The Catastrophic Explosion That Defined the War of 1812-- Part 2

The Americans landed at York at 7:20 a.m., near the fort.  The battle lasted for five and a half hours and the British lost.  As they retreated, Brigadier General Roger Sheaffe ordered the fort's main magazine blown up.  It contained 30,000 pounds of gunpowder, 30,000 cartridges, 10,000 cannonballs and many musket balls.

It exploded around 1 p.m.  `The American force was just 200 yards away when the magazine exploded.  Twenty-five Americans were killed, including Zebulon Pike and 200 more were seriously wounded.  This made the Americans mad and in retaliation, they looted and torched the town.

(Yes, Zebulon Pike was the Pike's Peak guy.)

--Brock-Perry