News of the US: Week Three of June 1812
June 15: Charleston City Gazette published the news that war with England had been declared.
June 15: From Savannah, June 15 — Never have we seen a more numerous concourse of Citizens, than were yesterday assembled and lined the Bluff, to witness the embarkation of the Troops for East Florida . . . . The troops that have quit our peaceful shores to begin the hostile conflict, are volunteers who have tendered their services in consequence of a requisition made by his excellency the governor, by his aid, Captain Cuthburt.”–Charleston City Gazette, June 17, 1812
June 16: From Salem — “Fourth of July. Notwithstanding the gloomy aspect of our public affairs, the FEDERALISTS of this town are determined once more to celebrate this glorious National Anniversary; and we understand that an Oration will be pronounced on the occasion by the Hon. Benjamin Peirce. The Committee of Arrangements will announce the order of the day in due season.”–Salem Gazette, June 16, 1812
June 16: From Boston — “The commander in Chief of the Army of the North is quietly quartered at a Boarding house in Boston. This we should consider as evidence of his pacific disposition; he certainly is not IN TENT on actual service.”==Salem Gazette, June 16, 1812
June 17: A Bill, passed the House, “That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause Treasury Notes for such sum or sums as he may think expedient, but not exceeding in the whole the sum of five millions of dollars, to be prepared, signed and issued in the manner hereinafter provided.”–New York Spectator, June 27, 1812
June 17: From Frankfort — “Captain Arnold’s company of mounted volunteers, who marched from this county for Vincennes on the 21st of May, for the relief of that place, and the protection of the frontiers opposite to it, returned on the 12th inst. after a trip of twenty-three days. On their route, they discovered that very many families had abandoned their habitations through a fear of the Indians, and had moved into forts. Many of those families have since returned home, and are attending to their farms, seeing they will be protected.”—National Intelligencer, July 4, 1812
June 18: From Washington — “The rash act of the Government is this day consummated. War is declared by the United States against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The law has this day been approved and signed by the President of the U. States.”–New York Spectator, June 24, 1812
June 18: From Washington: “The Constitution, Capt. Hull, sailed down the river on Thursday, having undergone a thorough repair at the Navy Yard at this place. It is not true, as we have heard reported, that the Constitution is destined to France;–and further we learn, that there exists no intention at present to order any vessel of the United States on foreign service or station.”–New York Spectator, June 24, 1812
June 19: Proclamation — “Whereas the Congress of the United States, by virtue of the constituted authority vested in them have declared by their act, bearing date the eighteenth day of the present month, that War exists between the United Kingdom of Great-Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of America and their territories: Now, therefore, I, James Madison, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the same to all whom it may concern:”–Raleigh Register, June 26, 1812
June 19: From Maryland — “At Annapolis, we learn, the news arrived on Friday, the citizens assembled, a procession was formed and marched round the town, with Governor Bowie at their head, and salutes fired, in the midst of a very general exultation displayed by the assembled people.”–National Intelligencer, June 23, 1812
June 20: “On the day after the Declaration of War, Mr. Cozens, of Washington City, left there Express for New-Orleans, charged with dispatches for the civil and military authorities. We hear that he is under engagements to reach that place in twelve days! Distance about 1500 miles.”–New York Spectator, June 27, 1812
June 20: From Fort M’Arthur, Ohio — “The volunteers of Ohio, have lately been joined by the 4th regiment of regulars, commanded by lieut. col. Miller, (lately by colonel Boyd) the whole detachment is now under the command of brigadier gen. Hull, and amounts in the whole to nearly two thousand men.–We decamped from Dayton the 1st day of June, and commenced our march to Detroit.”–Weekly Aurora, July 14, 1812
About the Author
Mary Bowden is a researcher working at the Texas Collections Deposit Library at the University of Texas. A little-known but invaluable treasure of U.S. history and the history of American journalism is archived in the collection of bound United States’ Newspapers at the University of Texas at Austin. The collection began more than a century ago and has been stored in recent years in the Texas Collections Deposit Library on the campus of the University of Texas. The sizeable archive is currently in the early stages of being digitized before being moved to a more climate-controlled environment at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus of the University, on the north side of Austin.