Capture of Fort Erie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Capture of Fort Erie
Part of the War of 1812
Map of Fort Erie during the War of 1812
Date July 3, 1814 Location Fort Erie, Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) Result American victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	United States
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Buck	Jacob Brown Winfield Scott
Strength
137	4,500
Casualties and losses
All surrendered	Less than 10

The Capture of Fort Erie was an important battle during the War of 1812. This war was fought between the United States and the United Kingdom (Great Britain). In 1814, American soldiers took control of Fort Erie. The British soldiers defending the fort were greatly outnumbered. Many British leaders felt the fort was given up too soon.

Why Fort Erie Was Important

In 1814, the United States shared a long border with British North America, which is now Canada. During the War of 1812, American forces tried to invade Upper Canada (now Ontario) several times.

The easiest place to cross the border was along the Niagara River. This area had good communication and supplies. Fort Erie was a British fort located at the start of the Niagara River, close to Lake Erie.

Earlier Attempts to Capture Fort Erie

In 1812, the Americans tried twice to capture Fort Erie. Both attempts failed due to bad weather or poor planning.

In 1813, the Americans won the Battle of Fort George further north on the Niagara River. The British left the Niagara area, and Fort Erie fell into American hands without a fight. However, the Americans did not keep up their attack. Later that year, they moved most of their soldiers away to attack Montreal, which did not go well. This allowed the British to take back their positions. They even launched raids that led to the Capture of Fort Niagara and caused a lot of damage on the American side of the Niagara River.

The Battle for Fort Erie

For 1814, a new plan was made to invade Upper Canada. Major General Jacob Brown was in charge. The original plan was to attack Kingston on Lake Ontario. But British ships controlled Lake Ontario for the first half of 1814. So, the plan changed to the Niagara area.

American troops were already gathered at Buffalo and Black Rock. So, the attack would start from the southern part of the Niagara border. Fort Erie was the first target that needed to be captured.

British Preparations

With only 137 British soldiers at Fort Erie, Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond hoped they could at least afford him the time to concentrate his own forces against the Americans.

Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond was the British commander in Upper Canada. He hoped the small group of soldiers at Fort Erie could at least slow down the American invasion. This would give him time to gather his own forces. Major Thomas Buck was put in command of the fort with only 137 British soldiers.

American Attack and Quick Surrender

General Brown's forces crossed into Canada on July 3. Brigadier General Winfield Scott landed about 1.5 miles (3 km) north of the fort before dawn. Another group of soldiers, led by Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, crossed the river south of the fort. They were delayed by fog. Meanwhile, New York militia pretended to attack Chippawa to distract other British troops.

As Scott's and Ripley's forces got close to Fort Erie, Major Buck fired only a few shots from the fort's cannons. Then, he surrendered the fort. The Americans had captured an important fort very easily. The fort's small group of soldiers had not slowed down the British much at all. Major Buck was later put on trial by the military for giving up too quickly.

What Happened Next

Following the capture of Fort Erie, Major General Jacob Brown was able to use it as a supply base for further incursions into Upper Canada.

After taking Fort Erie, Major General Jacob Brown used it as a base. He then marched up the Niagara River and fought the British at the Battle of Chippawa. The British commander at Chippawa, Major General Phineas Riall, thought the Fort Erie soldiers were still fighting. This made him launch a quick and unsuccessful attack.

Later in July, after the Battle of Lundy's Lane, British forces led by Gordon Drummond tried to take back Fort Erie. They surrounded the fort but could not capture it. However, American commanders decided to leave the fort anyway. They evacuated it and blew it up in November 1814.