Fort Montgomery on Lake Champlain-- Part 2: Named for Richard Montgomery

When a new survey discovered that the 45th parallel was actually located 3/4th mile south, effectively placing the fort in Canada, all construction on the fort stopped.  Much of the material was scavenged by locals for use in their own homes and public buildings.

There is no evidence that the fort was named before this.  Most contemporary documents list the fortification as the "works," "fortification" or "battery" at Rouse's Point.  It is often mistakenly referred to as Fort Montgomery.  However, the site of the first fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Fort Montgomery in 1977.

It was eventually decided to build a second fort on the site after the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 ceded the strategically important Island Point, the site of the 1816 fort and the northernmost  point on Lake Champlain, to the United States.

Construction began on the new fortification  two years later and it was officially named Fort Montgomery  in honor of the American Revolution's Major General Richard Montgomery who was killed during the 1775 invasion of Canada at Quebec City.

Fort Montgomery was one of the very few "Permanent" ot "Third System" built along the Northern Frontier.  Most of them were built along the Atlantic Coast.

--Brock-Perry

New York's Fort Blunder/Montgomery Has War of 1812 Connection-- Part 2: How It Became Known as Fort Blunder

In order to defend Lake Champlain and the border, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and started construction of permanent fortifications near that border in 1816.  However, due to some poor surveying, this fort was built nearly  a mile on the northern side of the U.S.-Canadian border.

This was a huge "Oops."  Not surprisingly, this fortification became known as Fort Blunder.

The second fort, properly surveyed this time, was built between 1844 and 1871 at Rouse's Point in Clinton County, New York.  Unlike many contemporary forts of the time, it wasn't built of bricks, but stone instead.

The fort was named after General Richard Montgomery who was killed leading the American attack on Quebec in 1775 (during the first American invasion of Canada).  At its  height,the fort mounted over eighty guns on three levels (it was designed for 125) and was surrounded by a moat which could only be crossed by a drawbridge.

That Was A Big OOPS.  --Brock-Perry

Privateer Bunker Hill-- Part 2: HMS Belvidera

From the "The War of 1812:  A Complete Chronology with  Biographies

AUGUST 21, 1812

"The HMS Belvidera intercepts and seizes the privateer  Bunker Hill (Jacob Lewis, master), a 175-ton schooner that operates out of New York.  At the time of its capture, the Bunker Hill is carrying cargo that includes ammunition and guns, along with provisions."

*******************************

From "Publications of the Rhode Island Historical Society"

"Also arrived at New York, a British  brig from Quebec for Bermuda, a prize  to the Bunker Hill privateer of this port."

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Reinforcements Arrive, Action in Maine

Even though the Treaty of Ghent had been signed in December, it had yet to be ratified in Britain of the United States.  The war went on in North America.

JANUARY 1815:  The British 102nd Regiment arrives in Quebec City, Lower Canada.

JANUARY 1815:  Ensign Goerge Morehouse of the New Brunswich Fencibles led a detachment from Meductic and captures Houlton, District of Maine, in an effort to secure the strategically important line of communications between Saint John, New Brunswick, and Quebec, Lower Canada.

JANUARY 1, 1815:  The British bombard the defenses of New Orleans.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Arrival of British Reinforcements in Quebec City

JULY 25TH TO AUGUST 24TH, 1814:  More bad news for the United States with the arrival of these reinforcements in Quebec City, Lower Canada.  They were no longer needed in the Napoleonic Wars which were over.

Contingents of Major General Manley power's brigade (3rd, 5th, 1st Battalion 27th Rehiment, 58th regiment and Royal SArtillery); Major General James Kempt's brigade (1st Battalion 9th Regiment, 1st Battalion 37th Regiment, 1st Battalion 57th regiment, 1st Battalion 81st Regiment, Royal Artillery); Major General Frederick Robinson's brigade (1st Battalion 39th Regt., 76th Regt., 1st Battalion 88th Regt., 3rd Battalion 27th Regt. and Royal Artillery).

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago-- June 25th-July 24, 1814: British Reinforcements Arriving

JUNE 25-JULY 24, 1814:  Arrival of British reinforcements at Quebec City, Upper Canada.  The downfall of napoleon had freed up British troops to go to North America and fight the Americans.

British troops arriving during this time:  1st Battalion, 82nd regiment, 4th Battalion 1st regiment of the Royal Scots, 1st battalion 8th Regiment and 9th regiment, Nova Scotia Fencibles.

--Brock-Perry

January 1814 Timeline-- Part 1

January 1814 saw the arrival of British reinforcements in Quebec City, Lower Canada: 76th Regt., 26th regt. and 27th Regt..

Early in 1814, the British constrcted defenses on Bridge Island, Upper Canada, as shelter for supply batteaux (boats) traveling on the St. Lawrence River.

Construction began on cavalry barracksBlairfindie in Lower Canada.

Gunboats are constructed at Coteau-du-Lac in Lower Canada.

--Brock-Perry

Timeline November 1813-- Part 1: Blockade Of Entire U.S. Eastern Seaboard Established

Events happening in November 1813:

***Arrival of British reinforcements, the 70th Regt., at Quebec, Lower Canada.

*** Naval reinforcements allow the British to blockade the entire U.S. eastern seaboard from New England to Florida. New England was not, however, blockaded, partly because of British dependence on trade with the region via New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I think another reason might have been because New England was the weak link in the American effort and perhaps the British were hoping for them to secede.

NOVEMBER 1-2: Skirmish at French Creek, New York. The British Navy from Kingston unsuccessfully attacks vessels bringing Maj. Gen. James Wilkinson's Army down the St. Lawrence River.

--Brock-Perry

October 1813 Timeline-- Part 1

New Month, New Timeline. Most of these are from the excellent Canadian site, "Historic Places.Can. What was going on 200 years ago this month in the War of 1812:

OCTOBER-- British reinforcements arrive at Quebec City, Lower Canada.

OCTOBER 1ST-- Skirmish at Chateauguay, Lower Canada.

OCTOBER 2ND--Group of 133 ex-slaves from the Chesapeake Bay area arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

OCTOBER 4TH--Action at McGregor's Creek, Upper Canada.

OCTOBER 4TH-- American revunue cutter Vigilant captures privateer Dart off Rhode Island.

--Brock-Perry

De Salaberry: Canadian-Born hero of the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the August 4, 2012, Toronto Sun by Tom Villemaire.

Charles-Michel de Salaberry was from a French-Canadian family with a history of service in the British Army.  He joined the 60th Regiment and saw action in the West Indies, where he was recognized for his bravery, and in Belgium.  Becoming a captain-lieutenant in 1799, he commanded a company by 1803.

In 1810, he was recalled to Canada as a Lt. Col. and aide-de-camp to Major-General Francis de Rittenburg.  In 1812, he became chief of staff of the militia and assumed direct command of the Canadian Voltigeurs light infantry, made up mostly of French-Canadian volunteers.

Even though they were militia, de Salaberry trained them as regular soldiers.

U.S. generals figured Quebec would be an easy target as they were sure the French-Canadians would be happy to kick the British out.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

Meeting Our Friends, the Enemy, Here in Florida-- Part 1

And, we've met them before, but this is the first time during the War of 1812's bicentennial.

First, it was all of the French Canadians from what I now know to be Lower Canada, in the Hollywood, Florida, area.  As of yet, I am not sure whose side they were on during the War of 1812.  I'm sure they didn't like the British, but also don't think they would have liked to be a part of the United States either.

In Hollywood, I like to say that English is a second language, with a lot of stuff posted in both French and English.  The motels are sure to post that they speak French.

You see a lot of Quebec license plates.

Brock-Perry