Who Was General Himrod?

From Ithaca (NY).com. "Old Lodi Cemetery Gets Spruced Up" by Glynis Hart.

Most of the article is about this old cemetery, which had fallen upon hard times, being fixed up.  A photo accompanies the article of the resting place of General William Himrod on the cemetery.  It says he raised a local regiment to go fight the British in 1812.

The article goes on to say that his family is buried there as well and that Himrod had bought Military Lot #55, which became known as Himrod's Settlement."

But, as time passed, the fence around his plot rusted and fell apart

Looks like I'll have to do some more research on him.

--Brock-Perry

Haunted Stories Abound at Fort McHenry

From the October 30, 2015, WBAL TV 11  "Haunted stories abound at Fort McHenry" by Jennifer Franciotti.

A woman said she saw feet off the ground at the site of where the hangman's gallows once stood.

Another woman said she saw two American defenders wearing white cross belts, blue coats and white pants and boots.

During World War I, a 3,000 bed hospital was located in the barracks.

However, the fort no longer offers ghost tours.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 9: Sailed Under Own Power Twice in the Last 20 Years

The USS Constitution was in dry dock 1992-1996 and again in 1997, to celebrate its 200th anniversary where it sailed for the first time under its own power in 116 years.

Then, the ship again sailed briefly under its own power in 2012, to mark the bicentennial of the beginning of the War of 1812. and her momentous battle with the British frigate HMS Guerriere, which led to her being called "Old Ironsides."

The victory over the Guerriere was great for American morale in the War of 1812, but really, the British ship was entirely overmatched as the Constitution was more of a super frigate or pocket battleship compared to it

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 8: "Ay, Tear Her Tattered Ensign Down"

OLD IRONSIDES

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

September 16, 1830

Ay, tear her tattered ensign down!
Long has it waved on high,
And many an eye has danced to see
That banner in the sky;

Beneath it rung the battle shout,
And burst the cannon's roar, --
The meteor of the ocean air
Shall sweep the clouds no more.

Only, I thought "Ay" was spelled "Aye."

Again, I only remembered the first two lines.  But, in my defense, I memorized this poem a real long, long, long time ago.

And, There Were Two More Stanzas.  --Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 7: The Poem "Old Ironsides"

I looked up the poem and found it was written by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1830, not during the pennies campaign of the school children.  And, now, I am not sure if I had to memorize it in fifth grade.  It might have been third.

The more I think about it, the more I am thinking it perhaps was third grade and was a way for us to learn how to memorize.

But either way, it did help me learn to memorize, although I forget what I memorize more often than not.

What Was I Writing About?  --Brock-What

USS Constitution-- Part 6: How Many of You Had to Memorize the "Old Ironsides" Poem?

I can still remember the first two lines:

"Aye, tear her tattered ensign down,
Long has it flown on high.'

Beyond this, I can't remember.

Can you do better?

--Brock-Memorize

USS Constitution-- Part 10: Oliver Wendell Holmes

From Wikipedia.

Born August 29, 1809  died October 7, 1894.

American physician, poet, professor, lecturer and author.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard College.  After graduation from Harvard in 1829, he briefly studied law before turning his attention to medicine.

He wrote poetry from an early age and his "Old Ironsides" poem, published in 1830,  was influential in the eventual preservation of the USS Constitution.  This was probably the 1927-1931 restoration of the ship.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 5: Saved By School Children's Pennies

The USS Constitution saw 57 years of active duty and during that time, captured 33 ships.  It sailed around the world and was used as a naval training ship during the Civil War and later was a floating office ship.

The most significant restoration on the ship was done 1927-1931.  At the time, the ship was in such bad condition that it was in danger of sinking at the pier.  U.S. school children raised $157,000 in a pennies campaign that funded nearly 85% of the ship.

I believe the poem that I had to memorize in fifth grade in North Carolina, "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes, was part of the campaign to raise those pennies.

--Brock-Perry

Frazz Goes to a War of 1812 Battlefield, Well, Maybe Not

From the August 10, 2016, Frazz comic strip.

The father obviously aims a dart at a board to determine where the family goes for vacation.

1.  The student/son is standing, slumped over with arms folded and looking mighty sad.

2.  The Dad's dart must be approaching the board as the kid is now crouching in anticipation.

3.  He jumps with joy!!

Over the frames are the words:  Your dad aimed the vacation dart at a free War of 1812 battlefield and it landed on H2O Water S;ides.

4.  Frazz to the kid:  "I though he (the kid's dad) was a great darts player."
Kid:  "Which means anything 'happens' to the flights, where he aims is the one place the dart's not going."

Hey, I Like Those Battlefields.  --Brock-Perry

USS Constitution-- Part 4: Launched October 21, 1797

Humphreys also wanted copper sheathing for the hull to protect it from marine wood borers.  The United States was not producing it at the time, but Paul Revere was able to procure the needed sheathing from England.

The USS Constitution was launched on October 21, 1797 from the present-day Constitution Wharf and U.S. Coast guard base in Boston.

It was 305-feet long, 220 feet tall and had a crew of 450.

The frigates were designed to render enemy ships immobile by damaging rigging and sails.  They didn't want to sink these ships as they wanted to capture, repair and then use those ships in our fleet.

You read a lot about ships on both sides during the War of 1812, being captured and then used against its former country.

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution-- Part 3: What Made Her the Fastest, Strongest and Most-Heavily Armed

The USS Constitution featured a bluff bow (flattened front), has a long,  narrow hull for speed and an acre's worth of sails on three masts.  It could reach speeds of up to 13 knots an hour in a good wind and even 15 when trying to outrun a pursuer.

For her outgunning an enemy frigate, she carried 24 32-pdr. carronades and 30 long guns on her gun deck.

It's hull was designed like a sandwich, three planks thick.  The exterior planks were white oak with a dense live oak framing for ribs.  It also had live oak for its interior planking.

Today, the ship's keel is one of the only few original pieces of the ship remaining.  It is made of four pieces of white oak harvested from New Jersey in 1795.

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution-- Part 2: It and Her sister Ships Were the Fastest, Strongest, Most Heavily Armed Frigates Afloat

Soon afterwards the fleet was sold, our merchant ships started being harassed by the British and the North Africa Barbary Pirates.  In 1794, George Washington signed the Naval Act, authorizing $600,000 for the construction of six-medium-sized frigates.

Naval Constructor Joshua Humphreys was commissioned to build the Constitution, Chesapeake, President, United States, Congress and Constellation.  Knowing that our small Navy would be facing the huge British fleet, Humphreys designed his ships to be the fastest, strongest and most heavily armed frigates afloat.  They were essentially Super-Frigates.  No regular British frigate would have much of a chance against any of Humphreys ships.

Designed to either defeat or get away from any enemy ship.  They could easily take a British fleet in one-on-one battle.  If there were too many of them, the American ship could easily outdistance pursuit.

--Brock-Perry

Restoring the USS Constitition-- Part 1: Technological Wonder

From the September 24, 2015, BU Today "Constitutional Amendments: Restoring a 218-year-old technological wonder" by Amy Laskowski.

Restoration on this great old ship is done about every twenty years.  Its current crew, all members of the U.S. Navy consists of two officers and 76 sailors.

This restoration will be a $12-$15 million project where they will be replacing the lower hull planking and caulking. the copper sheathing and some deck beams, rigging, upper masts and yards.

After the American revolution, the U.S. Navy was sold off to help pay the French back the $70 million it had loaned the rebelling colonies.

--Brock-Perry

2007th Post of This Blog

This post marks the 2007th that I have done since 2012 when I began this blog to honor the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.  I believe that to be more posts than any other blog on this somewhat forgotten war.

I started it so I could learn more about the war as I realized I really didn't know a lot about it.  Back when I was teaching U.S. history, I was supposed to cover it from the beginning to the Civil War.  I think only one year I made it as far as the War of 1812.

I have definitely learned a lot about the War of 1812.

The Brock in the Brock-Perry sign-off refers to British/Canadian hero General Isaac Brock and the Perry refers to U.S. Naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Jennings in Ohio-- Part 5: Memorial Hall Built to Honor War's Cenetennial, 1912

In June 2012, the Ohio State University forensic anthropology team, using ground-penetrating radar was unsuccessful in its attempts to locate the exact site of the fort.  The question remains, was the blockhouse situated where the monument is or perhaps it is where the Memorial Hall stands today.

Construction of Memorial Hall was to honor the centennial of the War of 1812 and completed in 1916.  It fell into disrepair over the years, but was preserved in 2012 in preparation for the war's bicentennial.

August 19-21 Fort Jennings held its annual Fort fest to honor the centennial of the building.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Jennings in Ohio-- Part 4: Where Is the Fort?

Besides protecting and escorting supplies, the 2nd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Militia, provided the garrison troops, produced cartridges for the muskets and built rafts and pirogues for the transportation of supplies on the Auglaize River.

The fort was located on the west branch of the river where the village of Fort Jennings stands today.  The Fort Jennings Historical Society is trying to determine the exact spot where the fort stood.

About a dozen soldiers are believed to have been buried there.

--Brock-Perry

My Students and 9-11

Another article in the Tribune was about an educator who personalizes the events of 9-11 when he talks about a friend who was murdered that day.

My students certainly had a lot of 9-11 on that day.  As soon as I learned about the attack at about 9:30 a.m., that became my lesson plan for the day.  We couldn't get TV reception, so listened to the radio in all my classes after that.  That was also the subject of all my classes the rest of the week.

I had them write a 500-word account of their experiences on that day, and I did that with all my classes for the next five years before I retired in 2006.

Fort Jennings in Ohio-- Part 3: "Unpleassant, Uninteresting" Life at the Fort

The men of the 2nd Kentucky Volunteer Militia camped in tents during the fort's construction.

On October 1, U.S. General William Henry Harrison and several regiments numbering 3,000 men spent a night at the new fort, still under construction,  while advancing to assist General Winchester at Fort Defiance.  In mid-October, William Jennings and his regiment, now under Winchester's command, completed the fort.

It was named in honor of Colonel William Jennings.  A major role of the fort was to serve as a supply center.  Life at the fort on garrison duty was routine and monotonous.

One member of the regiment wrote:  "We had the same unpleasant, uninteresting round of escorting convoys and provisions etc. in advance of us."

--Brock-Perry

Fort Jennings in Ohio-- Part 2: Built by 2nd Regiment Kentucky Militia

There is a monument surrounded by a white fence in Fort Jennings, Ohio, on State Route 189, marking the spot where 600 Kentucky volunteers prepared to served their country and supposedly built Fort Jennings' blockhouse.

The 2nd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteer Militia, commanded by Colonel William Jennings was formed for service on September 1, 1812, in Frankfort, Kentucky.  By the middle of September they were encamped at St. Mary's, Ohio, when General Harrison ordered them forward on September 14.

The regiment advanced thirty miles and saw signs of Indian presence.  Spies informed them that the enemy was at Fort Defiance.

They halted on the banks of the Auglaize River and began a blockhouse which Harrison had directed to be at least 25 feet across in the lower story.  The fort  was also to have "breastworks of logs" and encompass roughly an acre.  It was completed in October 1812.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Jennings in Ohio-- Part 1: Village Named After It

From the August 14, 2016, Delphos (Ohio) Herald "This and That--  The Fort of Fort Jennings" by Evelyn Martin.

Fort Jennings was built in 1812 by Colonel William Jennings who served with General William Henry Harrison.  It was one of a string of forts built by Harrison for the defense of the frontier against the British and their Indian allies.

It is located in the village of Fort Jennings, Ohio, a small municipality in the southwest corner of Putnam County.  In 2010, the population was 485 people.  The first settlement of the area began around 1850 and it took its name from the frontier fort constructed there during the War of 1812.  The village incorporated in 1881.

Every third weekend in August, the village hosts Fort fest, a three-day event to nonor the fort at Fort Jennings Park.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 6: Two Battles There During the Civil War

After the War of 1812. the frontier shifted west from Fort Hawkins.  U.S. troops then moved to Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochee River and Fort Scott on the lower Flint River.  Fort Hawkins continued to be used as a supply depot.  The last troops left it in 1819.

By 1828, some of the fort's structures were still there.

During the Civil War, the southeast blockhouse was used as a spotting station during the Battle of Dunlap Hill on July 30, 1864, during Union General Stoneman's attack on Macon..  It again saw action when Confederate batteries fired from the fort's grounds during the Battle of Walnut Creek which took place during Sherman's March to the Sea.

The last remnant of the fort, a blockhouse, was dismantle and removed in 1883.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 5: Built by the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment

From the Explore Southern History site.

Construction on the fort began in 1806 by the 2nd U.S. Infantry Regiment.

It is thought that in 1807, former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr may have been incarcerated at the fort before he was accused of treason.  He was later acquitted.

The fort never faced a serious attack during the War of 1812 or the 1813-1814 Creek War.  But during these wars, the fort was occupied by Georgia militia troops and U.S. regulars.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 4: Rebuilding the Blockhouse

In 1928, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Macon Kiwanis raised money to build a replica blockhouse.  In 1933, the U.S. government began archaeological excavations around the site by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

Some of the original stones of the blockhouse were recovered in the process were recovered and used in the basement section of the rebuilt blockhouse.

Its upper floors are actually concrete, but made to look like wood.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 3: A War of 1812 Connection

The fort was built from 1806 through 1826.  For the Creek Indians, it became a center for deerskin trade with Europeans/Americans and was also on sacred ground.

It was named for Benjamin Hawkins who was still serving as General Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

During the War of 1812,  Andrew Jackson visited it and used it as a staging area for the Battle of New Orleans as well as during the Creek and Seminole wars.

After the war, it was used as militia headquarters and muster ground for the Georgia militia.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 2: A War of 1812 Connection

The fort was built from 1806 through 1826.  For the Creek Indians, it became a center for deerskin trade with Europeans/Americans and was also on sacred ground.

It was named for Benjamin Hawkins who was still serving as General Superintendent of Indian Affairs.

During the War of 1812,  Andrew Jackson visited it and used it as a staging area for the Battle of New Orleans as well as during the Creek and Seminole wars.

After the war, it was used as militia headquarters and muster ground for the Georgia militia.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Hawkins-- Part 1: On the Creek Indian Frontier

From Wikipedia.

Fort Benjamin Hawkins, was named for Benjamin Hawkins, of course, the man I wrote about last week in connection with the Hawkins Line which set the border between white settlement and Creek Indian territory in Georgia.

Built between 1806-1810 in the historic Creek Nation.  Built in Georgia along the fault line of the Ocmulgee River, it overlooked the current Ocmulgee National Monument, the site of at least 1000 years of Indian culture.

It is located close to Macon, Georgia.

It consisted of two blockhouses with connecting palisades, living and work spaces all on 1-2 acres.  A replica of the southeast blockhouse was built in 1938 after archaeological studies located the approximate site.

It is on the NRHP.

--Brock-Perry

Colin Kaepernick and the War of 1812-- Part 3: Colonial Marines

Francis Scott Key was the son of a prominent Maryland plantation owner and owned several slaves himself.  Yet, he was opposed to slavery as an institution, but very anti-abolitionist.  He strongly opposed to freeing the slaves and instead wanted a colony set up in Africa for their relocation.

During the course of his law practice, Key represented many slave owners who sued for the recovery of their "property" in cases of escaped slaves.

Historians say that the part about the "hireling and slave" refers to former slaves who joined the British for pay and/or freedom.

During the Battle of Baltimore, as the attack became known, Key was held captive on a British ship and his guards were freed black men.  The British referred to these blacks as the "Corps of Colonial Marines."  Some died during the battle, bringing about the "terror of fight or gloom of the grave."

At Least This Show of Disrespect For the Country That Enable Colin to Make All That Money Covers Up a Little Bit His Ineffectiveness As a QB.  --Brock-Perry

The Colin Kaepernick War of 1812 Connection-- Part 2: "The Hireling and Slave"

There is some disagreement as to what Francis Scott Key meant by "hireling and slave."  He can't answer himself as he died in 1843.  His poem, "The Defence of Fort M'Henry,"on which the National Anthem is based, was written during the War of 1812 at the September 1814 Battle of Baltimore.  he was so happy to see the U.S. flag still flying defiantly over Fort McHenry after the night before's British bombardment.

But, what did Key mean by "the hireling and slave?"

Francis Scott Key was a Baltimore-born lawyer practicing in Washington, D.C..  He is noted for having participated in the conspiracy trial of Aaron Burr. and his many arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

The Colin Kaepernick War of 1812 Connection-- Part 1: "Land of the Free?"

From the August 31, 2016, Sports Grid "Forgotten Third Verse of the National Anthem Shines New Light on Kaepernick Protest" by Rick Chandler.

A huge fuss is being made about San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick's protest over the National Anthem.  His protest may have been motivated by the largely forgotten third verse of the song, part of which reads:

"No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of fight or gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Of course, the United States in 1814 was not really a land of the free what with slavery and all.  Fort McHenry protected  Baltimore Maryland.  Maryland still had slavery.

But, Wait, Theer Is More.  --Brock-Perry

Some More On Benjamin Hawkins-- Part 4: Wife and the Hawkins Line

His wife, Livonia, with whom he lived in common law marriage until near his death when he officially married her so his children could be American citizens (most believe that Livonia was a Creek Indian).  She is buried at Fort Hill Cemetery in Macon, Georgia.

On February 16,  1789, Benjamin Hawkins reported to secretary McHenry that the line dividing settlers from the Creek Indians ran from the Tugalo River over the Oconee Mountain.

--Brock-Perry

Benjamin Hawkins (The Hawkins Line)-- Part 3: Another Red Stick Threat

After the war, Benjamin Hawkins organized peaceful Creek Indians to oppose a British force on the Apalachicola River in Florida.  They were threatening to rally the Red Sticks and reignite a war versus the settlers on the Georgia frontier.

He was buried at his Creek Agency near Flint River and Roberta, Georgia.

Find-A-Grave lists his final resting place at the Hawkins Family Cemetery.  It is the only grave in that cemetery.

His inscription reads "Col. Benjamin Hawkins/  General Washington's Staff Revolutionary War/ Aug. 15, 1754  Jun 6, 1816."

Born in Granville County, North Carolina.  Died in Crawford County, Georgia.

I would have thought the inscriptions would have mentioned something of his dealings with the Creek Indians.

--Brock-Perry

Benjamin Hawkins (Hawkins Line)-- Part 2: Peace and Then the Red Sticks

He taught European-American agriculture to the Creeks at his Creek Agency in Georgia.  Largely regarded as the main reason there was peace between American settlers and the Creeks for 19 years.  However, in 1812, a group of Creek Indians called the Red Sticks started attacking settlers and defending their lands.  They were led by Chief William McIntosh.

They continued to be a threat until Andrew Jackson's force defeated them badly at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Alabama which led to the Treaty of Fort Jackson where the Creeks were forced to ceded most of their land.

Hawkins was unable to attend this treaty and no doubt would have been more lenient than Jackson.

--Brock-Perry