davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-21

Total bases, Newport 16, Keene Z.
Sacrifice hits, Crowther =, Shea. Sac
rifice fly, Keaney. Stolen bases.
keaney ,, Monahan, Fishburne, D. Sui
hvan, McElwee. Two-base hits, Kean-
ey, Monahan 2. Sullivan, Ferrin. Hits,
off O'Mara 5, off Nichols u, off Me
Laughlin l. First base on balls.
Twombly, Keaney, Fishburne, Connors,
McElwee 2, Wallace 3 Left on bases.
Newport 5, Keene Z. Struck out,
Saunders, Mclaughlin, Ferrin, Mich
OILS Batter hit, Keaney. Double
play, Crowther and Volk. Time, III
som. Umpire, Ennis. Attendance
$50.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Western Army
First to Start.

The western expedition was the first
ia start. Three regiments OF Ohio
militia had been called out early in the
spring on the plea OF the territory OF
Michigan for protection against In
dians. William Hull. governor of Mich
igan, was made a brigadier general
and put in command OF this forca. which
was augmented by the Fourth regular
infantry and some kentuck,y militia.
When Hull reached his command at
Dayton he found those of his men then
them were either without arms or had
eapons uttrely unfit tor use. There
was no powder except what the militia
men had brought with them. There
We're no uniforms, and most of the
men We're almost in rags. only a few
had blankets.
The army waited while the gunsmiths
Of Dayton and Cincinnati tinkered up
the weapons and powder was brought
from Kentucky. Ohio people contributed 1
a few blankets. and thus, half armed,
half clothed. and half fed, Hull and his
determinations started for Detroit and
the invasion of Canada,
War had not Yet been declared. but
Hun had been warned that the declara- =
ton would be not long delayed. Tic
pus he'd through to Lake Erie. loaded his
intrenChlng tools, hospital stores-such
AS he had-and his personal baggage.
including the muster rolls of his forces
and his instructions from the War De-
partment on a schooner which he sent
up the lake. and marche I'd on with his
men for Detroit
But the British were inform I'd of the
outbreak of hostilities b fore he was
and his schooner wa captured et Fort
Maiden so that the British had author.
! itative Information Of what HUI was
about.
Isaac Brock. the Canadian command,
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
1912 Opens With
More Legislation.

The year 1914 opened with more lcgis-
lation to increase the regular army the
paper aggregate of which was raised to
s.. III men. But despite the fact that the
bounty was tripled and 30 acres OF land
given to each man instead OF 16O. re-
cruitment was not materially increased
In the closing months of the year, in
fact. the army decreased by more than
5,D men. due chiefly to desertion.
Operations were begun early to drive
the British out of our territory. They
still occupied Fort Niagara. which they
had taken in the fall before. The Amer
leans. under Jacob Brown and Winfield
Scott. who commanded force almost
wholly composed Of regulars. conducted
creditable campaign. gaining the vic
tory Of Chippewa and fighting the drawn
battle of Lundy's Lane. where 5000 men
held of British force OF 5000 our loss
being !4s and the British loss S7s.
In March. Wilkinson. with 1900 regu-
lars. crossed the boundary and headed
at length toward Montreal. Straight
way he came on a small force of British
posted in stone MILL He assaulted,
was repulsed with loss of la men. and
fell back on Flattsburg, where he was
soon relieved Of command and the move
on Montreal intrusted to General lizard.
John Armstrong, Secretary of War,
concluded to start the new expedition
from Sacketts Harbor. and sent lizard
General Macomb In command at Platts-
burg.
In September. Provost. the Canadian
governor general. at the head of Lao
veterans Of the spanish peninsula came
down to Macomb. But MacDonough
saved the day by DESTROYING the fleet
upon which Provost relied to maintain his
communications and supplies. and the
Canadian halted his men as tho. were
advancing to the attack and immed-
ately returned to Canada.
That ended the attempt on Canada.
We had failed In every move when the
British defending force was small and
utterly inadequate to Withstand n reso-
lutte attack. Now that 1t had been so
re-enforced further effort was out OF
the question.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

their ships and force OF regulars un-
der General Ross. At once the old
game Of harrying the bay shore was
and made some preparation for defense.
put u was not until June that II occur
red to the Administration that Any
ming was necessary for the protection
Then President Madison presented to
the Cabinet q statement showing that
there were only 2.2Os troops in the whole
district IN which the Capital was stu
shsa atsd' ,rnf,,n. These were scattered about -
sible. '"''
Napoleon was at Elba and England
was free to send Its veteran troops to
'efhca, a. thas, Reports came that thousands
Msnlson ststan and the Cabinet were panic
: stnTicken: III They resolved to call out
t;D ~ OF 3.ooC militia to be stationed near
!readv re dEapttal, and to have 10000 more
Thy 10 march at moments notice"
,i,n.H a. Vas favor,te plan in those days.
.Ur.to"ed .''r.t IN the interest Of economy,
~ W,h .ne result that the militia rarely
over and the damage they were 10 pre-
vent had been done
everything was excitement and fever
compii.heSY cor piH,vtY ,bs,' thsn' but nothing was ac-
new military district was established
under the command Of General Winder.
ne had a field force OF between ZOO and
and that was all. " ~
But there vas the militia. and in July
\ circular waB sent to certain governors
inviting them to hold an aggregate of
$4,000 militia 'fn readiness for Immediate
| service A week later Winter was a,,.
| thorlzed In case of actual or mena ced
invasion" to call out 5000 men from
Maryland. 1900 from the District Of CO.
lumbia. 1000 from Virginia, and 5000
from Pennsylvania--in all $4,000 Madi-
son wanted 1900 or 1000 brought togeth-
baltimore and Washington. Winder re-
ported that out OF the call for the full
number he migt; get 200
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
British Failed
To Catch Craft.

1t was true that this navy coulu not
hope to contend. fleet for fleet, with the
British navy. There were more thsh
enough British line-of-battle ships TO
destroy our entire force, without IN
volvng a single frigate or smaller yes
s~l hut to destroy the Americans. the
British battleships had first to eaten
them. and there they failed;
The Americans uniformly outsaheu
and outmaneuvered the enemy, ana
when they fought 1t was when they nau
come UP with a single British snip ana
had an equal chance. Once. indeed.
Isaac Hull. in the Constitution. fell IN
with a British fleet. and by sheer au-
dacity and skill got away without pcihs
forced into action. 49,
eighteen-gun sloop Wasp had captured
the British brig Frolic, twenty-five o
guns, 1t was overhauled by the seventy
four-gun battleships Poictiers while
clearing away the wreckaGe OF the trst
battle. and forced to surrender.
Despite the swarm Of British warships
that hung along our coast. our nava
vessels, one bv one, managed to SUI
through the blockade and get to sea
There they began Immediately to In
merce Of the enemy. And. almost with
out exception. whenever they fell II
with a single British ship of war they
captured it. The unexpected eompen
sation thus furnished for the disasters
on land was all the more grateful to the
distressed republic.
And while the navy was thus humb
ling the pride of the British on the ses
another agency was workn havoc witt
their shipping. Now the inen who's
ships and seaborne commerce had beer
harried for so long with immunity b,
the English had their opportunity fo
sweet revenge. and they took 1t to thu
full They fitted out privateers II
swarms.
The swift sailing ships that had beer
built to run away from British war
ships were now armed and sent to ses
to prey on British commerce. Manned
by the same daring and skillful sa lor
who had been accustomed to evade thu
English cruisers. they covered th'
routes Of British trade and swoope'
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
CrOwning Disgrace
Drawing Near.

Moreover, the British were giving the
Americans ample cause to concentrate
their attention elsewhere. The crown
ing disgrace OF the whole disgraceful
series was about to occur.
Utterly unwarned by the performances
Of tho British In Chesapeake Bay In
1918, the Government at Washington
never suspected the possibility Of
danger to the National Capital Not a
finger had been lifted to prepare for its
defense. No Notifications were con-
structed, no forces assembled. and no
supplies OF arms and munitions collect
ed 1t seems not to have entered the
head OF any man in Washington that
anvthing should be done to make the
Ca pitpl secure.
Early in the spring Warren and Cock
burn were back In the Chesapeake with
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Almost Paralyzed
Governments Efforts.

The action of these States served tenn
porarily almost to paralyze the efforts
of the Government to raise the troops
necessary to make a beginning Of hos
tlities. and to place garrisOns in the
numerous frontier posts. where, under
the strictest construction Of the COnsti-
tuition, the militia were liable to serve
in order to prevent or repel invasion of
United States territory.
The question of the right of the Presi-
dent to determine when an emergency
existed such as to give him the right to
call out the militia, under the Consti-
tuition. was not settled finally for fifteen
years. Then decision of the United
States Supreme Court declared that that
power clearly rested solely with the
President.
There was great division of popular
New England. Many of the people sup
ported the governors in their refusal to
detarh militia or in placing obstacles In
the way. In Salem whence memorial
struggle. saying that while the men of
that town loved peace they would not
shrink from war, n petition had been
framed protesting against the declara-
ton.
1t was about to be forwarded when
the news came that the die had been
cast. In many other Massachusetts
towns public meetings We're held to de-
nOunCP tne war. altnOuSn IL was peCu-
liarly struggle for New England in
terests.
But other Massachusetts towns con-
tributed their full share, and several of
them voted special pay to such of their
men as would join the volunteers. Yet
with every inducement that was offered.
bounteS, special pay, and offers Of Gov
ernment land. recruitment was SO slow
that the war opened with not one:third
OF the authorized regular army Of 800
raised and not One-tWelfth of the 5000
volunteers.
Plenty Of men and women still living
in this country remember the way in
which the cry. "On to Richmond" arose
almost Immediately after the opening of
the civil war. So it was in the war OF
1872. The people had been talking Sc
long about taking Canada that the
. clamor for invasion began before the
troops wero or'isted and even before
those who had been recruited had been
armed or equipped.
Henry Dearborn. the senior major
general of the army. had drawn up
plans Tor the conquest. which had been
approved by Mp Eustis. the Secretary
of War. n month prior to the declara-
tion. Dearborn himself. with the main
army. was to move up the Champlain
route against Montreal while three
| separate corps were to move, one from
Sackett's Harbor against Kingston; one
from Niagara against Fort George and
| the third from Detroit against upper
Canada
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Hastily Organized Force of Regulars,
Veterans and Militia Was
Disgracefully Defeated

! its graduates numbered only seventy
one.
In view of the slow enlistments In the
regnlars a,ll IT was apparent that that army.
capturing Canada, and the leaders OF the
war party In Congress set about providing
more men They proposed to create u
provisionaI army, OF $1,000. and In or
der to make 1t perfectly clear that these
men were not subject to the constitu-
tional restrictions upon the movements
Of the militia an amendment to the bill
was offered by which each volunteer
va, was TO sign an agreement to serve out
side the territorial limits of the coun-
try This proposition was beaten in the
ltouse and the bill wen ito the President
without 1t.
The effect of this elimination was to
put these volunteers into the same cate
cory as the State militia so far as ex-
traterritorial service was concerned and
TO make the taking of Canada wholly
the task OF the regulars. For the act
OF 1872 had put every man OF military
age IN the country into the militia.
Without specific relief from this OBJ
ligatton to the militia every man who
enlisted In the regulars or volunteers in
opposition to the command Of his gov
with descrtion.
With conditions what they were it was
certain that some of tho sticklers for
strict construction OF the Constitution
Wou!u bcStH themselves 10 make all
the trouble they could when the time
came to use the militia.
And they did SO without the least de-
lay. Congress authorized the President
to call out 100000 militia. 1t was the
intention of the Government to use pa rt
OF this force to relieve the regulars in
the sea coast Notifications so that they
might join the force intended for the
Canadian operations.
But without waiting to see what was
to bc done with the remainder the gov =
ernors of two States, Massachusetts and
Rhode Island, raised objections to de-
taching their troops. and Governor Girls
void. of Connecticut, refused point
blank.
The general ground of objection was
that while the Constitution gave to the
President the right to call out the militia
to enforce the laws, suppress insurrec-
ton and repel invasions, it did not vest
in him the power to determine when any
or all of such emergencies existed.
The supreme court of Massa chusetts
held that that power rested with the
governor of the State. In Rhode Island
a council called by the governor gave
the same decision. The Connecticut
council of State held the same view.
Some of the States also questioned the
right of the President to assign officers
of the regular army to command bodies
Of troops which were composed in part
or in whole of militia. This went to the
matter of organizing corps, division
or brigade out of regiments from differ
ent States and putting them all under
command of a regular officer
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Had Things All
Their Own Way.

While these events were occurring the
British were having things entirely their
own way in the Chesapeake. Early In
March a fleet under Admiral Cockburn
entered the bay. Admiral Warren soon
came with other ships and took COM
mand. They sailed up to the mouth Of
the Susquehanna river and destroyed
Government stores and a great deal of
private property. occupying numerous
towns with small detachments and levy
ing tribute of supplies of one kind and
another.
Hordes of American militia were
scrambled together In various places,
ostcnsibly to resist these depredations
BUt II was a resistance very largel| OF
the fiddler crab variety, consisting OF
observing the enemy from safe dis
tance and fleeing to shelter at the first
sign Of advance.
One distinct success came to the
Americans. Warren, having gone tu
Bermuda and brought back $50 re-en-
forcements. attempted to take Norfolk
and the Gosport navy yard. The at
tempt was blunderingly managed. and.
although he had a force Of 800 men
engaged in It, was badly beaten by
about $50 American militia and sailors,
lie vented his spleen for the defeat by
taking and destroying the town of
Hampton.
At the close of the year. instead of
having taken Canada, q British force
held Fort Niagara. We had captured
one British force OF about SO men at
the Thames. and had succeeded In the
hasty and disgraceful raid on York.
Hut retreat had followed each OF these
successes as well as the numerous re-
verses.
As In 1912. 1t WAS the navy and the
privateers who inflicted real damage on
the enemy and kept the English alive TO
the fact that they were engaged In a
real war with the United states.
From their experiences in Chesapeake
bay and elsewhere along the coast. the
British might have concluded that there
was neither spirit nor fighting ability III
tho Americans.
More than Sf.O0n militia were called out
from Delaware. Maryland. Virginia.
North Carolina. and the District OF Co
lumbia. who spent their time in watch
ing the doings Of the 2.s1O British reCu-
lars and marines under Warren and
cockburn. who ranged the Chesapeake
at will from the Virginia capes to the
mouth OF the Susuuehanna river.
Not single check. save that at Nor
folk, was inflicted upon the British by
this unorganized horde. All told these
were 1905 regulars in service that year
and an aggregate OF lso.1lc militia was
called out.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07

But the militia who had compelled
him to make the attack against his
judgment. who had seen their fellows
win the first victory and who now saw
Brooks men coming to renew the at
tack, absolutely refused to go to the
assistance Of their comrades.
Van Rensselaer, and some OF his OFF,
GERS urged the men by every consider
alton to pass over. but In vain: The
"ardor of the unengaged troops had ell
tirely subsidized" he says. In his report
of the, affair. The brave men who had
strength and ammunition, and grieved
at the unpardonable neglect of their
fellow soldiers. gave up the conflict
." One-third of the idle men might
have saved all.
John Armstrong. who soon afterward
Notices Of the War of 1872" that "the
omission to ascertain. previously to the
adoption Of the project. the political
sentiment of the militia on the ques-
ton Of invasion was an error OF great
magnitude" on the part Of Van Rensse-
lacr.
The American loss was $50 killed and
wounded and 700 captured. including
some 800 "skulkers and towards who
had been crouching At the rivers edge
all day" The British lost sixteen killed
and siXty-nine wounded out Of tota
force of about LOO. slightly more thar
the tDIal lOTCt OI tiHeTlSdho tfldl CIOSB-
ed the river.
AS In the West an effort was made at
once to retrieve this disaster. Var
Rensselaer,. Disguised at the behavior
Of the militia, asked to be relieved. and
the command devolved upon Smyth. OF
the regulars. He issued bombastic
proclamation calling on the men Of New
! York to rally to his standard and "con,
uuer or die"
They responded so well that in a
month he had 4bOO men Rut they
neither conquered nor died. Twice he set
them in motion for the Canadian side
and twice, before they had gone be.
yond the sound of his voice. ne recall.
| ed them. The second fiasco so infur.
| i"ted the men that thev threatened per.
| snnal violence upon Smvth.
| General Porter publicly caned him q
| coward Smyth asked for leave. got IL
end went 10 mis- home IN Virgiris
There he found that Madison hac
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Very Home Waters
Of England Invaded.

otiiiu,ateu ny the r.ch rewards Of sue
cess1ul prlVateering these commerce de-
stroyers invaded the very home waters
oI Inc British and created sucn q panic
thal Ensianu Insurance companies re-
fused " issue policies on calSoes even
across the lr.sh channel.
Chased Time ana asain by British war
Ships the pfiVhteers Almost always sue
ceeded In escaping. owing to superior
speed and nasterlul sAlnng abity or
their commanders. One OF them TOOK
twenty-three prizes in lne rIngiisn chan
mel. and was CHASED sixteen times by
britisn warsnips, KcttIn. safety away
ch time.
1he privateers became SO bold that
they did not hesitate to attack rnsr-
chantnicn eNeh when under the convoy
or meet OF warships. For sucn exploits
,ney raiied In couples; Sig nting q con-
Soy with Il lum1crng line-uf-Daltie snip
at the head and q frigate at the rear
OF the column, and with one or two
other Vessels on each side, the priva-
tcels Wou'd separate and one would
swoop down on the merchantmen.
or course. the warshps would give
chase. Away would go the speedy
rrivateer with the numbering enemy full
SAL after hun. Then the other priva-
or two and make off with the spoils
Eventually. when 1t had escaped from
IT'S pursuers. the first privateer wounl
return and join its partner for the di-
th's sort OF thing happened until the
British shippers in frantic rage de-
nounced the incompetency OF their navy
ana their government for permitting
such disgraceful operations to go on.
But the British could not help it. They
were simply outclassed. The trouble
with the British navy was that It was
not ready for the kind Of warfare that
was bound to be waged as q result OF
the experiences OF the preceding ten
years.
They had not realized these develop-
mcnts any more than the American
government had. There is no real ex-
| chase tor either. Both knew very well
1 that American merchantmen had been
ng cruisers for years. Both governments
knows. although the British probably
would not admit il. that the American
sailors We're tho best af'oa. The Amer
leans simply Dragged about that fact,
and made NO use OF II In the war The
British ignored 1t to their tremendous
cost.
This failure to emplay the superb
, equipment for naval warfare that was
| " in the war OF 1872 Warships wer.
easy to build In those days and it took
! but a short timc to construct a seventy
| four-gun ship OF the line.
| We had the men to man and COM
mand them. bold. confident. daring.
| skillful. rcsourceful. the masters OF
the enemy in every point OF the trade.
| We knew how to build the best ships
| in the world. All that was needed was
! ice of the nation tho thousands Of in
| trepid sailors who were left to Ut out
| their own privateers and cruise at their
! risk for their Individual prOrit.
The Washington times., 1915-03-07
Was Clear All the
WAY To Capital.

The British force engaged in the fight
did not number 1900 The way was now
clear for them directly into Washing ton.
The panic-stricken Americans. Presi-
dent. Cabinet. and army alike. raced
back to the Capital and stayed there
until the head Of the British column ap-
peared: then they resumed their night
scattering in different directions.
The British. at their leisure and un-
White House. destroyed a number OF
buildings IN the city. including the Of
fice OF the National Intelligencer. n
newspaper that had made sport OF
yard and destroyed all the stores they
could find, and then. after twenty-f four
hours, Of undisputed possession OF the
American Capital. marched all night
turned aboard ship.
A little later Ross made an attempt
on Baltimore In which he was killed,
and soon after tina, Cockburn sailed for
against New Orleans.
So ended the campaigns Of 1914, and
With the exception of the battle Of New
Of s tse mSsf thst 4 .ss Of The
we're called out in New York for opera
| tons along the Canadian frontier. More
than 10000 We're called out from Penn
syivania, Maryland, and Virginia to rc-
4
the Chesapeake, and did their dutv so
| ingloriously that the National Capital
was captured and sacked-burnei. ms the
! British said, in retaliation for the burn
| ing OF York. the capital OF upner Cam
ada bv the troops under Dearborn the
! year before.
Thus all the fondly cherished schemes
Tor the conquest of Canada. which was
To be taken by "a few volunteers and
/ militia ended with the destruction Of
| the National Capitol and the Presidents
mansion and the disgra ceful evidence Of
! our utter unureparedne for the vpr
| that the country had known for seven
! years Was bound to come
In all the war Of 1879 only two engoye-
, ments on land stand out as worth. To
he remembered with rride b. AmeN.
| cars. Ono was that Mt Lundv's LaNo
| and the other was Andrew Jockson's
stunning personal triurlDh at New Or
! 's9ns. Th""" II" met the flower Of the
| Duke Of Wnllincton's veterans under
S'r Edward Pakerham.
| In 1874 as in the previous years tho
, navv and the nrivateersmsr. continued
| to win the applause and the gratitude
, nf the nat'On To he srre Po~'ar lost
the Esse~ after memora HE cruise and
| tho P~esident f>ll IN Nth powerful
| s"uadron md was takeN But tho vic
| 'or' of NacDonouCh alone move thu
| cor,r~rsatnd ara tre"e we've othor VIC
! 'or'ns NJ sNa. md tho nrivate~rs car
| risd terror and dsnay into the heart OF
every British shipper.
Copyright, 1915 by o. X. DaHs)