In November, 1813, two large American armies developed a strategy to attack Montreal in a pincer movement. Major General Wade Hampton, and almost 4,000 men, would move north from the Champlain Valley in upper New York State. Major General James Wilkinson, commanding almost 8,000 troops, would march east from Sacket's Harbor, rendezvousing with Hampton near Montreal.
The Battle of Chateauguay
On October 26th, General Hampton's advancing army encountered a force of Quebec militia, the Voltigeurs Canadiens. The regiment was uniformed and trained as a British Regiment of Foot, but consisted mainly of French speaking Canadian volunteers. The Voltigeurs were joined by another militia regiment, the Canadian Fencibles, and a band of Indian warriors from the Kahnawake Reserve near Montreal.
The units were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, a career British army officer, who was born in Quebec City. With no British regulars among their ranks, and outnumbered by Hampton's force, the Canadians pushed the troops out of Canada, winning the battle at Chateauguay.
Wilkinson Plans to Invade
General Wilkinson, unaware of Hampton's defeat, prepares to cross Lake Ontario, and advance towards Montreal. Wilkinson and his troops are in bad shape. The cold weather, and poor sanitary conditions, have caused illness among his army. Many are suffering from fatigue and hunger, while others are poorly trained. Even Wilkinson has the fever, and is barely able to rise from his bunk.
Many farmers along the banks of the St. Lawrence River are American Loyalists, exiled and forced to relocate to Canada after the Revolutionary War. The farmers regularly fire shots at the passing American boats which are ferrying troops across the river.
Morrison Prepares for Attack
Commanding the British and Canadian troops is Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Morrison. Although his army is much smaller than Wilkinson's, they are in good health and better trained. A brief skirmish is fought at Hoople's Creek, before the Americans continue their march towards Cornwall.
Morrison's army numbers just over 1,200 men. Among his ranks are British regulars from the 49th and 89th Regiments of Foot, three cannons and crews from the Royal Artillery, militiamen from the Canadian Fencibles and Voltigeurs, and a band of Mohawks.
In addition to his troops, Morrison has support from Royal Navy gunboats on the river, under the command of William Howe Mulcaster.
The Battle of Crysler's Farm
The fighting began on November 11, and raged for three hours on the muddy fields of John Crysler's farm. Morrison's troops maintained a disciplined British style of fighting, marching and firing as a single unit, closely following the orders of their officers.
The Americans, meanwhile, fight in a more individualistic way. Many had been frontiersmen, taking cover and firing from concealed positions, at their own pace. It proves no match for the British regulars, many of whom are veterans of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe.
The 49th, wearing grey overcoats, are mistaken for militia.Thinking they will have an easy victory, the Americans are cut to pieces. Panic ensues, followed by confusion and then retreat.
U.S. Brigadier General Leonard Covington is killed, followed by his second in command, and then three more officers. The Americans manage to bring a cannon ashore, but it is quickly over-run and captured. Confused, lacking leadership, and many of them ill, the Americans retreat from the field.
Retreat of the American Army
The American army retreats to their winter quarters near Frenchtown, and the invasion of Canada is halted. Although Wilkinson claims the invasion on Montreal is only "suspended", no further attacks are carried out.
Wilkinson, ill with fever, retires to a private home in Malone, New York to convalesce. He blames the defeat on Hampton, who retires from the military. The army at Frenchtown is broken up, and those who survive the winter are re-deployed to other regiments.
Crysler's Farm is a major victory for Britain and Canada, and also represents the first time in our country's history that the three founding nations, British, French and Native, stood together in battle.
Sources:
The Fighting Canadians. Our Regimental History from New France to Afghanistan, by David Bercuson, Harper-Collins Publishing, 2008
The Invasion of Canada, 1812-1813, by Pierre Berton, McClelland and Stewart, 1980
Jason Gray - I was born and raised in the Toronto area, and am proud to be a Canadian. I have always had a strong interest in history, especially the ...
