John Armstrong - A Disastrous Choice?

From Rediscover 1812:

"President James Madison named John Armstrong to his cabinet as Secretary of War on June 14, 1813. Armstrong had served as minister to France but the appointment was really an attempt by Madison to build political alliances. Armstrong was a force in New York politics, and with so much military action taking place along the border with Canada, Madison needed the state firmly in his camp. Unfortunately, Armstrong proved to be a disastrous choice due to his political and personal shortcomings."
Armstrong’s chief qualities were described by at least one acquaintance as “obstinancy and self-conceit.”

Armstrong was the author of a book published in 1814 entitled “Hints to Young Generals.” Although he had no real military experience, this popular book established Armstrong as an expert at a time when the United States were desperate for military officers.

From History of the United States of America under the Constitution, Volume 2 :

See a portrait of John Armstrong here.

Death Struggle With Military Despotism

When the United States declared war, Great Britain was straining every nerve and muscle in a death struggle with the most formidable military despotism of modern times......

From The naval war of 1812: or the history of the United States Navy during the ... By Theodore Roosevelt.

Niagara's War of 1812 Ancestors' Stories

The Niagara Peninsula Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society's War of 1812 project. They want to compile a book of members' War of 1812 family stories.  The site provides guidelines and submission information.

Notified Of War By John Jacob Astor

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.

"We received intelligence of the declaration of war by the United States on Saturday the 27th of June 1812 from a messenger sent by the late John Jacob Astor to Thomas Clark Esq of Niagara Falls."

Building Forts On The Missouri Frontier In 1812

 From Centennial History of Missouri: (the Center State) One Hundred ..., Volume :

The war of 1812 came on [and the residents]....realized the danger from Indian attacks. They built three forts which they called Fort Cooper*, Fort Hempstead, and Fort Kincaid.   Fort Cooper was southwest of Boone's Lick; Fort Kincaid was nine miles away to the southeast, and Fort Hempstead was a little short of two miles north of Kincaid.

*See the Autobiography of Major Stephen Cooper

Half Pay Instead Of Bounty Land?

Were William Hinds' children the recipients of the half-pay pension in lieu of bounty-land?

Under "Old Wars": (2) Allowance of half pay pension in lieu of bounty land extinguishes title to the latter and vice versa.  Note: This is under the provisions of the act of April 16, 1816, which has expired by limitation.  The half-pay pension in lieu of bounty-land was allowed only to children of enlisted men who were killed in battle or died of wounds received in the war of 1812. [Source]

Portrait Of General William Hull

From Richardson's War of 1812, by Major Richardson:

William Hull was born on June 24, 1753, in Darby, Connecticut; he died November 29, 1825, in Newton, Massachusetts.

Soldier in the Revolutionary War; first Governor of Michigan Territory (1805 - 1813); General in the War of 1812.  He surrendered Detroit, was found guilty in a court martial proceeding, sentenced to death and then pardoned.