British Hero Charles Plenderleath

July 22nd Sun-News "Looks were deceiving when it came to 1812 hero Plenderleath" by Tom Villenarie.

Looking at him did not strike a person as the bearing of a hero with his narrow chest and weak chin.  But, his actions spoke louder than looks.  Charles Plenderleath was in the 49th Regiment, British Army which came over to Canada with General Isaac Brock.  This unit captured Detroit.

At the Battle of Stony Creek, Plederleath proved his heroism.  The British were outnumbered and decided to sneak up on the Amercan camp at night with unloaded muskets in what would be a bayonet attack.  On first contact, however, British troops began cheering and alerted the Americans who rallied and began firing.

The British were in a really bad situation.  They had partially disassembled their rifles, removing firing mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge, so the muskets had to be reassembled and loaded.  If they turned and fled, they would be easy targets.

Plenderleath heard heavy cannons firing nearby and attacked the American battery and took four of the guns and, with just twenty men, continued attacking, capturing American generals Winder and Chandler, five field officers and captains and about 100 other prisoners.

Laterm he was the defacto commander of the 49th when he led it at the Battle of Crysler's Farm/Farm.  Here he again charged American artillery and captured it and fought off American cavalry.

He was later promoted to Lt. Col and died in 1857.

I'd Never Heard of Him Before.  --Brock-Perry