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15. Two campaigns from New York against Canada had been put into execution, but they ended in failure.' A third was placed under the command of General Brown. The

Invasion Americans crossed the Niagara river, captured of Canada. Fort Erie without a struggle, and at Chippewa (chip'-pe-waw) gained a brilliant victory (July 5, 1814). About three weeks later, while advancing from Chippewa, they were attacked at Lundy's Lane. Lieutenant (after

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ward General) Scott, who led the advance, bravely contended against superior

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BUFFALO Brown, turning to Colonel Miller, asked him if he could take it. "I will try, sir," was the brief reply of the fearless soldier as he scanned the frowning hill. He did try, and, amid fearful havoc, was successful. Three times the enemy attempted to retake their lost battery, but they were repulsed at every assault. Finally, at midnight, they withdrew; and thus was ended the most obstinate battle of the war-one more death

1 Toward the latter part of April, 1813, General Dearborn crossed Lake Ontario, and proceeded to attack York. The troops landed, led by General Pike, and were carrying everything before them, when the enemy's magazine exploded, mortally wounding Pike, and making sad havoc among his men. After a moment's panic they moved on, and were soon in possession of the town. "Pike was carried on board one of the ships, and the last act of his life was to make a sign that the British flag, which had been brought to him, should be placed under his head. America mourned the loss of a gallant officer, a pure patriot, and a nube man.

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1814

Attack on Baltimore.

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dealing, in proportion to the numbers engaged, than had ever been fought on the American continent (July 25).

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16. Another victory was in reserve for the Americans. large British army from Canada marched against Plattsburg, and, at the same time, their fleet on Lake Champlain, sailed to attack the American fleet, under Commodore MacPlattsburg Donough. While the enemy, from their batteries, and Lake commenced the land attack, their fleet engaged Champlain. MacDonough's vessels, which were at anchor in the bay of Plattsburg. In a little more than two hours MacDonough gained a complete victory. The fire from the land batteries then slackened, and, at nightfall, the invading army made a rapid and silent retreat (Sept. 11, 1814).

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17. While these successes at the North were gladdening the hearts of the Americans, a British squadron entered Chesapeake bay, and landed five thousand men commanded by General Ross. Meeting with very little opposi- washington tion on their march, the troops entered the city of in flames. Washington. The night that followed was one of dismay to the inhabitants. The streets were crowded with men, women, and children, horses, carriages, and carts loaded with household furniture-all hastening towards a wooden bridge which crosses the Potomac." In the capitol, chairs, desks, and books were piled together by the vandal troops of "his gracious majesty" King George the third, and the torch was applied to the heap. The flames, passing from room to room, soon wrapped the noble library, and, bursting from the windows, leaped to the roof, enveloping the edifice in a fire that illuminated the country for miles around. To the president's mansion and other buildings the torch was also applied, and indiscriminate pillage closed the scene (Aug. 24).

18. In fear of an uprising of the people, Ross, on the following day, made a hasty retreat to the ships. His next design was against Baltimore; but on his march thither, he was slain in a skirmish. His forces, His forces, on Baltimore. checked for a short time by the militia, encamped near the de

Attack

fenses of the city, prepared to co-operate with the fleet, which had ascended the Patapsco. Fort McHenry, about two miles from Baltimore, stood in the way of the fleet's advance. The vessels, forming in a semicircle, commenced to bombard the fort on the morning of September 13th, and continued their fire until near the following morning. No serious impression, however, was made by the incessant shower of rockets and shells; and the British, hopeless of success, withdrew.1

19. Florida was then a Spanish possession, but the inhabitants, instead of being neutral, gave aid to the British by allowing them to fit out expeditions in New Orleans the port of Pensacola. Jack

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saved. son, the hero of the Creek war, remonstrating in vain, left Mobile, where the British had been repulsed from the fort at the entrance of the harbor, and boldly marched to Pensacola, and by seizing it compelled the British to leave the town (1814). Soon after, learning that an invasion of Louisiana was threatened, he hastened to New Orleans to put that city in a state of defense.

20. Sir Edward Pakenham, one of the great heroes of the British army, fresh from the victorious fields of Spain, commanded the invading force. Jackson's line of defense extended more than a mile. The Mississippi covered his right flank, an impassable jungle and swamp secured his left. Along his front ran a rampart of earth and a deep ditch. The British, six thousand strong, made an attack; but volley after volley was poured upon them with such terrible effect

It was during this bombardment that the incident occurred which inspired the composition of the " Star-spangled Banner." This national ode was written by Francis S. Key, an American detained on board one of the bombarding vessels. He had watched with painful anxiety during the day the national flag as it floated above the ramparts of the fort; and during the night, the glare of the "bombs bursting in air," showed the stars and stripes still waving in triumph. The song expresses his exultation at beholding, "by the dawn's early light," that the flag still floated over the fort.

1814

The Hartford Convention.

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that they were compelled to flee. Pakenham was slain, and two thousand of his men were killed, wounded, or made prisoners (Jan. 8, 1815).1

21. A large number of citizens of the United States, mostly residents of New England, as previously stated, were opposed to the war, which they regarded as entirely unnecessary. "Many town-meetings were held in Massachu

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setts, and, with great unanimity, addresses and me- Hartford morials were sent to the General Court of that Convention. State; but as commissioners had been sent to Europe for the purpose of negotiating a treaty of peace, it was judged advisable not to have any action upon them till the result of the negotiations should be known. But during the summer of 1814 no news of peace arrived; and, the distresses of the country increasing, and the sea-coast remaining defenseless, the governor summoned a special meeting of the legislature, in which the petitions of the towns were taken into consideration, and a resolve was passed appointing delegates to a convention to be held in Hartford, Connecticut.

22. The measure of resorting to a convention for the purpose of arresting the evils of the administration roused the jealousy of the advocates of the war, and called forth the bitterest invectives. The convention, composed of delegates from all the New England States, was represented as a treasonable combination, originating in Boston, for the purpose of dissolving the Union.' But citizens of Boston had no concern in originating the proposal for a convention. It was wholly the project of people in old Hampshire county, Massachusetts-as respectable and patriotic Republicans as ever trod the soil of a free country; and all the stories which have been circulated respecting the evil designs of that convention, I know to be the foulest misrepresentations." A

The frigate Essex, Captain Porter, after a successful cruise, was attacked in the harbor of Valparaiso by two British vessels. Porter made a desperate defense, but at last was forced to surrender (1814).

2 Dr. Webster is slightly in error. Only three States sent delegates to the convention. Two from New Hampshire and one from Vermont were from counties.

report, recommending several amendments to the Constitution, was adopted; and, after three weeks of secret session, the convention adjourned.

End of

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23. About a month after the defeat of the British at New Orleans-alas! there was no Atlantic telegraph to stop the carnage of that day !—the joyful tidings reached the war. the United States that a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent (gent), on the 24th of December, of the preceding year. "No victory ever so electrified the nation as the news of this peace. The ship that bore the glad intelligence reached New York on a Saturday evening, an hour after dark. In half an hour after, Broadway was one the news was living sea of shouting, rejoicing people. Peace! received. peace! peace!' was the deep, harmonious, universal anthem. The whole spectacle was enlivened by a sudden inspiration. Somebody came with a torch; the bright ides passed into a thousand brains. In a few minutes thousands and tens of thousands of people were marching about with candles, lamps, and torches, making the jubilant street appear like a gay and gorgeous procession. The whole night Broadway sang its song of peace; and the next day, Sunday, all the churches sent up hymns of thanksgiving for the joyous tidings." Expresses were sent off north and south with the news. On Monday morning, after the greatest efforts of speed, the rider dashed into the city of Boston, where the news was also received with clamorous rejoicings. "All the bells were at once set to ringing, and the schools received a holiday. At night the city flamed far and wide, telling the glorious tale even to Cape Cod."

24. "Just as the late war had broken out, the Dey of Algiers, taking offense at not having received from America the precise articles in the way of tribute demanded, dismissed

War our consul, declared war, and captured an Amerwith Algiers. ican vessel reducing her crew to slavery. Immediately after the ratification of the treaty with England, this declaration of war was reciprocated. Efforts were at once

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