Tag: War of 1812
-
Capt. Percy’s Folly at Fort Bowyer
Young British Capt. William H. Percy found himself in dire straits on the afternoon of Sept. 15, 1814. His ship, the sixth rate class HMS Hermes, was mired for the second time that day on a sand bar in shoal water within 150 yards of Fort Bowyer near Mobile Bay, and the Americans…
-
The Red Stick Creeks and the Great Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812
Without exception every historical event has a backstory and several other backstories within it. That’s certainly true with many of the Native American stories that often fail to get told from their perspective. This is the story of the Red Creek Red Stick tribe decision making process when they joined in the War of 1812…
-
Governor Joseph Alston’s Record in the War of 1812
Joseph Alston was born in 1779 to a wealthy family in South Carolina. He attended the College of New Jersey, which was later renamed Princeton, but he never graduated. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, but he never practiced. He was a planter by trade and one of the wealthiest men…
-
U.S.S. Wasp – War of 1812 and the H.M.S. Reindeer
It’s important for those interested in the U.S.S. Wasp and its battles, to understand that when it comes to the naming of ships, the U.S.S. Wasp was not first ship to carry that name. In fact, it was actually the fifth ship to be named the Wasp (although internet searches will sometimes refer to it…
-
Impressment of American Seamen
Most lovers of naval history will already know that the British were famous or rather infamous, for the impressment of British seamen during the late eighteenth century well into the early nineteenth century. Few, however, will remember that impressment of American seamen is often cited as a major contributing factor to the War of 1812. Great…
-
Commemoration of a Hero: Jean Laffite and the Battle of New Orleans
Almost 200 years ago, privateer-smuggler Jean Laffite became a hero because he did something most people wouldn’t have done: in the face of extreme adversity, he had helped save New Orleans for the Americans, even though United States officers had destroyed his home base and seized his property a few months earlier. Sometimes incorrectly regarded…