"War Visits the Chesapeake" Topic

Beginning in 1813, Britain unleashed a campaign of raids in the Chesapeake Bay that escalated to large-scale assaults against two of America's most important cities in August and September 1814. While the invaders were largely successful, did they achieve their ultimate objectives?

USNI: link

Not entirely. The forces required to bottle up all of the Chesapeake Bay must have been a drain and diversion from planned events on the Great Lakes. (Besides, the Constellation remains on display in Baltimore Harbor to this day!)

Indeed, the destruction of the Iron Works and terror imposed upon Harve de Grace was accomplished, it did not deter resistance against the British. Perhaps just fueled the fire for resisting an invading foreign force against the new United States.

Least the New Orleans failure (which was actually fought after a peaceful end of the war had been arrived at…no mass communications back then). No doubt, events in 1815 in Europe AND in North America proved to be too much for the British to fund adequately. A case could be made that events in Europe was closer and potentially more of a threat that could be more damaging to Britain than events in the North America. After living so close to Harve de Grace and Frenchtown, I found local events quite informative and decently documented.

The main objective of drawing American troops away from the Northern Theatre was not realized.

The secondary objective of meeting out retribution for the wanton American destruction of Newark (later Niagara on the Lake) was achieved with the destruction of Washington.

The psychological objective of sowing terror in the Chesapeake was achieved.

Encouraging American slaves to join the Colonial Marines and or to populate British possessions in the West Indies was successful and added to the terror of Americans fear of a slave uprising.

Bottling up and or destroying American ships was moderately successful.

A well written but brief article that was well balanced. However, in writing about the Baltimore operation the author omitted the American defeat at North Point.

Dye4 – isn't that Constellation a newer vessel than the
Truxton command ?

I visited her almost 35 years ago and recall the tour
people made that distinction.

Don't know, Ed. I was always under the impression it was THE only one from the 1812 period. Walked by it in the harbor many times but never had the time to take the tour.

My understanding is that in 1852ish Congress appropriated money to refurbish the original Constellation. Instead, they broke her up and used the wood, in part, to build the sloop Constellation which is the one in Baltimore.