Events Occurring in January: Battle of New Orleans, Britain Declares War, River Raisin Massacre

From the January American Battlefield Trust 2023 calendar.

JANUARY 8, 1815

**  Battle of New Orleans, Louisiana

JANUARY 9, 1813

**  Great Britain declares war on the United States.  (The U.S, declared war in June 1812.)

JANUARY 13, 1813

**  John Armstrong replaces William Eustis as Secretary of War.

JANUARY 18, 1813

**  American forces seize Frenchtown, Michigan Terrirory.

JANUARY 22, 1813

**  The Battle of River Raisin; roughjly 40 to 60 American soldiers are killed in what became kniown as "The River Raisin Massacre."

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of the Thames-- Part 7: The Aftermath

The United States now had effective control of the Northwest Frontier for the rest of the war.

With Tecumseh's death, much of the Indian threat in the region also was eliminated.  William Henry Harrison was able to conclude truces with many of the tribes.

Harrison proved to be a skilled and popular leader, but he resigned the following summer after disagreements with Secretary of War John Armstrong.

--Brock-Perry

Richard M. Johnson-- Part 5: His Mounted Riflemen

Johnson returned to Congress in late fall 1812, after his unit was disbanded.  With his military experience fresh in his mind, he proposed a plan to defeat  the British Indian allies with mounted riflemen.  They could move quickly, carry their own supplies and live off the land and woods.

He submitted these plans to President Madison and Secretary of War John Armstrong.  They approved the plan and referred it to General William Henry Harrison.

He left Washington, D.C., just before Congress adjourned, went to Kentucky and raised 1,000 men for his mounted force.  These men and Johnson were officially under control of Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby, but essentially operated independently.

Johnson put his force through much training, drill and discipline.

--Brock-Perry

Machine Guns in the War of 1812?-- Part 1

Frm the October 2014 Naval History Magazine "Armaments & Innovations:  The U.S. Navy's Early Machine Guns" by Comdr. Tyrone G. Martin, USN (retired).

Joseph G. Chambers abandoned his studies at Princeton as the British approached in the fall of 1776 and escaped, joining his father's New Jersey militia regiment.  He took part in the battles at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown.

His wartime service made him very interested in weapons and he became an inventor with some very innovative and unusual guns.

In late 1812, he arrived at Washington with repeating rifles and pistols which he offered to the War Department.  He referred to his inventions, which he had worked on for two decades as "machine guns."  They worked on the "Roman Candle" principle in which when the trigger was pulled, the weapon fired a number of rounds until all were exp[ended.

Secretary of War John Armstrong wasn't interested.

Multi-Shooting Back Then.  --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline: February 1813

From various sources.

5th--  John Armstrong becomes U.S. Secretary of War.
6th-7th--  American raid on Elizabethtown (Brocksville) on the St. Lawrence River.

16th--  104th Regiment begins march to Upper Canada.
22nd--  Battle of Ogdensburg, NY.  Ends American attempt to endanger British supply lines.  British captured Ogdensburg as retaliation for Elizabethtown Raid.

24th--  USS Hornet sinks HMS Peacock.

That's the Month.  --Brock-Perry

First Year Ends With U.S. in Turmoil-- Part 1

From m the Dec. 29, 2012, Toronto Star "War of 1812: First year ends with U.S. in turmoil" by Kenneth Kidd.

A series of developments in December 1812 helped change the course  of events for the next year.

The U.S. was deeply divided over conquering Canada and stinging defeats at Michilimickinac, Detroit and Queenston Heights did not improve things.

Someone had to shoulder the blame, and that someone was U.S. Secretary of War William Eustis who was forced to resign.

The next month, January John Armstrong replaced him.  Armstrong fancied himself as a brilliant military strategist and even wrote a small book "Hints to Young Generals" where he focused on the twin principles of "concentration of force and celerity of movement."

As far as future Canadian invasions, he favored the scorched earth policy saying, "These settlements must be broken up and converted into a desert.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry