Part 3 of 7 - Ibiblio

136 ATLANTIC THEATER
of America and their territories and you are with the force under your
command entitled to every belligerent right to attack and capture, and
to defend- You will use the utmost dispatch to reach New York after
you have made up your complement of men &c at Annapolis- In your
way from thence, you will not fail to notice the british flag, should it
present itself- I am informed that the Belvidere is on our coast, but
you are not to understand me as impelling you to battle, previously to
your having confidence in your crew unless attacked, or with a
reasonable prospect of success, of which you are to be at your discretion
the Judge- You are to reply to this and inform me of your progress'
Respectfully yrs
Paul Hamilton
Capt Hull
U S Frigate Con.stitution
ALS, DNA, RG45, AF 7, 1812_
1. At the moment, Constitution was enpged in shakedown cruises in Chesapeake: Bay after an
extensive: refitting.
Intelligence and the Element of Surprise
One day after the declaration of war in Washington and one day
before that news aTTived in New York, Commodore Rodgers was optimistic
about the U.S. Navy's chances again.st British warships then
stationed along the Amen·can coast. He had learned that there were no
mOre than two dozen enemy ships between Hahfax and Bennuda and
wanted to strike while opposing forces were relatively balanced. To do
this required rapid deployment as soon as the war commenced. This
would enable his squadron to take advantage of the many days or
weeks that might elapse before Bn·tish warshIps received official word
on the declaration of war. Rodgers 'squadron was ready, and he lost no
time in getting to sea two days later to seize this unparalleled opportunity.
Captain baac Hull's Sword and Pistols