The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History Volume I 1812 Part 3 of 7 Naval Historical Center Department of the Navy Washington, 1985 Electronically published by American Naval Records Society Bolton Landing, New York 2011 AS A WORK OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THIS PUBLICATION IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. Chapter Two Naval Operations in the Atlantic Theater: January- August 1812 From 4 April, when President Madison approved the 90-day em­ bargo, until J 8 june, when Congress declared war against Great Brit­ ain, A merican naval oJJicers prepared their ships and statl'ons Jor war as best they could. It was no secret that the embargo was a measure preparatory to a possible outbreak oj war. Likewise, Royal Navy ships on the North Atlantic station were put on alert. AJter Congress passed legislation in February intending to strengthen the armedJorces, Wasp carried that news to England. On 9 May, the British Foreign Office passed a war warning to the A dmiralty which in turn advised Vice A d­ miral Herbert Sawyer at Halifax that war with the United States was a distinct possibility. He was instructed to await notification Jrom the British minister in Washington beJore commencing hostilities. I A t the outset oj the war, the United States Navy had J 6 ships in com­ mission, excluding gunboats. These ostensibly Jaced a huge British Navy that included 600 warshIps oj all types, actively employed, not counting 250 ships under construction and refitting. Yet the Admiralty had only stationed a handJul oj warshIps along the North A men'can coast because oj worldwide demands on her naval resources. The ongo­ ing war against Napoleonic France and her allies required deployment oj British shIps to protect communications in the English Channel and the North Sea, at Gibraltar and oJJ French ports in the Mediterranean, and on convoy to the Can'bbean and the Indian Ocean. The North Amen'can station was deJended by one ship oj the line, H.M.S. Africa, 64 guns, and two dozen smaller ships, mainly Jngates and ships oj less Jorce. These were scattered between Halifax and Bermuda. Navy Secretary Paul Hamilton and the Jour clerks who were his ad­ ministrative staJJ in Washington, suddenly Jaced a crushing burden oj work, issuing orders, authon%ing expenditures, and providing 83 84 ATLANTIC THEATER JANUARY- AUGUST 1812 85 logistical support to ship commanders and natl)i yards all along the manner. The rebellion was planned by George Mathews, a former A tlantic coast . As increased demands were placed upon senior officers governor of Georgia and bngadier general in the Georgia State Militia. in uarious stations, they in tum responded, indicating desperate short­ Mathews had consulted with President Madison on the matter and he ages of men and materiel and incomplete states of readiness for most was authonzed to call upon U. S. military and naval forces, if of the shIps and gunboats under their command. To complicate mat· necessary, to attain his objective. 2 ters further, in March U.S. naual gunboats had become involved in The Natl)i Department had not sent Captain Campbell explicit clandestine invasion of Spanish teTTitory in East Florida. orders to cooperate with General Mathews. As a result, he was not The new natl)i was only partially prepared for war by mid june 1812, comfortable with Mathews's requests for naval support as especially at southern stations such as Wilmington and Charleston, but demonstrated in the following and several subsequent docu':'ents. the cruising squadrons were at sea and ready to meet shIps of at least Campbell's pn'mary concern dun'ng the early days of his assignment equal strength. The first months of the war for the U. S. Natl)i were had bee~ the shortage of schooners and bngs to reinforce the gunboats marked by many more successes than defeats in the A tlantic Theater. under hzs command. Hzs predicament in this regard was similar to that These events provided the public with a welcome antidote to the bitter of commanders on the New Orleans station.' The need for additional disappointments resultingfrom reversals of Amen'can military forces in vessels, men, and equIpment at St . Marys strained the meager the northwest from Detroit to Niagara. reSOurces of the natl)i at Charleston and Wilmington. The reports of Capta.In John Dent and Salling Master Thomas Gautier reflect the 4 I See R~g"l(Jld Horsman, The War of 1812 (New Yor., 1969), p '6. and PerJuns, Prologue to sztuatzon. War, p 12/ I Ham,lton to Campbell, 18 NOll 181/, DNA, RCfJ, SNL. Vol 9, No '07 2 James Cooper, Secrt't Acu , roolutions and instructions under whIch Ea$1 Florida was invad­ The St. Marys Station ed by the United States troops, naval forcn, and volunt~rs . in 1812 and 1815: together with the official corrnpondence of the agents and orricers of the government ( lVaslungton . DC , /860). Su auo Juhw Pratt, Expansionisu of 1812 (New Yorlt , 192'. r~pr.".ud 1949 and 19'7). pp 60 12', 189-274. and Patne., Florida Fiasco 1 Shaw to Hamilton, 17 F~b 1812, DNA. Re4,. eL. 1812, Vol 1. No 41 The deployment of u.s. naual vessels at the commencement of the 4 Sf!e PP 98 101 War of 1812 was complicated in some degree by American foreign policy commitments on the Georgia-Spanish East Flon'da border. From 18 November 1811, the officer in charge of naval forces in Georgia was CAPTAIN HUGH G. CAMPBELL TO SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAMILTON Captain Hugh G. Campbell. I He was stationed on the St . Marys River which divided the United States from East Flon·da. The n'vers, shallow Sc. Marys jany II. 1812 bays, and sounds of the Georgia-Flon'da coast were well-suited to gun­ Sir boats sent there to enforce the embargo laws. Florida was a popular haven for all kinds of smugglers, including the outlawed slave traders. My last respects to you suggested the propriety of ordering three ShIps from Great Britain and Spain frequently put in at Fernandina on more Gun Boats to this Station, likewise an additional small vessel to Amelia Island and at St . Augustine farther down the coast. Their act along the coast and Correct abuses that may take Place beyond the presence created a delicate situation. reach of Gun Boats. for instance Vessels sailing from Amelia and tak­ Captain Campbell's responsibilities suddenly increased in February ing Advantage of Spanish Waters and a fresh breeze untill over the 1812, when some Amen'can residents of St . Marys, supported by Bar, when it would be Dangerous for Gun Boats to follow them. volunteers from the Georgia Militia, raised rebellion against Spanish . Mr [Abraham] Bessent Collector of this Port has Given me a discrip­ rule. The uprising had been brewing for some time, tacitly supported tlon of two vessels now lading in the spanish waters. his infonnation is by Congress and the Madison administration. A portion of West so Correct. that I feel myself justified in ordering their seizure should Florida had been acquired by a bloodless coup in 1810, and it was opportunity bring Them in our way. I intend with the Assistence of hoped that East Flon'da might fall to the United States in the same Lieut Gadsden or others, to take a sketch of this river from the North 86 ATLANTIC THEATER JANUARY AUGUST 1812 87 Breaker to St Mary's and make such Remarks as may prove useful To the Military in case their service should be requird in East Florida. I the service. I beg Sir, that a few signal Books may be sent on likewise answered in the Negative. He then informed me confidentional, That the Six additional Midshipmen. since my last respects Doctor Dain· Circumstances justified the Expectation of a Speedy change in the dridge [William A. Dandridge] has appeard as Surgeon In the Navy. I political affairs of that country and suggested the Expediencey of believe Sir, I have given all The Particulars of our Situation here- and holding the Naval Force on this station in readiness to act as occasion shall In future confine myself to a monthly report, Unless Cir· May require. Although the Naval force at this Place are always held in cumstances require it otherwise. I have the Honour to be [&c.] readiness, and should consider it my duty to cooperate with the Army in any measures requird for the publick Good, I should feel much more Hugh G Campbell Gratified in Being Honourd with Instructions from you On that head. I have the Honour to be [&c .] ALS , DNA, RG45 , CL. 1812, Vol. I, No. 7. Hugh G Campbell An Embargo breaker made his Escape this Morning from Amelia. he The Capture of Fernandina was persued by Gun Boat 62 . but by superior sailing Evaded the Per· suit which proved Unavoidable. the Vixen being absent on duty. The services of the Enterprize is much Required. At the end oj February 1812, Captain Campbell was drawn into a HGC planned rebellion oj United States citizens who lived in East Florida. General Mathews had worked openly to obtain cooperation oj military ALS, DNA. RG4 5. CL, 181 2, Vol. I. No. 60. and naval commanders on the scene. Campbell's gunboats and their crews became an element crucial to the project, but he was uncertain whether the Navy Department would approve oj his partiCIpation. CIP"I ,"" Ht GH G. C\\lPBHI 10 S FCRFl ARI 0> IIIE N AI'Y H AMILTON Lacking specific orders, Campbell reluctantly decided to support Mathews's uprising.