The War of 1812 lasted from the American declaration of war on Great Britain in June 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: American soldiers abandon and burn Fort Madison, Iowa Territory.

Sept. 5: USS Enterprise defeats HMS Boxer off Maine.

Sept. 10: Master Commandant Oliver Perry’s American squadron defeats Commander Robert Barclay’s British squadron at Put-in-Bay during Battle of Lake Erie, establishing American control over Lake Erie.

Sept. 11: Indecisive engagement between Commodore Sir James Yeo’s British squadron and Commodore Isaac Chauncey’s American squadron on Lake Ontario.

Sept. 20: British and American troops skirmish at Odelltown, Lower Canada; Americans under Major-General Wade Hampton withdraw.

Sept. 23: USS President captures HMS Highflyer off New England.

Sept. 27: As Americans control Lake Erie, 800 British soldiers and 500 native allies under Maj.-Gen. Henry Proctor are forced to abandon Detroit frontier and withdraw eastward along Thames River.

Sept. 28: Gen. William Harrison and 3,800 soldiers pursue British retreating from Detroit frontier; British and American squadrons engage off Burlington Bay in battle known as “Burlington Races.”

Oct. 1: Troops under Gen. Hampton cross border south of Montreal and skirmish with Canadians.

Oct. 2: 133 escaped American slaves from Chesapeake Bay area arrive in Halifax.

Oct. 4: U.S. revenue cutter Vigilant captures New Brunswick privateer Dart off Rhode Island; skirmish known as Battle of the Forks takes place between advancing American forces and withdrawing British forces.

Oct. 5: Gen. Harrison overtakes withdrawing British at Moraviantown and defeats them in Battle of the Thames; Tecumseh killed, causing many native allies to abandon British; HMS Fantome captures privateer Portsmouth Packet, which resumes career under original name of Liverpool Packet.

Oct 6: Commodore Isaac Chauncey captures six British transports sailing from York (Toronto) to Kingston.

Oct. 14: Gen. Harrison signs provisional armistice with native allies who have abandoned British.

Oct. 16: American troops under Maj.-Gen. James Wilkinson leave Sackets Harbour, NY, intending to attack Montreal.

Oct. 19: Gen. Hampton crosses border near Odelltown, intending to attack Montreal.

Oct. 25-26: Canadian militia and native allies under Colonel Charles de Salaberry repulse Gen. Hampton’s invasion attempt at Battle of Châteauguay.

NOW

Sept. 2: Battle of Lake Erie Re-creation, Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

Sept. 7-8: War of 1812 Re-enactment, Backus Heritage Conservation Area, Port Rowan, Ont.

Sept. 21: Hamilton and Scourge Memorial, Dundurn National Historic Site, Hamilton.

Sept. 21-22: War of 1812 Re-enactment Weekend, Glengarry Pioneer Village, Dunvegan, Ont.

Oct. 4-5: 200th Anniversary of Battle of the Thames, Thamesville, Ont.

Oct. 5-6: 200th Anniversary of Battle of Châteauguay Re-enactment and Period Encampment, Ormstown and Châteauguay National Historic Site, Que.

Oct. 12-13: Battle of Queenston Heights Commemorative Weekend, Queenston, Ont.