In the spring of 1814, it became known in America that the British were fitting out a formidable military and naval expedition for the purpose of attacking one of the Atlantic ports of the United States.  The whole coast was on the lookout, and, as it was feared that the blow would be struck at New York, every precaution was taken to be ready.  The militia were called into service for three months, under a heavy penalty for refusing to obey the call.  The term of service thus marked out covered the most prosperous season of the boatmen, and made the call fall particularly hard upon them.  About this time, an advertisement was inserted in the city journals by the Commissary-General of the army, calling for bids from boatmen for the purpose of conveying provisions from New York to the various military posts in the vicinity.  The labor was to be performed during the three months for which the militia were called out, and the contractor was to be exempted from all military duty during that time.  Bids poured in from the boatmen, who offered to do the work at ridiculously low figures—­the chief object of each one being to secure the exemption.

Young Vanderbilt, knowing that the work could not be done at the rates at which his comrades offered to perform it, at first decided not to bid for it, but at length—­and more to please his father than because he expected to succeed—­offered to transport the provisions at a price which would enable him to be sure of doing it well and thoroughly.  He felt so little hope of success that he did not even trouble himself to go to the office of the Commissary on the day of the awarding of the contract, until he learned from his companions that all their efforts to secure it had been ineffectual.  Then he called on the Commissary, merely through curiosity, to learn the name of the fortunate man, and to his utter astonishment was told that the contract had been awarded to himself.  The Government was satisfied, from his sensible offer, that he would do the business thoroughly, and this the Commissary assured him was the reason why they had selected him.

There were six posts to be supplied—­Harlem, Hell Gate, Ward’s Island, the Narrows, and one other in the harbor, each of which was to be furnished with one load per week.  The young contractor made arrangements to have a daily load of stores ready for him each evening at six o’clock, and thus performed all the duties of his contract at night, which left him free to attend to his boating during the day.  He never failed to make a single delivery of stores, or to be absent from his post on the beach at Whitehall one single day during the whole three months.  He was often without sleep, and performed an immense amount of labor during this period; but his indomitable energy and powerful physical organization carried him safely through it all.