DECK LOG Supporting Scholarship We all appreciate the lure of the lore-a good sto ry. I love the story of Major General Sir Edward Pakenham, brother-in-law of Admiral Wellington, who was put in charge of British forces in the Americas in 1814. His horse was shot from under him during the Battle of New Orleans; he was wounded and died and sent home in a barrel of rum . The story goes that one of his relatives exclaimed that at least he returned in better spirits than when he left. Ir's a great tale, but there's a difference between popular history and scholarly research. Because so much depends on history, we n eed genuine scholarship- the questioning, analysis, research, and good writing-that gives us an accurate view of our past. Parr of what yo u support as a m ember of NMHS is the sponsorship of educational conferences and projects. Not only do you support them, but yo u can participate in them. We use the pages of Sea H istory and our website www. seahistory.org to let you know abo ut them in advance and share with you what was covered when they are concluded. From Enemies to Allies: International Conference on the War of 1812 and its Aftermath This pas t June, Maryland's Star Spangled 200 program hos ted an international conference of 200 scholars at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis to better understand the significance of the War of 1812 and the lessons it can teach us. Conference participants go t to hear presentations by top 1812 scholars from Canada, Great Britain, and the United States, including Andrew Lam bert, Donald G raves, Don Hickey, William Dudley, James Bradford, and Michael Crawford, on topics such as privateering, slavery, Native Americans , military strategy, American generals, ethics, diplomacy, and impress ment. Highlights of the conference included a welcome from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, a tour of the special exhibit The Naval Wtzr of 18 12 with William Koch, who lent his collection for the exhibit, a tour of the always impress ive US Naval Academy Museum with senior curator James C heevers, and a day's outing with Fort McHenry park ranger Vince Vaise. He escorted us to the sites of the 181 4 battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star Spangled Banner and to the home of Mary Pickersgill , who sewed the massive 15-star, 15-srri pe flag that flew over the fort. Star Spangled 200 is a spectacular commemoration of Maryland's bicentennial and a model for other states to follow as they explore their own histories. The commemorations will conclude with the Star Fort McHenry Park Ranger Vince Vaise Spangled Spectacular on 6-16 September 2014 describes the British attack on the fort. in Baltimore to celebrate the 200 'h anniversary of the attack on Fort McHenry and the writing of what would becom e rhe national anthem on 14 September. Updates on this and other events commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812 can be found online on our website or at www.starspangled200 .org. 1O'h Maritime Heritage Conference O ver 500 historians and scholars are expected to gather in Norfolk, Virginia, on 17-2 1 September 201 4 to exchange information , inspire new directions, and build opportunities for cooperative proj ects. Visit our website to keep informed: www.seahistory.org. -Burchenal Green, President 4
NATIONAL MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBUSHER'S C IRCLE: Peter Aron, G uy E. C. Maidand, Ron ald L. Oswald OFFICERS & TRUSTEES: Chaim1an, Ron ald L. Oswald; Vice Chairman, Ri chardo R. Lopes; President, Burchenal Green; Vice Presidents, Deirdre O'Regan, Wendy Paggiotta, Nan cy Schnaars; Treasurer, H oward Slotnick; Secretary, Jea n Wort; Trustees: C harl es B. Anderson; Walter R. Brown; RADM Joseph F. Callo, USNR (Rer. ); Thomas Daly; W illi am S. Dudl ey; David S. Fowler; W illiam Jackson Green; Karen Helmerso n; Robert Kamm; Richard M. Larrabee; G uy E. C. Maidand; Capt. Brian McAllister; CAPT Sally C hin McElwrea th , USNR (Ret.); James J. McNamara; Michael W. Morrow; Richard Patrick O 'Leary; Timothy J. Runyan; Richard Scara no; Philip J. Shapiro; Bradford D. Smirh; Cesare Sorio; Phi lip J. Webster; Daniel W. Whal en; Trustee Elect: Roberta Weisbrod; Chairmen Emeriti: Walter R. Brown, Alan G. Choate, Guy E. C. Maitland, Howard Slotnick; President Emeritus, Peter Stanford FOUNDER: Karl Kortum (1917- 1996) OVERSEERS: Chairman, RADM David C. Brown, USMS (Rer.); C live Cussler; Richard du Moul in; Alan D. Hutchiso n; Jakob lsbrandtsen; Gary Jobso n; Sir Robin Knox-Johnsro n; John Lehman; H. C. Bowen Smith; John Stobart; W illiam H. W hi te; W il liam W in terer NM H S ADVISORS: Chairman, M elbourne Smith ; D. K. Abbass, George Bass, Oswald Brett, Francis ]. Duffy, John Ewald, Timorhy Foote, W ill iam G ilkerso n, Steve n A. H yman, J. Russell Jin ishian, Gunnar Lund eberg, Co nrad M ilster, W illi am G. Muller, Stuart Parnes, Lori Dillard Rech, Nancy Hughes Richardso n, Bert Rogers, Joyce Huber Sm ith SEA HISTORY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD : Chairman, Timothy ]. Runyan; No rman J. Brouwer, Robert Browning, W illi am S. Dud ley, Daniel Finamore, Kevin Foster, John Odin Jensen, Joseph F. Meany, Lisa No rling, Ca rl a Ral111 Phi ll ips, Walter Rybka, Q uentin Snediker, W illiam H. W hi te NMH S STAF F: Executive Director, Burchenal Gree n; Membership Director, Na ncy Sch naars; Marketing Director, Steve Lovass-Nagy; Accounting, Peter Yozzo; Volunteer Coordinator, Jane Maurice; Executive Administrative Assistant, Kell ey H oward; Development Associate, Susan C hitwood SEA HISTORY: Editor, D eirdre O'Regan; Advertising, We ndy Paggiotra; Copy Editor, Shell ey Reid; Editor-at-Large, Peter Stanford Sea History is printed by The Lane Press, So uth Burlingwn , Vermont.
SEA HISTORY 144, AUTUMN 2013