Battle of New Orleans.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Greenbush in the War of 1812: The Cantonment-- Part 1

From Town of North Greenbush Notes:  Greenbush in the War of 1812" by Jim Greenfield.

No battles occurred in the old town of Greenbush, New York (Rensselaer,  East and North Greenbush) during the war, the area does have claim to fame because the U.S. Army constructed a large military post called the Greenbush Cantonment there.

The several hundred  acre cantonment was located near the present-day Red Mill School in East Greenbush.  During the war, over 5,000 troops trained there.

The Greenbush location was well located because it was near the action occurring at both the Niagara Frontier and Lake Champlain.

The commanding general of the cantonment was  Henry Dearborn, a veteran of the American Revolution.  One suspects he might have been well past his prime abilities.  Rather than a "fighting general" he was more of an administrative general" far from the battlefield.  Think General Halftrack from the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip.

--Brock-Perry


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