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SEA POWER IN ITS RELATIONS
TO THE WAR OF
1812


BY

CAPTAIN A.T. MAHAN, D.C.L., LL.D.

_United States Navy_


AUTHOR OF "THE INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON HISTORY, 1660-1783," "THE
INFLUENCE OF SEA POWER UPON THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
AND EMPIRE," "THE INTEREST OF AMERICA
IN SEA POWER," ETC.


IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II


LONDON
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY
LIMITED

   [Illustration: _From a Copley Print copyright 1899 by Curtis &
   Cameron, Publishers, Boston._
   _The Constitution_]




CONTENTS


CHAPTER IX

THE WINTER OF 1812-1813--BAINBRIDGE'S SQUADRON: ACTIONS BETWEEN
"CONSTITUTION" AND "JAVA," "HORNET" AND "PEACOCK"--INCREASING
PRESSURE ON ATLANTIC COAST
                                                                  Page

Bainbridge's squadron sails                                          1

His plans for the cruise                                             2

The "Essex" fails to join                                            3

Proceedings of "Constitution" and "Hornet"                           3

Action between "Constitution" and "Java"                             4

The "Constitution" returns to the United States                      7

Proceedings of the "Hornet"                                          7

Action between the "Hornet" and "Peacock"                            8

The "Hornet" returns                                                 9

The Chesapeake and Delaware blockaded                                9

Subsequent extension of blockade to the whole coast south of
  Newport                                                           10

Three periods into which the War of 1812 divides                    10

Difficulty of American frigates in getting to sea                   11

Difficulty of manning the navy                                      12

Cruise of the "Chesapeake"                                          13

Gradual suppression of American commerce                            14

Increasing stringency of the commercial blockade                    15

British occupation of Delaware and Chesapeake Bays                  16

Diminution of the coasting trade, and increase of land carriage     17

Effects upon prices                                                 18

Abandoned condition of the western Atlantic                         20

Diminution in number of prizes taken by Americans                   20

Estimate of relative captures by the two belligerents               21

Relative captures no indication of relative immunity                23

American deprivation makes for the prosperity of Halifax and
  Canada                                                            23

The blockade the chief offensive maritime operation of Great
  Britain, in 1813                                                  24

No opposition longer possible to the American Navy                  25

Strength of the British blockading divisions                        25

Escape possible only by evasion                                     25

The brunt of the British naval operations falls upon the
  Chesapeake and Delaware                                           26


CHAPTER X

CAMPAIGN OF 1813 ON THE LAKE FRONTIER, TO THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE


The British naval service on the lakes under Warren's
  supervision                                                       28

Sir James Yeo appointed to the local command                        29

Appoints Captain Barclay to take charge of British vessels on
  Lake Erie                                                         29

The Americans now superior on Ontario                               29

Montreal the true American objective                                29

Dearborn ordered to concentrate effort upon Lake Ontario            30

Chauncey's first plan, to capture Kingston                          30

Dearborn and Chauncey ordered to proceed first against Kingston,
  then Toronto, then Niagara                                        31

Dearborn's objections                                               32

His reports obtain change of plan from the Government               33

Chauncey's new plan                                                 33

The expedition leaves Sackett's Harbor                              36

Capture of Toronto                                                  36

Chauncey's anxiety for S