Historic Fort George-- Part 9: After the War of 1812

Fort Niagara remained under British control for the rest of the war and their focus shifted to more strategically located Fort Niagara across the river instead of Fort George.

In July 1814, American forces under Winfoeld Scott attempted to capture Fort Niagara, but called off the attack when he realized  that the naval support he had been promised would not come.

In 1817, American President James Monroe visited the Canadian side of the river on a goodwill trip and was entertained at Fort George by British officers.  However, Fort George's  inability to guard the entrance to the Niagara River caused a new installation named Fort Mississauga to be built near the mouth of the river in the 1820s.

During this same period, the constuction of Butler's Barracks was undertaken southwest of Fort George and out of range of American batteries.

The equipment within the fort was auctioned off in 1821 and the palisades relocated to other sites in the next year.  By 1825, the body of Isaac Brock was exhumed from the northeast bastion and placed at Brock's Monument in Queenston.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 October Events: Thames, Tecumseh, Jackson, Brock, Queenston Heights, Chateauguay

1813

OCTOBER 5

**  Battle of the Thames.  Tecumseh killed.

1813

OCTOBER 7

**  Andrew Jackson established camp ay Fayetteville, Tennessee (Camp Blount) to recruit Americans to fight the Creek Indians in Alabama.

1811

OCTOBER 9

**  Major General Isaac Brock appointed Administrator of Upper Canada.  He is the Brock in my signoff, Brock-Perry.

1812

OCTOBER 13

**  British and Canadians win the Battle of Queenston Heights, Canada.  Isaac Brock killed.

1813

OCTOBER 26

**  Engagement at Chateauguay.

--Brock-Perry

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

Col. James Gibson-- Part 4: Military Career

From the "For What They Gave  On Saturday Afternoon" blog site  "James Gibson."

Cadet of the Military Academy , Oct. 20, 1806, to Dec. 12, 1808, when he graduated and was promoted to First Lieut. Light Artillery, Dec. 12, 1808.

Served in garrisons at Atlantic posts and on the Southwest Frontier, 1808-1812; Captain Light Artillery, May 2, 1810.

War of 1812 on the Niagara Frontier in 1812 and participated in the attack on Queenstown Heights, Upper Canada, October 12, 1812.

Major, staff, Asst. Inspector General, April 2, 1813.    Colonel, staff Inspector General  July 13, 1813.

--Brock-Perry

Indigenous Warriors Helped Save the Day at Battle of Queenston Heights-- Part 3: "The More Game, the Better the Hunting"

Canadian militia warned the Indians that the battle was lost and they best turn around and leave.  There were just too many American troops that they faced.

One of the Indians replied with one of the best quotes in Canadian history, "The more game, the better the hunting."

The Indians fell in on the Americans and though outnumbered, forced them to fight desperately.

Thousands of American militia were still being held in reserve at Lewiston.  These men were generally unhappy as for weeks they had received poor food and were never issued tents.  They were ordered to cross the river to support the American troops. But the sounds of battle and above all, the sound of the Six Nation warrior war cries convinced them to stay put.

This allowed time for British reinforcements to reach the fight and rout the demoralized U.S. troops.  Almost a thousand of them were captured.

--Brock-Perry

Indigenous Warriors Save the Day at the Battle of Queenston Heights-- Part 2

The first part of the plan to capture Upper Canada involved 1,400 American troops crossing the Niagara River from Lewiston, New York, and seizing the heights.  At the time of the attack, there were no trees on Queenston Heights and it offered a commanding view and control of the surrounding countryside.

The invaders captured an important British battery and General Brock was mortally wounded trying to lead his troops in its recapture.  Things were going very badly for the British soldiers, their Canadian militia and several escaped American slaves.

But, at the critical moment, a force of 200 Six Nation warriors came jogging into the the scene from Fort George.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Gray

From the New Yok State Military Museum.

Fort Gray, 1812, Niagara County.  Niagara Falls.

Located by the Lewiston Escarpment opposite Queenstown.  named for its builder, Nicholas Gray.

Located on the site of an unnamed French blockhouse/store house and an unnamed British blockhouse/ store house.

Attacked and destroyed December 1813.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Americans Test Fort George and Fort Mississauga

JULY 20-21:    Aftre the Battle of Chippawa, the Americans under Major General Jacob Brown marched to Queenston, Upper Canada.  On July 20th, they sent forces against Fort Mississauga and Fort George.

The column approaching Fort Mississauga came under heavy fire and withdrew.  This was the only time teh fort's cannons fired on an enemy.

A second force approached Fort George and began to dig siege batteries.  The British shelled the Americans.  The U.S. naval commander on Lake Ontario, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, failed to transport the heavy guns needed to capture the British forts from his base at Sackets Harbor.

On 22 July, without the necessary artillery, Major general Brown withdrew to Queenston.

The was the limit of the American advance on the Niagara Frontier in the 1814 campaign.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: Maine Invasion and Queenston Heights Occupied

JULY 5TH, 1814:  A joint British army-navy force departs Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the invasion of the Passamaquoddy Islands, District of Maine.


JULY 7TH, 1814:  United States troops occupy Queenston Heights, Upper Canada.  Damaged already during the October 1812 battle, the village again suffers during the occupation.

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812: Spring Timeline-- Part 2

After the American victory at the Battle of the Chippawa, Major General Phineas Riall retreated to Twelve Mile Creek, Upper Canada, and abandoned Fort Drummond 10 July 1814. Fort Drummond was then occupied by American forces for two weeks before the Battle of Lundy's Lane. //// --Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Spring Timeline

From www.historicplaces.ca. //// This is by far the best timeline I have found for the War of 1812. //// Some events going on during the spring of the third year of the war. //// Fortifications at Lacolle, Lower Canada, are repaired and strengthened. //// British commence construction of Fort Drummond at Queenston Heights, Upper Canada. It was named after Lt. Governor Sir George Drummond. They were earthworks surrounding a blockhouse built for 100 men. It also had a u-shaped advance battery facing the Niagara River and a redan battery overlooking the village of Queenston and Portage Road. //// --Brock-Perry