Communication Line in Canada

Title Map of the surveyed part of the territory of Michigan on a scale of 8 miles to an inch
Contributor Names: Farmer, John, 1798-1859, V. Balch and S. Stiles (Firm)
Detroit : [publisher not identified], 1826.

Alexander A. Meek To General Gano

Alexander A. Meek To General John S. Gano 

Headquarters Upper Sandusky Jany 18th, 1813.

My worthy old friend

Genl. Harrison ordered us on here from Franklinton some time since of which I advised you. We left there on New Years day... .  Genl. Harrison & his suit left here this morning for Lower Sandusky. We march this day for the rapids of the Maumee ... .

There is now here about 2500 Men which I expect will follow us in a few days. This place & Delaware has been very sickly — three buried here yesterday.

I cannot help expressing my great pleasure at the beauties of this country, the plains of Sandusky are the most beautiful my eyes ever beheld, they are in every respect elegant.

On The 21st Of October

An account of the Battle of Châteauguay: being a lecture delivered at ...,  By William Douw Lighthall:

First Siege Of Fort Madison Begins

5 September 1812  Fort Madison 

Source

The Morning Of July 19

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

On the morning of July 19, before breakfast, the boats all set sail and started up the river, with a fine breeze. During the night a party of Indians arrived at the Sac village from Prairie du Chien, coming down Rock river bringing the Sacs six kegs of powder and telling them that the fort at Prairie du Chien had been captured by the British. These messengers told the Sacs that the British wished them to again join them in the war against the Americans, which the Indians agreed to do.

Hull Was Assured By The Government

Ohio Swamp (Similar To Terrain General Hull's Army Encountered)

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War Of 1812 Initial Timeline

Note: Outline Per Wikipedia (with revisions)

1812	Jun	Baltimore riots (NPS)
1812	Jun 18	Declaration of war by the United States
1812	Jun 29	Schooners Sophia and Island Packet taken by the British in the St. Lawrence River
1812	Jul 1	United States doubles customs duties
1812	Jul 12	U.S. General William Hull's army invades Upper Canada at Sandwich
1812	Jul 16	Skirmish at River Canard

Cared Not To Evade It

Partial Map Of Canada Circa 1805 (LOC)

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Craney Island

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Bayonets Are Trumps

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Wikipedia account of the December 19, 1813, capture.

Skirmish At McRae's

The Old Northwest Notebook blog contained the following information (and much more):

"The situation of the place where we were encamped at McRea's as aforesaid was on the banks of the River Thames about fifty-five miles above Detroit. The soldiers' quarters was a frame house near the river immediately in front and about 45 feet distant was the house set apart for the guard adjoining the last house and distant from the soldiers quarters about 61 feet...".

Historical Marker - Skirmish At McRae's House 

McRae's House - War Of 1812 Skirmish Location (Google)

McRae's on the banks of the River Thames (in what is now Ontario, Canada):

Curiously, the most important pioneer settlements on the Thames were, not at Chatham, but above and below Simcoe’s townsite. In 1792, Jan Van Dolzen, an elderly loyalist of Dutch descent, settled on the Thames about four miles below Chatham. A son, Isaac Dolsen—as the name was speedily Anglicized—located on the Raleigh side, and another, Matthew, in Dover. About Matthew’s homestead, there grew up, in the course of years, a considerable trading community, with a tavern, store, blacksmith shop, distillery and other small pioneer industries. Another trading center grew up around the Thomas McCrae homestead on the Raleigh side; and both McCrae’s and Dolsen’s were thriving communities when Chatham was merely a name. [Kentiana]

War-Swept Valley Of The Maumee

Fort Meigs, Perrysburg, Ohio

Fort Winchester

Information from Darnell's Journal:

[Oct.]19th. The fort was finished and christened "Fort Winchester" It is composed of four block-houses, a hospital and storehonse, and picketed between each block-house, containing about a quarter of an acre.

Fort Winchester is situated near the point between the Maumee and Auglaze rivers, and is a handsome place; it is predicted by some to become in a few years a populous city. The greater part of the land in the adjacent country is rich, and when improved will be equal, if not superior, to any in the western country. The Auglaze River empties into Great Miami, which runs a north course to Fort Winchester, and is navigable a considerable distance. [Source]

"We visited the site of Fort Winchester a little above Defiance on the bank of the Au Glaize and found the remains of many of the pickets protruding from the ground. Across a ravine just above the fort was the garrison burying ground."  "...obtained a comprehensive view of the two streams at their confluence the site of the fort and the village of Defiance." [Source - Also Source of Illustration Below]

"During the War of 1812 Gen Winchester built a picketed fort here on the hank of the Auglaize a short distance south of the other fort [Defiance] and called it Fort Winchester where he was encamped till he left for Michigan." [Source]

Early Detroit

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British Guns Opened On Detroit

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The same day that Major Denny evacuated Sandwich the ground he left was occupied by a British detachment, and the erection of batteries was commenced under the direction of Capt. [M.C.] Dixon of the Royal Engineers. The work was prosecuted with such diligence that on the 15th, five guns were in position all of which commanded the fort at Detroit. At noon that day, Lieut. Col. Macdonell and Captain Glegg were sent by General Brock to Hull under a flag of truce to demand the immediate surrender of Detroit. Hull returned a bold answer stating that he was ready to meet any force the British might send against him, and refusing to comply with the demand. The same afternoon the British guns...opened on Detroit with shot and shell and were replied to...from the other side of the river which, however, failed to do the British batteries the slightest injury, although the cannonade continued for several hours. During the night Tecumseh with Colonel Elliot, Capt. McKee and 600 Indians landed on the American shore two miles below Spring Wells, and five from Detroit. There they remained in concealment until the following morning, when General Brock and his white troops crossed over at Spring Wells.

Blackhawk's View

Campbell's Island, Illinois

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

Black Hawk says, "About half way up the rapids I had a full view of the boats, all sailing with a strong wind, I soon discovered one boat badly managed and was suffered to be driven ashore, by the wind, they landed by running hard aground, and lowered their sail, the others passed on."

Letter Of The 27th

Cannon At Campbell's Island, Illinois

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

Black Hawk's memory is at fault, he does not state exactly what these Indian messengers told him. Colonel McKay, whose army of British and Indians had attacked Prairie du Chien, in a letter to his superior officer, under date of July 27, 1814, says that on the seventeenth of July about three o'clock in the afternoon, after the gun boat "Governor Clark" had been driven from its position by the British cannon and had started down the river, that he immediately sent off a canoe with three men, an Iowan, who had come from Mackinac with him, and two of the six Sauks, who had joined him on the Fox river, that he gave them four kegs of gun powder and ordered them to pass the "Governor Clark" and get as soon as possible to the Rapids at the Rock river, where he believed the gun boat would run aground; that they should collect all the Sauks and annoy the "Governor Clark" and prevent their landing to get fire wood, etc.

Black Hawk collected his warriors and determined to attack the boats which had now started up the river, as Black Hawk says : "I collected my warriors and determined to pursue the boats, I immediately started with my party by land, in pursuit, thinking that some of their boats might get aground, or that the GREAT SPIRIT would put them in our power, if he wished them taken."

Casualties Of Cambell's Island

"The battle of Campbell's Island", July 19, 1814

The casualties were: killed on Campbell's boat, ten regulars, one woman and one child; on Rector's boat, one ranger; and on Riggs' boat, three rangers; a total of sixteen.

Wounded on Campbell's boat, ten regulars and one woman; on Rector's boat, four rangers; and on Rigg's boat four rangers, also Major Campbell and Dr. Stewart, the garrison surgeon, who was shot in the breast; a total of twenty-one, making the total casualties thirty-seven. All fought with the courage of heroes. Rector and his men risked their lives to save their comrades, and the battle at Campbell's Island has no equal for daring and heroism during the war of 1812 in the West.

Raging Battle Of Campbell's Island

The boats of Lieutenants Rector and Riggs were about three miles up the river at this time. Lieutenant Riggs' boat being in advance he heard the report of the firing and saw the smoke rising from where Campbell's boat lay, he tacked his boat and signaled Rector, who tacked his boat and both sailed for Campbell's boat. Rector's boat being the first to reach the scene of the battle. ...[Native Americans] were seen among the trees and bushes, and a large number of Indians were seen coming in canoes from the eastern shore. It was estimated that about four hundred Indians surrounded them. ...[They] commenced giving their war-whoop and pouring in on them a fire of musketry and arrows. Major Campbell's right wrist was fractured by a musket ball during the first onslaught, and he was carried into the cabin of his boat and laid on a bunk, while his men gallantly returned the fire of the Indians.

Campbell's boat was so near the bank that the Indians were able to fire in at the port oar holes. The storm had now become so violent that it was fully an hour before the other boats were able to come to Campbell's assistance.

Riggs' boat was driven ashore about one hundred yards below Campbell's boat, and Rector to avoid a similar fate, had let go an anchor, and layabout twenty yards above Campbell's boat, the rangers from both barges kept up a brisk fire on the Indians.

This unequal contest waged for several hours, when the firing from Campbell's boat becoming less frequent, led Lieutenant Rector to believe that most of Campbell's men were either killed or wounded.

Riggs' boat was the best fortified, but his crew had been weakened. When Campbell's boat was stranded on the rocks he sent a sergeant and ten men to help him off, and Campbell did not return the men. [Source]

The Second Expedition

Campbell's Expedition.

On July 4, 1814, the second expedition left Cape au Gris. It consisted of three fortified barges, or keel boats, each with a cabin and all having sails. There were thirty-three regular soldiers and sixty-five rangers, some of the latter being Frenchmen from Cahokia. [Source]

Map Including Cahokia, Illinois

The expedition including the sutlers establishment, boatmen, and women and children, making one hundred and thirty-three persons. This expedition was commanded by Lieutenant (acting Brigade Major) John Campbell of the First Regulars (infantry), who with the contractors and sutlers, women and children, occupied one boat. The two other boats being occupied by the Rangers and were commanded by Lieutenant Stephen Rector, and Lieutenant Jonathan Riggs. The number of Regulars in this expedition has been repeatedly given as forty-two; Major Campbell, however, reports that he had but thirty-three.