War of 1812 Encampment at Old Fort Niagara-- Part 2: Schedule of Events

Scheduled demonstrations:

**  Infantry drills and firing at 10:30 daily

**  Artillery firing at 11 daily

**  Uniforms of the War of 1812 at 11:30 daily

**  Musket firing at noon, 1, , 2, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday and noon, 1, 2, 4 and 5 p.m. Sunday

**  Regency women's fashions at 12:30 daily

**  "Hot Shot" artillery firing at 1:30 daily

**  Firepower weapon's program at 3:30 Saturday and 2:30 Sunday

There will also be a tour of  Fort Niagara in the War of 1812 at 3:15 p.m. Sunday.

Sounds Like a Great Time.  --Brock-Perry

Three 'Dirty' Tricks the British Used on Hull at Detroit-- Part 2: Hull Court-Martialed

They also got the arms and weapons the Americans had in Fort Detroit.  And because of the stunning victory, Indian ally Tecumseh was able to rally even more Indians to his anti-American side and Brock was then able to thtreaten upstate New York.

William Hull was court-martialed and sentenced to death for the surrender, but the sentence was commuted by President James Madison.

Here are the three "dirty" tactics British General Isaac Brock used to cower Revolutionary War veteran William Hull:

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1.  THEY USED OLD BRITISH UNIFORMS

The total number of  British forces attacking Fort Detroit was around 1,330 and the bulk of Brock's forces were militia members, not the vaunted British regulars that might make the Americans think twice about attacking (or even defending).

He did have some 300 British regulars, but not enough to get the psychological  effect he wanted, so he used old, cast-off coats of regulars.  He dressed his Essex militiamen in as many red British uniforms as he could find.  This made it appear to the Americans that he had more regulars than he actually did.

--Brock-Perry

Glengarry Light Infantry-- Part 5: Uniforms and Equipment

When Governor General Sir James Craig first tried to form the unit he proposed that it wear the dress of the Scottish highland regiments with a Glengarry tartan plaid.  Prevost intended the unit to be used as a skirmishing light infantry and it adopted a dark green uniform with black facings as worn by the 95th Rifles.

However, they were armed with the smoothbore Brown Bess musket rather than the Baker Rifle.

Also, unlike the 95th, the Glengarry Light Infantry were granted colors.

The regimental badge, worn on the  front of the shako  (cap), was a strung bugle on which the letters "G L I" were superimposed in white metal.  The crossbelt featured the thistle surrounded by   the words "Glengarry Light Infantry."

Officers' uniforms consisted of a dark green dolman and pantaloons, with a crimson sash. They also wore a black shoulder sash, with a silver whistle and chain.  Their shako  badge was the same design as that of other ranks, but was of solver.  They may also  have had a dark green pelisse (a short fur trimmed jacket), with black chords and black fur trim.

Now You Know.  --Brock-Perry

The Traveling Body of Captain Gwinn-- Part 4: Getting the Captain Moved to a Better Burial Spot

Letters were written to the Philadelphia Record, the Naval Historical Foundation, the National Naval Liaison Officer of the VFW and the Philadelphia  County Committee of the VFW suggesting the exhumation of Captain Gwinn and his wife Caroline, and reburial at Arlington National Cemetery.

A new coffin was made  to hold the couple's remains.  During the transfer from the old coffin to the new one, 22 uniform buttons were removed from the which is a testament to the enduring  quality  of the U.S. Naval officer's garments. still intact uniform coat.

The moment of exhumation also afforded a closer look at Captain Gwinn himself, as no other images  are known to exist (which is why I just had a picture of his gravestone).  

The undertaker in charge of the project, Charles O'Neill, who was also commander of the Liberty Bell Post 1906, VFW, remarked "...never [have I seen] such large jaw bones as those of Captain Gwinn, also that there were four teeth missing, and in addition, that Captain Gwinn had red or auburn hair.  Might also add that when the grave digger took hold of the skull of Captain Gwinn [it] broke in half across the skull."

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin-- Part 19: Capture of the Tigress and Scorpion

In the spring of 1814, Stephen Champlin,  now in command of the Tigress (along with Captain Turner who now commanded the Scorpion) blockade Port Mackinac.  Their two vessels cruised Lake Huron for several months and cut off supplies to the British garrison.

Both ships were captured on the night of September 3, 1814, near Midland, Ontario, by a combined force of one hundred British and three hundred Indians who first approached the Tigress by canoe under the cover of darkness.  By the time they were spotted by the crew of the Tigress it was too late.

The British then sailed toward the Scorpion with the American flag still flying and the British dressed in American uniforms.

Sneaky British.  --Brock-Perry

Ohio Militia: Of Uniforms and Officer Swords

The Ohio Militia Act of 1803 directed companies to wear, "while on parade (practice), such uniform as agreed on by majority of company, and approved by the commanding officer of the regiment."

Militia Acts of 1809 and 1811 required field officers to carry swords as a mark of rank.

The militia acts recognized that militia men would not want to purchase expensive military uniforms for just two day's drill a year and most wore civilian garb when they assembled for muster.

--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

Lt.Col. William Sutherland Hamilton-- Part 2: His Coat Is in Louisiana

From the Artist Preservation Group, Inc.(APG)  April 2013 "The uniform coat of Lt.Col. William S. Hamilton, 3rd U.S. Infantry."

The APG was approached in 2013 to see if they could give help in preserving the officer's coat.  They contributed $2,500 to it of the expected $35,000 cost.

The rare wool coat of William Sutherland Hamilton was given to the Louisiana State Museum in 1923 by members of his family.

Hamilton was in the 3rd U.S. Infantry early in the War of 1812 and the rifle regiment later.

He was born in North Carolina in 11787 and served in the 3rd U.S. before the war.

his family had cotton plantation interests in Louisiana and his father relocated there.

--Brock-Perry