USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere by Anton Otto Fischer
June 18th marks the 212th anniversary of the War of 1812, the second and last time the United States of America went to war with Great Britain. The connections of the war to Princeton are evident. First, the President of the United States who signed the war bill on June 18, 1812, was James Madison, who in 1771 graduated from the College of New Jersey (became Princeton University in 1896). Second, US Navy Commodore William Bainbridge was born in Princeton. Bainbridge, commander of the USS Constitution, one of the fledgling US Navy’s most durable frigates, captured the HMS Java off the coast of Brazil. Naval victories such as this helped accelerate the end of the war.
The War of 1812 was fought to safeguard our seaborne commerce and to end the impressment of our seamen by Great Britain. However, this war has been forgotten, some historians say, because we also had less than noble motives, because we did not win the war, and because we showed amateurishness early on. For example, since Washington, DC contained no commercial or military goods, few expected an attack there, no meaningful defense was prepared, and the city was largely burned to the ground.
American Ambassador to Britain, James Monroe, protested that thousands of Americans had been impressed into Royal Navy service. The British, however, had a different view of citizenship. They did not recognize the right of a British subject to give up his citizenship and become a citizen of another country. Thus, the impressment of American sailors continued. It is estimated that between 1793 and 1812, as many as 15,000 sailors had been impressed by British Royal Navy.
One of the less noble motives of the United States was the desire to annex Canada and thus expel the British completely from North America. This notion led to the misguided, second invasion of Canada by Continental forces. The previous invasion, in 1775, led to the decisive defeat of the Continental Army at the Battle of Quebec on December 31, 1775. While some wanted to annex Canada as expansionists, James Monroe clearly expressed a different purpose, which was simply to bring the war to an end. Monroe said: “it might be necessary to invade Canada, not as an object of the war but as a means to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion.”
The war was conducted in three theaters: the Great Lakes, at sea, and in the southern states and southwest territories. There were many campaigns, with victories and defeats on both sides. As the US naval ships were no match for the size and depth of the British Royal Navy, some single ship engagements took place. In these encounters, the size and power of the ship itself was the deciding factor. Some notable single ship battles were the USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere in August 1812 (image shown), and then, in December, the USS Constitution (commanded by William Bainbridge) vs the HMS Java. After a huge cost to both sides over two years, peace negotiations began in Ghent in August 1814. Finally, the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, establishing the pre-war status quo.
The War of 1812 is a conflict most are happy to forget. However, there are some important reasons to remember it, too. Naval victories, such as Bainbridge’s capture of the HMS Java, helped bring the war to a close sooner. Ironically, and opposite to expectations, the United States, although faring poorly on land, fared well against the British on the high seas (where it was Mistress). Our victories at sea and on the Great Lakes proved the United States could defend itself on the seas and laid the foundation for the modern US Navy.
William Bainbridge, originally a Princetonian, and commander of the USS Constitution, later settled in Philadelphia where he managed the US Naval shipyards where many US naval vessels were later built.
The saying “Don’t give Up the Ship”, issued by Oliver H. Perry’s flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie, became the motto of the US Navy and has inspired US naval cadets ever since. The Battle of Baltimore moved Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner which by 1931 had become the United States’ national anthem. Andrew Jackson’s victory at the Battle of New Orleans inspired confidence in our regular army and helped catapult him into the presidency.
Perhaps the most important result was the fledgling United States of America emerging from the war of with a new sense of self confidence, having shown it could defend its recently won freedom. So as June 18th arrives, we should remember this conflict as an important milestone of America’s heritage of freedom.
Barry Singer
West Windsor, New Jersey
The author is a volunteer with the Historical Society of Princeton, speaking about the American Revolution and leading walking tours in historic Princeton.