 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The War of 1812:
The War that Both Sides Won
By Wesley Turner
First published in 1990
Dundurn Press (Toronto)
ISBN:1-55002075-7
One of the interesting debates around the
War of 1812 is what side actually won the
war. Many north of the border argue it was
the British. After all, the American objective
was to conquer Canada and that didn't
happen. But pundits south of the border argue
that America did accomplish its objectives: the
Americans gained respect from the British, and
would no longer be pushed around. In this
book, Wesley Turner poses that both sides
won.
Turner's book is a terrific overview of the
conflict, including an excellent summary of the
events that led to war being declared. The
book isn't a giant one by any means — the
first edition ran 144 pages and the second
edition checks in at 160 — but it's a great
primer for anyone wanting to learn more
about the war and a decent reference for
history buffs.
The War that Both Sides Won
By Wesley Turner
First published in 1990
Dundurn Press (Toronto)
ISBN:1-55002075-7
One of the interesting debates around the
War of 1812 is what side actually won the
war. Many north of the border argue it was
the British. After all, the American objective
was to conquer Canada and that didn't
happen. But pundits south of the border argue
that America did accomplish its objectives: the
Americans gained respect from the British, and
would no longer be pushed around. In this
book, Wesley Turner poses that both sides
won.
Turner's book is a terrific overview of the
conflict, including an excellent summary of the
events that led to war being declared. The
book isn't a giant one by any means — the
first edition ran 144 pages and the second
edition checks in at 160 — but it's a great
primer for anyone wanting to learn more
about the war and a decent reference for
history buffs.
Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from the first edition describing the
meeting between General Brock and Tecumseh, the famed Shawnee
chief whose help was critical to Brock's successful capture of Fort
Detroit.
Brock and Tecumseh win a great victory
Soon after arriving at Amherstburg, Brock met Tecumseh. Each
impressed the other and a real friendship seems to have been born.
There is a legend that Tecumseh turned to his followers and said of
Brock, "This is a man." Brock later wrote, "He who attracted most my
attention was a Shawnee chief, Tecumseh… a more sagacious or a
more gallant warrior does not I believe exist. He was the admiration
of everyone who conversed with him." (Ironically, the two most
courageous leaders in this war would both be killed in the defence of
their cause.)
The next day, Brock held a conference with his officers, Tecumseh and
other Indian chiefs, at which he outlined his plan to attack Detroit.
Colonel Procter opposed it, thinking the risk too great. Having read
the captured letters, however, Brock knew the state of Hull's mind. He
concluded that the Americans had lost confidence in their general and
would not be eager to fight. Tecumseh supported Brock's plan.
Brock sent a demand to Hull for immediate surrender. Knowing the
American fear of Indians, he warned that the warriors might get out of
control in a fight. Hull rejected the demand.
British cannon at Sandwich began firing at Detroit and the Americans
shot back, but neither side did much damage. During the night of
August 15, about 600 Indians crossed the river. Early the next
morning, Brock took 330 regulars and 400 militia across. The guns of
the Queen Charlotte and the General Hunter covered the landing, but
Hull had left the river bank unguarded.
Brock marched his little army towards the fort. Some of his milita were
dressed in soldiers' tunics which made Hull think he faced mostly
regulars. As the British advanced, they could see American gunners
standing by their cannon awaiting the order to fire. Brock's force was
in the open and cannon fire would have shredded their ranks. Brock
seemed to have put his force in a very dangerous position.
Hull thought himself in even greater danger. During the morning,
British shells had landed in the fort killing several men. The Americans
had seen what appeared to be 2,000 to 3,000 Indians crossing an
opening in the woods. In fact, Tecumseh had cleverly marched the
same group of warriors through the clearing three times. The
American commander was not at the wall giving orders or vigorously
organizing the defence. Physically sick and mentally disordered, he
simply sat on an old tent in a corner of the fort chewing tobacco.
Suddenly, Brock and his men saw a white flag go up. They were
amazed. Without consulting his officers, Hull had decided to surrender.
The American general gave up everything in his command: the fort, its
garrison and even the troops outside. An American army of almost
2,500 men (nearly 600 of them regulars), along with 35 cannon, 2,500
muskets, 500 rifles, ammunition and the brig Adams were taken. Brock
proclaimed British rule over the entire Michigan Territory. Soon
afterwards, British regulars and militia marched south and took
possession of American supplies and destroyed blockhouses as far
south as the Maumme (Miami) River.
Brock issued a general order praising the regulars and militia while
also recognizing the important role of Tecumseh and the Indians.
Together, these two men had accomplished a great victory, but they
would never see each other again.
American strategy in the West lay in ruins. The Americans had lost all
points north of the Maumee, their main army in the region and any
hope of influencing the Indians. The weapons and supplies taken
would be of great help in the defence of Upper Canada.
On the Canadian side morale soared, for people began to believe that
the province could be defended and that American conquest was not
going to be so easy after all. Michael Smith, a recent American
immigrant who had travelled extensively in Upper Canada while
compiling information for a book about the, colony, wrote at the time:
"After this event, the people of Upper Canada became fearful of
disobeying the government … and the friends of the United States
were discouraged and those of the King encouraged. The army now
became respectable, and a dread fell on those who had opposed the
government. The people now saw that it was as much as their
property and lives were worth to disobey orders, and now what they
had been compelled to do, after a while they did from choice."
The government no longer had to tolerate a pro-American attitude
among the people and could begin to insist that every man perform
militia duty when called upon. Also affected were the Grand River
Indians. Norton and his warriors has not played a large role at Detroit.
Now the Six Nations began to drop their policy of neutrality and
actively support the government, with very important consequences.
General Hull was to face a court martial a year and a half later. The
court dropped the charge of treason but found him guilty of cowardice
and neglect of duty. He escaped the sentence of execution by firing
squad because President Madison pardoned him on the grounds of his
Revolutionary War service.
From the back cover of the first edition
Tragedy and farce, bravery and cowardice, intelligence and
foolishness, sense and nonsense — all of these contradictions and
more have characterized the War of 1812-1814. The real significance
of the series of skirmishes which collectively make up the War of 1812-
1814 is the enormous impact they have had on Canadian and
American views of themselves and of each other.
In recent years this interest has been renewed by discoveries which
throw more light on the period. Of particular significance are the
discovery in 1975 and subsequent photographing of the Hamilton and
Scourge on the bottom of Lake Ontario, and the 1987 find of
skeletons at Snake Hill, grisly casualties of the fighting around Fort
Erie in August-September of 1814. All of this new material has been
incorporated into this interesting and informative overview of a crucial
period in Canada's history.
About the author
Wesley Turner is an associate professor of history at Brock University
in St. Catharines, Ont. His previous publications include Life in Upper
Canada (1980), The War of 1812 in the Niagara Peninsula (1981), The
War of 1812: The War for Canada (1982), and Album of Upper Canada
(1987). He is also the author of several biographies in the Dictionary
of Canadian Biography. He was past-president of the Ontario
Historical Society (1983-1984) and chairman of the board of trustees
of the St. Catharines Historical Museum (1985).
The following is an excerpt from the first edition describing the
meeting between General Brock and Tecumseh, the famed Shawnee
chief whose help was critical to Brock's successful capture of Fort
Detroit.
Brock and Tecumseh win a great victory
Soon after arriving at Amherstburg, Brock met Tecumseh. Each
impressed the other and a real friendship seems to have been born.
There is a legend that Tecumseh turned to his followers and said of
Brock, "This is a man." Brock later wrote, "He who attracted most my
attention was a Shawnee chief, Tecumseh… a more sagacious or a
more gallant warrior does not I believe exist. He was the admiration
of everyone who conversed with him." (Ironically, the two most
courageous leaders in this war would both be killed in the defence of
their cause.)
The next day, Brock held a conference with his officers, Tecumseh and
other Indian chiefs, at which he outlined his plan to attack Detroit.
Colonel Procter opposed it, thinking the risk too great. Having read
the captured letters, however, Brock knew the state of Hull's mind. He
concluded that the Americans had lost confidence in their general and
would not be eager to fight. Tecumseh supported Brock's plan.
Brock sent a demand to Hull for immediate surrender. Knowing the
American fear of Indians, he warned that the warriors might get out of
control in a fight. Hull rejected the demand.
British cannon at Sandwich began firing at Detroit and the Americans
shot back, but neither side did much damage. During the night of
August 15, about 600 Indians crossed the river. Early the next
morning, Brock took 330 regulars and 400 militia across. The guns of
the Queen Charlotte and the General Hunter covered the landing, but
Hull had left the river bank unguarded.
Brock marched his little army towards the fort. Some of his milita were
dressed in soldiers' tunics which made Hull think he faced mostly
regulars. As the British advanced, they could see American gunners
standing by their cannon awaiting the order to fire. Brock's force was
in the open and cannon fire would have shredded their ranks. Brock
seemed to have put his force in a very dangerous position.
Hull thought himself in even greater danger. During the morning,
British shells had landed in the fort killing several men. The Americans
had seen what appeared to be 2,000 to 3,000 Indians crossing an
opening in the woods. In fact, Tecumseh had cleverly marched the
same group of warriors through the clearing three times. The
American commander was not at the wall giving orders or vigorously
organizing the defence. Physically sick and mentally disordered, he
simply sat on an old tent in a corner of the fort chewing tobacco.
Suddenly, Brock and his men saw a white flag go up. They were
amazed. Without consulting his officers, Hull had decided to surrender.
The American general gave up everything in his command: the fort, its
garrison and even the troops outside. An American army of almost
2,500 men (nearly 600 of them regulars), along with 35 cannon, 2,500
muskets, 500 rifles, ammunition and the brig Adams were taken. Brock
proclaimed British rule over the entire Michigan Territory. Soon
afterwards, British regulars and militia marched south and took
possession of American supplies and destroyed blockhouses as far
south as the Maumme (Miami) River.
Brock issued a general order praising the regulars and militia while
also recognizing the important role of Tecumseh and the Indians.
Together, these two men had accomplished a great victory, but they
would never see each other again.
American strategy in the West lay in ruins. The Americans had lost all
points north of the Maumee, their main army in the region and any
hope of influencing the Indians. The weapons and supplies taken
would be of great help in the defence of Upper Canada.
On the Canadian side morale soared, for people began to believe that
the province could be defended and that American conquest was not
going to be so easy after all. Michael Smith, a recent American
immigrant who had travelled extensively in Upper Canada while
compiling information for a book about the, colony, wrote at the time:
"After this event, the people of Upper Canada became fearful of
disobeying the government … and the friends of the United States
were discouraged and those of the King encouraged. The army now
became respectable, and a dread fell on those who had opposed the
government. The people now saw that it was as much as their
property and lives were worth to disobey orders, and now what they
had been compelled to do, after a while they did from choice."
The government no longer had to tolerate a pro-American attitude
among the people and could begin to insist that every man perform
militia duty when called upon. Also affected were the Grand River
Indians. Norton and his warriors has not played a large role at Detroit.
Now the Six Nations began to drop their policy of neutrality and
actively support the government, with very important consequences.
General Hull was to face a court martial a year and a half later. The
court dropped the charge of treason but found him guilty of cowardice
and neglect of duty. He escaped the sentence of execution by firing
squad because President Madison pardoned him on the grounds of his
Revolutionary War service.
From the back cover of the first edition
Tragedy and farce, bravery and cowardice, intelligence and
foolishness, sense and nonsense — all of these contradictions and
more have characterized the War of 1812-1814. The real significance
of the series of skirmishes which collectively make up the War of 1812-
1814 is the enormous impact they have had on Canadian and
American views of themselves and of each other.
In recent years this interest has been renewed by discoveries which
throw more light on the period. Of particular significance are the
discovery in 1975 and subsequent photographing of the Hamilton and
Scourge on the bottom of Lake Ontario, and the 1987 find of
skeletons at Snake Hill, grisly casualties of the fighting around Fort
Erie in August-September of 1814. All of this new material has been
incorporated into this interesting and informative overview of a crucial
period in Canada's history.
About the author
Wesley Turner is an associate professor of history at Brock University
in St. Catharines, Ont. His previous publications include Life in Upper
Canada (1980), The War of 1812 in the Niagara Peninsula (1981), The
War of 1812: The War for Canada (1982), and Album of Upper Canada
(1987). He is also the author of several biographies in the Dictionary
of Canadian Biography. He was past-president of the Ontario
Historical Society (1983-1984) and chairman of the board of trustees
of the St. Catharines Historical Museum (1985).