Was Andrew Holmes Expelled from Princeton College?-- Part 3: The 1807 Princeton 'Riot' and Joseph Cabell Breckinridge

Joseph Cabell Breckinridge arrived at Princeton in late December 1805.  

In March, Cabell joined 125 other students protesting against the Presbyterian institution's strict rules and rigorous curriculum.

College administrators subsequently suspended everyone who refused to withdraw his name from the formal protest petition.

Breckinridge refused to apologize for his role in the protest.  He considered enrolling in the College of William and Mary for the fall term of 1807, believing he could complete his studies in nine months.  But he ultimately decided not to.

In July 1808 he decided to return to Princeton to complete his studies and received his bachelor's degree in 1810. 

I did not find out if he took his name off the petition or not.

--Brock-Perry

Was Andrew Holmes Expelled from Princeton?-- Part 2

Two of the "rioters" at least came to the next session at William and Mary, "but the records are lost, and only the name of Andrew Hunter Holmes is preserved.

They brought with them the 'Princeton dissipation" and a riot ensued, on account of which Holmes was expelled."

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I found out what the 1807 Princeton "Riot" was about.  This was the one which got a lot of students expelled from Princeton, including Virginians Andrew Hunter Holmes and Joseph Cabell Breckinridge.

From Wikipedia Cabell Breckinridge.   (July 14,1788 to September 1, 1823)

He was from the Breckinridge family which had a lot of important people in it and later became a lawyer, soldier, slaveholder and politician from Kentucky.  He also enlisted for War of 1812 service.

--Brock-Perry

Was Andrew Holmes Kicked Out of Princeton for Rioting?- Part 1

Since I've been writing a lot about this guy.

From the 1908 William and Mary Quarterly Magazine. "'The Great Rebellion' at Princeton."

"In April, 1807, occurred some riotous proceedings at Princeton, which are known as The Great Rebellion.'  Among the students 'expelled' was Abel P. Upshur, of Northampton County, Virginia, who afterwards became Secretary of State of the United States.

"He appeared before the Board of Trustees in defense of his comrades and made, it is said, a fine display of argument and eloquence.

"He subsequently attended Yale College.

"Joseph Cumming, Robert Breckenridge, Edmund Pendleton, Charles Snead, and Andrew H. Holmes and probably others of the 'rioters' were Virginians."

I would like to find out exactly what the "riot" was?

Those Rowdy Virginia Boys.  --Brock-Perry

Andrew Hunter Holmes' Virginia Sword-- Part 2

"Being of the opinion that it would more comport with the views of the General Assembly, that these swords should be presented to the persons, authorised to receive them in public, than in private, after having given public notice to that effect, I presented two of them respectively, in person, in the chamber of the House of Delegates, on the 4th of July last, to the gentlemen authorised to receive them.

"The one to Thomas Ritchie, Esq. in behalf of his brother, Col. Archibald Ritchie, the nearest male relative of captain John Ritchie.  --The other to Philip N. Nicholaus, Esq. in behalf of Governor Holmes, of Mississippi, the nearest male relative of Major Andrew Hunter Holmes.

"Copies of my addresses to these gentlemen, with their replies respectively on this interesting occasion, marked B, will accompany this communication.  No person appearing to receive the one in behalf of captain Henley, it has been retained."

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Hunter Holmes' Virginia Sword-- Part 1

From the December 5, 1827,  Richmond Whig newspaper "Governor's Communication.

"Upon my first entering into office, I received a sword which had been voted by resolution of the General Assembly in the year 1816, to captain Robert Henley in honor of his gallant military exploits during the last war; and sometimes afterwards, I received two other swords, voted in like manner, to the nearest male relatives of the lamented captain John Ritchie, and major Andrew Hunter Holmes, both of whom fell in the defence of their country's rights.

"These swords were executed by Mr. Harvey Lewis, under the direction of general Cadwallander of Philadelphia, in a style of superior taste and elegance, highly honorable to the artist, and will ever do honor to the patriotic objects of the General Assembly.

"Gen. Cadwallander has received my thanks in behalf of this Commonwealth, for his polite attention on this occasion."

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Holmes (Father of David and Andrew Holmes)

From WikiTree.  Also his mother Rebecca (Hunter) Holmes.

Joseph Holmes (1746-1806) was the father of both David Hunter, Mississippi Territory Governor and Andrew Hunter Holmes who I have written about earlier.

He was born near Londonderry in Ireland.  He was a successful merchant in Winchester, Virginia before the American Revolution.  During the war he was Colonel Commissary of Prisoners. 

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DAVID HOLMES

U.S. Congressman from Virginia.  Governor of Mississippi Territory in 1809.  Governor of the State of Mississippi 1817 (first governor).

U.S. Senator from Mississippi.  Mississippi Governor again in 1825.

--Brock-Perry

About Private Samuel Helms-- Part 2

According to Bobbie Reno, the court-martial was illegal.  Helms should have been punished for going AWOL, not executed for desertion.

Modern scientific research tools have been deployed to locate Helms' possible burial spot.  Ground penetrating radar swept the elementary school's athletic field last year and identified several possible locations for graves.  Bobbie Reno is attempting to track down Helms' descendants for possible DNA matches.

In order to verify the possible locations, a subsurface investigation is needed and it is the Army policy not to disturb burials of the fallen when possible.

However, reno has noted that soldiers remains have been disturbed in other parts of New York.

On June 14 there will be a ceremony at the state's Lake George Battlefield Park for the reinterment of remains of Continental soldiers who died during the American Revolution.  These remains were uncovered during a construction project in 2019. 

They were believed to have been buried in a cemetery for soldiers who did at a nearby hospital.  The ceremony is sponsored by the State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Courtland Street Reinterment Project.

--Brock-Perry

East Greenbush (New York) Town Historian Hears from U.S. Army About Soldier's Burial Site

From the June 7, 2024, Times Union by Kenneth C. Crowe II.

Town historian Bobbie Reno has a letter from the U.S. Army showing a ground penetrating radar scan where War of 1812 soldier Samuel Helms is perhaps buried.

Private Samuel Helms was executed during the war and is believed to have been buried in an unmarked grave behind Red Mill Elementary School.

Reno thought she was facing a roadblock from the Army over its policy not to disturb a soldier's buried remains if possible.

The Army's Office of Army Cemeteries told her to contact the New York State Historic Preservation Office and work with that agency regarding Helms.  She is doing just that.

Reno has spent the last 14 years researching Helms in an effort to clear his name after he was executed and buried at the Army's Greenbush Cantonment during the War of 1812.  He was absent without leave in October 1812, then returned.  In July 1813, he was ordered tried for desertion.  He was convicted and executed by firing squad in late August or early September 1813.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution to Host Change of Command Ceremony This Month-- Part 2

Commander Crystal Schaefer previously served on board the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77).

She is a native of Medford, Wisconsin, and a graduate of the University of Minnesota.

The USS Constitution is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for public visitation and is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and America's Ship of State.

She played a crucial role in Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, and actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The active-duty Sailors stationed aboard the USS Constitution 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 awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution to Host Change of Command Ceremony 21 June 2024

U.S. navy.

BOSTON--   The USS Constitution's 78th commanding officer will take command of the historic ship during a Change-of-Command ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 21, 2024, at noon.

Its current and 77th commanding officer, Commander Billie J. Farrell will be relieved by Commander Crstal L. Schaefer.

The 500 guest ceremony will be broadcast live on the USS Constitution's Facebook page.

The ship will be closed to public visitation during the ceremony, but will reopen from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Commander Schaefer will become the 78th captain in the ship's 226-year history, dating back to 1797.

--Brock-Perry

David Holmes (Major Andrew Hunter Holmes' Older Brother)

From WikiTree.

I mentioned Governor David Holmes of the Mississippi Territory several times when writing about Andrew Hunter Holmes.  He later became Governor of Mississippi.

Son of Joseph Holmes and Rebecca (Hunter) Holmes. This is where Andrew Holmes got his middle name.

Brother of Ann (Holmes) Boyd, Elizabeth (Holmes) McGuire, Rebecca (Holmes) Conrad, Andrew Hunter Holmes and Gertrude (Holmes) Moss.

Spouses and children unknown.

Born 10 March 1769 in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

Died 20 August 1832, at age 63, in Winchester, Virginia.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Holmes-- Part 2

In 1936, as part of its mission to provide employment through public works projects during the nationwide Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration used the original 1817 American survey to rebuild Fort Holmes to its War of 1812 appearance.  As of 1984, however, most of the reconstructed buildings of Fort Holmes had again disappeared, except for the redoubt's earthen walls.

In 2015 the Mackinac Island State Park completed a second reconstruction of Fort Holmes that resumes the appearance that the redoubt had in 1817.  The blockhouse includes interpretive panels inside, and is open in the summer.

Many visitors come to the fort site for a view of the Straits of Mackinac, much of which is visible from this lookout point approximately 320 feet above the surface of Lake Huron.

The redoubt and blockhouse can be rented for special occasions.

Getting Married in a Blockhouse.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Fort Holmes is a fortified earthen redoubt located on the highest point of Mackinac Island.  Originally built by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812, it was improved by the Army throughout the rest of the war.  It was built to find additional defense to nearby Fort Mackinac which was at a lower elevation.

The British named the redoubt Fort George (not to confused with Fort George in Ontario) and reinforced it with cannon, a blockhouse and a magazine for gunpowder and other munitions.  However, it never functioned as an independent fortification, but always dependent on nearby Fort Mackinac.

When U.S. forces reoccupied Mackinac Island in 1815 under the terms of the Treaty of Ghent, they took possession of Fort George.  After surveying and measuring it, they renamed it Fort Holmes in honor of Major Andrew Holmes, who was killed in the 1814 Battle of Mackinac Island.

However, they soon abandoned Fort Holmes.  The earthworks and buildings of the former redoubt slowly eroded and disappeared over the course of more than a century.

--Brock-Perry

Major Andrew Hunter Holmes-- Part 4: Honors

The British held Fort Mackinac until the end of the War of 1812 until it was returned with the Treaty of Ghent.  When the Americans reoccupied it, the name was changed to Fort Holmes in honor of the Major.  (Well, actually Fort Mackinac remained with that name, but nearby British Fort George had its name changed to Fort Holmes.)

Holmes was to receive other honors.  A town and county in Ohio were named after him.  On December 16, 1816, an act was passed by the Mississippi General Assembly to name a town in Pike County Holmesville in his honor.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Stoney Creek Re-enactment Set for This Weekend

 From the June 2, 2024 CHCH (Canada) by Kiana Ferreira.

The Battle of Stoney Creek started on the night of June 5, 1813 and was a turning point for the British. 

This weekend is the 41st re-enactment of the battle which was a night raid by the British on American forces.  It is the longest continually running war of 1812 re-enactment in the province (Ontario) and will bring more than 10,000 attendees.

Along with the Battle of Beaver Dams two weeks later, it returned the Niagara Region to British and Canadian control and ended the U.S. attempt to conquer the western part of the province.

Well, It Was Last Weekend.  --Brock-Perry

Major Andrew Hunter Holmes-- Part 3: War of 1812 Service

During March 1814, the commander of American forces at Detroit, Colonel Butler, ordered Captain Andrew Holmes of the 24th Tennessee Regiment on a raid into the British Western District in Upper Canada.  His objective was to capture a British military post.  

He won a skirmish/battle near Longwood, a heavily forested tract of land that lay between Delaware and the present town of Thamesville, near present-day Wardsville, Ontario.

Exactly five months later the American forces tried to attack the heavily fortified Fort Mackinac in August 1914.  Major Holmes was killed while leading a force of troops in the attack.

The British ambushed them in a bloody skirmish which left 13 Americans dead including Holmes.

On the 30th of the same month, Andrew Jackson wrote Governor David Holmes a note of condolence saying:  "I sympathize with you most cordially in the afflicting loss of your brother, Major Holmes."

(David Holmes was the governor of the Mississippi Territory.)

--Brock-Perry