No Photograph This Time

A photograph was taken of the 1871 reunion of War of 1812 / River Raisin veterans, but none in 1872.  Too bad.

Here's what the source I have been using most of the month had to say about it:

"Preparations had been made for taking in groups the veterans and prisoners, and they were assembled on the porticoes  of the seminary for that purpose.  But the daguerrean artist failed to meet his appointment promptly, and their patience being exhausted they dispersed; hence the failure to secure pictures."

Bet the Photographer Wasn't Hired in the Future.  --Brock-Perry

Another Feast and a Fireworks Problem

The Monroe Knights Templar also put on a huge banquet for the veterans and attendees.  "Their tables were spread with every luxury, and their guests were feasted, toasted and made merry to an entirely satisfactory degree.

"A quantity of fireworks were provided, to be sent off  in the grove in the evening, but owing to an untoward accident the most and best of them were destroyed.  In sending off a revolving rocket, it discharged directly into  the box containing the best pieces, and these were prematurely discharged and destroyed.

"It was great wonder that the accident did not result in serious damage to those who were engaged in sending off the fireworks, but luckily."

A Close Call.  --Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 5: Sackett's Harbor, Liberty and Foreign=Born Citizens

14.  "Sackett's Harbor"      One of the turning points of 1812.  --Response by General Joseph W. Brown, of Detroit.

15.  "Civil and Religious Liberty"  --Response by Dr. Curtis, of Cincinnati.

16.  "Our Foreign-Born Citizens"  --Response by  ex-Mayor Kraus, of Toledo.

Hopefully they were just taking a sip instead of a gulp during these.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 4:The Press, the Army and The Knights Templar

11.  "The American Press"   Independent, enterprising and intelligent, it distributes knowledge and the spirit of freedom throughout the length and breath of the land, affording the best evidence and  guarantee of her institutions.  --Response by C. Waggoner, of the Toledo Commercial.

12.  "Our Regular Army"  Though small in number yet imminent in services, gallant in spirit, the educated intelligence that guides and instructs the patriotic  zeal of a nation in its defense.  --Response by General Custer.

13.  "The Sir Knight of the Order of the Knights Templar"   The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness  comprehendeth  it not.  --Response by  Dr. A.I. Sawyer, of Monroe.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 3: Michigan, Detroit and Our Country

Of course, the tables were "liberally supplied with pure native wines" after the banquet, so these toasts went on for awhile.

8.  "Michigan"  --No less eminent for her commerce, agricultural and mineral resources than for her intelligent and liberal system of  education and public charities.  Response by Governor  Baldwin of Detroit.

9.  "Detroit"  --The oldest city in the Northwest;  an honor to the State for her intelligence and sterling worth and her connection with pioneer history of the lakes, especially the River Raisin.   Response by  Hon. Levi Bishop, who read his poem entitles "Battle of the River Raisin."

10.  "No North, no South, no Atlantic, no Pacific nor Western States, But our country, our whole country and nothing but our country; would that she  were ever right; but right or wrong, our country, scared, tangible and unprofaned forever."  --Response by Chief Justice Campbell, of  the Supreme Court of Michigan.

Covering It All.  --Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 2: To River Raisin, Kentucky and Ohio

5."The Brave Men Who Perished In The Massacre at the River Raisin in 1813"    They still live in our hearts.  Let us erect a monument to their memory, that they may live in the hearts of our children's children.  They made the city of Monroe memorable in history by their devotion to their country.  --Response by Hon. C.C. Trowbridge of Detroit.

6.  "Old Kentucky"  Once the dark and bloody battle ground, whose heroes fell alike at Tippecanoe,  the River Raisin, Fort Meigs,  the Thames and at New Orleans; always the same and good and brave . Kentucky.   --Response by Hon. W.P.  Thomason of Kentucky.

7.  "Ohio"  The eldest of the galaxy of the Northwest; bright as ever; may her luster never  die.  --Response by Mayor Jones of Toledo.

There are two monuments to the battle and massacre.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 1: To Washington, 1776 and Veterans

After all the speeches, most very flowery and after the huge banquet, the wine was passed around at the 1872 War of 1812 Reunion in Monroe, Michigan, and toasts were made.

Every toast also featured a response.

1.  "The Day We Celebrate"  --Response  by J.J. Adams of Lenawee,

2.   "Washington"  --  The  world honors the man who conquered his own  ambition to give freedom to the continent.  --Response by Judge Patchin of Detroit.

3.  The Statesmen and Heroes of 1776"  The founders of a system of government that makes ours a powerful continental Republic for the good of the world, if in our political advice we imitate their integrity.   --Response by B.G. Morton of Monroe.

4.  "The Veterans of 1812"  Their march to victory was not by Pullman palace cars, but through the dense forests, dragging their cannons with weary marches; yet they conquered at Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs, and the Thames, and said to the world at Lake Erie, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."    --Response by General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky.

And, They Aren't Through Yet With the Toasts.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 19: Banquet and Toasts

After the orations were given and "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sun  "The veterans and the guests were escorted to the tables, which were bountifully loaded with all the substantials and delicacies which heart could wish, provided by the ladies of this city, and guests were waited upon with every attention by the young ladies,  until the wants of the inner man were fully supplied.

After the  substantials of the feast had been partaken of by about 1,500 people, the tables were liberally supplied with pure native wines of Monroe manufacture, supplied by the Point de  Pean Wine Co., and the regular toasts were offered and responded as follows:  ...."

Next Post.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 18: Still Honoring the River Raisin Dead

The mayor continued talking to the men of Kentucky:

"Beside you  are the noble band of pioneers whose strong will and sturdy hands have caused this wilderness to blossom  into such rich profusion, and they from their hearts do welcome you.  And so as they and all of us in our daily round of life-cares, duties and memories, think of the past and  and of you we remember that the battle cry of Kentucky and Ohio, under Green Clay at Fort Meigs, the gallant Croghan at Sanduskey. Harrison at the Thames, Jackson at New Orleans and in every field was Remember the River Raisin.

"We, of Monroe,  all honor to him whose patriotic heart and liberal hand gave impulse, have caught up the slogan of your youth and day: we will remember the River Raisin and have resolved in your presence, over the graves of  fallen braves,  to pledge that veneration for your toils and sacrifices still lives with us,  that gratitude to you and all the fathers of the Republic is as strong, quick and deep a sentiment with us as with our fathers.

"And so remembering the River Raisin, and you and your dead in our care and keeping, we will build a monument."

Quite the Flowery Speech.  --Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 16: "Those 300 Victims of Slaughter

The mayor continued:

"And this celebration and this welcome and these facts  are due to the memory of those brave men who fought, and to the memory of their brave comrades who left their bones on the Miami, Raisin and the Thames [rivers].

"From these graves and fields and from the graves of those 300  victims of the slaughter come a sad and solemn welcome to  those old  companions and comrades."

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 15: The Mayor Welcomes the Assemblage

Monroe's Mayor Redfield gave a welcoming speech:

"The uncompleted history of that scene and of those days welcomes you to this place and demands its vindication through you today in this, that the war was carried on and the Federal Government supported by volunteers alone, from June 1812, to October 1814; and that in all that time  the only assistance we had upon this frontier was from Ohio, Kentucky and other Southern States, while Northern and Eastern states held back from the contest, even until after this and the New York frontier had been desolated and laid waste, and the capital of the Nation was sacked and burned."

A real shot at the northern and eastern states.

He received a lot of applause and cheering after these words.

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 14: Hayes to Jameson

These were added on at the end of the list and out of order.

Hayes, D.S., 72
Helwig, Daniel, 82
Hixson,W.D., 91

Holly, Jesse, 72
Hudnut, B.P., 78
Ivor, Charles, 72

Jacobs, Louis, 97
Jameson, John, 70

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 13: Whelpley to Younglove

Whelpley, Thos., 97
Williams, Elisha, 86
Williams, Sam, L., 91

Younglove, Geo., 79
Younglove, Jas., 74

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 12: Shearer to Webster

Shearer, Jona., 70
Suane, Lewis, 89
Talbot, Oliver, 79

Thomasson, J.P., 74
Van Aiken, Simon, 82
Vance, Joseph, 84

Vanderwalker, Jas., 82
Van Pelt, David, 91
Verkies, Joseph, 82

Walters, W., 78
Warren, Edward, 79
Webster, Larkon, 80

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 11: Penwick to Shapine

Penwick, James, 78
Postwood, John, 84
Puller, B.J., 81

Quinsberry, Roger, 79
Reid, J.C., 75
Ressenet, R.C., 79

Rogers, J.R., 80
Root, John, 78
Rowell, O., 77

Santour, Francis, 76
Shafer, William, 89
Shapine, George, 84

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 10: Mevay to Pendleton

Mevay, Solomon, 70
Martin, John, 75
Mason, Henry, 80

Mount, Thos., 78
Moyer, N., 77
Mulhollen, John, 75

Nadeau, J.B., 77
Navarre, Alex, 82
Nedmore, Perry, 82

Parker, J.C., 77
Pasko, A.A., 78
Pendleton, Edward, 84

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion Attendees-- Part 9: Jones to McLean

Jones, Thomas, 80
Kitk, James, 83
Kolfuus, J.W., 77

Laforge, John B., 76
Lewis, Shubool, 70
Lindsley, Thos, 83

Locke, W.R., 79
Love, James Y., 74
McChesney, David, 79

McDowell, J.C., 78
McGoodwin, J.C., 80
McLean, John B., 77

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 8: Attendees: Gebhart to Johnson

The war had been over for 58 or 59 years, depending upon if you mark its end with the Treaty of Ghent or after the Battle of New Orleans or later actions in 1815.

These are War of 1812 veterans attending the 1872 reunion in Monroe, Michigan and their ages in 1872.

Gebhart, John, 78
Gibson, Matthew, 83
Gofttney, Robert S., 82

Goodright, Michael, 78
Goodwin, J.K., 80
Grant, L.V., 77

Guyor, Joseph, 85
Hall, C., 77
Hall, Joseph, 88

Hamilton, William, 80
Harvey, James, 80
Johnson, Moore, 77

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 7: Attendees Davis to Garnarke

Davis, W.B., 81
Deland Hall, 71
Dowese, Samuel, 80

Drayor, W.L., 82
Duncan, Jere., 80
Eddlerman, Aaron, 81

Ewalt, Joseph,81
Foulke, Joseph, 83
French, Brown, 83

Fultzan, Isaac C., 74
Gaither, Henry, 82
Garnarke, Simeon, 82

--Brock-Perry

1872 Reunion-- Part 6: More Attendees Burns to Davis

Burns, Andrew, 77
Carrick, Eobert, 77
Clapper, John, 77

Clusin, Jas., 85
Conseign, A.O., 82
Combs, Leslie, 78

Correy, Jas., 75
Craddock, J.G., 84
Crawford, Alex, 81

Crawford, A.B., 82
Curtis, Alva, 71
Curtis, Dr., 78

Davis, Henry, 82
Davis, H.M., 79
Davis, Thos. A., 83

--Brock-Perry