"Privateering: Patriots and Profits in the War of 1812." Topic

"The difference between a privateer and a pirate is a piece of paper. Called a Letter of Marque and Reprisal, it was issued by a nation at war authorizing a privately owned armed vessel to capture vessels belonging to the enemy. Once captured, the vessels could be destroyed or brought into port for legal action, hopefully resulting in the sale of those vessels and their cargo. Most of the proceeds of those sales would then belong to the owners, officers and crew of the capturing vessel, known as a privateer.

During the War of 1812, these privateers, both British and American, captured over 1,900 enemy merchant vessels, considerably more than the number of American merchant ships sunk or damaged during World War II. The value of these vessels and their cargoes exceeded ten million dollars. Privateers were a feature of naval…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Another good find for the War of 1812 library.
Thanks

A votre service mon cher ami!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

This is an article by the author of the above, Faye Kert, on naval aspects of the War of 1812:

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/nm_8_4_1-16.pdf

Thanks Kevin!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand