Lt. Colonel Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 3: War of 1812 Veterans

K-106 --  Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and veterans of the War of 1812, July 4, 1871, by Simon Wing, Monroe, Michigan.  Copied from the unique, original, direct-contact albumen print, courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Commission.

Taken at the residence of Joseph Guyor, Guyonr's Island, two miles east of Monroe, Michigan.

TOP ROW:  John Beshear, John Clapper, age 76; Lieutenant Colonel George A, Custer; Francis Lazarre, age 82;  Jean DeChovin, age 72.

--Btock-Perry

Lt.Col. Custer and War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 2: Custer in 1871

The photograph was taken July 4, 1871.  The book has a timeline of Custer's life in the back of it.

The end of 1870 found Custer and his regiment at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

JAN. 11--  Custer is given 120 days leave to consider resigning from the Army.  Custer and his wife Libbie return to Monroe, Michigan.

From there, Custer travels to New York to investigate a financial career.

FEBRUARY--  Custer is in New York, hoping to sell some mining stock.

SUMMER--  Custer travels between Monroe, Michigan, and New York City.

JULY--  While in New York and Saratoga, Custer asks for and receives a 30-day extension on his leave.

JULY 4--  Custer is in Monroe, Michigan, for a reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812.

SEPTEMBER 3--  Custer is ordered to report to his new post at Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

NOVEMBER 20--  Custer and Libbie are in Lexington, Kentucky.  For two weeks they visit in Louisville and Cincinnati, Ohio.

--Brock-Perry

For Some More On Custer

I have also been writing about George Armstrong Custer in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.

He went to the USMA at West Point with James Barroll Washington from Baltimore and the two became great friends.  But, Washington (a distant relative of George Washington, joined the Confederacy in the Civil War.  he was captured at the Battle of Seven Pines and encountered Custer while a prisoner.

The two relived old days and sat for photographs.

--Brock-Perry

Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 2: Custer and River Raisin Massacres

George Armstrong Custer remembered the Raisin as well.  He spent much of his youth in Monroe, Michigan, the city that grew up along the River Raisin.

In 1871, he was photographed with War of 1812 veterans beside a monument to Americans slaughtered during and especially after the battle.

Five years later, George A, Custer also died fighting Indians, in one of the most lopsided defeats for U.S. forces since the River Raisin Battle 63 years before his massacre.

--Brock-Perry

Sept. 14, 1814: By the Dawn's Early Light, "The Star-Spangled Banner"

On this date in 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote his poem "The Defence of Fort McHenry" after witnessing the British bombardment of Baltimore's McHenry in Maryland during the War of 1812.

It was later set to music and renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and, you know the rest.

--Brock-Perry

Custer and the War of 1812-- Part 1: The River Raisin Massacre

From the Smithsonian Magazine  "The Ten Things You Didn't Know About the War of 1812" by Tony Horwitz and Brian Wolly.

Yesterday I wrote about a photograph of George Armstrong Custer and War of 1812 veterans taken in 1871.

7.  The Ill-fated  General Custer had his start in this war.

In 1813, by the River Raisin in Michigan, British and their Indian allies dealt the U.S. its most stinging defeat in the War of 1812, and the battle was followed by  an Indian attack on the wounded prisoners, often referred to as a massacre.  The incident sparked the American battle cry, "Remember the Raisin."

William Henry Harrison, who later led the U.S. to victory  against the British and Indians, is remembered on his tomb as the "Avenger of the Massacre of the River Raisin."

George Armstrong Custer grew up in Monroe, Michigan, located by the River Raisin.

Brock-Perry

Lt.Col. George Armstrong Custer and War of 1812 Veterans

From the book "Custer in Photographs" by D. Mark Katz.

Yesterday I bought this book at the Friends of the Woodstock (Illinois) Library book sale room.  It contains every known photograph of the man, at least up until the publish date in 1985.

Quite an accomplishment, but you can only look at so many pictures of Custer and it gets boring.

However, on page 90, I found a picture of him posing with War of 1812 veterans on July 4, 1871.  These were quite some elderly gentlemen back then.

Custer stands in the back row in one of his classic, but not in a military uniform, poses looking to his right whereas all the rest are looking forwards.

Could this be one of the largest gatherings of War of 1812 veterans ever photographed?    There are 19 of them in the picture.

--Brock-Perry

James Lingan-- Part 2: American Revolution "I'll Rot First"

James Lingan enlisted in the Continental Army just nine days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  He became a lieutenant in the Rawlings Additional Regiment, but was captured at Fort Washington on November 16, 1776.  James McHenry, for whom Fort McHenry in Baltimore was named, was also captured at this fort.

His imprisonment on the infamous prison hulk HMS Jersey.  He was initially kept in a cell where he could neither lie down or stand up.  A distant cousin, Samuel Hood, approached him and offered 10,000 pounds and a commission in the British Army to switch sides.  He reportedly answered, "I'll rot first."

He later gained the reputation as a defender of prisoner rights.  On one occasion, he defended the body of a recently deceased prisoner from guards who wanted to behead the corpse to make it fit into a small coffin.

He remained on the ship until the end of the war.

--Brock-Perry

Tinley Park Gets Piece of World Trade Center

From the September 6, 2016, NBC 5 Chicago News.  Al Romero.

The mangled wreckage of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York City is perhaps the most enduring image of the 9/11 attacks.  (For me, the image is of the towers with the smoke coming out of the upper stories against that beautiful blue sky.)

Now, Tinley Park, a Chicago suburb, will get a piece of it to build a memorial.  Firefighters from Tinley Park will travel to the New York area next week to pick up the beam.  They hope to have it back in time for the 10th anniversary commemoration and eventually the village hopes to have it included in a permanent memorial for first responders.

Fire departments across the country were offered pieces of the WTC wreckage.

Frankfort and Oak lawn are other Chicago-area communities where pieces of the wreckage are on display to honor  the first responders at the site.

James Lingan, Revolutionary War Hero and Victim of Baltimore Riots-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Born May 15, 1751   Died July 28, 1812 (age 61, Baltimore, Maryland)

Died in the Baltimore Riots

Officer in the Continental Army and a senior officer in the Maryland State Militia.

Taken prisoner at Fort Washington early in the American Revolution and spent several years aboard a British prison hulk ship.  Always and outspoken advocate of the freedom of the press, at  the beginning of the War of 1812, Lingan was murdered by a  while defending the office of an anti war Federalist newspaper in Baltimore.

--Brock-Perry

"Light-Horse Harry" Lee-- Part 5: Seriously Injured in the Riots and Death

Henry Lee III suffered serious and extensive internal injuries, as well as face and head wounds and even his speech was affected.  His observed symptoms were consistent with what today would be called post traumatic stress disorder.  He went home but was unable to heal and then he went to the West Indies in an effort to recuperate from his injuries.

On his way back to Virginia, he died March 25, 1818, at Dungeness on Cumberland Island, Georgia.  He was cared for there by Nathaniel Greene's daughter  Louisa.

"Light-Horse Harry" Lee was buried at a small cemetery in Dungeness with full military honors provided by the American fleet at St. Marys, Georgia.  In 1913, his remains were removed to the Lee family crypt at Lee Chapel on the campus of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

--Brock-Perry

"Light-Horse Harry" Lee-- Part 4: The Baltimore Riots of 1812

Lee retired from public service in 1801 and lived at Stratford Plantation, but did a poor job managing it.  Financial misfortunes followed him until in 1809 he was bankrupt and served one year in debtors prison.  After his release he moved his family to Alexandria, Virginia.

During the Baltimore Riots of 1812 he received grave injuries while resisting an attack on his old friend, Alexander Contee Hanson, editor of the Baltimore newspaper, the Federal Republican, a strongly anti-Madison and War of 1812 paper.

On July 27, 1812, a Baltimore Democrat-Republican mob attacked and Lee and Hanson and two dozen other Federalists had taken refuge in the newspaper offices.  They surrendered to Baltimore city officials the next day and were jailed for their safety.

Laborer George Woolslager led a mob that forced its way into the jail.  They removed Hanson, Lee and the other Federalists and beat and tortured them over the next three hours.  All were severely injured and one of them, James Lingan, and American Revolution hero, died.

--Brock-Perry

Henry Lee III-- Part 3: Politician and Marriages

Henry Lee organized the Virginia militia.  When war with Britain became imminent, Lee requested  asked President James Madison for a commission, but that didn't happen.

From 17886 to 1788, Lee was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and in 1788 a delegate  at the Virginia convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution.  From 1789 to 1791, he served in Virginia's General Assembly and then from 1791 to 1794, he was governor of Virginia.

Then, 1791 to 1801, he served as a U.S. Representative.  He gave a famous eulogy for former President Washington when he died. in 1799, with the words:  "First in war, First in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

He married twice and it was from the second one that Robert E. Lee was born.

--Brock-Perry

Henry Lee III-- Part 2: Hero of the American Revolution and How He Got the Nickname

During the American Revolution, he commanded a mixed group of infantry and cavalry called Lee's Legion where he won great acclaim of the leader of  light troops.

At that time, highly mobile groups of light cavalry provided valuable service not only during major battles, but also by  conducting reconnaissance and surveillance , engaging enemy troops during their movement, disrupting the delivery of supplies, raiding, skirmishing and expeditions behind enemy lines.

During his time in command of Lee's Legion, he gained the nickname "Light-Horse Harry."  After being awarded the Gold Medal by the Continental Congress, he was transferred to the southern theater and where he fought with Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, and where he captured many British outposts and distinguished himself.

He was present at the British surrender at Yorktown, but resigned from the Army shortly afterwards.

In 1794, George Washington put him in command of militia troops to defeat the Whiskey Rebellion then, in anticipation of war with France, he was appointed major general.  In 1808, President Jefferson  recommissioned him as major general in anticipation of war with England.

--Brock-Perry

Major General Henry Lee III-- Part 1: "Light-Horse Harry"

From Wikipedia.

One of the men almost killed while defending Alexander Contee Hanson, was a hero of the American Revolution and owner of a famous nick-name.  He would be Henry Lee III.

(January 29, 1756-March 25, 1818)

Was ninth governor of Virginia and a U.S. representative from Virginia.  His service during the American Revolution earned him the nickname by which he is probably best known, "Light-Horse Harry."  Lee was also the father of the Civil War's Robert E. Lee.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander Cortee Hanson-- Part 5: Belmont Estate

From Wikipedia.

Belmont Estate is now Belmont Manor Historic Park and is located in Elkridge, Maryland.  From the late 17th century until 1962 the property was privately owned.

It has been associated with important people during this time, but I will concentrate on Alexander Contee Hanson since I have been writing about him.

The plantation house, built around 1738 is an example of Colonial Georgian architecture.  Property now contains around 68 acres.  The land eventually was passed on to Priscilla, the wife of Alexander Contee Hanson.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander Cortee Hanson-- Part 4: His Grave

From Find-A-Grave.

ALEXANDER CONTEE HANSON

Birth:   27 February 1786
Annapolis, Maryland

Death   23 April  1819 (Age 39)
Elkridge, Maryland

Burial:  Hanson Family Burial Ground  This cemetery is located at his estate, "Belmont">
Elkridge, Maryland

There is more information about what I have already covered in the last several posts, but strangely, no mention of the Baltimore Riots of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander Cortee Hanson-- Part 3: After the Baltimore Riots

I had never heard of the Baltimore riots of 1812 before until I found out about Mayor  Edward Johnson of Baltimore's role in it.

After the Riots:  A Political Career

In 1812, Hanson was elected  as a Federalist representing the 3rd District of Maryland to the 13th and 14th Congresses, serving from  March 4, 1813, until he resigned in 1816.  he also became a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.

In 1816, he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Maryland House of Delegates, but was elected as a Federalist to the U.S. Senate to fill the tenure of Robert Goodloe Harper who had resigned.  He served that post from  December 20, 1816,  until his own death on his estate "Belmont"  near Elkridge, Maryland.  (This  place still stands.)

In 1805, he was married to Priscilla Dorsey.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander Cortee Hanson-- Part 2: The Baltimore Riot

Undeterred by this, Hanson reissued the paper on July 28 from another building where he was joined by a group of armed friends to protect him.  When the mob came again, they besieged the building and Hanson and his group opened fire, killing two of the mob.

On the morning of July 29, Hanson and his group surrendered to Baltimore's local militia and were escorted to jail.

That evening, the mob came back and stormed the jail and Hanson was beaten and left for dead.    James Lingan, a military officer who came to Hanson's defense, died as a result of the violence.  Also, Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee, hero of the American Revolution and father of future Confederate General Robert R. Lee, was there and was injured.

Alexander Hanson recovered, though, and moved his paper to Georgetown, District of Columbia, where he published it unmolested.  He later moved to Rockville, Maryland.

And You Think Things Are Bad Now?  At Least They Weren't Pulling Down Statues.  --Brock-Perry

Alexander Cortee Hanson and the Baltimore Lynch Mob-- Part 1

In the last post I mentioned how Baltimore Mayor Edward Johnson risked his life to save this man and Robert E. Lee's father, Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee from a lynch mob in Baltimore in 1812.  I'd never heard of this before so some more research was in order.

From Wikipedia.

February 27, 1786 to April 23, 1819

Lawyer, publisher and statesman.  Born in Annapolis, Maryland.

He studied law and was admitted to the Maryland bar and had a practice in Annapolis.  From 1811 to 1815, he was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.

Hanson established and edited the Federalist Republican an extreme Federalist newspaper in Baltimore.  On June 22, 1812, four days after the declaration of war on Britain, a mob that was irritated by  his articles denouncing the Madison administration destroyed his office.

Anti-Federalists?  --Brock-Perry