CHAPTER V
 

A—THE WAR OF 1812

181:2-1815
 

IS appomted
 

FOLLOWING his war message ot June I (g.ii.)and subsequent
discussion in congress (see Je 15), President Madison signs an
act "declaring War between tbe United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof and the Uruted
Statea of Araerica and thdr territories "—Lerws of U. S., 12th.
cong., chap. 102. The war was cauaed chiefly by Great Britain's
impressment of American seamen, her orders In council, and her
paper blockades. On June 19, Madison Issued a prodaraation
announcing the declaration of war.—Winsor, VH: 276, 342, 370,
420, 482; VIII: 143,179,414. News ot tho prodaraation reached
New York on June 20 (q. v.).

The literature on the War of 1812 Is very considerable. A
deacriptive bibliography of a large part of this material, pubiiahed
prior to 1889, ia found in Winaor's Narrative and Critical History
af America, VU: 420-37, and (works by Canadian writers),
VIU: 179. The aubject Is treated topographically by Lossing in
hisFieldBook of the War 0/1812.

A brief summary otthe principd events ot the War ot 1812, and
iraportant local history connected with tbe completion ot the Com¬
missioners' Map ot the city on March 22, 1811 (q.v.), as weU as
the eipansion ot the city and general progress which followed these
events, is contained in Chapter V, VoL III, of the Icomographv.

The legislature appointa CorneUus Howard, of Baltimore, EU
Whitney, of New Haven, and Robert Fulton, of New York City
to be coramisaioners "lo aacertain the best Method ot conveying
oft the Waters from tbe Collect and Lispenard's Meadow, in the
City of New-York."—Lfltui ofN. Y. {1812), chap. 212; deacrip.
of Pl. 83-b, nl; 562. Corndius Howard resigned >
on Sept. 12, and Thoraas Poppleton, ot Baltimore, w.
inhisplace.—Af.C. 0.(1784-1831), VU: 258. Popple
and other raanuscrlpts relating to the work of the cc
are in N. Y. P. L. (N. Y. City MSS., boi K-L). For eitracts in tbe
Chronology, see O 7, 15, N 25, and D 3. The report of thdr work
was drawn up on Feb. 15, 1813 (q.v.).

Gouverneur Morris makes a trip from New York to Albany in
one of the new steamboats ot Robert Fulton, and describes bis
experiences. He says that, embarking in the ateamboat on June 19
a tew rainutes before five in tbe afternoon, be reached Albany
at raldnight on the foUowing day. The return trip waa made on
June 22 and 23, with aome dday from engine trouble. He was
pleased with the journey, writing: "Thus in five days and an
hour I bave dined in New York, gone to Albany, spent two com¬
plete days there, and returned. . . . The price of a passenger is
87—a servant half as much."—Diary and Letters of Gouverneur
Morris (N. Y., 1888), II: 533-34.

News of tbe dedaration of war against Great Britain (see Je iS)
arrives in New York, and Gen. Bloomfield announces it to the
troops.—Com. Adv; Je 20; JV. Y. Eve Posl, Je 20, 1812; Wilson,
Mem.Hlsi. ofN. Y;llh  237-38.  See Je 22 and 24.

A midshipraan on board the U. S. sloop-ot-war "Hornet," in
the port ot New York, writes in hia diary: "This morning the
declaration of war by the United States againat Great Britain was
read. ... At ten o'dock A. M. Commodore Rodgers hove out
the algnal to weigh; never was anchor to the cathead sooner, nor
topsail sheeted to the masthead,with raore dispatch, than upon the
present occasion. The smallest boy on board seeraed anxious to
raeet what is now looked upon as the coraraon tyrant of the ocean,
torthey had heard the woful tales otthe older tars, . . . When the
ship was under way, Capt. Lawrence had the crew called to thdr
quarters, and told them it there wo-e any amongst them who were
disaffected, or one that had not rather sink than surrender to the
 

enemy, with gun for gun, that he should be, immediately and unin- Jun
Jured, landed and sent back in the pUot boat. Tbe reply was, fore 21
and aft, 'Not one.' "—Guernsey, N. Y. City £f Vicinity during tke
War 0/1812-15. 1= 3-4- The fleet which sailed from New York
on this day under the coramand of Commodore Rodgers consisted
of the "President," the "United States," the "Congress," the
"Argus," and the "Hornet."—McMaster, ffiK. of the People of
the U. S; TV: 70; Chauncey, Letter-Book {1809-1812), 200, in
N. Y. H. S. Guernsey, op. ciL, I: 4, says the departure ot these
ships "was the first 'letting dip the dogs ot war' against Gt.
Britain in the war of 1812."

About 80 of the "finest recruits yet received al this rendezvous,"    "
enlisted  at Hudson,  arrive  at Governor's laland.—Com.  Adv.,
Je24, 1812.

The coramon council refera to the coramittee of defence  the   22
"General Ordera"  of Gen.  Bloorafidd,  dated  June 20  (q.v.),
announcing that war ia dedared by the United States against
Great Britain. The orders were forwarded to the council by Maj.
Gen. Ebenezer Stevens.—Af. C. C. (1784-1831), VII:  179-80.

One hundred raen trora tbe detached artUlery of the city take    "
charge of the "north tort (near Duane street) with orders to exer¬
cise the cannon kc. for one raonth."—JV. Y. Spectaior, Je 24, 1812.

Capt. John M'Lean issues the toUowing notice; "The Veteran "
Corps of Artillery ia requeated to aasemble at the new Arsenal, the
25th inst. precisely at 9 o'clock in the morning, to take thdr station
on the North Battery, where the first shot was received from the
Asia at tbe commencement ot our bloody, yet glorious contest, with
their trans-atiantic oppressors the British; and I trust you will ahow
by your punctuality and prompt attendance, that the flame of
seventy six is not entirdy extinguished by the frost of time. You
wiU appear witb railitary hat and side-arms. The above request
only eitends to New-York, Westchester, Kings, and Richmond."
—Columbian, Je 22, 1812. The Veteran Corps was the first organi¬
zation to volunteer in New York during the War of 1812.—Wilson,
Mem.Hist. City ofN. Y; IU: 254.

Great Britain revokes her orders in councU.—Winsor, VII: 276.

The directors ot the City Bank (see Je 16) purchase the "United
States Branch Banking House, with its appendages, in this city."
The sale price Is said to be Si00,000.—Com. Adv; Je 24, 1812. The
hank was at 52 Wall St.—L, M. R. K., IU: 924.

A generd meeting called hy the RepubUcan (or Democratic)
party is hdd in the Park. Col. Henry Rutgers and Marlnua WiUett
having been choaen chakman and secretary respectively, the
dedaration ot war and the president's proclamation are read, and
resolutions are adopted reviewing Great Britain's repeated viola¬
tions of our national rights, declaring the federal governraent justi¬
fied "in its appeal lo arms," and pledging in support of the United
States "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."—N. Y,
Spectator, Je 27,  1S12.   See also Man. Com. Coun. (1855), 475.

The coraraittee of ddence, in accordance with directions from
the comraon council, reports the following suggestions for improv¬
ing the defences of the city: that a representation be raade to the
general government auggeatlng "the propriety ot erecting a Castie
or other strong Fortification on Hendrick's Reef and a line of old
vessds or Hulks to be anchored at convenient distances from each
other across the channd at the Narrows frora Hendricks Reef to
Fort Richraond on the Staten Island shore to be united by a chain
wiiich is akeady prepared. . . . dso a Line ot Block Shipa in the
rear of the chain in the nature of atrong floating Batteries.

"As tbe Castle cannot be erected tor a considerable time the
Committee are of opinion that a representation be in like raanner
 

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