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Posted on 06/17/2004 12:00:18 AM PDT by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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Even with the victories at Chrysler's Farm and Chateauguay which ended any threat to Quebec and Montreal, the loss by the British troops at the "Battle of the Thames" left Niagara in a vulnerable state. Sir George Prevost ordered a evacuation of all of Upper Canada west to Kingston to relieve the pressure on his meager resources. Fortunately Major-General John Vincent, who had resumed command in that theatre of operations, felt a withdrawl to Burlington would be good enough.  The Americans were quick to act on this withdrawl and reoccupied Queenston and Chippawa. Joseph Willcocks and his Canadian Volunteers also wasted little time making the loyalists left behind pay a heavy price. The farms of those who had once been neighbours and friends were looted and burned. Then Willcocks arrested prominent loyalists and had them sent to prisons in the United States. Among them were Thomas Merritt, William Hamiltons's father and eighty year old Peter McMicking of Stamford County, a coroner and a town warden. William Hamilton Merritt was so angry at the treatment of his father that he wrote in his journal of, "having taken many long and weary ride, in the lonely hours of the night, in hope of catching Willcocks and making an example of him and all traitors." Colonel John Murray convinced Vincent that a small force should be moved back into the peninsula to protect the inhabitants after hearing of the arrests and raids. Subsequently Murray led a force of three hundred and seventy-eight regulars of the 8th Regiment and some volunteers, including Merritt's Dragoons, to Forty Mile Creek where a base was set up.  Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost Captain William Hamilton Merritt led his troop east away from their base camp atr Forty Mile Creek. Where were the Americans? The Indians had been in contact with their pickets the night before but now they were nowhere to be found. A signal from an advanced scout brought Merrittt forward quickly and the tail end of the American column was sighted tramping toward Twenty Mile Creek. Merritt sent his dragoons charging down the road scattering the American infantry and fighting a sharp engagement with some American cavalry who quickly withdrew. Some of the infantry tried to fight on, but many quickly surrendered and were taken prisoners of war. With the American Army in retreat Murray pushed his force forward to Twenty Mile Creek and then to Twelve Mile Creek. By this time the Americans had pulled back to Fort George. The American commanding officer, Birgadier General George McClure was in a tough position. The enlistment of many of his troops was expiring and his force began melting away. Willcock's raid had further alienated the local population and when Murray's outposts soundly defeated a probing force sent out by McClure, he decided to withdaw across the Niagara River to the American side and the confines of Fort Niagara.  Officer, New York State Militia, 1813 by H.C. McBarron The sun came up on 10 December to show a cold and blustery day with snow drifting about two or three feet in places. Joseph Willcocks was beside himself when he heard of the plans to abandon the peninsula. He had at least wrung the order to burn the town from McClure on the pretext of denying shelter to the advancing British troops. Willcocks was determined to punish his former neighbours for slights, real and imaginary, that he had suffered since going over to the Americans. The Canadian Volunteers and American Militiamen went door to door warning inhabitants to get out what they could. At dusk the destruction began. Willcocks mounted the stairs of the Dickson house, fire brand in hand, followed by two of his men. Willcocks ordered that the two men remove a woman who was ill, bed and all and place her in the snow. He had arrested William Dickson and had him sent off as a prisoner to the United States and was determined to destroy whatever property he could. The two men wrapped her in blankets the best they could and put her in a snow drift while Willcocks burned the house and it's contents. He walked away leaving Mrs. Dickson in the snow to watch her house burn to the ground.  Major General Phineas Riall Women and children stood in the cold December winter and watched their homes and almost everything they owned in the world burn into ashes. Their first concern was to find some shelter, there were four hundred refugees who woulds die of exposure if cover could not be found quickly. Captain Merritt reported to Colonel Murray. The glow in the eastern sky could mean only one thing and with Merritt's dragoons they rode off to investigate. The troop approached Fort George from the south and carefully reconnoitred the area. The Americans were pulling out and the only troops remaining were the rear guard, which consisted of the Canadian Volunteers. Merritt signaled the charge routing the enemy, killing two and taking a number prisoners. The scene that greeted them in the town was beyond belief. Every building except one was a pile of glowing embers and the streets were littered with furniture that some had been able to save before their homes were torched. People were desperately seeking shelter. Some moved toward the fort and Butlers Barracks, which had been spared for some reason, others built crude shelters against chimneys using half burnt boards as roofing while still other began bone chilling walks to farms in the neighbourhood.  Oliver Hazard Perry The next day the sun brought the misery of the town to bloom. many a snowdrift had frozen bodies of women and children who could not find their way in the bitter cold darkness of that December night in 1813. The mood of the British troops was dark indeed. Every man from Colonel Murray to the lowliest private had one thing on his mind; Vengence! For his part in the burning of Newark, General McClure was relieved of his command and dismissed from the U.S. Army.
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Sometimes having such weird mental meanderings can be a pain.
And people ask me where I get all this stuff from, and I really can't explain it!
("Absent minded pearls laying on the sand" why would they be absent minded, and what are they doing on the sand?)
Didn't know that Newark had been burned down.
Interesting, if in a weird way.
I'll have a shot of Geritol straight up with a twist..better make it a double.
Candy bars 5 cents, going to the store to bug cigerettes for you dad, playing WITHOUT parents around, bye mom I'll be back tonight for supper.
Good morning Sam. Thanks for the thread today, I hadn't read about this before today. I wonder what ever became of McClure after we kicked him out of the Army. Look what he started!
Good morning Aeronaut.
Good morning Mayor. While reading this I thought it would be on some of the same ground you walk on! Neat.
Good morning and good luck at the yard sale.
Good morning PE. A First Family flag-o-gram!
I thought I heard the window blinds rustle but then you are like the wind. *grin*
A white van! Everybody is looking for a white van whenever things go bad. Be careful out there.
Sorry 'bout the rustling of the blinds, I kinda tripped over something encircling my ankles and trilling at me.
And now it looks innocent as it washes a paw and contemplates the next attempt on my life.
OK, Someone has been doing "field modifications" on your Foxhole. All I have in mine is some empty ammo crates and a poncho . :-)
Our rule was we had to be in front of the house when the street lights came on, otherwise we were pretty much given free reign.
Hi Snippy. I guess McClure got his 15 minutes of fame and then faded into obscurity.
Thanks for the link Johnny. Gonna need to replace my tissues.
Hiya Sam. 1812 bump.
Uncle Frank stayed here.
California Poppies overlooking Drakes Bay, Point Reyes, #35 2064
Drake's Bay, Point Reyes
The wandering Hobbit visits!
Until I was in my 20's my grandma could call anyone in town using only the last 4 digits.
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