Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 11: Black Canadians in the British Service

In addition to serving in militia units, other black Canadians enlisted in the regular British forces defending Upper Canada (Ontario).

One of the most common roles they fulfilled was that of percussionist in military bands.  An officer of the 104th Foot recalled the regiment's bass drummer, Private Henry Grant, accompanying his regiment's epic march through the snow from New Brunswick to Upper Canada between February and April 1813.

After reaching Kingston, he and his regiment took part in the Battle of Sackets Harbor on 29 May 1813, in which several band members were killed.

Other British  regiments garrisoned in Canada for long periods of time recruited black Canadian  musicians in a similar manner, including the 100th Foot, whose cymbal player was Black.

--Brock-Perry

Captain William Bradley Honored at Beechwood Cemetery-- Part 2

Captain Bradley was born in Georgia prior to the American Revolution, but his family moved to Canada afterward.  He grew up in New Brunswick  and at age 22 joined the military.

He was a captain commanding a company in the 104th Regiment when the War of 1812 began and took part in the unprecedented 52-day forced march on snowshoes from Frederickton to Quebec City in 1813.

Following the war, he settled in March Township and was appointed magistrate.

The plaque was courtesy of the War of 1812 Graveside Recognition Project.

--Brock-Perry

Captain William Bradley Honored at Beechwood Cemetery-- Part 1

From the September 17, 2015, Stittsville Central (Canada) "Beechwood Cemetery will honour Captain Bradley, local pioneer."

A granite marker for Ottawa pioneer Captain William Brown Bradley (c1771-1851) veteran of the War of 1812 will be unveiled at Beechwood, the National Cemetery of Canada, on Oct. 4, 2015, at 11 a.m..  There will be a ceremony followed by a reception.

Re-enactors of Ottawa's 100th Regt. Historical Society will march to the grave site bearing a reproduction of the 104th Regiment's battle flag which is on loan from the New Brunswick Museum.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Veterans' Graves in Fredericton Get Plaques

From the July 23, 2015, CBC News.

The graves of seven veterans of the war who fought for Britain now have had their graves marked with special plaques in Fredericton's Old burying Ground.  They were all members of the 104th Regiment stationed in the town during the war.

The 104th Regiment made the epic march from \Fredericton to Kingston in the winter of 1813 also served along the Niagara Frontier that year and returned to winter quarters in Kingston.

Most of these men were veterans of that march which took six weeks under harsh conditions.

Veterans receiving the plaques:

Lt.Col. Harris William Hailes
Capt. John Allen
Lt. William Barry  Phair
Capt. Andrew William Rainsford
Lt. James Augustus MacLauchlan
Capt. John Jenkins
Capt. eorge Shore

Kind of strange that all were officers.

--Brock-Perry

Col. Eleazor Derby Wood Killed at Sept. 17th Sortie-- Part 1

From Wikipedia.

While researching Ezra Dean, I also came across Wood's name and found out that he had been killed at that sortie on September 17, 1814, from Fort Erie.

ELEAZOR DERBY WOOD (Dec, 1783-Sept. 17, 1814)

Born at Lunenburg, Mass.  Admitted to USMA at West Point May 17, 1805 and graduated Oct. 30, 1806.

Served as assistant engineer in the construction of the defenses at Governor's Island, New York Harbor in 1807.  Promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1808, he then assisted in the construction of Castle Williams in New York Harbor and Fort Norfolk in Virginia.

In the War of 1812, he was promoted to captain and was involved in the defense of Fort Meigs during its siege and also in the May 5, 1813 and in command of American artillery at the Battle of the Thames on October 5th.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Flag Being Restored

From the May 28, 2012, CBC News.

The flag was carried by the 104th Regiment of Foot from Frederickton and Kingston, Ontario, and will be exhibited at the New Brunswick Museum.  The regiment was composed of men from the maritime  provinces and from what then was Upper Canada and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec).

Gary Hughes, museum curator, said, "It's kind of almost like a Canadian regiment before there was a Canada."

The group is in the history books for its epic 1,100 kilometer march during the winter of 1813 to help defend Canada from an American invasion.  They were on the move for 52 days from February to April, using snowshoes and toboggans with temperatures below 27 degrees C.  Eight hundred men completed it through waist-high snow.

The flag is a 6 by 6 foot silk banner and being refurbished in Halifax thanks to the gift of an unknown donor.

Save the Flag.  --Brock-Perry