Rebirth of an Empire "O Renascimento de um Império"

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Couple of queries. When and how did Brown get transferred out of the NY militia into the regulars, and if he didn't why was he with troops 'in the Northwest'?

The behaviour of the Voltigeurs under Salaberry is, IMO, totally out of character. I know you're replaying an OTL incident in the area with different troops and a different leader, but those matter.

Also, when did Winfield Scott become a general? did I miss that?

[Lusitania]

Originally Posted by FDW

And for a second there I thought America was going to curbstomped, it's good to know that won't be the case.

I had hoped in reading my pre-war posts people would of gotten the idea that while the war of 1812 was something that America did not whole heartedly support the war of 1814 was different with the mood of the people agrier and also support way up expecially after the attack on Washington and Baltimore (iOTL they were in retribution for the American attacks on York, this TL completely without provocation.

America is mad and they are not going to take it, they are moving fast and with purpose; just be careful that the bully cannot get up after you knock him down.

Originally Posted by Dathi THorfinnsson

Couple of queries. When and how did Brown get transferred out of the NY militia into the regulars, and if he didn't why was he with troops 'in the Northwest'?

The behaviour of the Voltigeurs under Salaberry is, IMO, totally out of character. I know you're replaying an OTL incident in the area with different troops and a different leader, but those matter.

Also, when did Winfield Scott become a general? did I miss that?

okay fair questions:

1) Brown: 1813 he is requested by New York Governor to lead 1000 state militia to Northwest, he is instrumental in the defeat of the Indians at the battles of the Fort Wayne and Eel River. In Winter 1814 promoted to General as result of his actions and transfer to Regular Army. He then marches with army to Albany. He gets really ticket off by the Militia's refusal to enter Canada since he is one of them.

2) Voltigeurs: First encounter they are outnumber 4 to 1 so they retreat but in good order, when Salaberry reports his encounter he is dismissed and the Voltigeurs placed under British comander Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison recently arrived from Trinidad. Incidently the Voltigeurs only accounted for 30% of the militias at the battle.

3) Scott: Correction his actual rank is Brigadier General although he was in charge of all the Regulars in the Peninsula. As for his promotion When the Indian wars started he was Lieutenant Colonel and served in the Northwest as a result of his leadership in the war he was promoted and then posted to the Niagra Peninsula in Spring 1814.

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Originally Posted by Lusitania

okay fair questions:

1) Brown: 1813 he is requested by New York Governor to lead 1000 state militia to Northwest, he is instrumental in the defeat of the Indians at the battles of the Fort Wayne and Eel River. In Winter 1814 promoted to General as result of his actions and transfer to Regular Army. He then marches with army to Albany. He gets really ticket off by the Militia's refusal to enter Canada since he is one of them.

2) Voltigeurs: First encounter they are outnumber 4 to 1 so they retreat but in good order, when Salaberry reports his encounter he is dismissed and the Voltigeurs placed under British comander Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison recently arrived from Trinidad. Incidently the Voltigeurs only accounted for 30% of the militias at the battle.

3) Scott: Correction his actual rank is Brigadier General although he was in charge of all the Regulars in the Peninsula. As for his promotion When the Indian wars started he was Lieutenant Colonel and served in the Northwest as a result of his leadership in the war he was promoted and then posted to the Niagra Peninsula in Spring 1814.

Ah. Thank you. Those sound like very good answers.

If the Voltigeurs were outnumbered 4-1 why were the Americans surprised at them withdrawing, then?

[Lusitania]

Originally Posted by Dathi THorfinnsson

Ah. Thank you. Those sound like very good answers.

If the Voltigeurs were outnumbered 4-1 why were the Americans surprised at them withdrawing, then?

Sorry missed something, I re-viewed my post and trying to determine where I wrote they were suprised.

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Originally Posted by Lusitania

Sorry missed something, I re-viewed my post and trying to determine where I wrote they were suprised.

Oops! my mistake. Apparently I misread that section, and misunderstood. Forgot who was in the fort. So, why were the British in Fort Lennox surprised, then? Or were they just dismayed?

[Lusitania]

Originally Posted by Dathi THorfinnsson

Oops! my mistake. Apparently I misread that section, and misunderstood. Forgot who was in the fort. So, why were the British in Fort Lennox surprised, then? Or were they just dismayed?

Suprised/dismayed that the Voltigeurs were retreating back leaving them alone. Earlier Salaberry had sort of made that his headquarters for the time he was in the vicinity so they thought he would of come back but with the Americans in the neighbourhood Salaberry had no intention of getting caught or cornered at the Fort.

Was it the right decision, I guess we would need a different TL to find out.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814


2nd War of the Independence – Invasion (New England Theatre)


Brigadier General Alexander Smyth had probably the hardest job of all the military leaders in charge of the invasion of British North América, when he arrived in the state of Massachusetts on July 5 he walked into a state feud raging between those apposed to the war and those in favor it also did not help that he only had 500 federal troops under his command. From the moment of his arrival he became involved in a tussle between the governor of Massachusetts Caleb Strong who was a strong opponent of the war and those that supported the right of the Estados Unidos standing up to the European “bullies”.

As the war waged on, the tide slowly but ever so turning in favor of those that supported the American position. The raid on the New England cities including Boston followed by the British attack on the American capital began to draw some of governor Caleb Strong supporters away. In June 1814 he authorized for s second time the calling out of the state militia this time he authorized almost 20,000 men three times the amount he had authorized in March. Again the term was limited to 90 days and overall command of the militia was placed in General Jacob Bliss hands.

General Bliss and Brigadier General Alexander Smyth got along just like dog and cat always at each others throats. The major reason for the disagreement was the apposition of both General Bliss and Governor Strong to allow the militia outside the state. This led to the rallying of those supporting the war to general Smyth camp and over the months of July and August the Federal troops under his command slowly increased to the point that by 1st week of September it had reached close to 10,000.

Unfortunately the majority of those that joined were from the lowest deviants of the state and many joined just to get the signing bonus provided the opponents of Governor Strong. The troops under his command lacked both discipline and good leadership. Now with an “army” General Smyth finally began plans to move out but now he faced campaigning during the cold and rainy New England autumn. On September 15 General Smyth and the Federal troops had finally made it as far as Portland in the district of Maine when they were on hand to repel a large British marine attack on the town.

Governor Strong’s opponents jumped on the fact that it had been Federal troops who had repelled the British and not the militia. This coupled with the news of American victories coming from the other British colonies to the north finally convinced Governor Strong to change his stance and authorize the recruitment of militia to join in the defeat of the British. General Goodwin was placed in charge of the Massachusetts militia and on September 30 he along with 7,000 strong state militia had joined up with the Federal troops. (The majority being militia whose term had expired in August)

The relationship between General Smyth and General Goodwin was as acrimonious as it had been between Brigadier General Smyth and any other militia leader. While General Goodwin was senior in rank and expected to lead, General Smyth felt that since he was a professional military officer and not a political appointee he should lead.

For the next month both the militia and federal troops trudged along the Maine coast but when the troops struggled to cross the overflowing Rio Penobscot is when the leader’s relationship finally came to a head. General Smyth wanted to continue marching along the coast and attack Fort Howe at the mouth Saint John River then continue into the colony of Nova Scotia. General Goodwin on the other hand wanted to march inland and attack Fredericton then march south along the Saint John River and then take Fort Howe before taking Nova Scotia.

Over the months of September and October the Federal troops bled men profusely as the exertion and effort along with discipline required for the march sapped away the will of the men who had signed up to the Federal troops. By the time they had reached Rio Penobscot over 1,000 men had deserted and by the time they reached the border the Federal troops was smaller than the militia.

Supplying the troops was especially difficult since all supplies had to be brought overland since the British ships rules the seas. It was almost November by the time the armies had received their supplies and were capable of invading New Brunswick but by then both armies were suffering greatly to disease and exposure. General Smyth and his greatly reduced Federal troops continued along the coast and crossed the Rio St. Croix (border between State of Massachusetts and British colony of New Brunswick) on November 5 but he and his troops hardly made more than 10 miles from the river when they were set upon by a British marines under the command of Commodore Hardy.

The British landed over 1,000 marines to the rear of the Americans in the early morning close to St. Andrews and approached the Americans forces at a good march. The sight of the advancing British to the rear unnerved the inexperienced soldiers, many of whom were sick of the march, disease and lack of supplies simply retreated without firing a shot. As the British came within range the American forces opened fire but lacking proper officers and nervous most fired too early then the British at 100 yards opened fire inflicting severe casualties into the American force. Whatever discipline the Americans had remaining disappeared with the volley from the British and the American army turned almost as one and attempted to flee.

The Americans forces suffered that day in single biggest defeat with 300 casualties, 710 wounded and 1,600 captured, while the British had 2 casualties, 34 wounded. General Smyth was not one of those captured but he was listed as missing since he never reported either back to base or home.

In the north General Goodwill led his militia around the Rio St. Croix and then towards Fredericton but he and his troops too suffered from disease and starvation and on October 31 they descended on a Passamaquoddy Indian village killing most of the inhabitants. They took village’s entire foodstuff before continuing east. Starting on November 3 during the nights the Américans were set upon by natives, with the attacks continuing unabated for almost a week with the Américan militia hardly making any ground finally on November 8 they retreated back towards Bangor on the Rio Penobscot. It took them nearly two weeks for them reach the town all the way they were attacked by the vengefully Passamaquoddy Indians. In total General Goodwill would only bring with him less than 1,200 men back.

It was a huge blow to all the people of the state of Massachusetts as well as New England with two whole armies lost it left the border with New Brunswick completely undefended. Over the next several months both the coastal as well as the Rio Penobscot were fortified with forts in an attempt to defend the state from reprisal attacks.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814



2nd War of the Independence – Invasion (Rio São Lourenço Theatre – Part II)


As result of his leadership and success in the defeat of the British in the Península Niágara and York, Brigadier General Winfield Scott was promoted to General on August 30. More importantly over the remainder of month he and his forces were reinforced and transported to Kingston so they could begin their next leg of the invasion.

When General Scott first arrived at Kingston he could only stare in amazement at the destruction of the town and surrounding area. When the American raiding party led by Colonel John B. Campbell attacked the port and caught the four British ships in port the HMS Royal George and HMS Prince Regent, and the brigs HMS Earl of Moira and HMS Duke of Gloucester not only was the ships and port gone but so was most of the town.

From the reports he had read; Colonel John B. Campbell and his 200 men had travelled from Watertown New York to Kingston by canoe hiding in the islands off shore till the morning of July 17. They had approached the port and town while the morning mist engulfed both the town and lake and surprised the sentries on two of the ships before the alarm had been raised. The resulting battle for the ships and port lasted almost one hour until either by accident or on purpose the crew of the HMS Royal George blew up killing all those on board and serious injuring those around American and British alike.

What happened next was still murky but for according to interview of the survivors for some reason the fire on two more ships spread and in that confusion one of the ships came loose and drifted closer to the stockade and ammunition on shore. It seems that while the ship was on fire its crew was engaged in their own losing battle against the American raiders and just a suddenly as the first ship the second one exploded but this time the explosion was followed by a much larger one on land as the ammunition and stockade was destroyed.

To add to the horror the third ship also exploded but luckily it was still a little a ways from shore so it only affected the fourth ship the brig HMS Earl of Moira. The HMS Earl of Moira was the only survivor of the raid but it could only watch as the fire spread through town. Government buildings, businesses and homes all burned down.

The fort was still standing but with the majority of the militia either homeless or dead and almost all regular soldiers dead from either the blast or the raid Kingston was defenseless. Its people would be hard-pressed to survivor the coming years without assistance never mind repel any further attacks. The port and shipbuilding facilities were gone as were all the warehouses and the foods and supplies in it.

On August 15 the remnants of the British army under General Sheaffe made it to Kingston, all 20 of them and only because they had received help and supplies along the way from the local Indians. The residents and the surviving militia knew that all hope had been lost so when on August 20 an American fleet of 10 ships arrived off the coast under the command of Captain Arthur Sinclair, the town and garrison surrendered.

Unbeknown to them was the 15,000 soldiers and militia under the command of Lieutenant General Prevost downriver at the town of New Johnstown on that same day. But maybe it was better that they were unaware of how he had abandoned them and hightailed it back to Quebec City when the Richelieu Valley had been lost.

On September 10 General Scott met with Mohawk leader Teyoninhokovrawen where he offered the Mohawk people amnesty and peace if they switched allegiances. Teyoninhokovrawen faced with American forces both in Lower and Upper Canadá knew that to continue fighting the Americans would only lead to death and destruction for his people. He also believed that to switch allegiances would forever brand his people as enemies of the British and he was not ready to rule them out yet so he proposed a truce till a permanent peace treaty between all three nations could be negotiated.

On September 19 under a constant drizzle General Scott and the newly reinforced Federal and militia army of close to 10,000 started their march north along the north bank of the Rio Saint Lawrence from Kingston. It was a daunting task to supply that many troops especially since requisition in Canadá could for the most part only be done at gun point. The task would be made easier once they got to Montreal when they could start receiving both supplies from Lower Canadá (part of the negotiations to declare Montreal open) and also up from New York and Vermont through the Richelieu valley. There they also would be joined by the army of General Brown on the Quebec City assault.

The city of Montreal received the American forces with trepidation unsure how to react to their presence: Liberators or Occupiers. Only the very fanatics showed their true feelings while the vast majority of the residents heeded the warnings of the leaders both political as well as religious to not provoke any attacks from either warring party.

The first actual confrontation between the American forces under General Scott and the British under Lieutenant General Prevost in Lower Canadá occurred when the Americans were crossing the the Rio Saint-Maurice. As the Americans gathered on the western bank of the river, the British came upon them from the other side and opened fire. The battle raged on for while as the Americans at first struggled to respond. The battle could have been very disastrous for the Americans but for the intervention of General Browns troops and their artillery. After the first shock of the British attack the American forces from both the west and south pounded the British forces pushing them back from the shore while the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry of the Federal troops crossed the river and secured a beach head from there the rest of the Americans forces followed. The American forces pursued the retreating British till nightfall when contact was broken.

General Prevost in his anxiousness to attack the Americans had missed a great opportunity if he had brought most of his army instead of just 3,000 troops and then waited for the river to be full of American troops not just on the banks of the river. It had been due to faulty intelligence that had led the Americans to believe the Prevost and his troops were still in Quebec City. In all the Americans suffered 310 casualties and 611 wounded while the British had suffered 404 casualties, 790 wounded and 1,200 captured. While the original plan was for General Brown and his forces to cross the river and join in the attack both Generals concurred that Brown’s forces would continue marching in parallel to Quebec City.

On October 20 a combined American army of almost 20,000 American soldiers and militia approached the city of Quebec. The residents of the city afraid for their lives had buckled under Prevost’s tyranny after he heard of Montreal’s surrender and had put the city under martial law. But the appearance of so many American soldiers unnerved them at the thought their beloved city would become a battlefield.

The leaders of the city (both French and British) requested that Lieutenant General Prevost and his army meet the Americans outside the city just as Montcalm had done in 1756 and spare the city and its people the fighting. He adamantly refused believing that the presence of the six British ships in the estuary of the river would provide him with the ability to repulse any American attack. It did not matter to him that the majority of the inhabitants as well as many of the towns businesses were located outside the walls of the Citadelle of Quebec. As the Americans approached thousands of people carrying what they could, fled northeast away from the two armies.

The Americans under General Scott had over 70 guns (6 and 12 pounders) which they arrayed protected from attack by either the guns of the British ships or city. In addition to the south on the southern bank General Brown had an additional 45 guns along with 2,000 men to protect them. On October 22 General Scott forces began their bombardment of the town which the British responded in kind attacking the American forces, but when the British ships moved lend their guns to the attack they were caught in the cross fire from both guns on the north and south bank of the river after the frigates HMS Seahorse, and Euryalus were severely damaged the remaining ships withdrew north away from the Americans ships leaving the British to defend for themselves.

During the month of October Lieutenant General Prevost had received over 2,000 reinforcements including the 85 light Infantry, 44 Infantry but he had lost that all and more in his ill fated Battle of Saint-Maurice. He had been promised thousands more troops who even at the moment he was hunkered down in the Citadelle were being marshaled in Great Britain. He had assured the Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane that he would hold off the Americans until reinforcements arrived but as the American bombardment continued into its second week he began doubting his promise.

General Scott and his forces had slowly over the week since the bombardment had initiated moved their way north into the actual Plains of Abraham with the burned out shell of the city of Quebec before him and the battered Citadelle in plain site and range of both his and General Brown guns. It had been hoped that the British would have surrendered the city and Citadelle when the size and determination of the American army had been shown. But with November and Canadian winter fast approaching he wanted this siege to end as soon as possible.

On October 30 he had all his guns aimed at the western wall while the mortars exploded shell over the heads of the British men in the citadel. The bombardment continued unabated for most of the day till most of western wall had been reduced to ruble. General Scott then sent an offer to surrender to General Prevost, but he had not survived the Major General Robert Ross his second in command accepted the offer. British officers and as many soldiers that could fit on the British ships in the estuary. On November 1 1814 the British flag was lowered from the Citadelle of Quebec and the British boarded ships and sailed towards Halifax.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

2nd War of the Independence – Invasion (Western Region Theatre)


The outcome of many wars can be attributed to a specific decisive battle which provides one party with an overwhelming advantage. For the British in the summer and autumn of 1814 they would gladly have pointed to the Battle of Mackinac as proof of this theory since over a five month period from July to November it was the only clear British land victory.

The British presence in the western part of the Great Lakes was limited to Fort William on the western edge of Lake Superior and Fort St. Joseph on the southernmost point of St. Joseph Island on Lake Huron. While the Americans had a presence on Mackinac Island which was an American fur trading post in the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron about 40 miles from Fort Joseph. The purpose for these forts was for the most part to control the Indians tribes in the area as opposed to conduct military attacks between América and United Kingdom.

The declaration of war between the Allied nations of Europe and América had reached all the outposts in the spring of 1814 both Captain Charles Roberts the commander of Fort St. Joseph and Lieutenant Porter Hanks the commander of Fort Mackinac lacked the means to launch any substantial attack by themselves. The garrison of the American fort numbered only 61 men and with no re-enforcements possible Lieutenant Porter Hanks attempted to recruit Indians for an attack on the British fort during the month of June and July with but was unsuccessful.

On the British side General Brock has initially instructed Captain Charles Roberts to make no aggressive actions against the Americans but on August 8 a canoe party under the noted trader William McKay arrived at Fort St. Joseph telling of the American attack into Upper Canadá and to use own discretion in dealing with the Americans in the area.

During the rest of the month of August he was able to assemble a force of approximately 600 men from a combination sources including voyageurs, British soldiers and artillery men, Indians from the Ojibwa (Chippawa) or Ottawas, Sioux, Menominee and Winnebago tribes. On September 15 his force embarked in an armed schooner (the Caledonia, belonging to the North West Company), seventy war canoes and ten bateaux.

During the morning of September 17 several war canoes landed unseen on the north end of Mackinac Island approximately 2 miles from the fort and surprised the sentries. The rest of the force then landed and proceeded towards the fort catching the American forces by surprise.

Lieutenant Porter Hanks faced with a much larger enemy who commanded a higher ground and also blocked his force from their only source of fresh water surrendered the fort and island to the British.

2nd War of the Independence – Invasion (British Public & Government Reaction)


During the summer and autumn of 1814 the British people and government especially it’s Prime Minister Robert Jenkinson, the Earl of Liverpool were in a flux as the stream of bad news from British North America arrived in London. The opposition both within and outside of the government hammered the Prime Minister without mercy demanding his resignation. But both the Queen Charlotte I and the regent King Frederick I of Hanôver made a point of publicly supporting the Earl of Liverpool.

In September the pressure became too much and Lord Bathurst the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies resigned in an attempt to deflect the criticism from the government and Lord Mulgrave the Master-General of the Ordnance took over promising to stop the American advance and restore British pride. On December 27 with the government was no longer able to repress the news (the Times of London announced the surrender of Quebec City to American forces).

On the same day the government made the announcement that Duke of Wellington the hero Waterloo and the Península Ibérica had accepted the command of British Supreme Commander of America.

In a speech to parliament on his promotion as British Supreme Commander and liberator of free people of America he said “So long as I breath in my lungs and strength in my body, we shall drive the enemy from our shores, our lands and liberate the great people of British Empire from the tyranny of the occupiers of our land….our great country and its soldiers will deal with any force opposed to them by driving them from the field.”

On February 2 he left Great Britain on the largest armada seen in the British Isles since the Spanish Armada in the 16 century for the port of Halifax. Wellington planned on using Halifax as the base for his operation in North American. On route to the port of Halifax his ship was separated from the rest of the fleet during a winter storm. His ship was damaged and went off course, after a "brief" stop in Açores for a quick refit it arrived in Halifax on March 5, 1815. The arrival of Duke of Wellington aboard the HMS Liverpool escorted by 10 other British Naval ships was treated as a great celebration.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

War of the Waves – Part II

Following the British attacks in the Chesapeake Bay the British as well as the Portuguese stayed low and waited for the Americans to finally yield to Allied demands, there was even some preliminary talks in London about the possible location of Napoleão’s prison. Those talks and thoughts were quickly put to rest when to all shock and amazement especially in London the Americans launched their summer offensive into the British North America. That shock slowly turned to disbelieve as the weeks went by and the news continued grim. The British government was at first even unable to fathom that the Americans could even pull of such attack.

It was not until the beginning of September that the British forces in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Nova Scotia finally received orders first from Lord Bathurst the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies then his replacement Lord Mulgrave to renew their attacks on American coast and ships.

Starting in the month October the British launched attacks in the New England states, Long Island New York, Delaware and the Carolinas. But it seemed that the Americans had learned their lesson and the state militias responded with energy and gusto to each of the attacks pushing the British back and limiting their ability to destroy Américan property and its people.

In the seas the British navy began hunting in pairs or packs for any American ship it could find, including at time entering neutral territory in pursuit of them. On November 10 sloop of war USS Peacock, commanded Master Commandant Lewis Warrington in an attempt to evade two British ships off the coast of Florida took refuge in the Havana Harbour, the British refused to respect Spanish territory and entered the harbour in pursuit of it. Cornered the American ship fought vehemently against both ships causing damage to both but it could not match the number of guns and it was sunk in the harbour killing all aboard.

The British attacks did not abate till about mid December when many were called back to Great Britain so they could participate in the movement of men and supplies for the British counter attack of 1815. Even during that time raids were a constant worry and the American harbours and ports resembled armed camps as forts and Martello towers were built to protect both the ports and harbours but also the town and cities connected to them.

On August 1st the Portuguese embassy in London was called upon by Juan O’Donojú the new Spanish Ambassador to United Kingdom (Spain had withdrawn its ambassador from Lisboa following its support for Castela and Aragão.

He had come asking for assistance from Portugal to help it fight off the American invasion army led by General Jackson, it was not an official request since the Spanish government in Mexico City believed that the Americans would not attack. Those that saw things differently were unable to change the Spanish governments position and Juan O’Donojú believed that an American invasion of Texas was imminent.

The Duque de Palmela was at a loss for words at first, here was the country that probably hated Portugal the most asking it for help. But Juan countered that while Spain was not an ally it was in Portugal best interest for it not to be destroyed. If América was to attack at the moment with the Spanish political situation the way it was it could lead to the dissolution of the country and that would be exactly the opposite of what Portugal wanted. He finished by stating that the best way to keep Spain out of the Península Ibérica was to keep it in the Americas.

This conversation was just one of many reports submitted to Lisboa and it could be said that nothing ever came of it. Except that on September 10 a joint Portuguese-British attack on Savannah Georgia came very close to capturing the town but at the last minute the Portuguese followed by the British pulled out. Then on September 25 the Portuguese launched attacks on the towns of St. Augustine capturing the town but withdrawing as the Georgia militia approached.

All of this paled in comparison to the damage and catastrophe that befell Louisiana and the Mississippi Territory on September 1 when a large Hurricane made landfall between Mobile and New Orleans before making its way inland up the Rio Mississippi. One of the biggest casualties was the American army of General Jackson which was camped west of the river ready to invade Spanish Texas. Of the over 20,000 men that were making preparations to attack less than 5,000 survived the four days of storm and subsequent flooding.

General Jackson who had been in New Orleans at the request of the governor inspecting the defenses was devastated at the timing of the storm and rushed out of the city as soon as possible, by the time he reached the main camp between the Rios Red and Mississippi he had become sick and eventually developed Pneumonia.

[Lusitania]

First off, I would like to thank all of you readers almost 16,000 views on the discussion thread and over 1,000 on the TL thread (I hope to post upto the Congress of Vienna there soon) that is amazing. I would also like to thank those that keep it real with your comments and questions (you know who you are). Please keep them coming in they make the storyline much more interesting.

That brings us to the current storyline the war of 1814, I know that some of you may of wondered why I veered off Portugal and into North America, other than that I enjoyed it, the reason was when I was writting the TL during the 1840-1870 the view of the world was off, so I began researching how to make things right and I ended up here.

We are half way in the story, there will be alot more Portugal in the second half and also major raminifications to Portugal but more importantly the emigration of Portuguese. In part two I hope to have the first of many guest posts. If someone else has interesting thought let me know and it too could end up here or I could ask you to post it yourself.

We will see you all soon.

Thanks


Um Deus, Um Pais, Um Povo
Viva Portugal VIVA

[Lusitania]

For the future posts about the Portuguese involvement in the land war of the War 1814 I would like to introduce a new member of the Portuguese General Staff. many thanks to Aristotle who provided great help in developing the character and family.

Hope you all enjoy

Lusitania

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General Francisco Remedios, the 1st Conde de Vila Maior watched the retreating coastline of the Island of São Miguel and considered the path that god had laid out for him and his family. A path of hardship and sacrifice that had been thrust on proud people but a path that they had accepted with humility and had endured. The Conde de Vila Maior, a title so new that he could hardly believe it. He the son of a heathen who had accepted god’s path and in doing had won glory and prestige to his family and people and country.

General Francisco Remedios could hardly remember the place he had been born, even the name at birth was something he hardly thought about. Francisco had been born Babu Rao Rane in 1770 in the state of Satari to a toddy tapper named Babban Rao Rane. The family belonged to the proud Rane clan, part of the Marathi people. The Ranes were a staunchly Hindu warrior clan, which had historically produced some of the fiercest and most courageous warriors in that part of India. When he was four years old he remembered the arrival of the Portuguese soldiers and men after they had received the states of Bicholum and Satari as part of the Treaty of Satari from the Peshawa.

The arrival of the Portuguese and their strange ways and customs greatly upset his town; he remembered the loud and intense conversations between his father, his uncle Lakshman Rao Rane the head of the clan and other town leaders. For almost two years there were hardly any differences except for heavier taxes and the arrival of new religious people. But in 1776 a large portion of the lands to the south of the town were taken by the officials and made into some type of estate. Many people including Babu’s family lost part of their lands. There was talk around him about driving these invaders away but nothing happened till a year later when the pandits (temple priests) were arrested and the Hindu temple confiscated to make room for a catholic church. The people were enraged and his uncle Lakshman led the uprising against the Portuguese expelling them from town. Everyone rejoiced at the sight of the fleeing Portuguese including all the children who joined in the fun and celebrations. Seven year old Babu was amongst those who celebrated, but he remembered the look between his parents; years later he would remember that look as though they knew that nothing but trouble could come from this.

One week later Babu awoke to the sound of screaming and load explosions. The Portuguese had returned and this time in force. He remembered seeing his father running from the house with his sword towards the coming sounds. He remembered huddling with his mother, his younger brother Raghunath in the back room while their whole world exploded around them. He remembered most vividly the screams and explosions as the Portuguese forces destroyed the armed insurrection. When the explosions and load noises ended they were slowly replaced wailing and crying.

During that day he heard people screaming all around and shouts in strange language, after a while his mother took both of them and made her way to the front of the house. What Babu most remembered was the destruction around him and the bodies on the streets. The house across the street had a huge hole in its front and all around it were bodies littered everywhere. His mother who was carrying his crying baby brother in her left arm grabbed his arm and took him to her sister’s house. When she got there she found her sister and her husband along with their daughter anxious for news on the fate of their son.

Babu stayed there for two days afraid of what had happened to his father and family and also for his life as he sensed the adults’ tension and anxiety. On the second day after the battle his mother was called by someone during the evening and she left both Babu and his brother there and hurried along with the stranger. That night he laid there with his brother but sleep would not come to him for a long time till finally exhaustion set in and he dozed off. He was awakened by his mother who told him that his father was alive but had been hurt and was now recovering from his wounds.

Worse was that his father would never be able to walk because he had lost both his legs. Babu cried at the news but more importantly he cried at the though that his proud and strong dad was going to be reduced to an invalid.

Babu sat outside the house numb watching as wagons came by and collected all the dead people from the streets and the damaged homes. The next day he accompanied his mother and his aunt and uncle to the main square where they participated in a strange ceremony for all the dead. There was strange chanting and several men in robes waved smoking pots around the huge litter with the bodies then sprinkled some water all around before they lit the fire burning the bodies.


When the bodies had burned a man in uniform stood up on a rised stage and made several proclamations in Portuguese but this time several people beside him translated so that Babu and all those around him could understand.

• Every family except for those that had converted to Catholicism (there had been 25 families that had either converted or were in the process at the time of the revolt; unfortunately half of them had perished in the backlash against the Portuguese) would be required to pay a special penalty in terms of land, property and labour for revolting against the Portuguese authorities.
• All the families who had participated in the revolt and attack were to be “moved” to a different province where they would have to pay their penalty.
• All orphans were to be turned over to the authorities where they would be looked after.
• All widows were now under the protection of the Catholic Church any women killed or burned “sati” would result in the immediate death of all the adult males from both her family as well as her husband family (men who practiced sati were tied to stakes and burned alive in front of all other men).
• All other religions other than Catholicism were prohibited and punishable by imprisonment or death.
• Any person including widows who converted to Catholicism would have their penalty / sentence reduced to half. Any widow who converted would also be allowed to keep all her personal property and would receive assistance in raising her children.

Babu not understanding the ramifications of the speech accompanied his family back home trying to make sense of what he had heard. When they got home some strange people accompanied by soldiers visited the home and recorded all their names and relationships.

It was not until two weeks later that his father returned home, his mother was overjoyed at his return and wept openly when he was carried home by family and neighbours. Babu expecting to see a broken man was surprised to see his dad happy to be home and kissing both his mother and younger brother. When he approached his dad tentatively still unsure how to react his dad grabbed him and hugged him fiercely with surprising strength. After what seemed an eternity his dad let go and told him. That the important thing was that they were alive and that god would protect them. Which god Babu wanted to ask but he was too confused and scared to do so.

Babu slowly realized what the speech had meant when several of his friends who had not only lost their father but also their mother in the fighting along with several other orphans were taken away in wagons one day to something called an orphanage. He was told that was where orphans who did not have a mother and father went till a new mother and father could be found for them.

For six months Babu and his family waited to hear what was to become of them then one day a man appeared telling them that they were to gather at town center the next day where they too would be taken away. The next day Babu, his mother and brother accompanied by his two uncles and aunt and their families walked to the town center. His father was carried by his uncles. At the town center Babu saw not only his family but all the remaining Rane clan. The only missing was the family of his uncle Lakshman Rao; who fled home when the battle was lost and when he could not escape because the house was surrounded he set it afire killing himself and all those inside including his family and servants.

After the authorities had verified that everyone who was suppose to be there had come; Babu’s father along with the women and children and other injured men were put in wagons and the whole clan surrounded by soldiers left the town of Volpoi forever. As people passed neighbours and the town that most had only known many openly wept. For three days they trekked through strange lands until they reached a huge city named Panjim full of strange people all talking Portuguese. The trip was both exhausting but also very exiting for Babu as he saw so many different things along the way.

They were kept in this strange building with bars on the windows for a long time Babu lost count of length of time they were there. While there they received two meals a day and were visited by several men and women of the Portuguese religion who spent most days with them. After a long time they were told that they would be transported by ships to another province called Mazagão. Because of their number (all told there were 672 adults and children in the group) they would be divided into smaller groups of several families on each ship.

Babu excitement and amazement at the sight of the busy port and strange ships was soon replaced by sickness and boredom in the confines of the ship. After endless days on the ships they finally reached their destination. Babu was very disappointed with Mazagão, the port the ships was approaching was nothing like Panjim. It was much smaller and there were no grand buildings to be seen.
For the next year his mother and family toiled in the fields around the town, while his dad stayed home and looked after him, his brother and several other children. About six month later a second group of their clan arrived sealing the Rane clan’s fate to wither away in the endless toil of that new land. The clan’s long martial legacy destroyed and forgotten as the defeated people worked endlessly growing strange crops.

The transformation started slowly at first as most things of that nature but eventually swept the entire clan including Babu’s family. The work of the missionaries never stopped, several of them who spoke Marathi had accompanied the Clan in their exile and slowly at first but growing each passing day their effort bore fruit. The conversion to Portuguese Catholicism was done for moral, pragmatic as well as genuine reasons. On July 15 1780 Babu along with his family were baptized at the local church of the Immaculada Conceição. His father took the name of Caetano Vitorino and his mother Maria Magdalena. His little brother was baptized Luis Teotónio while Babu became Francisco Leonel. The family as well as all other Ranes clan members took the last name of Remedios.

The conversion was like a huge weight lifting off them; subjected to work only in the fields, not allowed to marry or have any other profession was all removed. Both of Francisco’s uncles found work in town in their previous trades; one in a tannery and the second for a blacksmith. There was a flurry of weddings of several couples but there too pragmatism also led many parents in the following years to have their children marry outside their clan in an attempt to integrate into the general population. Many young people both from their own conviction as well as parents urging joined several of the religious orders.

For Francisco good fortune came in the form of his mother getting employed as a cook in the manor of the governor of Mazagão Antônio Alvares da Cunha. Sometimes Francisco would visit his mother and one day while he was bringing something to her she requested he read a recipe from a book for a special meal. When the governor came upon the scene, he was intrigued and observed as Francisco read the recipe and helped his mother with the measuring. He was impressed and later that week called him into his study. He instructed Francisco to read several pages and also to attempt to do some of the math questions. After Francisco had nervously done his tasks he inquired as to where he had learned to read Portuguese and do math. Francisco told him that the local priest had taught him the basics and that he had practiced reading what ever he could find. His dad had taught him how to do math.

Antônio Alvares da Cunha dismissed him and Francisco soon forgot the episode until about two months later when the governor called him in to his study this time along with his mother. He explained to them that he was very impressed by Francisco as well very appreciative of the great economic benefit Mazagão was receiving from the Remedios. Both Francisco as well as Maria waited for the governor to continue not understanding what he was getting at. Finally governor da Cunha told them that he would be sponsoring Francisco along with several other boys to attend school in Lisboa. Maria was flabbergasted at the news and thanked da Cunha profusely. But Francisco requested that his younger brother Luis also be included. The governor at first thought to refuse but thinking that if he was as smart as Francisco it would be a wise choice so he consented.

On July 20 1782 both Francisco and Luis along with eight other Remedios children boarded a ship for the city of Lisboa. There they would learn and study accepting the early resentment and hostility from the other students as well as some teachers but over time gaining both their acceptance and respect. Of the 10 Remedios boys that started school in 1782 all would go on to attend the Colégio dos Nobres. From there three chose to pursue religious studies, four would go on to the Universidade de Coimbra where they would be amongst the first non-Europeans to attend and eventually graduate. Two would choose to pursue military careers Francisco enrolled in the Royal Academy of the Army while a João Jorge enrolled in the Royal Academy of the Navy. Only Francisco’s younger brother was unable to complete and graduate from the Colégio dos Nobres.

The time Francisco spent at the Academy was some of the most difficult years of his life, in the first year he was picked on and suffered greatly but with the help of god he endured and as time went on he made new friends and earned both the respect and acceptance of his comrades. In his third year the Marquês de Marialva son entered the Academy and upon seeing Francisco decided that he should be his servant. Francisco did not even get a chance to respond because two of his classmates both also royalty set things straight by explaining to this young cadet that he needed to respect his superiors while they held him by his legs from a third floor window.

Finally the day Francisco had worked all his life for arrived in 1794 when he graduated from the Royal Academy of the Army and was sent to his first posting in Angola under the command of Brigadier General Silveira. He served under him for six years reaching the post of colonel by 1797 when he along with the Angolan army were sent back to his home; Mazagão to stop the Moroccans from attacking the Portuguese enclave.

The Morbea Offensive destroyed the Moroccans and provided his family and the rest of the Portuguese living in Mazagão with almost 20 years of peace. His return home was herald as a huge family as well as Remedios celebration. But none of the celebrations meant as much as the look on his dad's eyes as he saw Francisco in all his splendour of military uniform for the first time.

For all his life Francisco would always remember that moment of pride and happiness on his dad's face when he acknowledged for the entire world that this was my son and that we the Remedios of Portugal take our place as its rightful citizens and defenders of patria “fatherland”. One sour note for Francisco was the refusal of his brother Luis to meet with him or to attend any functions in his honour.

In 1799 Colonel Francisco was transferred to the Northern Army under the command of General Almeida. Here too he found acceptance and respect from the men who served under him as well as his fellow officers including General Almeida. During the war of 1801 he and his troops were some of the first into the fortified town of Miranda do Douro to avenge the French atrocities. From there they marched all the way to Salamanca.

During the intervening years he stayed with General Almeida in the Minho Army participating in the battles of Galiza as part of the IV division in 1807. In 1809 he was promoted to Brigadier General and transferred to the Guadiana Army where he served under his former commander Marshal Silveira.

The forces under his command were involved in some of the heaviest fighting against both General Dupont as well as Napoleão. At the battle of Salamanca his forces were instrumental in stopping Marshal Masséna attack on the southern flank of the city. Brigadier General Remedios was seriously injured in the counter attack and lay in bed unconscious for several days. When he regained conscious Marshal Silveira visited him in the hospital and chastised him for personally leading the attack and due to his action he was being forced to promote him to General Remedios. Marshal Silveira said that maybe this way he would let other lead and stay out of harms way.

For the next three years General Remedios and his troops would slug it out with the French through the Peninsula Ibérica over the Pirenéus Mountains then into France itself culminating with the fall of Toulouse and the surrender of Marshal Soult. When Marshal Soult was brought before General Remedios Marshal Soult demanded to speak to a real Portuguese General for which he received the but of muskets in his stomach from the escorting Portuguese soldiers (both of whom were white). General Remedios ordered the men at ease and informed the marshal that he was the commanding Portuguese General. After Marshal Soult apologized he met not only with General Remedios but also Marshal Silveira who joined them.

The end of the war was greeted with jubilation and amazement as the implications of what had transpired and the prospect of peace began to dawn on both the soldiers as well as the general public.

In October 1812 events were put in place that would change General Remedios place in society for ever. Marshal Silveira had been made the Duque of Salamanca as a reward for his work and effort in saving the country. Under the Duque influence and insistence General Remedios became the first Luso-Indian to become part of the Portuguese royalty when he became 1st Conde de Vila Maior. Then in January the Duque of Corunha (General Almeida) consented to the marriage of his third daughter Henriqueta to the new Conde de Vila Maior.

The Conde de Vila Maior only regret at both the ceremony and wedding was that both his mother and father were not alive to attend and his brother refused to do so.

He had hardly settled into his new life when word of Napoleão escape reached Portugal and he accompanied the Duque of Salamanca to the Low Countries where they met up with the Duke of Wellington at the town of Waterloo and defeated Napoleão one last time in 1813.

Once more he returned to his new home and new wife and life seemed grand; Henriqueta became pregnant and November 20 1814 his first son Caetano Pedro Francisco Remedios was born.

In January 1815 he was again asked to accompany the Duque of Salamanca this time to a secret rendezvous with the Duke of Wellington on the island of São Miguel. Before he left Lisboa he had a meeting with his father-in-law who knowing what was afoot told him that

“Remember son, till now you have worked under the command of others, for all that you have done there are still those that will seek your downfall just because of who you are and what you represent. Remember also that there will be even more out there rooting for you and wishing you the best success. You will face new adversaries and challenges and from our enemies downright prejudice and ignorance, use those to your advantage and glory. One last thing before you go remember Portugal does not want or desire any new territory there but that our brothers and sisters are being held hostage by them so keep a tight reign on all those that serve under you.”

The meeting at the Hot Springs of Furnas on the island between the Portuguese and British had caused several stern looks from most of the British officers there except for the Duke of Wellington who acknowledged the Duque of Salamanca announcement that General Remedios would be leading the Portuguese expeditionary forces in the Americas against the Estados Unidos.

[Archangel]

Remedios task will be a hard one, both by the natural difficulties of war, but also to counter those with reactionary views.

Continua com o bom trabalho!

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Preparations)


In the winter of 1815 the Duke of Wellington faced a daunting task as he assembled the forces needed to liberate the British subjects under the American occupation and to bring America itself to the bargaining table. The British high commander, Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, commander the most senior British commander in North America before the Duke’s arrival advocated a direct attack on the American city of New York. It was his opinion that the fall of New York would break the New Englanders will to fight. With New York and New England subjugated the British could then march south defeating the remaining Americans states one by one until the whole United State had been subjugated.

The Duke of Wellington only considered this plan for a moment before rejecting it. He foresaw him and his forces dogged by American patriots every step of the way with their supply lines attacked at every opportunity. He knew that the British will could only be imposed by the tip of a bayonet and Britain would need to garrison every town and city, it would the French in the Peninsula Ibérica all over again. It was a war that would drag on for years, one he was adamant to avoid.

His plan on the other hand was very simplistic and more direct but also symbolic in that it would demonstrate to the Americans as well as the rest of the world both British power as well as its will. His plan involved a two prong attack; one attack would from the sea which would tie up countless American militia along the coast while he would lead his forces through the Saint Laurence Valley liberating the British subject along the way. He then would lead his troops into the United States culminating with decisive drive that would cut the country into two.

The success of his plan hinged on two important things; a secure base to operate from for the land campaign as well as sea campaign, the second important factor was the continued domination of the seas. The continued control of the seas would be essential in the success of the entire British campaign. To that end he replaced Admiral Warren with Admiral Alexander Cochrane which he entrusted with not only the job of tying up the American forces along the coast but making sure that Britain did not loose it dominance of the seas.

In March 15 Wellington received a surprising but very welcome envoy; General Brock still in Upper Canadá and now fully recovered was finally able to get a message to remaining British high command. He advised that he would be able field between 10 and 15 thousands militia and native warriors come spring, but was in desperate need of supplies. The farmers of both Upper Canada were diverting as much of their produce to hiding places so they would be unavailable to the enemy. This was soon followed by visit from Colonel Charles de Salaberry himself who reported that he had re-organized the Canadian Voltigeurs, as well as several units of the Select Embodied Militia on the southern bank of the Rio Saint Laurence. In all told he estimated he could field over 7,000 men but he too was short on supplies.

Arthur Wellesley other major concern was the ability to supply his troops when they reached Upper Canada. So for the next two months while his forces built up in Nova Scotia ha began the arduous task of planning the supply for both his own march as well as get supplies to the British units behind the enemy lines. For Brock’s units Wellesley planned on using the two Canadian institutions Hudson Bay Company and the voyageurs to get the supplies from Great Britain then into Hudson Bay and from there south into Upper Canadá using the many rivers emptying into James Bay. In the case of the Lower Canada Wellesley decided to use dog sleds as a means of transporting supplies to the partisan forces under Colonel Charles de Salaberry.

The port of Halifax, the town of Halifax as well other surrounding towns bulged with thousands of British soldiers was billeted awaiting their movement into other parts of North America. Over the month of March and into April the number of British soldiers continued to grown so that by April 15 Wellesley had close to 50,000 men ready to move out.

On the other side the initial American euphoria at their victory over the British and the “liberation” of both Canadás in the summer and autumn of 1814 soon turned to despair. The locals both English and French never welcomed the Americans as liberators and many of the Américan provisions had to be brought in from America. In the autumn the American government was forced to rush as much supplies north as possible before winter set in and roads and waterways became impassable. Instead of bringing the British to the bargaining table the invasion had hardened the British position and when word of Arthur Wellesley being appointed British commander in North America the Americans realized that they were in for the fight of their lives and possibly their country.

Faced with eminent British invasion every territory and state not only bolstered their militia but those that had troops outside their state lines demanded they be returned. The Federal government was left to raise the necessary forces as well as pay for their costs in the occupied territories. Hampering their ability to pay for it was the lack of a Federal bank which President Madison had opposed and left to expire when its charter had expired in 1811. Now with the need for the Federal government to pay for armament of much larger army it found itself forced to issue promissory notes and incurring a huge debt.

On December 15 Henry Dearborn who had in the previous months garnished great praise for his plan and success of the defeat of the British suffered a heart attack and died. The reality of having to plan for the defense of the entire North American continent was too much for him and he died at his desk late at night. The task for the planning of the British invasion was left to the American Secretary of War John Armstrong, Jr. In the early part of 1815 he laid out a plan to both reorganize the Armed forces and defend the nation.

He placed all American forces in “Quebec” Lower Canadá under the command of General Winfield Scott, while General Jacob Jennings Brown was given command of Upper Canada. The number of American federal troops grew from approximately 10,000 to over 30,000 by the end of April. His plans for a larger army were vetoed down by President who believed that the threat would come from the sea and not from the north. In February 28 the American President and Secretary of War received a letter from famous General offering his services to the country of United States. It was a great shame that pride and their code of conduct obligated them to politely respond back to its author their regrets. Historians often debate what the United States and for that matter what the world would have looked like if they had accepted Napoleão’s offer instead of rejecting it.

On the other side of the Atlantic General Remedios settled down planning for the Portuguese portion of this exercise. After he returned to Lisboa he was summoned to the Palacio Real de Ajuda where in a ceremony rich in pomp and symbolism D. José II proclaimed publicly what had only been rumored up till then. Portugal was going to aid its friend and ally against the rogue nation of América, and it had chosen one of the countries greatest leaders to lead that endeavor. This person had proven himself beyond any reasonable doubt his abilities and patriotism. D. José II then beckoned Conde de Vila Maior to come forward and after he had done so stood beside him and announced in a voice full of authority for all people to support this endeavor.

At his first planning meeting; the Portuguese Prime Minister the Duque d’ Orense, Miguel Pereira Forjaz as well as the Duque of Salamanca provided him with a force of 20,000 men comprised of units from Portugal’s four Iberian armies as well as the necessary support and protection from the navy. The force could be moved to the Açores and from there coordinate with the British and strike at América. But General Remedios favoured a different plan one that would provide Portugal with optimal strategic advantage, cripple large number of Américan forces to garrison duty away from British movements. His plan called for several hit and run attacks all along the American southern coast striking fear into the people there. Then in the midst of all that fear and confusion he would land the Portuguese forces in its underbelly and from there march north in his march he would offer help to those living under the American yokel to rise up and join them.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814


2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Engagement)


As the month of April came to a close General Winfield Scott stared out on to the Rio Saint Lawrence from the rampart of the Quebec City Citadel and observed the massive ice flow being carried out into the GolfodeSãoLourenço (Gulf of Saint Laurence). He knew that whatever time he and his country had to get ready for round two of American-British clash was fast coming to a head. No matter what his superiors believed in Washington Winfield Scott was certain that the Saint Lawrence was where the United States was going to win or lose this war.

He had ordered the repairing of as much of the damage from the last fall’s fighting to the city and citadel as possible during the winter. His troops were as ready as could be, even during the winter and early spring he had trained the troops and now they were positioned on both banks of the river. He knew it was a matter of days or one week, maybe two weeks if the late spring thaw continued being slow but the increasing partisan attacks against his forces and supply lines was another indication of the eminent attack. He dared not lean on the population too much or risk increasing the size of the partisans. From what he had observed and what he had been told the majority were even now waiting on the sidelines waiting for the outcome of the battle they too sensed was approaching. The number of French Canadians preaching independence were too few to have an impact, he knew that if the British could be stopped this summer then their support should surely grow.

Meanwhile across the river to the south Colonel Charles de Salaberry with the Canadian Voltigeurs, as the nucleus of his forces had in essence gained control of most of the countryside south of the Saint Lawrence. In addition to the Voltigeurs, de Salaberry also had the Canadian Chasseur and the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry. On May 12 he received word of the sighting of a huge British fleet at the mouth of the Rio Saint Lawrence spurring him to set his own plans in motion. On May 14th the Feast of Pentecostal was in full swing all along the Richelieu Valley as well all across Lower Canadá. He had his forces fanned out across the valley and in all the towns especially those close to the three major forts that the Americans had captured the previous summer: Fort Richelieu at the mouth of the Rio Richelieu, Fort Chambly at Chambly and Fort Sainte-Thérèse at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

With the garrison troops lax during the typical religious Sunday holiday; many of de Salaberry’s troops were able to gain access to the forts, some of them using their wives or other females to smuggle weapons into the fort. By the time the garrison grew weary of the people inside the fort or blocking the gates the fort security had been compromised. Fort Richelieu and Fort Sainte-Thérèse fell very easy, as the local commanders had chosen their attack as the majority of the garrison was gathered for Sunday service. In the case of Fort Chambly the attack did not go as well the garrison reacted more rapidly and more aggressive against both the men and women. The battle lasted over two hours with the last French holdouts barricading themselves in the forts chapel. Following a refusal of the Canadian forces to surrender Major Benjamin Forsyth, the fort commander ordered his troops to storm the chapel. The chapel massacre as it became known resulted in the death of 10 French soldiers but also 12 women. Out of a garrison of 500 Major Benjamin Forsyth force had lost 80 men and 90 were wounded. Almost two thirds of his stores and supplies had been damaged in the attack; luckily none of the gun powder had been affected.

The French Canadian forces had lost over 145 men with many dying of their wounds when the Americans refused to treat them as they lay bleeding either in the fort or around it. Attempts to rescue them had resulted in several additional injuries and deaths. The Voltigeurs commander in the area Major Frederick Heriot surrounded the fort and controlled all approaches. When news of the success in taking the other forts Fort Chambly’s fate was sealed, only a major American victory could rescue them and with the forts supplies running very low it would need to be before the end of the month.

During the month of May alone de Salaberry forces were able to capture 10 wagon trains coming up from Lake Champlain before the Americans realized the fall of the valley to British forces. On May 29 the garrison revolted against Major Benjamin Forsyth and he was shot along with over thirty of their comrades who had refused Major Frederick Heriot that Forsyth be turned over for trial. The following morning the remaining garrison surrendered Fort Chambly.

In Lower Canada General Brock was limited in his options due to a lack of gunpowder and other supplies, even so during the winter he had met with Tecumseh and together they had agreed on a wide range of issues including militaristic objectives. To the north he met with Mohawk leader Teyoninhokovrawen to plan for the sealing off of the Lower Canadá from Upper Canadá as well as Mohawk attacks into the state of New York.

On May 1st Brock’s forces along with the Indians launched wide spread attacks on the American positions throughout the colony. American supply lines were completely disrupted and forward elements of the American Army were captured by British troops, killed by Indians or pushed back to the main American bases. By the end of May General Jacob Jennings Brown had effectively lost control of majority of Lower Canada while remaining in control of the two British forts on the Península Niágara, town of York and Kingston. With less than 5,000 men he was unable to occupy any substantial part of the colony for any great period of time and any force caught exposed was subject to Indian and/or partisan attack. He relied exclusively on the control of the lakes of Erie and Ontario to supply his troops.

The Mohawk truce with America was finally broken on May 25 when the American garrison at Kingston was attacked, but more worrying for the Americans was the Indian attack on the six ships in port while the garrison and American marines repulsed the Indian attack on land.

The Mohawks came up on the ships quietly on canoes while the guards were engrossed with the fighting on the outskirts of town. The guards were overpowered and the ships set ablaze with oil. The destruction of the ships left the Americans hard pressed to supply their forces in both York and Kingston and following the capture of the Richelieu Valley supply the American army in Lower Canada.

With American forces under constant attack along the Rio Saint Lawrence between Kingston and Montreal General Brown abandoned York and moved his headquarters to Fort George on June 10. He reinforced both Kingston as well as the supply trains moving along the river valley.

Along the Atlantic coast the British forces began attacking towns almost every day. Coastal towns on Long Island New York were attacked over ten times alone in the month of May with huge loss of property and in some cases loss of life. British Marines engaged in hit and run attacks all along the coast. Towns all along the coast began resembling armed camps with walls, towers as well as guns for protection. But unfortunately the British could concentrate a much large force that would overwhelm the garrison and destroy property sometimes the entire town. By the time American re-enforcements arrived the British had boarded their ships and were sailing towards their next target. Compounding the American ability to respond was the lack of proper roads, the very wet spring made many of the American East Coast roads impassable or difficult for supplies, commerce and troops. With the seas completely closed the only way Americans could transport their goods or people was by roads. It was not unusual to spot a single or multiple British ships off any particular part of the American coast almost every day.

The Portuguese finally made their debut in Southern Carolina when a 40 ship armada with close to 10,000 Portuguese marines when they attacked the town of Beaufort on April 29. The town’s garrison of close to 1,000 was easily overwhelmed. During the four day occupation of the town and the surrounding plantations resulted in many homes and business burning down. When three separate Militia columns approached under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Ashe Alston, Colonel William Austin and Colonel Adam McWillie approached the Portuguese withdrew from the town and boarded their ships laden with huge amount of plunder, leaving with the Portuguese was also over 3,250 freed black with their families (freed by the Portuguese).

Three weeks later they struck again this time in North Carolina. Their target this time was Onslow Courthouse on the Rio New. The town’s residents were spared but the towns stores taken including naval supplies. News of the Portuguese attack spread through the state and both militias as well as private individuals marched, rode to Onslow Courthouse to attack the Portuguese but when they arrived there they found the place deserted, the remaining local population as well as all the Portuguese soldiers and ships had disappeared. For two days the North Carolina militia searched the surrounding woods for signs of Portuguese but found none then began to disperse, it was not till the fifth day that a half dead courier arrived telling of the fall of Wilmington.

The Portuguese navy had sailed up the Rio Cape Fear at high tide during the early morning surprising the town and its people. The town’s militia attempted to rally to repulse the Portuguese invasion but was greatly overpowered in both man as well as guns. The town fell by noon. When the exhausted militia arrived five days later the town was a burned out shell. Half the town’s inhabitants had lost their homes and the entire waterfront and business district had been looted and burned down. Over 1,000 residents along with most of the blacks had disappeared with the Portuguese.

This process was repeated again and again all the way from the Territory of Florida in the south as well as the states of Georgia, South and North Carolina. The destruction of property including the taking of thousands of blacks along with the disappearance of similar number of white people put the population living along the coast in a panic. Thousands packed up and moved inland away from the reach of marauding “Pirates”. Those that remained worked feverishly to protect themselves with the construction of forts and walls protecting their towns.

Attacks on one port was for the most part ignored by other militias as they became afraid to allow their local militias to leave and they themselves become the next target. So when on July 5 news travelled north to Georgia and then the rest of América that the Portuguese had attacked Saint Augustine Florida for a second time nobody paid any attention. They knew that it must be another diversionary attack aimed at diverting their soldiers away from protecting them.

On May 10 at the small village of Baie-Saint-Paul a huge flotilla of British ships appeared and unloaded their precious cargo. For over three days over 10,000 men, horses, guns and supplies were unloaded along with its commander and chief the Duke of Wellington.

[ZachScape]

disregard, meant as PM. I hate doing that!

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Combat- Lower Canadá I)


During the months of May and June the United States felt itself completely surrounded with attacks all along its Atlantic Coastline from both Britain and Portugal. Repeated hit and run attacks all along the coast kept the country and its people on edge and weary as to the exact location of the Allied invasion. The number of militias throughout the country reached an unprecedented level of 500,000 men, with all states except the four landlocked states: Vermont, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee keeping their militias ready to respond to the sea borne attack.

The states of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee were also busy not only protecting their people but also the bordering territories from Indian attacks. Between the three states they had close to 20,000 militia guarding their respective states as well as protecting the white settlers in the territories. The easiest way they did so was to attack any and all Indians they encountered which in turn made it more dangerous for white settlers in the area. During the spring and summer of 1815 most if not all white settlers in the territories of Mississippi, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana either relocated to forts and armed camps for protection. The militias were kept occupied chasing Indians throughout the territories but the majority of them were there to protect the white settlers and also to bring supplies to the forts and camps.

On the Northern front in American occupied British colonies the prevailing American view was that the various engagements including the landing of British troops in Lower Canadá was nothing but diversionary tactics to distract them from the real threat of British Invasion from the sea.

The landing on May 10 at the small village of Baie-Saint-Paul down river from Quebec City by British troops was only appreciated for its true meaning by General Scott and his officers. The lading coincided with almost two days of British ships attack on the American positions both in Quebec City as well as south of the Rio Saint Lawrence. The Americans had re-enforced their positions and brought to almost half of the Richelieu valley fort guns to the Quebec City area. For two days straight ship after ship engaged the Americans in duel with both sides suffering heavy casualties but when a ship had sustained what it considered enough damage it would be replaced by a different ship. All in all over 25 British ships participated in the attack on Quebec City with most if not all suffering damage while the Americans had lost over 20 guns and close to 200 men while they suffered an additional 512 wounded.

More importantly was that General Scott only discovered about the British landing on the 11th by which time the number of British troops on land was over 5,000 men along with guns and supplies. Colonel Charles Boerstler led the advanced American force consisting of the 14th U.S. Regiment of Infantry to intercept the British while General Scott assembled the rest of the force. When Colonel arrived south of the village his forces came under fire from well placed British soldiers as well as British artillery forcing him to retreat south towards the village of Beaupré. The 13th and 12th Regiment of Infantry together with two detachments of artillery along arrived about the same time causing confusion and disarray in the ranks. Brigadier General Zebulon Pike had just reestablished order in the American forces when General Scott arrived with the 7th, 10th and 8th Regiment of Infantry. In Quebec City Brigadier General William H. Winder had been left in charge of the remaining troops and in charge of coordinating the movement of the remaining troops from other parts of Lower Canadá to Quebec City.

On May 13th the combined American army advanced north towards the British position by which time General Wellesley had landed two divisions under the commands of General Hill and General Fane. General Wellesley had been present at the initial disembark of the troops but on the second day left aboard HMS Victory leaving the British force alone to face the oncoming American attack alone. Both Generals had moved their respective divisions south of the village and had dug in awaiting the arrival of General Scott.

The probing attack on the second day by the Americans had been easily repulsed by the British. General Hill favored pursuing the retreating Americans but like General Fane he was under strict instruction not to pursue the American forces but to entrench.

On May 14 the Americans had arrived and arrayed themselves with Brigadier General Zebulon Pike and the 14th 13th and 12th Regiments of Infantry facing the British from the south while General Scott and the 7th, 10th and 8th Regiment of Infantry were arrayed to the rear. The American had brought with them 36 guns and they opened up on the British positions, the General Fane responded with his 24 guns.

After about one hour Brigadier General Zebulon Pike and his Americans troops moved forward while General Scott and his troops tried to outflank the British but as they came around the ridge on the left of the Americans General Hill’s guns came into play. The British 20 guns played havoc on the advancing American forces. Added to that General Hills’ troops open up on the American line shattering any remaining will to advance and the American troops fell back.

Both American thrusts had been repulsed with minimal British casualties of less than 400 casualties and wounded while the Americans had suffered close to 1,000 casualties and wounded. The behavior of the British army both in their previous engagement as well as the second battle of Baie-Saint-Paul troubled General Scott. He could not believe that the British had refused to press their advantage. For two days the forces faced off each other with the American Army entrenched about one mile south of the British forces. On the evening of May 16 a courier arrived from Quebec City stating that a large British task force was attacking the citadel again. As soon as he received the news he announced to all his commanding officers that they had two hours to make ready to leave. Over the objections of his officers to told them that the British were about to land a large force at Quebec City and that both the city and this force was about to be cut off and surrounded.

As the sun set the Americans made haste in their efforts to break camp and retreat south. General Scott ordered Colonel Charles Boerstler and the 14th U.S. Regiment of Infantry to remain behind and only withdraw in the morning. All through the night General Scott and his forces moved slowly south; quite a number of officers and soldiers talked amongst themselves about General Scott chasing shadows and jumping at the slightest talk of British ships and troops. In the morning Colonel Boerstler and his troops were seen by the British retreating south, unbeknown to them they believed it to be the entire American. At noon the American forces actually started moving south with the wagons and supplies ahead of them. General Hill ordered Colonel Lake to take his troops and scout the American forces while the rest of the force made ready to follow. It was not American force passed village of Beaupré that the Colonel Lake realized that instead of following the entire army he was only following a regiment. Upset at the deception and believing that this must be the trail guard of the American army he sent a messenger back to General Hill and then ordered his troops to double march and attack the retreating army.

As Colonel Charles Boerstler and his troops passed Beaupré they spied the pursuing British, he ordered his troops to make haste. Colonel Boerstler had had his troops march at a slower pace to give General Scott more time now that the enemy was pressing his troops quickly picked up the pace and continued for approximately 10 miles till they reached a large hill where he had his troops along with their four guns wait for the pursuing enemy.

The battle of Beaupré was an evenly matched affair with both forces numbering about 1,000 men but with the American guns as well as higher position they had the strategic advantage. Colonel Lake disregarded the American advantage and ordered his troops forward. At less than 500 yards the American artillery opened up on the British. The British soldiers pressed their attack even as their ranks were being raked by American artillery. When the British advance looked to be wavering Colonel Lake moved amongst his men to order them forward. The first British volley uphill was followed by both American buns and volley which not only hundreds of injuries and death to the British but also Colonel Lake’s death. The British fired one more raged volley before retreating.

Colonel Boerstler and his forces stayed on the hill till evening when the British Army could be seen on the rise behind the village. During the night the moved out again loading their wounded on the wagons and leaving behind anything that could slow them down.

When General Scott and his forces arrived in the Beauport near Quebec City the town’s citadel was locked not only in a desperate battle with tens of ships on the river but also trying to stop the disembarkment of the British forces on both banks of the river. General Scott soon realized that the American forces and guns on the south side of the river were lost but that the battle around Quebec City could go either way.

As his forces approached Beauport the town and his forces came under fire from British ships, his forces continued marching south all the while under British naval attack. The Americans under General Scott no longer doubting his decision to retreat south came around the right of the town and attacked the British forces on the left flank.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Combat- Lower Canadá II)


The Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley looked upon the battle scene in front of him, his two divisions under General Moore and General Hope had the American forces on the ropes with most of their guns knocked out by both his own guns plus the guns on the ten ships in the river.

He had landed two additional divisions north of the citadel the week before in an attempt to draw the occupying army away. His plan had worked like a charm with General Scott the American commander taking almost two thirds north.

When Marshal Wellesley had landed his second force on the banks of the river just south of the citadel he had expected the Americans to capitulate almost immediately but circumstances had not gone in his way. The American commander had proven more adept at gathering their remaining forces than he had anticipated so that when he and his forces had arrived the re-enforced Americans had instead of capitulated held his forces off for one whole day. But as the day drew to a close the battle began going the British way when suddenly on the British left flank General Scott and his forces attacked.

He ordered his reserve the 42nd Regiment of Foot 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry and the Light Company of the 29th Regiment of Foot to reinforce his left flank. But the new American army turned the battle and his forces were forced to give ground. The one advantage the British had was the three to one advantage in guns and the British artillery proved the difference as the Americans were unable to press their advantage. As nighttime approached Marshal Wellesley received reports of additional American forces reinforcements.

But as he contemplated ordering his troops back new reports arrived of a new force approaching from the north. Realizing that it was General Fane and Hills forces he ordered his troops to hold. Several things happed almost simultaneously the American forces reacted to the British attack from the north but instead of retreating towards the citadel General Scott ordered the forces he had out of the citadel to the left and while the sun slipped over the horizon a large portion of the American forces slipped around the British force and into the night.

Neither Marshal Wellesley forces nor the new British forces were in any position to pursue the fleeing American forces. They surrounded the remaining American forces in the citadel and attended to their wounded and casualties. In the morning the remaining American forces under Brigadier General William H. Winder surrendered to the British. The British had suffered 2,542 casualties and 2,945 wounded while the Americans suffered 2,978 casualties, 3,852 wounded and 7,588 captures in all battles.

On May 20 with his forces rested and Quebec City secure he marched south with close to 22,000 along the north banks of the Rio Saint Lawrence. At first the British encountered neither American troops nor any problems with the civilians but Portneuf the first civilian casualties were found. The retreating American forces had stopped for a day in town and according to reports from the locals who understood English unknown to the Americans, General Scott and his officers became angry when reports arrived at the fall of the Richelieu Valley and the general revolt in other parts of Lower Canadá. So before leaving they confiscated all foods and put anything that could help the British to the torch including fields of wheat and other cereals.

On May 25 the British had finally reached the retreating American forces at Trois-Rivières and the Rio Saint-Maurice. The British advance force under General Hill skirmished with the last remnants of the retreating American forces on the outskirts of the town. Over the next two hours the British pushed the Americans steadily back through town. Many times the fighting was house to house. Finally the Americans retreated to the river and using boats and rafts rowed to the other side of the Rio Saint-Maurice. American artillery on the southern bank of the river kept the British away from the banks of the river and from firing on the retreating soldiers.

When Wellesley reached the town and General Hill reported that the town had been captured before the Americans had had a change to put it to the torch (although almost all of the town’s residents had fled when the Americans had taken over the town). Marshal Wellington ordered an immediate withdrawal of all British forces from the town. The confused and indignant British officers at first objected to his orders but he was adamant that the town was set to explode and that if they did not removed their men they were about to loose hundreds if not thousands of men. The order to retreat was given but as it reached the troops further in the town explosions could be heard at various points in the town. The British soldiers now battled flames and crumbling building as they retreated back north. About 250 men were trapped close to the bank of the river and as they retreated closer to the banks American artillery opened up on them. The Trois-Rivières massacre resulted in the death of 185 men either from fire or from artillery shrapnel would prove to be a battle cry for the British troops.

The fire burned for two days by which time Wellington had his troops build hundred of new rafts and they moved on mass to the river and crossed it without opposition. The scene the British encountered once again proved to be one of despair and destruction, hundreds or refugees clogged the road fleeing the American forces. When they arrived at Berthierville on the southwest bank of Lago Saint-Pierre they found the inhabitants trying to rebuild their charred town. For news of their attacks and plundering had now preceded the retreating Americans and the residents had gathered what belonging they could carry and had fled north towards Saint Gabriel.

The scene south of Berthierville till Montreal was one panic and distress as the road was completely clogged with refugees and worse now by the June 1 it had started raining adding more distress and confusion to the situation. Marshal Wellesley was very careful lessen the discomfort his men and their passage had on the civilians. He also ordered his men and accompanying doctors to provide assistance to any who needed. It was not till June 6th that the British army finally reached Montreal. A detachment of British ships had beaten them to the city and had been instrumental in the defense of the city from the retreating American forces.

The British ships had attempted to attack the American forces as they crossed the Rio Ottawa but had to retreat back due to American guns on both banks of the Rio Saint Lawrence. The arrival of Marshal Wellesley at Montreal was greeted with great fanfare and enthusiasm. The city had suffered greatly at the American hands with many homes and business lost along the northern side of the island.

On June 7th Colonel Charles de Salaberry visited Marshal Wellesley reporting that the entire south side of Lower Canadá was secure to the American border. In Montreal Marshal Wellesley made his plans for both the pursuit of the American forces as well as the invasion of América. He also received an additional 10,000 reinforcement including Brigadier General Gordon Drummond who he placed in charge of the Richelieu Valley campaign. On June 15 Brigadier General Gordon Drummond marched south with 6,250 soldiers accompanied by his second in command Colonel Charles de Salaberry. This was followed by the crossing of the Rio Ottawa by Marshal Wellesley and his army of 29,000 men.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814

2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Combat- Betrayal)


General Scott sat on his horse and looked at his men as they trudged south tired and exhausted. They had just beaten off an attack from the Mohawks and while the outcome had never been in doubt the attack symbolized the Americans recent turn of events. Now as the town of Kingston came into view he could not stop thinking back to the drastic change of events that had befallen both him and the American army in British North America in the last month.

The town of Kingston on June 20, 1815 resembled a fortified camp since the first Mohawk attack that not only transformed the town into a fort but also put a dent in the American ability to supply its troops. That ability had come to a head following the loss of the Richelieu Valley which resulted in the remaining American forces being forced to forcibly requisition supplies from the civilians of Lower Canadá. General Scott had resisted as long as possible but when his forces reached Portneuf after just barely escaping the entrapment between two British armies when he received notice of the fall and capture of the forts in the Richelieu valley by French militias. That proved to him that the population had turned against the Americans and he authorized both the forcible requisition and also the torching of the village.

The American defeat at the Battle of Quebec City had been the greatest military defeat since its independence. The loss of close to 15,000 men in the battle along with the loss over 3,000 additional men in the Richelieu Valley and their only direct route for supplies from América had forced General Scott to order the only option left to him and the only salvation of América; the withdrawal of his troops to America. He knew that the Duke of Wellington would have no choice but follow him for to drive directly into the United States with a hostile army behind was something he would not chance. His hope was to grind Wellington down and while his supply line became more difficult the American would become easier. In the Great Lakes it would be the Americans who would have the naval advantage not the British. He still smarted at the failure both in Trois-Rivières and Montreal.

But when he and his men finally arrived at Kingston General Scott was met by General Jacob Jennings Brown who gave him the news he half expected, the relief from duties and the transfer of all American forces to General Jacob Jennings Brown command. On June 22 General Scott sailed back to Sackets Harbour New York.

General Brown immediately began the task of integrating all his forces into one fighting force. At the end of June there were three separate units in Kingston and he desperately attempted to combine them into one force. His own original force of 3,200 men; although about a third were just recent recruits. The Lower Canadá force of 11,200 men in various state of readiness but all exhausted both physically as well as emotionally. Then there was the new arrivals the 18th, 19th 2nd, 22nd and 20th Regiment of Foot along with six regiments of Pennsylvania militia. In total he had under his command over 21,000 men at Kingston. Although he had requested additional support from no other state had offered or cared to send any more.

For seven days General Brown trained his troops integrating the veterans with the new recruits. At the same time he ordered the defenses along the Rio Cataraqui built up. He planned on making Kingston the location where the United States would stop running and stop the British.

[Lusitania]

War of 1814


2nd War of the Independence – Counter Attack (Combat- New York State I)


On June 28 the Mohawk leader Teyoninhokovrawen once again led his forces against the Americans this time in the state of New York. Sackets Harbour the main American naval habour on Lago Ontario and American Naval yard was their main target. In port were five sloops as well over 1,000 militia mainly manning Fort Volunteer and Fort Tompkins at the harbour entrance. The commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Electus Backus.

On June 22 when General Scott had visited the village and military fortifications before he departed he had criticized the lack of progression in the constructions of a line of earthworks and abatis (defence works made from felled trees and branches) surrounding the town and dockyard as planned and laid out the previous year by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Macomb. But as the war had progressed so much to the American favour the plans had been ignored, then as the war intensified again dispute between Federal government and state of New York on who would pay what again had delayed the start of the construction again.

The attack by the British on the New York State Militia post at Rouses Point on the northern tip of Lago Champlain the previous week had stripped North West part of New York State of almost two thirds of its experienced militia, what had remained in the area was for the most part new recruits. So when the Mohawks attacked on the 29th from both the land and the lake the population and many of the militia panicked.

Teyoninhokovrawen plan was to distract the Americans by the appearance of over 200 war canoes then attack from the landside with a force of two groups of 500 warriors. He had instructed his men that if the Mohawk nation was to gain a place as amongst the leading nations it would have to behave accordingly. (This had been one of General Brock’s messages when he visited them earlier that year) They were to leave all unarmed civilians alone and only attack armed men and if they were defeated to allow them to surrender.

The appearance of the war canoes had the desired affect with the entire population’s attention on the canoes his land forces made it to the edge of village before the alarm was raised. The sudden appearance of the large Indian force on the edge of town completed the demoralization of population with all those that could rushing towards the forts but for many it was too late and they huddled in their homes and business petrified.

Teyoninhokovrawen forces had captured over 300 civilians in the initial attack and then his forces went home by home and gave the people the choice of dying in the home while it burned or surrendering. With the civilian population captured he then gave the militia still in the fort option of surrendering or seeing the civilians killed. Under a flag of truce Lieutenant Colonel Electus Backus met with Teyoninhokovrawen.

Teyoninhokovrawen terms were that all civilians and militias were to be let go with enough supplies for one week and allowed to leave this also included the people in the sloops still in the harbour but now full of civilians. When asked by Lieutenant Colonel Electus Backus was assurances he had that once they surrendered they would be allowed to live Teyoninhokovrawen responded by saying “You are all alive are you not what other proof do you need”. Left with no choice and with many families having family amongst the captured civilians he agreed.

On June 30 over 2,950 men, women and children left Sackets Harbour, its forts, ships and supplies and marched south. Teyoninhokovrawen allowed several wagons to be taken to transport the sick, elderly and children but only 100 muskets were allowed.

Over the next month the Mohawk nation under Teyoninhokovrawen played out this scenario through the entire North West part of New York State. The American settlements of Le Ray, Wilna, Alexandria, Theresa, Antwerp, Watertown, Canton, Malone were emptied of their American settlers. By the end of summer 1815 tens of thousands of Americans had been turned into refugees forcing the government of state of New York to send thousands of Militia to the area to defend the remaining settlements. The unofficial border between the Americans and Mohawk became the Black River. The need to defend the state from multiple attacks and invasion forces kept the state militia and Mohawks away from each other till peace finally came to the land.

In the Richelieu Valley the British under the command Brigadier General Gordon Drummond and the Lower Canadá militia under the command of Colonel Charles de Salaberry marched south towards Lake Champlain. The army bypassed the New York Militia at Fort Lennox and attacked the main militia camp at Rouses Point. Since the initial American invasion in 1814 and the subsequent American success General Peter B. Porter militia had grown very lax and also had been reduced in size. With all the other areas deemed more critical he and his forces had been sent south to Long Island. It was only on June 1 that he and his forces had forced marched their way back to Plattsburgh then taken by ship to Rouses Point to protect New York State from the British. The arrival of more than 5,000 additional men did nothing to increase the American camps security. With his troops completely exhausted from their trek he ordered them to rest before they turn their attention to protect the state from non existing threat in his opinion.

So on June 20th the militia had only the minimal of sentries and these were taken out without alerting the Americans. The attack happened at dawn as the militia were slowly coming to and lounging around. The sound of screaming hyenas (bagpipes) as some described it along with the sudden appearance thousands of British soldiers caused panic in the camp. General Peter B. Porter attempted rally his men but the sudden appearance of such as huge number of enemy soldiers caused many to turn and run instead of rallying to the defense.

The Militia fired one raged volley, many of which were too early before the British fired their first. The remaining American forces turned and fled themselves. The British forces split into two with Colonel Charles de Salaberry charged with the responsibility of taking out Fort Lenox then proceeding to follow the main force as it continued marching south against the Americans.

The British march south was more limited by supply issues than any organized opposition. The progress of the British army could be marked by the huge column of refugees preceding it. On July 15 Brigadier General Gordon Drummond and his army finally reached the outskirts of the town of Plattsburg. The slow speed of the British had given General Peter B. Porter the chance to regroup his men and also thousands of new recruits including just recently arrived 4,000 militia from Albany. The American forces which now had swelled to over 15,000 was to any experienced military observer no more than army of disorganized groups with no real command structure. Militia groups ranged from a few dozen to several hundred with each their own leader.

The British force on the other hand was everything a real army represented. A unified and coherent command structure and well trained men, the only disadvantage they had was that they only number 7,450.00. The battle started not as a coherent attack but as wave of people moving at different speeds towards the enemy. General Porter could only look on as one group after another the American groups moved towards the enemy. As the fringes of the American forced made contact with the British he ordered his men forward.

Brigadier General Gordon Drummond ordered his men to stand four deep with the artillery and baggage train behind. The raged and despaired Américan volleys were answered by an almost continuous British volley. The American anger and determination overrode much of the natural human sense of preservation and as hundreds of their comrades were killed on injured more still came sometimes trampling over them. As the Battle waged on the appearance of a third force was greeted by hope then despair as the Americans realized that it was additional British forces and not American re-enforcements.

Starting on the right flank and slowly moving inward hundreds of Americans retreated away from the new British army marching straight at the Americans. Finally sensing the battle was lost General Peter B. Porter ordered his remaining troops to retreat. Plattsburg became as ghost town as both those who had sought refuge there as well as its residents fled south afraid of the British revenge for the attacks in Lower Canadá against the civilians by the American Army.

The Battle of Plattsburg was one of the bloodiest battles in the war of 1814 due in large part of the high number of armed civilians; the Americans suffered 3,421 casualties, 5,950 wounded and 2,111 captured. Meanwhile the British had 1,852 casualties, 2,158 wounded and 56 missing. Added to this was that the British had a three to one advantage of guns as well as highly experienced gunners while the American guns were manned by inexperienced men. The capture of Plattsburg put the north eastern New York including Albany and the entire Hudson River within striking distance of the British.