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The Burning of Newark and the Capture of Fort Niagara

The Niagara Border
Source: Team 22916

"The complete success ... has attended his Majesty's arms on the Niagara Frontier, having placed in our possession the whole of the enemy's posts on that line..."
Sir George Prevost, Governor of Upper Canada

The American defeats in the province of Lower Canada had an influence on the situation on the Niagara frontier. The large armies transferred to the campaign in Lower Canada left the American posts on the Niagara border defended mostly by inexperienced militia, and even they began to return to their homes as their term of service began to end.

Brigadier General George McClure, a milita officer at Fort George, was forced to abandon the fort. Before retreating, though, the general gave orders for the city of Newark (today Niagara-on-the-Lake) to be burned to deny the advancing British forces shelter. On December 10, 1813, General McClure's forces burned the town, leaving 400 people without homes in the cold winter.

This act outraged the British and Canadians, and many called for immediate retribution. On December 16, British Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond, recently appointed second-in-command to Sir George Prevost, governor of Upper Canada, assumed command of the British forces that re-occupied Fort George. Accompanied by Major General Phineas Riall, who replaced the ill Major General John Vincent as the commander of British troops on the Niagara frontier, General Drummon immediately planned and executed an attack on the American Fort Niagara.

Over 500 soldiers crossed the Niagara River on the night of December 18, 1813. The British soldiers approached the fort and forced their way through the gate. The battle was brief and with little gunfire - the soldiers mostly used bayonets. The startled Americans lost sixty-five soldiers dead, while the British only had six fatalities. A number of prisoners, cannons, supplies and firearms were captured.

The British army under General Riall then marched to Lewiston. After destroying it, the general prepared to attack Buffalo. With 1,500 soldiers and 700 Amerindians, Riall captured and burned Buffalo and Black Rock as retaliation for the destruction of Newark.