The first few months of the war were full of naval surprises. In that brief time the Americans captured more British ships than the French had taken in twenty years.
On August 19th, the American frigate Constitution, commanded by Captain Isaac Hull, in one half hour captured the English frigate Guerrière. The English lost one hundred men, and the vessel was so disabled that she was left to sink. The Americans lost but fourteen men, and in a few hours the ship was ready for another battle.
Several other victories followed in quick succession. In all this time the Americans did not lose a ship.
In December, Commodore Bainbridge, the same officer who had been taken prisoner years before by the Tripolitans and had afterwards been promoted, was cruising with the frigate Constitution off the coast of Brazil. He there encountered and captured the British frigate Java.
But though so successful on the sea, the Americans were defeated many times on land.
The possession of the Great Lakes was of the utmost importance to both the English and the Americans.
Ever since the Revolution the English had kept a naval force on these lakes. They had hoped that some time they might be able to extend the Canadian territory along the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to New Orleans. This would give them the possession of the great west.
Many prosperous towns and trading posts were scattered along the Canadian shores. To capture some of these was the task given to the American army.
The campaign was opened by General William Hull. With two thousand men he crossed the Detroit River, and marched into Canada.
After a few skirmishes with the Indians, he fell back to the fort at Detroit. Then, without firing a single gun, he gave up this fort to the English. This surrender was a great loss to the Americans for many reasons.