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In the murky waters of Baltimore's harbor, between the Chesapeake Bay and a decommissioned fort, a red, white and blue buoy marks the spot where Francis Scott Key observed the British bombarding Fort McHenry for a 24-hour period. With the War of 1812 raging, the British had already marched on Washington and set fire to the White House when they set their sights — and ammunition — on the last defense of the United States' industrial port. Key was aboard a ship in the harbor and squinted through smoke to see who had won, as the sun began to break....

Today's post is in honor of Sgt. Jayton D. Patterson, who was killed by enemy action on this day in 2005 in Iraq's Babil province. The 26-year-old from Sedley, Va. was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. 1815: Like Andrew Jackson's victory at New Orleans earlier in the month, the Americans and British clash again before word that the War of 1812 is over can cross the ocean. The frigate USS President, under the command of Commodore Stephen Decatur, breaks out of the British blockade at New York Harbor, but is soon...

Today’s post is in honor of Lance Cpl. Kenneth A. Corzine, who on this day in 2010 died of wounds sustained in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. The 23-year-old from Bethalto, Ill. was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. 1812: Delegates from the United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Ghent in modern-day Belgium, bringing an end to the War of 1812. News travels slowly, however, and two weeks after the signing, Maj. Gen. (and future president) Andrew Jackson defeats a British invasion force in the Battle New Orleans. 1943: 670 B-17s...

Trump is right about the War of 1812.In late May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a crotchety phone argument about trade with President Donald Trump. As CNN reports, Trudeau objected to the idea that Canada was a “national security” problem (the legal justification for the tariffs Trump was introducing). Trump responded, “Didn’t you guys burn down the White House?” Trump was referring to the famous burning of Washington conducted during the War of 1812. (The event actually took place in 1814). Pedants immediately jumped in to accuse Trump of an error. After all, wasn’t the torching of the White...

As on every Memorial Day, small flags will be placed next to neat, respectful rows of headstones at military cemeteries across America. Neat and respectful is not how you would describe Mare Island Naval Cemetery – a forsaken plot of hallowed ground that fell between the cracks of Pentagon base closings and the city of Vallejo’s bankruptcy. The oldest military cemetery on the West Coast is in utter disrepair. It is the final resting place for 800-plus veterans, including a few who fought in the War of 1812 and three Medal of Honor recipients. The daughter of Francis Scott Key,...

After California quakes, attention turns to New Madrid zoneATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Recent earthquake activity in California has prompted fresh speculation about "the big one" -- an enormous quake along California's West Coast. A few have been large enough to shake the faith of skeptics -- a magnitude 7.2 quake on June 15, followed two days later by a magnitude 6.7, both off the coast near the California-Oregon border. Doomsayers have warned about the Pacific Coast for years. But only a few have raised concerns about an area with the potential to be more dangerous than California -- the New...

[British General Edward] Pakenham delayed his main assault until Jan 8, when he had brought up nearly 10,000 men, and planned to attack with about 5,500, keeping the rest in reserve. [snip] The men on both sides knew an attack was planned on the 8th. Jackson, clearly felt that some sort of night attack was coming . Jackson, was awakened by a messenger who arrived from Morgan across the river, requesting more troops. Morgan and Patterson could see some activity by the British on the river and feared they were going to send a large force across the river to...

The War of 1812 - This week in history (12/31 - 1/6) Events leading up to the war: 12/31/1806   The Monroe-Pinkney Treaty The Monroe–Pinkney Treaty of 1806 was a treaty drawn up by diplomats of the United States and Britain as a renewal of the Jay Treaty of 1795. It was rejected by President Thomas Jefferson and never took effect. The treaty was negotiated by minister to England James Monroe and his associate William Pinkney on behalf of the administration of President Thomas Jefferson, and Lord Holland and Lord Auckland on behalf of the "Ministry of All the Talents" government headed...

British Major General Rialls, 1000 British Regulars and 400 Indian allies cross the Niagara River. They attack 2100 New York State Militia under the command of Major General Hall. After a short fight, the militia withdraws (by some accounts run). The British troops put the torch to the villages of Buffalo and Black Rock, burning all but 4 out of 150 buildings. Also burned are 4 ships tied up there. The British and their Indian allies withdraw to Canada.

Another year of war, and descriptions of the naval battles in the War of 1812. And a reuse of some of the 1812 New Years verse, as well as the appearance of the unusual, and now famous, Matter-Clatter rhyme from the Christmas poem. There's also an awakened narrator, but this time to work, not to be part of a nightmare. Pray may I ask what was the matter When you all rais'd such noisy clatter,

Journal of Commodore William Bainbridge Extract from Commodore Bainbridge's Journal Kept on board the U. S. Frigate Constitution Wednesday 30th December 1812, (Nautical Time) Commences with Clear weather and moderate breezes from E.N.E. Hoisted our Ensign and Pendant. At 15 minutes past meridian, The ship hoisted her colours, an English Ensign, --having a signal flying at her Main Red Yellow-Red At 1.26 being sufficiently from the land, and finding the ship to be an English Frigate, took in the Main Sail and Royals, tacked Ship and stood for the enemy At 1 .50. P.M, The Enemy bore down with...

Announcing a new ping list, this one for The War of 1812. I intend for this to be a low-volume list, perhaps with a weekly digest and the occasional ping to extraordinary posts. If you are interested in subscribing, please FReep mail me with your request: hereI will also adopt the practice of tagging relevant posts with the keyword "1812." In my spare time I will try and apply that keyword to past articles. I was inspired to do this by today's On this date in 1812 post. I am an amateur historian and genealogist. I have 32+ kin who...

Captain William Bainbridge, commanding USS Constitution, engages HMS Java off the coast of Brazil. In a 3 hour gun battle Java is dismasted and eventually strikers her colors to the American Frigate. Java is to badly damaged to salvage, Bainbridge orders her to be sunk. Constitution's helm is shot away during the battle. After Java surrenders, her helm is installed on the Constitution. Where it remains to this day.

In a relatively rare admission for an American scholar, a leading U.S. historian who authored a provocative new tome about North American military conflicts states bluntly that Canada won the War of 1812. Johns Hopkins University professor Eliot Cohen, a senior adviser to former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, writes in his just-published book Conquered Into Liberty that, “ultimately, Canada and Canadians won the War of 1812.” And Cohen acknowledges that, “Americans at the time, and, by and large, since, did not see matters that way.”

President Jackson's Proclamation Regarding Nullification, December 10, 1832 Whereas a convention, assembled in the State of South Carolina, have passed an ordinance, by which they declare that the several acts and parts of acts of the Congress of the United States, purporting to be laws for the imposing of duties and imposts on the importation of foreign commodities, and now having actual operation and effect within the United States, and more especially “two acts for the same purposes, passed on the 29th of May, 1828, and on the 14th of July, 1832, are unauthorized by the Constitution of the United...

It pays to check those musty old boxes in your attic. An unidentified family in the Deep South made the discovery of a lifetime when they found a letter written by Founding Father Thomas Jefferson in which the third president extols the virtues of American independence and hails victory in the War of 1812. “As in the Revolutionary War, [the British] conquests were never more than of the spot on which their army stood, never extended beyond the range of their cannon shot,” Jefferson wrote in the letter, penned at his Monticello home on Valentine's Day, 1815. "We owe to...

: Infectious Diseases Society of America Date: 2005-12-15 New Study Identifies Louse-borne Diseases That Ravaged Napoleon's Army Using dental pulp extracted from the teeth of soldiers who died during Napoleon’s disastrous retreat through Russia in 1812, a new study finds DNA evidence that epidemic typhus and trench fever ran rampant among the French Grand Army. The study, published in the Jan. 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online, identifies the specific species of louse-borne pathogens that were a major cause of death among the remains of the retreating army. Napoleon marched into Russia in the summer...

PASADENA, Calif. — Shattered cave formations in the central United States may preserve one of the longest records of powerful earthquakes in this region. Historical records from European settlers provide vivid accounts of deadly earthquakes in states such as Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois. For instance, in 1811 and 1812, people saw the ground ripple like ocean waves when the New Madrid Fault Zone unleashed earthquakes thought to be greater than magnitude 8. However, no written accounts exist from before Europeans arrived. And most earthquake faults in the Midwest are hidden deep beneath the surface, so scientists can't dig into the...

This weekend marks the 200th anniversary of the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Over the years, many debates have surrounded the national anthem — involving its meaning, its quality and the circumstances under which Francis Scott Key came to write it. Before you hear “Oh say, can you see” at the next ballgame or school assembly, make sure you’ve dispelled these myths first. 1. ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ was written about an insignificant battle in an insignificant war. The nation’s future was at stake in 1814, with the US on the brink of defeat in the third year of the War...

You’ve seen it: the iconic portrait of the first President, one hand clutching a sword, the other arm outstretched over an ornate table that is artfully mussed. Below this table are a few books: General Orders, American Revolution, and The Constitution and Laws of the United Sates. You read that right: The country is identified as the United Sates, not the United States. This masterpiece hangs in the East Room, the luxurious White House salon that holds social events and ceremonies, where the President hosts dignitaries from other countries and honors Americans for their contributions to society. And yet, the...