Commodore David Conner, USN

I listed some naval officers who were in the War of 1812 in my last post.  David Conner is one of them.  I'd never heard of him before.

From the Naval History and Heritage Command.

DAVID CONNER (1792-1856)

He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1792 and became a midshipman early in 1809 and served on the frigate USS President for the next several years.  In 1811, he joined the sloop USS Hornet, serving in her during the War of 812 except for a time as a prisoner of war early in the conflict.

He participated in  the Hornet's two most significant combat actions, that with the HMS Peacock in February 1813 and the March 1815 capture of the HMS Penguin.

He received a promotion to lieutenant in July 1813.

--Brock-Peerry

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

John M. Gamble-- Part 5

While in command of the Greenwich, he captured the British armed whaler Seringapatam after a sharp engagement on or about  13 July 1813.  This engagement earned him much publicity in American newspapers of the time as the British ship was considered the biggest threat to American whalers in the Pacific at the time.

Porter later ordered the Greenwich burned to deprive Britain of valuable whale oil.  Later, during the Nuku Hiva Campaign, David Porter again ordered Gamble to take command of the prize ship Sir Andrew Hammond.

After the Seringpatam Mutiny, Gamble set out to the Leeward Islands in the Sir Andrew Hammond, but was intercepted on the way by the HMS Cherub.

--Brock-Perry

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 4: The Only Marine Officer to ....

Lt. Colonel John M. Gamble is chiefly remembered in history as the only Marine to ever command a U.S. Naval vessel, and he did this not once, but twice.  He commanded two separate prizes captured by the USS Essex while operating in the Pacific Ocean.  

The Essex was commanded by David Porter, father of eventual Union Admiral David Dixon Porter. and raised another Union Admiral who achieved fame also in the Civil War, David Glasgow Farragut.  As a matter of fact, Farragut accompanied David Porter in this Pacific cruise.

The two ships that Gamble commanded were the aforementioned Sir Andrew Hammond and Greenwich.  For want of Navy officers, Gamble was placed in charge.

--Brock-Perry

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 3: His Brother Peter Also in War of 1812 Where He Lost His Life

It should be mentioned that John M. Gamble had a brother by the name of Peter Gamble who was an officer in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.

Peter Gamble was born on 5 November 1793 in Bordentown, New Jersey.  He was appointed midshipman on 16 January 1809, and served on Thomas Macdonough's flagship USS Saratoga at the Battle of Lake Champlain.

There, he was killed in action while sighting his gun on 11 September 1814.

Macdonough his deplored the loss and commended his bravery in action.

A destroyer was named for both Peter and John M. Gamble, the USS Gamble DD123/DM-15).  This ship was at Pearl Harbor when the attack came.

--Brock-Perry

John M. Gamble, USMC-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

JOHN MARSHALL GAMBLE

(1791 - 11 September 1836)

He remains the first and only-known U.S. Marine to command a U.S. Naval vessel for commanding the prize ships Greenwich and Andrew Hammond.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and commissioned a second lieutenant in the USMC on 16 January 1809, at the age of 17.

During the War of 1812, he was stationed in the Pacific Ocean on the frigate US Essex where he rose to be a captain by June 1814.  Among his accomplishments during that time was sailing the whaling ship Albert Hammond, a prize taken by the Essex, with a 4-man crew and without benefit of a chart to the Hawaiian Islands in 17 days.

--Brock-Perry

John M. Gamble, USMC

From "Records of officers and men of New Jersey in wars 1791-1815."

GAMBLE, JOHN M.

Midshipman, January 16, 1809

Ordered to duty at New York, N.Y.:

Transferred to merchant service, July 5, 1809.

He remains the only known US Marine ever to command a Navy ship, which he did twice during the War of 1812.

(For subsequent and continued record, see Officers of the United States Marine Corps, War with Great Britain.)

--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

Mammoth Caves Black History

From the February 2, 2023, Wave, (Louisville, Ky) "Slaves explored, discovered cave paths at Mammoth Cave National Park" by Kelly Dean.

According to Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Officer at the park, "They were some of the first people to take our early visitors into the cave.  But they also served as early explorers.

Over 200 years ago, black slaves  worked in the cave to create gunpowder used during the War of 1812.

"What's ironic about the whole thing is they were working hard for us to keep our freedom while they didn't have theirs," said Schroer.

In the mid-1800s,  slaves were used  to not only act as tour guides, but also to go deep down into the caves to discover new paths.

Stephen Bishop was one of the first black tour guides who discovered miles and miles of trails that visitors today walk.

Helping the Cause Even Back Then.  --Brock-Perry

Caldwell's Western Rangers

From Wikipedia  "Canadian Units in War of 1812."

Known as Western Rangers or Caldwell's Rangers.  Unit named after its leader, William Caldwell, noted Loyalist and Indian trader,   The unit was a relatively small one, probably not more than fifty men, normally organized into two companies.  

They worked in conjunction with the Indian Department and often fought alongside the Indians (chiefly the Ojibwe, Wyandotte and Pottowottomi).

The unit, or parts of it fought at the Battle of Moraviantown,  the Battle of Longwoods,  the Battle of Lundy's Lane and in several actions on the Niagara Peninsula.

--Brock-Perry

William Caldwell-- Part 2: Northwest Indian War and War of 1812

During the Northwest Indian War, Caldwell led a company  of 80-150 Canadian militia alongside Northwestern Confederacy Natives against advancing American troops at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the final engagement of that war.

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Caldwell was commissioned a lieutenant colonel and given command of a group of between 40 and 50 volunteers from the Canadian militia and they became known as Caldwell's Rangers(also sometimes referred to as the Western Rangers).

He fought at the Battle of   the Thames and the Battle of  Longwoods, among many actions.

He gained commissions for all his sons in the regular army.

--Brock-Perry

William Caldwell, Member of Butler's Rangers, Had Own Ranger Group in War of 1812

The Wikipedia article on Butler's Rangers had a list of officers who served with John Butler.  One of them was William Caldwell who not only was in the American Revolution, but also served with his own company of rangers in the War of 1812.

WILLIAM CALDWELL

(1750 - 20 February 1822)

Irish-born,  military officer and colonial official who fought against the Americans in the Revolution as a member of Butler's Rangers and helped found the town of Amherstburg near the mouth of the Detroit River (near Detroit).

During the American Revolution he demonstrated a ruthlessness that Americans would not forget.  After the war, he settled in the Detroit region on land he was granted for his war experience.

--Brock-Perry

This Blog Recently Passed 4,000 Posts

I just noticed that this blog is now at 4,045 posts.

It started  October 4, 2012, during the bicentennial of the War of 1812.  I realized back then that I didn't know much about this war, even though I taught it in middle school (America Prehistory to the Civil War).

I have sure learned a lot about it.

This grew out of my Cooter's History Thing blog.

--Brock-Perry

This Month in War of 1812: Forts Meigs and George, York and USS President

From the 2023 American Battlefield Trust May calendar.

MAY 1, 1813

**  Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio.

MAY 1, 1813

**  American forces evacuate York, Upper Canada.  (Toronto today).

MAY 3, 1813

**  Burning of Havre de Grace, Maryland.

MAY 16, 1811

**  The American frigate USS President fires on British sloop HMS Little Belt.

MAY 27, 1813

**  Engagement at Fort George.

MAY 29, 1813

**  Battle of Sacketts Harbor, New York.

--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

Butler's Barracks-- Part 3: Polish Army Trained There in WW I

From October 1917 to  March 1919, the Polish Army trained at Niagara Camp in an area known as Camp Kosciuszko.  These men would go on to fight alongside the French Forces, in Haller's Army, also known as the Blue Army in World War I.

After the war, the barracks that were constructed at Camp Kosciuszko were used into the 1960s.

It is now  part of the Fort George National Historic Site.

The Lincoln and Welland Regimental Museum is located at  in Butler's Barracks.  Exhibits include displays and artifacts from the 18th century through to the present, including uniforms, weapons, medals, photographs, regimental  band instruments and other memorabilia.

--Brock-Perry

Butler's Barracks-- Part 2: One of Several Military Installations Along Niagara River

Butler's Barracks are just one one of four military installations along the Niagara River by Niagara-by-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada.  

The others:

Fort George

Fort Mississauga 

Navy Hall

I have written about the two forts this past month.

The British passed control of the Butler's Barracks over to the Canadian Army in 1871.

--Brock-Perry

Butler's Barracks-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

Was the home of Loyalist military officer John Butler (1728-1795), in what was then Newark, Upper Canada which is present-day Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.  Butler is most famous for leading an irregular military unit known as Butler's Rangers on thye northern frontier during the American revolution.  He fought against the Americans.

The original barracks were constructed in 1778 on the banks of the Niagara River, but were torn down during the construction of Fort George.  

The building currently called Butler's Barracks was constructed in 1818 and the site at one time was quite extensive, being first used by the Indian Department and later by thye British military.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Mississauga-- Part 3: Operations

With the American Navy now controlling Lake Ontario, the importance of this fort was crucial to British security in the area.

The British Army was stationed in the fort from 1813 to 1855, after which the Canadian militia provided garrison duty.    The militia used  it as a summer training ground beginning in the 1870s and this went on for both World Wars and the Korean War.

Today, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course surrounds the site, but public access is permitted via a walking path.  But, there are warnings for visitors to watch out for golfers who have the  right of way.

The blockhouse is the only original structure still standing.  All the other buildings (which were mostly log structures) have been destroyed or dismantled.  The interior of the blockhouse is closed, but there are wooden staircases providing access.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Mississauga-- Part 2: Built from Ruins of Newark, Upper Canada

The site of was used by three different First Nations (Indians) before the fort was built.  In 1804, a lighthouse was built there and the site became known as Mississauga Point.  The lighthouse was dismantled in 1814 to make way for the fort.  It incorporated stone from the lighthouse in its construction.

Mississauga Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Site in 1937 and today commemorated by a plaque within the walls of the fort.

After the British captured American Fort Niagara across the river on 19 December 1813,  Captain Runchey's  Company of Coloured Men was attached to the Royal Engineers to help repair the fortifications at the mouth of the Niagara River.

Toward the spring of 1814,  the company was ordered to construct a new fort there which became Fort Mississauga. Many of the materials used were acquired from the nearby City of Newark, Upper Canada, which had been razed by the Americans when they retreated from the Canadian side and gave up Fort George.

--Brock-Perry