Zachary Taylor's Early Career

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Colonel Taylor destined his son William for the Army, while Zachary was to be a farmer. The former died soon after entering the service and Zachary, earnestly desiring a military career, received from President Jefferson a commission as first lieutenant in the Seventh Infantry. This commission was dated May 3, 1808, a few months before Zachary Taylor s relative, James Madison, was elected president of the United States.

The young officer reported to General Wilkinson at New Orleans, but was soon stricken with yellow fever and forced to return home to be nursed back to health. His marriage occurred about a year later and on November 30, 1810, he was promoted and became a captain. In 1811 his regiment, the Seventh, marched northward with the Fourth Infantry to serve under General Harrison, then governor of the Northwest territory, who was endeavoring to subdue the Indians.

The battle of Tippecanoe was fought November 7, 1811. The second war with Great Britain began in less than a year the act declaring war was dated June 18, 1812 and in September the young captain had his first real baptism of fire. In command of a single company of the Seventh, he was defending Fort Harrison when, on September 10, 1812, it was attacked by the Indians, who greatly outnumbered the little garrison, and there he displayed such bravery, skill, and resourcefulness in defense that he was warmly praised by his superior officers and was brevetted major by the President.

His service against the Indians of the North west continued until the close of the war, and on May 15, 1814, he received the full rank of major and was assigned to the Twenty-sixth Infantry. He then led
an expedition against the Indians and their British allies on Rock river and further distinguished himself. [Source]

Nathaniel Champe And His Snare Drum

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Archive Grid listed the Nathaniel Champe papers, 1792-1870, as part of the Detroit Public Library's collection.

Biographical sketch of Champe, a soldier of the northwestern frontier during war of 1812, including information concerning revolutionary career of his father, John Champe... .

[Nathaniel Champe was]...born in Romney, Virginia in 1792; came to Detroit in June 1812, and served in the war of 1812. Was present at the surrender of Detroit by Hull served under McArthur and Harrison, and was honorably discharged in Chillicohe, Ohio, in the summer of 1815. On August 6, 1814, he married Almenia Thomas, who died in 1867. They lived in Detroit until 1853, when they removed to Onondaga, Michigan, where he died, February 13, 1870. They had 6 children.

Nathaniel Champe's mother's memorial at FindAGrave. Was Phebe Susan Barnard Champe related to Light Horse Harry Lee (a sister) as was stated in the article about instruments in American History? A perfunctory search did not reveal a familial relationship.

Stephen Foster's Father

Biography, songs and musical compositions of Stephen C. Foster, Authors: Foster, Stephen Collins, 1826-1864, Foster, Morrison, 1823-1904:

From Historic Pittsburgh

"My father [William Barclay Foster] was a man of great public spirit and unbounded patriotism.  During the War of 1812 he was appointed Quartermaster and Commissary of the U.S. Army."

University of Pittsburgh Archives and Manuscript Collections:

Subseries 10. William B. Foster Papers, 1814-1955
Scope and Content Notes:
This subseries includes the business papers of Stephen Foster's father, William B. Foster, Sr. It consists of correspondence, papers related to court cases, the War of 1812, the establishment of Lawrenceville, and materials general by Morrison Foster related to his attempts to settle his father's estate.

Section: 1. War of 1812 Correspondence and Transactions
Scope and Content Notes:
This section contains the correspondence of William B. Foster during his years as a commissary agent for the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Most of these papers deal with supply and military sustenance issues; occasionally a letter emerges that tells of William’s amicable relationship with several of these military officers.

Jackson Ordered To St. Louis

Andrew Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"Over in Missouri, however, Illinois Indians continued a constant warfare well into the year 1815, after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed and promulgated... .  They continued until the war department assigned Andrew Jackson to this department, with orders to report to St. Louis there to attach himself to the head of the troops he would find awaiting him and march against the Rock River Sacs... .  Duncan Graham, head of the British intriguers at that point, had formed a profound respect for Andrew Jackson, by reason of the New Orleans affair and other events, and without ceremony at once fled to Canada." [Source]

Seat Of War - Louisiana & W. Florida

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Louisiana Landing

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Battle Of Fayal

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"...Captain Reid...had indeed done wonders, for so great was the damage he inflicted that the fleet was forced to stay a week at Fayal burying the dead and caring for the wounded. That week's delay was most important, for the Rota, the Plantagenet, and the Carnation, on their way to Jamaica to join the expedition against New Orleans, were prevented by the fight at Fayal from arriving on time and so delayed the fleet of Pakenham that Jackson had time to defend New Orleans.

Captain Reid, by his splendid defence of the General Armstrong, may therefore justly be said to have contributed not a little to Jackson's great victory on the banks of the Mississippi. [Source]

Graphic Account From New Orleans

House At Chalmette Battlefield (Battle Of New Orleans)

A letter (excerpted below) from Captain Thurston, written to his father-in-law:

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Battle Of NOLA In Pictures

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Descendants Of Bernard de Marigny

Source: Creole Families Book

"...Bernard de Marigny, of New Orleans, was a veteran of the war of 1812....".

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A Court Martial Of Dr. Backus

Assistant Apothecary Christopher Backus was appointed 12 August 1814.

Reference to his court martial was found in Letters Received By The Office Of The Adjutant General, 1805-1821:

Dateline: Nashville, September 21, 1818

...proceedings of the General Court Martial for the trial of Doctor C. Backus and others held at New Orleans...

Another letter stated that Dr. Christopher Backus...is honest and faithful, but not equal to the duties....

His arrest by George Croghan, September 23, 1816, was listed in The Papers of Andrew Jackson.

One Of The Great Rules Of Strategy

General Jackson Statue In New Orleans

"The battle of Plattsburg; a study in and of the war of 1812...General Macomb.... :

The same idea [as the British had before the Battle of New Orleans, to separate the country at the Mississippi River], combined with one of the great rules of strategy, was back of the battle of Plattsburg. The British believed — and had indeed good grounds for so believing — that if they won at Plattsburg, defeating both the fleet on Lake Champlain and the land forces, they could divide as regards military operations.

Bissell And The Louisiana Territory

Louisiana Territory

Upon the purchase of the province of Louisiana from France, President Jefferson appointed [Daniel] Bissell as military commander of that portion which today embraces the states of Missouri and Illinois. Promoted to colonel on August 15, 1812, and later to general on March 9, 1814, Bissell participated in the last engagement of the War of 1812, when he led the United States forces in the battle of Lyon’s Creek. After commanding posts at Mobile, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge in the South, Bissell retired from the Army in 1821. [Source]

Excerpt From Letter Sent By Bissell From Saint Louis, Missouri Territory (Fold3)

Action In The Battle Of New Orleans

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Americans Lines In NOLA

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British Army Landing In New Orleans

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U.S. Marshall Duplessis

Chalmette Monument Commemorating The Battle Of New Orleans

From the U.S. Marshal's Service, History -   A Pirate, a Marshal, and the Battle of New Orleans:

"...Largely thanks to Jackson’s choice of position, good communication and resolve, the Americans won a decisive triumph."

"A sizeable portion of that good communication was carried forth by Marshal Peter Duplessis, and the United States will forever be the better for it."

Duplessis' pre-war activity mentioned:

Pre-War Deaths At Fort Adams

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From the American state papers: ...(investigation as to why so many soldiers were dying at Fort Adams):

Previous to the embarkation, 3 companies, of the 6th infantry, under the command of Major Pike, were ordered to the garrison of Orleans, and between the 1st and 12th of September, the army embarked, and, making some delay nearly opposite the city, owing, I think, very probably, to a defect in one of the artillery boats, proceeded, on the 23d, up the river, under the command of Major Backus, of the light dragoons.  I had been taken sick...followed the army...the General being ill in Orleans.

...two hospitals were established, one at Point Coupee, and one at Fort Adams, where the weakest of the men were left.... .

A description of Fort Adams and the Natchez, Mississippi, area, from Cuming's Tour To The Western Country (1807-1809):

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Ships In Ports

Source Page 466

"...[Captain David] Porter was forced (September 7) to come to port for water and stores...".

"These vessels were divided into three squadrons."

Inferior To None

Statue Of General Jackson In New Orleans

In fact, it might be contended that the battles of Plattsburg and New Orleans, in both of which our
soldiers proved far more than a match, man for man, for Wellington's seasoned and best soldiers, showed the most skillful and resourceful fighting done on this continent; and inferior to none anywhere in the history of war in bravery or brilliancy of achievement. [Source]