Stephen Champlin-- Part 6: At York and Fort George

Stephen Champlin was appointed to the rank of sailing master on May 22, 1812; lieutenant on December 9, 1814; commander on June 22, 1838; captain on August 4, 1840 and commodore on April 4, 1867.

He was sent by Perry to the Great Lakes in 1813, in advance of Perry's main force.  Champlin left with 42 men and 2 officers and traveled by land from Albany, N.Y. to Sacketts Harbor on Lake Erie.  During the winter, he and his men fitted out the schooner Asp in preparation for an attack on Little York (Toronto) during which he was second in command.

After York, he took part in the Battle of Fort George.

After this, Perry ordered Champlin to Boston to try to secure men from the Bainbridge.  Upon return to Sackets Harbor, Chauncey asked him to go to Utica, NY, and collect a $36,000 draft and pay Mr. Van Rensselaer and return with the balance.

Two days after returning to Sackets Harbor, Chauncey ordered him to report to Perry with 3 officers and 71 men at Erie, Pennsylvania.

--Busy Guy.  --Brock-Perry

Alexander Smyth

From Wikipedia. Doing some more research on the Nov. 16th blog entry.

(1765-April 17, 1830) American lawyer, soldier and politician from Virginia. Member U.S. House of Representatives. General in War of 1812. Smyth County, Virginia, named for him.

Born in Ireland and emigrated to Virginia in 1775. Served as member of the state's House of Delegates and Senate. From 1808 to 1813 served in U.S. Army and commissioned a colonel. At the Battle of Queenston Heights, he refused to support his commander, General Stephen Van Rensselear, a militia general with no experience. For his disobeying orders, Smyth was given Rensselear's command and proved to be very inept himself.

His plans to invade Upper Canada in 1812 had to be called off because of poor organization. A subordinate, General Peter B. Porter accused his commander of cowardice and Smyth challenged him to a duel. As historian John R. Elting wrote, the duel came off and "Unfortunately, both missed."

Smyth was later removed from the Army and returned to Virginia and served again in the House of Delegates and later the U.S. Senate. He died in Washington, D.C. and is buried in the U.S. Congressional Cemetery.

Brock-Perry