War of 1812 campaigns facts for kids
The War of 1812 was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain. It lasted from 1812 to 1815. This article will tell you about the main land battles and campaigns that happened during this war.
Contents
Battles Along the Canadian Border (1812–1815)
One of the main goals for the United States in the War of 1812 was to invade and take over parts of Canada. This was because of ongoing disagreements over land in the American Northwest. Also, some Americans hoped to gain control of Canada while Great Britain was busy fighting in Europe.
Early Struggles in 1812
In the first year of the war, the United States faced many challenges along the border. Several American forts were lost. Fort Mackinac fell on August 6. Fort Dearborn was abandoned on August 15. Fort Detroit surrendered without a fight on August 16. Attempts by American forces to invade Canada in October and November also failed.
Turning the Tide in 1813
In January 1813, an American effort to retake Detroit was stopped. However, American forces prevented the British from moving further into the region. In April 1813, American troops captured Fort Toronto and burned parts of York, which was the capital of Upper Canada. On May 27, American forces successfully defended Sackett's Harbor, New York from a British attack.
Later, American troops captured Fort George and the town of Queenston in May–June 1813. But the British took back control of this area by December 1813. A large American plan to attack Montreal in the fall of 1813 failed completely.
A big turning point happened on September 10, 1813. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry led the American fleet to victory over the British on Lake Erie. This win allowed American forces to defeat the British at the Thames River on October 5. This battle helped the United States regain control of the Detroit area.
A special award, called a Campaign Streamer, was given for these battles. It was embroidered with Canada, 18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815.
The Battle of Chippewa
In March 1814, an American advance from Plattsburgh was stopped near the border. But on July 3, American troops captured Fort Erie across the Niagara River. This was part of a plan to take control of Lake Ontario from the British.
During troop movements in the Niagara region, American forces led by Brig. Gen. Winfield Scott met a large British force. This happened on July 5, 1814, near the Chippewa River. Scott's well-trained soldiers broke through the enemy lines with a strong attack. The British forces had to retreat quickly. The British lost 137 soldiers killed and 304 wounded. The Americans lost 48 killed and 227 wounded.
The Battle of Lundy's Lane
After the Battle of Chippewa, American forces moved towards Queenstown. However, they decided not to attack Forts George and Niagara because the American fleet did not join the operation. Instead, on July 24–25, 1814, American troops moved back to the Chippewa River. They planned to march along Lundy's Lane.
Unknown to the Americans, the British had gathered about 2,200 soldiers near Lundy's Lane. Another 1,500 British troops were in Forts George and Niagara. On July 25, American forces met the British soldiers at the meeting point of Queenstown Road and Lundy's Lane.
The battle that followed was very fierce. It involved about 2,900 American soldiers and 3,000 British soldiers. Neither side won a clear victory. The Americans returned to the Chippewa River without being bothered. However, this battle ended the American invasion of Canada. Both sides suffered heavy losses. The British lost 878 soldiers killed and wounded. The Americans lost 854 killed and wounded. Both the American and British commanders were wounded.
Later, a British siege of Fort Erie from August 2 to September 21, 1814, failed to remove the Americans from Canadian soil. The Americans left the fort on their own on November 5. A key American naval victory on Lake Champlain on September 11, 1814, forced the British to call off a large attack on Plattsburgh.
The Attack on Washington D.C.
After Napoleon was defeated in Europe, the British sent about 4,000 experienced soldiers to attack important places on the American coast. These troops landed in Maryland on August 19, 1814, with the goal of capturing Washington D.C. They marched towards the city without facing much resistance at first.
American forces, made up of about 5,000 soldiers, gathered near Bladensburg. This group included militia, regular soldiers, and sailors. Even though the Americans had more soldiers and a good position, the British easily defeated them. The British lost about 249 soldiers killed and wounded. The Americans lost about 100 killed and wounded, and 100 captured.
British soldiers then entered Washington D.C. They burned the Capitol building and other public buildings on August 24–25. The British said this was in return for the American destruction in York, Canada.
Defending Baltimore
While the British marched on Washington, the city of Baltimore quickly strengthened its defenses. About 9,000 American militia were ready, with 1,000 soldiers in Fort McHenry guarding the harbor.
On September 12, 1814, the British landed about 14 miles below Baltimore. Their advance was briefly stopped by 3,200 Maryland Militiamen. During this fight, 39 British soldiers were killed, including their general, and 251 were wounded. The Americans lost 24 killed, 139 wounded, and 50 captured.
The British fleet then tried to destroy Fort McHenry by bombing it from the water. But they failed to break the fort's defenses. The British decided that a land attack on Baltimore's strong defenses would be too costly. So, on October 14, they sailed away. Francis Scott Key watched the British attack on Fort McHenry. He was so inspired by the American flag still flying over the fort that he wrote the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The Battle of New Orleans
On December 20, 1814, about 10,000 British soldiers landed near New Orleans. They planned to capture the city and control the lower Mississippi River. British troops quickly moved towards the river.
In a swift response, Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, the American commander in the South, launched a night attack on the British on December 23–24. This stopped the British advance. Jackson then quickly built strong defenses along a dry canal about five miles south of New Orleans. His defenses were about a mile long, stretching from the river into a swamp.
About 3,500 American soldiers, including militia, regulars, and sailors, defended the main line. Another 1,000 soldiers were in reserve. A smaller force of about 1,000 militia defended the other side of the river.
On January 1, 1815, the British and Americans had an artillery duel, where the Americans showed better cannon skills. Finally, at dawn on January 8, the British attempted a direct attack on Jackson's defenses with 5,300 soldiers. They also sent a smaller force across the river to attack the other American defenses.
The American soldiers, protected by their earthworks, fired heavily on the British as they advanced across open ground. The British attack was stopped in less than half an hour. The British lost 291 soldiers killed, including their commander, and 1,262 wounded. They also had 48 prisoners. American losses on both sides of the river were only 13 killed, 39 wounded, and 19 prisoners.
The remaining British troops retreated and left on January 27. On February 14, they learned that the Treaty of Ghent, which officially ended the war, had been signed on December 24, 1814.
