I am Canadian. I guess I got mixed up between the revolutionary war and 1812.

Thank God folks understood what I meant though, I was worried!

I don't think the point I made was lost though. You have to take folksongs with a grain of salt or maybe as inspirations to find out more about the events described.

I think the main benefit of folksongs is how they often capture the feelings and emotions of and event. For instance Woody Guthrie's "1913 Massacre." A completely accurate history? Probably not. A complete history? Certainly not. But when you listen to the song you feel like you are a witness and you sympathies are stirred.