Canadian units of the War of 1812
When the United States and the United Kingdom went to war against each other in 1812, the major land theatres of war were Upper Canada (broadly the southern portion of the present day province of Ontario), Michigan Territory, Lower Canada (roughly the southern part of present-day Quebec) and the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton (colony between 1784 and 1820).
Half the unit, some 210 officers and other ranks, together with 48 wives and children, were on board Archduke Charles when she wrecked on 29 May 1816 near Green Island in the Saint Lawrence River.
A small detachment fought at the Battle of Crysler's Farm and some of the battalion companies served as marines with the squadron on Lake Champlain, in several raids in 1813.
A modern reenactment unit is based in Fort Erie Ontario, on the opposite side of the river from Buffalo, New York.
After the 5th battalion of Select Embodied Militia attracted unfavourable reports in 1814 (mainly because of the absence without leave of several of its officers), it was reorganised and reformed as a light infantry unit, the Canadian Chasseurs.
[citation needed] The Chasseurs wore substantially the same uniform as the Voltigeurs and were brigaded with them in the campaign in 1814 which ended with the Battle of Plattsburgh.
This unit should not be confused with the Independent Companies of Foreigners, which were raised from among French prisoners of war and served in Chesapeake Bay in 1813, being responsible for several acts of looting and rape, and were given the title "Canadian Chasseurs" by Major-General Sidney Beckwith without authorisation.
So vital was transportation that in 1814, when large numbers of British troops were sent to Canada, Sir George Prévost suggested converting all his Select Embodied Militia to boatmen and voyageurs.
[citation needed] A volunteer horsed unit[1]: 33 perpetuated in the modern Canadian Army by Le Régiment de la Chaudière.
[citation needed] The history and heritage of the Frontier Light Infantry is perpetuated within the Canadian Army by the Sherbrooke Hussars.
The seventh and eighth battalions of Sedentary Embodied Militia were formed in Montreal in late 1813 when an American attack was threatened, but were disbanded as soon as the crisis was over.
[citation needed] When the Select Embodied Militia units were first formed, they were forced by a shortage of official pattern uniforms to adopt a variety of dress.
[citation needed] Except for the 6th battalion, which garrisoned the citadel of Quebec city, detachments of all the Select Embodied Militia units saw action in the Montreal or Lake Champlain sectors.
[citation needed] Fort Malden National Historic Site (Canada) has in recent years employed summer students for the re-created unit at the Park and regional re-enactments.
There is also a Modern Re-enacting unit that recreates the Rangers; they are based out of Amherstburg, Ontario and work in conjunction with Fort Malden.
[1]: 40 Some of its other ranks were Black individuals, many of whom had formed Captain Runchey's Company of Coloured Men (a local militia unit) at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
[11] The entire unit fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane where its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel William Robison (a captain in the 8th (King's) Regiment at the start of the war)[12] was seriously wounded.
[citation needed] The detachment was stationed at Fort George and played a major part in the Battle of Queenston Heights.
In 1812, Sir George Prévost disparagingly referred to the Lower Canada militia as "a mere posse, ill-arm'd and without discipline".
They marched merrily to the music of their voyageur songs as they perceived our [scarlet] uniform as we came up, they set up the Indian War-Whoop, followed by a shout of Vive le Roi along the whole line.
At the instigation of Major-General Isaac Brock, commanding in Upper Canada, each regiment formed two "flank companies" consisting of one captain, two subalterns, two sergeants, one drummer and thirty-five men, who were prepared to train six times per month.
[7]: 40 Early in the war, many officials feared disaffection among the population of Upper Canada, many of whom were recent immigrants from the United States.
500 militia from Stormont and Glengarry were defeated at Hoople's Creek by 1500 Americans under Jacob Brown, but Wilkinson abandoned the campaign shortly afterwards.
A troop of 50 men provided their own horses and tack, by 1813 they were issued blue short jackets and grey trousers and served as part of the 3rd York Militia.
The troop was issued swords and pistols and were called out as part of the "Stationary Express' (likely a double entendre), running dispatches throughout the war between York and Kingston.
A daguerrotype of Major John Button in the 1850s (in the Governor General's Horse Guards Collection) shows the octagenarian wearing a blue jacket and plumed top-hat, clutching a 1796 pattern sabre.
The troop was uniformed and mounted on the dedication of the colours parade for the Incorporated Militia of Upper Canada on St George's Day 1822.
Button's Troop is today perpetuated by the modern day armoured reconnaissance regiment the Governor General's Horse Guards in Toronto.
During the initial stages of the war, Major-General Isaac Brock moblized contingents of Upper Canada militia, including Essex, Kent, Norfolk, Middlesex, and Oxford from the western districts, to bolster his forces in the face of a large American invasion force being assembled in the Michigan territory under the command of Brigadier-General William Hull.
From then until the end of the war, only small outposts of British regulars were stationed in the Western Districts of Kent, Essex and Norfolk.
