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The 1812 WAR CRY

Published by

the General Society of the War of 1812

Founded September 14, 1814

Volume 41, No. 4

December 2015

Ken Roach, Editor

Free trade and sailor’s rights! The 1812 war cry December

Web site: www.gsw1812.org

President general’s Message—december 2015

It hardly seems possible that Fall has passed so quickly

and the end of 2015 is upon us. In September, I was

honored to join United States Daughters of 1812 President

National Jacque-Lynne Schulman for the dedication of a

number of new historic markers at Fort Morgan State

Historic Park near Gulf Shores, Alabama,

commemorating the Battles of Fort Boyer (September

1814 and February 1815), important engagements in the

Gulf Coast campaign against the British. The markers

were a joint effort of the Society of the War of 1812 in the

State of Alabama and the Alabama Society U.S.D. 1812.

The General Society provided matching funds through its

Grants Program, an underutilized program of the General

Society that provides matching funds to any State Society

for certain types of projects. Details on the program can

be found in previous issues of the War Cry and on the

General Society website.

In October, I was honored to attend a meeting of the

Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Texas in

Houston, which was held in conjunction with the annual

meeting of the Texas Hereditary Societies at which I had

been invited to speak. Texas has a large and active

society.

This fall, we realized the fruition of an effort initiated at

the 2013 General Society Board of Directors meeting. At

that time, the Board voted to revive the original Society of

the War of 1812 grave marker, which was used during the

turn of the last century until its discontinuance probably

during World War II. Thanks to Secretary General Tim

Mabee, our vendor was given access to an original 100

year old marker from which to create a new mold.

Production of the first new markers of the original design

was completed in October, with both flush mounted

attachments and stake mounted hardware now available.

These may be ordered from the Quartermaster General

and are priced the same as our previous marker, which

was designed in the 1980’s. In 2016, we will complete

the design for a Society member grave marker, which was

also authorized by the resolution of the Board in 2013.

Our web presence continues to improve as new useful

content is added to our website--www.gsw1812.org.

Also, I asked VPG (WA) Allen Gray to serve as

Administrator of our somewhat moribund Facebook page.

Allen has worked hard to regularly post updated and

interesting content. If you are on Facebook, make sure to

like our page.

As I write this message, those of us who live in the New

Orleans area recall it is the 201st anniversary of

General Andrew Jackson’s arrival in the city. Days

later when Jackson learned the British arrived nine

miles downriver from his headquarters in the city, the

Battle of New Orleans began with his response: “By

the eternal, they shall not sleep on our soil!” While

our celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of

1812 is over, our mission to perpetuate its memories

and victories continues. I urge you to join me to

ensure that all descendants of the brave men who lent

their courage and sacrifice to America’s Second War

of Independence enjoy membership in our General

Society.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish

you and your family a very Merry Christmas. Rest,

relax, cherish those you love, and remember the birth

of the Savior--Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty

God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Front cover — Perry’s Victory and International

Peace Memorial at Put-In-Bay, Ohio. Back cover —

Memorial Plaque located inside the entrance of the

Peace Memorial.

PG Thomas Jacks and USD 1812 President

National Jacque-Lynne Schulman attending

dedication at Fort Boyer.



“Amongst my best men”

Commodore Isaac Chauncey used this phase when

describing the 150 Blacks, boys and soldiers he had sent to

Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry when the Lake

Erie Squadron was being built in 1813. Perry later

complained to Chauncey, his commander, that he was

sending him untrained sailors. Perry, in fact, had brought

Black sailors with him from Rhode Island when he arrived

at Erie, Pennsylvania, to take command of the squadron.

It is not known how many Black sailors served with Perry

on the Upper Great Lakes during the War of 1812.

Estimates range between 10 to 15 percent of the enlisted

sailors who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie were Black.

This estimate also covers the enlisted personnel serving in

the rest of the U.S. Navy during this time period.

The navy did not indicate race on its muster rolls. The

names of Black sailors do appear in family and county

histories, in books on the War of 1812 and on some

pension applications. Only a few names can be verified

while most names remain unproven.

A new source of identifying Blacks who served with the

Lake Erie Squadron (plus the rest of the U.S. Navy) lies in

the American prisoner of war (POW) records housed in

the National Archives of Great Britain. The POW ledgers

for the Dartmoor prison not only list the names of the

prisoners, how they were captured and when they were

sent to this prison, but also their ages, nativity and race.

The POW ledgers used in the British colonies, including

Canada, did not record age, nativity or race.

A year after the Battle of Lake Erie, four ships from

Perry’s squadron were captured by the British. The

schooners Ohio and Somers were captured on 12 August

1814 near Fort Erie, across the Niagara River from

Buffalo, New York. The schooner Tigress was captured on

3 September 1814 while the schooner Scorpion was

captured on 6 September 1814. Both of these ships were

lost to naval actions on Lake Huron.

Eight men had been identified as being Black sailors from

the Lake Erie Squadron while assigned to Dartmoor. They

are Moses Bailey, Charles Black, Henry Brown, William

Griffin, Andrew Norton, Thomas Palmer, John Peters and

Jesse Williams. Brown and Williams had served on the

U.S. Brig Lawrence during the Battle of Lake Erie while

Palmer served on the U.S. Schooner Ariel and Andrew

Norton on the U.S. Brig Niagara. Bailey, Black, Griffin

and Peters joined the squadron after the battle.

When captured, Griffin, Norton and Palmer were serving

editor’s Corner

The publication schedule follows: March 1 (deadline

for Submission February 1); June 1 (Deadline for Sub-

mission May 1). Keep sending in those articles.

on the Tigress while Bailey, Brown and Williams were

on the Scorpion. Black and Peters were on the Somers.

Bailey died at Dartmoor on 17 Feb 1815 from variola

while the other men were released at the war’s end.

All of the men from these ships were first sent to

Montreal and then Quebec before arriving at Halifax,

Canada. Black, Griffin and Peters arrived at Quebec

from Montreal on 5 October 1814. The other five

Black men arrived at Quebec on 1 November 1814.

H.M. Transport Freedom brought Black, Griffin and

Peters to Halifax on 1 November 1814 and the other

five men on 7 November 1814.

At Halifax, the marines, and the army personnel who

were serving as marines, were exchanged or paroled

and sent back to the United States. The rest of the

captured officers and men were sent to England on

H.M. Transport Argo.

All of the enlisted men arrived at Dartmoor on 26 Dec

1814, and they were released from this prison on 3

July 1815 (except for Bailey and a few other men who

had died at the prison). The officers were sent to a

parole station at Dartmouth where they were free to

live in the area. They had to abide by strict rules while

living in the Dartmouth area. These men did not have

to live in the POW prisons. Continued Page 5

Left to right -Tim Mabee, Chapter President and

Secretary General GSW1812, Raymond LeMay and

Robert Gang at Saratoga Lake, NY

John E. Wool Chapter of the Society of

the Second World War with Great

Britain in the State of NY held a 2017

Triennial planning committee meeting.



Save The Date — 2016 Annual Meeting

of General Society of the War of 1812

September 15-17, 2016, Springfield, Illinois

Wyndham Hotel — For a reservation, please call:

844-825-7733 Rate is $121 per night

More information: Jim DeGroff

[email protected]

Illinois Society Recognized 4 War of 1812

Veterans

The Illinois Society of the War of 1812 recognized four

War of 1812 veterans at the White Hall Cemetery in

White Hall, IL on September 26, 2015.

Lieutenant Jacob Ogle was a First Lieutenant in Captain

James Moore’s Company of the Mounted Illinois Militia.

Joseph Ogle was a private in Captain James Moore’s

Company of the Mounted Illinois Militia from April 1812

to November 1812. He also served in Lieutenant Colonel

Whiteside’s of Illinois Militia.

Charles Kitchens was private in Capt. Henry Cook’s

Company (formerly Capt. Samuel Judy’s Company) for a

three-month tour beginning on March 3, 1812. He served

as a private in Ensign Samuel Whiteside’s Detachment of

Mounted Riflemen and as a private in Capt. Samuel

Whiteside’s. On March 3, 1813, he again enlisted as a

private in Captain Samuel Whiteside’s Company of

Mounted Riflemen, Illinois Militia, for a period of one

year. He was discharged March 2, 1814. He also served as

a sergeant in Captain Samuel Judy’s Company of

Mounted Illinois Militia for a period of sixty days.

Joseph Bridges was also a private serving in Captain John

Colbert’s Company, Colonel Thomas’ 2nd Regiment of

Georgia Militia.

L-R, Steve Hyatt, Anthony Robison, Timothy Ogle,

Robert Ridenour, and Illinois State Society President

William Wilson are pictured behind the graves. Jim

DeGroff, Anthony Robison, Steve Hyatt and Robert

Ridenour provided the color guard.

Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia

“Our Color Guard”

Whenever an event comes to the attention of our

Society, the color guard attends in dress uniforms of

the period, which provides a special “finishing touch”

for the event. The dress uniforms that we wear are

from the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. Their

uniform consisted of a deep blue coat faced with

white, a white waist-coat and white shirt. Instead of

the hat that they wore, members of our color guard

wear the hat of the regular U.S. Army – a black shako

with white cord, white plume, and the infantry plate.

The uniform our color guard wears can become quite

costly, and we’re aware of that. There are

alternatives; one can also dress as a militiaman. Being

dressed as a militiaman provides a chance for the

event onlookers to see the variety of soldier uniforms.

Do you want to help make a difference in our

Society? We need more color guard members!

Contact me, Charles Belfield, at

[email protected] or any of the color members,

and we will help you get started with the uniform of

your choice. Your participation will help bring that

“finishing touch.”



“Amongst my best men” — continued from Page 3

The eight Black men from the Lake Erie Squadron were among the last of the American POWs to return home

from England after the end of the War of 1812.

General Entry Book of American Prisoners of War ledger, British Admiralty, Public Record Office, London,

Great Britain (ADM 103 / 87 through 91 and 511), Dartmoor ledgers.


Great Britain (ADM 103 / 362), Quebec ledgers.


Great Britain (ADM 103 / 640), Dartmoor death certificates.


Great Britain (ADM 103 / 465, part 2), Quebec transfer rolls and parole location ledgers.

War of 1812 Service Records - Lake Erie, Fold3.com, (original data from the National Archives, Washington,

D.C.), excerpts from muster and payroll reports for the Lake Erie Station.

Name Rank Age in 1814 Nativity

Bailey, Moses Ordinary Seaman 28 Pennsylvania

Black, Charles Boy 18 Philadelphia

Brown, Henry Cook 22 New York

Griffin, William Ordinary Seaman 23 New York

Norton, Andrew Ordinary Seaman 22 Virginia

Palmer, Thomas Ordinary Seaman 22 New York

Peters, John Landsman 19 Pennsylvania

Williams, Jesse Ordinary Seaman 42 Virginia

Major Nathan Boone Chapter of the

Missouri Society Dedicated 2 Markers

Missouri President of the Society of the War of 1812,

Brian Smarker holding the Flag and President of the

Major Nathan Boone Chapter Dan McMurray.

Iowa Society Holds Annual Qualification

with Flint Locks

Iowa Society Past President Louie Zenti conducts live

fire for qualifying score in conjunction with the Iowa

Military Heritage Society.



Original General Society War of 1812

Veterans Grave Maker Now Available

The Original Marker first produced in the

early 1900’s is available from our

Quartermaster General. Stake mounted and

flush mounted options available. Price

$65. Bronze stake for $10.

He was able to gain admission as a student in the

printing department at Southern University in Baton

Rouge, Louisiana and completed the course. Calvin

eventually took over the business from his fathers and

continued to operate it until Hurricane Katrina

destroyed the business in 2005. In the spring of 1949,

he and his brother Adolph, who was also a Tuskegee

Airman, formed a flying club in New Orleans. Along

with twenty other men, they purchased a 3-seat Piper

Super Cruiser airplane and hangared it at Lakefront

Airport in New Orleans until the summer of 1953,

where they introduced members to the miracle of

human flight. Following the release of ‘‘The Tuskegee

Airmen’’ movie in 1995, Mr. Moret frequently lectured

about his experiences and promoting the proud history

of African-American accomplishments in American

life. In 2007, Mr. Moret was present when the

Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold

Medal from President George W. Bush in the rotunda

of the Capitol. He joined the Society of the War of

1812 in the State of Louisiana on the record of his great

-great-great grandfather Firmin Perrault (1788-1832),

who served as a Private in Fortier’s 1st Battalion Free

Men of Color from December 1814 to March 1815 at

the Battle of New Orleans. At the commemoration of

the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, Moret

presented a wreath at Jackson Square honoring the Free

Men of Color who served with distinction under

General Jackson at the battle. The Tuskegee Airmen

and the General Society of the War of 1812 mourn the

passing of this great American.

Tuskegee Airman, Louisiana Society

Member Calvin Moret Dead at 90

Calvin George Moret, a lifelong resident of New

Orleans, died on September 11, 2015 at the age of

90. He was the last surviving Louisiana member

of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-

American pilots who fought in World War II and

were the first African-American pilots in the

United States military. Mr. Moret entered the

military in 1943 and trained as a military pilot at

Tuskegee, Alabama, receiving his wings and

commission as a Flight Officer on November 20,

1944. He was discharged from military service

on January 31, 1946, after which he returned to

the family printing business, Moret Press, which

had been founded by his father, Adolph Joseph

Moret, Sr., in 1932. The need for an in-house

linotype machine operator prompted him to seek

a school for this purpose outside of New Orleans

because segregation laws at the time would not

allow him to study at Delgado Trade School.

Major (Retired) Tommy A. Rigsby and Major

Kenneth Baillie escort Isiah Edward, former President

of the Mississippi Society, Calvin Moret, and Michael

Henderson, members of the Louisiana Society, at the

celebration of the Bicentennial of the Battle of New

Orleans at Jackson Square on January 8, 2015.



GENERAL SOCIETY OF THE WAR OF 1812

Founded September 14, 1814

MERCHANDISE PRICE LIST – 08 / 2015

(Prices Include Shipping)

Name: ____________________________________________ National Number:___________________

Address:____________________________________________________________________________

City, State and Zip:____________________________________________________________________

Item Description Price Qty Cost

Large Insignia (Gold plate over bronze) $135.00

Large Insignia (Gold plate over silver) $243.00

(10k, 14k and 18k gold. Prices available on request)

Miniature insignia (Gold plate over bronze) $72.00

Miniature insignia (gold plate over silver) $93.00

(10k, 14k and 18k gold. Prices available on request)

State President's Star (gold plate over nickel) (plus $0.35 per letter engraving) $225.00

State President's Star (Sterling silver star) (plus $0.35 per letter engraving) $485.00

Membership insignia only sold to members in good standing. Include membership number if ordering

membership insignia items

General Society Officer/State President/Chapter President Neck Ribbon $25.00

State Society President Sash $115.00

General Society Officer Sash (70”) $145.00

General Society Officer Sash – Extra Long (77”) $155.00

Insignia Cufflinks $125.00

1812 Seal Cuff Links (Gold Colored) New $65.00

Rosette (Clutch Back) $15.00

Blazer Patch (Clutch Back) $21.00

Necktie Bowtie, banded Bowtie, self-tie Cummerbund $25.00

General Society Flag (3'x5' double sided nylon with pole hem and gold fringe) $225.00

ROTC Medal PRICE INCREASE Effective Immediately $20.00

Veteran Grave Marker Price Increase $65.00

Triennial Yearbook 2014-2017 $15.00

Bulk Rate for 20 or more Triennial Yearbooks shipped to one address $12.50

GRAND TOTAL:

PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. CREDIT CARDS NOT ACCEPTED.

Make Checks Payable to: “GENERAL SOCIETY OF THE WAR OF 1812”

Mail Order Form and Check to: John R. Taylor, Jr., Quartermaster General

4509 SCR 83

Mize, MS 39116-5608

[email protected]

Website: www.gsw1812.org



General Society of the War of 1812

Office of the Vice President General (Publications)

Kenneth D. Roach, Editor

44 Broadleaf Circle

Windsor, CT 06095-1633

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 860-841-7260 c

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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