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. We encourage you to let us know about other events that may be happening in your area. You can contact us at magazine@legion.ca

Then

March: British reinforcements arrive at Quebec City via overland route from New Brunswick.

March 4: 164-man mounted American raiding party repulses attack by 240 British regulars, Canadian militia and native allies at Battle of Longwoods, near Wardsville, Upper Canada; British withdraw after suffering 67 casualties, followed shortly by American forces who return to Detroit with seven casualties.

March 22: American forces capture Philipsburg during raid on Missisiquoi Bay, Lake Champlain, and hold it for four days.

Andrew Jackson

ILLUSTRATION: ANNE S.K. BROWN MILITARY COLLECTION, BROWN UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

March 27-28: Major-General Andrew Jackson’s 3,200-man force decisively defeats 1,000 Creek Indians at Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Alabama, ending Creek War.

March 28: Frigate HMS Phoebe and sloop HMS Cherub capture frigate USS Essex and her tender, Essex Junior, off Valparaiso, Chile.

Lacolle blockhouse

PHOTO: DAN WARD

March 30: American forces unsuccessfully attack British detachment at Lacolle blockhouse, Lower Canada, marking last American attempt to invade Canada along Richelieu River.

Maj.-Gen. James Wilkinson

ILLUSTRATION: WIKIPEDIA.ORG

April: British commence construction of Fort Mississauga at Niagara; Maj.-Gen. James Wilkinson’s army retreats to Plattsburg, N.Y.; HMS Linnet launched at Île-aux-Noix, Lower Canada.

April 7: Brig. USS Jefferson launched at Sackets Harbor, N.Y.

April 7-8: British sailors and marines raid Pettipaug, Conn., (Essex), and destroy 28 privateer vessels, greatest loss of American shipping during war.

April 11: Corvette USS Saratoga launched at Vergennes, Vt.

April 13: Brig USS Jones launched at Sackets Harbor.
April 14: Frigates HMS Prince Regent and HMS Princess Charlotte launched at Kingston to help gain control of Lake Ontario; U.S. repeals embargo and non-importation laws.

April 15: Captain Arthur Sinclair replaces Master Commandant Jesse Elliott commanding American Lake Erie squadron; Elliott given command of warship on Lake Ontario.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert McDouall

ILLUSTRATION: SHARIF TARABAY

April 19: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert McDouall and contingent of British soldiers and sailors depart Glengarry Landing, Upper Canada, to reinforce Fort Mackinac, Michigan Territory, captured in opening days of the war.

April 20: Frigate HMS Orpheus and schooner HMS Shelburne capture sloop USS Frolic off Cuba.

April 22: Maj.-Gen. Jacob Brown establishes instructional camp near Buffalo, N.Y., where Brig.-Gen. Winfield Scott trains soldiers.

April 25: Royal Navy extends blockade to New England; plot to destroy USS Superior, nearing completion in stocks at Sackets Harbor, foiled when Americans discover three small British boats sent on mission and drive them away.

April 29: Sloop USS Peacock captures brig-sloop HMS Epervier off Florida.

Now

March 1, 8: Tavern Nights, Fort Niagara, Youngstown, N.Y.

PHOTO: UPPER THAMES MILITARY REENACTMENT SOCIETY

March 8: Battle of Longwoods bicentennial commemoration, Strathburn, Ont.

March 22-23: Twenty-fourth War of 1812 in the West symposium, Old Courthouse, St. Louis, Mo.