Severity Of Climate

The severity of the climate on the borders of the St. Lawrence and the lakes, to which our tyros were frequently exposed, and their want of knowledge and experience to render themselves comfortable in camp, were the causes of fatal diseases, which carried off a greater number than fell in battle.

The proportion of sick and unfit for duty was at all times very great.

Source:  History of the late war...

Sortie At Fort Erie?

The military heroes of the war of 1812: with a narrative of the war (Page 170):

Correspondence Between Generals Jackson And Lambert Re: POWS

From the Louisiana Digital Library and the Historic New Orleans Collection, a draft letter from Gen. Andrew Jackson to Gen. John Lambert about prisoner exchanges at New Orleans (see excerpted letter below as well as a link to the letter in its entirety):

Source

Draft letter, Major General Andrew Jackson, Head Quarters, 7th M[ilitary] District [near New Orleans, La.], to Major General [John] Lambert, [near New Orleans, La.] New Orleans, Battle of, New Orleans, La., 1815... [26? February 1815]

Source

Buffalo In The War Of 1812

From The military heroes of the war of 1812: with a narrative of the war:

U.S. History In Canadian Archives

A few items listed in the Guide to the materials for United States history in Canadian archives:

Andrew Jackson's Heroic Character

General Andrew Jackson; a hero of the War of 1812.

There never perhaps was a warrior of greater resolution than Jackson. He was a man...said to burn every blade of grass before an enemy, or as the Prince of Orange even more heroically expressed it, to die in the last ditch sooner than submit. He never trifled in great emergencies never shrank from assuming the responsibility required by circumstances, but while others wasted precious moments in hesitation, acted, and with a terrible energy and promptitude which appalled opposition. His determined will has passed into a proverb.

Whatever he conceived to be right, that he fearlessly did, and would have attempted it, even if superhuman powers opposed him. He had the nerve of Cromwell, without his craft; the headlong impetuosity of Murat, without his weakness; the desperate resolution and confidence in himself, which carried Napoleon from victory to victory.

But nevertheless, if honesty patriotism and unflinching adherence to conviction constitute the hero, then was Jackson one in the highest and fullest sense of that term.

 Narrative from The military heroes of the war of 1812: with a narrative of the war.

Fort Morris Became Fort Defiance

Fort Morris,  in Midway, Georgia, was used by Americans during the War of 1812 under the name Fort Defiance.

During the Revolutionary War, when the British demanded the fort's surrender, a defiant Col. John McIntosh (also a War of 1812 officer) replied "Come and Get It!"

Militia In Tolerable Order

"...there was very little money in the treasury....The number of regular troops in the upper country consisted of part of the 49th and 61st regiments and a few artillerists, in all less than one thousand men which garrisoned York, Ft. George, Chippewa, Fort Erie, Amherstburgh, Sandwich, and St Josephs, covering an extent of nearly fifteen hundred miles."

Source

 "The Militia of the country were in tolerable order... ."

Data from Journal of Events....principally on the Detroit and Niagara frontiers...by Captain W. H. Merritt of the Prov. Light Dragoons, published at St. Catharines, C.W., by the Historical Society in 1863.

More about the early Canadian Militia:

Source

Chauncey At The Clements Library

A brief biography of Commodore Chauncey here.

"Isaac Chauncey was born 20 February 1772 in Black Rock, Fairfield County, Connecticut. A citizen of and appointed from the state of New York."

From the Clements Library:

Creator: Chauncey, Isaac, 1772-1840

Abstract: This collection holds official letters, letterbooks, and documents of the American naval commander Isaac Chauncey, who served during the Franco-American War, the War of 1812, and both Barbary Wars. The material largely concerns naval administration during Chauncey's command of the American navy in Lake Ontario and naval operations in the Mediterranean during the Second Barbary War.


See the Portrait of Commodore Chauncey and also Perry and Chauncey.

Battle Of Baltimore Map

A (partial) map of the Battle of Baltimore from Johns Hopkins' Sheridan Libraries site:

Source

Madison's Perpetual War

Perpetual War... (published in 1813):

"Then James Madison, a second time President, adopted a remedy for the wrongs of our seamen, infinitely more injurious to them than the evils which they suffered...he ordered out the militia, in contempt of that very Constitution of which he was one of the principal framers.  In short, whatever he attempted to vindicate by arms, by arms he lost."

Col. Simrall's Letter To Major Speed

Source

A letter from Colonel James Simrall, Shelbyville, Kentucky, to Major Thomas Speed, Nelson County, Kentucky, dated 17 February 1813, was found at the Indiana Historical Society digital website.

A description from the site: "Simrall describes for Speed his recent journey through the western country, in particular the Mississinewa*River region and those he encountered there."

From the letter:  "...this part of the country* not being laid down in any of the maps."  "...we were informed by our prisoners that Tecumseth, with is party of (600) warriors...was rebuilding the towns...".  "From Fort Greenville...".

Source

Seat Of War Map

From John Hopkins University (Sheridan Libraries):

Source

The Library of Congress calls this "A correct map of the seat of war."

General David Bannister Morgan

From the Historical Sketch Book and Guide to New Orleans ...:

"...General Jackson in thanking the troops paid special tributes to the Louisiana organizations and made particular mention of...the Lafitte brothers, all of the Barataria privateers... General Morgan...the Engineers... the cavalry from the Felicianas and the Mississippi territory... ."

David B. Morgan Papers at Tulane:

"The collection consists of correspondence and military orders of David Banister Morgan (1773-1848)... . Morgan was a commander of troops on the west bank of the Mississippi River under Andrew Jackson between 1814 and 1815 during the Battle of New Orleans."

Folder 1: Correspondence and military orders, 1814 December 22-1815 January 18

War of 1812 Service Records (NARA):

Source: Fold3

Resolved To Aid The British

Jim's Photo Of The Creek, Menawa, From Horseshoe Bend NP

From The removal of the Cherokee Indians from Georgia, Volume 1  by Wilson Lumpkin:

We spent one day at the great Indian Council held at Tuckabatchee in the Creek Nation, when not only all the tribes of the different nations of the Indians of the Southern States were represented, but a delegation of the Northern tribes headed by the distinguished Chief Tecumseh were in attendance. We now know that at that very council it was resolved by the Creek Indians to unite with Tecumseh and his Northern hordes in aiding the British in their anticipated war with the United States.

Unrecognized Heroics

Source

From A Sketch Of The Life Of General Towson...

Colonel Scott, to whom Captain Towson naturally looked for a report of his participation in the affair, was made prisoner at Queenstown, immediately after, and before he had an opportunity of mentioning the gallant achievement of the Captain.

The only report of the capture of the brigs therefore was made by the naval commander to whom the credit is due of originating the scheme. Lieut. Elliott received the thanks of Congress, while no notice was taken of Captain Towson; although the latter boarded and carried the Caledonia and afterwards by his persevering intrepidity saved her under circumstances of difficulty and danger, not less than those that caused the destruction of the other brig.

On the return of Lieut. Colonel Scott from captivity, some months afterwards, we are told he obtained a promise from Mr. Armstrong, then Secretary of War, to brevet Captain Towson for his highly distinguished part in that affair, but for reasons with which we are unacquainted, that promise was never fulfilled.

Heirs Of Jean Baptiste Couture

Congressional Serial Set and the heirs of Jean Baptiste Couture:

"That this is one of the River Raisin claims. The proofs as to the occupation of the buildings for which the petitioner claims compensation, by order of an officer of the United States, and of their destruction by enemy at the time, and in consequence of such occupation, are the same in the case of Hubert La Croix...".

"The petitioner claims compensation for the loss of a dwelling house, store or lumber house, stable and a bake or washing house, and also for destruction of some personal property."

The Treaty Of Peace Arrived In NY

"On February 11, 1815, the British sloop of War, Favorite, arrived in New York harbor with the Treaty of Peace concluded at Ghent, and ratified by the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." [Source]

Another Petition For Religious Exemption In Canada Before The War

From Niagara Historical papers.

Niagara Historical Society  No. 42

RECORDS OF NIAGARA

1805 - 1811

"Since the organization of the province, a considerable number of Mennonists and Tunkers, mainly Germans from Pennsylvania had come in and settled, for whose encouragement an Act had been passed in 1793 by the Provincial Parliament exempting them from service in the Militia on certain conditions. Their sons were now becoming liable to enrollment on attaining the age of sixteen."

"The Petition of the Society of People called Mennonists and Tunkers, Humbley Sheweth:
Your Petitioners...shall pay in time of peace, Four Dollars a year, and in time of invasion or insurrection Twenty Dollars a year... .
 And whereas many of Our Sons now under age and incapable of judging in matters of conscience, are not as yet actually considered as Church members, and cannot of course secure the necessary certificates, we therefore humbly pray the same indulgence may be extended to them that is granted to ourselves, that is that they may be exempted from serving in the Militia by paying the commutation money until they arrive at the age of twenty-one, or until they be admitted as Church Members."  10 February 1810

Active History [Canada] references the sects in the article, "Upper Canadian War Resisters in the War of 1812."

Paymaster Hale And His Protege

From Officers of the British Forces in Canada During the War of 1812-15:

Son of Lt. Colonel John Hale com'd g 47th at Quebec 1759. Appointed to the Marines 2 Dec 1776, Lieut. 2nd Queen's Royal... . Was Secretary to HRH the Duke of Kent at Quebec and Halifax. 

James Allsop, from Hale's office:

James Allsop, at the age of 17, was taken by Hon. John Hale, Receiver-General, into his office, St. John street, at $600 per annum.

James Allsop did not like the drudgery of Mr. Hale's office who sent him to England with a recommendation to the late Duke of Kent, asking for a Paymastership. There were difficulties at first, he not being considered old enough; but at last he was gazetted to one in the 1st Batt., 44th Regt., and this Battalion was ordered to New Orleans, Hon Col. Mullins (Lord Ventry's son) commanding, who, being seized with a panic on the field, disgraced himself, lost his presence of mind on seeing the destruction the Americans were dealing out to the British troops, by firing behind their cotton bags, and was in consequence the cause of the death of Hon. Col. Pakenham, brother-in-law to the Duke of Wellington.

Petition Of Jacob Markle Signed By William Applegarth

Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763-1865)

Microform: c-2200

Petition #446c

1812

Fort George

8 February 1816

Certified that Jacob Markle a Private in the 2nd Regt. of York Militia served the time....in the Flank Company under my Command during the Summer of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier.....

William Applegarth

From The Gore District Militia of 1821-1824-1830 and 1838 ; [and] The Militia of West York and West Lincoln of 1804, with the lists of officers...:

William Applegarth was not a U. E. Loyalist. He came from Standrop, Durham, England, in 1791, and received the Crown Grant for the land in East Flamboro, known as "Oaklands." The first grist mill in the neighborhood was built by him in 1809, when sea salmon were plentiful at the Credit, and in his own mill stream. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1812.

His [William Applegarth's] wife was Martha Cooley, U. E. L., whose sister Mary (Polly) was the wife of Richard Hatt. John Applegarth, and his brother Joshua, followed William, their brother, to Canada in 1801, and John formed one of Capt. Samuel Hatt's company at Detroit in 1812. He opened the first store in the town of Hamilton after the war.

The Indian Department

From Officers of the British Forces in Canada During the War of 1812-15:

Also see the Provincial Marines blog post

Remains of Rodrigue's Canal

Source

Remains of Rodrigue's Canal

Gorsuch Family Near Gunpowder Falls

From "The Gorsuch and Lovelace Families (Continued)":

 ...Gerard [Jerit] 8 Gorsuch* (Nicholas 7 , John", Thomas 5 , Charles 4 ). In 1829 he inherited from his uncle Richard Gorsuch with his sister Sarah a lot at Fells Point. 1816, Gerard Gorsuch and his wife Jane make a conveyance of property (Balto. Deeds W.G.No.l39;224). It was probably this Gerard Gorsuch who was a 3rd Lieutenant in the War of 1812 (Marine's British Invasion of Maryland). He was said to have been living in New Orleans about 1840.

Source

"Thomas Gorsuch...married...granddaughter of Edward [Day] and Rebecca Young.... ".  Note: Edward Day was a descendant of Nicholas Day as am I.

The British Invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815 (link added):
Gorsuch, Gerard. 3d Lieutenant in Capt. Bunbury's Sea Fencibles

Source

Dealing With General John Lambert

From the Life of Andrew Jackson, Volume 2:

"'Lambert?' thought the General. 'Who is Lambert? An untitled Lambert is not the individual for the commander-in-chief of this army to negotiate with.'"

From the Historic New Orleans Collection:

 Folder 103. Letter from Major John Reid ([44th Regiment of US Infantry], ADC to [Maj.] Genl. Jackson, Camp 4 Miles below Orleans...1815 Jan. 13. 

He confirms that the British commander, Gen. Packingham was killed on the 8th, and other senior officers badly wounded, leaving Genl. Lambert, a junior officer, as the one Genl. Jackson must deal with. [British] Admiral Cochrane seems willing to agree to "fair terms as to the exchange of prisoners". Signed: John Reid; added in a different ink: Adjutant Gen. to Gen. Jackson. 4 pp. 1 item.

The Orderly Book Blog

The Orderly Book [blog], Chronicling the War of 1812 and other forgotten or obscure history.


"...issues of the Kentucky Gazette...has been archived and is available to peruse at the Kentucky Digital Library."  

I followed the Kentucky Digital Library and found this random example:

Kentucky gazette (Lexington, Ky. : 1809), July 20, 1813

Source

This blog post (6 January 2014) for the Orderly Book focused on Detroit's first mayor!

A Bandy And Others In Fort Harrison

At the time of siege, September 4 and 5, 1812, there were in the fort [Harrison] some sixty persons, soldiers and citizens. We only know the names of the following:

Captain Zachary Taylor, Commandant.

Dr. William A. Clark, Army Surgeon. He was commended by Captain Taylor as acting with the greatest firmness 'and presence of mind in defense of the Fort. Dr. Clark also practiced among the citizens outside the Fort.

Drummer Davis, a deserter from the English army, who joined the Americans as ,a musician. After the war he lived across the river. Died in 1847.

William Bandy, a Virginian [drafted in Bedford County] and soldier. Lived in Fayette Township after the war.

Source - Fold3 - Wm Bandy's File

 William Cowen, who was killed in the fight.
Josey Cowen, his brother, who died the next day of disease.
Joseph Dickson and family, wife and children.
Jonathan Graham and wife. No further notice of Jonathan Graham.
Isaac Lambert and wife, Julia Lafferty Lambert.
Mrs. Briggs and her daughter, Mary.
Mrs. Isaac Anderson and her daughter, Matilda.
Mary Dickson and Joseph Dickson, young children of John Dickson, in care of their aunt, Julia Lambert.
Peter Mallory and family, wife and children.
John Clinton Bradford, a baby about a year old.

Fort George, Castine, Maine

 Fort George (at Fort Wiki) and at North American Forts.