CHAP. VII.

SIR GEORGE PREVOST. - OPERATIONS DURING THE AMERICAN

WAR.

SIR GEORGE PREVOST Succeeded to the administration of Canada, in 1811, as governor-general; and in the following year the United States declared war against Great Britain. The details of this war, even as far as respects Canada, would be too lengthy for this work. It will be sufficient, therefore, to observe briefly, that, notwithstanding the reports, industriously circulated by their adversaries, that if arms were placed in the hands of the Canadians, they would fight, not against the Americans, but the English government; the provincial legislature immediately adopted the most decisive measures for supporting the credit of the government, and for the defence of the Canadas. The regular forces amounted to only 4000 men; but the militia was immediately enrolled, armed, and trained for active service; the garrisons were also strengthened, and in a few weeks Lower Canada was completely prepared for defensive war.

In July, General Hull, commanding the American forces, entered Upper Canada; and on the 16th of August he was opposed by General Brock, the lieutenant-governor, who vanquished his whole force, and sent them as prisoners of war to Montreal. The Americans, however, collected a strong body of troops on the Niagara frontier; and in the end of November they passed over into Canada, where, on the heights of Queenstone, the battle was fought, in which the enemy were completely defeated, but which was rendered still more memorable by being the field on which the heroic Brock fell.

Soon after, the Americans invaded the Niagara frontier, with little success; and the British naval force, with no better fortune, attacked Sackett's Harbour. In January following (1813), General Procter opposed General Winchester near Detroit, and made him and 500 Americans prisoners; but the British were soon after defeated at Ogdensburg; and in the end of April the Americans burnt York, and in less than a month they held possession of all the Niagara frontier.

General Procter again compelled 500 Americans to surrender near the River Miami; and on the 6th of June, the defeat of the Americans, near Burlington, by Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, restored the Niagara frontier to the British. Two American vessels were also captured at Isle aux Noix, by Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor; and in July the barracks at Plattsburg and Black Rock were completely destroyed by the British. But an attack on Sackett's Harbour, by Sir George Prevost, on which great hopes were formed, completely failed; and on the 10th of September the American Commodore Perry captured all the British vessels on Lake Erie; and General Proctor was defeated near Detroit in October following. The British were consequently obliged to retreat to Burlington; and an American army, in three divi

sions, advanced towards Montreal. Colonel de Salebery, with the Canadian militia, however, defeated General Hampton and 7000 American troops, and compelled them to retreat to Plattsburg; and Colonel Morrison repulsed General Boyd at Chrystler's Farm. The whole American army then retreated to Sackett's Harbour and Plattsburg. After burning Newark, the Americans retired before winter from the Niagara frontier. Meantime the British General Rial destroyed Black Rock and Buffalo.

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In March following (1814), an American force, under General Wilkinson, entered Canada, and, at Lacolle, was opposed by Major Handcoke, who repulsed and drove them back to the States; but in July the American General Brown captured Fort Erie. During this summer a desultory warfare was carried on between the Americans and British, in which the former had generally the most success. August, the British received reinforcements: yet Sir George Prevost found it expedient to retreat from Plattsburg with an army of 11,000 men, on the 11th May, although the enemy consisted only of 1500 regular troops, and a few companies of militia. About the same time, the squadron, hastily fitted out on Lake Champlain, and commanded by Commodore Downie, was completely defeated by the American Commodore Mac Donough; Downie and several officers were killed in the action.

It now became absolutely necessary for the British to act with extraordinary vigour and decision; and in the month of November the Americans abandoned all the posts they held in Canada. The command of the Lakes was at the same time secured, and several American posts captured. The Treaty of Ghent, signed in December, 1814, terminated the war.*

Never were preparations carried on with greater expense, and never did those in power exhibit greater ignorance, than during the whole of this inglorious war. Some remarks will be found in a following chapter, on the egregious blunders in providing supplies and making naval preparations for defending the Canadas at that time against the Americans; the enormous expense of which is usually placed to the sole account of what those provinces has cost Great Britain; while it is well known that their chief and most effective security depended on the bravery of their own militia.

Sir George Gordon Drummondt succeeded Sir

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George Prevost in the administration of the government, in April, 1815; and John Wilson, Esq. held the office of administrator after him, until the arrival of Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, who was appointed governor-general in July, 1816. Few political matters of consequence occurred during this period. The vigorous and judicious administration of Sir John Coape Sherbrooke was highly satisfactory. He inspired the Canadians with full confidence in the constitution and laws of the country; and, if a severe malady had not disabled him from ruling over the province, he would probably have prevented many evils and causes of discontent, which have continued to distract the civil tranquillity of the province.