My answers for the Liebster Award…and my nominations for who is to follow…:)

I would like to thank my good friend Superphoenix (
http://superphoenix.wordpress.com/
) for this honor

11 random facts about me

1. My wife and I are paranormal nuts and plan on buying some equipment and conducting our own investigations.

2. I didn’t start writing until I was 54 years old. Until then, I had written no fiction whatsoever.

3. I was married July 14, 2012. The third time is a charm. She is my best friend, and the love of my life.

4. I had the distinct honor of climbing Mt. Fujiyama, one of the most sacred mountains in Japan.

5. My father’s adoptive family have their roots in Germany. However, in the United States, the entire population of the family can be traced to three men – a father and two sons. They settled in Western Pennsylvania in the mid-17th century. They had to leave Germany because they had poached on a count’s land, and when caught, one of the count’s dogs was killed in the ensuing pursuit.

6. I will see Australia one day.

7. Genealogy is another of my passions, and I have traced one branch of my family to 1595. Three of these family members were brothers, and they were in a militia unit that participated in The Battle of Lake Erie, in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry soundly drubbed the English Navy, and turned the tide of the War of 1812. Their father had also been in the militia – during the Revolutionary War.

8. When I retire, I’m going to write full time, along with editing professionally.

9. I’ve either lived or worked for extended periods of time in Washington, D.C., MIssissippi, Massachusetts, Louisiana, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, California, Alaska, New York, Indiana, Ohio, and Japan.

10. My favorite author of all time is Dean Koontz.

11. I’ve been riding trail bikes and motorcycles since I was 11 years old, have owned four street bikes, and will one day own a Harley.

My answers to the 11 questions:

1. What is the first thing you heard and saw when you woke up in the morning today?

Our cat Chirp. It’s Sunday, and he was on the bed, in my face, and telling me that I had slept long enough.

2. What is the one location that means for you-heaven on earth?

About 20 miles from my house is a little coastal community called Folly Beach. It has a pier that goes out into the ocean 1,200 feet. My wife and I were married on the end of the pier, and it’s our favorite place to spend an afternoon or evening, watching folks fish and frolic on the beach, the gulls wheel and squall, and occasionally catching a glimpse of a dolphin.

3. Of all the movies that you have seen, name a villain that you would rather have saved and why?

Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel, the leader of the rogue military squadron in “The Rock”. Hummel had led countless black ops in Viet Nam and other conflicts, and had seen his troops killed and buried – or counted as missing in action – with their families receiving not so much as a thank you for their loved one’s service. He and his mercenaries took hostages in Alcatraz and pointed missiles at San Francisco to call attention to these atrocities, and wanted only an acknowledgement for the sacrifice of brave men. He ended up dying for his beliefs – and the injustices remained. It bothers me most because although the story was fiction, its basis is probably true.

4. One fine day, you get up and decide you want to get a tattoo done. What would it be and on which part of your body would you get it done?

I actually did this, when I turned 50. I was studying karate, and got a tattoo of two long, sinuous dragons, their bodies wrapped around my biceps, their heads toward one another, and the yin yang symbol above them.

5. Which song aptly describes the current scene in your life? Please share with us the first two lines here.

“Back in Black”, by AC/DC. It’s a long story, but three years ago, I experienced a rebirth, and now feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life. The first two lines are:

Back in black, I hit the sack

I’ve been too long, I’m glad to be back

6. If you were approached to be part of a remake of an action movie – which movie would you choose and which character would you like to play?

I’d love to be Indiana Jones in a remake of any of Harrison Ford’s movies. They were all a mixture of adventure, travel, and delving into dark secrets while touching on history and foreign customs and beliefs. That’s an ideal combination for me.

7. If you had a chance to rewrite the fate of Romeo and Juliet, how would you end the book?

You know, I don’t think I’d change a thing. That play teaches some very valuable life lessons. Juliet’s decision to kill herself teaches that occasionally it’s best to sacrifice yourself instead of accepting circumstances with which you simply can’t agree. And Romeo shows us a dedication and love for Juliet that few of us – if any – have the good fortune to attain. Their decisions are a great example of pure love.

8. Remember your first love… name one trait (physical) of that person that still makes your brain get all fuddled up.

I don’t have to remember her. It’s going to sound odd, but my wife is my first love. And it’s her eyes. They’re a beautiful shade of brown, and dance with a light that makes the rest of the world go away.

9. Imagine yourself to be suddenly in possession of the key to this treasure trove – a cross between Scrooge’s money bin and Genie’s treasure cave — what will be the very first thing that you will buy with that money/gold?

The first thing would be mundane. – pay off all my bills and debts. The next one wouldn’t be – a brand new Mustang Cobra for me and an SUV of her choice for my wife.

10. You have foreknowledge that your city is about to be attacked by aliens in the next one hour. What’s your action plan?

The same as if anyone invades. I’ll go straight to a gun shop, buy four semi-automatic assault rifles, four 9mm pistols, and an ample supply of ammo for all. By then it’ll be time to rock ‘n roll…

11. In times when troubled thoughts invade your peace of mind, what do you do to soothe yourself?

Only a few miles from our place is a city park with a large lake. It has several good fishing holes, but there’s one in particular that’s my favorite. It’s right next to a marsh with a large population of cranes, egrets, and ducks, and has shade trees that house squirrels and song birds. There’s typically little in the way of traffic nearby, and it’s relatively secluded. It’s there I go to think and reflect (with a fishing pole, of course.)

Now, my Liebster Award nominees

 

Jenna Brooks

Bob Atkinson

Virginia Lori Jennings

Lorraine Jean Bush

Catherine Wolffe

Jodi Ambrose

Tim (T.W.) Dittmer

Diane Major

MS Fowle

Jinx Schwartz

Kelly Walker

And my 11 questions to these fine folks:

1. What’s the one thing you like most about being an author?

2. What’s the one thing you like least about being an author?

3. You’ve just won a sweepstakes, and the prize is an all-expenses-paid vacation to any destination you choose. Where are you headed, and why?

4. You get a phone call from an author who wants to collaborate with you in the writing of a novel. Who do you want to be on the phone?

 5. What’s the one thing that you want to accomplish before you die?

 6. What’s the one happy memory that stands out from your childhood?

 7. Which one person has been the biggest influence on your life?

 8.  What’s the best decision you ever made in your life?

 9.  What’s the worst decision you ever made in your life?

 10. What is the best book you ever read and why?

 11. You’ve been asked to play a monster in a horror movie. Which one would you want to play?

Of course, the rules are that each of you prepare a post listing 11 random facts about yourself, answers to my 11 questions, then pass on the award to 11 of your pals. Get to it

My family’s small part in the War of 1812

Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry

My Father’s father’s family name is Siverling. They originated in the state of Baden, Germany, and the family history has been traced to around 300 B.C. The branches that are known have historically been farmers and tradesmen. Two families migrated to North Americain the 18^th Century, one line in 1741, and my direct ancestor Christopher, in 1753. Both sailed into Philadelphia and took up residence in the regions surrounding that city. My 7^th great-grandfather Christopher moved his family west to a region of southwest Pennsylvania north and east of Pittsburgh, and a few years later, decided to move them to a new territory that had opened up in the northwest part of the state. The land was wild and untamed, and for a farmer, it offered an opportunity to settle in a region unencumbered by the complexities of society.

Crawford County is a mountainous area, abundant with deer, bear, rabbit, trout, and at that time, Indians. Christopher had actually obtained the rights to 400 acres of land in 1794, but had delayed moving his wife and children there until the Army could bring the Iroquois Indians under control a bit.  The land was fed by two creeks, the French and the Conneaut, and several small tributaries, which flow southeasterly through sloping gullies fifty to a hundred feet deep.  Above these the land is comparatively level.  It is roughest in the northwestern part, and in the northeast, along the banks of Conneaut Creek, it is somewhat marshy. The soil is a gravelly and in a few places sandy loam, except in the northwest where clay predominates.  The timber is hemlock, white oak, black oak, butternut, and on higher ground hickory, chestnut, sugar, and beech.

David Mead, a hearty frontiersman of the time, had come upon the region with eight of his fellows in 1788, and had stayed to carve out an existence there. His company endured incredible hardship and several were killed or captured by hostile indians. One of those captured was Cornelius VanHorn, who managed to escape and travel toCanada, and hence to his home inPittsburgh. In 1794, an Army company was formed, and VanHorn was chosen as Captain. It was he who travelled back to Crawford Countyand tamed the Indians, making it safe enough to settle.

The Siverlings had scant provisions to sustain themselves through the first hard winter. A couple bushels of corn, a little beef and some turnips constituted their entire stock of provisions, besides what they could wrestle from the forest and rivers. Pittsburgh was the nearest trading point, roads were non-existent, and wild animals abounded. Bears were ever ready to pounce on the few pigs the settlers and brought with them, and wolves were abundant and eager to dispose of any sheep that grew unwary.  Bounties were soon offered on wolf hides, and ridding the forest of these dangerous predators afforded sport and extra cash to any who sought them out.

It was a simple, if dangerous life, and the Siverlings, like their neighbors, only wished to live in peace. Their wish, however, was set aside by events set in motion by a nation that had grown angry and bitter in defeat. The following is a brief accounting of the causes of the War of 1812, the Battle of Lake Erie, and the role that Christopher’s sons, Christopher Jr., Daniel, and John Christopher Siverling had in that battle, while serving in Captain Christian Blystone’s Company, 137^th Regiment, 16^th Pennsylvania Militia.

After the United States had defeated England in the Revolutionary War, the British had agreed to withdraw from their fortifications near the Great Lakes region; however, it took years for them to do so. They also continued to sell supplies to Indian tribes in the Northwest Territories, who were still at war with the United States. The British Navy, constantly at odds with the problem of manning their vast flotilla of ships, began thoroughly searching every neutral ship they came upon for British deserters. If they encountered sailors of foreign navies (including the United States) during these searches, the unfortunate sailors were impressed into service in His Majesty King George’s Navy. Meanwhile, France and Great Britain had implemented embargoes that made international trade precarious, and when President Jefferson responded with the Embargo act of 1807, trade into and from theUnited States was almost at a standstill. British ships also continued to blockade American ports at every turn.

In the U.S. presidential election of 1812, U.S. President James Madison argued for war against Britain. The War of 1812 was thus the first war “sold” to the American public via popular appeal. The Congressional House was called to vote, and approved war on June 4^th, 1812, the vote standing at 79 to 49. The Senate concurred, voting for war on June 17, 1812, by a vote of 19 to 13. The conflict formally began with the American declaration of war on June 18, 1812. This was the first time that the United States had declared war on another nation.

When the war broke out, the British immediately seized control of Lake Erie. They already had a small force of warships there: the sloop of war “Queen Charlotte” and the brig “General Hunter”. The brig “Lady Prevost” was under construction and was put into service a few weeks after the outbreak of war. By August of 1812, Detroit had fallen under their might. This victory gave them full sway over Lake Erie and its shipping channels. Therefore, it was of paramount importance that control of the Great Lakes was wrestled from the British, in order to free up the shipping lanes for military supplies.

In an effort to regain naval superiority back from the British in this territory, a plan was devised to construct two war vessels at Presque Isle near Erie. Designed by New York ship builder Noah Brown, these vessels were intended to be the foundation of the new American fleet. In March 1813, the new commander of American naval forces on Lake Erie, Master Commandant Oliver H. Perry, arrived at Presque Isle. Assessing his command, he found that there was a general shortage of supplies and men.

While two brigs, the USS Lawrence and USS Niagara, were being built, Perry traveled to Lake Ontario in May 1813, to obtain additional seamen from Commodore Isaac Chauncey. While there, he took part in the Battle of Fort George (May 25-27), and was able to acquire several gunboats for use on Lake Erie. Upon his departure from Fort George, he was nearly captured by the new British commandant on Lake Erie, Commander Robert H. Barclay.

On July 19, 1813, the British fleet appeared off Presque Isle, evincing a determination on their part to not only bring about the destruction of the half-finished American fleet, but to invade the state itself. Commodore Perry, immediately grasping the gravity of the situation and the necessity for prompt resistance, sent a courier to General Mead (the same David Mead who had settled the area) of Meadville, the Commandant of the 16^th Division of the Pennsylvania Militia, asking for reinforcements. The next day, General Mead sent the following circular into every settlement within the Sixteenth Militia district:

CITIZENS TO ARMS

 

Your State is invaded. The enemy has arrived at Erie, threatening to destroy our navy and the town. His course, hitherto marked with rapine and fire wherever he touched our shore, must be arrested. The cries of infants and women, of the aged and infirm, the devoted victims of the enemy and his savage allies, call on you for defense and protection. Your home, your property, your all, require you to march immediately to the course of action. Arms and ammunition will be furnished to those who have none, at the place of rendezvous near to Erie, and every exertion will be made for your subsistence and accommodations. Your service to be useful must be rendered immediately. The delay of an hour may be fatal to your country, in securing the enemy in his plunder and favoring his escape.

David MEAD, Maj. Gen. 19th D. P. M.

 

The response was immediate. The men of the 16^th Pennsylvania Militia under General Mead’s command came from the four corners of Crawford and Venango County, and bivouacked outside of Meadville, until it was determined that the full complement of troops had arrived. On July 23rd (proudly, my birthday), they began the march to Erie, travelling overnight and arriving on the 24^th. They joined the encampment at Erie, and the militia, along with regular troops, began the task of guarding the ships under construction until they could be made ready for battle.

 By mid-July, the American squadron was almost complete, although not yet fully manned (Perry claimed to have only 120 men fit for duty). The British squadron maintained a blockade of Presque Isle for ten days from 20 July to 29 July. The harbor had a sandbar across its mouth, with only 5 feet of water over it, which prevented Barclay from sailing in to attack the American ships (although Barclay briefly skirmished with the defending batteries on 21 July), but also prevented the Americans from leaving in fighting order. Barclay had to lift the blockade on 29 July because of shortage of supplies and bad weather. On the 3d of August the squadron moved down the bay, and the work of getting the vessels over the bar began. This was an exhausting task. The guns had to be removed from all the boats, and the largest ships had to be raised between “camels” (ballast tanks which were filled with water, placed under the ships, and then emptied, making them buoyant). When Barclay returned four days later, he found that Perry had nearly completed the task. Perry’s two largest brigs were not ready for action, but the gunboats and smaller brigs formed a line so confidently that Barclay withdrew to await the completion of his flagship, the Detroit.

With his two brigs now ready for service, Perry took control of the lake. From this position, he was able to prevent supplies from reaching Commander Barclay’s encampment at Amherstburg. As a result, Barclay was forced to seek battle in early September. Sailing from his base, he flew his flag from the recently completed Detroit, and was joined by HMS Queen Charlotte, HMS Lady Prevost , HMS Hunter , HMS Little Belt , and HMS Chippawa .

Perry countered with Lawrence, Niagara , USS Ariel , USS Caledonia , USS Scorpion , USS Somers , USS Porcupine , USS Tigress , and USS Trippe . Commanding from Lawrence, Perry’s ships sailed under a blue battle flag emblazoned with Captain James Lawrence’s immortal command, “Don’t Give up the Ship.” Departing Put-in-Bay (Ohio) harbor at 7:00 a.m. on September 10, 1813, Perry placed Ariel and Scorpion at the head of his line, followed by Lawrence, Caledonia, and Niagara. The remaining gunboats trailed to the rear.

            When the smoke settled, Perry had captured the entire British squadron and secured American control of Lake Erie. Writing to General William Henry Harrison, in a dispatch that became the most-quoted phrase of the war, Commodore Perry related:

Dear General:

We have met the enemy and they are ours. Two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop.
Yours with great respect and esteem,
O.H. Perry

American casualties in the battle were 27 dead and 96 wounded. British losses numbered 41 dead, 93 wounded, and 306 captured. Following the victory, the British abandoned their fortifications at Amherstburg, and withdraw to the Thames Valley. Perry ferried General Harrison’s Army of the Northwest to Detroit where it began its advance into Canada. This campaign culminated in the American victory at the Battle of the Thames on October 5, 1813, and ultimately, to a victory for the United States in the war. It was also the first time in history that an American Commander had captured an entire British fleet.

On January 1, 1814 Captain Blystone’s men were called again to the defence of Erie by General Mead, in anticipation of an attack on the fleet. Erie had become a naval station, and the British were once again collecting troops and ships on the opposite shore. Nothing of interest transpired, however; the troops were only employed in guard duty and drill. They were relieved of their duties on February 6^th, and returned to their homes. Thus ended my family’s involvement; farmers and settlers who had dropped their ploughshares and come to the defence of their new home in America.