Sea Power in its Relations to the War of 1812 Volume 2   By: A. T. Mahan (1840-1914)

Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved. Subscripts are respresented with {} e.g.: Q {2}. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For a complete list, please see the end of this document.

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