Battle Of Lake Champlain

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Wikipedia explanation of the Battle of Lake Champlain (or Plattsburgh) here.

War Of 1812 (Second Part Of The 1812 Timeline)

Note: Outline Per Wikipedia (with revisions):

1812	Jul 17	Capture of Fort Mackinac*
1812	Jul 19	Attack at Sackets Harbor**
1812	Aug 5	Battle of Brownstown
1812	Aug 8	British General Isaac Brock embarks at Port Dover for the relief of Amherstburg***
1812	Aug 8	Battle of Maguaga
1812	Aug 15	Fort Dearborn massacre
1812	Aug 16	Surrender of Detroit
1812	Aug 19	Capture of HMS Guerriere****

* "That it should fare hard with the garrison of Fort Mackinac was, under the circumstances, a foregone conclusion. They [the British] were...stationed at St. Joseph's Island. Capt. Roberts received intelligence of the declaration of war on July 15 and was directed to attack Fort Mackinac immediately.  Among the force of a thousand and odd must have been many who knew Mackinac well; indeed, as a former British post, fort and island must have been familiar in every detail to the officers in command, and on this knowledge, no doubt, was based the plan of attack." [Source]

** Gunboats were in process of construction at Sackets Harbor... . One of these, the Oneida, was attacked July 19, 1812, by five British vessels... . [Source]

 *** General Brock told us that it was his intention to go up at once to the western district along the shore of Lake Erie in boats to embark at what is now Port Dover. [Source]

Maguaga Battle-Ground

**** To compensate our readers in some degree for the disappointment and mortification they cannot but feel at the misfortune of our little army under gen. Hull, it is with feelings of pride and pleasure that we refer them to the gallant exploit of capt. Hull, his nephew, in the frigate Constitution in capturing and destroying the British frigate Guerriere. [Source]

Josiah Howard, POW

British Military and Naval Records (RG 8, C Series), Microform: c-11823:

Josiah Howard, Private.

of Amhurst, York States, taken prisoner

28th May 1813

c.694.A.  P. 13.

Cross-posted at Detour Through History

Secretary Of War Armstrong

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President James Madison named John Armstrong to his cabinet as Secretary of War on June 14, 1813. Armstrong had served as minister to France but the appointment was really an attempt by Madison to build political alliances. Armstrong was a force in New York politics, and with so much military action taking place along the border with Canada, Madison needed the state firmly in his camp. Unfortunately, Armstrong proved to be a disastrous choice due to his political and personal shortcomings.

Armstrong’s chief qualities were described by at least one acquaintance as “obstinancy and self-conceit.”

Armstrong was the author of a book published in 1814 entitled “Hints to Young Generals.” Although he had no real military experience, this popular book established Armstrong as an expert at a time when the United States were desperate for military officers.

Hon. General George Izard

From The South Carolina Historical Magazine, Volumes 1-2:

George Izard's profile at Wikitree.

General Smyth Was Fired At

(Partial) Map of Erie County, New York at the LOC (Including Black Rock)

Secret murmurs then broke out into loud complaints threats and denunciations [of General Smyth at Black Rock]. General Peter B. Porter said publicly that Smyth was a scoundrel and a traitor [see report on duel].

On his way...[to a meeting]...while riding along the beach, he (General Smyth) was fired at. The ball passed through the clothes of his aid, who was by his side.  [Source]

See Smyth's Proclamation here.

Joseph (Wilcox) Willcocks

Generic War of 1812 Soldier 

One of the most prominent of  McClure's agents in this detestable work was one Wilcox, a British subject of Irish birth, who at the time of the war was a resident of York, editor of a newspaper and a member of the Legislature of Upper Canada. Wilcox took a strong ground in favor of the Americans and tried to persuade the Legislature and people of Upper Canada to refuse to resist the invaders.

Wilcox, finding the atmosphere of York too warm for him, fled soon after Hull's surrender and took refuge in New York State, and it was quite in keeping with his character that when he turned his back on Canada, he should have taken with him a horse which he had stolen from *Lieut. Ryerson of the Norfolk Militia. This dastardly thief, who afterwards served in the American army until he was killed at Fort Erie, was a fitting instrument in the hands of McClure to harry, rob and harass the people of Newark and its vicinity. [Source]

*George Ryerson was a member of the Norfolk Militia

The Loyalists of America by Egerton Ryerson, included the following:

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Thomas Lawson

"Thomas Lawson was born in Virginia...and upon the completion of his medical studies in 1809 sought an appointment as surgeon's mate in the navy...".

"Two years at sea however caused him to turn his eyes to land service, and he resigned from the navy January 12th, 1811, and on the 8th of the following month was appointed garrison surgeon's mate in the Army and was promoted to be surgeon of the 6th infantry May 21, 1813, in which position he rendered most distinguished service during the War of 1812...".

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Ryan's Court Martial

From the Archives online at Indiana University:
1812 Aug. 10 Hall, Amos, fl. 1813
Autographed letter signed. 3 p. 25 cm.
Head Quarters, Niagara Frontier. To William Wadsworth. Deals with the court martial trial of John Ryan a British spy.

Specification #1 At Ryan's Court Martial:

Dogs Of War

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Source

"This was the first 'letting slip the dogs of war' against Great Britain in the war of 1812."

Master Of Lake Champlain

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War -- New York (State) -- New York-- Newspapers

Date: 1814-06-14

Notes: p. 208, col. 4

Jacob Brown's And Electus Backus's Collaboration

Jacob Brown

"[Jacob Brown]...was residing at his home in Brownsville on the Black River a few miles from Sackett's Harbor had been requested by General Dearborn and urged by Colonel Macomb to assume chief command in that region. He was unwilling to interfere with his esteemed friend, Colonel Backus, and agreed to take command only in the event of actual invasion. He went to headquarters frequently to advise with Backus concerning preparations for defense, and it was understood between them that if the enemy should threaten the post, Brown was to call the neighboring militia to the Harbor and take chief command." [Source]

Still Smoking At Sackets Harbor

"Colonel Macomb received orders to return with four companies of his Regiment, with all despatch, to Sackett's Harbour."

Source of 1849 Map...Sacket's Harbor, New York, and Kingston, Ontario, Canada was LOC

Map exhibiting the rail road, canal, lake, and river routes from New York and Boston to the west : via Ocdensburgh [sic] and Sacket's [sic] Harbor, N.Y.

"The magazine of stores, fired by our own officers to prevent its falling into the enemy's hands, was still smoking. But the precautions taken, and the instructions given, by Colonel Macomb, prior to his departure for Fort George, had produced their desired effect, and the enemy was defeated."

"Colonel Macomb relieved General Brown, then Brigadier General of the Militia. Colonel Backus he found in his quarters, who was suffering from a wound in the action, and died a few days after."

Source Of Text: Memoirs Of Alexander Macomb...

News That's Fit To Print

"On the morning after the commodore sailed the following appeared in the New York Columbian: 'It is undoubtedly a fact that dispatch boats with information have been sent off to the British vessels which were cruising off the harbor since the declaration of war. By whom they were sent off it is not necessary at present to mention."'

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"But this much may and ought to be said: that if it was done by an American citizen, he has committed treason by the laws of the United states, and deserves, and may receive, hanging for it. There is no suspicion, however, entertained that such an infamous act has been done by an American. As it has, therefore, been the act of the subjects of the king of England, whether they are in or out of office, the act is a violation of the hospitality which tolerates their residence in our city, and calls loudly upon the constituted authorities to put the laws immediately in force against alien enemies, and to rid the city of spies, or at least such as disgrace their character by acting in so infamous a capacity."' [Source]

Major McFarland's Journal

From The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine... (article):

Major Daniel McFarland (1787 - 1814) of Washington County, Pennsylvania was in the 23rd U.S. Infantry...

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Also see Major McFarland's Papers blogpost

Accidental Hero

The Genesee country:

"One of my father's brothers became accidentally a hero at Black Rock.  The Americans were keeping a sharp watch day and night against surprose.  One evening my uncle was in a squad that was reconnoitering with lanterns near the edge of the cliff.  The officer decided to send some of the men down to the water's edge.  My uncle, in moving forward, lost his footing and tumbled down to the bottom.  He almost fell upon three British soldiers.  Taking in the situation at once, he shouted, 'Here they are, men, come on.'  The poor Britishers begged permission to surrender; and he took the three of them back to camp.  When they asked him how he captured them, he said, 'O, I surrounded them.'"

Lewis G. De Russy (Officer And Graduate Of West Point)

There's a short biography of Lewis G. De Russy here that included the following:

" He was the oldest West Point graduate to serve as an officer in the Confederate Army, and he had three Confederate forts named after him. (He also had a brother and a nephew who were generals in the Union Army, and between the three of them there were five Fort DeRussys.)"

This blog post has a photo of De Russy here.

Major General Bennett Riley

A better version of Riley's portrait here.

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He Was Only Fifteen

From The Genesee Country

"As my father was only fifteen they thought he had better stay at home.  But the war got him.  In 1813 he was hauling stone for the old arsenal when General Scott's officers came along and impressed his team and him.  He was sent to Albany to bring on supplies.  He got a land warrant for eighty acres of land for this involuntary service.  He said that it was the only time that lightning ever struck him."

Battle-Tested Drum Sticks

From a dead British Drummer in the Revolutionary War, the drum sticks found their way to David Culver, a drummer in the War of 1812.

The History of the 24th Michigan (Iron Brigade) explained the provenance of the drum sticks and where they came into play.

Drum Sticks (NOT Those Used By David Culver, But With A Similar History)

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