The War of 1812-Understudied, Misunderstood, by William H. Whire irh the introduction to this series in the last issue of Sea History, we announced we would be printing several articles abour the War of 1812 throughout the bicentennial of the war, which lasted through the end of 18 14. Two hundred years have passed between the tensions that led to the declaration of war in June of 1812 and now; 201 2 will be on us before we know ir. A host of wonderful commemorative events to celebrate the bicentennial a re being planned throughout the United States and Canada, many of which wi ll be quite spectacular and sure to draw large crowds. What better way to enjoy these celebrations more fully than to know more about what they are commemorating! Sea History will help you learn more about this defining time in our nation's history, and, even if you think yo u already know a lot abo ut it, there's sure to be some angle, detail, or analysis you may not have come across before. Articles in this and upcoming issues of Sea History will cover both an overview of the war by year and will rake a closer look at specific events important to gaining a better understanding of the conflict. In addition to the quarterly issues of Sea History, look for the Guide to the War of1812 and its Bicentennial, which will be published by Sea History Press next fall. While in the last issue we offered a general overview of the war as a whole, let's now rake a look at the first yea r- h alf-year, actually, as it did not start until the middle of June 1812. In the years leading up to 1812, the country was becoming increasingly frustrated with England over a number of issues: they had not left the Northwest frontier (think Michigan) as required by the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolution; they were inciting the Indians to attack settlers in those regions and along the border with Canada; they continued to restrict our maritime commerce, and, perhaps most infuriating, still impressed our seamen into the Royal Navy. The attitude of the British Admiralty and, indeed, the British citizenry, was "once an Englishman, always an Englishman." Where you made your domicile mattered not a whit! One event, which had been festering in the minds of the people for four long years, was called the Chesapeake/Leopard Affair. In June of 1807, a 50-gun British ship, HMS Leopard, attempted to stop USS Chesapeake at sea as she passed the Virginia Capes en route to the Mediterranean . When the American ship, carrying Commodore James Barron, refused to heave to, Leopard fired into her, killing four and wo unding many others-including the commodore. A British boarding parry then removed fo ur supposedly English sailors (as it turned out, only one was actually a British citizen) and departed, leaving Chesapeake to limp back to Norfolk. This event, exacerbated by the lengthy resolution to it, was certainly at the forefront of the American mindser. The mid-Atlantic states felt that the Madison administration should do something about ir, but the New England states wanted no part of a war-rhey understood that another war would negatively impact rheir own trade and, thus, their pocketbooks. As more settlers were beginning to head to the western states-Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee-their representatives in Congress, Henry C lay and John Calhoun, led a contingent they called "Warhawks" and advocated both western and northern expan sion. Western: not so much of a problem-mostly empty land and only a few Indians to deal with. Northern: not so good , as it was still a colony of Great Britain and was occupied by people who were sure to resent American incursions-as would the English! That said, the Warhawks reasoned, if rhe United States were to annex Canada, it would make a great bargaining chip to offer in exchange for the things we really want! As yo u will learn in the pages of Sea History, it didn't work out the way Clay and company expected. So, let us rake a look at the events occurring shortly after the declaration of war, 18 June 1812.
Year One-1812 General Isaac Brock id-July, 1812: General William Hull left Fort Detroit with the American Northwestern Army, crossed the Detroit River, and landed near Windsor, Ontario. He had under his command some two thousand soldiers, both "regular" Army and local militia; sadly, none were experienced and certainly none wanted to be there. Hull's orders and hence, his intentions, were to invade Canada. His was the western part of a three-pronged attack, a plan conceived by General Henry Dearborn, a relic from the War of Independence. Hull, another relic of that war, had served as governor of the Michigan Territory. He was fifty-nine and in less than robust health. Additionally, he had, in the thirty years following the American Revolution, lost his taste for fighting in
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any arena beyond the political. But orders were orders and, even before the war was officially declared, he set off with his army from Ohio. He arrived at the M aumee (now the Miami) River at the end of June and hired a schooner to take his baggage, papers, and supplies to Derroir. While he was not aware that the war had actually begun, the British had learned of it and, as his hired ship passed Fort Malden, they captured it and, with it, his correspondence, orders, and norations on the strength of his army, thus learning his intentions, as well as vital information on the condition of his "army." Ignorant of chis turn of events, Hull pressed on , marching (riding) with his army. En route, he learned that the country was at war with England, and he lingered SEA HISTORY 134 SPRING 2011