Captain Thomas Gamble-- Part 3: One of Four Brothers Who Died in the Service and Friend of James Fennimore Cooper

From Find-a-Grave.

U.S. Naval officer, veteran of the War of 1812, friend and former messmate of writer James Fennimore Cooper ("Last of the Mohicans").

Born in Recklestown (now Chesterfield, New Jersey) on the first Christmas Eve following the American revolution, he was the eldest of four brothers who died in the service of their country.

Only 34 at the time of his death, he became fatally ill while in command of the  sloop USS Erie of the U.S. Navy's Mediterranean Squadron, and died in the naval hospital in Pisa, Italy,  during the autumn of 1818.

His friendship with James Fennimore Cooper had begun a decade earlier when they had served together as midshipmen on Lake Ontario.  There they assisted future Commodore Melancton Woolsey in the construction of the brig USS Oneida, the  first American warship on the Great Lakes.

--Brock-Perry

Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Enterprise-Boxer Battle-- Part 1

Continued from the Maine Historical Society.

To commemorate the bicentennial of this historic battle,  the Maine Historical Society on conjunction with Portland Landmarks, Spirit Alive and the City of Portland will host a series of events starting Tuesday , September 3, 2013, through Saturday, September 7.  

In addition to the exhibit, "Thundered Over Tide:  200th Anniversary of the Battle of  the Boxer & the Enterprise," will be exhibited at MHS from August 31st through October 25, 2013.

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PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 3

The Navy in the War of 1812:  A Dual  Book Talk: on  September 3 from noon to 1 pm.  Authors  George Daughan "1812:  The Navy's War" and George Emery "In Their Own Words:  The Navy Fights the War of 1812" will discuss their books in context with the Battle Between the Boxer and Enterprise.

SEPTEMBER 4

The War of 1812 Historian's Round Table Wednesday, September 4 from 6 to 8 pm.

SEPTEMBER 5

Graveside Memorial Service Honoring Capt. Burrows, Capt. Blyth and Lt.  Kervin Waters on Thursday, September 5 at Eastern Cemetery, Portland.

And, More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Old Fort Niagara to Host a War of 1812 Encampment-- Part 1

From the August 24, 202, Niagara Frontier  Publications.

The encampment is scheduled for  Labor Day weekend September 4-5.  This year's event will focus on U.S. troops who garrisoned the fort from June  1812 through December 1813, when the British captured the fort.

Activities include a Saturday afternoon presentation by acclaimed  historian  Richard V. Barbuto who will speak about "Seven Days in September 1814:  Turning Point of the War of 1812."  Her is author of  numerous books about the War of 1812, including "New York's War of 1812," recently published by  the University of Oklahoma Press.

He is also emeritus professor of history and has served as  deputy director of the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  A 1971 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served for 23 years as armor officer with tours of duty in Germany, Korea and Canada.

--Brock-Perry

About That Captain Thomas E. Craig and What Happened to the French Village and Indians in What Is Today's PeoriaAbout That Captain

I couldn't help but believe that the Captain Thomas, who commanded a company of Illinois Territory Rangers might have been a bit too rough on the French settlers at what would one day be Peoria, Illinois.

Taking them prisoner and burning down their town as well as saying they were "damn lucky" not to have been scalped would not indicate a peace-maker in the situation.

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From the February 26, 2012, Peoria(Illinois) Journal Star  "Central Illinois home to several encounters during the War of 1812" by  Steve Tarter.

From a talk given by Gillum Ferguson, author of "Illinois in the War of 1812" gave a free program at Bradley University's  Cullom Davis Library.

The War of 1812 pitted Illinois Territory militiamen against various Indian tribes in the frontier territory of the United States.  One of the key areas of struggle in the territory revolved around the French village at what is now the site of downtown Peoria.

It was called La Ville de Maillet, New Village.  The French here lived on friendly terms with the local Indians, even intermarrying with them.  Indian villages surrounded them.

But, unfortunately for the French, American frontiersmen viewed the town as "the seditious village, a nursery of hostile Indians and traitorous British Indian traders."

It wasn't that the Indians were staunch allies of the British back then, but more focused on fending off the constant incursions from the Americans onto their land.

--Brock-Perry

Somewhat Off Subject, But Allan Nevins and Rick Reuschel

I have to include this as these are two people of interest to me.  I came across their names while trying to figure out the previous post.  What about this place also called Hebron Cemetery in Camp Point, Illinois, but not in Hebron, Illinois, where there is also a Hebron Cemetery.  Confusing.

Going to the Wikipedia Camp Point, Illinois, site, they have a listing of notable people from there.

Two names jumped right off the page to me: Allan Nevins and Rick Reuschel, combining two things I really like, the Civil War and baseball.

Allan Nevins was born in Camp Point. (1890-1971).  A noted historian and journalist.  Probably best-known for his Civil War 8 volume series "Ordeal of the Union."  I have this set, but, alas, haven't read any of them.

Rick Reuschel was born in Quincy, Illinois, but grew up in Camp Point and was a major league pitcher compiling 214 wins over many seasons from 1972 to 1991.  Many of those were for one of my favorite teams, the Chicago Cubs (second favorite behind the Chicago White Sox).

He also has a brother named Paul Reuschel who also pitched for a few years in the majors.  They were even both on the Cubs at one time.

Arthur S. Nevins, Allan's brother, who was a general in the Army and a close personal friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

You Never Know What You're Going to Find When You Go Roadtripping Through History Like I Do.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Author David C. Skaggs Named As a 2019 Knox Award Winner by NHF

From the October Naval History magazine.

At the 93rd annual meeting of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) held June 8, 2019 at the Washington Navy Yard, officials announced this year's three recipients of the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Medal for naval history.

Along with Mr. Skaggs, the other two were Commander U.S. Navy (Ret) Tyrone G. Martin and Norman Polmar.

Mr. Skaggs is of special interest to readers of this blog  because some of his books are:

A Signal Victory:  The Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813 (1997)
Thomas Macdonough:  Master of Command in the Early U.S. Navy (2003)
Oliver Hazard Perry:  Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early U.S. Navy (2006)

In 2013, he was Naval History's Author of the Year.

And, who says we don't get enough War of 1812 books?

Not So Forgotten.  --Brock-Perry

USS Siren-- Part 2

One of the crew members of the Siren when the HMS Medway captured it was Samuel Leech who later wrote an account of his experiences with the rather long title "Thirty Years From Home, Or a Voice from the Maine Deck, Being the Experience of Samuel Leech, Who Was Six Years in the British and American Navies, Was Captured in the British Frigate Macedonian Afterward Entered the American Navy, and Was Taken in the United States Brig Syren, By the British Ship Medway."

Sounds like an interesting book, even with a title like that.  I doubt that many sailors were captured while serving in both navies during the War of 1812.

According to Leech, afterwards, the crew of the Siren were taken to the Cape of Good Hope where they were landed and marched to jail in Cape Town and held there until transferred to England after the war was over.  They were later released.

--Brock-Perry