Kentucky Was Pivotal in the War of 1812 Entuckians Have Always Kentuckians Not Only James Winchester, a Tennessean, Ed Capitol Building
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THE STATE JOURNAL n FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY n A pRiL 1, 2012 n PAGE D3 William E. Ellis Kentucky was pivotal in the War of 1812 entuckians have always Kentuckians not only James Winchester, a Tennessean, ed Capitol building. However, we Though there is still some de- been deeply involved unwisely pushed to a town on the were not told that this was retali- bate among historians about the in America’s wars, the desired the ability to trade River Raisin and were defeated ation for Americans burning the war (after all, this is how we make conflicts in Afghanistan with anyone that would by British General Henry Proctor Town of York, the site of present- a living), there is a general agree- Kand Iraq certainly included. Be- and his Native American allies. day Toronto. In the south General ment that the war was avoidable if ginning in World War I, but par- pay the highest price, but Five hundred Kentuckians were Andrew Jackson and his forces there had been better diplomacy ticularly during World War II, the also wanted an end to the captured, more than 400 killed, of hounded Native American tribes at work. commonwealth became the cen- these between 40 and 65 wounded into surrender and then pushed The War of 1812 ended with ter of several strategically located threat of Indian depreda- were massacred by Indians when toward New Orleans. American identity firmly en- armed forces bases. tions of the frontier north the British force withdrew. There- The war that began after the trenched with a few military vic- And, of course, in the Civil War, after, “Remember the Raisin!” be- British government had given in tories over the British and their Kentucky was of great strategic of the Ohio River. New Or- came the rallying cry for Kentuck- to some American demands of- Indian allies. Francis Scott Key’s importance to the Union and the ians in an increasingly brutal war. ficially ended, ironically, before leans was Kentucky’s most penning of “The Star-Spangled Confederacy, as well as a crucial Gov. Isaac Shelby responded to the most famous engagement of Banner” in Baltimore harbor source of men and resources. convenient outlet to the the continuing war by raising an- the war. The Treaty of Ghent, with In the wake of the ongoing other large Kentucky force. This Henry Clay one of the American added to the solidification of 150th commemorative years of world of trade before the time another disaster followed an representatives, was signed on an American mythos. With the the Civil War, it might be easy to advent of the steamboat. apparent victory. “Dudley’s De- Dec. 24, 1814. Because word of the death of Tecumseh and defeat forget the role of Kentucky in what feat,” came when an overly con- peace treaty had to come across of his allies, the northwest now has sometimes been called “The tionably Kentucky’s greatest and fident Kentucky force ran into a the wide Atlantic Ocean by ship came under complete American Second War of Independence,” or best-known United States rep- larger British and Indian force, for ratification by Congress, the control. Tragically, Native Ameri- the War of 1812. resentative and senator, Henry and suffered horrendous losses message did not reach Washing- cans were further marginalized There were foreign issues Clay. After serving in the Ken- and another Indian slaughter of 40 ton for several weeks. in American life. Canadians of aplenty for the fledgling United tucky legislature, Clay served an wounded Kentuckians. Again, Kentuckians were in the French and English derivations States in the early nineteenth unexpired term in the U.S. Senate Shelby then personally led a thick of the battle, but not without coalesced into what would be- century. Wars between Great before winning a term in the U.S. force of 3,500 mounted volun- some controversy. When many of come a confederation in 1867. We Britain and France and their al- House of Representatives, being teers northward to join Harrison. the Kentuckians arrived in New Americans should remember that lies from 1793 to 1801 and 1803 to elected speaker in 1811. From this Meanwhile, Oliver Hazard Perry’s Orleans without weapons or pro- Canadians are also a proud people 1815 placed the United States in a position he became a leader of the naval victory on Lake Erie cut off visions, Jackson is said to have an- and consider the War of 1812 to be precarious position. Trade with “War Hawks,” a group of young- British supply lines. General Proc- grily retorted: “I have never seen one of the hallmarks of their na- either side placed Americans in er members who pushed for war tor and his Indian allies under the a Kentuckian without a gun and a tionhood. jeopardy. American seamen were with Great Britain. Clay supported command of Tecumseh retreated pack of cards and a bottle of whis- On Oct. 10, 2011, PBS/KET ran impressed into the British Navy. a declaration of war that Congress along the Thames River. On Oct. 5, key in my life.” one of the best documentaries I From the last days of the admin- approved on June 18, 1812. Ironi- 1813, in the Battle of the Thames, Nevertheless, on Jan. 8, 1815, have even seen, a TV special on istration of President Thomas Jef- the Americans won a complete over 1,000 Kentuckians played a cally, unknown to President Madi- the War of 1812 that asks all the ferson into that of his fellow Vir- son and Congress, Britain had just victory. Richard Mentor Johnson, central role in the decisive defeat right questions and gave insights ginian James Madison, the United revoked its repressive maritime who led a cavalry regiment of Ken- of British regulars in the Battle of into the war from the American, States tried to remain neutral. policy toward the United States. tuckians, received credit (at least New Orleans. Kentuckians not only desired Americans expected the war to by popular legend) for the killing Nearly 26,000 Kentuckians Canadian, British, African-Ameri- the ability to trade with anyone be brief and victorious. However, of Tecumseh. served in some capacity in the can slave, and Native American that would pay the highest price, a series of disasters soon led to Kentuckians were elated and War of 1812. According to “A New perspectives. If you have not seen but also wanted an end to the Kentuckians being placed in jeop- sure that further Native Ameri- History of Kentucky” (page 94), this magnificent two-hour spe- threat of Indian depredations of ardy. Poorly planned invasions of can challenges were now less- “Of the 1,876 Americans killed cial, look for it again in the coming the frontier north of the Ohio Riv- Canada did not quickly suppress ened. The hottest part of the war during the War of 1812, approxi- months. It should be shown to all er. New Orleans was Kentucky’s the British and their allies. shifted to the east coast. In grade mately 1,200 (64 percent) were Kentucky students, elementary, most convenient outlet to the As part of an invasion force of school and beyond we Americans Kentuckians, despite the fact that high school, and college students world of trade before the advent of Canada under the command of have always lamented the burn- the state was never invaded.” Of as a needed corrective to most of the steamboat. General William Henry Harri- ing of Washington, D.C., what course, owing to the times, many our traditional views of the war. The tensions leading to war ac- son, an army of nearly 1,300 Ken- little there was of it except for the more men on both sides died form companied the rise of unques- tuckians led by Brigadier General White House and an uncomplet- disease. William E. Ellis is a Kentucky author. Employers should respect job applicants’ web privacy The following editorial appeared in the reference calls and record to all sorts of mischief by this. And no website privacy as an “unreasonable inva- age. Passwords give employ- San Jose Mercury News on Tuesday, checks, HR departments employers who have shown, system or instruction does sion of privacy for people ers access to information March 27: would be crazy not to add a just by asking, that they lack any good if users are com- seeking work.” California they’re prohibited from ask- vigorous Internet search to respect for employees. pelled to give up their pass- Sens. Dianne Feinstein and ing about, from relation- ilicon Widgets Inc. check on what’s out there Nobody is more appalled words. It’s like giving pro- Barbara Boxer should be out ships to political views. The doesn’t want to hire for all the world to see. than Facebook, which has spective employers a key to there with him. Two states laws also should apply to a new VP for mar- But asking candidates for been trying to offer more your house, or at least your are preparing legislation, schools and universities. Sketing who’s all passwords to sites such as privacy options. It sent out a Post Office box. but the practice crosses They’d never demand to over YouTube with hilari- Facebook? No way. That’s reminder of its terms of use Sen. Richard Blumen- state lines. open a student’s paper mail. ous videos lampooning the just wrong. The newly sur- over the weekend, but com- thal, a Connecticut Demo- It’s really a case of em- On Monday the Federal uselessness of Widgets. We faced practice is an invasion pany policies don’t carry crat, is writing a bill to stop ployment law needing to Trade Commission came out get that.