First Year of War Ends With U.S. in Turmoil-- Part 2

Then, in late December, the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton, resigns after having served in that position since 1809.  He had wanted new ships, but that was not funded.

At this time, money became a huge problem for the government.

The British military was hardened after years of fighting France and Napoleon.  Along with the experience, the Army was 13 times larger than it had been during the American Revolution.

The British Navy had 1000 ships and 140,000 sailors.  To match that, the U.S. Navy had barely 20 ships.

On Boxing Day, after Christmas, 1812, orders were sent to Admiral Sir John Warren and his 142 ships based in Newfoundland, Halifax, the Leeward Islands, Jamaica and Bermuda to enforce a full blockade of the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.

Perhaps a Young Country Had Bit Off More Than It Could Chew.  --Brock-Perry