The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Burning of Newark and Buffalo (December 1813)

Clintoon . . . he's baaaaaaack!

How can I miss you when you won't go away?

Who knows, maybe we'll head down your way someday. Lord willing and the saints don't rise! ;-)

I remember that, when they wanted it back. I thought someone proved they were paid once already.

MMMMMMMM! Chocolate!!

Clintoon . . . he's baaaaaaack!

I wish they'd just go awaaaaaaaaaay!!

McCLURE, George, soldier, born near Londonderry, Ireland, in 1771; died in Elgin, Illinois, 16 August, 1851. He emigrated to Baltimore in 1791, and subsequently settled in Bath, New York, where he studied law, and was successively a member of the legislature, sheriff, surrogate, and judge of Steuben county, he volunteered in the war of 1812. and in 1813 commanded a brigade on the Buffalo frontier, being brought prominently into notice by ordering the burning of Newark (afterward Niagara), Canada West. When he had determined early in December to abandon Fort, George, after endeavoring to destroy the former work by blowing it up while its garrison was crossing the river to Fort Niagara, he set fire to the neighboring village of Newark. The weather was intensely cold, mid the inhabitants, who had only been given a few hours' notice, including a large number of women and children, were driven from their homes into the deep snow, with but little food and clothing. Only one dwelling out of one hundred and fifty was left standing. When the British took possession of the abandoned fortification they decided on swift retaliation, and soon six villages, and manv isolated houses on the American bank of the Niagara river, together with several vessels, were set on fire, and scores of innocent persons lost their lives.

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When General Harrison, who soon after resigned his commission, retired, he left a General McClure in command at the head of Lake Ontario. Presently McClure found himself with only a few regular troops, as the militia under his command were returning home; their term of enlistment having expired. Not prepared to resist the advancing British, he was forced to retire across the river to the American side. Before leaving he destroyed Fort George, and set on fire the village of Newark, lest the enemy, as he said, should find comfortable winter-quarters. McClure gave as his excuse for thus burning the homes, and turning four hundred inoffensive people, men, women, and children, out into the winter's storms, that he thought he was justified by the orders of the War Department. In truth there was no excuse for the cruel and wanton act. Evil begets evil. Ten days after, the enemy passed over to the American side, surprised Fort Niagara, and put the garrison to the sword. Then commenced the retaliation for the burning of Newark. They burned Lewistown, Youngstown, Manchester, Black Rock, and Buffalo, and indeed every house that could be reached from Lake Ontario to Erie. Prevost immediately issued a proclamation, in which he stated that these ravages were provoked by the burning of Newark and if the Americans would hereafter refrain from such outrages, he should conduct the war on humane and civilized principles.

~~~

Is Paris Burning?

Producer Paul Graentz, perhaps beaten down by the strains of such a massive production, died of a heart attack three weeks after filming of Is Paris Burning? (1966) was completed.

~~~

The Burning of Washington
by Dolley Madison
August 23, 1814

My husband left me yesterday morning to join General Winder. He inquired anxiously whether I had courage or firmness to remain in the President's house until his return on the morrow, or succeeding day, and on my assurance that I had no fear but for him, and the success of our army, he left, beseeching me to take care of myself, and of the Cabinet papers, public and private. I have since received two dispatches from him, written with a pencil. The last is alarming, because he desires I should be ready at a moment's warning to enter my carriage, and leave the city; that the enemy seemed stronger than had at first been reported, and it might happen that they would reach the city with the intention of destroying it. I am accordingly ready; I have pressed as many Cabinet papers into trunks as to fill one carriage; our private property must be sacrificed, as it is impossible to procure wagons for its transportation. I am determined not to go myself until I see Mr. Madison safe, so that he can accompany me, as I hear of much hostility towards him. Disaffection stalks around us. My friends and acquaintances are all gone, even Colonel C. with his hundred, who were stationed as a guard in this inclosure. French John (a faithful servant), with his usual activity and resolution, offers to spike the cannon at the gate, and lay a train of powder, which would blow up the British, should they enter the house. To the last proposition I positively object, without being able to make him understand why all advantages in war may not be taken.

Wednesday Morning, twelve o'clock. -- Since sunrise I have been turning my spy-glass in every direction, and watching with unwearied anxiety, hoping to discover the approach of my dear husband and his friends; but, alas! I can descry only groups of military, wandering in all directions, as if there was a lack of arms, or of spirit to fight for their own fireside.

Three o'clock. -- Will you believe it, my sister? we have had a battle, or skirmish, near Bladensburg, and here I am still, within sound of the cannon! Mr. Madison comes not. May God protect us! Two messengers, covered with dust, come to bid me fly; but here I mean to wait for him... At this late hour a wagon has been procured, and I have had it filled with plate and the most valuable portable articles, belonging to the house. Whether it will reach its destination, the "Bank of Maryland," or fall into the hands of British soldiery, events must determine. Our kind friend, Mr. Carroll, has come to hasten my departure, and in a very bad humor with me, because I insist on waiting until the large picture of General Washington is secured, and it requires to be unscrewed from the wall. This process was found too tedious for these perilous moments; I have ordered the frame to be broken, and the canvas taken out. It is done! and the precious portrait placed in the hands of two gentlemen of New York, for safe keeping. And now, dear sister, I must leave this house, or the retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling up the road I am directed to take. When I shall again write to you, or where I shall be to-morrow, I cannot tell!

~~~

No doubt the terrorists will behead our fellow citizen tomorrow.

Let us begin a one hundred to one proposition: one of ours? Then we shall do one hundred of yours.

And avail ourselves of every opportunity to advance by orders of magnitude.

Is Al Sadr burning?

BTTT!!!!!!!

!!!
Kerry / Sadr in Oh Four!
Yikes!

No doubt the terrorists will behead our fellow citizen tomorrow.

Let us begin a one hundred to one proposition: one of ours? Then we shall do one hundred of yours.

And avail ourselves of every opportunity to advance by orders of magnitude.

Just getting to FR now and I see your prediction came true. Sam suggest since they asked for a release of many Al Qaeda prisoners for the safe return of Johnston, now that they have murdered him we should remove those prisoners and immediately execute them. And maybe more to get to your 100 to 1 ratio. I'm all for it. We do not show a heavy hand as we should to our enemies, Saudi Arabia included.

Thanks for the bio on McClure, I looked for some history of what happened to him but couldn't find it. I'm glad you're a good scrounger for information.

Afternoon Phil Dragoo.

Thanks for the bio on McClure and Dolley Madison's account of the burning of Washington.

It's always "bugged me" that Paris got away with being declared an "Open City" and was spared the results almost all other European capitols recieved.