The Forgotten War of 1812.

I found about 23 years ago that I am of Cherokee blood, I am trying to learn not just my heritage but all things Native American. When I was in Florida I found a group of Native American I make quite a few things with no instructions. I think I can make a bumper sticker that says "Next Thanksgiving Don't Feed them"

I learned about the naval actions ("Old Ironsides") when I was a kid in Wisconsin - that was about the only part of the War of 1812 that they taught us in school. I didn't learn much about the land war (except the Battle of New Orleans, which I learned about thanks to the movies) until I was posted at the American Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, when I was a young Marine. The War of 1812 is still very much studied up there, and people seem aware of it. A lot of Canadians are descended from Loyalist families that were expelled from the U.S. after the Revolutionary War and settled along the St. Lawrence River, and when 1812 came along, they formed militia units and fought for the British Crown again. The Canadian War Museum had a big display on the war, including General Brock's uniform coat with a bullet hole in it from when he was killed in battle. I got, read, and kept Pierre Berton's excellent two-book set on the war. I noted that the closer one went to communities on the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, the more people were conscious of the war. I later found out that one of my male ancestors (who was from upstate New York) fought in the war at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (at the site of the city of Niagara, Ontario), so when I visited Niagara Falls, I went across the border and visited the site, which is marked. I now live in Northern Virginia, and the war happened in this area, too - the burning of Washington, Fort McHenry and the Battle of Five Points (in Baltimore), as well as the British Navy's capture and ransom of Alexandria VA. Of course, the U.S. Marine Corps made a name for itself in naval actions at sea and on the Great Lakes, as well as in the land battle at Bladensburg, MD. The home of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Washington was the only public building not burned by the British Army in 1814, and some claim it was because of their admiration for the brave stand made at Bladensburg by the Marines and sailors when all others fled. I think the Brits wanting to use the Marine Barracks (of which CMC's home is part) as a HQ during their stay in Washington may have had something to do with it, too.

If only we had complied with the Treaty of Ghent that ended the war.
Art 10: "Whereas the Traffic in Slaves is irreconcilable with the principles of humanity and Justice, and whereas both His Majesty and the United States are desirous of continuing their efforts to promote its entire abolition, it is hereby agreed that both the contracting parties shall use their best endeavours to accomplish so desirable an object."