Imagine you are a member of the U.S. militia in the early 1800s.
Choose one of the following events from the War of 1812 in which you took part:
• Fort McHenry
• Burning of Washington
• Old Fort Niagara
• U.S.S. Constitution
• Battle of New Orleans
• Battle of the Thames
Write a 350-word letter to a family member explaining the event and its significance to the war's outcome.