NORTH SHORE BREEZE. 
39 
MANCHESTER’S PART IN THE WAR OF 1812 
By Epwarp 
If the causes of the individual cities and 
towns for war in 1812 were considered, 
certainly Manchester's cause would be 
among the foremost. “The Embargo 
Act prohibited ships from leaving harbor 
and as Manchester relied chiefly on her 
fisheries for her support, the people of 
this town were particularly hard pressed. 
‘The chief grievance and general cause 
of the war was the impressment of sea- 
men. Many Manchester sailors, some 
as high in rank as captains, were seized 
by the British, and made to serve on their 
men-of-war. If protest were made the 
captives were thrown into prison, and 
one Manchester man on his return from 
Dartmoor prison, where he had been 
detained by the English, made his son 
*solemhly swear to always hate the British. 
However, in spite of such harsh treat- 
ment, Manchester’s citizens at first were 
rather opposed to the war, as_ they 
thought it would only pro'ong the hard 
times. But when the struggle was no 
longer inevitable they were not slow in 
coming forward. 
During the war of 1812 our ancestors 
won particular honor through their navy, 
and in this branch Manchester was well 
represented by her sons. Four took part 
in the battles on the lakes, and at the end 
of the war two were reported missing. 
It is dificult to say how many were on 
privateers, but it is known that three 
Manchester men, who shipped on the 
privateer “‘ Sword Fish’’ of Gloucester, 
were killed in one of the skirmishes be- 
tween their ship and two British vessels. 
Then, too, there were many of our 
heroes on the government frigates. One 
Lambert Flowers is said to have been on 
board the ‘‘Constitution ’’ when she cap- 
tured the ‘‘ Guerriere,’’ and he alone 
boarded the enemy’s vessel, but, being 
unsupported by his comrades, returned 
to his own ship. He and Paul Leach, a 
ship carpenter, are known for their deeds 
of prodigous strength. ‘Tradition affirms 
thatin one fight Flowers picked up a 
cannon, which required four ordinary 
men to even lift, and carried it across 
the deck. 
While some of our townsmen were 
abroad winning fame for themselves and 
their country, others, more greedy and 
thoughtful only of their own welfare re- 
mained disgracefully at home, and _pri- 
vately supplied the British frigates, off in 
the bay, with provisions. ‘lo one citi- 
zen of Manchester and his wife we may 
even lay the defeat of the gallant ‘ship 
Cheasapeake. The English frigate Shan- 
non, while a little way off shore, had 
picked up the man, who was out fishing 
in adory, and he agreed to give forty 
sheep for his release. So at twilight a 
messenger came ashore and notified the 
L. WHEATON. 
wife of her husband’s predicament, and 
that night she drove the forty sheep to 
Singing Beach, where they were given 
over to the British in return for her hus- 
band. Had it not been for this fresh 
supply of provisions Captain Brooks must 
necessarily have left our waters, and the 
fight would never have taken place. 
When the battle was on between the two 
vessels, all the people in Manchester 
went up on Town Hill and looked on 
eagerly. It is not pleasant to imagine 
the thoughts of the guilty pair during this 
fight. The people, however, on ac- 
count of the distance, could not tell who 
was winning until they saw the Shannon 
take the Cheasapeake in tow and_ start 
out for Halifax. 
While such deeds were going on at 
sea, proper precautions were being taken 
at home. “Lhe women were ever ready, 
at the approach of the British frigates, to 
seize their children and household silver, 
and to rush up on to the hills. “The lit- 
tle brick powder house, which is- still 
standing on Powder House Hill, was 
then erected. A breastwork was thrown 
up at Norton’ s Point and the spot is still 
called ‘‘ The Old Fort.’’ 
Manchester, too, had its own land 
force, whose deeds, if not quite as im- 
portant were fully as romantic as those 
performed upon the seas. “This com- 
pany was known as “‘ Captain Joseph 
Hooper's Company of Foot.’’ ‘The 
names of the officers were as follows: 
Joseph Hooper, captain; Daniel Friend, 
lieutenant; Ebenezer Tappan, jr., and 
Amos Knight, sergeants. “The men, 
rank and file, numbered eighty.  Al- 
though this little band made but few ex- 
peditions during the war, it was drilled 
with never failing regularity. After 
maneuvres leaders and men were of 
equal standing, and would together bend 
their way toward the tavern, especially if 
the morning had been hot and the drill 
long. 
‘This company made two noteworthy 
expeditions. “he first of these, though 
it seems rather ludicrous, nevertheless 
served its purpose. One day a report 
came from the Cove that the enemy 
were landing. ‘The troops were quickly 
collected and their only cannon loaded 
with the only cannon ball there was in 
town. 
Then they set out on their two mile 
march to Kettle Cove. On arriving the 
soldiers concealed themselves behind 
** Crow Island’’ and awaited the invas- 
ion. Soon the barges came in sight, 
filled with British soldiers. Hereupon 
the drummers and fiers played their 
loudest, from behind the hedges and 
wherever they could find concealment. 
The British, taking alarm lest a great 
land force should be concealed there, 
turned about and fled. On the trium- 
phant march homeward the troops dis- 
covered that the only cannon ball had 
rolled out of the only cannon during the 
march up “‘ Craft’s Hill’’ and there they 
found it lying peacefully in the gutter at 
the foot of the slope. 
‘The second march of this remarkable 
company was less ludicrous but not less 
useful. Mr. Ebenezer “Tappan at- 
tempted to bring a load of provisions in 
his vessel from Boston to Manchester, 
but off the Beverly shore he was_ pur- 
sued by the British. In orderto escape 
with his life he was compelled to run his 
boat ashore on Mingo Beach. ‘The 
militia from Beverly and our Manchester 
company were soon upon the scene, 
however, and after a few rounds of mus- 
ket balls, put the British to fight, before 
the ship had been badly injured. 
At tae beginning of the year 1815 our 
citizens began to long for peace, and 
when the news finally did come, the 
event was celebrated by a great dinner 
in the tavern. ‘This feast was continued 
until early the next morning, being pro- 
longed by patriotic songs, shouts of mer- 
riment, and the stories of martial exploits, 
told and retold to the delight and glory 
of the returning heroes. 
Boots and Shoes and Rubbers 
NEATLY AND PROMPTLY 
IX ES ee 2) 
Also a supply of Stable Brooms, 
and the patent Wundermop 
_ [wet and dry] 
Cigars and Tobacco 
C. L. BEDELL 
Wonson BUILDING 
MANCHESTER 
(Opp. Knight’s Coal Wharf) 
THOMAS DEROSIER 
(Successor to Geo. F. Dyer) 
Automobile Repair Shop 
And Storage 
Supplies and Tires, 
Rent by the hour or day. 
Mower Grinding 
DYER’S AUTO DEPOT 
Cor. Pine and Bennett Sts., 
Telephone 101 
Peter A. Sheehan 
Gypsy and Browntail Moth 
Work. Burlaping, Spray- 
ing and Burning. All work 
personally attended to. 
Central St., 
Auto to 
Lawn 
Manchester 
Address: 
Manchester, Mass. 
