The letter is by Robert Thompson, of the U.S. 4th regiment, to his brother in New York, dated Vincennes, January 1, 1812.  The editor of the Shamrock provided the following information about Robert Thomson: “Mr. Thompson is a native of Dublin, and in the 23d year of his age. Having received a liberal education, he studied law under a very eminent professional gentleman in that city, visited this country in the year 1807, and being disappointed in the line of his profession, he voluntarily entered the United States army sooner than be of any expence to his relations.” Here follows Robert Thompson’s letter.

“Vincennes, January 1, 1812
My Dear Brother,

It is with the greatest joy I have to inform you of the late brilliant and glorious battle with the Indians.  Being over-hasty in the battle, night amazing dark and not seeing well at the best of times, I found myself before I knew of it in the midst of the Savages.  I shot one and bayoneted another, and in the act of taking his scalp I was completely overpowered by numbers.  They were bringing me off (as I supposed) to roast me alive;–judge what must have been the situation of my mind!  I struggled and cried out for help; fortunately disengaging my right hand, I drew out my knife and stabbed the Indian that was bringing me off to the heart–he fell, and with my left I struck another near the temple, he fell to the ground, and one blow with my knife ended his days. I seized his rifle (for in the scuffle they got away my gun) and shot another through the head; I was then in a very perilous situation; they all came round me–I kept them off with the butt end of the rifle–in a few minutes all would have been over with me, for I began to grow faint with the loss of blood, when I was relieved by a party of Dragoons with the valiant Major Daviess at their head–they carried me off. During the well-contested fight, I received a severe wound through my thigh and lost part of my finger by a cut.–I have also received several severe wounds from the tomahawk and scalping knife, but the Doctor says there is no kind of danger.”

The letter, as published by the Register, ends here.  The letter, as published by the Shamrock gives us this continuation:

 ”…and advises me to nourish myself with chicken, &c.  My dear brother I should have wrote you an account of my situation before this, but was not able to do so.  Do not mention a syllable of the affair to parents–when you write inform them I am well and hearty.  I have taken some wine, which has been of great help to me.  As you are fond of drawing you could not form a more interesting subject than a representation of me in the above conflict, surrounded by savages and darkness, fighting as described, dealing destruction around me, and the horse rescuing me, where fell the immortal Davies and other brave brothers in arms.   To say more of myself might be considered egotism, for as soldiers are never mentioned individually, it takes from the credit of the officers–they alone report for themselves, and engross all the praise, while mine and some of my brave companions who fell by my side gloriously fighting are left to sink into oblivion.  Write by return of post, and kindly mention to me o all my friends.”

If this is “real,” it is one of the few first-hand accounts of the battle of Tippecanoe, which occurred on November 7, 1811.  The 4th U.S. Infantry was indeed at Tippecanoe, serving under William H. Harrison.  The 4th, the Indiana militia, and friendly Indians were surprised at four in the morning (it was dark) by the hostile Indians.  According to the website of the Upper Mississippi Brigade, Major Joseph Daviess “was persistent in his request of Harrison to let him make a charge.  Daviess apparently was too excited and charged without waiting for the bulk of his command.” According to Adam Walker, who was also present, “The hasty charge made by major Daviess to dislodge the Indians from behind the trees on the left of the front line, was made with only 20 of his dragoons, dismounted . . . .”   At some point, Daviess was wounded, mortally, but his charge gained him fame.  A poem, entitled “Indian Warfare,” was published by the New York Mercantile Advertiser, with this conclusion:  “There should you meet untimely death, / And for your country yield your breath, / On Daviess’ tomb, with Daviess’ name,/ Be yours enroll’d for endless fame.” The wounded of Harrison’s force were taken by boat back to Vincennes, where they were taken care of.  According to Walker, the wounded arrived back at Vincennes on November 19, “and immediately after were placed in excellent quarters, and every possible attention paid to the sick and wounded.”

Again, if this account is true, it is yet another reason to preserve and to scan these old newspapers.  They hold so much of our history.

If you are interested in contributing funds to speed The University of Texas’ massive project of scanning and putting on-line historic newspapers online, please contact Linda Abbey, of UT’s General Libraries, phone (512) 795-4366 or online to the Historic Newspapers Preservation link.

February 25: “On Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, the Thermometer stood at 31 [degrees] below cypher in Windsor, Vt. which is a greater degree of cold than has been observed there since its settlement.”–Connecticut Mirror, March 16, 1812

February 26: “The whole system of taxes, introduced into the House of Representatives, by the Committee of Ways and Means, passed, in Committee of the whole, on Wednesday last.”–New York Spectator, March 4, 1812

February 26: House of Representatives — “Mr. Low presented the petition of Mary Palmer, widow of Peleg Palmer deceased, who was a custom-house inspector in New-London, Connecticut, and in the discharge of his duty was frozen to death on board of a vessel–praying for relief.”–New York Spectator, March 4, 1812

February 27: “The bill authorising a loan for a sum of money not exceeding eleven millions of dollars, has passed the House of Representatives by a majority of 65 votes.”–National Intelligencer, February 27, 1812

February 27: In the House of Representatives — “The House proceeded to the consideration of the unfinished business of yesterday, viz. Internal Taxes, &c. Mr. Fisk moved that the resolutions be all indefinitely postponed.–War, he said, was not inevitable; perhaps the taxes would never be wanted. It would not be wise to alarm the people, till war is commenced.”–Newport Mercury, March 7, 1812

February 28: From Washington — “The President of the United States has, we learn, approved of the acquittal of Brig. Gen. James Wilkinson of all the charges alleged against him, and caused his sword to be restored to him.”–Raleigh Register, February 28, 1812

February 28: ”It is reported that Aaron Burr sought to get a Passport from General Armstrong at Paris. The American minister would not know him. He subsequently got one from Mr. Russell, in this style, ‘suffer A. B. to return to the U. S. for the purpose of delivering himself into the hands of justice.’”–Raleigh Register, February 28, 1812

February 29: From Ohio — “The law fixing the permanent seat of government will be seen in this week’s paper. A town is to be laid out on the East bank of the Scioto river, opposite Franklinton, and is, we understand, to be named COLUMBUS.”–Scioto Gazette, February 29, 1812

February 17: From the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut –”The general officers and their aids, and also the brigade inspectors, and quarter-masters, are to wear blue coats, faced, lined, cuffed, and caped with buff; buff vests and breeches and yellow buttons. All general officers and their suites, and all field officers are to wear long boots with russet tops.”–Connecticut Mirror, April 6, 1812

February 18: From Kaskaskia — “I am sorry to find that we have the appearance of an Indian war on the Mississippi. I have just received information from Fort Madison that a party of Indians, supposed to be the Puorts (Winnebagoes) and some of those that had escaped from the battle of Tippecanoe, had killed a family of Americans about 100 miles below Fort Madison by the name of Neil, and declare that they will continue to destroy all the Americans they meet with.”–National Intelligencer, March 21, 1812

February 18: In the House of Representatives — “Mr. Porter introduced a resolution, that a committee be appointed to prepare and report a bill, to authorize the President of the United States to raise, organize and equip, a provisional army of 20,000 volunteers in addition to the additional regular force to be raised.–Mr. Porter observed that his object was: that we might obtain a force immediately, for immediate operations.”–Salem Gazette, February 25, 1812

February 19: From Washington: “Yesterday was launched from the Navy Yard at this place, the brig ENTERPRIZE, which has undergone a thorough repair and renovation. . . . After the launch, many of the ladies and gentlemen present partook of a plain but plentiful cold repast, provided, in seaman’s stile, in one of the workshops.”–National Intelligencer, February 20, 1812

February 19: From Kentucky –”We have seen a statement made by a couple of gentlemen just from New-Madrid, which says that place is much torn to pieces by the late Earthquake; so much so, that it is almost impossible to get along in any way, but entirely so on horseback. . . . The citizens have fled to the mountains, and were, when the informants left there, waiting for an opportunity to move to Kentucky. It is said they are near one thousand in number!”–Salem Gazette, March 20, 1812

February 20: From Albany — “On Thursday last, the Council of Appointment met, and appointed Mr. Preserved Fish Harbour Master for the port of New-York, vice Mr. Gabriel Havens, removed.”–New York Spectator, March 4, 1812

February 21: “The Birth-Night Ball [celebrating Washington's birthday] will be celebrated on Friday the 21st inst. at the Union Tavern. Those Ladies of Georgetown, Washington and the vicinity, who have received tickets for the Assemblies, and their visitors, are respectfully invited.”–National Intelligencer, February 13, 1812

February 22: From New York — “WASHINGTON’S BIRTH DAY. On Saturday last, this memorable Anniversary was celebrated by the Washington Benevolent Society. The members assembled at Harmony Hall at 10 o’clock, and having installed their Officers for the current year, . . . formed, under the direction of Col. Mapes, as Grand Marshall of the day . . .”–New York Spectator, February 24, 1812

February 22: From Washington — “The United States’ frigate CONSTITUTION, Capt. Hull, has arrived in Hampton Roads. Charles Morris, Esq. the First Lieutenant, reached this city on Saturday night last, at 10 o’clock, with despatches from our Minister in France and Charge d’Affaires in England. The frigate had a passage of 41 days from France.”–National Intelligencer, February 25, 1812

February 22: From St. Louis — “Nuisances. For the last six or eight months, this town has been infested by a gang of the most unprincipled scoundrels, that ever disgraced any town or village, that we have yet heard of. We learn that most of these worthies have been drum’d out of the U. States, and have came here as a last resort, to gull the flats, as they term it.”–Louisiana Gazette, February 22, 1812

February 23: “A gentleman who arrived in the last cartel from Morlaix, has favored us with a long list of American vessels which have been lately liberated in France, and which are now loading for America. Restitution of great quantities of American property, which had been confiscated, also expected, and the measures of the French government seemed to be decidedly amicable towards America.”–New York Columbian, February 23, 1812

February 8: From Baltimore — “A shock of an earthquake was almost universally felt here and at Alexandria this morning, a little after four o’clock. The noise made by the rattling of things in chambers and shaking of beds awaked vast numbers.”–National Intelligencer, February 11, 1812

February 8: From San Antonio — “But gradually Ferdinand VII is lost out of sight, as a phantom that has no political existence, and the oppression of the government obliges the people of this province to shake off their former yoke entirely. General Ryon has collected a formidable army, chiefly cavalry, consisting of Creoles, born in the interior provinces. . . . Through the means of traders from Natchitoches, copies of the resolutions of Congress respecting the revolution of the Spanish provinces, have likewise found their way here—great pains are taken by the creoles to circulate them. For want of printing presses they are copied by the itinerant monks, and posted up by the creoles to animate their countrymen.”–Charleston City Gazette, May 11, 1812

February 9: “The navigation of the Delaware was opened about the 8th inst. On the 9th and 10th, several vessels left the wharves of Philadelphia where they had been long embargoed by the ice, and proceeded to sea. Among the first was the ship Archimedes, Neal, for Falmouth.”–Salem Gazette, February 21, 1812

February 9: From St. Louis — “On Thursday morning last, between 2 & 3 o’clock, we experienced the most severe shock of earthquake that we have yet felt, many houses are injured, and several chimneys thrown down; few hours pass without feeling slight vibrations of the earth. Should we ever obtain another mail, we shall be attentive in recording its progress in every quarter.”–Louisiana Gazette, February 9, 1812

February 10: Critique of the Answer of the Massachusetts’ House to Governor Gerry’s Speech: “The following is the first paragraph: ‘At no period, since the great national era of our country, has the voice of the people called more loudly on Government to respect itself, than the present.–The House of Representatives have received the Address of your Excellency to their body with uncommon warmth of approbation.’ . . . can any body imagine two sentences that have less to do with each other, than those which make this paragraph?”–Connecticut Mirror, February 10, 1812

February 10: From Norfolk — “On Monday last arrived in Hampton Roads, from Lisbon (last from Madeira) his Britannic Majesty’s frigate Macedonia, of 38 guns, with despatches for Mr. Foster, the British Minister.”–National Intelligencer, February 20, 1812

February 11: A letter from Detroit, Michigan Territory — “Since the battle of Tippecanoe, large numbers of savages who have visited the British fort at Amherstburg, eighteen miles below this place, have been there liberally supplied with arms and munitions of war . . . .”–National Intelligencer, February 29, 1812

February 11: Advertisement — “To Printers. For Sale, 1 Fount of Great Primer Type, 1 ditto Pica, 1 ditto Long Primer, 1 ditto Non Pareil, 1 Printing Press, with all the apparatus necessary to a printing office. Apply to James Kimball, Essex street, corner of Beckford street; who has also for sale, 1000 Goat Skins, in prime order, cheap for cash or on approved credit.”–Salem Gazette, February 11, 1812

February 11: In the House of Representatives — “Many local and private bills were discussed; and much merriment excited at the expence of Messrs. Dawson and Lewis, two bachelors of the House, on the subject of taxing marriage licenses in the district of Columbia.”–Salem Gazette, February 21, 1812

February 12: In the Senate — “The bill making appropriations for the expences incident to the six companies of mounted rangers for 1812, passed its third reading; as did also the bill authorising the Secretary of the Treasury to locate the lands reserved for the use of Jefferson College, in the Mississippi territory.”–National Intelligencer, February 15, 1812

February 13: In the House of Representatives — “The House, on motion of Mr. Poindexter, proceeded to consider a resolution, some time since offered by him, instructing the committee of ways and means to enquire into the expediency of preventing the corporation of the city of New Orleans, from assessing a tax on boats descending the Mississippi, laden with the produce, growth or manufacture of the United States. After a short debate the resolution was adopted.”–Salem Gazette, February 21, 1812

February 14: “Chief Justice Marshall on Friday last took his seat on the bench of the Supreme Court.”–National Intelligencer, February 18, 1812

February 14: From Washington — “I have examined and considered the fore-going proceedings of the general court martial held at Frederickstown, for the trial of Brigadier general James Wilkinson–and although I have observed in those proceedings, with regret, that there are instances inn the conduct of the court, as well as of the officer on trial, which are evidently and justly objectionable, his acquittal of the several charges, exhibited against him, is approved, and his sword is accordingly ordered to be restored. (Signed) JAMES MADISON.”–New York Spectator, March 4, 1812

“The legislature of Maryland have raised their compensation to four dollars per day.”–Scioto Gazette, February 1, 1812

February 3: In the House of Representatives — “Mr. Mitchill presented the petition of Murray, Millbank, and others, of the city of New York, brewers of malt liquors, complaining of their business being injured by the excessive use of ardent spirits, and praying Congress to take such measures for the encouragement of their manufactory as they may judge expedient.”–National Intelligencer, February 4, 1812

February 3: “The Supreme Court of the United States met at the capitol in this city on Monday last, present Judges Livingston, Washington, Todd, Duval and Story. We are concerned to learn that Judge Marshall, by the overturning of the stage, met with an accident, a fracture of the collar-bone we believe, which prevents his attendance.”–National Intelligencer, February 6, 1812

February 4: From Salem — “The Russian Brick Stove, lately introduced among us by the patriotic exertions of one of our fellow-townsmen, is fast coming into use, and promises to be the most effectual means of counteracting the severity of winter in our houses, and saving expense in fuel, that this country has ever enjoyed. For this most valuable improvement, we are indebted to Capt. Solomon Towne, of the ship Galatea. He spent the last winter in Russia, where, with many others of our countrymen, he witnessed the efficacy of these stoves . . . .”–Salem Gazette, February 4, 1812

February 5: From Washington — “The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill to incorporate Moses Austin, John R. Jones, Henry Austin and others into a company, by the name of the Louisiana Lead Company.”–National Intelligencer, February 6, 1812

February 5: From Boston — “The following advertisement is copied from the last Newport paper, and is the first we have seen, under the new war Establishment. The bounty is liberal, and the gratuity of land, if the poor fellows, who many enter the service, ever find the location, munificent. “ATTENTION!!! A Bounty of Sixteen Dollars, with one hundred and fifty acres of Land and 3 months additional pay at the expiration of the service, is offered to able bodied Citizens, who are willing to enlist under the National Standard. Application may be made at either of the Garrisons in the Harbor of New Port. Newport, Feb. 5′”–Salem Gazette, February 25, 1812

February 6: Latest from France — An arrival at Annapolis, from Bordeaux, brings letters and papers to the 20th Dec. The President’s message had been published at Paris, without comment. The appointment of Mr. Barlow had given pleasure to the French government; but nothing had been effected by him to relieve the embarrassments on our commerce.”–Newport Mercury, February 15, 1812

February 7: “The President has issued a Proclamation, dated the 7th inst. granting pardon to all deserters who shall within four months from the date thereof, ‘surrender themselves to the commanding officer of any military post within the United States, or the Territories thereof.’”–Connecticut Mirror, February 24, 1812

February 7: From Washington — “Congress are engaged in nothing of importance.”–New York Spectator, February 13, 1812

February 7: From Salem — “We are requested to mention, that the Sermon preached on the evening of the 26th ult. and the Rev. Mr. Bolles’s Meeting House by Mr. Johns is now in press; and that an Appendix is intended to accompany the Sermon containing some remarks on Missions, in reply to President Smith, of Princeton. About 1000 dollars have been collected in this town to aid in the translation of the Scriptures into the languages of India.”–Salem Gazette, February 7, 1812

A Philadelphia paper voiced this complaint: “If we are rightly informed, the war in which we are engaged was undertaken in defence of the ‘Freedom of the Seas.’  So intently are the views of the administration fixed upon this grand object, that they have no leisure to attend to the minor consideration of the freedom of the rivers and roads.  The intercourse, by mail between that great imperial capital, called the city of Washington, and Philadelphia, is now effectually cut off, either because the government is unable to keep it open or else because they consider such trifling matters as being beneath the consideration of men who are engaged in humbling the power, and repressing the insolence of Great Britain, on the high seas.” [United States Gazette, reprinted May 13, 1813 by the Maryland Gazette].

A Baltimore paper thought the failure of the mails, during war-time, was especially vexing. “Still, however, we feel it a duty to state, that at this time, two mails are due from Boston, one from New York, and one from Washington to this city.  It is more especially harassing and tantalizing at this time, because precisely contradictory accounts are current of the intelligence received by the Erie; and because we have some reason to believe, interesting news may be on the way from our northern frontier.”[Baltimore Whig, reprinted November 13, 1813 by the Charleston City Gazette].

The editors were anxious to receive the letter mail, but more anxious to receive the newspaper mail.  The letter mail, being less bulky, could travel by horseback; the newspaper mail had to go by stage.  The editor of the Charleston City Gazette was especially vocal.  “Why does not Mr. Granger [Post Master General] compel the post-masters to forward the papers as well as letters? . . . We do not receive one fourth our quantity of newspapers; and those we do receive, are so old as to be of no value.”[April 3, 1813].  He complained yet again on October 30, 1813. “FOUR Mails are due this morning; a circumstance which gives us a blessed prospect of what we are to expect the coming winter.  What is the reason the mail does not arrive?  Every one inquires, and the answer is ready; ‘the roads are so cut up by waggons that the stage cannot get along’.  But what has that to do with the mail, we ask?  If the roads are bad, and there is no doubt but that they are, let the mail be brought on  horseback, or, if too heavy for that mode of conveyance, put it into a light sulky, with high wheels and two horses tandem, and there is no road between this and Maine through which it could not come and arrive regularly when due.  AT ALL EVENTS, THE MAIL MUST COME MORE REGULAR.”

The Scioto Supporter, of Chillicothe, Ohio, apologized to his readers on June 11, 1814, for, “the last Washington City Mail brought nothing from the Eastward further than Marietta, which must account for the want of news in this week’s paper.”  He filled in with an Ode to Commodore Perry, an account of the four Girty brothers, and reprints from other papers and from London papers.  A letter from New Orleans explained why the Eastern mail was late. “The post-rider from Fort Stoddart, (M. T.) has come in to-day, from which route we have four due, and gives information of the Indians having fired at him from whom he received some shots through his clothes, and was compelled to leave the mail on the road, and make his escape.”[Charleston City Gazette, September 1, 1813].  On July 26, 1813, the New Orleans Post Office offered this advice: “It is recommended to persons writing to the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to forward their letters via Fort Adams [Wilkinson County, Mississippi], in consequence of the insecurity attending the passage of the Fort Stoddert mail through the Creek nation at the present moment.  A mail will be dispatched as usual to Fort Stoddert every Tuesday at 1 o’clock P. M.”[New York Spectator, August 2, 1813]. Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri also had their mails interfered with by the Indians.   A letter from Camp Seneca, mentioned that, “On the 19th, a small party started from Camp Meigs for this place, with the mail.  About one mile on this side of the Camp, they were fired on by a party of hostile Indians.” [New York Spectator, September 11, 1813]. A party of friendly people from Delaware, however, rescued the mail carrier.

If you are interested in contributing funds to speed The University of Texas’ massive project of scanning and putting on-line historic newspapers online, please contact Linda Abbey, of UT’s General Libraries, phone (512) 795-4366 or online to the Historic Newspapers Preservation link.

Despite the dedication of postmasters who could rescue the letter mails, the same postmasters often could not rescue the newspapers, as this Connecticut post man explains: “Sir: The following are the particulars of the disaster which befell the northern stage at 11 o’clock this day.  The small rivulet which crosses Durham-street, about 20 rods north of the meetinghouse, is swollen to an unusual size by the late storm.  Immense cakes of ice were constantly descending the stream in the forenoon.—The bridge was much shattered by them.  A part of it gave way under the stage, by which it was precipitated about 20 feet into a tremendous current, amidst heavy timbers and bodies of ice.  It carried down three passengers, the driver, mails and two horses.   . . .  As soon as the alarm was given a number of persons went into the large swamp which receives the rivulet, in pursuit of the mails, baggage, &c.  After wading more than an hour, waist deep among cakes of ice, we found both mails, and with some difficulty drew them to the shore. The newspapers are so much bruised that they cannot be saved.  Those pamphlets on which directions could be found are dried, and will be forwarded by next mail.” [Liberty Hall & Cincinnati Gazette, March 16, 1822].

The postmaster at St. James wrote the one at Charleston this explanation: “I started the mail due you yesterday. The driver was obliged to return with the sulkey and take the mail on horseback.  The roads are covered with trees, and I fear that the ferries have lost their boats and flats, or some more serious accident may have happened, or my driver would have certainly arrived by this time.” [Charleston City Gazette, August 31, 1813].  The Charleston editor seemed almost happy to discover that other parts of the country had their difficulties with the mail also. “We have seen a New London (Connecticut) paper of the 17^th ult. which states, that since the establishment of the Post-Office, the mail has never been more irregular at that place than at present, and at the same time observes, that the roads are uncommonly good!!!…We are happy to learn that the Post Master General is recovering from his late indisposition, and should augur favorably from it of the department over which he presides, were it not that we knew that the department was ill, VERY ILL, long before we heard a word of the indisposition of the head of it.” [Charleston City Gazette, December 2, 1813].

The Postmaster General at this time was Gideon Granger.  On March 10, 1814, the Scioto Supporter reported this news: “GIDEON GRANGER, Postmaster General has been dismissed from office by the President of the United States.  He received the following note from the President on the 26th ultimo:  ‘SIR–Your services are no longer required in the Post-Office department:–You will on the receipt of this, consider yourself dismissed.’”  I wish very much that the University of Texas were not missing the Charleston City Gazette for 1814.  I imagine its editor made appropriate comments.

If you are interested in contributing funds to speed The University of Texas’ massive project of scanning and putting on-line historic newspapers online, please contact Linda Abbey, of UT’s General Libraries, phone (512) 795-4366 or online to the Historic Newspapers Preservation link.

January 24: From the Connecticut Courant — “Scare-crow style–Noted as a part of the American Congress has been over the world for this kind of style, no one else of its members has carried it quite so far as Mr. D. R. Williams of South-Carolina . . . It was not enough for him to destroy the British nation, root and branch; but the Island, yea the Island itself, safe-anchored though it be, he would ‘drive from its moorings!’”–New York Spectator, March 18, 1812

January 25: “A New-Orleans paper of the 25th says ‘The Convention yesterday elected Eligins Fromentin and Allan R. Magruder, Esquires, delegates to carry on the Constitution they had adopted, for the approbation of Congress.’”–National Intelligencer, February 20, 1812

January 25: Fire at New-York. “Last night, between the hours of 12 and 1, the Steam Engine Manufactory, in Greenwich street, belonging to Messsrs. Livingston and Fulton, was, in one hour, reduced to ashes. The Boring-Mill, Turning Lathes, Forges, and works had just been finished for making Steam Engines, and all parts of useful and powerful machinery–such a work has been long wanted. The disappointment to the public is great, and the loss of the proprietors is considerable.–It is believed to be the work of incendiaries. A man has been taken up on suspicion; that a full discovery may take place, is most devoutly to be wished.”–Richmond Enquirer, February 4, 1812

January 26: From New York — A circumstance which occurred on board the frigate Essex this morning having excited considerable anxiety in town, we have taken the pains to ascertain the facts, at the navy-yard, and detain the press to give them to the public. John Irvin, the man who was tarred & feathered, has been known by his own account before and since he belonged to the navy, as a native of Salem, Mass, in which town he says he served his apprenticeship with Mr. Lane, a sail-maker. He entered on board the Essex, at Boston, about ten months since, signed the articles, and took the oath of allegiance…. This morning . . . captain Porter called all hands again and addressed them on the subject of the war, repeating his wish that any man who was unwilling to continue in the service would give in his name and receive his discharge; to which the crew as before, replied with three unanimous cheers. Shortly after, he ordered up the men in their respective gangs and tendered them the oath of allegiance, which was cheerfully taken by every man on board excepting Irvin, who refused, and declared himself an Englishman. Upon this, the petty officers and crew of the ship, to whom capt. Porter has uniformly submitted the award of punishing offences committed on board his ship, requested permission to inflict severe corporal punishment on the offender, which the captain, with his characteristic humanity, refused, & suffered them to dismiss him with a coat of old fashioned yankee manufacture, with appropriate labels, in which he appeared in our streets: where he excited so much curiosity, that the police interfered and took charge of him to prevent a riot.–Richmond Enquirer, July 23, 1812, reprinting New York Columbian

January 27: In the House of Representatives — “Mr. Nelson was not afraid of any danger to our liberty or republican institutions, from an army of 25,000 men; far less in any navy we could build. He was under no apprehension that Commodore Decatur or Rodgers would sail up the Potomac, and turn the members out of the house into the river.”–Connecticut Mirror, February 10, 1812

January 27: From Washington — “The Senate have confirmed the nomination of Henry Dearborn, as Major General and Commander in Chief of the American Army. Ayes, twenty-three–Noes, nine.”–New York Spectator, January 30, 1812

January 28: In the House of Representatives — “Mr.. Jackson presented a memorial and remonstrance . . . . This remonstrance was very long, and contained a number of severe reflections upon the measures of government. After the reading had progressed for some time, the further reading of the paper was objected to, on the ground of its being indecorous.”–National Intelligencer, January 30, 1812

January 29: “A Correspondent is much grieved to find the democratic papers, and their friends and supporters, whose mouths have watered some time to ‘take Canada,’ should be so much out of temper at the disclosure of Mr. Gallatin’s project to raise the cash to support the brave fellows who are expected to go upon this important service. Surely, the friends of war cannot be so unreasonable, and so unfeeling as to wish to sent 25000 and one men, to that cold province without clothes, without food, and without ardent spirits, at least as good as potatoe gin.”–New York Spectator, January 29, 1812

January 30: “In the House of Representatives, the bill appropriating money for the support of the Navy has passed the third reading. As passed, the bill proposes to appropriate 480,000 dollars for repairs of the vessels in ordinary, and 200,000 dollars annually, for three years, for the purchase of timber for ship building.”–Richmond Enquirer, February 4, 1812.

January 30: A letter from St. Mary’s –”Two regiments are ordered from Nassau to St. Augustine, and orders are given to permit no American officer to land in East Florida.”–Maryland Gazette, January 30, 1812

January 31: “The bill authorising the acceptance by the Executive of the services of a corps of volunteers, was yesterday passed its third reading in the Senate, having received only one material amendment, viz. a reduction of the appropriation it contains from three millions to one.”–National Intelligencer, February 1, 1812

The early editors always seemed to have recent British publications on hand and could fill a few columns with articles from Blackwood’s Magazine, or even the Quarterly Review.  Books of travel or biographies were favorites for editors needing to fill some columns.  One reader of the Albany Gazette made this offer to its editor: “When you have nothing more interesting to occupy a column of your paper, you are at liberty to publish the following remarks — the production of a mind sickened with a view of the present state of the world.  What a picture of folly and madness does the world afford us at the present day!  . . . But let the historian search the records of every age and nation — let him bring from the retiring recesses of antiquity, the probable and the possible — he searches for a parallel to the present in vain. The sufferings of the human race literally exceed description.” [reprinted in the Maryland Gazette, January 28, 1813].

Poetry played a much bigger part in the early newspapers than it does today, and the wise editor kept poems of various lengths on hand so one could be plopped into an empty space and fill it neatly.  Often, these were poems by British authors Montgomery, Moore, or Byron. However, Mrs. Hemans appeared frequently in the Poet’s Corner, which was usually on the upper left of a back page that was otherwise devoted to advertisements.  Native poets were encouraged by the wise editor; William Cullen Bryant, Robert Treat Paine, and John Howard Payne had their poems decorate the early newspapers.  Sara Josepha Hale submitted her poetry under the name Cornelia, and she later became an editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book.

If all else failed, an editor could create a controversy by attacking a rival, and some attacks were nasty.  The editor of the New Hampshire Patriot (who later became a U. S. Senator), wrote the following review. “We have just seen the last number of Mr. Clay’s Massachusetts Journal published at Boston;  and we must confess its child-ish editor presents a more smutty picture of stupid malignity than our eyes ever before beheld.  What need is there for such animals as this jackal of the amalgamation ‘idol’ orator to enquire for facts, when falsehood is on his tongue, and the truth cannot find room for utterance?” [New Hampshire Patriot, May 14, 1827].

The editors, for whom words were their tools, were especially critical of misused words.  The Connecticut Mirror published this advertisement:  “A reward of twenty-five cents, and no questions asked, will be paid to any man, woman or child, in Bedlam, or out, who will tell us for certain,  what Mr. Bentley means in the following sentence in the Essex Register of February 15: ‘Activity is everywhere: and though the earth tremble under us, industry ceases from none of its cares, and speculation riots in the wealth it collects only from the public confidence in the resources of the public virtue.’”  [reprinted by the New York Spectator, February 29, 1812]. The editors were fearless in their attacks on those they thought misused the language. Here, the Boston Weekly Messenger, takes on James Madison for one of his messages: “We do most ardently hope that a time will arrive when the rulers and governors of this free and intelligent republic, in communications made to legislative bodies or the people, for the pretended purpose of conveying information upon public affairs, will make use of such plain, intelligible, and, above all, unequivocal English, or (if they please) American terms, that there shall be in every township, containing a thousand souls, at least one person of learning enough to comprehend the meaning, and explain it to his neighbors.” [Boston Weekly Messenger, June 4, 1813].

If you are interested in contributing funds to speed The University of Texas’ massive project of scanning and putting on-line historic newspapers online, please contact Linda Abbey, of UT’s General Libraries, phone (512) 795-4366 or online to the Historic Newspapers Preservation link.

January 16: In the House of Representatives — “The communication from the President, touching the late correspondence between Mr. Monroe and Mr. Foster, assumes the aspect of war; still it is expected that nothing will result from the vapouring of the administration.”–Boston Weekly Messenger, January 24, 1812

January 17: There are now thirteen steamboats on American rivers; the one on the Mississippi made its first voyage on October 29, between Pittsburgh and New Orleans.—Raleigh Register, January 17, 1812

January 17: In the House of Representatives –”The Bill, authorising the President of the United States to accept the services of volunteers not exceeding 50,000 was read the third time and passed. The ayes and noes being taken, there were ayes 85, noes 23.”–Connecticut Mirror, January 27, 1812

January 17: From Maine — “On Friday, Jan. 17, at 7 o’clock, a.m. the mercury in a Fahrenheit’s thermometer, placed under a portico in a western aspect, in the town of Augusta, fell to thirty-two degrees below cypher! This is perhaps as low as it was ever known in this country. A gentleman of Salem who passed the last winter in Archangel (Russia) was witness to its falling to 57 1/2.”–Salem Gazette, January 28, 1812

January 18: From Boston — “For several days past, the weather has been extremely cold. The Thermometer on Saturday was 9 deg. below 0, and has been nearly as low for several mornings in succession. A snow storm commenced on Saturday and has continued since; but with little mitigation of the cold.”–National Intelligencer, January 28, 1812

January 18: From St. Louis — “On the 5th inst. some Spaniards on the road between Natchitoches and Sabine were robbed of money and merchandise to the amount of about 6000 dollars.”–Louisiana Gazette, January 18, 1812

January 19: In the House of Representatives — “A committee was appointed on the subject of the correspondence between British and American Ministers on the impressment of American seamen. Mr. Cheves concluded his speech in favour of a navy for our Atlantic defence. Seybert of Pennsylvania, and McKee of Kentucky, opposed it. A communication was received from the President, in consequence of a call from some time since for that purpose, on our trade with France, which he could not but acknowledge was carried on under ‘very severe restrictions;’ but he hoped that dispatches from Ambassador Barlow would soon ‘furnish more particular information.’”–Salem Gazette, January 28, 1812

January 20: In the House of Representatives — “Mr. Jennings presented the petition of certain inhabitants of the Indiana territory, praying for a revision of that law which places a veto in the governor of that territory on the passage of all laws by the Legislature, complaining particularly of the exercise of that power in a late act for the removal of the seat of government.–National Intelligencer, January 21, 1812

January 21: Extract of a letter from Cape Henry, (Hayti) dated January 21–”"P.S. The king has this day declared himself by proclamation, King of Hayti, first crowned monarch of the New World, defender of the faith, &c. $c.” –Richmond Enquirer, February 18, 1812

January 22: At 9 o’clock this morning, the temperature was 5 below zero.–New York Columbian, January 22, 1812

January 22: From Washington — “Congress were put in possession of documents to-day, which prove that there are known to be six thousand two hundred and fifty-seven impressed American seamen in the naval service of G. Britain, 200 of whom have made applications to our government for the procurement of their release sine the 5th of March, 1810, the date of the last report to congress on the subject.”–New York Columbian, January 22, 1812

January 23: From Savannah — “A severe shock of an earthquake was felt here this morning, a few minutes after nine o’clock. It was much more forcible than those noticed by us lately, & continued more than a minute.” –Richmond Enquirer, February 3, 1812

From Washington — “We have had two shocks of an earthquake here; one at three in the morning, and the other at 9; the first was the most severe. It is thought to have increased the width of the fissure in the dome of the capital, which occasioned some alarm, to the new members particularly, who were somewhat apprehensive before.”–New York Columbian, January 27, 1812

From Chillicothe, Ohio — On Thursday morning last, about nine o’clock, another considerable shock of an Earthquake was felt at this place. Its continuance was near two minutes, and appeared to come from the south-west.”–Scioto Gazette, January 25, 1812