1812–1815 O BICENTENNIAL O 2012–2015 10 Battle of the BROADAXES

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ake Ontario would not have been anyone’s first choice for staging a naval arms race. But warriors rarely choose their battlegrounds. In 1812, the Americans dreamed of BY DAVID W. CARMICHEAL L invading Canada and adding its vast territories to their expanding nation. In 1812, a brilliant young commodore They assumed, on the weight of very little evidence, that the Canadians battled both the British and the upstate would welcome them with open arms and unite to overthrow the yoke of New York wilderness to build an American British oppression. The Great Lakes were the linchpin of British and naval fleet and command the Great Lakes. American military strategies, and Lake Ontario was key. It not only provided an efficient invasion route into the heart of Canada but also served as a highway between two other possible invasion routes: one to the west of the lake, along the Niagara Peninsula, and the other to the east, via the Champlain Valley. More than the Americans, the British depended on the Great Lakes for defensive purposes; they intended to use those same routes for their own attacks. Early in the war, John Armstrong, who would later become U.S. Secretary of War, recognized how important the Great Lakes were to Canada’s defense: “Resting, as the line of Canadian defence does...on naviga- ble lakes and rivers, no time should be lost in getting a naval ascendency on both for…the belligerent who is the first to obtain this advantage will (miracles excepted) win the game.” NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY But by 1812 the Americans possessed just one warship on all the Great Lakes, the 16-gun Oneida. So the U.S. Navy posted Commodore Isaac Chauncey to Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario—just thirty-five miles across the water from Sackets Harbor, on Lake Ontario, was selected as the site of a naval base from which the Kingston, where the British intended U.S. could seize and control the Great Lakes. to build their own fleet—with orders to build a naval base from which to

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COURTESY OF U.S. NAVALCOURTESY ACADEMY MUSEUM to sea, where he proved his arrived here on the 6th instant mettle. On April 10, 1803, [6 October 1812] in company he was in the Mediterranean with His Excellency The battling the Barbary Pirates Governor, through the worst when an explosion rocked the roads I ever saw...” He was fleet's flagship. Smoke filled so dismayed by the condition the decks and panic spread of the roads that he sent among the crew when the word back to his clerk to send fleet's commodore ordered all shipbuilding supplies to the boats lowered. Chauncey, Oswego, so they could be though only an acting captain, transported from there to ignored the commodore's Sackets Harbor by water. He Isaac Chauncey, orders and shouted for men was not optimistic, though, ca. 1818. to follow him down into the that the new route would smoking hold, since (as he prove much better: “I am… said) they might just as well apprehensive that owing to seize and control the lakes. be blown up through one the badness of the roads and If an American fleet Sackets Harbor was selected deck as through three. There the lowness of the water in for the depth of its harbor, they smothered the flames the Mohawk [River] that the was to be built on though it had little else to with wet blankets and saved guns and stores will not arrive recommend it. Even with the the Great Lakes, the ship. in time for us to do anything surrounding areas included, Chauncey went on to cap- decisive against the enemy there was probably its population was less than tain at least two more ships, this fall.” 1,000. It had little industry, but his superiors realized that If anything, he was under- no man in the Navy no facilities for building war- his greatest skill was organizing stating the difficulties. Lake ships, and no skilled workers better qualified ship construction. By 1812 he Ontario was girdled by nearly to craft them. Yet from this was both a commodore (the impenetrable forests, and the to build it than inauspicious place, Isaac rank of admiral did not yet muddy roads were impassable Chauncey meant to fend off exist in the U.S. Navy) and for much of the year and ill- Chauncey. the most formidable military commandant of the New York suited to heavily loaded supply power in the world. Navy Yard, “and it was gener- carts even at the best of ally admitted by all conversant times. River transport offered A Practical Seaman with his professional character, an alternative to the overland If an American fleet was to be that a better selection [for route, but that journey was built on the Great Lakes, there Sackets Harbor] could not hardly better. Cargo had to was probably no man in the have been made. Of tried be shipped from New York Navy better qualified to build firmness and spirit, Chauncey City up the Hudson River to it than Chauncey. When the was one of the best practical Albany, a trip that could take Navy was organized in 1798, seamen of the age…” several days. North of Albany, Chauncey, who was just nine- Yet just getting to Sackets all articles had to be labori- teen years old and already Harbor proved challenging. ously transferred to wagons captaining ships for John Jacob It took Chauncey ten days to that trundled to Schenectady, Astor, was tapped to be one travel the nearly 400 circuitous where they were manhandled of its fifty-nine charter officers. miles from New York City to onto boats once more. From His first assignment was a Sackets Harbor, even though there, the Mohawk River harbinger of things to come: the first leg of his journey was afforded passage as far as he was ordered to build a by steamboat. He described Rome, after which the route frigate. Subsequent assign- his trip in a letter to Navy became complicated: through ments took the young officer Secretary Paul Hamilton: “I a canal to Wood Creek, then

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to Lake Oneida, which gave lake itself, known for its cannon, ball, powder, small Just eleven weeks after access to the Oswego River— “boisterousness,” could prove arms of every description, being ordered to Sackets which, except for a series of as intimidating as the enemy. provisions, Slops, warm Harbor, Chauncey had challenging rapids called “the One diarist reported leaving clothing, watch coats, surgical built a naval fleet and waterfalls,” ran uninterrupted Oswego with a group of open instruments, medicine, hospi- secured control of Lake Ontario. to the town of Oswego if the boats and arriving at Sackets tal stores, cordage, canvas, water was high enough. From Harbor five hours and twenty- &c.” that might be required Oswego, naval stores could five minutes later: “Ours the to construct and outfit ships. travel along the edge of Lake only boat that kept the lake, And that wasn’t all. His orders Ontario in small open boats many were driven on shore went on to mention “ship to Sackets Harbor, a distance and lost.” carpenters, caulkers, riggers, of over forty miles through Sailmakers, &c.”—and, as treacherous waters. The Building in the Wilderness Chauncey knew from his British patrolled Lake Ontario To this nearly inaccessible out- years of commanding a naval intent on snatching the guts post Chauncey was expected yard, “etcetera” included of America's ships before they to haul “all the necessary joiners, sawyers, blacksmiths, could be offloaded. And the Officers, Seamen, Marines, block and pump makers, boat

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Building a naval fleet was builders, spar makers, gun volunteers) and more than celebrated master shipbuilder a formidable task in an carriage makers, and armorers, 100 pieces of Cannon the of his day. "As to his talents...," area with little industry, along with grape and canister greater part of which are of a Chauncey wrote Secretary no facilities for building shot, trucks, spindles, rammers large Calibre, with muskets, Hamilton, "I am bold to say, warships, and no skilled and sponges, ladles and Shot, carriages &c &c com- that there is not his equal in workers to craft them. worms, medicines, beef, pork, pleat,…” Chauncey had also the U. States, or perhaps in flour, cheese, whiskey, beans, written Lieutenant Melancthon the World." and the thousands of other Woolsey, who had been By the time Chauncey and items required to house and ordered to Oswego in 1808 Eckford arrived at Sackets Against all odds, Isaac sustain men, store supplies, to enforce the Embargo Act, Harbor, Woolsey had patched erect workspaces, and build President Jefferson's attempt together a fleet—vessels he Chauncey created ships of war. And he was to to stop Great Britain and had seized from smugglers or an American fleet, accomplish it with “all the from waylaying U.S. ships by purchased from merchants expedition” possible. closing all U.S. ports to export and converted to military and in the New York Chauncey was ordered to shipping. Chauncey asked use—which boasted about Sackets Harbor on August 31, Woolsey for a summary of forty-four guns on eight ships, wilderness he won a but nearly a month passed conditions on Lake Ontario though the British, with just crucial battle, not before he boarded a steam- and ordered him to purchase three ships, boasted larger boat for Albany. The commo- whatever additional commer- guns and far outweighed the of broadsides but dore hastened to assure cial vessels he thought suitable Americans in the metal they Secretary Hamilton that he for converting to military use. could hurl in a fight. Chauncey of broadaxes. had not been idle. On the Perhaps most importantly, was undeterred. contrary, his orders had not Chauncey had dispatched reached him until September Henry Eckford to oversee the “We Have Now the 3, and in the previous twenty- ship carpenters. It was a Command...” two days he had “sent from prescient decision, for if any On November 8, barely two this place [New York] 140 man could wrest ships from months after receiving his Carpenters, about 700 Sailors the wilderness, it was Eckford, orders, Chauncey led his motley and Marines (every man of a Scottish–Canadian immi- fleet of repurposed vessels which I am proud to say are grant and perhaps the most onto Lake Ontario. He pro-

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ceeded to chase the Royal to the cost of moving that THE ARCHIVES C O N N E C T I O N George—with twenty-two same ton just thirty miles guns, the largest ship on the over the roads of the United he most vivid accounts 14, and 15. Similar docu- lake—into Kingston harbor States. Chauncey recognized Tof the War of 1812 mentary collections were and lob shot into her rigging, that he could not defy the were produced by the published by the Canadians drive the Governor Simcoe British unless he first con- active participants. Letters and the British. into the same harbor and onto quered the wilds of upstate received by the Secretary Newspapers are also a reef of rocks, and effectively New York, and in speaking of of the Navy from Captains, important primary sources clear the lake of British ships. this second foe, he boasted USNA, preserved in the related to the war, particu- By November 13, just eleven that “I will challenge the National Archives, provide larly The Weekly Register weeks after receiving his world to produce a parallel many details about the (also known as the Niles appointment, Chauncey instance—in which the same conduct of the war and life Weekly Register), a Baltimore- wrote to Secretary Hamilton, number of vessels of such on the front lines. Captains based newspaper that “I think I can say with great dimensions have been built wrote to recount battles, circulated nationally and propriety that we have now and fitted in the same time brag about victories and was widely read. the command of the lake and by the same number of explain away defeats, The Transactions of the that we can transport Troops workmen,” despite the fact request supplies, gossip Jefferson County New and Stores to any part of it that “this fleet has been built about other captains, com- York Historical Society are without any risk of an attack & fitted in the Wilderness, plain about civilians, and especially valuable sources from the Enemy.” He had not where there are no agents, question the conduct of of reminiscences of the war only intimidated the British; and Chandlers shops and the war. The government related to Sackets Harbor. he had also succeeded in pre- foundries &c &c to supply our collected other documents Though these must be venting much-needed military wants but every thing is to be related to the war and taken with a grain of salt, stores and winter clothing created.” published them later as they often provide telling from reaching the British army Eventually the naval arms Official Accounts, in detail, and vivid details that at Fort George. In his few race outweighed all other of all the battles fought by supplement more academic short weeks at Sackets Harbor, naval efforts by both the U.S. sea and land, between the accounts of historical Chauncey had proven the value and Britain. By late 1814, the navy and army of the events. of controlling Lake Ontario. fleets on, or under construction , and the navy All of the quotations in It was a shot across the at, Lake Ontario totaled over and army of Great Britain this article come from these bow in what would become a 1,100 guns, with a combined during the years 1812, 13, sources. shipyard battle, in which the weight of metal of nearly object was to deter the enemy 37,000 pounds—an increase by building ever-larger ships. in guns and metal since For two years, Chauncey and 1812 of 2000% and 2600% Eckford managed to keep pace respectively. There were also admiration.” But Chauncey’s with the enemy’s shipbuild- 3,250 American officers and herculean efforts hamstrung a ing, even though the British men on the Great Lakes, major component of the ene- transported naval supplies compared to just 450 on the my’s offensive strategy while from the docks of England to Atlantic. consuming British men, maté- the docks of Canada entirely Unfortunately for Chauncey, riel, and money that might by water, by far the most a dogged arms race could have been applied elsewhere efficient method of transpor- never produce the fireworks with fatal results to the tation in North America—so of the Atlantic commanders, United States. Against all efficient, in fact, that a U.S. and his success, as James odds, Isaac Chauncey created Senate committee calculated Fenimore Cooper wrote, an American fleet, and in the that the cost of moving one “was not...of the brilliant and New York wilderness he won ton of supplies from England attractive nature that is the a crucial battle, not of broad- to North America was equal most apt to extort popular sides but of broadaxes. n

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