200 years ago today

[David Thorpe]

Most Americans (except for those residing in northwest New York state), have indeed forgotten about the War of 1812.

Many in Ohio, especially the northwest corner, would take issue with that statement. Oliver Hazard Perry is pretty much a household name in those parts.

The remnants of the original nations of the area, now mostly in Oklahoma, will likely never forget either. The end of British rule in the Northwest Territory removed the last barrier to their forced-march "relocation" from their ancestral homelands to "Indian Territory". Tecumseh is a fairly well-known name here too.

[federkeil]

I didn't realize "victory" was Canadian for draw.

We got what we wanted, you didn't. Sounds like winning to me

[MacMillans son]

Steady lads, we don't need a 200 year online reenactment

[Woodsheal]

Steady lads, we don't need a 200 year online reenactment

My online musket needs a new flint...!

[chewse]

Surprisingly I listened to NPR today with historians talking about the war of 1812. I must have been sleeping in history class but I didn't remember the facts. From what I could deduce from the dialogue, the war boiled down to the fact that the USA wanted to expand into Canada. I had no idea. I now need to find a book on the war to truly understand what was going on at the time.

[Riverkilt]

Had a three great grandfather from Maryland that served and was given a land grant in Indiana for that service. Had another multi-great grandfather who lived in upstate New York and when British troops marched past on the road in front of his farmhouse he got out his musket and fired into their ranks. The British unit turned and killed him very very dead. Fortunately his son, whom I'm descended from, was not hit. I readily identify with such impulsiveness...must have been genetic.

I'm surprised there's not more interest in the War of 1812.

[McClef]

Here are links to a couple of photos that are a memorial of that war from the Niagara region.


http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/ph...91c9b677fb002/

http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/photo/23/

http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/ph...c717edf827511/

[Singlemalt]

Here are links to a couple of photos that are a memorial of that war from the Niagara region.


http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/ph...91c9b677fb002/

http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/photo/23/

http://www.fotothing.com/cleftref/ph...c717edf827511/

Thanks for the photos, Brock's Monument at the site of the Battle of Queeston Heights is an icon of Canadian history. Brock's name is known to every Canadian schoolchild as the saviour of Upper Canada for his bold action and decisiveness in the face of the American invasion. He was a General in the regular British army but the story of Queenston Heights has a Scottish connection as well. Brock was killed early in the battle during an assault on the American position o the Heights. Battlefield command fell to his Aid-De-Camp John Macdonell who though born in Scotland, emigrated to Canada as a small boy, and led Canadian militia units. He was later also killed in the battle after a brave assault on fortified American positions. While Brock's name is associated with countless roads, schools, public buildings even a University across Canada, sadly Macdonell is not remembered, though he is also buried at the base of the monument with Brock.

However, his story is not un-sung as the folk singer Stan Rogers remembered him in his song MacDonell on the Heights in which the chorus laments "not one in ten thousand knows your name".

[creagdhubh]

steady lads, we don't need a 200 year online reenactment

***

[Baldybrown]

After the War of 1812 there was the almost war from the 'Pig incident' in the San Juan Islands. If that spark had flared, the Civil War may have had a different conclusion.