Replica of James Monroe's Birthplace Dedicated-- Part 5

In 1976, the College of William and Mary conducted an archaeological survey of the Monroe  birthplace site and uncovered  a 20-by-58 foot foundation, which coincided with known  1845 etchings of the Monroe birth home.

In the early 2000s, plans for developing  the birthplace site came to the attention of the James Monroe Memorial Foundation, which was established  in 1928 by Monroe's  great-great-grandson, Lawrence Gouverneur Hoes.

Partnerships with and donations from Westmoreland County and many state and local  chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Daughters of 1812, Daughters of Colonial Wars, Order of Founders and Patriots and the Daughters of Founders and Patriots, as well as individuals, enabled development  to begin.

"If we mentioned  everyone involved in the project, we'd be here until lunchtime," said Woody Hynson, vicechair of the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors.

A visitors center has been open at the site on weekends  for several years and now the house, which is lightly furnished, is part of the experience.

The birthplace park is open free of charge  on Saturdays and Sundays.

--Brock-Perry

DAR Honors American Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War Veterans at Wreaths Across America Ceremony in Virginia

From the December 22, 2020, NoVa "DAR participates in Wreaths Across America"

Members of the  Freedom Hall chapter of Daughters  of the American Revolution on McLean, Virginia gathered at the Wrene-Darne Family Cemetery in Falls Church to honor American veterans.

They were joined by Pete Greene who bought the cemetery in 2012 and has spent much effort restoring it.

The veterans they honored were:

James Wren of the Fairfax County Militia, American Revolution

Col. John S. Wren of the 5th Virginia Militia, War of 1812

Captain Robert Darne of the 1st Corps d'Elite Virginia Militia, War of 1812

John Robert Darne of the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry

Work Continues on Monument in the Quad Cities-- Part 1

From the September 29, 2017, Quad-Cities Times  "Work continues on War of 1812 monument" by Alma Gaul.

The work on the bas-relief bronze sculpture depicting the Battle of Campbell's Island, created by sculptor Albert Louis Vander Berghen is nearing completion.

Volunteers from the Moline Chapter Mary Little Deere Daughters of the American Revolution have been making headway on the monument, located on Campbell Island in the Mississippi River.  They have also gotten the State of Illinois to blacktop and stripe the parking lot.

The Davey Tree Service has removed a dead tree and there is a new sidewalk around it.

--Brock-Perry

The Battle of Rock Island Rapids-- Part 3: About the Monument

The Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstron Chapter of the D.A.R. is based in Molene, Illinois, (one of the Quad Cities) and has 150 members and is one of the oldest in the United States.  So far they have raised $9,000 of the expected $65,000 needed to restore the monument.

There are four plaques on it.

One reads:  "This shaft bears witness to the heroism of Lieuts. John Campbell, Steve Rector, Jonathan Riggs, Surgeon John Steward, 33 U.S. Regulars and 65 Illinois Rangers who on this spot valiantly battled for their country."

Karpeles Museum is located at 700 22nd Street in Rock Island.  It features an exhibit containing 27 documents, including the June 25, 1812 Declaration of War, and items written by John Quincy adams, James Madison and James Monroe.

--Brock-Perry

Preserving the Monument on Campbell's Island, Illinois

From the March 5, 2017, WQAD 8, Quad Cities (Ill. and Iowa)  "War of 1812 reenactment put on in efforts to help preserve local historical monument" by Yessinia Chavez.

I wrote about this in the last post.

The Kapeles Museum in Rock Island and the Marry Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter of the Daughters of the American revolution are having a reenactment of the War of 1812's Battle of Rock Island Rapids.

This is part of their effort to preserve the historical monument on Campbell's Island commemorating the battle.  They years and elements have worn it down.

--Brock-Perry

Illinois War of 1812 Engagement at Campbell's Island-- Part 1

From the March 6, 2017, Quad-City Times (Iowa)  "History of War of 1812 battle to be told Sunday" by John Schultz.

Campbell's Island is in East Moline, Illinois, part of the Quad Cities shared by Iowa and Illinois along the Mississippi River.  A battle took place there during the War of 1812 and its story will be told through the eyes of a female survivor of the battle at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Rock Island, Illinois.

The presentation is put on by museum and the Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  It starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at 700 22nd Street in Rock Island.

Susan Peters will tell the story.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Mims in Alabama-- Part 3: Jackson Retaliates and the DAR

From the July/August DAR American Spirit Magazine.

Colonel Andrew Jackson mobilized three state militias to attack the Red Sticks. At the 1814 Battle of Horseshoe Bend, he defeated them, ending the Creek War. This defeat eventually led to the banishment of several Indian tribes to the West on the infamous Trail of Tears.

The modern history of Fort Mims has a lot to do with the Fort Mims DAR chapter of Stockton, Alabama, founded in 1949. Organizing Regent June Whiting Slaughter and her husband Carl were asked by the Alabama Parks and Conservation Department to help clearing brush off land adjacent to their north Baldwin County property where they had been finding arrowheads and pieces of pottery. Charred wood was found that determined the fort's original site.

In the mid-1980s the first battle reenactment was held and this continues. Gregory Waselkov at the University of South Alabama has started a dig at the fort and written a book A Conquering Spirit: Fort Mims and the Redstick War of 1813-1814. Artifacts from the fort will be on display during the anniversary weekend.

We'll probably be driving to Alabama if NIU plays in the Go-Daddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, in January. This could be a stop on the way.

--Brock-Perry