Road Trippin' Through History: Notable War of 1812 Persons Buried at Laurel Hull Cemetery

Laurel Hill is a cemetery in Philadelphia.  This is a continuation of a Road Trip that started in my Running the Blockade blog with Richard Binder, USMC, who received a Medal of Honor for action at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War.  He is buried at West Laurel Hill Cemetery which is a part of Laurel Hill Cemetery.

There are several War of 1812 notables buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)--  Naval officer in War of 1812 and Mexican War.  Served on the USS Hornet.

ISAAC HULL  (1773-1843)--  Commanded USS Constitution in its battle with the HMS Guerriere.

ELIE AUGUSTUS F. LA VALLETTE  (1790-1862)--  War of 1812 American officer at Battle of Lake Champlain.  Also served in Mexican War.

--Brock-Perry

Back on Line Agin'... Well, Sorta

It has been a long journey for me since last May in the ever-fun world of new technology and the internet. You may have noticed there have been few posts. 

I ended up having to buy a new pc and somehow got it hooked up by myself.  However, I am unable to get all of my e-mail sites and blogging sites back, but am working on it.

Hopefully, when I get the other four back on, I won't lose this one, but who knows.

Anyway, regardless, there will be a major difference in posting,  Before I was shooting for 20 posts a month minimum in all eight blogs.  Now, several of them will be posts every so often, maybe five a month, including this one.

Anyway, it is good to be back, even if just part way

Lovin' It.  --Brock-Perry

Okay, So Who Was This Butler Who Had the Barracks

The last several posts I have been writing about Butler's Barracks, located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.  I mentioned that Butler's Barracks were named after a Loyalist officer by the name of John Butler (1728-1796).

Well, who was he?

Essentially, an enemy of the new country the Patriots were trying to establish.

He was an American-born military officer, merchant, landowner and colonial official in the British Indian Deparment.  During the American Revolution he was a prominent Loyalist who led the provincial regiment Butler's Rangers on the frontiers of New York and Pennsylvania.

Born in Connecticut, he moved to New York.  To say he was a thorn in the side of Americans would be an understatement.  In thanks for his services, Britain was given a land grant in the Niagara region.  This eventually became Butler's Barracks.

I'll write about him in my Cooter's History Thing blog later.

--Brock-Perry

Quite the Naval Career for John B. Montgomery

Had John Montgomery just served in the War of 1812, that would have been a distinguished career.  But, that was just the start of 50+ years in the service of his country.

He served in two other wars:  Mexican War and Civil War.  Though, by the time the Civil War rolled around he was quite aged and his service was more in the backwaters.  But, even so, his career is worth a closer look.  I just concentrated on his War of 1812 service in this blog.

But, you can get his whole career in my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog this month.

And to think, very few people have ever heard of him.  I know I hadn't before I started doing research on ships by the name Montgomery in the U.S. Navy.

--Brock-Perry

Some More on John B. Montgomery, USN

From Cyclopedia of New Jersey.

**  In conjunction with seven other officers and 100 enlisted men, Montgomery volunteered for duty on Lake Erie with Perry.

**  In August 1814, he  was at the destruction of a British blockhouse and  gun brig on the British side of Lake Huron.

**  During the last siege of Fort Erie the Niagara was employed in protecting communication between the fort and the U.S. hospitals at Buffalo.  Also, transportation for troops between the two shores of the lake during the months of September and October.

It would have been interesting had he been at the Battle of Lake Champlain and in command of the USS Montgomery (which was named after American Revolution General Richard Montgomery).  Then we would have had Montgomery in command of the Montgomery.

To find out about John Montgomery's entire naval career, go to my Running the Blockade: Civil War Navy blog from February 9-16 of this year.

--Brock-Perry

John B. Montgomery, USN: Officer in Three Wars

I have been writing about the USS Montgomery on my Running the Blockade:  Civil War Navy blog.  It is part of my "RoadTripping Through History:  The Continuing Saga of the USS Montgomery" presentation that I made in January at McHenry County College.

There have been six ships in the U.S. Navy by the name USS Montgomery:  American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I and II and current.  Right now I am writing about the World War I-II ship which was named after John B. Montgomery who was a U.S. Navy officer in the War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War.

The War of 1812 USS Montgomery was on Lake Champlain.

I am going to write about his War of 1812 service here (and also in my Running the Blockade blog for his entire 50 year service record).

From Wikipedia.

JOHN BARRIEN MONTGOMERY  (1794- March 25, 1872)

Officer in the U.S. Navy who rose through the ranks, serving in the War of 1812, Mexican War and Civil War.  He performed in various  capacities including commanding several vessels.

--Brock-Perry

12th Year of This Blog

Today marks the 12th year I've had this blog which started in 2012.

I started it because that year marked the bicentennial of the war which started in 1812.  I realized that I really didn't know a lot about it and I sure have learned a lot since then.

This marks the 3,951st post and the blog has had 496,926 visits.

A real learning experience for me.

The Brock-Perry signoff refers to British General Isaac Brock and American naval officer Oliver Hazard Perry.

I have to wonder if there are any other War of 1812 blogs that have been around this long or have had as many posts?

--Brock-Perry

81st Anniversary of Pearl Harbor: Herbert Jacobson-- Part 5

Continued from my Down Da Road I Go blog.

Bert Jacobson's name was recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of then Pacific in Honolulu along with other military personnel listed as missing in action from World War II.  A rosette later was placed next to his name to indicate that his remains have been identified.

The identification process began in 2015 when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the remains of the unidentified USS Oklahoma crew members for additional analysis.  (They had been buried commingled in several graves in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.)

'It's been a long process," Brad McDonald said.  "My mother, she kind of took up the torch for the whole family to figure out what's going on.  ...I have stacks and stacks of documents of all the agencies she contacted."

Continued in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

Anne-Louis de Toussard-- Part 1

I've seen his last name spelled both Toussard and Tousard.  This source spells it with one "s."

Encyclopedia.com

French and U.S. officer. In America he was a captain attached to the Marquis de Lafayette's staff.  Took part in the Battles of Germantown and Brandywine and spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge.  In March 1778, he was appointed military advisor to the allied Oneida Indians and was present with them when they covered Lafayette's retreat at the Battle of Barren Hill in 21 May 1778.

Then transferred to the staff of  General John Sullivan in his unsuccessful French-American  campaign against Newport, Rhode Island.  Lost his right arm at the Battle of  Quaker Hill on 28  August 1778.

Because of this service, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army on 29 October 1778.

After this, he returned to France.

I probably should have put these entries about hinm in my Cooter's History Thing blog as they pertain more to the American Revolution.  But, I came across his name first in relation to his description of the Hurricane of 1812.  And that, of course, would be the War of 1812.

Had Quite a Bit to Do with the American Effort to Achieve Independence.  --Brock-Perry

About That D.C. Tornado-- Part 1: Background of the Event

From the March 26, 2012, Historical Digression blog "A tornado saves Washington during the War of 1812" by Patrick Browne.

One of the first targets of the British reinforcement in America in 1814, was the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., partly as a form of payback for American transgressions to the capital of Upper Canada, York (now Toronto), earlier in the war.  Also, the destruction of such an important city would also be a major blow to American morale.

Another factor was that these new British soldiers were veterans, having fought Napoleon all those years.

Some 5,000 British landed in Benedict, Maryland, and made short work of a larger American force at the Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland on August 24, 1814.    The road to Washington was now open.

Once in D.C., they burned  what is now known as the White House (after sitting down to eat a large feast that Dolley Madison  and her staff had prepared for  cabinet members before they were all forced to flee).

--Brock-Perry

Arthur Sinclair (Father of Arthur Sinclair Jr. CSN): Through the Ranks

I came across the name Arthur Sinclair while doing my Running the Blockade: Civil War blog as being the commander of the CSS Mississippi who ordered his ship destroyed when New Orleans fell to Union forces during the Civil War.  Later, he drowned when the blockade runner Lelia sank.

I found out he had a father who was in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.  Here is his father's advancement through the ranks of the U.S. Navy.

ARTHUR SINCLAIR

Lieutenant:  10 June 1807

Master Commandment:  2 July 1812

Captain:  24 July 1813

Died: 7 February 1831

Looks like I will have to do further research on this man.

--Brock-Perry

Portland, Maine, in the War of 1812 and the Civil War: Two Sea Battles

I just realized that I have been writing a lot about this city in two of my blogs lately.

I have been writing about the battle between the USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer in this blog, as well as the burial of their two commanders who were both killed in the battle along with a Lt. Waters who were all buried next to each other in Portland's Eastern Cemetery.

In my Running the Blockade: The Civil War Navy blog I have been writing about Confederate Lt. Charles W. Read's successful commerce raid up the Union's coast fifty years later and his raid on Portland where he captured the U.S. Revenue Cutter Caleb Cushing.

And, most people, including myself, don't even know there was even one battle ever fought at Portland, Maine.  Like I say, learn something every day.

Small World.  I Didn't Know About Either One.--Brock-Perry

Some More on the HMS Boxer and USS Enterprise-- Part 2: The Battle and Burials

When the two brigs opened fire, Samuel Blyth exclaimed, "Great God, what shots!" an instant before he was  killed in the first shots of the battle.  Moments later, while helping his crew run out a carronade, a musket ball tore through Burrows' thigh, a fatal wound, but he stayed on deck.

The fierce contest ended in 30 minutes.  Command of the Enterprise devolved to Lieutenant Edward McCall.  (I have been writing about him this last week in my Cooter's History Thing blog about the USS McCall (DD-28) named after him.  I will also be writing about the second USS McCall (DD-400) in my Tattooed on Your Soul:  World War II blog this week.)

While, on board the HMS Boxer, Lieutenant  David McGrery had assumed command of that badly cripple ship.  Towards that end, he described his new command as a complete wreck, with three feet of water in the hold.  The flags on the mainmast had been shot away, but the colors that had been nailed to the foremast were still there.

McGery surrendered the Boxer and was towed to Portland by the Enterprise.

Newspapers in the United States rejoiced  in "another brilliant naval victory."  

After two days of planning in Portland, an impressive state funeral was held for the two commanders, who were buried side-by-side in Portland's Eastern Cemetery.  They remain there to this day.

--Brock-Perry

USS McCall (DD-400), A World War II Ship (What Does This Have to Do with the War of 1812?)

So, the first thought has to be exactly why is a World War II destroyer here in a War of 1812 blog?

In my Tattooed On Your Soul: World War II blog I am writing about the USS Gridley (DD-380) which was the lead ship of her class of US Navy destroyers and fought in World War II.  This was a relatively small class of destroyers with just four ships. 

One of those other three destroyers was named the USS McCall (DD-400) which served during World War II.  This ship was named after War of 1812 naval officer Edward McCall.

There was also an earlier destroyer named after him, the USS McCall (DD-28), a modified  Paulding-class destroyer that saw service in World War I and was a part of the Coast Guard's Rum Patrol.  I'll be writing about this one in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

--Brock-Perry

101-Year-Old Pearl Harbor Survivors on the USS Oklahoma Returns for the 80th

This is continued from my Saw the Elephant, Running the Blockade and Cooter's History Thing blogs.  I am writing about Pearl Harbor today in most of my blogs as it is the 80th anniversary of the attack.

In 2015, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) exhumed 388 sets of remains from the "Unknown Oklahoma" graves in the National Cemetery of the Pacific.  Using DNA and dental records, they were able to identify 361 of them.

David Russell's brother-in-law was among them.  Fireman 1st Class Walter "Boone"  Rogers was in the Oklahoma's fireroom when the torpedoes hit.  That would be deep in the ship's bowels. His remains were identified in 2017.  He has since been buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

David Russell  remained in the Navy until retiring in 1960.  He worked at Air Force bases for the next two decades before retiring for good in 1980.

His wife Violet passed away 22 years ago and David now lives alone in Albany, Oregon. He drives himself to the local grocery store and the local American Legion in a black Ford Explorer while listening to polka at top volume.

Camp Perry Receives Federal Funds

From the September 21, 2021, Sandusky (Ohio) Register by Andy  Ouriel.

Camp Perry, located near Port Clinton, Ohio was the primary training center for the Ohio National Guard for much of the 1900s.  It was established in 1907 and named for Oliver Hazard Perry, a naval War of 1812 hero.

Ohio State's Controlling Board recently  approved $271,000 in federal funding request for Camp Perry and its historical lighting project.

I will be writing more about Camp Perry in my Cooter's History Thing Blog.

Oliver Hazard Perry is the Perry in my signoff.

--Brock-Perry

This Month in the American Revolution: Battle of Hanging Rock and Battle of Long Island

The War of 1812 is sometimes referred to as the Second War for American Independence.

These events took place this month during the first war for American independence.  I am thinking of moving the American Revolution from the Cooter's History Thing blog to here.

From the American Battlefield Trust 2021 August calendar.

AUGUST 6

1780:  Battle of Hanging Rock, South Carolina.

AUGUST 16

1777:  Battle of Bennington, New York

AUBUST 16

1780:  Battle of Camden, South Carolina

AUGUST 27

1776:  Battle of Long Island

--Brock-Perry

A Mountain and a River Named After Patrick Gas and Charles Floyd

Two members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition have topographical features named after them.  I wrote about Patrick Gass in this blog most of last month because he also fought in the War of 1812.  I also wrote about Charles Floyd in this blog and in my Cooter's History Thing blog this month.

Patrick Gass replaced Charles Floyd as the expedition's sergeant on Floyd's death in August 1804.

To honor Charles Floyd, Lewis and Clark named a river by where Floyd died by present-day Sioux City, Iowa, the Floyd River.   The Floyd River is a 112-mile long tributary of the Missouri River.

Mount Patrick Gass is in Montana and is quite out in the wilderness and only approachable by some serious hiking.

--Brock-Perry

Coloured Corps-- Part 9: Disbandment and Legacy

The Royal Engineers continued to employ the Coloured Corps on the Niagara Peninsula for the remainder of the War of 1812.  The Corps' zeal in these works impressed British engineers, one reporting in February 1815 that "no people could be better calculated to build temporary barracks than these Free Men of Colour, as they are in general expert axemen."

I have been writing about the 135th United States Colored Troops in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog and they were classified as pioneers and were quite good at building bridges and corduroying roads.

The company was disbanded  on 24 March 1815, following the end of the war.

In claiming rewards for their service, many faced adversity and  discrimination.  Sergeant William Thompson was informed he "must go and look for his pay himself."  Richard Pierpoint, then in his 70s, was denied his request for passage home to Africa in lieu of a land grant.

--Brock-Perry

Tenth Year of This Blog

This marks the beginning of this blog's tenth year.

This post is the 3,447th.

The very first post was April 16, 2012.

This blog grew out of my Cooter's History Thing blog and I started it because 2012 was the bicentennial of the War of 1812.  I knew more about this war than most people, but that's not saying too much as most Americans know very little about the war.

I figured I would learn more about it with this blog, and I sure did, starting with where Upper and Lower Canada (as the British colony was called back then) were not where I thought they would be.  I always thought upper meant north and lower meant south.  But not so in Canada.  The locations refer to the St. Lawrence River which flows from south to north.

I was looking for a signoff name and couldn't think of one so temporarily used the last names of two heroes of the war:  Isaac Brock of Britain and Oliver Hazard Perry of the U.S.

Things You Learn.  --Brock-Perry