War of 1812 Ends

Today’s installment concludes Canada Versus USA 1812-1814,
the name of our combined selection from Agnes M. Machar and David Ramsay. The concluding installment, by David Ramsay from History of the American Revolution, Continued to the Treaty of Ghent, was published in 1815.

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Previously in Canada Versus USA 1812-1814.

The pacification in Europe in 1814 offered to the British a large disposable force, both naval and military, and with it the means of giving to the war in America a character of new and increased activity and extent. The friends of the Administration anticipated a severer conflict and prepared for greater sacrifices and greater sufferings. Its opposers, where difficulties thickened and danger pressed, were encouraged to make vigorous efforts to wrest the reins of authority from men who, they asserted, had shown themselves incompetent to hold them. The President deemed it advisable to strengthen the line of the Atlantic, and therefore called on the executives of several States to organize and hold in readiness for immediate service a corps of ninety three thousand five hundred men.

The hostile movements on the northern frontier were now becoming vigorous and interesting. In the beginning of July General Brown, who had been assiduously employed in disciplining his troops, crossed the Niagara with about three thousand men, and took possession, without opposition, of Fort Erie. In a strong position at Chippewa, a few miles distant, was in trenched an equal number of British troops, commanded by General Riall. On the 4th General Brown approached their works; and the next day, on the plains of Chippewa, an obstinate and sanguinary battle was fought, which compelled the British to retire to their intrenchments. In this action, which was fought with great judgment and coolness on both sides, the loss of the Americans was about four hundred men, that of the British was upward of five hundred. Soon afterward, General Riall, abandoning his works, retired to the heights of Burlington. Here Lieutenant-General Drummond, with a large reinforcement, joined him, and assuming the command, led back the army toward the American camp. On the 25th was fought the Battle of Bridgewater [Lundy’s Lane], which began at four in the afternoon and continued until midnight. After a desperate conflict the British troops were withdrawn, and the Americans left in possession of the field.

The loss on both sides was severe and nearly equal. Generals Brown and Scott having both been severely wounded, the command developed upon General Ripley. He remained a few hours upon the hill, collected the wounded, and then returned unmolested to the camp. This battle was fought near the cataract of Niagara, whose roar was silenced by the thunder of can non and the din of arms, but was distinctly heard during the pauses of the fight. The American General found his force so much weakened that he deemed it prudent again to occupy Fort Erie. On August 4th it was invested by General Drummond with five thousand troops. In the night between the 14th and 15th the besiegers made a daring assault upon the fort, which was repelled with conspicuous gallantry by the garrison, the former losing more than nine hundred men, the latter but eighty four. The siege was still continued. On September 2d General Brown, having recovered from his wounds, threw himself into the fort, and took command of the garrison. For their fate great anxiety was felt by the nation, which was, however, in some degree removed by the march from Plattsburg of five thousand men to their relief. After an hour of close fighting they entered the fort, having killed, wounded, and taken one thousand of the British. The loss of the Americans was also considerable, amounting to more than five hundred. On September 21st the forty-ninth day of the siege, General Drummond withdrew his forces.

The march of the troops from Plattsburg having left that post almost defenseless, the enemy determined to attack it by land, and, at the same time, to attempt the destruction of the American flotilla on Lake Champlain. On September 3d Sir George Prevost, the Governor-General of Canada, at the head of fourteen thousand men, entered the territories of the United States. On the 6th they arrived at Plattsburg. It is situated near Lake Champlain, on the northern bank of the small river Saranac. On their approach the American troops, who were posted on the opposite bank, tore up the planks on the bridges, with which they formed slight breastworks, and prepared to dispute the passage of the stream. The British employed themselves for several days in erecting batteries, while the American forces were daily augmented by the arrival of volunteers and militia. Early in the morning of the 11th the British squadron, commanded by Commodore Downie, appeared off the harbor of Plattsburg, where that of the United States, commanded by Captain Macdonough, lay at anchor prepared for battle. At nine o’clock the action commenced. Seldom has there been a more furious encounter than the bosom of this transparent and peaceful lake was now called to witness. During the naval conflict the British on land began a heavy cannonade upon the American lines, and at tempted at different places to cross the Saranac; but as often as the British advanced into the water they were repelled by a destructive fire from the militia. At half past eleven the shout of victory heard along the American lines announced the result of the battle on the lake. Thus deprived of naval aid, in the afternoon the British withdrew to their intrenchments, and in the night they commenced a precipitate retreat. Upon the lake the American loss was one hundred ten; the British one hundred ninety-four, besides prisoners. On land, the American loss was one hundred nineteen; that of the British has been estimated as high as two thousand five hundred.

This ends our selections on Canada Versus USA 1812-1814 by two of the most important authorities of this topic:

• The Great Events by Famous Historians, Vol. 15 by Agnes M. Machar published in 1905.
• History of the American Revolution, Continued to the Treaty of Ghent by David Ramsay published in 1815.

Agnes M. Machar began here. David Ramsay began here.

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