House of Representatives foreign relations committee acknowledges withdrawal of
orders-in-council, but
impressment remains cause for war War policy in Washington not based on prudence, justice and patriotism, but desire to retain power by promoting old anti-British prejudices
"From Maine to Delaware we have one common interest[--]the preservation of commerce, which[...]
southwards they are determined to destroy" Even pro-U.S.A. British won't "surrender the
maritime rights of" U.K., though Madison says "freedom of the seas must be conquered
through Canada"
British government sets out its version of events and motivations that led to war with U.S.A. People of British possessions are mere
petitioners who should not assume
right of people of Great Britain to criticize imperial government
Prince Regent, at meeting in London tavern to raise funds for "sufferers in
British North America," notes his long residence in B.N.A. provinces
War of 1812 Map: Canada – U.S.A. frontier, including
Upper and
Lower Canada on main map and
New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia on inset "[In Upper Canada, the
enemy's] defeats, bad pay, bad clothing, bad feeding, bad lodging, sickness, disunion and insubordination [help us.]" Amb.
John Quincy Adams tells Russian count that U.S. troops "were all too raw and unskilled in War to make much progress in Canada" Official report of British victory at
Frenchtown, Michigan under command of Col.
Henry Procter and Chief
Round Head "
Tory feelings[,] newspapers & pamphlets supported by foreign[ers,] mercantile credit" -
John Adams accounts for
opposition in U.S.A. to war "A
force is now prepared or preparing that will compel [Americans] either to keep in port or subject them to be captured if they venture out" Comparison of
British and U.S. frigates finds former are crewed by fewer men and they are less skilled (about 6/7ths are landsmen) Congress offers bounty to "burn, sink, or destroy" British warships with "
torpedoes, submarine instruments, or any other destructive machine" British American merchants in London warn that troops currently in Upper and Lower Canada would not be enough even to defend
Quebec City Letter writer on
St. Lawrence River notes British military's mobility, saying one unit got from
Plymouth, England to
Prescott, U.C. in 6 weeks Broadside describes combined U.S. Army and Navy forces'
capture of York, Upper Canada U.S. commander at
Fort Erie invites Canadians "anxious to obtain special protection [to come in] that they may be distinguished from the enemy" Outnumbered
British Regulars use
bayonets to push through "impetuous confusion" of
night fight at U.S. camp near Stoney Creek, Upper Canada After so many U.S. disasters, "we should think that 'the most enlightened people in the world' would begin to be sick[...]of the idea of 'taking Canada'" Lengthy account of
Beaver Dams victory centres on
Lt. Fitzgibbon and includes actions by specific civilians (but not
Laura Secord) Witness to British raid on
Black Rock, N.Y. is captured by men of
49th Regiment amid musketry, destruction of warehouses and sharing of liquor
Editor expects "successful defence of Canada[...]but what is that? - We may [take U.S. assets, but] have we a land force equal to the undertaking?" "Liberal translation" of declaration of war by New York-based "
Six Nations of Indians[...]against the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada"
U.S. naval commander describes
Battle of Lake Erie and defeat of British squadron trying to prevent U.S. dominance of that lake War operations "depend on the result of the contest on the Lakes [and losing them] would be far more prejudicial to us than to the Americans"
Pres. Madison decides to publicize imprisonment of some British
POWs as
hostages for naturalized U.S. POWs taken to Britain for trial as
traitors Lacking provisions following loss of Lake Erie supply line, British forces abandon Detroit and are
defeated as they retreat up Thames River Large U.S. invasion force on
Chateauguay River is "foiled by a handful of men not amounting to a twentieth part of the force opposed to them" After listing setbacks, New England newspaper asks what "has the least tendency towards the accomplishment of the professed object of the war" Governor general's aide returns from Britain with assessment of "whether [ministers] consider Canada worth the expense of defending or not"
Halifax newspaper says "our affairs in Canada wear a more favorable aspect then [sic] we had a right to expect," Lake Erie defeat notwithstanding "Cordial and able cooperation" - Headquarters report of British victory at
Crysler's Farm, near Cornwall, Upper Canada British retake
Fort George, U.C. without opposition and find "the Works[...]have been restored to a respectable state of defence by the Enemy" "This revolution in our domestic economy was well worth a war" -
Thomas Jefferson says U.S.
textiles are developed enough to exclude
British imports Lower Canada Governor in Chief
Prevost calls on L.C.
gentry to keep resisting invaders and set inspiring example for "those who look up to and depend on them" Defending its privilege from
Assembly,
Council says in history some "Representative Body" often tries to take power from "Aristocratical" body Governor is enabled to direct
Receiver General to reserve £25,000 for defence, £15,000 for militia equipment and £1,000 for militia hospital
Quebec Gazette editor says all editors print falsehoods because, "to gratify the craving appetites of[...]the public," priority outranks truth Provincial commander praises
militiamen who "would not accept of their discharge until after the [approaching] Enemy should have been repulsed" "
Cognawangha,
Lake of the Two Mountains, and
St. Regis Indians" are angry at not receiving support in their defeat of large U.S. force With U.S. forces approaching, "the whole effective male population on the
South side of the [St. Lawrence] River was in arms" Grass in
meadows around Quebec City is being displaced by "weed called
Marguerite," with all attempts to destroy it failing Across "the Province[...]the crops of Grain, Hay, Fruits and vegetables will be very abundant[, the weather being] uncommonly fine" Map: Montreal and regional islands and road system, by
John Melish Molson's 140-foot-long steamboat Swiftsure has everything from automatic boiler safety valve to white Ladies' Cabin with "curtains, mirrors &c."
Fashion plate:
Empire style dresses Five
guineas reward for young
pointer dog "supposed to have been thrown overboard by a sailor" on army transport and "may have swam ashore"
Upper Canada "The
Canadian spirit, though wanting exercise, is by no means sunk--an alarm will[...]rouse it to the requisite exertion for meeting the occasion" "A very few indeed, who were always suspected" - Some Upper Canadians aid U.S. invaders
French and
Dutch settlers ignorant; British merchants and
U.S. settlers smart; there is "considerable desire to monopolize" knowledge, riches, power As of April 1813, farm families are living off bountiful harvest, but begin to suffer as half of farm men are called away to
militia duty "In the present situation," it is illegal to sell, barter or give "Spirituous Liquors or Strong Waters or low wines" to Indigenous people U.C. missionary says some local Indigenous people are refugees from U.S.A.; several men are drafted into army; war brings people "of various tribes" Fairfield mission
plundered and burned by U.S. Army soldiers; Gen.
Harrison is unkind, but Com.
Perry helps some get to Detroit and
Sandwich Widow and children of any militia member killed while on duty (in battle or not) will receive £25 payments until youngest child turns 16 Map: Upper Canada from
Sault Ste. Marie to Montreal and
Lake Timiskaming to Lake Erie, with towns, counties and townships
Nova Scotia Some are surprised at failure of U.S. forces to successfully invade; they must never "forget that our enemy is greatly our superior in numbers" Seamen entering N.S. from U.S.A. for next 3 months will be protected from
impressment and allowed to go to England or any province Seven men (age 22–30) escape slavery, most picked up by
HMS Rifleman from open boat off Chesapeake Bay and taken to Halifax
HMS Shannon brings in USS Chesapeake, whose
captain dies; with cannon salute, 6 Royal Navy captains act as pallbearers to his grave "We admire [our naval mariners and] we deeply lament their being placed in situations where there was no choice but loss of life or
character" Sudden death of two men "ought to remind us of the necessity of living as we would wish to die, then we will always be prepared to meet
death" Because 2 children have been struck (leaving 1 dead and 1 not expected to live), attention is drawn to law against disorderly riding and driving Newly formed
Royal Acadian Institution resolves to provide education "conducted on Moral and Religious principles" Proposals invited for supplying naval hospital with port
wine of good quality, to be delivered on demand in quantities of no less than one
hogshead For sale to
mechanics: "moulding and bench
Planes[...]Saws both German and Cast-steel[...]
Coopers, Ship-Carpenters and Shoemakers Tools [etc.]" Fishing gear for sale includes "Superfine Trout
Flies adapted to the season[...]Best Patent Silk and Hair[...]Superfine Salmon-Trout
Hooks" Dancing instructor teaches "
Minuets,
Cottillons,
Contra-Dances,
Hornpipes,
jigs,
Strathspeys,
Reels, Medlies,
Passe-pies [and] Ballet dances" Music teacher advertising private vocal lessons assures ladies who lack confidence that it will be gained "with the most pleasing facility" "
Perspective Box [with two] magnifying Glass Sights" contains 90 coloured prints and specimens from more than 50
genera of animals and plants
Acadian Recorder says "our fashionable females[...]wearing a machine called a '
CORSET' [follow a]
ridiculous and pernicious practice"
New Brunswick White males (age 16–60) inhabiting or resident in N.B. are to enrol for service in
militia (officials and certain occupations exempted) Excerpt of journal by Lt. John LeCouteur,
104th Regiment of Foot as it marches from Fredericton through Saint John River valley to Lower Canada "Many of the poor
Ministers of Christ [are] laboring in the field to gather food for their families" but neglecting their ministry duties
Thomas Wetmore asks
Ward Chipman if there can be some fund (government or private) for pork for group of "very poor" Indigenous people Chief Andrew Julian and 4 brothers,
Mi'kmaq of
Northumberland County, sell lot and cove on
Northwest Miramichi River for £30 Unmarried 26-year-old Black man of
Sussex Parish, known for industry and sobriety, petitions for 200-acre lot for family he expects to have Of 6 Miller family children, 4 are dead and 1 is dying; mother is "almost stupified with grief and [may not recover from] these repeated shocks" Old "Mr. Ebenezer Spicer of
Sussex Vale [drowned when] a
whirlpool caught the oar with which he was steering and threw him out of the boat" "A small privateer of 2 guns was ran [sic] on shore near Bailey's Mistake and destroyed by the boats of [H.M. sloop] Ratler
Newfoundland Despite imposed restraints, Newfoundland's enterprising people have increased in numbers, commerce and wealth to point
colonial government is needed Call for kindness toward
Indigenous people, drawing them "into habits of intercourse and trade," and £100 offered for "firm and settled" successes Promising "abundance of fine Beef, Mutton, and every luxury which a lusty and loyal Soldier should enjoy,"
Royal Newfoundland Regiment enlists
Plague outbreak on
Malta, which continues "with unabated violence," means all ships coming from Mediterranean ports to St. John's must quarantine "Exhilarating" - Laying of "Foundation Stone" for Newfoundland hospital in St. John's, "[...]the
first public Hospital in this Island" "In the existing season of privation and suffering," Society of Merchants is forgoing their annual dinner to donate £29 to poor Auctioneer's
21s lottery tickets give chance to win something worth at least 36s, such as watches, pianoforte, "sopha" and china set Former
Oxford scholar will take in "Six young Gentlemen from the age of six" to be prepared for "any of the great Schools in England" St. John's Subscription Library is missing many books, including
Vicar of Wakefield,
Gil Blas,
Tom Jones and
Tristram Shandy Elsewhere British
writer-editor discusses differences between U.S. and U.K. with Pres. Madison, including latter's vision of conquered Canada
John Jacob Astor asks that
U.S. Navy frigate go to mouth of Columbia River to protect
American Fur Company (described in detail) from British John Jacob Astor worries about war's effect on Columbia River
enterprise (with history of its founding)
Saint John ship, semi-submerged by hurricane on way to Jamaica, finds way (without compass) back to New Brunswick only to break up on rocks Upper-class woman in Philadelphia wants to use New York – Montreal connection (through Boston merchant) to write to
her daughters in Montreal Captured U.S. seaman reveals herself as
female and tells story of her shipwreck, disguise, and service on
privateer (earning about $200) ==References==