War of 1812 in Peoria-- Part 5: Building Fort Clark

With over 1,000 men to assist, the construction of the new fort at what is today  Peoria was completed quickly by September 23, 1813.  A brass six-pound cannon was mounted in the fort and fired in celebration of the accomplishment.  The fort was named Fort Clark in honor of  General George Rogers Clark, the celebrated hero of the American Revolution who had victories against the British at  Vincennes and Kaskaskia.

General Howard sent a force in two boats under Major William Christy to pursue the Indians on the upper Illinois River.  Another force under  Major Nathan Boone (was this Garner's unit?), followed the course of the Spoon River for fifty miles.  

Upon their return to Fort Clark, both officers reported that their troops had been unable to overtake the fleeing Indians.  The rangers were relieved of their duty at Fort Clark in mid-October, and returned to their   home stations, leaving the regular U.S. troops to garrison the post.

--Brock-Perry

George Coghan: Tragic Hero fo Fort Stephenson-- Part 1: A Spiral Downward for the Hero

From Frances Hunter's American Hero Blog.

Old General George Rogers Clark, severely disabled by 1813, was living with Coghan's mother Lucy in Louisville is said to have muttered proudly,  "The little game cock, he shall have my sword."

Geirge Coghan married Sarah Livingston of the famous New York family and became postmaster of New Orleans.  By the time he was 30, Croghan was ending up much more like wild Uncle George than William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark expedition).  He had terrible financial problems and wife Sarah grew to loathe him.

Just as bad, Croghan feuded publicly and constantly with William Henry Harrison about their roles in the War of 1812.

The ladies of Chillicothe, Ohio, had commemorated the great victory at the Battle of Fort Stephenson by presenting Croghan with a sword and sent Harrison a petticoat.  The general was not amused in the least.

--Brock-Perry

Ohio's Simon Kenton-- Part 1: A Very Interesting Life

From Wikipedia.

Lt.Col. Mills Srephenson's father and family moved to Washington, Kentucky before going to Ohio.  This town was founded by famous Indian fighter Simon Kenton.

(April 3, 1755 to April 29, 1836)  We're coming up on the 180th anniversary of his death.

Famous American frontiersman (whom I'd never heard of before) and soldier in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio.  A friend of Daniel Boone and other frontier folks.

He served in the American Revolution, the Northwest Indian War and the War of 1812.  Simon Kenton was born in what is today Virginia and in 1771, at the age of 16, was forced to flee to the wilderness after he killed a man in a fit of jealous rage over a girl and lived under the assumed name of Simon Butler.  While there, he learned that the man had survived and he took back his real name.

During the American Revolution, he accompanied George Rogers Clark, (uncle of the hero of Fort Stephenson George Croghan) in his famous capture of Fort Sackville in Vincennes, Indiana.

In 177778, he waas adopted into the Shawnee tribe after running the gauntlet and ritual torture.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

George Croghan, "Boy Major" of the War of 1812-- Part 1: Famous Relatives

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned that one of the streets around the town square of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was named for George Croghan who was a War of 1812 veteran.  I did some more research on him.

November 15, 1791 to January 8, 1849.  American soldier.

Recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.  He had two famous uncles on his mother's side, Lucy Clark.  One was William Clark (of Lewis & Clark Expedition fame) and the other was George Rogers Clark (Revolutionary War).

His father was William Croghan who fought in the American Revolution.

George Croghan studied at William and Mary College in Virginia and joined the Army after graduation in 1810.

--Brock-Perry

Charles Gratiot Sr-- Part 1.: Supplied George Rogers Clark

From Wikipedia.

1752- 20 April 1817.  Charles Gratiot's father.  Was a merchant trader during the American Revolution, whose declaration of Independence we are celebrating today, though he was not living in one of the 13 colonies.

he was born in Lausanne, Switzerland and emigrated to Montreal where his uncle was involved in the North American fur trade.  Later, he moved to Illinois country and opened a store in 1777 in Cahokia.  He provided supplies to George Rogers Clark in 1778 for his campaign against the British in Illinois and Indiana.  Gratiot provided Clark with $8,000 in supplies and was never reimbursed.

In 1781, Gratiot relocated to St. Louis, across the Mississippi River and married Victoire Chouteau, daughter of Pierre Laclede Liquest, another influential merchant of the city.  They had 13 children, including Charles and his brother Henry

--Brock-Perry