A Great Moment in American History; The European Wars Reach American Shores

In a letter dated with the time of date to note the urgency, he finds himself confronted with the greatest foreign policy crisis of his administration

The British boarded an American vessel, and impressed seamen into the Royal Navy, setting off a chain of events that would lead to the War of 1812

Jefferson tells Dearborn: “I am sincerely sorry that I am obliged to ask your attendance here without a moment’s avoidable delay. The capture of the Chesapeake by a British ship of war renders it necessary to have all our Council together.”

We obtained this letter from the Dearborn descendants, and it has never before been offered for sale

Britain and France had been at war since 1803, after a brief hiatus from their previous conflict. Americans tried to remain neutral and keep up communications and trade with both countries. Unfortunately, the efforts weren’t successful, nor was President Jefferson’s attempts to get Britain and France to respect American sovereignty and neutrality. In 1806, France passed a law that prohibited trade between Britain and neutral parties, like the U.S., and French warships soon began seizing American merchant ships. In 1807, Britain retaliated, prohibiting trade between neutral parties and France. The British also began seizing American ships and demanding that all American vessels had to check in at British ports before they could trade with any other nation. America was getting the worst end of the deal on all sides. Along with their attempts to control trade, the British also tried to satisfy their need for sailors at America’s expense. Britain claimed the right to board American ships and take into custody men who were thought to be deserters from the Royal Navy. Most of the time, however, the British had no proof that the men they grabbed were really British deserters, and the U.S. government saw their actions as clear cases of impressment, the seizure of innocent men for forced service in a foreign navy. Shockingly, some ten thousand men were captured from American ships in this era.

The issues between Britain and the U.S. reached a climax on June 22, 1807, with the Chesapeake-Leopard affair. The American ship Chesapeake had just left Norfolk, Virginia, when it was stopped by the British warship Leopard. The Leopard’s commander, Salusbury Pryce Humphreys, demanded that the British be allowed to search the Chesapeake for three deserters rumored to be onboard. The Chesapeake’s commander, James Barron, refused. Humphreys was unwilling to take no for an answer, and the Leopard fired on the Chesapeake, killing three and injuring 18. Barron, unable to return more than one shot, was forced to surrender. The British boarded the Chesapeake and seized four men, only one of whom was actually British.

Thomas Jefferson received news of the attack on Thursday, June 25, 1807, as he prepared to escape the sweltering Washington heat and humidity for the cool air of Monticello. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn and Secretary of the Treasury Albert had in fact already left the capital. Bearing the news were Master Commandant James Gordon and Dr. John Bullus, Jefferson’s naval agent, both on board the Chesapeake at the time of the incident, who personally handed the President and Secretary of State James Madison an account of the Chesapeake debacle written by Barron.

Jefferson immediately called a meeting of his cabinet to assemble. Gallatin and Dearborn were asked to return to the capital “without a moment’s avoidable delay,” and the decision on the course of action to be taken in this crisis, probably the greatest foreign policy crisis in his administration, was postponed until the Cabinet could meet. Meanwhile, the news broke in the press, and Americans were furious. The reaction would lead Jefferson to remark, “Never since the Battle of Lexington have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation as at present.” America’s neutrality and basic rights as an independent nation were clearly being violated, and something needed to be done about it.

This is the original letter Jefferson wrote to Dearborn informing him of the Chesapeake incident, and recalling him to Washington to attend the Cabinet meeting. Autograph letter signed, Washington, June 25, 1807, 5:30 PM, to Dearborn. “Dear Sir, I am sincerely sorry that I am obliged to ask your attendance here without a moment’s avoidable delay. The capture of the Chesapeake by a British ship of war renders it necessary to have all our Council together. I do not suppose it will detain you long from rejoining Mrs. Dearborn. The mail is closing. Affectionate salutations. Th: Jefferson.” We obtained this letter from the Dearborn descendants, and it has never before been offered for sale.

Within a week the Cabinet assembled and began meeting almost daily. Meanwhile, the President with the help of Madison, prepared the draft of a proposed proclamation. As in the drafting of legislative recommendations for his annual and special messages to Congress, Jefferson took the lead in preparing recommendations for consideration by the Cabinet. At the same time, the President did not present proposals that he expected merely to be automatically sanctioned by the Cabinet.

Describing the Chesapeake incident to his father in a letter of July 1, 1807, Attorney General Rodney reported that the British action “has excited the spirit of 76 and the whole country is literally in arms.” He then went on to explain: “In consequence of the absence of Mr. Dearborn and Mr. Gallatin we have not yet come to a final resolution as to our line of conduct. They have arrived this morning and tomorrow we shall meet in full council and decide. I trust we shall act with firmness spirit and promptitude. I shall give my vote with due consideration and with a safe and honest conscience. But I feel the importance and the delicacy of my situation.” The Cabinet met that very day.

On July 2, after consulting with his Cabinet, Jefferson issued the Chesapeake Proclamation ordering all armed British vessels out of American waters and forbidding communications with those that might remain, except for strictly diplomatic correspondence and emergency assistance. Jefferson’s proclamation referred to the Leopard’s attack on the Chesapeake, saying: “A Frigate of the U.S. trusting to a state of peace and leaving her Harbor on a distant service, has been surprised and attacked by a British Vessel of superior force, one of a squadron then lying in our waters & covering the transaction, & has been disabled from service, with the loss of a number of men Killed & wounded. This enormity was not only without provocation or justifiable cause, but was committed with the avowed purpose of taking by force, from a ship of war of the United States a part of her crew. and that no circumstance might be wanting to mark it’s character, it had been previously ascertained that the seamen demanded were native Citizens of the U.S. having effected her purpose she returned to anchor with her squadron within our jurisdiction Hospitality under such circumstances ceases to be a duty: and a continuance of it, with such uncontrolled abuses, would tend only, by multiplying injuries & irritations, to bring on a rupture between the two Nations…”

The British were not, however, contrite, and sought no accommodation. Jefferson acted with restraint as antagonisms mounted, weighing public support for retaliation against the costs and uncertainties of war. In the end, he recommended that Congress respond with commercial warfare, rather than with military mobilization. His response, the Embargo Act, was signed into law on December 22, 1807. The rupture here predicted would come in 1812. In the interim, Captain Barron and Master Commandant Gordon were courtmartialed for failing to have their ship ready for combat, and Barron was convicted and suspended for five years.