The Frontier Soldier

"On the second day of  our march, a courier arrived from General Harrison ordering the artillery to advance with all possible speed.  This was impossible in all the snow, and swampy terrain.  That evening news arrived that General Harrison had retreated to Portage River.  As many men as could went to re-enforce him.  We struck up camp at 2 am.  I confess that on that day I regretted being a soldier.  We marched 30 miles under constant rain.  In the best of the road, the Black Swamp took us to our knees through rotted ice to 4-5 feet of water.

That night we camped on wet ground.  Fires were difficult, no tents, wet clothes, no arms, nothing to cook with, little to eat.  We killed a hog nearby, secured some flour from some pack horses close.  Backed bread in the ashes, broiled pork on the coals - a sweeter meal I never partook of.  We went to sleep on two logs laid close together to keep our bodies from the wet ground.  Good God!  What a pliant being a man is in adversity!"

--Written by a volunteer in the backwoods of the Old Northwest territory during the War of 1812.

Most able-bodied men saw years of hard military service, many never come home or else came home weak, crippled or dying.  Their farms had been neglected, Indian attacks still kept settlers afraid.  For most of the backwoods country, it was believed that the British would rule the Old Northwest again at the end of the War.  It wasn't until 1815 when peace was concluded, did the frontier breathe easier.  There was never again a general uprising against the whites - with the exception of Black Hawk's rebellion in 1832.  Tecumseh was dead and with him the spirit of his people.

Once again, the migration tide came westward.  Indiana and Illinois were promising places to build fortunes.  The population of Indiana grew from 25,000 in 1810 to 70,000 in 1816.  Indiana became a state with Illinois following two years later.  The Old Northwest was officially "settled" now and the movement continued westward across the Mississippi. 

Next time...The National Road
_____________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On May 23, 1934, the infamous bank robbers, Bonnie and Clyde Barrow's reign came to an end as they were killed by Texas and Louisiana police near Salles, Louisiana.  Their reputation as dangerous outlaws was followed by the public as a romantic "Robin Hood" like couple. The posed in photographs as a playful pair, but they were responsible for the deaths of 13 people, including 9 police officers. 

Battle of New Orleans

Before news of the War of 1812 treaty even reached America, there was one last battle - the Battle of New Orleans.  On January 18, 1815 Jackson's troops overwhelmingly defeated the British.

Fought on the plains of Chalmette, the Battle of New Orleans was one of few American victories on land.  Andrew Jackson's badly organized assortment of men against one of Britain's veterans of Napoleon's war - 2000 Redcoat causalities vs. 21 Americans made it a psychological victory that made a national hero of Andrew Jackson.

On January 8, 1815 the main British column was to hit the American left.  A 2nd column was to attack along the river, a 3rd was to join whichever was more successful.  A 4th column, hampered by a lack of boats, crossed the river and defeated a Kentucky detachment before being ordered to retreat.  The American artillery forces were ready and waiting to mow down troops as they attacked.

The westerners, now free of Indian menaces, hailed Jackson as the new national hero and the port of New Orleans was safe.  America was feeling proud!

Next...a unique kind of  western explorer
_______________________
On this Day in Pioneer History: On March 7, 1876, 29-year-old Alexander Graham Bell receives a patent for his revolutionary new invention–the telephone. Now that's a pioneer!

The Southern Campaign

The US believed that Spain would join the British in the War of 1812, but Spain didn't.  To goad the Spanish into it a Tennessee lawyer-politician, one Andrew Jackson marched 1500 troops to New Orleans to meet up with troops led by (now how did this happen?) one James Wilkerson.

President Madison asked Congress for authority to take over both Floridas because the British would
take them if we did not. New England and other northern states defeated this proposal on February 2, 1813.  Jackson's army disbanded but Congress authorized occupying Mobile and West Florida under Wilkerson's command...which angered Spain, but not enough to fight back.

Jackson was back home building his own army, this time to fight the Creek Indians.  March 27, 1814, after months of attack and raid, Jackson and 3000 men fought the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in Mississippi Territory.  Over 700 Indians were killed ending forever Creek domination.

The defeat of the Indians in the Northwest Territory and the South accomplished one of the war.  By 1814, war weariness pressed for peace negotiations with the British.  The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814 after British defeats at Fort McHenry in Baltimore and Plattsburg on Lake Champlain.  It was more of a stalemate than a surrender.

Next time...One Last Battle
_______________________

On This Day in Pioneer History:  "On March 3, 1887, Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months

Old Northwest Territory Secured

General William Henry Harrison's army finally started its march to Canada in October 1812 through the Black Swamps of  northwest Ohio.  General James Winchester, (who was grossly incompetent) was surprised by the British at Frenchtown near Fort Maddox on January 22, 1813 and decimated.  "General Winter" then took over, and the remaining troops were frozen in until spring.

In May and June, Fort Meigs and Fort Stephenson in northern Ohio were attacked but Harrison's troops held strong, sending them back to Fort Maldon  (Formally Fort Amhurstburg in Ontario) on August 1, 1813.

In September Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry's ships routed the British on Lake Erie.  His tactics crippled the two main enemy ships remaining and they surrendered a vital lake route to US control.  It cut the British supply line to the west with Harrison taking Fort Malden and Detroit back  and the army pushed along the Thames River to Ontario and routed the British there on October 5, 1813.

The Northwest Territory was secured at last...

Next time...The Southern Campaign
___________________
This being a Leap year - there wasn't much happening in the pioneer realm on this date - but the following actress was a pioneer :)

On This Day in Pioneer History:  "On February 29, 1940,  Gone with the Wind is honored with eight Oscars by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The most momentous award that night undoubtedly went to Hattie McDaniel for her portrayal of “Mammy,” a housemaid and former slave. McDaniel, who won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, was the first African American actress or actor ever to be honored with an Oscar.

Early in the War of 1812

According to Congressman Henry Clay, "the militia of Kentucky alone is competent to place Montreal and Upper Canada at your feet."   If you read more about Henry Clay, the man, you learn he is quite temperamental and prone to going on tirades about things he believed regardless if they were true...

Congress declared war on June 18, 1812 and once again challenged the powerful British.  Not all agreed with the decision.  New England was openly opposed to "Mr. Madison's War."  They sent no militia, vowing to let the West and the South do the fighting.


William Hull, the Governor of Michigan territory, was the choice for the Canadian campaign.  Hull's utter lack of enthusiasm was second only to his retreat.  Britain, on the other hand, lead by Issac Brock, joined Tecumseh warriors and went on the offensive.

On August 15, 1812, the British surrounded Detroit and demanded surrender.  Hull tamely complied without fight and 2000 Americans laid down their arms. Hull became a prisoner of war and America suffered a humiliating defeat.

In the West, General William Henry Harrison's army was busy fending off Indian and British attacks on Fort Wayne, Fort Harrison and other forts.  No time to be offensive. 

Next time - Harrison's march to Canada
______________________________
Today in Pioneer History: "On February 25, 1848, Edward Harriman, the controversial savior of the transcontinental Union Pacific Railroad, is born in Hempstead, New York.  The son of an Episcopal minister, Harriman disliked school and dropped out to become a broker’s boy when he was 14. To the amazement of the stockbrokers on Wall Street, the young Harriman demonstrated an uncanny ability to pick winning stocks, and he had his own seat on the stock exchange by the age of 21.