Blockade.
In May, 1813, the
British proclaimed a formal blockade of New York, the
Delaware,
Chesapeake Bay,
Charleston,
Savannah, and the mouth of the
Mississippi.
On June 11, the
United States,
Macedonian, and
Hornet, under the command of
Decatur, blockaded in the harbor of
New York, attempted to get to sea through the
East River and
Long Island Sound, but off the
Connecticut shore they were intercepted by a British squadron and driven into the harbor of
New London.
The militia were called out to protect these vessels, and the neighborhood was kept in constant alarm.
The British blockading squadron, commanded by
Sir Thomas Hardy, consisted of the flag-ship
Ramillies, of the
Orpheus,
Valiant,
Acasta, and smaller vessels.
The
commander-in-chief had won the respect of the inhabitants along the coast because of his honorable treatment of them.
The blockade of
New London Harbor continued twenty months, or during the remainder of the war. In the spring of 1814, all hopes of their being able to escape having faded, the
United States and
Macedonian were dismantled, and laid up just below
Norwich, while the
Hornet, after remaining in the
Thames about a year, slipped out of the harbor and escaped to New York.
On April 25, 1814,
Admiral Cochrane declared the whole coast of the
United States in a state of blockade.
On June 29 the
President of the
United States issued a proclamation declaring the blockade proclaimed by the
British of the whole coast of the
United States, nearly 2,000 miles in extent, to be incapable of being carried into effect by any adequate force actually stationed for the purpose.
It declared that it formed no lawful prohibition or obstacle to such neutral or friendly vessels as might desire to visit and trade with the
United States; and all pirated, armed vessels, or letters-of-marque and reprisal were warned not to interfere with or molest any vessels, belonging to neutral powers, bound to any port or place within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
Early in June, 1814, British blockading vessels began depredations on the coast of
Massachusetts, under an order issued by
Admiral Cochrane to “destroy the seaport towns and devastate the country.”
At
Wareham, on
Buzzard's Bay, they destroyed stroyed vessels and other property valued at $40. 000.
In the same month fifty armed men in five large barges entered the
Saco River, Maine, and destroyed property to the amount of about $20,000 New Bedford, and
Fair Haven opposite, were threatened by British cruisers.
Eastport and
Castine, in Maine, were captured by the
British.
In July, 1814/un>,
Sir Thomas M. Hardly sailed from
Halifax with a considerable land and naval force.
to execute the order of
Cochrane.
The country from
Passamaquoddy Bay to the
Penobscot River speedily passed under British rule, and remained so until the close of the war. After capturing
Eastport,
Hardy sailed westward, and threatened
Portsmouth and other places.
An attack on
Boston was confidently expected.
It was almost defenceless, and offered a rich prize for plunder.
There slips were built for the war: but when real danger appeared, the inhabitants were aroused to intense action in prearing defences.
All classes of citizens might be seen with implements of labor working daily in casting up fortification on
Noddle's Island.
Informed of these preparations and the enthusiasm of the people.
Hardy passed by and took, a position off the coast of
Connecticut, where he proceeded, with reluctance, to execute
Cochrane's cruel order.
He bombarded
Stonington (q. v.), but was repulsed.
His squadron lay off the mouth of the
Thames when the news of peace came.
See
New London.
In the opening months of the
Civil War, the
Confederates planted cannon on the
Virginia shores of the
Potomac River, at various pints, to interrupt the navigation.
One of these redoubts was at Matthias Point, a bold promontory in
King George county, Va., and commanded the river a short time.
The point was heavily wooded.
Capt. J. H. Ward, with his flag-ship
Freeborn, of the
Potomac flotilla, was below this point when he heard of the
Confederates being busy in erecting a battery there.
He procured from
Commodore Rowan, of the
Pawnee, then lying off
Aquia Creek, two companies of marines,
[
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in charge of
Lieutenant Chaplin.
Ward had determined to land there, denude the point of trees, and leave no shelter for the
Confederates.
On the morning of June 27, 1861,
Chaplin and the marines, under cover of a fire from the vessels, landed, and soon encountered the pickets of the
Confederates.
Captain Ward accompanied
Chaplin.
A body of about 400 Confederates was seen approaching, when
Ward hastened back to the
Free born, and the marines took to their boats.
They returned, but were called off because the number of the
Confederates was overwhelming.
A spirited skirmish ensued between the
Confederates on shore and< the Nationals on their vessels.
While
Captain Ward was managing one of his cannon, he was mortally wounded in the abdomen by a Minie bullet from the shore.
He lived only forty-five minutes. His was the only life lost on the
Union side on that occasion.
Captain Ward was the first naval officer killed during the war. His body was conveyed to the navy-yard at
Brooklyn, where, on the
North Carolina, it lay in state, and was then taken to
Hartford, where imposing funeral ceremonies were performed in the
Roman Catholic cathedral.
In September, 1861,
General McClellan was ordered to co-operate with the naval force on the
Potomac River in removing the blockade, but he failed to do so; and it was kept up until the
Confederates voluntarily abandoned their position in front of
Washington in 1862.
See
Charleston, S. C.;
Mobile, Ala.;
Savannah, Ga.;
Wilmington, N. C.
On April 22, 1898,
President McKinley proclaimed a blockade of all ports on the north coast of
Cuba, between
Cardenas and Bahia Honda (
Havana being about midway between the two), and of the port of
Cienfuegos, on the south coast, and kept a strong naval force there to enforce it. See
Berlin decree, the;
Cuba;
orders in council. 
