War of 1812
War of 1812 State of New York Official Military Enlistment Form Receiving His $50 Bounty and $8 Recruit Premium Without Knowing the Peace "Treaty of Ghent" was Signed
January 15, 1815-Dated War of 1812 Period, State of New York, Partly-Printed Recruit Enlistment Document, Completed, New York, Choice Crisp Extremely Fine.
Scarce, historically significant dated, original War of 1812 Enlistment Document for Herman Johnson, 8" x 10", 1 page, in museum quality. Boldly printed and completed in rich brown on clean, crisp wove period paper. This Document reads, in part; "I Herman Johnson born in New York Rockland aged 18 years, 5 feet 8 inches high, of light complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, and by profession a Stone Cutter...". Docket on the blank reverse reads: "Herman Johnson / January 15th, 1815". What is particularly interesting about this Document is that Herman Johnson, age 18 and a stone cutter, enlisted in the United States Army to fight the British, even though the recruiting officer was unaware that a Peace Treaty was signed by the United States and Britain on December 24, 1814 in Ghent, Belgium and that the "War of 1812" against the British was technically over. In fact, on January 8, 1815, being 16 Days After the Peace Treaty of Ghent was signed, the British were decisively defeated at the Battle of New Orleans under the American leadership of General Andrew Jackson.
Even though this recruit Herman Johnson enlisted on January 19, 1815, he should be considered a soldier who served in the War of 1812 because the Ghent Peace Treaty was not ratified by the Senate and Signed by President James Madison until February 16, 1815 which effectively ended the War of 1812. This document demonstrated that news of the treaty spread slowly and word of peace did not reach the American and British armies for sometime. What is also interesting is that recruit Herman Johnson received a bounty of $ 50 for joining the U.S. Army which is a hugh sum of money in 1815 considering the average weekly salary for a skilled worker was was approximately $ 1.75.
According to the National Archives , recruit Herman Johnson joined the 1st. Regiment (Laight's) New York Militia as a private and was discharged as a private at Hartford, Conn. on March 23, 1815, term expired.
KEYWORDS:
War of 1812, Militia, Military, American military history, Revolutionary War Heritage, American Troops, Military Orders, New York History, American Army