36 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



THE BATTLE OF STONY CREEK. 



l\cad before ihe Haniillou Association, April lofli, iSg^. 

 1!Y DOUGLAS BRYMNER, DOMINION ARCHIVIST, OTTAWA, 



At the opening of the campaign of 1813, in the war of 181 2, the 

 United States had determined to abandon their ambitious attempt to 

 take possession of the whole Continent of America, and to concen- 

 trate tlieir efforts on the capture of Upper Canada. On the frontier 

 between Prescott and I^ake Erie there were only 2,100 British troops 

 all told. To attack this force and reduce Upper Canada 6,000 men 

 were to be sent by the United States. And by this numerical 

 superiority the capture of Ogdensburg by the British forces was soon 

 offset by the taking and occupation of York. This, with the naval 

 superiority acquired by the United States on Lake Ontario, placed 

 Upper Canada in the most critical position. The number of the 

 United States troops was fully five times that of those for the defence 

 of Upper Canada, and they were in possession of the most important 

 points, either for attack or defence. 



It was doubtful if a battle could be risked by the force under 

 Vincent at Burlington Heights, and in event of a retreat being deter- 

 mined on, there were no means of carrying off the few field pieces 

 remaining, or even the wounded. Should it be thought prudent to 

 risk a battle the quantity of ammunition Vincent had was only ninety 

 rounds, so that the position of that part of Upper Canada seemed 

 desperate. To make assurance doubly sure, two brigades, under 

 Chandler and Winder, with dragoons and a strong detachment of 

 artillery, Avere ordered down to secure the complete defeat and cap- 

 ture of the regular British force, and with it the possession of Upper 

 Canada. 



This was the position of Vincent's command previous to the 

 battle of Stony Creek. Nothing seemed open to him but a retreat, 

 leaving the wounded and the field pieces in possession of the enemy, 

 and had Vincent taken this course few could have blamed him. But 



