Battle of Beaver Dams Part of the War of 1812 Laura Secord warns James Fitzgibbon. Date June 24, 1813 Location Near Thorold, Ontario Result Decisive British victory Belligerents Britain United States Commanders James FitzGibbon Charles G. Boerstler Strength 400 natives, 50 regulars 575 regulars Casualties and losses 25 killed and wounded 80 dead or wounded, 462 captured

Niagara campaigns Queenston Heights – Fort George – Stoney Creek – Beaver Dams – Fort Niagara – 1st Fort Erie – Chippawa – Lundy's Lane – Cook's Mills – 2nd Fort Erie

The Battle of Beaver Dams was a small battle on June 24, 1813, during the War of 1812. An American attempt to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams near Fort George failed, and the Americans were ambushed by Natives, eventually surrendering to the commander of a small British detachment. This article is about the U.S.–U.K. war. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Secord. ... Statue of Laura Secord at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa Laura Secord (née Ingersoll) (September 13, 1775 – October 17, 1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. ... James FitzGibbon JamesFitzGibbon (November 23, 1782 – December 10, 1863) was a British soldier and hero of the War of 1812. ... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1813 (MDCCCXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... City of Thorold Flag. ... James FitzGibbon JamesFitzGibbon (November 23, 1782 – December 10, 1863) was a British soldier and hero of the War of 1812. ... The Niagara campaign was the final campaign to invade Canada during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Isaac Brock † Roger Sheaffe Stephen Van Rensselaer Strength 1,300 regulars, militia, and natives 6,000 regulars and militia Casualties 14 dead 77 wounded 100 dead 300 wounded 925 captured The Battle of Queenston Heights was a British victory of the War of 1812 which... The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans captured the British fort on western Lake Ontario. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders John Vincent John Chandler, William Winder Strength 700 3,400 Casualties 22 dead, 134 wounded 55 dead or wounded, 113 captured The Battle of Stoney Creek was fought on June 6, 1813, during the War of 1812 near Stoney Creek, Ontario. ... After the successful bayonet charge of the British the Fort of Niagara was quickly captured and along with it a large number of American prisoners. ... A new invasion of Canada was planned under the command of General Jacob Brown, aimed at the Niagara Peninsula. ... The Battle of Chippawa (sometimes spelled Chippewa) was a decisive victory for the American army which allowed for the invasion of Canada along the Niagara River. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Gordon Drummond Phineas Riall Jacob Brown Winfield Scott Strength At start: 2,200, 5 guns Reinforcements: 1,800, 3 guns At start: 2,000, 3 guns Reinforcements: 1,000, 6 guns Casualties 84 dead 559 wounded 193 missing 42 captured 171 dead 572 wounded 110... The Battle of Cooks Mills was the last engagement between U.S. and British/Canadian armies fought on Canadian soil during the War of 1812. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Gordon Drummond Edmund P. Gaines Jacob Brown Strength 2,200 3,000 Casualties 966 dead, wounded, or captured 540 missing 630 dead or wounded The Siege of Fort Erie was one of the last engagements between British and American forces during the Niagara campaign of... is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1813 (MDCCCXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the U.S.–U.K. war. ... Fort George is a historic military structure at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, that was the scene of several battles during the War of 1812. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ...

Background

On May 25, 1813, the Americans had won the Battle of Fort George, capturing the fort and defeating its garrison. They then attempted to pursue the British, but this pursuit was not so well organised and was checked at the Battle of Stoney Creek by a British counter-attack. At the same time, the American flotilla of warships which had been supporting their army on the Niagara peninsula was hastily withdrawn to face a threat to their own base. is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1813 (MDCCCXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Battle of Fort George was a battle fought during the War of 1812, in which the Americans captured the British fort on western Lake Ontario. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Commanders John Vincent John Chandler, William Winder Strength 700 3,400 Casualties 22 dead, 134 wounded 55 dead or wounded, 113 captured The Battle of Stoney Creek was fought on June 6, 1813, during the War of 1812 near Stoney Creek, Ontario. ...

The Americans fell back to Fort George. The British followed up and occupied two outposts, at Twelve Mile Creek and at Beaver Dams in the present-day city of Thorold, Ontario. From these outposts, militia and Indians harassed the Americans. City of Thorold Flag. ...

The American commander at Fort George, Brigadier General John Parker Boyd, decided to clear the threat posed by enemy raiders and to restore his men's morale by making a surprise attack on the outpost at Beaver Dams. John Parker Boyd (1764 – 1830) was an officer in the United States Army, from various periods from the American War of Independence to the end of the War of 1812. ...

American plan

The attacking force consisted of the 14th U.S. Infantry, with detachments of the 6th, 13th and 23rd U.S. Infantry, a company of artillery with two 6-pounder field guns, 20 U.S. Dragoons and an irregular corps of 40 mounted volunteers from the New York Militia. The commander was the recently promoted Colonel Charles Boerstler of the 14th U.S. Infantry. At dusk on June 23, Boerstler's force moved in secret from Fort George to the village of Queenston, where they quartered themselves in the houses and other buildings. This article is about the state. ... Lebanese Kataeb militia The term Militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary [1] citizens to provide defense, emergency, law enforcement, or paramilitary service, and those engaged in such activity, without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Village of Queenston (Latitude 43°10N Longitude 79°03W) is located 5km north of Niagara Falls, Ontario in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. ...

A Canadian tradition is that several officers billeted themselves in the house of Militia Captain James Secord, who had been severely wounded the previous year at the Battle of Queenston Heights. His wife, Laura Secord, overheard the American officers discussing their plans. Very early on June 23, she set out to warn the British outpost. The Americans had placed sentries around the village, but one of these believed Laura Secord's story that she was going to milk a cow and let her pass. Secord made her way through the woods until she stumbled into an Indian encampment. The Indians took her to Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon, commanding the outpost. Fitzgibbon acted immediately on her information, placing 450 Indians in ambush on the route the Americans were to use. James Secord (1773 – 1841)was the husband of Laura Secord. ... Combatants Britain United States Commanders Isaac Brock † Roger Sheaffe Stephen Van Rensselaer Strength 1,300 regulars, militia, and natives 6,000 regulars and militia Casualties 14 dead 77 wounded 100 dead 300 wounded 925 captured The Battle of Queenston Heights was a British victory of the War of 1812 which... Statue of Laura Secord at the Valiants Memorial in Ottawa Laura Secord (née Ingersoll) (September 13, 1775 – October 17, 1868) was a Canadian heroine of the War of 1812. ... is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... James FitzGibbon JamesFitzGibbon (November 23, 1782 – December 10, 1863) was a British soldier and hero of the War of 1812. ...

It is equally possible that the large Indian detachment were warned by their own scouts as to the American presence and intentions and set their own ambush, notifying Fitzgibbon (and the British detachment at Twelve Mile Creek under Major de Haren).

Battle

The main contingent of Indians were 300 Kahnawake, also referred to as Caughnawaga in contemporary accounts. (The Kahnawake were Mohawks who had earlier been converted to Christianity by Jesuit missionaries.) They were nominally commanded by Captain Dominique Ducharme of the Indian Department, with Lieutenants Isaac LeClair and J.B. de Lorimier. There were also 100 Mohawks under Captain William Johnson Kerr. They set up ambushes in a thickly wooded area a mile and a half (2.5 km) east of Beaver Dams. Fitzgibbon with 46 men of the 49th Regiment of Foot was in reserve. This article is about the people known as Mohawk. For other uses, see Mohawk. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... Dominique Ducharme (15 May 1765 – 3 August 1853), from Lachine, Quebec, was a French Canadian fur trader, settler, militia officer, and public servant. ... When the United States and Great Britain went to war against each other in 1812, the major land theatre of war was Canada, which was then divided for administrative purposes into Upper Canada (broadly the present day province of Ontario), Lower Canada (roughly present day Quebec) and the Atlantic Provinces... William Johnson Kerr (1787 – April 23, 1845) was a political figure in Upper Canada. ...

The Americans left Queenston late on the morning of June 24. As they approached Beaver Dams, they became aware of Indians closing in on their flanks and rear, but Boerstler did not change his plans. When the Indians opened fire, Boerstler was wounded and placed in a wagon. By American accounts, they put the Mohawks to flight and fought their way out of the woods into open fields where they could use their artillery and the Indians were not at such an advantage. At this point, Fitzgibbon intervened. Addressing Boerstler under a flag of truce, he claimed that the Americans were outnumbered and surrounded and that if they did not surrender he would be unable to restrain the Indians from slaughtering the entire American force. The wounded Boerstler capitulated, with 484 men. is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... “Flanking” redirects here. ...

The Indians admitted to 5 chiefs and warriors killed, and 20 wounded. The Americans suffered 56 casualties. It was later claimed that some of the wounded were killed and scalped by vengeful Mohawks.

Results

The loss of Boerstler's detachment demoralised the Americans at Fort George. From then until they abandoned the fort on December 10, they rarely dared send any patrols more than a mile from the fort. To reinforce their fear of the Indians, there was another minor disaster on July 8 when a party from the 8th (King's) Regiment) and some Provincial Dragoons, covered by Indians under John Norton, went to retrieve a chest of medicines which had been hastily buried at Two Mile Creek when the British had evacuated Fort George. An American party from the 13th U.S. Infantry under a Lieutenant Eldridge attempted to pursue the British detachment but was ambushed by the Indians, losing 28 men. is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 8th (The Kings) Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army. ...

Most of the American regular soldiers and Boyd himself were transferred to Sackett's Harbor in September, leaving the fort in the hands of New York Militia. Sackets Harbor is a village located in Jefferson County, New York. ...

Legends and folk tales

Referring to the respective parts played by the various Native Americans and the British, local legend (perhaps started by Mohawk leader John Norton, who was present) had it that, "The Caughnawaga got the victory, the Mohawks got the plunder and Fitzgibbon got the credit". The Mohawk chief Major John Norton (Teyoninhokovrawen) played a prominent role in the War of 1812, leading Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) warriors from Grand River into battle against American invaders at Queenston Heights, Stoney Creek, and Chippawa. ...

Shortly after the battle, Fitzgibbon made a report to Captain Kerr which read in part:

With respect to the affair with Captain (sic) Boerstler, not a shot was fired on our side by any but the Indians. They beat the American detachment into a state of terror, and the only share I claim is taking advantage of a favorable moment to offer them protection from the tomahawk and scalping knife. The Indian Department did the rest.

Captain Ducharme claimed that he himself did not demand the Americans' surrender because as a French Canadian by birth who had spent most of his life among the Indians, he spoke no English.

Laura Secord

Much later, in 1827, Fitzgibbon wrote: Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

I do hereby Certify that on the 22d. day of June 1813, Mrs. Secord, Wife of James Secord, Esqr. then of St. David's, came to me at the Beaver Dam after Sun Set, having come from her house at St. David's by a circuitous route a distance of twelve miles, and informed me that her Husband had learnt from an American officer the preceding night that a Detachment from the American Army then in Fort George would be sent out on the following morning (the 23d.) for the purpose of Surprising and capturing a Detachment of the 49th Regt. then at Beaver Dam under my Command. In Consequence of this information, I placed the Indians under Norton together with my own Detachment in a Situation to intercept the American Detachment and we occupied it during the night of the 22d. - but the Enemy did not come until the morning of the 24th when his Detachment was captured. Colonel Boerstler, their commander, in a conversation with me confirmed fully the information communicated to me by Mrs. Secord and accounted for the attempt not having been made on the 23rd. as at first intended.

By this account, Laura Secord learned of the American plans and made her exit from St. David's (near Queenston) on June 22, before the American main body had set out from Fort George (which is possible but makes tales of sentries and cows unlikely). is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• The Canadian Encyclopedia
• Stanley, G.F.G. "The Significance of the Six Nations Participation in the War of 1812." Ontario History LV(4), 1963.
• Elting, John R. "Amateurs to Arms", Da Capo Press, New York, 1995, ISBN 0-306-80653-3
• Latimer, Jon, "1812: War with America", Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 2007, ISBN 0-6740-2584-9
• Zaslow, Morris (ed.) "The Defended Border", Macmillan of Canada, Toronto, 1964, ISBN 0-7705-1242-9