Commodore David Conner, USN-- Part 2

In the decade following the War of 1812, Lieutenant Conner had shore duty at Philadelphia and commanded the schooner USS Dolphin.  Attaining the rank of Commander in March 1825, he was commanding officer of the sloops of war USS Erie and USS John Adams before receiving promotion to captain in 1835.

In 1841, he became a naval commissioner and was later Chief of Bureau of Construction, Equipment & Repair.  Late in 1843, he took command of the West Indian and Home squadrons.

He led U.S. naval forces in the Gulf of Mexico during the first months of the Mexican War 1846-1847.  During this time, he was responsible for amphibious operations against several coastal towns and for the successful landing of the U.S. Army at Vera Cruz in March 1847.

Leaving seagoing service soon afterwards, Conner subsequently  commanded the Philadelphia Navy Yard.  However, ill health kept him from seeing much other active employment.  Commodore Conner died in Philadelphia on 20 March 1856 and is buried at the Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Two destroyers have been named after him.

--Brock-Perry

Road Trippin' Through History: Notable War of 1812 Persons Buried at Laurel Hull Cemetery

Laurel Hill is a cemetery in Philadelphia.  This is a continuation of a Road Trip that started in my Running the Blockade blog with Richard Binder, USMC, who received a Medal of Honor for action at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War.  He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery which is a part of Laurel Hill Cemetery.

There are several War of 1812 notables buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)--  Naval officer in War of 1812 and Mexican War.  Served on the USS Hornet.

ISAAC HULL  (1773-1843)--  Commanded USS Constitution in its battle with the HMS Guerriere.

ELIE AUGUSTUS F. LA VALLETTE  (1790-1862)--  War of 1812 American officer at Battle of Lake Champlain.  Also served in Mexican War.

--Brock-Perry

Quite the Naval Career for John B. Montgomery

Had John Montgomery just served in the War of 1812, that would have been a distinguished career.  But, that was just the start of 50+ years in the service of his country.

He served in two other wars:  Mexican War and Civil War.  Though, by the time the Civil War rolled around he was quite aged and his service was more in the backwaters.  But, even so, his career is worth a closer look.  I just concentrated on his War of 1812 service in this blog.

But, you can get his whole career in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog this month.

And to think, very few people have ever heard of him.  I know I hadn't before I started doing research on ships by the name Montgomery in the U.S. Navy.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Montgomery, USN-- Part 3

From American Military Leaders A-L by John Fredricksin.

JOHN B. MONTGOMERY

(November 17, 1794-March 25, 1874)

John Barrien Montgomery is best-known for raising the U.S, flag over what became San Francisco in the Mexican War..  A religious, Bible-quoting officer, he completed fifty years of service without  a single incident or  controversy to mar his  reputation.

Montgomery was born in Allentown, New Jersey, the second of three brothers.  All three joined the U.S. Navy just before the War of 1812 and enjoyed  distinguished careers.  Montgomery became a midshipman in June 1812 and ventured to Sackets Harbor as part of Commander Isaac Chauncey's Lake Ontario Squadron.

Attached to the schooner Hamilton, he participated in the November 10, 1812,  bombardment of Kingston, Ontario, before transferring to the brigs Madison and General Pike.  In this capacity, Montgomery fought during the capture of York (now Toronto), Ontario (Upper Canada at the time), in April 1813 and Fort George, Niagara,  the following month.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Montgomery, USN: Officer in Three Wars

I have been writing about the USS Montgomery on my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog.  It is part of my "RoadTripping Through History:  The Continuing Saga of the USS Montgomery" presentation that I made in January at McHenry County College.

There have been six ships in the U.S. Navy by the name USS Montgomery:  American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and II and current.  Right now I am writing about the World War I-II ship which was named after John B. Montgomery who was a U.S. Navy officer in the War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War.

The War of 1812 USS Montgomery was on Lake Champlain.

I am going to write about his War of 1812 service here (and also in my Running the Blockade blog for his entire 50 year service record).

From Wikipedia.

JOHN BARRIEN MONTGOMERY  (1794- March 25, 1872)

Officer in the U.S. Navy who rose through the ranks, serving in the War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War.  He performed in various  capacities including commanding several vessels.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Vet Fought at Battle of Gettysburg-- Part 2: John Burns

Many 69-year-olds would be content to spend their golden years taking it easy, but not John Burns.

John Burns fought in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War and even tried to work as a supply driver for the Union Army in the Civil War, but was sent back to his home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  That's when the war came calling on him.

Burns was considered "eccentric" by the rest of his town.  When soldiers of Confederate General Jubal Early captured Gettysburg, Burns was the constable and jailed for interfering with Confederate military operations. When the Confederates were pushed out of town, Burns began arresting stragglers for treason.

In the morning of July 1, 1863, as the battle began unfolding, he picked up his flintlock musket and offered his services to the beleagured Union soldiers.  He borrowed a more modern musket from a wounded Union soldier then walked over to the commander of the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry and asked to join the regiment.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Vet Fought at the Battle of Gettysburg-- Part 1

From the Military.com site "This War of 1812 veteran saw the Battle of Gettysburg from his front porch -- then joined it" by Blake Stilwell, We Are the Mighty.

There have been veterans who have served  from WW II, the Korean War and then Vietnam.  But that was just the space of 24 years separating the beginning of World War II and Vietnam.  But what about a veteran who fought in the War of 1812, Mexican War and then the Civil War?  

That is a span of 50 years.

There was one man who did just  that.

His name was John Burns.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Hebron Cemetery, Camp Point, Illinois

This took me awhile before I figured out that this Hebron Cemetery was not in Hebron, Illinois, but near Camp Point, Illinois, which is in the far western part of the state near the Mississippi River and it is in Adams County.

But, they have five War of 1812 veterans buried there.  Since I am doing War of 1812 veteran burials, I am going to list their names:

William A. Beckett

William Garner, Sr.

Andrew Hughes,  Indiana Militia

John Arthur McFarland

John W. McFarland

There are also one Mexican War veteran and twenty Civil War veterans buried there, many from the 78th Illinois Infantry.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Worth Named for War of 1812 Hero-- Part 3: The Mexican War

General William Worth negotiated the surrender of the Mexican City of Matamoros in September and pushed his forces steadily southward toward the capital, Mexico City.

After another year of heavy fighting, Worth and his men swept aside the last defenses of Mexico City with the victory at Chapultepec.  Worth himself was commended for  his bravery in that battle.  When Mexico City was captured, Worth personally  replaced the Mexican flag with the American flag at the Capitol building.

After the end of the war, Worth was given command of the Army's  Department of Texas in 1848  He realized that fighting between the settlers and  frontier tribes would continue and devised a system for protecting the Texas frontier.

This plan materialized in a series of forts acting as a barrier between tribal lands and the farms and towns settlers of Central and North Texas.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Worth, Texas, Named for War of 1812 Hero-- Part 2: The USMA, Second Seminole War and Mexican War

Despite the injury, William Jenkins Worth was determined to continue serving in the U.S. Army.  He was appointed to Commandant of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1816 while he was a major.  

As commandant, Worth instilled the lessons of duty and honor into the aspiring young officers.  He taught the importance of never excusing a dishonorable act in another officer and the necessity of integrity in all matters, to keep one's word bio matter what.    His essays in honor are still required reading  for West Point cadets.

In 1838, he was promoted to colonel and given command of an infantry regiment.  he fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida as tribes and settlers clashed.  He was promoted to brigadier general afterward.

After Texas was admitted to the United States in 1845, Mexico threatened war over its former possession.  Worth was assigned to patrol the border between the two countries along with  General Zachary Taylor, and war erupted in 1846.

--Brock-Perry

John Gwinn Also Commanded the Frigate USS Potomac

Last month I spent a lot of time writing about this naval officer's career.  He was a War of 1812 veteran and was commanding the frigate USS Constitution at the time of his death in 1849.

He also commanded the frigate USS Potomac from 1844 to 1845.

The frigate USS Potomac was constructed at the Washington Navy Yard between 1819 and 1822 and entered active service in 1831.  During the 1830s and early 1840s, the Potomac sailed to Asia where it participated in the shelling of  Qualla Battoo, Sumatra.

After its return to Boston in 1844. the ship traveled twice to Brazil

Captain John Gwinn of Maryland commanded the ship  between October 1844 and December 1845 as the Potomac sailed along the U.S. Atlantic coast and to ports om the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

During the Mexican War, the Potomac landed troops at Port Isabel, Texas, and in the Siege of Vera Cruz.

From 1855 to 1856, it was the flagship of the Home Squadron and was part of the Union blockade of the Gulf Coast during the Civil War.

It remained in the service of the U.S. Navy until 1877 when it was sold.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 4: The Mexican War and Honors

The fall out between William Worth and his old friend Winfield Scott after the Battle of Molino del Rey was so bad that William even renamed his son William from Winfield Scott.  Now, that's mad.

Worth next led his division against the San Cosme Gate at Mexico City.  When American forces entered the city, Worth personally climbed to the roof of the National Palace and took down the Mexican flag and replaced it with the Stars and Stripes.

For his service at the Battle of Chapultepec, the United States Congress awarded him a sword.

In 1847, he was admitted as an honorary member of the Society of Cincinnati.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 3: Second Seminole and Mexican Wars

Continued from December 27, 2020.

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR

Using his own tactics, he successfully prosecuted the Second Seminole War in Florida and was promoted to the rank of brevet brigadier general.  Eventually he convinced Secretary of War John C. Spencer to allow the remaining Seminoles  in the territory of Florida to confine to an unofficial reservation in southwest Florida, and declared an official end to the war in August 1842.

MEXICAN WAR

When the Mexican War began, Worth was serving under General Zachary Taylor in Texas and negotiated the surrender of the Mexican city of Matamoros.  He next commanded the Second Regular Division, Army of Occupation at the Battle of Monterrey in September 1846.  In 1847, he was transferred to  his old friend Winfield Scott's army and placed in command of the First Division.

He took part in the Siege of Veracruz and engaged  in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras and Churubusco.  At Mexico City, Scott ordered Worth to seize the Mexican fortifications at Molino del Rey.  This effectually ended the two generals' friendship when Scott refused to allow Worth to change his plan of attack, a move that caused the First Division to suffer heavy casualties.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 1: Badly Wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Landing

From Wikipedia. 

WILLIAM J. WORTH

(March 1, 1794-May 7, 1849)

United States officer in War of 1812, Second Seminole War and Mexican War.

Commissioned as a first lieutenant in March 1813 and served as an aide to then-brigadier general Winfield Scott.  They developed a friendship that remained for the rest of their lives.  William even named his son Winfield Scott Worth.   William distinguished himself at the Battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Landing during the Niagara Campaign.  

In the latter battle, he was seriously injured by grapeshot in the thigh.  Not expected to survive the wound, Worth spent a year in confinement, recovered and was raised to the rank of major.  Unfortunately, however, he remained lame for the rest of his life.

--Brock-Perry

Kevin Franklin Picks William Worth to Have Lunch With

From the December 23, 2020, Spotlight (NY) News  "Five questions: Kevin Franklin" by Jim Franco.

Kevin Franklin is Historian of the Town of Colonie, worked for the City of Menand's police department for 30 years and  has been municipal historian of Menand since 1968.  My kind of guy.

QUESTION:  If you could have lunch with one historical figure, who would it be and why?

ANSWER:  I've often thought about that.  Who wouldn't want to have lunch with George Washington or Benjamin Franklin (no relation).  However, it would be a toss-up between Gen. William Worth who built  the large home called "Hedgelawn" across from Schuyler Flatts Park or Benjamin Prescott.

Worth distinguished himself during the War of 1812.  He was also an early superintendent of Watervliet Arsenal, fought in the Seminole Indian Wars and the U.S. War with Mexico, quite the flamboyant character.

Lake Worth, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, are named after him.

Benjamin Prescott was an army engineer during the American Revolution and had quite a career afterwards.

I'll have to do some research on William Worth.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Graves Marked in Iowa-- Part 2: Black Veterans and a Man With Two Names and Many Spouses

The men whose graves are now marked include Albert Lytle, Robert Dickens and William Early.  All three of these men were Blacks.

Also, William Buzick, a War of 1812 veteran

Grandison Able who was both a veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War.  Even so, however, he had to get the help of a Congressman to get him a $12-a-month pension.

Benjamin Brown spent the last seventeen years of his life at the Old Soldiers Home in Marshalltown.

Dr. John Granville Kimball, who had several spouses and for some reason was known as John Granville and John Kimball.    This has the makings of an interesting story.

Henry Moreland was born in England but rose to the rank of captain during the Civil War.

Jacob Lee Englebert wrote many recollections for the Des Moines Register.

I Am So Glad These Men Are Having Their Graves Finally  Marked.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Graves Marked in Iowa-- Part 1: Expanded to 19th-Century Wars

From the May 24, 2020, Des Moines (Iowa) Register "New honors at Woodland Cemetery for Iowans who fought 19th-century wars" by Mike Rowley.

Located in near downtown Des Moines, Woodland Cemetery has nearly 70 acres, cobblestone streets and marks the final resting place of over 80,000 souls.

And, now, new gravestones are popping up all over the place as 100 to 150-year-old  graves that were not marked weeks and months before now have 240-pound veteran stones.

Much of this is the result of work by three generations of men.  Retired  firefighter Robert Niffinegger, Mike Rowley (who wrote the article) and Tim Rowley.  They have received assistance from Des Moines cemetery officials Genesh Ganpat and John Woolson.  They have been researching, documenting and seeing that previously unmarked veteran graves are now marked.

What started in 2020 as a one-year goal of marking  at least five War of 1812 veterans' graves has in only a few months grown to nearly thirty graves of War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War and Spanish-American War now having been  marked or approved for marking.

We Can't Honor These Men Too Much, Especially Here On Memorial Day 2020.  --Brock-Perry

Two USS Vixens in the War of 1812-- Part 1

I'll be taking a break from privateers and writing about  this.

I have been writing about Edward Simpson, a U.S. Navy officer in the Mexican War and the Civil War in my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog.  During the Mexican War, he served on the USS Vixen and his three commanders were also veterans of the War of 1812, plus, there were two USS Vixens in the War of 1812.

I will write about them in my next posts.

--Brock-Perry

Other Ships Named USS Portsmouth in the U.S. Navy

From Wikipedia.

**  USS Portsmouth (1843)  Sloop of War commissioned in 1844.  Active in the Mexican War and the Civil War.  Decommissioned in 18778, but continued use as a training ship until 1915.  20 guns.  Built at Portsmouth Naval Yard.

**  USS Portsmouth (CL-102), a Cleveland class light cruiser in service 1945 to 1949.  Built at Newport News, Virginia.

**  USS Portsmouth (SSN-707)  A Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine commissioned in 1983 and decommissioned in 2004.

Built in Groton, Connecticut, but commissioning took place 1 October 1983 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, in Kittery, Maine, just east of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, her namesake city.

--Brock-Perry

William Jenkins Worth-- Part 2: Second Seminole War and Mexican War

After the War of 1812, he became commandant of the military academy at West Point and was promoted to colonel.  After that, he was put in command of the newly-formed Eighth Infantry regiment stationed in Florida.  He gained victory there and was promoted to brigadier general in 1842.

Worth convinced Secretary of War John C. Spencer to allow  to allow the remaining Indians to stay in southwest Florida.  He also argued for an official end to the war in 1842.

Worth served under Zachary Taylor in Texas during the Mexican War.  Next, he commanded  the 2nd Regular Division Army of Occupation at the Battle of Monterrey in September 1846.  In 1847, he was transferred to  his old friend Winfield Scott army and placed in command of the First Division.

Worth died of cholera in 1849 in San Antonio, Texas.

The cities of Fort Worth and Lake Worth in Texas are named after him, as is Lake Worth in Florida.

--Brock-Perry