We visited Macomb, Illinois, earlier this week and spent the night there. This was the first time either Liz or myself had ever been to the town. Back when I was at college in 1970, I had the opportunity to go with my fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, on a road trip to the Delta Sig chapter at Western Illinois University, but I had to work at food service that weekend so didn't get to go.
Both the city of Macomb and the county it is in are named for heroes of the War of 1812.
The city is named for General Alexander Macomb, ranking general in the US Army from 1829 to his death in 1841. He was one of the first officers to receive training at the newly instituted West Point. After that, he oversaw the construction of fortifications in Michigan, Mackinaw, Pairie du Chein (Wis) and Chicago.
His forces engaged the 10,531 British Army at the Battle of Plattsborough on September 11, 1814, and even though badly outnumbered (1,500 regular troops and a few militia) managed to win after some amazing tactical feats and the defeat of the British Navy at Lake Champlain.
The commander of the US Naval forces at that battle was Thomas McDonough, for whom the county Macomb serves as the seat of is located. He also participated in the First Barbary War.
It's a War of 1812 Thing. --Cooter
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