War of 1812

Six Months on

Walking with Joseph
  5 December 1812  Napoleon abandons his Army to return to Paris [1400 miles], is at Warsaw on 10 Dec and at Dresden on 13 Dec. Date of arrival at Paris TBD
 14 December 1812  Last of the French Army leave Russia
     According to the family history regarding Joseph-- He arrived at home, date unknown, and his family didn't recognize him. He supposedly left for Belfast in the spring of 1813.
His story to be continued

Walking with Andrew
28 November 1812  American forces invade Upper Canada by crossing the Niagara River at
  Fort Erie, but are repulsed at the Battle of Frenchman's Creek. A second attempt scheduled for two days later is cancelled.
2 December 1812 General Dearborn cancels a planned invasion of Montreal and withdraws to
   Plattsburg, NY for the winter.
17/18 Dec. 1812  Battle of Mississinewa

It is suspected that most forces entered winter Quarters. Year 1812 draws to a close
I wonder what they did for Xmas in those days of old??

War of 1812

There are two books, among others, that I am using to post info/data re Joseph and Andrew. First. 'The Diary of a Napoleonic Foot Soldier' by Jakob Walter, 1788-1864 ISBN 0 14 01.6559 2, Paperback A fascinating and important historical document - The only known memoir of a common soldier in Napoleon's Army. "Eighteen year old German stonemason Jakob Walter served in the Grand Army of Napoleon between 1806 and 1813. His diary intimately records his trials: the long grueling marches in Prussia and Poland, the disastrous Russian compaign and the demoralizing defeat in a war few supported or understood" The family story of Joseph parallels the details of this diary but I have not been able to prove any facts. Joseph was a member of the 60th Regiment when he came to Canada in 1818 Second. 'For King and Canada' by A. Barry Roberts ISBN 1-55036-683-1 The story of the 100th Regiment of Foot during the War of 1812 NOTE: The 100th was renumbered the 99th Reg't. in Feb 1816. "Described by a Montreal poster of 1813 as 'The Prince Regent's Own Irish Heroes' for their exploits against the American invaders in the War of 1812. In this first detailed account of the Regiments history we follow the progress of young Irishmen volunteering for service in Canada until many of them elected to become Redcoat soldier-settlers in Goulbourn Twp, now part of the City of Ottawa" Andrew was a member of the 100th/99th Regiment. Both Joseph and Andrew would eventually settle in Goulbourn Township

War of 1812

Five months on

Walking with Joseph
12 Nov 1812 Napoleon's Army at Smolensk on return Home.
19 Nov 1812 Wellington falls back to Portugese border
26-28 Nov 1812 Battle of Beresina [River], a rearguard action

Walking with Andrew
23 Oct 1812 Americans raid garrison at St. Regis, LC
9 Nov 1812  Escape of Corvette Royal George
10 Nov 1812 Commodore Chauncey attacks Kingston and withdraws after a 2 hour gunfire exchange
17 Nov 1812 Fort Erie bombards American Army Headquarters at Black Rock, N.Y.
20 Nov 1812 Advance guard of American invasion force crosses into Canada at Lacolle Mills, LC
                      Major Charles-Michel de Salaberry sets off to atttack the Americans.
                      Americans under Col. Zebulon Pike withdraw to Champlain, N.Y.
21 Nov 1812 Fort George and Fort Niagara bombard each other.
23 Nov 1812 Combined  force of British regulars, Canadian militia and natives attacks
                     American militia post near French Mills, N.Y. on the St Lawrence              

War of 1812

Following on from my post of 2 Aug 2012 re military activities in the Canada's

Ref; Jon Latimer's 1812  - War with America on page 122
Being sent
A detachment of the Royal Artillery Corp
A detachment of Royal Artillery Drivers
A detachment of Royal Sappers and Miners [Some of the above would settle in Goulbourn Twp.
13th Regiment of Foot [1st Summersetshire??]
41st/ 2nd Batt'n  [445 Men in Bermuda]
70th Reg't [Glasgow Lowland]
98th Regiment
Swiss mercenaries DeMeuron and DeWatteville [1300 men in Spain]

104th Regiment would march to UC  from Fredericton, NB. in Feb/Mar 1813 More later

War of 1812

Four months on

Walking with Joseph
19 October 1812  Napoleon evacuates Moscow
   The Army now consisted of 87,500 infantry, 14,750 cavalry, 533 guns with a train of some 40,000
    carriages and waggons. Ref;  Nigel Nicolson's 'Napoleon 1812'

Walking with Andrew
21 September 1812  Forsythe raids Gananoque, seizes stores and burns Gov't. Depot.
  4 October 1812.  British troops drive off American Garrison at Ogdensburg.
  9 October 1812. HMS Caledonia and Detroit captured off Ft. Erie.
13 October 1812. Battle of Queenston Heights. Brock KIA.
                             Sheaffe counter attacks and wins the day. Many American Soldiers captured
14 October 1812. Sheaffe concludes an immediate Armistice  as a result of Brocks death.
16 October 1812  Funeral procession from Government House to Ft. George for Isaac Brock and
                              Lt. Col John Macdonnell. Over 5,000 persons attended.
20 October 1812  Sheaffe replaces Brock as Administrator and Commander of Upper Canada.

War of 1812

This post will look like a like book review but it is not. Deals with the first major engagement of the war.
Ref; 'A Very Brilliant Affair'  by Robert Malcomson. The Battle of Queenston Heights,
 October 1812

Part One.   War is declared, 1812
                   Preparations for War in Washington and Quebec
Part Two. The Summer Campaign  June to  October 1812
                   Activities leading up to and the Battle itself, 13 October 1812
        Epilogue; "May its effects not be lost upon the rising generation"
        Glossary of Terms. A good source of the meaning of terms and phrases used in 1812 Military.

       Appendix A. The last words of Isaac Brock
       Appendix B. Brock's Monument and Queenston Heights to-day.
       Appendix C. thru F. American data  [similar to Appendix G-J below]
       Appendix G. British Army Personnel involved at Queenston Heights
       Appendix H. Upper Canada Militia Personnel involved at Queenston heights
       Appendix I. Brock's Army on the Niagara Frontier, October 1812
       Appendix J. British Order of Battle, 13 October 1812
                        Above 4 Appendix G-J contains lists of soldiers by Regiment and Militia Units   
                        and  contained in 13 pages. A good source of genealogical info if one has possible
                        ancestors in this area. British Regiments mentioned are the 41st, 49th and Artillery

Tomorrow 13 Oct 2012 there will be a re-enactment of the battle of Queenston Heights and Sunday 14 Oct there will be a re-enactment of Brock's Funeral and Burial

War of 1812

Three months on

Walking with Joseph in Europe

7 Sept.  Napoleon defeats Kutuzov at Borodino
9-18 Sept. Wellington's siege of Burgos fails.
14 Sept.  Napoleon arrives at Moscow

Walking with Andrew in Upper and Lower Canada

3-8 Sept. Native Americans attack several settlements/forts in US territories
8 Sept. Truce arranged between Prevost and Dearborn officially ends
16 Sept. Lt. James FitzGibbon prevents an ambush, east of Prescott, of a number of Batteaux
   carrying British soldiers' families by an American raiding party from Ogdensburg, NY.

Lt. FitzGibbon played a very important role in defending Upper Canada. He came to UC with Brock's Regiment and was active up to the 1837 Rebellion. It was he who Laura Secord told about an American attack at Beaver Dams. Refer to 'A Veteran of 1812' for an account of his life in Canada,
written by his granddaughter. A  copy is in our branch library