HMS Canso-- Part 3: Capturing American Vessels

The attack on Fort Peter occurred at the same time as the siege of Fort St. Phillip in Louisiana and was part of the British occupation of St. Marys and Cumberland Island.

At Fort St. Peter, the British captured two American gunboats and twelve merchant ships, including the East  Indianman Countess of Harcourt which an American privateer had captured on her way between India and London.  Prize money from it and other Canso captures was finally paid in April 1824  (and it had to be a lot).

During her service with the British, the former American privateer did much better than she did in U.S. service.

On 31 January, the British squadron captured St. Simons, Georgia, and later three more prizes.  In July 1815, the Canso seized four more vessels at Bermuda.

The Royal Navy sold the Canso 30 May 1816.

A Real Bane to America.  --Brock-Perry

"Light-Horse Harry" Lee-- Part 5: Seriously Injured in the Riots and Death

Henry Lee III suffered serious and extensive internal injuries, as well as face and head wounds and even his speech was affected.  His observed symptoms were consistent with what today would be called post traumatic stress disorder.  He went home but was unable to heal and then he went to the West Indies in an effort to recuperate from his injuries.

On his way back to Virginia, he died March 25, 1818, at Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia.  He was cared for there by Nathaniel Greene's daughter  Louisa.

"Light-Horse Harry" Lee was buried at a small cemetery in Dungeness with full military honors provided by the American fleet at St. Marys, Georgia.  In 1913, his remains were removed to the Lee family crypt at Lee Chapel on the campus of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

--Brock-Perry

St. Marys to Observe 200th Anniversary of Its Battle-- Part 1

From the Jan. 11, 2015, Florida Times Union "St. Marys to observe 200th anniversary of its battle in War of 1812" by Jared Keever.

"Historians sometimes have a hard time marking the exact date of the end of the War of 1812."  It took place, however, in St. Marys and that city will observe what is also referred to as the Battle of Point Peter, one of the last known battles of the war. The commemoration will begin Saturday.

On Jan. 10, 1815, the British landed about 1500 Marines on the north end of Cumberland Island, Georgia, and later attacked a small wooden fort outside St. Marys called Fort St. Peter on Jan. 13.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 in Georgia

From New Georgia Encyclopedia.

For the most part, Georgia's role in the War of 1812 has been overshadowed.  But, its coastline and extensive frontier area did become aspects of the war.

There were three main theaters of action:

1.  The Creek War (1813-1814

2.  The British Blockade

3.  The British occupation of St. Marys and Cumberland Island 1814-1815.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of St. Marys River-- Part 1

From Dale Cox's Explore Southern History site.  There is not a lot of information on this small battle (skirmish) but this is a good source.  Mr. Cox also has a lot of other history blogs, including a favorite of mine, Civil War Florida blog.  You can get to all of them from this blog.

This was the last land battle of the War of 1812.  British forces under Admiral Sir George Cockburn occupied Cumberland Island on the Georgia coast in January 1815 and planned to use it as a base of operations in the vicinity.

They then attacked the U.S. Army military post at Point Petre (Fort Peter) on the St, Marys River on January 13, 1815, drove off the garrison and captured the town of St. Marys, Georgia.

They withdrew a short time later but continued to capture American ships and encouraging free and slave blacks to come to Cumberland Island and join them..  Nearly 1500 did.

Next, the Last Battle of the War of 1812 in February.  --Brock-Perry