Transcriber's Note The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfullypreserved. Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected. LEARN ONE THING EVERY DAY MARCH 15 1916 SERIAL NO. 103 THE MENTOR [Illustration: Perry's Pennant on the "Lawrence"] THE WAR OF 1812 By Professor ALBERT BUSHNELL HART DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY Heroes of the Fleet PERRY "September the tenth, full well I ween In eighteen hundred and thirteen, The weather mild, the sky serene, Commanded by bold Perry, Our saucy fleet at anchor lay In safety, moor'd at Put-in Bay; 'Twixt sunrise and the break of day, The British fleet We chanced to meet; Our admiral thought he would them greet With a welcome on Lake Erie. " --_Old Song_ LAWRENCE "Let shouts of victory for laurels won Give place to grief for Lawrence, Valor's son. The warrior who was e'er his country's pride Has for that country bravely, nobly died. " --_Lines published in June, 1813. _ THE WAR OF 1812 By ALBERT BUSHNELL HART _Professor of Government, Harvard University_ _MENTOR GRAVURES_ CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR COMMODORE WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE _MENTOR GRAVURES_ COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON [Illustration: Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry] THE MENTOR · DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY MARCH 15, 1916 Our defeat of Great Britain in the Revolutionary War was conclusive;though "we" in that case included France, without whose aid the patriotsmust have been defeated. It is not so easy to discover a fund ofmilitary glory in the War of 1812. That was a great war year. Within a few days of the declaration of warby the United States against Great Britain, Napoleon's Grand Army ofover 400, 000 men crossed the Niemen into Russia. Six months later 4, 000of that host recrossed, pursued by the Russians; and probably not morethan 100, 000 of the whole number ever saw their homes again. In 1813, while the Americans were fighting on the ocean and on Lake Erie, Napoleon was driven out of Germany. A few weeks before the Battle ofLundy's Lane, Napoleon was compelled to abdicate. Soon after the news ofthe Peace of Ghent with Great Britain was received in the United States, in 1815, Napoleon broke loose from Elba; and a few months later he wasagain a prisoner and sent to St. Helena. [Entered at the Postoffice at New York, N. Y. , as second-class matter. Copyright, 1916, by The Mentor Association, Inc. ] To most of Europe the American War of 1812 seemed an unwarrantable flankattack in the great running fight of the nations. Russia andPrussia resented it that American statesmen should throw the weight oftheir country on the side of the great military despot of his time. Theywanted none of the military and naval strength of Great Britain to bediverted across the ocean. The suggestion was even made in Congress thatthe United States ought to declare war at the same moment on both Franceand England. That idea has been carried out by Captain Marryat in hisonce popular novel "Midshipman Easy, " where he describes a triangularduel between three sailors; but nations could hardly engage in such agame. [Illustration: ANDREW JACKSON From the painting by John Vanderlyn] THE ELEPHANT AND THE WHALE Nevertheless Congress found some difficulty in selecting the enemy tofight; for the conditions were remarkably like those of the year 1915. People used to talk then about the "war between the elephant and thewhale": the elephant being the land army of Napoleon, which apparentlynothing could withstand, and the whale being the navy of Great Britain, which had command of the sea. That struggle reached a crisis in 1806, when the two belligerents, not being able to reach and hammer eachother, did their best to hammer the neutral carrying trade, which wascarried on largely in American ships. [Illustration: THE SURRENDER OF GENERAL HULL General Hull surrendered to General Brock, Governor of Upper Canada, atDetroit on August 16, 1812] BY ORDERS IN COUNCIL Great Britain declared the whole French coast blockaded from Brest tothe Elbe, just as in 1915 the same power declared the whole North Seacoast to be blockaded. By Decrees France declared the whole BritishIslands to be in a state of blockade, exactly as Germany recentlydeclared those coasts to be a "naval zone. " The consequence was that theFrench captured 600 American merchantmen in the next nine years, and theBritish took 900. In this long controversy the French were the wiliest, the British werethe most arrogant. The United States would have been justified in waragainst either of these powers, on the basis of their disregard of ourright to keep up neutral trade with both belligerents. [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE In this battle, which took place on July 25, 1814, and lasted fromsunset to midnight, the Americans under General Jacob Brown were left inpossession of the field, but were unable to carry away the heavyartillery which they had captured] At that time the United States found it hard to provide a remedy. Themost obvious method was to refuse to trade with either of the nations. Accordingly an Embargo was laid by Congress in 1807, by which no cargoesof any kind were allowed to leave American ports, bound to a foreigndestination. The embargo very nearly brought England to terms; but theUnited States had not patience to wait for its results. The shippingtrade was paralyzed, and the farmers and planters could not export theirsurplus. In view of these losses, Congress after fourteen months'experience repealed the embargo. CAUSES OF THE WAR Since neither France nor Great Britain would accept the opportunity tomake a friend of the United States, the captures went on; and Englandadded the impressment of American seamen from American merchant vessels. The idea that a subject of the British Empire could change hisallegiance and become the citizen of another nation seemed to England adangerous novelty. Still, if the great sea-power had been willing to paya little more wages to her men-of-warsmen, she could have filled herships by enlistment. If she had been content to "press" men from her ownmerchant ships, she would not have aroused the antipathy of theAmericans. To save a few hundred thousand pounds and to assert a rightto claim Englishmen who had become American citizens, Great Britaingave unpardonable offense to the little United States. When the war broke out, more than 5, 000 Americans had been at one timeor another impressed; and 2, 000 or 3, 000 were actually serving on boardBritish men-of-war till the hostilities began. Then, having beenoriginally seized without reason, they were made prisoners of war. [Illustration: COLONEL MILLER AT THE BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA At the Battle of Chippewa on July 5, 1814. Colonel Miller with threehundred men captured a height, the key to the British position. It was adesperate and courageous exploit] Considering the eventual result of the war, it is striking that theUnited States government placed little dependence on its navy, butexpected to carry on a brilliant land campaign. Canada was to beconquered, and then, as Henry Clay put it, they could "negotiate a peaceat Quebec or Halifax. " This was not a new thought. In the Revolutionary War Canada was invadedby Montgomery and Arnold and all but annexed to the new United States. How could Canada resist? Its population in 1812 was about 50, 000; thatof the United States was nearly 8, 000, 000. During the nine years from1803 to 1812 the United States had tried every means short of war; andthe vigorous young "war hawks, " headed by Henry Clay of Kentucky andJohn C. Calhoun of South Carolina, were tired of accepting what theyfelt to be a standing offence to their nation. [Illustration: JAMES MADISON President of the United States, 1809-1817 From the portrait by Gilbert Stuart] THE LAND WAR In accordance with the plan of invasion, several "armies" of 2, 000 or3, 000 men were pushed to the Canadian frontier; but in the very firstfight the tables were turned, and Detroit was captured by the British. It took more than a year and 20, 000 men to push back the British intoCanada. Five different American commanders were ignominiously headed ordefeated in attempting to invade Canada across the Niagara River or theSt. Lawrence River. Except for Harrison's little victory at the Battleof the Thames, and for the drawn Battle of Lundy's Lane, the Canadiancampaigns were all humiliating defeats. [Illustration: THE DEATH OF GENERAL ROSS AT BALTIMORE On September 12, 1814, General Ross in command of the British forceadvancing on Baltimore, was shot as he rode at the head of his troops bytwo American troopers concealed in a hollow. Baltimore was defendedbravely, and the British were repulsed] This disagreeable chapter in our military history was due to the factthat the government had made no sufficient preparation of men ormaterials, and was obliged to rely upon untrained volunteer militia. These were men of personal courage and intelligence; and under suchcommanders as Jacob Brown and Andrew Jackson they showed that they hadthe instincts of soldiers. Nevertheless they were poorly drilled andequipped. In one campaign they stopped short when they reached theCanadian line, because they said they were not constitutionally bound tofight, except for the defense of their own country. [Illustration: JAMES MONROE Secretary of State, 1811-1817. He also acted as Secretary of War in1814-1815. President, 1817-1825. From the portrait by John Vanderlyn] The result was that, starting with a regular army of only 7, 000, whichfinally included about 50, 000 men, 400, 000 additional recruits wereraised during the war. The total number of Canadians and British troopsengaged in the war was not over 20, 000. The Americans lost 30, 000 men;and when the war was over the United States was not in possession of onefoot of Canadian territory, while the British were occupying about halfof the present state of Maine. This heartbreaking result ought not to be charged to the soldiers somuch as to the administration. John Armstrong, Secretary of War, allowedthe British to land 5, 000 men on the Chesapeake and to march fifty milesoverland to Washington. Within a distance of two days' land travel fromthat city lived nearly 100, 000 able-bodied men, most of them accustomedto handle a gun. Yet the British force was allowed to captureWashington, to burn the public buildings, and to retire to its fleetalmost without losing a man. Till James Monroe became Secretary of Warthe whole administration was slack and incompetent. [Illustration: ANDREW JACKSON Victorious leader at the Battle of New Orleans. President, 1829-1837. From a drawing from life by J. B. Longacre] WAR AT SEA A proof that the defeats of the War of 1812 were not due to lack offiber among the American people as a whole, was the brilliant success ofthe operations on the high seas. Jefferson and Madison both thought thenavy would do more harm than good. The British had twice seized thelittle navy of the Danes, and it seemed as though our ships would onlybe a whet to the appetite of the British naval giant. Against our 18ships of war, of which only six were sizable frigates, the British couldoppose 170 large ships and 700 others. They had the prestige of ahundred years of naval supremacy; they had driven the French and Spanishships of war from the sea. Therefore it was a joy to the nation when, seven weeks after theoutbreak of the war, the frigate _Constitution_ captured the _Guerriere_and later the _Java_; then the _United States_ captured the_Macedonian_; the _Frolic_ took the _Wasp_; the _Essex_, the firstAmerican ship of war to appear in the Pacific, captured numbers ofBritish whalers there. In thirteen duels, one ship on each side, theAmericans won eleven victories. Gradually the fleet was worn down; the _Chesapeake_ was taken by the_Shannon_; the _President_ and the _Adams_ were captured; and at the endof the war there was not a public ship on the ocean flying the flag ofthe United States. However the navy in two unexpected directions won newlaurels. On Lake Erie Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British fleet atthe battle of Put-in Bay, and sent his ever memorable despatch, "We havemet the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner andone sloop. " On Lake Champlain, Commodore Macdonough beat the British;while McComb with his militia withstood and repelled the British attackat Plattsburg. [Illustration: WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON Harrison was one of the few able leaders that the United States hadduring the War of 1812. He was President for only one month in 1841. Hedied in office. From the portrait of by J. B. Lambdin] When the cruisers were driven off the sea, the privateers continued thenaval war. At that time a merchantman could be turned into a capablefighting ship by adding strengthening timbers and providing thenecessary guns. Such a ship, when commissioned as a privateer by theUnited States government, could capture the enemy's merchantmen and onoccasion fight small cruisers. For instance, the brig _Yankee_, 160 tonsburden, eighteen guns, 120 men, captured twenty-nine prizes, one ofwhich sold for more than $500, 000. The money was divided equally betweenthe owners and the men on board. The privateers together captured about2, 000 British vessels; though over 1, 500 American vessels were capturedby the English. The whole British nation felt the shock of thisunexpected naval resistance; and it was the pressure of the shippers andshipowners of England which caused that power to make favorable terms ofpeace. [Illustration: Courtesy, Harper's Magazine Copyright, Harper & Brothers PERRY RECEIVING THE SURRENDER OF THE BRITISH COMMANDERS ABOARD THE"LAWRENCE" From the painting by W. J. Aylward] For a hundred years experts have been trying to find out just why theUnited States was so successful in the naval war. The British newspapersof the day tried to prove that it was because they called a vessel afrigate when it was really bigger and stronger than the British frigate. That did not affect the captain of the _Guerriere_ when he acceptedbattle with the _Constitution_: he evidently thought that he had sizeand power enough to capture his adversary. The Americans appear to havehad heavier guns, better training in handling the guns, bettermarksmanship, to have been quicker and smarter. It was the privateers that were in the long run most effective. TheLondon Times complained toward the end of 1814 that "there areprivateers off this harbor which plunder every vessel coming in or goingout, notwithstanding we have three line of battle, six frigates, andfour sloops here. " The Morning Chronicle complained that a great part ofthe coast of Ireland had "been for above a month under the unresisteddominion of a few petty 'fly-by-nights' from the blockaded ports of theUnited States--a grievance equally intolerable and disgraceful. " TheAnnual Register thought it a mortifying reflection that, notwithstandinga navy of a thousand ships, "it was not safe for a vessel to sailwithout convoy from one part of the English or Irish Channel toanother. " [Illustration: From "Naval Actions of The War of 1812, " by James Barnes. Copyright 1896, by Harper & Brothers THE NIAGARA BREAKS THE ENGLISH LINE When Perry's flagship, the "Lawrence, " was riddled by the enemy, hetransferred himself in a small boat to the "Niagara. " This ship brokethe British line, and then the battle was won. From a painting byCarlton T. Chapman] In March, 1915, a British squadron captured the German frigate _Dresden_in the neutral Chilean waters of the Island of Juan Fernandez. A similarepisode occurred in 1814, when the United States ship _Essex_ wascornered and destroyed by two British vessels in the harbor ofValparaiso. The American privateer _General Armstrong_ was also cut outand destroyed by the British under the guns of the Portuguese fort atFayal in the Azores. EFFECT ON THE AMERICANS On the face of it there was not much cause for congratulation in a warin which the United States trebled its national debt and lost 30, 000 menand 1, 500 merchant ships, without gaining any territory and withoutsecuring any promise at the end of the war that the disturbance ofneutral trade and the impressment of American seamen would not beginagain. [Illustration: COMMODORE DAVID PORTER The Commander of the "Essex" From the painting by Chappel] Another group of troubles arose from the fact that the New EnglandStates were against the war from the beginning, refused to allow theirmilitia to join in the forces intended to invade Canada, and in 1814sent delegates to a convention at Hartford. That convention sat insecret, and nobody knows exactly what was said; but the resolutionspassed by it and sent out to the country demanded changes in theConstitution which would have made it hard to carry on a federalgovernment. Fortunately before they could be presented to Congress thenews of peace was received. [Illustration: From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812, " by James Barnes. Copyright, 1886, by Harper & Brothers THE "ESSEX" BEING CUT TO PIECES The "Essex" was under the command of David Porter, and drove Britishshipping from the Pacific Ocean. The vessel was finally destroyed by the"Phoebe" and the "Cherub. " From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman] These uncomfortable facts may be cheerfully admitted in view of a stronglist of reasons for national congratulation. One was the notable victoryof Andrew Jackson at New Orleans, January 8, 1815, after peace had beenmade, though neither of the armies knew it. Critics have pointed outthat Jackson was slow in divining where the British would strike; thathe threw up no sufficient intrenchments; that if the British had placedcannon on the west side of the river, they could have fired into hisrear and compelled him to retreat. All that does not diminish the gloryof Jackson's victory. He showed the energy and determination whichbrought together a force of 3, 500 men, mostly raw militia. This littlecommand lying behind the lines at Chalmette received the attack of 6, 000men. Over 2, 000 of the British attacking column were sacrificed, andJackson remained master of the field, with a loss of seventy-one. This brilliant success proved that Jackson was a good soldier, which indue time helped to make him President of the United States. It provedalso that American militia behind breastworks could repel the attacks oftwice their number of experienced soldiers who had recently helped tooverthrow Napoleon. [Illustration: CAPTAIN JAMES LAWRENCE From the painting by Gilbert Stuart] The greatest result of the War of 1812 was to make the Americans realizeat once their weakness and their strength. Just at the end of the warRobert Fulton put on the waters of the Hudson a steamship of war, forerunner of the majestic steam fleets of today. Our forefatherssuffered for want of roads by which they could convey their armies andtheir supplies to the frontiers. Therefore they set out to remedy thatcondition, and four years after the peace they had the Cumberland Roadcompleted from the upper Potomac to the Ohio River. Six years later theErie Canal was opened to Lake Erie. The people had suffered for want ofa national bank during the war: in 1816 Congress created one. Theirtrade had been disturbed for over twenty years: in 1816 they passed atariff, designed to establish American manufactures. War, and especiallysuch a disappointing war as that of 1812, has many bad effects upon anation; but it does strengthen the feeling of a common danger and acommon duty. [Illustration: WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE Commodore in the United States Navy. From the portrait by J. W. Jarvis] The War of 1812 also for the first time gave the United States anunquestioned place in the sisterhood of modern nations. Though thepopulation in 1815 was only about eight and a half millions, the successof the navy inspired a wholesome respect for Yankee ships and Yankeesailors. In place of the captured ships a new merchant marine wasquickly provided, which developed into the famous clipper ships, thetriumph of American skill and the glory of the seas. From this timedates the friendship of several European nations, particularly ofRussia, whose Czar Alexander was a friend and correspondent of ThomasJefferson. [Illustration: From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812, " by James Barnes. Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers THE "CHESAPEAKE" LEAVING THE HARBOR Captain Lawrence, commanding the "Chesapeake, " was mortally wounded, andhis vessel was captured by the "Shannon" off Boston Roads. It was inthis engagement that he uttered his famous words, "Don't give up theship. " From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman] Our former enemy, Great Britain, was converted into a respectful friendwho saw the advantages of friendship. The proof is that eight yearslater George Canning asked the United States to join in a declarationwith Great Britain in favor of the Latin-American States; and the ideadeveloped into our independent Monroe Doctrine. The American people wereentitled to forget their weakness and defeats; for the net result of theWar of 1812 was to inspire the greatest naval and colonial power in theworld with a respect for American character and an acceptance of theUnited States as a great National power. [Illustration: From "Naval Actions of the War of 1812, " by James Barnes. Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers THE "CONSTITUTION" TAKING THE "CYANE" The "Cyane" was one of the crack sloops of war in the English service. The "Constitution" after a running fight captured both this ship and the"Levant. " From a painting by Carlton T. Chapman] * * * * * SUPPLEMENTARY READING HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA _By Henry Adams_ Vols. VI-IX contain the best account of the War of 1812. THE LIFE OF ANDREW JACKSON _By John Spencer Bassett_ Vol. 1, chapters vi-xiii, treat of Jackson's part in the war. THE NAVAL WAR OF 1812 _By Theodore Roosevelt_ Best account of the naval strategy of the war. A FULL AND CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE MILITARY OCCURRENCES OF THE LATE WARBETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA _By William James_ (2 vols. ) The standard English account. THE CANADIAN WAR OF 1812 _By Charles Prestwood Lucas_ Recent English point of view. SEA POWER IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE WAR OF 1812 _By Alfred Thayer Mahan_ (2 vols. ) A study of the whole struggle for neutral rights, and the war. RISE OF AMERICAN NATIONALITY, 1811-1819 _By Kendric Charles Babcock_ (American Nation, Vol. XIII. ) Most convenient brief account of the war. Recent and impartial. NAVAL ACTIONS OF THE WAR OF 1812 _By James Barnes_ Popular and well illustrated. Information concerning the above books and articles maybe had on application to the Editor of The Mentor. THE OPEN LETTER [Illustration: THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS] If the telegraph had been in existence a century ago, the battle of NewOrleans would not have taken place. It was unique in history as a battlefought after a war was over. And it was the only real victory won by theland forces of America in the War of 1812. It was one of the mostconclusive battles in history, and a brilliant demonstration of themilitary ability of Andrew Jackson. General Jackson believed inpreparedness. During the second year of the War of 1812 he learned thatthe British planned to invade Louisiana, so he concentrated troops fourmiles below New Orleans in a line of entrenchments a mile in length, extending from the Mississippi River far into the swamp, making bothends impassable. Jackson had 3, 500 expert marksmen at his command. Theywere a strange mixture of men, including long-limbed, hard-facedbackwoodsmen, Portuguese and Norwegian seamen, dark-skinned Spaniardsand swarthy Frenchmen, besides about 1, 000 militiamen selected from theCreoles of Louisiana. They were a rough and violent lot. TheodoreRoosevelt characterizes them as: "Soldiers who, under an ordinarycommander, would have been fully as dangerous to themselves and theirleaders as to their foes. But, " he adds, "Andrew Jackson was of all menthe one best fitted to manage such troops. Even their fierce naturesquailed before the ungovernable fury of a spirit greater than their own;and their sullen, stubborn wills were bent before his unyielding temperand iron hand. " * * * * * On the morning of the 8th of January, 1815, General Pakenham advancedupon New Orleans with a force of about 6, 000 trained and experiencedfighting men. Jackson knew that the British would have to cross hisentrenchments before entering the city. So he placed his force of fierceand deadly fighters within the trenches and opened upon the enemy withvolley after volley. The mortality on the British side was frightful. The lines wavered and General Pakenham fell in front of his troops. Utterly demoralized by the withering blast of the American muskets, these hardy British veterans hurried to their camp and escaped to ships. The British lost about 2, 000 men killed, wounded and prisoners, while inthe American lines there were only about seventy casualties. So weak and ineffective had been the showing of the American forces inseveral of the battles of this war that they had incurred the contemptof the enemy. In one final, brilliant blow General Jackson restored theprestige of American arms. [Illustration: [Signature of] W. D. Moffat] EDITOR THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ESTABLISHED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A POPULAR INTEREST IN ART, LITERATURE, SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATURE, AND TRAVEL THE ADVISORY BOARD JOHN G. HIBBEN, _President of Princeton University_ HAMILTON W. MABIE, _Author and Editor_ JOHN C. VAN DYKE, _Professor of the History of Art, Rutgers College_ ALBERT BUSHNELL HART, _Professor of Government, Harvard University_ WILLIAM T. 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[Illustration: IN THE POSSESSION OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR FROM THE PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE] The War of 1812 STEPHEN DECATUR Monograph Number Three in The Mentor Reading Course The father of Stephen Decatur, also named Stephen, was a native ofNewport, Rhode Island, and a captain in the United States navy. StephenDecatur, Jr. , was born at Sinnepuxent, Maryland, on January 5, 1779. Heentered the American navy as a midshipman in 1798 on board the frigate_United States_. A year later he was promoted to lieutenant and in thatrank saw a little service in the short war with France. In 1801 Decatur sailed as first lieutenant of the _Essex_, one ofCommodore Dale's squadron, to the Mediterranean. As a result of a duelwith a British Officer--which resulted fatally for theEnglishman--Decatur was sent home for a time. In 1803 he was back in theMediterranean in command of the _Enterprise_. He distinguished himselfalmost immediately. Conceiving the daring idea of recapturing or destroying the frigate_Philadelphia_, which had been captured by the pirates and lay in theharbor of Tripoli, on February 31, 1804, he manned a little boat calledthe _Intrepid_, with seventy volunteers, and, braving the enemy, hereached the _Philadelphia_, set it afire and got away, with the loss ofonly one man. For this gallant achievement Congress voted Decatur thanks and a sword. He was also promoted to captain. Following this, Decatur was engaged in all the attacks on Tripoli from1804 to 1805. In the War of 1812 the ship which he commanded, the_United States_, captured the British vessel, the _Macedonian_, after adesperate struggle. In 1813 he was appointed commodore to command asquadron in New York Harbor, which was blockaded by the British. In 1813he attempted to get to sea to break the blockade with the _UnitedStates_, the _Hornet_, and the _Macedonian_, which had been by this timeconverted into an American ship. A superior British squadron forcedDecatur to run into the Thames, and he lay off New London for severalmonths. He sent a challenge to the commander of the blockading squadronto come on and fight, but the challenge was not accepted. At length, unable to get to sea, two of the ships were dismantled, andDecatur returned to New York, where he took command of a squadrondestined for the East Indies. In the frigate _President_ he put to seaon the 14th of January, 1815. The blockading British squadron pursuedthe ship, and after a desperate running fight forced Decatur tosurrender. Soon afterward Decatur returned to the United States, peace betweenEngland and America was declared. But the Barbary pirates were once moregiving trouble. Decatur took a command in the Mediterranean. He arrived before Algiers on June 22, 1815, and immediately demanded atreaty from the Dey. His terms were very brief: no more annual tributeor ransom for prisoners; all enslaved Americans to be released; and noAmerican ever again to be held as a slave. The question of tribute wasthe most difficult to settle. The Dey feared that other European powerswould demand the same terms. "Even a little powder, " said the Dey, "might prove satisfactory. " "If, " replied Decatur, "you insist upon receiving powder as tribute, youmust expect to receive the balls with it. " In forty-eight hours the treaty was negotiated, giving to the UnitedStates privileges and immunities never before granted by a Barbary stateto a Christian power. In 1819 a quarrel arose between Commodore James Barron and Decatur. Theymet at Bladensburg, Maryland, on March 22, 1820. At the first shotsBarron was dangerously wounded. Decatur was also hit, and he died thesame evening. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4. No. 3, SERIAL No. 103 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC. [Illustration: IN THE POSSESSION OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMODORE WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE FROM THE PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE] The War of 1812 WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE Monograph Number Two in The Mentor Reading Course William Bainbridge was born at Princeton, New Jersey, on May 7, 1774. Hewas a son of Dr. Absalom Bainbridge, a Physician of the town. Hereceived comparatively little education; for he went to sea in amerchant vessel at the age of fourteen. A few years after this, while hewas the mate of the ship _Hope_, on a voyage to Holland he saved thelife of his captain, who had been seized by a mutinous crew with theintention of throwing him overboard. On his return home, because of hisgood conduct and abilities, he was promoted to the command of a ship inthe Dutch trade. He continued in command of various ships until 1798. During this time the war between France and Great Britain made itdifficult for neutrals to carry on trade. Therefore as master of a shipBainbridge had to elude, or beat off a great deal of interference on thepart of French and British ships alike. In 1798, when war was about to break out between France and the UnitedStates and the American navy was organized, Bainbridge was appointedcommander of the United States Schooner _Retaliation_, of fourteen guns, with the rank of lieutenant. In November his ship was captured by twoFrench frigates--but it was released shortly afterward. Bainbridge sailed for the West Indies as master commandant of the brig_Norfolk_. During this cruise he gave protection to the merchant tradeof the United States and captured several of the enemy's merchantmen. In 1800 Bainbridge was promoted to the rink of captain. On the frigate_George Washington_ he sailed to the Dey of Algiers with presents. These"presents" were bribes which the United States paid to the Algerianpirates to secure exemption from capture for its merchant ships in theMediterranean. Bainbridge was disgusted at having to pay the tributes. While his ship was at Algiers war was declared by the pirates againstFrance, and the French consul and citizens were ordered to leave thecountry in forty-eight hours. Captain Bainbridge received them all onhis ship and landed them safely. When the United States found that bribes to the pirates did not protecttheir commerce, they decided to use force. Captain Bainbridge was givencommand of the frigate _Philadelphia_, and sailing to Algiers, blockadedTripoli. Being driven from his cruising grounds, Bainbridge pursued astrange ship that was trying to break the blockade. He gave chase, butran upon a reef on the morning of October 31, 1803. The piratesimmediately attacked, and when the ship could no longer be defended theycaptured and scuttled her, imprisoning the officers and crew. After atreaty of peace between the Dey and the United States had beenconcluded, the Americans were released on February 3, 1805. Captain Bainbridge returned for a time to the merchant service, but whenthe War of 1812 broke out, he was appointed to command the United Statesfrigate _Constitution_. In this ship he captured two British frigatesand many merchantmen. On his return he was received with an enthusiasticwelcome by his countrymen. The _Constitution_ became an object ofnational pride, and because of the little damage it sustained in thenumerous encounters in which it engaged, received the popular name of"Old Ironsides. " After the conclusion of the War of 1812, Bainbridge once more servedagainst the Barbary pirates. Later he served on the board of navycommissioners. Commodore Bainbridge died in Philadelphia on July 28, 1833. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 4, No. 3, SERIAL No. 103 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC. [Illustration: IN THE POSSESSION Of THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY FROM THE PAINTING BY REMBRANDT PEALE] The War of 1812 OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Monograph Number Five in The Mentor Reading Course Oliver Hazard Perry was born at South Kensington, Rhode Island, onAugust 23, 1785. His father was Christopher Raymond Perry, captain inthe navy. His first position was that of a midshipman on the sloop ofwar _General Greene_, in 1798. The first action that he saw was againstthe Barbary pirates. In this war he secured the affection and respect ofthe officers and men in the squadron. In 1810 he was a lieutenant-commandant in the schooner _Revenge_. Thisvessel was attached to the squadron under Commodore Rodgers, and wasemployed in Long Island Sound to uphold the embargo which the UnitedStates had at that time put upon trade with England and France. Shortly after, the war with England began. Perry was placed in commandof a flotilla at Newport, but was not pleased with this commission, andbegged to be ordered to Lake Ontario. His wish was granted, and he andhis men--who eagerly volunteered to go with him--re-inforced CommodoreChauncey on the Great Lakes. When he arrived at Lake Ontario, however, Chauncey ordered Perry to LakeErie to superintend the building of vessels. The English had a powerfulforce on the Great Lakes and the United States wanted to buildsufficient ships to meet them. Perry worked hard, and on August 4, 1813, he got his squadron into the deep waters of Lake Erie. This squadronconsisted of three brigs, five schooners, and one sloop. On the 10th ofSeptember Perry met the British fleet with Captain Robert H. Barclay incommand in the Battle of Put-in Bay. This was the great fight of Perry'slife, and he fought it with skill, bravery and perseverance. The effects of this victory were felt all over the United States. National pride was kindled and the people celebrated the victory withenthusiasm. In reward Perry was made a captain in the navy and receivedthe thanks of Congress. However, the gallant officer did not rest upon his laurels, and, seeingno more hostile fleets to conquer, offered himself as aid to GeneralHarrison, who was then pursuing the British, and took part in the Battleof Moravian Town on October 5th. When Virginia and Maryland were invadedby the English, under General Ross and Admiral Cockburn, Perry had acommand on the Potomac. At the end of the War of 1812 Captain Perry took command of the _Java_, a frigate of the first class, and sailed with Commodore Stephen Decaturto punish the Dey of Algiers, who had plundered the commerce of theUnited States when this country was busy during the war of 1812. Thisexpedition, which reached the Mediterranean in June, 1815, wassuccessful, and Perry returned to the United States. While the _Java_was lying at Newport in mid-winter, he received information that amerchant vessel was on a reef about five or six miles from that place, and that the crew were in danger. Leaping into his barge he turned tohis oarsmen and said, "Come, my boys, we are going to the relief ofshipwrecked seamen; pull away!" The eleven men of the crew were rescued. In 1819 Perry was sent in the _John Adams_ to the West Indies withsealed orders. Pirates had swarmed in that vicinity, and his commissionwas to drive them from the sea. He executed his orders with diligence, but unfortunately caught yellow fever and died on August 23, 1819, atPort of Spain, in Trinidad. Every tribute of national grief was paid tohis memory, and he was buried with military honors. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4, No. 3, SERIAL No. 103 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.