The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2Headley, Joel Tyler
History
The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2
Headley, Joel Tyler
United States -- History -- War of 1812
It was estimated that the entire revenue for the ensuing year would be
$12,000,000, while the expenses were calculated at $36,000,000. To
make up the $24,000,000 deficit, the President was authorized to sell
$16,000,000 six per cent. stock, continue outstanding the former
$5,000,000 treasury notes, and raise $5,000,000 towards a new loan.
But the more important business was transferred to the next Congress,
which was to meet early in the spring. The two other principal acts
passed this session, was one authorizing the government to occupy
Mobile, and all that part of Florida ceded to the United States, with
Louisiana, and the other giving it power to retaliate for the
twenty-three Irishmen taken from Scott at Quebec, and sent to England
to be tried for treason.
CHAPTER X.
Action between the Chesapeake and Shannon -- Rejoicing in
England over the victory -- The Enterprise captures the
Boxer -- Death of Lieutenant Burrows -- Daring cruise of the
Argus in the English and Irish channels -- Lieutenant
Allen's humanity -- Action with the Pelican -- Death of
Allen -- His character.
[Sidenote: 1813.]
Defeats on land had thus far been compensated by victories at sea, and
to that element we ever turned with pride and confidence. Our
exultation, however, was for a moment checked by the loss of the
Chesapeake, within sight of our shores. This vessel had started on a
cruise in February, under the command of Captain Evans. Unsuccessful
in her attempts to find the enemy, and having captured but four
merchantmen during the whole time of her absence, she returned to
Boston with the character of an "unlucky ship," which she had borne
from the outset, still more confirmed. Captain Lawrence succeeded
Captain Evans in the command of her, and began to prepare for a second
cruise. An English frigate, the Shannon, was lying off the harbor at
the time, and her commander, Captain Broke, sent a challenge to
Lawrence, to meet him in any latitude or longitude. The Chesapeake was
just getting under way when this challenge arrived, and Lawrence
resolved at once to accept it, though reluctantly, from the
disaffected state in which he found his crew. He had joined his vessel
but a few days before; the proper 1st lieutenant lay sick on shore,
and the acting lieutenant was a young man unaccustomed to his
position, while "there was but one other commissioned sea officer in
the ship," two midshipmen acting as third and fourth lieutenants.
Under these circumstances, and with a discontented, complaining crew,
it was evidently unwise to hasten a combat with a ship that had long
been preparing herself for such an encounter, and was, in every way,
in the best possible condition. But Lawrence, brave and ambitious of
renown, knowing, also, that the motives which would prompt him to
avoid a combat would be misconstrued, and having but a short time
before challenged an English vessel in vain, determined to run the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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