Free The War of 1812 by Wesley B. Turner Page B

Winfield Scott, a bold young regular officer who was Dearborn’s chiefof staff. Under heavy shellfire from the ships, Brigadier-General John Vincent’s defensive force of regulars and militia flank companies was unable to stop them. Vincent retreated to Beaver Dams up on the escarpment, where he had a supply depot in the farmhouse of John De Cew, a local settler. On Vincent’s orders, all the troops from the rest of the Niagara frontier joined him.
    Vincent sent the militia home and hurriedly retreated with his regulars, including two companies of the 8th Regiment just arrived from Kingston, to Burlington Bay. Here he had a strong position high above the lake yet beside a harbour and with land routes to both York and Amherstburg. The Americans now controlled the whole Niagara frontier, but their success was incomplete. They had not destroyed Vincent’s army, which stood in the way of any further advance.
    Dearborn ordered his forces to pursue the British. Meanwhile, Chauncey was heading back to Sackets Harbor and Yeo was sailing towards Burlington. On June 5, the American force of 3,400 men camped in a field at Stoney Creek. With the escarpment on one side and a swamp on the other, they could only be attacked from the front. Guards were stationed ahead of the army, but they were few and not alert.
    A local lad named Billy Green told the British of the American encampment and gave them the Americans’ password. After scouting the enemy position, Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey persuaded Vincent to try a night attack. Through the darkness 704 men advanced silently towards the American sentries. Harvey had ordered them to take the flints out of their muskets so that they could not shoot and arouse the enemy. After silently bayoneting the American sentries, the troops rushed into the enemy’s camp . . . and started yelling!
    The awakened Americans began to shoot, and a confused struggle in the dark erupted. Men fired on troops of their own side. The American commanders blundered into British troops and were captured. Vincent became confused and got lost in the woods, not to be found until the next day by his men. The fighting ended before dawn with the British taking over one hundred prisoners, including several officers.
    Harvey collected his scattered troops and withdrew to his camp. The Americans retreated to Forty Mile Creek (Grimbsy), where they were reinforced by troops from the Niagara frontier. Still they were not safe. On June 7, Yeo’s ships appeared and, inland, Canadian militia and Indians began to gather.
    General Dearborn ordered a general retreat to Fort George. The Americans set fire to Fort Erie and withdrew from it and from Chippawa as well. Vincent moved forward, picking up supplies the Americans had left behind. Within a few days, he had troops posted at Twenty Mile Creek (Jordan), Twelve Mile Creek (St. Catharines) and De Cew’s farmhouse. The Americans held on to the area from Fort George to Queenston.
    Stoney Creek was a decisive battle, for it stopped the most threatening advance by the enemy into the Niagara Peninsula. The Americans would never again get as far into this vital part of Upper Canada. As well, the victory greatly boosted the morale of the defenders while causing dismay and confusion among the Americans.
    Canada’s defenders grew stronger. Vincent received more regulars and was able to send help to Procter at Amherstburg. Meanwhile, there had been growing criticism of Sheaffe’s leadership, and for some weeks he had been too ill to perform his duties. Prevost removed him from the command of Upper Canada and put Major-General Baron Francis de Rottenburg in his place.

    An American infantryman.
    [Courtesy of Parks Canada Service.]
    The invaders now held only a corner of the Peninsula. As a first step in breaking Vincent’s defensive line, they decided to try to capture the post at De Cew’s house. Lieutenant James FitzGibbon held it with