Historic Fort George-- Part 9: After the War of 1812

Fort Niagara remained under British control for the rest of the war and their focus shifted to more strategically located Fort Niagara across the river instead of Fort George.

In July 1814, American forces under Winfoeld Scott attempted to capture Fort Niagara, but called off the attack when he realized  that the naval support he had been promised would not come.

In 1817, American President James Monroe visited the Canadian side of the river on a goodwill trip and was entertained at Fort George by British officers.  However, Fort George's  inability to guard the entrance to the Niagara River caused a new installation named Fort Mississauga to be built near the mouth of the river in the 1820s.

During this same period, the constuction of Butler's Barracks was undertaken southwest of Fort George and out of range of American batteries.

The equipment within the fort was auctioned off in 1821 and the palisades relocated to other sites in the next year.  By 1825, the body of Isaac Brock was exhumed from the northeast bastion and placed at Brock's Monument in Queenston.

--Brock-Perry

This Month in the War of 1812: James Madison, Winfield Scott and Oliver Hazard Perry

From the American Battlefield Trust timeline.

MARCH 4, 1809

**  James Madison is sworn in as the 4th President of the United States of America.

MARCH 4, 1813

**  James Madison inaugurated for his second term as president.

MARCH 19, 1814

**  Winfield Scott promoted to brigadier general at the age of 27.

MARCH 27, 1813

**  Oliver Hazard Perry takes command of American flotilla on Lake Erie.

MARCH  27, 1814

**  Engagement at Horseshoe Bend

--Brock-Perry

March Events in War of 1812: James Madison Sworn In, Winfield Scott, Oliver Hazard Perry and Horseshoe Bend

From the American Battlefield Trust. 

MARCH 4, 1809

**  James Madison sworn in as the fourth president of the United States.

MARCH 4, 1813

**  James Madison sworn in for second term as president of the United States.

MARCH 19, 1814

**  Winfield Scott is promoted to brigadier general at age 27.

MARCH 27, 1813

**  Oliver Hazard Perry takes command of the flotilla at Lake Erie.

MARCH 27, 1814

**  Engagement at Horseshoe Bend.

--Brock-Perry

(The Brock on the signoff refers to British General Isaac Brock.)

Fort Worth, Texas, Named for War of 1812 Hero, William Jenkins Worth-- Part 1

From the May 16, 2021, Amarillo (Texas) Globe News "Bridges:  Fort Worth  namesake was a distinguished  war hero" by Ken Bridges.

The City of Fort Worth is sometimes known as  "Cowtown" or "Where the West Begins."  However, the name behind the city has a story all its own. 

General William Jenkins Worth was a legend in his own right, a distinguished officer and war hero who fought for Texas and his nation.

He was born in Hudson, New York in 1794, to Quaker parents.  His father made a comfortable living as a merchant ship captain.  Despite being a Quaker, young William enlisted in the U.S. Army when the War of 1812 came.

Worth received a commission as 1st lieutenant  in March 1813 and was assigned as an aide to General Winfield Scott.  Scott became a mentor and close friend.  Worth fought in numerous battles against the British, Canadians and Indians.

At the Battle of Lundy's Lane in July 1814, he and Scott were both wounded in what was the bloodiest battle of the whole war.  Worth's leg wound proved almost fatal, but he survived and never regained use of the leg the rest of his life.

--Brock-Perry-Worth

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

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

William Jenkins Worth-- Part 1: The War of 1812

From the December 13, 2019, Journal Gazette & Times Courier  "Little known characters of American history.

WILLIAM JENKINS WORTH (March 1, 1794- May 7, 1849)

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

He served as an aide to Winfield Scott in the War of 1812 as a first lieutenant.  The two men developed a friendship  that would last a lifetime.

During the War of 1812, Worth distinguished himself at the battles of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane during the Niagara Campaign. In the last battle, Worth was seriously wounded  and not expected to survive, but after a year's  confinement, he recovered.

He rose to the rank of major, but that wound would leave him lame for the rest of his life.

--Brock-Perry

Phineas Riall-- Part 3: Also Sacked Buffalo and Black Rock

On 30 December 1813, Riall's force recrossed the Niagara River again and repeated the deliberate destruction of Buffalo and Black Rock, New York, even though the Navy Yard and several other sites were legitimate targets.

5 July 1814, Riall commanded the Right Division of the British Army at the Battle of Chippawa.  he ordered his men to attack American General Winfield Scott's soldiers thinking they were just militia.  He was wrong, they were regulars. and this led to his bloody defeat.

On 25 July Riall again fought Scott at the Battle of Lundy's Lane where he was seriously wounded in the arm early in the battle.  While going to the rear he was captured by American infantry.  On December he was paroled and returned to England.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell-- Part 4: Mortally Wounded in Action

Colonel Campbell commanded the 11th Infantry Regiment at the capture of Fort Erie and was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chippewa, Canada, on July 5, 1814.  He commanded the right wing of Brigadier General Winfield Scott's Army at that battle.

He died August 28, 1814.

--Brock-Perry

The Marines in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Frigate Action

Marine detachments took place in the great frigate fights which resulted in many American victories.  They acquired the reputation as marksmen in ship-to-ship actions.

On 27 April 1813, they assisted the U.S. Army in Colonel Winfield Scott's attack on York, Upper Canada (now Toronto).

Under Navy Commodore Joshua Barney and Captain Samuel Miller, they helped delay the British advance on Washington, D.C., at the Battle of Bladensburg by holding the line after the Army and militia retreated, though they were eventually overcome.  Tradition hold s it that the British did not destroy the Marine Barracks and Commandant's house when they burned Washington out of respect for their fight at Bladensburg, though it is thought that they might have been intending to use them as headquarters.

There is also an unfounded tale that two Marine NCOs buried treasure there to prevent its capture.

At the Battle of New Orleans they held the center of Andrew Jackson's defensive line.

During the war, the Marines had 46 killed and 66 wounded.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Lundy's Lane

From Wikipedia.

This was where James Miller, who I have been writing about, gained his nickname, The Hero of Lundy's Lane.

Fought 25 July 1814 at present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario.  It was one of the bloodiest battles of the war and one of the deadliest events ever to take place in Canada.  It ended as a tactical draw, but a British strategic victory because the Americans suffered so many casualties.

The United States losses were 174 dead, 572 wounded, 79 captured and 28 missing, for a total of 853 casualties.  Two of the American commanders, Jacob brown and Winfield Scott were wounded and Eleazor Ripley was killed.

The British lost 84 killed, 559 wounded, 169 captured and 55 missing for a total of 878.

Forces engaged were 3,500 for Britain and 2,500 for the United States.

--Brock-Perry

A Frontier in Flames, War Along the U.S. Canadian Border-- Part 2: Early Losses Followed By American Victories

When war was declared, it was only natural that this area become the major battlefield.

On paper, it looked like an uneven contest.  The United States had more than 7.5 million people compared to just 500,000 in Canada.  Plus, Great Britain was in a battle for its life in Europe with Napoleon, leaving no extra troops to sent to North America.

The defenses of Canada were left in the hands of British troops already stationed there, along with Canadian militia and a coalition of American Indian tribes.  The Indians were crucial, but proved to be difficult allies.  they pretty much did as they pleased, but their very presence terrified Americans.

However, the Americans suffered from poor military leadership which led to a series of  humiliating, bloody losses in the latter half of 1812 and early 1813.  Several of these defeats were followed by the massacre of American prisoners by the Indians, as well as by atrocities by both sides.

The tide began to turn in the U.S. favor in 1813 as new leaders such as Winfield Scott, Zebulon Pike and William Henry Harrison replaced the older commanders.  Following the death of tecumseh, on October 5, 1813, the tribal coalition collapsed, effectively ending British attacks into the Northwest Territory.

--Brock-Perry

Brown County and Ripley, Ohio's War of 1812 Connections

From Wikipedia.

Brown County was created in 1818 and named for Major General Jacob Brown, a War of 1812 officer who was wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.  Also at the battle were Winfield Scott and Eleazor Ripley.

An early resident of Ripley, Ohio, (located in Brown County) was Col. James Poage, an American Revolution veteran who arrived in 1804 from Virginia to claim his 1000 acres he had been granted for his war service in what was called the Virginia Military District.  (This was the reason why William Stephenson, Mills Stephenson's father, came to the area.)

Pouge laid out the town of Staunton in 1812 and it was renamed in 1816 to honor General Eleazor Ripley, a hero of the War of 1812.  being located on the Ohio River, it became a major destination for runaway slaves.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Preble, Portland, Maine-- Part 2

Fort Preble was a star-shaped fort made of stone, brick and sod and mounted 14 heavy cannons.

It was built to accompany Fort Scammell on House Island to protect Portland in case the United States got drawn into the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1808, Sec, of War Dearborn ordered the regiment of Light Artillery to occupy the fort and enforce the U.S. Embargo Act which was a move to hurt France and England for their actions against U.S. shipping.

Various units manned the fort during the War of 1812 including the Regiment of Light Artillery, the 21st, 33rd and 34th Regiments of U.S. Infantry and the U.S. volunteers.  In times of crisis, local militia was also called out.

When Winfield Scott and other Americans were released from prison in Quebec, they landed at Fort Preble.  Many were starving and ill and some died at the post hospital.

Two new batteries were added around 1845.

From 1848-1849 and 1851-1853, Fort Preble was commanded by Captain Robert Anderson who gained much recognition at the start of the Civil War with his defense of Fort Sumter.

I will write about the fort's Civil War and subsequent service in my naval Civil War blog.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Marker Honors Military Hero Winfield Scott

From the Sept. 24, 2014, Pilot On Line.  AP

Dinwiddie County, Virginia.

A state historical marker was dedicated on Sept. 29, 2014, for Winfield Scott, a native son of Virginia.  He was wounded in the war and later promoted to brigadier general.  Scott also led American forces in the Mexican War and early days of the Civil War.

He attended the College of William & Mary and died in 1866.

USS Trippe-- Part 2: Blockade and Break Out

After the USS Trippe became a warship, it and others were bottled up by the British guns at Fort George until they joined troops under U.S. Colonel Winfield Scott and the fort was captured 27 May 1813.  The fall of Fort George also caused the British to evacuate Fort Erie.

With the river open, Isaac Chaucey's ships began passage of the Niagara Rapids on 6 June 1813 and one the 19th joined Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet at Erie, Pennsylvania.  In August they sailed to the western part of Lake Erie and made a base of operations at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island

Next, the Battle of Lake Erie and the USS Trippe's Role.  --Brock-Perry

General Winfield Scott and the Battle of Lundy's Lane

General Scott was seriously wounded with a shot that shattered his shoulder at the July 25, 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane, as were American commander Major General Jacob Brown and British commander Lt. general Gordon Drummond.

For his valor at the battle, Winfield Scott received a brevet promotion to major-general to date from July 25, 1814.  However, the severity of the wound prevented him from returning to duty for the remainder of the war.

General Briown was struck twice, almost instantaneously, and carried to the rear where he turned over American command to General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley.

British losses at the battle of Lundy's Lane:  84 killed, 571 wounded, 193 missing and 42 captured.

Americab losses: 173 killed, 571 wounded, 38 missing and 79 captured.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: July 5, 1814, the Battle of Chippawa

An invading American Army led by Major General Jacob Brown clashed with British forces under Major-General Phineas Riall.  Each side had roughly 2,000 men engaged in the battle in which American regulars, militia and U.S.-allied First nations were victorious.

The main battle was a European-style conflict, fought in the open, where the British were thought to be nearly invincible.  All that training by General Winfield Scott must have paid off.

The inspiring American victory is still commemorated by the gray uniforms worn by the cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The battle caused the greatest loss of life in the War of 1812 up until that time, with about 800 casualties.  More Canadian militia were killed and wounded here than in any other battle.  First Nations losses on both sides were also very heavy.

--Brock-Perry