The War of 1812 is one that, as with the American Revolutionary War, had many losses offset by several brilliant victories. In the end, however, there was no absolute political victory for either Great Britain/Canada or The United States. Often referred to as a "draw" the war did prove that The Constitution for The United States of America could function during a period of war, and, that the young country was to be respected as an independent nation.
I was always told that the U.S. lost the battle of York (what we call Toronto today). However, it appears I was not given the full account. A strategic military outpost, York in Ontario Province was invaded by American troops on the morning of April 27, 1813. It was an American (or Yankee as they were called by the Canadians and British) victory.
Painting by Owen Poe Staples, 1914, "The American Fleet Before the Capture of York". Image is available through the Toronto Public Library. This was copied from Battle of York - Wikipedia
(Use this link for a well-written article by Chris Sanagan, an archivist at the Archives of Ontario)
Sanagan wrote:
"Outnumbered and outgunned, York’s defenders, including an assortment of British soldiers, local militia, and First Nations allies, lost control of Fort York and then the town. Facing annihilation, the British retreated east to Kingston, setting fire to the wooden bridge over the Don River to thwart pursuit. The battle was over and a significant American victory had been won.
The Battle of York was a major engagement of the War of 1812. As the capital of Upper Canada, York was a natural military and political objective of the United States. York itself was physically decimated. Its fortifications had been destroyed during the attack and its parliament buildings, which were Ontario’s first and stood near the corner of modern-day Front and Parliament streets, were burned by invading American troops. Homes were also looted for valuables and provisions, and much of York was set ablaze." [1]
Ely Playter, a local York farmer and an officer of the militia, kept a written record of the damage experienced by the city/fort and its citizenry.
“The appearance of the Town & garrison were dismal. The latter shattered and rent by the balls & the explosion of the magazine. Not a building but show some marks of it & some all torn to pieces. The Town thronged with the Yankees, many busy getting off the public stores. The Council office with every window broke & pillaged of every thing that it contained. The Government building, the Block House and the building adjacent all burned to ashes.” [2]
After reading the above, you can understand why, in retaliation, the Canadian and British troops set Washington ablaze on August 24, 1814. What happened almost immediately after the firest began raging was nothing short of a miracle when the three separate storms swept through with torrential rains winds, which forced the invading military to retreat to their ship(s) and head out to the Atlantic. The fires doused the fires and saved the city and its inhabitants from experiencing far more damage.
"British rocketry was responsible for much of the devastation wrought upon Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812." [3]
Lesson: Always read independently from legitimate sources to supplement what you are taught. There is so much more to learn that what we think we know.
SOURCES
[1, 2] "War of 1812, When Toronto Was Under Attack", Sanagan, Chris (Archivist, Archives of Ontario, https://spacing.ca/toronto/2012/06/16/war-of-1812-when-toronto-was-under-attack/, (6/16/2012), accessed 1/4/2024.
[3] "The Congreve Rocket: Britannia's Red Glare", Talbot, Earl, warfarehistorynetwork.com (12/17/2018), accessed 1/4/2024.