THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. , 85 



at all points, but with the loss of their brave commander, Sir Isaac 

 Brock. 



" The mind that thought for Britain's weal, 

 The hand that grasped the victor's steel." 



The Americans conducted the campaign of 1813 on lines some- 

 what similar to that of 181 2, but instead of attempting the conquest 

 of the whole of British North America, they concentrated their efforts 

 on the Province of Upper Canada. The American forces had been 

 greatly strengthened during the winter, both on Lake Ontario and 

 along the Niagara frontier. Commodore Chauncey made an attack 

 on York, the Capital of Upper Canada, and, on the 27th of April, 

 succeeded in capturing it. Here they remained until the 2nd of 

 May, destroying the public buildings and plundering the churches 

 and library. They then made a descent upon Fort George at the 

 mouth of the Niagara River, where General Vincent was stationed 

 with an army numbering something less than 1,400 men. Being 

 unable to hold his position against the superior forces concentrated 

 upon it, he retreated towards Burlington Heights. 



Affairs in Upper Canada were rapidly approaching a crisis that 

 was to decide the fate of the Canadas. There were only some 

 2, TOO British troops available for the defence of the Upper Pro- 

 vince. These were assisted by a noble band of militia who were 

 determined to contest every foot of ground. The American army 

 on the Niagara frontier numbered fully 6,000, and this, with the 

 superiority of the American fleet on Lake Ontario, rendered the 

 conquest of this province extremely probable. After the capture of 

 Niagara, and the retreat of General Vincent to Burlington Heights, 

 the mihtary authorities were so disheartened that they determined 

 to disband the militia, and abandon the western portion of this 

 province to its fate. Accordingly, on the 28th May the militia 

 were disbanded, and told that they might go home if they chose to 

 do so. Some few returned to their homes to protect their families, 

 and look after their private interests, but the great majority followed 

 the army to Burlington Heights, determined to do all in their power 

 to drive out the invaders. The Hon. W. H. Merritt, in his journal 

 of the war, says : " I strongly suspected from the indifferent manner 

 in which the militia were treated, that the Upper Province was to be 

 abandoned, which opinion was entertained by most people. * * 



