Battles of the War of 1812

Fort Mackinac July 17, 1812 Location: Mackinac Island, Michigan First battle of the war British pointed their cannons at the fort and demanded their surrender The Americans, unaware that they were at war, surrendered without a shot being fired

Fort Detroit August 15 – 16, 1812 Led by Isaac Brock Brock gets top secret information from letters Hull (Commander of Detroit) had placed on a lightly armed boat in the middle of a lake he did not control Cannons fired on the fort from across the river

Fort Detroit Brock leads a column around from the south Convinces Hull that he has more men than he really does Brock demands Hull’s surrender Hull, over the objections of his officers, surrenders without firing a shot in return

Queenston Heights October 13, 1812 Americans attack the high ground at Queenston and take the guns Brock hears the noise and charges to the battle, leaving orders for the rest of the army to follow at all haste British are in retreat, Brock rallies them and charges the heights

Queenston Heights Brock is shot by an American sniper Mohawk, who had been hiding in the woods, become enraged and charge Across the river, the second wave of Americans hears the war cries of the Mohawk and decide that they cannot, constitutionally, be marched into a foreign country

Queenston Heights Americans on the heights retreat to the river – no boats Americans are forced to surrender

Battle of Chateauguay October 26, 1813 Canadian leader – Charles de Salaberry Only battle in the entire war that did not include British soldiers French-speaking Canadians English-speaking Canadians Mohawk warriors

Battle of Chateauguay Canadian troops encountered American troops near Chrysler’s Farm near Montreal American commander asked de Salaberry if he would like to surrender De Salaberry is reported to have jumped onto a tree stump and shot the messenger dead After fierce fighting the Americans were forced to surrender to the Canadians

Lundy’s Lane July 25, 1814 Niagara Falls Bloodiest battle of the war Battle was so fierce, soldiers were confused and fired on their own men Last invasionary battle to be fought on Canadian soil Turning point in the war – now peace talks were taken seriously

Baltimore and Fort McHenry September 12 – 15, 1814 British invade Washington D.C. and burn all but three federal buildings, including the White House Revenge for the attack and burning of York British then turn to Fort McHenry

Baltimore and Fort McHenry Sail into the harbour, begin shelling the fort Americans return fire, shelling continues all night Francis Scott Key, a prisoner in the hold on a British ship watches the progress of the battle and writes a poem – The Star Spangled Banner British retreat in the morning

New Orleans Jan 8, 1815 Chalmette, Louisiana British attack in heavy fog, but the fog lifts just as they are crossing “no-man’s land” Americans open fire About 1500 British casualties to the American’s 60 casualties

New Orleans Emergence of Andrew Jackson as an American hero Decisive American victory, and the basis for their claim to victory Battle occurred after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed