Major Andrew Hunter Holmes-- Part 3: War of 1812 Service

During March 1814, the commander of American forces at Detroit, Colonel Butler, ordered Captain Andrew Holmes of the 24th Tennessee Regiment on a raid into the British Western District in Upper Canada.  His objective was to capture a British military post.  

He won a skirmish/battle near Longwood, a heavily forested tract of land that lay between Delaware and the present town of Thamesville, near present-day Wardsville, Ontario.

Exactly five months later the American forces tried to attack the heavily fortified Fort Mackinac in August 1914.  Major Holmes was killed while leading a force of troops in the attack.

The British ambushed them in a bloody skirmish which left 13 Americans dead including Holmes.

On the 30th of the same month, Andrew Jackson wrote Governor David Holmes a note of condolence saying:  "I sympathize with you most cordially in the afflicting loss of your brother, Major Holmes."

(David Holmes was the governor of the Mississippi Territory.)

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Hunter Holmes-- Part 4: Killed at Mackinac

At the Battle of Longwoods, Holmes' 164 men defeated a British force of 240 men under Major James Basden.  The Americans suffered 4 killed and 3 wounded; the British lost 14 killed, 51 wounded, 1 wounded prisoner and 1 man missing.

Holmes returned to Amherstburg and was promoted to major.

Later in 1814 Holmes received command of a battalion and was assigned to the American force sent to retake Fort Mackinac from the British.

Holmes was killed on August 4,1814, leading one of the first assaults on the British defenses; ultimately the American effort failed.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Holmes

From Wikipedia.

Major Andrew Hunter Holmes (1782-August 14, 1814)

Born in Fairfax County, Virginia, was a War of 1812 American officer.

He was captain of the 24th Infantry in the War of 1812 and promoted to major on June 8, 1813.

On April 18, 1814, he was major of the 32nd Infantry.

His victory at the Battle of Longwoods in Upper Canada, near present-day London, Ontario was lauded.

But, he was killed on August 4, 1814, in an attack on Fort Mackinac, Michigan, in the Battle of Mackinac Island.

Holmes County, Ohio, and Holmesville, Mississippi , are named after him.

--Brock-Perry

After the Battle of Longwoods-- Part 2

The Battle of Longwoods represented a major turning point in the war in the London district.  The British subsequently withdrew from Delaware to Burford, turning this part of Upper Canada into a no-man's land.

It was subject to American raids from Detroit against area farms in search of food and supplies.  It is 126 miles between London and Detroit.

Settlers in the Thames Valley were constantly robbed and pillaged.  Many frightened families abandoned their farms and did not return when the war ended in late 1814.

--Brock-Perry

After the Battle of Longwoods

Still from the HMdb.

This is a Canadian marker erected in 2014.

After an hour of continuous gunfire exchange, the British began to withdraw.  Soon the area was empty, except for the dead British regulars.

Even though his men had won a clear victory, Captain Andrew Holmes would not allow them to rob the dead British soldiers of their shoes and clothes, in respect for the bravery they had shown.

The American casualties amounted to 5  killed and 3 wounded.

Captain Holmes and his officers were concerned that the British would counter attack and they also withdrew.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods-- Part 5: American Forces and Casualties

From HMdb.

AMERICAN FORCES

Commanded by Captain Andrew Hunter Holmes

24th U.S. Infantry

27th U.S.Infantry

28th U.S. Infantry

Michigan Mounted Infantry

Michigan Militia Cavalry

***************************************

CASUALTIES (Killed)

Philip Beard, Levi Bunnell, Joseph Donahue,  Thomas Watkins, Eri Wooden

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods-- Part 4: British Forces and Casualties

From HMdb.

British forces at the battle:

Commanded by Captain James Basden

Royal Scots Light

Western (Caldwell) Rangers

89th Foot Light

Kent and Middlesex Militia

British Indian Department

**************************

SOME OF THE BRITISH CASUALTIES

Captain D. Johnstone

Lieut. P. Graeme

John Bunn, Wm. Condon, Thom Connors, John Hazeldine, James Hogan, Tomas Jones, Thomas Murphy, Wm. Shaw, James Sheldon, Alex Smith, Abraham Taylor, Uriah Trimm, Lawrence Wall

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods-- Part 2

In the aftermath of Harrison's withdrawal, there was what essentially amounted to a no war.  The British established outposts at Delaware and Port Talbot.  On 23 December 1813, the garrison at Delaware surprised and captured a small American post near Chatham.

The American commander at Amherstburg, Lt. Col. Anthony Butler sent an expedition under Captain Andrew Holmes, to capture one of the two British posts.  They left 21 February 1814 but met problems with weather and hunger.  

The Americans fell back to a hill and fortified it.  A sharp firefight took place on March 4.

The next day, some 240 British troops along with their Canadian militia and Indian allies clashed with the American force of 164.  An attempt was made to outflank the Americans while a direct attack was made on their center.

As dark fell, the entire British force retreated.

British losses were 14 killed, 51 wounded, 1 wounded prisoner and 1 missing. American losses 4 killed and 3 wounded.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods

From Wikipedia.

Took place during the War of 1812 (I see it is now referred to as the Anglo-American War of 1812) but I will continue to just refer to it as the War of 1812).

On 4 March 1814, a party of mounted Americans defeated an attempt by British regulars, volunteers from the Canadian militia and Native Americans to intercept them near Wardsville, in present-day Southwest Middlesex, Ontario.  (Near London, Ontario)

In October 1813 following the American naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, an American Army under Major General William Henry Harrison recaptured Detroit and the abandoned British post of Fort Malden at Amherstburg in Canada.

They then defeated a retreating British and Native force at the Battle of Moraviantown, in which Indian leader Tecumseh was killed.  However, further American operations were called off as the enlistments of Harrison's militia was about to expire.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods Re-enactment-- Part 2

The weekend will include:

**  Tactical and artillery demonstrations, including a afternoon battle.

**  Period music.

**  A military medicine presentation, demonstrating procedures available in 1812.

**  Tours of a historical military encampment.

**  Mini militia offering children a taste of life as a 19th-century soldier, including simple arms drill and marching.

**  Children's games and rope making.

**  Merchants and artisans selling items.

**  Self-guided tours of Ska-Nah-Doht Village and conservation area nature trails.

**  Food for sale by local service club members.

--Brock-Perry

Battle of Longwoods Re-enactors to Bring War of 1812 Back to Life-- Part 1

From the April 24, 2024, Chatham (Canada) Daily News by Trevor Terfloth.

Musket-toting re-enactors in period uniform will gather next month to recreate the Battle of Longwoods and offer visitors a taste of life during the War of 1812.

The Battle of Longwoods will be brought back to life at Longwoods Conservation Area May 4 and 5.  The Upper Thames Military Re-enactment Society and Lower Thames Conservation Authority are partnering in the event.

On March 4,1814, an American raiding party defeated an attempt by British regulars, Canadian militia volunteers and Indigenous forces to intercept them near Wardsville.

About 200 re-enactors, including men, women and children are expected for the Longwoods event.  They're to arrive Friday, May 3, and camp in period tents until Suday night.

Visitors are invited to experience life as a soldier, camp follower, Indigenous member and merchant, while walking through an authentically recreated camp.

--Brock-Perry

Caldwell's Western Rangers

From Wikipedia  "Canadian Units in War of 1812."

Known as Western Rangers or Caldwell's Rangers.  Unit named after its leader, William Caldwell, noted Loyalist and Indian trader,   The unit was a relatively small one, probably not more than fifty men, normally organized into two companies.  

They worked in conjunction with the Indian Department and often fought alongside the Indians (chiefly the Ojibwe, Wyandotte and Pottowottomi).

The unit, or parts of it fought at the Battle of Moraviantown,  the Battle of Longwoods,  the Battle of Lundy's Lane and in several actions on the Niagara Peninsula.

--Brock-Perry

William Caldwell-- Part 2: Northwest Indian War and War of 1812

During the Northwest Indian War, Caldwell led a company  of 80-150 Canadian militia alongside Northwestern Confederacy Natives against advancing American troops at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, the final engagement of that war.

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Caldwell was commissioned a lieutenant colonel and given command of a group of between 40 and 50 volunteers from the Canadian militia and they became known as Caldwell's Rangers(also sometimes referred to as the Western Rangers).

He fought at the Battle of   the Thames and the Battle of  Longwoods, among many actions.

He gained commissions for all his sons in the regular army.

--Brock-Perry

31st U.S. Infantry and the Battle of Shadage Woods

I was interested in John Ferdinand Webber's War of 1812 unit, the 31st U.S. Infantry.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find out much about it, or the Battle of Shadage Woods.  I did find out it was a Vermont regiment (as was the 30th U.S. Infantry).

With Webber's company commander, Captain S. Dickinson, I found out the "S" stood for Silas.  Beyond that I couldn't find anything about him.

Nor was there any mention of a Battle of Shadage Woods other than in regards to Webber fighting at it.  It might possibly be referring to the Battle of Longwoods.

I did find mention of a Captain Rufus Stewart, 31st Regiment U.S. Infantry who served from December 25, 1813, to June 7, 1815.  He was asked to raise a company of Vermont militia who patrolled the Vermont-Canada border to prevent smuggling.  He was at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

--Brock-Perry

Andrew Holmes Was a Special Forces Pirate Hunter Before Mackinac- Part 2:

Before the war, Andrew Holmes was from a prominent family in Virginia and was a 1799 graduate of Princeton (but I thought he had been expelled for his role in the "Great Rebellion" of 1807.  Perhaps he was only suspended or later reinstated.

  It is said that he killed a man in a duel.  he enlisted and trained as a "Dragoon" in the 24th U.S. Infantry, a cavalry unit.

The War Department sent Holmes and a detachment of dragoons to New Orleans with orders to stop piracy and slave smuggling.  That meant the Lafitte brothers.

Lafitte had built a fortified camp at Barataria Bay.  Holmes and his men eventually captured them.

He was needed in the Detroit area in the War of 1812.  In February 1814, he led an attack on British fortifications at Port Talbot.  He then beat off an attack of 240 British troops at the Battle of Longwoods and was promoted to major after that battle.

--Brock-Perry

Mackinac Island's Fort Holmes-- Part 2: Andrew Hunter Holmes

From Wikipedia.

Was captain in the 24th United States Infantry during the War of 1812..  Promoted to major June 8, 1813.  On April 18, 1814, he was a major in the 32nd U.S. Infantry and was victorious at the Battle of Longwoods in Upper Canada, but was killed on August 4, 1814, in the American attack on Fort Mackinac.
This attack was led by George Croghan.

Holmes County, Ohio, and Holmesville, Mississippi as well as Fort Holmes are named for him.

--Brock-Perry

Timeline for March 1814, 200 Years Ago-- Part 1

From historicplaces.ca.

DURING MARCH 1814: Arrival of British reinforcements at Quebec City, Lower Canada, via New Brunswick: 2nd battalion of the 8th Regiment and men from HMS Fantome and HMS Arab.

Provisional militia unit Loyal Essex Volunteers formed in Upper Canada.

MARCH 4TH: After the American victory at the Battle of the Thames in October 1813, large areas of Upper Canada essentially became No-Man's Land with both sides launching foraging forays.

These units would sometimes clash like at this engagement. Two hundred Americans were on their way to attack Delaware, Upper Canada, and were met by 240 British.  The Americans, under Andrew Holmes, built breastworks on what is now known as Battle Hill.

After a one and a half hour battle and many British casualties, the Americans were driven off and returned to Detroit.

-Brock-Perry