Mary Madden Henry-- Part 7: The Americans Destroy the Town of Niagara

After the battle, the Americans held on to the area until December.  They had hoped to use Fort George to launch an attack on the British base at Burlington Heights, but their defeat at Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams wrecked their plans.

Moreover, occupying Fort George made them vulnerable to ambushes.

As a result, on December 10, 1813, the Americans decided to abandon Fort George and Niagara, burning the town in their departure.  Those who lived there only had an hour's warning before they lost their homes.

Mary's house was spared though.  How did she get so lucky again?

The lighthouse was considered useful by the Americans for shipping, so they chose not to destroy it or the keeper's house.

As she did before, Mary came to the aid of those who needed her.  She and her husband opened their doors to the newly homeless.  Mary again provided hot food and medical care, which was undoubtedly much appreciated considering that winter had already come to the region.

--Brock-Perry

Mary Madden Henry-, Canadian Heroine- Part 5

Ten years later, the War of 1812 was being fought between the Americans and the British and Canadians.  On May 27, 1813, the Americans attacked Fort George  and the surrounding area.  Known at the Battle of Fort George, it was a showdown between 4,000 American trrops and 1,000 British soldiers bolstered by Canadian militia and Indian allies.

Despite the British defenders being outnumbered 4 to 1, they were able to hang on for two days before being forced to retreat to Burlington Heights (now Hamilton).

With the lighthouse being so close to Fort George, Mary had a front row seat to the action.  But she did not sit idly by.  Instead, she repeatedly walked through the battlefield and brought food and coffee to the troops.  In addition to that, she helped in the treatment of the wounded.

--Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 6: 1813 Campaigns, Fort George and Burlington Heights

Renamed the "Coloured" or "Black" Corps, the company entered general service and spent the winter at Fort George.  On 27 May 1813,  a large American force launched an amphibious attack on Fort George.  

The Coloured Corps and British troops rushed to the beach to oppose the landing and "exchanged a destructive and rapid fire" with the enemy at short range.  The Coloured Corps lost four of its men wounded or captured before it was forced back by naval gunfire.

It retreated with Brigadier General John Vincent's troops to Burlington Heights.

For the remainder of the year, the Coloured Corps participated in the blockade of  the American Army at Fort George, enduring the harsh conditions  and privations of the British troops.

--Brock-Perry

Fort George, Canada-- Part 4: The Battle of Fort George and American Occupation

On the morning of May 25, 1813,  batteries at Fort Niagara and  along the American side of the Niagara River unleashed a devastating bombardment  on Fort George.  Almost every building within the fort was destroyed.

Two days a later, a large American invading force landed west of the mouth of the Niagara River.  The town of Niagara was turned into a battlefield  as the Americans pushed toward Fort George.  British and Canadian militia forces put up stiff resistance, but were heavily outnumbered.

Around noon, the order was given to retreat, and the British retired to Burlington Heights (located in present-day Hamiliton, Canada).

The Americans occupied Fort George for almost seven months, but failed to maintain a strategic foothold in Upper Canada following their defeats at Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams.  By December 1813 the U.S. forces at Fort George had dwindled down to a small handful of militia.

After an American scouting party encountered a large force of British on reconnaissance , the commanding officer at Fort George, Brigadier General George McClure of the New York militia,  feared an attack was imminent.

And, Then....  --Brock-Perry

Burlington Heights Depot-- Part 2: A Strong Defensive Position

After the Battle of Stoney Creek (June 1813), the British erected three lines of earthworks across the peninsula, with gun batteries and blockhouses on the heights behind the depot and at the old Burlington Inlet.

A large stone powder magazine was built behind the second defense line.  Although the military continued to view this site the site as defensible following the end  of the War of 1812, the buildings were allowed to deteriorate, and today the site is occupied by various attractions, including the Dundurn Castle NHS (built 1832-1835) and part of the Royal Botanical  Gardens NHS.

The stone powder magazine was later incorporated into the  cellar of Dundurn Castle.  A stone marker and cannon (1914) is at the site of the first line of defense.  Another marker (1914) is located in Harvey Park.  Another stone marker (1914) is located at Hamilton Cemetery, with the excellent remains of earthworks there.

Of interest nearby  is the Hamilton Military Museum. in Dundurn Park.

--Brock-Perry

Burlington Heights Military Depot

From North American Forts "Ontario Forts."

Last week I wrote about this military camp in regards to the Ancaster Bloody Assize hangings.

It is a National Historic Site in Canada.

BURLINGTON HEIGHTS DEPOT

(1813-1815)  Hamilton

A British military supply depot and barracks established here after the fall of Fort George to  the Americans.  Several log barracks and a tent encampment were built on the heights.  Officers used the Richard Beasley brick manor for their quarters.

Storehouses were built below the heights  along the bayshore.

--Brock-Perry

Burlington Heights Markers-- Part 1

From HMdb  The marker at the site.

Written in both English and French (hey, it's Canada, you know).  Located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

"BURLINGTON HEIGHTS 11813-1814

"Here in June, 1813, General John Vincent assembled troops that made the successful night attack on the invaders at Stoney Creek.  From this point of vantage, in December, 1813,  the force that retook Fort George and carried Fort Niagara by assault, began its march.

"On these heights  stood the strong point of reserve and depot of arms for the defence of the Niagara Peninsula and support of the Navy on Lake Ontario."

Located next to it, another marker:

"This stone marks the line of earthworks in first line of defence 1812-1815."

--Brock-Perry

Burlington Heights, Ontario (Site of British Military Camp)

From Wikipedia.

Burlington Heights  is a promontory of land about 330 feet above Hamilton Harbor in the City of Hamilton, Canada.  It continues as a peninsula north to the City of Burlington.  It was the location of a British military camp during the War of 1812.

The post was established on the commandeered property of Richard Beasley in May 1813.  There were batteries on the north and south ends, a magazine, sally port and earthworks.  Troops from the 8th (The King's) and 49th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's Hertfordshire Regiments of Foot were stationed there after being forced to retreat from American forces  advancing into the Niagara  Peninsula in May 1813.

From here, British forces under the command of General John Vincent and Sir John Harvey launched a successful attack upon a much larger American force early on the morning of 16 June 1813, at Stoney Creek.

It didn't mention it, but the hangings from the Ancaster Bloody Assize took place here.

After the war, the barracks of the base was used as a hospital for immigrants with contagious diseases.

--Brock-Perry