Siege of Fort Harrison

From the October 29, 2022, Tribune-Star "Historical treasure:  Historic model reveals history of Fort Harrison" by Matthew Higgins.

Tecumseh, the leader of the Shawnee Confederacy, allied his nation with neighboring Indian nations  to resist white settlement as he watched his people's ancestral lands being stripped from their hands one treaty at a time.  William Henry Harrison,  Indiana's first territorial governor, was tasked with making the area safe for white settlement as thousands of settlers moved in sought a new life for the territory.

Tragically, these two opposing aspirations could not exist in harmony and thus, conflict was born.

In order to protect white settlements and facilitate trade along the Wabash River, Fort Harrison was constructed.  The primary conflict that took place there was the Siege of Fort Harrison in September 1812.  Warriors of Tecumseh's Confederacy attacked the fort on the night of September 4.

Harrison was not present at the attack and the fort was commanded by another future U.S. president, Zachary Taylor.  His soldiers fought well and were able to fend off the Indians who surrounded the fort and slaughtered livestock in an attempt to starve the fort's defenders into surrender.

--Brock-Perry

About That U.S. Navy White Oak Forest in Indiana-- Part 2: Welcome to Constitution Grove

The USS Constitution , called "Old Ironsides" is a museum ship docked in Boston, but she has an active duty crew and commander.  She has even sailed under her own power as recently as twenty years ago.

So, one of the Navy's unusual jobs is there at a civilian forester maintained.  They call the group of trees Constitution Grove in Indiana.

From the USS Constitution Museum "The Wooden Walls" of USS Constitution.

The USS Constitution received, according to Secretary  of War Knox, "the best white oak."  However, with each restoration of the ship, white oak of the size needed became increasingly difficult to obtain.  Nearly two generations and three restorations ago, white oak trees at the Naval Facilities Engineering  Command in Crane, Indiana,  were designated for the USS Constitution.

At the time, as the 1973 work began on the ship, the U.S. Navy noted:  "Seasoned white oak, ... needed in the ... overhaul of ... Constitution, was difficult to ... procure."  Over 150 white oak trees spread over the  64,000 acre base were designated for the ship.

In April 2012,  70 of these trees were examined and 35 selected that will be used to replace  the 30-40-foot long rotted hull planks on the ship.

--Brock-Perry

About That U.S. Navy White Oak Forest in Indiana

From the November 8, 2020, Gadsden Times "David Murdock Column:   On unusual American military units."

He found out about an unusual naval facility located in the middle of Indiana, not exactly where you'd expect to find a naval unit based.  It is the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division and is located neat Bloomington, Indiana.  

According to the Navy, it is the third largest naval  installation in the world.

But what really caught Mr. Murdock's eyes a forest of white oak trees. was the fact that it maintains a forest of white oak trees. And the reason it exists and is so large is a warship named the USS Constitution.  This old ship, the longest commissioned warship in the world,  requires white oak trees for  repair and rehabilitation.

The Constitution is a wooden sailing frigate that was launched in 1797.  It is the oldest warship still afloat (Britain's HMS Victory has been afloat slightly longer, but is in permanent drydock).

--Brock-Perry

Decatur County, Indiana, Named for Naval Hero Stephen Decatur, Greensburg Founded By War of 1812 Colonel

From the November 8, 2019, Greensburg (Indiana) Daily News  "Decatur County veterans through the years" by Pat Smith.

The county was named for Stephen Decatur, a War of 1812 naval hero who was killed in a duel in 1820.    The following year, the county was named after him.

Decatur County historian Russell Wilhoit says there are 52 known War of 1812 veterans buried in the county and another ten buried in nearby counties who lived at one time or another in Decatur County.  He is doing a book on veterans from the American Revolution, War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War who are buried in the county.

The founder of Greensburg, Thomas Hendricks, was a colonel in the War of 1812 and came with other surveyors to the newly opened land and purchased four 80-acre tracts of land in the county.  He built the first cabin in what was to become Greensburg and donated 100 acres of land  for the town of Greensburg which he named for his wife Elizabeth Trimble's native town in Pennsylvania.

He was uncle to Thomas A. Hendricks, governor of Indiana and vice president of the United States.

--Brock-Perry

Harrison Takes Charge In Ohio-- Part 2: Building Roads and Forts

Fresh recruits soon began pouring into Franklinton and William Henry Harrison set out to train them.  As the new troops were being trained, he sent the first 700 he had received out to what is today Muncie, Indiana, where they caught a group of Miami Indians by surprise  and soundly defeated them on December 17, 1812.

At this time, most of Ohio was still a wilderness.  There were a few roads built along existing Indian trails, but for the most part, land north and west of Columbus was flat marshy land which made travel extremely difficult.

Making roads to the north of the town caused many deaths from disease in Harrison's army.  To make travel easier, Harrison ordered that an old Indian trail along the Scioto River be expanded.  That road today is State Route 23.

After that he began concentrating on building forts.  He first rebuilt Fort Defiance which had had major use during the Indian Wars of 1793-1794.  It was located at the confluence of  the Auglaiz and Maumee rivers.  During the War of 1812, the major threat to Ohio came from Canadian and British troops and their Indian allies massed along the northwest end of Lake Erie.

Fort Defiance gave Harrison a good point for a staging area, but wasn't as much help as a defensive post.  Another fort was needed.

--Brock-Perry

Benjamin Stephenson of Illinois-- Part 9: More Indian Problems

But in 1813, problems with the Indians resurfaced in the Illinois Territory as there were scattered attacks in Illinois as well as in the Missouri Territory.

By August 1813, General Benjamin Howard of Missouri had gathered both Illinois and Missouri Rangers and militia.  The Illinois militia was commanded by Benjamin Stephenson.  Howard's army of 1,400 marched north along the Mississippi River.

Howard's men were on the west side of the river while Stephenson was on the east.

--Brock-Perry

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Making Her Mark: Jane "Jennie" Forsyth

From the November 6, 2017, Daily Journal.

Jane "Jennie" Forsyth was buried in Franklin's First Mount Pleasant Cemetery in 1856.  She and her husband, John Forsyth, were one of the first pioneer settlers in Hensley Township in Johnson County, Indiana.  She is a Real daughter of the War of 1812.

There was a ceremony honoring her on October 21.

She was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky in 1787 and moved to Johnson County after marrying James Forsyth, a farmer in the 1820s.  She was the eldest daughter of Thomas Sturgeon, Jr. a War of 1812 veteran in Captain Martin L. Hawkins in the Kentucky Infantry.

He also fought in the American Revolution, joining when he was just 15.

--Brock-Perry

Richard M. Johnson-- Part 4: War Hawk and Colonel

The War of 1812 was a received a lot of support from the people of Kentucky who feared the British would stir up the Indians.  Richard Johnson became a War Hawk, along with Henry Clay.  These were men in Congress who were pushing for a war with Britain.

After the declaration of war in June 1812, Johnson returned to Kentucky to recruit volunteers.  He recruited 300 men and was elected their major.  Then his group merged with another one and he was elected colonel.

His command was supposed to join General Hull at Detroit, but Hull surrendered before they got there.  He then reported to General William Henry Harrison, the territorial Governor of Indiana, who ordered him to relieve Fort Wayne in the northeastern part of the state which was under attack by the Indians..  Johnson and his men reached the fort on September 18, 1812 and lifted the siege.

They then returned to Kentucky and disbanded, burning Potawatomi villages along the Elkhart River on their way.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 8: Frostbite Prevalent

DECEMBER 24, 1812

His troops decimated by freezing weather, Campbell arrived back at Fort Greenville.  More than 300 of his troops suffered from frostbite.

He allowed the Indian women and children to ride captured Indian horses on the return trip.  The captives were escorted to Indian settlements at Piqua.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 5: Ordered to Destroy Miami Village of Mississinewa

NOVEMBER 25, 1812--

Harrison orders Campbell to attack and destroy the Miami village of Mississinewa.  Campbell is advised to try to spare chiefs Richardville, Silver Heels, White Loon, Charley and Pecon, and the sons and daughters of Little Turtle if it can be done without risk to his force.

He is also advised to guarantee the safety of the Indian women and children who are to be captured and conducted back to settlements in Ohio -- a condition that will eventually cost Campbell severe losses among his troops.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 6: A Cold March and a Surprise

DECEMBER 14, 1812

Campbell's force of nearly 600 mounted troops, guided by William Conner departs Fort Greenville, Ohio, on an 80-mile forced march to the Miami towns on the Mississinewa River.

The snow is knee deep and the weather is bitter cold.

DECEMBER 18, 1812

Campbell's force surprises and attacks the first of four Indian villages on the Mississinewa River near present-day Jalapa.  Eight Indians and one African-American were killed and 42 Indians, including 34 women and children are captured.  Two American soldiers are killed.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 3: To Attack Or Not To Attack

OCTOBER 26, 1812

Harrison seeks approval from U.S. Secretary of War William Eustis, to attack Indiana towns along the Mississinewa River in Indiana.

NOVEMBER 5, 1812

Secretary Eustis advises Harrison that "the Miamis, as well as other Indians, must be dealt with as their merits and demerits may in your judgement require."

In other words, passing the responsibility along.

And, It Is Starting To Get COLD.  --Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War in Indiana-- Part 2: Miamis Stirring Up Trouble

Timeline of 1812 events in Indiana.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1812

William Henry Harrison is given command of the Second Army of the West, replacing General James Winchester.

OCTOBER 11, 1812--

Indiana Agent B.F. Stickney passes along information from fur trader John Conner to Harrison.  he reported that from September 13 to October 2, the Miamis had sent nine messengers to the Delaware Indians inviting them to join forces with them in a war versus the United States.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell and the War of 1812 on the Frontier-- Part 1: Attacks on Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison

From Mississinewa. 1812.  America's Most Exciting Living History Weekend-- At Mississinewa Battlefield, Marion, Indiana, October 13-15, 2017.

TIMELINE

SEPTEMBER 3, 1812--  Shawnees led by Missilimeta attacked Pigeon Roost settlement in southern Indiana and killed 20 whites.

SEPTEMBER 6, 1812--  Indians attack Fort Wayne and Fort Harrison  (Terre Haute) in Indiana. The Americans repulse them and then attack Indian villages north of the Wabash River.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Wildcat Creek (Spur's Defeat)-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

This small battle took place in Indiana and was the result of an American punitive expedition against Indians as a result of several defeats and massacres, including the Fort Dearborn Massacre and Pigeon Roost Massacre.

It took place on November 22, 1812, and resulted in an Indian victory.

It was nicknamed "Spur's Defeat", reportedly referring to the spurs the soldiers used on their horses to get out of there as fast as possible..

The campaign is also sometimes referred to as the Second Battle of Tippecanoe.

--Brock-Perry

Alney McLean of Kentucky-- Part 2: Battled Indians and At Battle of New Orleans

In the war, Alney McLean organized three companies.

In 1812, he organized a company of volunteers on September 18.  Then, in 1813, another of his companies was eventually commanded by Lewis Kinchebe.  A third company was one he was able to command himself.

These men served with General Samuel Hopkins in campaigns against the Indians.

He also served under Lt.-Col. William Mitchusson at the Battle of New Orleans where he took offense at General Andrew Jackson's statement that the Kentucky troops "ingloriously fled" and remained a political rival of Jackson for the rest of his life.

Alney McLean died of pneumonia in 1841 and was buried at Old Caney Station Cemetery near Greenville, Kentucky.

--Brock-Perry

Philip Crecelius-- Part 4: Moved from Tennessee to Indiana

During the War of 1812, militia were only required to serve ninety days.  Philip Crecelius served from October 12, 1813, to January 12, 1814.  he was paid $8 a month for his service.

Philip Ausmus Crecelius was born April 17, 1794 and enlisted in the 2nd Regiment of East Tennessee Volunteer Militia.

Sometime before 1816, he and his parents moved from Tennessee to Harrison County, Indiana and settled in O'Bannon Woods, where his parents are buried.  he was one of the original landowners in the area.

I wonder if some of the land was payment for his service?

--Brock-Perry

Philip Crecelius-- Part 3: Many Descendants Attended Ceremony

From the June 8, 2016, Clarion (Indiana) News "Daughters Dedicate Pvt. Crecelius' grave."

The dedication took place in the Mt. Eden Cemetery, Eckerly, Indiana.  This was the Daughters of the War of 1812 local unit's 13th grave dedication.

As I mentioned yesterday, Philip Creclius had 17 children and a lot of his descendants were able to attend the ceremony.

One of them was David Myers, his great-great grandson who is a member of the Alabama Society of the War of 1812.  Nine other direct descendants were also in attendance.  Two of them are active in the Johnathan Jennings Chapter Daughters of the War of 1812: Evelyn Jackson and Edith Key.

--Brock-Perry

Philip Crecelius, 2nd East Tennessee Volunteer Militia-- Part 2: Married Twice, Had 17 Children

From the Hastings Tribune.

Philip Crecelius was born in 1794 in Washington County, Tennessee and served during the War of 1812 in the 2nd East Tennessee Volunteer Militia.

His parents moved to what is now southern Indiana's O'Banon Woods in 1811.  he joined them after his service and eventually was married twice and had seventeen children.

He died in 1850 and is buried with his two wives.

--Brock-Perry

Indiana War of 1812 Veteran Receives Final Dedication: Philip Crecelius-- Part 1

From the June 10, 2016, Indiana Public Media News by Sophia Salby.

Private Philip Crecelius was honored with a dedicated grave Sunday in Pateko Township by the members of the Johnathan Jennings Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812.  They placed a dedicated  marker on his grave in Mt. Eden Cemetery where he was buried in 1850.

This new marker is part of an ongoing project of the chapter to locate and document graves like his.

Private Crecelius was born in Tennessee in 1794 and was in Colonel William Lillard's 2nd Regiment East Tennessee Volunteer militia.  After the war, he settled with his parents in southern Indiana.

Ten direct descendants were present at the ceremony, including a 4th-great grandson currently serving in the U.S. Army.

--Brock-Perry