Here's Your Chance to Sail On the USS Constitution

From the March 27, 2018, WCVB Boston  "How to enter the lottery for cruise on the USS Constitution."

The world's oldest commissioned warship will be offering two cruises around Boston harbor this summer.  And you can be on the famous ship.  A small number of  tickets to the public will be given away by a  lottery.

The two cruises will be June 8 and July 4 and 120 members of the public will be selected for each trip.  Entries will be accepted starting April 1 and run until noon April 20 for the June trip.  For the July one it goes to noon May 31.

Drawings will be May 15 and June 15.

Winners can bring one guest.  All must be at least 8 years old.

Now, This Is One Cruise I;d Really Love to Take.  --Brock-Perry

James A. Bayard, Delaware Senator and the Treaty of Ghent

From Wiipedia.

1767-August 6, 1815.

Politician from Wilmington, Delaware.  U.S. Representative and Senator.  As a Federalist, he opposed "Mr. Madison's War" and urged caution as the war approached.  he was particularly concerned with Delaware's lack of preparedness for war in both military and vulnerability of the coast.

On June 17, 1812, he was one of  the 13 U.S. Senators who voted against the declaration of war.  But after the war came, he supported it.

He was the only Federalist to negotiate the Treaty of Ghent.  President Madison afterwards offered him a post as minister to Russia, but Bayard declined it saying that a Federalist could hardly represent a Democratic-Republican government.

He spent several months in Europe, but became sick and died just five days after returning to the United States.

--Brock-Perry

50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War

The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be spread out over a number of years because many Americans served over a long period of time.

The first Vietnam War commemoration event was held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, and will conclude on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025.

Caesar Augustus Rodney of Delaware

From Wikipedia.

American lawyer, politician and soldier from Wilmington, Delaware.  His uncle, Caesar Rodney signed the Declaration of Independence and is shown on the Delaware state quarter.

1772- 1824

Member Delaware and U.S. House of Representatives.   U.S. Attorney General under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

During the War of 1812 he was captain of a rifle corps which became the Delaware 1st Artillery.  Stationed at Fort Union and on the Canadian border.  He later assisted in the defense of Baltimore in 1814.

He later headed the American Commission to the new South American republics and their findings were a big reason for the Monroe Doctrine.  Appointed U.S. minister to Argentine, he died there and is buried there.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Christina-- Part 4: Forts Casimir and Union

The fort's earthworks were strengthened in 1640 for fear of an attack from either the Dutch or Indians.  The Dutch, in the meantime built Fort Casimir, in what is today New Castle, Delaware.

In 1655, Fort Christina was captured by the Dutch after a ten-day siege.

During the American Revolution, Continental forces built a fort at Fort Christina and later, during the War of 1812, Americans constructed Fort Union there.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Christina-- Part 3: First Swedish Colony at "The Rocks"

From Wikipedia.

Also called Fort Altena.  first Swedish settlement in North America located one mile east of present-day Wilmington, Delaware.  It is at the confluence of the Christina and Brandywine rivers and at a stone outcropping which formed a natural wharf.  These are called "The Rocks."

The expedition to set up the first Swedish outpost was led by Peter Minuit, who also founded New Netherlands.  He ordered the construction of an earthwork fort around "The Rocks."

However, the Dutch claimed land south from New Netherlands to the Delaware River, so conflict was inevitable.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Christina-- Part 2: Site Where Swedes and Finns Came Ashore in 1638

From A History of Delaware:  A Brief History of Fort Christina.

Swedes and Finns stepped ashore at a natural wharf of stone called today "The Rocks."  This was at the Fort Christina National Historic Landmark.  It is located where the Christina River and Brandywine Creek have their confluence.

The colony, called New Sweden prospered because of the fur trade and the settlement increased to 300 people from 1638 to 1655.  Then, it was captured by the Dutch.

Today it is marked by the Swedish Tercentenary Monument and a replica of the Swedish ship Kalmar Nyckel is there.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Christina, Wilmington, Delaware-- Part 1: Named for the Queen of Sweden

Fort Union was built on the site of Fort Christina during the War of 1812.

The Swedish built Fort Christina on the banks of the Christina River.  The fort was quickly built for protection against Indians and the Dutch and was named for the queen of Sweden..  It's site is located where the statue is.

--Brock-Perry

The Rocks at Fort Christiana Park

From the cardcow site.

The Rocks of Fort Christina Park, Wilmington, Delaware.

Postcard with inscription  "The Rocks believed to be the exact spot where Swedish colonists landed in 1638 and formed New Sweden.  The 25-foot monument  executed by Carl Milles, world famous sculptor, was paid for by subscription by the Swedish people, was presented to the American people by Royal Emissary at the tercentenary celebration in 1938."

You can see "The Rocks" in front of the statue.

I have seen the fort spelled both Christina and Christiana.  Christina would be the correct spelling.

--Brock-Perry

"The Rocks" Delaware

Back on March 14, I mentioned that while Joseph Haslet was Delaware's governor and the British were threatening, an encampment was established at "The Rocks."  I know about "The Rocks" at Wilmington, NC, but not this one.  I did further research.

A strong fortification named Fort Union was built at the "Rocks" which was the site of old Fort Christina.

North America Forts site describes it as a militia fort.

There is a Class A Carolina League team based  in Wilmington, Delaware, called the Blue Rocks, named for the blue granite stone found along the Brandywine River in the Wilmington area.

--Brock-Perry

Thomas Stockton-- Part 1: Delaware Militia and Governor

From Wikipedia.

In the last post, I mentioned that Caleb P Bennett was brought up on charges of not doing is duty by Thomas Stockton during the War of 1812.

Born 1781  Died 1846.

American soldier and politician from New Castle, Delaware.  Member of Whig Party, War of 1812 veteran and governor of Delaware.   His father was a brigadier general in the American Revolution in the Delaware militia.  Graduated from Princeton College and joined the Delaware militia.

During the War of 1812, he participated in the attack on Fort George on the Niagara River and the Battle of Lundy's Lane.

Entering politics, he was elected governor of Delaware in 1844 and became the sixty governor of the state to die in office.

--Brock-Perry

Caleb P. Bennett-- Part 2: Colonel of Delaware Militia, Governor

In the War of 1812, he was a captain of artillery and commander of the town of New Castle where he erected a battery.  He was made colonel of the militia and made sure his men received enough training and discipline to be good soldiers.

But, their was a problem with brigadier general and Whig rival Thomas Stockton who brought Bennett up for court martial charging him with failure to do his duty, but it was not proved.

After the war Bennett was very involved in politics in Delaware.  he served as governor from 1833 to 1836 and died in office as had Joseph Haslet, becoming the fifth governor of the state to die in office.

He is buried at the friends Burial Ground in Wilmington, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

Caleb P. Bennett: Important Man in Delaware History

From Wikipedia.

This past week, when writing about Delaware's governor, Joseph Haslet, during the War of 1812, I mentioned Caleb P. Bennett's name in connection with his fortifying New Castle, Delaware, because of fear of British attack.

American politician and soldier.  Veteran of the American Revolution and War of 1812 from Wilmington and New Castle County in Delaware.  Governor of Delaware.

During the American Revolution he was in the 1st Delaware.  He enlisted at the age of 17 and was at Valley Forge and the Battles of Staten Island, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Camden and Yorktown.

He was wounded three times.

--DaCoot

Joseph Haslet, Delaware's War Governor-- Part 5: Dirty Campaigning

In 1822, he ran for governor again and again it was a very close contest.  Similar to today's dirty campaigning, Haslet was accused of being a former slave owner and that he had failed to come to the defense of Lewes in 1813.His opponent, James Booth, was accused of being a Loyalist during the American Revolution.

He won, but served just five months before dying in office.

Originally buried on his farm, he was reinterred at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Milford, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Haslet, Delaware's War Governor-- Part 4: Lewes Attacked

The British bombarded Lewes on April 6, 1813.  There were no human American casualties, but "one chicken was killed and one pig wounded."

Over 300 British cannonballs were picked up by the Americans (who didn't have cannonballs in the battle).  Between 40 and 50 were of the 32-pdr. variety.  A British landing the next day was beaten off.  In June, though, the British landed at Milford and took what they needed.

Meanwhile. the other British fleet in the Chesapeake was raiding towns along the coast:  Havre de Grace, Georgetown and Frenchtown.  Everyone in New Castle County, Delaware, was nervous.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware's Joseph Haslet, War Governor-- Part 3: Rush to Lewes, Delaware

For protection against the British, an encampment was built at "The Rocks" in Wilmington, Delaware.  Captain Caleb P. Bennett fortified New Castle and Pea Patch Island was deeded over to the U.S. government so that a fort could be built on it.  That fortification eventually became Fort Delaware.

Lewes was particularly vulnerable to the British and received repeated requests/demands for provisions.  These were refused.

Governor Haslet and his militia rushed to the town's defense.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware's Joseph Haslet, War Governor-- Part 2: State Mostly Against the War

Joseph Haslet ran for governor in 1814, but lost.  He ran again and won, serving from January 15, 1811, to January 18, 1814.  The War of 1812 took place during much of his tenure.

His state of Delaware was mostly against the war, but Haslet got the legislature to raise a 1,000 militia force and to make $25,000 to equip it.

The bright spot of the war for the Americans were the naval victories.  One of those was the capture of the British ship HMS Frolic by Captain Jacob Nicholas Jones of Delaware which gave the state much pride.  However, the arrival of British fleets in the Chesapeake and Delaware bays was cause for alarm.

--Brock-Perry

Delaware's Joseph Haslet, Wartime Governor-- Part 1: His Father

From Wikipedia.

Last week I wrote about Lewes, Delaware and mentioned Delaware governor Joseph Haslet being involved with the British attack on it in 1813.

Some more information on him.

1769 to June 20, 1823.

American planter and politician from Delaware.  Member of the Democratic-Republican party and served twice as governor of the state.  The first time was during the War of 1812.

His father was John Haslet (1727 to January 1777), Presbyterian clergy and soldier, veteran of the French and Indian War and American Revolution.  He was killed while colonel of the 1st Delaware Regiment at the Battle of Princeton.

His mother died a month later and he became the guardian of Chief Justice William Killen.

--Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky Flags-- Part 4: "Monument to Kentucky"

In downtown Monroe there is a "Monument to Kentucky" built in 1904.  It is surrounded by a small park in which the remains of unidentified American soldiers are buried.

Nine Kentucky counties are named after men who died at the River Raisin:  Allen, Ballard, Graves, Edmonson, Hart, Hickman, McCracken and Simpson.

George Mason was an officer at the battle.  After his release he returned to Kentucky and was elected governor in 1816, but died soon afterwards.

Madison Avenue in Covington is named after him.

--Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky Flags-- Part 3:

"Remember the River Raisin" and "Remember the Raisin" became battle cries of American troops in subsequent battles.  The British held dominance along the Michigan Frontier until some months later the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of the Thames turned the tide in American favor.

The Kentucky state flag flies at several locations near the River Raisin National Battlefield which is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

This is in honor of those Kentuckians who came to defend and those who died.

--Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies the Kentucky Flag-- Part 2: The Two Battles of the River Raisin

The hastily and poorly trained Kentucky  militia organized 2,000 for the relief of Detroit.  Then the winter months battered them.

On January 18, 1813, they fought the First Battle of the River Raisin which ended in an American victory.  The Kentuckians occupied Frenchtown.

Then, on January 22, the British returned with their Indian allies and ambushed the Americans who surrendered in what is called the Second Battle of the River Raisin/Battle of Frenchtown..

The next morning the Indians began their massacre of the Americans.  This horrified the whole United States.

Brock-Perry

Why One Michigan City Flies Kentucky State Flags-- Part 1: "Remember the River Raisin"

From the March 6, 2018, River City News (Michigan)  "Why One Michigan City Always Flies Kentucky Flags."

That city is Monroe, Michigan.

The River Raisin flows 139 miles from Rollins Township in Michigan to Lake Erie.

And, the War of 1812 battle cry was "Remember the River Raisin."Monroe has immense gratitude for the large number of soldiers from Kentucky who marched from there after the 1812 Siege of Detroit.  Few would ever return home.

--Brock-Perry

British Attack on Lewes-- Part 4: American Casualties: One Chicken and One Pig

There was damage to some buildings in Lewes as a result of the attack.  One remains today and is called The Cannonball House.  One chicken was killed and a pig lost a leg, but no humans were injured.

Legend has it that women and children dressed as men and carried corn stalks, rakes and hoes and marched like they were men in sight of the British who thought that they were an advancing American army.

--Brock-Perry

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 3: The Battle

The Americans sent no food.  The Delaware Governor Joseph Haslet sent no food to the British and the stage was set.  He got four old Revolutionary War cannons, but had no cannonballs for them.

By late March, food aboard the British ships was running out and a final appeal was sent.  No food was forthcoming.

On April 6, 1813, the British fired rockets and their 32-pounder cannons at Lewes.  The villagers went around collecting the British cannonballs and fired them back.  One of those cannonballs hit a British ship and started a fire on it.  The British ships withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 2: The Stand-Off

After several more attempts to procure provisions, British Commodore John P. Beresford sent a letter:  "As soon as you remit this, I must request you will send twenty live bullocks with a proportionate quantity of vegetables and hay to the Poictiers (British ship) for use of His Majesty's squadron, now at this anchorage which shall be immediately paid for at Philadelphia prices.

"If you refuse this request, I shall be under necessity of destroying your town."

Governor Joseph Haslet replied that to do so would be a violation of American laws and would be an "eternal stigma on the nation of which I am a citizen."

No food was sent.

The British Attack on Lewes-- Part 1: Closing the Delaware River Ports

From the February 16, 2018, Sahuaitsun.com.  "Geneaology Today:  Truth to town's War of 1812 legend" by Becky McCreery.

In March 1813 British naval ships sailed from the Chesapeake Bay to the mouth of the Delaware Bay with the plan of cutting off the Delaware River ports.

While anchored in the harbor at Lewes, men went ashore to procure fresh provisions.  They were refused.

--Brock-Perry

Phineas Riall-- Part 3: Also Sacked Buffalo and Black Rock

On 30 December 1813, Riall's force recrossed the Niagara River again and repeated the deliberate destruction of Buffalo and Black Rock, New York, even though the Navy Yard and several other sites were legitimate targets.

5 July 1814, Riall commanded the Right Division of the British Army at the Battle of Chippawa.  he ordered his men to attack American General Winfield Scott's soldiers thinking they were just militia.  He was wrong, they were regulars. and this led to his bloody defeat.

On 25 July Riall again fought Scott at the Battle of Lundy's Lane where he was seriously wounded in the arm early in the battle.  While going to the rear he was captured by American infantry.  On December he was paroled and returned to England.

--Brock-Perry

Phineas Riall-- Part 2: Burner of American Towns

As a major in 1805, he went to the West Indies with the 15th Regiment of Foot and participated in the capture of Martinique in 1809 and Guadeloupe in 1810.

After that he returned to Britain and rose to the rank of colonel and then became a major general through seniority.  He then was posted to Canada where he was in command at Montreal.  Then he accompanied Lt. General Drummond to attack the American side of the Niagara River.

He led a detachment across the river at Lewiston 19 December 1813.  He then advanced along the river, burning almost every American village, in reprisal for the U.S. burning of Newark ten days earlier.

And, he later got upset at Campbell doing the same thing?

--Brock-Perry

Phineas Riall, Royal Army-- Part 1: Born in Ireland, Rose Through Ranks With Purchased Commissions

From Wikipedia.

Back when I was writing about John B. Campbell, British officer Phineas Riall had condemned him for his destruction to Dover during his occupation of it.  Who was this Phineas Riall?

15 December 1775 to 10 November 1850

British general who succeeded John Vincent as commanding officer of the Niagara Peninsula in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.  In 1816, he was appointed governor of Grenada.

Born in Ireland to a Protestant family.  Entered the British Army as an ensign in 1794 and rose rapidly through the ranks with purchased commissions.  Spent seven years at half pay with no command or staff.

--Brock-Perry

One of Monroe's Oldest Homes-- Part 2: Site Under Construction During Battle

In 1976 there was salvage excavation on the battlefield and that uncovered the corner of the house.

It was built for Hubert Lacroix between 1817 and 1818.  It may have been the first brick building in Monroe County.  The brickmason was Edward Loranger.

It was built on the site that was under construction for Lacroix at the time of the War of 1812.  That partial structure was burned on January 23.  Lacroix had started construction in the spring of 1812.

In April 1812, Hubert Lacroix was selected captain of a company of River Raisin militia who volunteered for one year's service.  Lacroix lived in the house until his death in 1820.

In 1862, Louis Lafountain bought the house.

--Brock-Perry

One of Monroe, Michigan's Oldest Homes-- Part 1

From the February 21, 2018, Monroe (Michigan) News  "The history of one of Monroe's oldest homes."

Lafountain House, also known as the Block House (because of its shape) stood from about 1817 to 1912 on Elm Avenue.  It was demolished February 6, 1918.  A newspaper article from back then headlines "Dismantled Old Landmark."

"The River Raisin Paper Company dismantled the old Lafountain house on East Elm Avenue on Monday ro make room for their new factory.  The house is one of the oldest landmarks in Monroe, being over one hundred years old.

"The house was used as a fort during the Battle of the River raisin between the French and Indians in 1812."  (It wasn't the French and Indians in 1812, it was the British and Indians who fought Americans.)

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Ogdensburg Re-Enactment

Feb. 23. 2018, North Country (NY) Now  "Battle of Ogdensburg re-enactment this weekend.

There will be re-enactors on downtown streets of Ogdensburg, New York, February 24 and 25 re-enacting the February 23, 1812 battle that was fought there.

On that date, British forces crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River and captured supplies from the fort.

--Brock-Perry

Miller Worsley, RN-- Part 3: A Big Victory and "Lake Fever"

The Americans landed a superior force on infantry and attacked the HMS Nancy which resulted in the ship being burned.  Then Miller Worsley had his small command row 360 miles to Mackinac Island where he organized an attack against the two American ships blockading the place, the USS Tigress and USS Scorpion.

With the capture of both ships, as you can read about in my USS Tigress entries, this gave the British superiority  on Lake Huron for the remainder of the war.

Miller Worsley fell ill with "Lake Fever," a malady that struck many serving on the Great Lakes.  Worsley was able to perform no further naval service and was appointed commander with half-pay on 13 July 1815.

He returned to the Isle of Wright after the war.  From 1832-1834, he served as Commander of the Coastguard.  He died in 1835.

--Brock-Perry

Miller Worsley, RN-- Part 2: Defending the HMS Nancy

After the Raid on Fort Oswego, Worsley was appointed to head up the British naval detachment on Lake Huron, which actually only consisted of a small ship named the Nancy.  Worsley made his way overland to the base at Nottawasago Bay in July and took command of the only British naval vessel on the lake, the Nancy.

Conditions of the British garrison at Fort Mackinac were getting serious and Worsley needed to go to its aid with supplies and munitions.  But, there was a larger American force lying off the coast.  Knowing that the Americans would try to destroy the Nancy, Worsley tried to hide the ship by towing it upriver.

To protect the ship, he had a force of 22 sailors, 9 French voyageurs and 23 Indians.

--Brock-Perry

HMS Swiftsure (1785): From British, to French and Back to British

From Wikipedia.

74-gun third rate ship of the line, 168 feet long, 46 foot beam.

Served in both the Royal Navy then french navy after her capture in 1801.

As a British ship fought in several famous engagements during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars including the battle of the Nile with the British and the Battle of Trafalgar with the French.  It was recaptured by the British at this battle.

Though badly damaged, it was repaired, taken back into service, laid up, recommissioned in 1808, renamed HMS Irresistible and became a prison ship at Chatham until 1816 when it was broken up.  It is likely that American prisoners were held on her.

--Brock-Perry