2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
From the North Carolina in the War of 1812 Blog "Wayne County Roster of Soldiers in War of 1812" contributed by John Allen.
Muster Rolls of Soldiers in the War of 1812 and 1814.
Second Regiment, Sixth Company detached from Wayne County.
David Watson, captain
David Wadsen, captain in return
M. Whitfield, 1st lieutenant
Wm. Killegrew, 2nd lieutenant
Hatch Whitfield, ensign
John Ammonds, cadet
You can visit Old Fort Madison in Riverview Park in the town of Fort Madison, Iowa. There you'll see what life was like on a frontier trading fort during the early days of our nation. See what life was like for a soldier stationed there.
Experience a musket being fired by am interpreter in period garb. Read through historical documents from letters to receipts.
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ADDRESS: 716 Riverview Drive, Fort Madison, Iowa
ON LINE: oldfortmadison.org
FUN FACT: Fort Madison pre-dates the state of Iowa itself. It is the site of the first settlement in what would later become Iowa.
KIDS: The hands-on factor at Old Fort Madison makes it perfect for kids. They can feel a beaver pelt, try on uniforms and run and climb around the fort to let off some steam
Sounds Like Another Place in Iowa I'll Have to Visit. --Brock-Perry
Old Fort Madison became one of the most popular trading posts with the Native Americans where they could essentially buy anything they needed.
"It was pretty much like a Wal-Mart," said Eugene Watkins. "The natives could get everything there from pre-made clothes to firearms and they could get it at cost without having alcohol pushed on them.
In return, the Indians got top dollar for raw materials like furs, lead and even feathers.
"One shipment to St. Louis contained 578 pounds of feathers traded by the Natives."
The demise of Fort Madison came during the War of 1812 when it was attacked several times mostly by Ho-Chunk and Menomonee warriors.
It is unknown how many civilians, Missouri Territory militia, U.S. Rangers and Native Americans are buried at Fort Madison. However, there are 21 soldiers and one Ranger buried there, making it the oldest military cemetery in Iowa.
Eventually, the fort was burned by soldiers after the trading became compromised.
--Brock-Perry
From the May 24, 2021, Des Moines (Iowa) Register "Trip on a tankful: Old Fort Madison 'an odd piece of American history" by Paula Reece.
A lesser-known piece of American history is the establishment of the United States Government Factory System. In response to the 1804 Treaty of St. Louis, government trading posts were set up as part of the payment to the Sac and Fox Nations for lands they gave to the United States.
To keep peace and good will, the government sold everything to the Indians at cost and offered high prices on Native goods.
What set the government factories apart from private trading posts was the fact that no alcohol was sold. One of the most successful government trading posts was along the Mississippi River in what is today the town of Fort Madison, Iowa.
Eugene Watkins, site manager at Old Fort Madison, a replica of the original fort, says it is one of the most unique spots to visit in Iowa.
--Brock-Perry
From Find-A-Grave.
CAPT. LEVERETT H. BARNES
BIRTH: 23 October 1787, Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
DEATH: 26 May 1872, Antioch, Lake County, Illinois
BURIAL: Hillside Cemetery, Antioch, Lake County, Illinois
Section 2, Row 14
INSCRIPTION: Died May 26, 1872, aged 84 years, 7 months, 3 days.
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Leverett was a captain in the War of 1812. Stone is now lying flat and becoming more illegible each year.
It sure is. I am glad they are going to do something about it.
--Brock-Perry
From the May 29, 2021, Daily Herald (Chicago Suburbs) Antioch to dedicate monument for War of 1812 soldier."
A monument for Antioch's oldest-known soldier, Captain Leverett Barnes, who served in the War of 1812, will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 31, at Hillside Cemetery, Route 173 and Hillside Avenue.
The dedication is part of a Memorial Day service sponsored by Antioch American Legion Post 748, Sequoit VFW Post 4551 and the Lakes Region Historical Society.
A reception will follow at the VFW Hall, 75 North Avenue. In case of bad weather, the entire event will be held in the hall.
I had no idea we had a War of 1812 veteran buried near us.
--Brock-Perry
From the History Site.
The first war to be declared by the United States, the War of 1812, sparked one of the strongest anti-war movements in American history. As a matter of fact, this anti-war protest almost went as far as certain states seceding from the United States. Even stranger, these were the states MOST against the southern states seceding in the middle part of that century.
The Federalist Party held sway in the New England states and they especially opposed the war on economic and political grounds.
New England Federalists viewed the War of 1812 as a partisan crusade launched by Democratic-Republican President James Madison that would disrupt the region's shipping and fishing industries.
Advocating states rights, the governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut denied use of their state militias in the service of :Mr. Madison's War." As a matter of fact, Massachusetts even attempted to negotiate a separate peace.
In December 1814, 26 New England Federalist leaders convened in the Connecticut capital of Hartford and threatened secession. The Hartford Convention's proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution arrived in Washington, D.C. just after news of the war's conclusion.
All this led to the eventual collapse of the Federalist Party amid charges of treason.
--Brock-Secessionist
Ten forts were planned between Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande River and the Trinity River, though only seven were built, including Forts Graham, Duncan and Lincoln.
In the spring of 1849, as William Worth's career continued to ascend, San Antonio was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic. Worth contracted the disease and died at the age of 55. General William Harney then ordered the last fort , near the Trinity River, be named in honor of the fallen hero, Fort Worth.
Worth was later buried in a tomb in what is now Worth Square in New York City, where a street is also named for him.
Several other cities and counties across the nation are also named for him. Lake Worth, a small suburb next to Fort Worth, Texas, is also named for the general. It now has a population of 5,000.
William Worth's most famous namesake, Fort Worth, is now the fifth largest city in Texas with more than 900,000 residents.
--Brock-Perry
General William Worth negotiated the surrender of the Mexican City of Matamoros in September and pushed his forces steadily southward toward the capital, Mexico City.
After another year of heavy fighting, Worth and his men swept aside the last defenses of Mexico City with the victory at Chapultepec. Worth himself was commended for his bravery in that battle. When Mexico City was captured, Worth personally replaced the Mexican flag with the American flag at the Capitol building.
After the end of the war, Worth was given command of the Army's Department of Texas in 1848 He realized that fighting between the settlers and frontier tribes would continue and devised a system for protecting the Texas frontier.
This plan materialized in a series of forts acting as a barrier between tribal lands and the farms and towns settlers of Central and North Texas.
--Brock-Perry
Despite the injury, William Jenkins Worth was determined to continue serving in the U.S. Army. He was appointed to Commandant of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1816 while he was a major.
As commandant, Worth instilled the lessons of duty and honor into the aspiring young officers. He taught the importance of never excusing a dishonorable act in another officer and the necessity of integrity in all matters, to keep one's word bio matter what. His essays in honor are still required reading for West Point cadets.
In 1838, he was promoted to colonel and given command of an infantry regiment. he fought in the Second Seminole War in Florida as tribes and settlers clashed. He was promoted to brigadier general afterward.
After Texas was admitted to the United States in 1845, Mexico threatened war over its former possession. Worth was assigned to patrol the border between the two countries along with General Zachary Taylor, and war erupted in 1846.
--Brock-Perry
From the May 16, 2021, Amarillo (Texas) Globe News "Bridges: Fort Worth namesake was a distinguished war hero" by Ken Bridges.
The City of Fort Worth is sometimes known as "Cowtown" or "Where the West Begins." However, the name behind the city has a story all its own.
General William Jenkins Worth was a legend in his own right, a distinguished officer and war hero who fought for Texas and his nation.
He was born in Hudson, New York in 1794, to Quaker parents. His father made a comfortable living as a merchant ship captain. Despite being a Quaker, young William enlisted in the U.S. Army when the War of 1812 came.
Worth received a commission as 1st lieutenant in March 1813 and was assigned as an aide to General Winfield Scott. Scott became a mentor and close friend. Worth fought in numerous battles against the British, Canadians and Indians.
At the Battle of Lundy's Lane in July 1814, he and Scott were both wounded in what was the bloodiest battle of the whole war. Worth's leg wound proved almost fatal, but he survived and never regained use of the leg the rest of his life.
--Brock-Perry-Worth
Last month I spent a lot of time writing about this naval officer's career. He was a War of 1812 veteran and was commanding the frigate USS Constitution at the time of his death in 1849.
He also commanded the frigate USS Potomac from 1844 to 1845.
The frigate USS Potomac was constructed at the Washington Navy Yard between 1819 and 1822 and entered active service in 1831. During the 1830s and early 1840s, the Potomac sailed to Asia where it participated in the shelling of Qualla Battoo, Sumatra.
After its return to Boston in 1844. the ship traveled twice to Brazil
Captain John Gwinn of Maryland commanded the ship between October 1844 and December 1845 as the Potomac sailed along the U.S. Atlantic coast and to ports om the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
During the Mexican War, the Potomac landed troops at Port Isabel, Texas, and in the Siege of Vera Cruz.
From 1855 to 1856, it was the flagship of the Home Squadron and was part of the Union blockade of the Gulf Coast during the Civil War.
It remained in the service of the U.S. Navy until 1877 when it was sold.
--Brock-Perry
This is the Constitution's first underway in more than a year because of the CORONA-199 pandemic.
The USS Constitution is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a role in both the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. It actively defended sea lanes between 1797 and 1855.
The sailors aboard the ship are active duty U.S. Navy personnel and provide free tours and offer public visitation as they support the ship's mission of promoting the Navy's history and maritime heritage and raising public awareness of the importance of sustained naval presence.
The ship got its distinctive nickname during the War of 1812 when British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship's wooden hull.
The USS Constitution Museum reopened on April 8 and is currently open Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..
--Brock-Perry
From the May 11, 2021, WCVB ABC News.
The USS Constitution is scheduled to go underway from Charlestown Navy Yard on May 21 to celebrate its reopening to the public after the you-know-what.
Commander John Benda, the 76th commanding officer of the ship, said: "So excited to share this beautiful and historic ship with visitors again. We could not think of a better way to sound the reopening bell than with a 21-gun salute while underway aboard Old Ironsides."
I wrote about one of the ship's commanders, John Gwinn quite a lot back in April min this blog.
The ship will reopen for public tours at 3 pm to 6 pm after the underway. The underway itself, will be broadcast live on the U.S. Navy's Facebook page at 10 am on May 21 and will feature demonstrations on climbing, firing a 18th century 24-pound long gun and using shipboard weaponry.
It will conclude with a 21-gun salute viewable from Fort Independence on Castle Island at 11:30 pm.
--Brock-Perry
Today a statue stands at the southwest corner of the Decatur Civic Center property overlooking downtown and a mural is on the side of the building at 145 South Water Street.
The statue was erected in 1952 at West Main and Pine Street on the Millikin Homestead grounds, overlooking the home of its main donors, the Scovill family. It was moved to its current location in 1991.
The mural, painted by Jerry Johnson, depicts Decatur leading the 1804 raid to burn the USS Philadelphia.
On its time, the City of Decatur has shared the triumphs and struggles of its nation and emerged with its eyes on the horizon. Navigating by a shining star whose name recalls unfailing courage, the City of Decatur proudly bears his name.
--Brock-Decatur
From the May 10, 2021, Decatur (Illinois) Herald and Review "City bears name of a hero, Decatur" by John Reidy.
When Stephen Decatur lead a successful raiding party into Tripoli Harbor to burn the captured U.S. frigate Philadelphia, it was called "the most daring act of the age" by none other than Britain's Admiral Horatio Nelson.
On that night in February 1804, the United States had a new hero as well, 21-year-old Lieutenant Stephen Decatur.
In 1829, nine years after his death in a duel at the hands of another rival in the Navy, a new city was founded in Central Illinois which bore his name.
Decatur was our country's first post-Revolutionary War national hero, leading by example in the Quasi-War vs. France, the Barbary Wars of North Africa before reaching legendary status when his frigate USS United States defeated the British frigate HMS Macedonian in the War of 1812.
He was swiftly promoted to captain then commodore.
--Brock-Perry
From the May 6, 2021, Spectrum News "Fort Ontario commemorates War of 1812; Battle of Oswego" by Brad Vivaqua.
Fort Ontario State Park (Oswego, New York) officially opened this past week. This week also commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Oswego in the War of 1812.
The two-day attack by British troops on Americans in the fort resulted in a no decision essentially.
Park officials are now welcoming visitors for free, self-guided tours to commemorate the event.
The Battle of Oswego took place May 6 and 7, 1814, and there are U.S. and British flags flying as well as 15 stations along the walking tour which give more information.
The walking tour was designed by Friends of Fort Ontario AmeriCorps members Corey King and Marilyn Hunter.
Come On Out. --Brock-Perry
From the Department of State.
The State Department has honored 71people who died while in the service of American diplomacy. One of them was the War of 1812's Oliver Hazard Perry.
There is a memorial plaque at the Harry S. Truman Building, the State Department's headquarters, now listing 323 people.
Yes, that Perry of Battle of Lake Erie fame.
But most people, including myself, know the circumstances of his much-too-young death.
COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, who, after serving heroically in the War of 1812, went on a special mission to Venezuela to negotiate an anti-piracy agreement with President Simon Bolivar.
Perry contracted yellow fever and died August 23, 1819, less than six years after the Battle of Lake Erie.
He is the Perry in this blog's sign off.
--Brock-Perry
From same source as last post.
"The Burning of the Ships" commemoration planned for tomorrow in Essex, Connecticut sounds like it is primarily an effort by a group who call themselves Sailing Masters of 1812.
So, who are they?
The purpose of the Sailing Masters of 1812 is to perpetuate the art and performance of ancient fifing and drumming and to commemorate the role of Essex in the War of 1812. It is a nonprofit organization for historical and educational purposes.
The corps has adopted the uniform of a U.S. Navy Sailing Master, a warrant officer ranked between a midshipman and lieutenant.
The Corps performs on wooden fifes and rope tension snare and bass drums., and its repertoire includes period tunes and music from the fife and drum tradition. These include nautical and military tunes as well as historic songs.
--Brock-Perry
From the Essex Patch by Karena Garrity.
On Saturday, May 8, a 2 pm, the annual Burning of the Ships in downtown Essex will be commemorated with a special ceremony and a parade.
Pandemic precautions canceled last year's commemoration, but they are on again this year, though in a smaller format.
The Sailing Masters of 1812 hold the event to mark a British raid on April 8, 1814. It was the largest loss for the U.S. Navy in a single event until Pearl Harbor in 1941. In the end, the British destroyed 27 American ships.
This 2021 event is still under virus precautions so will be smaller with just a single drum and fife corps instead of multiple ones in the past.
The Sailing Masters of 1812 will parade from the town landing onto the Connecticut River Museum grounds where there will be an hour-long ceremony.
--Brock-Perry
From the American Battlefield Trust 2021 Calendar.
APRIL 19, 1775
Battles of Lexington and Concord (American Revolution)
MAY 1, 1813
Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio.
MAY 3, 1813
Burning of Havre de Grace, Maryland.
MAY 28, 1780
Battle of Waxhaws, South Carolina (American Revolution)
MAY 28, 1813
Battle of Sackets Harbor, New York. Hey, that's Caroline Abbott's home.
--Brock-Perry
** The growth of American manufacturing after the war.
** American victories against the British in the War of 1812 were proof of America's military and naval strength. (Well, I have to disagree with this one. We got lucky. Thank you Napoleon.)
** Britain and Canada eventually allying with America following the war.
** American expansion into the West instead of the North.
** Settlement of Ohio and further west into the territories of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.
** Initial farm work as a rough endeavor involving the entire family, including young children, and relying on neighbors and family members.
** Continues westward expansion of the frontier, resulting in the admission of Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois and Alabama into the Union four years after the War of 1812.
** America as a country today.
Again, any girl reading this book series will have a great knowledge of U.S. history from this era. Why, I wouldn't even have to do this blog.
--Brock-Perry
There are six books in the Caroline Abbott series. The last two have a whole lot to do with the War of 1812, which, of course is of interest to us.
The "Caroline's Battle" book which I covered in the last two posts was the fifth in the series. The sixth also has a lot to do with the war, "Changes for Caroline."
Here is a summary of events covered in this book:
** How the Americans and British sought to end the war, culminating in the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814.
** The Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, between American and British forces unaware that the war was over, resulted in a crashing American victory.
** Celebration of the war's end as news spread across the United States.
** The War of 1812 resulted in status quo ante bellum, with heavy military and civilian losses and neither the British or American sides gaining or losing territory.
--Brock-Perry
** The completion of the USS General Pike following the Second Battle of Sackets Harbor.
** President Madison receiving the news of the British invasion of Washington, D.C. after the Battle of Bladensburg.
** First Lady Dolley Madison, who saved several important papers as well as the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington before fleeing the White House.
** The burning of Washington, D.C., and its impact on American citizens.
** Mary Pinkersgill who was commissioned by George Armistead to create a flag "so large the British will have no difficulty seeing it from a distance", resulting in the "Star-Spangles Banner" flying over Fort McHenry.
** The Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry on September 13, 1814, witnessed by Francis Scott Key, and the presence of the flag following the battle, signaling that Fort McHenry had not been captured.
** "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem Francis Scott Key wrote following the Battle of Baltimore and later set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven", a popular drinking song of the time.
** The formal adoption of "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem of the United States on March 3, 1931.
These Girls Will have a Good Understanding of the War of 1812 After Reading This Book. --Brock-Perry
