Stories of 1812 Podcast

Episode 10 – The Life & Times of William J Worth & John LeCouteur

This week Donald E Graves, Canada’s foremost historian on the War of 1812, tells the story of two junior officers during the conflict, William J Worth, an American, and John LeCouteur, a British soldier from the island of Jersey. William J Worth (1794-1849) was an American officer during the War of 1812, the Second Seminole War, and the Mexican–American War.  In 1812 at the age of 18 he enlisted as a private and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in March 1813. He served as an aide-de-camp to General Winfield Scott, distinguished himself at the battles of Chippawa and Lundy’s Lane during the Niagara campaign and was promoted as a result. John LeCouteur (1794-1875) from Saint Aubin, Jersey joined the 104th Regiment in Saint John, New Brunswick in June 1812.  With only 3.000 troops to defend 1,100 miles of frontier, Commander-in-Chief Geroge Prevost ordered this regiment to march 700 miles across difficult terrain in extreme winter conditions from Fredericton to defend Kingston in Upper Canada.  LeCouteur kept a detailed account of the march, which lasted from 21 February to 12 April 1813 in a journal.   LeCouteur later took part in the Siege of Fort Erie, the battles of Sackett’s Harbour and Lundy’s Lane.  His War of 1812 memoirs, entitled Merry Hearts Make Light Days, was published and edited by Donald Graves. Donald E. Graves is a Canadian historian specializing in military history, especially the War of 1812.  He is the author, co-author or editor of nearly two dozen books. including Merry Hearts Make Light Days, the memoirs of John LeCouteur.  His others works include The Forgotten Soldiers’ Trilogy, three books (Field of Glory, Where Right and Glory Lead, and All Their Glory Past) which cover the major engagements in the northern theatre of the War of 1812.  He has been employed as a military historian by the Canadian National Historic Sites Service, the National Archives of Canada and.the Canadian Department of National Defence. He was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and at Carleton University, where he took an MA in history.

Episode 9 - The Six Nations and the War of 1812

This week our guest is Zig Misiak, Author, Army Veteran and friend of the Six Nations.  They talk about the origin and development of the Six Nations Reserve along the Grand River and their participation in the War of 1812.  They focus on their differences in supporting the British in the War and the support of some Six Nations for the American side.  Finally they discuss the outcome of the War for the Indigenous and for the Six Nations in particular. Zig Misiak is a highly respected, award-winning Canadian author of First Nations books and educational resources.  Zig has authored several children’s books on Indigenous culture as well as articles on the history of First Nations, including on the War of 1812.  Most recently he completed the biography of Jay Silverheels, “Tonto” from the Lone Ranger television series. Zig has been a re-enactor across Eastern North America at major historical events e.g. Caldwell’s Rangers in the War of 1812; he is a Canadian Army Veteran (RHLI) Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and is the recipient of many awards and recognitions, incl. As President of Real People’s History.  Zig has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He lives in Brantford, ON not far from the Six Nations Reservation and can be contacted via his website https://www.canadianauthoreducation.com [https://www.canadianauthoreducation.com/].

Episode 8 - Richard Pierpoint & the Coloured Corps Fight for Canada

This week Marinus and Peter Meyler, local historian from Orangeville Ontario, discuss the remarkable life of Richard Pierpoint (1744–1838), a black slave who was abducted from his home in Senegal at the age of 16.  He fought with the British in Butler's Rangers during the American Revolutionary War and then in the War of 1812 in Upper Canada.  When Butler’s Rangers were disbanded at Niagara, he received a land grant and settled in the area.  At the outbreak of the War of 1812 at the age of 68 he helped form the Coloured Corps.  After the War the aged Pierpoint was granted land in present-day Fergus, Ontario.  Remarkably he fulfilled the required settlement duties while over the age of 80. Peter Meyler is an author and historian and is the co-author of A Stolen Life: Searching for Richard Pierpoint, which tells the story of one of Ontario's first African settlers.  He has written numerous articles about Ontario's Black History, which have appeared in such publications as The Beaver and the Toronto Star.  Peter operates his own business providing forms management, graphic design and writing services and studied graphic design at Sheridan College in Oakville.

Episode 7 – Joseph Willcocks: Canadian Traitor in the War of 1812

This week Donald E Graves, Canada’s foremost historian on the War of 1812, sets the historical record straight on Joseph Willcocks.   Graves covers his early election to the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly in 1807 and Willcocks’ formation of a group of MPPs who opposed measures put forth by the then President, General Isaac Brock.  He follows Willcocks’ desertion to the Americans in 1813 and his formation of a small dissident group called the Canadian Volunteers, who actively fought against the British and their allies in Upper Canada.  Graves gives the details of how Willcocks set fire to the town of Niagara on the Lake in December 1813 as the Americans withdrew and his eventual fatal shooting during the Siege of Fort Erie in September 1814. Donald E. Graves is a Canadian historian specializing in military history, especially the War of 1812.  He is the author, co-author or editor of nearly two dozen books. including The Forgotten Soldiers’ Trilogy, three books (Field of Glory, Where Right and Glory Lead, and All Their Glory Past) which cover the major engagements in the northern theatre of the War of 1812.  He has been employed as a military historian by the Canadian National Historic Sites Service, the National Archives of Canada and.the Canadian Department of National Defence. He was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and at Carleton University, where he took an MA in history.

Episode 6 – The Legacy of the War of 1812 in Niagara Falls

This week Marinus talks with Mayor Jim Diodati of Niagara Falls, Canada.  They discuss the legacy of the War of 1812 for his city, the need to preserve that legacy and how that legacy has shaped the relations of two great nations today. Jim tells the story of how he led efforts to construct a huge steel sign to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane.  The large steel structure spans Lundy’s Lane and four lanes of traffic with metal cut-outs of soldiers from the Drummond Hill Cemetery to an open area on the north, also part of the battlefield The Battle of Lundy’s Lane was fought on July 25, 1814 when 2,500 American forces advancing from the south clashed with 3,500 British soldiers, Canadian militia and native warriors on the highest point of land in Niagara Falls.  After the Battle, the American soldiers were pushed back to Fort Erie.  The battle came with a high price and is considered the bloodiest battle ever fought on Canadian soil. Jim Diodati is the 23rd and current mayor of Niagara Falls.  Prior to his being elected in December 2010, Diodati served on the Niagara Falls City Council for two terms and had and has an extensive volunteer history.  He is a life-long entrepreneur and established, owned and operated several successful businesses before being elected mayor.