Wordless Wednesday - Here's Looking At You

From the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park Museum:

This soldier (and his gun!) appears to be looking right at you regardless of where you're standing.

Dr. Beanes And Francis Scott Key

From Relatively Fiction, Francis Scott Key was in position to see our "Star-Spangled Banner" because he was negotiating with the British on behalf of  Dr. William Beanes.  Dr. Beanes was accused by the British of being a spy and was being held on the HMS Tonnant of the coast of Maryland.  The good news was that Attorney Key and his fellow negotiator, Col. John Skinner, secured the release of Dr. Beanes.  The bad news was that the British were planning a military action and Key's party knew too much about British plans to be released before the British attack. 

There was a 1955 TV show in the "Cavalcade of America" series entitled "The Rescue of Dr. Beanes."

Duff Green of Kentucky

The Duff Green Papers are part of the Southern History Collection at the Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  In a brief biography of Mr. Green, his service in the War of 1812 was included:

Duff Green was born on 15 August 1791 in Woodford County, Ky. At the age of seven, he was sent to a field school attended chiefly by children of his father's tenants. At fourteen, he entered Danville Academy, but returned home a year and a half later and remained until 1811 to educate his brothers and sisters. He was briefly a teacher at Elizabethtown Academy before he enlisted as a private in the War of 1812. Green served at Vincennes and Fort Harrison under General William Henry Harrison and later was made a captain. After the war, he married Lucretia Maria Edwards, sister of Governor Ninian Edwards of Illinois, with whom he had nine children.

From Facts and suggestions, biographical.....by Duff Green (regarding his War of 1812 era experiences):

Duff Green played a crucial role in the defense of Fort Harrison.

Artifact Photos - Military Buttons

 Pictures of military buttons, including items from the War of 1812, can be seen here.  

War of 1812 Volunteers Mentioned In Gallatin Co., Illinois

From Cemeteries of Gallatin Co., Illinois...:


Haynes, James b Greenbrier Co Va. 1790‑1841 Volunteer War of 1812 with Great Britain. Erected by sons Joseph & John T.


Jones, Isaac 2nd Ohio Vol. War of 1812 [Note:  There was an Isaac Jones who was a private in Capt. John Russell's Company]



Wilson, Harrison b Front Royal, VA 1788-1852 or 1864 To Ky. 1796 & to Ill. 1806. Officer War of 1812

"His [Alexander Wilson's] son Harrison Wilson was an ensign in the war of 1812 and a captain in the Black Hawk war. Harrison had two sons, Bluford who was adjutant general of volunteers during the Civil war and solicitor for the U. S. treasury in Grant’s administration. The other son, James H., was born in Shawneetown in 1837. Educated at West Point; held positions in the Engineer corps of several expeditions. Rose to the rank of major general and was detailed to pursue Jefferson Davis in his flight from Richmond, Va., and eventually captured that distinguished prisoner. He returned to private life. When the Spanish-American war broke out he served as Major General of Volunteers. He has written several books of travel and biography."

 [Cox] Wm. was vet. of War of 1812

August 24, 1814 - The British Set Fire To Washington

The burning of Washington, D.C.:

 Image From A History Of The United States

Washington was saved by bad weather!  A thunderstorm with an embedded tornado extinguished the fire that would have otherwise burned the city to the ground.

Pensions Are Us At Fold3 (Formerly Footnote)

 View the War of 1812 Pension Applications (a database in progress) here at Fold3.  A random example of what can be found: