In the intermediate conflicts at sea, the results had not been always fortunate. On the 1st of June the Chesapeake, commanded by the heroic Lawrence, had been taken by the frigate - Shannon; and during the following August the Argus had been captured by the British armed vessel the Pelican; but the following month the British brig Boxer surrendered to the Enterprise.

The tide of battle now began to turn with a steady persistence in favour of the Americans. General Harrison gained a decisive victory over Proctor at the battle of the Thames; and during the summer of 1814 General Jackson defeated the Creeks in several pitched battles. On the 3d of July General Brown crossed into Canada, and captured Fort Erie. On the next day he successfully repulsed the British at Chippewa; and on the 25th of October the Americans fought at Bridgewater the bloodiest battle of the war. The loss on both sides was equally severe, but the Americans remained masters of the field.

During the month of August, a British squadron sailed up the Potomac River, and disembarked six thousand men under Sir James Ross. Dispersing the militia assembled at Bladensburg to obstruct his progress, Ross proceeded to Washington, where he burned the Capitol. After committing various other excesses, which betrayed more of the spirit of the Goth than of the

1815.] BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS.

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chivalric generosity of the modern soldier, he retired to his ships.

On the 12th of September the fleet reappeared in the Chesapeake, and made preparations to attack Baltimore; but General Ross being killed in a skirmish at North Point, the detachment was recalled, and the project abandoned.

On the northern frontier, one day previous to the above repulse, Sir George Prevost, with a force of fourteen thousand men, made a vigorous assault upon the American works at Plattsburg. The defence was conducted by General Macomb with so much resolution, that the British finally retired with a loss of twenty-five hundred men. Simultaneously with the attack upon Plattsburg, an engagement took place on Lake Champlain between the British and American fleets. After an action continued for more than two hours, the fire of the enemy was silenced. One frigate, one brig, and two sloops-of-war fell into the hands of the Americans, who from that time until the close of the war held undisputed command of the lake.

Hostilities between the two nations were finally terminated by the disastrous defeat of General Pakenham before New Orleans, on the 8th of January, 1815. The forces of the British commander amounted to fifteen thousand men, while those of General Jackson did number more than six thousand. Thes

ever, were judiciously covered by a breastwork of cotton bags, and otherwise strongly protected by the natural difficulties presented by the ground on each flank. In an attempt to storm these works, Sir Edward Pakenham fell mortally wounded. His troops, after three desperate efforts on the centre and each flank of the American line, fell back in disorder, with the loss of three thousand men.

Two weeks previous to this battle a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent, and on the 17th of February it was ratified by the president and senate.

1811.]

CLINTON'S ASPIRATIONS.

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CHAPTER XXIV.

Political aspirations of De Witt Clinton-The Tammany Society-Its origin-Opposed to Clinton-Tompkins elected governor-Chosen vice-president-Clinton governor-Construction of the Erie Canal authorized-Decline of the old Federal party-Origin of the "Bucktails"-Clinton re-elected governor-Van Buren chosen United States Senator-Revision of the state constitution-Principal amendments adopted -Yates elected governor-Division of the Democratic party -Organization of the "People's party"-Removal of Clinton as canal commissioner-Re-elected governor-Subversion of the old political parties-Abduction of Morgan-Masons and Anti-Masons-New organizations-Formation of the Whig and Jackson parties-Death of Governor Clinton-Van Buren elected governor-Rise and decline of the " Workingman's party"-Throop elected governor-Marcy chosen-“ Equal rights" party organized-How designated by the WhigsMerged with the Democratic party-Marcy re-elected governor-Financial embarrassments-Increasing strength of the Whigs-Seward elected governor-Party fluctuationsBouck elected governor-Election of Wright-Anti-Rent disturbances Their origin-Progress of the disaffectionTumults in Delaware county-Murder of the sheriff—Military called out-Arrest and imprisonment of the riotersBreach in the Democratic party-" Hunkers” and “Barnburners"-Revision of the constitution-Young elected governor-Election of Fish-Conclusion.

BEFORE war was declared, many of Madison's friends regarded his cautious policy in relation to the dispute with Great Britain as indicating a feebleness of purpose unworthy of his high position. Prominent among these was De Witt Clinton, who himself aspired to become a candi

date for the next presidency. His party, however, were not disposed to countenance his ambitious views. Various combinations were formed against him; and, among others, he was opposed by the whole strength of the Tammany Society, a powerful association which was organized soon after the peace of 1783, in opposition to the Cincinnati Society. At first it was composed of prominent members of both political parties; but it gradually took a more distinctive character, and in 1812, by a vigorous support of Madison against Clinton, materially contributed to the defeat of the latter. The members of the association were, at this period, known as Martling's men," from holding their meetings in Martling's long room, since known as Tammany Hall.

At the gubernatorial canvass of 1813, Governor Tompkins was re-elected. De Witt Clinton, who sought the nomination for lieutenant-governor, was again defeated by the opposition of the Tammany Society. In 1816 Tompkins and Taylor were again elected governor and lieutenantgovernor; but the former having been chosen Vice-president of the United States early in the following year, the choice of the Democratic party, to fill the vacancy thus occasioned, fell at length upon De Witt Clinton. A most important measure, as bearing upon the future prosperity of the state, was passed at the session of