AUGUST 15TH, 1814: On the night of 15 August, after an ineffective two-day bombardment, a British force commanded by Lt.-Governor Gordon Drummond stormed American-held Fort Erie.
Drummond sent three separate columns forward in the rain. The attackers failed to surprise the Americans, and were unable to coordinate their attack properly in the dark. Two of the columns were driven back with heavy losses.
The third column led by Lt.Colonel William Drummind (relative?) captured the fort's northeast bastion but were unable to advance farther, even though they turned a cannon around to fire on the Americans inside.
William Drummond was killed and the massive powder magazine below the bastion blew up. The hideous explosion slaughtered the attackers and ended the assault. The British lost over 900 men.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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