War of 1812
Go here for the
War of 1812 in a Nutshell
these timelines of the War of 1812 are too detailed,
of 1812 - Key Events,
which are a summary of the years
January 18, 1813
Skirmish preceding the Battle of Frenchtown. Americans, led by Col. William Lewis,
defeat a British unit.
January 22, 1813
Battle of Frenchtown, also
called Battle of the River Raisin,
Michigan Territory. British victory. British and Indians, led by Col. Henry
Procter, defeat Americans, led by James Winchester.
January 23, 1813
Frenchtown Massacre. Indians kill approx. 60 American prisoners that
were taken yesterday at the Battle of Frenchtown.
February 22, 1813
Battle of Ogdensburg. A British force, led by
Lt. Col. George MacDonnell, captures Ogdensburg, New
February 24, 1813
USS Hornet vs. HMS Peacock. Off the coast of British
Guiana, the Hornet, under Capt. James Lawrence, sinks the Peacock,
under Capt. William Peake, who is killed in this battle.
March 3, 1813
The Twelfth Congress passes An Act vesting in the President of
the United State the power of retaliation, according to which:
violations of the laws and usages of war...
perpetrated by those acting under authority
of the British government, on any of the
citizens of the United States... the
President of the United State is hereby
authorized to cause full and ample
retaliation to be made...
Furthermore he is
permitted to do so in case of:
outrage or act of cruelty or barbary ...
practised by any Indian or Indians, in
alliance with the British government
March 11, 1813
Secretary of State
James Monroe writes to
Count Andrei Daschkoff (Daschkov),
conveying President Madison's willing acceptance of Czar Alexander's
offer to mediate between Britain and the States.
April 12, 1813
U.S. forces, led by James Wilkinson, from New Orleans and Fort Stoddert show up at the gates
of Mobile, Mississippi Territory, and are ready to attack the Spanish. This is part of the
Controversy, in which the U.S. claims that this area was part of
Purchase of 1803. Spain will evacuate Mobile on April
15, 1813, and will eventually cede all claims to West
and East Florida in 1819 (see
April 13, 1813
Spanish captain Don Cayetano Perez
surrenders Mobile to the U.S.
April 15, 1813
The Spanish evacuate Mobile. U.S. control of Mobile won't be
challenged until September 14, 1814.
April 27, 1813
Battle of York, Ontario, Canada.
Present day Toronto. U.S. troops led by
Henry Dearborn can claim a U.S. victory. But U.S.
General Zebulon Montgomery Pike
and many others are killed in the attack
when a British magazine explodes. After the British retreat, the
Americans stay until May 1st. They loot the town and burn the
Parliament and other public buildings. British payback will follow
May 1, 1813
First Siege of Fort Meigs
begins. Henry Procter has arrived from Fort Amherstburg with 1,000
troops. He joins forces with Tecumseh and 1,200 Indians. Together,
they begin to attack Fort Meigs, which is defended by William Henry
Harrison and 1,100 Americans.
However, the fort is very well built
and British artillery that Procter fired from the north bank of the
Maumee River, is ineffective.
An American relief force will arrive
on May 5, 1813.
This siege will end on May 9, 1813.
Siege of Fort Meigs will take place on July 21, 1813.
May 2 - 3, 1813
British night attack and sack of Havre de Grace, Maryland.
May 5, 1813
Green Clay and 1,200 troops from Kentucky arrive at Fort Meigs. This
Battle of Fort Meigs. Clay put
Colonel William Dudley in command of 800 men who were
assigned to disable British guns and then retire to the fort. The
former they did, but instead of withdrawing to the fort, they
charged after the fleeing enemy, which turned out to be a trap.
Tecumseh and his men engaged and 80 % of Dudley's force were
captured or killed.
Indians started killing their
prisoners. Around 40 men had been killed before Tecumseh and Matthew
Elliott, the British Indian agent, were able to stop the carnage.
In the meantime, Clay and the
remainder of his unit had made it into Fort Meigs.
May 9, 1813
The First Siege of Fort Meigs
ends. The Americans have successfully defended the fort, thanks to
its excellent construction. Procter and his men withdraw to Canada.
Casualties of the First siege of Fort
Meigs: 320 Americans killed or wounded, 550 Americans captured. 100
British killed. Indian casualties not known.
Harrison leaves Green Clay in command
of Fort Meigs and marches to Cleveland to meet with Oliver Hazard
The Second Siege of Fort Meigs will
take place on July 20, 1813.
Also on May 9, 1813: Secretary of the Treasury
Albert Gallatin, and Delaware Senator
James A. Bayard board the
Neptune and leave for St.
Petersburg. Together with John Quincy Adams, who is already on
location as the U.S. Minister to Russia, they plan to function as a
special committee that, with the help of the Russian Czar as
mediator, will negotiate peace with Great Britain. They will land at
Revel (today's Tallinn, Estonia), and continue overland to reach
St. Petersburg on
July 21, 1813.
May 14, 1813
John Adams in a letter to
President James Madison:
Canada must conquer the United States or the
United States must conquer Canada. [...]
Naval power, on the lakes and on the ocean
is all we want. Every thing else we have
May 27, 1813
Battle of Fort George.
U.S. victory. Americans, led by Henry Dearborn, capture Fort George from the
British defenders, under the command of Brig. Gen. John Vincent. The
British evacuate the fort and move to Queenston.
May 29, 1813
of Sacket's (Sackets) Harbor. British victory. A British combined force of troops,
led by George Prevost and Edward Baynes, and ships, under the
command of Sir James Lucas Yeo, attacks, but is repulsed by American
land forces, led by Jacob J. Brown, and American naval forces, led
by Isaac Chauncey. However, the British feel that enough damage has
been done, and withdraw.
May 31, 1813
To get the Senate's
confirmation, Madison officially nominates John Quincy Adams, Albert
Gallatin, and James A. Bayard as special peace negotiators. Gallatin
and Bayard are already on their way to meet Adams at St. Petersburg.
They have left on May 9, 1813, after Madison had given them the
go-ahead in April 1813 since Senate was not in session until May
June 1, 1813
HMS Shannon. British
The USS Chesapeake, under
Capt. James Lawrence, fights the HMS Shannon, under Capt. Philip
Broke. The Shannon wins after a 15 minute battle near Boston
harbor. Captain Lawrence is mortally wounded and utters his famous
last words "Don't
give up the ship."
British killed: 33, wounded: 43.
Americans killed:62, wounded: 85. The British took the ship and what
remained of the Chesapeake's crew (325 men) as prisoners.
Action between HMS
Shannon and USS Chesapeake - 1 June 1813
Oil on canvas by T. Jordan
National Maritime Museum,
June 6, 1813
of Stoney Creek, Niagara Peninsula. British victory. The
British, led by Lt. Col. John Harvey,
create confusion in the American camp by means of a night attack. Both
commanders of the American forces, Brig.
Gen. William Winder and Brig.
Gen. John Chandler, are captured by the British.
June 22, 1813
of Craney Island, Virginia. American victory.
June 24, 1813
of Beaver Dams. British victory. Also called U.S.
surrender at Beaver Dams. The Americans, led by
Charles G. Boerstler, surrender
to the British and Indians, led by James
Fitzgibbon, who were about to retreat when Fitzgibbon
managed to trick them by making them believe they
were greatly outnumbered.
June 25, 1813
of Hampton, Virginia. British victory.
June 26, 1813
of Hampton, Virginia. British disgrace.
July 6, 1813
U.S President Madison removes Major General Henry Dearborn from
July 11, 1813
British raid on Black Rock, New York, led by
Lt. Col. Cecil Bisshopp. American resistance, led by
Peter B. Porter. The British
raid was successful, however, Bisshopp was mortally wounded.
July 19, 1813
The U.S. Senate confirms Adams (30 yeas, 4 nays) and Bayard (27
yeas, 6 nays) as special envoys to negotiate peace with Great
Britain with mediation by the Russian Czar, but rejects Gallatin by
a vote of 18 nays and 17 yeas.
Too bad, Bayard and Gallatin have
already left the States direction St. Petersburg on May 9, 1813.
July 21, 1813
Siege of Fort Meigs. After the unsuccessful
First Siege of Fort Meigs May
1-9, 1813, Procter tries again his luck
with Fort Meigs. This time Tecumseh came up with a plan to lure the
Americans out of the strong fort.
Today, they surround the fort, and
stage a mock battle with an imaginary U.S. relief force just in
hearing distance. But despite sending fake pleas to the fort to come
to the aid of the American relief force, Clay stays put. He isn't
expecting a relief force and he ain't coming out.
The 500 British and their Indian
allies withdraw and march to Fort Stephenson, which they will attack
on August 1, 1813.
Also on July 21, 1813: Gallatin and Bayard arrive at St. Petersburg.
Hey had left the States on
May 9, 1813.
July 27, 1813
Battle of Burnt Corn. Victory of
the Indian Red Sticks over Mississippi militia and volunteers at
Burnt Corn Creek. This is the opening battle of the
The Creek War begins.
August 2, 1813
Battle of Fort Stephenson, Ohio.
U.S. victory. The Americans, led by
George Croghan, successfully defend themselves against the British
attack. The British Indian
allies came along but couldn't find a taste for joining the action. The British
The British call the Indians cowards,
the Indians call the British crazy to attack if their guns are not
Casualties: British troops killed:
100. American troops killed: 8.
August 10, 1813
Battle of St. Michaels (Michael's), Maryland.
U.S. victory. The British attack the town, do
little damage, and have to withdraw.
August 14, 1813
USS Argus vs.
HMS Pelican. British victory. The Pelican is led
by Commander John F. Maples. The
Argus, under Master Commandant
William Henry Allen, surrenders after 45 minutes of
battle. Allen gets shot into his left thigh, loses a lot of blood,
and faints. The Pelican takes him onboard, amputates his leg,
but gangrene develops. Back in Plymouth, the British will take him
to a hospital where Allen will die on August 18, 1813.
August 19, 1813
Two American flags are delivered to Fort McHenry, the work of a Mrs. Pickersgill, a Boston flag maker. The government pays $405.90 for
the large garrison flag and $168.54 for the storm flag.
August 30, 1813
Fort Mims Massacre. Red Sticks,
led by William Weatherford aka Red Eagle, attack Fort Mims, Alabama,
at noon. The fort is under the command of Major Daniel Beasley. Most
of the 300 occupants, including many women and children, are killed.
About 100 Red Sticks are killed.
September 1, 1813
British Minister to Russia,
William Schaw Cathcart, writes to Count de Nesselrode that Britain
is not prepared to accept Russia's mediation, but nevertheless
willing to negotiate with the United States directly.
September 5, 1813
USS Enterprise vs. HMS
Boxer. Lieutenant William Burrows commands the Enterprise.
Captain Samuel Blyth commands the Boxer. The Boxer
surrenders. Both, Burrows and Blyth, are mortally wounded.
September 10, 1813
Battle of Lake Erie, also
called Battle of Put-in-Bay, a big US
victory, led by Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry against
British Captain Robert Heriot Barclay.
Detroit is back in American hands.
Motivated by this decisive victory,
William Henry Harrison decides to invade Canada, while Procter
decides to retreat eastward. The thousands of Indian warriors and
their families that have fought alongside the British, don't agree
with Procter's decision.
September 13, 1813
Procter orders the dismantling
of Fort Malden. Tecumseh is livid and calls Procter a coward. Many
Indians leave the British forces.
October 5, 1813
of the Thames, Upper Canada, today's southern Ontario.
U.S. victory. This battle is also called the Battle of Moraviantown.
The Americans pursued the British and
Indians on their retreat eastward. Proctor decides to make a stand 2
miles of Moraviantown on the River Thames.
The Americans, 3,000 troops, 1/3 or
them mounted, led by Harrison, attack the British, 430 regulars led
by Procter, and 600 Indian warriors led by Tecumseh. The British
troops are demoralized and don't put up much of a fight, whereas the
Indians fought ferociously. The Americans win. The Chief of the Shawnee,
is killed in this battle.
Thanks to this victory, William Henry
Harrison has control of the Northwest.
Thanks to this defeat, Henry Procter's
career is essentially over. He will be court-martialed.
Battle of the Thames -
5th October 1813
Col Johnson wounded contending with Tecumseh.
Tecumseh having discharged his rifle, is about to raise his
tomahawk, receives the pistol ball and threebuck shots in his breast
the Indians seeing their leader fall, take to flight.
General Harrison with Commodore Perry and General Cass acting as
General Proctor making his escape in a carriage attended by
dragoons, after abandoning his army which shortly surrendered to
Lieu. Col. James Johnson at the head of the mounted Kentucky
volunteers in pursuit of Gen. Proctor.
Major Thompson personally contending with the Prophet, who was about
to scalp the veteran Whitely, who had just fallen.
The aged veteran Whitely, who had fought in most of the wars for
James Mason, aged 86 fighting by the side of Col. Johnson.
Mai-pock shot by Capt. Ward.
Maj's Sugget and Barry.
John Dorival, Lithographer /
Library of Congress
October 26, 1813
Battle of Châteauguay. British
British manage to stop the American advance on Montreal.
November 1 - 2, 1813
Battle of French Creek.
U.S. victory. The
Americans can defend their position along French Creek against
assailing British forces.
November 3, 1813
of Tallushatchee. U.S. victory. Brig. Gen. John Coffee leads 900
cavalry and Indians in an attack against the Red Sticks village of Tallushatchee. Coffee wins and burns the village.
British Foreign Secretary
Castlereagh writes to U.S. Secretary of State, James Monroe, that
British Government is willing to enter into
discussion with the Government of America
for the conciliatory adjustment of the
differences subsisting between the 2 States,
with an earnest desire on their part to
bring them to a favorable issue, upon
principles of a perfect reciprocity not
inconsistent with the established maxims of
Public Law, and with the Maritime Rights of
the British Empire.
He suggests to
meet either at London or Gothenburg, Sweden, and attaches a copy
of the letter from
between Cathcart and Nesselrode.
Monroe will write
January 5, 1814.
November 9, 1813
of Talladega. U.S. victory. Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson leads 2,000 troops
from Fort Strother to relieve the besieged town of Talladega.
Besiegers are 1,000 Red Sticks. Jackson wins.
November 11, 1813
The British win the
Battle of Crysler's Farm.
November 18, 1813
Hillabee Massacre. Gen. John Cocke is not aware that the Hillabee Creeks were yesterday asking
for terms of peace. When he attacks them today, they are completely
taken by surprise.
November 29, 1813
of Autosse. U.S. victory over the Red Sticks. John Floyd leads 950 Georgia militia and 400
friendly Creeks against Autosse, Mississippi Territory (Alabama). He
wins this battle.
December 10, 1813
The Americans, under the
command of Brig. Gen. George McClure, abandon Fort George and burn
Newark, Ontario, Upper Canada, to deny the British opportunities of shelter.
This reckless action will have
consequences. The British will return the favor and burn Lewiston
(December 19, 1813), Black Rock, and Buffalo (December 30, 1813).
December 19, 1813
British capture of Fort Niagara. Once the fort was
secure, the British, under Maj. Gen. Phineas Riall, destroy
Lewiston, New York, and other small towns nearby.
December 23, 1813
Battle of Econochaca.
Americans, led by Ferdinand Claiborne, attack and destroy the Creek
town of Econochaca.
December 30, 1813
The British loot and burn Black
Rock and Buffalo.