Sailor Steve
06-22-07, 04:44 PM
BRITISH OUTRAGE!!!
On June 22, 1807, an incident occurred which started the United States and Great Britain on the path to their second war, which would not actually begin for another five years. Britain was at war with Napoleon's France, and both countries were treating neutrals almost as enemies. Britain was blockading France, and stopping neutral ships from entering French waters. France retaliated by seizing ships which stopped in Continental Europe after leaving Britain.
One of the British methods for supporting the Royal Navy was impressment. Much has been written of this practice, but there has also been much misunderstanding of it over the years. During wartime the Royal Navy would recruit sailors with prize money and adventure. Once the war ended, officers were put ashore on half-pay and regular sailors were turned loose to fend for themselves. Many would find jobs in cities; others would return home to family farms, and still others, who enjoyed life at sea, would join the merchant fleet, where conditions were mild and pay was good. When the next war broke out, press gangs were sent to bring these sailors back into service. If they no longer wanted to serve, that was too bad; after all, they had signed on for a full career. What is sometimes misunderstood is that the press gangs were not authorized to take just anybody. Civilians were off-limits, and there were several cases of impressed civilians taking the RN to court for their freedom and winning. On the other hand, men who had joined the merchant service in the first place were often considered fair game, and naval captains had no compunctions about taking merchant sailors to fill out their crews.
During the Napoleonic wars it became common for British sailors to jump ship and sign on with American merchant vessels. The Americans accused the British of boarding and capturing Americans to serve in the RN, and the British countered that America was freely allowing British seamen to join the American merchant ships without asking too many questions. One of the problems was that some American businessmen were making money by supplying papers 'proving' American citizenship. Courts were tied up for years in both countries trying to sort out these cases.
In February 1807 a group of British sailors escaped from HMS Melampus, then anchored in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The ship fired upon the escaping boat, but the men escaped. Three of them then joined the United States Navy aboard the frigate USS Chesapeake. The British consul asked for their return. British ambassador David Erskine them demanded their return of US Secretary of State James Madison. Madison refused, stating that he believed the deserters to be American citizens. Affidavits were produced which proved that two of them, William Ware and John Strahan, were born in Delaware. The third, Daniel Martin, had been brought from South America as an indentured servant. Martin and Ware were both of African descent. Madison finally contested to Erskine that it was against American law for US citizens to enlist in a foreign belligerent service while America was neutral, so they had to remain in US custody. There was also a real British deserter aboard the Chesapeake, Jenkin Ratford, alias John Wilson, who had deserted from HMS Halifax. Wilson was known to have laughed at his former officers on the streets of Norfolk, and dared them to try to get him back.
On June 22, 1807, USS Chesapeake, under the command of Commodore James Barron, was approached by HMS Leopard, commanded by S.P. Humphreys. Humphreys demanded that Chesapeake hand over the four men. Barron refused, saying there were no such persons on his ship. Humphreys opened fire, and Barron, taken by surprise, lowered his flag and surrendered. Three of Chesapeake's crew were killed and fourteen wounded. Barron told Humphreys that the ship was his prize, and he was ready to hand her over. Humphreys refused, but American officers started referring to her as the "late United States Frigate Chesapeake".
Americans were outraged, but were in no position to prosecute a war against Britain at that time. President Thomas Jefferson and the US Congress finally settled on an embargo. This hurt America as much as it did Britain, and with opposition to it very strong, Jefferson's approval ratings (yes, they had them even then), fell and continued to fall until he left office. Part of the problem was open trading between the New England states and Canada. Some historians believe that Jefferson would have been better off giving lip service to the embargo while making his country rich trading with the Canadians himself.
As to the four captured sailors, the three Americans were finally released unharmed, while John Wilson was tried and hanged. Commodore Barron was court-martialled for losing his ship and suspended from service for five years. It was determined that he should have been aware of what the British were up to and been better prepared.
The United States managed to stay neutral until 1812, when they finally went to war with Britain under President James Madison.
On June 22, 1807, an incident occurred which started the United States and Great Britain on the path to their second war, which would not actually begin for another five years. Britain was at war with Napoleon's France, and both countries were treating neutrals almost as enemies. Britain was blockading France, and stopping neutral ships from entering French waters. France retaliated by seizing ships which stopped in Continental Europe after leaving Britain.
One of the British methods for supporting the Royal Navy was impressment. Much has been written of this practice, but there has also been much misunderstanding of it over the years. During wartime the Royal Navy would recruit sailors with prize money and adventure. Once the war ended, officers were put ashore on half-pay and regular sailors were turned loose to fend for themselves. Many would find jobs in cities; others would return home to family farms, and still others, who enjoyed life at sea, would join the merchant fleet, where conditions were mild and pay was good. When the next war broke out, press gangs were sent to bring these sailors back into service. If they no longer wanted to serve, that was too bad; after all, they had signed on for a full career. What is sometimes misunderstood is that the press gangs were not authorized to take just anybody. Civilians were off-limits, and there were several cases of impressed civilians taking the RN to court for their freedom and winning. On the other hand, men who had joined the merchant service in the first place were often considered fair game, and naval captains had no compunctions about taking merchant sailors to fill out their crews.
During the Napoleonic wars it became common for British sailors to jump ship and sign on with American merchant vessels. The Americans accused the British of boarding and capturing Americans to serve in the RN, and the British countered that America was freely allowing British seamen to join the American merchant ships without asking too many questions. One of the problems was that some American businessmen were making money by supplying papers 'proving' American citizenship. Courts were tied up for years in both countries trying to sort out these cases.
In February 1807 a group of British sailors escaped from HMS Melampus, then anchored in Hampton Roads, Virginia. The ship fired upon the escaping boat, but the men escaped. Three of them then joined the United States Navy aboard the frigate USS Chesapeake. The British consul asked for their return. British ambassador David Erskine them demanded their return of US Secretary of State James Madison. Madison refused, stating that he believed the deserters to be American citizens. Affidavits were produced which proved that two of them, William Ware and John Strahan, were born in Delaware. The third, Daniel Martin, had been brought from South America as an indentured servant. Martin and Ware were both of African descent. Madison finally contested to Erskine that it was against American law for US citizens to enlist in a foreign belligerent service while America was neutral, so they had to remain in US custody. There was also a real British deserter aboard the Chesapeake, Jenkin Ratford, alias John Wilson, who had deserted from HMS Halifax. Wilson was known to have laughed at his former officers on the streets of Norfolk, and dared them to try to get him back.
On June 22, 1807, USS Chesapeake, under the command of Commodore James Barron, was approached by HMS Leopard, commanded by S.P. Humphreys. Humphreys demanded that Chesapeake hand over the four men. Barron refused, saying there were no such persons on his ship. Humphreys opened fire, and Barron, taken by surprise, lowered his flag and surrendered. Three of Chesapeake's crew were killed and fourteen wounded. Barron told Humphreys that the ship was his prize, and he was ready to hand her over. Humphreys refused, but American officers started referring to her as the "late United States Frigate Chesapeake".
Americans were outraged, but were in no position to prosecute a war against Britain at that time. President Thomas Jefferson and the US Congress finally settled on an embargo. This hurt America as much as it did Britain, and with opposition to it very strong, Jefferson's approval ratings (yes, they had them even then), fell and continued to fall until he left office. Part of the problem was open trading between the New England states and Canada. Some historians believe that Jefferson would have been better off giving lip service to the embargo while making his country rich trading with the Canadians himself.
As to the four captured sailors, the three Americans were finally released unharmed, while John Wilson was tried and hanged. Commodore Barron was court-martialled for losing his ship and suspended from service for five years. It was determined that he should have been aware of what the British were up to and been better prepared.
The United States managed to stay neutral until 1812, when they finally went to war with Britain under President James Madison.