Living History at River Raisin National Battlefield Saturday

From the May 20, 2022, Monroe News.

The Friends of the River Raisin Battlefield Living History Encampment and  Demonstrations were held Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm on the grounds of the Visitor Center, 333 N. Dixie Highway.

Admission was free.

This year is the 210th anniversary of Captain  Herbert Lacroix's  Company of Michigan Volunteers.

"At the start of the War of 1812, Michigan was defended by small garrisons of U.S. troops, backed up by the  1st & 2nd  Michigan Militia Regiments and the Legionary Corps of Michigan Volunteers.  These forces were soon joined by General Hull's army of U.S. Regulars and Ohio militia volunteers.

At the River Raisin, Hubert Lacroix was elected captain of an 80-man company.  Mustered into service on May 18, 1812, Lacroix's company became a part of the Legionary Corps and were assigned to guard the settlement, escort the mails and help build Hull's Road to Detroit.

Lacroix's  men participated in Hull's opening campaign of the War of 1912, guiding the  army and participating in the  Battles of  Brownstown and Monguagon.  The surrender of General Hull at Detroit on August 16, 1812, ended Lacroix's Company's official term of service, although members continued to serve in an ad hoc manner through the  Battles of  the River Raisin in January of the following year.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Navy in War of 1812-- Part 7: The War at Sea to Capture Enemy Warships and Merchantmen

The war at sea to capture British warships and  merchantmen  was the most desirable objective for naval officers and has received the most writing in historical accounts.  The U.S. Navy had numerous victories in ship-to-ship duels.  Some of them are still the most recognizable events in our Navy's history.

They include Captain Isaac Hull and his frigate Constitution's capture of the HMS Guerriere, Captain Stephen Decatur and his frigate United States' capture of the frigate HMS Macedonian  and Captain William Bainbridge and his USS Constitution's capture of the frigate HMS Java.

However, these and most other U.S. victories occurred in the opening months of the war.

By early 1813, the British had eleven ships of the line, thirty-four frigates and fifty -two other warships operating off North America, while  the U.S. only had two frigates at sea.

By November 1813, Britain had established a commercial blockade that stopped all sea traffic regardless of nationality across the entire east coast south of New England.

--Brock-Perry

John Rodgers, U.S. Navy-- Part 2: Quasi-War, Barbary War and War of 1812

United States Navy officer.

He married Minerva Denison in 1806 and they had eight children.  Many of the children served in the military.

He became a hero in the pre-War of 1812 naval squabbles with France and Great Britain.  Served with distinction in the Quasi-War with France.  Helped defeat the Tripolitan naval forces in the Barbary War and defeated  a British sloop-of-war  in 1811, which brought back a measure of respect  for the U.S. Navy in the wake of the USS Chesapeake-HMS Shannon affair.

He commanded several squadrons in the War of 1812 and helped defend to successfully defend Baltimore against the British  in 1814.

After the war, he was named President of the U.S.  Navy Board of Commissioners (which included fellow  commodores Isaac Hull and David D. Porter).

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution Goes to Washington Navy Yard-- Part 3: Heaved Over and Ready to Go

In contrast to the slow work done on the USS Chesapeake, not so for the USS Constitution.  There was a sense of urgency because of the increasingly bad relations with Britain and all the cries for conflict from the Congressional War Hawks.

The Constitution arrived on March 5, 1812.  The Secretary of the Navy, Paul Hamilton visited the ship to determine what needed to be done.  Once the spars and uppermasts were removed and anything else removable removed, the ship was heaved down.  Heaved down is when a ship is turned onto her side so that work below the waterline can be done.  This would occur in very shallow water where a dry dock was not available.

It was heaved down on May 2 using teams of oxen to perform the heavy moving.  First the port side was exposed, then the starboard.  By May 12, cleaning and patching  the copper sheathing  and caulking was completed.  Work began to re-rig the ship with new spars and foremast.

The bowsprit had been intended for the USS Constellation, but Captain Hull redirected this  and other timbers to his ship.  The Constellation would have to wait.  Sky poles  and a double dolphin striker (no idea what these are) were added.

Preparing for War.  --Brock-Perry

Burial Places of William Hull and Isaac Hull

From Find-A-Grave.

William Hull was put on court martial after his surrender of Fort Detroit and convicted of cowardice, neglect of duty and unofficerlike conduct.  President Madison commuted the sentence, though.

William Hull was born June 24, 1753 in Derby, Connecticut.  He died November 29, 1825 and is buried at East Parish Burying ground in Newton, Massachusetts.

Isaac Hull was born March 9, 1773 in Derby, Connecticut and died February 13, 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

--Brock-Perry

What the Hull?-- Part 1: "Fame and Infamy

From the December15, 2015, Valley Independent Sentinel by Patricia Villers.

The War of 1812 was a mixed bag for the Hulls of the Valley.

Derby native Commodore Isaac Hull became famous as the commander of the frigate USS Constitution, but a campaign led by his uncle William Hull to take Canada from the British culminated in debacle and nearly got him hanged.

A presentation was made at the Derby Historical Society by Carolyn Ivanoff titled "Fame and Infamy for the Hulls of Derby in 1812."

Isaac Hull was born in Derby in 1773 on Commerce Street.  He received great acclaim for his battle with the British frigate HMS Guerriere.

--Brock-Perry

Anniversary of Isaac Hull's Death Today

While doing research of William Hull and Isaac Hull today, I found that War of 1812 American hero Isaac Hull died on February 13, 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He was the commander of the USS Constitution in her famous battle with the HMS Guerriere.

--Brock-Perry

The Armament of the USS Constitution Had Four Chambers Repeating Guns-- Part 1

From "USS Constitution: All Sails Up and Flying" by Olof A. Ericson.

A Listing of the armament of the USS Constitution during the War of 1812.

Under the command of Captain Isaac Hull:

Thirty 24-pdr long guns on gun deck
Twenty-four 32-pdr. carronades on spar deck
One 18-pdr. bow chaser
Twelve 3-inch Howitzer swivel guns (4 in each top)

The Constitution's armament remained the same while commanded by Commodore Bainbridge.

When Captain Stewart assumed command on February 20, 1815, it had the same armament as well as four Chambers repeating guns.

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution at Washington Navy Yard-- Part 1

From the May 18, 2015, "Lost Capitol Hill: The USS Constitution" by Robert Pohl.

He was looking for the connection between this famous U.S. warship and Washington Navy Yard  He found that it was only at the outbreak of the War of 1812 that the Constitution ever came to that yard.  It was one of six frigates authorized by Congress in 1794 and began building in Boston the next year, being launched Oct. 21, 1797.

It served in the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War.  In the latter it was overseas for four years and had one of the peace treaties signed on board and transported the memorial back to the U.S..  Once back in the U.S., she was overhauled and returned to duty.  In June 1810, Isaac Hull became its commander.  he was in command during the ship's most important engagements of the War  of 1812.

Brock-Perry

Captain William Nichols-- Part 2: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Back in the United States, Captain Nichols was put in command of the privateer Decatur and left Newburyport, Massachusetts, on Auguist 4, 1813.  He spotted a large frigate ship which he took to be British and fled as quickly as he could, knowing a fight would come to nothing but bad for him.  He ended up throwing 12 of his 14 cannons overboard in the attempt to escape, but was still overtaken by the frigate.

It turned out to be the USS Constitution.  Once on board and greatly relieved, Nichols told the Isaac Hull, the Constitution's commander, that he had seen the HMS Guerriere prowling about in the local waters which set up the famous battle.

--Brock-Perry

Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron

From the December 18, 2012, Huntington (WV) News "Book Review: 'Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron': The War of 1812 Examined in Readable Detail on Its Bicentennial" reviewed by David M. Kinchen.

I am most interested in the naval aspects of any war so this book would be right up my line.

The book is written by Ronald D. Utt, 528 pages, $29.95. He blames the Royal Navy's impressment actions as the cause of the war. Low estimates put impressment at 2,500 and a high of 25,000 with some 7,500 by the start of the War of 1812.

The Royal Navy faced serious manpower shortages as Britain had been fighting Napoleon and had been at perpetual war for twenty years.

The book covers some land battles, but most of it centers on naval action (that's alright for me). The U.S. Navy had 17 ships at the start of the war that had to fight 500 British warships (though most were involved in the Napoleonic Wars). Utt says the "American courage, gunnery and skill could prove itself against daunting odds."

Signature battle was the USS Constitution vs, HMS Gueriere on August 19, 1812, which made Isaac Hull a national hero (this was actually a very lop-sided battle favoring the Constitution). His uncle, General William Hull, 59, a hero of the Revolutionary War, had surrendered Detroit without much of a fight just three days before the Constitution's victory.

Thomas Jefferson bears responsibility of appointing many of the disappointing American commanders.

--Brock-Perry

Middleton Honors Thomas Macdonough-- Part 2

Macdonough was born in Delaware on Dec. 31, 1783, and served on the USS Ganges in the Quasi-War with France and the USS Constellation fighting the Barbary States. He also served on the USS Enterprise and distinguished himself in the destruction of the USS Philadelphia which had been captured by pirates.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1806.

He assisted Isaac Hull in the construction of several gunboats in Middletown and married Lucy Anne Shaler on December 12, 1812. Several ships in the U.S. Navy have been named for him.

--Brock-Perry

The USS Constitution Sets Sail Again!-- Part 2: Ships By the Name of Hull

The Constitution's victory over the Guerriere came at a fortunate time, within a few days of the American surrender of Detroit, which has ever since provoked a lot of controversy..  It provided a much-needed morale boost.

 Isaac Hull became a hero and since then, five ships have been named after him, includinga sidewheel paddle steamship in the 19th century and four destroyers in the 20th.

The last destroyer bearing the name Hull was decommissioned in the 1980s. 

One of its prececessors was at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack and later served in many of the major Pacific battles including Guadalcanal.  It received 10 battle stars before being sunk in 1944 during a severe typhoon.  Only 57 crew members survived.

During the typhoon, it was said that some of the Hull's junior officers were plotting to take command of the ship and steer to a safer course.  It became the basis of author Herman Wouk's "The Caine Mutiny."  Wouk is still alive at age 97 and served as a naval officer in the Pacific during the war.

Brock-Perry

The 215-Year-Old USS Constitution Sets Sail Again!-- Part 1

From the August 23, 2012, Manchester (Ct) Patch by Philip R. Devlin.

This was certainly a sight to see back a year ago when the oldest commissioned warship sailed under its own power for a short distance.  Made me proud to be an American even as we appraoch this year's Fourth of July.

This ship is based in Massachusetts, but has Connecticut connections as it were.

The ship's first War of 1812 commander, Isaac Hull of Derby, took command on June 18, 1810 and served as captain until September 15, 1812.  He and the ship made its name when on August 19, 1812, it engaged the British frigate HMS Guerriere, a captured French ship whose name means "Warrior."

The outmatched Guerriere was dismasted and forced to surrender after several boradsides in which close to 40% of its crew were killed or wounded.  The crew was transferred to the Constitution and the ship set afire.

It was at this battle that the Constitution got its nickname, "Old Ironsides" as British cannonballs bounced off  the sides of its extra thick hull.  The ship had been constructed of the densest of all oak trees, the Southern Plantation Oak from Georgia.

The Constitution's hull was 21-inches thick, three times thicker than the hulls of most warships.  Plus, the Constitution mounted heavier and more cannons than the Guerriere which also helped immensely inthe battle.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Famous War of 1812 U.S. Naval Officers

From the Naval History and Heritage Site.

William Bainbridge
Joshua Barney
James Biddle
Stephen Decatur
Isaac Hull
James Lawrence
Thomas Macdonough
Oliver Hazard Perry
David Porter (father of Civil War Admiral David D. Porter who was at Fort Fisher.)
Edward Preble
Silas Talbot
Thomas Truxton

I've heard of all but the last two.

Brock-Perry

Southwest Ohio Played Role in War of 1812-- Part 1

From the August 18, 2012, Cincinnati.com by John Johnson.

The Cincinnati area was not a battleground during the war, but there was fighting in Ohio and several significant figures had ties to southwest Ohio.

William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh.  In November 1861, Harrison defeated warriors led by Tecumseh's brother, The Prophet, and burned him.  This led Tecumseh to turn to the British.

Harrison was later passed over for command on the frontier for Isaac Hull, who later surrendered Detroit without much of a defense.

After the fall of Detroit and Hull's disgrace, Harrison was named the commander of the Army of the Northwest in September 1812 with orders to recapture Detroit and invade Canada.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Bits of War: Olympics Money-- USS Constitution Stamp-- Savannah and the War

Bits of News About the War.


1.  OLYMPICS MONEY--  It was estimated that the Canadian government spent $1.65 million on the War of 1812 commercials it ran during the Olympics.


2.  USS CONSTITUTION STAMP--  Some 25 million stamps of the famous ship went on sale last August.  People could get First-Day-of-Issue Stamp at the Charleston Navy Yard next to the "Old Ironsides."


3.  SAVANNAH AND THE WAR--  From the August 20, 2012, Savannah Morning News--  Hull Street is named for the captain of the USS Constitution.  The live oak that gave the ship its strength along the hull was cut and milled near St. Simons, Georgia.

In 1815, Savannah named through streets after U.S. Navy captains:  Hull, Perry, Mcdonough and two squares, Orleans and Chippewa, were named after key battles.

Now, You Know.  --Brock-Perry

Black Sailors Played a Key Role in War of 1812-- Part 2

Isaac Hull continued that they were "utterly insensible to danger and to be possessed with a determination to outfight the white sailors."

Blacks also comprised an important part of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's Lake Erie fleet.

Commodore Isaac Chauncey, over all commander on the Great Lakes, wrote, "I have nearly 50 blacks (on my ships) and many of them are among my best men."

Captain Nathaniel Shaler, commander of the privateer Governor Tompkins, was almost captured by a British frigate and lauded his black sailors John Davis and John Johnson.

Not So Forgotten.  --Brock-Perry

Black Sailors Played a Key Role in War of 1812-- Part 1

From the March 28, 2013, GoErie.com "Guest Voice: Black sailors played key role in War of 1812" by Ayodele Osibodu and John Paul Rossi.

Blacks during the war typically made up between 15-20% of crews on US Naval vessels during the war and had roughly an equality with white sailors.  Blacks were also pressed into the British Navy.

During the USS Constitution-HMS Guerriere battle, blacks performed so ably, that Captain Isaac Hull, the Constitution's commander, wrote, "They stripped to the waist and fought like devils."

All Pulling for the United States.  --Brock-Perry

Commodore Isaac Hull, American Hero-- Part 1: Younger Life

From the May 22, 2012, Valley (Ct) Independent Sentinel "Coomodore Hull. 200 years later" by Derby Shelton.

Isaac Hull was from Derby, Connecticut, Lower Naugatuck Valley, and became a star in 1812.

Today, in the valley, Route 8 has the Commodore Isaac Hull Bridge over the Housatonic River.  There is also a Commodore Hull Thanksgiving Day race for runners.

A pair of his pants are in the Derby Historical Society.

Isaac Hull was born in Derby on March 3, 1773 at a house near the Housatonic River.  His father, Joseph Hull made trading voyages to the West Indies and was a whaler.  Joseph was made a prisoner of the British during the American Revolution and after release commanded a flotilla of whale boats on Long Island Sound that harassed the enemy.

Joseph died in 1778, and young Isaac was adopted by his Uncle William, who was a war hero himself.  He wanted his nephew to go to college, but Isaac opted to go to sea and became a cabin boy on a merchant ship at age 14.

By 1793, at a young age, he commanded a ship sailing to the West Indies.

Road to Hero.  --Brock-Perry