Tag: War of 1812

Battles of January 18 summaries plus museums, artwork, and books

Battles of January 18 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

Song of the day: Bring Me Some Darkness (Blues Rock)

1. First Battle of Frenchtown

Date: January 18, 1813

War: War of 1812

Cause: American forces, comprised of Kentucky militiamen and regulars under Lieutenant Colonel William Lewis, advanced across the frozen ice of Lake Erie to the settlement of Frenchtown (modern-day Monroe, Michigan). Their objective was to drive out the British and Canadian militia and their Native American allies who were occupying the village, thereby protecting the French-Canadian residents and establishing a forward position for the campaign to retake Detroit.

Result: American Victory. The Americans successfully routed the British and Native American forces in a sharp engagement, forcing them to retreat into the woods. However, this tactical success lured the American commander, General James Winchester, to move his reinforcements into the town without adequate defensive preparations, leading to the disastrous Second Battle of Frenchtown (the “River Raisin Massacre”) just four days later on January 22.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: The American Attack at Frenchtown on the River Raisin, January 18, 1813
    • Artist: Robert Henderson
    • Year: 2010 (Modern historical interpretation)
  • Painting: Sunrise at the River Raisin
    • Artist: Patrick Doherty
    • Year: 2010s
  • Painting: Remember the River Raisin! (Depicts the battle cry inspired by these events)
    • Artist: Ken Riley
    • Year: c. 1960s

Museums & Artifacts

  • River Raisin National Battlefield Park (Monroe, Michigan, USA): The actual site of the conflict. The visitor center houses musket balls, uniforms, and archeological finds from the battlefield.
  • Kentucky Historical Society (Frankfort, Kentucky, USA): Holds artifacts, diaries, and letters related to the Kentucky volunteers who made up the bulk of the American force.

Location

  • General: Monroe, Michigan, United States
  • Coordinates: 41.9134° N, 83.3703° W

Recommended Book

2. Battle of Hayes Pond

Date: January 18, 1958

War: Civil Rights / Indigenous Resistance (Domestic Conflict)

Cause: The Ku Klux Klan (KKK), led by Grand Dragon James “Catfish” Cole, organized a rally at Hayes Pond near Maxton, North Carolina, intending to intimidate the Lumbee Native American tribe, whom the Klan felt were “forgetting their place.” The Lumbee people, many of whom were veterans of WWII, decided to confront the Klan rather than be intimidated.

Result: Lumbee Victory. Roughly 500 Lumbee men, armed with guns and sticks, surrounded the 50 Klansmen. They shot out the single light bulb the Klan was using, fired shots into the air, and routed the Klansmen, who fled into the swamps. There were no fatalities, and the event (often called “The Night the Klan retreated”) is celebrated as a major victory against racism and for Indigenous sovereignty.

Paintings & Art

  • Photograph: The Klan Routine (Famous photo of the Klan retreating/Lumbee celebrating)
    • Photographer: Life Magazine Staff (Charles Moore or colleagues)
    • Year: 1958
  • Mural: Battle of Hayes Pond (Various community murals in Pembroke)
    • Artist: Local Community Artists
    • Year: Various (Commemorative)

Museums & Artifacts

  • Museum of the Southeast American Indian (Pembroke, North Carolina, USA): Located at UNC Pembroke, this museum holds oral histories, photographs, and the KKK banner that was captured by the Lumbee during the battle.

Location

  • General: Maxton, North Carolina, United States
  • Coordinates: 34.7290° N, 79.3585° W

Recommended Book

Books for sale

WarScholar Press

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, Battle Art, War Paintings, War Art, Military Art, Museum Visit, Art History, Historical Artifacts, Museum Collection, Battlefield Tours, History Museum, Museum Life, History In Art, Historic Preservation, January 18, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, War Of 1812, River Raisin, Remember The Raisin, Lumbee, Battle Of Hayes Pond, Civil Rights History, Indigenous History

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Battles of December 19 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 19 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. Battle of Dreux

Date: December 19, 1562

War: French Wars of Religion (First War of Religion)

Cause: The battle was triggered by the escalating religious and political tensions between the Catholics (Royalists) and the Huguenots (French Protestants) following the Massacre of Vassy. The Huguenot army, aiming to link up with English allies in Le Havre, was intercepted by the Royalist army on the road to Dreux.

Result: Catholic (Royalist) Victory. It was a bloody engagement where the commanders of both sides (Prince of Condé for the Huguenots and Anne de Montmorency for the Catholics) were captured by their enemies.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting/Print: The Battle of Dreux, 19th December 1562 (From the series Histoires diverses qui sont mémorables touchant les Guerres, Massacres et Troubles advenus en France)
    • Artist: Jean-Jacques Perrissin and Jacques Tortorel
    • Year: c. 1570
  • Painting: Bataille de Dreux 1562
    • Artist: Anonymous (French School)
    • Year: Early 17th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Dreux (Dreux, France): Houses the 17th-century painting of the battle mentioned above, along with local history exhibits detailing the conflict and the region’s role in the wars.
  • Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris, France): Holds original prints and engravings by Tortorel and Perrissin depicting the chaotic scenes of the battle.
  • Musée de l’Armée (Paris, France): Contains extensive collections of 16th-century armor, arquebuses, and pikes similar to those used at Dreux.

Location

  • General: Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, France (Specifically the plains south of the town).
  • Coordinates: 48.7282° N, 1.3756° E

Recommended Book

2. Capture of Fort Niagara

Date: December 19, 1813

War: War of 1812

Cause: In retaliation for the burning of the Canadian town of Newark (now Niagara-on-the-Lake) by retreating American forces days earlier, British Colonel John Murray led a surprise night assault. They crossed the Niagara River silently to storm the American fort.

Result: British Victory. The British captured the fort with bayonets in a pre-dawn raid, seizing a massive supply of arms and munitions and securing a strategic foothold on the American side of the river for the remainder of the war.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting/Illustration: The Surprise Capture of Fort Niagara (Various historical illustrations appear in 19th-century histories)
    • Artist: 19th Century Illustrators (Often attributed to military lithographers like Ackerman)
    • Year: c. 1815–1850
  • Related Art: View of Fort Niagara (Watercolor)
    • Artist: James Peachey (Depicts the fort slightly prior to the war, establishing the scene)
    • Year: c. 1780s

Museums & Artifacts

  • Old Fort Niagara (Youngstown, New York, USA): The site itself is a museum. It houses original 1812-era flags, muskets, and uniforms. The “French Castle” building, which was stormed during the battle, still stands.
  • Canadian War Museum (Ottawa, Canada): Holds artifacts related to the British 100th Regiment of Foot, which led the assault, including shako plates and redcoat uniforms.

Location

  • General: Youngstown, New York, USA (Mouth of the Niagara River).
  • Coordinates: 43.2625° N, 79.0632° W

Recommended Book

3. The Great Swamp Fight

Date: December 19, 1675

War: King Philip’s War

Cause: The United Colonies of New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Plymouth) launched a preemptive strike against the Narragansett tribe. The colonists believed the Narragansett were harboring Wampanoag refugees and preparing to join the war against the English settlements.

Result: Colonial Victory. The colonial militia attacked the fortified Narragansett village in the middle of a frozen swamp. The fort was burned, resulting in the death of hundreds of Narragansett warriors and non-combatants, though the colonial forces also suffered high casualties.

Paintings & Art

  • Print/Engraving: The Great Swamp Fight
    • Artist: Unknown (Published in 19th-century histories, currently held by The Granger Collection)
    • Year: 1827 (Engraving date)
  • Illustration: Attack on the Narragansett Fort
    • Artist: Historical illustrators for Harper’s Magazine
    • Year: c. 1850s

Museums & Artifacts

  • Tomaquag Museum (Exeter, Rhode Island, USA): Provides an Indigenous perspective on the war and the massacre, featuring cultural artifacts and oral histories of the Narragansett people.
  • Great Swamp Fight Monument (South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA): A granite obelisk marks the approximate site of the battle within the management area.
  • Rhode Island Historical Society (Providence, Rhode Island, USA): Houses colonial records, letters from commanders involved in the fight, and archaeological fragments from the era.

Location

  • General: South Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA (Great Swamp Management Area).
  • Coordinates: 41.4697° N, 71.5939° W

Recommended Book

4. Battle of Salem Cemetery (Battle of Jackson, TN)

Date: December 19, 1862

War: American Civil War

Cause: Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest launched a cavalry raid into West Tennessee to disrupt Union supply lines, specifically aiming to destroy the Mobile & Ohio Railroad which was supplying General Grant’s army.

Result: Confederate Strategic Victory. While technically a tactical repulse where Union infantry held their ground at the cemetery, the battle acted as a successful feint. It occupied the Union defenders while Forrest’s subordinates destroyed the vital railroad tracks nearby, achieving the raid’s objective.

Paintings & Art

  • Illustration: Skirmish at Jackson, Tennessee (Woodcut engraving)
    • Artist: Artists for Harper’s Weekly or Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper
    • Year: 1863
  • Modern Art: Forrest’s Raid (Various modern Civil War prints depicting the 1862 campaign)
    • Artist: Don Troiani or Mort Künstler (Thematic associations)
    • Year: Late 20th Century

Museums & Artifacts

  • Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield (Wildersville, Tennessee, USA): Located nearby, this site covers the entirety of Forrest’s West Tennessee campaign, including the Salem Cemetery engagement, with interpretive trails and artifacts.
  • Tennessee State Museum (Nashville, Tennessee, USA): Holds a vast collection of Civil War cavalry sabers, uniforms, and flags similar to those carried by Forrest’s troops.
  • Salem Cemetery Battlefield (Jackson, Tennessee, USA): The cemetery itself remains a historic site with markers explaining the infantry and cavalry movements among the graves.

Location

  • General: Jackson, Tennessee, USA (Northeast of the city center).
  • Coordinates: 35.6326° N, 88.7915° W

Recommended Book

Books for sale

WarScholar Press

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, Battle Art, War Paintings, War Art, Military Art, Museum Visit, Art History, Historical Artifacts, Museum Collection, Battlefield Tours, History Museum, Museum Life, History In Art, Historic Preservation December 19, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Battle Of Dreux, Fort Niagara, War Of 1812, Great Swamp Fight, King Philips War, Civil War, Battle Of Salem Cemetery, Nathan Bedford Forrest, French History, Colonial History, Old Fort Niagara, Tomaquag Museum

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Battles of December 18 plus museums and artwork information

Battles of December 18 including descriptions of the battles, geographic locations, associated artwork, and museums where a person can find associated artifacts and artwork.

1. The Battle of Moodkee (Mudki)

Date: December 18, 1845

  • War: First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846)
  • Cause: Tensions rose after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, leading to disorder in the Sikh Empire. The Sikh Khalsa Army crossed the Sutlej River (seen by the British as a hostile act), prompting the British East India Company to declare war. The British forces, marching from Ambala, were surprised by a Sikh force at Moodkee.
  • Result: British Victory. Although the British won, they suffered heavy casualties and were shocked by the discipline and effectiveness of the Sikh artillery and infantry. It was a “pyrrhic” opening victory that set the tone for a brutal war.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Battle of Moodkee, 1845
    • Artist: W. Kohler (Engraver), after L’Enfant Bros.
    • Year: c. 1845–1850
  • Painting: The Battle of Moodkee
    • Artist: Michael Angelo Hayes
    • Year: c. 1880
  • Painting: Charge of the 3rd Light Dragoons at Moodkee
    • Artist: Henry Martens
    • Year: c. 1846

Museums & Artifacts

  • National Army Museum (London, UK): Holds prints, medals, and uniforms from the Anglo-Sikh Wars, including the Moodkee medal awarded to British soldiers.
  • The Royal Armouries (Leeds, UK): Houses captured Sikh weaponry, including matchlock muskets and talwar swords typical of those used at Moodkee.
  • Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial & Museum (Amritsar, India): Dedicated to the martial tradition of Punjab; contains exhibits and narratives regarding the Anglo-Sikh wars.

Location

  • General: Mudki, Ferozepur District, Punjab, India.
  • Coordinates: 30°47′N 74°53′E

Recommended Book

2. The End of the Battle of Verdun

Date: Battle ended on December 18, 1916 (Fought from February 21 – December 18, 1916)

  • War: World War I (1914–1918)
  • Cause: The German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn, planned to attack the fortress city of Verdun to “bleed France white.” He believed the French would throw every man into defending the historic site, allowing German artillery to inflict massive casualties.
  • Result: French Tactical Victory. After 302 days of hellish fighting and over 700,000 combined casualties, the German offensive failed to capture the city. By December 18, French counter-offensives had pushed the Germans back close to their starting lines.

Paintings & Art

  • Painting: Verdun (An abstract, geometric representation of the battle’s violence)
    • Artist: Félix Vallotton
    • Year: 1917
  • Painting: The Ruins of Verdun
    • Artist: François Flameng
    • Year: 1916
  • Sketch/Art: Verdun, the Battle of the Forts (Various field sketches)
    • Artist: Georges Leroux
    • Year: c. 1916

Museums & Artifacts

  • Mémorial de Verdun (Fleury-devant-Douaumont, France): The premier museum located on the actual battlefield, housing thousands of artifacts, vehicles, and immersive displays.
  • Musée de l’Armée (Paris, France): Contains extensive WWI collections, including the uniforms of Generals Pétain and Nivelle, and paintings by Vallotton.
  • National WWI Museum and Memorial (Kansas City, USA): Houses a vast collection of Great War artifacts, including specific sections dedicated to the Western Front and Verdun.

Location

  • General: Verdun, Meuse department, Grand Est region, France.
  • Coordinates: 49°12′29″N 5°25′19″E

Recommended Book

3. The Battle of the Mississinewa

Date: December 17–18, 1812 (Key counter-attack occurred on December 18)

  • War: War of 1812 (1812–1815)
  • Cause: U.S. forces under Colonel John B. Campbell were ordered to destroy Miami Indian villages along the Mississinewa River to prevent the tribe from joining the British and Tecumseh’s confederacy.
  • Result: U.S. Victory (Tactical). After destroying villages on the 17th, the U.S. camp was fiercely attacked by Miami warriors before dawn on December 18. The U.S. repelled the attack but suffered heavy casualties and severe frostbite, forcing a retreat. It effectively neutralized the Miami tribe’s ability to wage large-scale war for the season.

Paintings & Art

  • Note: Contemporary fine art for this specific skirmish is rare. Visuals are primarily found in later historical illustrations and reenactment photography.
  • Illustration: The Battle of Mississinewa (Various educational plates)
    • Artist: Modern historical illustrators (e.g., works commissioned for the Mississinewa Battlefield Society).
    • Year: Late 20th Century.

Museums & Artifacts

  • Grant County Historical Society / Museum (Marion, Indiana, USA): Holds artifacts related to the battle and the local history of the Miami Indians.
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Washington, D.C., USA): Contains general War of 1812 uniforms and weaponry similar to those used by Campbell’s dragoons.
  • Mississinewa 1812 (La Fontaine, IN): While an event rather than a museum, this site hosts the largest War of 1812 living history reenactment in the U.S. and maintains the battlefield markers.

Location

  • General: Near Jalapa, Grant County, Indiana, USA.
  • Coordinates: 40°38′N 85°44′W

Recommended Book

4. Operation Vijay (The Invasion of Goa)

Date: Commenced December 18, 1961 (December 17-19, 1961)

  • War: Annexation of Portuguese India
  • Cause: After years of failed diplomatic efforts to get Portugal to hand over its Indian colonies (Goa, Daman, and Diu) and a series of border incidents, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordered the Indian Armed Forces to liberate the territories by force.
  • Result: Decisive Indian Victory. The operation lasted less than 48 hours. By the end of December 18, Indian troops had penetrated deep into Goa, and the Portuguese garrison surrendered the following day, ending 451 years of colonial rule.

Paintings & Art

  • Note: The visual history of this battle is dominated by photography rather than canvas art.
  • Artifact/Monument: The Azad Maidan Memorial (Dedicated to freedom fighters)
    • Location: Panaji, Goa.
  • Photography: Portuguese Surrender at Vasco da Gama
    • Photographer: Various press photographers.
    • Year: December 19, 1961.

Museums & Artifacts

  • Naval Aviation Museum (Vasco da Gama, Goa, India): Displays aircraft and equipment used by the Indian Navy during the blockade and invasion.
  • Indian War Memorial Museum (New Delhi, India): Dedicates sections to post-independence wars, including Operation Vijay.
  • Museu do Aljube (Lisbon, Portugal): A museum dedicated to resistance against the dictatorship; covers the colonial wars and the political fallout of the loss of Goa.

Location

  • General: Goa, India (Primary landings at Panaji and Mormugao).
  • Coordinates: 15°23′N 73°49′E

Recommended Book

Books for sale

WarScholar Press

Contact Information

For more “Military History Inside Out” please follow me at www.warscholar.org, on Facebook at warscholar, on twitter at Warscholar, on youtube at warscholar1945 and on Instagram @crisalvarezswarscholar. Or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Tags: military museum, military artwork, battles, Military History, War History, Battle Art, War Paintings, War Art, Military Art, Museum Visit, Art History, Historical Artifacts, Museum Collection, Battlefield Tours, History Museum, Museum Life, History In Art, Historic Preservation December 18, On This Day, History, Military History, War History, Historical Events, History Buff, World History, Battle Of Moodkee, Anglo Sikh War,  Sikh History, Verdun, WWI, Great War, Bataille De Verdun, War Of 1812, Battle Of Mississinewa, Indiana History, Operation Vijay, Goa Liberation, Indian Army, Portuguese History

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