Saturday, April 30, 2016

David Beard, Contracting Agent



Source

Governor and judges journal: proceedings of the Land board of Detroit:

"David Beard was a contracting agent for the army at Detroit as early as 1810. He also served in the war of 1812, Augustus Porter Esq., of New York State, being the contractor. In 1814 Beard had removed to New York to live and gave testimony in Hull's trial. During his residence in Detroit he purchased Peter Curry's farm, private claim 340."


Source

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Too Far To Detroit



Swamp Land Between Wapakoneta And Detroit

Letter book of the Indian Agency at Fort Wayne, 1809-1815. ... v.21 1961. United States (original is held in the University of Michigan's Clements Library).



The Shawnees were settled at Wapakoneta (Ohio) and would have preferred to collect their annuities from Fort Wayne (Indiana) or Chicago (Illinois).

Sunday, April 24, 2016

The Unoffending Citizens Of Canada




The Official letters of the military..., included what were most likely General Pike's last orders:


[Excerpt from the BRIGADE ORDER]

Courage and bravery in the field do not more distinguish the soldier, than humanity after victory; and whatever examples the savage allies of our enemies may have given us, the general confidently hopes, that the blood of an unresisting or yielding enemy, will never stain the weapons of the soldiers of his column.

The unoffending citizens of Canada are many of them our own countrymen, and the poor Canadians have been forced into the war. Their property, therefore, must be held sacred; and any soldier who shall so far neglect the honour of his profession as to be guilty of plundering the inhabitants, shall, if convicted, be punished with death.  But the commanding general assures the troops, that should they capture a large quantity of public stores, he will use his best endeavours to procure them a reward from his government.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Value Of The Dismal Swamp Canal


Dismal Swamp On The Map (Google)

Source

The canal proved to be of great value in the war of 1812 as a means of transporting war supplies, free from the danger of capture by the enemy's cruisers.



Thursday, April 14, 2016

Allan McLean Was A Witness



Title: War of 1812: Board of Claims for Losses, 1813-1848..(t-1126):




Image 328 McLean witness


Monday, April 11, 2016

Captain Of The Irish Greens



"...James Maher, well known for a considerable period as State Librarian, and in the War of 1812 as the gallant Captain of the "Irish Greens," a military company originating in Albany and which bore a prominent part in the famous conflict at Sackett's Harbor." [Source]


Source

James Maher's 1819 letter to John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War, regarding the military company he formed (Fold3):

Fold3: Military Records


Thursday, April 7, 2016

Job Wood



From the REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ...:


April 7, 1832

Petition of Job Wood

That the said Wood enlisted into the United States army on the 8th of February, 1813, to serve during the war; That from the records of the War Department it appears the said Wood, on the 30th of April 1814, belonged to Lieutenant [George] Helmbold's roll of invalids at Greenbush, and on the 30th of June, 18l4, he is returned as belonging to Capt. Fuller's detachment of invalids at Pittsfield.... .

Monday, April 4, 2016

Post Office Service In Albany During The War


Source [Albany City Directory]

The post-office in Albany has been located in different places.

During the war of 1812, in this old corner was a drugstore, kept by Jacob Mancius, and in the rear of it, in a room seven by nine, was kept the city post-office. The postmaster employed but one clerk, who attended the drug store and assisted in opening and putting up mails, and the delivery of letters and papers. During the season of river navigation, sailing vessels brought the mails to and from New York City. In the winter they were conveyed by land carriage. The post-office was a one-horse concern; but then, as now, everybody was anxious to learn the latest news.  [Source]