Standing Tall on Lake Erie-- Part 3: The Battle of Lake Erie

Since August 1812, with the fall of Detroit, the British Royal Navy had controlled Lake Erie.  But, with Perry's new fleet, the British were in store for a reckoning.  

In July 1813, the British abandoned  the Great Lakes due to the new American threat, poor weather conditions and a shortage of supplies, as Perry's fleet had severed the critical British supply route from Fort Malden to Port Dover.  So, now the Royal Navy set out to break through Perry's line.

While the British squadron was composed of six ships, mounting 63 cannons, the Americans could counter with a fleet of nine vessels and 54 guns.

The British had the numbers when it came to long range cannons, while the Americans had the advantage in shorter range guns, carronades.

Perry definitely had to rely and pray on the wind to help him get up closer to the British ships to exploit his short range advantage.

--Brock-Perry

The Burning of Washington, D.C.-- Part 1: Brookeville, Md., U.S. Capital for A Day

From Wikipedia.

August 24, 1814

After the Americans were routed at the Battle of Bladensburg, outside Washington, D.C., on August 24, the British Army under General Robert Ross occupied the city and set about burning down a lot of buildings, including the White House, the Capitol and other government buildings.

This burning was partly in response to American sacking and burning of Port  Dover and York (Toronto today) in Upper Canada earlier in the war.  This marked the first and only time since the American Revolution that the nation's capital has been occupied by a foreign country.President Madison, military officials and other government people gad hurriedly abandoned the city as soon as they learned of the defeat at Bladensburg.

They made it to Brookeville, Maryland, and found refuge for the night.  Today, Brookeville bills itself as the "United States Capital for a Day."  Madison spent the night at the home of Caleb Bentley and the house still stands and is known today as the Madison House.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Campbell-- Part 2: Rising Through the Ranks

War of 1812 Service

On March 12, 1812, he was appointed from Kentucky as a lieutenant-colonel of the 19th Infantry and brevetted to colonel on December 18, 1812, for gallant conduct versus the Mississineway Indians.  On April 9, 1814, he was promoted to colonel and transferred to the 11th U.S. Infantry.

After his raid on Port Dover, British Major General Phineas Riall addressed the U.S. commanding officer by letter accusing the Americans of "acts of outrage on private property" there.

--Brock-Perry

Port Talbot, Canada-- Part 3: Raided Often

From Wikipedia.

It was established by Thomas Talbot in 1803.

During the War of 1812, several former inhabitants of Port Talbot joined with the Americans and worked for vengeance on Thomas Talbot and conducted several raids on it from across Lake Erie.  Not only did they hit Port Talbot, but also Port Dover and several other locations.

I mentioned earlier that some found Talbot's authoritarian handling of internal affairs at the town offensive and wanted to get back at him.

On May 19, 1814, a small American raiding party under Col. John B. Campbell attacked Port Talbot.  Five days earlier, they had also attacked Port Dover and burned several flour mills, saw mills, distilleries and a significant number of homes.

Other raids on Port Talbot took place in July, August and September.  The September 9 one resulted in the grist mill being burned to the ground.  Also burned were the saw mill, several houses and farms.

--Brock-Perry