Marines, Flotillamen, and the Commodore...

[Massena]

I would like to gratefully than 101CV on his recommendation to call Vince Vaise of the National Park Service at Fort McHenry. He and I had a very pleasant and informative conversation this afternoon. He also informed me that the National Park Service does not endorse any books, pro or con, and that The Dawn's Early Light is an excellent reference for Bladensburg, along with Pitch's The Burning of Washington and other volumes.

It should also be noted that Walter Lord's book is 40 years old and there have been excellent volumes published on the War of 1812 that cover Bladensburg since then.

If a comparison of the different books on the War of 1812 that cover Bladensburg, and the conductd of Barney's Flotillamen and Marines such as Lord's and Pitch's volumes along with John Elting's Amateurs, To Arms!, Quimby's US Army Operations in the War of 1812, and Henry Adams The War of 1812, all of the 'versions' of the battle of Bladensburg are virtually identical with Barney's troops doing the hardest fighting of the battle and not retreating until they were virtually overrun, fighting hand-to-hand with the British in their own position before they quit the field.

Therefore, the below comments from 101CV are not only inaccurate, but they were not warranted and misrepresent both the facts in Lord's book, but what I have posted earlier and other things.

An apology is warranted for the below comments, but I don't expect one. However, an acknowledgement for 101CV's errors in posting should be rectified by him.

Sincerely,
M


'Once again you try to distort the facts. The Marines and Sailors may have been the last to get the word but they ran following the heels of the untrained Militia and it was not an orderly retreat according to Walter Lord who the NPS endorses as the best account of the battle.'

'The NPS and Lord have forgotten more then you will ever know about the battle. Distorting the facts is your trademark.'

'Not factual if you ignore Walter Lord's account of the battle which is endorsed by the NPS at Fort McHenry.... they would know better then anyone.'

'Call Park Service Historian Vince Vaise I'm sure he would get a good laugh from your distorted view point.'

[SidneyCo]

We are greatly reminded..Thanks..

[marktwain]

Originally Posted by SidneyCo

We are greatly reminded..Thanks..

I'm so hurt to think that you lied to me
I'm hurt way down deep inside of me

I'm hurt, much more than you'll ever know
Yes darling, I'm so hurt
But even though you hurt me
Like nobody else could ever do
I would never, ever hurt you


(Elvis has now left the building, folks...)

[marktwain]

Originally Posted by SidneyCo

We are greatly reminded..Thanks..

It was a 'waste of Militia' inthe early nineteenth century to throw them into pitched battles as line troops. Miltiia are best at hit and run, skirmishes, attacking supply trains , and defending their communities agianst foragers.