1812 and before | 1813 | 1814 and beyond

1813

January 9: Britain officially declares war on the United States.

January 12: William Jones assumes his duties as Secretary of the U.S. Navy.

The Detroit Frontier
Source: Team 22916

January 23: At the Battle of Frenchtown, American troops are massacred by a surprise British attack.

February 5: John Armstrong becomes U.S. Secretary of War.

February 24: U.S.S. "Hornet" sinks H.M.S. "Peacock"

March 27: Oliver Hazard Perry arrives at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, to assume responsibility for construction of a U.S. fleet on Lake Erie.

British forces defend Fort York
Source: Michael Karpelson (Team 22916)

April 27: Major General Dearborn lands from Lake Ontario and captures the town of York.

May 27: American forces capture Fort George, and British force retreat to Burlington Heights.

June 1: H.M.S. "Shannon" captures U.S.S. "Chesapeake"

The Niagara Frontier
Source: Team 22916

June 6: At the confusing night Battle of Stoney Creek, American forces pursuing the British army escaping from Fort George are defeated and forced to retreat to their positiong on the Niagara River. The British, however, have a higher casualty rate.

An Amerindian woman warrior
Source: J.T. Keigher

June 24: Battle of Beaver Dams. The American attack on a British supply depot at Beaver Dams fails when the force is ambushed in the woods by a large force of Amerindians.

July 31: Americans again occupy York, the capital of Upper Canada.

August 1-4: Commodore Oliver Perry removes his fleet from Presque Isle when the British fleet blockading the harbor leaves to re-supply.

September 3: U.S.S. "Enterprise" captures H.M.S. "Boxer"

Battle of Lake Erie
Source: The War of 1812, by Wesley Turner

September 10: Battle of Lake Erie. The American fleet on Lake Erie encounters and defeats the British squadron.

British volley
Source: J.T. Keigher

October 5: Battle of the Thames, death of Chief Tecumseh. Although the British enjoyed success on the Detroit Frontier at first, the invasion force of William Henry Harrison re-captured Detroit and pursued the British army till its complete defeat at the Battle of the Thames.

St. Lawrence Region
Source: Team 22916

October 25: Battle of Chateauguay. The American invasion into Lower Canada abandons its mission after a Canadian force defeats the American army on the Chateauguay River.

Militia
Source: John Sek

November 11: Battle of Crysler’s Farm. American forces venture down the St. Lawrence River to strike at Montreal. They are pursued by a British force and during the Battle of Crysler's Farm, the American rear guard is defeated.

December 10: Fort George is evacuated and the British town of Newark burned by American forces during retreat from Upper Canada on the Niagara Frontier. Citizens are forced out into the cold winter and many Canadians are outraged. American forces retreat to Fort Niagara.

Battle at a fort
Source: John Sek

December 19: Fort Niagara is occupied by British forces. With most of the American troops directed to the invasion of Lower Canada, the Niagara frontier is left defenseless.

British troops advance
Source: J. T. Keigher

December 19-31: Lewiston, Fort Schlosser, Black Rock, and Buffalo burned by the British as American forces retreat.