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War of 1812
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The Battle of Tippecanoe
Was considered to be the first battle of the war of 1812. It was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of Native Americans from various tribes that opposed U.S. expansion into Native territory. As tensions and violence increased, Governor Har -
America Declares war
On this day America declares war on Great Britian -
General Hull invades Canada
On July 12, 1812, forces under General Hull crosses into Canada at Sandwich. The invasion is quickly stopped, and American forces are forced to withdraw. -
General William Hull surrenders to General Isaac Brock at Detroit
Hull was truly feeling cut off and ordered Fort Dearborn located on what would become Ohio evacuated. Captain Nathan Hall followed orders, but Indians soon surrounded his forces. Hall surrendered but most of his command and two woman and the Indians killed 12 children. Hull withdrew to Detroit. British General Brock arrived with additional British troops and laid siege to the fort. On August 15th 1812 he demanded that Hull surrender the fort. Hull originally said no, but after a British bombard -
Battle of Frenchtown and Raisin River Massacre
On January 18, 1813 the Americans forced the retreat of the British and their Indian allies from Frenchtown, which they had earlier occupied, in a relatively minor skirmish. The encounter was part of a larger plan to advance north and retake the city of Detroit following the loss of the city in the Siege of Detroit the previous summer.It was the deadliest conflict ever fought on Michigan soil, and the casualties included the highest number of Americans killed in a single battle during the War of -
U.S. troops capture and burn the city of York
An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British force and captured the fort, town and dockyard. The Americans themselves suffered heavy casualties, including Brigadier General Zebulon Pike who was leading the troops, when the retreating British blew up the fort's magazine.The American forces subsequently carried out several acts of arson and looting in the town before withdrawing. -
The siege of Fort Meigs
A small British army with support from Indians attempted to capture the recently-constructed fort to forestall an American offensive against Detroit, which the British had captured the previous year. An American sortie and relief attempt failed with heavy casualties, but the British failed to capture the fort and were forced to raise the siege -
Captain Perry defeats the British at the Battle of Lake Erie
. Nine vessels of the United States Navy defeated and captured six vessels of Great Britain's Royal Navy. This ensured American control of the lake for the rest of the war, which in turn allowed the Americans to recover Detroit and win the Battle of the Thames to break the Indian confederation of Tecumseh. It was one of the biggest naval battles of the War of 1812. -
The Battle of Crysler's Farm
A British and Canadian force won a victory over an American force which greatly outnumbered them. The American defeat prompted them to abandon the St. Lawrence Campaign, their major strategic effort in the autumn of 1813. -
The Battle of Chippawa
was a victory for the United States Army in the War of 1812, during an invasion of Upper Canada along the Niagara River on July 5, 1814 -
Peace negotiations begin in Ghent
Negotiations about the Treaty of Ghent start. -
The British burn Washington, DC in retaliation for the burning of York. President James Madison flees the Capital.
On August 24, 1814, after defeating the Americans at the Battle of Bladensburg, a British force led by Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington, D.C. and set fire to many public buildings. The facilities of the U.S. government, including the White House and U.S. Capitol, were largely destroyed. The British commander's orders to burn only public buildings and strict discipline among the British troops are credited with preserving the city's private buildings. -
The Battle of Plattsburg
. A British army under Lieutenant General Sir George Prévost and a naval squadron under Captain George Downie converged on the lakeside town of Plattsburgh, which was defended by American troops under Brigadier General Alexander Macomb and ships commanded by Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough. Downie's squadron attacked shortly after dawn on 11 September 1814, but was defeated after a hard fight in which Downie was killed. Prévost then abandoned the attack by land against Macomb's defences and -
The Treaty of Ghent
was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom. The treaty largely restored relations between the two nations to status quo ante bellum, with no loss of territory either way. The treaty was ratified by the UK on 30 December 1814. Because of the era's slow communications it took weeks for news of the peace treaty to reach the United States; the Battle of New Orleans was fought after it was signed. However, the treaty was not in effect until it was -
Battle of New Orleans
American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the Louisiana Purchase -
The Peace Treaty is ratified and President Madison declares the war over