The Marble Statue Of Queen Luise

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"It was an odd coincidence that the completed statue (monument of Queen Luise) left Rome on July 19th, the day of the Queen's death.  But England in that year was at war with the United States, and so it happened that a Yankee privateer overhauled the British merchantman, too her prisoner, and sailed away with her precious cargo.  But the captured merchantman was in turn chased and overhauled by the English privateer Elisa, so that once more the monument of Queen Luise sailed under the British flag."

The statue reached Berlin May 22, 1815.

An interesting blog post, Napoleon's Beautiful Enemy: Queen Louise of Prussia, can be seen here.

Thoughts Of War Compared To 1940

Napoleon

Excerpts from a book published Christmas, 1940 [before a "date that will live in infamy" and the Declaration Of War by the United States]:


"Across the sea, even as in 1940, a world-shaking conflict was going on. Although America desired to have no part in it, our national rights and our peaceful commerce were assailed with fine impartiality by both warring nations."

"...it was reserved for his [Jefferson's] political heir, President Madison, to pilot the country through a three-year war."

"...we declared war in 1812 upon the greatest military power in the world. If Denmark in the spring of 1940 had declared war upon Germany and confidently anticipated romping into Berlin in a few weeks' time, the exhibition of national folly suggested would have been scarcely more astounding." 

"As it turned out, such factors as our distance from Europe and the preoccupation of Great Britain with the Napoleonic struggle preserved America from the national defeat and dismemberment we had so rashly invited. Saved by a hairsbreadth from such a fate...".

Prelude: Napoleon's Berlin Decree

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Berlin Decree of 21 November 1806 issued by Napoleon:

"The decree forbade the import of British goods into European countries allied with or dependent upon France, and installed the Continental System in Europe. His plan was to unite the European countries against Britain."

From The war of 1812 ...:  21st November 1806: Placed in a position of power apparently impregnable by his recent victory of Jena (14th Oct, 1806) which left the Prussian monarchy prostrate at his feet; but smarting still with the galling memory of Trafalgar, the French Emperor deemed the opportunity afforded by the complete humiliation of Prussia favorable for returning as fiercely and as fully as he could the terrible blow inflicted by Great Britain in the annihilation of his navy. 

Britain's response to the Berlin Decree, the Orders In Council (1807), caused tension between the United States and Britain, which eventually led to war between them.

Input Of Baron De Gaugreben

The Canadian Historical Review published a portion of the memoirs of Baron De Gaugreben (Captain, King's Royal German Engineers also known as the King's German Legion), who entered service with the British in 1811, and served in Canada 1812-1815, entitled The Defence Of Upper Canada, dated 10 November 1815 (excerpt below):

Experience has proved that a regular cordon of strong places properly distributed on the frontiers, was the surest expedient of preserving a country from all hostiles schemes.  For these most important points are preserved by a few of our troops, in order to enable our whole force to collect in time, with a view to take advantage of any favorable moment.  But this requires discernment, presence of mind at the time of danger, activity perseverance, and intrepidity in the Commanding Officer.  Is this the case, the fortified places will admirably support the Operations of an Army against an Enemy superior in numbers, and the Engineer Officers will then be highly esteemed, admired and supported.  Therefore I conclude with the following motto:

No Genius, no Honor.)