This Month in the War of 1812: Brownstown, USS Constitution, Battle of Fallen Timbers, Bladensburg and D.C.

From the American Battlefield Trust 2022 calendar.

AUGUST 5, 1812

**  Skirmish near Brownstown, Michigan

AUGUST19, 1812

**  The USS Constitution defeats the HMS Guerriere

AUGUST 20, 1794

General Anthony Wayne defeats a Native American confederation at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, paving the way for the settlement of Ohio.

AUGUST 24, 1814

**  Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland

AUGUST 24, 1814

**  Burning of Washington, D.C.

--Brock-Perry

This Veterans Day: A Grave Marker Dedication for War of 1812 Vet Sgt. Elias Breese

Today being Veterans Day, one of the greatest things we can do is marking the graves of out veterans.

From the September 29, 2021, Daily Telegram (Adrian, Michigan) "Grave marker  ceremony at Canandaigua Cemetery recognizes veteran's service in War of 1812"  by David  Panian.

Sgt, Elias Breese served under  Lt. Jacob Smartwood's regiment in General Mathew  Carpenter's 18th  Brigade of New York Militia during the War of 1812.  He and his wife, Deborah Bennett, came to Michigan when Elias' son, Solomon, moved here.  This information provided by Elijah  Shalis, webmaster of the Michigan Society of the War of 1812.

Shalis continued:  "More than 3,400 veterans of the War of 1812 are buried in Michigan.  Many moved here after the war for the land or with their children like Elias Breese and his wife."

Of interest, according to the article, Elias Breese is the third great grandfather of Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

Saluting Our Veterans Today.  --Brock-Perry

Hull's Trace & the War of 1812: Remains of Part of the Old Corduroy Road Still There

From the Michigan Historical Marker on Hull's Trace (Trail).

"Hull's Trace, which linker Detroit and Ohio, was to be Michigan territory's inland lifeline during the War of 1812.  However, the Detroit River and Lake Erie gave the British easy access to the Michigan portion of the road.

"American efforts to use the road to bring supplies  and men from Frenchtown, present-day Monroe (Michigan), were foiled twice before Hull surrendered Detroit on August 16, 1812.

"After the war, Hull's Trace was used  for ever-improving roads, beginning in 1817 with a new military road.  In 2000, low water levels in the Huron River revealed a quarter-mile of old corduroy road, lying three to six feet beneath Jefferson Avenue.

"Ax marks were  visible on some of the logs.  This rare example of a surviving corduroy road is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

--Brock-Perry

American Girl's Caroline Abbott and the War of 1812-- Part 4: Post War and Expansion West

**  The growth of American manufacturing after the war.

**  American victories against the British in the War of 1812 were proof of America's military and naval strength.  (Well, I have to disagree with this one.  We got lucky.  Thank you Napoleon.)

**  Britain and Canada eventually allying with America following the war.

**  American expansion into the West instead of the North.

**  Settlement of Ohio and further west into the territories of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

**  Initial farm work as a rough endeavor involving the entire family, including young children, and relying on neighbors and family members.

**  Continues westward expansion of the frontier, resulting in  the admission of Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Alabama into the Union four years after the War of 1812.

**  America as a country today.

Again, any girl reading this book series will have a great knowledge of U.S. history from this era.  Why, I wouldn't even have to do this blog.

--Brock-Perry

About That Fort Wayne in Detroit-- Part 4: Built 1843-1851

After Congress appropriated monies to build a series of forts  stretching from the east coast to the Minnesota Territory, construction started on Fort Wayne at Detroit under the supervision of Lieutenant Montgomery C. Meigs.  He bought riverfront property farm property three miles south of Detroit and work began in 1843 and was completed by 1851 at the cost of $150,000.

The new fort was named after American Revolution hero General  "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who had taken possession of Detroit from the British in 11796.

Before any cannons could be installed at the new fort, the United States and Britain worked out their differences and the fort went unused except for a single watchmen.  With the coming of the Civil War, there was fear of an attack from Canada by the British and the fort was occupied by Union forces.  It served as a mustering in area for Michigan regiments as well as an area for wounded soldiers to recover.

During the Spanish-American War, troops left for service overseas from there.

--Brock-Perry

Reading the Names of the Fallen at the River Raisin National Battlefield Today to Honor the Veterans

From the November 8, 2020, Ionia (Michigan) Sentinel Standard "Reading of names of the fallen to highlight Veterans Day  ceremony at battlefield" by Dean Cousino.

The reading of about 450 names of men from Monroe County will highlight a special Veterans Day Ceremony at  the River Raisin National Battlefield (Monroe County, Michigan) that is decorated with more than 500 American flags until November 15.  This is part of a "Field of Honor" program.

The battlefield park preserves and commemorates the  January 1813 battles between Americans and the British, Canadians and their Indian allies.  The battles and the "Remember  the Raisin!" battle cry,  and helped inspire a major American victory at the River Thames and were a major turning point in the War of 1812.

The 450 men and women whose names will be read, were from the Civil War.

The "Field of Honor" has more than 500 U.S. 3-by-5- foot flags on ten foot poles and will be lighted at night.

--Brock-Perry

Michigan Honors Two Early -American War Heroes

From the August 19, 2020, Army site.  by Bruce Huffman, Michigan National Guard.

Pinckney, Michigan.

The graves of father and son Claudius Britton II and III, who both fought in early-American wars and died in Michigan, were marked  and dedicated at Pinckney Cemetery on August 8.

Claudius Britton II enlisted in the  the militia in 1777 at the age of 16 and served  as a scout in Vermont's Green Mountain Continental Rangers in the American Revolution.  He was captured by the British in 1778 and imprisoned in a Quebec dungeon until 1783,

His son, Claudius Britton III, briefly fought for the Vermont  militia during the War of 1812

In 1824, the Brittons moved to the mid-Michigan area and established a family farm in what is now Ann Arbor.

--Brock-Perry

Illinois' 200th!!!!!-- Part 1: The Illinois Territory During War of 1812

I'll be taking a few days' break to write about the bicentennial of Illinois becoming a state in 1818.

From Wikipedia.

During the War of 1812, the Illinois Territory was the scene of fighting between American settlers and soldiers and Indians.  At the time, the Illinois Territory consisted of modern Illinois and parts of Minnesota and Michigan.

Tensions between Americans and Indians had been increasing in the years before the war.  Present-day Peoria was the site of a major Indian concentration and the chief there was a big supporter of Shawnee Prophet Tenskwatawa and his brother Tecumseh.

There were few U.S. soldiers in the area which was the far frontier at the time.  Ninian Edwards, Illinois Territorial governor directed militia operations.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 3: Michigan, Detroit and Our Country

Of course, the tables were "liberally supplied with pure native wines" after the banquet, so these toasts went on for awhile.

8.  "Michigan"  --No less eminent for her commerce, agricultural and mineral resources than for her intelligent and liberal system of  education and public charities.  Response by Governor  Baldwin of Detroit.

9.  "Detroit"  --The oldest city in the Northwest;  an honor to the State for her intelligence and sterling worth and her connection with pioneer history of the lakes, especially the River Raisin.   Response by  Hon. Levi Bishop, who read his poem entitles "Battle of the River Raisin."

10.  "No North, no South, no Atlantic, no Pacific nor Western States, But our country, our whole country and nothing but our country; would that she  were ever right; but right or wrong, our country, scared, tangible and unprofaned forever."  --Response by Chief Justice Campbell, of  the Supreme Court of Michigan.

Covering It All.  --Brock-Perry

River Raisin Veterans 1871 Reunion-- Part 2: Another Reunion in 1872

The occasion was so thoroughly enjoyed by the guests that  a suggestion was made and cordially received that ample preparations for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the River Raisin should be made the following year (1872), and that general invitations should be extended bu correspondence and published notices in the newspapers of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, to all the survivors of the Battle of the River Raisin.

It was afterwards determined, as the anniversary would occur at such an inclement of the year (January) that few of the old survivors could attend  from such a distance, to hold a convention on the following 4th of July, 1872.

--Quite a Reunion.  --Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky State Flags-- Part 1: "Remember the River Raisin"

From the March 6, 2018, River City News (Michigan)  "Why One Michigan City Always Flies Kentucky Flags."

That city is Monroe, Michigan.

The River Raisin flows 139 miles from Rollins Township in Michigan to Lake Erie.

And, the War of 1812 battle cry was "Remember the River Raisin."Monroe has immense gratitude for the large number of soldiers from Kentucky who marched from there after the 1812 Siege of Detroit.  Few would ever return home.

--Brock-Perry

Michigan Cemetery Marked

From the October 16, 2017, Northville (Michigan) Hometown Life by Liz Cezat.

A new historical marker was installed this month at Northville's Oakwood Cemetery.  Thirty-five veterans of wars dating from the American Revolution to the Spanish-American War are buried there as well as many of the town's early settlers.

It was unveiled October 8 and given by the National Society Daughters of the American Colonists.

Revolutionary War veteran William Gregory is buried there along with War of 1812 veteran Caleb Harrington.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of River Raisin Re-Enactment

From the January 22, 2018, Lenconnect.com

There were about 70 re-enactors on hand this past Saturday.  During the actual battle during the War of 1812, hundreds of American militiamen lost their lives.

The inexperienced Americans were badly outnumbered as well.

The battle was fought January 22, 1813 and matched 1,000 mostly inexperienced Americans against a force of 800 Indians and 600 British.

Four hundred Americans were killed and 500 captured.

--Brock-Perry

USS Porcupine-- Part 4: Sank and Raised

The Porcupine/Caroline made one last sail into Spring Lake, Michigan, where it was abandoned in 1843.  Soon after that it sank at the foot of 4th Street near the Johnston Brothers Boiler Works.

It was raised in 1901 by Charles G. Butthouse of Ferrysburg.  There is a photo accompanying the article captioned "Remains of 'Porcupine' In the Yard of Mr. Bolthouse, Ferrysburg, Mich."  So, it appears there has been a misprint on his name.

Pieces of the Porcupine were sent to Detroit and Put-In-Bay for the centennial of the Battle of Lake Erie.  Other pieces ended up in museums in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven and Lansing, Michigan.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Holmes Was Special Forces Pirate Hunter Before the Battle of Mackinac-- Part 1

From the July 12, 2014, Mackinac Island Town Crier "A Look at History: Fort Holmes Namesake Was Special Forces Pirate Hunter Before Mackinac" by Frank Straus.

Holmes Hill, a rocky mound and rock hazard in Wawashkama Golf Links is named for him as is the former British Fort George on Mackinac Island.  Andrew Hunter Holmes gave his life fighting for the United States in the War of 1812.  He was second in command of the American forces under George Croghan when they attacked Mackinac Island in 1814.

Before he was killed at the Battle of Mackinac, he assisted  the army against the notorious pirate brothers, Pierre and Jean Lafitte who were into smuggling slaves and anything else they could get their hands on in the Gulf of Mexico area.

--Brock-Perry

Mackinac Island's Fort Holmes-- Part 1: Originally Built by the British

From Mackinac Parks site.

I started writing about this fort on June 10, 2016.

Fort Holmes sits atop the highest elevation on the island and was recently reconstructed and free and open to the public during normal operating hours from May to October.  It is a small wooden and earthen fortification.

When the U.S. reoccupied Mackinac Island after the War of 1812, the name was changed from Fort George (the British built the fort and named it in honor of Britain's King George III) to Fort Holmes in honor of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes who was killed in the 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island.

After the war, the fort was also the site of at least two different viewing towers.

In 1936, the WPA (Works Progress Administration) used the original 1817 blueprints to rebuilt the fort, but it later fell into disrepair.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Holmes Rebuilt Atop Michigan's Mackinac Island-- Part 2

There were major American casualties during the unsuccessful attempt to regain control over Fort Mackinac on August 4, 1814.  This was led by Col. George Croghan, hero of Fort Stephenson in Ohio.

After the war, Fort Holmes was abandoned and fell into ruin.  A public works effort in the 1930s reconstructed the fort, but it again fell into disrepair until state legislation appropriated money in 2014 to rebuild it.  By then it had become a weedy mound of earth with scattered wood.

Reconstruction used the original plans housed in the National Archives.

It cost $500,000, part of the war's Bicentennial and is now open to visitors year round.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Holmes Rebuilt Atop Mackinac Island-- Part 1

From the August 17, 2015, M Live "Historic War of 1812 redoubt Fort Holmes built atop Mackinac Island" by Garrett Ellison.

The reconstructed Fort Holmes was dedicated August 15, 2015,  The earthen redoubt (fort) was built by the British and is one of Michigan's few War of 1812 sites.  It sits atop Mackinac Island and offers great views.

It was built to defend the vulnerable north side of Fort Mackinac.

The British built it and named it Fort George, but the United States changed the name to Holmes after it returned to the island July 18, 1815.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Brownstown on August 8, 1812

From Wikipedia.

The battle, actually more of a skirmish, was an early War of 1812 engagement where U.S. forces outnumbered British forces by an 8-1 margin but lost it with substantial losses.  It took place near Brownstown, a Wyandot Indian village south of Fort Detroit on Brownstown Creek.  The site is near present day Carlson High School in Gibraltar, Michigan.

On August 5, 1812, Major Thomas Van Horne and 200 soldiers were en route to the River Raisin to get cattle and needed supplies when two dozen warriors, led by Tecumseh attacked, putting the Americans into confusion.

Van Horne ordered a retreat, but the untrained militia, which made up most of his force scattered.  The result was that 18 Americans were killed, 12 wounded and 70 missing.  The Indians lost one killed.  Most of the American missing found their way to Detroit over the next several days.

Josiah Snelling was cited for bravery at the battle and promoted to major.  By an Act of Congress on June 1, 1813, the widows of the men killed at Brownstown were given half pay for five years.

--Brock-Perry

Marking the True End of the War of 1812 on Mackinac Island

From the July 18, 2015, Toledo News "Snyder, others marking War of 1812-related bicentennial" by Jeff Karous, AP.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and others are helping mark the bicentennial of the true end in the War of 1812 on Mackinac Island.

The ceremony was held July 18th at Marquette Park near Fort Mackinac and featured a peace garden dedication.

The event marked the 200th anniversary of the British withdrawal from the island after the war had officially ended months earlier.They had recaptured the fort in 1812 with the help of hundreds on Indians in one of the war's earliest operations.

The Battle of Mackinac Island, which took a month, came two years later.

So, It Didn't End With the Treaty of Ghent.  --Brock-Perry