Historical Battle Overview
In the morning of May 25, 1813 Fort Niagara and the batteries across from Fort George, open fire. The British and American forts exchange fire, with most of the damage occurring to Fort George, the wooden complex. The American hot shot' (cannonballs heated until red hot), set Fort George alight and it burns very quickly. Only the stone powder magazine and the earthen bastions remain. Fort Niagara loses several wooden buildings but remains largely intact.
The British leave the smouldering complex of Fort George and encamp on the commons (military lands west of the Fort) for two nights. Early in the morning of the 27th, General Dearborn and an assembled army of 5,000 men embark from Fort Niagara in several large vessels accompanied by smaller assault vessels under the command of Commodore Chauncey. Unsure of the direction of the American assault, the British force of 1,200 regular soldiers is divided into three parts responsible for defending against an assault from the north (Lakeside), the east (on the Fort itself) or the south (from the Fort to Queenston). The American attack occurs (lakeside) near Two Mile Creek, where they come ashore and meet a small British force. A firefight ensues on the shore and the British are forced to retire towards the town. The collected force, being too small to meet the invading American army (having lost 350 men) and at great risk of being encircled and trapped on the peninsula, retire towards Beaver Dams and ultimately to Burlington Heights. The Niagara frontier is abandoned by the British with the Americans in pursuit.
The above historical overview is available at the
Parks Canada :
Fort George National Historic Site of Canada site.
