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

Fort Mississauga-- Part 3: Operations

With the American Navy now controlling Lake Ontario, the importance of this fort was crucial to British security in the area.

The British Army was stationed in the fort from 1813 to 1855, after which the Canadian militia provided garrison duty.    The militia used  it as a summer training ground beginning in the 1870s and this went on for both World Wars and the Korean War.

Today, the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course surrounds the site, but public access is permitted via a walking path.  But, there are warnings for visitors to watch out for golfers who have the  right of way.

The blockhouse is the only original structure still standing.  All the other buildings (which were mostly log structures) have been destroyed or dismantled.  The interior of the blockhouse is closed, but there are wooden staircases providing access.

--Brock-Perry

Historic Fort George-- Part 5: The Battles of Fort George and Isaac Brock Buried There

After the declaration of war in June 1812, work began on the  northeast bastion.  During the war, the fort was manned by British Army regulars, the Canadian militia and members of Captain Raunchey's Company of Coloured Men as well as First Nation allies.

Given the fort's location on the U.S. Canada border, it became the scene of much action during the war.

In October 1812, th fort was the subject of bombardment by heated shots from American forces at Fort Niagara as a diversion for the American attack on nearby Queenston Heights.  This bombardment, as well as  another one in November of that year, caused the destruction of several structures in the fort.

After Isaac Brock's death at  Queenston Heights, he was buried in a military funeral  at Fort George's northeast bastion.

--Brock-Perry

(The Brock in the signoff Brock-Perry is there for Isaac Brock.)

How the Horrors of the River Raisin Became a Rallying Cry-- Part 5: The Second Battle at the River Raisin

Arriving before dawn on January 22, 1813, and unnoticed by the American sentries, a force of 600 British Canadians and 800 Native warriors gathered into battle positions along the Mason Run Creek, about 250-350 yards to the north of the settlement.  

British regulars and artillery were positioned in the center, a dispersed clustering of Native warriors made up mostly of Anishinaabeg (Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi) and Miami, accompanied by some Canadian militia were to the west, and to the east was a large number of Native warriors, mostly Wyandot and Shawnee, in the forward position, supported by Canadian militia and artillery to their rear.

Reveille sounded, and an American sentry spotted the British in the pre-dawn light. He fired a shot into the forward line that killed the lead grenardier, and the report of his musket sent 1,000 just awakened soldiers scrambling for their battle positions.

Almost immediately, the British opened with their artillery and the infantry pushed forward from its center position.  As they drew within range of the settlement, the British infantrymen fired a powerful volley at what, in the still dark distance, had seemed to be a line of soldiers.

Well, It Wasn't a Line of Soldiers.  --Brock-Perry

Titus Greer Simons' Jacket-- Part 2

Titus Greer Simons (1765-1829) was born in Enfield, Connecticut, one of ten children.  In 1781, his family moved to Canada as Loyalists.  They lived in Montreal, Kingston and Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Simons worked as aditor and publisher of the Upper Canada Gazette in Niagara and Toronto until 1801.  He then began farming in West Flamborough and became involved in the local militia.

He recovered from the wounds received at the Battle of Lundy's Lane and eventually became colonel of the 2nd Regiment.  In 1816, he was appointed 1st sheriff of the Gore District which later became Hamilton.

So, A Loyalist.  And Then Fought the Country in Which he Was Born.  --Brock-Perry

Titus Greer Simons' Jacket-- Part 1

From the May 17th Hamilton (Canada) Spectator "War of 1812: Blood ties DNA testing aims to link blood on 200-year-old jacket to modern-day descendant" by Mark McNeil.

Titus Greer Simons took three musket shots in his body at the July 25, 1814, Battle of Lundy's Lane and most of the right side of his coat was soaked with blood.  The tightly fitting jacket likely contained his injuries as he survived.

The red Canadian militia coat is on permanent display at the Hamilton Military Museum and will have DNA analysis run on it to see if a modern-day descendant can be found.  It is believed that this is the first time War of 1812 biological material has been used for DNA analysis.

The museum has an exhibit called Blood Ties which connects the War of 1812 to today.

Martha Hemphill is Simons' 3rd great granddaughter and will take part in the testing.

His 1812 militia jacket is extremely rare.

Blood On the Coat.  --Brock-Perry