Campfire

Jim's Photo From Christmas, FL

Expedition Against Florida Indians

These skirmishes took place during the War of 1812 time frame.  They were known as the "Patriot War;" a war within a war?

Photo Of Map In Cumberland NP Museum in St. Mary's, Georgia

"Official letters of the military and naval officers of the United States..." included one from Daniel Newnan to David B. Mitchell concerning an expedition against the Florida Indians, dated October 19, 1812, from New-Hope, St. John's, Florida.

Excerpts from Newnan's letter:

"...an account of the several engagements which have taken place, between the Lotchaway and Alligator Indians, and the detachment of Georgia volunteers, under my command."

"On the morning of the 4th day of our march, when we were within 6 or 7 miles of the Lotchaway towns [present day Alachua], our advanced party discovered a body of Indians, marching along the path, meeting us, and, at the same moment, they appeared to have discovered us."

Suwannee Co., Florida, Location Of  Alligator, An Indian Village,

"The evil genius of captain again prevailed; and I have since learned from captain Cone, that this person instigated not only him, but many of the privates, to urge a departure from our works, even in the day time, when I was convinced that the Indians, knowing our weak situation, would endeavour to ambuscade. This gentleman, if innocent, will have an opportunity of proving himself so before a court martial."

Also mentioned in the letter:  Colonel Smith, Captain Cone, Captain Humphrey, Captain Fort, Lieutenant Fannin, Captain Coleman, Lieutenant Broadnax, Sergeant-Major Reese, Captain Harden, Sergeant Holt, Sergeant Attaway, Ensign Mann, Lieutenant Williams, Sergeant Hawkins, Corporal Neil, Lieutenant Reed, Sergeant Fields, Sergeant Cowan, and Sergeant Denmark.

James Fenimore Cooper's Book Of Naval History

A phrase at the James Fenimore Cooper Society website stated that "There can be no question about the importance of Cooper's place as a naval historian."

Mr. Cooper wrote History of the navy of the United States of America, Volume 1, "an imperfect record" which was "offered as a tribute of profound respect...".  

James Fenimore Cooper's work was mentioned by Theodore Roosevelt according to the blog Our Flag Was Still There:  "Roosevelt lashed out at Cooper, in a condemnation that carried through until recent years. He acknowledged his debt to Cooper, backhandedly."

Francois Dominique DuCharme

From Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online:

DUCHARME, DOMINIQUE (baptized François), fur trader, militia officer, office holder, and justice of the peace....participated in the War of 1812.

"On 21 July 1812, after war broke out with the United States, Ducharme was commissioned a lieutenant in the Pointe-Claire Battalion of Militia."

More about Ducharme's War of 1812 actions and the Battle of Beaver Dams.

Unsatisfactory?

THE OHIO VALLEY IN THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE WAR OF 1812 

The war of 1812 is one of the most unsatisfactory episodes in American history. It was unpopular with a large part of the people of the United States and was not desired by the British. Its course was marked by disastrous and even disgraceful defeats as well as by brilliant victories, some of them quite undeserved. Its immediate outcome and the treaty of peace which brought it to an end were singularly indecisive. Had there been means of rapid communication in 1814 the last battle which occurred would not have been fought; had they existed in 1812 there might have been no war at all.

General Alexander Smyth

Source

Was appointed President Jefferson colonel of a United States regiment, which he commanded at the until 1811, when he was ordered to Washington prepare a discipline for the army. Was inspector general in 1812 and ordered to the Canadian frontier, where he failed in an invasion Canada and left the army. 

Source

He [General Smyth]...petitioned Congress to reinstate him, declaring in his memorial that he asked the privilege of "dying for his country." The phrase was ridiculed by his enemies. At a public celebration at Georgetown D.C. on Washington's birthday in 1814, the following toast was offered: "General Smyth's petition to Congress to 'die for his country'--May it be ordered that the prayer of said petitioner be granted." [Source]

There was a duel between General Smyth and General Porter.

Smyth County, Virginia, was named after the General.

Fort Christmas In Florida

Merry Christmas

Wreath At Christmas, Florida