A overview of the US invasion of Fort York( Toronto)

1. April 27th
2013
Leaders, Fools and Opportunists Invasion
of Muddy York
Presentation
Glenn McKnight and Robert Bell,
FBSC

2. British

8,600 Deaths

Early capture of Fort Dearborn,
Michilimackinac, Fort Detroit,
Fort Niagara and much of eastern
Maine

1523 ships captured

Many prisoners

25 Million pounds to the national
debt
Canada

Unknown death Toll of Militia
and citizens

Untold personal property loss
from burning and looting of
property

Human pain and suffering
Cost of the War
US

11,600 Deaths

Captured Amherstburg and Sandwich (now
Windsor

$90 million dollars or 2.2% of GDP or
1.553 Trillion

The US Senate figured it would cost
another $56 million to continue the war and
the US Treasury only had $15 million

1,523 US Ships seized during the war

Serious financial loss to commerce in the
New England states

Near bankruptcy

4. The Project
Heritage Canada selected the Foundation for Building
Sustainable Communities, FBSC to commemorate the
200th
anniversary of the War of 1812

Website. Mobile Phone app's. Mobile Augmented
Reality Videos, Historical Geocaching, Audio
recordings and presentations

5. The Big Picture

7. “Strike wherever we can reach
the enemy, at sea and on land.
But if we fail, let us fail like
men, lash ourselves to our
gallant gars, and expire together
in one common struggle,
fighting for free trade and
seaman's rights.”
Henry Clay,
House Speaker,
US Senate
During the War of 1812

8. America

President James Madison declared war on June 16, 1812

Divided country on the war effort with New England states in
opposition

Major reason for declaration
– Angry over the impressment of US Sailors into the British
Navy
– Military Preparedness

An army of less than 12,000

A navy of 16 ships

Poor military leadership

Overconfident
• According to Pres. Thomas Jefferson, The war was a
`mere march to Montreal
American Perspective

9. Britain

Due to the assassination of the British Prime Minister the British
didn't declare war until late December 1812

Preoccupied with a long war in Europe against Napoleon 1803-
1815.

Britain was the most powerful empire in the world, with

An army of 48,000

A navy of 600 warships

But .......only 1500 British soldiers in Upper Canada
British Perspective of War

10. The Aggressors

8 million Americans

Three types of soldiers,
The Idealist,
Opportunists and the
Blood Thirsty
The Targets

500,000 Total settlers

80,000 Upper Canada settlers
– 35,000 Loyalist
– 25,000 Later Loyalist
– 20,000 Direct British

3/4 former Americans

14,000 Militia

10,000 Natives
The Protagonists

11. June 16 – Declaration of War
July 17 – Capture of Fort Mackinac
August 15 – Fort Dearborn (Chicago)
August 16 – Fort Detroit
September 3-6 – Western Raids
1813
October 13 – Queenston Heights
January 22 – Frenchtown
April 27 – York (Toronto)
1
Battles Leading Up

12. 
Founded by Sir John Graves Simcoe in
1789 as the capital of Upper Canada

625 population

Undetermined number of hogs, sheep
and other misc. cattle

The civil administrator was the
successor to Sir. Issac Brock was
Major General Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe
Life in Muddy York

14. 
Built in 1793

Size of garrison
– 200 regular troops
– Artillery
•3 - 12 pounders
•3 - 18 pounders (obsolete)
Fort York

17. 
On April 26, the American invasion forces
of 14 ships were spotted from Scarborough
Bluffs sailing from the east

Militia was summoned by the signal
cannon

Sheaffe confident that battle would start
early next day and took little action

Attack started at 8 am
Invasion of York

19. 
On April 27th
, 1813 Admiral
Chauncey and General Dearborn
sailed into York with a fleet of 14
ships and 2,500 men

300 British regulars, 300 militia and
100 natives

Main prize to seize the Sir Issac
Brock warship under construction
Invasion of York

24. Death of
Gen. Zebulon Pike

26. The troops under Major General Sir Roger
Hale Sheaffe spiked the cannons and
mustered their troops and fled out of York

Only the regulars knew of the order

A massive explosion from the gunpower
magazine killed or wounded 250
Americans

Explosion was heard as far at Fort George
and Oshawa
Fatal Explosion

27. Three Times a Charm
The Americans
attacked two more
times and on the
third and final visit
they were repelled

28. Leadership
in Crisis

29. 
Major General Sheaffe
and his 150 troops of
British regulars plus
militia made haste out of
York, burning the Don
Bridge

The citizens abandoned!
Fools

30. Retreating soldiers
stayed at the Lynde
House which was one
of the Dispatch
Stations

They were robbed by
the soldiers of 83
pounds.
Lynde Family in
Whitby

31. Leaders
The wreck of the Speedy in 1804
created a power vacuum. Now the
rapid retreat of the British and Militia
and the looting of the American
troops required strong leadership.
One man stands out:
Rev Dr John Strachan

33. Local
Oshawa
Response

34. 
The cannon fire was heard as far
as Oshawa

A group of local militia rushed to
defend York

Local farmers reported seeing the
British and militia fleeing from
York
Local Response

35. Moode Farewell and Wife

38. Local Involvement
Local Oshawa militia upon arrival at Muddy
York were immediately captured by the
Americans
The York Militia records show that militia men
participated
They were imprisoned for a few days then
paroled.
The Americans left on May 2nd
,

39. Opportunists
Occupation lasted five days
Before leaving they burned the
legislative buildings and looted homes
and businesses
Upon Americans retreat they and
opened the store house and distributed
goods

40. Impact
Total killed or wounded in the six-hour
battle were 157 British and 320
Americans.
5 Natives killed , inc. Two chiefs
5 Natives wounded
5 Militia killed
5 Militia wounded
22 Number of claims for losses

41. Retaliation for
Burning
of
York

43. Impact of the War

Americans

Huge financial cost

Unsuccessful in campaign

Formation of a professional
army

Licence to expand west

Open season on Native
lands

Building of the Erie Canal

Bolster US manufacturing
and cotton production

Canadians

Birth of legends

Forging of an identity

Military experience proved to
be critical in the formation of
communities

Building and completion of the
Rideau Canal to bypass the St
Lawrence in 1832 from US
blockade

Tougher stance on US
immigration and intolerance to
Republican sentiments

Seeds set for the Rebellion of
1837

44. Website
www.1812waroshawa.com
Historical Geocaching
Augmented Reality
10 Part Video Series

45. Video Series

Propaganda and an American Soldier

Robbery of Local Homestead by Militia

Compensation to local farmers

US POW Camp

Conant`s Gold

Attack on Oshawa Harbour

Tecumseh

The Amputation

General Issac Brock

Mary Henry, The other Heroine

46. Augmented Reality
All five of the
Geocache locations
have a short AR
video viewable from
a smart phone

47. Mobile Application
Apps for Android and
Iphone applications
for your Smart
phone
Available at ITUNES
and GOOGLE
PLAY
FREE

48. IPAD Mobile Application
A free IPAD App
focused on
Historical
Geocaching
Available at ITUNES
FREE

49. Thanks
Heritage Canada
Foundation for Building Sustainable Communities
Oshawa Community Museum
Imperial Arts Productions
Oshawa Little Theatre
Pickering Village
Clarington Museum
Digital Deceptions

50. Upcoming
Doors Open Oshawa on September 21st
come
see our demonstration gardens of the War of
1812 and the Three Sisters Native plantings at
the Canadian Victory Garden
At Winchester (West of Simcoe Streets)

51. Learn More
To learn more about FBSC Projects visit
Http://www.fbsc.org