The Naval War of 1812 | Page 2

question.
But even after comparing these three authors, many contradictions
remain unexplained, and the truth can only be reached in such cases by
a careful examination of the navy "Records," the London "Naval
Chronicle," "Niles' Register," and other similar documentary
publications. Almost the only good criticisms on the actions are those
incidentally given in standard works on other subjects, such as Lord
Howard Douglass' "Naval Gunnery," and Admiral Jurien de la
Gravière's "Guerres Maritimes." Much of the material in our Navy
Department has never been touched at all. In short, no full, accurate,
and unprejudiced history of the war has ever been written.
The subject merits a closer scrutiny than it has received. At present
people are beginning to realize that it is folly for the great
English-speaking Republic to rely for defence upon a navy composed
partly of antiquated hulks, and partly of new vessels rather more
worthless than the old. It is worth while to study with some care that
period of our history during which our navy stood at the highest pitch
of its fame; and to learn any thing from the past it is necessary to know,
as near as may be, the exact truth. Accordingly the work should be
written impartially, if only from the narrowest motives. Without
abating a jot from one's devotion to his country and flag, I think a
history can be made just enough to warrant its being received as an
authority equally among Americans and Englishmen. I have
endeavored to supply such a work. It is impossible that errors, both of
fact and opinion, should not have crept into it; and although I have
sought to make it in character as non-partisan as possible, these errors
will probably be in favor of the American side.
As my only object is to give an accurate narrative of events, I shall
esteem it a particular favor if any one will furnish me with the means of
rectifying such mistakes; and if I have done injustice to any
commander, or officer of any grade, whether American or British, I
shall consider myself under great obligations to those who will set me
right.
I have been unable to get access to the original reports of the British
commanders, the logs of the British ships, or their muster-rolls, and so
have been obliged to take them at second hand from the "Gazette," or

"Naval Chronicle," or some standard history. The American official
letters, log-books, original contracts, muster-rolls, etc., however, being
preserved in the Archives at Washington, I have been able, thanks to
the courtesy of the Hon. Wm. H. Hunt, Secretary of the Navy, to look
them over. The set of letters from the officers is very complete, in three
series,--"Captains' Letters," "Masters' Commandant Letters," and
"Officers' Letters," there being several volumes for each year. The
books of contracts contain valuable information as to the size and build
of some of the vessels. The log-books are rather exasperating, often
being very incomplete. Thus when I turned from Decatur's extremely
vague official letter describing the capture of the Macedonian to the
log-book of the Frigate _United States_, not a fact about the fight could
be gleaned. The last entry in the log on the day of the fight is "strange
sail discovered to be a frigate under English colors," and the next entry
(on the following day) relates to the removal of the prisoners. The log
of the Enterprise is very full indeed, for most of the time, but is a
perfect blank for the period during which she was commanded by
Lieutenant Burrows, and in which she fought the Boxer. I have not
been able to find the Peacock's log at all, though there is a very full set
of letters from her commander. Probably the fire of 1837 destroyed a
great deal of valuable material. When ever it was possible I have
referred to printed matter in preference to manuscript, and my
authorities can thus, in most cases, be easily consulted. In conclusion I
desire to express my sincerest thanks to Captain James D. Bulloch,
formerly of the United States Navy, and Commander Adolf Mensing,
formerly of the German Navy, without whose advice and sympathy this
work would probably never have been written or even begun.
NEW YORK CITY, 1882.

PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION
I originally intended to write a companion volume to this, which should
deal with the operations on land. But a short examination showed that
these operations were hardly worth serious study. They teach nothing
new; it is the old, old lesson, that a miserly economy in preparation
may in the end involve a lavish outlay of men and money, which, after
all, comes too late to more than partially offset the evils produced by
the original short-sighted parsimony. This might