117

Disastrous close of the campaign upon the Niagara 118

Americans evacuate Fort George and the peninsula 120

They burn Newark 120

Act disavowed by the American Government 120

Sir Gordon Drummond in command in Upper Canada 120

The British, under General Riall, cross the Niagara and
capture Fort Niagara 121

Lewiston, Youngstown, and Manchester burned in retaliation for
Newark 121

Buffalo burned, and three naval vessels at Black Rock 121

General failure of the campaign about Lake Ontario 122

Discussion of the causes 123

CHAPTER XIII

SEABOARD MARITIME OPERATIONS, 1813

United States on the defensive on the seaboard 126

British reasons for partially relaxing severity of blockade 127

Reasons do not apply to armed vessels or coasting trade 127

American Navy powerless to protect commerce 127

To destroy that of the enemy its principal mission 128

Cruises of the "President" and "Congress" 128

Efficacy of the British convoy system 130

Its chief failure is near ports of arrival 131

This dictates the orders to Captain Lawrence 131

Importance of the service 132

Imperfect preparation of the "Chesapeake" 132

Efficiency of the "Shannon." Broke's professional merit 133

His challenge to Lawrence. Not received 134

The "Chesapeake" sails, purposely to fight 135

Account of the action 136

The "Chesapeake" captured 140

Analysis of the engagement 141

Decatur fails to get to sea with a squadron 148

Driven to take refuge in New London 148

Frigates confined there for the war 149

Particular anxiety of the British Government about American
frigates