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

Joseph Willcocks-- Part 2: The Six Nations, Brock's Death and TurnsTraitor

In 1812, Isaac Brock enlisted Willcocks to assist in the ensuring of  the loyalty and participation of the Six Nations people (Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora Indian tribes) to Upper Canada and the Crown.    This he achieved despite being ill at the time.

But, for Willcocks, the death of Brock at Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812, marked the beginning of the end for his service to Canada.  He fought alongside the Six Nations warriors as part of Roger Sheaffes's retaking of the Redan Battery.

He was greatly distressed when, after the invasion of the Niagara Peninsula in 1813, that military rule and harsh measures against people expressing what were considered to be disloyal  opinions, Willcocks considered this to be an abandonment of democratic  principles.

In July 1813, he committed treason when he offered his services to the Americans, even though he was a sitting member of Upper Canada's Legislative Assembly.  He was given the rank of major in the American Army and raised a company of Canadian Volunteers which consisted of  recent immigrants from the United States.

They all fought on the American side and Willcocks was promoted to lieutenant colonel.  Robert Nelles  replaced him in the Legislative Assembly.

Brock-Perry

The Catastrophic Explosion That Defined the War of 1812-- Part 2

The Americans landed at York at 7:20 a.m., near the fort.  The battle lasted for five and a half hours and the British lost.  As they retreated, Brigadier General Roger Sheaffe ordered the fort's main magazine blown up.  It contained 30,000 pounds of gunpowder, 30,000 cartridges, 10,000 cannonballs and many musket balls.

It exploded around 1 p.m.  `The American force was just 200 yards away when the magazine exploded.  Twenty-five Americans were killed, including Zebulon Pike and 200 more were seriously wounded.  This made the Americans mad and in retaliation, they looted and torched the town.

(Yes, Zebulon Pike was the Pike's Peak guy.)

--Brock-Perry

War of 1812 Time Line: April 1813-- Part 2

From www.historicplaces.ca.

APRIL--  Construction began to strengthen Coteau-du-Lac in Lower Canada.  This was an important link between Upper and Lower Canada.

APRIL 3RD--  Engagement on the Rappahannock River, Virgina.  Boats from Royal Navy capture four American vessels.

APRIL 6TH--  Royal Navy vessels bombard Lewes, Delaware.

APRIL 15TH--  Spanish Fort Charlotte in western Florida captured by American troops.

APRIL 27TH--  Battle of York, Upper Canada (Toronto).  American Brigadier General Zebulon Pike attacks the town.  British Major General Sir Robert Hale Sheaffe ordered the sloop Sir Isaac Brock burned and the powder magazine at Fort York blown up.

The magazine explosion caused several hundred American casualties.  General Pike was fatally wounded in it as well. 

Sheaffe took his regulars to Kingston and left the Canadian militia to defend York.  Americans occupied the town and destroyed private and public property.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry