~ Open Invitation To All U.S. Daughters of 1812 ~

A Quarterly Journal Devoted to 1812 Bicentennial Commemorative Events [2012 2015]

April 27, 2013

VOL 2, NO. 2 State of New York, April 1, 2013 FREE

Battle of York Commemoration

SCHEDULE OFEVENTS

April 27, 2013New York City

Battle of York Commemoration

Location: Toronto, ONRe-Dedication of Plaque Honoring Zebulon Pike

Originally Dedicated by theUnited States Daughters of 1812 Society,

Placed at Fort York in 1934 (today called Toronto)

The ceremony will be at 3 pm on Saturday, April 27th. At that time our plaque and onecreated by Canadian women will be re-dedicated and a new plaque honoring the First

Nations participation at the Battle of York will be dedicated. Prior to the ceremony therewill be the Presentation of Colors and a Military parade in front of Legislative Assembly at

Queens Park.

Headquarter Hotel for Battle of York Commemoration -Delta Chelsea Hotel

33 Gerrard Street WestToronto M5G 1Z4

Room block is under “Battle of York Commemoration” (rate = $79/night) Our Society will be represented U.S.D. of 1812, President National,

Ginger Apyar

~ Open Invitation To All U.S. Daughters of 1812 ~

April 27, 2013NYC - Blockhouse Commemoration

Commemoration of the War of 1812 - The Blockhouse

Location: Central Park, The North WoodsReception: Home of Peter Hein & Anne Farley

The Blockhouse is located on a cliff in the North Woods of Central Park, and is most easilyaccessed from the West Drive. We recommend that you enter the park at West 106th or108th Streets, and follow the foot path to the West Drive. Turn right onto the West Drive;walk south/east and then exit the Drive to your left onto the paved footpath to theBlockhouse as marked below. Note that the ground is somewhat uneven and there is noseating at the Blockhouse. We recommend comfortable shoes. Reception Speaker andDinner to follow.

Cost is $75 pp, payable in advance by check to the NYS Daughters USD 1812. Kindly makeyour reservation ASAP with anne.farley@gmail.com and remit payment to be received byApril 20. Also see column, top right (this page).

Our Society will be represented U.S.D. of 1812, NYS State PresidentJan Johnpier

May 29, 2013Sackets Harbor, New York

The Blockhouse is most easilyaccessed from the West Drive,

Central Parksee instructions lower left, front page...

Reception Speaker: Samuel Watson,Associate Professor in the

Department of History at West Pointwhere he teaches American and

Military History.

Dinner Arrangements: A specialgroup dinner has been arranged at

Da Tommaso, 903 Eighth Ave.,between 53rd and 54th St.’s. Themenu is 3 choices for appetizer(salads, soup or polenta), maincourse (pasta, chicken, veal or

salmon), and various desserts, alongwith red and white wine.

Cost is $75 pp, payable in advance bycheck to the NYS Daughters, USD

1812.

Watch for updates:www.sacketsharborbattlefield.org

schedule.htm

DAY LONG EVENTSMay 29th -“The War of 1812

Archeology and Sackets Harbor”exhibition Grand Opening, Hall House

May 29th - Postal envelope &stamp issue, “2nd Battle of

Sackets Harbor” - 200th anniversary

May 29th (1pm) - CentennialMonument re-dedication and ‘Field

of Honor’ display

May 29th - Annual meeting of theBattlefield Alliance / Historical Society

“Archeology and the SecondBattle of Sackets Harbor: Why the

Militia Deserves its Due,” presenta-tion by Matt Kirk, funded by the New

York Council for the Humanities see page four for details...

Pictures of both events will follow in the next issue of our Bicentennial Informer!

2013 SPRINGEVENTS

Oswego War of 1812Symposium

11 Noteworthy Speakers,Two days - April 6 & 7

Oswego, NYNew Convention Center, 26 E.

First Street, Oswego, NYSee last page of this newsletter

for full schedule.

Cross Border Observance/Battle of YorkApril 27, 2013

Anniversary of the Battle of York(Toronto), details on front page...

NYC BlockhouseCommemoration

April 27thdetails on front page...

The War of 1812: Songs &Stories of New York

As part of Warren CountyBicentennial 2013

May 9th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm,details at this website link:

www.crandallibrary.org

War of 1812: Weather InfluenceMay 15th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm,

details at this website link: http://www.bechs.org/Visit/Event-

Details.aspx?id=321&type=events

Battle of Fort GeorgeMay 27, 2013,

details to right...

Re-Dedication Ceremony,Sackets HarborMay 29, 2013,

details on page four (and rightcolumn, front page)...

War of 1812 RemembranceJune 9, 2013 at noon,

Contact Cheektowago HIstoricalMuseum for specifics:

716-684-6544

Battle of Fort George and Burning of Newark

On May 27, 1813, the U.S. succeeded in taking control of Fort George, located across the riverfrom Fort Niagara in Newark (present day Niagara-on-the-Lake). Later that year, most of theregular American soldiers there were redeployed to Sackets Harbor to take part in an attackagainst Montreal. On December 10, General George McClure learned of a British advance,and decided his position at Fort George was untenable. He hastily evacuated his troops to FortNiagara, and the village of Newark was burned. The burning of Newark was the pretext for theBritish to carry out similar outrages later. http://www.seawaytrail.com/warof1812/

BATTLE OF FORT GEORGE RE-ENACTMENTMay 27, 2013

1812 DAUGHTERS: If you attend aWar of 1812 Special

Commemorative Event or Re-enactment during the

Bicentennial Years [2012-2015],please send your article and

photos toharborside@twcny.rr.com so wemay include the information in

our new “Bicentennial Informer”.Thank you in advance!

WANTED:Your Articles & Photos

The new Tuscarora Heroes Commemorative coins help with monument expenses

Keepsake coin to honorTuscaroras, raise funds

for monument

The 2-inch coin depicts two Tuscarora warriors aiding a female villager with child awayfrom the British attackers in 3-D relief on the front and the emblem of the Tuscarora

Nation on the reverse. The Nation’s emblem shows native symbols of the turtle, NorthernWhite Pine tree and an eagle across the face of the sun along with a six-striped belt

overlaying a totem pole to represent each nation in the Iroquois Confederacy. The coinsare available for $10 each. All proceeds from the coins slaes will go to the TuscaroraHeroes Monument project, which he called, “the largest War of 1812 bicentennial

monument project in the United States.” It will be unveiled December 19, 2013. Completearticle details are found at this link: http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/

article?AID=%2F20130302%2FCITYANDREGION%2F130309785%2F1003

To order the coin, contact the Lewiston Museum at 716-754-4214. The coins can be paidfor over the phone and shipped for an additional $4 fee or picked up at the Plain Streetmuseum. Checks may also be made payable to the “Historical Association of Lewiston

Inc.” and sent to the museum at 469 Plain St., Lewiston, NY 14092.

Battles at Stoney Creek andBeaver Dam in 1813

April 17, 2013The Buffalo History Museum, NY,

details at this website:buffalohistory.org/Visit/Event-

Details.aspx?id=314&type=events

May 25 & May 26, 2013 - Battle of Fort George:This major battle re-enactment on the 200thanniversary is being coordinated by Parks Canadaon Saturday May 25th in Niagara-on-the-Lake. TheFort is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm withdemonstrations and activities happening throughoutthe day!! Regular admission rates to the Fort apply.The major battle re-enactment of the weekend (“TheBattle of Fort George”) will take place on the TownCommons just out side Fort George.Over 800 re-enactors are expected for this major re-enactment which will take place on theCommons. Free for the public to watch the battle. Following the battle, an evening Show takesplace at 8:00 pm on May 25 called the Bombardment of Fort George.The show starts at 8:30 pmand features a artillery barrage, pyrotechnics, and fireworks inside the fort, all set to music. Itwill give the illusion of Fort George being set on fire. There will be a charge with tickets availablein advance from Parks Canada.May 26th Sunday there will be another battle re-enactment inside the fort at 2;00 pm. Regularadmission rate apply. For more information: ont-niagara@pc.gc.ca Call 905-468-6614

May 27th. There will be a special memorial service for the fallen during the battle of FortGeorge on the exact 200th anniversary. Details to be announced. Call 905-468-6614

The above information was located at this public internet site: http://www.niagaraonthelake1812.ca/2013-s13331

American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive of the Congress of the United States; Part 5, Volume 1

The battle of York (27 April 1813) was one of the first American victories on land during the War of 1812. The originalAmerican plan for 1813 had called for an attack on the port of Kingston, the main British naval base on Lake Ontario, butMajor Henry Dearborn, the American commander-in-chief for the invasion of Canada, felt that Kingston was too strong tobe his first target for the year. Instead he decided to attack York (modern Toronto), on the north western shore of the lake.Two British ships were known to be based at York, and there was another 30 gun ship under construction, and Dearbornbelieved that the destruction of these ships would threaten British control of the lake.

York was then the capital of Upper Canada but despite this it was a poorly defended town. It had been intended to build afort around Government House. This stood on a triangular point of land west of the town where Garrison Creek ran intoLake Ontario. By 1813 very little work had been carried out. A “grand magazine” had been built, as had a semi-circularearthwork battery containing two 12-pdr guns, known as the Government Battery. 600 yards further west was anotherbattery containing two elderly 18-pdr guns minus their mountings.

The town was garrisoned by two companies from the 8th Regiment, a company sized detachment from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, a company of theGlengarry Light Infantry Fencibles and 300 dockyard workers and militia, including a number of men from the 3rd York Militia Regiment, a total of 700 men,supported by 50-100 Mississauga and Chippewa Indians. At the time of the attack Sir Roger Sheaffe was present at York, and took command of the defence.

The American expedition was under the overall command of General Dearborn. A fleet of fifteen boats under the command of Commodore Chauncey leftSackett’s Harbour on 25 April, carrying 1,700 troops, amongst them a number of riflemen under Major Forsyth and a force of regular infantry under BrigadierGeneral Zebulon Pike.

The American fleet appeared off York during the afternoon of 26 April. Sheaffe correctly assumed that the Americans would land west of the town, anddispatched the Indians and a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry to the site of an old French fort, where he believed the landings would be made. Strongwinds pushed the American boats past this area, and they landed a mile further to the west early on 27 April. General Pike took command of the landings, whileDearborn remained on the boats.

The British response was not well organised. The Glengarry Light Infantry had got lost in the woods, so the initial attack was made by the small number ofIndians, who were unable to prevent the Americans from seizing some high ground near the lake. Sheaffe then made a series of counterattacks, feeding hisunits in piecemeal, starting with the grenadier company of the 8th Regiment. The Americans were able to defeat each of these attacks, and push the Britishback to the western battery.

Three hours after the first landings the fighting was concentrated around this battery. The British then suffered a disaster when the battery’s magazineexploded, killing 20 and wounding many more. One of the two guns was knocked out. General Pike was then able to move his own guns into place, and hadsoon captured the battery.

The British had now lost 62 dead and 94 wounded, and General Sheaffe decided to pull his regulars out of York, leaving the militia behind to surrender thetown. To modern eyes this looks rather callous, but in fact standard practise at this time was for defeated militiamen to be released on parole to return to theirhomes on the condition that they did not take any further part in the fighting until they had been officially “exchanged”, normally for a similar number of enemymilitia who had also been paroled. In contrast the regulars were more likely to be seized as prisoners of war.

Before leaving, Sheaffe ordered the destruction of the 30-gun ship then under construction, the naval storehouse and the main magazine at governmenthouse. The flags were left flying over Government House. General Pike and his brigade were closing in on the abandoned British position when the magazineexploded, sending huge stones flying into the American troops. Thirty eight men were killed instantly and another 222 injured. Amongst them was GeneralPike, who later died of his wounds. This dramatically increased the cost of the American victory – in the earlier fighting they had only suffered 60 casualties.

General Dearborn was now forced to come ashore and take direct command. In an unjustified if understandable rage he refused to negotiate surrender termswith the militia officers until the following day. He then signed a capitulation that guaranteed the safety private property but allowed for the seizure of allgovernment property. This later caused a certain amount of controversy when General Sheaffe’s property was seized – in his eyes it was his private property,but the Americans didn’t see it that way. Evidence about the behaviour of the Americans in York is mixed, but it would seem that if any looting did go on onlyempty private properties were attacked. The Parliament Buildings were burnt on 30 April, possibly by American sailors acting without official authority.Dearborn did order the destruction of the remaining military buildings in York and the Government House on 1 May before the departure of the expedition.

The original plan had been for the troops from York to cross directly to the Niagara front, to take part in the attack on Fort George. Poor weather delayed theircrossing until 8 May, when they reached Fort Niagara, on the American side of the border. The attack itself was then delayed until later in the month, so the fleetunder Commodore Chauncey returned to Sackett’s Harbour.

The information above was taken from the following public internet site; http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_york_1813.html

Battle of York, April 27, 2013Zebulon Montgomery Pike

NEW YORK RAID / BATTLE HISTORY TIMELINE~ 1813 ~

July 5, Raid on Fort Schlosser, leftJuly 11, Raid of Black Rock, right

July 20, Battle of Cranberry Creek/Goose Creek, aboveJuly 29, Plattsburg

Location: north side of Swan Hollow Road, Alexandria, NY,within Cranberry Creek Wildlife Management Area, siteestablished by D.A.R. to commemorate American and Britishsoldiers buried in the area during the War of 1812 battle.

War of 1812 Heritage TalksFri. & Sat., April 26 & 27, 2013

Location: Ogdensburg, NYSponsored by The Fort La Présentation

The Fort La Présentation Association offers a varied fare froma wide geography for those interested in the War of 1812.From the Midwest to the Atlantic Coast, militia, regulars,

religion and women, Native allies, the navy and privateersbarely define the seminars offered by our eight American and

Canadian Speakers. In 2013, the Fort is forgoing the closingbanquet and dinner speaker for networking and more display

opportunities. Presenters are shown to the right and alsolisted on the website.

For complete details or questions...Website:

www.fort1749.org/war-of-1812-lecturesPhone:

(315) 394-1749

OGDENSBURG, NY (7 March 2013) – The War of 1812 Heritage Talks in Ogdensburg, NY April 26-27, 2013 is broadeningits appeal with lower fees for students and Municipal Historians.

The cost for the eight Saturday seminars, which includes a continental breakfast and a buffet lunch, is $60 for studentsand Municipal Historians. The general fee for the heritage talks is $80. Members of the Fort La Présentation Association,the Canadian Friends and Forsyth’s Rifles pay $70. The Friday evening meet and greet with hors d’œuvres is $10.

An increasing number of people are discovering the War of 1812 had an impact on Northern New York, so the Fort LaPrésentation Association is reaching out to individuals who may not otherwise be able to attend heritage seminars.

”The quality of speakers and the diversity of their subjects has earned us a loyal following,” said Barbara O’Keefe,President of the Fort La Présentation Association. “However, we really want to attract more people from the NorthCountry because so much happened here that really did impact the war.”

The historians and educators speaking this year cover topics ranging from the mid-West to the Atlantic Coast, discussingwomen, religion, privateers, navy, battles, Indians allies and more.

”We were the first off the mark five years ago when we began our annual heritage talks, but War of 1812 symposia havemultiplied since bicentennial commemorations began,” said Mrs. O’Keefe. “With the help of the Canadian Friends of Fortde La Présentation, we have succeeded in attracting well-known speakers to Ogdensburg.”

According to Mrs. O’Keefe, people attending for the first time will be surprised at the prominent role of the St. LawrenceRiver and the opportunities missed here for a final American victory.

Detailed information at http://www.fort1749.org/

Look for additional programs in 2013 in Sackets Harbor by visiting www.sacketsharborbattlefield.org.

Re-Dedication of the Centennial Monument -Sackets Harbor, NY

Location: Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic SitePrice: Free Admission

Re-dedication of the Centennial Monument and 'Field of Honor' display. Postal envelope and stamp issue, 2nd Battle ofSackets Harbor, 200th Anniversary.

Our Society will be represented by U.S.D. of 18124th Vice President National, Jacque-Lynne Schulman

Also in Attendance: Historian National, Mary Raye Casper; NY State President, Jan Johnpier; and Officers of the State of New York Society

Re-Dedication of the Centennial MonumentMay 29, 2013

~ Open Invitation To All U.S. Daughters of 1812 ~~ Open Invitation To All U.S. Daughters of 1812 ~

Pictures of this event will follow in the next issue of our Bicentennial Informer!

Test your knowledge on theWar of 1812. Visit

www.warof1812.ca/1812quiz.htm for two quizzesavailable online. Good Luck!

QUIZ FUN:War of 1812 “Murray’s Raid” of 200 summers ago caused destruction in

Plattsburgh and a cancellation of worship Sunday, Aug. 1,1813, for Presbyterians, according to church records.Zebulon Pike’s empty U.S. Army cantonment was completelyburned in that raid. Found at public internet site: http://pressrepublican.com/0200_opinion/x1525008781/Letters-to-the-Editor-Jan-26-2013#sthash.lD2mA eZI.dpuf.

Lectures, demonstrations, exhibits, battlefield tours & educational programming by local, state, and nationalhistorians focusing on the War of 1812, with emphasis on the Northern Frontier!

The British navy was the biggest inthe world at the time, with more

than 600 ships. How many did theU.S. Navy have?

Fun Fact:

ANSWER: Only 18 sailable ships.It’s no wonder Britain didn’t take the

war seriously at first.