2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Private Helms was an unknown soldier who was executed during the War of 1812 for desertion at the Greenbush Cantonment (camp), which is now the site of the Hampton manor neighborhood and Red Mill Elementary School.
Now, Greenbush historian Bobbie Reno is out to get those charges dropped.
Samuel Helms of Captain Joseph Delafield's Company in the 1st New York Militia Regiment apparently might have had an illegal court martial.
Reno attempted to have the state militia rule in his innocence but they couldn't. However, she got the governor of the state, Kathy Hochul, to review her documentation and rule on it.
The issue for Private Helms is whether he deserted his post in Ulster County or went AWOL (absent without leave) to see his wife and three young children.
Reno's research makes it seem that the private was AWOL and shouldn't have been tried at court martial.
More to Come. --Brock-Perry
From the December 6, 2022, DVIDS "Top ten moments in Pennsylvania National Guard history" by Brad Rhen.
WAR OF 1812 SERVICE
Of course, they were militia back then.
More than 14,000 Pennsylvanians were drawn into active service during the War of 1812.
During the Battle of Lake Erie, an artillery company provided volunteers to serve as cannoneers on Commodore Perry's fleet.
That unit today is known as Wilkes-Barre's 109th Field Artillery.
--Brock-Perry
These were brave words, but the Kentuckians' position was dire. Their ammunition was low, they were completely hemmed in on the south, British artillery was in position to fire volleys of gunfire through their defensive lines and Confederacy warriors were firing into the heart of the settlement while preparing to set it on fire.
In short, Major George Madison of the Kentucky 1st Regiment had two choices: surrender to the British or, as he put it, "be massacred in cold blood." Still, Madison was commited to holding out long enough to influence the terms of surrender.
After some back-and-forth with the British over the disposition of prisoners, protection from Confederacy forces and care for the wounded, Madison formally capitulated.
Expecting American reinforcements from General Harrison's troops, the British quickly withdrew due to heavy casualties. The battle was costly for the British Regulars and Canadian militia, but for the Americans it was an unmitigated disaster: Of the 934 who had heard the morning's reveille, 901 were either dead, sounded or prisoners of war.
--Brock-Perry
An attempt was made to send a few companies of Kentucky militiamen to the aid of the 17th Infantry, but the effort proved disastrous.
General Winchester, arriving from his headquarters, ordered the infantrymen to fall back to the north bank of the river where they they could rendezvous with the Kentuckians. Together they made a brief stand, but were soon overwhelmed by the pursuing Canadian, Wyandot and Shawnee fighters.
After a frantic retreat to the south side of the river and another futile stand, the American position disintegrated entirely. Within 20 minutes, about 220 U.S. soldiers were killed and another 147 captured. Only 33 American Regulars managed to escape to the Maumee River.
Bit the actions east and south of Frenchtown barely registered for the British Regulars and Kentuckians still entrenched behind that puncheon fence line.
Instead, they remained locked in what seemed to be the main battle area.
--Brock-Perry
Well, that line of "soldiers" that the British saw in the early morning hours proved to be that PUNCHEON FENCE thing. And the Kentuckians, who were behind it delivered a withering fire on them from relative protection.
Meanwhile, the British artillery was overshooting the mark. The British suffered many casualties in this part of the battlefield.
Matters, however, were different on the eastern part of the battlefield. The Canadian militia men quickly adjusted the aim of their artillery and wreaked havoc on the exposed position of the U.S. 17th Infantry.
As cannon fire tore through the encampment and shattered breastworks, the Regulars also had to contend with militiamen and Wyandot fighters who had taken possession of some nearby buidings from which they could fire at will into the American encampment.
The Americans struggled to hold their ground, but eventually faltered when mounted warriors came around their right flank.
--Brock-Perry
Arriving before dawn on January 22, 1813, and unnoticed by the American sentries, a force of 600 British Canadians and 800 Native warriors gathered into battle positions along the Mason Run Creek, about 250-350 yards to the north of the settlement.
British regulars and artillery were positioned in the center, a dispersed clustering of Native warriors made up mostly of Anishinaabeg (Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi) and Miami, accompanied by some Canadian militia were to the west, and to the east was a large number of Native warriors, mostly Wyandot and Shawnee, in the forward position, supported by Canadian militia and artillery to their rear.
Reveille sounded, and an American sentry spotted the British in the pre-dawn light. He fired a shot into the forward line that killed the lead grenardier, and the report of his musket sent 1,000 just awakened soldiers scrambling for their battle positions.
Almost immediately, the British opened with their artillery and the infantry pushed forward from its center position. As they drew within range of the settlement, the British infantrymen fired a powerful volley at what, in the still dark distance, had seemed to be a line of soldiers.
Well, It Wasn't a Line of Soldiers. --Brock-Perry
In "the woods the fighting became general and most obstinate," wrote one Kentuckian. "[T]he enemy resisting every inch of ground as they were compelled to fall back."
Over the course of two miles the slow-moving battle continued until darkness fell, with the retreating forces taking cover to fire on the pursuing Kentuckians, then dashing to another protected area before the pursuers could regroup or return accurate fire.
The victorious Kentucky Volunteers set up camp within the protection of the puncheon fence and the French habitant homes. Upon word that the area was liberated, Winchester assembled four additional companies and proceeded to the River Raisin on January 20, 1813, bringing the number of American troops close to 1,000.
Upon arriving, the 17th Infantry set up camp 200-300 yards outside the puncheon fence line in the bitter cold and deep snow. Meanwhile, the British and Native warriors prepared a counterattack across the frozen Lake Erie at Fort Amhurstburg in Canada.
--Brock-Perry
The British and their Native allies were able to secure firm control over much of the Old Northwest as they pushed the frontier back to Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Upon liberating Fort Wayne, Major General William Henry Harrison soon turned his sights on coordinating efforts to recapture Detroit. He established a base at the Maumee Rapids, south of present-day Toledo, Ohio.
In January 1813, these American forces were assembling for a winter campaign to retake Detroit. American Revolution war veteran Brigadier General James Winchester, an early arrival, received a request from River Raisin settlers to lift British control of their community.
Winchester dispatched more than 550 men from the 1st and 5th Kentucky Volunteer Regiments, under the command of Colonels William Lewis and John Allen to the River Raisin.
Once there, American efforts to outflank allied Canadian militiamen and Confederacy warriors proved unsuccessful, and the fighting dissolved into a series of fierce skirmishes through the dense woods to the north.
--Brock-Perry
2. THEY TRIED TO LOOK LIKE THEY HAD MORE SOLDIERS
To add to the illusion that the Americans were facing more enemy troops than they actually were, Isaac Brock had his men create individual campfires instead of one per unit. It's a very old trick, used often in major battles throughout history.
Plus, the Canadian militia would march across the American field of view, then duck under their defenses, then run back to the end of the line, reform and march past again. They did this as they were going to camp meals as well, picking up rations, then marching out of sight, dumping their food and repeating the same action.
Sneaky, Very Sneaky Guy, You Know. --Brock-Perry
Eventually, some sixty Americans gathered in town to defend it. Leadership of the group passed around.
When they first gathered they chose as leader the Rev. Seba Norton, called "Elder" Norton, the builder and pastpr of the Brick Church near Sodus Center (the oldest church in Sodus). He had been a soldier in the American Revolution and was known as a man of courage.
Later, however, Captain Elias Hull of Lyons, a regular member of the militia, arrived and took command.
"When the British were about to land at Sodus Point, Captain Norton was there with some 50 to 60 men. He divided them intosquads of about 10, placed them in different ambuscades, pointing out the way to retreat if assailed, and told them to pop away as fast as they could.
"Before the British landed, however, a Colonel from Seneca Fall arrived with reinforcements. Captain Norton told what he had done, and the colonel said he must recall the men and make what show they could in front..... The British advanced from the water with lanterns or torches at their head. Amasa Johnson shot down several of their lights, producing some delay and confusion."
--Brock-Perry
From the May 4, 2022, Hammond (Louisiana) Daily Star.
When the British threatened New Orleans in January 1814, Louisiana men rallied to defend their city. Among the militia men was Antoine Lavigne. His and others effort led to the British defeat at Chalmette on January 8.
A monument marking his grave will be unveiled at a ceremony on May 7 at 10 a.m. at Collins Cemetery in Ponchatoula.
An honor guard from American Legion Post 47 in Ponchatoula as well as re-enactors in War of 1812 uniforms will also be there. The public is invited to attend.
Antoine Lavigne has many ancestors in the area bearing names like Lavigne, Hoover, Mitchell, Perrin, Wells, Poche, Radford, Raiford and Tucker.
Antoine Lavigne married Marie Rousseau Lavigne and later settled on the east bank of the Tangipahoa River. After the death of his wife, he remarried Mary Elizabeth Hoover (Ouvre) Denelle, widow of Jean Baptiste Denelle.
--Brock-Perry
From the May 20, 2022, Monroe News.
The Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield Living History Encampment and Demonstrations were held Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm on the grounds of the Visitor Center, 333 N. Dixie Highway.
Admission was free.
This year is the 210th anniversary of Captain Herbert Lacroix's Company of Michigan Volunteers.
"At the start of the War of 1812, Michigan was defended by small garrisons of U.S. troops, backed up by the 1st & 2nd Michigan Militia Regiments and the Legionary Corps of Michigan Volunteers. These forces were soon joined by General Hull's army of U.S. Regulars and Ohio militia volunteers.
At the River Raisin, Hubert Lacroix was elected captain of an 80-man company. Mustered into service on May 18, 1812, Lacroix's company became a part of the Legionary Corps and were assigned to guard the settlement, escort the mails and help build Hull's Road to Detroit.
Lacroix's men participated in Hull's opening campaign of the War of 1912, guiding the army and participating in the Battles of Brownstown and Monguagon. The surrender of General Hull at Detroit on August 16, 1812, ended Lacroix's Company's official term of service, although members continued to serve in an ad hoc manner through the Battles of the River Raisin in January of the following year.
--Brock-Perry
Old Fort Jackson is considered to be the oldest standing brick fortification. It even dates back to when it was earthen works in 1808. President Thomas Jefferson developed his second line of defense, which was really needed during the War of 1812.
The fort has not one, but three on-site educators: Ethan Baker, Walter Reeves and Aaron Bradford. Bradford is the head site interpreter. Each was dressed in miserably hot wool and homespun Union Army uniforms from the Republican Blues. (When I visited the fort several years ago, I had a good talk with the interpreter at ten time who was portraying a USCT soldier.)
They were very knowledgeable about the fort's history when it had been occupied by both Confederate and Union forces during the "Great Unpleasantness" of the 1860s. Today, they were busy leading a group of school children, maybe 6th or 7th graders, through an interactive program called "Life as a Member of the Militia.' Among the things they were learning was how to assemble for a charge with the shortest people in the front line, how to fire a musket and how to march in unison.
--Brock-Perry
Richard Hill's story very likely wouldn't have been told had it not been for the diligence of Larry Glatz of South Portland, Maine, who rediscovered Hill during research on Mainers who fought as federal troops against the British in the War of 1812.
According to him, some 20,000 men served in the state militia when called upon to defeat Portland when it was thought a British attack was imminent. (And, these men were fighting as Massachusetts militia.)
Another 5,000 Mainers fought as federal troops during the three-year war. "Most of the federal troops were buried in unmarked graves," according to Mr. Glatz. A desire to mark the War of 1812 graves sparked his research. Several other 1812 graves have been found in Eastern Cemetery.
--Brock-Perry
** SGT. JAMES HENLEY
Mass Militia 1782 1843
** SEAMAN RICHARD HILL
Gunboat 47, New York Flotilla 1792 Sept. 12, 1881
** PVT. DANIEL HOW
Died Sept. 16, 1819, age 57
** SGT. JOHN SIMON HOW
Died June 26, 1859
** CAPT. JOSEPH HOW
Died Aug. , 1820
** CORP. NATHAN HOWE
Mass Militia 1781 1859
** GEORGE INGRAHAM
Mass Militia 1795 1875
** DEACON WILLIAM JENKS
So, the Hows. --Brock-Perry
From the same source as Captain Atherton's 1813 service.
Lieut. Col. M. Nichols' Regiment
Martin Nichols, Lieutenant. Lieutenant Colonel, Portland
John Pratt, Major, Portland
John Storer, Major, Portland
John Sampson, Adjutant, Portland
Edward Barneywell, Adjutant, Portland
Christopher Wright, Quartermaster, Portland
William Swan, Paymaster, Portland
Nathaniel Coffin, Surgeon (Personally, I might have a problem seeking his help with that name.)
John Merrill, Surgeon's Mate, Portland
George Hall, Chaplain
--Brock-Perry
Abel Willard Atherton again commanded a company in the 1814 call out.
--Brock-Perry
With the end of the war against Napoleon, the British had more resources to use against the United States which had essentially been on the back burner for efforts as Napoleon posed a much worse threat to Britain.
By August 1814, the British were blockading Portland Harbor in earnest. By September they captured Castine and held the Maine coast east of the Penobscot. Rumors abounded in Portland warning that "a large fleet with troops" under the flagship HMS Bulwark had left Castine headed for Portland.
Daily, the British would sail up to the lighthouse, but the mighty fleet never materialized. Even so, Governor Strong called up six to seven hundred militiamen from Cumberland and Oxford counties to defend Portland.
Portland also appropriated $10,000 for public defense.
It was during this scare that the former HMS Boxer was pressed into service. The battery of the prize ship San Jose Indiano was ordered to be mounted on her. (The Boxer's cannons had been removed to the privateer Hyder Ally.) The Boxer was then hauled into position so as to command the approaches to Vaughan's Bridge.
The ship's gunners amused themselves by firing into the steep bankings on Bramhall's Hill. All this went on for about two weeks, but since nothing happened, everyone was sent home.
Fun and Games in Portland. --Brock-Perry
