James Wilkinson: Military Hero or Traitor?

From the September 21, 2021, We  Are the Mighty "4 American traitors more destructive than Benedict Arnold" by Team Mighty.

James Wilkinson was one of the most trusted soldiers in American history, serving in both the American Revolution and the War of 1812.  He took on the role of governor of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and became  one of the Army's most senior officers.

There were many problems with Wilkinson's service, but the foremost among them was that he had been spying for the Spanish most of the time.

When his role in Aaron Burr's own treason was discovered, he placed New Orleans under martial law and imprisoned anyone who might be able to prove Wilkinson was complicit in the plot.

Wilkinson was never caught in his own lifetime, but his papers were discovered in 1854, leading  Theodore Roosevelt to say, "In all our history,  there is no more despicable character."

--Brock-Perry

Jacob Jones, USN-- Part 2: A Short, Violent Fight Between the Wasp and the Frolic

The capture by Tripoli did not stop Jones' career in the Navy.  At the beginning of the War of 1812, he now found himself in the command of the sloop USS Wasp.  In the early months of the war, American ships aggressively  sought out British ships in the Atlantic sea lanes and along the Atlantic coast.

On this cruise, before he even found the British, the Wasp encountered a violent storm which destroyed part of the ship's rigging and killed two men.  The rigging had just barely been repaired when a small convoy of British ships was spotted being escorted by the British sloop HMS Frolic.

Both being sloops, the two ships were about evenly matched for a battle that would be short and bloody.  The Wasp and Frolic were about sixty yards apart when the first broadsides were exchanged.  According to future President Theodore Roosevelt in his book "The Naval War of 1812, "The (Frolic) fired very rapidly, delivering three broadsides to the Wasp's two, both crews cheering loudly as the ships wallowed through the water.

"There was a very heavy sea running, causing the vessels to pitch and roll heavily.  The Americans fired as the engaged side of their ship was going down aiming at their opponents hull, while the British delivered their broadsides while on the crest of the seas, the shot going high."

So, Who Won?  --Brock-Perry

What Teddy Roosevelt Had to Say About Macdonough

From Wikipedia.  Thomas Macdonough.

Theodore Roosevelt 1882

"Macdonough in this battle won a higher fame  than any other commander of the war, British or American.  he had a decidedly superior force to contend against, the officers and men of the two sides being about on par  in every respect; and it was solely owing to his foresight and resource that we won this battle.

He forced the British to engage at a disadvantage by his excellent choice of position; and he prepared beforehand for every possible contingency.

His personal prowess had already been shown at the cost  of the rovers of Tripoli, and in this action he helped fight the guns as ably as the best sailor.  His skill, seamanship, quick eye, readiness of resource, and indomitable pluck, are beyond all praise.

Down to the time of the Civil War he is the greatest figure in our naval history.

High Words of Praise Indeed.  --Brock-Perry

Maybe I should sign off with Brock-Macdonough instead of Brock-Perry?

The Naval War of 1812 by Theodore Roosevelt

From Wikipedia.

I came across this book earlier today and looked it up.

This was the future President Theodore Roosevelt's first book and covers the battles and naval technology of the war.  It is considered a seminal work and had a massive impact on the formation of te modern U.S. Navy.

Roosevelt graduated from Harvard University in 1880.  he had begun the book while an undergrad and he then began the completion which he did in 1881.

He discussed the political and social climate and generally praised the U.S. navy but made scathing comments on the American unpreparedness for the war.

Amazon has a new paperback of it for $32.99 or Kincle for $2.99.