Fort Malden-- Part 3: War of 1812

Aside from its military history, the fort  was the setting for the British Pensioner Scheme and later became the Ontario Provincial Asylum in 1859.    After that closed, it became privatized.and divided into lots for public sale and that lasted until the 1900s.

Fort Malden's War of 1812 involvement began on July 2, 1812,  when British forces at the fort captured the American schooner Cuyahoga.  The declaration of war was made by the U.S. on June 18, but the American General William Hull at Detroit still did not know about it.

He had chartered the Cuyahoga to transport goods and military records, officer wives and the ill from Toledo, Ohio, to Detroit.  But it had to pass Amherstburg and Fort Malden on the Detroit River and it was captured by the British brig  HMS General Hunter.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Malden-- Part 1: Formal Name Is Fort Amherstburg

From Wikipedia.

This fort played a large role in the War of 1812 and was also involved in the Patriot War of 1837-1838.

Fort Malden, formally known as Fort Amherstburg, is located in Amherstburg, Ontario.  It was built in 1795 to defend against potential American invasion.

During the War of 1812, Sir Isaac Brock and Tecumseh met here to plan the siege of Detroit.  It was then a British stronghold during the rest of the war.  It also had an important role in the Upper Canada Rebellion and the Patriot War of 1837-1838.

It is now one of the National Historic Sites of Canada.

Because of the 1795 Jay Treaty, the British had to relinquish their Fort Detroit, located at present day Detroit.  They were assigned to Fort Malden, south of Detroit.  In 1797, Robert Prescott, commander of British troops in Canada, ordered it named Fort Amherstburg, for General Lord Amherst, who served during the Seven Years' War.

That name has never changed, but most people call it Fort Malden  as it is in the township of Malden.

--Brock-Perry

Patriot War of 1838

I am going to quit writing about the Patriot War of 1838 now.

But you can find out more by looking up Patriot War in Wikipedia.

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War, Schooner Ann/Anne-- Part 11" And, the George Strong

This involved another ship, the George Strong, that the Anne had captured and evidently used as a tender.

Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
Friday, February 2, 1838

The GEORGE STRONG --  It appears that the robbery of this vessel amounted to the buying , by the British officers,  of ten cords and a quarter of wood, and sundries, for which full payment was made.

It also appears that she was sort of a tender to the piratical Anne.

So, at least some Americans regarded the actions of the Patriots as piratical.

--Brock-Perry

Patriot War, the Schooner Ann/Anne: 53 Feet Long, 13.4 Foot Beam, Launched 1836

Schooner ANN.  Of 25.75 tons.  Built Detroit, Mich.,  1836 by W.H. Simmons.  owned by Shadrack Gillet, a Detroit Commission and Forwarding  Merchant.

Home Port, Detroit, Mich. 53.0 X 13.4 X 4.10  (53 feet long, 13.4 foot beam and 4.10 depth)   No gallery; no figurehead; one deck; two masts.

Former enrollment of Detroit surrendered by reason of new owners, dated May 24, 1836.

Detroit Enrollment No. 13 of 1836.
dated May 24, 1836.

I'm guessing enrollment refers to registration here.

More Than You'd Ever Figured To Know About the Schooner Ann/Anne.  --Brock-Perry

The Patriot War-- Part 9: Schooner Ann/Anne

From the Cleveland Herald and Gazette
Wednesday, June 13, 1838

Some twenty of the State prisoners at Toronto, have been moved to Kingston, among them are Sutherland and Theller.  Spencer, Sutherland's aid, and five or six of the crew of the schooner ANN, captured at Malden, have been discharged.

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Western Herald
Tuesday,  October 30, 1838

Yesterday morning, the schooner BROCK brought up from Amherstburgh, and landed  at our wharf, the long nine-pounder, which was taken from the schooner ANN of Detroit, two smaller  guns, 200 stand of musket  and accoutrements, and 20,000 rounds of ball cartridge.

The BROCK left this,  the same day for Amherstburgh, and will return shortly  with more destructive  implements; we do not say what kind -- but  will leave our sympathising neighbors opposite to guess.

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War-- Part 8: Schooner Ann/Anne

Then the paper said what they thought about the Americans who were intent on taking Upper Canada into the United States.

"Thus ended an expedition  which was to have terminated in the plunder of our property, the massacre of our families, and the total subversion of our Constitution and Government.

"We can tell Mr. Sutherland and his crew, (who by this time are hungrily seeking to devour,) that if he wants to have another set-to, we are prepared with 1,200 'gallant souls,' as Mr. Bates called the Pirates, --who are eager for something to do to keep them warm in this cold weather."

Western Herald and Farmers' Magazine (Sandwich, Upper Canada)
Tuesday, January 23, 1838

The Second Storming of Washington, D.C. By the British: Only This Time They Had Guitars and Mop Tops

Of course, most people know of the British burning of D.C. in 1814, but 150 years later, another group of British also came to town and to thousands of screams.

If you'd like to read about it, go to the labels section and down to Beatles and click.  These were posts from 2014:  Feb. 17, 18 and 21.  It also includes the setlist they played for the concert.

Beatlemania Strikes the Capitol City.  --JohnPaulGeorgeRingo

The Patriot War, Schooner Ann/Anne-- Part 7: Kindness, Humanity and Consideration

Our men  plunged into the water and boarded her, a jolly little man of the name Lighton, climbed the mast and pulled her colors down.

The prisoners were brought on shore, and the wounded treated with ever kindness, humanity and consideration.  Indeed we need only to refer to the spontaneous declaration of W.W. Dodge, who is by far the most respectable among them, as evidence of their treatment.

The capture consisted of  a schooner, called the "ANN" of Detroit --  21 prisoners (most of them American citizens),  3 pieces of cannon -- and upwards of 200 stand of arms -- and a large quantity of ammunition, besides some stores and provisions.

The Militia engaged in this capture were all Volunteers, and behaved most gallantly.

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War, Schooner Ann-- Part 6: Talking Pirates and Brigands

The Western herald & Farmer's Magazine  of Sandwich, Upper Canada, wrote a lengthy account of the problems between Canada and the Patriots around the time of the Ann's capture.  It was very anti-Patriot and American.

Part of the end was about the capture of the the schooner Ann/Anne:

But to proceed.  The Pirate Schooner (Ann/Anne) had of course, been narrowly watched through the day, but at sundown she sailed slowly and steadily from the head of Bois Blanc, between the island and the town, hugging the Island as closely as she could for fear  of our musketry and rifles, and firing about a dozen shots of ball, grape and canister , into the very heart of Amherstburg.   The houses sustained but little damage, and the inhabitants none.

Our men followed her, (first leaving a force of about 150 men to defend the upper part of town  near the King's store upon which the decent from the Brigand scows and boats was expected every minute,) and as she neared Elliot's Point, a rifle ball killed the helmsman, and the wind blowing very  strong, the schooner came ashore.

They were called upon to surrender, and take their colors down - but they declined, or rejected to do so, and several shots were exchanged, and two of the Pirates killed after she had stranded.  She was about eight or ten rods from the shore.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

The Patriot War-- Part 5: Schooner Anne/Ann

   We copy the following from the Detroit Daily Advertiser of the 13th inst.  The force assembled at Bois Blanc Island under 'Gen.' Sutherland was dispersed by Gove. Mason, who went with the steamboat ERIE, with about 100 citizen volunteers, for that purpose.

   The persons taken in the schr ANN, captured by the British, said by the Detroit Post to have been 'all massacred' appear to have been marched through the country to London, for safe keeping.

Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
Tuesday, January 23, 1838

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War of 1838, the Schooner Anne-- Part 1

From the Maritime History of the Great Lakes  "Ann of Detroit (Schooner), captured Patriot War, 1 Jan. 1838."

Detroit. Jan 11. 1838, Messrs Editors:

   The schooner Ann, commanded by Dr. E.A. Theller, of this city, in the patriot service, against the Royalists of Upper Canada, was yesterday captured near Malden, while cruising near that port, for the observation as to the situation of the Royalists.  She had on board 17  men in all.

   The officers were Theller, Davis of London (Upper Canada),  and Dodge of Monroe, Davis is supposed to be mortally wounded.  Dodge had his left eye shot out.  These were the only persons injured.

   A heavy wind drove the vessel nearer the shore than was desired.  She was fired upon and captured.  She had two cannon on board, and about 300 muskets belonging to the Patriots at Bois Blanc Island near Malden, where the patriots are encamped, numbering about 700.

Buffalo Commercial Advertiser
January 22, 1838

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War of 1838-- Part 3: Severely Disorganized and Against Both British and U.S. Governments

However, the failure of Duncombe's Revolt in Canada caused the island to be abandoned  on January 14, 1838.

CAROLINE AFFAIR

On December 29, 1837, there was the Caroline Affair, which raised an international outcry when Royal Navy men crossed the international border between the U.S. and Canada and seized the steamship Caroline   The ship had been carrying supplies to the men occupying Navy Island.  The ship was set afire and sent adrift and plunged over Niagara Falls.

THE SCHOONER ANNE

The Anne, under Patriot control, attacked Fort Malden but was captured.  Further attempts to take Fort Malden were stymied by American troops.

FIGHTING ISLAND AND HICKORY ISLAND, (Feb. 1838)

The steamboat Erie headed for Fighting Island, seven miles south of Detroit with more than 400 troops from Cleveland and their arms were captured by American authorities.  British troops crossed the ice and dispersed them and then announced they would cross into U.S. territory to pursue them, American troops put flags on the frozen river and announced they would shoot any British soldier attempting to cross.  They didn't cross.

The attack on Hickory Island fizzled when the Patriot leaders had a disagreement.

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War of 1838-- Part 2: The "Hunter's Lodge" Gets Organized

Participants in the war were  a secret organization known as the "Hunter's Lodge" formed in the United States in sympathy to the 1837 rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada.It arose in Vermont among Lower Canada refugees and spread westward under the direction of of Dr. Charles Duncombe, William  Lyon Mackenzie and Donald McLeod.

They formed the Republic of Canada and headquartered at Navy Island, but were bombarded by the British and retreated to Buffalo, New York, where they were seized by U.S. forces and sentenced to 18 months for violating the neutrality between Britain and the U.S..

On December 7, 1837, the initial rebellion in Upper Canada ended at the Battle of Montgomery's Tavern at which time many of the rebels fled to the U.S..  Two days before the battle, a group of 13 had organized in Buffalo to support the rebels.

Rensselaer van Rensselaer, a West Point graduate and who had fought alongside Bolivar in South America, became the head of the Patriot military forces.  (I am not sure this is a correct name.)  They occupied Navy Island, in Canadian waters.  During the month of December much work was done getting supporters and soon they had 500 men.

--Brock-Perry

The Patriot War of 1838-- Part 1

I wrote about the steamship Robert Fulton in the last four posts which Stephen Champlin of the U.S. Navy commanded as troops were sent to the Detroit area during this crisis which had the possibility of conflict with Britain.  The U.S. government chartered the Robert Fulton.

Even though this was after the War of 1812, the fact that Britain might get involved and Champlin being a War of 1812 veteran means I will take a look at this war.

From Wikipedia.

The Patriot War was a conflict along the Canada-United States border involving bands of raiders attacking the former British colony of Upper Canada (today's Ontario) more than a dozen times between December 1837 and December 1838.

This was not a declared war between nations.  The groups responsible for the war were both American and Canadian with the intention of liberating Upper Canada from British rule.

And, before Writing About Stephen Champlin I'd Never Heard Of It.  --Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4

From Meandering  Michigan History site.

As the situation worsened along Lake Erie and the Detroit area in the Patriot War of 1838, the U.S. government got involved lest these activities would anger Britain and set up a clash between the countries.

The government sent the steamer Robert Fulton from Buffalo to Detroit with three companies of U.S. regulars commanded by Colonel Worth.  The government frequently sent troops to patrol both up and down the Detroit River to stem the Patriot Movement, but the Patriots survived.

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There was another steamship named the Robert Fulton that was launched in 1821 and is regarded as the first steam powered ship to make the trip from New York City to New Orleans.  However, this was not the one that Champlin had with him.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 4: History

1844--  Owned by Forsyth, Clark & Atwood to run to Toledo, Maumee City and Monroe.

1844, October 23.  Stranded at Sturgeon Point, Lake Erie.

1858--   November 25.  Loading at Rochester, New York for Buffalo.

1858--  November 28  Arrived back at Rochester with with 5,300 bushels of wheat.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton-- Part 3: History of the Ship

HISTORY

1836--  Ran the Erie Canal

1838--  In the Patriot War, chartered by U.S. government with the steamer New England to carry troops from Buffalo to Detroit.  This was when Stephen Champlin was involved.  And, again, this is not the U.S. warship USS Fulton.

1838--  First enrollment  Cleveland, Griffith, Standart & Co.

1838--  April 25--  Owned by  Giddings & Co. Cleveland

1838--  October 6  Owned by John Pease & Co., Buffalo, NY.

1842--  Running the Monroe to Buffalo route.

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton (1835)-- Part 2

ORIGINAL OWNER AND LOCATION:  Giddings & Co., Cleveland

OWNERSHIP NOTES:  Builder also noted as Fairbanks, Church; also noted, list of 12 owners, 1835.

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POWER

PROPULSION:  sidewheel

ENGINE TYPE:  High Pressure (Including HPNC)

PROPULSION: 90 hp engine, Slackhouse, Pittsburgh, Pa.  1835 , 3 years old

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DIMENSIONS

LENGTH:  139' 8"

BEAM:  26' 6"

DEPTH:  10' 8"

TONNAGE (OLD STYLE):  368  43/95

--Brock-Perry

Steamer Robert Fulton (1835)-- Part 1

This is the ship commanded by Stephen Champlin in the 1838 Patriot War.

In the Great Lakes Ships site "Fulton, Robert (1835 steamer)" Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Collection.

It is difficult to find information about this ship.  It is not to be confused with the two U.S. Navy ships named the Fulton.  It is a different ship.

YEAR OF BUILD:

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CONSTRUCTION AND OWNERSHIP

BUILT AT:  Cleveland, Ohio

VESSEL TYPE:   Steamer.  Note:  She and the DEWITT CLINTON reputed to be the first lake steamers built primarily as freighters with few passenger accommodations.patriot

HULL MATERIALS:  Wood

BUILDER NAME:  Seth W. Johnson

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Two Destroyers Named For Stephen Champlin

Continuing with John Lisle's account of Champlin's life.

Two destroyers have been named in Stephen Champlin's honor.

The first USS Champlin (DD-104) was a Wicke's class destroyer launched in 1918 and sunk by testing in 1936.

The second USS Champlin (DD-601) was commissioned in 1942 and saw extensive service in World War II.  Decommissioned in 1947 and sold and scrapped in 1972.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 5: Quite Famous

In 1843, the USS Michigan, which was the first ironclad warship to sail on the Great Lakes, was launched at Erie, Pennsylvania.  She was 168 feet in length with a beam width of 69 feet, a ten foot draft and 600 ton displacement.  Her first commander was William Inman.

On November 4, 1845, Stephen Champlin succeeded him as commander and served in that capacity until until March 31, 1848, when he was replaced by James M. McIntosh (I could not find mention of him).

After retiring from the Navy, he resided in Buffalo, New York.  In 1842 he was spoken of as a possible candidate for the office of Buffalo mayor but declined the nomination.  At the time of his death, he was the last surviving officer of the Battle of Lake Erie.  His funeral eulogy was delivered by New York Governor Clinton.

Then a few months after his death, Gov. Clinton delivered a rather lengthy address to the Buffalo Historical Society on the life and career of Stephen Champlin.

--Brock-PerryChamplin

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 4: Recruiting and Private Life

John Lisle, whose blog I am taking this information could easily write a book about Stephen Champlin.

In the winter of 1842, Commander Stephen Champlin was placed in charge of the recently established Navy recruiting center at Buffalo.  In the short span less than  four months he had signed up 400 apprentices, seamen and ordinary seamen for service.

Captain and Mrs. Champlin resided on Seneca Street in Buffalo for many years as did many of the city's noted persons during those years.  Their house was well-known for suppers and card parties.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 3: The 1838 Patriot War

In 1838, during the Patriot War, he was put in command of the military force that was sent, along with the steamers Robert Fulton and New England, to prevent  the developing  invasion of Canada by private forces.
These forces had as their goal, the liberation of Canada from the yolk of British colonialism.  That the Canadians did not want to be free was overlooked by these men so the U.S. government found it necessary  to head off the invasion before it caused another confrontation with Britain.

On January 25, 1838, Champlin's ships broke through the ice of Buffalo Creek and proceeded up the lake.  They captured many of the "deluded liberators" and averted further bloodshed.

(I'd never heard of this incident, but there is a big article in Wikipedia about it.  There was also a Patriot's War in East Florida back during the War of 1812.  The steamer Robert Fulton mentioned here was not a U.S. Navy ship, but a steamer chartered by the U.S. government, as was the New England.  There were also two U.S. Navy ships named the USS Fulton, neither of which was this Robert Fulton ship.)

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Post War Service-- Part 2: Five Operations for His Wound

His wife, Minerva Lydia Pomeroy was born June 28, 1798 and died June 8, 1859.  They had eight children.  Of interest, the first one born in 1818 was named Oliver Hazard Perry Champlin.  I have found nothing about him following his father's footsteps into the U.S. Navy.

In the spring of 1818, Stephen Chaplin was compelled to undergo further surgery on his leg to remove bone fragments.  He was then detached from the naval station at Erie and allowed because of his health to return to Connecticut. until November 1828.

In November 1828 he was put briefly in command of the steamer USS Fulton at New York, and served as her captain until December 30th at which time  it was decided that his leg made him unfit for such duties (as he had undergone  three more operations).  He returned to Connecticut, remaining there until  1834 when he returned to  Buffalo.

Considering where surgery stood in this period of time, he was risking his life each time and in great pain.

--Brock-Perry

Stephen Champlin's Postwar Career-- Part 1

After his capture, the British paroled him figuring that his wounds would be mortal.  He went back home to Connecticut where he recovered from the wounds.  On March 28, 1815, he was ordered to join Perry's fleet which was heading to the Mediterranean to battle the Barbary Pirates off the coast of Algeria and Tunisia.

In the fall of 1815, in consideration of his wounds, he was ordered to  to return to Erie in the spring of 1816. There he underwent a difficult operation to remove the many splinters of shattered bone that remained in his leg.

From 1816-1818, he commanded the USS  Porcupine surveying the Canadian-American border along the upper Great Lakes.  Upon his return to Erie, he was beached in a strong gale at Buffalo.  During his enforced stay in Buffalo, he met and courted Minerva  Lydia Pomeroy whom he married there  on January 9, 1817.

She was a Buffalo socialite of the city. She and Stephen had eight children.

--Brock-Perry