Michigan Commemorates the War

From the September 6th Michigan Radio (NPR) "Stateside: It's the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812."

Michigan was the site of the first major battles of the war around Detroit and Mackinac Island.  Both were very embarrassing for the United States, showing how ill-prepared we were for the war.  According to historian Jim McConnell, Mackinac, July 17, 1812, "wasn't really a battle because the British caught the fort by surprise and the fort surrendered without firing a shot."  That British General Issac Brock was brilliant.

Then, August 16, 1812, came the fall of Detroit and the fort there, a shock to President Madison and the country "it certainly broke the spirit of Americans at the start of the war."  Again, great generalship by Isaac Brock.  (I'd never heard of him until I started this blog.)

From September 5-10th, US and Canadian Naval ships, the US Coast Guard and the replica brig of the USS Niagara from the Battle of Lake Erie, are docked and open to the public at Detroit.

Detroit's Commemoration.  --Brock-Perry

Bits of War: Navy Ships-- New Museum-- Powder House

Some New News About an Old War.


1.  NAVY SHIPS--  From 8-22 Detroit News--  The four Navy ships touring the US and Canada for the bicentennial were in Chicago and in Milwaukee next.  September 4-10, they'll be in Detroit.


2.  NEW MUSEUM--  From 8-21 College Park (Md) Patch--  The new War of 1812 Visitor Ceter in Bladensburg Waterfront Park opens this weekend with ribbon-cutting tomorrow.  Prince George's County and Bladensburg played a big role in the war leading to the British sacking Washington, DC.


3.  POWDER HOUSE--  From the 8-23 Fairfield (Ct) Citizen--  A tour and a talk will be given for the War of 1812 Powder House and Town Hall Green on Sunday August 26th. The role of forts Union and Defiance will also be discussed.  And, there will be an ox roast.  I don't think I've ever had roast ox.

Just Some News.  Who Says Forgotten?--Brock-Perry

US Navy Bicentennial Commemoration Comes to Milwaukee

From the July 30th NBC26, WGBA in Green Bay, Wisconsin "4 Ships to Visit Milwaukee Next Week."

The four ships come from the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Coast Guard and have been having ports-of-call in several US cities this summer, all part of the US Navy's commemoration of the war.

USS DeWert, frigate
USCG Hurricane, coastal patrol ship
USCG Neah Bay, cutter
HMCS Ville de Qubec

The DeWert and Canadian ship will be at Milwaukee's Liquid Pier 5.  The other two will be at the Discovery World Pier.

The ships will be available for tours Aug. 8-14.

And It Is Not That Far for Us.  --Brock-Perry