The War of 1812 (10 page)

On the other lakes that mattered to the defence, Champlain and Huron, the British retained control throughout 1813. In June, two American schooners sailed from Lake Champlain into the Richelieu River to stop smugglers taking supplies into Canada. They were trapped by British gunboats and surrendered. The British were now stronger on Champlain than the Americans. They used their superiority to destroy the defences at Plattsburgh, seize military
supplies at other places, and capture four small vessels. American farmers at least were pleased because they could still send foodstuffs to the British army.

Second View of Com. Perry's Victory
. An overall view of the naval
engagement, suggesting a very orderly combat.

[Courtesy of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.]

Early in 1813, the United States decided to increase its efforts to win the war. Congress approved a big war loan, appointed more generals, asked President Madison to raise more troops, and voted to build more ships. (This was why Chauncey and Perry were able to undertake so much ship-building.) Madison changed some of his cabinet members, one of his appointments being John Armstrong as Secretary of War. He did not like the man, but could not find anyone else of ability to take the position and there was the possibility that Armstrong might increase support for the war in New York State where he had political influence. Armstrong proved more active than his predecessor, but his leadership and planning were no better. He left Dearborn in command of the Northern Army until July, then replaced him with James Wilkinson, a man who was considered incompetent by many of his fellow officers. Wade Hampton, who was put in command of the Lake Champlain front, was a better officer, but he and Wilkinson hated each other. Armstrong blundered badly when he put these two in charge of the most important land sector in the war.

Plaque at Fort York commemorating the Battle of York.

[Courtesy of the author.]

Land warfare in 1813 began far to the west. Brigadier-General James Winchester, another veteran of the American Revolution, was the new commander of part of the North Western Army. The rest of the army was under William Harrison, now a brigadier-general, whose victory at Tippecanoe had won him the respect of many Americans. Harrison's aim was to recapture Detroit and then invade Upper Canada.

In January, Harrison led over six thousand men north towards Detroit. Winchester went ahead with an advance guard and captured Frenchtown, but he took no precautions against a British counterattack, which came before dawn on January 22. Across the frozen river and through deep snow, Procter led over five hundred regulars, militia, and sailors. With the support of about six hundred Indians, they captured some five hundred Americans, including Winchester, and killed nearly four hundred more. On hearing this, Harrison fled up the Maumee River. Finding that Procter did not pursue him, he returned downriver and built a fort, which he named Fort Meigs after the governor of Ohio.

Procter was not the decisive leader that Brock had been. Instead of attacking while the Americans were building Fort Meigs, he waited for reinforcements. By the time they arrived in May, the fort was ready, and even with reinforcements Procter could not capture it. He ended the siege and returned to Amherstburg. Later in the year, he would try again, but his attacks achieved nothing worthwhile.

There had been fighting early in the year along the St. Lawrence River as well. American militia from Ogdensburg had several times raided across the river, threatening the supply route to Upper Canada. Ignoring Prevost's orders not to attack Ogdensburg, Lieutenant-Colonel George Macdonell (known as “Red” George), the commander at Fort Wellington, decided to march against the American post in order to put an end to these raids. On February 22, British regulars and militia crossed the ice from Prescott. They captured the American guns, moved into the town, and then attacked the strong fort nearby. The Americans withdrew, leaving the whole position in Macdonell's hands. He burned the barracks and boats before re-crossing the river with supplies and prisoners.

For the rest of the war there was no garrison in Ogdensburg and therefore no need to fight there. In fact, people from Prescott occasionally went over to the American side to shop at David Parish's store, while Americans often crossed to have dinner with Macdonell. The inhabitants of this part of the frontier wanted to live in peace with each other, a feeling that was unfortunately not shared by most Americans.

In his planning for the campaign of 1813, Armstrong recognized the importance of Montreal but did not think Dearborn's army would be strong enough early in the year to attack it. He, therefore, wanted Dearborn to capture Kingston, which would cut the St. Lawrence route to Lower Canada and give the Americans control of Lake Ontario. Their success would isolate York and the British forts along the Niagara thereby making their conquest easy. This was not a bad plan, but Armstrong failed to stick to it.

Reinforcements were arriving at Quebec and Prevost sent some of them, including the 104th Regiment, to Upper Canada. In February, he went there himself to inspect the posts. All this movement made Dearborn and Chauncey think the British were too strong to be attacked successfully at Kingston. They proposed the seizure of York to be followed by attacks along the Niagara River. If all these assaults succeeded, they would then move against Kingston. Although this proposal reversed his original plan and made less sense strategically, Armstrong agreed to it.

A Grenadier Private of the 8
^th
(King's) Regiment of Foot, Fort York.

[Courtesy of the author.]

The Americans achieved the first part of their plan when they captured York in April. The next part, to take over the Niagara frontier, also succeeded, with Chauncey's fleet playing a major role.

On May 25, Chauncey's ships began to bombard Fort George and soon set its log buildings on fire. Two days later, between four thousand and five thousand Americans landed, led by Colonel Winfield Scott, a bold young regular officer who was Dearborn's chief
of staff. Under heavy shellfire from the ships, Brigadier-General John Vincent's defensive force of regulars and militia flank companies was unable to stop them. Vincent retreated to Beaver Dams up on the escarpment, where he had a supply depot in the farmhouse of John De Cew, a local settler. On Vincent's orders, all the troops from the rest of the Niagara frontier joined him.

Vincent sent the militia home and hurriedly retreated with his regulars, including two companies of the 8th Regiment just arrived from Kingston, to Burlington Bay. Here he had a strong position high above the lake yet beside a harbour and with land routes to both York and Amherstburg. The Americans now controlled the whole Niagara frontier, but their success was incomplete. They had not destroyed Vincent's army, which stood in the way of any further advance.

Dearborn ordered his forces to pursue the British. Meanwhile, Chauncey was heading back to Sackets Harbor and Yeo was sailing towards Burlington. On June 5, the American force of 3,400 men camped in a field at Stoney Creek. With the escarpment on one side and a swamp on the other, they could only be attacked from the front. Guards were stationed ahead of the army, but they were few and not alert.

A local lad named Billy Green told the British of the American encampment and gave them the Americans' password. After scouting the enemy position, Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey persuaded Vincent to try a night attack. Through the darkness 704 men advanced silently towards the American sentries. Harvey had ordered them to take the flints out of their muskets so that they could not shoot and arouse the enemy. After silently bayoneting the American sentries, the troops rushed into the enemy's camp . . . and started yelling!

The awakened Americans began to shoot, and a confused struggle in the dark erupted. Men fired on troops of their own side. The American commanders blundered into British troops and were captured. Vincent became confused and got lost in the woods, not to be found until the next day by his men. The fighting ended before dawn with the British taking over one hundred prisoners, including several officers.

Harvey collected his scattered troops and withdrew to his camp. The Americans retreated to Forty Mile Creek (Grimbsy), where they were reinforced by troops from the Niagara frontier. Still they were not safe. On June 7, Yeo's ships appeared and, inland, Canadian militia and Indians began to gather.

General Dearborn ordered a general retreat to Fort George. The Americans set fire to Fort Erie and withdrew from it and from Chippawa as well. Vincent moved forward, picking up supplies the Americans had left behind. Within a few days, he had troops posted at Twenty Mile Creek (Jordan), Twelve Mile Creek (St. Catharines) and De Cew's farmhouse. The Americans held on to the area from Fort George to Queenston.

Stoney Creek was a decisive battle, for it stopped the most threatening advance by the enemy into the Niagara Peninsula. The Americans would never again get as far into this vital part of Upper Canada. As well, the victory greatly boosted the morale of the defenders while causing dismay and confusion among the Americans.

Canada's defenders grew stronger. Vincent received more regulars and was able to send help to Procter at Amherstburg. Meanwhile, there had been growing criticism of Sheaffe's leadership, and for some weeks he had been too ill to perform his duties. Prevost removed him from the command of Upper Canada and put Major-General Baron Francis de Rottenburg in his place.

An American infantryman.

[Courtesy of Parks Canada Service.]

The invaders now held only a corner of the Peninsula. As a first step in breaking Vincent's defensive line, they decided to try to capture the post at De Cew's house. Lieutenant James FitzGibbon held it with about fifty men of the 49th Regiment; nearby, there were other troops, militia, and Indians.