Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 11: Black Canadians in the British Service

In addition to serving in militia units, other black Canadians enlisted in the regular British forces defending Upper Canada (Ontario).

One of the most common roles they fulfilled was that of percussionist in military bands.  An officer of the 104th Foot recalled the regiment's bass drummer, Private Henry Grant, accompanying his regiment's epic march through the snow from New Brunswick to Upper Canada between February and April 1813.

After reaching Kingston, he and his regiment took part in the Battle of Sackets Harbor on 29 May 1813, in which several band members were killed.

Other British  regiments garrisoned in Canada for long periods of time recruited black Canadian  musicians in a similar manner, including the 100th Foot, whose cymbal player was Black.

--Brock-Perry

Coloured Corps-- Part 10: The Question of Land Grants

When land grants for service were distributed to veterans in 18 1821, those of the Coloured Corps received just 100 acres, half that of their white counterparts.  Many veterans did not settle the land they were given because it was of such poor quality.

Despite these inequities, the Coloured Corps defended Canada honorably, setting the precedent for future black military personnel.

A Colured Corps was again raised  in Niagara during the Rebellions of 1837-1838, one of several black military groups volunteering for service then..

Other unites were raised in Toronto, Hamilton,  Chatham and Sandwich (Windsor).

--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

Coloured Corps-- Part 8: Fort Mississagua on the Niagara Frontier

One British officer later noted that:  "Mississagua... is a pretty  little Fort, and would prevent vessels coming up the river.."

These duties prevented the Coloured Corps from participating in the Niagara Campaign that summer.

Their services would have been of great assistance during the British Siege of Fort Erie in which the British desperately lacked the services of trained engineers.

Fort Mississagua:  The tower and earthworks are all that remain  of the barracks, guardroom and cells of Fort Mississagua.  Built between 1813 and 1816 to replace Fort George as the counterpoise to the American Fort Niagara directly  across the Niagara River from it,  it was garrisoned until 1826.

Repaired and rearmed following the Rebellion of 1837, it continued to be maintained  until 1854 in response to border disputes with the United States.

It was manned during the  tense years of the American Civil War and the Fenian Scare of 1866, but by 1870 it was no longer considered of military value.

--Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 7: Construction of Fort Mississauga

After the British captured Fort Niagara on 19 December 1813, the Coloured Corps was attached to the Royal Engineers to help repair fortifications at the mouth of the Niagara River.

Whether racism influenced the authority's choice for this duty is not known,  as one engineer later reported:  "When I visited the Niagara Frontier... I found that  a corps of Free Men of Colour had been raised... but had been turned over to that of the Engineers, any necessity for this I could never learn, but it seemed to be the fashion in Canada to heap all kinds  of duties upon the latter."

Toward the spring of 1814,  the company was ordered to construct a new fort on the Canadian shore named Fort Mississauga.  With the American Navy in control of Lake Ontario, this work was essential to  the security of British forces on the Niagara Peninsula.

--Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 6: 1813 Campaigns, Fort George and Burlington Heights

Renamed the "Coloured" or "Black" Corps, the company entered general service and spent the winter at Fort George.  On 27 May 1813,  a large American force launched an amphibious attack on Fort George.  

The Coloured Corps and British troops rushed to the beach to oppose the landing and "exchanged a destructive and rapid fire" with the enemy at short range.  The Coloured Corps lost four of its men wounded or captured before it was forced back by naval gunfire.

It retreated with Brigadier General John Vincent's troops to Burlington Heights.

For the remainder of the year, the Coloured Corps participated in the blockade of  the American Army at Fort George, enduring the harsh conditions  and privations of the British troops.

--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

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

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 3: Raising the Coloured Corps

Toward 1812, the prospect of war with the United States and a possibility of invasion from them posed a major threat to the liberties of black Canadians, leading many black men to join militias.  Many understood that an American victory would lead to re-enslavement of them and their families

Free black men had served in the Canadian militia since its organization in 1793.   However, the formation of an independent unit consisting solely of Blacks was not proposed until the eve of the War of 1812 when Richard Pierpoint offered to raise a corps of black men in the Niagara region.

The offer was initially refused by the Canadian government, but reconsidered upon the American occupation of Sandwich (Windsor) on 12 July 1812.

By late August, the core of the all-black company  had formed in Niagara, as part of the 1st Lincoln militia.

Next:  Who is to command the company?

--Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 2: A Move Toward Abolition

The first substantial settle of Blacks in Canada occurred at the end of the American Revolution.  Some like Richard Pierpoint am enslaved man who had gained his freedom by fighting for the British in that war.  Most, however, were enslaved people brought there as spoils of war or as property of Loyalists.

About 500-700 Blacks lived in Upper Canada (Ontario)  by the time Lieutenant-Governor John Simcoe arrived there in 1792.  He wished to abolish slavery entirely, but the legislature of Upper Canada  opposed many of his reforms.

Many of the members of both houses either had slaves themselves or were from slave owning families and were concerned over the economic impact of abolition.  As a result, when the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada passed on 9 July 1793, it severely limited Simcoe's intentions.

It banned the further importation of slaves and limited the terms of enslavement to nine years.

--Brock-Perry

The Coloured Corps: Black Canadians and the War of 1812-- Part 1: Free and Enslaved Blacks

Since I have been writing a lot about the Black Experience in the United States  in many of my other blogs lately in honor of Black History Month, I'll will be exploring one of their roles in the War of 1812.

From the Canadian Encyclopedia.

The Coloured Corps (also known as Runchley's Company of Colored Men, or Black Corps) was a militia company of black men raised during the War of 1812.

Created in Upper Canada, where enslavement had been limited in 1793,  the corps consisted of free  and enslaved black men.  Many of them were veterans of the American Revolution, in which they fought for the British and were called Black Loyalists.

The Coloured Corps (British/Canadian spelling) fought in the Battle of Queenstown Heights and the Battle of Fort George before it was attached to the  Royal Engineers as a construction company.

In later years, it was reactivated  during the Rebellions of 1837-38 and also served as a police force during the construction of the Welland Canal.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Presidents Who Served in the War of 1812-- Part 2: Andrew Jackson and Others

As mentioned in the previous post, James Buchanan served in the War of 1812 as a private in Henry Shippen's Company, 1st Brigade, 4th Division of the Pennsylvania Militia and participated in the defense of Baltimore.

As stated before, only two of the Founding Fathers served in the American Revolution, but a total of five were in the War of 1812.  Starting with Andrew Jackson (1829-1837) and then William Henry Harrison (1841), John Tyler (1841-1845), Zachary Taylor (1849-1850) and James Buchanan (1857-1861).

But, the War of 1812 is forever linked to Andrew Jackson who led American forces to victory at the Battle of New Orleans.  It was a battle where a ragtag American Army defeated a larger trained professional British Army in a battle that saved the Mississippi River from British control and was actually fought after the war was over, but due to slow communication no one knew it was over.

It should also be noted that Jackson's military career began when he was just thirteen.  as a teenager, he served as messenger for an American unit during the American Revolution.  But he was definitely not one of the Founding Fathers at that age.

Moreover, during his quite colorful life, Jackson took part in 103 duels -- however killing just one man.

--Brock-Perry

U.S. Presidents Who Served During the War of 1812-- Part 1

From the Feb. 14, 2021, National Interest  "Question;  Which presidents served in the U.S. military?" by Peter Siciu.

In honor of yesterday's Presidents Day, here is a look at some of the past presidents.  A total of 29 have served in the military.

The first president, of course, George Washington, was the leader of American forces in the Revolutionary War.  He was one of only two of our Founding Fathers to serve in the military, though.  

The other one was James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president who was an officer in the Continental Army, reaching the rank of major.  He was severely wounded at the Battle of Trenton.

Nearly all of the 29 military presidents were officers with the exception of James Buchanan, the 15th president.  He served as a private in the War of 1812.

--Brock-Perry

The Treaty of Spring Wells-- Part 2: What Did It Mean and Who Signed It

Then object of the treaty was to absolve the Indians for supporting Britain during the War of 1812 and secure their future allegiance to the United States.  The treaty officially ended all hostilities between the United States  and the Indians and reaffirmed  the 1795 Treaty of Greenville.

The U.S. agreed to restore to the Indians all of their possessions, rights and privileges as of 1811.  In return, the Indians agreed to place themselves under the protection of the U.S. government and repudiate all ties with Britain.

Furthermore, the U.S.  also "agree[d] to pardon such of the chiefs and  and warriors of said tribes as may have continued hostilities against them  until the close of the war with Great Britain."

The negotiations for the United States were conducted by treaty commissioners William Henry Harrison, Duncan McArthur and John Graham.  Native leaders who signed the treaty were Tarhe (Wyandot), Pacanne (Miami) and Black Hoof (Shawnee).

--Brock-Perry

Detroit's Fort Wayne-- Part 9: The Treaty of Spring Wells

From Wikipedia.

Even though Fort Wayne was not there yet, it did have a role at the beginning and end of the War of 1812.

Early in the war. this is where General Isaac Brock crossed his army over from Canada to attack Fort Detroit.  And, after the Treaty of Ghent, the future site of the fort was where the Treaty of Spring Wells (which is the name of the area the fort is located) was signed there. 

Well, next question is, what was the Treaty of Spring Wells?

It was an agreement between the United States and the Wyandot, Delaware, Seneca, Shawnee, Miami, Chippewa, Ottawa and Potawatomi Indians, ending the conflict between the two groups.  It was signed on September 8, 1815, at the present site of Fort Wayne in Detroit. Michigan.

The signing of the Treaty of Ghent had ended the war between Britain and the United States, but not the Indians and the United States.  These tribes had fought on the British side against the Americans.

--Brock-Perry

Detroit's Fort Wayne-- Part 8: Today

The remainder of Fort Wayne was turned over piecemeal to the City of Detroit. with the last bit turned over in 1976.

From 1949 to 2006, the Fort Wayne Military Museum was operated by  the Detroit Historical Museum.  Since early 2006, the fort has been operated by the Detroit Recreation Department,  assisted by the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition, the Friends of Fort Wayne and the Detroit Historical Society.

The fort hosts historic reenactments (most often Civil War), spring and fall flea markets, concerts, youth soccer league matches as well as Hispanic and Boy Scout events and is open for some civic events.

Also on the grounds is the remaining Indian burial ground and the Tuskegee Airman national Museum (kind of strange that it would not be in Tuskegee, Alabama).

Spurred in part by the construction of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge nearby, Fort Wayne  has been studied for possible inclusion in the national park system.  The National Park Service has previously  assisted in identifying ways to preserve the fort and draw visitors.  Among the possibilities is inclusion in the existing River Raisin National Battlefield Park in nearby Monroe, Michigan.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Wayne-- Part 7: After WW II

At the end of World War II, plans were made to close the fort. In 1948, the fort and original barracks were turned over to the City of Detroit's Historical  Commission form operation as a military museum.

In the 1950s, anti-aircraft guns were installed at the fort, later upgraded to Nike-Ajax missiles.   During the Cold War, Fort Wayne served as an entrance station for the armed forces, with thousands of enlistees and draftees being sworn in there for the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The fort was again used to house families displaced after the 1967 12th Street Riot, wit the last families staying at the fort until 1971.

--Brock-Perry

About That Fort Wayne in Detroit-- Part 6: World War II

Every single tank, truck, jeep, tire or spare part that was sent overseas to the European and Pacific Theaters from Detroit went through Fort Wayne.  And that was a huge amount to say the least.  At the time, there was also a railroad spur along the river front, docks for large ships and over 2,000 , mostly civilian, employees.

The drivers and mechanics of the Red Ball Express were also trained there.

In addition, Fort Wayne also served as the detention center for Italian prisoners of war captured during the North African Campaign., who were employed as servants, cooks and janitors.  After Italy's surrender, the POWs were given the chance to return to Italy, but many chose to stay in Detroit.

--Brock-Perry

About That Fort Wayne in Detroit-- Part 5: IN WW II, It Was the World's Largest Motor Supply Depot

In World War I, Fort Wayne became important in the acquisition of cars, trucks and spare parts for the military, of course, Motor City you know.  And that role really took off during World War II.

There was a "Red Scare" in the United States after World War I with the troubles going on in Russia, and Fort Wayne served as a temporary detention center for persons accused of being Communist.  In 1921, the world's first motorized  ride-on lawnmower was used at Fort Wayne, along with several other sites.

During the Great Depression the fort was opened to homeless families and it housed a local group of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

During World War II, Fort Wayne was designated Motor Supply Depot and additional buildings were constructed for warehousing and shipping.  At that time Fort Wayne was the largest motor supply depot in the world.  Its command center controlled the flow of materiel from the automobile factories   to the citywide network of staging facilities which included the Michigan State Fairgrounds and the Port of Detroit  terminal.

--Brock-Perry

About That Fort Wayne in Detroit-- Part 4: Built 1843-1851

After Congress appropriated monies to build a series of forts  stretching from the east coast to the Minnesota Territory, construction started on Fort Wayne at Detroit under the supervision of Lieutenant Montgomery C. Meigs.  He bought riverfront property farm property three miles south of Detroit and work began in 1843 and was completed by 1851 at the cost of $150,000.

The new fort was named after American Revolution hero General  "Mad" Anthony Wayne, who had taken possession of Detroit from the British in 11796.

Before any cannons could be installed at the new fort, the United States and Britain worked out their differences and the fort went unused except for a single watchmen.  With the coming of the Civil War, there was fear of an attack from Canada by the British and the fort was occupied by Union forces.  It served as a mustering in area for Michigan regiments as well as an area for wounded soldiers to recover.

During the Spanish-American War, troops left for service overseas from there.

--Brock-Perry

About That Fort Detroit, Shelby and Wayne in Detroit-- Part 3: So, Which Fort Was the War of 1812 Fort?

Actually, the War of 1812 fort was not Fort Wayne, which still stands and was constructed after the war.  The fort that William Hull surrendered in 1812 was Fort Detroit which was renamed Fort Shelby in 1813.

Fort Shelby was occupied by the British for awhile and when they pulled out, American troops reoccupied it.

In 1815, the site of the future Fort Wayne was where American government officials and Indian leaders  met to sign the Treaty of Spring Wells.  This marked the end of hostilities between tribes that had Britain during the war and the United States.  Among those present at the signing were Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass and William Henry Harrison.

In the late 1830s, there were a series of rebellions in Canada with led to a series of American militia attacks across the river in what is known as the Patriot War.  At the time, the U.S. government realized that the whole northern border of the country lacked fortifications to stop a British attack.  In particular, British Fort Malden, located near Detroit in Amherstburg was a potential threat.

In 1841, Congress appropriated funds to build a string of fortifications from the east coast to Minnesota, including one at Detroit.

--Brock-Perry