Thus, in loss and disaster, ended the second and most serious attempt against Montreal, made during the war. A handful of Canadians at Chateaugay, in the woods that gave their special fighting powers a signal opportunity, and a small number of British troops at Chrystler’s Farm, where the field of action gave full scope to their training and discipline, had saved Canada.

Of the three invasions of the Canadian frontier, the one by Detroit was alone successful. Proctor’s defeat on the Thames was irreparable. Fortunately for Canada, it was the point at which the enemy’s success was least important. Vincent’s spirited affair at Stoney Creek was the turning-point of the year’s campaign. Had he been overwhelmed, the Niagara frontier would have been lost, and the re-inforcements that saved Kingston from attack could not have been spared. The fall of Kingston might have led to the fall of Montreal.

The operations of the year showed the extreme importance to Canada of the mastery on Ontario, and the retention of Kingston. The whole country was an almost trackless forest. The only way of moving troops and stores was by water. Full subsistence for the troops in Upper Canada could not be procured among the scanty population, and they were largely dependent for rations on pork and biscuit from England. So long as the waterway was open, the defence of the Niagara frontier was possible. As the supremacy of the U.S. navy on Lake Erie made it impossible for the British to continue the war on the Detroit frontier, so a decisive defeat on Lake Ontario would have lost the Niagara frontier also. But, till the end of the war, the U.S. navy never succeeded in establishing more than a temporary supremacy on Ontario.

The failure of Wilkinson’s expedition showed the risk of attacking Montreal, while Kingston was strongly held by a hostile force. An expedition, once launched on the St Lawrence, could not re-ascend against the current, and was liable to be caught between two fires, as actually happened in Wilkinson’s case. The true objective of the United States, throughout the war, was Kingston; the possession of which would have made them masters of Upper Canada without a further effort, and would have placed Montreal in jeopardy. But Kingston was never seriously attacked during the whole war.

On the Canadian side, the importance of gaining possession of Sackett’s Harbour was not clearly recognized. The capture and retention of that place would have practically secured the Niagara frontier, and assured the safety of Montreal. But Sir George Prevost’s half-hearted and abortive attack in May, was the only attempt made during the war. To both sides, the capture of their enemy’s depôt on the lake was of supreme importance. The keys of successful attack and defence were at Sackett’s Harbour and Kingston.

CHAPTER XII
THE NIAGARA FRONTIER

1814–1821

United States’ plans—Attempt on Mackinaw—La Colle—State of affairs on Niagara frontier—Drummond’s raid on Oswego—Dover—Advance of U.S. force—Capture of Fort Erie—Battle of Chippewa—Critical position of British force—Battle of Lundy’s Lane—Retreat of U.S. forces—Fort Erie invested—Assault on Fort Erie—Sergeant Powell—Conclusion of operations on Niagara frontier—Prevost’s abortive attack on Plattsburgh—Defeat of British squadron on Lake Champlain—Other operations—Bladensberg—Capture of Washington—General Ross killed—Victory at Baltimore—Expedition against New Orleans—Its defeat—Fort Bowyer captured—Treaty of Ghent—Sir William Payne—Sir John Vandeleur—Badge “Niagara” granted—Regiment returns to England—Equipped as Lancers—Embark for Ireland—Disbanded.

The plans of the United States’ government for the campaign of 1814 varied considerably from those of the preceding years. They realised the mistake they had made in advancing on Montreal without first getting possession of Kingston, and they recognized the delusion on which they had acted, in believing that the Canadians would welcome their troops wherever they appeared on Canadian soil. It was, indeed, the unflinching loyalty of the Canadians to the British flag that had so far preserved Canada, as the troops England had been able to spare, would, by themselves, have been inadequate for the purpose. The United States’ plans for 1814 were therefore directed to the following objects. To retake the island of Mackinaw; to renew the invasion of the Niagara frontier; and, after getting possession of Forts George and Niagara, to proceed against Kingston. The United States’ officers on the Niagara frontier, had also learned that enthusiasm without discipline was of little value, when opposed in the open field to a disciplined enemy; the winter and spring therefore were utilised by them in enforcing a higher degree of drill and discipline than had hitherto been aimed at. This resulted in a marked improvement in the fighting qualities of their troops during the remainder of the war.