This Month in War of 1812: Forts Meigs and George, York and USS President

From the 2023 American Battlefield Trust May calendar.

MAY 1, 1813

**  Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio.

MAY 1, 1813

**  American forces evacuate York, Upper Canada.  (Toronto today).

MAY 3, 1813

**  Burning of Havre de Grace, Maryland.

MAY 16, 1811

**  The American frigate USS President fires on British sloop HMS Little Belt.

MAY 27, 1813

**  Engagement at Fort George.

MAY 29, 1813

**  Battle of Sacketts Harbor, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Horse Island Light

Earlier this month I wrote about Horse Island by Sackets Harbor, New York, and then wrote about the First Battle of Sackets Harbor.

From Wikipedia.

In July 2017, the 24-acre Horse Island was acquired by the Civil War Trust, which has enlarged its efforts to include War of 1812 and American Revolution site preservation.  This was the first grant in the United States made for a War of 1812 site under the National Park Service battlefield grants program.

During the War of 1812, the British used the island as a staging area and the Second Battle of Sackets Harbor took place here.  (I guess I'll have to write about this battle next.)

Because of its location by Sackets Harbor, on March 3, 1831, Congress authorized $4,000 for a lighthouse on Horse Island.  A new one was built in 1870.

--Brock-Perry

The First Battle of Sackets Harbor-- Part 5: An American Victory

Near the end of the battle, the flagship of the British ships, the Royal George,  was hit by a 24-pdr shot in its stern and it went through her, killing eight and doing much damage.

The British fleet withdrew and the American band struck up "Yankee Doodle" and three victory cheers rose up.

On July 24, 1812, General Jacob Brown attributed the American victory to Woolsey, Bellinger and Camp.  He gave special regards to the crew of the 32-pdr.  One of them was Julius Torry, a black man known as Black Julius.

The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have bought 25 acres of the battlefield.  This must be Horse Island.

--Brock-Perry

The First Battle of Sackets Harbor-- Part 4: The Battle Is On

Captain Woolsey left the Oneida in charge of a lieutenant and went ashore to direct those guns.  He placed the 32-pounder under command of sailing master William Vfirst baughan.

The British fleet moved in.  The first shot from the American 32-pdr failed to hit any of the British ships and hoots of derision rose from them.

The British returned fire and the engagement went on for two hours.

Most of the British shot were reported accurate, but the Americans inflicted many gits and their adversary.

--Brock-Perry

First Battle of Sackets Harbor-- Part 2: The British Provincial Marine Demands Surrender

On Sunday, July 19, 1812, Captain Melancthon Taylor Woolsey of the USS Oneida discovered five British warships off Sackets Harbor.  They belonged to the Provincial Marine and were the Royal George (24 guns), Prince Regent (22 guns),  Earl of Moira (22 guns), Governor Simcoe (10 guns) and Seneca (2 guns).

The British captured a merchant ship and sent its crew ashore with demands for the surrender of the USS Oneida and the Lord Nelson, a merchant ship captured before war was declared.  The Americans were told that if a shot was fired at the British, they would burn Sackets Harbor.

The Oneida attempted to escape, but was turned back to Navy Point by British guns.

--Brock-Perry

First Battle of Sackets Harbor-- Part 1: An American Victory

From Wikipedia.

The battle was fought July 19, 1812 when a British attack was repelled and the important shipyard where eventually 12 American warships were built was saved.

Sackets Harbor is on the southeast shore of Lake Ontario in northern New York state.

Following the battle, the defenses of Sackets Harbor were greatly strengthened.  Eventually there were several thousand troops stationed in and around Sackets Harbor as well as some 3,000 people working at the Navy shipyard.

As a result, during this period of time Sackets Harbor became the fourth largest town in the state.

--Brock-Perry

Civil War Trust Purchases War of 1812 Historic Land in Sackets Harbor

It is great that this organization, which, of course, does so much to preserve Civil War battlefields has expanded its objective to preserving American revolution and War of 1812 ones as well.

Their latest success in the War of 1812 has been to purchase the 24 acres of Horse Island, near Sackets Harbor.

To read more about it, go to my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog for today.  You can get to it by clicking on the My Blog List area to the right of this.

--Brock-Perry

The Marines in the War of 1812-- Part 1: Sackets Harbor

From Wikipedia.

The first land action of the Marines in the War of 1812 was the establishment of an advanced base at Sackets Harbor, New York, by 63 Marines.  This gave the Navy a base on the shores of Lake Ontario.  Sackets Harbor later became the headquarters of the Navy for all action on the Great Lakes..

Marines helped defeat two British attacks on Sackets Harbor (the First and Second Battles of Sackets Harbor.

They later also established a base at Erie, Pennsylvania, where Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie was built.

--Brock-Perry