2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
DECEMBER 30, 1813
British troops burned Buffalo, New York, during the War of 1812.
They also burned the nearby and competing village of Black Rock.
This was partially in retaliation for the American burnings of York (then capital of the British Upper Canada colony and now the city of Toronto) and the village of Newark earlier in the year.
Of course, this was 8 months before Washington, D.C. was burned by the British, also in retaliation for the American burnings.
Mean, mean War. --Brock-Perry
On December 29, 1812, during the War of 1812, the frigate USS Constitution engaged and severely damaged the British frigate HMS Java.
The Java was originally a French frigate that was captured by the British and mounted 38 guns, mostly of the 18-pounder long guns and carronades. The Constitution mounted some 50 guns, mostly 24-pounder long guns and carronades so it wasn't much of a fight.
Old Ironsides at Work. --Brock-Perry
DECEMBER 27, 1814:
WAR OF 1812
The American schooner Carolina is destroyed . It was the last of Commodore Daniel Patterson's makeshift fleet that fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans.
For more on the USS Carolina, click on the USS Carolina label below. I had some difficulty in determining if this was the USS Carolina or USS Caroline, but now believe the ship's name was USS Carolina.
--Brock-Perry
Also, while a major, Worth uttered his most famous words which are now inscribed in West Point's "Bugle Notes", a book of knowledge that all cadets must know by heart.
They are as follows:
"But an officer on duty knows no one -- to be partial is to dishonor himself and the object of his ill-advised favor. What will be thought of him who exacts of his friends that which disgraces him? Look at him who winks at and overlooks offences in one, which he causes to be punished in another, and contrast him with the inflexible soldier who does his duty faithfully, not withstanding it occasionally wars with his private feelings. The conduct of one will be venerated and emulated, the other detested as a satire upon soldiership and honor."
Brevet Major William Jenkins Worth
I am sure glad I didn't have to memorize this as the wording is particularly hard to comprehend.
After the War of 1812, he was Commandant of Cadets at West Point and rose to the rank of colonel in 1838 when he was put in command of the newly formed 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment.
So, was this the end of Gen. Worth's career? Stay tuned.
Personally, I Think This Could Have Been Significantly Shortened. --Brock-Perry
From the December 23, 2020, Spotlight (NY) News "Five questions: Kevin Franklin" by Jim Franco.
Kevin Franklin is Historian of the Town of Colonie, worked for the City of Menand's police department for 30 years and has been municipal historian of Menand since 1968. My kind of guy.
QUESTION: If you could have lunch with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
ANSWER: I've often thought about that. Who wouldn't want to have lunch with George Washington or Benjamin Franklin (no relation). However, it would be a toss-up between Gen. William Worth who built the large home called "Hedgelawn" across from Schuyler Flatts Park or Benjamin Prescott.
Worth distinguished himself during the War of 1812. He was also an early superintendent of Watervliet Arsenal, fought in the Seminole Indian Wars and the U.S. War with Mexico, quite the flamboyant character.
Lake Worth, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, are named after him.
Benjamin Prescott was an army engineer during the American Revolution and had quite a career afterwards.
I'll have to do some research on William Worth.
--Brock-Perry
From the December 22, 2020, NoVa "DAR participates in Wreaths Across America"
Members of the Freedom Hall chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution on McLean, Virginia gathered at the Wrene-Darne Family Cemetery in Falls Church to honor American veterans.
They were joined by Pete Greene who bought the cemetery in 2012 and has spent much effort restoring it.
The veterans they honored were:
James Wren of the Fairfax County Militia, American Revolution
Col. John S. Wren of the 5th Virginia Militia, War of 1812
Captain Robert Darne of the 1st Corps d'Elite Virginia Militia, War of 1812
John Robert Darne of the Civil War.
--Brock-Perry
Several different accounts of the Wreaths Across America campaign, veterans were honored across the entire country.
Some of them were War of 1812 veterans as well. The wreaths cost $15 apiece and are sold by individuals and bought by local businesses.
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA:
Five Civil War and one War of 1812 veteran at Carpenter Cemetery in St. Charles. These were put down by members of the local Civil Air Patrol.
ELIZABETH, NEW YORK:
First Presbyterian Church. Graves of American revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War. Over 2,000 places across the country took part in this.
A Great Idea to Honor the Brave Souls Who Risked All. --Brock-Perry
The Pilgrims came over a little less than 200 years before the War of 1812. But this year marks the 400th anniversary of their arrival.
A mark of the Pilgrims' impact on our modern culture is the number of people who believe they are, or might be, that their ancestors came over to America in the Mayflower in 1620. A poll taken two decades ago suggested that a quarter of Americans believed they were descended from a Pilgrim. That would not be mathematically possible according to one expert.
With the world now celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim arrival, there are probably even more people wanting to join that club.
But, according to the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, an association for those with proven Pilgrim descent, 10 million people in the U.S. are descendants from the Mayflower people. They also estimate that some 35 million people around the world are descendants.
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Although, I must admit that I haven't heard very much at all in connection with such a monumental moment in American history. as I would have expected other than a few newspaper articles and TV bits, the magazine/book I am getting this from and the post office has a Mayflower stamp. I would guess this is part of the new erase history movement which condemns the Pilgrims because of what happened to the Indians.
I sure would have believed there would have been a lot more.
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--Brock-Perry
Now that the Cleveland Indians baseball team is changing their name because Indians are offended by it, let's put a War of 1812 spin on the new name.
I say, let's put a War of 1812 spin on the new name. My first suggestion id the Cleveland Commodores because that was what Oliver Hazard Perry's rank was when he defeated the British fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie.
Another possibility would be the Cleveland Perrys, after, of course, Oliver Hazard Perry.
Other possibilities could be Commanders or Admirals.
I don't understand wanting the name Indians changed, but maybe that Chief Wahoo is way overboard.
Let's Get a War of 1812 Thing There. --Brock-Perry
From NC Home site.
Born in 1783 and by 1805 was practicing law and was a large landowner.
In 1810, the governor appointed him attorney general. Served in six consecutive General Assemblies, the last three as Speaker of the House as well.
On November 29, 1814, the North Carolina General Assembly appointed him as the 15th governor of the state. He served three terms before leaving office. (One source I've read says he was the 18th governor. Wikipedia has a complete list of North Carolina governors and he is the 18th. The 15th governor was David Stone.)
The War of 1812 was ending as he took office as governor, but he fully supported it and President Madison's policies. Once the war was over, he was pressed by the general Assembly to buy a full length statue of George Washington. Antonio Canova was hired to make it in 1815 and it arrived at the statehouse in 1821.
That statue was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1831.
--Brock-Perry
After the war, as governor of North Carolina, he lent his support to early efforts to establish a system of public education in the state. He also helped improve internal state trade and transportation and a revision of the penal code and judicial system.
One of his appointees to the bench was instrumental in the organization of the North Carolina Supreme Court.
After his terms, President John Quincy Adams appointed Miller as diplomatic agent to Guatemala. He died of yellow fever en route to assume his new post.
It is believed he was buried at sea.
--Brock-Perry
From the December 10, 2020, Elizabeth City (NC) Daily Advance "Week in NC History: William Miller, Governor during the War of 1812."
On December 10, 1825, former Governor William Miller died in Key West, Florida.
Born around 1783 in Warren County., Miller worked as a private lawyer, the state's attorney general and a member of the General Assembly before first being elected as governor in 1814. He went on to serve three terms in that post, and was the first to occupy the newly completed Governors' Palace at the south end of Raleigh's Fayetteville Street.
Active on the national political stage, Miller supported the military policies of President James Madison during the concluding weeks of the War of 1812 by ordering out additional militia units for potential service on the southern frontier.
--Brock-Perry
The Asia was off the Chesapeake Bay in the United States in July 1814. The Royal Marine Artillery Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Marines were ferried from Bermuda to the Chesapeake aboard the Asia, via the HMS Tonnant.
During the bombardment of Fort McHenry, guarding Baltimore, the Asia was anchored off the city along with the Seahorse, Surprise and Severn.
Later, the Asia was one of Admiral Cockburn's fleet at New Orleans at the start of 1815 in support of the attack on Andrew Jackson's position. Some 107 Royal marines disembarked from the ship to assist in the attack.
In 1819, the Asia was renamed the HMS Alfred. From 1822 to 1829, the Asia was reduced to a 50-gun fourth rate frigate and was eventually broken up in 1865.
--Brock-Perry
From the December 10, 2020, Sentinel-Record (Arkansas)
The United States Daughters of War of 1812 (U.S.D. 1812) has conducted their 2020 winter drive to gather coats for veterans. Members Joan Davis and Sheila Beatty on December 4, delivered 303 items of men's clothing and blankets to St. Francis House. The collection was also aided by radio station KVRE.
The collecting was primarily done by the radio station, but 1812 members inspected the clothing, sorted it, and when needed, laundered them.
In November, U.S.D. 1812 delivered 150 coats and other winter clothing to the Central Arkansas Veterans health Care System VA Volunteer services.
More Work of Those Great Lineage Organizations. --Brock-Perry
Ray Pentico had reached the rank of seaman 2nd class by the time he got to the Oklahoma where he joined a crew of a thousand men. He was just 16 when the ship left the mainland for Pearl Harbor on October 1, 1941.
His captain, Howard Bode, was unpopular with the crew, but survived the attack at Pearl Harbor, but later killed himself after the Battle of Savo Island.
On December 7, the Oklahoma, in the space of 11 minutes, had 12 torpedoes launched at her by dive bombers, of which 5 struck home. The Oklahoma began to list and capsize within 15 minutes.
It is not known where Ray Pentico was on the ship at the time, but he was one of 429 men killed or missing in the attack.
Ray Pentico had just been aboard the USS Oklahoma for nine weeks.
Pentico and the 394 sailors and Marines on the Oklahoma could not be identified when they fin ally were able to get at the bodies two years later and were buried in communal graves in Hawaii.
--Pearl Harbor
This being the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I will write about it in all eight of my blogs.
From the December 5, 2020, Lexington Clipper-Herald "Lexington sailor still among the unidentified who perished on USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor" by Brian Neban.
It has been four years since the decision was made to disinter the USS Oklahoma Unknowns for identification purposes. So far, 242 have been identified, but that is not the case for Ray Pentico. he is still among the Missing In Action sailors from that stricken ship.
He was born March 31, 1923, in Overton. After attending Lexington public schools, he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) on April 3, 1941. After serving in it for three months, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 7, 1941, just five months before the Japanese attack.
He received seven weeks of training in San Diego and upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Oklahoma (BB-37).
--USS Oklahoma
The picture to the right of this post showed both the HMS Albion, which I have been writing about, and the HMS Asia in 1828.
I found out that ship also participated in the War of 1812.
From Wikipedia.
There was an earlier HMS Asia, which participated in the American Revolution.
The HMS Asia was a 74-gun third rate ship of the line in the British Royal Navy. Launched on December 2, 1811 at Frindsbury.
It was 176 feet long with a 47.6 foot beam.
THE WAR OF 1812
On 26 July 1813, the Asia sailed from Negril as an escort for a convoy going to London.
--Brock-Perry
Turks and Caicos are British Islands in the Bahamas Chain, northeast of Cuba.
They have put out a stamp honoring both Admiral Alexander Cochrane and the HMS Albion.
The Albion was stationed off Chesapeake Bay, part of a force that harried the coastline of that bay during the War of 1812.
The Albion operated all the way up the Potomac and Patuxent rivers destroying large amounts of American shipping as well as U.S. government property.
This operation ended when peace was declared in 1815.
--Brock-Perry
In 1812, he long conflict with Napoleon was over and after a long refit. the Albion became the flagship of Rear Admiral George Cockburn and the ship then took part in the War of 1812 against the United States. The previous ship of the line HMS Albion had also taken part in a war with the United States, the American Revolution.
In the summer of 1814, she was involved with actions along the coastline of the Chesapeake Bay, where she operated all the way up the Potomac and and Patuxent rivers, destroying large amounts of American shipping as well as U.S. government property.
These operations ended once it was learned that peace had been declared in 1815.
--Brock-Perry
