Capture of Fort Erie

DATE: July 5, 1814
LOCATION: Fort Erie, Upper Canada
VICTORY: American
COMMANDERS: Brig. Gen. Jacob Brown (American)/ Maj. Thomas Buck (British)
CASUALTIES:
AMERICAN................ (4,500 men) no casualties
BRITISH/INDIANS...... (137 men) 137 - CAPTURED


BATTLE DESCRIPTION:
A new invasion of Canada was planned under the command of Gen. Jacob Brown, aimed at the Niagara Peninsula. Fort Erie was the first objective that stood in the way, which required its capture. Gen. Gordon Drummond, the British commander in the area hoped that the garrison at Fort Erie could at least buy him enough time against the American invasion to consolidate his forces. Maj. Thomas Buck was given command of the fort with a garrison of 137 British soldiers. As Brown's force crossed into Canada and approached Fort Erie, Buck fired only a few shots at the Americans from the fort's cannon then surrendered.
The Americans had captured an important fort at little cost. The fort's garrison had bought the British little time and Buck was later court-martialed for his hasty surrender.
From their new base at Fort Erie, Brown next marched up the Niagara River and met the British at the Battle of Chippawa.
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General Brown's orders for the invasion of Canada were read out loud to the Left Division at evening role call on 2 July 1814. During the day, accompanied byGeneral Winfield Scott, Brigadier General Porter and two of his engineer officers, Lieutenant Colonel William McRee and Major Eleazar D. Wood, the American commander had reconnoitred the Canadian shore of the river and devised a plan for a landing operation. On July 3rd 1814 the American forces numbering 4,500 men under General Jacob Brown crossed the Niagara River at Black Rock. They pushed south towards the fort, attacked the British pickets and took up position at Snake Hill. Brown demanded the surrender of Fort Erie, allowing two hours for consideration. The Fort under the command of Major Buck of the King's 8th Regiment surrendered shortly afterward and at 6:00 p.m. on July 3rd, the British soldiers almost 200 in number, marched out, stacked their arms and became prisonors of war to be transported to the American side.
One part of Buck's command that escaped was a small detatchment of the 19th Light Dragoons posted at the fort. As soon as word of the American crossing had reached the night before, Buck had dispatched them to warn General Riall.