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Photo courtesy of Western New York Heritage
Photo courtesy of Western New York Heritage

Western New York Heritage presents 'The War of 1812: Volume 1'

by jmaloni
Tue, Oct 23rd 2012 03:35 pm

Three-part series of annuals will commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812

Western New York Heritage Press, the not-for-profit publisher of Western New York Heritage magazine, has just released the first volume in its series of three annuals, commemorating the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

"A lot of people don't know much about the War of 1812," said executive editor Douglas DeCroix, "but it had a tremendous impact on the history of the United States, Canada, and the Native peoples on both sides of the border."

With its three-part commemorative series, Western New York Heritage will examine this conflict, its impact on this region and why it deserves to be remembered 200 years later.

Volume 1 specifically explores the first year of the war, while two subsequent volumes will tackle 1813 and 1814 when they are released in 2013 and 2014, respectively. As such, Volume 1 explores key regional battles and skirmishes, as well as important figures such as Maj. General Isaac Brock and John Norton, a Six Nations war chief. It includes an in-depth look at the Battle of Queenston Heights; new research on Betsy Doyle, a local heroine who loaded red hot cannon balls amidst heavy fire at Fort Niagara; a look at the landscape paintings of surgeon Edward Walsh; and a peek into Chautauqua County and the skirmish that some consider the first clash of the War of 1812.

Readers will also learn why President James Madison issued the declaration of war in 1812 and receive a step-by-step itinerary for exploring the war's legacy through regional historic sites, markers and museums.

"We are extremely grateful to the Baird Foundation and Dual Printing for their generous support of this first volume," DeCroix said. "It is gorgeous, and we are looking forward to the next two."

Since 1997, Western New York Heritage Press has published its award-winning quarterly magazine, Western New York Heritage, which strives to preserve the history, art and architecture of the region in order to foster a pride of place in Buffalo and all of Western New York. (The fall issue, featuring stories on the E. & B. Holmes Company and artist Arthur Kowalski, is on stands now.)

Copies of "The War of 1812: Volume 1" cost $10 and are available by visiting the Western New York Heritage website, www.WNYHeritagePress.org, or by calling the office at 716-893-4011. It will also be available at select retail outlets, including Barnes & Noble, Old Fort Niagara and the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society.

 

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