In 1813, after capturing control of Lake Ontario, the United States set their eyes on Montreal. Under the U.S. Secretary of War John Armstrong, Jr a plan was devised which would combine two forces into one final assault on Montreal. Major General James Wilkinson was to lead a division of 8,000 men from Sackett's Harbor down the Saint Lawrence River in gunboats, batteaux and other small water craft, while Major General Wad Hampton was to advance north from Plattsburgh. They were to meet up just prior to reaching Montreal. On October 17th, Wilkinson's men left Sackett's Harbor and by November 8th after being harassed by the Canadian militia, they made it to the Canadian side of the river. Wilkinson met with this top commanders and they all were determined to proceed with the expedition, regardless of the difficulties they faced and alarming reports of the enemy strength.
Meanwhile, the British who had been aware of the American concentration at Sackett's Harbor gathered a total of 900 men under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison and left Kingston heading towards the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River. Captain Chauncey was supposed to blockade the British and prevent them from leaving Kingston to interfere. But this was made very difficult in the foul weather of late fall, and the British were able to escape. Upon reaching the head, they marched on foot and quickly were within 2 miles of the American positions. On November 10th, they set up camp near Crysler's farm.
At the break of dawn on November 11, it was cold and raining. Morrison's force established a defensive position on John Crysler's farm. A 4000 man strong American army under Brigadier-General J.P. Boyd attacked, and fought a hard battle that ended with the American's withdrawal from the battlefield. This defeat along with the defeat at the Battle of Chateauguay ended the American threat to Montreal and the risk of splitting Canada into two parts.
James Madison in his 1813 address, wrote about this missed opportunity. Madison blamed the defeat on a delay of the movement of men produced by "adverse weather of unusual violence and continuance". Because of the weather, the capture of Montreal and invasion of Canada, or "the prospect" as Madison called it was not realized. While Madison did not again mention Captain Chauncey's name, one must wonder if in his own mind, he put some of the blame on the inaction of Captain Isaac Chauncey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engagements_on_Lake_Ontario"In consequences of our naval superiority on Lake Ontario and the opportunity afforded by it for concentrating our forces by water, operations which had been provisionally planned were set on foot against the possessions of the enemy on the St. Lawrence. Such, however, was the delay produced in the 1st instance by adverse weather of unusual violence and continuance and such the circumstances attending the final movements of the army, that the prospect, at one time so favorable, was not realized."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Crysler%27s_Farm
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Battle_of_Chrysler%27s_Farm_II.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment