Major Andrew Hunter Holmes-- Part 2: His Duel

Andrew Holmes fought a duel with a man named Peyton Smith near present-day Shepherdstown, West Virginia.  Both men were from prominent families in and around Winchester, Virginia.  Andrew killed Peyton.

This was one of three famous duels that took place which caused the Virginia legislature to pass the Anti-Dueling Act in 1810.

Mortified at killing his friend, Holmes left Winchester and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

As a member of the U.S. Dragoons, young Captain Holmes first military assignments were in Louisiana chasing smuggler and prate Jean Lafitte.  Lafitte managed to evade them for months, but was finally captured.

--Brock-Perry

The HMS Sappho-- Part 4: After the War of 1812

The Sappho recaptured the brig San Francisco Navier on 3 December and on 1 Jan. 1814, captured the Ann.  After that it underwent repairs at Chatham in 1815 and was recommissioned in 1818.

After that it was involved in stopping the smuggling trade.  On 13 August 1820 it captured the American vessel Liberty and August 14th, the Clinton  On 12 October 1820, it captured the American schooner Maria smuggling 400 bales of tobacco.

On 14 September 1824, the Sappho arrived in Halifax with some damage from a storm and was stranded on Sisters Rocks.  The incoming tide floated her.  On September 25th, she arrived at Quebec and shortly afterwards was wrecked on the Canadian coast and condemned.

It was broken up in Halifax in 1830.

--Brock=Perry

War of 1812 Timeline for April, 1814: Napoleon's Abdication Really Bad News for Americans

APRIL 1, 1814: Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane was appointed to command the Royal Navy's North American Station. 

APRIL 4TH: French emperor Napoleon abdicates, enabling the British to send more men and ships to North America. 

This was a really bad thing for the United States. After Napoleon's defeat, Britain picked up its pace on all North American fronts. With more ships available, Cochrane increased pressure on the Chesapeake and extended the blockade northward to include all of the New England states. This extension stifled the licensed trade and Halifax merchants loudly protested. Meanwhile, New Brunswick counterparts were deeply involved in smuggling with Americans. 

Cochrane ignored the protests, but, even with more ships, was unable to effectively seal the increased blockaded areas, especially in New England where smuggling was rampant. 

--Brock-Perry

Hell's Gate, Vermont

Definitely an interesting name that I came across when writing in my Civil War Navy blog concerning the capture of  a blockade-runner at Hell Gate, Georgia.  I'd never heard of it so had to do some more research. Turns out, it is a channel near Savannah.  Then, I found out the captured runner became a US Navy ship on blockade duty and also towed a monitor to South Carolina.  Its first commander went on to become a rear admiral and commanded the monitor USS Saugus at the Battles of Fort Fisher.

Well, anyway, back to this Hell's Gate in Vermont.  Turns out it is a name that a Vermont town is called and that it got that name from the War of 1812.  I'd never heard of a Georgia, Vermont.

From the Hell's Gate Vineyard site.

Georgia, Vermont was given that during the War of 1812.  An embargo on Canadian goods was established. The war was not popular among New Englanders in general.  Vermonters began a substantial trade with Canada in spite of the embargo.

The citizens of Georgia, however, chose to support it and created a blockade to stop the illegal trade causing the smugglers to give the town the name "Hell's Gate."  That name stuck for many years, even after those who remembered why it came to be were gone.

Today, the town, located in Franklin County and bordering Canada, has a population of 4,375.

Civil War General George J. Stannard was born there and cmmanded Vermont troops.  After the war, he served as Doorkeeper to the US House of Representatives.

Stuff You Didn't Know.  --Brock-Perry