Calm, practical, orderly and considerate – Jacob Brown

Jacob Brown was born in Bucks County, Pa. in 1775. His early career was as a schoolmaster and surveyor. In 1799, he purchased a patch of land with his father in Black River County, Northern N.Y., and spent 39 years developing the town of Brownville. His prominence in the community led to a commission in the state militia as a brigadier-general. Brown was described as calm, practical, orderly and considerate. He was further described as being above average height, not always able to control his quick temper, and sometimes his determination would turn to withdrawing even in good circumstances.

When the War of 1812 started, Brown was a militia commander in northern N.Y. State. Brown managed to get more out of citizen soldiers than other militia commanders. He impressed many people with his defence of Ogdensburg, N.Y. in October 1812. He also impressed his superiors with his actions in the defence of Sackets Harbor in May 1813. His actions at Sackets Harbor led to a commission in the regular army where he was soon promoted to major-general.

In 1814, Brown was given command of the American forces along the Niagara River, known as the Left Division. On July 3, 1814, Brown and his army crossed the Niagara, captured Fort Erie, and fought the battles of Chippawa and Lundy’s Lane. At Lundy’s Lane Brown was wounded by a musket ball that passed through his right inner thigh ‘very high up.’ Shortly thereafter Brown was wounded again when he was struck on the left side. He was forced to turn command over to Brigadier-General Eleazer Ripley.

Brown spent his convalescence with friends near Buffalo, and was attended by a personal surgeon and his wife. Two weeks after being wounded he was able to walk and spent most of his time trying to gain reinforcements for the troops under siege at Fort Erie. Brown retook command of the Left Division in early September when Brigadier-General Edmund Gaines was wounded at Fort Erie.

After the war, Brown and Ripley continued their feud that emerged during the Niagara 1814 campaign. Later in life, Brown was marred by financial and physical problems. His business ventures went sour and he eventually died in 1828 at the age of 53 from a stroke.

If you want to find out more about Jacob Brown and the Niagara 1814 Campaign, there are a number of good books available. Don Graves newest book And All Their Glory Past, along with Richard Barbuto’s Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada, give a good overview of Brown and the Niagara 1814 Campaign from a British/Canadian and American perspective.

The Niagara 1814 campaign ends

In late October, the commander at Fort Erie, General Izard, had a decision to make: retain Fort Erie or abandon the position. After the Battle ofCook’s Mills, Izard ordered his men to form on the Chippawa plain across from Drummond’s position on October 21, 1814. Izard’s plan was to coax Drummond out from behind his defences so that the British force on the Niagara could be destroyed, but Drummond refused to battle.

Both the British and Americans knew that fighting in Niagara was over for 1814 and both sides prepared for the long winter. Izard ordered a number of units across the Niagara to enter winter quarters. Eventually, Izard decided that holding Fort Erie would not be practical since crossing the Niagara River in the winter was difficult. Izard wrote to Secretary of War Monroe that the problems at Fort Erie,

Induced me to examine maturely the advantages, and inconveniences of retaining Fort Erie under the American flag. I can find not one of the former, (except it being a trophy) which in any point of view would justify my exposing in a weak, ill-planned, and hastily repaired redoubt (it scarcely deserves even that humble designation) some hundreds of valuable officers and men, with the cannon, and various stores, which if it were taken would necessarily fall with it into the hands of the enemy.   

 

Fort Erie in ruins, 1930s

Izard also pointed out that the battalion designated to defend Fort Erie was experiencing “daily and numerous” desertions. After consulting three of his trusted officers, Izard made the final decision that Fort Erie would be “dismantled, evacuated, and destroyed.” The garrison was tasked with digging huts into the side of the defences to be filled with gunpowder to destroy the fort. It rained incessantly during the last week of October and early November that Major Totten of the engineers, responsible for the demolition, found it difficult to dig shafts for the gunpowder anywhere in the fort “without meeting water in almost every instance of our attempts.” Finally, on November 5, the fuses were lit and the defence works were destroyed in clouds of mud, dirt, wood and stone. U.S. Lieutenant Norton wrote, “The explosion was tremendous and worth seeing.”

With Fort Erie evacuated and both sides moving to winter quarters, the Niagara 1814 campaign finally ended after 125 days of hard fighting during the longest and bloodiest fighting of the War of 1812.

The most splendid achievement – The Sortie

After the failed British assault on Fort Erie on August 15, 1814, the British continued to siege the American held position. New artillery positions were installed and skirmishing between both sides continued into September.

The American commander of Fort Erie, Major-General Jacob Brown, decided on a plan “to storm the batteries, destroy the cannon, and roughly handle the brigade upon duty before those in reserve could be brought into the action.” On September 17, 1814, Brown ordered his men to attack the British position. At the time, the British were busy removing their artillery since they had decided to abandon the siege the day before.

The weather was rainy on the 17th, helping to obscure the American advance through the tree line. At around 2:30 p.m. men from Porter’s column burst forward into the British position with bayonets fixed and quickly overwhelmed the De Watteville Regiment on duty. Private Ford recounted that the Twenty-Third

charged upon the blockhouse from which the enemy kept up a brisk fire until they were compelled to surrender” and “took about eighty prisoners while the ground was strewed with the dead bodies of the enemy.

Porter and his men quickly captured Battery No. 3 and worked upon disabling the British artillery pieces.

A short time later, a second attack commenced on Battery No. 2 where the Americans overwhelmed the British position. General Drummond ordered his men stationed at the main camp to move forward and recover the captured gun batteries.

Major-General Jacob Brown

Members of the 82nd Regiment entered Battery No. 2 and “poured a volley into the mass of the enemy, who were huddled together into so small a space that they could not return it.” As the fighting continued, Le Couteur recorded that the attack on the battery “was a very savage affair” as “our Men bayoneted every Soul” and the battery “was full of corpses.”

The fight for Battery No. 3 resulted in a musket duel. Porter moved forward with some of his men, but in the confusion, he found himself alone and surrounded by British infantry. Porter grabbed one of the soldier’s muskets and demanded them to surrender, claiming that he had reinforcements on the way. The British in turn demanded that Porter surrender. Thankfully, for Porter, some of his men appeared and fired at the British, allowing him to escape.

Eventually, Brown ordered a withdrawal believing that he had accomplished his goal. The battle lasted less than two hours, causing heavy casualties on both sides. The Americans listed 511 casualties: 79 killed, 216 wounded and 216 missing. The British listed 579 casualties: 115 killed, 148 wounded, 316 missing with the De Watteville’s receiving 264 casualties. One American officer said that the sortie was “by far the most splendid achievement” of the Niagara 1814 campaign.

This Friday, September 19th, head to Old Fort Erie to hear Jim Hill speak about the “Military and Militia in the War of 1812.” The talk begins at 6 p.m.

Brilliant achievement – Commander Dobbs’s raid

Only a short distance away from Fort Erie, Lieutenant-General Drummond faced a tough situation with supply lines becoming stretched due to the renewed American presence on Lake Ontario, forcing supplies to be diverted around the lake. Commander Alexander Dobbs of the Royal Navy found that his usefulness on Lake Ontario was now limited and he decided to move his forces to Fort Erie to assist Drummond.

Dobbs joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman at the age of 13 and saw service in the Mediterranean and Atlantic before coming to North America. At the age of 30, Dobbs was promoted to Commander in February 1814 and in the same month, he married Mary Cartwright, the daughter of Richard Cartwright of Kingston who was a prominent merchant and political figure in Upper Canada.

Dobbs assembled a force of 70 seamen and marries to capture three American vessels near Fort Erie. His small force portaged from Queenston to Chippawa where five boats and a gig were loaded onto wagons and transported eight miles around the American position at Fort Erie.

Fort Erie in peacetime

On August 11, 1814, one day before Dobbs launched his attack, a deserter from the De Watteville Regiment swam across the Niagara River and told the Americans of Dobbs’s plan. Colonel George McFeely in command at Black Rock warned Lieutenant Augustus Conckling, captain of the USS Ohio, of the impending attack. McFeely noted that Conckling did not take the threat seriously and that he, “scarcely condescended to listen, turned on his heel and said he would desire no better fun than to see twenty or thirty boats coming to take him.” Conckling did not have to wait long to get his wish.

On the evening of August 12 Dobbs began his mission. As his force approached one of the American schooners, a sentry hailed them, but the British force replied that they were provision boats. An American officer reported that this “deceived the Officer of the Deck, as our Army boats have been in the habit of passing, and repassing throughout the night.” In a few minutes, Dobbs’s men boarded the Ohio and Somers quickly capturing the vessels. A third vessel, USS Porcupine, cut its cable and escaped.

At the cost of only two killed and two wounded Dobbs managed to capture, as reported by Lieutenant Mermet of the De Watteville Regiment, “a long 18-pounder gun – two long 12-pound guns – munitions, two pretty Schooners, five naval officers and seventy-five sailors.” Lieutenant Conckling was also wounded and captured during the operation, a fact that Colonel McFeely was not entirely displeased with reporting that Conckling was taken prisoner before “he got on his clothes.”

Drummond issued a general order praising Dobbs and his men for their “brilliant achievement” and went on to note that he had a mission for the rest of the division. On August 15, 1814, the British launched a three-pronged attack to retake Fort Erie. During the failed attempt, Dobbs commanded a detachment of sailors and marines under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Drummond. Dobbs survived the war and went on to serve as the commander at Isle-aux-Noix in late 1814. By 1819, Dobbs was made a post captain but later died in Malta in 1827.

To find out more about Commander Dobbs and the Siege of Fort Erie, head to Old Fort Erie on August 9 & 10 for the 28th Annual Siege of Fort Erie, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the siege. Click here for details.

Total want of military command – Conjocta Creek

After the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, the Americans withdrew to their defences at Fort Erie with the British following shortly after. The American position at Fort Erie was not desirable, possessing a position of 800 yards long by 250 yards wide. Porter lamented the American position claiming, “our position is a wretched one.” The American position necessitated an open supply line to resources positioned at Black Rock and Buffalo across the water, a fact that was not lost on Drummond.

Drummond believed that destroying the American supplies would force the enemy to “fight under desperate circumstances or surrendering unconditionally.” Drummond selected 39-year-old Colonel John Tucker of the 41st Foot to launch a raid to destroy the American supplies.  Tucker’s reputation in the Right Division was not very high with soldiers nicknaming him “Brigadier Shindy,” which indicated that Tucker was a “dancing master” who was prone to quarrelling over minor problems.

U.S. Riflemen

Tucker moved his 600 men across the water near Squaw Island just a few miles from Black Rock at about 2 a.m. on August 3, 1814. Tucker did not advance his force until about an hour before daylight. Their advance puzzled John Le Couteur, writing that they moved “without an advanced guard or any apparent precaution.” The British had already lost the element of surprise as the Americans were waiting for them. 

Major Lodowick Morgan of the First U.S. Rifle Regiment was waiting for the British near Conjocta Creek (also known as Scajacuada Creek). Morgan had been a prewar regular, serving as a rifle officer for six years. Morgan spotted the British movement on August 2 on the Canadian side and suspected a forthcoming attack on the American supplies. He ordered his men, about 240 in total, to remove the flooring from the bridge over Conjocta Creek and establish a defensive position.

As the British approached, Morgan waited until they were in within good rifle distance then blew his whistle for the men to open fire. One rifleman wrote that the first volley “completely ‘decapitated’ the head of the approaching column.” The first volley sent the 41st into chaos as the men began to fire without discipline and many ran to the woods to seek cover. Tucker eventually steadied his men and deployed them into line where he exchanged fire with the more accurate American riflemen.

Le Couteur noted that the Americans “shot every Fool that came near the Bridge.” Private Byfield,

received a musket ball, through my left arm, below the elbow. I went into the rear. One of my comrades, seeing that I was badly wounded, cut my [cross] belts from me and let them drop. I walked to the doctor, and desired him to take my arm off. He said it might be cured without it; and ordered me down to a boat, saying, that the wounded men were to cross the river, and they (the doctors) would soon follow.

Tucker continued his duel with the Americans for another hour before retreating to the boats. The results for the British were 12 killed, 17 wounded and 4 missing to the Americans 2 killed and 8 wounded. Le Couteur blamed Tucker’s “total want of military command” for the failure of the mission. Tucker blamed the failed mission on his men, noting to Drummond “the men displayed an unpardonable degree of unsteadiness, without possessing on solitary excuse to justify this want of discipline.”

Drummond was furious about the defeat and on August 5, he issued a strongly worded general order blaming the defeat on “the misbehaviour of the troops employed.” Drummond reminded the officers of the 41st that it was their duty to “punish with death on the spot any man who may be found guilty of misbehaviour before the enemy.”

With the failure at Conjocta Creek, Drummond decided that the best course of action was to lay siege to Fort Erie in order to remove the Americans from that position.

This weekend you can head to Buffalo to find out more about the Battle of Conjocta Creek. Click here for more information. Also, on August 9 & 10 don’t miss the 28th Annual Siege of Fort Erie re-enactment. Click here for more information.  

Enlisted for drink

Before the War of 1812, the British Army issued alcohol rations to troops serving at home and abroad, and throughout the British Empire, the men’s affinity for the drink was strong. 

The soldiers love of alcohol was not lost on the future Duke of Wellington as he wrote in 1811, “British soldiers are fellows who have all enlisted for drink – that is the plain fact - they have enlisted for drink.” In North America, there were challenges to soldiers getting their full rations. Both Upper and Lower Canada did not have many breweries in the early 1800s and this caused a shortage of alcohol rations at various times before the War of 1812, much to the chagrin of the common soldier.

One of the most popular alcohol rations issued in North America was rum. Shipped from the Caribbean, the rum rations were distributed throughout Upper and Lower Canada with soldiers performing the majority of the transport. Naturally, this system allowed for abuse by soldiers, as an account from Fort Erie in 1803 reports on an incident by a member of the 49th Regiment:

When they arrived here, Morgan and every man in the Boat were in liquor; one man … was so drunk that he could not stand.  On coming out of the boat he fell to the Ground, and lay there until some of the Men of this post lifted him up and carried him to the Barracks … I examined the barrels and found that some of them had been pierced, and were not near full; Captain Ormsby … immediately came and saw them and threatened to send the Lance Corporal [Morgan] to Niagara

British soldiers pause for a drink in 1810

Alcohol fuelled civilian establishments as well. In Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake), several establishments were in operation serving the local garrison at Fort George in addition to the local townspeople. These establishments were also popular among American officers at Fort Niagara who often crossed the Niagara River before the war to visit these locations. Military commanders understood the draw of Newark’s houses of ill repute as Colonel Isaac Brock sought to construct a garden to keep “the men as much as possible from the town [of Newark], … the nest of all wickedness.” Naturally, Brock’s efforts were in vein.   

When the War of 1812 broke out, alcohol rations varied throughout the war. Early on commanders increased alcohol rations in some locations but at the war continued, rations were restricted due to supply problems. Although it was unpopular, the limiting of the rum rations improved health, as was noted by American Dr. James Mann serving in the Niagara who wrote,

Deserters from the British army, of whom some hundreds came to our posts, exhibited marks of high health; while those of our soldiers were pallid and emaciated. The difference was too obvious to have escaped the observation of the officers of the army. It led me to seek the cause. Upon enquiry it was learnt, that spirits were no part of the ration of the British soldier; that these liquors could not be procured in the upper province of Canada for money. While, in addition to their daily rations, our soldiers, when they had money in their pockets, had free access to spirits at the stores of the sutlers.

During the Niagara 1814 campaign, restrictions on the alcohol rations were loosened as more supplies came to the Niagara. During the Siege of Fort Erie, General Drummond increased the alcohol ration to the men working on the siege lines; an act that he believed improved the men’s health. Drummond wrote, “Hitherto they are uncommonly healthy – This I am confident must in a part measure be attributed to an extra allowance of half a Gill of Spirits, & which I propose to continue so long as I have means & the Troops continue in the field.”

Unfortunately for the men, the increased alcohol ration ended in March 1815 with the conclusion of the war meaning that only men on fatigue duty received the ration. However, regulations were often broken and the men managed to frequently get their hands on the drink. The issuing of rum continued in the British Army until the allowance was abolished in 1830, a truly sad day in the British Army.

Robust, active, and good looking – 100th Regiment of Foot

The 100th Regiment of Foot formed during the Napoleonic Wars in 1804. Most of the men in the regiment were raised in Ireland from a Protestant background. The regiment’s commander, John Murray, joined the regiment shortly after it was formed, remaining with the regiment for most of its service.

By 1805 the 100th was sent to Nova Scotia were they remained until being sent to Quebec in 1807. Colonel Isaac Brock wrote a letter to the adjutant-general of the Crown Forces in 1807 reporting on the state of the 100th Regiment in Canada. The colonel had high praise for the men, writing that they were very well behaved and wrote that, “The men were principally raised in the north of Ireland, and are nearly all Protestants; they are robust, active, and good looking.” Brock also had high praise for Colonel Murray and Brock wrote about Murray to his brother in 1811 noting, “Colonel Murray, 100th, went home last year, married, and brought out a charming little creature, full of good sense and spirit.” Clearly, Brock approved of the colonel’s wife as well.

Private and officer, 100th Regiment of Foot

During the War of 1812, the regiment served in various areas and in December 1813, the whole regiment participated in the Capture of Fort Niagara. The regiment’s participation guaranteed prize money for officers and men since a large quantity of military and civilian goods were captured. Later in December, the 100th participated in the raids on Buffalo and Black Rock.

In 1814, the 100th fought at the Battle of Chippawa where they received a number of casualties since they were leading in the centre of the line of infantry. Later on in 1814, the men fought at the Siege of Fort Erie. For their service, the 100th regiment was awarded the battle honour Niagara.

After the war, many soldiers in the 100th accepted land grants in Canada, many near modern-day Ottawa. A later 100th regiment was raised in Canada in 1858 and was eventually declared the successor to the original 100th regiment. The new 100th regiment was amalgamated into another regiment in 1881 and finally disbanded in 1922.

If you want to find about more about the 100th Regiment of Foot, check out the re-enactor website by clicking here.

I never saw such a thing before – Sergeant Wait

After the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, the Americans withdrew to their defences at Fort Erie. It did not take long before the British setup siege guns and began bombarding the American position. The incessant bombardment caused death and destruction in the American encampment that many recorded. One story concerning the death of a sergeant appeared to be quite popular.

The story begins with Jarvis Hanks, a young drummer in the American Army. Hanks wrote that there were no barbers attached to the army, forcing men to assist each other in shaving. One morning a number of men were shaving near an earth wall for protection from British artillery, including Sergeant Wait and Corporal Reed. As the corporal was in the process of shaving the sergeant, a cannon ball flew into the encampment taking one of the corporal’s hands and decapitating the sergeant, “throwing blood, brains, hair, fragments of flesh and bones, upon a tent near them, and upon the clothing of several spectators of the horrible scene,” writes Hanks.

American re-enactors at Fort Erie

The corporal was sent to the hospital for amputation and the sergeant was wrapped up in a blanket and taken out for burial. Hanks goes on to write that only 20 minutes transpired “between the time he sat down to be shaved and the time he was reposing in the home of the soldier’s grave!” Sergeant William Wait apparently had premonitions of his demise as he was asserting to his comrades that he would “never live to visit home and the scenes of his childhood again.” Unfortunately, William Wait’s premonition came true.

Lieutenant Douglass of the U.S. Engineers mentions the story in his account of the 1814 campaign. Douglass talks about the measures taken to protect the encampment and how these measures were not always sufficient. Douglass writes that “a chance shot, glancing obliquely, took off his head [Sergeant Wait] and the hand of the operator, at the same moment.” Somehow Corporal Reed managed to survive the ordeal and made it back to the hospital in Buffalo where he encountered Dr. Horner.

Dr. Horner wrote about his experience during the Niagara 1814 campaign and the wounds he saw. One day while making his rounds in the hospital, Dr. Horner encountered a corporal with an amputated forearm who could “scarcely restrain a broad laugh.” Upon inquiry the corporal apologized for laughing and explained that he lost his arm in a funny way. The corporal went on to explain the story:

“Our first Sergeant wanted shaving, and got me to attend to it, as I am a Corporal. We went out together in front of his tent, I had lathered him, took him by the nose, and was just about applying the razor, when a cannon ball came, and that was the last I saw of his head and my hand. Excuse me, doctor, for laughing so; I never saw such a thing before.”

This story in the American encampment at Fort Erie was unfortunately not the last gruesome death during the Siege of Fort Erie. If you want to find out more about the Siege of Fort Erie, mark August 9 and 10 on your calendars for the 200th anniversary of the siege. Click here for more information. 

Launched into eternity – Amasiah Ford

Amasiah Ford’s ordeal did not end with the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Ford proceeded with the rest of the American Left Division to the defences at Fort Erie to await the British.

Ford writes about the British night assault on August 15, 1814 and his participation. As part of the 23rd Regiment of Infantry, Ford was stationed inside the fort during the British assault. Ford recounts,

“We took our post on the battlements in the front part of the fort where we kept our enemy off with our bayonets from scaling the walls until they forced us to retreat into the rear part of the fort when the magazine blew up & upwards of five hundred of the enemy were launched into eternity almost in an instant.”

Siege of Fort Erie Re-enactment

Ford later writes about his participation in the American sortie on September 17, 1814 where the Americans attacked the British siege positions. The 23rd Regiment was tasked with attacking battery number three and during the fight one of Ford’s messmates was shot dead. The 23rd managed to capture the position but during the fighting Ford was almost killed when, “I was in the act of discharging my piece at a Red Coat [when] a ball passed through my cap directly under my cockade. I discharged my piece at my mark at the same time & never saw my mark again.” The next day the British completed their withdrawal from Fort Erie.

After the siege, Ford proceeded with his regiment as reinforcements for the men fighting at the Battle of Cook’s Mills on October 19, 1814. The men marched through a swamp with mud up to their knees during a rainfall. The men finally stopped and settled in to a two-day and night stay near the battlefield with no tents, sleeping on wet ground with a torrent of rain falling upon them.

Eventually, Ford marched to Sackets Harbor where he remained in winter quarters. News of peace finally reached Sackets Harbor in March 1815 and Ford, “remained at Sackets Harbor until the 5th day of June 1815, having been in the service of my country two years, four months, eighteen days when I was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States and returned to my native village.”

On Saturday, March 22, test your knowledge of the War of 1812 and Fort Erie during Trivia Night at Old Fort Erie. One of the topics will be The Niagara 1814 Campaign, so start studying. Click here for more information and to sign up.

Overcome all the ties of nature

The War of 1812 in the Niagara Region saw many relationships broken as cross boarder ties were disrupted. This caused great hardship for many as family and friends were now on opposite sides.

One story of a family that was shattered by the War of 1812 was told by Dr. William ‘Tiger’ Dunlop. During the fighting around Fort Erie in August and September 1814, a father and his three sons were patrolling in the woods as part of the Glengarry Light Infantry. The father and sons were Loyalists who left the U.S. after the American Revolution. During a patrol, an American rifleman fired at the Glengarries, dropping a man, but this exposed the rifleman to the Glengarries. The father in the group fired back, killing the American rifleman.

Fighting in the woods around Fort Erie

Soon after, the father proceeded to loot the body of the rifleman when he discovered that he had killed his own brother. This did not deter the old man from taking the valuables of his brother, including an old silver watch and a clasp knife, along with his rifle. Dunlop remarks that the old man coolly remarked, “it served him right for fighting for the rebels, when all the rest of his family fought for King George.” Apparently, the lone brother decided to support the Americans during the revolution and the two brothers had not seen each other until this unfortunate incident. Dunlop goes on to remark, “such is the virulence of political rancour, that it can overcome all the ties of nature.”

This incident, among others, highlights the close bonds that were broken as a result of the destructive War of 1812. 

Flames across the Niagara

In May 1813, the Americans captured Fort George and began their occupation of the Town of Newark. At first, U.S. General Dearborn described the civilians of Newark by reporting, “A large majority are friendly to the United States and fixed in their hatred to the Government of Great Britain.”

As the occupation continued, the civilians of Newark became discontent with their occupiers. U.S. Army officer Lieutenant Irvine described the attitude as, “The inhabitants hereabouts are almost altogether very inimical to the Yankees – the men would scalp them, and the women of Newark are loyal enough to eat their hearts and drink their blood. … I hope these villains will be put to death and their estates confiscated.”

Irvine got part of his wish. On December 10, Brigadier-General George McClure, with British forces advancing and his militia enlistments ending, ordered a withdrawal to Fort Niagara. Before abandoning Fort George, McClure’s Canadian Volunteers roused the inhabitants of Newark and torched some 130 homes, leaving about 400 women, children and elderly men to fend for themselves in the cold winter.

McClure justified his actions by stating he was depriving the British of winter quarters. However, his forces left several buildings and tents standing in Fort George. In retaliation, the British crossed the river and captured Fort Niagara on December 19 before burning many communities along the American side of the Niagara.

This weekend you can join the communities of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie and Buffalo for the Flames Across the Niagara events. Each community is holding events to remember the 200th anniversary of the burning campaigns of December 1813. Don’t miss this Niagara Signature Event; click here for more information.

All Hallows’ Eve

The origin of Halloween comes from the Celtic harvest festival called Samhain, which means ‘summer’s end.’ The festival took place the night before the Celtic New Year, November 1. The New Year was the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark season for the Celts; the day before, October 31, was a day that ghosts and goblins would roam the countryside.

The festival was a day for lost love ones to return home and for people to pay respect to those who had died. However, sometimes these ghosts could cause trouble so bonfires were lit to help keep out bad spirits and in more modern times dressing up for Halloween was used as another way to help keep away bad spirits.

When Christianity became the dominant religion, the Celtic festival was absorbed into All Souls’ Day on November 2 as a time to honour the spirits of the ancestors. This three-day festival, called Hallowmass, began on October 31 or All Hallows’ Eve. The festival not only commemorated the dead but over time the poor would go door-to-door dressing up and asking for food, eventually becoming the Halloween festivities we think of today.

If you want to find our more about Halloween and hear some spooky ghost stories, you can head to Old Fort Erie or Fort George for their annual Halloween tours. Don’t miss these great events!

The brave and loyal old man – James Kerby

Kerby was born in 1785 near Sandwich (Windsor) Ontario. By 1805, he was working in Queenston as a clerk-bookkeeper for Thomas Clark. Kerby’s connection to Clark led him into the militia when Clark became the commanding officer for the 2nd Lincoln Militia in 1809. Kerby was appointed regimental adjutant to the 2nd Lincoln Militia.  

With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Kerby was placed in command of an artillery company. On the morning of October 9, 1812, his company was manning the British batteries on the Niagara River opposite Black Rock (Buffalo, N.Y.) when it was ordered to open fire on the Detroit and Caledonia, ships which had been captured by an American raiding party. Kerby performed well in this action and it was not long before he would see combat again. On November 28, 1812, the Americans launched an offensive at Frenchman’s Creek. Kerby received his first official commendation for his service during the failed American attack. By December 1812, Kerby was still serving along the Niagara by firing at American troops moving along the American shore. During one action, a 24-pound gun burst and severely wounded Kerby’s right hand.

By March 1813, Kerby joined the Volunteer Incorporated Militia Battalion, essentially a full-time militia unit composed of volunteers, in which Kerby was appointed captain. In May 1813, the British retreated from the Niagara after the Americans captured Fort George. Kerby participated in the British advance guard in the Niagara until the Americans withdrew from Fort George in December 1813, after burning the town of Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake). When the British launched their attack on Fort Niagara in December 1813 Kerby directed the embarkation of the troops for the assault and participated in the storming of Fort Niagara in Youngstown. For his actions, Kerby was awarded a sword valued at fifty guineas. 

Kerby's gravestone

By July 1814, the Americans launched another assault on the Niagara. On July 25, 1814, during the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, Kerby, who had been promoted to Major, found himself in command of the battalion after his commanding officer was wounded. Kerby remained in command of the battalion during the Siege of Fort Erie where he was wounded in the shoulder and the hip. By February 1815 with the War of 1812 over, Kerby after serving for two years of continuous military service was able to resume his civilian life.  

After William Lyon Mackenzie’s unsuccessful insurrection in 1837, Kerby was authorized to raise a militia force to resist any renewed invasion by Mackenzie. Kerby formed the Queen’s Niagara Fencibles and he was placed in command of all troops on the Niagara frontier from April to June 1838.

Kerby’s wife and mother both died in 1839; in 1846 his son died at 24 and the death of a son-in-law meant that one of Kerby’s daughters and her small child became dependent on him. Kerby continued to be active in the militia and in 1846 he became commanding officer of the 1st battalion of the Welland Regiment.

Throughout his time in Fort Erie, Kerby served as warden of St Paul’s Anglican Church until his death. Kerby was instrumental in the establishing of the church by successfully petitioning the government to use stone from Fort Erie to construct part of the church, as well as donating a silver chalice. On June 20, 1854 Kerby died in Fort Erie and is buried in the cemetery of the church he was so influential in establishing.

Kerby’s obituary notice was published in “The Church” of Toronto on the June 29th, 1854. An excerpt reads: “Many a tear has fallen, and more will fall, on the grave where the brave and loyal old man reposes in the quiet cemetery of the little village church, on the bank of the noble river, which was witness to his gallant achievements in his country’s cause.”

On Sunday September 15 at 2 p.m., a plaque will be unveiled for James Kerby through the federally funded Graveside Recognition program. Kerby is the first War of 1812 veteran in the Niagara to receive this plaque. For more information, please click here.    

The worst regiment in Canada

The 103^rd Regiment of Foot was formed from the Ninth Garrison Battalion in 1809. It arrived in Quebec in 1812 and soon earned the distinction as being the worst regiment in Canada, according to Governor General George Prevost. The 103rd was mostly comprised of very young recruits who spent most of their time on labour duties. The regiment was not well disciplined, its men committed numerous crimes and it had a high desertion rate. The 103rd had a shortage of officers and its commander Hercules Scott was absent for long periods on staff duties.

By the spring of 1814, the regiment was transferred to Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond’s Right Division. After the Battle of Chippawa, the 103^rd came to the Niagara Region from Burlington. They helped to keep the British in the fight at Lundy’s Lane with their timely arrival of about 1,000 men at a critical moment in the battle. The unit marched 20 miles, the last few in double time, in order to reach Lundy’s Lane.

During the Siege of Fort Erie, the regiment participated in the unsuccessful assault to retake the fort on August 15, 1814. The 103rd attacked down by the water against Douglas Battery at about 3 a.m., as the crunch of the men’s feet along the shore altered the Americans. Upon the men’s approach, the Americans fired canister shot at close range, causing significant casualties. Hercules Scott was shot and killed during the assault and the column eventually retreated while some joined the assault on the North-East demi-bastion.

The British assault on the North-East demi-bastion gained some success until about 5 a.m. when a massive explosion occurred as the gunpowder magazine exploded destroying the bastion. American engineer Lieutenant Douglass described the explosion by stating:

“But suddenly, every sound was hushed by the sense of an unnatural tremor, beneath our feet, the first heave of an earthquake; and, almost at the same instant, the center of the bastion burst up, with a terrific explosion and a jet of flame, mingled with fragments of timber, earth, stone, and bodies of men rose, to the height of one or two hundred feet, in the air, and fell, in a shower of ruins, to a great distance, all around.”

 

Bastion explosion during the Siege of Fort Erie re-enactment

During the assault, the 103^rd Regiment lost about 424 men including 14 out of 18 officers. The 103rd actions at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie proved that they did not deserve Prevost designation as being the worst regiment in Canada. For their actions during the war, the regiment was authorized to bear “Niagara” on its colours before being disbanded in 1817.

This Saturday and Sunday, you can head to Old Fort Erie to witness the 27th annual Siege of Fort Erie. There will be tours, battles and demonstrations taking place throughout the weekend with the main event starting on Saturday night at 8 p.m. with the recreation of Drummond’s night assault followed by an ‘After the Battle’ lantern tour of the fort. Click here for a schedule of events. Don’t miss this Niagara Signature Event.

A ghostly bed

The Niagara Region is fully of haunted locations and Old Fort Erie and Fort George have their share of ghost stories.

Captain Kingsley's bed at Old Fort Erie

One ghost story from Old Fort Erie involves Captain Kingsley’s bed located in the fort’s officers’ quarters. The bed served as Kingsley’s campaign bed as he was part of the King’s 8th Regiment of Foot while serving in the Niagara during the war. Kingsley suffered from a lung disease that forced him to sleep in an upright position in order to allow his lungs to drain fluids during the night. The captain attempted various treatments such as bleeding and taking mercury pills. These ‘cures’ caused Kingsley to have terrible nightmares, fevers and mood swings. The mercury slowly broke down his body until he finally died in his campaign bed in 1813.

Many believe that Kingsley has not left his bed due to his horrible death. Staff and visitors to Old Fort Erie have reported hearing voices and footsteps near the bed. Some visitors have even reported feeling the presence of someone or strange feelings when near the captain’s bed.

If you want to find out more about this haunted bed, make sure you head to Old Fort Erie on July 12 or August 23rd for their ghost tour. You can also head to Fort George for their ghost tours happening every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday night in July and August. What will you see?

Pain, suffering and death at Snake Hill

In 1987, Vincent Dunn was planning to construct a house in Fort Erie. When construction began, excavators uncovered a gruesome reminder of the War of 1812. Bones were discovered during the construction, which led to Dr. Ronald Williamson’s archaeology team taking over the site. Dr. Williamson’s team uncovered 28 American bodies along with medical waste pits, an ox burial and artifacts from the war.

The bodies and artifacts were uncovered at the Snake Hill site that was part of the American defences at Fort Erie in 1814. On July 3, 1814, American forces under the command of Major-General Jacob Brown forced the small British garrison at Fort Erie to surrender. After this action, American forces fought the British at the battles of Chippawa and Lundy’s Lane before withdrawing to Fort Erie.

The Americans improved Fort Erie’s defences with massive earthworks that extended 800 metres (1/2 mile) to the shore of Lake Erie. The Snake Hill site was the location of Towson’s battery during the Siege of Fort Erie and it was attacked on August 15, 1814 as part of the failed British assault to retake the fort. The British continued to bombard Fort Erie until mid-September. During the fighting, the Americans established a field hospital near the Snake Hill site. The hospital saw victims of the British bombardment, those wounded in skirmishes and men who were stricken with disease.

The bodies uncovered at the Snake Hill site came from the American field hospital. One of the soldiers was believed to be 27 to 33 years old and may have been a sickly child. According to Dr. Williamson, the soldier had bad teeth that probably hurt constantly and he had multiple fatigue fractures from carrying heavy loads on the march. From the 28 bodies researchers discovered that 16 died from illness and 12 died from battle wounds. It was also discovered that the youngest of the 28 soldiers was 14 years old.

Repatriation ceremony at Old Fort Erie, 1988

Once the archaeological dig was completed, all 28 bodies were placed in flag draped coffins and each coffin was driven in its own hearse to Bath National Cemetery in New York State. Dr. Williamson remembered the repatriation by stating, “At the ceremony no one had a dry eye. All of the pain, suffering, and death…. We knew what was going on in that horrible land. This was the time we realized that they were getting to go home."

On Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14 Old Fort Erie will be hosting two lectures on archaeological digs at Fort Erie. On Thursday, Dr. John Triggs will be talking about the archaeological dig that took place last year at Old Fort Erie. On Friday, Dr. Williamson will be talking about the Snake Hill archaeological dig that took place in 1987. Both talks begin at 7 p.m. and are $5. Click here for more information.

Difficulties be damned

Formed in 1685 the King’s 8th Regiment of Foot saw much action in North America. The regiment fought during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, earning the battle honour “Niagara” for their service in the War of 1812.

Before the War of 1812, the regiment fought extensively in Europe before coming to North America in 1768. The King’s 8th performed garrison duty throughout British North America before the American Revolution. During the failed American attack on Quebec in 1775, the regiment fought to defend the area and was one of the first regiments to launch counterattacks into New York. After their service in the American Revolution was complete, the King’s 8th went back to Europe in 1785.

King's 8th Officer

By 1793 revolutionary France declared war on Great Britain and the King’s 8th were soon dispatched to the Netherlands  During the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment saw action in the Netherlands, Spain and Egypt, among other areas. In 1808 the regiment was moved to Canada, and with the outbreak of the War of 1812, they fought at Ogdensburg, Fort George, York, Sackets Harbor, Stoney Creek, Chippawa, Lundy’s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie, just to name a few. Elements of the King’s 8th also participated in a treacherous winter march from New Brunswick to Quebec City, a distance of 350 miles.

After the War of 1812, the King’s served in a number of different locations before fighting in the Indian Rebellion and the Second Afghan War. Throughout the regiment’s hardships they could always look to their regimental motto, difficulties be damned, for inspiration.

With April fast approaching there are a number of events to mark on your calendar. Two events in particular are the War of 1812 School of the Soldier on April 13 and 14 at Fort George, and the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Battle of Fort York on April 27th. Don’t miss out on these great events!

A soldier’s Christmas

For British soldiers in the 1800s Christmas was seen as a special time of year for the men to celebrate.

For regular soldiers in the British Army, Christmas Day was treated as a Sunday. This meant that most men had the day off and religious services were held. Most soldiers saw Christmas as a special day and attempted to prepare for its celebration. Depending on where a soldier was stationed, many would attempt to accumulate more food for Christmas Day in order to hold a special feast. Many took the opportunity to celebrate the day with their fellow soldiers.

McFarland House plaque

Another advantage to Christmas Day was that men were issued new uniforms. All soldiers in the British Army received new clothing once a year on Christmas Day as a gift from the king. Unfortunately, not everyone received a Christmas gift on time. Do to supply problems, many soldiers did not receive their new uniforms on time and were forced to make do with what they had during the long winters in Upper Canada.

This weekend you and your family can experience Christmas in the 1800s by visiting McFarland House and the Laura Secord Homestead for their annual Christmas events. Also, don’t forget to head to Fort Erie on Saturday for their annual Flames across the Niagara event. 

Cold indifference to Christmas

Christmas in 1812 was much different than today. Christmas was treated as a significant day to those living in British North America, but it did not have much pomp and ceremony as today.

Kissing under the mistletoe

Most British subjects would celebrate the Christmas holiday with simple decorations along with dinner and a church service. However, it appears that most Upper Canadians did not treat Christmas as a major event. One English immigrant to Upper Canada in the 1820s observed: “I was much surprised at the cold indifference which most people showed in their observance of Christmas day - with the exception of the then few residing English families, the church was scantily attended.”

In the United States similar attitudes prevailed in certain areas. In the nation’s capital, it was not uncommon for politicians to be working throughout the holidays and even sessions of Congress were held on Christmas Day. It wasn’t until much later that the U.S. government recognized Christmas as a national holiday.

In many ways Christmas during the early 1800s was similar to today in that most families choose to celebrate with their families.

For anyone looking to add some 1812 themed activities to their Christmas holidays, you can visit OldFort Erie and McFarland House, to name a few, for their annual Christmas event this weekend.

The forgotten Battle of Frenchman’s Creek

It was Saturday, November 28, 1812 when the Americans made a renewed attempt to invade the Niagara above Niagara Falls at Frenchman’s Creek.

After the failed invasion at Queenston Heights, the Americans amassed a force under the command of Brigadier-General Alexander Smyth. The Americans gained some initial success by dispersing a small British force and spiking the British guns, but soon the American invasion ran into problems. The force sent to destroy the bridge over Frenchman’s Creek did not bring enough axes for the task. After destroying part of the bridge, the Americans were forced to retreat due to incoming British forces from Fort Erie.

Battle of Frenchman's Creek plaque

After learning that the British guns had been spiked, Smyth sent William Winder with a force of about 300 to cover the evacuating troops. However, Winder’s force came under heavy fire soon after landing from over 300 British reinforcements. Smyth attempted to send his 3,000 reinforcements across but only about 1,200 could fit in the boats. With torrential rain and freezing temperatures, Smyth decided to postpone the invasion. Smyth never managed to renew his invasion of Canada before withdrawing his force to winter quarters.

In the end, the British suffered more casualties during the Battle of Frenchman‘s Creek than at Queenston Heights with 17 killed, 47 wounded and 35 missing.

On Sunday, November 25th the Fort Erie Bicentennial Committee will be having a commemoration service for the Battle of Frenchman’s Creek. Don’t miss the commemoration of this historic event. Click here for more details.