War of 1812 Bicentennial

[grant]

This is the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812!

I am trying to get my local gamers together to put on a series of presentation and public involvement games, likely at my local museum, to celebrate the Bicentennial. With any kind of luck, we will be able to access some funding that is available from the government.

We are likely to use the Black Powder rules for the land portions, and Trafalgar for the Great Lakes actions.

Here we go!

[2close2theflame]

where is this taking place? you mentioned great ;lakes so it coaught my interest

[grant]

where is this taking place? you mentioned great ;lakes so it coaught my interest

The Great Lakes - Ontario, Erie, etc. The War of 1812 was an invasion of Canada by the American forces, and was seminal in the formation of modern Canada. We threw back the invaders, took a stroll into the US, actually burned down the first White House, and generally did the unthinkable - resisted the American invasion.

I grew up in southern Ontario, so have been to many of the places the battles were fought, and even have an uncle named after Sir Isaac Brock, the British General in charge, who died at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

[Invisible officer]

Very interesting fights and some projects that sound strange today. the launch of a 104 gun ship of the line, HMS St. Lawrence, 1814 at Lake Ontario. To late for the war.

Americans just remember the high sea victories of the USN monster frigates like Constitution against normal RN ones. Hardly fair fights. Bigger ships, a small navy of hand picked crews against a pressed fleet that had to defend the world seas and that certain small Corsician that asked for some attention.

But with traders from the northern states feeding Wellington's army the same time the US army attacked Canada......

[Cubster]

Yeah, a Frigate isn't always equal to a Frigate!

[Correus]

Not a word has been mentioned of the bicentennial here in the US.

[Cubster]

Not surprising, it was a pretty inconclusive affair that didn't achieve much. It's probably also a little embarrassing that one of the jobs of the Royal Navy was to try to intercept American slavers operating between West Africa and the Americas. The Slave Trade had been abolished in Britain by 1807 so it might not be politically comfortable to remind people that one of the things America was fighting for was to continue trading slaves!

[Eumerin]

Americans just remember the high sea victories of the USN monster frigates like Constitution against normal RN ones. Hardly fair fights. Bigger ships, a small navy of hand picked crews against a pressed fleet that had to defend the world seas and that certain small Corsician that asked for some attention

We also remember the Battle of New Orleans, which was fought after the treaty ending the war had been signed. A few of us also remember that it's the only war that featured a sitting US President commanding the troops. Of course, even fewer remember that said President lost that battle, and promptly got his capitol burned down...

Not surprising, it was a pretty inconclusive affair that didn't achieve much. It's probably also a little embarrassing that one of the jobs of the Royal Navy was to try to intercept American slavers operating between West Africa and the Americas. The Slave Trade had been abolished in Britain by 1807 so it might not be politically comfortable to remind people that one of the things America was fighting for was to continue trading slaves!

US History classes, as sparse as they are with information, tend to play up the issue of forts that the British didn't abandon after the Thirteen Colonies won their independence, and the British stopping US ships on the high seas and impressing crewmen into the Royal Navy (iirc, the British claimed was that the men in question were deserters from the Royal Navy). The boasting during the lead-up also sometimes gets mentioned, particularly claims by pro-war politicians that Canada would happily throw off the yoke of British Tyranny if the US provided the opportunity.




All in all, though, as noted it was largely inconclusive. imo, these days it's largely important as an excuse to provide troops for an ahistorical US Expeditionary Force to fight in the Napoleonic Wars.

[grant]

I think that sums it up rather nicely, actually!

[Invisible officer]

........particularly claims by pro-war politicians that ........ would happily throw off the yoke of ....... Tyranny if the US provided the opportunity.

Sounds awfull familar to todays TV news watcher.

I will surely do some 1812 naval actions this year. In 1/1200 and 1/300

But at last I will get the US Ship, may be I have to use some SOL but I will do.