About That Fort Detroit, Shelby and Wayne in Detroit-- Part 2: Fort Wayne Was Not the War of 1812 Fort, But Did Play a Role in the War

So, Fort Wayne was not the fort that existed and played such a part in the War of 1812.  It was built after the war.  But, its site did play a role.

The one from the War of 1812 was known as Fort Detroit and later its name was changed to Fort Shelby.

The site of Fort Wayne consisted of a high sand mound with freshwater springs along the marshy waterfront of the Detroit River.

The opening shots of the War of 1812, however, were fired in the vicinity of the future Fort Wayne.  Although war had not yet been declared, Michigan militiamen bombarded the town of Sandwich, Upper Canada (later annexed to Windsor).

Later in the war, British General Isaac Brock crossed the narrowest part of the Detroit River with troops and landed on the future Fort Wayne site before marching on Detroit.  In the ensuing Siege of Detroit, American General William Hull, believing himself completely surrounded and outnumbered, surrendered Fort Detroit  to the British without offering much resistance.

A Sad Military Event in American History.  --Brock-Perry

About That Fort Detroit, Fort Wayne, Fort Shelby in Detroit

I saw an article in the Detroit News about the historic Fort Wayne in that city, but was unable to read it.  I knew there was a Fort Detroit there which played a huge role in the War of 1812, so decided to turn to good ol' Wikipedia for some background on it.

From Wikipedia.

Fort Wayne is located in downtown Detroit on the Detroit River.  The original limestone barracks still stands as does the 1845 fort.

Fort Wayne is Detroit's third fort.

The first was Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit built be the French in 1701 near the current day Hart Plaza.  This fort was manned by the French until they surrendered to the British in 1760 during the French and Indian War.

The British constructed the second fort, Fort Lernoult a few years later about where Fort and Shelby streets come together today. They manned the fort until 1796 when the United States assumed the site and renamed it Fort Shelby.

Following the end of the War of 1812, Fort Shelby fell into disrepair and in 1826, the City of Detroit purchased and demolished it.

--Brock-Perry

Minding Your 'P's' and 'Q's' While Gossiping

About those inns and public house from the Days of Yore.

For politicians back in those days (late 1700s to mid-1800s), a journey to visit constituents or office was tedious and difficult.  They would utilize their assistants to "sip some ale" and hear the peoples' concerns.

When they would "go sip here" and "go sip there" the two words were  combined to form the words gossip."

Ale would be served in pints and quarts.  (Have you figured out where this is heading?)

A bar maid had to be diligent as to which patrons were drinking a pint or quart.

This duty resulted in the phrase (Are You Ready?), "Minding Your "P's" and "Q's."

I don't know if all this is true, but it makes for a good story.

I imagine Andy Jackson minded his Ps and Qs.

Heard Any Good Gossip Lately?  --Brock-PerryPsandQs

Minding Your 'P's' and 'Q's'-- Part 1: (Admiral Perry?)

Jan. 27, 2021, WBRZ Channel 2 ABC, Pat Shingleton: "P's and Q's "

Near our home in Ellwood City, Pa.,  are roads that  would have been identified as routes of transport during the Revolutionary War.  The roads connected Pittsburgh to Erie where Admiral Perr's Fleet  was located during the War of 1812.  (Well, not actually admiral.)

There are many locations such as Rachael's Road Road House near Grove City that displays a house that George Washington visited.

In those early days, local taverns and public houses or pubs provided lodging, food or drink from inclement weather.  Libations were originally  a convenient means for  combating the winter chill and a "wee-nip" could break the bone-chilling cold.

--Brock-Perry

'Cleveland Commodores' Would Tap Into Powerful Battle of Lake Erie History

From the Jan. 24, 2021 Cleveland.com site.  Letters of the Editor by Jairaj  Heights. 

I've already written about the discussion as to what the new name of the Cleveland Indians will be.  

The Commodores, of course, would be taking their name from Commodore Perry, Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812.  Of the ones suggested, I like this name the best.

Or, maybe the Cleveland Hazards or Cleveland Perrys.

Sad, though, because they have been the Cleveland Indians for 109 years.  The name has to be changed because it offends Indians.  I am not sure how the term Indian would offend them, but can definitely see a problem with the Chief Wahoo insignia.

Other names suggested:

Cleveland Rocks (Birthplace of Rock and Roll)

Cleveland Walleyes

Cleveland Spiders (The actual name of the MLB team located in the city from 1889 to 1899)

Cleveland Blues (for the music)

Cleveland Buckeyes  (But isn't there a college team in the state named that?)

WhaddaYaThink?  --BrockComm

Program Highlights Fort Niagara's Hidden Black History

From Jan. 25, 2021, Niagara Frontier Publications.

In honor of Black History Month, Old Fort Niagara will host a special tour  at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 6 which will highlight Blacks who served at the post from the 18th through the  20th centuries.  The tour will recount the life of  Richard Pierpoint, a former slave, who served as a member of Butler's Rangers (a Loyalist military unit) during the American Revolution.

He went on to support the British during the War of 1812.

The tour will also discuss the accomplishments of the 24th Infantry Regiment, which garrisoned Fort Niagara in the summer of 1909.  The 24th was a black regiment formed in 1869 as one of the "Buffalo Soldier" regiments raised after the Civil War to fight the Indians on the Great Plains.

Tour size is limited to twenty persons, so hurry up and sign up.

--Brock-Perry

University of Kentucky's Protest Against 'Star Spangled Banner'

From the Jan. 24, 2021, Lexington (Ky) Herald-Ledger "UK's protest an action that dates back to national anthem's 'very origins' by Jerry Tipton.

It was a peaceful protest  during the playing of the National Anthem at Florida earlier this month.  The whole University of  Kentucky basketball team, including coaches, kneeled during the National Anthem.

Mark Clague, an associate professor of musicology at the University of  Michigan has written a book about the anthem "Singing Citizenship: A Political History of the  Star-Spangled Banner" which is being published early next year.

He said the anthem was originally written as a poem, entitled "The Defence of Fort McHenry," written by Francis Scott Key who witnessed  the famed battle.

"It's a political song from the get-go.  Francis Scott Key's  song is a call for unity.  It's a call for a central government that can defend itself.  Neither of those things were  true of the United States in 1814."

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution Sailor Receives Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

From the January 13, 2021, Boston Globe "Seaman aboard USS Constitution earns achievement  medal from Secretary of the Navy" by Charlie McKenna.

Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite awarded seaman Jaida Williams with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal aboard the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat which fought in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.  It was on active duty 1797 to 1855.

During normal operations, active duty sailors stationed aboard the ship provide free tours and offer public visitation to over 600,000 people a year.  The ship supports its mission of  promoting the U.S. Navy's history and maritime heritage as well as  raising awareness of the importance of continued naval presence.

The USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and either captured or destroyed 33 enemy ships.

Jaida Williams is a Macon, Georgia, native and has served in the Navy for two years.

I'd Even Join the Navy at My Advanced Age If I Could Serve On This Ship.  --Brock-Perry

The Battle of New Orleans, American Battlefield Trust

From the American Battlefield Trust 2021 calendar.

The calendar features a different battlefield from the Civil War, War of 1812 and American Revolution every month.  This organization, as I said in the last post, is committed to saving historic acres in these wars that were fought in the United States.  They originally started off just for Civil War battles, but I am glad they have expanded their efforts to the other two.

This month's full page picture by Buddy Secor features the Chalmette Battlefield Jean  Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Chalmette, Louisiana.

Text:

"NEW ORLEANS, LA.

On January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson's outnumbered army defended New Orleans from British capture and secured the greatest American victory of the War of 1812.

To date, the Trust has saved 25 acres of War of 1812 battlefields, with more on the horizon.  Future preservation and education efforts will continue to elevate the battlefields of this important, but often overlooked, conflict."

I belong to this organization, and as this blog is titled "Not So Forgotten."

There is also a small picture of  the Cowpens National Battlefield in Gaffney, S,C., by Brian Keeley.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Events in January

From the American Battlefield Trust January 2021 calendar.  (Also American Revolution)  This organization purchases land for preservation where battles were fought on American soil.

JAN. 3:  Battle of Princeton, N.J.  1777

JAN. 8:  Battle of New Orleans, La.  1815

JAN. 9:  Great Britain declares war on the U.S.  1812

JAN. 17:  Battle of Cowpens, S.C.  1781

JAN: 22:  Battle of River Raisin, Monroe, Mi.  1813

--Brock-Perry

The Last Time U.S. Capitol Was Breached Was Over 200 Years Ago

From the January 6, 2021, Guardian "U.S. Capitol's last breach was more than 200 years ago" by Amanda Holpuch.

That horrible scene of idiots running amuck in the Capitol last weekend is still in my mind and it will join the Twin Towers burning on 9/11 and the pictures of the burning and sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.

And the fact that their intent was to disrupt a government function.  Well, just too much.

Not since 1814 has the building been breached like it was Wednesday.

Then, it was by British troops  who set fire to it and other public buildings in Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.  City residents were aware of the British approach and most had fled by the arrival of those troops.

The Capitol was under construction at the time and while a considerable portion was destroyed by the fire, use of many fireproof materials allowed for the preservation of the exterior and many of the interior rooms.  Still the fire was bad enough that many documents were destroyed, glass lights melted and statues destroyed.

I've written a lot of posts about the burning of Washington, D,C..  Click on the Burning of Washington DC label.

--Brock-Perry

Did You Ever Wonder About Fort Worth, Texas?

On 1941, New York City restored the monument.  In 1995, the monument again underwent  an extensive restoration funded mainly by the Paul and Klara Porzelt Foundation and  U.S. Navy Commander (ret)  James A. Woodruff Jr.. Worth's great-great grandson.

He and his family have endowed  the maintenance of the monument and surrounding planting bed, through the Municipal Art Society's Adopt-A-Monument program.

********************************

The cities of Fort Worth and Lake Worth in Texas are named after him.  Also the villages of Worth in Illinois and Worth in Kentucky.

Worth County in Georgia and Iowa are named after him.

The famed Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida, is named for the general as well.

Enough Said.  --Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 6: Worth Square, Manhattan

William Worth's remains were reinterred in a 51-foot granite monument on Worth Square on a traffic island between Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 25th Street  in New York City's borough of Manhattan.  It is the second oldest monument in New York City (the oldest is Cleopatra's Needle).

It was designed and built by James G. Batterson in 1857.

The monument's decorative bands are inscribed with the names of Worth's battles and attached to the front of it is a bronze equestrian relief of Worth.  The top of each spike of the cast iron fence surrounding the monument is topped with a plumed helmet he is wearing on the memorial plaque.  The main part of each spike is modeled after Worth's Congressional sword.

The American artist Thomas Hart Benton depicted the monument in his "New York: Early Twenties" painting  Worth Street (Manhattan) at the southern end of Little Italy, is named in his honor.

Quite an Important Early American Hero You Probably Have Never Heard Of Before.  --Brock-Perry

January 8, 1815: The Battle of New Orleans

JANUARY 8, 1815

U.S. forces led by General Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

This was the last major closing engagement  of the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 5: The Havana Club Plan and Death

In 1848, William Worth was approached by  a group of Cuban Freemasons known as the Havana Club, composed of  sugar plantation owners and aristocrats, who wanted the overthrow of the island's Spanish government.  They sent a college professor named Ambrosio  Jose Gonzales to ask Worth to lead an invasion of Cuba at the head of American Mexican War veterans.

Knowing that Worth was also a Freemason, Gonzales greeted the war hero with the Masonic secret handshake, and offered him $3 million.  Worth accepted the offer, but before anything could come of it, he was transferred by the War Department to Texas.

He was in command of the Department of Texas  when he died of cholera in 1849 in San Antonio.

The general's body is buried at Worth Square in New York City.

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 4: The Mexican War and Honors

The fall out between William Worth and his old friend Winfield Scott after the Battle of Molino del Rey was so bad that William even renamed his son William from Winfield Scott.  Now, that's mad.

Worth next led his division against the San Cosme Gate at Mexico City.  When American forces entered the city, Worth personally climbed to the roof of the National Palace and took down the Mexican flag and replaced it with the Stars and Stripes.

For his service at the Battle of Chapultepec, the United States Congress awarded him a sword.

In 1847, he was admitted as an honorary member of the Society of Cincinnati.

--Brock-Perry

New England's Hartford Convention Ended This Date in 1815

January 5, 1815

The Hartford Convention was a series of meetings from December 15, 1814, to January 5, 1815, in which the New England Federalist Party met to discuss their grievances during the War of 1812.  Also, they were upset at the growing power f the central government.

They discussed removing the 3.5 compromise from the Constitution and requiring a 2/3 Congressional vote to admit new states.

Secession was debated, but rejected as being too premature.  But they did call on the federal government to make special effort to protect New England.

The final report was issued on this date in 1815.  Of course, arrival of news of the end of the war kind of blunted the impact of this convention.  But, how about the idea that a section of the United States was already considering the idea of secession back then?

--Brock-Perry

William J. Worth-- Part 3: Second Seminole and Mexican Wars

Continued from December 27, 2020.

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR

Using his own tactics, he successfully prosecuted the Second Seminole War in Florida and was promoted to the rank of brevet brigadier general.  Eventually he convinced Secretary of War John C. Spencer to allow the remaining Seminoles  in the territory of Florida to confine to an unofficial reservation in southwest Florida, and declared an official end to the war in August 1842.

MEXICAN WAR

When the Mexican War began, Worth was serving under General Zachary Taylor in Texas and negotiated the surrender of the Mexican city of Matamoros.  He next commanded the Second Regular Division, Army of Occupation at the Battle of Monterrey in September 1846.  In 1847, he was transferred to  his old friend Winfield Scott's army and placed in command of the First Division.

He took part in the Siege of Veracruz and engaged  in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras and Churubusco.  At Mexico City, Scott ordered Worth to seize the Mexican fortifications at Molino del Rey.  This effectually ended the two generals' friendship when Scott refused to allow Worth to change his plan of attack, a move that caused the First Division to suffer heavy casualties.

--Brock-Perry

Tenth Year of This Blog

This marks the beginning of this blog's tenth year.

This post is the 3,447th.

The very first post was April 16, 2012.

This blog grew out of my Cooter's History Thing blog and I started it because 2012 was the bicentennial of the War of 1812.  I knew more about this war than most people, but that's not saying too much as most Americans know very little about the war.

I figured I would learn more about it with this blog, and I sure did, starting with where Upper and Lower Canada (as the British colony was called back then) were not where I thought they would be.  I always thought upper meant north and lower meant south.  But not so in Canada.  The locations refer to the St. Lawrence River which flows from south to north.

I was looking for a signoff name and couldn't think of one so temporarily used the last names of two heroes of the war:  Isaac Brock of Britain and Oliver Hazard Perry of the U.S.

Things You Learn.  --Brock-Perry