Yet Another 'Found' Letter

Dear You,

I was walking by one day thinking about how to explain all the things that have been happening recently. I then met this strange man named John. I stop to talk and knowing my reporter instincts, I end up interviewing him. He probably thought I was insane. Anyways, I spotted an unopened letter and my curious side had got the best of me.

I then ran off with the letter (I meant to borrow it and return it after ... maybe). While running I dropped the interview but I remember a bit of it. I'll post in the next post. Anyways, I know many of you guys reading are very curious and are wondering what is in the letter. So, being the awesome person I am, I will post this letter on my blog for you all to see (plus I do not have to re-explain all of the current events!). BEHOLD! THE LETTER YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!!

Dear Richard,

How is it in Scotland? I miss you ever since i immigrated to Upper Canada. Anyways, I wish I could but I can’t return right now. Some very important things for Canada are happening right now and I feel I cannot abandon this place.

It's war with the Americans right now. I am a chaplain for the troops here too. You know how York was invaded? Well, the American soldiers started looting and burning the whole place up just because the British had retreated. I alone have to step forward to meet the American General Dearborn about this important issue at hand. As an Anglican priest, I cannot watch this place be destroyed by those ruthless Americans. I am going to speak to the General tomorrow. Wish me luck. I am going to try to talk Mr. Dearborn to surrender York. It would be much better for the citizens. 

Hopefully, this war will end soon. I had this great idea, Richard! After the war, can u help me with the Loyal and Patriotic Society? I want it to help raise funds to help disabled militia and their families. Please come.

Know that I miss you dearly. I wish you happiness in Scotland.

Yours Truly,

John Strachan

Interesting??? Well thats all that happened so far here. I'll update you all soon!

Love

Catherine

Interview

That's right people! I will grace your eyes with a glamorous piece of writing typed by these miracle making fingers! This interview will be with one of the most famous people in the past ... AND the future. Be pleased with yourselves for this is an once-in-a-lifetime offer!

Interviews are hard to get here because often people think you are insane for asking about what's their opinion on the war and asking what happened when this is plastered all over the news (newspapers of course). Of course I MUST be the first person to report this on a blog. These are really long but worth it. After all, these people are affecting the war and making a difference!

Anyways, tangent aside, magnificent I will unveil my newest masterpiece!

Interview with LAURA SECORD (for the record, it's not that chocolate person ...)

Right now, you currently are all over the news for your unbelievable courage. Of course, some of our viewers may not have heard of your incredible story. I would like to ask you to tell us your long journey that made you a Canadian hero.

Our family was forced to house American soldiers and it was completely wrong. I was.... no I am a Loyalist. I was born in Massachusetts but we moved to Upper Canada. It was a huge slap in the face for me and my husband to be forced to house them. We could not say no, they were soldiers with the big guns and everything! One night, I had overheard some of the men discussing plans. They wanted to attack the British at the Beaver Dams. If the Americans seized control of the Beaver dams, they would gain control of the key region in the war, the Niagara Peninsula. I then started my journey. I walked through 32 kilometres through heavy forest until I had met some Haudenosaunee p...

You met the Haudenosaunee!?!?!? 

Yes I was getting to that *cough* before you interrupted me *cough* *cough*... Anyways, they had frightened me because I feared I might have run into the Americans. They then took me to General Fitzgibbon, the leader of the British forces there. He was pretty surprised when I had told him the news. They then fought of the attack and captured all of but six. They had thanked me greatly and the news has spread greatly.

What motivated you to go so much that you were undeterred by the long journey and hardships?

I still do not fully understand why I had made such a risky move. I think it was because I had wanted to protect the country that was so dear to me. As I mentioned before, my husband and I are Loyalists and we had even left the United States to be here. I would not give up on Canada so easily especially if I knew important information that can change the whole outcome of the war.

Thank you for the interview, Laura. On behalf of our readers and I, we would like to congratulate you on your great journey.

Thank you. It was a pleasure speaking with you today.

TA-DA!!! Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews, news, and gossip on the war before anybody else!!

Letters ... AGAIN!?!?!?

Haha! This is my 1982379182465765th letter I found ever since I arrived! These letters were written by an American soldier. I feel it is important you get both perspectives of the story. Voila! Here is my brilliant magnificent piece of work that I did not write!

Dear Elizabeth,

We had invaded Canada successfully. We have finally arrived and we are currently stationed in Sandwich. I feel this war is unnecessary. I do agree that the War Hawks was a big influence for this war though. They raised the tension so high and influenced even the President who decided to declare war on Canada!

The locals seem afraid of us and I am strangely relieved. I was afraid that we would have to use force on them. Only you know how much guilt I harbor from being a soldier but I must forget this silly weakness of mine. I will fight for our country either way. Hopefully, if we fight well enough, Canada will surrender soon and there will be no more need for conflict.

Oh, Elizabeth, I must go. I promise I will write again. General Hull had distributed a proclamation around and it is making quite a fuss among the residents. I must go and check what has happened.

Love,

Peter

Dear Elizabeth,

I had received the news. General William had distributed a proclamation flyer around to all of the locals telling them why they should not oppose the invasion. Even as an American soldier, I keep on thinking how I would never follow these rules. I would fight for my country but then again I am not the one being threatened (in a way). He states how horrors and calamities of war will stalk before you in it. 

He also mentions First Nations a quite a bit also. He seems to hold a grudge against them for not selling land to us. I don't seem to understand why our country would be angry at some First Nations for not selling us land but then again it is just me. Anyways, he states fighting by the side of any First Nations person will be taken prisoner. I also find that odd also that they need to fight with the First Nations to be arrested. Before, I thought that we take everybody and arrest them. I suspect he does not want to attack them but only intimidate them because the less enemies the better. Anyways, Elizabeth, do not worry. I will be fine and I will return soon from Canada. I will see you soon!

Love,

Peter

My Thoughts

Dear You,

&@#$! Another war! Gosh, do people ever stop fighting here!? I am not sure how many wars/battling/forms of violence I have witnessed here.  I lost count long ago. *Sigh*. I guess I have to go into reporter mode and explain the current events in an article.

This is Catherine Le reporting on the newest scoop on the War of 1812! Today, July 12, 1812, it has been confirmed that the Americans invaded Canada. They have stationed themselves in Sandwich today. They were led by William Hull, commander of the Northwestern Army of the United State along with 2000 men. There he has distributed a proclamation for the residents for them not to oppose his invasion. Such things like,"...you will be considered and treated as enemies and the horrors and calamities of war will stalk before you ..." were included in the Proclamation.

I have been moving around place to place these days and I am very afraid about these events. Those Americans seem ruthless and are sure taking this war seriously. What scares me even more than that is the fact that I don't think the invasions will stop.

Oh, I forgot to mention!! I found a letter on the ground ... AGAIN!!! I might be what you might call a letter magnet. Haha ... letter magnet! I'm funny. For a little treat, I will reveal the short but sad letter. It was written by a child to their family in Lower Canada.

Dear Auntie,

You must have heard all of the news but Mama felt it was important for us to tell you ourselves. The Americans has invaded Sandwich yesterday. Their leader also sent out a strange letter to everybody living here. Mama and Papa seem very troubled about it but they won't say anything about it. They told us to not fight them and if we were to we would be considered 'enemies' and they have even brought 2000 men. Papa doesn't want to follow these rules. He is still a loyalist at heart and wants to support Britain/Canada in any way possible. He still fears the Americans especially after the American Revolution. He thinks that even if they say they will not harm us, they are not to be trusted. We are leaving Sandwich in a few days' time. We would like to stay with you for some time. Thank you a lot Auntie!

Laura

Catherine

And Some More War ...

And the War of 1812 erupts in North America ....

Yes, I actually remember learning about it (a real surprise there!)! 

Even though the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution, Britain and the United States hate each other. A LOT. Anyways, their relationship is full of tension, anger, and hate. The most significant events that have helped increase the tensions were the :  impressment, blockade, First Nations Allies and the War Hawks. I, myself will explain the stories of all those events and will be blogging during the War of 1812, giving you all the latest scoop and the juiciest news before anybody else!

IMPRESSMENT

1793, Britain's main priority was to win the war (yet ANOTHER war ...) against France and were worried that the French troops would sail across the English Channel so that they decided to strengthen their navy to protect their land by sea. The British ships were ... not in the best condition so a LOT of sailors ditched and went to the American merchant navy. Britain ... not very happy. They started stopping American ships to see if there were any people there that had originally ditched Britain. I find it REALLY FUNNY that they are that desperate. Then sometimes they were forcing Americans sailors into service. Of course by then the Americans were raging (no surprise there!)!

BLOCKADE

The British decided that they used its navy to blockade Europe. It (purposely) stopped many countries from trading with France and was designed to hurt the French only. The Americans were not happy because THEIR economy was faltering due to loss of market (for importing goods).

FIRST NATIONS

The Americans do not like Britain or the First Nations. What happened was after the American Revolution, the First Nations were encouraged to keep their large territory for themselves and it stopped the American ground from growing. They also believe that he British encouraging them to be hostile to them and that they support efforts to protect First Nations' land.

WAR HAWKS

Now this one is the most influential of them all. The war hawks were a group of politicians (American) that believed they should expand their borders and that Canada was just in the way. They also believed that they should simply take over this land. President James Madison was very influenced by them that on June 19,, he declared war on Britain.

That was my news report on the war. Stay tuned for the next post filled with all of the news you can find only here.