United States in the War of 1812
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War of 1812 American State and Territory page links
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| President James Madison |
The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain began on June 18, 1812. It involved about 60,000 U.S. Army forces and 470,000 militia and volunteer troops.The War of 1812 has been referred to as the Second War for Independence
The war was conducted in three theatres
- At sea, principally the Atlantic Ocean and the east coast of North America
- The Great Lakes and the Canadian frontier
- The Southern states and southwestern territories
The War lasted 2 years and 8 months
- Henry Dearborn United States Secretary of War
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Henry Dearborn was the United States Secretary of War in the War of 1812. He prepared the plans for attacks on Montreal, Kingston, Fort Niagara, and Amherstburg, but it is thought he did not move quickly enough to provide enough troops in the defense of Detroit. He had successes at the capture of York on April 27, 1813, and for the capture of Fort George on May 27, 1813. He was recalled from the frontier on July 6, 1813 and was honorably discharged from the Army on June 15, 1815.
United States Army Commanders and leaders
| RANK AND NAME | INFORMATION | PHOTO |
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| General William Hull 1753-1825 | He is best remembered for surrendering Fort Detroit to the British,he surrendered Fort Detroit to General Isaac Brock on August 16, 1812 | 
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| Major General Andrew Jackson 1767-1845 | Along with his 5,000 soldiers he won a decisive victory against 7,500 British,in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8,1815. He became a national hero for his actions, he received the Congressional Gold Medal | 
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| Major General William Harrison 1773-1841 | He won victories in Indiana and Ohio and recaptured Detroit.He defeated the British at the Battle of the Thames, in which Tecumseh was killed he received the Congressional Gold Medal | 
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| Major General Samuel Smith 1752-1839 | He was the the Maryland Militia's state commander and devised the extensive dug-in fortifications on the east side of Balitmore in the Battle of Baltimore | 
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| Brigadier General Jacob Brown 1775-1828 | He was in the Battle of Sackett's Harbor on 29 May 1813. the captured Fort Erie in Ontario,and defeated the British the Battle of Chippawa and the Siege of Fort Erie in 1814, For which he received the Congressional Gold Medal. | 
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| Brigadier General James Winchester 1752-1826 | He commanded the American forces at the Battle of Frenchtown, which led to the Massacre of the River Raisin. | 
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| Brigadier General Zebulon Pike 1779-1813 | He commanded troops in the successful attack on York, on April 27, 1813.He was killed by flying rocks and other debris when the withdrawing British garrison blew up its ammunition magazine as he approached Fort York | 
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| Colonel George Croghan 1791-1849 | He was at the Battle of Fort Stephenson, Ohio after which he was promoted to the rank of colonel. He later led a troop that was defeated in the Battle of Mackinac Island.He received the Congressional Gold Medal. | 
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| Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott 1786-1866) | He was in command of an American landing party during the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812.He was taken POW,he was paroled and released in a prisoner exchange | 
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Betsy Doyle married Andrew Doyle, a private in the First United States Artillery Regiment. Private Doyle was with the U.S. forces when they invaded Upper Canada. He was captured in the Battle of Queenston and became a prisoner of war. He was recognized by his captors as a native of Upper Canada.He was sent to Dartmoor Prison for treason for the rest of the war,Betsy was left alone with her four children at Fort Niagara.On November 21, 1812 the British opened fire on Fort Niagara.During the exchange, Betsy carried red-hot cannonballs from a fire to the 6-pound cannon . But loading hot shot was difficult and dangerous. The hot iron could cause gunpowder to explode prematurely in the cannon, wounding or killing anyone nearby.Although one man was killed and five others wounded while loading hot shot, Betsy survived , and her bravery was mentioned in official reports.
The story of her actions spread quickly among officers stationed in the region. Fort Niagara’s Commandant, Col. George McFeely described a woman named Betsy Doyle attending a six pounder with “red hot shot” during “the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen. McFeely further related that Betsy Doyle acted with the fortitude of the Maid of Orleans, a reference to the 15th-century heroine, Joan of Arc.In December 1813, Betsy fled when the British invaded and captured Fort Niagara.In a four month journey Betsy and her children walked over 300 miles to the East Greenbush Cantonment near Albany, New York.
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| Betsy Doyle loading hot shots at Fort Niagara |
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| Map of American States and Territories in 1812 |
- United States Navy Ships in the War of 1812
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| Niagara, Detroit and Queen Charlotte at right |
The war on the water was a very important aspect of the War of 1812.When the United States declared war on Great Britain in June 1812, the U.S. Navy was an eighteen-year-old institution with a dozen ships. The Royal Navy was had around 140,000 seamen, 31,000 of whom were well trained marines. The U.S. Navy had about 5000 seamen and 1000 marines. But the U.S Navy was commanded by a corps of well trained and experienced officers. Many had seen action in the Quasi-War with France and against Tripoli.
United States Navy Commanders and leaders
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| Commodore Oliver Perry's battle flag |
| RANK AND NAME | INFORMATION | PHOTO |
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| Commodore Oliver Perry 1785-1818 | He fought in the Battle of Lake Erie.Which was a decisive naval victory for the Americans. His battle flag, was "DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP | 
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| Commodore John Rodgers 1772–1838 | He patrolled the waters off the American upper east coast. He commanded the USS President for most of the war, capturing 23 prizes, one of the most successful records in the conflict. | 
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| Commodore William Bainbridge 1774-1833 | He was appointed to command the USS Constitution, On 29 December 1812 the USS Constitution encountered the Java , the Java was surrendered to the Constitution. He received the Congressional Gold Medal | 
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| Commodore Stephen Decatur 1779-1820 | He was on the USS United States in the battle against HMS Macedonian. And on the The USS President when the HMS Endymion crippled her on 15 January 1815,which led to the President's final capture | 
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| Captain Arthur Sinclair 1780-1831 | He was in command of Argus and, between 12 October and 17 December 1812, cruised in Argus with the North Atlantic Squadron and took a number of prizes. | 
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| Captain Jacob Jones 1768-1850 | In March 1813 he was given command of the frigate USS Macedonian.He was sent to Lake Ontario, where he commanded the frigate USS Mohawk. | 
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| Captain Charles Stewart 1778–1869 | He commanded, Argus, Hornet, and Constellation. When the Constellation was closely blockaded in Norfolk by the British, he took command of Constitution at Boston in 1813 | 
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| Captain Jesse Elliott 1782-1845 | Was commander of American naval forces in Lake Erie during the War of 1812, noted for his controversial actions during the Battle of Lake Erie. | 
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| Captain James Lawrence 1781-1813 | He was Captain of the USS Chesapeake against the HMS Shannon. He is best known for his last words "Don't give up the ship!", which is still a naval battle cry | 
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| Captain James Barron 1768-1851 | He was Captain of the USS Chesapeake against the HMS Leopard. He is best known for his court martial for his actions in 1807, which led to the surrender of his ship to the British | 
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| Commodore Perry’s Victory on Lake Erie |
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In the war of 1812, USS Hornet was the first U.S. Navy ship to capture a British vessel,the Dolphin was captured by the Hornet on 9 July 1812 .On 14 November 1814, the Hornet sailed on a second raiding voyage to the South Atlantic. On 23 March 1815, she captured HMS Penguin in a short battle off Tristan da Cunha.
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On 19 August 1812, the USS Constitution encountered and fired upon the Guerriere. After the battle fifteen men had been killed, six were mortally wounded, 39 severely and eighteen slightly.The Guerriere was too badly damaged to take in, so as soon as the wounded had been taken off, she was set on fire. On the 29th December 1812 the USS Constitution encountered the Java ,after a long battle the Java was surrendered to the Constitution.The Java was not worth taking as a prize. Instead her helm was removed and installed it on Constitution, replacing the one that had been shot away. Two days after the battle,the order was given to set fire to the Java she subsequently blew up.
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On 25 October 1812 the USS United States met the HMS Macedonian,there was long battle after which ,the Macedonian was a dismasted hulk and was forced to surrender.She had suffered 104 casualties against 12 in the USS United States. The Macedonian was bought back to the United States. It was the first British warship to ever be brought into an American harbor.
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On 17 October 1812,the President captured the British ship the Swallow, which carried a large amount of currency on board.In that time USS Congress captured the merchant ship Argo. The Congress and President remained together, but did not find any ships to capture during November. Returning to the United States, they arrived in Boston on 31 December, having taken nine prizes.The President and Congress were both blockaded there by the Royal Navy until April 1813. The HMS Endymion crippled the USS President on 15 January 1815, which led to the President's final capture.
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In January 1813, the Constellation was effectively blockaded by a British squadron of line of battle ships and frigates.After moving toward Norfolk, twice a force of British estimated to number 2,000 men, tried to take the Constellation by surprise in the night but on each occasion they were discovered and closely watched by her guard boats, the British never made the attack on the USS Constellation.
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While in Boston the Congress and the President were blockaded by the Royal Navy, they slipped through the blockade on 30 April 1813 and put to sea for their third cruise of the war. On 2 May they pursued HMS Curlew but she out ran them and escaped. Congress parted company with President on the 8th May and patrolled off the Cape Verde Islands and the coast of Brazil. She captured four small British merchant ships during this period and returned to the Portsmouth Navy Yard for repairs in late 1813.
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On 1 June 1813, the USS Chesapeake met the HMS Shannon.After only 15 minutes of firing the Shannon 's crew pulled down Chesapeake 's flag and USS Chesapeake was captured.There was between 48–61 killed and 85–99 wounded.
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On the 29 April 1814 he USS Peacock under the command of Master Commandant Lewis Warrington, captured her first prize, the British brig Epervier, which she sent to Savannah.Than on 30 June 1814, she captured the 16-gun brig Nautilus under the command of Lieutenant Charles Boyce
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On 28 June 1814, the USS Wasp came upon the 18-gun HMS Reindeer some 225 miles west of Plymouth, England, and brought her to battle. The fight lasted only 19 minutes the Wasp suffered six hits in her hull, and some of her rigging was shot away, but she remained sailable.After taking prisoners on board, and setting fire to the Reindeer, they watch her explode.The USS Wasp carried out two successful raiding voyages against British trade during the summer of 1814, fought and defeated three British warships. Wasp was lost, cause unknown, in the Atlantic in early autumn, 1814.
Sources
- War of 1812 Interactive Timeline
- Wikipedia - War of 1812
- War of 1812 - An American Perspective on the War of 1812
- Americas Library.gov - Second War of American Independence
- War of 1812 - Naval Battleships in the War of 1812
- Georgian Index - The American Navy and Great Britain in the War of 1812
- Wikipedia - The Star Spangled Banner
- National Society Daughters of War of 1812
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