Français  Contact Us  Help  Search  Canada Site Volume 1 (1000–1754) Volume 2 (1755-1871) Volume 3 (1872–2000) CHAPTER 1 The Conquest CHAPTER 2 The Revolt of Pontiac and the American Invasion CHAPTER 3 The Coveted Pacific Coast CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 A Relatively Peaceful Decade The Militias of the New Provinces The French Revolution Canada at War with France Tensions with the United States The Royal Canadian Volunteers Newfoundland Threatened The 1802 Peace The Battle of Trafalgar New Tensions in America Mobilization in Lower Canada The British and Canadian Forces The War of 1812 Canada's Defence Strategy American Fiascos New Invasions in the West The Americans Attack Upper Canada Laura Secord and Beaver Dams Objective: Montreal! The Battle of Chateauguay The Battle of Crysler's Farm The British Take Fort Niagara The 1814 Invasion of Canada The Battle for the Northwest The Race to Build Ships The British Defeat at Plattsburgh The War at Sea The Legacy of the War of 1812 CHAPTER 5 Demobilization CHAPTER 6 The Royal Navy, Ruler of the Seas CHAPTER 7 A Decade of Turbulence APPENDIX A The British Armed Forces APPENDIX B Daily Life of Soldiers and Officers APPENDIX C Uniforms and Arms APPENDIX D Reference      CHAPTER 4 The Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812           The 1814 Invasion of Canada ( 4 pages )           1 2 3 4      The Siege of Fort Erie                Officer with regimental colour, 9th (the East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, 1814. (Click image to enlarge) It was not long before the two armies faced one another again, because General Drummond surrounded Fort Erie and began a siege on August 13.  After only two days of shelling, the British attempted to take the fort with approximately 1,300 soldiers, but they had not banked on the Americans' determination.  They suffered heavy losses when an underground powder magazine exploded, killing hundreds of men.  There was no choice but to withdraw.  They had lost more than 900 men, killed, wounded or missing, against only 84 on the American side.  Drummond nevertheless received reinforcements and continued the siege. On September 17 a raid by some 1,600 Americans took the British by surprise, with their lines insufficiently protected.  The American attack was eventually warded off after fierce fighting.  The losses were heavier for the British, with 115 dead, than for the Americans, with only 79.  The Americans had also succeeded in destroying six of the British heavy cannons. After the carnage Drummond decided to lift the siege, and his troops withdrew to Chippewa on September 21.  On November 5 the Americans blew up Fort Erie after evacuating their troops to Buffalo.  Thus ended this third attempt to invade Canada via the Niagara Peninsula.           Additional Images           Click image to enlarge      1 2 3 4   Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Important Notices