The Hurricane of 1812 Hits New Orleans-- Part 2: A Category 4 Storm?

French consul in New Orleans, Louis Tousard wrote a letter to a friend describing it.

He said "the waters of the lake and the waters of the river married and churned.  There were over ten feet of water that killed animals and men.  It destroyed houses."

The final words of his letter said that if it went on for another few hours, there would be no one to tell what happened.

It is believed that the Hurricane of 1812 was a Category Four level storm.  Oer a hundred people perished.

The American Meteorological Society believes the hurricane moved nto land somewhere southeast of New Orleans with winds over one hundred miles an hour.

--Brock-Perry

Did a Tornado Save D.C.?-- Part 3: The Admiral and the Lady's 'Interposition of Providence'

Obviously shocked and surprised by the violent weather, the British decided it was time to leave.

A local D.C. weatherman wrote:

"As the British troops  were preparing to leave,  a conversation was noted between the British admiral (Sir George Cockburne and a Washington lady regarding the storm.  The admiral explained, 'Great God, madam!  Is this the kind of storm to which you are accustomed in this  infernal country?'  

The lady answered, 'No sir, this is special  interposition of Providence to drive our enemies from our city.'  

The admiral replied, 'Not so, madam.  It is rather to aid your enemies in the destruction of your city.' "

Saved by a Tornado?   --Brock-Perry

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Did a Tornado Save Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812?-- Part 1

From the May 7, 2022, SOFREP.com "Did a tornado save Washington, D.C. from being razed to the ground?"

On the night of August  24, 1814, British troops entered the nation's capital with the intent of destruction.  They set fire to the U.S. Capitol and what is now known as the White House.

The U.S. Capitol survived, though the Senate wing was badly damaged since it was the oldest part of the structure with wooden floors and the books and manuscripts of the Library of Congress.

Washingtonians were used to scorching summer heat and damaging storms.  The day of the invasion, the temperature was at 100 degrees, excellent conditions for the burning of the city.  Much of the city was aflame as the British continued their destruction.

But, the skies began to darken and there was sharp  lightning accompanied with loud claps of thunder.  The people of D.C. knew what was coming and that was a big storm.  They took shelter but the British didn't.  England gets plenty of rain, but usually without the storm.  And, a big one, as it turns out, was on the way.

--Brock-Perry

River Raisin Event Held in Bad Weather-- Part 2

This year, the musket demonstrations were visible from the front porch of the visitor center, where most took advantage of watching it.  The River Raisin could be seen in the background.

The ceremony took place shortly afterward in the front yard and featured a series of flag postings and wreaths, accompanied by salutes.  Representatives of the Essex and Kent Regiment of Canada, the Wyandot of Anderdon (Indians), local military veterans, park  volunteers and Cub Scout Pack  547 of Monroe were among the participants.

During one flag ceremony, a War of 1812-era US. flag  was used.  It had fifteen stars and 15 stripes.

Like in 813, this commemoration took place in winter conditions.  Ralph Naveaux of Monroe, whose years of volunteering at the battlefield go back to when it was a Monroe County park, said the conditions on January 18, 1813,  included 18-inches of snow on the ground, topped by a thin layer of ice.

Six inches of snow fell on the Monroe area Friday night into Saturday, followed by sleet and rain.

The battlefield park center at 1403 E. Elm Avenue is a long-time home for  historical and educational programs.  A long-range plan for development on both sides of the river has been dubbed the River Raisin Heritage Corridor plan.

--Brock-Perry

Sackets Harbor Battlefield Museum Requires Roof Work-- Part 2

The Hall House is home to an exhibit that tells the story of the War of 1812 from a different perspective.  "It's about understanding the War of 1812 through archaeology," said Connie Barone.

Despite the damage to the building, as far as they can tell, there were no problems for its contents

"Metal objects, the archaeological materials, can be subjected to rust.  If, all of the sudden, their surface temperature is really cold, like your ice glass and you get condensation on that, condensation on metal items causes rust," said Chris Flagg.

Both Flagg and Barone will be monitoring the collection for the next two days.

If the heat isn't turned on by then, metal objects, paintings and textiles from the exhibit will be moved across the street to the Lieutenant's House.

--Brock-Perry

Sackets Harbor Battlefield Museum Requires Roof Work from Recent Storm-- Part 1

 From the Nov. 2, 2019, WWNY TV 7 News  "Quick work to repair roof on Sackets Harbor museum" by Keir Chapman.

The historic Hall House at the Sackets  Harbor Battlefield is missing half of its roof after heavy winds on Friday morning (Nov. 1).

"The side toward the village  is the portion that blew off in two large pieces, said Connie Barone, site manager of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield,  "This is not the time of the year when you want the roof off a building."

The roof is expected to be patched up by Sunday.  Crews were already on site Saturday morning working on it.

However, the upcoming wet weather is a threat to the artifacts in the house which serves as a museum.  "I believe there's rain in the forecast tomorrow, possibly Monday, Tuesday.  So with the roof wide open like that, you want to keep water out of the building.  Water is your worst enemy," said Chris Flagg, director for the Bureau of Historic Sites.

--Brock-Perry

Hamilton Markers: The Scourge and Hamilton

From HMdb.

"HAMILTON-SCOURGE PROJECT
WAR OF 1812 NAVAL MEMORIAL GARDEN

"We honour here fifty-three sailors who lost their lives  when their ships, HAMILTON and SCOURGE, capsized during a storm in the early morning hours of Sunday, 8th August 1813.  These two armed merchant schooners lie in  90 metres of water, 30 kilometres northeast of this site, intact, and perfectly  preserved with their guns and equipment still in place.

"A replica of the foremast of the SCOURGE is flanked by  fifty-three markers similar to those in Allied military cemeteries throughout the world."

These two ships were American.

--Brock-Perry

Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, NY-- Part 2: The Founder of National Weather Service

Some more notable burials in the cemetery:

Brigadier General Albert Myer--  Founder of the National Weather Service

Ely Parker--  Civil War aide to General Grant.

Rick James--  musician

Barbara Franklin--  Mother of Aretha Franklin

War of 1812 Veterans:  Stephen Champlin, Navy officer and Joseph Willcocks

George M. Pierce--  Pierce-Arrow Automobiles.

Civil War Veterans:  Thomas A. Budd, Navy and Daniel Bidwell, Army

Some Interesting People.  --Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 8: Frostbite Prevalent

DECEMBER 24, 1812

His troops decimated by freezing weather, Campbell arrived back at Fort Greenville.  More than 300 of his troops suffered from frostbite.

He allowed the Indian women and children to ride captured Indian horses on the return trip.  The captives were escorted to Indian settlements at Piqua.

--Brock-Perry