Lecture Series - The War of 1812: American's First Naval War

Featuring guest speaker:TOM SHANAHAN

The War of 1812 was fought on Oceans across the globe, yet half the war's casualties occurred within 35 miles of the Niagara River. When Congress declared war, two riders were dispatched with the news. One reached Navy Commodore John Rodgers in New York. Rodgers personally fired the war's first shot at a British frigate. The second was sent by New York fur trader John Jacob Astor to Canada - thus protecting his trading interests, and warning the British. The Battle of Plattsburgh kept the US intact, by denying British peace negotiators any claim to holding American territory at the war's end. The Army located an arsenal across the Hudson from Troy. Some men had worked for Troy meat packer Sam Wilson - who stamped his Army provisions "US." Knowing who prepared the barrels, they said it was from "Uncle Sam." The War of 1812 truly was - Uncle Sam's First War.