Fort Mississauga-- Part 2: Built from Ruins of Newark, Upper Canada

The site of was used by three different First Nations (Indians) before the fort was built.  In 1804, a lighthouse was built there and the site became known as Mississauga Point.  The lighthouse was dismantled in 1814 to make way for the fort.  It incorporated stone from the lighthouse in its construction.

Mississauga Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Site in 1937 and today commemorated by a plaque within the walls of the fort.

After the British captured American Fort Niagara across the river on 19 December 1813,  Captain Runchey's  Company of Coloured Men was attached to the Royal Engineers to help repair the fortifications at the mouth of the Niagara River.

Toward the spring of 1814,  the company was ordered to construct a new fort there which became Fort Mississauga. Many of the materials used were acquired from the nearby City of Newark, Upper Canada, which had been razed by the Americans when they retreated from the Canadian side and gave up Fort George.

--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.)

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 5: Battle of Queenston Heights

On the morning of 13 October 1812, American forces under Major General Stephen  Van Renssalear III invaded Upper Canada by crossing the Niagara River at Queenston.  Runchey's  Company marched to Queenston from Fort George with Major General Roger Sheaffe's reinforcements, arriving after Sir Isaac Brock's death that same day.

The company joined Captain John Norton's Six Nations warriors in sniping at the American position  from atop Queenston Heights, before forming part of Sheaffe's battle line.

Alongside the 41st Regiment of Foot  and the 49th Foot, Runchey's company "fired a single volley with considerable execution, and then charged with tremendous tumult," bringing about the American surrender.

Having absented himself on the morning of the battle, Runchey subsequently resigned, and the company was commanded temporarily by Lieutenant James Cooper of the 2nd Lincoln Militia.  Cooper was cited in dispatches as having led his men  "with great spirit."

Sir Isaac Brock Is the Part of the Sign-Off.  --Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 4: Captain Robert Runchey

But, instead of making Richard Pierpont commander of the corps,  that went to a local white officer,  Captain Robert Runchey.

Characterized as a "worthless, troublesome malcontent" by his superiors, Runchey fulfilled his  reputation for poor leadership by segregating  black men from  other militiamen.  In  some cases, Runchey hired out black soldiers as domestic servants to  other officers.

Not surprisingly, recruitment in  the Niagara Peninsula proved to be very difficult and "Runchey's Company of Coloured Men" remained small.    In early October 14, 1812,  14 black soldiers were transferred to the unit from the 3rd York Militia.

The majority of the men of the unit lived in Upper Canada -- in towns and villages in the Niagara region, in York (Toronto) and Bay of Quinte, near Belleville.  One of the men, George  Martin, from Niagara, had been freed from slavery by his father, Peter, in 1797.

Four years before that, Peter Martin had witnessed and reported the Chloe Cooley Incident to Lt.-Gov. Simcoe--  an event that led to the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada.

Once raised to about 40 men, the unit began training at Fort George.

--Brock-Perry

Black Canadians Fought For Their Freedom: Richard Pierpoint-- Part 2

During the War of 1812, the threat of re-enslavement was real if the Americans won. Knowing this, Richard Pierpoint petitioned the government to form and lead a "corps of men of colour," saying "I fight for my freedom." //// The unit was eventually formed, but commanded by a white officer and known as Captain Runchey's Company of Coloured Men. It was the first all-black unit in Upper Canada, present-day Ontario. //// They fought in key battles including Fort George, Stoney Creek, St. David's and Lundy's Lane. They were among the first reinforcements at Queenston to help take back Queenston Heights. ///// As many as 20% of combatants in the war were black, many servinf in the Navy. //// After the war, blacks were granted land in the rtemote Oro land, but the land proved too difficult to clear and cultivate and many left. //// In 1821, at age 77, Pierpoint petitioned for passage back to Senegal but was given 100 acres near present-day Fergus. He died impoverished around 1835. //// Quite An Amazing Story. --Brock-Perry