Sunday, October 27, 2019

Prospect Of Winter Clothing





A journal ... (Elias Darnell's Journal):


"[Oct.] 27th. In consequence of Gen. Winchester's receiving information, he issued an order respecting clothing, which will show a flattering prospect of being supplied, an extract of which is as follows:—'General Orders.—Fort Winchester, Oct. 27,1812. With great pleasure the General announces to the army the prospect of an early supply of winter clothing, amongst which are the following articles exported from Philadelphia on the 9th of September last, viz. 10,000 pairs of shoes, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 round jackets, 5,000 pairs of pantaloons, woollen cloth, to be made and forwarded to the westward immediately; besides the winter clothing for Col. Wells's regiment some days before; 1,000 watch-coats, ordered from Philadelphia the 7th of October, 1812. September 24th, 5,000 blankets and 1,000 yards of flannel. 25th, 10,000 pairs of shoes. 29th, 10,000 pairs of woollen hose, 10,000 do. socks. Yet a few days and the General consoles himself with the idea of seeing those whom he has the honor to command clad in warm woollen, capable of resisting the northern blasts of Canada.'

J. Winchester,

"Brigadier-Gen. Commanding Left Wing N. W. Army."



Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Fort Winchester


Information from Darnell's Journal:

[Oct.]19th. The fort was finished and christened "Fort Winchester" It is composed of four block-houses, a hospital and storehonse, and picketed between each block-house, containing about a quarter of an acre.

Fort Winchester is situated near the point between the Maumee and Auglaze rivers, and is a handsome place; it is predicted by some to become in a few years a populous city. The greater part of the land in the adjacent country is rich, and when improved will be equal, if not superior, to any in the western country. The Auglaze River empties into Great Miami, which runs a north course to Fort Winchester, and is navigable a considerable distance. [Source]

"We visited the site of Fort Winchester a little above Defiance on the bank of the Au Glaize and found the remains of many of the pickets protruding from the ground. Across a ravine just above the fort was the garrison burying ground."  "...obtained a comprehensive view of the two streams at their confluence the site of the fort and the village of Defiance." [Source - Also Source of Illustration Below]


"During the War of 1812 Gen Winchester built a picketed fort here on the hank of the Auglaize a short distance south of the other fort [Defiance] and called it Fort Winchester where he was encamped till he left for Michigan." [Source]


Wednesday, October 9, 2019

The House Of Jacques Baby


From The Napoleon-Series Organization website:

The War of 1812 Magazine Issue 18, June 2012
Later Development at Historic 1812 Military Sites near Detroit, By M.B. Walsh


"Nearby is the house of James (Jacques) Baby, older brother of Francois Baby, whose brick house was occupied by General Hull as a headquarters. James Baby's wooden house is one of the oldest on either side of the river."


From the same website, also see: Lt. Anderson's Small Picketed Fort

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Roundhead, A Celebrated Chief




"Roundhead, a celebrated chief of the Wyandots, an Indian warror and strategist, captured Gen. Winchester at the battle of the Raisin. Proctor considered the death of Roundhead at the battle of the Thames a serious loss to the British cause. A proved warrior as this incident will show. At the capture of Detroit Gen. Brock took off his own rich crimson silk sash and fastened it around the waist of Tecumseh. Next day Tecumseh appearing without the much prized sash. Brock inquired the reason. Tecumseh answered: 'I do not want to wear such a mark of distinction when an older and abler warrior than myself is present.'  He had given the sash to Roundhead. [Source - Michigan Historical Collections, Volume 15]