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Joined: 3/20/2009
Posts: 28
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This thread was created by The History Channel Club, if you have any suggestions for other categories, please let us know.
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Joined: 7/18/2009
Posts: 5
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What were the most decisive battles of the war? Not the most famous, the ones that effected the outcome. Why did the land forces of the USA, in general, perform so poorly, while the Naval forces performed much better? Please just give honest, intelligent answers.
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Joined: 7/20/2009
Posts: 1
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As far as I can tell from reading a lot of the army was quickly put together and not properly trained for combat, as where the navy had been at sea fighting pirates for years, if you want to see how bad the army was just read about the battle of Blandsburg, it was fought mostly with sailors and Marines, who at that time were not the land force the are today they were still only marine soldiers meaning they only fought abroad ship predomently. (Sorry for in grammar or spelling errors)
P.S Alos most of the soldiers at the battle of New Orleans were pirates and frontiers men
Dizzy
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Joined: 7/18/2009
Posts: 5
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The Battle of New Orleans was fought after the War of 1812 was over. So while it is a famous battle it had no effect on the war, it did help Andrew Jackson in his political career. The last battle fought during the War of 1812 was the Battle of Lake Champlain, also referred to as the Battle of Plattsburgh. There were only about 8,400 officers and men in the Regular Army. Most the battles fought were by militia, which proved for the most part to be poorly trained and led. Bladensburg is a prime example. The British then burned Washington DC and moved on to take Baltimore. Where they failed to break through the defenses which had regular Army troops and a more unified command. They were also unable to take Ft. McHenry. The Navy fared better because all the sailors were volunteers unlike the British Navy. The oofficers as in the British Navy, were all professionals. Unlike in the American ground forces in which the militia officers were elected to their positions or were politically appointed. While the Navy did do well in one on one engagements which British ships of the same class, the largest US ships were frigates, which mounted anywhere from about 28 to 50 guns. The US had no ships of the line, these were ships that mounted anywhere from 74 to 100 guns. After some initial successes the US Navy for the most part was blocked in ports. Both sides claimed winning the war, but in actuality it was a draw.
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Joined: 7/24/2009
Posts: 1
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The Battle of Plattsburgh, NY made the British rethink and eventually the Treaty of Brussels was signed. Although not ratified it essentially ended the War of 1812. Due to slow communications of the era the Battle of New Orleans took place before the news arrived of the treaty.
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Joined: 8/22/2009
Posts: 9
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On August 10th, 1814, a relatively large British naval squadron, commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy [Admiral Nelson's "Hardy"] attacked Stonington, CT. The British force had more than 160 cannon and fired more than fifty tons of exploding shells, incendiary rounds, cannon balls, and Congreve rockets at the palisade and small fishing village. The American force of a few hundred militia and only two effective cannons successfully prevented the British marines from landing. On August 12, 1814, the British withdrew.
British ships involved:
RAMILLIES, a seventy-four gun ship, commanded by Sir Thomas Hardy
PACTOLUS, 38 gun ship
DESPATCH brig,
TERROR a razee, or bomb ship [barge used as a gun/rocket platform]
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Joined: 9/15/2009
Posts: 2
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Some readers may find it as astonishing as I did that 12,000 British Sailors held the inhabitants of Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay prisioners during the War of 1812. Living on the ships and on land, they made plans and were successful in bombarding Washington and other locations along the Bay. When they prepared to bombard Baltimore, the Rev. Joshua Thomas held a camp meeting at the request of the Admiral. The sermon took an unexpected turn from the Admiral's intention - Rev. Thomas told them they would not be successful and that many would be killed. During the bombardment, the sailors recalled his warning and many were converted when bringing back their dead and wounded. These events, as well an excellent view of everyday life and culture on the Chesapeake islands is chronicled in The Parson Of the Islands, the Life and Times of Rev. Joshua Thomas. First printed in 1861, the latest reprint is available at www.buyarcadiabooks.com 412 pages, Illustrated. Hardback $25
I would like to find out the name of the Admiral that is referred to in this title. Also, any additional history of this time relative to the Chesapeake Bay.
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