of rroo p ships. Amphibious operarions on rhe A merican coasr wo uld rie down a la rge fl eet of such ships, because rhe rroops had to be based afloat. British troop numbers at Bladensburg and Bahimorewere restricred by the logistica l demand s of a floating a rmy.
War on the Frontier Following rhe defear of rhe economic wa r in the Atla nti c, A merica's only srra regic option in 1814 was yet anorher invasion of Canada. H aving mustered 27, 000 regular troops across the country, plus mili ria, to oppose 12,000 British troops in Canada, any hope of an effecrive srraregy was ruined by quarrels over priorities at Niaga ra a nd W ashington. The A merica n campaign was better handled than those of 1812 and 1813, bur no m ore successful. By winter all the A mericans were once again back on US soil, bur rhey were saved fro m wo rse by the ignominious debacle that overtook the la rgest Brirish land operation of the wa r. General George Prevost, the cautious Gove rnor General of Lower Canada, h ad been ordered to advance to Lake C hampla in with 11 ,000 regulars. Before attacking rhe heavily outnumbered American defenders of Plattsburgh, New York, on the wes tern side of the lake, he di rec red his naval fo rce to attack rhe American squadro n. The Briti sh were defeated decisively, and Prevost, who had m anifested no enthusias m fo r the operation, retreated to Canada. His fa ilure helped persuade rhe British to accepr the sratus quo in the negotiations ar G hem .
General George Prevost Peace Talks A fter Napoleon's abdicarion, the American war became a source of growing diplomatic embarrassm ent for rhe Brirish government. It left Brirain looking weak and distracted just as her European pa rmerswere about to setde the political fu ture of the continent. Peace would allow rhe British to focus on the bigger questions rhat were to be sertled at the Vienna Congress. In his instructions to the British Commissioners at G hent early in 1814, Cas d ereagh foc used on m aritim e rights, impressm ent, and rhe naturalizarion of seam en. The right to search neutral mercha nt ships on the high seas in wa rrime, he instrucred, "can never be
given up." To give rheAmericans an easy way o ut, he suggesred rhat, as peace in E uro pe rendered the subject academic, ir could be d ro pped . Indian lands, border rectification, and rhe Newfo undl and fishery were open for discuss ion. 1l1e British negotiators were to srress rhat A merica had started the war, and refused to discuss blockade, captures m ade under the O rders in Council, and other m aritime issues. The Am ericans conceded m aritime righrs and impressment ar the ourser-even if rhey had to be reminded of the fac r a few months larer- altho ugh they were allowed some small comfort over Indian lands and the Canadi an frontier, rhesewere, compa ratively speaking, trifles. H aving set the param eters, Castlereagh left London fo r the headquarters of the allied army bearing down on Napoleon. In the summer, reports that W ashing ton had fa llen were linked to a him that the A m ericans should understand that the British "wish[ed] to terminate the present unfo rtunate conresr on principles honourable to bo rh parties," so far as the rerms did not risk the security of His M ajesty's dominions. This las r point was becoming more importa nt- during his lengthy journey across E urope, Castlereagh had been studying Brirish economic policy and "rhe growing value of Canada." H e recognized that Canadian timber, forest products, and grain could reduce British dependence on Russia, amo ngs r orher benefits. By 1 Seprember 1814, rhe Brirish knew the U nited States was bankrupt, but rather than press their adva ntage for territori al gain or humiliating rerms, they preferred to res tore the E uro pean state system a nd rebui Id Atl antic trade. O n 11 September 1814, Prime M inister Lord Liverpool observed , "I cannot believe rhar, with the prospect of bankruptcy before them, the A meri ca n Governmem wo uld nor wish to m ake peace, if they ca n make terms which would not give a triumph to their enemies ." 1l1e enemies he had in mind were the Federalists. W ith an eye on opinion in Parlia ment, Liverpool was a nxious that the bla me fo r any brea kd own fell on the " impudent" Americans. Hewell understood that Brita in's
(left) The Battle of Plattsburgh: General Prevost's defeat on Lake Champlain affected the outcome of British and American negotiations at Ghent in thefall of 1814. 16
SEA HISTORY 145, WINTER201 3- 14