Peter Buell Porter

From Wikipedia.

PETER BUELL PORTER

(August 14, 1773-March 20, 1844) American lawyer, soldier, politician and U.S. Secretary of War. Graduated Yale College in 1791. Moved to Black Rock, New York, in 1809 and elected to Congress where he was a leading War Hawk. From 1810-1816 was a member of the Erie Canal Commission.

In the War of 1812, he was quartermaster general of New York State Militia. In 1812, he participated in and became a major critic of Alexander Smyth's botched invasion of Upper Canada. This led to the famous duel between the two. Neither hit their opponent.

Porter later raised and commanded a brigade of New York militia and he was presented with a Congressional Gold Medal for his conduct at the Battle of Chippewa, Battle of Niagara and the Battle of Erie.

His son, Colonel Petere A. Porter gained recognition, but died at the Battle of Cold Harbor during the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry

Alexander Smyth

From Wikipedia. Doing some more research on the Nov. 16th blog entry.

(1765-April 17, 1830) American lawyer, soldier and politician from Virginia. Member U.S. House of Representatives. General in War of 1812. Smyth County, Virginia, named for him.

Born in Ireland and emigrated to Virginia in 1775. Served as member of the state's House of Delegates and Senate. From 1808 to 1813 served in U.S. Army and commissioned a colonel. At the Battle of Queenston Heights, he refused to support his commander, General Stephen Van Rensselear, a militia general with no experience. For his disobeying orders, Smyth was given Rensselear's command and proved to be very inept himself.

His plans to invade Upper Canada in 1812 had to be called off because of poor organization. A subordinate, General Peter B. Porter accused his commander of cowardice and Smyth challenged him to a duel. As historian John R. Elting wrote, the duel came off and "Unfortunately, both missed."

Smyth was later removed from the Army and returned to Virginia and served again in the House of Delegates and later the U.S. Senate. He died in Washington, D.C. and is buried in the U.S. Congressional Cemetery.

Brock-Perry

Some Facts About the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the November 12, 2012, WGRZ by Richard Kellman.

**** The war resulted in 20,000 deaths, 15,000 of them from disease.

**** Canadian hero Sir Isaac Brock (the Brock in my Brock-Perry signoff) died early in the war at the Battle of Queenstown Heights. He had a reputation for bravery and impulsiveness and thought his posting to Canada had him in a "backwater."

**** The U.S. commander at Buffalo, General Alexander Smyth, was untrained, inept and so hated by his men, some took potshots at him.

**** Peter Porter of Black Rock and Niagara Falls was a wealthy businessmen, officer and Congressman where he was a major War Hawk (those who wanted war) and demanded the annexation of Canada. He fought a duel with General Smyth on Grand Island over an insult. Both men missed.

He became Secretary of War under President John Quincy Adams in 1828. Smyth left the war early and returned to his native Virginia.

Just Some Stuff. --Brock-Perry