War of 1812 Museum in Plattsburgh, NY

From the Jan. 10, 2014, Denton Publications "New director at War of 1812 Museum" by Shawn Ryan.

Plattsburgh, NY. The War of 1812 Museum, operated by the Battle of Plattsburgh Association has a change of directors. Dave Deno is taking over for manager Tammy Brown.

The museum now features the "Battle of Lake Champlain" painting by nationally renowned artist Julian Davidson. The current exhibit "Smuggling, Soldiering, Shipyards and Skirmishes: Prelude to the Battle of Plattsburgh" opened in March 2012 and presents the events leading up to the battle in chronological order.

The museum is open Wed-Sat. 10 AM to 3 PM at 31 Washington Road, Plattsburgh, New York.

--Brock-Perry

Lots of War of 1812 Bicentennial Events Around Toledo-- Part 2

After their unsuccessful attack on Fort Meigs, the British attacked tiny Fort Stephenson, 40 miles away, near Fremont, Ohio. That attack also failed but was commemorated this past August.

Of course, the biggest commemoration marked the pivotal September 10, 1813, Battle of Lake Erie "We have met the enemy...." Fifteen tall ships took part in it.

The Toledo Museum of Art has an exhibit "Perry's Victory: The Battle of Lake Erie" which has drawn nearly 30,000 visitors.

--Brock-Perry

Lots of War of 1812 Bicentennial Events Around Toledo in 2013-- Part 1

From the Jan. 3, 2014, Toledo (Ohio) Free Press "Newsmakers 2013: War of 1812 bicentennial brought history to life" by Frank Kurow.

Re-enactors and thousands of spectators brought the war to life in the northern Ohio (then called the Northwest Territory) area in 2013.

The year 1813 began with American forces moving north into southern Michigan to Frenchtown (now Monroe, Michigan). In January 2013, the River Raisin Battlefield National Park honored those who fell at the River Raisin Massacre.

In May 1813 and again in July, British, Canadian and Indian forces attacked Fort Meigs, but failed. Three days were devoted to the fort's commemoration in July 2013 and a memorial to the Kentuckians who served in the battles was dedicated.

At nearby Fort Miamis, a marker was dedicated to the British 41st Regiment of Foot.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Cannon (Possibly From the HMS Nimrod)-- Part 4

Stonington's 3-pounder was restored in time for the 190th anniversary in August 2004. Then, it was sent to the Maryland Archaeology Conservation Laboratory and had corrosives removed. Two cannonballs were found with traces of gunpowder which had to be removed carefully (good idea). It was then coated with a solution to make it rust-resistant. It came back to Stonington and a reproduction carriage built for it.

It is too fragile to be exhibited outside of the historical society which does not have enough room for the 1800 pound cannon so it has been housed in a storage shed the last eight years.

Falmouth has now obtained the Stonington cannon.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Cannon (Possibly From the HMS Nimrod)-- Part 3: "If You Want Our Cannons...."

Recent investigation, however, reveals that the cannons are too old to be from the Nimrod. They might even date back to the Revolutionary War. Plus, Stonington was attacked after the cannons were dumped from the Nimrod so either way, the Stonington cannon would not have been from that ship.

The cannons were kept in a vat of non-corrosive saltwater to leach the many years of salt out.

In January 1814, the Nimrod demanded that Falmouth surrender its two brass cannons are else. The Americans supposedly replied, "If you want our cannons you can come and get them, and we will give you what's in them first."

After this refusal, the Nimrod opened fire. Several Falmouth buildings still bear scars from that bombardment, including the one with the Nimrod cannonball.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Cannon (Possibly From HMS Nimrod) Finds New Home on Cape Cod-- Part 2

The HMS Nimrod was one of many British ships blockading the coasts of New England and Long Island Sound during the war. It captured and destroyed several American privateers in 1814. It also attacked Falmouth on January 29th and then Wareham and Stonington.

The greatest damage was done at Wareham where 225 British soldiers burned a cotton factory and heavily damaged many vessels, including 17 from Falmouth which had gone upriver for safety.

In 1981, underwater archaeologists sponsored by the Kendall Whaling Museum discovered the five cannons, a carronade and other debris off Round Hill, Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It was decided that they were probably from the Nimrod as it par\trolled the area. They gave a cannon to each town the Nimrod attacked.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Stonington Cannon (Possibly HMS Nimrod) Finds New Home on Cape Cod-- Part 1

From the Jan. 18, 2014, Stonington-Mystic (Connecticut) Patch "Historic Stonington Cannon Finds New Home on Cape Cod."

The Stonington Historical Society handed over an old cannon to a historical society on Cape Cod on January 18th as part of that group's plans to commemorate a British ship's bombardment of that town.

Stonington got the cannon in 2000 from the Kendall Whaling Museum (now part of the New Bedford Whaling Museum). It was part of the five recovered in 1981 from the water at Buzzard's Bay, west of Cape Cod. The guns are presumed to be from the British ship Nimrod, 18 guns, jettisoned while trying to navigate shallow waters. The Nimrod later joined a British fleet in bombarding Stonington Borough from August 9-12, 1814.

The Nimrod was a two-year-old Cruizer-class brig at the time and had joined the HMS Ramillies (74-gun ship-of-the-line), HMS Pactolus (44-gun frigate) and HMS Dispatch (22-gun brig) and bomb ship HMS Terror.

--Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner and Song Are United-- Part 3

Visitors will be more familiar with the flag which was given to the Smithsonian by the family of Major George Armistead, commander of Fort McHenry during the attack. He was also the one who commissioned the huge banner to be made. (His nephew, Lewis Addison Armistead, later was killed while a general in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. So it is likely that the flag was in southern hands during the war.)

Except for a brief period during World War II, when the flag was housed in Virginia for safe-keeping, it has been in Washington, D.C., ever since the early 1900s.

Francis Scott Key's manuscript was purchased by the Maryland Historical Society in the 1950s and kept at their museum except for two times.

In 2011, it was taken by armored vehicle and police escort to Maryland's State Capitol in Annapolis and then to Fort McHenry. In 2013, it was taken to Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Md., where Key is buried.

"Oh Say Can You...." --Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner and Song Are United-- Part 2

Francis Scott Key was a 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet and watched the Fort McHenry bombardment from a British ship for 24 hours. He was there attempting to get the release of an American who had been taken prisoner. When he saw the Stars and Stripes flying proudly the next morning after that huge bombardment, it inspired him to put his thoughts to pen.

It was originally called "The Defense of Fort McHenry" and later set to music. It became the official National Anthem in 1931.

He wrote the four stanzas (though most often only the first is sung)with quill and ink. He first wrote "Oh say can you see through the dawn's early light" but crossed out "through" and wrote "by."

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

The Star-Spangled Banner and Song Are United-- Part 1

From the Jan. 8, 2014, Yahoo! News, AP "Star-Spangled Banner, song to be reunited in D.C." by Jessica Gresko.

The original hand-written manuscript of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the flag that inspired it will be displayed together at the Smithsonian for what some believe to be the first time ever that the two have been shown side-by-side.

The manuscript normally resides at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore and the flag has been at the Smithsonian since the early 1900s.

The two will be displayed together from Flag Day on June 14th to July 6th, 3 weeks, in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of it being written September 14, 1814.

--Brock-Perry

War in the Chesapeake-- Part 2: Battle of St. Leonard Creek

From the Maryland Department of Planning, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.

During the war, the British controlled the Chesapeake Bay. Commodore Joshua Barney assembled a rag-tag fleet of 18 small gunboats, barges and sloops and on June 8-10 and again on June 26th, met the British fleet at the Battle of St. Leonard Creek where the Patuxentt River meets the mouth of St. Leonard Creek, right on the shore of the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (JPPM).

Barney's fleet were supported on the shore by American Army, Marines and militia.

Cannonballs, musket shot and other military objects have been found on the grounds.

Barney's heavily outguned fleet was able to escape.

Local figures from the battle are tied to the JPPM property: John Stuart Skinner, a a farmer, journalist and owner of the Point Farm during the war; Joshua Barney, commander of the American fleet and Charles Ball, one of at least three blacks in the American flotilla, were all Calvert County natives.

--Brock-Perry

War in the Chesapeake-- Part 1" Calvert County

From the Jan. 6, 2014, Southern Maryland News Net.

Calvert County was impacted by the war by the British push on Washington, DC, in 1814. British raiding parties seized supplies from county citizens and set fire to local farms and burned the county courthouse down.

The largest naval engagement in Maryland took place over a two-day period at St. Leonard Creek.

A full series of bicentennial events are planned for the county this year, biggest of which will be the re-eneactment of the Battle of St. Leonard Creek.

--Brock-Perry

Jahaziel Sherman Shipyard in Vergennes

Last week, I wrote about Commander Thomas Macdonough's fleet being built at Jahaziel Sherman Shipyard at Vergennes, Vermont. I wasn't able to find out much about the shipyard or the man.

I did find that he was born in Massachusetts in 1770 and died 21 October 1844 and is buried in Old Cemtery in Vergennes.. In 1831, he had another man built him the schooner Water Witch whose shipwreck has been found.

Other than that, I have nothing.

--Brock-Perry

Vergennes, Vermont Involved in War of 1812-- Part 2

In the late summer of 1814, British general Sir George Provost and a naval force under Captain George Downie attacked Plattsburgh. The outnumbered American fleet under Commander Thomas Macdonough defeated the British fleet off Cumberland Head and Prevost then retreated.

Some argue that the victory at the Battle of Plattsburgh led to the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war.

The Vergennes Maritime Museum is hosting "1814: From War to Peace" with the floating museum Lois McClure, a replica of a 19th century lake freighter.

Nothing remains of the Vergennes shipyards that built the American fleet, but Vermont artist Ernie Haas has painted a scene of what the ship construction probably looked like.

The Battle of Plattsburgh Association is commissioning a mural of the battle scheduled to be ready by the bicentennial of the battle on September 11, 2014.

--Brock-Perry

The Monkton Iron Works in Vergennes

From the Vergennes, Vermont town site.

I hadn't heard of these ironworks so did a bit more research on them.

The Monkton Iron Works operated from 1806-1816 and was started by a group of Boston businessmen. According to Wikipedia, at one time, it was the largest ironworks in the United States.

The success of the company coincided with the War of 1812. The Navy placed an order for 300 tons of cannon shot with them. Commodore Macdonough picked Vergennes to construct his fleet because of the ironworks, Juhazil Sherman's shipyard and the difficulty of approaching Vergennes from Lake Champlain.

Great pride came to Vergennes after Macdonough's victory on Lake Champlain at the Battle of Plattsburgh as well as General Samuel Strong's operations on land.

The company went out of business shortly after the war ended, sending the town into a depression.

Brock-Perry

Vergennes, Vermont, Involved in War of 1812

From the Jan. 3, 2014, Telegraph, AP "Vt. museum celebrating 200 years since War of 1812" by Wilson Ring, AP.

Two hundred years ago, the land around Otter Creek in what is now Vergennes, Vermont, had thousands of shipwrights from New York and elsewhere spending the winter and building an American fleet which would later in the year meet the British fleet on Lake Champlain in what is called the Battle of Plattsburgh.

In the winter of 1813-1814, they built this fleet seven miles upstream from Lake Champlain and just below the falls which helped power the Monkton Iron Works which provided metal fittings for the 26-gun USS Saratoga, 20-gun Eagle, 14-gun Ticonderoga and some smaller gunboats.

Meeting the British Next. --Brock-Perry

January 1814 Timeline

JANUARY 16-24:

British Raid on Franklin County, New York.

JANUARY 22:

Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek.

JANUARY 24:

Battle of Enotachopco.

JANUARY 27TH: Battle of Calabec Creek.

JANUARY 29TH:

Citizens of Saint John, New Brunswick respond overwhelmingly to request for sleds and sleighs to transport a group of Royal Navy seamen to Frederickton en route to the Canades.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Ships-of-the-Line: USS Ohio, USS North Carolina

USS OHIO-- Built in Brooklyn Naval Yard. Laid down in 1817 and launched in 1820. Recommissioned for Mexican War. In ordinary in Boston, then receiving ship until 1875 and then sold.

USS NORTH CAROLINA-- Laid down in 1818 in Philadelphia Navy Yard. Commissioned 1824 and decommissioned 1867. Served as receiving ship in New York City.

Well, we had them, but they really didn't accomplish too much.

This finishes U.S. Ships-of-the-Line.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 8: USS Virginia-- USS New York

USS VIRGINIA-- Authorized in 1816 and built at the Boston Navy Yard. Finished 1825 and kept on stocks and never commissioned. Broken up in 1874.

USS NEW YORK-- Built in Norfolk but never launched. Burned 20 April 1861 to prevent capture by Confederates.

--Brock-Perry

Essex Goes to NRHP for Raid-- Part 2

Essex, Connecticut was attacked by the British because it was a regular hotbed for privateering.. The town, called Pettipaug back then, had lost a lot of trade and commerce because of the British blockade on Long Island Sound and had turned to privateering to make money.

The traditional belief was that when the British attacked, Essex gave up without a fight. For years the town marked the anniversary of the date with a parade on "Loser's Day" as it was referred to, but researchers have now found evidence of intense fighting.

There is also evidence of a shipwrecked privateer which was discovered in the Connecticut River in several feet of water this past September. It is off Watrous Point, a mile south of Essex Harbor. The ship has long since disintegrated, but tell-tale ballast stones have been found.

The National Park Service oversees the American Battlefield Protection Program and expects to rule on the application this spring on the bicentennial of the raid.

--Brock-Perry

The Wreck of the USS New Hampshire/Granite State-- Part 3

From the Metro West Dive Club site.

The New Hampshire was being towed by the tug Perth Amboy and five days out of New York City when it sank for the second time.

The first time it sank was May 23, 1921, in the Hudson River while tied up at 96th Pier in NYC. Oil from a leaking Standard Oil Co. pipe had pooled around the hulk and it was ignited by a passing captain's gig.

Not only was the New Hampshire destroyed, but also a 3-story naval office, storehouse and the captain's gig.

Low water pressure hampered efforts to extinguish the fire, but the crew managed to flood the ship's magazines and avoid a disasterous explosion. The hull settled into the mud.

In August 1921, the hull was sold at auction for $5,000. Along with wood and fittings, the ship's hull was sheathed in 100 tons of copper.

--Brock-Perry

The Wreck of the USS New Hampshire/Granite State-- Part 2

From Wreckhunter.

The ship was lost July 26, 1922, on the east side of Graves Island by Manchester, Massachusetts. The hull is very broken up and now lies mostly buried in the sand. It was too bad that this ship was not properly cared for and as a result lost as there are no surviving United States ships-of-the-line.

They Were Very Impressive Tall Ships. --Brock-Perry

The Wreck of the USS New Hampshire/Granite State-- Part 1

In the earlier entry today, I mentioned that the USS New Hampshire/Granite State caught fire and sank in 1921. I did a follow up on it, and even though it had nothing to do with the War of 1812, I will write about it in this blog as a follow up.

From the Shipwreck Expo site.

The New Hampshire was 208-feet long, 51-foot beam and weighed 2633 tons.

In May 1921, the ship caught fire and burned into a smouldering hulk and sank in New York City. In August, the charred hull was sold for scrap. In July 1922, the hull was raised and taken in tow to Eastport, Maine. While being towed, another fire started..

The tug rescued the two men aboard, but the fire finished off the old ship which drifted onto shoals at Graves Island, Massachusetts.

Its remains are scattered in 10-40 feet of water. Divers can find copper spikes that were hand-wrought ay Paul Revere's factory. The "US" stamped on their shanks indicate approval of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships.

--Sad End to a Grand Old Ship. --Brock-Perry

US Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 7: USS Vermont and New Hampshire

The USS VERMONT was ordered 29 April 1816 and launched in 1848 but not commissioned until 1862. It was not struck from Navy lists until 1901. After launching in 1848, it remained in ordinary in Boston Navy Yard until the Civil War when it was needed as a storage and receiving ship for the South Atlantic Blockading Fleet (SABS) based in Port Royal, S.C..

It was later also used as an ordnance and hospital ship.

In 1864, the Vermont was replaced by her sister ship, the USS New Hampshire. After that, it remained in the Brooklyn Navy Yard for 37 years.

USS NEW HAMPSHIRE-- Originally to be named the Alabama, it was launched in 1819 but not commissioned until 1864. In 1864, it replaced the USS Vermont at Port Royal, SC, and became a receiving ship for the SABS.

During the 1880s, it was used as training ship at the USNA and later became the receiving ship at New London, Connecticut 1891-1892.

After that, it became the training ship of the New York Naval Militia where an estimated 1,000 officers and men learned seamanship who fought in the Spanish-American War.

It was renamed the Granite State in 1904, to free up the name for the battleship New Hampshire (BB-25). After that, it was stationed in the Hudson River and provided training for naval personnel who fought in World War I. In 1921, it caught fire and sank.

--Brock-Perry

Essex Goes for NRHP for Raid-- Part 1

From the Jan. 10, 2014, Hartford (Ct.) Courant "Essex Researchers To Submit Sites For Historic Register" by Erik Hesselberg.

Several sites along the Connecticut River played a key role in the famed 1814 British Raid on Essex, Connecticut, when 27 American ships were burned, will be submitted for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This is the result of six years of study by researchers in the Battlefield Essex Project, coordinated by the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.

The researchers were identifying sites along the river linked to the raid by 136 Royal Marines who stormed ashore and burned the town's fleet (and some of the ships were still in their stocks while under construction).

--Brock-Perry

US Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 6: USS America, Pennsylvania and Delaware

USS AMERICA-- America;'s first ship-of-the-line, launched in 1782, 76-guns, given to France.

USS PENNSYLVANIA-- Mounted 140 guns. One of nine ships-of-the-line authorized by Congress 29 April 1816. Built in Philadelphi Navy Yard. Only sailed once and then placed in ordinary at Norfolk Navy Yard until 1842 when it became the port's receiving ship. Burned 20 April 1861 to prevent capture by Confederates.

USS DELAWARE-- Laid down August 1817 and commissioned 1828. In ordinary at Norfolk in 1844 and burned 20 April 1861 to prevent capture by Confederates.

--Brock-Perry

US Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 5

USS COLUMBUS-- 74-guns. Launched 1819. Sunk at Norfolk Navy Yard 20 April 1861 to prevent capture by Confederates.

USS FRANKLIN-- Launched August 1815, 74-guns. Broken up 1852.

USS WASHINGTON-- Launched 25, August 1815, 74-guns. Broken up 1843.

USS INDEPENDENCE-- 90-guns. In 1836 it was redecked and re-rated as a 54-gun frigate. Served in the Mexican War. In 1859, made a receiving ship in San Francisco and served there until decommissioned in 1912. Burned to recover metal fittings.

--Brock-Perry

January 1814 Timeline-- Part 2: CVreek War Continues, American Delegates to Europe for Peace Negotiations

During the month of January, gunboats were under construction at Coteau-du-Lac in Lower Canada.

Also, American delegates traveled to Europe to begin peace negotiations.

January to March, the Creek War continued in the Mississippi Territory.

JANUARY 10, 1814, today, 200 years ago: An American patrol was captured by Lower Canada militia at Clough's Farm near Missisiquoi Bay, Lower Canada.

--Brock-Perry

United States Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 4: The Ships and Classes

From Wikipedia "Lists of Ships of the Line in the United States Navy."

CONTINENTAL NAVY: USS America, given to France in 1782. There were three others. One was abandoned when the British captured Philadelphia in 1777 and the two others canceled and never named.

UNITED STATES NAVY:

COLUMBUS-CLASS. There were to be six in the class, but all were cancelled in 1800.

INDEPENDENCE-CLASS: Independence, Washington, Franklin and Columbus.

CHIPPEWA-CLASS: Chippewa, New Orleans and Pennsylvania (1837-1861). (The Pennsylvania was the first state-named ship-of-the-line, a tradition that continued with battleships and today, some of our submarines.)

DELAWARE-CLASS: Delaware (1820-1861), Vermont (1848-1901), New Hampshire (1864-1921), Virginia (laid-down, never launched), New York (laid-down 1820, burnt on ways 1861), Ohio (1820-1861), North Carolina (1820-1866)

Unnamed Class: 4 authorized in 1832 and never built.

The Ships-of-the-Line. --Brock-Perry

United Staes Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 3

Construction of U.S. ships-of-the-line all started during and shortly after the War of 1812, although a fair number were not completed for many years and several never were completed. None of the ships were ever converted to steam power and quite a few ended their service careers as receiving ships at various American ports and navy stations.

Some were in service during the Mexican War and some even saw non combat service in the Civil War. A few were destroyed when Confederates captured the Norfolk Navy Yard at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861. Two even survived into the 1900s.

Too bad that we do not have one of them still around like the USS Constitution.

I will be giving a short thumbnail sketch on each one.

--Brock-Perry

United States Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 2: USS Chippewa

From Wikipedia

I wasn't able to find out much about this ship as it was never completed. In earlier posts on the USS New Orleans, I've seen it was to be a sister ship of the Chippewa (also spelled Chippawa). I've seen that it was built at Sackets Harbor in New York and Wikipedia has it being built at the navy yard at Storrs, NY. I'd never heard of a navy yard at Storrs and when looking it up,the Brooklyn Navy Yard came up so perhaps Storrs refers to that?

The ship was authorized the same time as the USS New Orleans on 15 December 1814, and construction began at the same time as well. Like the New Orleans, it was named after a U.S. military victory. With the coming of peace, also like the New Orleans, it was never completed or launched. It was sold in 1833.

--Brock-Perry

United States Ships-of-the-Line-- Part 1

From Wikipedia. 

This grew out of the entries on the USS New Orleans, the only (maybe) American ship-of-the-line ever built on the Great Lakes whose construction started during the War of 1812 in response to British seapower, and I imagine the construction of the HMS St. Lawrence, a ship-of-the-line, in Canada.

Ships-of-the-line were the battleships of the day in naval architecture. A huge ship designed to carry lots and lots of cannons and to batter enemy ships-of-the-line in battle.

Frigates were more like cruisers and I'd have to consider U.S. frigates like the Constitution more along the lines of a pocket battleship.

What We Need Are More Guns. --Brock-Perry

USS New Orleans, Ship-of-the-Line-- Part 3

From usgennet.

In February 1884, while the USS New Orleans was undergoing demolition, it collapsed, killing James Oates and seriously injuring three others while another eight narrowly escaped injury. Mr. Oates was horribly mutilated with a spike through his head and a bolt through his back.

The New Orleans had survived for many years since construction on it began way back in 1815 at Sackets Harbor, New York. The ship was named after General Jackson's glorious victory at the Battle of New Orleans.

The New Orleans was pierced for 110 guns but could carry 120. Wood for construction came from the surrounding countryside while nails, spikes and bolts were forged on the grounds. Gun Carriages were carried from the Mohawk Valley and made of mahogony and lignumvitae.

Some people today believe the New Orleans might have been more intended to be a floating battery at the head of the St. Lawrence River since its wood was green.

Work stopped with the coming of peace and the New Orleans remained in stocks and eventually the government had a house erected around it. It became a big tourist attraction as people came to see the monster ship.

Alfred Wilkinson of Syracuse bought it at auction for a $400 bid and reportedly cleared a profit of $4,000 by selling salvage from it.

Today, there is an exhibit about the New Orleans at the Sackets Harbor Visitors Center at the Augustus Sacket Mansion right near where the old ship stood for so many years.

--Brock-Perry

USS New Orleans, Ship-of-the-Line-- Part 2

From FlickR.

The New Orleans and its sister ship, the Chippewa, were authorized by Act of Congress on March 3, 1813. Both were laid down in January 1815 in Sackets Harbor, New York on Lake Ontario (probably built to counter the threat of the HMS St. Lawrence, the British ship-of-the-line being built in Canada for operations on Lake Ontario.

They were nearly complete when peace came and work immediately stopped.

The Niles Weekly Register of March 18, 1815, described them, reporting "six hundred carpenters at Sackett's Harbor had made great progress in the building of a ship to carry 98 guns and another of 74 when the building was arrested by news of peace."

A week later, the publication described the ships as "two lake monsters to carry 102 and 110 guns, now planked over."

The New Orleans remained on the stocks and was housed under until sold to H. Wilkinson, Jr. of Syracuse, NY, on September 24, 1883.

--Brock-Perry

USS New Orleans-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Ship-of-the-Line laid down at Sackets Harbor 15 December 1814. Work on the ship halted March 1815 with the coming of peace in the War of 1812.

It remained on stocks and later was housed over until 24 September 1883 when it was sold.

It was to have been 204 feet long and was to carry 63 long 32-pdr. cannons and 24 other cannons.

This is the first I've ever heard of an American ship-of-the-line being on the Great Lakes. It would have been interesting had this ship been completed in time to have fought the British Ship-of-the-Line on the Great Lakes,  the HMS St. Lawrence.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Naval Power Grew to Match Mercantile Ambition-- Part 2: U.S. Ships-of-the-Line

From 1813-1820, a major naval building program was underway, but it was dropped to save money. The ship-of-the-Line USS Ohio was launched in 1820 but sat decaying in 1826. British officer Frederich de Roos wrote of her in 1826, "A more splendid ship I never beheld. She is already falling rapidly into decay."

The USS Pennsylvania, SOL, was built in Philadelphia though its hull never touched water for many years. It had been designed originally to be the largest fighting ship possessed by any nation.

By 1830, the United States had the second-largest merchant fleet and these ships needed protection. The USS Pennsylvania was finally launched. By the 1840s, the U.S. Navy was the strongest it had ever been, but the navies of France and Britain were still a whole lot larger. In 1846, the tonnage of British ships under construction was triple that of the whole American fleet.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Naval Power Grew to Match Mercantile Ambition-- Part 1: The Story of the U.S. Ships-of-the-Line

From the August 31, 2012, Bloomberg View by Alasdair Roberts.

Sackets Harbor in upstate New York was one of the U.S. Navy's most important ports and it guarded access to the St. Lawrence River. During the War of 1812, two major British attacks on it were repulsed .

As the war ended, there became an odd memorial in the form of the USS New Orleans which remained incomplete on the stocks for seventy years. Had it been launched, it would have been one of the most powerful ships ever built in the American Navy, larger even that the famed British HMS Victory which fought the French at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Its construction was stopped with the coming of peace.

From 1813-1816, Congress authorized the construction of 16 large warships. By 1830, only one remained in service after six of them had been launched, all of which were quickly removed from service.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 3

General William Gould, a Revolutionary War veteran, recruited a company, more than 100 men, all residents of Caldwell, and ordered them to Jersey City as well. It is believed that Caldwell was the only New Jersey town to send soldiers voluntarily. Eventually, Gould commanded a regiment of 1200 men at Jersey City.

After Washington, D.C., was burned in August 1814, Essex County troops were called to active duty. Field artillery was sent to Elizabethtown, Newark, Springfield, Bloomfield, Patterson and Caldwell.

In the event of attack at any point, three cannons were to be fired in rapid succession which was the signal for regiments to meet. The British captured several coastal vessels and the New Jersey militia was activated.

By December 1814, New Jersey militia strength continued to grow until it eventaully reached 3,529.

Then, the Treaty of Ghent was signed.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 2

New Jersey Governor Joseph Bloomfield was a Revolutionary War veteran and reactivated his military status as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army and, as governor, issued orders that organized and activated New Jersey militia companies.

On April 10, 1812, President Madison signed the militia bill and on April 25th Bloomfield ordered 5,000 members of the New Jersey State Militia to mobilize. This included 441 Essex County men. Eleven companies with about 300 men were ordered to posts at Jersey City.

--Brock-Perry

January 1814 Timeline-- Part 1

January 1814 saw the arrival of British reinforcements in Quebec City, Lower Canada: 76th Regt., 26th regt. and 27th Regt..

Early in 1814, the British constrcted defenses on Bridge Island, Upper Canada, as shelter for supply batteaux (boats) traveling on the St. Lawrence River.

Construction began on cavalry barracksBlairfindie in Lower Canada.

Gunboats are constructed at Coteau-du-Lac in Lower Canada.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Had Essex Girding for Invasion-- Part 1

From the September 2012 New Jersey Hills "War of 1812 had Essex residents girding for invasion."

Dr. Beverly Crifasi, vice president and historian of the Historical Society of West Caldwell said: "In 1812, the possibilities of British troops landing on the Jersey Shore or New York Harbor were realistic and a definite cause for concern."

This war was less than 30 years after the American Revolution and many adults had been in that war.

In 1812, New Jersey was an agricultural region with a population of around 250,000. The population of Caldwell was about 1500 and the state's largest cities were Newark and Elizabethtown where there were ports as well as industry and manufacturing. The neighboring cities of Philadelphia and New York were even larger.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

Happy New Year and 703rd Post

This is my newest blog, which I started last year to mark the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. This marks my 703rd post.

Originally this was supposed to remain a part of my Cooter's History Blog, but I started finding so many bicentennial articles, I decided to separate it, although I definitely didn't want to as it gave me a daunting seven blogs. WAY TOO MANY.

But, I have to admit that I have learned a lot about the war and probably now rank right up there with the top 10% of the general American population as far as my knowledge of it.

Hey, I sure didn't know the difference between Upper and Lower Canada back then. I would have had it reversed.

Anyway, quite an interesting war.

But, Seven Blogs.  Way Too Many.  --Brock-Perry