We begin this section with some partial answers to previously asked questions. To jog your memories they have been paraphrased. The questions and answers are numbered according to the following system. (The first number is the issue number (108 in the first question), 1812 is the code for the War of 1812 section and 1, the question number in that issue.) Question 108-1812-1 What type of firing rank was used by the U.S. Army in the War of 1812? Partial Answer to above Question: The U.S. Army used two-rank line since the Revolutionary War. Von Steuben's "Regulations" remained the standard manual from its adoption in 1779 until 1812. At that time an alternative system based on the French Army's drill began to supplant the old Regulations. In 1815, the new drill system was codified by a board chaired by Winfield Scott. A Philadelphia Militia manual of 1824, definitely based on "Scott's Exercise", uses the two-rank line. In fact I would not be surprised if another reader could prove that the U.S. militia forces were slow to drop von Steuben's system for the new Scott system anyway. The 1824 manual is entitled The Soldier's Manual by James H. Nesmith and was published in Philadelphia. QUESTION 104-1812-4: Did General William Henry Harrison bring his force of regulars east with him after the Battle of the Thames? Partial Answer to above Question: Benson J. Lossing in his Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812, p. 559 puts his (Harrison's) army back at Sandwich, on the Canadian side of the river, on the 10th of October, 1813, and Harrison himself at Buffalo on the 24th. It is stated that he was accompanied by 'M'Arthur's brigade, a battalion of regular riflemen under Colonel Wells, and mounted men under Colonel Ball. "The total strength was 'about thirteen hundred me, only one thousand of them effective soldiers." This was provided by Patrick Brabazon of Fulford Harbor, British Columbia. Yet the regiments involved show up in 1814 in the unsuccessful American attempt to recapture the fort on Mackinac Island. Still a company or rather a converged company of recruits for the 17th and 19th Infantry regiments was present at the Battle of Lundy's Lane in July of 1814 as the following points out: "...The 1st regiment was now brought into line, on the left of the 21st and the detachments of the 17th and 19th."And "...After the enemy's strong position had been carried by the 21st and detachments of the ]7th and ]9th, the 1st and 23rd assumed new character." This short quote is to be found in General Jacob Brown's official account to Secretary of War Armstrong and was kindly provided by David Best. Question 6-1812-1: What was the role played by Neilson's Mississippi Militia in the New Orleans Campaign? Answer to above Question: Lieutenant-Colonel David Neilson's regiment of Mississippi militia (from Amite County, Mississippi Territory) arrived on January 8th, 1815 just prior to the battle, consisting of 6 companies with a strength of 480 officers and men. Later the regiment was sent to the Chef Menteur Plain, east of New Orleans, about January 12th, along with the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Louisiana Infantry (militia). Sources: Casey, Powell, Louisiana at the Battle of New Orleans, p. 34 Rowland, Dunbar, Mrs, Mississippi Territory in the War of 1812, reprint (1968) of 1921 edition. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland, p. 146.  Question 6-1812-2: Was there a unit of "Older men" from the New Orleans area organized for the crisis in 1814-1815? Answer to above Question: According to Alexander Walker in his book The Life of Andrew Jackson (John E. Potter and Company, Philadelphia, 1867) p. 345: "The only military force in the city, the Veterans, under their indefatigable commander, the noble old patriot soldier, Captain DeBuys..." Unfortunately this is the entire and only reference to the unit and its commanding officer. So, I wrote to Jeff LaRock, Park Ranger at the Chalmette unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Reserve in New Orleans. His reply stated in part: "...I can find no listing for a unit known as the "Veterans" or a Captain DeBuys in any of my references. " So, more help is needed on this question. Question 6-1812-3: What Presidents of the United States served in the War of 1812? Answer to above Question: No less than five future Presidents served in a variety of military units during the 1812 conflict, while two more served as 'gentlemen volunteers' in 1814. These latter two were James Monroe and the serving President, James Madison. Both took the field only, (fortunately), during the Bladensburg/Washington, D.C. Campaign. The military careers of General Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison are too well known to be presented here. Zachary Taylor was a captain in the 7th U.S. Infantry. Captain John Tyler served in the Charles City Rifles, which was later attached to the "Second Elite Corps of Virginia", commanded by General Moses Green. Private James Buchanan served with Judge Shippen's cavalrymen, which was a local militia company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He saw service during the defense of Baltimore, and volunteered for a raid to round additional horses for mounted militia units. Question 6-1812-4: What was the uniform colors of the Boston Troop of Light Dragoons? I have a black and white drawing of the unit as it appeared in Plate 140 from the Company of Military Historians, but other than the trumpeters, no details of the uniform colors are there given. Can anyone help? Question 6-1812-5: During the War of 1812, a brigade of militia of South Jersey was drafted and encamped at Billingsport, New Jersey, for the defense of Philadelphia, under the command of General Ebenezer, then Brigadier General of the Cumberland Brigade. What was the strength of this brigade and did it have uniforms? Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 2 No. 6 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by Emperor's Headquarters This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com