The War of 1812. A defining moment for both our countries (well, that is those of us in Canada and the United States). By 1815 the war was over and both sides came out of it differently, and in a way irrevocably changed. There was no loss of land on either side, there was loss of property and lives to both. Some estimated 3,000 slaves escaped to what was eventually to become Canada with the promise of freedom and land if they fought for the King, which after all the dust settled required Great Britain to pay over $1 million as recompense for the escaped slaves. Many names were made in this war Dolly Madison for the US and Laura Secord for Canada are just two.

The United States got their national anthem from that conflict as well as a refurbished White House (we sorta burned the first one to the ground as well as the other buildings in the capital). Canadian's got a sense of national pride which is considered to be the beginning of thoughts of Canada as an independent nation. Over all there were no losers, and no winners in this war.

Come forward 200 years and we are now celebrating the bi-centennial of this conflict. Canada will be releasing stamps over the full duration of the period and on Friday will be releasing the first of this series with the following:



As an aside the following article was published in today's Toronto Star.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1210383--americans-awaken-to-memories-of-the-war-of-1812?bn=1

beautiful cover and a great topic of study to say the least.

woww gr8 cover and article to, lot of new info that me as outsider never knew.

Aamer, the final and arguably biggest battle of the War of 1812 as far as the United States was concerned was the Battle of New Orleans. Ironically, the battle was fought AFTER the war had ended. Word of the cease fire was slow in reaching from France (I think it was France) and the fight ensued anyway. It was likely the American's only decisive victory of the war.

I live about 90 minutes from the site of the Battle of New Orleans... the battle site is actually in Chalmette, Louisiana not New Orleans but I digress. It was a long time ago and the 'burbs weren't there yet!




So if we're all around here in about three years there should be a commemorative for the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans.

There's even a song about it by by Johnny Horton...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxB42cjHTGg

Ah yes... the song.

There are known inaccuracies in the song, but I digress too. Yes the battle was fought after the end of the war. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed but it took some time for the belligerents to be notified. Further, due to time to ratify, the battle was fought before both countries had ratified the treaty.

Ghent is in modern day Belgium, not France.

Ghent... that's it! I probably should have checked on all that but instead ran off old memories from American History class.

Still in all I've been down to where the battle was fought and if the British were fool enough to march on New Orleans from out the south (roughly) they got what was coming to them for being that damn foolish.

I have a battle site not too far from where I live right now... Fort York.

Four days from now will be the 200th anniversary of the declaration of war by the United States, led by President James Madison. Mind you, US troops already invaded Upper Canada on the 11th at Sandwich, ON which is now part of Windsor.

Two good 1812 sites for the history buffs amongst us.

http://www.visit1812.com/
http://www.eighteentwelve.ca/

There's several battle sites around where I live as well... Battle of New Orleans as mentioned... the Battle of Baton Rouge from the Civil War as well as a battle of the same name from the Revolutionary War - the only battle of the Revolution fought outside the 13 Original Colonies.

Just up the river a short distance is Port Hudson which was a key battleground in establishing control of the Mississippi by Union forces as part of their overall plan for eventually taking Vicksburg and thereby effectively taking Louisiana, Texas and to a lesser degree Arkansas out of the Civil War.

Additionally there were many skirmishes in and around the area... in fact Abraham Lincoln's brother-in-law was felled by Southern shot in what is now the 300 block of North Foster Street in Baton Rouge.

Got to love history.

I have to admit when I have traveled I have often visited the historical sites in the cities I was visiting and loved them every time.

Tossing in a little history is a given on any road trip or vacation. In fact... my brother went this past weekend and it reminds me it's about time for another visit to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida... man, I love that place!

did i misunderstood or your comments are so twisted,
battle was between America and Canada (rule by British) rite?
According to song they run towards south gulf of Mexico? why not north?
what France is doing here (according of BP: Word of the cease fire was slow in reaching from France (I think it was France))

The War of 1812 was a conflict that was between the United States of America and the British Colonies in North America (what would become Canada in 55 years). Battles took place all along the eastern seaboard from as far south as Florida to as far north as Quebec. Further, naval engagements took place all over the globe between the US and GB.

The treaty of Ghent was the document that ratified the peace between the two countries. Ghent is in Belgium, BP was in error about the location of Ghent which he acknowledged.

hhmm. most of the American history i learned from Hollywood movies then further read about it from neutral writer, may be it was between British colonies so i might took it as a independence war (that's why i never saw or noticed any movie or any novel about this war. or American dont want to promote it much )

Unfortunately movies are never the best place to learn history, the makers of the films love to twist the truth to fit their story line.

yep u r rite. But then reading the story from other side you might get a better idea about what actually happen there.