CHAPTER I.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
There was a large crowd on the Battery in New York City one hot day inJune in the year eighteen-hundred-and-twelve.
Every one was talking and every one was looking out across the watersof the harbor.
There were pale, anxious faces in that crowd, and side by side withthem were the flushed cheeks of men and boys whose hearts were firedwith patriotic zeal.
Women were looking at their husbands, and young girls' hearts werethrobbing with painful excitement as they saw the enthusiasm of theirsweethearts.
"War, did you say?"
"Ay, ay, the President has aroused at last, and old England shall betaught another and a final lesson."
It was true.
President James Madison had signed the Declaration of War against GreatBritain.
War!
There were many in that crowd who remembered 1783; there stood the manwho, in his boyhood's days, had climbed the flagpole and torn down theUnion Jack of England, and in its place had hoisted the Star SpangledBanner.
Many whose hair was now turning gray had shouldered the musket and hadmarched with Washington from victory to victory.
The war had ended when the British evacuated the city, but America wasnot free and independent.
England held the supremacy of the seas.
English vessels entered American ports, and men were impressed asseamen on the technical ground that they had never abjured allegiance.
American vessels were boarded on the high seas, and some of the bestmen taken away and forced to serve under the English flag.
There is a limit to forbearance, and the young nation, whose infancyhad scarcely been passed, resolved that it would be better to die thanendure such insults.
War was declared.
It looked like madness.
It was so, if judged by the ordinary rules of national conduct.
Great Britain was the mistress of the seas.
On the roll of her navy were over a thousand ships, and eighty-five ofthe largest were actually in American ports.
President Madison and his Cabinet did not, however, intend that the warshould be waged on the high seas.
The American ships-of-war were to remain in the harbors as so manyfloating batteries for defensive purposes.
In New York Harbor was a small squadron under the command of CommodoreRodgers.
He heard the rumor that he was not to go out to sea, and dispatchedCaptains Bainbridge and Stewart to Washington to confer with theSecretary of the Navy.
Secretary Paul Hamilton listened attentively to the two captains,and they thought they had won their case; but with great courtesy hethanked them, and said that the President had, with the consent of hisCabinet, decided to order the ships to remain in the harbors.
Captain Stewart stamped his foot, and with almost anger, exclaimed:
"Sir, you are going to ruin the country; I'll have you impeached!"
Paul Hamilton smiled.
Off went Stewart to the White House and argued his case so well thatthe President put the unsigned order in his desk, and told the captainhe would consider the matter.
War was declared a few days after that consultation.
Commodore Rodgers was ready to sail, and only awaited officialknowledge of the declaration.
The crowd at the Battery held divergent sentiments.
"It's all very well for Rodgers to take his ships out, but kin he bring'em back," asked an old sailor whose face was tanned by many a summersun and winter wind; "kin he bring 'em back? That's what I want toknow!"
"You're afraid, Sam Buller, that's what's the matter."
"Durn it! I afraid, younker? I hate John Bull like pizen, and butthat's no reason why I should go an' get killed and do no good."
"Take no notice of the old grumbler, men. Our commodore will not onlycome back, but will bring lots of British ships as prizes."
The speaker was a boy--a mere child--for he had only just passed hiseleventh birthday; but he was dressed in the full uniform of the UnitedStates navy, and ranked as a midshipman.
"Hark to the baby!"
"Baby! I'd have you know I got my commission two years ago, and if youdoubt it, I ask these gallant men to attest it. I'm proud of my ship.I'm proud of her captain, and I'm an officer there. Is it not so?"
The boy appealed to the crew of a boat which had just reached thewooden dock.
"Ay, ay, sir, and as brave an officer as ever carried a sword."
The midshipman stepped into the boat, the men dipped their oars, andthe crowd watched the boat glide over the water until the _Essex_, athirty-two gun frigate, was reached.
"What did I tell you?" asked the old salt who was known as Sam Buller,"what did I tell you? Going to war with chits of boys, not old enoughto be a cook's slavey, as officers."
"Say what you like, that boy may not be as strong, but he is as braveas any man in the service."
"Perhaps you know him, sir?"
"I do. That boy's name is David Glasgow Farragut, and he has been onthe _Essex_ for four years. He is the adopted son of Captain Porter,and whoever says one word against that young midshipman will have toanswer to me."
"And who may you be, my hearty?" asked Sam Buller
"I am Captain Stewart of the United States navy; who are you?"
Captain Stewart did not wait for a reply, but entered the boat whichawaited him and was soon rowed across to his ship.
Every one knew Charles Stewart's character for bravery, for in the year1800, when in command of the schooner _Experiment_, he captured theFrench privateers _Deux Amis_ and the _Diana_. In 1804 he commandedthe _Siren_, and went with the American squadron against Tripoli, andachieved several victories.
"I only wish I could get on board the _Essex_. I'd be pleased to callFarragut my superior," said a young man, whose build and manner werethose of an educated sailor.
"Why don't you?" asked one of the crowd.
"I have tried, but they told me they were full."
"Do you want to fight?"
The inquirer was one whose appearance invited confidence. He was welldressed, and had a good honest face.
"Fight? Yes, sir; if it be the British I fight against."
"Why are you anxious to fight the British?"
"My grandfather, sir, was with Washington, and was killed fighting forhis country; my father was wounded, and my elder brother killed. I havebeen told of those days, and I have a debt to pay."
"But you do not remember that time."
"No, sir. I am only nineteen years old, and the British evacuated NewYork twelve years before I was born."
"Then it is only as you have been educated? You blush! You need notmake me your confidant unless you like----"
"I will tell you, sir, for I know you can feel for me."
The two young men had separated from the crowd, and had walked alongthe water's edge until they came to where the Barge Office now stands.
They were alone, or nearly so, as the crowds were watching the warvessels.
"I had a dear friend who was taken from his home and impressed."
"Ah! never mind the story now. What say you to shipping with me?"
"I--I would like to be on a man-of-war."
"I see; and you think I cannot ship you on a war vessel. But if it isfighting you want, I can promise you as much as you desire. If it isprize money you seek, my boy, don't go on a warship, but ship with me."
"And, sir, what may be your ship's name?"
The elder man led his companion a little farther up the dock andpointed out a schooner.
"See! there is the ship for you, my boy; look at her! Isn't she amodel?"
She was certainly a beautiful sight as she hoisted her mainsail andjib and glided off under a breeze so light that the large ships hardlystirred, with all their sails set.
"She has started."
"Ay, ay; but we can catch her at the Narrows. I like you, and I wantyou to ship with me. Will you do so
?"
"I--don't know--I----"
"Come along; you shall have a warm welcome on board the _Lively Bee_."
"Is that schooner the famed privateer?"
"Yes; I have a _lettre de marque_ from the government. We shall fight,but if we are taken prisoners we shall be hanged. On the one hand Ipromise you plenty of fighting and lots of prize money, on the otherthere is the risk of being hanged."
"I will go with you."
"I knew you would. I came ashore purposely to meet you."
"To meet me? You do not know me."
"Don't I? Then perhaps I have made a mistake. I thought you were JohnTempest----"
"That is my name; but how did you know me, and why did you want me?"
"You will ship with me?"
"I will."
"Give me your hand. We shall be comrades in many a fight. I am CaptainHarry Vernon of the _Lively Bee_."