Degredation Inflicted By Armstrong

Source

The Life of Major-General William H. Harrison... ...:

General Armstrong's plan of the campaign submitted to the President on the 30th of April, 1814, left no doubt that General Harrison would not be assigned a command in the active operations of the year.

But the Secretary of War [Armstrong] was not content with the degredation he had inflicted upon the brave Harrison in withdrawing him from his command and withholding him from active service during the approaching campaign. 

He still persisted in interfering with his prerogatives as the commander of the district. His next unworthy act was to dispatch to Major Holmes, a subordinate officer at Detroit, an order to take two hundred men from that port and proceed on board of Commodore Sinclair's fleet destined for Mackinac. This proceeding on the part of the Secretary of War was a gross invasion of military propriety as well as a direct insult to General Harrison, whatever may have been the design.

Pillage Of Maryland

"[Admiral] Cockburn had no idea of legitimate hostilities, but of pillage."

"...spring of 1813 the High-Flyer British tender was captured...in which prize were found Cockburn's own minutes [see below]...conduct at Frenchtown [Maryland] was thus registered in his log book entry dated April 29, 1813 [first entry below]:

Source

As A Soldier I Did My Duty

Statement of facts relative to Captain Le Breton's claims:

Le Breton: "...as a soldier I did my duty...". (Page 7)

General Henry Proctor: "I have already publicly acknowledged your exertion during the arduous service on the Miami, and on the 5th of May 1813...".

Lot 40

Lot #40 known as Richmond Landing (Robert Randall's original property)...; unfavorable opinion of Le Breton...Randall thought sale was not legal... .  If not legal why was Col. By authorized to purchase?

In Deeds: Captain John Le Breton, Colonel By And Bytown about his property problems.

A Noble Young Lad Named Hatfield

Source - Fold3

From the Speech of Com. Jesse Duncan Elliot, U.S.N., delivered in Hagerstown, Md. (1843) ...:

I [Commodore Elliott] may here relate a deeply affecting scene which occurred at that time [at Sacketts Harbor]. I had scarcely set my foot upon the deck of the Conquest, when a noble young lad named Hatfield, about 15 years of age, observed to his fellow-midshipman Clarke, "My dream is up! I dreamed that Captain Elliott came on board, and that I was killed." And true enough, the little fellow was killed! His leg was taken off just below the knee by a shot from the shore, while we were working up to the battery, against an opposing wind, the magazine of which was exploded on Gen. Pike's brigade; and while I was tying up his leg, and endeavoring to stop the blood, he said it was of no use, for he must die. I replied to him that he should not die, but live to be an admiral. He asked me if he had done his duty, and if I was satisfied with him? I told him I was, and that he was a brave little fellow. He then asked me if I would call on my way home, and tell his father and mother that he had been faithful. I did so. His father was an industrious mechanic, at Albany.

Drama At Toronto Bay

Source

An excerpt from The battle of York; ...:

The Parliament had but recently completed its sittings and festivities were still being maintained. A little girl of six narrated that her mother, Mrs. Grant Powell, had issued invitations for a party on the evening of the 26th, the supper table had been laid and she had been dressed to see the company arrive. Only one lady and no gentlemen came, when later on her father hurried in saying the American fleet had been sighted, and he and the other volunteers had been ordered under arms. Then may have come the scene so graphically told by our poet, Charles Mair, in the stirring lines in his Drama of Tecumseh.

"What news afoot? Why every one's afoot and coming here 

York's citizens are turned to warriors 

The learned professions go a-soldiering 

And gentle hearts beat high for Canada. 

For, as you pass, on every hand you see 

Through the neglected openings of each house 

Through doorways, windows, our Canadian maids 

Strained by their parting lovers to their breasts, 

And loyal matrons busy round their lords 

Buckling their arms on, or, with tearful eyes 

Kissing them to the war." 

Pike's Last Orders?

From the Official letters of the military..., an excerpt of General Z. Pike's BRIGADE ORDER. :

Sacketts Harbor, April 25th, 1813.

When the debarkation shall take place on the enemy's shore, major Forsyth's light troops, formed in four platoons, shall be first landed. They will advance a small distance from the shore, and form the chain to cover the landing of the troops. They will not fire, unless they discover the approach of a body of the enemy, but will make prisoners of every person who may be passing, and send to the general.

It is expected that every corps will be mindful of the honour of the American arms, and the disgraces which have recently tarnished our arms; and endeavour, by a cool and determined discharge of their duty, to support the one, and wipe off the other. The riflemen in front will maintain their ground at all hazards, until
ordered to retire, as will every corps of the army.

Any man firing, or quitting his post, without orders, must be put to instant death, as an example may be necessary.

All those found in arms in the enemy's country, shall be treated as enemies; but those who are peaceably following the pursuits of their various vocations, friends — and their property respected.

By order of the brigadier general,

Z. M. PIKE,
Charles G. Jones,
assistant aid-de-camp.

For the subsequent death of General Z.M. Pike, see Loss Severely Felt.

More Valuable Than Gold

Source [Neither Gold Nor Silver, But A Coin Of The Era]

"During the War of 1812, when silver was more valuable than gold, it was common for payments to be agreed upon in 'ounces of silver,' and its value being estimated in cash, payment was made by check."  Source: Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society