265. The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_, 1812.--At almost the same time the American ship _Wasp_ captured the British brig _Frolic_. The _Wasp_ had three masts, and the _Frolic_ had only two masts. But the two vessels were really of about the same size, as the American ship was only five feet longer than her enemy, and had the lighter guns. In a few minutes after the beginning of the fight the _Frolic_ was a shattered hulk, with only one sound man on her deck. Soon after the conflict a British battleship came up and captured both the _Wasp_ and her prize. The effect of these victories of the _Constitution_ and the _Wasp_ was tremendous. Before the war British naval officers had called the _Constitution_ "a bundle of sticks." Now it was thought to be no longer safe for British frigates to sail the seas alone. They must go in pairs to protect each other from "Old Ironsides." Before long the _Constitution_, now commanded by Captain Bainbridge, had captured the British frigate _Java_, and the frigate _United States_, Captain Decatur, had taken the British ship _Macedonian_. On the other hand, the _Chesapeake_ was captured by the _Shannon_. This victory gave great satisfaction to the British. But Captain Lawrence's last words, "Don't give up the ship," have always been a glorious inspiration to American sailors.
[Sidenote: Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814.]
266. Brown's Invasion of Canada, 1814.--In the first two years of the war the American armies in New York had done nothing. But abler men were now in command. Of these, General Jacob Brown, General Macomb, Colonel Winfield Scott, and Colonel Ripley deserve to be remembered. The American plan of campaign was that Brown, with Scott and Ripley, should cross the Niagara River and invade Canada. General Macomb, with a naval force under McDonough, was to hold the line of Lake Champlain. The British plan was to invade New York by way of Lake Champlain. Brown crossed the Niagara River and fought two brilliant battles at Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. The latter battle was especially glorious because the Americans captured British guns and held them against repeated attacks by British veterans. In the end, however, Brown was obliged to retire.