August 1813 Stories


First Edition Published December 20, 2015
Second Edition Published December 30, 2016
Third Edition Published May 1, 2019
Copyright by Fred Blair

Changes and additions are in blue text.

August 1, 1813

In Michigan

            General Procter’s ambush of the Americans at Fort Meigs failed at the end of July and Tecumseth suggested that they attack an easier fortification to capture.  The British force sailed up the Sandusky River and landed there on this date.  The American’s fired their guns at them before they gained the cover of the woods.  Tecumseth’s indigenous warriors had travelled overland to meet them there.

August 2, 1813

The British Attacked Fort Stephenson in Michigan

            The British constructed batteries at the edge of the woods and began to fire their light artillery at the fort.  This fire was ineffectual in breaching the stockade and an assault was planned.  Three columns of about 120 men rushed forward and were met by discharges from within the fort at about 50 yards.  The British endured the fire and gained the ravine below the stockade.  They lacked a means of climbing the wall and resorted to cutting through with axes that were blunted from previous use.  The fort’s guns were loaded with slugs and musket balls and fired into the ravine.  After two hours, the British were unable to breach the stockade and were forced to retreat.
            The Indigenous warriors were not accustomed to this type of attack and had fled the field when the Americans had begun to use their guns during the British advance.
            Lieutenant Colonel William Charles Short of the 41st Regiment was killed during this action.  On July 30, 1809, he had married Jane Crooks, the eldest sister of James Crooks of the Town of Niagara.  Twenty-six British soldiers were killed, 41 wounded, and 29 were reported missing.[1]

            John Richardson, a volunteer in the 41st, was captured by the Americans at the Battle of Moraviantown on October 5, 1813.  During his journey to his place of confinement, he found himself back at Fort Stephenson.  He had been with the men of the British left column in the ravine when the order to retreat was given.  Unfortunately, this information was not received by the far end of the left column as the withdrawal was done in a quiet manner, not to alert the Americans in the fort above them, and because they were separated from the rest of the left column by obstructions in the ravine.  After four hours of laying on the wet ground and concealed from the Americans, they heard British orders behind them that indicated that the British had retreated back to the river.  In was then about 9:30 in the evening and they also heard an American order to open the sally ports in the fort.  The British soldiers now had two options for escape.  Immediately make a speedy retreat or wait until the light was dimmer would obstruct the light from the moon.  Most preferred the latter plan, but John Richardson chose to make a quiet escape.  After several careful steps, stumbled he over a dead body and alerted the Americans above him.  As he reached the top of the ravine, he was exposed in the moonlight and was fired upon.  John made it back to the river unscathed and discovered that the boats were already loading the British soldiers.  Hungry, parched, and worn out, he retrieved a bottle of port from his provisions basket and consumed it all.
            The remainder of the British soldiers left in the ravine were captured by the Americans.[2]

August 13, 1813

On the Niagara Frontier

            Officers in the field were warned not to supplement their men’s rations with extra food.  Shortages of basic supplies were common during the war.  Even if the officers wanted to purchase local food it might not have been available.  Senior officers had to ration what was available.[3]

August 20, 1813

            Vallentin Kratz of Louth Township was employed to convey troops from the Twenty Mile Creek to Burlington.  His son drove his wagon and horses for two days at $4.00 per day.[4]

August 21, 1813

At Kingston

            Private Philip Wolfrum of the Incorporated Militia was killed and left a widow, Catharine Wolfrum.[5]
            How did he die?

August 22, 1813

On the Niagara Frontier

            During the British blockade of the Americans at Fort George, the Coloured Corps was stationed at St. David’s.[6]

August 26, 1813

In York

            Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Bruyeres of the Royal Engineers arrived in the Town of York.  He was to oversee the rebuilding of the barracks and fortifications.  He would have preferred to have built blockhouses further away from the shore to deter an American naval bombardment of them, like the one that had occurred in April, but his superiors ordered him to build them close to the shore.[7]

August 28, 1813

In Kingston

            Fourteen leading merchants and retailers met at Walker’s Hotel in Kingston to create a new currency.  The Kingston Association currency was backed by a treasury of coin and army bills.  The association would not accept local currencies over fifty cents in value.  They printed 1 000 one-dollar notes.  To show that they would not be making money exchanging money, any profits would be donated to the Patriotic Society.
            A month later the merchants in York formed their own association and issued 300 one-dollar notes backed by a cash reserve.
            Merchants who had previously individually printed their own notes, most of which the Associations would not accept, now became afraid that they would not be able to redeem all the notes that they had issued, if they were all returned at the same time.
            A confrontation between the local merchants and the Kingston Association occurred on September 5, 1813.[8]

August 30, 1813

            A Court of Oyer and Terminer, etc., was held at Kingston in the Midland District by Justice William Campbell.  Peter Grant was found guilty of assault, was to pay a ten pound fine, and to remain in custody until it was paid.
            John B. Soucis was found guilty of larceny and was sentenced to three months in custody.
            Lewis Day was found guilty of assault and battery, was sentenced to pay a fine of five pounds, and was to remain in custody until it was paid.
            Gersham Clark was found guilty of sedition and was sentenced to pay a fine of five pounds, to be confined for one month, to stand in the pillory for two hours, and to find two sureties for his good behaviour.
            William Franklin pleaded guilty to assault and battery and was sentenced to pay a fine of five pounds and to be confined for one month.
            Benjamin McAllister was found guilty of larceny to the amount of thirty-eight shillings.  He was sentenced to one month in prison, to be publicly whipped twice with thirty-nine lashes each time, and to find two sureties of his good behaviour.
            John Connor was charged with treason, was arraigned, and released on bail of 1000 pounds for himself and 500 pounds each for two sureties that he would keep the peace for twelve months and appear at the next assize in Kingston.[9]

In York

            During the month, boards were established to investigate people suspected of wrong doing.  This was a response to residents having acquired government property and other misbehaviour during the American invasions of York.
            Attorney General John Beverley Robinson suggested that the York board be composed of William Allan, John Strachan, Duncan Cameron, Thomas Ridout, Alexander Wood, and Peter Robinson.
            The York committee reported back that the number of men involved in supporting the Americans and receiving goods or profiting from received goods would include most of the local citizens.  Any men taken prisoner might be freed by a return of the American fleet or by friends and neighbours.  If the men were brought to trial, it would be difficult to find jurors who were not guilty of the same crime.[10]

In Essex County

            James Stockwell of Colchester Township, Essex County, was raided by Indigenous warriors.  Among the items taken were a rifle, a powder horn, three shirts, a vest, a shift, two gowns, woolen yarn, 15 shillings cash, and

A carving knife at 2 and a half shillings
Three dressed deer skins at 1 pound and 10 shillings
Twelve handkerchiefs at 3 pounds and 10 shillings
A buckskin coat at 2 pounds and 10 shillings
A scarlet cloak at 2 pounds and 10 shillings
A looking glass at 1 pound and 5 shillings
A silver hair clasp at 5 shillings
A pair of overalls at 10 shillings
A pair of shoes at 2 and a half shillings
Two hair combs at 5 shillings
A muslin apron at 12 and a half shillings
Three pair of moccasins at 7 and a half shillings
A pair of cotton stockings at 7 and a half shillings
A new woolen cap at 5 shillings [11]

In York Township

            During August, Ely Playter topped up his stacks and covered the hay barn where the boards were off, ground his scythes, helped a neighbour and his father draw in some hay, had some help drawing his own hay, fenced his hay stack, and took his children out in the canoe to pick berries.[12]



On the Niagara Frontier

            During the month, Benjamin Parent, of Bertie Township, had leased fifty-five horses to Captain Hall’s troopers for five days.[13]

In Ancaster Township

            Benjamin Smith of Ancaster Township continued to make deliveries of wheat to Samuel Hatt’s mill.  On his farm, they bound rye, cradled wheat with the help of John Kitchen and John Lewis, burned brush, sharpened the plough irons, picked brush, cut saplings, plowed, cut oats and logs, took up the oats, and thrashed.
            Benjamin delivered two barrels of whiskey to Richard Beasley’s at Burlington Heights.[14]

Upper Canadian Service Deaths

Private Robert McLaughlin, Incorporated Militia, disease, Aug. 24, 1813,
children to Nadah Eastman[15]

Sources:


[1] Major John Richardson, Richardson’s War of 1812, edited by Alexander Casselman, Coles Publishing Company, Toronto, 1974, pages 177-181.
[2] Major John Richardson, Richardson’s War of 1812, edited by Alexander Casselman, Coles Publishing Company, Toronto, 1974, pages 244-247.
[3] George Sheppard, Plunder, Profit, and Paroles:  A Social History of the War of 1812 in Upper Canada, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1994, page 111.
[4] Collections Canada, War of 1812, Board of Claims and Losses, Microfilm t-1138, pages 361.
[6] David A. Owen, The Black as a Soldier – Captain Runchey’s Company, by Niagara Advance Historical Issue, 1981, pages 16 & 17.
[7] Carl Benn, The Blockhouses of Toronto:  A Material History Study, Material Culture Review, https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MCR/article/view/17655/22305, accessed Apr. 9, 2018.
[8] George Sheppard, Plunder, Profit, and Paroles:  A Social History of the War of 1812 in Upper Canada, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1994, pages 140-141.
[9] Linda Corupe, U.E., Upper Canada Justice, Early Assize Court Records of Ontario, Vol. 2, 1810-1818, transcribed and indexed 2008, pages 78-83.
[10] George Sheppard, Plunder, Profit, and Paroles:  A Social History of the War of 1812 in Upper Canada, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1994, page 151.
[11] Collections Canada, War of 1812, Board of Claims and Losses, Microfilm t-1133, pages 582.
[12] Ely Playter’s Diary, August, 1813, https://twitter.com/ElyPlayter1812, accessed June 6, 2015.
[13] Collections Canada, War of 1812, Board of Claims and Losses, Microfilm t-1133, pages 491.
[14] Benjamin Smith’s Diary, Benjamin Smith Fonds F582, Ontario Archives, Toronto, Ontario.

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