Oswego War of 1812 Symposium

From the Feb. 13, 2013, "I Love New York: Oswego War of 1812 Symposium Explores Military Training and Tactics."

It was held at the Lake Ontario Conference and Event Center in Oswego, New York, from April 6-7th. On April 6th, Dr. Guy Gibson discussed the battles of Sackets Harbor where the British failed in July 1812 and May 1813.

On April 7th, Lt.Col. Michael McGurty, superintendent of the New Windsor Cantonment and Knox's Headquarters New York State Historic Sites presented "Lambs Prepared for Slaughter: General Winfield Scott's Training Camp at Buffalo in the spring of 1814. (I did not know that Winfield Scott, of early Civil War fame and Scott's Anaconda, had been in the War of 1812.  I knew he was in the Mexican War.)

Earlier in the war, most American military leaders had been in the American Revolution and prone to over caution. Asd the war progressed, they stepped aside and let younger, more aggresive officers lead.

Winfield Scott was ambitious, a tenacious fighter and natural leader. He took soldiers with only basic skills and transformed them into a force worthy of the name Regulars.

--Brock-Perry