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

Historic Fort George-- Part 7: American Occupation

Although the British evacuated the fort on June 7,  Americans did not formally occupy it until June 9.  Once the Americans were in the fort they set about immediately working on new fieldworks, refortifying bastions and extending the northwest bastion.  The fort now served as the U.S. Army of the Center's headquarters.

Although American forces used some parts of the fort's old fieldwork, the fort was made substantially smaller, into a more defensible pentagonal-shaped fortification. In addition to this, they also repaired the palisades and added entrenchments near the northeast bastion and towards the river.

They did not, however, build any permanent structures within the fort, instead garrisoning small outlyng posts around the fort.

The American intention was to use the fort as a staging area for further attacks inthe Niagara peninsula.  

--Brock-Perry

Coloured Corps-- Part 9: Disbandment and Legacy

The Royal Engineers continued to employ the Coloured Corps on the Niagara Peninsula for the remainder of the War of 1812.  The Corps' zeal in these works impressed British engineers, one reporting in February 1815 that "no people could be better calculated to build temporary barracks than these Free Men of Colour, as they are in general expert axemen."

I have been writing about the 135th United States Colored Troops in my Saw the Elephant: Civil War blog and they were classified as pioneers and were quite good at building bridges and corduroying roads.

The company was disbanded  on 24 March 1815, following the end of the war.

In claiming rewards for their service, many faced adversity and  discrimination.  Sergeant William Thompson was informed he "must go and look for his pay himself."  Richard Pierpoint, then in his 70s, was denied his request for passage home to Africa in lieu of a land grant.

--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

Burlington Heights Markers-- Part 2:

More markers on the Heights"

MARCH TO STONEY CREEK  (about 180 meters away from first marker).

"Theses ramparts were erected by British troops during the War of 1812-1815.  From this place on the night of June 5th 1813, 700 men  under the command of Lieut. Colonel Harvey, marched to Stoney Creek where they surprised and routed an American force of 3,750 men ridding the Niagara Peninsula of the invaders."

THE BURLINGTON RACES  (about 180 meters from the first one).

"On the morning of September 28, 1813, a powerfully-armed United States fleet comprising  ten ships under the command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey appeared off York (Toronto) .  The smaller fleet of six vessels, commanded by Commodore Sir James L. Yeo, was in the harbour, but on the approach os the enemy set sail to attack.

After a sharp engagement, the British squadron was forced to withdraw toward Burlington Bay where it could take refuge under the batteries on the adjacent heights.  A close chase ensued (hence, the Burlington Races), but by skillful seamanship, Yeo was able to bring his ships through the shallow channel in the sand-bar to the safety of the bay."

--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

Some More on Joseph Willcocks-- Part 2: He Turns

In the second session of the 6th parliament, held 25 February to  13 March 1813, it still appeared that Willcocks was behind Upper Canada.  Merchant William Hamilton Merritt described Willcocks as a "zealous Loyalist."   An old friend said Willcocks was  actively recruiting for an Incorporated Militia.

However, things changed after the capture of York in April 1813 and the invasion of the Niagara Peninsula in May.  The military situation stabilized after the Battle of Stoney Creek on 5 June 1813.  Certain people in the colony caused the military to impose harsh measures on those who opposed the government.  This caused Willcocks to lose faith in and turn against his government.

Sometime in July 1813, Willcocks crossed the Niagara River and offered his services to the Americans.

--Brock-Perry

Mass Graves in Ontario Give Archaeologists Clues As to Buckshot Wounds-- Part 2

Using staple isotopes analysis showed that some of the remains had a more European diet and others more of a North American one, suggesting that soldiers from both sides were buried together in the mass grave.

Three of the individuals' hip bones had injuries consistent with musket shot.

A team of researchers at McMaster University in Canada recreated likeness of humans and reproductions of War of 1812 muskets and tested shots.

Buck and ball consists of a large musket ball and three smaller buckshot pellets.

Injuries on the bones were found to be more often caused by the buckshot.

--Brock-Perry

Mass Graves in Ontario Give Archaeologists Clues As to Buckshot Wounds-- Part 1

From the April 4, 2016, Forbes magazine "Mass Grave From War of 1812 Gives Archaeologists First Evidence of Buckshot Injuries" by Kristina Killgrove.

On June 6, 1813, American troops advanced into the Niagara Peninsula.  The British attacked their camp at Stoney Creek in Ontario.  The action ended up a close-range one of hand-to-hand combat.

A  mass grave was later found that contained  two dozen skeletons and was excavated between 1998 and 1999.  It contained 2,701 bone fragments of at least 24 bodies.  Losses from the battle amounted to 23 British and 17 Americans with over 200 injured, missing or captured.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: The 1814 American Niagara Peninsula Campaign Begins with Capture of Fort Erie

JULY 3RD, 1814:  Before daylight on 3 July, American Major General Jacob Brown's army crossed the Niagara River at Frenchman's Creek, just north of Fort Erie, Upper Canada.  Surprisingly, the fort's commander surrendered without any opposition.

The British commander on the Niagara, Major General Phineas Riall, had hoped to attack the Americans while they were attacking Fort Erie.  he sent a small force under Major Thomas Pearson to the fort where he encountered Brigadier General Winfield Scott's brigade at Frenchman's Creek.

Pearson, supported by First Nation braves led by John Norton, conducted a brilliant fighting withdrawal to the main British force north of Chippawa Creek.

By the end of the day, the Americans had covered just 19 km and camped south of Street's Creek.

--Brock-Perry

"Everywhere I Saw Devastation": Civilian Life During the War of 1812-- Part 2

Continued from Saturday, Nov. 9th.

On December 10, 1813, retreating Americans, who had occupied Niagara, Upper Canada, since May, set fire to and burned almost all the buildings of his town to the grouund. Residents were given just minutes to leave.

Charlotte Dickson's brick home had been used by American Generals McClure and Brown and Colonel Seal, but even that didn't save it.

 Townspeople did not begin rebuilding until after the war.

Burning and destruction were tit-for-tat on both sides, becoming uglier and more brutal as the war dragged on. All males between the ages of 16 to 60 had to serve in the militia. With men serving in the militia, farming was very difficult, especially during planting season.

Stuff You Don't Usually Hear About in War. --Brock-Perry

1812 Mill Stone Rededicated-- Part 2

The Christian Zavitz Mill was built in 1790 on the northeast side of the Eagle Marsh Drain and shut down operations sometime in 1834.  All evidence of its existence is long gone as the mill was torn down in the 1880s.  That is, except for the mill stone.

The mill housed British and Canadian forces in the Sugarloaf settlement (now Port Colborne).

On October 28, 1814, American soldier John Dixon, retreating back to Buffalo after a skirmish in Norfolk where British and Canadian soldiers were killed, was shot by militia guard while trying to raid a store for guns near Zavitz Mill.

It was the last shot fired in the peninsula during the war...and the last death.  Dixon did make it back to Buffalo before dying from his wound.

Just a Little Aspect of the War.  --Brock-Perry

1812 Mill Stone Rededicated-- Part 1

From the June 5, 2012, St. Catherines Review by Dave Johnson.

Members of the Port Colbourne-Wainfleet War of 1812 Bicentennial Committee will meet at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park to rededicate a grist stone from the Christian Zavitz Mill on June 17th.

The stone stood for years in front of Newport Centre, near the site of Christian Zavitz's grist mill which was captured three times during 1812, but was the only mill on the Niagara Peninsula not torched by American forces.

Three times, forces led by Captain Cyrenias Chapin captured it, but did not burn it because the grain inside was not tied to British government stores.

Don't Burn My Mill!!  --Brock-Perry