Cover; Acknowledgments; Table of Contents; Preface; Introduction; Part I: The Captures; Captures by Privateers; Captures by Non-Privateer Forces; Part II: Niles' Comprehensive List of American Prizes; Appendices; A: Captures by Type; B: Number of Captures by Each Privateer; C: Captures by Home Port of Privateer; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Summary
During the War of 1812, the U.S. Navy numbered several dozen ships and captured fewer than 200 British vessels. American privateers, on the other hand, commanded more than 200 vessels and captured more than 1,000 British ships. The privateers proved the only American force that consistently threatened Britain throughout the Atlantic, especially along the coasts of the British Isles. Although privateers had a far greater impact on the British merchant marine and the economy of Great Britain than the U.S. Navy, they have received relatively little scholarly attention. This welcome work addresses