NEW BRITISH MILITARY STRATEGY

HOW DID THE Major-General Sir Isaac Brock was a British military commander in “I set out with

WAR PROGRESS? Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Strengthening Upper Canada’s declaring my full
defences was Brock’s first priority. Read the quote in Figure 6.15. It is an conviction, that
excerpt from a letter Brock wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Baynes, unless Detroit and
four months before the Americans declared war. Baynes was the assistant Michilimackinac be
to Commander-in-Chief Sir George Prevost. What is Brock’s main message both in our possession
to Baynes? immediately at the
The War of 1812 was fought on land and on water. However, the United Brock believed that the only way that Upper Canada could defend itself commencement of
States was at a disadvantage at sea. Britain had one of the largest and most from an American invasion was to control Michilimackinac, an island in hostilities, not only the
impressive naval forces in the world. Because of this, the Americans needed present-day northern Michigan. As you learned in Chapter 3, this was the district of Amherstburg,
to find another way to launch their attacks against British forces. They location of a battle between First Nations and the British in 1763. Brock
but most probably the
decided to focus on the colonies in Canada. whole country as far
believed that controlling the island meant controlling the Upper Great
as Kingston, must be
Lakes. This would fend off an American invasion. Brock was right. A large
THE AMERICANS SEND A WARNING If you were group of 400 First Nations warriors, 200 fur traders, and 46 British officers
evacuated.”

Brigadier General William Hull was a high-ranking officer in the American Hull, how would you gathered together as a show of British force. When they reached the island, — Major-General
military during the War of 1812. On July 12, 1812, he issued a proclamation have communicated the American commander was offered a chance to surrender before a full- Sir Isaac Brock
to the Canadians to
to the colonists in Upper Canada. Read an excerpt from his proclamation on attack. He accepted. When Hull learned of this victory, he abandoned
persuade them to join
in Figure 6.14. Like many Americans, Hull believed that the colonists the American side in the his invasion of Upper Canada and retreated to Detroit. Figure 6.16 shows FIGURE 6.15 This excerpt is from a
in Upper Canada would not resist the American invasion, because the fight against British troops and their allies preparing for battle. How would you feel if a letter written by Brock to Baynes
on February 12, 1812. Analyze:
Americans would free and protect the colonists from British control. At the the British? window in your home overlooked this scene? Why does Brock believe that most
same time, he warned the colonists against joining the British soldiers in of the country would need to
fighting against the Americans. FIGURE 6.16 This 1997 painting by Keith Rocco, entitled British Troops at Michilimackinac,
be evacuated?
shows the rallying of British troops at Michilimackinac on July 17, 1812. Analyze: What evidence
do you see in this painting that places the British at an advantage?

“Inhabitants of Canada!

After thirty years of peace and prosperity, the United States have been
driven to arms. The injuries and aggressions, the insults and indignities
of Great Britain have once more left no alternative but manly resistance
or unconditional submission. The army under my command has invaded
your country; the standard of the Union [the American flag] now waves
over the territory of Canada. To the peaceful unoffending inhabitants, it
brings neither danger nor difficulty. I come to find enemies, not to make
them; I come to protect, not to injure you ... I have a force which will
break down all opposition, and that force is but the vanguard of a much
greater—If, contrary to your own interest, and the just expectations of
my country, you should take part in the approaching contest, you will
be considered and treated as enemies, and the horrors and calamities of
war will stalk before you.”

— Brigadier General William Hull

FIGURE 6.14 This excerpt is from Hull’s proclamation to Canadians on July 12, 1812, in
Sandwich (present-day Windsor), Upper Canada. Analyze: How do you think the Loyalists felt
about the invasion and proclamation?

174 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 175
KEY EVENTS IN THE WAR OF 1812 Select Battles from the War of 1812
Most of the battles in the War of 1812 took place in
LOWER CANADA British victory
Upper and Lower Canada. The people in Upper Canada Lake UPPER
St. Lawrence River
Superior CANADA Battle of American victory
suffered the most because many key battles were fought Châteauguay unclear victory
on their soil, as the map and photos in Figure 6.17 show. British territory
In total, there were over 170 battles, raids, skirmishes American territory
Battle of present-day Canada
(unplanned fighting between small armies or fleets), and Crysler’s and United States
campaigns (series of military operations) during the War of n Farm
Battle of
border
Lake

ga
1812. Figure 6.18 shows a timeline of some of the important Plattsburgh

i
Huron

ich
Battle of Crysler’s Farm Battle
rio
events from the start of the war to its end in January 1815. Onta

Lake M
of York
Lake
Battle of Battle of
Beaver Queenston Heights
FIGURE 6.17 To this day, we still see many monuments Dams
in commemoration of the War of 1812. Cities like
Battle of the Thames
Toronto have been built around the war’s historic
e
remains. Analyze: What do these photos tell you about Siege of Eri ATLANTIC
ke
the importance of the War of 1812? Why are memorials Detroit La Siege of
OCEAN
Fort Erie
such as these important today? N
Battle of
Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Lake Erie 0 90 km
Chesapeake
Bay

Battle of Burning of
Tippecanoe Washington, D.C.

Battle of York

Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Queenston Heights

Battle of Tippecanoe Battle of Lake Erie History 7 SB

November 7, 1811
Declaration of War
June 18, 1812
September 10, 1813 0-17-671053-1
Creation of FN u02-c06-f01-his7sb Burning of
Coloured Corps Battle of York CO Battle of Châteauguay
Crowle Art Group Battle of Lundy’s Lane Washington, D.C. Treaty of Ghent
August 1812 April 27, 1813 October 26, 1813 July 25, 1814 August 24, 1814 December 24, 1814

Pass 4th pass

1807 1811 1812 1813 Approved 1814 1815

Not Approved
Chesapeake–Leopard Affair Siege of Detroit Battle of Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Crysler’s Farm Siege of Fort Erie Battle of Plattsburgh
June 22, 1807 August 16, 1812 Queenston Heights June 24, 1813 November 11, 1813 August 13, 1814 September 11, 1814
October 13, 1812

Battle of the Thames (Moraviantown) Battle of New Orleans

FIGURE 6.18 This timeline shows several significant battles and events from the War of 1812.
October 5, 1813 January 8, 1815
American victories are in blue, British victories are in red, and events are shown in black.
Analyze: What do you notice about the progression of the war?

176 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850 NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 177
CREATING
A STORY MAP
A story map uses a combination of words and multimedia, such as photos
and videos, to tell a story. A story map might be suitable to document
and describe places you have visited, damage caused by natural disasters,
current world affairs, or historical events, such as major battles in a war.
You can make a story map using online mapping technologies, such as
ArcGIS Online. In the following activity,
you will choose a battle from the War Battle
of 1812 and use ArcGIS Online to create
Siege of Detroit
a story map about this battle. You
Battle of Queenston
can choose one of the battles listed in
Heights
Figure 6.19 (referenced in the timeline on
Battle of York
pages 176 and 177) or another battle that
interests you. You will gather primary and Battle of Châteauguay Très-Saint-Sacrement, 43.70°N, 79.40°W
secondary sources to help you document
and describe your chosen battle in your Battle of Lundy’s Lane Niagara Falls, Ontario 43.12°N, 79.07°W
story map.
Siege of Fort Erie
Burning of
Washington
HOW TO CREATE A STORY MAP
Choose a battle from the War of 1812. Research
STEP 1
information about the battle. Then decide what
you would like to document in your story map and
develop a plan. For example, you could include
a list of key dates and locations leading up to STEP 2
the battle, the names of important people, and
the perspectives of different people and groups
involved in the battle.
Start ArcGIS Online. Click on Map on the top
toolbar to open the ArcGIS Online map viewer. Use
the search box or zoom in to focus your map on STEP 3
the area of the battle. Choose a suitable basemap,
such as the National Geographic basemap.
STEP 4
Save your map. Give your map a title and
STEP 5
appropriate tags.
STEP 6
178 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850
FIGURE 6.19 This table lists some
of the War of 1812’s important
battles, and their present-day
location and coordinates.
Location Coordinates
Detroit, Michigan 42.33°N, 83.05°W
Niagara-on-the-Lake, 43.26°N, 79.07°W
Ontario
Toronto, Ontario 43.70°N, 79.40°W
Québec
Fort Erie, Ontario 42.92°N, 79.02°W
Washington, District 38.91°N, 77.02°W
of Columbia
Gather primary and secondary sources to include
in your story map. You could include images of
people, places, or artifacts from the battle, quotes
from people involved in or affected by the battle, or
links to modern-day connections.
Add key locations and data to your map using
Add Map Notes. You could add points to show
the location of the battle and the locations of
key events leading up to it. You could also add
descriptions and images from your primary and
secondary sources, as well as website links.
Click Share. You can now create your story map by
clicking the Create a Web App button and using
the Story Map Tour template. Create your story
map, and share it with your classmates.
NEL
SIGNIFICANT BATTLES IN THE WAR OF 1812
The British, Americans, and allies from both sides, which included First Nations,
fought to gain or defend territories. What were the human costs of this two-
and-a-half-year war? There is no way to know exactly. Official records are vague.
Thousands were killed in the battles and thousands more were killed due to
diseases and other factors stemming from the battles. Some sources estimate
a total of about 35 000 British soldiers, American soldiers, and First Nations
warriors died in battle and from other causes related to the War of 1812.
The following are some of the key battles that took place during the
War of 1812.
The Siege of Detroit
At the outset of the war, the Americans focused on Detroit
as a key location from which to invade Upper Canada. Detroit
lay between the British forces and their First Nations allies. By
setting up camp in Detroit, the Americans hoped to interrupt
communications between the British and their allies.
Hull’s strategy of scaring colonists in Upper Canada into
surrendering to the Americans (see Figure 6.14) did not work. In
August 1812, under the leadership of Brock, a few hundred soldiers
from Britain, British colonists from Upper and Lower Canada and
the Maritimes, and First Nations allies, crossed the Detroit River
to attack. Hull’s 2500 troops vastly outnumbered Brock’s forces. FIGURE 6.20 The Bombardment of Fort Detroit, 1812
Despite this, the Americans believed Brock’s forces were much was painted in 1997 by artist Peter Rindlisbacher.
Rindlisbacher is known for his historically accurate
larger than they actually were. Hull surrendered after heavy fire
portrayals of naval battles. Analyze: How do you think
from British ships along the Detroit River. Figure 6.20 shows the
fighting a battle on the water differs from fighting
important role of the navy in the British victory. on land?
This early win for the British helped to solidify alliances
between the British and First Nations, especially between Brock
and Tecumseh.
The Battle of Queenston Heights
The Americans considered Niagara in Upper Canada another
strategic place to launch an invasion. If they conquered Niagara,
they could cut off British access to Detroit.
The Americans invaded the town of Queenston in Niagara
on October 13, 1812. Brock was awakened by the sound of guns
being fired. He did not have the forces he needed to deal with
such an invasion, but he gathered a small number of troops. As
he led the troops up the hill (called the Heights), Brock was shot
in the chest and killed. His troops withdrew. A few hours later,
with a new major-general in place, more British troops arrived,
along with Haudenosaunee Six Nations and Delaware warriors.
The American forces were reduced when some members of the
American militia, who were not strong supporters of the war,
FIGURE 6.21 This is a colourized image of an 1836
painting entitled The Battle of Queenston Heights. The refused to fight on the Canadian side of the border. Figure 6.21
original artist is unknown. Analyze: How does seeing shows the American forces crossing the Niagara River and
this depiction of the battle help you to understand how scrambling up the embankment. British troops are assembled at
the British won the battle? the top of the hill, ready to face their attackers. The British won
this battle, giving them a significant victory.
NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 179
The Battle of York and the Burning of Washington, D.C.
York (present-day Toronto) was the capital of
Upper Canada. Its location was strategic since
it was a site where weapons and gunpowder
were stored. It also had a massive ship—
HMS Sir Isaac Brock—under construction. The
Americans thought that control of this ship
would mean control of the Great Lakes.
Approximately 1700 American troops and
a fleet of ships attacked York on April 27, 1813.
The Americans beat the British and a group
of Ojibwe and Mississauga warriors. They took
the town, Fort York, and the dockyard. As
the British retreated, however, they set off an
explosion. The explosion blew up much of the
fort and caused many deaths and casualties
on both sides. The British also burnt HMS Sir
Isaac Brock to prevent the Americans from
capturing it.
In August 1814, the British retaliated for
the loss of York. They attacked Washington,
the capital of the United States. The British
set fire to the White House, the Capitol
building that held the Library of Congress, the
treasury building, and the navy yard. When
the fires were put out the next day, only one
government building was left standing.
Figure 6.22 depicts the burning of
the White House. Why would this be an
important building for the British to destroy?
FIGURE 6.23 This image, entitled Bataille de Châteauguay, 1813, was
created by Henri Julien around 1884. Analyze: Would a colourized version
of this image enhance your understanding of the Battle of Châteauguay?
Why, or why not?
180 UNIT 2: Conflicts and Challenges in Canada: 1800–1850
The Battle of Lundy’s Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie
In the darkness of July 25, 1814, the Battle of Lundy’s Lane began. Examine
Figure 6.24. What does it tell you about this battle that took place near
Niagara Falls? The lack of light led to much confusion on the battlefield. Both the
British and the Americans accidentally killed some of their own men. The Americans
withdrew and decided to build their defences at Fort Erie.
The British forces attacked Fort Erie on August 13, 1814. Their goal was to
lay siege to the fort and force the Americans out of their defensive stronghold.
Haudenosaunee Six Nations, Ojibwe, Mississauga, Odawa, Wyandot, and Delaware
warriors fought alongside the British. Despite intense fighting, the British and their
allies were unable to defeat the Americans and withdrew on September 21.
FIGURE 6.24 This colourized
The Americans later decided to abandon the fort due to a shortage of supplies.
image of an 1859 painting entitled
They retreated across the Niagara River to American territory in Buffalo. Before
Lundy’s Lane by Alonzo Chappel
leaving on November 5, 1814, they blew up the fort so that the British could not depicts the Battle of Lundy’s Lane
use it. on July 25, 1814. Analyze: Does
Because both the Americans and the British retreated, there was no clear winner this painting support the view that
in the battle. The British claimed victory from Lundy’s Lane and the Americans there was no winning side in this
claimed victory from Fort Erie. battle? Why, or why not?
FIGURE 6.22 This image, entitled The Burning of the White House, 1814,
was created by Tom Freeman in 2004. Analyze: How do you think both
the British and the Americans felt as they watched the White House burn?
The Battle of Châteauguay
The Americans planned to invade Montréal
and cut off British supply ties between
Montréal and Kingston. Their goal was to
hinder British war efforts in Upper Canada.
However, leadership and communication
were poor on the American side. Although
American forces outnumbered the British by
about eight times, they overestimated how
large the British forces were.
The Battle of Châteauguay, shown in
Figure 6.23, happened on October 26, 1813.
The British forces in Lower Canada consisted
of British soldiers, Canadian Voltigeurs
(largely French-speaking soldiers from
Québec), local militia, and Mohawk, Huron,
and Abenaki warriors. The British blew
horns in the woods as a tactic to trick CHECK-IN
the Americans into thinking they were
outnumbered. The Americans were fooled 1. CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCE What were some 3. COMMUNICATE Choose a battle from pages 179 to
and retreated. Montréal remained under intended and unintended consequences of 181. Imagine you are a journalist reporting from
British control. Of greater significance was some of the significant battles in Upper and the front lines of that battle. Create a news report
that soldiers from both Upper Canada and
Lower Canada? covering the significant events of the battle.
Lower Canada joined forces in the battle.
This meant that, for the first time in North 2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Which battle do you Remember to include a headline and answer the
5Ws in your report.
America, the French and the English fought think was most significant, and why? What
alongside each other. criteria did you use to come to this conclusion?
NEL NEL CHAPTER 6: The War of 1812 181