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Final Straw (Prelude)
The Royal Navy's HMS Leopard stops USS Chesapeake in an ill-fated attempt to press men into British service, since any man 'used to sea' was fair game. Henry Clay, representative from Kentucky and Speaker of the House (nickname: 'The Dictator') used this event as a catalyst to raise anti-Canadian sentiment. He got his wish for war on 18 June 1812. -
Loss at Detroit
Pushed back from Fort Amherstburg, Revolutionary war hero General William Hull retreats to Fort Detroit. There, without supplies, the British led by Major General Isaac Brock encircle the fort with the help of the Shawnee, led by Tecumseh. Having seized Hull's letters and supplies before his attempt on Fort Amherstburg, Brock uses his fear of the natives to his advantage. Allegedly drunk, Hull surrenders Fort Detroit without a shot being fired. -
Morale Boost
Another failure notched one the American belt, this time at Montreal, was soon forgotten after a naval engagement off the coast of Nova Scotia. Spread thin across the globe in an attempt to fight France in Europe and maintain lucrative trade routes in the Caribbean, the Royal Navy had little to spare against the American forces at sea. The USS Constitution sunk the HMS Guerrière, having survived at least one cannonball to its thick hull. British pride took a hit, unlike their adversary's. -
Ill-Fated Assault on Queenston
With Detroit lost, American troops focused on Queenston Heights as part of a four-pronged attack on British Canada. A number of factors worked against them and their commander, General Stephen Van Rensselaer. Poor intelligence, poor weather, and desertion (especially among key transport means) ensured a decisive American defeat. Despite greater numbers and stronger positions, the Americans were disorganized, out-flanked, sunk, and gunned down. Major General Brock died to US gunfire. -
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Black Eye
The Battle of Lake Erie saw the victory of the US Navy over the Royal Navy, allowing the Americans control over the area's supply routes and eventual recapture of Detroit. This military engagement opened up to the Battle of the Thames where the Americans again saw victory and the destruction of Tecumseh's Confederacy. British Major General Henry Procter was later court-martialled for his defeats even though he lost to American superiority, lack of veteran fighters, and early deaths of officers. -
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Revenge of the Brits
Napoleon's abdication let Britain focus on its 'other war,' nearly tripling its Canadian Forces by late 1814. They marched through Maine, encountering little resistance, reaching Washington, DC. There, the British famously torched the White House and continued on to Baltimore. To make matters worse, the US defaulted on their national debt in the same year. Desertion was at an all-time high, 13%. A peace offer came from London, demanding territorial concessions. Treaty of Ghent signed.