which, it was properly supposed, a more advantage- ous defence could be made ; and the movement was executed with skill and success — the savages following closely after them, through the camp of the detachment/
From this point Major Adair ordered Lieutenant Madison to attempt to turn the enemy's right flank; while similar orders were sent to Lieutenant Hail to make a corresponding movement on the left. The latter having fallen be- fore the order reached him. Major Adair led the attack on the left, in which he was accompanied by Ensigns Flinn and Buchanan. Both these par- ties "made a manly push;" and, al- though Lieutenant Madison was speedi- ly wounded, and, with his party, re- treated to the fort, the enemy fled, carrying aivay with tJiem^ Jiowever^ al\ except five or six^ of the volunteers' horses?
After pursuing the fugitives through the camp, at about six hundred yards beyond it the troops were again turned on by the Indians, and the battle was renewed with great warmth. Soon afterwards Major Adaii- discovered a party of sixty savages who were mov- ing against his light flank, with the evi- dent intention of turning it ; and as it was impossible to extend his line so far as to prevent that purpose, he ordered his men to fall back, a second time, and take a position within the encampment. This retrograde movement — at all times
' Maj. Adair's Dispatch, Nov. 6. — ^ Ibid. ; Burnett's Notes, p. 134. Vol. n.— 3
a hazardous one, when made in the pres- ence of an enemy — was again made with coolness, precision, and success, although the Indians followed closely after them, and renewed the action when the troops halted.^
From this, their first position, now re-occupied, that portion of the troops which remained on the field continued the conflict ; and, soon afterwards, two hours after the action commenced, the enemy retired, without being pursued by the volunteers,^ whose ammunition was nearly expended, although a fresh supply had been sent to them from the fort during the action.^
During this determined and compli- cated engagement the loss of the troops was, comparatively, small — six killed, five wounded, and four missing, being the reported loss. Of the enemy's loss, no definite account has been given.*
The result of this skirmish, which, in itself, amounted to but little, was very beneficial, and the country resounded with praises of Major Adair and his party. The organs of government con- veyed the disjDatches to the people, in all their minutia, and there is but little doubt that the eclat of this engagement was greatly beneficial in the prepai-a- tions which were then in progress for the campaign under General Wayne, which, in the following year, crushed the power of the savages.
1 Maj. Adair's Dispatch, Nov. 6 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 134. — ^ Ibid. ; Gen. Wilkinson's letter, dated Nov. 6, in " Gazelle of United Slates." Mr. Butler {Hist. Kentucky, ii. p. 41) says the troops, " after a gallant resistance, -were compelled to retreat to the fort." — ^ Maj. Adair's Dispatch, Nov. 6.—'' Ibid.; Burnett's Notes, p. 134.
DOCUMEJ^T.
Fort St. Clair, November 6, 1792.
Sir : — This morning, about the first appear- ance of day, the enemy attacked my camp within sight of this post. The attack was sud- den, and the enemy came on with a degree of courage that bespoke them warriors indeed. Some of my men were hand-in-hand wth them before we retreated, which however we did, about eighty yards, to a kind of stockade, in- tended for stables. We there made a stand. I then ordered Lieutenant Madison to take a party and gain their right flank, if possible. I called for Lieutenant Hail, to send to the left, but found he had been slain. I then led for- ward the men who stood near me, which, to- gether with the Ensigns Buchanan and Flinn, amounted to about twenty-five, and pressed the left of their centre, thinking it absolutely neces- sary to assist Madison. We made a manly push, and the enemy retreated, taking all our horses, except five or six. We drove them about six hundred yards through our camp, where they again made a stand, and we fought them some time ; two of my men were here shot dead.
At that moment I received information that the enemy was about to flank us on the right, and on turning that way, I saw about sixty of them running to that point. I had yet heard nothing of Madison. I then ordered my men to retreat, which they did with deliberation, heartily cursing the Indians, who pursued us close to our camp, where we again fought them until they gave way ; and when they retreated our ammunition was nearly expended, although we had been supplied from the gari-fson in the course of the action. I did not think proper to follow them again, but ordered my men into the garrison to draw ammunition. I returned, however, in a few minutes, to a hill, to which we had first driven them, where I found two of my men scalped, who were brought in. Since I began to write this, a few of the enemy ap- peared in sight, and I pursued them, with a
party, about a quarter of a mile, but could not overtake them, and did not think proper to go farther. Madison, whom I sent to the right, was, on his first attack, wounded, and obliged to retreat to the garrison, leaving a man or two dead.
To this misfortune I think the enemy are in- debted for the horses they have got ; had he gained their right flank, I once had possession of their left, and I think we should have routed them at that stage of the action, as we had them on the retreat. I have six killed and five wounded ; four men are missing. I think they went off, early in the action, on horseback, and are, I suppose, by this at Fort Hamilton.
My oflicers and a number of men distinguish- ed themselves greatly. Poor Hail died calling to his men to advance. Madison's bravery and conduct need no comment ; they are well known. Fhnn and Buchanan acted with a coolness and courage which does them much honor. Buchanan, after firing his gun, knocked down an Indian with the barrel. They have killed and taken a great number of the pack- horses. I intend following them this evening for some distance, to ascertain their route and strength, if possible. I can, with propriety, say that about fifty of my men fought with a bra- very equal to any men in the world, and had not the gaiTison been so nigh, as a place of safe- ty for the bashful, I think many more would have fought well.
The enemy have, no doubt, as many killed as myself; they left two dead on the ground, and I saw two carried off. Tlie only advantage they have gained is our horses, which is a capi- tal one, as it disables me from bringing the in- terview to a more serious and satisfactory de- cision.
I am sorry I cannot send you better news, and am, sir, your most obedient servant,
John Adair, Major Kentucky Mounted Infantry.
Brigadier-General Wilkinson.
CHAPTER IV.
Aug^ust 20, 1794.
THE BATTLE ON THE MIA MIS.
The progress of events on the West- ern frontiers has been, already, alluded to in the preceding chapters of this book ; and the depredations of the sav- ages continued with the same severity as before. General Wayne, the hero of Stony Point, had accepted the command which President Washington had ten- dered to him, but in doing so had stipu- lated that he should not be required to march into the wilderness until his al- lotted force was completely filled up, and so far disciplined as to justify the movement,^ Preparations for the en- suing campaign were immediately com- menced ; recruiting parties were sent out ; and the organization of the army progressed as rapidly as possible.^
Desiring, if possible, to avoid the ne- cessity of a hostile movement, while these preparations were in progress, the President attempted to reconcile the difficulties by negotiation, and foi* that purpose appointed General Benjamin Lincoln, Beverly Randolph, and Timo- thy Pickering, as Commissioners, to open negotiations with the Indians. In July, 1*793, these Commissioners were met at Niagara by Joseph Brant, with Colonel Butler, the British Superin- tendent of Indian Affairs, and about
I Burnett's Notes, p. 133. — '' Marshall's Washington, V. pp. 438, 439.
fifty Indians, and the negotiations were opened with every appearance of suc- cess. All parties thence proceeded to the mouth of the Detroit River, where the negotiations were continued several weeks, without success, and the Com- missioners returned without having ef- fected any thing.^
With the information of the failure of the negotiations referred to, prepara- tions for hostilities were actively re- newed; and, early in September, 1*793, General Wayne and his troops rendez- voused on the bank of the Ohio, between Cincinnati and Mill Creek, to which the General gave the name of '•'■Hob- ■soTi's Clioice^'' it being the only place, in that vicinity, which was suited for an encampment.^ The troops, both those already with him and the recruits who came in, were constantly and laborious- ly engaged in such military exercises as would be found useful in the peculiar service in which they were to be en- gaged ; and the General and his subor- dinate officers were actively engaged in perfecting the discipline and the ap- pointments of the army.^
On the seventh of October, 1*793, General Wayne moved the troops he
I Burnett's Notes, pp. 135-154 ; Marshall's Washing- ton, V. pp. 535-537.—" Marshall's Washington, v. pp. 644, 645 ; Geo. Will to John S. Williams, May 25, 1842 ; Burnett's Notes, pp. 167, 158.—' Burnett's Notes, p. 158.
20
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book H.
then had with him from " Hobson's Choice;"^ and, on the thirteenth of the same month, having arrived at a fork of the southwest branch of Miami, now called '■'■ Stillioater^'' six miles in advance of Fort Jefferson, he halted to await the arrival of provisions.'^ Near this spot — a short distance from Greenville, Ohio — General Wayne decided to take up his winter quarters, from which he was enabled to hold the enemy in check, and, at the same time, be en- abled to move with greater advantage on the opening of the spring.^
The encampment was called ^'■Green- ville ;''''*' and the spacious log buildings of which it was composed, and the works by which it was defended, se- cured, at once, the comfort and the safety of the army. He also took pos- session of the field of General St. Clair's defeat, and erected thereon a strong work, to which he gave the name of '■''Fort ReeoveryT^ The army remained at these posts until the latter part of July, 1794, during which period it was subjected to a constant and systematic course of instruction, under the eye of the energetic and accomplished com- mander-in-chief.®
During the nine months which the army was thus occupied, the enemy was not unemployed. In June, 1794, as- sisted by the British at Detroit and the Rapids of the Maumee, prepara- tions were secretly made to attack the advance post at Fort Recovery. On
» Burnett's Notes, p. 159. — ^ Atwater's Ohio, p. 147 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 159. — ' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 645. — ■* Burnett's Notes, p. 160. — ^ Marshall's Washing- ton, V. p. 645 ; Geo. Will to John S. Williams, May 25, 1842.—* Burnett's Notes, p. 168.
the morning of the twenty-ninth of June a provision-train had left Green- ville for the fort, under an escort of ninety riflemen and fifty dragoons, who were commanded by Major McMahon ; and, on the same evening, it had reached the fort in safety. On the next morn- ing this detachment, as well as the fort itself, was attacked by a very large body of the allied enemy ; and a severe conflict, ext(!nding through the greater part of the day, with varied success, en- sued. The detachment and the garri- son defended themselves with great courage ; and the enemy was repulsed with very heavy loss. During the night, which was very dark and foggy, the enemy succeeded in removing the greater part of his dead and wounded ; and, on the following morning, — Major McMahon's force having entered the fort, — the attack was renewed. An- other day was spent in this second at- tempt to seize the fort, with the like result ; and when the enemy, a second time was compelled to retire from the scene of his former triumph, he did so with a very heavy loss. The strength of the enemy has been estimated at from fifteen hundred to two thousand men ; and many of the bravest of the chiefs and warriors perished in the en- terprise. Among the Americans, Major McMahon, Captain Hartshorn, and Lieu- tenant Craig, and nineteen non-commis- sioned officers and privates were killed ; and Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Drake, and twenty-eight men were wounded.^
' Geo. Will to John S. Williams, May 25, 1842 ; Bur- nett's Notes, pp. 161-167.
Chap. IV.]
THE BATTLE ON THE MIAMIS.
21
A large body of mounted volunteers, from Keutuck}^, under General Scott, having joined the army,^ on the twenty- eighth of July, 1194, General Wayne moved from Greenville, and advanced to Fort Recovery, on his way to the In- dian settlements.^ With a view of per- plexing the enemy, before the army moved from Greenville, General Wayne took measures to deceive him concern- ing the line of march which would be taken — leading them to suppose that he would take either the Miami vil- lages, on his left, or the foot of the Rapids, on his right, while his real de- sign was to take neither of these, but a more central route, which was impracti- cable for an army, except in a very dry season.^ Although the army halted at Girty's-town, at the crossing of the St. Mary's River, during the second and third of August, and erected a fort there,* — in which Lieutenant Underhill and a hundred men were left to protect it,^ — it is said the enemy did not dis- cover its progress until it had come almost within sight of An Glaize, the great central post of the enemy, which it entered at half-past ten o'clock in the morning of the eighth of August.® It was afterwards discovered that the ene- my had been entirely uninformed of the movement of General Wayne, until the preceding day, when a deserter from the army — a foreigner, named Newman — had given the information
' Burnett's Notes, p. 168. — ^ Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour- nal of Gen. Wayne's Campaign, July 28, 1794.
^ Burnett's Notes, pp. 168, 169.—* Marshall's Washing- ton, V. p. 648, Note; Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour, of Gen. Wayne's Campaign, Aug. 2 and 3, 1794. — ' Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 4.^ — ' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 648 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 169.
which enabled the inhabitants to es- cape.^
The beauty of this place, as well as the character and extent of the im- provements around it, appear to have elicited the admiration of all who wit- nessed them. An eye-witness says, on this subject, "This place far excels in beauty any in the Western country, and is believed equalled by none in the Atlantic States. Here are vegetables of every kind in abundance, and we have marched four or five miles in corn- fields down the An Glaize, and there is not less than one thousand acres of corn around the town."^
After erecting a strong stockade fort, at this place, which he named Fort De- fiance^ on the fifteenth of August, Gen- eral Wayne resumed his march ;* be- fore doing which he dispatched a flag to the enemy, with an urgent appeal for peace.^ This flag was returned^ — • and met by the army, on the sixteenth — with an evasive answer;® and small bodies of the enemy commenced to show themselves to observe the move- ments or to check the progress of the army.'^
On the nineteenth of August the army was engaged in throwing up works to secure the stores and baggage
' John Brickell's Narrative. — ' Lieut. Boyer's Daily Journal, Aug. 8. See also Burnett's Notes, p. 169.
'Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 9 to Aug. 14. A plan and description of this fort was published in the Ammcan Pioneer, ii. pp. 386, 387.
■* Marshall's Washington, v. p. 649 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 172 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 649 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 147; Burnett's Notes, pp. 170-172.
* Lieut. Boyer's Daily Journal, Aug. 16 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 172.
■■ Lieut. Boyer's Daily Journal, Aug. 17, 18.
22
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
of the ai-my ; ' and at eight o'clock, on the morning of the twentieth, it re- sumed its march against the enemy, who had taken a position about five miles in advance of the army, and there awaited its approach.^
The order of march was that which General Wayne had made in the open- ing of the campaign, and it was well adapted for the peculiarities of the ser- vice. The regulars, known as " the Le- gion^'' moved in a column on the right, its right being covered by the river ; a brigade of mounted volunteers, under General Todd, moved in a parallel col- umn on the left ; a select battalion of mounted volunteers, under Majoi- Price, moved so far in front of the Legion, that timely notice could be given in case of an attack ; another advance guard, under Captain Cook, also pre- ceded the column ; and a brigade of mounted volunteei'S, under General Bar- ber, protected the rear.^
After advancing about five miles, about eleven o'clock, Major Price's bat- talion was received with so severe a fire fi-om the enemy — who had posted him- self in three lines within supporting dis- tance of each other ; and was sheltered by the fallen timber which had been prostrated by a recent tornado* — that it was compelled to fall back in the ut- most confusion, carrying with it the ad- vance guard of the Legion, commanded
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 649 ; Lieut. Boyei's Daily Jour., Aug. 19 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 172. This work was called ''Camp Deposile." — ' Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 20 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 650 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 148 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 172 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.—* Miushall's Washington, v. p. 650 ; Bur- nett's Notes, p. 172.
by Captain Cook.-^ Following up the advantage which this sudden panic had produced, the enemy pressed forwajd and endeavored to turn the right flank of the army, — next to the river, — but those who had retreated rallied ; and having been joined by part of Captain Springer's battalion of riflemen and by Captain Lewis's light-infantry, they drove back the assailants, with heavy loss.^
Meanwhile the Legion had formed in two lines, and had pressed forward, with orders to chai'ge the savages and to drive them from their hiding-j^laces, behind the logs and fallen trees, which at once had afibrded shelter to them and prevented the cavalry from ma- noeuvering.^ The orders also directed that as soon as the enemy had fired and risen, a close and well-directed fire should be thrown on his back, fol- lowed by a brisk charge, in order to prevent him from reloading.* At the same time Captain Campbell, of the Le- gion cavalry, was commanded to turn the left flank of the enemy, — next to the liver, — while Major-general Scott, with a large body of mounted men, by a circuitous route, was ordered to turn the right flank, which was extended nearly two miles from the river.^
These orders were obeyed with spirit and alacrity ; but the weight and ex-
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 650 ; Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 20 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — ^ Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 20. — ' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 650 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 148 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.— ■* Marshall's Washing- ton, V. p. 650 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 148 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 173 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
^ Marshall's Washington, v. p. 651 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 173 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
e
^
^
m I
Chap. IY.]
THE BATTLE ON" THE MIAMIS.
23
tent of the enemy's fire soon showed that he was in full force, and that his intention was to turn the left flank of the American line.^ To prevent this the second line of the Legion was or- dered to cover the left of the first line;^ and both dashed forward with the greatest success.^ Without appear- ing to offer much resistance, where re- sistance would have been useless, the allied enemy fled before the bayonets of the Legion with so much precipita- tion that, although every possible eifort was made for that purpose, the mount- ed men could not reach their proper positions ; and, within an hour from the first attack, the enemy was diiven two miles, by a force less than -one half his own.*
Without attempting to rally, the en- emy abandoned the field, and fled in every direction, leaving the victors in quiet possession of the field.^ The flight of the fuo^itives havins; been cut off from the river, by Captain Campbell, the prairie was the only course which had been left open to them. In this direc- tion, therefore, they fled ; and there the cavaby enjoyed a fine opportunity to display their activity and courage by pursuing them, and many were killed in that quarter.®
The number of the allies — one third of whom were British^ — was estimated
' Mai'shall's Washington, v. p. 651 ; Lieut. Boyev's Daily Journal, Aug. 20 ; Burnett's Note.s, p. 173 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — ' Marshall's Washing- ton, V. p. 651 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 148 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — ° Marshall's Washington, v. p. 651.
* Ibid.; Burnett's Notes, p. 173 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.—^ Atwater's Ohio, p. 149 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.—^ Burnett's Notes, p. 174.
' Lieut. Boyer's Daily Journal, Aug. 20.
at from fifteen hundred to two thou- sand men;^ while, as before stated, the Americans who were actually engaged did not exceed nine hundred.^ The loss of the latter was. Captain Mis Campbell, Lieutenant Towles, three ser- geants, and twenty-eight men, hilled' and Captains Slough, Prior, Van Ren- sellaer, and Kawlins, Lieutenants Smith and McKenney, Ensign Duncan, four sergeants, three corporals, two musi- cians, and eighty-four men, wounded?
The British had erected a very strong post immediately in the rear of the en- emy's position, and occupied it in great force,* yet the -enemy was completely routed, and his force broken down. An angry correspondence was cari'ied on by General Wayne and the commander of this garrison, in which the unflinching courage of the former is remarkably prominent ;^ and there is but little doubt that the least interference on the part of the latter would have called into immediate requisition the skill and courage which were displayed, j^ears be- fore, at Stony Point.
The army remained in front of the battle-ground three days and nights, during which time all the villages and cornfields, for several miles, on both sides the river, were completely de- stroyed.® The houses and stores of
' Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 20 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 174 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
2 Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — ^ Returns of Killed, &c., appended to Gen. Wayne's Dispatch, Aug. 28.
' Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.—' Lieut. Boy- er's Daily Jour., Aug. 21. This correspondence, in full, ■will be found in Burnett's Notes, pp. 176-179.
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 651 ; Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 20 to 23 ; Burnett's Notes, p. 179; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28.
24
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
Colonel McKee, the British agent, and those of all other traders and Canadian settlers, in that vicinity, shared the same fate.^
On the twenty-third of August the army fell back to Camp Deposit, whence it marched on the morning of the bat- tle;^ and thence, on the next day, to- ward Foi't Defiance, burning and de- sti'oying all the villages and cornfields which were near the line of march.^ After reaching Fort Defiance and ob- taining a supply of provisions, on the foui'teenth of September the army pro- ceeded to the Miami villages, which had been visited by General Plarmar in 1790, and constructed a strong work, which was called Fort Wayne^ and placed under the command of Colonel Hamtramck.* The volunteers were af- terwards marched to Fort Washington
(^Cincinnati) and mustered out of ser- vice ; ^ while the Legion returned to Greenville and entered into winter quarters.^
This victory, so unexpected and so complete, is said to have broken the power of the enemy, and to have saved the country from the evil of a general Indian War. In the South, as well as in the Northwest, the evidences of un- easiness which prevailed among the tribes indicated approaching tiouble ; while the machinations of the British agents, and the restless animosity, added to the great abilities and general influ- ence of Joseph Brant, rendered the prospects of peace by no means flatter- ing.^ A general treaty of peace speed- ily followed, and, during several years, the quiet of the country was undis- turbed.
DOCUMEJNTT.
Head-quarters, Grand Glaizb, August 28.
SiK : — It is with infinite pleasure that I now announce to you the brilUant success of the Federal army under my command in a general action with the combined force of the hostile Indians, and a considerable number of the vol- unteers and militia of Detroit, on the 20th inst., on the banks of the Miamis, in the vicinity of the British post and garrison at the foot of the Rapids.
The army advanced from this place on the 15th and arrived at Roche de Bout on the 18th, and the 19th we were employed in making a
' Marshall's Washington, v. p. 651 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — ° Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 23.— » Ibid., Aug. 24 to 27 ; Gen. Wayne to Sec. of War, Aug. 28. — * Lieut. Boyer's Daily Jour., Aug. 27 to Oct. 22 ; B. Van Cleve's Memoranda (with his plan of the fort), Oct. 27.
temjaorary post for the reception of our stores and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of the enemy, who were encamped behind a thick bushy wood and the British fort.
At eight o'clock on the morning of the twen- tieth the army again advanced in column, agree- ably to the standing order of march, the Legion on the right, its right flank covered by the Miamis, one brigade of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brigadier-general Todd, and the other in the rear, under Brigadier-general Bar- ber. A selected battalion of mounted volun- teers moved in front of the Legion, commanded by Major Price, who was directed to keep suf- ficiently advanced, was to give timely notice for
1 Burnett's Notes, p. 181.—= Ibid., pp. 181, 182. ' Marshall's Washington, v. pp. 652, 653 ; Atwater's Ohio, p. 149.
Chap. IV.]
DOCUMENT.
25
the troops to form in case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the Indians would decide for peace or war.
After advancing about five miles, Major Price's coriDS received so severe a fire from the enemy, who were secreted in the woods and high grass, as to compel them to retreat.
The Legion was immediately formed in two lines, principally in a close, thick wood, which extended for mUes on our left, and for a very considerable distance in front, the ground being covered with old fallen timber, probably occa- sioned by a tornado, which rendered it imprac- ticable for the cavalry to act with efiect, and afforded the enemy the most favorable covert for their mode of warfare. The savages were formed in three lines, within supporting distances of each other, and extending for near two miles at right angles with the river. I soon discov- ered, from the weight of their fire and extent of their fines, that the enemy were in full force in front, in possession of their favorite ground, and endeavoring to turn our left flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line to advance to support the first, and directed Major-general Scott to gain and turn the right flank of the savages, with the whole of the momited volun- teers, by a circuitous route ; at the same time I ordered the front line to advance and charge vnth. trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their coverts, at the point of the bayonet, and when up to deliver a close and well-directed fire on their backs, followed by a brisk charge, so as not to give them time to load again.
I also ordered Captain Robert Mis Campbell, who commanded the Legionary Cavalry, to turn the left flank of the enemy next the river, and which afforded a favorable field for that corjas to act in. All those orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude, but such was the im- petuosity of the charge, by the first line of in- fantry, that the Indians and Canadian militia and volunteers were drove from all their cov- erts in so short a time, that although every pos- sible exertion was used by the officers of the second line of the Legion, and by Generals Scott, Todd, and Barbie, of the mounted vol- unteers, to gam their proper position, but part uf each could get up in season to particij^ate in the action, the enemy being drove, in the course
Vol. II —4
of one hour, more than two miles, through the thick wood already mentioned, by less than one half their number.
From every account, the enemy amounted to two thousand combatants, the troops actually engaged against them were short of nine hun- dred. This horde of savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves to flight, and dispersed with terror and dismay, leaving our victorious army in full and quiet possession of the field of battle, which terminated under the infiuence of the guns of the British garrison, as you will ob- serve by the inclosed correspondence between Major Campbell, the commandant, and myself, upon the occasion.
The bravery and conduct of every officer be- longing to the army, from the Generals down to the Ensigns, merit my highest approbation.
There were some, however, whose rank and situation j^laced their conduct in a very conspic- uous point of view, and which I observed with pleasure and the most lively gratitude ; among whom I must beg leave to mention Brigadier- general Wilkinson and Colonel Hamtramck, the commandants of the ria^ht and left wino^s of the Legion, whose brave example inspired the troops. To these I must add the names of my faithful and gallant aids-de-ca^np^ Captains de Butts and Thomas Lewis, and Lieutenant Har- rison, who, with the Adjutant-general, Major Mills, rendered the most essential service, by communicating my orders in every direction, and by their conduct and bravery exciting the troops to jjress for victory.
Lieutenant Covington, upon whom the com- mand of the cavalry now devolved, cut down two savages with his own hand ; Lieutenant Webb one in turning the left fiank.
The wounds received by Captains Slough and Prior, and Lieutenant Campbell Smith (an extra aid-de-camp to General Wilkinson of the Le- gionary Infantry), and Captain Van Rensselaer, of the dragoons ; Captain Rawlins, Lieutenant McKenney, and Ensign Duncan, of the mounted volunteers, bear honorable testimony of their bravery and conduct.
Captains Howell, Lewis, and Brock, with their companies of light-infantry, had to sustain an unequal fire for some time, which they supported with fortitude ; in fact, every officer and soldier
26
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
who had an ojjportunity to come into action, displayed that true bravery which will always insure success. And here permit me to declare, that I never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for action, than appeared to pervade the whole of the mounted volunteers ; and I am well persuaded that had the enemy maintained their favorite ground for one half hour longer they would have most severely felt the prowess of that corps.
But whilst I pay this just tribute to the living, I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom we have to lament the early death of those worthy and brave officers. Captain Mis Camjjbell, of the dragoons, and Lieutenant Towles, of the light-iufantry of the Legion, who fell in the first charge.
Inclosed is a particular return of the killed and wounded — the loss of the enemy was more than double that of the Federal army — the woods were strewed for a considerable distance Avith dead bodies of Indians and their white auxiliaries, the latter armed with British mus- kets and bayonets.
"We remained three days and nights on the banks of the Miamis, in front of the field of battle ; during which time all the houses and cornfields were consumed and destroyed for a considerable distance both above and below Fort Miamis, as well as within pistol-shot of that garrison, who were compelled to remain tacit spectators of this general devastation and conflagration, among which were the houses, stoi-es, and property of Colonel McKee, the British Indian Agent, and principal stimulator of the war now existing between the United States and the savages.
The army retm-ned to this place on the 27th, by easy marches, laying waste the villages and cornfields for about fifty miles on each side of the Miamis ; there remain yet a number of
villages and a great quantity of corn to be con- sumed or destroyed upon Au Glaize and the Miamis, above this place, which will be efiected in the course of a few days.
In the interim we shall improve Fort De- fiance ; and as soon as the escort returns with the necessary supplies from Greenville and Fort Recovery the army will proceed to the Miamis villages, in order to accomplish the object of the campaign.
It is, however, not improbable that the ene- my may make one desperate effbi't against the army, as it is said that a reinforcement was hourly expected at Fort Miamis from Niagara, as well as numerous tribes of Indians living on the margins and islands of the lakes.
This is a business rather to be wished for than dreaded, whilst the army remains in force ; their numbers will only tend to confuse the savages, and the victory will be the more com- plete and decisive, and which may eventually insure a permanent and happy peace.
Under these impressions, I have the honor to be, your most obedient and very humble ser- vant,
Anthony Wayne.
The Hon. Maj.-Gen. Knox, Secretary of War.
Return of the hilled^ wounded, and missing of the Federal army, commanded ly Maj.- Gen. Wayne, in the action of the 20th August, 1794.
Total. — JTilled. — One captain, one lieuten- ant, three sergeants, twenty-eight privates.
Wounded. — Four captains, two lieutenants, one ensign, four sergeants, three corporals, two musicians, eighty-four privates.
******* John Mills, Major of Infantry and Adj.- Gen.
CHAPTER Y.
February 9, 1799.
THE CAPTURE OF L'INSURGENTE.
While the relations of France witli the United States, during the War of the Revolution, had been productive of great benefit to both countries, — to the latter in the more speedy and effectual establishment of their independence, and to the former in the injury which the dismemberment of the British do- minions had inflicted on the ancient en- emy of France, — the progress of events, after the establishment of peace, had thrown jealousy and ill-will into the councils of both nations, and discord and animosity had gradually crept in and disturbed theii* peace.
The commerce of America was har- assed by the cruisers of republican France; her vessels seized, carried into French ports, and condemned, on the plea that they contained property which belonged to British subjects — a nation with which Fi'ance was at war ; obsolete statutes were revived as pre- texts under Avhich the seizures could be sustained ; and treaty stipulations, which should have governed the action of both governments, were disregarded by the French, in its misguided zeal, and in its malignant opposition to the monarchical enemies of the Republic.-^
Within the boundaries of the United States, also, the agents of the French
1 Hiklreth's United States, v pp. 50, 51, 65.
republic were also busily engaged in fostering a spirit of dissension and dis- union ; while the violent partisan feel- ings of both the great political parties inta which the country had been di- vided,— the Federalists in opposition to, and the Republicans in extenuation of, the outrages of the authorities of re- publican France, — served rather to en- courage than to check the insolence of the Directoiy, and the officers who bore its commissions,^
Alarmed by the unfriendly menaces of France, the Congress of the United States, in 1797, had organized a mili- tary force of eighty thousand men ; taken steps for strengthening the de- fences of the harbors ; ordered the equipment of three frigates ; prohibit- ed the exportation of arms and am- munition ; and adopted other measures which a defensive policy demanded.^ Soon afterwards General Washington was called to the command of the armies of the United States, and the country prepared for what appeared to be an inevitable war.^
Among the earlier of the ships which were constructed for the naval estab- lishment of the United States, under the Act of Congress of March 27, 1794,
> Hildreth, v. p. 57. — ^ Gibbs' Administration of Wash- ington and Adams, ii. p. 41. — ' Ibid-, p. 59.
28
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
was tlie Constellation^ a frigate of thir- ty-eiglit guns — twenty-eight eigbteen- pounders on tlie main deck, and ten lighter pieces above.^ At the period in question, this ship was commanded by Captain Thomas Truxtun ; and, with the greater part of the naval force of the republic, was cruising in the West Indies to protect the commerce of the United States. About noon, on the ninth of February, having left the Richmond and Norfolk to convoy some merchant vessels from St. Christopher's to the United States, while cruising off Nevis, Captain Truxtun discovered a large ship to the southward.^ As the Constellation was to the windward,^ Captain Truxtun bore down towards the stranger, when she ran up the American colors ; but being unable to answer the private signals, both Amer- ican and British, which Captain Trux- tun displayed, her character was sus- pected ; and, by the usual challenge, of a gun fired to windward,* and by the display of French colors, the suspicions of her pursuer were soon afterwards confirmed.^
The chase continued three hours, and as " this was the first opportunity that had occurred, since the close of the Revolution, for an American vessel of war to get alongside of an enemy, of a force likely to make a combat certain, the ofiicers and men of the Gonstellor tion displayed the greatest eagerness to
1 Cooper's Naval Hist., i. pp. 266, 267—' Capt. Trux- tun to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799. — ' Cooper's Naval Hist., i. p. 297.—'' Capt. Truxtun {Letter to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799) says this gun was fired to " leeward," while all other authorities say it was to " windward."
'• Capt. Truxtun' s letter to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799 ; Cooper's Naval History, 1. p. 297.
engage."^ Every sail on the Constella- tion was spread to the breeze, and preparation for action was made with the utmost alacrity.^ About two o'clock the enemy's main-topmast went overboard ; but she was quickly cleared of the wreck, and put before the wiud.^ At a quarter past three o'clock, Nevis bearing w. s. w., six leagues distant, the Constellation ranged alongside the chase, when the latter hailed the former, sev- eral times, but received no reply.* The Constellation ran under the enemy's lee, in order that her guns might be worked with greater facility ; ^ and as soon as she had secured a position "for every shot to do execution," she opened a close and well-directed fire, which was returned with great spirit.® Captain Truxtun had previously ordered the lieutenants who commanded divisions of the crew, " to load with two round shot, and to fire directly into the ene- my's huU,"^ and the effects of this order, notwithstanding the skill and efficiency of the enemy, were soon visi- ble. After raking her several times, and securing a position athwart the enemy's stern, which threatened very serious results,® at about half-j^ast four o'clock,^ the Constellation had so far
' Cooper's Naval Hist., i. p. 297. — ° A St. Christopher's paper, inclosed in Capt. Truxtun's letter to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 16, 1799. — ^ The St. Christopher's paper says it oc- curred at half-past 2 P. M. ; Lieut. Kogers {Letter to Maj. Stod- dart, Feb. 15, 1799) says, " at 2 p. m.; " and Lieut. Sterrett {Letter to his brother) says, "at 3 P. M." — ^ Capt. Truxtun to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799 ; Lieut. Kogers to Maj. Stoddart, Feb. 15, 1799 ; St. Christopher's paper.
' Lieut. Rogers to Maj. Stoddart, Feb. 15, 1799.
» Capt. Truxtun's letter to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799.
' Lieut. Eogers to Maj. Stoddart, Feb. 15, 1799.
« Ibid.— » Capt. Truxtun to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 1799. Lieut. Eogers (Letter to Maj. Stoddart) says she struck "erf a quarter-past four p. M. "
Chap. V.]
THE CAPTURE OF L'INSURGENTE.
29
gained the advantage, that the enemy struck her colors and surrendered.^
Lieutenant Rogers was ordered to take possession of the prize, and to send her captain and first lieutenant on board of the Constellation;'^ when it appeared that the prize was the French frigate L^ Inaurgente^ one of the fastest vessels afloat, and the finest vessel in the French navy.^ She mounted four thirty-six pounders, two twenty-four pounders, two eighteen-pounders, twen- ty-four twelve -pounders, eight six- pounders, and eight brass swivels — forty-eight pieces in all* — and was manned with four hundred and nine men,^ of whom twenty-nine were killed, twenty-two badly wounded, ai^d nine- teen wounded.® The vessel was, also, badly cut ujd in her hull, masts, and riffo-inD'-J audit was with considerable difiiculty that she was carried into port.^
The Constellation was considerably injured in her masts and rigging;^ while of her crew only three — Midship- man McDonough, and John Andi'ews and Thomas Wilson, ordinary seamen — were wounded ; Neal Harvey, an- other of her crew, ha^^ng been run through by Lieutenant Sterrett, during the action, for cowardice.-^**
It is said^^ that M. Bureaut, the com- mander of the Insurgente^ was impris-
' Capt. Truxtim to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10. 1799 ; St. Christopher's paper ; Lieut. Rogers to Maj. Stoddart, Feb. 15, 1799 ; Lieut. Sterrett to his brother. — ^ Lieut. Rogers to Maj. Stoddart, Feb. 15, 1799.—^ Capt. Truxtuii to Sec. of Xavy, Feb. 10, 1799.—* Ibid., Feb. 16, 1799.—'' Ibid.
" Ibid., Feb. 14, 1799 ; Lieut. Sterrett to his brother.
' St. Christopher's paper. — ' Capt. Truxton to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10, 14, and 16, 1799.—' St. Christopher's pa- per ; Capt. Truxtun to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 10. — " Lieut Sterrett to his brother. — " Advice from St. Johns, An- tigua, in Claypole's American Daily Advertiser, No. 6955, Philadelphia, Friday, Starch 29, 1799.
oned on a charge of cowardice, when he reached Guadaloupe ; but there ap- pears, from the record, that such a charge could not have been made on any just grounds. In the United States, " the result of this engagement pro- duced great exultation, and it was deemed a proof of an aptitude to nau- tical service, that was very grateful to the national pride. Without pausing to examine details, the country claimed it as a victory of a thirty-eight over a forty; and the new marine was, at once, proclaimed to be equal to any in the world; a decision somewhat haz- ardous when made on a single experi- ment, and which was certainly formed without a full understanding of the whole subject. It is due to a gallant enemy, to say that Captain Bureaut, who defended his ship as long as there was a ho2:)e of success, was overcome by a superior force ; and it is also due to Commodore Truxtun, and to those under his command, to add that they did their work with an expedition and efiect every way proportioned to the disparity in their favor. There is scarcely an instance on record (we are not certain there is one) of a full- manned fi'igate, carrying twelves, pre- vailing in a contest with even a ship of eighteens ; and, in this instance, we see that the Insurgents had twenty- fours to oppose. Victory was next to hopeless, under such circumstances, though, on the other hand, we are not to overlook the readiness with which a conflict with an unknown antagonist was sought, and the neatness and dis- patch with which the battle was won."^
1 Cooper's Naval History, i. pp. 299, 300.
DOCUMENT.
EXTRACT FROM CAPTAIN THOMAS TRUXTTJN S DIS- PATCH TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
On Board the U. S. Ship Constellation
IN SIGHT OF THE ISLAND OF St. ChRIS
TOPHEr's, February 10, 1799.
Dear Sir : — I wrote to you the 4th inst., to which I must beg leave to refer, and soon after weighed from Basseterre road, St. Christo- plier's, and proceeded to sea, having made the necessary arrangements with the mercliants and masters of vessels for a convoy, to sail this day for the United States, under charge of the Norfolk and Richmond^ which vessels I direct- ed to cruise, in the mean time, near St. Bar- tholomew's and St. Martin's, so as to be at hand to proceed with the convoy at the time appointed.
As soon as I left the road of Basseterre (v/hich I did with the Constellation^ solus) I stretched under Montserat and towards Guada- loupe, by the wind, and from thence under the lee of Antigua and Barbuda. In this route I only met two merchant vessels and a British frigate. I therefore thought it best to change my ground, which I did, and run down towards the island of Nevis, and on the ninth instant, at noon, that island bearing vv. s. w., five leagues distance, discovered a large shijD to southward, on which I bore down.
She hoisted American colors, and I made our private signals for the day, as well as that of the British, but finding she answered neither, I immediately suspected her to be an enemy, and, in a short time after, found that my sus- picions were well founded, for she hoisted the French national colors, and fired a gun to lee- ward, Avhich is the signal of an enemy. I con- tinued bearing down on her, and at a quarter past three p. m., she hailed me several times ; and as soon as I got in a position for every shot to do execution, I answered by commencing a close and successful engagement, which lasted
until about half-past four p. m., when she struck her colors to the United States ship Constella- tion^ and I immediately took possession of her. She proved to be the celebrated French nation- al frigate Insurgente, of forty guns and four hundred and seven men, lately out from France, commanded by Monsieur Bureaut, and is es- teemed one of the fastest sailing ships in the French navy. I have been much shattered in my rigging and sails, and my fore-topmast ren- dered, from wounds, useless ; you may depend the enemy is not less so.
I intend to get into Basseterre road, St. Christopher's, if possible, with my prize ; but the wind being adverse, and blowing hard, I much doubt, in the crippled state of both ships, whether I shall effect it, and if not, I must make a ^ovt to leeward. The high state of our discipline, with the gallant conduct of my ofii- cers and men, would have enabled me to have compelled a more formidable enemy to have yielded, had the fortune of war thrown one in my way. As it is, I hope the President and my country will, for the present, be content with a very fine frigate being added to our in- fant navy, and that too with the loss of only one man killed and two wounded, while the enemy had (the French surgeon reports) fifty- two or fifty-three killed and wounded. Several were found dead in the tojis, <fcc., and thrown overboard, eighteen hours after we had posses- sion.
I must not omit, in this hasty detail, to do justice to Monsieur Bureaut, for he defended his ship manfully, and from my raking him sev- eral times fore and aft, and being athwart his stern, ready, with every gun, to fire when he struck his colors, we may impute the conflict not being more bloody on our side, for had not these advantages been taken, the engagement would not have ended so soon, for the Insur- gente was completely ofticered and manned.
CHAPTER VI
February 2, ISOO.
THE ACTION WITH LA VENGEANCE.
The troubles which had sprung up between the governments of the United States and Revolutionary France, have been briefly adverted to in the last chapter of this work. No accommoda- tion of the difficulties having been ef- fected, increased efforts were made to continue the operations which had been adopted, and, if necessary, to extend the operations beyond the limits of a strictly defensive policy. The navy had been considerably increased, and new vessels, of a larger size, had been ordered by Congress ; ^ and the greater part of the force, as before, was kept in service in the West Indian waters, under the command of Commodore Tal- bot, in the Constitution^ and of Commo- dore Truxtun, in the Constellation?
At half-past seven in the morning of the first of February, 1800, while the latter was cruising off Guadaloupe — the road of Basseterre bearing East, five leagues distant — a strange sail was seen in the Southeast, standing to the South- west. Supposing that she was an Eng- lish ship from Martinico, of which he had some knowledge, and wishing to avoid a long chase to leeward, off' his cruising ground, he endeavored, by showing British coloi-s, to induce her to run down and speak him ; but the
1 Cooper's Naval Hist., i. pp. 302, 303.— « Ibid., p. 303.
signal was disregarded, and sail was made in chase of the stranger. The Constellation gained quite rapidly, and as she approached the chase. Commo- dore Truxtun examined her more mi- nutely, and discovered that she was a heavy French frigate, mounting not less than fifty-four guns, when orders were given to haul down the British colors, the yards to be slung with chains, top- sail-sheets, &"c., stoppered, the ship cleared, and every thing prepared for action. The chase continued until noon, when the wind became light, and the enemy having the advantage in sailing, she held away from the Constellation and gradually increased the distance between the two vessels.^
Notwithstanding the evident dispari- ty of force, Commodore Truxtun showed no hesitation in continuing the pursuit, and every thread of canvas which the Constellation could carry was thrown to the breeze. In this manner the chase continued until one o'clock in the afternoon of the next day, (^Feh. 2<5?), when the wind freshened, with an ap- pearance of its continuance, and the Constellation again rapidly drew ahead, when the prospect of bringing the ene- my to action began, again, to brighten.
1 Com. Truxtun's Journal, inclosed in his Dispatch to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 3, 1800.
32
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
At eight o'clock in the evening, hav- insf firot within hailing distance of the enemy, Commodore Truxtun ordered the ensign to Ibe hoisted, the battle- hinterns to be lighted, and the large trumpet placed in the lee gangway, ready to speak her, and demand her surrender, when, " at that instant," she opened a fire from her stei*n and quar- ter guns on the rigging and spars of the Constellation}
No farther ceremony being necessary. Commodore Truxtun renewed the or- ders which he had previously given to the several ofiicers who commanded divisions of the main battery — " not to throw away a single charge of powder, but to take good aim and fire directly into the hull of the enemy ; to load, principally, with two round shot, and, now and then, with a round shot and a stand of grape ; to encourage the men at their quarters ; to cause or sufifer no noise or confusion whatever; but to load and fire as fast as possible when it could be done with certain efifect" — and, a few minutes afterwards, having gained an advantageous position on the ene- my's weather-quarter, the Constellation opened her fire.^
Five hours the two vessels contend- ed for the mastery, in the most despe- rate manner, during which time both appear to have been running free, side by side. None of the details of this obstinate conflict have come down to us ; yet, from the condition of both ves- sels, at the close of the engagement, it is perfectly obvious that the crews of both did their duty manfully. At one
Com. Truxtun' s Journal.
Ibid.
o'clock in the morning (^Feh. 2>d)^ the stranger's fire had been silenced, and she attempted to sheer off.^
Considering the enemy as his legiti- mate prize. Commodore Truxtun gave immediate orders to trim his shattered sails, in the best possible manner, in order that he might get alongside again, as soon as possible, when it was found that the mainmast was entirely unsup- ported by rigging, every shroud having been shot away, and that even stoppers were useless, and could not be applied with effect. All hands were immedi- ately ordered from the main deck to endeavor to secure this all-important spar, but every exertion was fruitless, and it went by the board within a few minutes after the enemy had sheared o&? Midshipman James Jarvis and all the topmen went over with the mast ; and that gallant young officer — who had refused to abandon his post, al- though warned of the danger, — and all but one man were lost.^
Within an hour the Constellation was cleared from the wreck, but she was no longer in a fit condition to renew the chase or the action;* and she bore away for Jamaica for repairs, without knowing the name, and but little of the character of her gallant adversary.^ The latter, also ignorant of the name and exact character of her opponent, bore away for Cura^oa — where she ar- rived on the sixth of February® — when it became known that she was the
' Com. Truxtun's Jour.— ' Ibid. — ' Eeport of Sec. of Navy to Cong., March 20, 1800 ; Com. Truxtun's Journal.
* Com. Truxtun's Jour. — ' Com. Truxtun to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 12, 1800.—° Capt. Balier to Sec. of Navy, Curafoa, Feb. 8, 1800.
Chap. VI.]
THE ACTION WITH LA VENGEANCE.
33
Frencli national ship La Vengeance^ commanded by Captain D. M. Pi- tot, and armed with thirty-two long eighteen-pounders on the gun-deck, twelve thirty-six-pounder brass carron- ades and four long twelves on her quarter-deck, and six long twelve- pounders on her forecastle.^ She was manned with four hundred men, in- cluding passengers ^ — among whom were the Governor of Guadaloupe and his family,^ and two general officers re- turning to France* — and carried a full cargo of sugar and coffee,^ with a very large amount of specie.® Fifty of her crew had been killed, and one hundred and ten wounded;^ her bowsprit, fore and mizzen masts, were the only spars she had standing;^ her fore and mizzen shrouds and ratlines had been so much cut up "that you could scarce see any
' statement of Mr. James Howe, a prisoner, on board, at the time of the action. — ' Ibid. — ' Extract from Daily Advertiser, in Claypole's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., March 18, 1800.—* Capt. Baker to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 8, 1800.
' Letter from Curajoa, Feb. 13, in Claypole's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., March 18, 1800.
' Capt. Baker to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 8, 1800. Mr. Howe (Statement, &c.) says, "upwards of a million dollars," while different statements from Curagoa (where the Ven- geance put in) say it amounted to two millions of dollars.
' Mr. Philips (Am. Consul at Curajoa) to Sec. of State, Feb. 9, 1800.—* Capt. Baker to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 8, 1800 ; Letter from Curagoa, in Claypole's Am,. Daily Ad- vertiser, Phila., March 18, 1800. Vol. II.— 5
of them for stoppers ; " ^ she had received one hundred and eighty-six round shot in her hull ; ^ and she had eight feet of water in her hold.^
The Constellation, since her action with U'Jnstirgente, had received a new armament of twenty-eight eighteen- pounders on her main-deck, and ten twenty-four pound carronades on her quarter-deck, and was manned with a crew of three hundred and ten men.* She lost Midshipman Jarvis and thir- teen men, killed and missing, and seven officers and eighteen men, wounded.^
The Congress of the United States voted its thanks and a gold medal to Commodore Truxtun for his gallantry in this action ; and by a solemn vote of the same body, the conduct of Midship- man Jarvis, "who gloriously preferred certain death to an abandonment of his post," was declared " deserving the highest praise, and that the loss of so promising an officer is a subject of national regret." ®
' Capt. Baker to Secretary of Navy, Feb. 8, 1800.
' statement of Mr. James Howe.
3 Capt. Baker to Sec. of Navy, Feb. 8, 1800 ; Extract from Daily Advertiser, in Claypole's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., March 18, 1800.—* Cooper, i. p. 306.
'Returns, signed "Isaac Henry, Surgeon," appended to Com. Truxtun's Dispatch.
' Kesolutions of Congress, approved March 29, 1800.
DOCUMENT.
United States Ship Constellation, at Sea, j February 3, 1800. I
Sir:— On the 30th ult. I left St. Christo- pher's, with the Constellation, in excellent trim, and stood to windward in oi'der to gain the station for myself before the road of Guada- loupe ; and at half-past seven in the morning of the day following, I discovered a sail to the southeast, to which I gave Chase, and for the further particulars of that chase, and the action after it, I must beg to refer to the extracts from my Journal, herewith, as being the best mode of exhibiting a just and candid account of all our transactions in the late business, which has ended in the almost entire dismantlement of the Constellation, though, I trust, to the high reputation of the American flag.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
Thos. TKuxTuisr.
Benjamin Stoddeet, Esq., Secretary of the Navy.
Occurrences on hoard the United States Ship Constel- lation, of thirty-eight guns, under my command, February 1, 1800.
Throughout these twenty-four hours very unsettled weather ; kept on our tacks, beating up under Guadaloupe, and at half-past seven in the morning, the road of Basseterre bearing- east, five leagues distance, saw a sail in the south- east standing to the southwest, which, from her situation, I at first took for a large ship from Martinico, and hoisted English colors on givmg chase, by way of inducement for her to come down and speak me, which would have saved us a long chase to leeward off" my intended cruising-ground ; but finding she did not at- tempt to alter her course, I examined her more minutely, as we approached her, and discovered that she was a heavy French frigate, mounting at least fifty-four guns. I immediately gave orders for the yards to be slung with chains, topsail- sheets, &c., stoppered, and the ship cleared, and every thing prepared for action,
and hauled down the English colors. At noon the wind became light, and I observed the chase that we had before been gaining fast on held way with us, but I was determined to con- tinue the pursuit, though the running to lee- ward, I was convinced, would be attended with many serious disadvantages, especially if the object of my wishes were not gratified.
Passed two schooners standing to the north- ward, one of them showed American colors, and was a merchant vessel ; and the other \ sup- posed to be of the same description.
February second, at one p. m., the wind being somewhat fresher than at the noon preceding, and an appearance of its continuance, our pros- pect of bringing the enemy to action began to brighten, as I perceived we were coming up with the chase fast, and every inch of canvas being set that could be of service, except the bog-reefs which I kept in the topsails, in case of the chase, finding an escape from our thunder impracticable, sliould haul on a wind and give us fair battle. But this did not prove to be her commander's intention. I, however, got within hail of him at 8 p. m., hoisted our ensign, and had the candles in the battle-lanterns all lioht- ed, and the large trumpet in the lee-gangway ready to speak him, and to demand the surren- der of his ship to the United States of America ; but he, at that instant, commenced a fire from liis stern and quarter guns, directed at our rig- ging and spars. No parley being then neces- sary, I sent my principal aid-de-camp, Mr. Vandyke, to the different officers commanding divisions on the main battery, to repeat strictly my orders, before given, not to throw away a single charge of powder, but to take good aim and fire directly into the hull of the enemy, and load, principally, with two round-shot, and now and then with a round-shot and a stand of grape, &c. ; to encourage the men at their quarters ; to cause or suffer no noise or confu- sion whatever ; but to load and fire as fast as
Chap. VII.]
THE CAPTURE OF THE TRIPOLI.
35
possible when it could be done with certain effect. These orders being given, in a few mo- ments I gained a position on his weather-quar- ter that enabled us to return, effectually, his salute ; and thus a close and as sharp an action as ever was fought between two frigates, com- menced and continued until within a few min- utes of 1 A. M., when the enemy's fire was com- pletely silenced, and he was again sheering off. It was at this moment that I considered him as my prize, and was trimming, in the best manner I could, my much shattered sails ; when I found the mainmast was totally unsupported by rigging, every shroud being shot away, and some of them in several places ; that even stop- pers were useless, and could not be applied with effect. I then gave orders for the officers to send the men up from the gun-deck to endeavor to secure it, in order that we might get along- side of the enemy again as soon as possible ; but every efibrt was in vain, for the mainmast went over the side in a few minutes after, and carried with it the top-men, among whom was an amiable young gentleman, who commanded the main-top, Mr. James Jarvis, sou of James Jarvis, Esq., of New York. It seems this young gentleman was apprised of the mast go- ing in a few minutes by an old seaman, but he had already so much of the principle of an offi- cer ingrafted on his mind, not to leave his quar- ters on any account, that he told the man, if
the mast went they must go with it, which was the case, and only one of them was saved.
I regret much his loss, as a promising young officer and amiable young man, as well as on account of a long intimacy that has subsisted between his father and myself; but have great satisfaction in finding that I have lost no other, and only two or three slightly wounded, out of thirty-nine killed and wounded — fourteen of the former, and twenty-five of the latter.
As soon as the mainmast went, every effort was made to clear the wreck from the ship as soon as possible, which was effected in about an hour. It being impossible to pursue the enemy, and as her security was then the great object, I immediately bore away for Jamaica, for repairs, <fcc., finding it impossible to reach a friendly port in any of the islands to windward.
I should be wanting in common justice was I to omit here to journalize the steady attention to order, and the great exertion and bravery of all my officers, seamen, and marines, in this action, many of whom I had sufficiently tried before, on a similar occasion, and all their names are recorded in the muster-roll I sent to the Secretary of the Navy, dated the nine- teenth of December last, signed by myself.
All hands emjDloyed at repairing the damages sustained in the action, so far as to get the ship into Jamaica as soon as possible.
Thomas Teuxtun.
CHAPTER VII.
Aug^HSt 1, 1§01.
THE CAPTURE OF THE TRIPOLI.
The Dey of Algiers, as early as July, 1785, having discovered that a new commercial nation had sprung into ex- istence, began to prey on the commerce of the United States, and to seize such of their merchantmen as came within range of his piratical cruisers.^ Grad- ually the spirit of plunder which had
' Cooper's Naval Hist., i. p. 263.
thus been let loose, extended to other of the Barbary states, notwithstanding the Federal government, in common with those of the maritime nations of Europe, had condescended to pay trib- ute, and to submit to other services of deofradation which the rulers of these States imposed upon them.^
' Cooper's Naval Hist., i. pp. 319-328.
36
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
At this time the foundation of the Federal navy was laid, by an Act of Congress, which authorized the con- struction or purchase of six frigates;^ and, from time to time, in subsequent years, although the corsairs had been bribed to a nominal peace, this force was gradually increased.^
In April, 1799, the Bashaw of Trip- oli pretended to have found cause for complaint against the United States, and commenced a series of outrages, both by sea and land,^ which aroused the government, and called forth all its energies. A heavy squadron, under Commodore Dale, was sent into the Mediterranean, with instructions, how- ever, to endeavor rather to maintain a peace, by presents and bribes, than to enforce it by a display and exercise of his power.*
About nine o'clock, on the first of August, 1801, one of the smaller ves- sels of this squadron, — the Enterprize^ commanded by Lieutenant-commandant Sterrett, while running for Malta, to obtain a supply of water, fell in with a polacre-rigged ship, of fourteen six- pounders, and carrying the Tripolitan flag.^ The Enterprize^ at that time, bore British colors ; and, suspecting the character and purposes of the stran- ger, she ran alongside and hailed her. Lieutenant Sterrett inquired the object of the cruise, and was informed by the captain of the corsair that " he came out
' Act of Mavch 27, 1794.—" Cooper, i. pp. 278, 293, 295, 296, 303, 333, 334.—= Clark's Naval Hist., p. 102.
* Cooper, i. p. 344. — ^ Ibid., p. 345 ; Com. Dale's Dis- patch, referred to in Poulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 23, 1801 ; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 15 ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 91.
to cruise after the Americans, and that he lamented that he had not come along- side of some of them." ^
The intentions of the stranger having thus been openly declared, Lieutenant Sterrett immediately lowered the Brit- ish and raised the American colors; giving the stranger, at the same time, a volley of musketry. She responded with a partial broadside, and a closely- contested action commenced. For three hours, with but little intermission, the battle continued to rage, within pistol- shot distance ; during which time, three several attempts were made to board the Enterprize^ which were as often re- pulsed with great loss. Three several times, also, the enemy struck her col- ors, and, as often, renewed the action, when the crew of the Enterjprize had ceased to fire and exposed itself on the deck of the vessel. The last time this treacherous act occurred. Lieutenant Sterrett gave orders to sink the corsair, "on which a scene of furious combat ensued, until the enemy cried for mer- cy," throwing his colors into the ocean ; bending his body, in the waist of his vessel, and supplicating for quarter.^
Listening to the dictates of humanity, Lieutenant Sterrett ordered a suspen- sion of the fire, and directed the cap- tain either to come on board the Enter- prize or to send some of his officers ; but the boats of the enemy having been destroyed the demand could not be complied with, and a boat was sent on
> Com. Dale's Dispatch ; Poulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 19, 1801.—' Ibid. ; Capt. Sterrett, in Poul- son's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 18, 1801 ; Badger's Naval Temple, pp. 15, 16 ; History of War with Tripoli, pp. 91, 92.
Chap. VII.]
THE CAPTURE OF THE TRIPOLI.
37
board, from the JEnterprize^ and the vessel taken possession of.^
The enemy proved to be the Tripoli- tan ship Tripoli^ commanded by Ma- homet Sous, armed with fourteen six- pounders, and manned with eighty men.^ She had become a perfect wreck, having lost her mizzen-mast, and received eighty-one shot in her hull, between wind and water ;^ while of her crew, twenty had been killed and thirty wounded.*
The Enterprize^ which carried twelve six-pounders and a crew of ninety men, received but little injury, either in her hull or rigging, and not a man of her crew was injured.^
As Lieutenant Sterrett's instructions did not allow him to carry the prize into port,® he ordered Lieutenant David Porter to dismantle her ; and, after ad- ministering to the relief of the wound- ed, cutting down her masts, throwing
' Com. Dale's Dispatch ; Poulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 19, 1801 ; Capt. Sterrett, in Poulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 18, 1801 ; Badger's Naval Temple, pp. 15, 16; Hist, of War in Tripoli, pp. 91, 92.
' Cooper, i. p. 345 ; Com. Dale's Dispatch ; Letter from an officer on the United States, in Poulson's Daily Adver- tiser, Phila., Nov. 11, 1801 ; Com. Dale to the American Consul at Gibraltar, Aug. 19, 1801. Some accounts say she carried eighty-five men.
' Com. Dale's Dispatch. Some accounts state that only sixteen or eighteen balls vs'ere thus received.
* Com. Dale to the American Consul at Gibraltar, Aug. 19, 1801 ; Com. Dale's Dispatch.
'Ibid.; Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 92; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 17.—° Cooper, i. p. 346 ; Clark, p. 103 ; Hist, of War with I'ripoli, p. 92.
her guns overboard, and raising a tem- porary spar, on which a tattered sail was hoisted, he dismissed the vessel and her piratical crew.-^
It is said that, after a lengthy and dangerous trip, the Tripoli reached her port, when the sorry spectacle which she presented, and the terrible stories which her officers and crew related, ex- cited the strongest feelings of shame and indignation in the government, and of alarm among the people. The un- fortunate captain, notwithstanding his wounds, was sentenced to receive five hundred bastinadoes ; and was mounted on a jackass and paraded through the streets of Tripoli as an object of pub- lic scorn and contempt. The cruisers which were then in port, however, suf- fered the immediate loss of their crews, who were thunderstruck at the result of this engagement, and, by desertion, sought their own safety.^
The effect of this action on the action of Tripoli generally, was also beneficial, inasmuch as but very few cruisers sub- sequently ventured out of port, or if they did so they confined their opera- tions to the immediate vicinity of the shore.^
' Capt. Sterrett, in Poulson's Am. Daily Advertiser, Phila., Nov. 18, 1801 ; Com. Dale's Dispatch ; History of War with Tripoli, p. 92.
2 Com. Dale's Dispatch ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 92 ; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 17.
= Cooper, i. 346.
CHAPTER VIII
Aug:ust 3, 1S04.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
The troubles with Tripoli having been unsettled, the American squadron, under Commodore Preble, had spent tlie earlier part of the year 1804 in a strict blockade of that port, in cruising in that vicinity, and in preparing for an attack on the town.-^
For the latter purpose, among other measures, a loan of two bomb-ketches and six gunboats, with their equipments, had been asked and received from the King of Naples, and had sailed from Messina;^ and, on the twenty-fifth of July, 1804, the squadron assembled before Tripoli,^ when the Commodore found himself at the head of the Con- stitution^ of forty-four guns ; the Argus^ commanded by Lieutenant Isaac Hull, mounting sixteen twenty-four pound- ers ; the Syren^ Lieutenant Charles Stewart, mounting sixteen twenty-four pounders ; the Scourge^ Lieutenant Dent, mounting fourteen eighteen-pounders ; the Vixen^ Lieutenant Smith, mounting twelve eighteen-pounders ; the Miter- prize^ Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, mounting twelve six-pounders ; the Nautilus^ Lieutenant Somers, mount-
' Clark's Naval Hist., p. 109; Cooper, ii. pp. 37-40; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 28. — " Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 38. — ' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18. The History of the War with Tripoli (Sa- lem, 1806, p. 110) says he "arrived on the twenty -third." Mr. Clark (Naval Hist., p. 109) says he "joined the ves- sels off Tripoli on the twenty-first."
ing twelve eighteen-pounders ; the two Neapolitan bomb-ketches ; and the six gunboats belonging to the same power.^
Opposed to this little force was a walled city, protected by heavy bat- teries, on which were mounted a hun- dred and fifteen guns ; nineteen gun- boats, each carrying a long brass eigh- teen or twenty-four pounder in the bow and two howitzers abaft ; a brig of ten guns ; two scliooners, each mounting eight guns ; and two galleys, each mounting four guns ; the whole ot which were sheltered by a long range of rocks and shoals, extending more than two miles eastward from the town, and rendering it impossible for a vessel of the Constitution'' s draft of water to approach near enough to co-operate with the lighter vessels, and defended by a land force of about twenty-five thousand men.^
The weather was not favorable for anchoring until the twenty-eighth of July, when the squadron ran in, with the wind east-southeast ; and, about three in the afternoon, anchored, by signal, about two miles and a half from the town. The squadron had no soon-
» Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 40. Mr. Clark (Naval Hist., p. 109) gives different arma- ments to most of the vessels. — ' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark's Naval Hist., p. 109 ; Badger's Naval Temple, pp. 28, 29.
Chap. VIH.]
THE BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
39
er aucliored than a heavy gale arose, and continued until the first of August, during whicli the gunboats and bomb- vessels were in great danger, and were saved only by the most strenuous efforts of the officers and crew of the squad- ron.^
On the third of August, the weather being pleasant, the squadron ran in again, with an easterly breeze, and, about noon, had come within two or three miles from the batteries, on and around which the garrisons were dis- played, either to intimidate the assail- ants or to invite an attack. Several of the enemy's gunboats and galleys^ had left the harbor, and formed, in two divisions, outside the rocks and shoals, also with the intention of inviting an attack ; and preparations were made for an immediate gratification of their wish. At half-past twelve the Consti- tution wore off shore, and signalled the smaller vessels to come within hailing distance ; when Commodore Preble com- municated to the several commandants his intention of attacking the enemy's shipping and batteries, with his orders for the disposition of their several crews. The gunboats and bomb-ketches were immediately manned and prepared to cast off, and within an hour from their receipt of the orders, the several com-
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 41 ; Mackenzie's Decatur [Sparks' Am. Biog., xxi.), p. 87.
' " Against twenty-one large gun and several smaller boats full of men." — Letter of Com. Preble to Wm. Biggins, Aug. 15, 1804. and cited in the National Intelligencer, Washing- ton, D. C, Dec. 3, 1804. " The enemy had seventeen gun- boats moored in a line in front of their batteries, also a brig of sixteen guns and a schooner of ten guns, moored to cover their boats." — Letter from LiexU.-Coni. Charles Stew- art, " Off Tripoli. Aug. 9. 1804," in the Xalional Ijitelligencer, Washington, Dec. 5, 1804.
mandants were ready to j)erform their respective parts of the service to which the}^ had been assigned.-^
These small vessels were divided into two di\nsions of three gunboats and a ketch each. The first was com- manded by Lieutenant Dent, in the ketch ; by Lieutenant Somers, in gun- boat jSf'innljer One' by Lieutenant James Decatur, in gunboat JSfvmher Two j and by Lieutenant Blake, in gunboat JSfuwher Three. The second division was commanded by Lieutenant Robinson, in the ketch ; by Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, in gunboat JSmnher Four ; by Lieutenant Joseph Bain- bridge, in gunboat Number Five ; and by Lieutenant Trippe, in gunboat JSfum- her Six?
At half-past one o'clock, the arrange- ments having been, meanwhile, perfect- ed, the squadron wore again, and stood towards the town. At two o'clock the gunboats — which had been towed by the several vessels — were cast off; at a quarter-past two the signal for them to advance and attack the enemy was dis- played ; at half-past two the genei'al sio'nal for battle was made : and, at a quarter before three, the action com- menced by the ketches opening their fire on the town. The batteries and shipping immediately returned the fire with great spirit, and the American squadron responded, within grape-shot distance.^
In the mean time the two divisions
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 88 ; Cooper, ii. p. 42. — ' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 42 ; Clark, p. 110 ; Wal- do's Life of Preble, p. 19-5. — ^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, p. 110 ; Waldo's Preble, pp. 197, 198.
40
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
of gunboats, covered by the brigs and schooners, advanced against the ene- my's light vessels which had advanced from the harbor. In this, however, in consequence of the dull sailing qualities of the boats, the progress was not sat- isfactory to the ardent spirits by whom they were commanded; and their sweeps were thrown out, and worked with a will, to secure the positions which had been assigned to them by the Commo- dore.^
The first division was separated, and accomplished but little. Number One^ commanded by Lieutenant Somers, bore down with great spirit, and attacked five of the gunboats, which formed, in part, the enemy's western division, de- feating, and driving them within the rocks, in a shattered condition, and with the loss of a great number of men.^ Number Two^ under Lieutenant James Decatur, joined the second division, as will be seen hereafter, and lost his life through the treachery of his oppo- nent.^ Number TJiree^ under Lieuten- ant Blake, was misled by an erroneous signal of recall, which was displayed by the Commodore, and accomplished nothing beyond opening a fire on the shipping within the harbor.*
The second division of gunboats was more successful, although the officers on this, too, were sadly annoyed by the bad sailing qualities of the vessels. Numler Four^ under Lieutenant Ste- phen Decatur, after pouring showers of grape and musket-balls on the enemy,
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, 11. p. 43.—' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, pp. 110, 111 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 89 ; Waldo's Preble, p. 202.—' Vide p. 42.—* Cooper, ii. 43.
as he approached, bore down on and attacked one of the largest of the ene- my's squadron. Laying his boat along- side. Lieutenant Decatur boarded the enemy, followed by Lieutenant Thorne, Midshipman McDonough, and the Amer- ican portion of his crew ; and between them and the crew of the enemy — ranged on either side of a long, open hatchway, which divided the deck into two parts — a close contest, for the pos- session of the vessel, ensued. After a short struggle, at this distance, the Americans charged round each end of the hatchway, and either destroyed the crew or compelled it to surrender.^ After securing his prize. Lieutenant Decatur took her in tow, and bore down to the next of the enemy's line.^ Running his own vessel aboard, he boarded this as he had boarded the other, and was, immediately, engaged in a close and desperate struggle with the captain of the Tripolitan, whom Lieutenant Decatur attacked with a pike. The Turk was a large and ex- ceedingly powerful man, and as his as- sailant approached he seized the pike, wrested it from his hand, and turned it against its owner. Parrying the thrust, Lieutenant Decatur drew his cutlass and attempted to cut off the head of the pike, but the weapon broke
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 44; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 90.
'^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, p. Ill ; Cooper, ii. pp. 44, 45 ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 111. Lieut. Mackenzie (Life of Decatur, p. 91) says that "taking his prize in tow, Decatur was proceeding out of the harbor, when the boat, which had been commanded by his brother, came under his stern and informed him ' ' of the murder of his brother, on Number Two, when he returned to the enemy's line and attacked this second boat. No other authority, which I have seen, refers to such a movement.
irli<[l.UrtWUlKMdM(WllMi(JH1ltO<ffiMffiMalO«lMUIMm«IMHMi[SffiM01l(Mfl#^^
^/^jz.^A^^^-i.'^<
J'/vm ikg an^maJ. p/mr/iny jMtMptisses-swny flf!h/. Fa
Chap. VIII.]
THE BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
41
at the hilt, leaving the American, ap- parently, at the mercy of the Turk. A second thrust was parried with his arm, and Lieutenant Decatur sprang upon and grappled his opponent. The ti'ial of strength which followed this resolute adventure speedily terminated in favor of the Turk, although, in fall- ing. Lieutenant Decatur so far released himself that he laid, on the deck, side by side with his enemy. The latter immediately attempted to reach a small poniard which he carried in his sash, but Lieutenant Decatur, perceiving his object, grasped his hand, and at the same time drew from his own pocket a small pistol, which he passed around the body of the prostrate Turk, pointed inward, and lii-ed. The ball passed en- tirely through the body of the Turk, killing him instantly, and Lieutenant Decatur, released from his grasp, sprang to his feet.^ It was while the two com- manders were thus strus^o'lino' for the mastery, that the well-known act of Keuben James occurred. One of the crew of the Tripolitan, perceiving the desperate encounter in which his cap- tain was engaged, ran to the rescue, and raised his sabre to cleave the skull of Lieutenant Decatur ; when Reuben James, a quarter-gunner on the Eider- prize^ who had lost the use of both his arms by wounds, rushed in, and re- ceived, on the back of his head, with- out fjital effect, the blow which was intended for his gallant commander.^
' Cooper, ii. p. 45. Lieut. Mackenzie (Life of Decatur, pp. 91-93) and Mr. Clark (Naval Hist., pp. 110, 111) give en- tirely different narratives of this adventure. — ° Macken- zie's Decatur, pp. 92,861-363. Mr.Cooper(iVayaZ ffis<.,ii.p. 45) supposes the blow was received on the young man's arm. Vol. II.— 6
While this struggle was going on, the assailants were not idle ; and the re- lease of Lieutenant Decatur from the grasp of the Turk was speedily followed by the surrender of the vessel.^ Gun- boat Number JFive^ commanded by Lieutenant Bainbridge, had her lateen- sail shot away early in the action, which prevented her getting into the position which had been assigned to her ; but she opened a steady and well-directed fire on the enemy, from musket-shot distance, which caused considerable trouble among the Tripolitans, and in- duced her to pursue a portion of the enemy until she grounded, under the batteries, and was saved only with con- siderable difficulty.^ Number Six, com- manded by Lieutenant Trippe, ran alongside one of the largest of the op- posing squadron ; and her commander, with Midshipman John Henley and nine men, immediately boarded her. Number Six falling off before any more of her men could get on board the ene- my to assist those who were already on board, the struggle for the mastery was against great odds — eleven against thir- ty-six— -and it was carried on with un- usual desperation. After killing four- teen of the enemy, and wounding seven others, the Americans succeeded in cap- turing the vessel, with the loss of only four wounded — one of whom. Lieu- tenant Trippe, received eleven sabre wounds, some of which were very se-
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, pp. 110, 111 ; Cooper, ii. pp. 44^6 ; Hist, of War with Trip- oli, p. Ill ; Mackenzie's Decatur, pp. 90-93.
" Com. Preble to Secretary of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, p. Ill ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 90 ; Waldo's Preble, p. 202.
42
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
vere.^ Number Two^ to wliicTi allusion has already been made, was command- ed by Lieutenant James Decatur — Ste- phen's brothel* — and joined the second division eai'ly in the action. Like his brother, the commander of this vessel ran alongside and engaged a large gunboat in the eastern division of the enemy's force, which he compelled to surrender, after a close and very severe contest. As he was about to take pos- session of his prize he was treacherously shot through the head by her command- er,^ who, taking advantage of this cir- cumstance, and. receiving the assistance of other boats of the enemy's squadron, secured his escape.^ The bomb-ketches kept their stations, although covered with the spray of the sea, occasioned by the enemy's shot ; and they \e^t up a constant and destructive fire on the town during the action between the gunboats.*
A division of the enemy's fleet, com-
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. pp. 46, 47 ; Clark, p. Ill ; Mackenzie's Decatur, pp. 94, 95 ; Waldo's Preble, p. 202; Lieut. -Com. Stewart's Letter, Aug. 9, 1804.— ^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18; Clark, p. 112; Mackenzie, pp. 90, 91. Mr. Cooper {Na- val Hist., ii. p. 46), while he concurs in the general state- ment, appears to discredit the idea that the enemy had surrendered and afterwards renewed the action.
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 46 ; Clark, p. 112. Lieut. Mackenzie {Life of Decatur, p. 91) says Lieut. Stephen Decatur — James' brother — pursued this boat, singled out the person who shot his brother, and after a desperate personal encounter, already referred to, killed him and captui'ed the boat which he command- ed. As Com. Preble says that, "with the assistance he received from other boats," "the poltroon" "was enabled to escape;" as Messrs. Clark and Cooper, after carefully examining the subject, concur in this state- ment ; and as the latter gentleman has even disputed the statement that the boat had struck her colors, — which would remove all appearance, even, of treachery, — I have not felt warranted in differing from the official narrative.
* Cum. Preble to Secretary of Navy, Sept. 18.
posed of five gunboats and two galleys, which had remained within the harbor, protected by the reefs before referred to, having been joined by those por- tions of the gunboats which had been driven into the harbor by the Ameri- can squadron, two attempts were made to row out of the harbor for the pur- pose of surrounding the American gun- boats and their prizes, but the fire which was opened on them by the brigs and schooners and by the Consti- tution^ kept them in check, and pre- vented them from succeeding in this design.^
At half-past four, the winc^ inclining to the northward, signal was made for the bomb-ketches and gunboats to re- tire from action ; which was followed, immediately afterwards, by another, for the brigs and schooners and their boats to tow off the gunboats and their prizes, which was done under a heavy cover- ing fire from the Constitution. At a quarter before five o'clock the ketches were towed off, and the action closed.^
During the two hours in which the squadron was thus engaged, the grape- shot made great havoc among the ene- my's forces, both those on board the vessels and those on sh.ore ; and the batteries were frequently silenced by the fire of the Constitution.^ although they were immediately re-occupied when the guns of that vessel could not be brouofht to bear on them. Three of the enemy's gunboats were sunk in the harbor, several had their decks cleared of men by the shot from the squadron,
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Clark, p. 112 ; Cooper, ii. p. 48 — ' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper, ii. p. 48 ; Mackenzie, pp. 95, 96.
Chap. VIIL]
DOCIBIEXT.
43
and a very heavy loss of life and prop- erty has been said to have befallen the town from the explosion of the shells/
The American sqnadron suffered but little damao'e. The Co n-stitut (oil's main- mast was wounded, and her main-royal yard and sail were shot away. Her sails and running rigging were also con- siderably cut; and one of her quarter- deck guns was damaged by a thirty- two pound shot. Gunboat Number Flue lost her main-yard ; and the brigs' and schooners' sails and rio^OTna were considerably cut. The loss, among the
crews, was confined to Lieutenant James Decatur, IciUed • Lieutenants Stephen Decatur and Trippe, and eleven men, wounded}
The squadron anchored about two leagues from Tripoli to repair its dama- ges, and to prepare for a renewal of the attack.^
The officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron are said to have behaved in the most gallant manner; and re- ceived the commendation of the com- mander in his dispatches to the govern- ment.^
D 0 CUMEIN'T.
extract from comiiodore preble s dispatch to the secretary of the navy.
Sir:—
*
*
The weather was not favorable for anchoring until the twenty-eighth, when, with the wind E. s. E., the sqnadron stood in for the coast, and, at three in the afternoon, anchored, per signal, Tripoli bearing south, two and a half miles dis- tant. At this moment the wind shifted sudden- ly from E. s. E. to N. >". Av., and from thence to X. X. E. At five o'clock it blew strong, with a heavy sea, setting directly on shore. I made the signal to prepare to -weigh. At six, the wind and sea having considerably increased, the signal was made for the sqnadron to weigh and gain an ofEng. The wind continued veering to the eastward, which favored our gaining sea- room, without being obliged to carry so great a press of sail as to lose any of our gunboats, al- though they were in great danger. The gale continued, varpng from northeast to east-south- east, without increasing much, until the thirty-
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 : Cooper, ii. pp. 48, 49 ; Hist, of War ia Tripoli, p. Ill ; Lieut. Stew- art's letter, Aug. 9, 1804.
first, when it blew away our reefed foresail and close-reefed maiutopsail. Fortunately the sea did not rise in proportion to the strength of the gale, or we must have lost all our boats.
August the first, the gale subsided, and we stood towards the coast ; every preparation was made for an attack on the town and harbor.
August the third, pleasant weather, wind east, stood in with the squadron towards Tripo- li ; at noon we were between two and three miles from the batteries, which were all manned, and observing several of their gunboats and gal- leys had advanced in two divisions, without the rocks, I determined to take advantage of their temerity. At halfpast twelve o'clock I wore off shore, and made the signal to come within hail, when I communicated to each of the com- manders my intention of attacking the enemy's shijDping and batteries. The gun and mortar boats were immediately manned and prepared to cast otf; the gunboats, in two divisions of three each, the first division commanded by Cajjtain Somers in Xo. 1, Lieutenant Decatur
1 Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy. Sept. 18 : Clark, pp. 112, 113.—= Cooper, ii. p. 50.—= Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18.
44
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
in No. 2, and Lieutenant Blake in No. 3. The second division commanded by Captain Decatur in No. 4, Lieutenant Bainbridge in No. 5, and Lieutenant Trippe in No. 6. The two bombards were commanded by Lieutenant-commandant Dent and Mr. Robinson, first lieutenant of this ship. At half-past one o'clock, having made the necessary arrangements for the attack, wore ship and stood towards the batteries ; at two, signal made to cast off the boats ; at a quarter- past two, signal for bombs and gunboats to ad- vance and attack the enemy ; at half-past two, general signal for battle ; at three-quarters past two, the bombs commenced the action by throwing shells into the town. In an instant the enemy's shipping and batteries opened a tremendous fire, which was promptly returned by the whole squadron within grape-shot dis- tance ; while, at the same time, the second division, of three gunboats, led by the gallant Ca^jtain Decatur, was advancing, with sails and oars, to board the eastern division of the enemy, consisting of nine boats. Our boats gave the enemy showers of grape and musket balls as they advanced ; they, however, soon closed, when the pistol, sabre, pike, and tomahawk, were made good use of by our brave tars. Captain Somers, being in a dull sailer, made the best use of his sweeps, but was not able to fetch far enough to windward to engage the same division of the enemy's boats which Captain Decatur fell in with. He, however, gallantly bore down with his single boat on five of the enemy's western division, and engaged within pistol-shot, defeated, and drove them within the rocks, in a shattei-ed condition, and with the loss of a great number of men. Lieutenant Decatur, in No. 2, was closely engaged with one of the enemy's largest boats, of the eastern division, which struck to him, after having lost a large proportion of men ; and at the instant that brave officer was boarding her, to take pos- session, he was treacherously shot through the head by the captain of the boat that had sur- rendered, which base conduct enabled the pol- troon (Avith the assistance he received from other boats) to escape. The third boat of Cap- tain Somers' division kept to windward, firing at the boats and shipping in the harbor. Had she gone down to his assistance, it is probable
several of the enemy's boats would have been captured in tliat quarter. Captain Decatur, in No. 4, after having, with distinguished bravery, boarded and carried one of the enemy, of supe- rior force, took his prize in tow and gallantly bore down to engage a second, which, after a severe and bloody conflict, he also took posses- sion of These two prizes had thirty-three offi- cers and men killed, and twenty-seven made prisoners. Lieutenant Trippe of the Vixen, in No. 6, ran alongside of one of the enemy's large boats, which he boarded, with only Mid- shipman John Henley and nine men. His boat falUng off before any more could get on board, thus was he left, compelled to conquer or per- ish, with the odds of thirty-six to eleven. The Turks could not withstand the ardor of this brave officer and his assistants ; in a few min- utes the decks were cleared, and her colors hauled down. On board of this boat fourteen of the enemy were killed and twenty-two made prisoners, seven of which were badly wounded, the rest of their boats retreated within the rocks. Lieutenant Trippe received eleven sabre wounds, some of which were severe ; he speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Henley and those who followed him. Lieutenant Bainbridge, in No. 5, had his lateen-yard shot away early in the action, which prevented his getting along- side of the enemy's boats ; but he galled them by a steady and well-directed fire within mus- ket-shot, indeed, he pursued the enemy until his boat grounded under the batteries, but she was fortunately soon got off. The bomb-ves- sels kept their stations, although covered with the spray of the sea, occasioned by the enemy's shot, and were well conducted by Lieutenants Dent and Robinson, who kept up a constant fire from the mortars, and threw a great number of shells into the town. Five of the enemy's gun- boats and two galleys, composing the centre division, and stationed within the rocks as a re- serve, joined by the boats that had been driven in, and supplied by fresh men from the shore to re- place those they had lost, twice attempted to row out to endeavor to surround our gunboats and their prizes ; I as often made the signal to cover them, which was promptly attended to by the brigs and schooners, all of which were gallantly conducted, and annoyed the enemy exceeding-
Chap. VIII.]
DOCUMENT.
45
ly ; but the fire from this ship kept their flotilla completely in check. Our grape-shot made great havoc among their men, not only on board their shipping, but on shore. We were several times within two cables' length of the rocks, and within three of their batteries ; every one of which, in succession, were silenced so long as we could bring our broadsides to bear upon them. But the moment we passed a bat- tery it was reanimated, and a constant heavy fire kept up, from all that we could not point our guns at. We sufliered most when wearing or tacking ; it was then I most sensibly felt the want of another frigate. At half-past four, the wind inclining to the northward, I made the signal for the bombs and gunboats to retire from action, and, immediately after, the signal to tow off" the gunboats and prizes, which was handsomely executed by the brigs, schooners, and boats of the squadron, covered by a heavy fire from the Constitution. At three-quarters past four p. M., the light vessels, gunboats, and prizes, being out of reach of the enemy's shot, I hauled off" to take the bomb-vessels in tow.
We were two hours under the fire of the enemy's batteries, and the only damage received on this ship is a twenty-four pound shot nearly through the centre of the mainmast, thirty feet from the deck ; mainroyal yard and sail shot away ; one of our quarter-deck guns damaged by a thirty-two pound shot, which at the same time shattered a marine's arm. Two lower shrouds and two back-stays were shot away, and our sails and running rigging considerably cut. We must impute our getting off" thus well to our keeping so near that they overshot us, and to the annoyance our grape-shot gave them. They are, however, but wretched gunners. Gun- boat No. 5 had the main-yard shot away, and the rigging and sails of the brigs and schooners were considerably cut.
Lieutenant Decatur was the only ofiicer killed, but in him the service has lost a valuable ofiicer. He was a young man who gave strong promise of being an ornament to his profession ; his con-
duct in the action was highly honorable, and he died nohly.
The enemy must have suffered very much in killed and wounded, both among their shipjjing and on shore. Three of their gunboats were sunk in the harbor ; several of them had their decks nearly cleared of men by our shot, and a number of shells burst in the town and bat- teries, which must have done great execution.
The officers, - seamen, and marines of the squadron, behaved in the most gallant manner. The Neapolitans, in emulating the ardor of oiu- seamen, answered my highest exjDectations. I cannot but notice the active exertions and officer-like conduct of Lieutenant Gordon, and the other lieutenants of the Constitution. Mr. Harriden, the master, gave me full satisfaction, as did all the officers and ship's company. I was much gratified by the conduct of Captain Hall and Lieutenant Greenleaf, and the marines belonging to his company, in the management of six long twenty-six pounders on the spar- deck, which I placed under his direction. Cap- tain Decatur speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Lieutenant Thorn and Midshipman McDonough of No. 4, as does Captain Somers of Midshipman Ridgely and Miller attached to No. 1. Annexed is a list of killed and wound- ed ; and inclosed, a copy of my general orders on this occasion.
Killed. — Gunboat N'o. 2, Lieutenant James Decatur.
WoinsrDED. — Constitution, one marine. Gunboat N'o. 4, Captain Decatur, slight, one sergeant of marines, and two seamen.
Gunboat N'o. 6, Lieutenant Trippe, severely, one boatswain's-mate, and two marines.
Gunboat No. 1, two seamen.
Gunboat No. 2, two seamen.
Total. — One killed and thirteen wounded.
I have the honor to be, &c.,
Edward Feeble.
United States Ship Constitution, Malta Habbob, Sept. 18, 1804.
CHAPTER IX.
Aug^ust 7, 1§04.
THE SECOND BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
The first attack on Tripoli, the cap- ture of three of her gunboats, and the subsequent withdrawal of the fleet, for repairs, have been already alluded to in a former chapter of this work.^ From the third to the eleventh of August all hands were busily employed in altering the rig of the three prizes, and in pre- paring for a second attack on the town.^
At nine in the morning of the sev- enth, siofnal was made to the light ves- sels of the squadron to weigh, and the gunboats and bomb-ketches to cast oif, and stand in shore towards the western batteries of the town, in doing which both sails and oars were called into requisition. The breeze was a light one from the eastward, which, with a strong current which set in shore, ren- dered it prudent for the Constitution to remain at anchor ; yet the squadron moved to the positions to which it had been assigned with great spirit.^
The bomb-ketches, under Lieutenants Dent and Robinson, and the several gunboats, formed into two divisions, under Lieutenants Somers and Decatur, were supported by the Syren and Vixen , while the Constitution^ JSfmitiliis^ and Enterprize^ stood to windward, ready to cut off any of the enemy's gunboats
' Vide Chap, VIII.— « Preble's letter to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18 ; Cooper's Naval Hist., ii. p. 50. ' Com. Preble to Secretary of Navy, Sept. 18.
or galleys which might appear on the outside of the harbor.^
At half-past two, the bomb-ketches and gunboats having gained their po- sitions, the signal to begin the ac- tion was made by the Commodore, and the engagement commenced.^ The fire opened at point-blank distance;^ and, although the bombs which were thrown, with but one exce])tion, were bad, and failed to explode,* the town and its de- fences suffered severely.^
At half-past three a hot shot struck Number Nine — one of the prizes which had been captured on the third of Au- gust, and placed under the command of Lieutenant James R. Caldwell of the Syren — and passed through her maga- zine; when that ill-fated vessel, with her crew, was blown up, with the loss of her commander. Midshipman John S. Dorsey, and eight men killed, and six men wounded. When the smoke had cleared away from the wreck, the only part above water was the forward part of the boat, on which were clustered
1 Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18. —= Ibid. ; Clark's Naval History, p. 114; Cooper's Naval History, ii. p. 50. The Hifilory of War with Tripoli, p. 112, and Lieut. Charles Stewart (Letter of Aug. 9) say it was " half-past twelve." — ^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18; Letter from Lieut. Charles Stewart, Aug. 9, in the National In- telligencer, Washington, D. C, Dec. 5, 1804.
^ Cooper's Naval History, ii. p. 53, 7iote.
' Com. Preble to Secretary of Navy, Sept. 18.
Chap. IX.]
DOCUMENT.
47
Midshipmau Robert T. Spence and eleven men, who were busily engaged in loading the long twenty-four-pound- er, which had formed the armament of the boat. They completed their task, and as, with three hearty cheers, they discharged it at the enemy, the wreck sank from under their feet, and they were picked up by the boats which had been sent to tlieir assistance from the other vessels of tlie squadron.-^
While the action with the gunboats continued, the enemy's galleys and gun- boats^fifteen in number — got in mo- tion, with an evident intention of leav- ing the harbor to attack the Americans at closer quarters, but the Constitution^ the Nautilus^ and the JEnterprize^ were to windward, ready to cut them off from the harbor, if they made the at- tempt, and they " thought it most pru- dent to retire to their snug^ retreat be-
hind the rocks, after filing a few shot."^
At half-past five o'clock the wind be- gan to freshen from the north-northeast, when, on signal, the fire was suspended and the ketches and gunboats taken in tow ; and at nine o'clock the entire squadron anchored about five miles southeast from Tripoli.^
In this affair the vessels suffered con- siderably. Nmnber Four received a twenty-four pound shot through her hull ; NiCmher Six had her lateen-yard shot away ; Number Eight also received a twenty-four pound shot through her hull and lost two of her crew ; Number Nine^ with her commander and nine of her crew, was lost, as before related, and some others were injured in their sails and rigging.^ It is not known what in- jury was done to the town or the ves- sels of the enemy.
D 0 C U M E ]^r T.
EXTRACT FROM COJEMODORE PREBLE S DISPATCH. * * * * * *
August 5th. — We were at anchor with the squadron, about two leagues north from the city of Tripoli ; the Argus in chase of a small vessel to tlie westward, which she soon came up with, and brought within hail. She proved to be a French privateer of four guns, which
1 Cooper's Naval Hist., ii. p. 51 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 103 ; Clarli's Naval Hist., p. 114. In the letter of Lieut. Stewart, Aug. 9, he saj's, "They had just time to load, and were going to fire their gun, when she sunk to the bottom;" and Cora. Preble {Letter to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18) saj'S, " Mr. Spence was superintending the loading of the gun at this moment ; and notwithstanding the boat was sinking, he and the brave fellows surviving, finished charging, gave three cheers as the boat went from under them, and swam to the nearest boats," &c., which appear to indicate that the gun was not discharged.
jiut into Tripoli a few days since for water, and left it this morning. I pi-evailed on the cap- tain, for a consideration, to I'eturn to Tripoli, for the purpose of landing fourteen very badly wounded Tripolitans, which I put on board his vessel with a letter to the prime minister, leav- ing it at the option of the Bashaw to recipro- cate this generous mode of conducting the war. The sending these unfortunate men on shore, to be taken care of by their friends, was an act of humanity on our part, which I hope will make a proper impression on the minds of the Barba- rians ; but 1 doubt it.
All hands were busily employed altering the rig of the three prizes from lateen vessels to sloops, and preparing for a second attack. Ob-
1 Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18.—^ Ibid.—' Ibid.
48
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
served one of the enemy's schooners and the brig (two corsairs) in the harbor to be dismast- ed ; was informed by the French captain, that the damage these vessels received in the action of the third, had occasioned their masts being taken out.
The seventh, the French privateer came out and brought me a letter from the French con- sul, in which he observes, that our attack of the third instant had disposed the Bashaw to accept of reasonable terms ; and invited me to send a boat to the rocks with a flag of truce, which was declined, as the white flag was not hoisted at the Bashaw's castle. At nine a. m., with a very light breeze from the eastward, and a strong current, which obliged the Constitution to remain at anchor, I made the signal for the light vessels to weigh, and the gun and bomb boats to cast ofi" and stand in shore towards the western batteries — the prize boats having been completely fitted for service, and the command of them given to Lieutenants Crane of the Vix- etr, Thorn of the Enterprize^ and Caldwell of the Syren — the whole advanced with saUs and oars. The orders were for the bombs to take a position in a small bay to the westward of the city, where but few of the enemy's guns could be brought to bear on them, but from whence they could annoy the town with shells ; the gunboats to silence a battery of seven heavy guns, which guarded the approach to that posi- tion ; and the brigs and schooners to support them, in case the enemy's flotilla should venture out.
At half-past one p. m., with a breeze from N. N. E., I weighed with the Constitution, and stood in for tlie toMm ; but the wind being on shore made it imprudent to engage the batteries with the ship, as in case of a mast being shot away, the loss of the vessel would probably en- sue, unless a change of wind should favor our getting off".
At half-past two p. m., the bomb and gun- boats having gained their stations, the signal was made for them to attack the town and bat- teries. Our bombs immediately commenced throwing shells, and the gunboats opened a sharp and well-directed fire on the town and batteries, within point-blank shot, which was warmly returned by the enemy. The seven-
gun battery, in less than two hours, was si- lenced except one gun. I presume the others were dismounted by our shot, as the walls were almost totally destroyed.
At a quarter-past three p. m. a ship hove in sight to the northward, standing for the town. Made the A^^gus signal to chase.
At half-past three one of our prize gunboats was blown up by a hot-shot from the enemy, which passed through her magazine. She had on board twenty-eight oflRcers, seamen, and ma- rines ; ten of whom were killed and six wounded. Among the killed were James R. Caldwell, first lieutenant of the Syren, and Midshipman John S. Dorsey, both excellent ofiicers. Midshipman Spence and eleven men were taken up unhurt. Captain Decatur, whose division this boat be- longed to, and who was near her at the time she blew up, reports to me that Mr. Spence was superintending the loading of the gun at that moment, and, notwithstanding the boat was sinking, he and the brave fellows surviving, finished charging, gave three cheers as the boat went from under them, and swam to the near- est boats, where they assisted during the re- mainder of the action.
The enemy's gunboats and galleys (fifl^een in number) were all in motion close under the bat- teries, and appeared to meditate an attack on our boats. The Constitution, Nautilus, and Enterprize were to windward, ready at every hazard to cut them ofi" from the harbor, if they should venture down ; while the Syren and Vixen were near our boats, to support and cover any of them tliat might be disabled. The enemy thought it most prudent, however, to re- tire to their snug retreat behind the rocks, after firing a few shot.
Our boats, in two divisions, under Captains Somers and Decatur, were well conducted, as were our bomb-vessels by Lieutenants Dent and Robinson.
The town must have suffered much from this attack ; and their batteries, particularly the seven-gun battery, must have lost many men.
At half-past five p. m., the -s^ind beginning to freshen from the N. N. e., I made the signal for the gun and bomb boats to retire from action, and for the vessels to which they were attached to take them in tow.
Chap. X.]
THE FOURTH BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
49
The Argus made signal that the strange sail was a friend.
In this day's action No. 4 had a twenty-four pound shot through her hull ; No. 6 had her lateen-yard shot away; No. 8 a twenty-four pound shot through her hull, which killed two men. Some of the other boats had their rig- ging and sails considerably cut. We threw forty-eight shells, and about five hundred twen- ty-four pound shot into the town and batteries. All the officers and men engaged in the action behaved with the utmost intrepidity.
At half-past six all the boats were in tow, and the squadron standing to the n. w.
At eight the John Adams, Captain Chaun- cey, from the United States, joined in company.
At nine the squadron anchored, Tripoli bear- ing s. E., five miles distant.
Gunboat No. 3 was this day commanded by Mr. Brooks, master of the Argus ; and No. 6 by Lieutenant Wadsworth of the Constitu- tion.
Annexed is a return of our loss in this at- tack.
Killed. — Ghinhoat No. 9. One lieutenant, one midshipman, one boatswain's-mate, one quarter-gunner, one sergeant of marines, and five seamen.
Ounboat No. 8. — Two seamen.
"Wounded. — Gunboat No. 9. — Six seamen, two of them mortally.
* * * ij: :ic Hi
I have the honor to be, &c.,
Edwaed Preble.
United States Ship Constitution, Malta Harbor, Sept. 18, 1804.
CHAPTER X.
Aug^ust 29, 1§04.
THE FOURTH BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
In tlie night of tlie twenty-fourth of August a third attack had been made on the town, "but with what effect is uncertain;" and preparations were im- mediately made to renew it.-^
At three in the afternoon of the twenty-eighth of August, the squadron weighed, and, with a pleasant breeze from the eastward, stood in for Tripoli ; and at five the Constitution anchored about two miles, north by east, from Fort English, and two and a half from the Bashaw's castle — the gunboats keep- ing under weigh .^
Many of the officers and crew of the
= Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper's Naval Hist., ii. p. 55. — ''Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804. Mr. Clark i^Naval Hist, p. 115), Mr. Badger (Naval Teviple, p. 38), and Mr. Waldo (Zi/e of Preble, p. 210), suppose the squadron moved on the twenty-seventh. Vol.. II.— 7
Constitution having been detailed to the bomb-ketches, gunboats, and boats of the ships, Captain Chauncey, of the (John Adams, with several of liis offi- cers and about seventy of his men — • seamen and marines — volunteered to take their places on th§ frigate ; while the (Tohn Adams, the Scourge, the transports, and ' the bomb-ketches — which could not be brought into ac- tion— remained at anchor about seven miles north from the town. All the boats of the squadron were officered, manned, and attached to the several gunboats ; and the crews were busily engaged, until eight in the evening, in making the preparations necessary for the attack.-^
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804; Cooper, ii. p. 55 ; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 38.
50
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book H.
At half-past one in the morning of the twenty-ninth, the gunboats, in two divisions, .led by Lieutenants Somers and Decatur, and accompanied by the Syren., Lieutenant Stewart ; the Argus; Lieutenant Hull ; the Vixen^ Lieutenant Smith ; the Nautilus^ Lieutenant Reed ; the Enterprize^ Lieutenant Robinson, and the boats of the squadron, were ordered to advance and take their sta- tions close to the rocks, at the entrance of the harbor, within grape-shot dis- tance of the Bashaw's castle.-*
At three o'clock the gunboats an- chored, with springs on their cables, and opened a heavy fire on the town, shipping, and batteries, which was re- turned with equal spirit, but was not properly directed. The ships' boats re- mained near the gunboats to protect them from the attacks of the enemy, should he venture to leave the harbor ; while the larger vessels kept under weigh, ready for the same service or any other duty which might be found necessary.'^
The engagement continued until day- light, with unabated fury, when the Constitution weighed and stood in to- wards the harbor, under a heavy fire from Fort English, the Bashaw's castle, and the batteries. Supposing the gun- boats had consumed the greater part of their ammunition, at half-past five, sig- nal was made for them to withdraw from the action, and for the light ves-
' Com, Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 56 ; Clark's Naval Hist., p. 115 ; Badger's Naval Terople, p. 38.
^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p, 56 ; Clark, p. 115 ; Mackenzie's Life of Decatur (Sparks' Am. Biog., xxi.), p. 110.
sels to take them in tow ; while the Constitution covered the movement by a heavy fire of round and grape shot, at two cables' length, which proved ex- ceeding destructive to the enemy. One of his gunboats was sunk, two others were run ashore to prevent them from sinking, and the ten which were least injured sought safety in an immediate retreat.^
Encouraged with this favorable open- ing, the Commodore continued to run in until the ship came within musket- shot of the batteries, when she was brought to, and opened a heavy fire on the town, batteries, and castle. Three- quarters of an hour afterwards, having silenced the castle and two of the bat- teries, sunk a Tunisian galliot in the mole, greatly damaged a Spanish ship in the harbor, and greatly cut up the enemy's galleys and gunboats — the American gunboats and smaller vessels having, meanwhile, retired beyond gun- shot distance from the town — the Con- stitution was hauled off, and, with the squadron, returned to the anchorage, about five miles from the town.^
In this attack upwards of seven hun- dred round-shot, besides grape and can- ister, were thrown into the town and batteries, with very good efifect— the enemy having suffered more severely than in any of the attacks which pre- ceded it.^
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Clark, pp. 115, 116 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, pp. 110, 111.
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 56 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. Ill ; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 39.
= Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Mac- kenzie's Decatur, p. 111.
Chap. X.]
DOCUMENT.
51
The light vessels of the American squadron suffered considerably in their sails and rigging ; the Constitution had three of her lower shrouds, two spring- stays, two topmast-backstays and the trusses, chains, and lifts of her main- yard shot away, and her sails and run- ning rigging were also considerably cut. The gunboats were also considerably cut in their sails and rigging; and a boat belonging to the John Adams was sunk while in tow of the Nautilus^ by
a double-headed shot from one of the batteries.^
The details of the loss of the enemy, although it was heavy, are not known. The Constitution had not a man hurt, and no loss among the crews of the gunboats has been recorded. The only loss which is mentioned, is that of the crew of the boat belonging to the John Adams^ already referred to, of whom three were killed, and one badly wouuded.*^
DOCUMENT.
extract from commodore preble s dispatch to the secretary of the navy.
Sir:—
August 28.— We were favored with a pleas- ant breeze from the eastward. At three p. m. we weighed, and stood in for TripoH. At five, anchored the Constitution two miles isr. by e. from Fort English, and two and a half miles from the Bashaw's castle ; the hght vessels or- dered to keep under weigh.
We were employed until eight p. m. in mak- ing arrangements for attacking the town. A number of the officers and many of the seamen of the Constitution being attached to the bomb, gun, and ship's boats, Captain Chauncey, with several of his officers, and about seventy of his seamen and marines, volunteered their services on board the Constitution. AH the boats in the squadron were officered and manned, and attached to the several gunboats. The two bomb-vessels could not be brought into action, as one was leaky and the mortar-bed of the other had given way. The John Adams., Scoicrge, transports, and bombs, were anchored seven miles to the northward of the town. Lieutenant-commandant Dent, of the Scourge, came on boai'd the Constitution, and took
charge on the gun-deck. Lieutenant Izard, of the Scourge, also joined me. Lieutenant Gor- don commands gunboat No. 2 ; and Lieutenant Lawrence, of the Enterpi^ize, No. 5. These are the only changes.
At half-past one a. m. the gunboats, in two divisions, led by Cajjtains Decatur and Somers, were ordered to advance, and take their sta- tions close to the rocks, at the entrance of the harbor, within grape-shot distance of the Ba- shaw's castle. The Syren, Argus, Vixen, Nau- tilus, Enterprize, and boats of the squadron ac- companied them. At three a. ar. the boats anchored, with spiings on, within pistol-shot of the rocks, and commenced a brisk fire on the shipping, town, batteries, and Bashaw's castle, which was warmly returned, but not as well directed. The ships' boats remained with the gunboats, to assist in boarding the enemy's flo- tilla, if it should venture out ; while the brigs and schooners kept under weigh, ready for the same service, or for annoying the enemy, as oc- casion might present.
At daylight, presuming that the gunboats had nearly expended their ammunition, we
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 180i ; Cooper, ii. pp. 56, 57 ; Clark, p. 116.
= Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804.
52
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
weighed with the Constitution, and stood in for the harbor. Fort English, the Bashaw's, castle, CrowTi, and Mole batteries, kept up a heavy fire on us as we advanced. At half-past five I made the signal for the gunboats to retire from action ; and for the brigs and schooners to take them in tow. We were then within two cables' length of the rocks, and commenced a heavy fire of round and grape on thirteen of the enemy's gunboats and galleys, which were in pretty close action with our boats. We sunk one of the enemy's boats ; at the same time two more, disabled, ran on shore to avoid sinking ; the remainder immediately retreated. We con- tinued running in until we were within musket- shot of the Crown and Mole batteries, when we brought to, and fired upwards of three hundred round-shot, besides grape and canister, into the town. Bashaw's castle, and batteries. We silenced the castle and two of the batteries for some time.
At a quarter-past six, the gunboats being all out of shot and in tow, I hauled off, after hav- ing been three-quarters of an hour in close action.
The gunboats fired upwards of four hundred round-shot, besides grape and canister, with good effect. A large Tunisian galliot was sunk in the Mole ; a Spanish ship, which had entered with an ambassador from the Grand Seignior, received considerable damage. The Tripolitan galleys and gunboats lost many men and were much cut. The Bashaw's castle and town have suffered very much ; as have their Crown and Mole batteries.
Captains Decatur and Somers conducted their divisions of gunboats with their usual firmness and address ; and were well supported by the ofiicers and men attached to them. The brigs
and schooners were also well conducted during the action, and fired a number of shot at the enemy ; but their guns are too light to do much execution. They sufi:ered considerably in their sails and rigging.
The officers and crew of the Constitution be- haved well. I cannot, in justice to Captain Chauncey, omit noticing the very able assist- ance I received from him, on the quarter-deck of the Constitution, during the whole of the ac- tion. The damage which we have received is principally above the hull — three lower shrouds, two spring-stays, two topmast-back-stays, truss- es, chains, and lifts of the main-yard shot away. Our sails had several cannon-shot through them, and were, besides, considerably cut by grajje. Much of our running rigging cut to pieces ; one of our anchor-stocks and our larboard cable shot away ; and a number of grape-shot were stick- ing in different parts of the hull — but not a man hurt !
A boat belonging to the John Adams, with a master's-mate (Mr. Creighton) and eight men, was sunk by a double-headed shot from the bat- teries, while in tow of the Nautilus, which killed three men and badly woimded one, who, with Mr. Creighton, and the other foui', were picked up by one of our boats. The only damage our gunboats sustained, was in their rigging and sails, which were considerably cut with the ene- my's round and grape shot.
At eleven a. m. we anchored with the squad- ron, five miles n. e. by n. from Tripoli, and re- paired the damage received in the action.
I have the honor to be, «S;c.,
Edward Preble.
United States Ship Constitution, Malta Hakbok, Sept. 18, 1804.
CHAPTER XI.
September 3, 1§04.
THE FIFTH BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI.
After the squadron had returned to its anchorage, the several vessels were repah'ed, and preparations for a final attack on the town were made,^
At four in the afternoon of the sec- ond of September, all things having been made ready, the squadron weighed anchor, and kept under sail all night.*^
At half-past two in the afternoon of the third, the gunboats were ordered to cast off, and to advance and attack the enemy .^
It appears that the enemy had profit- ed from his experience, and had now adopted a new system of operations. Instead of posting his galleys and gun- boats behind the rocks, in positions to fire over them, or at the openings be- tween them — bringing them to leeward of the American squadron — he had now put them in motion, and had worked them up to windward until they had gained the weather side of the harbor, directly under the fire of Fort English, and of a new battery which had been erected in that neighborhood.* This movement was an exceedingly judicious one, inasmuch as it prevented the American gunboats from attacking the
1 Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper's Naval Hist., ii. p. 57. — ' Com. Preble to Sec. of Nav)', Sept. 18, 1804. — ^Ibid.; Cooper, ii. p. 57; Mackenzie's Decatur {Sparks' Am. Biog., xxi.), p. 112. — * Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. pp. 67, 58.
town, without leaving the enemy's flo- tilla in their rear and directly to wind- ward— an advantage in favor of the enemy which no prudent ofiicer would allow.
This new plan of operations com- pelled a change in the plan which Com- modore Preble had adopted ; and there- fore the bomb-ketches were sent to lee- ward to bombard the town ; while, at the same time, the gunboats were kept to windward, to engage the enemy's galleys and boats.^
At half-past three in the afternoon, the bomb-ketches having gained the stations to which they had been order- ed, the engagement commenced — the ketches, at one extremity of the harbor, throwing shells into the town ; while the boats, on either side, and the Amer- ican small vessels and the forts, at the other extremity, were also disputing for the mastery.^
The bomb-ketches were vigorously opposed by the garrisons of the Ba- shaw's, the Crown, the Mole, and several other batteries, and they were so much exposed that they were in great clanger of being sunk. To cover these vessels, and to draw off the enemy's fire, the
1 Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 58 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 112. — ^ Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 40 ; Clark's Naval History, p. 116.
54
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
Constitution ran down to the rocks, near which the ketches were stationed, and opened a heavy fire, at grape-shot distance. Eleven broadsides were pour- ed in upon the castle, the town, and the batteries, by the frigate ; while the ketches played upon the town with great effect.^
Meanwhile, the gunboats and small vessels, at the opposite extremity of the harbor, were also busily engaged. The gunboats, led by the commanders who had before led them to action— Cap- tains Somers and Decatur — had ad- vanced as'ainst the flotilla and driven it
O
from its position ; while the small ves- sels cannonaded Fort English.^
During an hour and a quarter this general contest continued ; when, in consequence of the increase of the wind, which was also inclining to the north- ward, the Commodore considered it prudent to withdraw from the town.
Accordingly, signals were made for
the small vessels to take the gunboats in tow, and soon afterwards the squad- ron withdrew.-^
The sails and rigging of all the ves- sels suffered severely, and the Argus received a thirty-two pound shot in her hull, which cut off a bower cable as it entered, beyond which but little loss was experienced by the squadron.^
The damage to the town appeared to be considerable ; but, as none of the particulars have come down to us, a more minute account cannot be given.^
With this engagement the naval "battles" connected with the Tripoli- tan troubles ended. Other exploits, requiring great courage and skill, were performed on shore, by those who rep- resented the United States, in connec- tion with a brother of the Bashaw, but a peace was soon afterwards effected, and the attention of the country was directed to another and more important opponent.
DOCUMElSrT.
extract fkom commodore preble s dispatch to the secretary of the navy.
Sir:—
29th and 30th {August) preparing the bomb- vessels for service ; supplying the gunboats with ammunition, &c.
31st. — ^A vessel arrived from Malta with pro- visions and stores ; brought no news of Oom-
• Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 58 ; Badger's Naval Temple, p. 40 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 113. — " Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 59 ; Clark, p. 116 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, pp. 112, 113.
modore Barron, or the frigates. We discharged this vessel's cargo and ordered her to return.
September the 2d. — The bomb-vessels having been repaired and ready for service, Lieutenants Dent and Robinson resumed the command of them. Lieutenant Moi-ris, of the Argus, took command of No. 3 ; and Lieutenant Trippe, having nearly recovered from his wounds, re- sumed the command of JSFo. 6, which he so gal- lantly conducted the 3d ultimo. Captain Chaun-
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Badger's Naval Temple, pp. 40, 41 ; Mackenzie's Decatur, p. 113.
« Cora. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804 ; Cooper, ii. p. 59 ; Badger's Naval Temple, pp. 40, 41.
' Com. Preble to Sec. of Navy, Sept. 18, 1804.
Chap. XI.]
DOCUMENT.
55
cey, with several young gentlemen, and sixty men from the John Adams, volunteered on board the Constitution.
At four p. M. made the signal to weigh ; kept under sail all night. At eleven p. m. a general signal to prepare for battle ; a Spanish polacre, in ballast, came out of Tripoli, with an ambas- sador of the Grand Seignior on board, who had been sent from Constantinople to Tripoli to con- firm the Bashaw in his title. This ceremony takes place in all the Barbary regencies every five years. The captain of this vessel informed us, that our shot and shells had made great havoc and destruction in the city and among the shipping ; and that a vast number of people have been killed. He also informs us that three boats, which were sunk by our shot, in the ac- tions of the 3d and 28th ult., had been got up, repaired, and fitted for service,
3d. — At 2 p. M. Tripoli bore s. s. w., two miles and a half distant, wind e. by n. At half-past two the signals were made for the gunboats to cast off", advance, and attack the enemy's gun- boats and galleys, which were all under weigh in the eastern part of the harbor, whither they had, for some time past, been working up against the wind. This was ceitainly a judi- cious movement of theirs, as it precluded tlie possibility of our boats going down to attack the to^vn, without leaving the enemy's flotilla in their rear, and directly to windward. I ac- cordingly ordered the bomb-vessels to run down within proper distance of the town and bom- bard it, while our gunboats were to engage the enemy's galleys and boats to windward.
At half-past three p. m., our bombs having gained the station to which they were directed, anchored and commenced throwing shells into the city. At the same time our gunboats open- ed a brisk fire on the galleys, and within point- blank shot, which was warmly returned by them and Fort English, and by a new battery a little to the westward ; but as soon as our boats ar- rived within good musket-shot of their galleys and boats, they gave way and retreated to the shore, within the rocks, and under cover of musketry from Fort English. They were fol- lowed by our boats, and by the Syreji, Argus, Vixen, Nautilus, and JEhterprize, as far as the reefs would permit them to go with prudence.
The action was then divided. One division of our boats, with the brigs and schooners, at- tacked Fort English, while the other was en- gaged with the enemy's galleys and boats.
The Bashaw's castle, the Mole, Crown, and several other batteries, kept up a constant fire on our bomb-vessels, which were well conduct- ed, and threw shells briskly into the town ; but from their situation they were very much ex- posed, and in great danger of being sunk. I accordingly ran within them with the Constitu- tion, to draw ofi" the enemy's attention and amuse them while the bombardment was kept up. We brought to within reach of grape, and fired eleven broadsides into the Bashaw's cas- tle, town, and batteries, in a situation where more than seventy guns could bear upon us. One of their batteries was silenced. The town, castle, and other batteries considerably damaged.
By this time it was half-past four o'clock. The wind was increasing and inclining rapidly to the northward. I made the signal for the boats to retu'e from action, and for the brigs and schooners to take them in tow, and soon after hauled oif with the Constitution to repair damages. Our main-topsail was totally disabled by a shell from the batteries, which cut away the leech-rope and several cloths of the saU. Another shell went through the fore-topsail, and one through the jib. All our sails consid- erably cut, two top-mast back-stays shot away, main-mast, fore-tacks, lifts, braces, bowlines, and the running rigging generally very much cut, but no shot in our hull, excepting a few grape.
Our gunboats were an hour and fifteen min- utes in action. They disabled several of the enemy's galleys and boats, and considerably damaged Fort English. Most of our boats re- ceived damage in their rigging and sails. The bomb-vessel No. 1, commanded by Lieutenant Robinson, was disabled, every shroud shot away, the bed of the mortar rendered useless, and the vessel near sinking. She was, however, towed ofl^. About fifty shells were thrown into the town ; and our boats fired four hundred round- shot, besides grape and canister. They were led into action by Captains Decatur and Som- ers, with their usual gallantry. The brigs and schooners were handsomely conducted, and fired
56
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
many shot with effect at Fort English, which they were near enough to reach with their car- ronades. They suffered considerably in their rigging, and the Argus received a thirty-two pound shot in tlie hull forward, which cut off a bower-cable as it entered. We kept under weigh until eleven p. m., when we anchored, Tripoli bearing s. s. w. three leagues. I again, with pleasure, acknowledge the services of an able and active officer in Captain Chauncey, serving on the quarter-deck of the Constitution.
[Book H.
At sunrise I made the signal for the squadron
to prepare for action. The carpenters were
sent on board the bombs to repair damages
and our boats employed in supplying the bombs
and gunboats with ammunition, and to replace
the expenditures.
******
I have the honor to be, &g.,
Edward Peeble.
United States Ship Constitution, Malta Harbor, Sept. 18, 1804.
CHAPTER XII.
April 27, 1§05.
THE CAPTURE OF DERNE.
The services of Commodore Preble, before Tripoli, have been referred to in several preceding chapters of this work ; ^ and the successive attacks which he made on that city have been fully de- scribed in the pages of those who have recorded the annals of the Navy of the Republic.^ Soon afterwards he was su- perseded in the command of the squad- ron before Tripoli f and Commodore Barron assumed the command of the station.*
It appears, however, that before the departure of Commodore Preble, and, probably with his approval, another and more singular course was adopted to chastise and cripple Tripoli. The reigning Bashaw of that country, some years before, had usurped the throne, and driven his brother, Hamet Cara-
• Vide Chapters VIII., IX., X., XI.
" Cooper, ii. pp. 6-74 ; Clark, pp. 104-119 ; Naval Temple, pp. 20-43 ; Waldo's Preble, pp. 162-217 ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, pp. 107-114 ; Sabine's Life of Preble (Sparks' Am. Biog., xxii.), pp. 79-104.
' Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 114.— * Cooper, ii. p. 74. j
melli, to whom it belonged, into exile. At the suggestion of Mr. Cathcart, the American Consul at Tripoli, and of Mr. Eaton, the American Consul at Tunis, it was resolved to take advantage of these difficulties ; and, by uniting the forces and resources of America with those of the exiled Bashaw, to restore the latter to his throne, and to remove the author of the existing troubles beyond the power of doing mischief. The fugitive prince was immediately sought by Mr. Eaton, and the bold undertaking was not only proposed, but accepted, and arranged.^
The plan adopted provided for the movement of a body of troops, by land ; while the American squadron, by water, should co-operate with it, against the usurper ; and as it was known that the people were much discontented with the existing government, there apjjeared to
' Felton's Life of Eaton (Sparks' Am. Biog., ix.), pp. 257, 258; Noah's Travels, p. 346 ; Consul Eaton to Gen. S. Smith, "Tunis, Aug. 19, 1802."
Chap. XII.]
THE CAPTURE OF DERNE.
57
be but little doubt of the successful ter- mination of the enterprise.''
In consequence of this arrangement, and to be convenient of access to the commander of the squadron, the exiled Hamet repaired to Malta ;^ while the intelligence of his movements, which had reached Tripoli, had filled the gov- ernment with alarm, and the people with joy. In fact, so great was the popular pleasure that it was considered a special interposition of Divine favor ; and so imminent was the danger, that the chiefs of several of the principal villao^es were seized and confined to prevent an insurrection.^
Singular as it may appear, at that time the commanders of the Ameri- can squadron — Commodore Morris, and Captains Barron, Bainbridge, and Mur- ray— had disapproved the proposed junction of the American force with that of the exiled Bashaw ; and, through their influence, the projected expedition had been defeated,* while Mr. Eaton re- turned to the United States.^
In June, 1804, Mr. Eaton returned to the Mediterranean, having learned that the exiled Bashaw, after the failure of the American squadron to co-operate with him, had returned to Derne — a provincial town in the regency of Trip- oli, and, at the head of an armed force of Arabs, had boldly opened the cam- paign, with strong appearances of ulti- mate success. He had proposed such
' Consul Eaton to Mr. Madison, Sec. of State, "Tunis, Sept. 5, 1801 ;" Fel ton's Eaton, p. 258.— "Felton's Eaton, pp. 2G6, 274 ; Consul Eaton to Gen. S. Smith, Aug. 19, 1802.—' Consul Eaton to Mr. Madison, Aug. 5, 1802.
* Consul Eaton to Mr. Madison, June 8 and Aug. 9, 1802.
' Felton's Eaton, pp. 288, 289 ; Life of Gen. Eaton {M. Drouhfidd, 1813), p. 242. Vol. II. -8
terms to the government of the United States as had induced it to promise as- sistance ; and Mr. Eaton, who had vol- unteered to lead the force against the enemy, was charged with authority to carry it into effect.^
On the twenty-fifth of Novenil)er, 1804, Mr. Eaton reached Alexandria^ — to which place the exiled Bashaw had retired^ — when the negotiations were renewed and carried into effect, with the approval of the Viceroy of Egypt.'* A series of difiiculties now presented themselves, in which Mr. Eaton and his eighteen associates, in a strange country, were exposed to all the jealous animosi- ties of Mussulmen, and endured great hardships.^ At length the junction of the two parties was effected ; a few Greek Christians were enlisted ; and, on the sixth of March, 1805, at the head of nine Americans — Lieutenant O'Ban- non, Mr. Peck, a non-commissioned ofifi- cer, and six privates ; a company of twenty-four cannoniers, under Selim Comb, and Lieutenants Connant and Rocco ; a company of thirty - eight Greeks, under Caj)tain Lucca Ulovix and Lieutenant Constantine ; the Bashaw's suite of about ninety men ; and a party of about two hundred mounted Arabs —less than four hundred in the aggre- gate^— with one hundred and five cam-
' Cooper, ii. p. 79 ; Noah's Travels, p. 348 ; Life of Eaton, p. 256. — ' Gen. Eaton's Journal, Nov. 25.
' Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 115 ; Consul Eaton to Secretary of Navy, Sept. 6, 1804.
' Felton's Eaton, p. 295 ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, pp. 116-118 ; Gen. Eaton's Journal, Dec. 17, 1804.
' Hist, of War with Tripoli, pp. 117-120 ; Gen. Eaton to Sec. of Navy, Dec. 13, 1804 ; Same to Com. Preble, Jan. 25, 1805 ; Same to Secretary of Navy, Feb. 13, 1805.
' Gen. Eaton's Journal, March 6, 1805 ; Felton's Eaton, pp. 300, 301.
58
BATTLES OF THE UNITED STATES.
[Book II.
els, laden with provisions and baggage, the army moved from the rendezvous, near Alexandria.^ From that time to the seventeenth of April — -forty -two days — the army, if an irregular and un- governable horde of savage Arabs can be so called, was in the wilderness, slowly marching, like the Israelites of old, from Egypt to the " promised land." The marches were by irregular stages, and the army halted where water was to be procured, frequently suffering for the want of it. The only provisions it pos- sessed were a handful of rice and two biscuits per day ; while the wandering tribes of Arabs, by whom the party was constantly surrounded, were ex- ceedingly troublesome. After endur- ing untold hardships — having for three days had no food whatever, except a little sorrel and the roots which were dug from the sands — the army, on the sixteenth of April, reached Bomba, and on the next day the Argus came into port and relieved its distress. The nar- rative of this journey, as related by General Eaton,^ exhibits one of the most perilous marches on record ; and it is said that, on the appearance of the Argus^ "language was too poor to paint the joy and exultation which this mes- senger of life excited in every breast."
At two o'clock in the afternoon of the twenty-fifth of April, the motley army encamped on an eminence which overlooks Derne, reconnoitred the town and prepared for hostilities.^
' Gen. Eaton's Jour., March 6 ; Hist, of War with Tripoli, p. 121. — ' Gen. Eaton's Jour., March 6 to April 16. See also Hist, of War with Tripoli, pp. 121-123 ; Felton's Eaton, pp. 301-319 ; Noah's Travels, pp. 349-351.
° Gen. Eaton's Journal, April 25.
Derne, the scene of the proposed op- erations, is the second port of conse- quence in the regency. It was the Darnis of the ancients, and is pleasant- ly situated, within view of the sea. Its port, in former times, possessed consid- erable importance ; and at the time of the siege it contained, probably, five thousand inhabitants, who were govern- ed by a Bey.-^
The town had been strengthened with considerable good judgment by the commander of the garrison, who appeared to be prepared for a vigorous defence. A water-battery, on which eight nine-pounders had been mounted, protected the northeastern part of the