Hull Was Assured By The Government

Ohio Swamp (Similar To Terrain General Hull's Army Encountered)

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Charles J. Ingersoll, Historian

Charles Jared Ingersoll papers

Collection 1812

© The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

"Lawyer, politician, and author Charles Jared Ingersoll was born in Philadelphia on October 3, 1782 to Jared Ingersoll, a member of the 1787 Constitutional Convention and district judge, and Elizabeth Pellet."

"Over the course of his governmental career, Ingersoll worked with a few U. S. presidents such as James Monroe, John Tyler, and James K. Polk. In addition to his political career, Ingersoll worked as a lawyer in Philadelphia and was an accomplished writer. Beyond his early works, he published the two-volume History of the War of 1812-15 (1845, 1852)." [Source]

Captain John Whistler In The Van Buren Papers

Calendar of the papers of Martin Van Buren ...,  By Library of Congress. Manuscript Division, Elizabeth Howard West:

First Lieutenant On The Constitution

The Charles Morris Papers are held at the University of Michigan's Clements Library:

"By the outbreak of the War of 1812, Morris was first lieutenant under Captain Isaac Hull on the Constitution. Morris famously aided in evading a British squadron by suggesting kedging and towing the Constitution; later he was badly wounded during the ship's battle with the HMS Guerriere, and received a promotion to captain for his efforts. After his recovery, he commanded the Adams in raiding expeditions against British merchant ships."

Gun From The Constitution On Display In Lexington, Missouri

For anyone with a penchant for early United States history, particularly that aspect which pertains to the Navy, the *autobiography of Commodore Charles Morris (1784-1856), a Connecticut native, cannot fail to be of engrossing interest. Only three of the prominent American naval commanders of the War of 1812 wrote memoirs: Morris, David Porter, and Thomas MacDonough. *Source

The "Prescription book of the U.S. Frigate Constitution ," within the Amos A. Evans collection, includes a description of Evans' treatment of Charles Morris' severe stomach wound. (Also at the Clements Library)

Surgeon Sylvester Day

From the Manuscripts Division, William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan, a finding aid for the Sylvester Day Collection, 1813-1920, Creator: Day, Sylvester, 1778-1851:

Biography
Sylvester Day was born in 1778, the son of Elkanah Day and Lavinia Merrill. He worked as garrison surgeon's mate in the United States Army in 1807, and was at Fort Michilimackinac from 1810 to July 17, 1812, when British forces took the fort during the War of 1812. After his parole by British forces, he travelled to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked as a surgeon until General William Hull surrendered the city to the British in August 1812. He remained in Detroit in order to help care for sick and wounded soldiers who were unable to leave with the rest of the American troops. On October 16, 1812, he left Detroit with American prisoners of war on the British Brig Adams, headed for Fort Erie. However, the United States Navy captured the Adams while en route to its destination, and forced Day to disembark before burning the ship and all of his personal effects. Following this incident, Day began a legal suit against the U.S. government in an attempt to gain reparations for the property he lost in the burning, especially his extensive medical library. The U.S. Army appointed Day a surgeon of the 4th Regiment of Infantry on March 13, 1813. He transferred to the 5th Infantry on May 17, 1815, and was on duty in Detroit, Michigan, until 1818. He worked as post surgeon at Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, from 1818 to 1820, and later became post surgeon for the Allegheny Arsenal. Day worked at other locations before his death at Allegheny Arsenal, Pennsylvania, in 1851.

Fort At Mackinac Island

226 Dr. Sylvester Day went to Michilimackinac as surgeon's mate at the garrison as early as 1810. He and his family resided on Astor Street at the time of the surrender of the fort. He had one son named Hannibal, who later became Gen. Hannibal Day. U. S. A. After leaving Michilimackinac they resided at Detroit. Dr. Day was a Mason and master of Zion Lodge, No. 62, in 1817. The same year he subscribed $350 toward the University Fund. {Michigan Pioneer Collections; Annals of Fort Mackinaw by Kelton, p. 46.)  [Source]

Samuel Reid, Naval Hero

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A finding aid for the Samuel Chester Reid papers can be found at the Library of Congress site.

A poem touting the heroics of Samuel Reid:

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Wool's Position In Beekmantown

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September, 1814

"Macomb was informed of this movement being in contemplation on the evening of the 5th and prepared to meet it. The gallant Major John E. Wool, ever ready for a daring enterprise, volunteered to lead some regulars to support the militia and oppose the advance of the foe. At about the time in the early morning of the 6th when the British broke camp at Sampson's, Wool moved from Plattsburg with two hundred and fifty regular infantry and thirty volunteers with orders to set the militia an example of firmness. This was done. He reached Beekmantown before the enemy appeared and took position near the residence of Ira Howe."

The John Ellis Wool papers are held at the New York State Library.  He was a Major in the War of 1812, and was promoted to the rank of General at a later date.

Cadwallader D. Colden

Colden was the 54th Mayor of New York City as well as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the New York militia (5 Artillery and Infantry Regiment - Colden's New York Militia):

Source - Cadwallader D. Colden

Colden's Service Record - NY Militia

William Lambert, Secret Agent

Below is an item found in the War of 1812 Papers of the Department of State:


REPORTS OF WILLIAM LAMBERT, SECRET AGENT. l8l3-
His reports to the Secretary of State concerned movements of the enemy in Maryland between Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.

Source

Letter from William Lambert of Lancaster County, Virginia 

to 

James Monroe, Secretary of State

07/15/1814

"In this letter William Lambert shares information about large ships seen passing up the middle of the Chesapeake Bay as well as an additional force and his fear of an imminent attack in Virginia or Maryland."

Nelles' Cell For American Prisoners

See the picture online of the cell for American prisoners at the Henry Nelles Home (Cell for American Prisoners) via the Grimsby Museum Digital Collections.


"Description: [Links added] ...located in the basement of the Nelles house (125 Main Street West)... ."  "The house was owned by Colonel Robert Nelles (1761-1842)... ."  "His eldest son, Henry (1789-1841), lived in the home following the War with his young wife Sarah."

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Joel Leftwich's Life

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Papers of Joel Leftwich, 1786-1890 at the University of Virginia (and also papers at the University of North Carolina):

"Born in Bedford County, Virginia, Leftwich was the great grandson of Ralph Leftwich, who emigrated from England to New Kent County, Virginia  (in what is now Caroline County)...".

"On January 19, 1809, he was elected Brigadier General of the Twelfth Brigade of Virginia Militia upon the death of General Joseph Martin and led this force to Fort Meigs in Ohio during the War of 1812.

"General Leftwich died on April 20, 1846, in Bedford County."

Also see this blog post about General Joel Leftwich.

Overcoming The Odds

A scholastic paper by Major Joseph D. Davidson:

OVERCOMING THE ODDS: A COMPARISON OF THE

U.S. NINTH AND TENTH* MILITARY DISTRICTS

DURING THE FINAL CAMPAIGNS OF

THE WAR OF 1812

"With victory in Europe behind them, the British could begin diverting battle proven troops, and supplies to North America. This policy perhaps had the potential to change the complexion of the war to heavily favor the British in numbers of experienced and battle hardened troops."

An earlier post delineated nine districts; the tenth was the Washington, D.C., area.

General Henry Dearborn

 Henry Dearborn (1751-1829), who was born in New Hampshire, also fought in the Revolutionary War*.  

*Dearborn volunteered for service in Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec. In the battle, in which Montgomery was killed and Arnold seriously wounded, Dearborn was taken prisoner and confined for a time at Quebec. [Source]  It was thought that General Dearborn was past his prime in the War of 1812.

Portrait Source  

A guide to Henry Dearborn's papers found here, including:

Dearborn Historical Commission
Dearborn, MI
Papers and Microfilm: 1761-1826, 2 feet and 92 microfilm reels.
The collection covers Henry Dearborn’s career as officer in the American Revolution and the War of 1812, as secretary of war (1801-1809), collector of the Port of Boston (1809-1812), and minister to Portugal (1822-1824). 

Captain Thomas Forster

 One of the notables buried in Erie [PA] Cemetery:

Thomas Forster (1762-1836)
Born near Harrisburg, he served in the Revolution and was a colonel of volunteers during Whiskey Rebellion and also served as captain in the War of 1812. Forster was a collector for the Port of Erie (1799-1836), and was the originator of the Erie and Waterford Turnpike.



Forster's papers are found in the University of Pennsylvania's Van Pelt Rare Book Collection and described as follows:

Thomas Forster Correspondence: letters, documents, accounts, 1793-1837, of Colonel Forster (1762-1836), who led a volunteer regiment during the Whiskey Insurrection and was the first surveyor of the City of Erie, where he served as Collector of the Port from 1799 to 1836.

From the History of Erie County, Pennsylvania:

Josiah Snelling Papers

The Josiah Snelling papers are housed at the Minnesota Historical Society.  Included in his papers are:
 

Letters from Fort Independence to Daniel Parker of the War Department, December 6 and 20, 1812.

Contains information on military appointments, mention William Henry Harrison's role in the War of 1812, and refer to Snelling's interest in obtaining a West Point appointment for James Spencer.


Snelling's appointment as a 1st Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry on May 4, 1808.

More about Snelling and his role in the surrender of Detroit here.