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Battle of York
Part of the War of 1812

The Death of General Pike at the Battle of York . American engraving, 1839.
DateApril 27, 1813
LocationPresent day Toronto, Ontario
ResultPyrrhic American victory
Combatants
BritainUnited States
Commanders
Roger SheaffeZebulon Pike †
Isaac Chauncey
Henry Dearborn
Strength
300 regulars
300 militia
100 Indians		2,000
Casualties
62 killed
94 wounded [1]		320 dead or wounded [1]
St. Lawrence/Lake Champlain frontier
1st Sackett's Harbor – 1st Lacolle Mills – Lake Ontario - Ogdensburg – York - Sackett's Harbor – Chateauguay – Crysler's Farm – 2nd Lacolle Mills – Fort Oswego – Big Sandy Creek - Plattsburgh


The Battle of York was a battle of the War of 1812 fought on April 27, 1813, at York, Upper Canada, which was later to become Toronto, Ontario. An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British and Canadian force and captured the town. The success of the operation was marred by acts of arson and looting carried out by the American force.

Background

At the start of the campaigning season of 1813, the American naval squadron on Lake Ontario was ready for action before their British counterparts. The commanders at the American base at Sackets Harbor, New York (General Henry Dearborn and Commodore Isaac Chauncey) had a chance to strike a decisive blow by attacking the main British base at Kingston, at the eastern end of the lake, but they feared that Kingston's garrison numbered up to 8,000. (There were in fact only 600 regulars there). [2] They decided to attack York instead. This was the Provincial capital of Upper Canada, but it was far less important as a military base.

Forces

The Americans appeared off York late on April 26. Chauncey's squadron consisted of a corvette and a brig, together with twelve schooners. The embarked force under Dearborn and Brigadier Zebulon Pike numbered between 1,600 and 1,800 (mainly from the 6th, 15th and 16th U.S. Infantry, and the 3rd U.S. Artillery fighting as infantry).

York's defences consisted of a fort a short distance west of the town, with the nearby "Government House Battery" mounting two 12-pounder guns. A mile west was the crude "Western Battery", with two obsolete 18-pounders. Further west were the ruins of Fort Rouillé and another disused fortification, the "Half Moon Battery", neither of which was in use. [2]

Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe, the Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, was present at York to transact public business. He had under his command only four companies of regulars. The Militia was ordered to assemble, but only 300 of the 3rd York Regiment could be mustered at short notice. There were also about 100 Indians in the area.

Battle

Early on April 27, the first American wave of boats, with Major Benjamin Forsyth and some of the U.S. 1st Rifle Regiment, landed about four miles (6 km) west of the town. Because Sheaffe could not know where the Americans would land, Forsyth's riflemen were opposed only by some of the Indians, who were outflanked and retreated into the woods after a stiff resistance. Sheaffe had ordered a company of the Glengarry Light Infantry to support the Natives, but they lost their way in the outskirts of the town.

As more Americans landed, the Grenadier company of the 8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot charged them with the bayonet, but the Grenadiers were already outnumbered and were repulsed with heavy loss. Pike ordered an advance by platoons, now supported by two 6-pounder field guns, which steadily drove back the other two companies of redcoats (another company of the 8th, and one of the Royal Newfoundland).

The British tried to rally around the Western battery, but the battery's travelling magazine exploded, apparently as the result of an accident. This caused further loss and confusion among the British, and they fell back to a ravine north of the fort, where the militia were forming up. Meanwhile, Chauncey's schooners—most of which carried a long 24-pounder or 32-pounder cannon—were bombarding the fort and Government House battery. British return fire was ineffective.

Sheaffe decided that the battle was lost and ordered the regulars to retreat. He instructed the militia to make the best terms they could with the Americans, but unknown to the senior militia officers or any official of the legislature, he also ordered a warship under construction in the dockyard (HMS Isaac Brock) to be set on fire and the fort's magazine to be blown up. [3]

Zebulon Pike
When the magazine exploded, Pike and the leading American troops were only two hundred yards away. Pike was mortally injured by flying stones and debris. The explosion caused over 100 casualties on both sides.

Surrender

The militia tried to arrange a capitulation, but the process took time. The negotiators had to ply back and forth between the shore and the corvette USS Madison, which Dearborn refused to leave. Reverend John Strachan (who held no official position at the time) went aboard the Madison and accused Dearborn to his face of delaying the capitulation to allow his troops licence to commit outrages. [2] For their part, the Americans were angry over their losses, and because the ship and fort had apparently been destroyed after negotiations for surrender had begun.[1]

Eventually, the articles for surrender were signed early on April 28. The Americans took over the dockyard, where they captured a brig in poor state of repair (the Duke of Gloucester) and twenty 24-pounder carronades and other stores intended for the British squadron on Lake Erie. The Brock was beyond salvage. By chance, another ship-rigged vessel, the Prince Regent, which carried 16 guns, had sailed for Kingston two days before the Americans had been sighted.

During April 29 and April 30, American troops carried out many acts of plunder. Some of them set fire to the Parliament buildings. (It was alleged that they had found a scalp there.) [1] Other Americans looted empty houses on the pretext that their absent owners were militia who had not given their parole as required by the articles of capitulation. Dearborn deplored the worst of the atrocities in his letters, but he was nonetheless unable or unwilling to rein in his soldiers. Chauncey returned some looted property, including books from the public library. [2]

Aftermath

The Americans sent the captured stores away on May 2 but were then penned in York harbour by a gale. They left York on May 8, in miserable weather, and required a period of rest at Fort Niagara on the Niagara peninsula before they could be ready for another action. Sheaffe's troops endured an equally miserable fourteen-day retreat overland to Kingston. [1] Following complaints about his conduct by the Provincial Assembly, Sheaffe lost his military and public offices in Upper Canada as the result of his defeat.

The most significant effects of the capture of York were probably felt on Lake Erie, since the capture of the ordnance and supplies destined for the British squadron there contributed eventually to their defeat in the Battle of Lake Erie.

The many acts of arson and looting committed by American troops at York became (in part) the pretext for the later Burning of Washington by British troops.

Notes

1. ^ John R. Elting, "Amateurs to Arms", p. 118
2. ^ Charles W. Humphries, "The Capture of York", pub. 1959 in "Ontario History", printed in Morris Zaslow, "The Defended Border"
3. ^ J. Mackay Hitsman, "The Incredible War of 1812", p. 140

References

  • Morris Zaslow (ed), The Defended Border, Macmillan of Canada, 1964, ISBN 0-7705-1242-9
  • J. Mackay Hitsman, The incredible War of 1812, Robin Brass Studio, 1995, ISBN 1-896941-13-3
  • John R. Elting, Amateurs to arms: A military history of the War of 1812, Da Capo Press, 1995, ISBN 0-306-80653-3
 •  • [ e]
Toronto, Ontario
FeaturesIssues Name Flag Coat of arms Sister cities Notable Torontonians
HistoryFort Rouill Fort York Toronto Purchase York Battle of York Montgomery's Inn Great Fire of 1904 Centennial of the City Oldest buildings Metro Toronto
GeographyGTA Neighbourhoods Downtown Parks Waterfront Harbour Don River Humber River Toronto Islands Scarborough Bluffs
EconomyBay Street Toronto Stock Exchange Toronto Board of Trade Skyscrapers
PoliticsMunicipal government Elections City of Toronto Act Mayors City Council MPs and MPPs
HealthCrime Emergency Medical Services Fire Hospitals Police Water
EducationToronto District School Board Catholic District School Board Toronto Public Library
CultureAttractions Media outlets Cuisine Sports teams Malls Annual events Films set in Toronto Films filmed in Toronto Hollywood North
TransportationTransportation Services Division Port Authority Pearson Int'l Airport TTC GO Transit Subway/RT Buses Streetcars Island ferry Municipal expressways
United States
Regular Army: 35,800
•Rangers: 3,049
•Militia: 458,463*
•US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war):
•Frigates:6
•Other vessels: 14
•Indigenous peoples •
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April 27 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

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  • 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland.

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18th century - 19th century - 20th century
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City of Toronto

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname: T.O., Hogtown, The Big Smoke, T-Dot, Toronto the Good
Motto: Diversity Our Strength
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Ontario


Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains)

Capital Toronto
Largest city Toronto
Official languages English (de facto)
Government
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927. It was formed by the merger of the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself having been a merger of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland) and the Kingdom of
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Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
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General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, 1st Baronet (15 July 1763 – 17 July 1851) was an American-born General in the British Army in the first part of the 19th century.
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Zebulon Montgomery Pike Jr. (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American soldier and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. His Pike expedition, often compared to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, mapped much of the southern portion of the Louisiana Purchase.
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Isaac Chauncey (20 February 1779 – 27 January 1840) was an officer in the United States Navy.

Biography

Chauncey, born in Black Rock, Connecticut, 20 February 1779, was appointed a Lieutenant in the Navy from 17 September 1798.
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Henry Dearborn (February 23, 1751 – June 6, 1829) was an American physician, statesman and veteran of both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Born in North Hampton, New Hampshire, he spent much of his youth in Epping, where he attended public schools.
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First Battle of Sackett's Harbor
Part of War of 1812

Date July 19, 1812
Location Sackett's Harbor

Result American victory

Combatants
United Kingdom United States

The First Battle of Sackett's Harbor
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Battle of Lacolle Mills was fought on November 20, 1812, during the War of 1812. In this relatively short and fast battle, a very small garrison of British troops and Canadian volunteers, with the assistance of Kahnawake Mohawk warriors, defended the Lacolle Mills Blockhouse near
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Engagements on Lake Ontario encompass the prolonged naval contest for control of the lake during the War of 1812. Few actions were fought, none of which had decisive results, and the contest essentially became a naval building race, sometimes referred to sarcastically as the
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Battle of Ogdensburg was a battle of the War of 1812. The British gained a victory over the Americans and captured the village of Ogdensburg, New York. Although small in scale, it removed the American threat to British supply lines for the remainder of the war.
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Battle of Sacket's Harbor was fought in northwestern portion of the U.S. state of New York on May 29, 1813, during the War of 1812. The battle was an American victory in which a combined force of American militia, regulars and sailors repulsed a British invasion against Sackett's
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Bataille de la Chateauguay by Henri Julien. Lithograph from Le Journal de Dimanche, 1884.

Date October 25, 1813
Location Allan's Corners (Near Ormstown, Quebec)

Result Decisive British victory

Combatants
United Kingdom United States
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Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was a battle of the War of 1812 fought on November 11, 1813. (Chrysler's Farm is sometimes used, but Crysler is in fact the proper spelling.)

The St.


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Second Battle of Lacolle Mills was fought on March 30, 1814 during the War of 1812. American Major-General James Wilkinson planned another invasion of Canada to make up for his humiliating defeat by the British at the Battle of Crysler's Farm.
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Raid of Fort Oswego was a successful British raid on an American fort and village in May 1814 during the War of 1812.

Background

Oswego, New York, was a vital staging point on the American supply route from New York to their main naval base on Lake Ontario at Sackett's
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The Battle of Big Sandy Creek was fought in northwestern New York on May 29–May 30, 1814, during the War of 1812. The battle was a decisive American victory in which American militia and Oneida Indians launched a surprise attack on British soldiers who were chasing them
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Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812. Fought shortly before the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, the American victory denied the British leverage to demand exclusive control
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United States
Regular Army: 35,800
•Rangers: 3,049
•Militia: 458,463*
•US Navy & US Marines: (at start of war):
•Frigates:6
•Other vessels: 14
•Indigenous peoples •
..... Click the link for more information.
April 27 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

Events

  • 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland.

..... Click the link for more information.
18th century - 19th century - 20th century
1780s  1790s  1800s  - 1810s -  1820s  1830s  1840s
1810 1811 1812 - 1813 - 1814 1815 1816

:
Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
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York was the name of Toronto, Ontario, between 1793 and 1834.

History

The town was established in 1793 by Governor John Graves Simcoe, on the site of an existing settlement named Toronto.
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City of Toronto

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname: T.O., Hogtown, The Big Smoke, T-Dot, Toronto the Good
Motto: Diversity Our Strength
..... Click the link for more information.
Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
..... Click the link for more information.
Coordinates Coordinates:

Primary sources Niagara River

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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927. It was formed by the merger of the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself having been a merger of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland) and the Kingdom of
..... Click the link for more information.


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