Tag Archives: battle

Project:1812 – The Siege of Fort Meigs

With the invasion of Canada on hold at least for now, the American forces had time to consolidate and rebuild after they were rebuffed during the first year of the war. Brock’s victory at Detroit and Queenston Heights did much to improve the moral of the British and Canadians forces, and only served to give the Americans more resolve to make 1813 the year they take Upper Canada for themselves, and with Brock dead, who was going to stop them? But in the mid-west a new force was stirring. The newly commissioned General William Henry Harrison was marching north, building a series of supply depots to support his Army of the North West, and it was at the largest of these depots, Fort Meigs, that the British would try and stop him.

Reenactors portraying the Light Company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment take the field against members of the Kentucky Militia, aka Kentucky Riflemen.

General Procter of the British forces in the west had wanted to launch an attack in early spring against Fort Meigs (located in what is today Perrysburg, OH) when it was still under construction and venerable to attack. But he was hampered by heavy rain and poor weather preventing such an attack and giving the American’s time to complete and garrison the massive fort. On April 26th, 1813 General Procter and a force of 486 British Regulars consisting of members of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, along with a detachment from the Royal Artillery, and 462 Canadian Militia. Shawnee leader Tecumseh brought 1250 warriors to enforce the regulars and militia. Procter’s guns, consisting of two massive 24-pound canons from Fort Detroit, several smaller artillery pieces and mortars along two gunboats arrayed on the Miami River opened fire on Fort Meigs on May 1st. Harrison however had an ace up his sleeve, he had ordered 12 foot tall traverses to be built up inside the fort walls, Procter’s seemingly unlimited supplies of shells just sank, without doing any major damage into the wet earth. American troops dug bunkers into the traverses, being described as an army of groundhogs by a captured British officer. Harrison also ordered that any soldier that brought canon rounds to the magazine would receive a gill of whiskey; as Harrison did not have the same amount of ammunition as the British forces seemed to have. Over a thousand gills would be handed out before the end of the siege.

Reenactors portraying Kentucky Militia, aka Kentucky Riflemen – these guys were pretty cool.

Although secure behind the walls of the fort, Harrison remained pinned down any attempt at a sortie would cause his own force to loose significant numbers, and most Americans still had the fear of Tecumseh’s warriors. But a glimmer of hope was given to the general, a force of Kentucky Militia and US Regulars were coming up from the south by boat. Harrison dispatched runners to General Clay in command of the1200 troops. Clay was to split his force into three groups, send a force to the north bank, a force to the south bank, and the reminder to head to the fort to reinforce the garrison there. Colonel Dudley was in command of the troops that landed on the north shore and quickly over ran the small force of Royal Artillery and native warriors the surprise attack sending them running into the woods. Using their own ramrods from their muskets they quickly spiked the guns, then thinking that Harrison’s signals to return to the fort were merely cheers raised a cheer themselves then spotting more natives at the edge of the woods took off after them. Harrison’s victory soon turned to defeat. British and militia troops heading to investigate the skirmish at the batteries quickly broke the Kentucky Militia’s line sending them back towards the shore where native warriors had outflanked them, catching them between native sharp shooters and redcoats. Of Dudley’s 866 men, only 150 made it back to the fort. Colonel Miller’s sortie to the south bank faired a little better, again taking the small force at the batteries by surprise his troops were able to drive the British forces off, but again after spiking the guns did not retreat (as those orders never reached them), allowing a counter attack by the British regulars drove them back to the fort after suffering heavy casualties.

Reenactors portraying the 60th Regiment of Foot form a skirmish line. Historically the 60th did not fight at Fort Meigs, but the reenactment group is known for their skill on the field as light infantry.

The two sorties did some damage to the British line, the guns on the south bank were rendered useless, but the north bank guns were able to be easily reactivated due to the fact that Dudley’s men used ramrods instead of hand spikes. By May 9th Procter’s forces were suffering from dwindling spirits and supplies. After arranging for an exchange of prisoners the siege was lifted and Procter returned to Detroit. The Americans having suffered 160 killed, 250 wounded, 530 captured, and 6 missing. British reporting 14 dead, 47 wounded, and 41 captured. At the urging of Tecumseh a second attempt at a siege was launched later in 1813 but was soon abandoned as the ruse did not succeed is drawing the fort’s garrison (now under General Clay) out. The failure to secure Fort Meigs caused a massive ripple during the fall of 1813 and saw General Harrison’s army of the Northwest invade and secure the western end of Upper Canada, the destruction of Fort Amhurstburg and the eventual death of Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. Every May at Fort Meigs National Historic Site hosts an annual siege event. It usually rains.

Written with files from:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins – 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers
Web: www.galafilm.com/1812/e/events/ftmeigs.html
Web: war1812.tripod.com/batmeigs.html

Photos:
Nikon F4 – AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8G VR – Ilford FP4+

Project:1812 – Battle of Stoney Creek

Project:1812 – The Battle of Beaver Dams

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The Battle of Beaver Dams created two Canadian Folk Heroes and was one of the stranger battles of the War of 1812, for it wasn’t won by force of arms but through audacity and deception. By the end of May 1813 most of the Niagara peninsula was in the hands of the Americans, they held Fort George, Newark (Niagara-On-The-Lake) and Queenston Heights. The British had been forced back to Burlington Heights, but after the Battle of Stoney Creek had established a series of outposts along the Niagara Escarpment. One of these outposts was at DeCew house near the settlement of Beaver Dams. The outpost at DeCew House was under the command of Lieutenant James FitzGibbon of the 49th. Along with the Lieutenant was fifty handpicked men of the 49th and a band of Mohawk Warriors.

Laura Secord’s home in Queenston where all the action started.

The Americans still smarting from their defeat at Stoney Creek set out on a new offensive on June 22nd, a column of 600 troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Boerstler set out from Fort George and made it to Queenston by 11pm on the 22nd and billeted in the town. Several officers stayed at the home of Laura Secord. During the night she overheard their plans to attack DeCew house and slipped out heading north walking the 27 kilometers to the house located in modern day Thorold. The Americans set out again in the morning of the 23rd, as they neared the escarpment at St. Davids they were spoted by Native scouts who also headed towards FitzGibbon at DeCew house. Their story was corroborated by the earlier information the Lieutenant had received from Laura Secord. FitzGibbon realizing he was seriously outnumbered began to lay his own plans for the American forces that were still under the impression the element of surprise was on their side.

The Ruins of DeCew house in Thorold, ON

By the 24th the Americans had made it over the escarpment and began to march along the Mountain Road towards the settlement at Beaver Dams. FitzGibbon had deployed his native warriors in the woods along the mountain road in ambush, and the small detachment of the 49th at the rear of the American column to prevent them from retreating. Boerstler became aware of the native warriors in the woods but refused to take any actions against them. As the American column approached the north east corner of Thorold Township the Mohawk warriors attacked the column, ambushing them in the woods. The American column broke, and scattered while continuing to be harassed by the Mohawks. The Americans wanted to drive the natives out into the open so that they could bring their artillery to bear, but with the warriors attacking from all sides it was difficult for the American commanders to organize their men into an effective counter attack. The battle raged on for a couple hours, FitzGibbon hearing the musket fire rode out to see what was happening, giving order for his own men to muster for battle. By the time he had arrived the Americans were preparing to pull back. FitzGibbon rode out to meet the Americans under a flag of truce only to encounter the Americans riding his way under the same flag. But FitzGibbon had a plan. He knew that his force was far outnumbered, even the native allies were pulling back, but even still he told the American officer that more natives were coming and he could not count on controlling them, in addition to the natives more British regulars were on their way and that their best move would be to surrender now. The Americans called FitzGibbon’s bluff and refused to surrender to a force that they could not see, but the bold Lieutenant offered to allow them to inspect the forces. The ruse was perpetuated as a group of Dragoons showed on the scene. FitzGibbon convinced the leader of the Dragoons, Captain John Hall to portray FitzGibbon’s superior officer, Major DeHaren, Hall stepped into the role with pride, informing the Americans that they could not inspect the British forces. The ruse was working, Boerstler was despite, he had many tired soldiers and more wounded. But the whole thing was nearly undone on the arrival of the actual Major DeHaren who began his own negotiations for the American Surrender. FitzGibbon pulled the major aside and informed him of the ruse that would allow for a British victory. DeHaren went along with the ruse and the surrender was signed.

The former battlefield memorial park in Beaver Dams, at the time I was unaware a new park had been constructed in downtown Thorold and the plaque moved there.

FitzGibbon was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Glengary Light Infantry for his actions at Beaver Dams. Laura Secord however was not recognized for her actions under later in the 19th century when FitzGibbon issued a written statement confirming her involvement in bringing the information to the Lieutenant. Today DeCew house is nothing more than a ruin having burned down in 1950; Ontario Power Company stabilized the ruin and installed a plaque explaining the value of the structure. The actual battlefield is paved over and a historic plaque that used to sit there was moved to a memorial park first in Beaver Dams but was moved to a new park in downtown Thorold.

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 and SMC Pentax A 645 35mm 1:3.5 – Kodak Plus-X Pan (PXP) and Ilford HP5+

Sources:
Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition, Revised and Updated
Gilbert Collins
Web: www.battleofbeaverdams.com

Project:1812 – Action at Butler’s Farm

Project:1812 – The Battle of Chippawa

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By the summer of 1814, it appeared that Napoleon would finally be defeated in Europe, an event that the American’s feared. Because up until recently the bulk of the British Army had been employed in fighting the French Emperor, and when his defeat finally came, they would be sent to put down the petulant former colony, re-enforcing Upper and Lower Canada, or even invading the United States itself. It was a prospect the American’s weren’t looking forward to, so they decided that if they were to kick the Imperial elements out of North America, they would have to act quickly. In July of 1814 the American’s launched an offensive into the Niagara peninsula once again. They quickly took Fort Erie on July 3rd, and started marching towards Chippawa.

Niagara Parks obtained the Chippawa battlefield in 1995, while most is still in rough shape, the section closest to the road is well maintained.

On the evening of July 4th, General Winfield Scott marched north with 1300 American troops, setting up camp near the Chippawa River to await reinforcements and General Jacob Brown. By midnight 2000 more American troops had arrived. American forces consisted of elements from 25th, 11th, 9th, and 22nd US Infantry. Learning of this the British forces in the area, under the command of Major General Phineas Riall, sent a small force of mostly snipers in to harass the American pickets and gain intelligence to the number and type of force the American’s had in the area. The force returned to General Riall’s camp, informing him that the American force is mostly militia, having seen them in grey coats instead of the blue of the US regulars. Riall is confident with his 2000 troops in launching an attack on the American forces, knowing that even American regulars could not stand up to a group of well commanded British red coats, not to mention militia.

The maintained section of the battlefield.

Riall marched on the American camp, taking with him 1st battalion 1st Royal Scotts Regiment of Foot, the 100th Regiment of Foot with the 1st battalion 8th The King’s Regiment of foot in reserve. Riall’s force moved through the wooded area to avoid detection by American pickets, encountering a force of 56 American troops in the woods, and was able to quickly push them back to their own camp. However this engagement loses the British element of surprise. Scott of course was not expecting an attack, as it was mid-afternoon at this point, but when the picket force returns, he quickly rallies his troops to meet the British attack. Riall was still expecting the American’s to cut and run under the fire from John Norton’s snipers, but they didn’t. They continue to march, despite this, filling in the gaps as their comrades fell. Riall did not count that the grey uniformed men were in fact American regulars, which under the command of Brown and Scott had been formed into an effective fighting force; one that could in fact stand toe-to-toe with British Red Coats.

Riall himself stated “Those are regulars, by God!” Scott’s men were fighting using the traditional European rules, firing volley after volley into the British lines. Separated by only 100 meters, and with the American artillery firing canister shot into the British lines cost the lives of not only regular troops but officers. With the British artillery silenced by their American counterparts, Scott orders a unique U-shaped formation, creating a devastating cross-fire. After twenty-five minutes of this, Riall knowing the battle was lost pulls his troops back across the river, destroying the bridge in his retreat. American forces pursue the British almost all the way back to the village of Chippawa.

The memorial Cairn, built with stone from Fort Niagara, and Cannon Shot from Fort George.

It was the victory that the American’s were hoping for, they had stood up to British Regulars using their own rules of engagement and won. Riall’s defeat saw the British forces pushed all the way back to Fort George and saw the American’s gain a major foothold on the peninsula once again. Of course this was short lived, as a few weeks later at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane, the American’s were pushed out of Upper Canada for good.

It wasn’t an ideal day to be out photographing sites. Having no wind to wave the flags, and the fog made driving interesting.

The Chippawa battlefield is located along the Niagara Parkway between Niagara Falls and Fort Erie. The site is marked by a stone cairn, built of stone from Fort Niagara and cannon balls from Fort George. Plaques mounted on the sides list the regiments that participated in the battle. There are no guides on site instead a series of plaques allow visitors to read about the battle. Chippawa’s legacy continues even today in the United States Military. The 6th US Infantry’s motto is “Regulars, By God” and there’s a myth about West Point’s grey parade uniforms that they were adopted to commemorate Scott’s troops at Chippawa. The reality was that grey wore well and were much cheaper than blue uniforms.

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 – Ilford HP5+

alex luyckx | blog

Explorer, Photographer, Wanderer