The Enemy's Fleet Off Ship Island

Ship Island

The War of 1812:  A History.... included a letter from Lieutenant [Thomas Ap Catesby] Jones to Commodore Patterson, dated New Orleans, 12 March 1815 (excerpt below)...:

"On the 12th of December, 1814, the enemy's fleet off Ship Island increased.....".

Losses Claimed after Niagara Burned

A partial list shown:

Couche Should Be Hanged

"Edward Couche, deputy commissary general.  The "means" was a local currency to pay 4,000 militia ordered out by Brock.  He needed 1,500 pounds and couldn't get the funds.  Hence we find, December 12, 1813, Col. Nichol writing to Talbot, remarking: "Couche should be hanged."  He made good in many other ways later on." [Source]

Source

"On the sixth of August the deputy-commissary at Amherstburg wrote as follows to Edward Couche, the commissary-general for the province of Upper Canada: 'If the Indians remain and continue their wanton and extensive depredations on cattle, a short period will put an end to our supplies.'"
"'I could easily have supplied provisions for 2,000 troops in conformity with your letter of the 18th of July. Since then I have been feeding 15,000 troops Indians &c I find such difficulty in procuring flour corn etc to feed such hordes...'" [Source]

 

Captain Samuel B. Archer

Source

...with [Captain Samuel B.] Archer's company of artillery were stationed near the mouth of Stony Creek for the better security of the boats and baggage ascending the lake...

Samuel B. Archer was a native of Virginia.  He was a captain in Scott's Second Regiment of artillery and was breveted major for his gallant conduct....  He died on the 11th of December 1823 [FindAGrave says 1825].

The Town Was Soon In Flames

Source

Some time after reaching the seat of war, the general [McClure], understanding that certain orders directed him to burn the town of Newark, in Canada, took the necessary steps to obey.  Major Cruger and Mr. Spencer, however, dissented from the view of the order taken by General McClure, and objected to burning the town. About this time Mr. Spencer was called home by sickness in his family, and Mr. Cruger stood alone in his opposition. The general, therefore, prepared to carry out his construction of the order, and Major Cruger was ordered to enter the town with a flag of truce, and inform the "inhabitants of the threatened conflagration."  He obeyed the order, entered the town with an orderly, and after giving the usual notice, he and his orderly assisted the inhabitants to remove their effects; and the town was soon in flames. [Source]

Goods Captured

Source

McCormick, Thomas

Statement of his goods captured by Americans off Presqu'Isle Pt.  L. Ontario on or about 12-9-1814.

Niagara  10-6-1823

C.688D  pp. 176-180

William Gray Simms

Tyler's quarterly historical and genealogical magazine, Volumes 1-2:

William Gray Simms was born in 1795 and died in 1867.  He served in Bunch's Regiment, Mounted, in the War of 1812.

More about Bunch's Regiment:

"Colonel Samuel Bunch commanded two separate regiments at different times during the war. This regiment of three-month enlistees, in the brigade of General James White, participated in the action against the tribe of Creeks known as the Hillabees."