John Downes, USN-- Part 5: Around the World in the USS Potomac and End of His Career

Along the around the globe voyage, the USS Potomac became the first U.S. Navy ship to host sitting royalty, when the king and queesn of Hawaii came aboard.

When Downes arrived in Valparasio Chile, Jeremiah N. Reynolds came aboard.  He was an American explorer and author and served as Downes' personal secretary for the trip and wrote a book about his experience, "The Voyage of the United  States Frigate Potomac."

Downes'  sea service ended with this cruise.

On returning home, Downes was severely criticized for his actions in Sumatra, but President Jackson defended his actions, saying that what he did there would deter future aggression by the Malays.  However, that didn't come to pass because in August 1838, another American merchant ship, the  Eclipse, was attacked.  The United States responded with what is called the Second Sumatran  Expedition.

From 1837 to 1842, and again from1850-1852, he commanded  the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston Harbor.  He died there on August 11, 1854.

--Brock-Perry

Anne Louis Toussard-- Part 3: Impact on American Artillery, Forts, West Point and DuPont Gunpowder

Again, I have seen Toussard's name spelled with just one "s" and also with two of them.  I am using the double "s" spelling.

In April 1795, President Washington appointed Toussard  a major in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers, beginning a period during which he had  enormous influence on the American military.  After supervising the construction of several significant fortifications, he restructured the U.S. artillery service on the French model, bringing uniformity to its use of cannons.

In 1798, he laid out the plans for what would become the  Military Academy at West Point.

Also, his "American Artillerists Companion" (1809) became the standard text for artillery instruction.  Along the way,  he aided Eleuthere Irenee du Pont in establishing gunpowder  mills in Delaware, which would prove vital to American interests.

Again, I don't know how I never came across his name before his letter about the Hurricane of 1812.  

An Important Person in American History.  Sadly, One Who Is Not Known. --Brock-Perry

Lt. Col. Anne-Louis de Toussard-- Part 3: A Major Force in Creation of the USMA

In 1798 he proposed the idea of a national military school, with a comprehensive curriculum, to  Secretary of War James McHenry.  He helped convert the West Point garrison into that academy in 1800.  He then began instruction to the first twelve cadets in the first Class at the academy on 1800.

His regiment was disbanded in 1802 and he returned to France via Santo Domingo in 1802.  French Vice-Consul in Philadelphia in 1805.  Served as the French Consul ad interim in New Orleans  1811-1816 (when he wrote the letter about the Hurricane of 1812).  Supported the work of General Jackson during the War of 1812.

Returned to Paris in 1816.  Made a Knight of the Royal Military Order of St. Louis in 1799  Wrote "American Artillerists Companion" in 1809.  Married  Maria Francisca Joubert in 1788 and then Anna Maria Geddes in 1795.

A grandson of his, Lt. -Col.  Anthony Eugene Stocker MD (1819-1897), a grandson, succeeded him in the Society of the Cincinnati, being admitted as a Heriditary Member in 1888.  He was a medical doctor during the Civil War, most of the time in a position of leadership in the medical corps.

--Brock-Perry

Book on Thomas Macdonough Is Delaware's Book of the Week

From Delaware News. "DE Heritage Commission Book of the Week:  Captain Thomas Macdonough" by Virginia Mason Burdick.

The son of an American Revolution veteran, Thomas Macdonough would serve with distinction in the War of 1812.    After the climatic Battle of Lake Champlain, Macdonough would go down in history as one of Delaware's  greatest military heroes.

In her biography, Virginia Burdick discusses the life and times of the good captain and tells the story of a lesser-known hero of America's Second War of Independence.

You can view or download a PDF version of the book at this site.

He also had the USS Montgomery at his famous battle which I have written about before.

--Brock-Perry

Book About the Battle Between the USS Enterprise and HMS Boxer-- Part 1

I came across a book by David Hanna titled "Knights of the Sea:  The True Story of the Boxer and  the Enterprise and the War of 1812."

It is available at Amazon for $11.50 with $2.99 shipping.

Here's what it says about the book:

On a September day in 1813, the Age of Fighting Sail was coming to an end, two maritime warriors faced each other in the waters off Pemaquid Point, Maine....

"Samuel Blyth was the youthful commander of His Majesty's brig Boxer, and William Burrows, younger still, commanded the USS Enterprise.  Both men valued honor over life and death, and on this day their commitment would be put to the ultimate test."

I may have to break down and buy a copy of this book, especially since I have been writing so much about it of late.

--Brock-Perry

Old Fort Niagara to Host a War of 1812 Encampment-- Part 1

From the August 24, 202, Niagara Frontier  Publications.

The encampment is scheduled for  Labor Day weekend September 4-5.  This year's event will focus on U.S. troops who garrisoned the fort from June  1812 through December 1813, when the British captured the fort.

Activities include a Saturday afternoon presentation by acclaimed  historian  Richard V. Barbuto who will speak about "Seven Days in September 1814:  Turning Point of the War of 1812."  Her is author of  numerous books about the War of 1812, including "New York's War of 1812," recently published by  the University of Oklahoma Press.

He is also emeritus professor of history and has served as  deputy director of the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  A 1971 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served for 23 years as armor officer with tours of duty in Germany, Korea and Canada.

--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

About That Captain Thomas E. Craig-- Part 3: Destruction of the French Village at Peoria

Continued from August 4, 2021. 

In his book "Illinois in the War of 1812" author Gillum Ferguson said he wanted to be fair to the plight of the Illinois Indians.  "I wanted to give the Indians their fair due without romanticizing them," said Ferguson, who recounted a "possible" massacre of  Indians in the central Illinois area where U.S. troops reportedly wiped out Indian women and children in an encounter that took place in what is now Logan County.

But accounts on what took place vary.

What is a matter of record is the destruction of the French village in Peoria  by Captain Thomas Craig of Shawneetown.  

After finding the village deserted when he arrived, Craig allowed his men to ransack the unguarded cottages and storehouses.

--Brock-Perry

About That Captain Thomas E. Craig and What Happened to the French Village and Indians in What Is Today's PeoriaAbout That Captain

I couldn't help but believe that the Captain Thomas, who commanded a company of Illinois Territory Rangers might have been a bit too rough on the French settlers at what would one day be Peoria, Illinois.

Taking them prisoner and burning down their town as well as saying they were "damn lucky" not to have been scalped would not indicate a peace-maker in the situation.

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

From the February 26, 2012, Peoria(Illinois) Journal Star  "Central Illinois home to several encounters during the War of 1812" by  Steve Tarter.

From a talk given by Gillum Ferguson, author of "Illinois in the War of 1812" gave a free program at Bradley University's  Cullom Davis Library.

The War of 1812 pitted Illinois Territory militiamen against various Indian tribes in the frontier territory of the United States.  One of the key areas of struggle in the territory revolved around the French village at what is now the site of downtown Peoria.

It was called La Ville de Maillet, New Village.  The French here lived on friendly terms with the local Indians, even intermarrying with them.  Indian villages surrounded them.

But, unfortunately for the French, American frontiersmen viewed the town as "the seditious village, a nursery of hostile Indians and traitorous British Indian traders."

It wasn't that the Indians were staunch allies of the British back then, but more focused on fending off the constant incursions from the Americans onto their land.

--Brock-Perry

A Description of Fort Clark in Peoria, Illinois

From January 2011 Peoria Magazine  "Fort Clark constructed in Peoria in 1813" by Mark L. Johnson.

Charles Ballance, in his 1870 book "The History of Peoria" described the fort as :

"This fort was a simple stockade, constructed by planting two rows of logs firmly in the ground, near each other and filling the space in between with earth.  This, of course, was nit intended as a defense against artillery, of which the Indians had none.

This fort was about a hundred feet square, with a ditch along each side.  It did not stand with a side to the lake, but with a corner toward it.  The corner farthest from the lake was on the upper side of Water Street, near the intersection of the upper side of Water and Liberty streets, at the lower corner of Liberty and Water streets.

What was at this corner was what I suppose military men call a bastion; that is, there was a projecting corner made in the same manner as the side walls, and so constructed, as I imagine,  as to accommodate a small cannon to command the ditches.

And the same had no doubt been at the opposite corner."

Well, now that you and I are completely baffled, but there you go.

--Brock-Perry

Somewhat Off Subject, But Allan Nevins and Rick Reuschel

I have to include this as these are two people of interest to me.  I came across their names while trying to figure out the previous post.  What about this place also called Hebron Cemetery in Camp Point, Illinois, but not in Hebron, Illinois, where there is also a Hebron Cemetery.  Confusing.

Going to the Wikipedia Camp Point, Illinois, site, they have a listing of notable people from there.

Two names jumped right off the page to me: Allan Nevins and Rick Reuschel, combining two things I really like, the Civil War and baseball.

Allan Nevins was born in Camp Point. (1890-1971).  A noted historian and journalist.  Probably best-known for his Civil War 8 volume series "Ordeal of the Union."  I have this set, but, alas, haven't read any of them.

Rick Reuschel was born in Quincy, Illinois, but grew up in Camp Point and was a major league pitcher compiling 214 wins over many seasons from 1972 to 1991.  Many of those were for one of my favorite teams, the Chicago Cubs (second favorite behind the Chicago White Sox).

He also has a brother named Paul Reuschel who also pitched for a few years in the majors.  They were even both on the Cubs at one time.

Arthur S. Nevins, Allan's brother, who was a general in the Army and a close personal friend of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

You Never Know What You're Going to Find When You Go Roadtripping Through History Like I Do.  --Brock-Perry

Some More on Patrick Gass-- Part 8: Retirement and Marriage

With the end of the War of 1812, Patrick Gass' military career also came to an end.

He retired essentially to obscurity after leading such as exciting life.  He was past forty and lived quite the remarkable life.  he had nothing to show for the past and his book on the Lewis & Clark Expedition had been a financial failure.

So, he settled down and lived as best he could, swapping soldier's stories.  he gave way to drinking and for forty years was a sad drunkard.  The marvel is that he lived so long with such habits, and that, too,  after he had endured hardship enough to undermine the constitution of most men.  He seemed to be made of steel that would neither break or bend.  (These are his biographer's words.)

What romance entered his life as a young soldier we can only infer from his character and habits.  But love conquered the old soldier at age 58, and he was married  in 1831 to Miss Maria Hamilton, 41 years younger than he was.  In fifteen years before her death in 1846, they had seven children.

--Brock-Perry

Patrick Gass-- Part 3: His Journal and Later Life

In addition to Lewis & Clark, he kept a journal of the groups adventures in the new country and 1807, his was the first to be published.  He named it "Corps of Discovery."  The book was first printed and distributed in Pittsburgh at $1.00 a copy.  It was later reprinted in England and translated into French and German.

A reprint is presently being sold by the University of Nebraska Press.  The University of Nebraska at  Lincoln  online version of the Lewis & Clark journals gives 220 entries to the Gass journal.

At the age of 60,  he married Maria  Hamilton, aged 20.  She bore him seven children (six of whom survived into adulthood over the remaining 15 years of her life.  They settled in Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he died at 99 years of age, the oldest surviving member of the expedition.

--Brock-Perry

'Caroline's Battle' and the War of 1812-- Part 1

Five books were written about the life of American Girl's Caroline Abbott War of 1812 doll.  Two of them was specific to the War of 1812, "Caroline's Battle" and "Changes for Caroline."

"Caroline's Battle" discusses several War of 1812 battles.  Topics covered:

**  Sackets Harbor today

**  The second Battle of Sackets Harbor on May 28, 1813, with the British sending a fleet to take the town and destroy the USS General Pike.

**  Lack of soldiers to defend the town.

**  Lack of wind causing the British fleet to stall, allowing the people of Sackets Harbor to arm and prepare for battle.

**  Lack of any battle or combat experience among the American militiamen against British forces, with haphazard results.

**  Accidental destruction of  supply storehouses in Navy Point at the time of the British defeat.

Well, it would appear that someone has done some research on the topic.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

What Tecumseh Fought For-- Part 1: The Three Wars in 1812

From the October 26, 2020, New Yorker by Philip Deloria.

This is a book review, I believe of Peter Cozzen's joint effort called "Tecumseh and the Prophet:  The Shawnee Brothers Who defied a Nation."

The article had a lot about Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet's efforts to unite a strong Indian confederacy to stem U.S. encroachment onto Indian lands and the War of 1812.  It is one of those new histories that paints only negative views of the United States.

I will just be concentrating on Tecumseh in the War of 1812.

Most histories portray the role Indians played in the War of 1812 as being incidental to their British allies, marauding along the backcountry fringes of the Atlantic  conflict.  In actuality, the United States was waging three intertwined wars at once.  The war concerned with trade restrictions and impressment of American sailors into the Royal Navy; the Creek War, which began as a Native conflict to halt settlement in the South; and Tecumseh's War, which started in 1811, but didn't conclude until 1815.

This last war was fought across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, lower Canada, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.  Tecumseh's War was not only a struggle for territory, but also Indian future in relation to the United States.

--Brock-Perry

The Jewish Patriots of Fort McHenry-- Part 1

From the June 3, 2020, Jewish Press  by Sail Singer.

The Battle of Baltimore is probably better known as the Battle of Fort McHenry, but it was fought both on the sea in the British bombardment of the fort and the land attack on defenses.  But thanks to that poem by Francis Scott Key, the fort's role is better known.  Of course, "The Defence of Fort McHenry" whose words were put into our National Anthem.

Baltimore was defended by about 1,000 volunteer citizen-soldiers, including several Jews  who made important contributions to ensure that "the star-spangled banner yet wave[d]."  There is no definitive list of Jews who fought at Fort McHenry, or even the War of 1812 for that matter, but it is known that many Jews did serve on the American side in that war (out of a probable total population of just 10,000 in the country at the time).

According to the book"A History of Jews in the United States," there is a definite record of 43 Jews who served in the military during the war, and a special group in Baltimore who enlisted in the home defense  force of the city when it was attacked.

--Brock-Perry

Tuscaroras To the Rescue-- Part 1: "A Few Lucky Minutes to Escape"

From the "Tuscarora Heroes" book by Lee Simonson.

**  Bravery brought a company of armed Tuscaroras to the rescue. led by war chief orator Longboard, Col. Johnson, Ovid, and Littlegreen.  They had heard the alarm and seen the torch, and fired a single volley which sufficiently surprised the British and Mohawk natives to cause a retreat and delay that furnished the inhabitants a few lucky minutes to escape from the blow of the tomahawk and thrust of the fatal knife."

--  Chipman P. Turner, "Dark Days On the Frontierof Western New York" 1879.

**  "It should be mentioned to the credit of a small band of Tuscarora Indians, that they effectually aided the flight of the citizens of Lewiston."

--  O. Turner, "Pionerer History of WNY" 1850

--Brock-Perry

The Events at Lewiston Were "Shocking Beyond Description"-- Part 1

I have been writing about the events that took place at Lewiston, New York, on Dec. 19, 1813, when British, Canadian and their allied Indians attacked this American town on the border of Canada.  The heroic actions of the local Tuscarora Indians saved the situation from becoming much worse than it might have.

These quotes are from the "Tuscarora Heroes Book" by Lee Simonson.

"I never witnessed such a scene before and hope I shall not again."  Charles Askin, Canadian citizen, 1813.

"They were stripped, scalped and had their hearts torn out."   Baltimore Weekly Register, Jan. 29, 1814.

"The British entered the house at Lewistown in which the sick soldiers and wounded, and not withstanding the entreaties, shrieks and cries of the helpless soldiers, not a life was spared, and it was reported that the houses  were all burned before they were all dead."    Niles Weekly Register, December 24, 1814. (1813?)

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Author David C. Skaggs Named As a 2019 Knox Award Winner by NHF

From the October Naval History magazine.

At the 93rd annual meeting of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) held June 8, 2019 at the Washington Navy Yard, officials announced this year's three recipients of the Commodore Dudley W. Knox Medal for naval history.

Along with Mr. Skaggs, the other two were Commander U.S. Navy (Ret) Tyrone G. Martin and Norman Polmar.

Mr. Skaggs is of special interest to readers of this blog  because some of his books are:

A Signal Victory:  The Lake Erie Campaign, 1812-1813 (1997)
Thomas Macdonough:  Master of Command in the Early U.S. Navy (2003)
Oliver Hazard Perry:  Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early U.S. Navy (2006)

In 2013, he was Naval History's Author of the Year.

And, who says we don't get enough War of 1812 books?

Not So Forgotten.  --Brock-Perry

Fort Malden-- Part 2: A History of the Fort and Amherstburg

From Wikipedia Amherstburg.

Amherstburg town is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River about 16 miles south of the city of Detroit.  It is part of the Windsor metropolitan area.

French colonists had originally settled in the area.  In 1796, after losing the American colonies and Fort Detroit (present-day Detroit), Britain established Fort Malden (Fort Amherstburg) as a military fort overlooking Lake Erie at the Detroit River's mouth.

This caused the region's population to grow as did the Crown granting land in Upper Canada to  Loyalists from the U.S. (now known as United Empire Loyalists) in compensation for losses in the former colonies or for payment for service in the American Revolution.

Amherstburg and the fort also played a role in the Underground Railroad to get runaway slaves to their freedom in the years leading up to the Civil War.  It was a major crossing point into Canada.  The town is even mentioned in the famous book "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as being where George and Eliza escaped slavery.

--Brock-Perry