Treasonous blue lights at the harbor’s mouth — Congress Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar Coin

Today, the Congress Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar Coin remembers when the members chose not to investigate the blue lights of Connecticut on January 24, 1814.

But, what were the blue lights?

This excerpt from the Historical Sketch of the Second War Between the United States of America and Great Britain by Charles Jared Ingersoll, published in 1845, provided one view into the events:

=====

The blue lights treason—which called forth much public animadversion, and has ever since been matter of reproach to the whole community of its putative authors— was denounced by Commodore Decatur’s official letter of the 20th, published the 28th of December, 1813, and made subject of discussion in Congress the 24th of January, 1814.

In tempestuous weather, with the cover of a severe storm, Decatur resolved to venture to sea during the night of the 15th December, 1813, hoping that the enemy’s blockading squadron would be blown off, or otherwise unaware of his attempt.

This movement, unavoidably known ashore, when about to be made, was frustrated by two blue lights, displayed on the opposite sides of the river, as signals, believed to be preconcerted with the enemy, and answered by him, intelligibly to those familiar with the practice of signals.

Thus betrayed and prevented, it was not till a year afterwards, the 15th of December, 1814, of another tempestuous night, favored by another severe storm, that Decatur put to sea from New York, again betrayed by signals from shore, which informed and embodied the British squadron that captured him.

A month after the New London affair, Lyman Law, a native of that place, and representing in Congress that part of Connecticut, on the 24th of January, 1815, moved for a committee of the House of Representatives, to inquire whether treasonable correspondence had been held, or information given by blue lights from the shores to the blockading squadron, whereby the enemy might learn the movements of Decatur’s ships, to take evidence by deposition or otherwise, and report to the House.

Hebelieved, he said, that the whole was mere delusion.

Connecticut, by her troops, had protected Decatur’s squadron till lately, when the United States stationed troops there, whose means and duty were plain to prevent any such treason.

Jonathan Mosely , another of the Connecticut members, seconded his colleague’s motion; and ridiculed the imputation; blue lights might be useful to illuminate charges so frequent in the House of British Tory attachments, but there were no such lights or attachments in Connecticut.

Felix Grundy moved that the resolution be referred to the naval committee.

Jonathan Fisk objected to the proceeding altogether, to pervert the House into a Court to try traitors.

Mr. Jonathan Roberts, John W. Eppes, John G. Jackson, and Mr. Calhoun all opposed it.

Mr. Law replied, that its frequent mention in the House, and apparent importance, induced him to introduce the resolution; which, on Jonathan Roberts’ motion, was laid on the table, by a vote of more than two to one; and never taken up again, but left for partisan, if not patriotic, fuel.

Decatur’s letter of the 20th December, 1813, was official and positive, that when the weather promised an opportunity for his squadron to get to sea, and it was said, on shore, that he intended to make the attempt, two blue lights were burnt on both the points of the harbor’s mouth as signals to the enemy, “and there is not a doubt that they have, by signals, or otherwise, instantaneous information of our movements. Notwithstanding these signals have been repeated and seen by twenty persons at least in this squadron, there are men in New London who have the hardihood to affect to disbelieve it, and the effrontery to avow their disbelief.”

It was said, that the blue lights were seen by persons of both the other ships, the Macedonian, Captain Jones, and Hornet, Captain Biddle. Captains Decatur, Jones, and Biddle, had, neither of them, any doubt of the atrocious fact.

Officers and men of the Hornet, stationed as lookouts, distinctly saw and noticed the blue lights, and soon after that signals were made from one of the enemy’s ships, in consequence, they presumed, of those from shore.

The officer of the Macedonian, who was rowing guard, together with all the men composing his boat’s crew, saw blue lights made on both sides of the river, and immediately returned to the ship to report it to his commanding officer.

They were persons familiar with the making of signals, and could not mistake the common lights on shore for blue lights.

The New London Federal newspaper constantly insisted on the treason.

Controversy arose among the newspapers of Connecticut on this subject.

The Norwich Courier denied the facts as stated by the New London Gazette.

But, on full inquiry, the former retracted its assertions, admitting its mistake, and declared, that blue-light signals had been repeatedly made, after their first exhibition of the 15th December, 1813, or New London lights, “by some unprincipled scoundrels, destitute of every principle of honor and patriotism.”

Sunday night, the 9th of January, 1814, about ten o’clock, blue lights were again exhibited on both sides of the river, and were answered by all the British ships.

The lights were distinctly seen by a number of our naval and military officers.

Again, in March, 1814, during a storm of wind and rain, and weather favorable for Decatur’s squadron to put to sea, he issued an order requiring all his officers, on shore, to repair, without delay, on board their vessels.

Shortly after, blue lights were thrown up like rockets from Long Point, and distinctly seen by the officers at Fort Trumbull, and by the officers and men in our lookout boats.

The lights were answered by three heavy guns from the enemy, at intervals of about ten minutes, and the blue lights continued all night.

=====

Another view excerpted from The Life and Character of Stephen Decatur by Samuel Putnam Waldo, published in 1821, included the letter describing the first blue lights in December 1813:

=====

It is always the policy of war to obtain the most correct intelligence of an enemy’s situation — the amount of his force — his movements, and, if possible, his intentions.

The British almost invariably have their emissaries in the midst of their enemies. It is easy, from the similarity of language and appearance, to introduce their own subjects into an American Squadron, or Encampment; and such is the weakness or corruption of man, it is not hard, even to bribe their enemies with gold.

That the British had emissaries of one or the other character at New London, is placed beyond the doubts even of stubborn incredulity, unless of that stubbornness which is often the last subterfuge of guilt.

The citizens of New London and Groton had passed through the very extremity of sufferings, inflicted upon them by the most execrable of traitors — Benedict Arnold; and the most remote suspicion of treason, could not for a moment attach itself to them.

Their patriotism in the first war between the Republic and Britain — and the avidity with which they flew to arms in the second, to defend Com. Decatur’s squadron, most forcibly repels the least imputation of disaffection.

But they had in the midst of them, either foreign emissaries, or domestic traitors, from somewhere; and they could not detect them.

Even the chosen followers of the Redeemer innocently harbored and caressed an unknown traitor; and if an American accepted of ” thirty pieces of silver,” or thirty thousand of gold, to betray his country, it is not to be regretted if he has met with the fate of Iscariot.

But let the language of the noble, the patriotic, and, in this instance, the indignant Decatur, speak for itself.

“New London, Dec. 20th, 1813.

“Some few nights since, the weather promised an opportunity for this squadron to get to sea, and it was said on shore that we intended to make the attempt.

“In the course of the evening two blue lights were burnt on both the points at the harbor’s mouth as signals to the enemy, and there is not a doubt, but that they have by signals and otherwise, instantaneous information of our movements.

“Great but unsuccessful exertions have been made to detect those who communicate with the enemy by signal.

“The editor of the New-London Gazette, to alarm them, and in hope to prevent the repetition of these signals, stated in that newspaper, that they had been observed and ventured to denounce those who had made them in animated arid indignant terms.

“The consequence is, that he has incurred the express censure of some of his neighbors.

“Notwithstanding these signals have been repeated, and have been seen by 20 persons at least in this squadron, there are men in N. London who have the hardihood to affect to disbelieve it, and the effrontery to avow their disbelief.

“I am, sir, with the highest consideration and respect, your very obedient and humble servant.

“(Signed}, STEPHEN DECATUR.”

Letter to Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy.

=====

Still today, history cannot decide who operated the treasonous blue lights during the War of 1812.

The Congress Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar Coin shows with an artist’s image of Commodore Stephen Decatur.

Congress Commemorative Gold Five-Dollar Coin