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

May 2: Americans launch frigate USS Superior at Sackets Harbor, N.Y.

May 5-7: British amphibious force captures Fort Oswego, N.Y., seizes stores and vessels.

May 12: Schooner USS Ticonderoga launched at Vergennes, Vt.

May 14: British attack against naval yard at Vergennes fails.

May 14-16: American forces raid and burn Lake Erie communities of Port Dover, Charlottesville, Patterson’s Creek and Long Point.

May 18: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert McDouall relieves Fort Mackinac.

May 23: “Bloody Assize” established at Ancaster, Upper Canada, to try 19 Americans who settled in Canada and are accused of treason.

May 25-July 24: British infantry and artillery reinforcements arrive at Quebec City.

May 29-30: Americans defeat British amphibious force at Sandy Creek, N.Y., capture six vessels, 170 sailors and marines.

May 30: British blockade extended to include New England; British forces destroy American battery at Pungoteague Creek, Va.

June: Americans begin construction of fortifications at Plattsburg, N.Y.

June 1: British warships under Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane engage Chesapeake Bay Flotilla of barges under Captain Joshua Barney at Cedar Point and St. Jerome’s Creek, Md.

June 2-5: Missouri Territory Governor Brigadier-General William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame) captures Prairie du Chien, Illinois Territory, and begins construction of Fort Shelby; British form volunteer unit of trappers and voyageurs to help recapture post.

June 6: British Secretary for War, Lord Bathurst, orders Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Sherbrooke to occupy that part of Maine (then a district of Massachusetts) “which at present intercepts the communication between Halifax and Quebec.”

June 8-10: British attack American barge flotilla on St. Leonard’s Creek, Md.

June 11: Americans launch frigate USS Mohawk at Sackets Harbor .

June 12-16: British raid up Patuxent River, Md.

June 19: Americans commence navy-army expedition against British to gain control of upper Great Lakes; Americans capture British gunboat Black Snake near Kingston, but scuttle it when additional gunboats arrive.

June 24: Royal Marines destroy battery at Chissinisack Creek, Va.

June 26: American barge flotilla breaks through British blockade on St. Leonard’s Creek.

June 27: Americans burn nearly-completed schooner at Newcastle, Upper Canada.

June 28: USS Wasp II captures and burns HMS Reindeer in English Channel; American raid on Odelltown, Lower Canada, fails; Major William McKay leaves Fort Mackinac to recover Prairie du Chien.

Now

May 2-4: Battle of Longwoods re-enactment, Glencoe, Ont.

May 10: McArthur’s Raid re-enactment, Wallacetown, Ont.; annual burning of the ships commemoration parade, Essex, Ct.

June 6-8: Battle of Stoney Creek re-enactment, Hamilton, Ont.

June 28: Battle of Malcolm’s Mills re-enactment, Oaklands, Ont.