USS McCall (DD-400), A World War II Ship (What Does This Have to Do with the War of 1812?)

So, the first thought has to be exactly why is a World War II destroyer here in a War of 1812 blog?

In my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog I am writing about the USS Gridley (DD-380) which was the lead ship of her class of US Navy destroyers and fought in World War II.  This was a relatively small class of destroyers with just four ships. 

One of those other three destroyers was named the USS McCall (DD-400) which served during World War II.  This ship was named after War of 1812 naval officer Edward McCall.

There was also an earlier destroyer named after him, the USS McCall (DD-28), a modified  Paulding-class destroyer that saw service in World War I and was a part of the Coast Guard's Rum Patrol.  I'll be writing about this one in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

--Brock-Perry

World War II Vetaran and First U.S. Coast Guard Member Captured Since War of 1812, Laid to Rest in NY

From the Nov. 2, 2019, Spectrum News "WWII Veteran Laid to rest in WNY " by Brandon Lewis.

Lt. Thomas Crotty died in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines in 1942 and his remains have finally been returned to his family and hometown of Buffalo.

He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna

With American forces about to surrender in the Philippines, he went about his duty destroying supplies and facilities to prevent them falling into Japanese hands.

He served in four branches of the military and was the first Coast Guard member captured since the War of 1812.  I was unable to find out who the last member of the U.S. Coast Guard (then called Revenue Service) captured in the War of 1812 was.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Gibson, N.Y. Harbor-- Part 2: Magazine to Immigration to Coast Guard

In 1861, Fort Gibson was dismantled and a naval magazine put in its place.  It was used as an ammunition depot during the Civil War.

In 1890, the Ellis Island and remains of Fort Gibson were selected for a new immigration station.  The munitions station was removed and the Immigration Station built.

A temporary Coast Guard training station was established there in 1939 and operated through 1946 in the Immigration Station part of the structure.  This was during World War II.

--Brock-Perry

North Carolina in the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the August 28, 2012, Elizabeth City (NC) Daily Advance" by Robert Kelly-Goss.

The Museum of the Albemarle has a new War of 1812 exhibit.  The state did have some history in the war, but not much.  According to historian George Converse, "For North Carolina the War of 1812 was a non-event."

The state did help to build the U.S. Navy and establish what eventually became the U.S. Coast Guard as a protective force for waterways.

Most of the war's action was farther north, but the British had a blockade of the whole U.S. coast.  The Revenue Cutter Service helped battle the British. 

Also, privateers left North Carolina ports, usually armed with one or two guns. They'd go out and legally plunder Britsih and Canadian shipping armed with their Letters of Marque.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Michigan Commemorates the War

From the September 6th Michigan Radio (NPR) "Stateside: It's the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812."

Michigan was the site of the first major battles of the war around Detroit and Mackinac Island.  Both were very embarrassing for the United States, showing how ill-prepared we were for the war.  According to historian Jim McConnell, Mackinac, July 17, 1812, "wasn't really a battle because the British caught the fort by surprise and the fort surrendered without firing a shot."  That British General Issac Brock was brilliant.

Then, August 16, 1812, came the fall of Detroit and the fort there, a shock to President Madison and the country "it certainly broke the spirit of Americans at the start of the war."  Again, great generalship by Isaac Brock.  (I'd never heard of him until I started this blog.)

From September 5-10th, US and Canadian Naval ships, the US Coast Guard and the replica brig of the USS Niagara from the Battle of Lake Erie, are docked and open to the public at Detroit.

Detroit's Commemoration.  --Brock-Perry

Coast Guard Roots Found in War of 1812

From the August 28th Elizabeth City (NC) Daily Advance.

The war was a major event for the U.S. Department of Treasury Revenue Cutter Service which eventually became the Coast Cuard.  These ships essentially provided the only coastal defense as the Navy had been disbanded.  (I beg to contradict that there was no Navy.)

Revenue cutters engaged Royal Navy ships on many occasions.  One of the first times was the Commodore Barry fighting off a British ship.  It was escorting five ships it had caught smuggling when word reached the ship that the British had captured an American ship. 

The crew beached the Commodore Barry at Little River in Maine and set up a shore battery, but the British prevailed and the crew taken prisoner to Canada.

The Norfolk-based cutter Thomas Jefferson engaged the British in Hampton Roads in the Chesapeake Bay in April 1813 and also saw action in the James River.

In May 1813, cutter Mercury anchored with other American vessels at Ocracoke, NC when a British privateer attempted an attack on the village after being warned by locals.  Another attack on the same place was thwarted in July of that year.

Later, 15 armed British barges with 1000 troops tried to capture the Mercury, but it escaped to New Bern and warned the citizens of an impending attack.  The local militia was called up and the British called off the attack.

I recently posted about the revenue cutter Louisiana that was sunk in the August 1812 hurricane at New Orleans.

Birth of the Coast Guard.  --Brock-Perry

US Navy Bicentennial Commemoration Comes to Milwaukee

From the July 30th NBC26, WGBA in Green Bay, Wisconsin "4 Ships to Visit Milwaukee Next Week."

The four ships come from the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Coast Guard and have been having ports-of-call in several US cities this summer, all part of the US Navy's commemoration of the war.

USS DeWert, frigate
USCG Hurricane, coastal patrol ship
USCG Neah Bay, cutter
HMCS Ville de Qubec

The DeWert and Canadian ship will be at Milwaukee's Liquid Pier 5.  The other two will be at the Discovery World Pier.

The ships will be available for tours Aug. 8-14.

And It Is Not That Far for Us.  --Brock-Perry

US Navy Turns to War of 1812 for Help

From the April 14th Washington Post by Steve Vogel.

The United States Navy has begun a three year commemoration of the War of 1812 with information, events and educational outreach sites.

Gallup polls show that less than 9% of Americans understand the role the current Navy plays, that is ahead of the Coast Guard, but way behind the Marines, Army and Air Force.  The role today is the same as it was 200 years ago, "Freedom of the Seas."

The War of 1812 was the Navy's coming of age and one of the most glorious episodes in its history, from the USS Constitution's single-ship victories to Perry's victory at the Battle of Lake Erie.  By the end of the war, the Navy had a host of heroes and enduring battle slogans like "Don't Give Up the Ship."

Even better, Congress authorized funding for a permanent Navy and powerful fleet as a result of it.

Go Navy!!  --Brock-Perry