In most cases when a fort is destroyed and rebuilt it retains its old name. Fort Erie was destroyed four times over the course of its service as a military outpost and maintained its old name. Fort York continued with even when the city it once defended changed to Toronto. But in the case of Fort Amherstburg, after the destruction of this fort, when it was rebuilt it was given the name Fort Malden as it is known by today.

A bastion in the 1830s earthworks.

Fort Amherstburg was built in 1796 after the Jay Treaty forced the British to transfer control of Fort Detroit over to the American government. The simple earthworks fortification on the Upper Canada side of the Detroit River served as the central hub for British Military operations, the Provincial Marine and the King’s Navy Yards, and the British Indian Department in the Western frontier of Upper Canada. The fort had simple wooden frame buildings, and no blockhouses (and oddity in those days). Construction of the fort fell to the Royal Canadian Volunteers (a group of local citizens of Upper Canada raised as a fensible battalion). The fort was manned by members of the Royal Artillery and a detachment from the 41st Regiment of foot. Another group of British irregular soldiers, Caldwell’s Western Rangers also operated out of the fort.

The 1819 Brick Barracks, the only surviving military structure on the site.

When war broke out in 1812, the fort was General Hull’s first target when he landed his forces north of the fort in the small town of Sandwich (Today known as Windsor, ON). He marched south only to be opposed by the troops from Amherstburg, it was this engagement at the River Canard along with news that General Brock was coming with reinforcements forced Hull to retreat back to Fort Detroit. When Brock arrived it was at Fort Amherstburg the general met with Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, the two great leaders then launched their operation laying siege to Fort Detroit eventually forcing Hull’s surrender and recapturing Detroit with plans for moving further south. But in 1813 the British fared far worse in the western theater, several failed attacks and sieges forced the British to retreat, General Procter ordering the King’s Navy Yards, warehouse and Fort Amherstburg destroyed by fire leaving nothing for the quickly advancing American army, and the British pulled back along the River Thames (it was during this retreat that the Battle on the Thames occurred and saw the death of Tecumseh). The Americans soon began construction of a new fort over the charred ruins of Fort Amherstburg, calling their new smaller fortification Fort Malden. With the war focus shifting to the Niagara peninsula over the final years of the war the Fort Malden remained incomplete when the British reclaimed the region, building only a small barracks to house a small detachment of troops in 1819.

A visual representation of the 1839 No. 1 Barracks

But by the 1830s the threat of rebellion swept through the Canadas, and the British scrambled to build up their military presence, Fort Malden once again was surrounded by high earthworks and several new buildings where thrown up. The fort was garrisoned by members of the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment, with the 34th Regiment of Foot using it as a staging area. The fort continued to serve as a military base until 1851, when it was transferred over to the local government who setup a lunatic asylum until 1871. During this time the earthworks were lowered, and trees planted over the ground, several new buildings were installed as well. After the asylum transferred to St. Catherines (where it still operates today) the fort was left and forgotten. The two larger barracks were moved elsewhere in Amherstburg, one split into three separate buildings, all of which still stand today, and the second was left intact and used as a stable until 1920 when it burned down. The grounds were slowly sold off for private ownership; the 1868 laundry/kitchen became a private residence. It was in 1937 when many of these historic sites were purchased by the federal government for restoration, Fort Malden among them. Today the Fort Malden National Historic Site contains the original 1819 barracks fully restored to what it would have looked like when it was built after the War of 1812, the 1868 building now serves as the fort’s museum. Visitors can also see the remains of the 1830s earthworks and see outlines where the other fort structures once stood.

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.amherstburg.ca/Attractions/Details/fortmalden.aspx
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/surrender/fortmalden.htm
Web: www.windsorpubliclibrary.com/digi/war1812/contents/retreat/retreatamherstburg.htm

Photos:
Pentax 645 – SMC Pentax A 645 75mm 1:2.8 – Kodak Tri-X Pan (320TXP)
Kodak HC-110 Dil. B 5:30 @ 20C