USS United States defeats HMS Macedonian.

ILLUSTRATION: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS—DIG-PGA-02821

The War of 1812 lasted from the American declaration of war on Great Britain inJune 1812 to the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent in February 1815.

Each article in our Then & Now Journal consists of two parts. The “Then” portion describes events of the war in the same two-month time frame as 200 years ago. The “Now” portion highlights existing memorials, museums, battlefields, fortifications and other sites as well as various commemorative events. Space does not permit us to list every event, and so we encourage you to investigate what may be happening in your area or any event that may be of interest.

THEN

Sept. 3: 12 Shawnee warriors attack Pigeon Roost, Indiana Territory, burn village and massacre 24 settlers.

Sept. 4: 600 Indian warriors attack and besiege Fort Harrison, Indiana Territory, garrisoned by 50 American soldiers under future president Captain Zachary Taylor.

Sept. 5: 500 warriors besiege Fort Wayne, Indiana Territory, garrisoned by 100 American soldiers.

Sept. 5-8: Indians besiege small American garrison at Fort Madison on Mississippi River.

Sept. 12: 1,000 American regulars and militia relieve Fort Harrison; General William Henry Harrison relieves Fort Wayne with 2,200 men.

Lieutenant James Fitzgibbons.

ILLUSTRATION: CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM—20020201-013

Sept. 16: American raiders from Ogdensburg, N.Y., unsuccessfully ambush bateaux convoy carrying British soldiers’ families under Lieutenant James Fitzgibbons in St. Lawrence River east of Prescott.

Sept. 21: 200 American regular and militia raiders attack Gananoque, forcing 43-man Canadian militia garrison to withdraw. The Americans seize stores and burn the government depot before returning to New York.

Sept. 29: Ohio militia and settlers drive off Indian raiders at Battle of the Marblehead Peninsula.

Oct. 4: British troops drive off American garrison at Ogdensburg.

Oct. 9: British brigs HMS Caledonia and Detroit (subsequently destroyed) captured in Niagara River off Fort Erie.

Major-General Stephen van Rensselaer.

ILLUSTRATION: JAMES HERRING, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Oct. 13: First major artillery duel between Fort Niagara, N.Y., and Fort George; 2,650 American militiamen and 900 regulars under Major-General Stephen van Rensselaer prepare to cross Niagara River and attack Queenston. Most militiamen refuse to cross, but American soldiers who do seize Queenston Heights. Maj.-Gen. Isaac Brock arrives from Fort George followed by British regulars and Canadian militiamen, but is killed leading counterattack. Maj.-Gen. Roger Sheaffe arrives with additional reinforcements and assumes command; Americans withdraw, nearly 1,000 are captured.

Oct. 16: 5,000 attend Brock’s funeral at Fort George.

Oct. 18: USS Wasp defeats HMS Frolic, Wasp in turn is captured by HMS Poictiers.

Major-General Roger Sheaffe.

ILLUSTRATION: WIKIPEDIA

Oct. 20: Sheaffe replaces Brock as administrator and military commander of Upper Canada.

Oct. 23: Americans raid garrison at St. Regis, Lower Canada.

Oct. 25: USS United States defeats HMS Macedonian.

NOW

Sept. 1-2: War of 1812 encampment, Fort Niagara, Youngstown, N.Y.

Sept. 1-3: U.S. Navy War of 1812 port visit, Toronto (starts Aug. 27).

Sept. 5-12: Siege of Fort Wayne re-enactment, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Sept. 7-9: Battles of Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain re-enactment, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Sept. 12-13: War of 1812 re-enactment, Backus Heritage Conservation Area, Port Rowan, Ont.

Willow Creek Depot Historic Site.

PHOTO: TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGWATER

Sept. 14-15: Festival at the Fort, Willow Creek Depot Historic Site, Springwater Township, Ont.

Sept. 15: Food and Fashion of 1812 lecture, Jordan Historical Museum, Jordan, Ont.

Sept. 15: Dinner and Debate, Fort Erie, Ont.

Fairfield Museum and National Historic Site.

PHOTOSTEVE ZRONICK, FRIENDS OF FAIRFIELD MUSEUM

Sept. 29-30: Fairfield Comes Alive, Fairfield Museum and National Historic Site, Thamesville, Ont.

Oct. 4-5: The Invasion of Upper Canada: Recreation of Gen. Duncan McArthur’s  Oct.-Nov. 1814 raid through Thames Valley, Fanshawe Pioneer Village, London, Ont.

Fanshawe Pioneer Village.

PHOTO: FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE

Oct. 13: Hands across the Water Concert, Trinity United Church, Grimsby, Ont.

Oct. 13: Battle of Queenston Heights re-enactment, Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., and Lewiston, N.Y.

Oct. 14: Brock’s funeral and burial re-enactment, Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

Email the writer at: writer@legionmagazine.com

Email a letter to the editor at: letters@legionmagazine.com