Anne Louis Toussard-- Part 3: Impact on American Artillery, Forts, West Point and DuPont Gunpowder

Again, I have seen Toussard's name spelled with just one "s" and also with two of them.  I am using the double "s" spelling.

In April 1795, President Washington appointed Toussard  a major in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, beginning a period during which he had  enormous influence on the American military.  After supervising the construction of several significant fortifications, he restructured the U.S. artillery service on the French model, bringing uniformity to its use of cannons.

In 1798, he laid out the plans for what would become the  Military Academy at West Point.

Also, his "American Artillerists Companion" (1809) became the standard text for artillery instruction.  Along the way,  he aided Eleuthere Irenee du Pont in establishing gunpowder  mills in Delaware, which would prove vital to American interests.

Again, I don't know how I never came across his name before his letter about the Hurricane of 1812.  

An Important Person in American History.  Sadly, One Who Is Not Known. --Brock-Perry

USS Constitution Continues Tradition; Names Gun 'Beat Army'

From the December 9, 2021, Charlestown Patriot-Bridge.

The USS Constitution named one of its 24-pound long guns "Beat Army" in support  of the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen as they take on the U.S. Military Academy's Black Knights in the  2021 annual Army-Navy game on December 11.

"Beat Army" was chosen  after they named one of their guns "Go Navy" for the 2020 matchup.

Historically, 24-pounder long gun teams consisted of up to 14 men operating two guns on opposite sides of the ship.

When paired in a gun team, the two guns would read "Go Navy, Beat Army."

The official "Beat Army" unveiling can be seen December 11 on the USS Constitution's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

And, by the way, we watched the game at the McHenry, Illinois, American Legion and there was a whole lot of rivalry there, as well as a chili cookoff.  What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon with all that tradition and good eating.

And, by the way, Navy won 17-13, in a close game.

Go Navy, Beat Army.

William J. Worth-- Part 2: Glad I Didn't Have to Memorize This

Also, while a major,  Worth uttered his most famous words which are now inscribed in West Point's "Bugle Notes", a book of knowledge that all cadets must know by heart.

They are as follows:

"But an officer on duty knows no one -- to be partial  is to dishonor himself and  the object of his ill-advised favor.  What will be thought of him who exacts of his friends that which disgraces him?  Look at him who winks at  and overlooks offences in one, which he causes to be punished in another, and contrast him with the inflexible soldier who does his duty faithfully, not withstanding it occasionally  wars with his private feelings.  The conduct of one will be venerated and emulated, the other detested as a satire upon soldiership and honor."

Brevet Major William Jenkins Worth

I am sure glad I didn't have to memorize this as the wording is particularly hard to comprehend.

After the War of 1812, he was Commandant of  Cadets at West Point and rose to the rank of colonel in 1838 when he was put in command of the newly formed 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment.

So, was this the end of Gen. Worth's career?  Stay tuned.

Personally, I Think This Could Have Been Significantly Shortened.  --Brock-Perry

George Ronan-- Part 3: Killed a Year After Commissioning

From Wikipedia.

Ensign George Ronan was a commissioned officer in the United States Army.  Educated at West Point, he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Regiment in 1811, and assigned to duty at Fort Dearborn, a frontier post at the mouth of the Chicago River.  Just over a year later, he was killed in combat there and as such was the first member of the West Point Corps of Cadets to die in battle.

He attended the Military Academy for almost three years from June 1808 to March 1811.  At the time eh graduated, the  Academy was just six years old and he was commissioned in its ninth year.  And, there weren't a lot of cadets attending at the time.

--Brock-Perry

Col. James Gibson-- Part 4: Military Career

From the "For What They Gave  On Saturday Afternoon" blog site  "James Gibson."

Cadet of the Military Academy , Oct. 20, 1806, to Dec. 12, 1808, when he graduated and was promoted to First Lieut. Light Artillery, Dec. 12, 1808.

Served in garrisons at Atlantic posts and on the Southwest Frontier, 1808-1812; Captain Light Artillery, May 2, 1810.

War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier in 1812 and participated in the attack on Queenstown Heights, Upper Canada, October 12, 1812.

Major, staff, Asst. Inspector General, April 2, 1813.    Colonel, staff Inspector General  July 13, 1813.

--Brock-Perry

Col. James Gibson-- Part 2: Mortally Wounded at Fort Erie, Canada

James Gibson graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1808.  After graduation, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Light Artillery Regiment.

Within just five years he reached the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army.  In early 1814, he was appointed commander of the newly formed 4th Rifle Regiment.

The following summer, he and his regiment participated in the defense of Fort Erie.  During an attack on the British artillery batteries bombarding the fort, he was mortally wounded and died of the wounds the next day.

In his honor, the fort on Ellis Island in New York Harbor was named Fort Gibson.

--Brock-Perry

West Point's "Long Gray Line"

From "The War of 1812: A Complete Chronology."

SEPTEMBER 1816

The cadets at West Point receive gray uniforms to honor Army regulars who had worn gray at the Battle of Chippewa and Battle of Lundy's Lane in the War of 1812.

The West Point cadets still wear these uniforms and its cadets referred to as "The Long Gray Line."

"The Long Gray Line" refers today to the continuum of all graduates and cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point.  It is hard to find information about it as most searches lead to the 1955 movie of the same name starring Tyrone Power and Maureen O'Hara.

--Brock-Perry

Charles Chocteau Gratiot-- Part 1: Rapid Rise in the Army

From Wikipedia.

CHARLES CHOCTEAU GRATIOT ( 1786-1855)

Back on June 15th, I mentioned that Fort Hampton was engineered and built by Captain Charles Gratiot so decided to do some research on him.  Interesting fellow.

He was born in St. Louis to a rich fur-trading father and President Thomas Jefferson personally appointed him to the United States Military Academy at West Point in July 1804.  Gratoit was a member of the Class of 1806, the 4th graduating class.  (Back then cadets attended for varying numbers of years before graduation.)

Commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (which usually received the top graduates), he made captain by 1808, which was a remarkable rise in the peacetime army back then.  One of his first assignments was to assist Alexander Macomb in the construction of the Charleston, S.C. defenses.  It was during this time that he oversaw the construction of Fort Hampton.

Chales Gratiot returned to the USMA in 1810 and became commander of the Army garrison,  a post he held from 1810-1811.

A Rising Young Officer.  --Brock-Perry

The U.S. Military Academy in the War of 1812

From Wikipedia.

Yesterday, I mentioned that there was the possibility that Thomas Adam Smith was appointed to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, but I wasn't sure when that institution came into being.

The USMA was established by President Thomas Jefferson in 1810 who authorized its establishment.  It officially began operations on 4 July 1802.  The first person, Joseph Gardner Swift, graduated in October of that year.

In the early years, however, there were few standards.  Cadets ranged in age from 10 to 37 and attended anywhere from six months to six years.

The impending War of 1812 caused the U.S. Congress to authorize a more formal; system of education and the size of the Corps of cadets was raised to 250.

So, Thomas Smith would have been among the first to graduate from the USMA.

--Brock-Perry