Baltimore's One Really Big Flag-- Part 1

From the September 13, 2013, Baltimore Sun "Fort McHenry captures the glory of Defenders' Day" by Chris Kaltenbach.

In 2012, some 1.5 million people crowded Baltimore's Inner Harbor for the War of 1812 Bicentennial Defenders' Day kickoff. The highlight of the 2013 Defenders' Day weekend will be the hoisting of a replica of that famous Star-Spangled Banner. Fort McHenry and the Maryland Historical Society joined forces for the reproduction.

Sewing on the flag began this past July 4th and more than 1000 volunteers made some 150,000 stitches at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore to recreate the famous 30-by-42-foot flag.

And the Rockets Red Glare. --Brock-Perry

What Actually Happened at the Wooden Bridge 200 Years Ago?-- Part 2

Author Marty Gervais who wrote "The Other Windsor: Forgotten Stories" thinks that perhaps they weren't those mighty heroes. Essex County decided to name the replacement bridge at the site over the River Canard "The Hancock and Dean 1812 Bridge to Nationhood."

Gervais claims that he has come across a story that the two British soldiers on sentry duty there were drunk and had passed out at the time the Americans crossed.

James Hancock became the first casulaty of the war and John Dean was wounded and captured.

Dean later was released and rejoined the British Army, but was captured again and this time deserted. He is lost in history from then on.

Heroes Ir Drubks?  --Brock-Perry

What Actually Happened At That Wooden Bridge?-- Part 1

From the July 23, 2012, Windsor (Canada) Star "Tale of 1812 'heroes' questioned" by Julie Katsis.

I have written about this last year. Look up Canard River Bridge. This was one of the opening incidents of the War of 1812 in the Northwest.

What actually happened at the wooden bridge over the River Canard 200 years ago? Were privates James Hancock and John Dean heroes? Did they deserve the honor General Isaac Brock bestowed on them?

Author Marty Gervais thinks maybe not.

 --Brock-Perry

Fort McHenry Quarter Debuts

From the Sept. 19, 2013, Numismaster.com.

The U.S. Treasury introduced the new Fort McHenry quarter, part of the national parks set that are not in general circulation (which I hate), at Fort McHenry at the start of the Defenders' Day weekend to honor the garrison of Fort McHenry back on that fateful night in 1814.

Rolls of 40 quarters can be purchased for $18.95 (almost double the face value) at the U.S. Mint and there are other options.

I only get them when I find then in circulation which is rare so have no idea when I'll get one. I really hate the fact they are not put out in general circulation as the state quarters were. I haven't even seen any national park folders for your collections.

So Sad. ---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

Middletown, Connecticut in the War of 1812

From Wikipedia.

Before the war, the city was a major shipping center, but the strained U.S.-Britain relations before the war and the Great Embargo started a decline from which the seaport never recovered. Diversification became the order of the day and Middletown was major center for firearms manufacturing and most of the U.S. pistols used during the War of 1812 came from there. After the war, however, manufacturing left the town for Springfield, Massachusetts, Hartford, Ct. and New Haven, Ct..

The city also had a large number of blacks, with some 218 in 1756. During the colonial times, it became quite the city for pewter manufacturing. George Washington visited in 1789, so if you see a place advertising that "Washington slept here," he might have.

Other famous people: BILL BELICHICK, head coach New England Patriots attended Wesleyan University; HENRY CLAY WORK, author of Civil War Song "Marching Through Georgia' and ALLIE WRUBEL, composer of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah."

Now, You Know. --Brock-Perry

Middleton Honors Thomas Macdonough-- Part 2

Macdonough was born in Delaware on Dec. 31, 1783, and served on the USS Ganges in the Quasi-War with France and the USS Constellation fighting the Barbary States. He also served on the USS Enterprise and distinguished himself in the destruction of the USS Philadelphia which had been captured by pirates.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1806.

He assisted Isaac Hull in the construction of several gunboats in Middletown and married Lucy Anne Shaler on December 12, 1812. Several ships in the U.S. Navy have been named for him.

--Brock-Perry

Middletown Honors Thomas Macdonough-- Part 1

From the September 10, 2012, Middletown (Ct) Press "Middletown honors War of 1812 commodore."

Members of the Society of 1812 in Connecticut and the Connecticut United States Daughters of 1812, honored Commodore Thomas Macdonough, who lived and died in Middletown.

Macdonough Elementary School is named for him.

A ceremony was held at the Macdonough grave in Riverside Cemetery this past Saturday.

The Battle of Lake Champlain on September 11, 2014. brought him fame. Of interest, the American victory at Lake Champlain came just a year and a day after the much more famous Battle of Lake Erie (Sept. 10, 1813).

--Brock-Perry

The Burning and Massacre at Lewistown, New York

From the September 10, 2012, Canada.com "American town marks a dark episode of War of 1812" by Randy Boswell.

The December 1813 burning of Lewistown, a U.S. village directly across the Niagara River from Upper Canada's Queenston where at least a dozen American civilians died or were mutilated, a regular massacre.

The American town plans to eract a monument honoring the Tuscorora Indian warriors who helped many Americans escape the slaughter.

Before the Tuscaroras intervened, innocent women and children escaping the town were being killed and sometimes scalped.

The attack on Lewistown was in retaliation for the American Army's destruction of Newark, present day Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

--Brock-Perry

Royal Navy Shipyard, York (Upper Canada)

From Wikipedia.

This would be referring to the Royal Navy Dockyard there. York, Upper Canada, is now Toronto, Canada.

The yard operated from 1793 to 1813. It actually was in operation before the town of York was even there.
It built only a few ships before being moved to Kingston because it was too easy for the Americans to attack..

SHIPS BUILT:

TORONTO, schooner, wrecked 1817

HMS PRINCE REGENT-- schooner launched 1812. Renamed HMS BEREFORD in 1813

HMS NETLEY in 1814 and finally became the NIAGARA, base ship before being broken up in 1843. //// 

HMS ISAAC BROCK-- incomplete frigate burned on the stocks.

--Brock-Perry

List of Ships Built at Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard-- Part 2

These were built at Kingston, Ontario (then Upper Canada).

HMS Sir George Prevost-- schooner, 1813
HMS Lord Melville-- schooner, 1813
Psyche-- frigate1814

Niagara-- gunboat 1814-1843 (formerly known as Netley, 1813)
Queenston-- gunboat, 1814
Crystler-- gunboat, 1814

Kingston-- gunboat 1814
Canada-- unfinished, 1815
Wolfe-- unfinished, 1815

Beckwith-- transport
HMS Sir Isaac Brock, burned on stocks 1813 (this one probably was the one burned at York.).

Of course, none were built after the 1817 Rush-Bagot Agreement that demilitarized the Great Lakes.

--Brock-Perry

List of Ships Built at Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Buffalo- gunboat, 1792
Catherine--gunboat, 1792
Sophia-- gunboat, 1792

Swift-- gunboat, 1792
HMS Speedy, 1798
HMS Royal George, 1809

HMS St. Lawrence, 1814
HMS Prince Regent, 1814
HMS Princess Charlotte

HMS Duke of Gloucester
HMS Earl of Moira-- brig, 1805
HMS Sir Sidney Smith-- schooner 1806.

More to Come. --Brock-Perry

HMS Sir Isaac Brock

From Wikipedia.

Destroyed before it was completed to prevent capture by Americans at York, Upper Canada. I have been writing about this ship in cinjunction with the HMS Duke of Gloucester. The ship was named after British war hero General Sir Isaac Brock and laid down when it was found that Americans were building warships at Sackets Harbor, New York.

At the time, two sloops were laid down at the Royal Naval Dockyards at York (the Brock), the other being built at Kingston, the HMS Wolfe. Both were sloops (I've also seen the Brock called a frigate). Both were begun around the same time.

By the end of April 1813, the Wolfe was nearly ready for launching, but the Brock still many weeks away. Much of the blame for the delay has been placed on shipyard superintendent Thomas Plunkett.

The ships were to be 637 tons and mount 24 guns.

On April 27, 1813, the American fleet and Army attacked York causing the British to retreat to Kingston. The Brock was burned to prevent capture.

--Brock-Perry

Conflicting Accounts of the HMS Duke of Gloucester at Battle of York

While looking further into the history of the HMS Duke of Gloucester, I found that digplanet said the ship was captured at York and did not escape as Wikipedia said. It was then taken by the Americans back to Sackets Harbor, New York.

Commodore James Lucas Yeo came to Kingston and took command in early May and immediately set about planning a counter attack on the Americans. On May 29, 1813, his naval force and an Army group attacked Sackets Harbor in what is referred to as the Second Battle of Sackets Harbor, but had to withdraw.

However, Americans, fearful of losing, set fire to the Duke of Gloucester and a heavy sloop of war under construction named the General Pike. After the British withdrawal, the Pike was saved, but Duke of Gloucester a total wreck.

Wikipedia says the British destroyed the Duke of Gloucester.

So, I Wonder Which Account of the Duke Is Correct? ---Brock-Perry

Not To Be Confused With the HMS Gloucester

Looking up the HMS Duke of Blucester, I came across the name of an HMS Gloucester, which was also afloat during the War of 1812.

From Wikipedia.

The HMS Gloucester does not have a lot of information that I could find. It was launched in England 27 February 1812 and was a 74-gun Third Class Ship of the Line. I found no mention of War of 1812 service, despite it being around. It probably served in England's home defense fleet or was involved in the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1832, it was reduced to 50 guns and sold in 1884. One site said it had a very uneventful career and was 177-feet long. It was used for harbor service (perhaps a receiving ship) until 1861.

Don't Be Confused. ---Brock-Perry

Kingston, Canada's Ships: HMS Duke of Gloucester

Earlier I listed and wrote a little about the ships built at the Kingston, Canada, Royal Navy Dockyard, but now will go into more detail about these ships. Quite a few were involved in the War of 1812.

These are taken from Wikipedia.

HMS DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, a ten-gun brig launched at the Kingston Navy Dockyard in 1812. It carried ten 12-pdr. cannons. On July 19, 1812, along with the HMS Growler, it engaged the U.S. schooner Julia at Sackets Harbor, NY.

It was repairing at York, capital of Upper Canada (now Toronto), when the Americans captured the town. It managed to escape, but British commander General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe ordered its sister ship, the HMS Sir Isaac Brock destroyed to prevent capture. Wikipedia referred to the Brock as a frigate, but it couldn't have been if it was a sister ship to the Duke of Gloucester.

The Duke of Gloucester was destroyed by the British 29 May 1813 at the Battle of Sackets Harbor.

---Brock-Perry

Kingston's Fort Frederick

Also on the tour of Kingston's Naval history is old Fort Frederick. It is located at the tip of Point Frederick and was originally an earthwork fort built to protect the Royal Navy Dockyard and the town of Kingston.

On 10 Nov. 1812, it was attqacked by American ships and repulsed the attack.

The current stone fort and tower was built between 1846 and 1847 and replaced the War of 1812 one. Of course, this might technically have been going against the Rush-Bagot Agreement. Today, it is part of the Royal Military College of Canada.

---Brock-Perry

Rush-Bagot Agreement

In 1817, the United States and United Kingdom signed the Rush-Bagot Agreement which provided for the permanent demilitarization of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. After the fighting along the lakes in the War of 1812, it seemed like the right thing to do.

A Big Step Indeed. ---Brock-Perry

Kingston's Royal Navy Dockyard-- Part 3: Ships Built There

HMS ST. LAWRENCE: Ship of the Line. I wrote about this ship earlier this week.

HMS PRINCE REGENT: Built 1814. A 56-gun frigate renamed Kingston in 1814.

HMS PRINESS CHARLOTTE: Built 1814. A 42-gun frigate renamed Burlington in 1814.

HMS PSYCHE: Built 1814. A 56-gun frigate. Her frame was sent from Britain and assembled at Kingston.

For Some Reason These Ships Were Renamed. --Brock-Perry

Kingston's Royal Navy Dockyard-- Part 2: Ships Built There

HMS DUKE OF GLOUCESTER: Built 1807. A six-gun schooner captured by the Americans 27 April 1813.

HMS ROYAL GEORGE: Built 1809. A 21-gun sloop. In March 1812, it was the largest warship on Lake Ontario. On 9 November 1812, it was attacked by a seven-ship American fleet, but managed to escape back to Kingston. It was renamed Niagara in 1814.

HMS GEORGE PREVOST: Built 1813. A 21-gun schooner renamed Wolfe in 1813. Altered to a brig and renamed the Montreal in 1814.

---Brock-Perry