Three Years of War in Niagara

ON JUNE 18, 1812, THE AMERICANS DECLARED WAR ON GREAT BRITAIN.

NIAGARA WAS A FOCAL POINT. THE BRITISH HAD FORTS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE NIAGARA RIVER (FORT GEORGE AND FORT ERIE) TO PROTECT THE PENINSULA FROM INVASION. THE MAJOR AMERICAN MILITARY BASE IN THE REGION WAS FORT NIAGARA, DOMINATING THE HEAD OF THE NIAGARA RIVER IN YOUNGSTOWN, NEW YORK, ACROSS FROM FORT GEORGE.

FOLLOW THIS TOUR TO EXPERIENCE THE AMERICAN ADVANCE AND THE BRITISH DEFENSE ON THE LUNDY'S LANE BATTLEFIELD - ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE WAR OF 1812.

STOPS AT KEY LOCATIONS WILL HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE TUMULTUOUS EVENTS THAT OCCURRED HERE ON JULY 25, 1814.

For three years, Niagara was under almost constant siege. In October of 1812, American forces invaded at Queenston Heights. This engagement was the first major battle in Niagara between the forces and provided a prelude of things to come. It also showed the early weaknesses of the underprepared American Army.

The war resumed in the spring of 1813, with better prepared American forces. An American victory at York (Toronto) encouraged a new Niagara campaign. In May, a landing force captured Fort George. They held onto the Fort until December of 1813, at various times expanding and contracting from that point. Most of Niagara then was under American occupation. When the Americans withdrew in December, they burned the village of Niagara (Niagara-on-the-Lake).

In 1814, the Americans invaded Niagara again. This time the focus was to the south, at Fort Erie. They captured the Fort and proceeded into the peninsula again, with engagements at Chippawa (July 5, 1814) and then Lundy's Lane (July 25, 1814). Following these two devastating clashes, the Americans withdrew to Fort Erie and endured a British siege of the fort (August 15 - September 17). In November, however, compelled to reinforce their eastern seaboard, the Americans retreated across the border and the occupation of the Niagara Frontier was over.

The War officially ended on December 24th, 1814 with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.

• Battle of Lundy's Lane Walking Tour Overview - Niagara Falls History Museum
• Prelude to Battle - Main Street
• History of Lundy's Lane -Lundy's Lane
• British Position at the Commencement of the Battle of Lundy's Lane- Drummond Hill - Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Americans Attack- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• British Counter Attacks - Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Captain Abraham Fuller Hull Gravesite- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Statue of General Sir Gordon Drummond- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Laura Secord Monument in Drummond Hill Cemetery- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Battle of Lundy's Lane Soldiers Monument- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Christopher Buchner Grave Marker- Drummond Hill Cemetery
• Battle of Lundy's Lane Commemorative Wall - Lundy's Lane
• Funeral Pyre at Lundy's Lane - Lundy's Lane
• Battle Ground Hotel Museum - Lundy's Lane
• Lundy's Lane Battlefield Archway and Interpretive Plaque - Lundy's Lane
• Lundy's Lane Battlefield Park - Lundy's Lane Battlefield Park
• 89th Regiment Officer Coatee Fragment - Battlefield Park
• Conclusion of the Battle of Lundy's Lane - Battlefield Park
• Congreve Rockets -Lundy's Lane at Main Street
• Tour end - Victoria Fountain - Niagara Falls History Museum

A collaborative project

Niagara Falls Museums - Niagara Falls Public Library - Dept. of Geography and Tourism Studies,Brock University.

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