The War of 1812

by Donald R Hickey

  84. Maryland Legislative Report, 8.

  85. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 38; “Narrative of John Hall,” 58–59.

  86. J.P. Boyd to James McHenry, August 2, 1812, in McHenry Papers (LC).

  87. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 38–39.

  88. “Narrative of John Hall,” 59 (emphasis omitted).

  89. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 39; “Narrative of John Hall,” 59.

  90. Deposition of Dr. John Owen, in Maryland Legislative Report, 297.

  91. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 40–41. See also Felix Gilbert to David Hillhouse, August 12, 1812, in Alexander-Hillhouse Papers (UNC).

  92. “Narrative of John Thomson,” 45–46.

  93. Letter from Baltimore, July 29, 1812, printed in Hartford Connecticut Courant, August 4, 1812.

  94. Deposition of William Merryman, in Maryland Legislative Report, 109.

  95. Deposition of William R. Smith, ibid., 100. Stansbury repeated these sentiments after the riot. See deposition of William Gwynn, ibid., 32. See also Georgetown Federal Republican, August 17, 1812.

  96. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 37. See also depositions of Richard B. Magruder and John E. Dorsey, in Maryland Legislative Report, 83–84.

  97. Hanson et al., “Exact and Authentic Narrative,” 40–41; “Narrative of John Hall,” 59–60.

  98. Letter of A.C. Hanson, August 3, 1812, in Boston New-England Palladium, August 14, 1812; John Pierce, “Memoirs,” 18 vols. in MS form (MHS), 2:79; Hanson to John E. Hall, August 22, 1812, and October 15, 1813, in Hanson Papers (MdHS); Timothy Pickering to Elizabeth Pickering, November 13, 1814, in “Unpublished Letters,” Maryland Historical Magazine 20 (June, 1925), 127.

  99. J.P. Boyd to James McHenry, August 2, 1812, in McHenry Papers (LC).

  100. Pierce, “Memoirs,” 2:62; Boston New-England Palladium, January 5, 1813; Henry Lee to James Monroe, January 7, 1813, in Monroe Papers (NYPL); Lee to Rufus King, November 19, 1813, in King, Rufus King 5:352; Boyd, Harry Lee, 327–29.

  101. JM to J. Montgomery, August 13, 1812, in John W. Garrett Papers (JHU).

  102. Georgetown Federal Republican, August 3 and 7, 1812; testimony of Richard Owen, ibid., October 19, 1812; depositions of Charles Burrall and Edward Johnson, in Maryland Legislative Report, 155–58, 170–72.

  103. Depositions of Edward Johnson and Dr. John Owen, in Maryland Legislative Report, 172, 296–97.

  104. Deposition of John Scott, ibid., 122. See also deposition of Charles Burrall, ibid., 157; proclamation of Edward Johnson, August 5, 1812, in Niles’ Register 2 (August 8, 1812), 378–79. Burrall’s firmness made him so unpopular in Baltimore that the administration later removed him from office. See Burrall to JM, March 6 and 7, 1814, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 16; Scharf, History of Baltimore, 493.

  105. Georgetown Federal Republican, August 31, October 28, and November 27, 1812; Maryland Legislative Report, 9; deposition of Thomas Kell, ibid., 139. Mayor Johnson said that he was “astonished” at the acquittal of Lewis and Wooleslager. See his deposition, ibid., 176.

  106. Deposition of William R. Smith, ibid., 101.

  107. A. C. Hanson et al. ats State of Maryland, July, 1812, in Harper Papers (MdHS), reel 2; Georgetown Federal Republican, August 28, September 7, and October 19, 1812; Renzulli, Maryland, 285.

  108. Deposition of Nicholas Brice, in Maryland Legislative Report, 251; James Williams to John W. Stump, July 29, 1812, and A. Robinson to James McHenry, August 12, 1812, in War of 1812 File (MdHS); William Lansdale to Virgil Maxcy, August 3, 1812, in Galloway-Maxcy-Markoe Papers (LC); Trenton Federalist, August 17, 1812; Baltimore American, August 11, 1812; Alexandria Gazette, August 8, 1812; Baltimore Whig, reprinted in Philadelphia Aurora, August 1, 1812.

  109. Mary Grundy, quoted in Jerome R. Garitee, The Republic’s Private Navy: The American Privateering Business as Practiced by Baltimore during the War of 1812 (Middleton, 1977), 80. See also J. P. Boyd to James McHenry, August 2, 1812, in McHenry Papers (LC).

  110. Georgetown Federal Republican, August 17 and 19, 1812.

  111. See documents in Interesting Papers, 62–78; Renzulli, Maryland, 281–82, 287–88.

  112. Renzulli, Maryland, 290–92; Maryland Legislative Report, 1–12.

  113. Maryland Legislative Report, 12–13.

  114. Niles’ Register 3 (February 20, 1813), 388–89.

  115. Newport Mercury, August 8, 1812; Pittsburgh Gazette, August 14, 1812.

  116. Report of Boston Town Meeting, August 6, 1812, in Boston New-England Palladium, August 7, 1812.

  117. Hartford Connecticut Courant, August 25, 1812. For similar sentiments, see Raleigh Minerva, August 14, 1812; Georgetown Spirit of Seventy-Six, reprinted in Charleston Courier, August 8, 1812; Charleston Courier, August 28, 1812; Trenton Federalist, July 27 and August 3, 1812.

  118. Letter of John Mitchell, in Georgetown Federal Republican, August 3, 1812; Alexandria Gazette, June 22, and August 17, 18, and 25, 1812; Philadelphia Tickler, September 1, 1812; Talmadge, “Georgia’s Federalist Press,” 493–99; Myron F. Wehtje, “Opposition in Virginia to the War of 1812,” Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 78 (January, 1970), 84. The five men convicted of the Morristown assault were pardoned by Republican Governor Simon Snyder. See Charleston Times, September 17, 1812.

  119. Baltimore Federal Republican, May 2, 1812; Georgetown Federal Republican, March 22, June 21, September 24, 1813, and July 2, 1814; Morristown (NJ) Herald, reprinted in Trenton Federalist, January 25, 1813.

  120. Abel M. Grosvenor to brother, November 25, 1812, in Annapolis Maryland Gazette, December 13, 1812; Georgetown Federal Republican, November 4 and December 21, 1812.

  121. Concord Gazette, reprinted in Keene Newhampshire Sentinel, October 31, 1812; Constant Freeman to SW, August 23, 1812, in WD (M221), reel 44.

  122. Niles’ Register 3 (September 19, 1812), 47; Joseph Story to Nathaniel Williams, August 24, 1812, in William W. Story, Life and Letters of Joseph Story, 2 vols. (Boston, 1851), 1:228–29. See also Washington National Intelligencer, August 13 and 27, 1812.

  123. Resolutions of Montgomery County (MD) Republican Meeting, August 29, 1812, in Interesting Papers, 71; Samuel Carswell to JM, August 29, 1812, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 14. See also Samuel Smith to William Jones, August 1, 1812, in Jones Papers (HSP); Trenton True American, August 10, 1812; Concord New-Hampshire Patriot, August 18, 1812.

  124. “Report of Baltimore City Council,” August 6, 1812, in Interesting Papers, 1–4, 71; JM to J. Montgomery, August 13, 1812, in John W. Garrett Papers (JHU).

  125. Annapolis Maryland Republican, quoted in Georgetown Federal Republican, August 3, 1812 (emphasis omitted); New York Columbian, August 4, 1812; James W. Williams to John W. Stump, July 29, 1812, in War of 1812 File (MdHS). See also Felix Gilbert to David Hillhouse, August 12, 1812, in Alexander-Hillhouse Papers (UNC); Baltimore American, reprinted in Washington National Intelligencer, September 5, 1812; and Republican sources cited in Hartford Connecticut Courant, August 11, 1812.

  126. Hartford American Mercury, August 5 and 12, 1812; Concord New-Hampshire Patriot, August 11, 1812; Washington National Intelligencer, July 28, and August 6 and 13, 1812, and August 14, 1813; Baltimore American, August 1, 12, and 13, 1812; Boston Independent Chronicle, August 17, 1812.

  127. Salem Essex Register, August 12, 1812; Hartford American Mercury, August 5, 1812. For similar sentiments, see Worcester National Aegis, July 20, 1814.

  128. Joseph Story to William Pinkney, June 26, 1812, Pinkney to JM, July 5, 1812, and Mathew Carey to JM, October 30, 1814, in Madison Papers (LC), reels 16 and 26; Lexington Reporter, January 23, 1813; Philadelphia Democratic Press, reprinted in Bennington Green-Mountain Farmer, February 17, 1813.

  129. Story to Nathaniel Williams, October 8, 1812, and May 27, 1813, in Story, Joseph Story, 1:243–44.

  130. The Alexandria Gazette, August 11, 1812, explicitly compared the legal met
hod of repressing dissent in 1798 with the violent methods employed by Republicans in 1812.

  131. George H. Stewart to Lemuel Shaw, August 13, [1812], in Record Book, Washington Benevolent Society Papers (MHS), 77; Charleston Courier, August 26 and 28, 1812; Newport Mercury, August 22, 1812; Resolution of Franklin County Federalists, August 10, 1812, in Interesting Papers, 66–67. Aging Federalist Paul Revere took out a two-year subscription (for $10). See receipt, October 21, 1813, in Revere Papers (MHS).

  132. Alexander Hanson to Robert Goodloe Harper, November 30, 1812, in Harper Papers (LC).

  133. Maryland Legislative Report, 2; Alexander Hanson to Robert Goodloe Harper, July 6, 1812, in Harper Papers (LC).

  134. For more on the elections of 1812, see chapter 5: Raising Men and Money.

  Chapter 4. The Campaign of 1812

  1. Speech of John Randolph, December 16, 1811, in AC, 12–1, 533.

  2. Reginald Horsman, “Western War Aims, 1811–1812,” Indiana Magazine of History 53 (March, 1957), 1–18.

  3. The works that propounded this thesis were long on speculation and short on evidence. See Howard T. Lewis, “A Re-Analysis of the Causes of the War of 1812,” Americana 6 (1911), 506–16, 577–85; Louis M. Hacker, “Western Land Hunger and the War of 1812: A Conjecture,” Mississippi Valley Historical Review 10 (March, 1924), 365–95; and Julius W. Pratt, Expansionists of 1812 (New York, 1925).

  4. For the general thrust of American expansion in this era, see Arthur P. Whitaker, The Spanish-American Frontier, 1783–1795: The Westward Movement and the Spanish Retreat in the Mississippi Valley (Boston, 1927), and The Mississippi Question, 1795–1803: A Study in Trade, Politics, and Diplomacy (New York, 1934); Jon Kukla, A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America (New York, 2003); Isaac J. Cox, The West Florida Controversy, 1798–1813: A Study in American Diplomacy (Baltimore, 1918); James G. Cusick, The Other War of 1812: The Patriot War and the American Invasion of Spanish East Florida (Athens, 2007); J. C. A. Stagg, Borderlands in Borderlands: James Madison and the Spanish-American Frontier, 1776–1821 (New Haven, 2009); and Reginald Horsman, Expansion and American Indian Policy, 1783–1812 (East Lansing, 1967).

  5. Clay to Thomas Bodley, December 18, 1813, in Hopkins and Hargreaves, Papers of Henry Clay, 1:842. See also James Monroe to John Taylor, June 13, 1812, in Monroe Papers (LC), reel 5. For works that stress the maritime causes, see Adams, History; A. L. Burt, The United States, Great Britain, and British North America from the Revolution to the Establishment of Peace after the War of 1812 (New Haven, 1940); Bradford Perkins, Prologue to War: England and the United States, 1805–1812 (Berkeley, 1961); and Reginald Horsman, The Causes of the War of 1812 (Philadelphia, 1962).

  6. U.S. Department of Commerce, Historical Statistics of the United States, 2 vols. (Washington, DC, 1975), 1:8; George F. G. Stanley, The War of 1812: Land Operations ([Toronto], 1983), 49. Great Britain, by contrast, had a population of 12.6 million. See Niles’ Register 2 (June 27, 1812), 284.

  7. The strength of the American army has been estimated from figures in J. C. A. Stagg’s illuminating article, “Enlisted Men in the United States Army, 1812–1815: A Preliminary Survey,” William and Mary Quarterly, 3rd ser. 43 (October, 1986), 621. For British troop strength in Canada, see General Return of Troops in Upper Canada, July 4, 1812, and General Return of Troops in Lower Canada, July 4, 1812, in Cruikshank, Niagara Frontier, 3:98–99; and J. Mackay Hitsman, The Incredible War of 1812: A Military History (1965; updated by Donald E. Graves, Toronto, 1999), 31–32.

  8. [Miles W. Smith], ed., “Journal of William K. Beall, July–August, 1812,” American Historical Review, 17 (July, 1912), 797; Stanley, War of 1812, 49–51, 54–58; Taylor, Civil War, 37–38, 52–53, 56–58; Harry L. Coles, The War of 1812 (Chicago, 1965), 38–39.

  9. Quoted in Ernest A. Cruikshank, “A Study of Disaffection in Upper Canada, 1812–15,” in Zaslow, Defended Border, 206.

  10. Reginald Horsman, The War of 1812 (New York, 1969), 27.

  11. Brock to CG, July 12, 1812, and to Edward Baynes, July 29, 1812, in Wood, British Documents, 1:352, 396.

  12. Tompkins to Robert Macomb, July 12, 1812, in Hastings, Papers of Daniel D. Tompkins, 3:26–27.

  13. Jefferson to William Duane, August 4, 1812, in Jefferson Papers (LC), reel 46; speech of Henry Clay, February 22, 1810, in AC, 11–2, 580. For similar sentiments, see Jefferson to Pierre Dupont de Nemours, November 29, 1813, and to Thaddeus Kosciusko, November 30, 1813, in Jefferson Papers (LC), reel 47; Thomas Rogers to Jonathan Roberts, November 17, 1811, in Roberts Papers (HSP); Washington National Intelligencer, April 14, 1812; Boston Yankee, November 6, 1812; speech of John C. Calhoun, May 6, 1812, in AC, 12–1, 1397.

  14. Speech of John Randolph, December 10, 1811, in AC, 12–1, 447.

  15. Speech of Samuel Taggart, reprinted from Alexandria Gazette, June 24, 1812, in AC, 12–1, 1640. See also speeches of Elijah Brigham, January 4, 1813, and Josiah Quincy, January 5, 1813, in AC, 12–2, 512–14, 545–48; speech of Artemas Ward, March 5, 1814, in AC, 13–2, 1818; and William Gribbin, The Churches Militant: The War of 1812 and American Religion (New Haven, 1973), 28.

  16. Memorial of Maryland House of Delegates [early 1814], in AC, 13–2, 1207; A New-England Farmer [John Lowell, Jr.], Mr. Madison’s War (Boston, 1812), 41; speech of Henry Ridgely, January 4, 1813, in AC, 12–2, 518. See also speeches of Elijah Brigham, January 4, 1813, Lyman Law, January 5, 1813, Benjamin Tallmadge, January 7, 1813, and Laban Wheaton, January 8, 1813, in AC, 12–2, 513, 537–38, 646, 653–55; speech of Timothy Pitkin, February 10, 1814, in AC, 13–2, 1286–87.

  17. Speech of Joseph Pearson, February 16, 1814, in AC, 13–2, 1454.

  18. Boston Independent Chronicle, November 22, 1813; William H. Crawford to JM, February 18, 1814, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 16. See also speech of Richard M. Johnson, December 11, 1811, in AC, 12–1, 457; speech of Thomas Robertson, January 11, 1813, in AC, 12–2, 709; Philadelphia Aurora, September 9, 1812; Washington National Intelligencer, November 9, 1813; Lexington Reporter, December 4, 1813; Reginald Horsman, “On to Canada: Manifest Destiny and United States Strategy in the War of 1812,” Michigan Historical Review 13 (Fall, 1987), 12–18, 21–22.

  19. Lexington Reporter, November 13, 1813, and January 8, 1814; Lexington Kentucky Gazette, reprinted ibid., January 22, 1814. See also James W. Hammack, Jr., Kentucky and the Second American Revolution: The War of 1812 (Lexington, 1976), 86–87.

  20. Speech of Joseph Pearson, February 16, 1814, in AC, 13–2, 1453.

  21. SS to Jonathan Russell, June 26, 1812, in SD (M77), reel 2.

  22. AC, 12–1, 322–26.

  23. See, for example, SW to William Hull, June 24, 1812, in WD (M6), reel 5.

  24. Proclamation of William Hull, [July 12, 1812], printed in Boston Columbian Centinel, August 5, 1812.

  25. Proclamation of Alexander Smyth, November 17, 1812, in Cruikshank, Niagara Frontier, 4:215. Smyth’s proclamation also offered $40 for “the arms and spoils of each savage warrior who shall be killed.” Ibid., 216.

  26. SW to Hull, August 1 and 8, 1812, and to Smyth, November 25, 1812, in WD (M6), reel 6.

  27. Davis, Jeffersonian America, 100.

  28. Richard Rush to Benjamin Rush, June 20, 1812, in Rush Papers (SR), reel 1.

  29. Speech of George M. Troup, April 30, 1812, in AC, 12–1, 1359–62.

  30. Statement on clerks in War Department, January 29, 1813, in WD (M222), reel 6; speech of Felix Grundy, April 30, 1812, in AC, 12–1, 1355.

  31. JM to Congress, April 20, 1812, in AC, 12–1, 209. See also AC, 12–1, 219, 226, 258, 1354–76.

  32. William H. Crawford to James Monroe, September 9, 1812 in Monroe Papers (LC), reel 5; Jonathan Roberts to Matthew Roberts, March 27, 1812, in Roberts Papers (HSP). See also Richard Rush to Charles J. Ingersoll, February 26, 1812, in Rush Papers (SR), reel 1; Philadelphia Aurora, April 27, 1812; Jacobs, Beginnings of the U.S. Army, 363, 383; Claude M. Fuess, “William Eustis,” in DAB, 6:193–9
5; Mahon, War of 1812, 63.

  33. Winfield Scott, Memoirs of Lieut.-General Scott, 2 vols. (New York, 1864), 1:31. See also Jacobs, Beginnings of the U.S. Army, 383–86.

  34. Richard Rush to [Charles J. Ingersoll], February 11, 1812, in Rush Papers (SR), reel 1.

  35. Scott to SW, November 6, 1814, in Monroe Papers (NYPL). See also petition of Ferah Jones et al., May 10, 1813, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 26.

  36. Porter to SW, July 27, 1813, in WD (M222), reel 9.

  37. Proclamation of James Madison, October 8, 1812, in WD (M222), reel 6.

  38. AC, 12–1, 2300; John S. Hare, “Military Punishments in the War of 1812,” Journal of the American Military Institute 4 (Winter, 1940), 230, 235–36.

  39. See AC, 12–1, 2229; AC, 12–2, 1314–15.

  40. AC, 12–1, 2227–28; AC, 12–2, 1318; AC, 13–2, 2789–90; AC, 13–3, 1838.

  41. See chapter 2: The Declaration of War.

  42. Richard Rush to Charles J. Ingersoll, August 16, 1812, in Rush Papers (SR), reel 1.

  43. Joseph Wheaton to JM, December 10, 23, and 29, 1812, and January 8, 1813, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 14. Quotation from December 10 letter. See also AC, 12–1, 2237; speech of David R. Williams, December 29, 1812, in AC, 12–2, 462–63; speech of George M. Troup, February 3, 1814, in AC, 13–2, 1230; SW to House and Senate military committees, December 23, 1812, in ASP: MA, 1:610.

  44. Henry Dearborn to JM, September 30, 1812, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 14. See also JM to James Monroe, August 19, 1813, in Monroe Papers (LC), reel 5; Jacobs, Beginnings of the U.S. Army, 381–82.

  45. AC, 7–1, 1307; AC, 10–1, 2850–51; AC, 12–1, 2230.

  46. AC, 12–2, 1314–15.

  47. For civilian wage rates, see Dearborn to JM, September 30, 1812, in Madison Papers (LC), reel 14; Timothy Dwight, Travels; in New-England and New-York, 4 vols. (New Haven, 1821–22), 4:352; Donald R. Adams, “Wage Rates in the Early National Period: Phildelphia, 1785–1830,” Journal of Economic History 28 (September, 1968), 406–9; Carroll D. Wright, History of Wages and Prices in Massachusetts: 1752–1883 (Boston, 1885), 77–82; and Seth Rockman, Scraping By: Wage Labor, Slavery, and Survival in Early Baltimore (Baltimore, 2009), 84–85.