War of 1812 in the West Symposium

4/2/2016 to 4/3/2016 | Arrow Rock State Historic Site | Arrow Rock, MO

Presentations by noted local and national historians will cover a variety of personalities, military and social conditions of the war and the western territories during the period. Many Americans know little of the War of 1812 during which time the United States invaded Canada, Washington D.C., was burned by British troops and Francis Scott Key penned our national anthem. For many American Indian nations, the war was a last ditch effort to retain their tribal lands. Missouri was the scene of some of the westernmost actions and activities of what was then termed as “America’s Second War for Independence.”  

This event is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the 1st United States Infantry historical organization.

The visitor center is located at 39521 Visitor Center Drive, which is just off Highway 41, one-quarter mile south of the town of Arrow Rock.

Event times:

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Event Schedule:

Saturday, April 2

9 a.m. – Welcome and introductory comments by David Bennett

9:10 a.m. – “William Clark's Troubles with the Cooper Clan in the Boonslick Country” –James Denny, Missouri State Parks historian (retired) and author, "The Civil Wars’ First Blood, Missouri 1854-1861, co-author of Atlas of Lewis and Clark in Missouri."

10 a.m. – "Who Were Bryan and Morrison? The Halliburton of Missouri's War of 1812" –Lynn Morrow, Missouri State Archives (retired); editor of "The Ozarks in Missouri History: Discoveries in an American Region," co-author of "Shepherd of the Hills Country: Tourism Transforms the Ozarks, 1880s-1930s."

11 a.m. – “Post-War Military Monetary and Land Bounties in the West” –Harold W. Youmans, colonel, United States Army, (retired), past editor, "Journal of the War of 1812" and author of numerous articles on the War of 1812.

Noon – Break for lunch.

1 p.m. – “Native Perspectives on the War of 1812: Indian Leaders in Their Own Words” –Michael Dickey, site administrator Arrow Rock State Historic Site and author of "Arrow Rock: Crossroads of the Missouri Frontier" and "The People of the River’s Mouth: The Search for the Missouria Indians" and contributor to "Archaeology of the War of 1812."

2 p.m. – "Light Gives Light, To Light Discover”: The Remarkable career of Captain John C. Symmes” –David Bennett, independent scholar, symposium coordinator.

3 p.m. – “Death Chants and Powder Kegs: The Battle of the Sinkhole” –Michael D. Harris, MA., Educator, contributor to the Encyclopedia of The War of 1812; chairman of the Missouri State War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee.

4 p.m. –  "Major General Robert Ross, the Saving of Baltimore, 1814 – and the 'Boy Martyrs,' Wells and McComas" –Christopher T. George, editor "The Journal of the War of 1812"; author, "Terror on the Chesapeake: The War of 1812 on the Bay and The Man Who Captured Washington: Major General Robert Ross and the War of 1812."

5:30 p.m. – Attendees are invited to dine with the presenters at the historic J. Huston Tavern, Arrow Rock, Missouri.

Sunday, April 3

9 a.m. – Welcome and introductory comments by David Bennett

9:10 a.m. – “The Corps and the War of 1812” –Lorna Hainesworth, past board member of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Foundation; author of several articles regarding the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the National Road.

10 a.m. – “Medicine in the Frontier Army: Analyzing the Pharmacopeia of Dr. Thomas, 1st Infantry” –Eric Mathews, Ph.D., associate professor of research, A.T. Still University; resident subject matter expert on early American medicine for the U.S. Army Center of Military History and National Park Service; author of several articles regarding early American medicine.

11 a.m. – "Commodore Perry's Marines: Revealing Their True Identity." –John Steinle, history education supervisor and Bear Creek Parks regional supervisor, Jefferson County, Colorado; board member Coalition for Women’s History; co-author, "Stockades in the Wilderness: The Frontier Forts and Settlements of Southwestern Ohio, 1788-1795.”

12:30 p.m. – The 26th Annual Symposium of the War of 1812 in the West concludes.

Special Exhibit: “The Home and the Camp: The War of 1812 in Missouri.” March 5 through April 3, 2016, Arrow Rock State Historic Site visitor center and museum.

Arrow Rock State Historic Site is located at: