1812: a Timeline

Hey all, this is my first timeline on the board so please be gentle. I'm going to try and get an update per week.

The War of 1812, a war between the United States and the British Empire (as well as Britain’s Indian allies) lasted from June 18, 1812 to March 10, 1815.

It began, as all wars do, due to a myriad of reasons. In the shadow of the larger Napoleonic Wars in Europe were the issues of impressment of Americans into the Royal Navy (virtual kidnapping in many cases), the punitive trade decrees by Britain (as well as France), intrigues in Florida and Britain’s willingness to provide gifts and arms to the Indians in the old Northwest. The annexation of Canada isn’t technically on the table, but if the war goes well the Americans will likely ask for it.

Both sides were woefully unprepared for war. Even though both sides had been busy recruiting… neither side has much to show for it. In British North America Prevost stated that ‘our numbers would not justify offensive operations being taken’ but the mode of conducting the war was suited only to existing circumstances, ‘as they change, so we must vary our line of conduct, adapting it to our means of preserving entire the King’s Provinces’. This contradictory statement it would seem, would contain the entire of British strategy in the summer of 1812.

The first sign of the American invasion would be on July 12th when the American General Hull crossed the Detroit River and occupied the village of Sandwich. He would do nothing there (except give a small speech) until July 14th when he decided to further wait until the heavy guns can be brought across the river to attack Fort Malden. By July 22nd he still had nothing to show for his invasion except for the fact that new carriages would need to be constructed for the 24 lb cannons and mortars in order to cross the river, this would take a further two weeks. His plans will be further interrupted when he hears of the fall of Fort Mackinac.

The British Captain Charles Roberts had received word of war on July 8th indicating that he was to prepare for immediate invasion of Fort Joseph (the most westerly fort of British North America) or, if he were able to seize Mackinac Island from the Americans. On July 16th he mustered a small force of 45 soldiers from the 10th Royal Veterans, 180 fur traders and some 400 Indians and set about for the 50 mile journey to the island. It arrived the next day and forced the capitulation of the local commander, Captain Roberts, with the understanding that none of his men would be harmed.

Isaac Brock, on hearing of Hull’s invasion decided to shift some of his forces from the Niagara border to Western reaches of Upper Canada to confront Hull. On August 6th, Hull would hold another council of war in which it was voted to attack immediately. Upon hearing news of Brock’s arrival 2 days later his mind is changed and he elected to cross the Detroit River and retreat to Fort Detroit. Brock’s small army of 700 men (300 regulars and 400 militia) then cross the Detroit River and follow Hull to Detroit. “It is far from my intention to join a war of extermination,” states Brock in a letter to Hull, “but you must be aware, that the numerous bodies of Indians who have attached themselves to my troops will be beyond control the moment the contest commences“. Hull believed his position to be precarious and worried about the fate of his soldiers and the local civilians should a battle ensue. With this in mind, he decided to surrender to Brock on the 16th. Brock would find good use for the 33 artillery pieces and 2,500 muskets in the battles to come. 1,500 of the Ohio volunteers would be sent home while Hull and 532 regulars would begin the long trek to Quebec City where there were facilities to accommodate that many captives. Lastly, the brig Adams, was seized by the Provincial Marine and renamed Detroit.

While this was happening in Detroit, on July 19th on the surface of Lake Ontario, Prevost’s policy of non-aggression was being pushed again. Early on the 19th, Master Commandant Melanchthon Taylor Woolsey observed a force of 5 ships approaching Sackets Harbor. Four of the ships were identified as belonging to the Provincial Marine (Earl of Moira, Prince Regent, Royal George, Duke of Gloucester), the 5th was never identified. Woolsey attempted to separate one or two of them from the others and give battle but the British closed together and forced Woolsey to retreat this brig, the Oneida, to Black River Bay. From there he attempted to remove the 8 cannonade from the starboard side and get them to shore for installation in the battery above the shipyard. The breeze picks up [POD] and the four ships advance. The four ships fire is clumsy and ill timed (showing the lack of training amongst the Provincial Marine), but the 328 pounds of shot from the ships can only be replied with by 192 pounds from the Oneida. Before he can get the cannons installed in the Fort (now called Fort Tompkins), the Oneida is silenced. By this point word reaches Woolsey on shore that the fifth ship came bearing news that if the Oneida and Lord Nelson (recently captured from the British) were not surrendered, the village would be burned. Woolsey would surrender the two ships later that day as well as significant stores kept in the village. The British Commander, Hugh Earle, did have ground troops (some 100 soldiers), but elected not to occupy the town with his already underequipped squadron.

The battle did add two ships to the Provincial Marine, but the cost was high. The Earl of Moira, already suffering heavily from rot was now barely seaworthy. The Duke of Gloucester was little better off. Hugh Earl’s small force had gained two ships to his squadron, but almost lost one in the process. The crew themselves were little better. Prevost’s confidence in the Provincial Marine was badly shaken after the ordeal and a large effort was made to increase the readiness and efficiency of the men in the organization. Before the war, it was stated that “The officers serving in this division of the Province are in some instances extremely inefficient and, in short, totally unfit for the situations they hold.” This would only be exacerbated with the addition of two new vessels.

Within three weeks, the entire western theater had shifted in favour of Britain.



Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Concerns?
 
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Nice, you going for a more successful British effort?
As long as you keep it plausible I'm quite looking forwards to this.
Consider me subbed.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Okay, I will be interested to see how you flesh it out

Earlier control of Lake Ontario and ensuing butterflies.

Okay, I will be interested to see how you flesh it out.

From your note elsewhere, I take it you're thinking Barclay could have won a clean sweep against Perry like MacDonough's against Downie on Lake Champlain?

Best,
 
Okay, I will be interested to see how you flesh it out.

From your note elsewhere, I take it you're thinking Barclay could have won a clean sweep against Perry like MacDonough's against Downie on Lake Champlain?

Best,

If you read about how difficult it was to get ships to cross the bar, it would have been a disaster.
 
There's the fleet in being option, and then break any blockade between reliefs or at night.

Best,

Indeed there is. In OTL Procter pulled back North in his ignominious retreat to the Thames River because he was out of supply. If the Americans don't control the lake, he's still in supply and can seize the fort.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Okay, I will wait to see how you plot it out

Indeed there is. In OTL Procter pulled back North in his ignominious retreat to the Thames River because he was out of supply. If the Americans don't control the lake, he's still in supply and can seize the fort.

Okay, I will wait to see how you plot it out.

Best,
 
The Battle/Massacre of Fort Wayne

The month of September would begin with another American defeat,. The Battle/Massacre of Fort Wayne would lead to punitive expeditions against Indians throughout the Indiana Territory for the remainder of 1812 and into 1813.

The siege began on September 4th when a flag of truce was offered to the Indians surrounding the fort (numbering some 500). Captain James Rhea met with two chiefs, Winamac and Five Medals, and asked if it was to be peace or war. Chief Winamac stated, “I don’t know what to tell you, but you know that Fort Mackinac is taken, Detroit is in the hands of the British, Fort Dearborn has been taken, and you must to expect to fall next, probably within a few days”. These comments would drive Rhea to despair, and the eventual surrender of the fort.

The next day there was brief fighting around the fort, but the intention was clear in that this was definitely war. Rhea was too ill to take command and so Benjamin Stickney (a local Indian agent) together with Lieutenant Daniel Curtis and Philip Ostrander organized the defence. After sporadic fighting throughout the day Winamac was again admitted, together with thirteen of his men to discuss peace. Rhea wasn’t present at this gathering, but sources say that Chief Winamac smuggled a knife in to the meeting and killed Benjamin Stickney. A massive brawl would take place in the fort and see 10 of the 14 Indians killed as well as 5 Americans (including Stickney and Curtis). With Ostrander and others being severely wounded. The remaining Indians were taken captive inside the fort. The Indians outside grew impatient with the return of their compatriots and soon opened fire on the fort at 9:00 PM. The Indian forces attempted to put the fort on fire and without effective leadership it did catch fire and a very drunken Rhea offered to surrender the fort at 11:00 PM.

Roughly a third of the one hundred people within the Fort would die in the ensuing surrender.

The Indians would retreat on the 12th of September when Indians heard of the approach of William Harrison’s (a Major General of the Kentucky militia) arrival.



Honestly, some of this stuff is so wild you can't make it up.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
It was a frontier war, remember...

Honestly, some of this stuff is so wild you can't make it up.

It was a frontier war, remember...and the combatants ranged from regulars to irregulars and back again.

Not any wilder than the NW Frontier in India or the South African veldt, surely...

What are you using for source material? Alan Taylor's The Civil War of 1812 and Walter Borneman's 1812: The War that Forged a Nation are both pretty good syntheses, and available in paperback.

Best,
 
The Niagara Front

On August 1st, news arrived in Quebec that the British government had provisionally repealed the Orders of Council (one of the main stated issues for the war). Prevost was informed the British government was trying to open negotiations with the American government for peace. Prevost (spearheading the war effort in Canada) was urged to do the same.

It was under a flag of truce that Prevost and Major General Henry Dearborn, stationed at Albany, decided to conduct only defensive operations and to give the other four days notice should negotiations break down. Prevost was still decidedly attached to the idea of a defensive war while Dearborn was well aware that his own planned invasion north to Montreal was nowhere near ready. Dearborn also explained that he had no jurisdiction over Hull in Detroit (but it was a moot point given the events there at the time).

This was the situation when Brock returned flushed with triumph from Detroit. Major-General Sheaffe had made a supplementary truce where neither side would reinforce the Niagara Peninsula with the American major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer. Sheaffe had thought this a wise move since he knew that Detroit had fallen, whereas Van Rensselaer did not. Brock was in favour of attacking Fort Niagara, but respected the truce nonetheless.

President Madison was infuriated with Dearborn though and was told to resume operations with “the utmost vigour” as soon as the required time had lapsed. Hostilities were resumed on September 4th, but Dearborn made no offensive action, much as Prevost had predicted. It was deemed a good idea though, to make an offensive across the Niagara River. Rensselaer had some 6,000 soldiers at his disposal for the offensive.

Right away though, there were problems within the American ranks, as well as its leadership. The New York militia suffered “bad usage, bad and scanty food, and a total want of pay”. The newly recruited 14th Regiment of U.S. Infantry was little better, it “is composed entirely of recruits; they appear to be almost of ignorant of their duty as if they had never seen a camp, and scarcely know on which soldier to carry the msuket. They are mere militia, and, if possible, even worse; and if taken into action in their present state, will prove more dangerous to themselves than to the enemy”. There was also a vicious dispute on where to cross the river. Van Rensselare was in favour of crossing the river below the falls, whereas his subordinate (but more experienced), Brigadier-General Alexander Smyth, was in favour crossing above the falls where the current was less swift. Smyth had no intention of following orders from van Rensselaer and even refused to meet with him and make plans for the invasion. This snub prompted van Rensselaer to go it alone in the coming invasion.

On the evening of October 8th, Lietentant Jesse Elliot attempts a daring raid against the two ships anchored under the guns of Fort Erie. The Caledonia, who participated in the seizure of Mackinac Island, and the Detroit (formerly the Adams, seized at Detroit). The men of the Provincial Marine are stretched thin in Lake Ontario with the capture of the Oneida and Lord Nelson, but the men of Lake Erie have been (slightly) more attentive since the capture of those vessels, it appears as though Prevost has lit a (small) fire under their butts. So when the two longboats are sighted at 2:45 AM, due to the attentive men of the Provincial Marine (or more likely, purely by accident) heavy fighting occurs. Lieutenant Robert Irvine gets his twelve inexperienced men together aboard the Caledonia and manages to briefly stall the boarders in a pitched battle full of blunderbuss fire and cutlass strokes before he falls. The Caledonia then beats a hasty retreat to the American side of the lake. Captain Rolette of the Detroit manages to launch several volleys of musket fire onto the attackers before the survivors surrender. The raid ends dismally for the American attackers, and the 22 remaining survivors are taken prisoner (there were more, but they escaped with the Caledonia).

It is in the shadows of this raid that the Niagara invasion happens.

Brock realizes that every sailor is valuable (especially since he’s down a ship, albeit a small one) and sends his brigade major, Thomas Evans, to treat with the Americans over the recently captured prisoners. And thus, on the eve of one of the most important battles in North American history, Evans was given the chance to reconnoiter the enemy camp. It was then that he discovered that the American landings were about to take place near Queenston.

On the 13th, at 3:00 AM, Van Rensselaer crosses the Niagara with 600 men (300 volunteers and 300 regulars) in thirteen boats. Three of the boats (containing 200 men) drift downriver and turn back. No sooner has van Rensselaer cross the river than he gets struck no less than four times by musket fire. A second wave of ships panicked under the withering fire of the British and turned back. A boat was sunk by cannon fire, another drifted downstream where the men were captured. The remaining militia across the river are now refusing to cross.

In all the confusion Van Rensselaer is growing weak and can no longer effectively lead his men. Captain Wool takes command of the men and decides to storm the heights raining so much hell upon the men. A fisherman’s trail leads to the heights, and even in the half light Wool and his men find it. The gun is spiked before the Americans can get a hold of it, but the damage is done.

It was at this moment that Isaac Brock arrived. With only 200 men (half regulars, half militia) he charges the American position. With his golden epilates, cocked hat and red coat he made an easy target. He’s first shot in the wrist where he barely pauses. A second shot to the shoulder knocks him flat and leaves him down. The men stall, then stop, then drag him back down the hill. Colonel Macdonell takes over and almost drives the Americans to the edge of the heights before reinforcements push him back.

The battle on the hill reaches a stalemate until Sheaffe arrives in force, having some 400 regulars, 400 militia and 300 Mohawk Indians. After one volley of fire the Americans flee and surrender under the command of Winfield Scott. Things… don’t quite go that according to plan. Scott is attacked by an Indian, who was enraged by the death of his chief, and killed; a massacre is only very narrowly avoided by the timely arrival of Sheaffe who begs the Indians to show restraint. The Indians relent, but not before another dozen men are killed. The battle is over.

Van Rensselaer would agree to a three day armistice with Sheaffe (Brock is too wounded to do anything at the moment), Sheaffe also now has more prisoners than soldiers. van Rensselaer would not live to see its conclusion however and would die from his wounds on the 15th.

Brock would eventually recover, but he would never raise his left hand higher than his waist, he would also complain about numbness in the fingertips of his hand when the weather got cold.



So Isaac Brock is alive (but he will never box again), Winfield Scott is dead, van Rensselaer is dead, and the British still have the Detroit intact.
 
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The aftermath of Queenston

It's been a while and I apologize for my late entry. It's tough to make a post sans sources from a tent in northern Saskatchewan in October (now November!).

In the aftermath of the failed Niagara campaign, Smyth is the one in charge of the American forces with van Rensselaer's death (governor Tompkins being delighted by this news). Throughout mid-November Smyth issues incredibly written bombastic orders to his men, trying to prepare them for the trials and tribulations ahead.

The British catch wind of the invasion (because the orders are so pervasive) and on November 17th launch an artillery barrage at his headquarters at Black Rock setting off a magazine causing much damage and confusion.

On the 28th the force begins to cross the river. The fighting is confused but landings are made. A landing at Frenchman's Creek fails to destroy the bridge for want of axes, a second captures some British guns. But while the initial forces fight back against a determined British counter attack Smyth is still slowly embarking the bulk of his men on the far side. Smyth witnesses the men retreating across the river and calls off the attack of his 1,200 men.

A second attack is planned for the 30th, but no more than 1,500 of his 3,000 men are capable of making battle (many were fatigued and ill from sitting a cold wet boat all day on the 28th while it snowed). Smyth realizes the futility of the situation and calls off the attack.

The effect is immediate. The men are riotous, officers break their swords, the militia fire their guns wantonly in frustration (while others merely cheer them on). General Peter B. Porter (a quartermaster in the New York militia) would openly accuse Smyth of cowardice in the Buffalo Gazette (which is forced to suspend publication due to ensuing disturbances). Smyth is incensed by this and challenges Porter to a duel. The men cross the Niagara on December 12th from Black rock to Grand Island and face one another. Porter is killed, and Smyth merely loses the top of his ear.

Smyth then loses control of the situation. Having already had several attempts on his life (he had previously doubled his guard and moved his headquarters constantly) it would appear that his luck would run out on the 19th when a stray bullet entered his tent and struck him in the stomach.

There is near mutiny in the army after the duel and the murder. Many of the regulars have not been paid in weeks (and now their general is murdered by a militiaman!) dysentary and pneumonia were rife in the ranks, there was a shortage of meat rations, winter clothing was severely limited, and many of the men had no boots.

Tldr:
Smyth kills Porter in a duel, Smyth then gets murdered, dissent in the ranks
 

Sior

Banned
What if the Royal Navy had taken up steam ships for use on the great lakes?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Symington

The Charlotte Dundas was first sailed on 4 January 1803, with Lord Dundas and some of his friends and relatives on board. The crowd were pleased with what they saw, but Symington wanted to make improvements and another more ambitious trial was made on 28 March. On this occasion, the steamboat towed two loaded vessels through the canal, covering 18½ miles in 9½ hours.
The Charlotte Dundas therefore became the first boat to do more than just move itself, but the Canal Company – to Symington's disappointment – did not wish to pursue the construction of another vessel. Symington was further upset when a scheme to build tug boats for the Duke of Bridgewater collapsed when the Duke died a few days before the trial was due to take place.
 
What if the Royal Navy had taken up steam ships for use on the great lakes?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Symington

The Charlotte Dundas was first sailed on 4 January 1803, with Lord Dundas and some of his friends and relatives on board. The crowd were pleased with what they saw, but Symington wanted to make improvements and another more ambitious trial was made on 28 March. On this occasion, the steamboat towed two loaded vessels through the canal, covering 18½ miles in 9½ hours.
The Charlotte Dundas therefore became the first boat to do more than just move itself, but the Canal Company – to Symington's disappointment – did not wish to pursue the construction of another vessel. Symington was further upset when a scheme to build tug boats for the Duke of Bridgewater collapsed when the Duke died a few days before the trial was due to take place.

Perhaps one day. But historically everything was sail OTL, and both sides had plenty of trouble supporting that. I think steam would be a stretch in 1812.
 
Plattsburgh and Dearborn

Hull faced a disaster at Detroit, van Rensselaer dead at Niagara. So Dearborn, aghast at what happened to the 4,000 men he sent to Niagara makes a final bid to invade Lower Canada on the banks of Lake Champlain.

On November 8th he announces his intent ho move north to Plattsburgh, but he is struck by a bout of rheumatism and doesn't arrive until the 19th. Upon arriving, he finds that the local general, Bloomfield, too ill to lead his men. Indeed, over a third of the forces present are unfit for duty. A measles outbreak has devastated the ranks, typhus and pneumonia has killed 200 men at Burlington across the lake, and poor sanitation has reduced one regiment from 900 to a little over 200 able bodied men. An estimated 15% of Dearborn's force has died before even crossing the border.

Dearborn elects to send out two columns of 650 men north to surprise the British at the border. the two columns run into each other in the dark and skirmish until daylight where they realize their mistake and exhaustedly return south. While this is taking place Dearborn heads north with some 3,000 men to Rouse's Point. Two thirds of the men refuse to cross the border (Vermont and New York militia) and so Dearborn gives up and goes back to Plattsburgh and later Albany when news of Smyth's aborted invasion, duel, and murder reach him. Dearborn offers to surrender his command, but it will be another six months before his government obliges.

(All OTL)
 
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