Seaway Trail Marker - Commanders - Scriba, NY - War of 1812 on Waymarking.com

One of 28 War of 1812 Outdoor Storyteller markers located along the Seaway Trail in northern New York. This one gives a brief history of the various opposing Commanders who engaged along Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence river.


Text reads:

COMMANDING THE FORCES
THE MEN IN CHARGE

A DIVERSE GROUP
The war effort was lead (sic) by distinguished men on both sides whose effectiveness at their jobs varied, but the impacts of their campaigns on border communities were dramatic. Their ranks and commands changed frequently, they celebrated successes and suffered failures, they disagreed with each other, some went on to greater fame, and others fell into disgrace.
Their legacy lives on in the lore and names of Great Lakes/St Lawrence River places.


THE BRITISH

The British were focused on defeating Napoleon in Europe; at the
same time they had to defend Canada against repeated American
attacks. British Commanders were ultimately successful. Canada remained part of the British Empire until 1867.

SIR GEORGE PREVOST

Lieutenant General Prevost
became Governor General of
Canada in 1811 at age 44,
Conservative and cautious,
he did not work well with
the Royal Navy, Although
successful in defending Canada,
Prevost returned to England in
1815 to face a court martial,but
died before his trial convened.

SIR JAMES LUCAS YEO

A former frigate captain, Yeo
was 31 in 1813 when he
became Commodore
commanding on the lakes. he
unsuccessfully attacked
Sacketts Harbor, but succeeded
at Oswego. He raided several
communities along the south
shore of Lake Ontario.

SIR GORDON DRUMMOND

Lieutenant General
Drummond was 41
in 1813 when appointed
to command the British
Army in Upper Canada.
Competent and
aggressive, he attacked
Oswego, captured Fort
Niagara, burned Buffalo,
fought to a draw at
Lundy's Lane, but failed
to recapture Fort Erie.

THE AMERICANS

the Americans were intent on conquering
Canada, but one plan after another failed
due to poor leadership. By the time the
American leaders got organized it was
too late; the British had defeated Napoleon
freeing up thousands of reinforcements for
the war in America.

MELANCTON WOOLSEY

Navy Lieutenant Woolsey
commanded on Lake Ontario,
from 1808, at age 28,
until relieved by Isaac Chauncey
in 1812. A competent officer,
as Master Commandant he
replaced Chauncey in 1815.

ISAAC CHAUNCEY

Chauncey was 40 when he
became Commodore
commanding on the Great
Lakes. A superb
administrator but ineffective
as a combat commander, he
never forced the British to
fight a decisive battle.

JACOB BROWN

Brown's first
military service
was as a Militia
captain in 1807.
In 1814 at age 39
he became an Army
Major General.
he fought the British
five times during
the war, never losing
a battle.

HENRY DEARBORN

A Revolutionary War
Colonel, Congressman and
Secretary of War, he was
61 in 1812 when he became
Major General commanding
the United States Army in
upstate New York.

JOHN ARCHIBALD

A former Senator, Minister to
France, and Brigadier General,
at age 54 he became Secretary
of War. He mismanaged the
attack on Montreal in 1813, and
in 1814 he was blamed for the
burning of Washington and forced
to resign.

Who put it there? Private/Government?: Seaway Trail Inc./Federal Highway Administration Location/Address: Hwy 104 Scriba, NY USA County/Province: Oswego Rate the Site: Photos Will Be Uploaded: yes Date Erected/Dedicated: Not listed Website (related) if available: Not listed Hours or Restrictions if Appropiate: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   10/19/2018 alynx visited it