Historic Fort George-- Part 8: British Recapture It and Then Capture American Fort Niagara

The Americans had intended to use Fort George as a bridgehead in Canadian territory to launch further attacks.  However, that did not come to pass.  Disease,  increased desertion rates,  risks of ambushes and a general British advance toward the fort following their victories at  Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams kept it from doing that.

American forces began a slow withdrawal from the fort until in December 1813, there were but 60 soldiers there.  Upon receiving intelligence that a force of 1,500 British and 500 First Nations Indians were advancing the Americans withdrew and razed the fort and nearby settlement.

The American garrison left the fort on December 11 after spiking the cannons and destroying the town.  However, the fort itself was left intact.

British forces arrived shortly after the Americans left.  Nine days later, they conucted an attack across the Niagara River that led to the capture of the American Fort Niagara and the razing of American communities in retaliation for what had happened to Niagara (the name of Niagara-on-the-Lake as it is called today).

--Brock-Perry

Two Heroines Along the Niagara River-- Same Forts, Different Years

As I was writing about Mary Madden Henry and her role at a battle at Fort George, Upper Canada, it came to mind that I had also written about another woman, only she was on the American side of the fighting there between Niagara, Upper Canada and the American Fort Niagara.  She too was a hero.

During the fighting on November 12, 1812, she had carried hot shot to American cannons firing at Fort George across the Niagara River.  Like with the case of Mary Henry, she was under fire as well.

I wrote quite a bit about her earlier this year in January and February.  Just click on her name below.

The battle where Mary Henry distinguished herself took place about six months later on May 27, 1813.

Some bravery with these two women.

Sadly, not a lot is known by most people about these two women.  There isn't even an entry on Wikipedia on either of them.

--Brock-Perry

Fort George, Canada-- Part 5: The Town of Niagara Sacked

On December 10, 1813, Gen. George McClure ordered a retreat of the American forces across the Niagara River.  In addition, he also ordered the destruction of the Canadian town of Niagara.  When the British arrived on the scene, they were met with a horrifying sight.

Captain William Hamilton Merritt of the Provincial Dragoons recalled that "nothing but heaps of coals, and the streets full of furniture... met the eye in all directions."  About 130 homes had been put to the torch, and some 400 townspeople, mainly women, children and elderly men) were left without shelter.

Fort George remained in British hands for the rest of the war.  During the American occupation, parts of Fort George had been rebuilt and the British also continued to rebuild.  But by  the 1820s, Fort George was essentially in ruins.  The British Army abandoned the fort  in favor of Butler's Barracks and Fort Mississauga.

In the 1930s, Fort George was reconstructed to its pre-1812 configuration under the guidance of the Royal Engineers, and designated a National Historic Site of Canada.  Today, visitors can tour the blockhouses where common soldiers and their families shared cramped living space, the  more elegant officers quarters

The stone powder  magazine, which survived the attack, is the only structure that is original to the fort and the oldest building in Niagara-on-the-Lake (the new name of Niagara).

--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

Back to Lawrence Rousseau-- Part 4: The USS Jefferson, Finally Some Action

The USS Jefferson finally received her cannons and sailed on 31 July and blockaded Niagara with the USS Sylph and USS Oneida, while the rest of Isaac Chauncey's fleet went to Kingston to blockade that British base.  After a month the Jefferson sailed to join Chauncey at Kingston.

A severe storm on September 12 almost sank the Jefferson which was almost swamped.  Ten guns had to be thrown overboard.

Back at Sackets Harbor, it was laid up for winter in November where it stayed as peace was declared early the next year.  The USS Erie's crew and Charles Ridgely returned to their ship.  It remained in ordinary until it was sold 30 April 1815.

--Brock-Perry

Women Along the Niagara Frontier in the War of 1812-- Part 2

The four women are: Catherine Young of Niagara, Upper Canada, and Rebecca Swain, Agnes Greensitt and betsy Doyle.

Catherine Young was born in New Jersey and immigrated to Niagara after the American Revolution along with her American-born husband.  She was the first of the four women to experience the horrors of the war when retreating American troops burned Niagara on Dec. 10, 1813.

Several days later, the other three were forced to leave their homes on the American side of the Niagara River when the British and their Indian allies burned the Niagara Frontier from the Lake Ontraio shore to Buffalo and on into Williamsville.  They were all turned out into the snow and Agnes and Betsy had children.

The walk begins at Falkner Park and then goes to the former site of Greensitt's Tavern and the War of 1812 Salt Battery.  Then it proceeds on to John Young's store on the bank of the Niagara River and then to the Swain homestead on River Road.

--Brock-Perry

Women Along the Niagara Frontier in the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the July 4, 2015, Niagara-Whitfield Tribune "Youngstown Heritage Committee to Host walking tour July 11."

Something to check out if you're in the area of Youngstown, New York.  "Women's Voices: A Different View of the War of 1812."  The walk will take place July 11th at 6 p.m..  It will begin at the Peace Garden at Falkner Park on Main Street and will be led by historian Raven Noonan.

The walk will focus on the Dec. 19, 1813 burning of Young's Town by British forces.    This burning was in retaliation for the burning of Niagara, Upper Canada on December 10, 1813, by Americans.

It is the story of four women and their experiences.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline, April 1814-- Part 3: Construction of Fort Mississauga

In April 1814, the British commenced construction on Fort Mississauga in Niagara, Upper Canada. 

After capturing American Fort Niagara, the British built a new fort across the Niagara River on Mississauga Point. Together, these two forts commanded the mouth of the river. 

Fort Mississauga was a small star-shaped earthwork surrounded by a dry ditch and a log palisade. It was armed with four 24-pounder cannons and equipped with a hot-shot furnace and it was stronger than the badly damaged Fort George. 

Stone and brick rubble from the destroyed town of Niagara was used to begin construction of a central brick tower inside Fort Mississauga. 

Also, the first lighthouse built on the Great Lakes before the war on Mississauga Point was demolsihed. 

By July, the fort was deemed defensible, just in time as an American invading army once again crossed the Niagara River. 

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Timeline: December 19-30, 1863: American Towns Burned in Retaliation for Niagara, Upper Canada

DECEMBER 19TH-30TH, 1813:

 British and First Nation allies fight American troops at Lewiston and Fort Schlosser, burning the communities of Lewiston, Tuscarora settlement, Black Rock and Buffalo, all in New York, in revenge for the burning of Niagara, Upper Canada.

On 19 December, a force of British troops and First Nations defeated American Militia at Black Rock. On the 30 December, the U.S. militia force under Major General Amos Hall were defeated near Buffalo.

The British burned the American towns in punishment for what happed on December 10th at Niagara.

Over 300 American houses were burned, and the whole frontier from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie was depopulated.

Four armed U.S. schooners were also burned, and a large quantity of military stores and weapons captured or destroyed. At Lewiston, NY, a large number of American civilians were killed by First Nations.

The attack on the American Tuscarora settlement brought the Tuscarora Indians in on the side of the United States.

Some Mean Fighting Going On.  --Brock-Perry

Timeline for December 1813-- Part 1: The Burning of Niagara, Upper Canada

DECEMBER 10TH: Burning of Newark.

Major General David Adams burned Nuyaka.

THE BURNING OF THE TOWN OF NIAGARA, UPPER CANADA:

By December 1813, U.S. Brigadier General George McClure was left with only 100 soldiers to defend his base at Niagara. On 10 December, after giving inhabitants little notice, he ordered the destruction of the town and withdrew his men to Fort Niagara, NY.

Elderly and sickly men, women and children were turned out into a fierce winter blizzard. The treasonous "Canadian Volunteers" led by Joseph Willcocks burned the first capital of Upper Canada and pillaged the wretched people.

British and Canadian troops arrived that evening too late to save any buildings but found Fort George in better condition, complete with artillery and camp equipment. McClure had acted against his orders and was forced to resign.

--Brock-Perry