STATE REPORTS

ILLINOIS TO KENTUCKY

ILLINOIS

Dedication of Thomas Lincoln Memorial Plaque by members of the Saginaw Chapter, Illinois Daughters of 1812. Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abraham Lincoln, was buried in Shiloh Cemetery near Charleston, Illinois with his second wife, Sarah, Abraham Lincoln's step-mother.Thomas Lincoln served in the Kentucky militia during the War of 1812. For more information, Click on the included pdf. Saginaw Chpt Lincoln0001.pdf

/> A new YouTube video lesson—"Fort Dearborn in Five Minutes"—honors
this bicentennial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BE8yxcj2xI&feature=plcp

 

KANSAS

Report of Vice-President Kim Kincaid reporting:

Grave Marking  - Paola Cemetery.  Placing of VA Headstone
Memorial Day Ceremony Ft Leavenworth National Cemetery Marking the grave of Henry Leavenworth

Henry Leavenworth (December 10, 1783 – July 21, 1834) was an American soldier active in the War of 1812 and early military expeditions against the Plains Indians.[1] He established Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and also gave his name to Leavenworth, Kansas, Leavenworth County, Kansas, and the Leavenworth Penitentiary.
Early life and education
He was born at New Haven, Connecticut, a son of Col. Jesse and Catharine (Conklin) Leavenworth. Soon after his birth his parents became alienated and his father moved with the children to Danville, Vermont, where he was educated. He then read law with General Erastus Root of Delhi, New York; and upon being admitted to the bar formed a partnership with his preceptor which lasted until 1812.
Military career
He was appointed a captain in the 25th U. S. infantry. A few months later he was made major; was wounded at the Battle of Niagara on July 25, 1814, and the following November was brevetted colonel. He then served in the New York State Assembly, in 1816,[2] and then he went to Prairie du Chien as Indian agent, and on February 10, 1818, was made lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth U. S. infantry. In 1820 he began constructing Fort St. Anthony from the Cantonment New Hope stockade.[3]
In 1823, he led U.S. Army troops in the Arikara War, the first U.S. military expedition against a Great Plains Indian nation. While on duty in the West he built several military posts, one of which was Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, established May 8, 1827 as Cantonment Leavenworth, now one of the leading military establishments of the country. In 1825 he was made brigadier-general by brevet, and in 1833 received the full rank of brigadier-general.

Ninian Edwards marker dedication

Jonathan Reyman attends a ceremony to dedicate the Ninian Edwards historical marker in Oak Ridge Cemetery Saturday, June 22, 2012. Edwards was the only governor of the Illinois Territory (1809-1818), the third governor of the State of Illinois and a U.S. Senator.

KENTUCKY

During the War of 1812, Kentucky supplied numerous troops, supplies, and leaders to the war effort.
Because Kentucky did not have to commit manpower to defending fortifications, most Kentucky troops campaigned actively against the enemy. This led to Kentucky seeing more battle casualties than all other states combined. Approximately 60 percent of the war's total casualties were Kentuckians. Furthermore, nearly 25,000 Kentuckians, about one in six, had some type of military service.
During the War of 1812, the southeastern United States experienced a drastic need for saltpeter to be used in rifle black powder and cannon blasting powder. The limestone caves of Kentucky became the focal point of a brief, but vital, mining industry in support of the American war effort. Mammoth Cave and the Great Saltpeter Cave were worked extensively to retrieve the organic materials for manufacture of gun powders during the War of 1812 after the cheaper imported powders were successfully halted by British blockades.

Forging the identity of Kentucky and the nation: the War of 1812 was the first major event after Kentucky's statehood that coalesced Kentucky's identity. The war also placed a national focus on Kentuckians, who were influential soldiers and political leaders, like Henry Clay, during the conflict. Clay, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, was a prominent War Hawk, pushing for expansion into the Northwest Territory and Canada and war with the British who continued to supply the resident Indians with the armaments on Kentucky’s doorstep. Clay also served as a peace commissioner in Ghent in the negotiations ending the War of 1812.

War of 1812 Kentucky Battle Flag
“United We Stand”

Following the 1813 Battle of River Raisin near present day Monroe Michigan, a battle flag was captured from Kentucky soldiers by the British army.

The tattered flag resided in England for some years after its capture. Before it eventually deteriorated with age, drawings were made permitting the missing sections of the flag to be digitally reproduced and an image of how the flag had once appeared was generated. The interpretive artwork included a shield breasted eagle, nine stars and a banner with the words “United we Stand”. The eagle clutches three arrows in one talon, and a pole with a red liberty cap in the other. Interestingly, the red cap is similar in style to the Phrygian cap, a symbol of French freedom, and may graphically represent Kentucky's early 19th century Jeffersonian-Republican political leanings and sentiments with France.

It is surmised that this was the standard carried by Kentucky militia serving under United States Army General, James Winchester, during the War of 1812 and at the River Raisin battle when it fell into British hands. Many of these volunteer Kentuckians perished during and after what has become known as the River Raisin Massacre. Some of the Kentucky militia and American soldiers who were wounded, captured or surrendered following the battle were later killed and scalped by Indians allied with the British. This was the worst defeat, in terms of casualties and losses of American soldiers and militia, during the entire War of 1812.

8” x 12” Kentucky Battleflags for placing on 1812 Kentucky Veteran’s graves available for $19.95 each.

Mail check or money order to:
Jessieanne Wells
1055 King RoadCox’s Creek, KY 40013