In 1807, Great Britain was engaged in a protracted war with Napoleon's France. Britain passed laws allowing their armed forces to stop any neutral ship on the high seas in order to prevent that ship from trading with occupied Europe or delivering arms and ammunition to the enemy.

American ships were regularly stopped and boarded by the British navy . The Americans protested but those protests were ignored. The Americans began warning the British that to continue to ignore American protests would result in war between their two countries. To make this situation much worse, the British after seizing American ships would kidnap American sailors and conscript them into serving with the British navy. The British had forced approximately 3,000 American soldiers to fight for Britain and had seized up to 400 American vessels.

In February of 1807, the British Frigate "Melumpus" was anchored in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia when three American sailors escaped to the nearby American Frigate " Chesapeake". The British warship, Melumpus gave chase and in a short sharp exchange of cannon fire disabled the American warship, Chesapeake. The three American deserters were captured by the British and hanged to death in Halifax.

In America, Indiana Governor, William Harrison forced the western Indian tribes from their hunting grounds in exchange for a paltry sum of money. The Shawnee Indians resisted.

On November 6th 1811, Governor Harrison’s troops attacked the Indians at Tippecanoe. From that point onward, Governor Harrison had turned all Indians of the western nation into mortal enemies of the Americans. Shawnee Indian Chief Tecumseh vowed his people would assist the British in their coming war with the Americans.

As war with the Americans seemed imminent, British Major General Isaac Brock began reinforcing of the forts throughout Upper Canada. Governor General Sir George Provost felt that the British would most likely abandon Niagara if attacked by the Americans. The British primary defense would be at Halifax and Quebec City.

The British had now become allies with the western Indians.

The War of 1812

On June 26th 1812, while Major General Isaac Brock was entertaining American officers at Fort George in Newark (Niagara on the Lake), he received news that a state of war had existed between the Americans and the British since June 11th 1812.

Major General Brock was 42 years old and was an imposing figure at 6'3". Brock announced the declaration of war to his guests. After saying goodbye and wishing each other well, the Americans departed.

This marked the beginning of the War of 1812. This war would continue for the next three years before it would end.

The commander of the American forces in the Niagara Frontier was General Stephen Van Rensselaer. The Americans had 6,000 soldiers along the frontier while the British had 1,200 regular soldiers bolstered by various militias.

The Americans attacked Fort Niagara (Youngstown, New York) forcing the British to abandon the fort for the safety of Fort George along the western banks of the Niagara River.

Battle of Queenston Heights

On October 13th 1812 at approximately 3 a.m., the Americans under the command of General Rensselaer invaded Upper Canada at Queenston. The invading forces were quickly spotted by a lone outpost sentry. This sentry notified the main group of British soldiers that had been posted to Queenston Heights.

The Americans began drawing British fire. At the onslaught of this battle, American Commander Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer was killed after being struck by six musket balls.

American artillery batteries in Lewiston, New York began to bombard British troop positions in Queenston signalling the coming of the main American invasion force.

At Fort George, Major General Brock could hear the sounds of battle and instantly realized that Queenston was under attack.

Major General Brock quickly rode to Queenston with his aides de camp, Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell and Captain John Glegg. Brock had left orders for the main British garrison to be ready to march towards Queenston at first daylight.

Upon approaching Queenston, Major General Isaac Brock witnessed a massive number of Americans being readied on the American shoreline at Lewiston to join the invasion force. Brock sent an immediate message to British troops at Fort George and in Chippawa to send reinforcements.

Major General Brock knew the British were badly out numbered. He also knew the vital strategic military importance of controlling the high ground at Queenston Heights.

Major General Isaac Brock found himself in the middle of the battle as the American infantry led by Captain John Wood had been able to sneak up the escarpment to near the top of Queenston Heights.

Major General Brock ordered his troops to retreat into the village in order to regroup. Brock wanted to reclaim the high grounds of Queenston before reinforcements arrived. He began to counter attack the Americans with the 200 soldiers that were at his service. The attack was stalled by American artillery fire. With his troops pinned down, Brock mounted his horse "Alfred" and ordered his troops to continue their charge by yelling "follow me boys".

During this charge in an attempt to retake the Redan Battery at Queenston Heights, Major General Isaac Brock was shot by an American marksman who had hidden behind a tree. Brock was shot in the chest with a musket ball at close range. Here Major General Isaac Brock fell to the ground mortally wounded.

As the British soldiers were about to retreat, two companies of British militia from York arrived with aide de camp, John Macdonell.

In the ensuing battle, the Americans had taken control of Queenston Heights and over run the village below forcing the British to retreat yet again. In this battle aide de camp. Macdonnell was shot and killed.

The Americans had won the initial skirmish and were able to take the high ground. They repulsed two British counter attacks before being forced to relinquish the high ground because of a successful third British counter attack and the ineptness of the local American militia.

The bodies of Major General Brock and Lieutenant Colonel Macdonell were carried back to Newark where they laid in state for three days before being buried at the northeast bastion of Fort George.

The New York State militia were watching the battle from the American shore. They witnessed the death and destruction first hand and saw the results as the dead and injured Americans were ferried back across the river. When the time came for them to join their regular American army counterparts on the Canadian side of the river, they refused to go which under their constitution they had the right to do.

Without the assistance of the New York militia, the regular American troops had no reinforcements to help them fortify their newly won ground.

British Major General Roger Sheaffe, replaced Major General Brock.

Major General Sheaffe waited for reinforcements before attempting to mount a counter attack against the Americans. When the British did mount their attack, they were able to out flank the Americans. The Indian allies of the British began firing at the Americans as well.

Being out maneuvered and without reinforcements, American commander, Winfield Scott surrendered to the British.

This brought to the end the first of many battles yet to come.

As a result of this military blunder, American General Van Rensselaer resigned his command and was replaced by Brigadier General Alexander Smyth.

Brigadier General Smyth was determined to punish the British for the British victories at Queenston and earlier at Detroit. Smyth proclaimed publicly that he would invade Upper Canada before the end of the month. This announcement provided ample warning for the British.

On November 17th 1812, in order to stop an American invasion, the British bombarded Smyth’s headquarters and on November 21st 1812, bombarded Fort Niagara. The Americans responded with an artillery barrage of their own striking at Fort George.

On November 28th 1812, 400 American soldiers invaded Upper Canada by crossing the Niagara River between Black Creek (Buffalo) and Fort Erie. While one group seized the gun batteries between Fort Erie and Frenchman’s Creek, the second group destroyed the Frenchman’s Creek bridge in order to slow the arrival of reinforcements from Chippawa. The British army quickly foiled this American incursion, forcing the Americans to retreat back to Black Creek.

During the winter of 1812 - 1813, there was little war activity in Niagara. Both the Americans and the British used this time to re-supply, reinforce and otherwise solidify their armies.

The war between the Americans and the British continued in Kingston and along the St. Lawrence River.

On February 20th 1813, the British attacked and defeated the Americans at Ogdensburg, New York.

On April 27th 1813, the Americans attacked Fort York (Toronto). The British were outnumbered and were forced to abandon the fort but not before setting it and all the remaining ships and supplies on fire.

The Americans occupied York until May 18th 1813. Before leaving the Americans burned the Parliament Buildings to the ground.

Battle of Newark

On May 25th 1813 at day break, the Americans began heavy artillery bombardment of Fort George, a prelude to an invasion. The bombardment all but destroyed Fort George leaving the British with little fortification.

On May 27th 1813, the Americans invade Newark (Niagara on the Lake) from Fort Niagara. Badly out numbered, the British abandon Fort George and retreat west to Stoney Creek (Hamilton/Burlington) with the Americans in pursuit.

On June 5th 1813, the Americans reached Stoney Creek. Here the British and their Indian allies attacked the Americans. During the battle, the Americans were forced to retreat back to Fort George in the Niagara Peninsula with the British now in pursuit.

The Americans were able to fight off the British attack at Fort George.

Battle of Beaverdams

Laura (Ingersoll) Secord was the wife of James Secord. They lived in Queenston.

On June 14th 1813, American Brigadier General John Boyd ordered Lieutenant Colonel Charles Boerstler of the American 14th infantry to march to Decew House near Beaverdams to attack the British troops under the command of Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon.

On June 21st 1813, three American officers stopped at the house of Laura Secord in Queenston. They forced Secord to prepare and serve dinner to them. As these officers ate their meal, they spoke of their impending attack upon the British at Decew House not thinking that Laura Secord was listening.

After the Americans had left the house of Laura Secord, as a United Empire Loyalist, she realized she had to warn the British troops. Secord knew that this information was so important that she would have to deliver the message personally.

On June 22nd 1813, Laura Secord left home on a perilous journey walking to Decew House to warn the British encampment. Secord did deliver the warning to British commander, Lieutenant Fitzgibbon.

 On June 23rd 1813, Lieutenant Colonel Boerstler set out for Queenston with 700 soldiers. They rested over night at Queenston before setting out again the next morning. The Americans began marching westward along the top of the Niagara Escarpment through the village of Stamford.

The leader of the Iroquois Indians, Dominique Ducharme had picked out a site along the route where the British and the Indians could ambush the Americans. With Caughnawaga warriors on the right and Six Nations warriors on the left the Americans were ambushed as they made their way along the gauntlet. The fierce battle resulted in many dead and injured. The Americans stood their ground and fought. The British were still outnumbered by the Americans.

Fitzgibbon demanded the Americans surrender from Boerstler, however it was not until the British had received reinforcements after a lengthy period of time did Boerstler know he was overpowered and then surrender.

Once the British and the Indians had completely surrounded the Americans, the Americans surrendered ending the battle of the Beaverdams. This was an Indian victory that was decided by those warriors fighting along side of the British.

Laura Secord became legendary for her courage and determination in warning the British of the impending American attack.

On September 10th 1814, the Americans defeated the British in the greatest sea battle of the war.

Despite British victories at Chateauguay and at Cryslers farm which ended the American threats of occupying Montreal and Quebec, the American navy battled the British navy at the River Thames and were victorious. This battle seriously damaged the British naval capability and allowed the Americans to rule the waterways. The battle of the Thames made the British hold of the Niagara Peninsula very weak because the American navy now controlled the waters of the Niagara River.

On December 10th 1813, The Americans abandoned Fort George after their numbers had dwindled to less than 100 soldiers. Rather than trying to hang onto the fort without proper reinforcements and supplies, they decided to return to Fort Niagara.

During their withdrawal, the Americans torched the settlement of Newark, burning it to the ground. The British troops who had retreated to Burlington while the Americans occupied Queenston and Newark (Niagara on the Lake) returned to a devastated Newark and an abandoned but still standing Fort George.

The British were outraged by the actions of the Americans.

The British began fortifying Fort George using building techniques developed by the Americans during their occupation. The British began building a new fortification at the mouth of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario directly opposite Fort Niagara. This new Fort was called "Fort Mississauga". 

On December 13th 1813, the British infantry marched to St. David's.

On December 18th 1813, the British attacked the Americans at Fort Niagara. As the battle raged, soldiers were fighting at close quarters with bayonets and by hand.

On December 19th 1813, the British defeated the Americans at Fort Niagara. Sixty-five Americans soldiers died and six British soldiers died during the battle.

In retribution for the American burning of Newark, the British burned Lewiston, Manchester (Niagara Falls, New York) and Fort Schlosser.

As the British continued their march southward, they continued to burn everything in their path. On December 28th 1813, the British burned the settlement at Black Creek and Buffalo.

The winter of 1813-1814, was mostly quiet again. The Niagara Frontier lay in ruins. The Americans and the British spent the winter re-supplying and reinforcing.

In the spring of 1814, the British had defeated Napoleon in Europe. Soon the British troops in Europe would be re-deployed to the war against the Americans.

The American commander for the Niagara Frontier was Major General Jacob Jennings Brown. It was Major General Brown’s plan to feign an attack on Niagara while actually attacking Kingston instead.

The Americans massed their troops in Buffalo. The British had 2,700 soldiers in the Niagara Peninsula along with Indian allies composed from the Ottawa's, Chippewa's, Delaware's, Munsey's, Wyandot's, Fox, Shawnee, Moravian's, Cherokee, Kickapoo's and the Sioux tribes.

Battle of Chippawa

On July 3rd 1814 at approximately 2 a.m., the Americans invaded Upper Canada by crossing the Niagara River from Black Rock and landing north of Fort Erie. The invasion force was spotted and the Americans landed under a hail of gun fire.

The meagre British force of 137 soldiers quickly surrendered before being over run by a much larger American force.

Once landed, the 6,000 American soldiers began marching northward towards Chippawa.

The battle of Chippawa began on July 5th 1814 at Street's Creek (Usshers Creek). It took place in a fields located between Street's Creek and Chippawa Creek (Welland River). The battle lasted approximately thirty minutes. The 1,300 American regulars had defeated the 1,500 British soldiers. During this battle the British had sustained 148 soldiers killed, 221 wounded and 46 captured. The Americans had sustained 44 soldiers killed and 224 wounded.

The Americans forced the British to retreat under heavy gun fire to Chippawa Creek (Welland River). As the British rear guard withdrew over the King's Bridge, they removed the wood plank flooring rendering it impassable. This would be the first battle where the American regular forces defeated the British regular forces. 

The British were under the command of Major General Phineus Riall. The British retreated to the North side of the Welland River to escape the advance of the Americans. For the next three days, the British and the Americans faced each other from across the river, before the British retreated to Fort George as the Americans marched northward.

On July 18th 1814, the Americans burned the settlement of St. David's.

The burning of St. David's enraged the British. British reinforcements were ordered into the battle. They arrived from York.

The Americans now had a troop strength of 2,800 soldiers.

On July 24th 1814, Major General Brown withdrew his forces back to Chippawa in order to re-supply his army.

Major General Brown had decided to by-pass Fort George and attack Burlington Heights instead. Brown reasoned that if Burlington Heights fell into American hands, then Fort George and Fort Niagara would be cut off from men and supplies.

Battle of Lundy's Lane

Approximately 100 yards west of Portage Road on Lundy's Lane stood a Presbyterian Church built in 1775. It was a small red log building which stood on the highest ground on Lundy's Lane Hill (presently known as Drummond Hill). Along the south side of this church was a small enclosed grave yard.

Lundy's Lane Hill at 710 feet above sea level towered above the surrounding landscape.

To the south side of Lundy's Lane Hill (present site of Barker Street) was a young orchard below the grave sites. Among the tender trees stood a small house and a farm yard.

The closest house to the battlefield was James Forsyth's house ( present site of Ukrainian Catholic Church - Main Street). The next closest house was that of Haggai Skinner who lived north of the battlefield on present day Drummond Road. The only homes on Lundy's Lane were the homesteads of the Lundy's and the Green's quite a distance away.

Surrounding Lundy's Lane Hill were meadows and cultivated fields with thick woods less than a mile away stretching in every direction.

According to a letter written about the Prospect Hotel by the son of the original builder, Robert Fairbank, there is a tunnel that runs from Drummond Hill Cemetery to the Prospect Hotel. Now boarded up, it was originally used as an escape route by defenders, during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

On July 25th 1814, Major General Phineus Riall began marching his British army southward towards Chippawa from Queenston. They arrived at Lundy's Lane Hill at noon. Lundy's Lane Hill was located just west of Portage Road and was the highest point of land in the area. It provided an excellent vantage point in all directions over looking the lower surrounding area.

Major General Jacob Brown thought the British would march eastward in an attempt to cut off the supply lines to Fort Schlosser. Because of this, Brown ignored a sighting of British troops along the Portage Road near the Falls.

At 5 p.m. on July 25th 1814, Major General Brown was convinced that the British were invading Lewiston by crossing the Niagara River at Queenston. Brown ordered General Winfield Scott to march towards Queenston with a brigade of soldiers in an attempt to force the British to withdraw.

The movement of Scott’s brigade was spotted by a British sentry, William Hamilton Merritt. The Americans had fired in Merritt's direction, but Merritt made his escape. Merritt rode to Drummond Hill on Lundy's Lane to notify the main British force.

The Americans stopped at Wilson’s Tavern located along the Portage Road above the Horseshoe Falls. General Scott questioned Mrs. Wilson about the British. In order to save her tavern, Mrs. Wilson told Scott that the British had 800 regular soldiers along with 300 militia and Indian allies. She told Scott that the British were being led by Major General Rail and that they were encamped at Portage Road at Lundy's Lane.

Without waiting for reinforcements, Scott and his brigade pushed ahead. Mrs. Wilson in providing information to Brown unwittingly over stated the strength of the British forces. As General Scott and his American infantry moved forward they did so very carefully and slowly.

As the Americans approached Lundy's Lane, British Major General Riall ordered his men to retreat from Lundy's Lane Hill back to Queenston.

As Riall and his soldiers were retreating, they met British Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond along with reinforcement troops on the Portage Road approximately one mile north of Lundy's Lane. Lieutenant General Drummond countermanded General Riall’s orders and ordered all the British troops back to Lundy's Lane Hill.

In the meantime, Scott was still of the belief that half of the British army were by now on American soil so he ordered his brigade to move slowly forward. Because of the errant information, Mrs. Wilson had given to Scott, the British troops had just enough time to return to Lundy's Lane Hill.

Scott and his infantry brigade advanced, the British opened fire. Scott quickly realized that he was facing the bulk of the British forces, however the American out numbered the British. The battle of Lundy's Lane continued into the night.

The Americans forced the British to abandon Lundy's Lane Hill and retreat a short distance to the north. Several counter attacks including an attack from the rear by the British were unsuccessful. This bloody battle had left many dead and wounded.

At approximately midnight, the British were on the verge of a certain defeat, when the Americans were ordered by Scott to withdraw back to Chippawa. Scott needed water for his troops and was unaware that a water supply closer to Chippawa was available.

Once the Americans had abandoned Lundy's Lane Hill, it was quickly retaken by the British.

The Americans had tried to retake Lundy's Lane Hill from the British on the morning of July 26th 1814, however found that the British had reinforced and entrenched themselves.

Before the battle had ended, 5,000 American soldiers had faced 2,200 British soldiers, militia and Indians in the largest and bloodiest battle of the war.

The Americans withdrew to Fort Erie. As they retreated, they burned Bridgewater Mills to the ground.

Casualties during this battle were heavy. The Americans had sustained 173 soldiers killed, 624 wounded and 117 taken prisoner. The British had sustained 94 soldiers killed, 559 wounded and 221 taken prisoner.

British General Riall had been taken prisoner by the Americans. Americans, Major General Brown and General Scott were seriously wounded during the battle.

On August 2nd 1814, Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond and his British forces attacked the supply lines to the Americans at Fort Erie. The Americans forced the British to retreat to Chippawa.

Most of the dead soldiers were burned on the battlefield in a gigantic funeral pyre. The location of this pyre is present site of the old manse for Drummond Hill Presbyterian Church.

The log meeting house was destroyed.

Battle of Cooks Mills

On October 19th 1814, the Americans sent 2,000 soldiers to the settlement of Cooks Mills to cross Lyons Creek in order to attack the British in Chippawa from the unguarded west. At the settlement of Cooks Mills, the Americans met 750 British soldiers under the command of General Riall as they tried to cross Lyons Creek. A short but violent exchange took place which resulted in many casualties on both sides. The Americans were forced to retreat back to Fort Erie and failed in their effort to mount a surprise attack against the British.

This battle also known as the skirmish at Lyons Creek was the last battle fought on Canadian soil. American General Izard, commanding a force of 8000 men, moved up to Chippawa. There, the British General Drummond had established a defensive position complete with new field defences. The Americans attempted to outflank the British, but Drummond responded quickly.The British had congrieve rockets and one cannon and these proved effective in balancing the numbers.

The British lost 19 men killed or wounded and the American losses were acknowledge to be 67 men, apart from the fact that 200 bushes of wheat and flour were destroyed by the American brigade nothing else resulted from this sharp skirmish as very soon circumstances compelled the Americans to exchange their advance for a somewhat inglorious retreat. The Americans were forced to retreat back to Fort Erie and failed in their effort to mount a surprise attack against the British.

Both commanding officers filed reports claiming victory.

End of the War (1812 - 1815)

On December 25th 1814, a peace treaty was signed at Ghent, officially ending the state of war between the British and the Americans. The War of 1812 had come to an end and the Niagara Frontier laid in ruins. Until word of the treaty had reached combatants from both countries, several large battles occurred in early 1815 including the Battle of New Orleans on January 9th and the final naval clash that occurred on March 23rd.