On April 4, 1815, problems began with a food contractor attempting to pass off damaged hardtack for soft bread. This helped touch off an insurrection which the prison's commandant suspected to be a cover for a breakout.
On the 6th, a hole was discovered from one of the five prisons to the yard and fighting commenced. Some 60 people were wounded, 30 of them seriously. Seven Americans died, including a 14-year-old.
A memorial has since been erected to the 271 American POWs (mostly died of diseases) buried on the prison grounds.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
No comments:
Post a Comment