Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-08-24

VSAe ~ W &AS
while the United States held then, as
now, that foreigner can. If he will,
throw off his allegiance to his
sovereign and become citizen OF the
republic.
It was at least six thousand Of our
men who had been thus forced into
the British navy, and nine hundred
American vessels had been searched
within eight years. President Madison
made every effort to preserve peace
between the two countries, but 1t was
in vain. War was declared by the
United States in June, 1872. The
Indians of the northwest were now
united In strong confederacy under
the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, and
their ravages upon our frontier settle
ments for year past were supposed
to have been melted by the British.
General Harrison, having been sent
to quiet them during the autumn OF
the preceding year, had been surprised
by night attack near the Tippecanoe,
but he received it with such spirit
and his men fought so bravely that
Lu6 dSS6llttuIS WoI0 AOue0u "AUAA o-
slaughter.
The first movement against the
British was attended by the greatest
disgrace that has ever befallen Amerl'
can arms. Marching from Dayton, o.,
General Hull and two thousand men
toiled for a month through dense
forests to Lake Erie. and from there
to Detroit. An invasion of Canada was
the object, and after brief pause for
refreshment, Hull crossed the river
But learning that Mackinaw had been
taken, and that force of British and
Indians was approaching, he hastily
retreated.
Hull was soon followed by General
Brock governor of Canada, and by
Tecumseh, with their two forces. The
Americans were eager for fight, but
to their amazement and grief, Hull
raised a white flag over the fort with
out firing single cannon. All Mlchl-
gan territory as we'll as Detroit was
surrendered to the British. Fort Dear
born. on the present site OF Chicago,
was taken by Indians about the same
time and its garrison was either sur
rendered or made prisoners. General
Hull was tried by court martial and
sentenced to be shot as coward, out
the president spared his life.
General Rensselaer's invasion OF
Canada was hardly more successful.
All the losses on land we're made up
by the brilliant victories on the sea.
The American navy had for years
been SO neglected that it could hardly
he said to exist But what was wanting
in material was made up by spirit and
energy. Three days after the surrender
of Detroit Captain Isaac Hull, a
nephew of the disgraced general. at
tackled the British frigate Guerrero.
and in two hours so crippled her that
she could not be taken into port. Her
crew and stores we're removed to
Hulps ship, the Constitution, better
known by her nickname, as "Old Iron
Sides"
Soon afterward the American sloop-
of-war Wasp captured the British
Frolic, which was guarding fleet OF
m merchantmen.
The president gave letters OF
maroue to host Of privateersmen,
which secured every ocean and cap
tured In seven months three hundred
BrltlSQ meTCudut F0oSoAS "ASA o'o0"
prisoners. =,
The campaign Of 1913 was arranged
on nearly the same plan as that OF the
preceding year, but with dlfferent
officers. General Dearborn, command
er-in-chief of all the forces, was with
the army of the center on Niagara
river, General Harrison In the north
west and General Hampton on Lake
Champlain.
The Great Lakes we're still con-
trolled by the British, who held Mich1-
gan and threatened Ohio. Captain
Perry was sent to drive them from
the lakes. He had first to make fleet
from the forests on Lake Erie, while
sailors were brought overland IN stage
coaches. Scarcely were his nine ships
ready for action when the British fleet
bore down upon him near Putin bay
Perry's flagship. the Lawrence, bore
at her masthead pennon inscribed,
Don't Give Up the Ship" The
Lawrence was shattered and Perry
was rowed to the Niagara. where he
ordered fresh onset upon the
enemy's line. He won complete
victory and went back to the sinking
Lawrence to receive the surrender
upon her deck. Then he wrote to Cen
eral Harrison. 1--WE have met the
enemy and they are ours-two ships,
two brigs, one schooner and one
sloop."
The news was received with pride
and 10Y throughout the country. The
victory really ended the war. for 1t
led to the breaking up of the Indian
confederacy and the recovery of all
the land lost by Hulls surrender.
A Junior,
Vida Wahle. aged IA.
913 E. Williams st., Ottumwa, la.
NV GREATEST SUMMER PLEAS