The War of 1812 was fought in four major theaters: the Atlantic Coast, the Canada–US border, the Gulf Coast, and the American West. There were also numerous naval battles at sea, almost all of them in the Atlantic. Actions along the Canadian border occurred in three sectors (from west to east): the old Territory, the Niagara Frontier, and the St. Lawrence River.[a]
Capture of the Cuyahoga Packet (July 2, 1812): On the Detroit River, a Canadian Provincial Marine under Frédérick Rolette captured U.S. merchant schooner Cuyahoga Packet, containing valuable U.S. military intelligence of brigadier general William Hull (unaware that war had been declared).
Hull's Campaign on the Detroit River (July 12–August 8, 1812): A failed attempt by Hull to invade Upper Canada across the Detroit River. U.S. forces did not capture Fort Amherstburg, and withdrew to Detroit at the news of British reinforcements.
Skirmish at Maguaga, Michigan Territory (August 9, 1812): A minor U.S. victory, when an American detachment tried to reopen the supply line between Frenchtown (present-day Monroe) and Detroit was ambushed by British regulars and Tecumseh's native warriors.
Investment of Fort Harrison, Indiana Territory (September 3–16, 1812): A large party of Kickapoo, Miami, Potawatomi, Shawnee and Winnebago warriors from Prophetstown, Indiana Territory attacked the U.S. fort (located on the Wabash River just north of present-day Terre Haute, Indiana) defended by about 60 U.S. soldiers under Zachary Taylor. The Natives withdrew when U.S. reinforcements arrived.
Investment of Fort Wayne, Indiana Territory (September 5–12, 1812): An unsuccessful attempt by about 600 warriors from the Ottawa Nations to infiltrate and attack the American garrison at Fort Wayne at the confluence of the Maumee, St. Joseph and St. Mary Rivers in northeastern Indiana Territory.
Harrison's campaign in the Northwest (September 17, 1812 – October, 1813): A campaign by William Henry Harrison, tasked with reestablishing security in the Old Northwest and retaking Detroit. He oversaw the construction of Fort Meigs in early 1813, secured his supply line, and reoccupied Detroit following the American naval victory on Lake Erie.
Destruction of Prophetstown, Indiana Territory (November 19, 1812): An attack ordered by Harrison on the Indian settlement near the junction of the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers north of present-day Lafayette, Indiana, that had been the site of the Battle of Tippecanoe in November, 1811. The village was not occupied at the time of the attack.
Battle on the Mississinewa River, Indiana Territory (December 17–18, 1812): A battle that occurred during an expedition against Delaware and Miami villages at a location where the Mississinewa River flows into the Wabash River near present-day Marion, Indiana.
First British raid at Charlotte, New York (October 1, 1812): British raid seizing U.S. merchantman Lady Murray and a smaller boat, with no U.S. resistance.
Capture of HMS Caledonia (1807) and HMS Detroit (1812) at Ft. Erie, Upper Canada (October 9, 1812): 100 U.S. soldiers raided across the Niagara River from Buffalo and captured two Provincial Marine brigs. The Caledonia was recovered, but the Detroit ran aground and was scuttled to prevent British recapture.
Battle of Frenchman's Creek, Upper Canada (November 28, 1812): An American raid across the Niagara River, spiking British artillery at Red House to enable a future American landing, but failing to destroy a bridge over Frenchman's Creek to prevent British reinforcements.
Smyth's failed invasion of Upper Canada (November 28 – December 1, 1812): U.S. officer Alexander Smyth tried and failed to get his invasion force assembled to cross the Niagara River and invade Upper Canada, following which he cancelled the entire operation.
Occurrence at Carleton Island (June 26, 1812): Four U.S. civilians captured a British sergeant and three privates of the 10th Royal Veteran Battalion on Carleton Island, the first POWs of the war.
Battle of the Julia versus the Earl of Moria and the Duke of Gloucester on the St. Lawrence River (July 31, 1812): A standoff between a small American schooner, the Julia, and two larger British ships heading downriver toward Ogdensburg, New York, to attack six American schooners moored there. Both sides retired after a three-hour exchange of fire off Elizabethtown, New York.
Battle of Matilda (Toussaint's Island) (September 16, 1812): A failed attempt by a small force of Americans from Ogdensburg, New York, to intercept a British supply convoy of forty bateaux coming up the St. Lawrence River.
Assault on Ogdensburg (October 4, 1812): A failed British amphibious attack on Ogdensburg, a supply transshipment point on the St. Lawrence River, repelled by American artillery.
Skirmishes at Akwesasne and French Mills (October 23 – November 23, 1812): A temporary victory by New York State Militia who captured a British post at Akwesasne. British troops recaptured it and the nearby U.S. post at French Mills a month later.
Skirmish at Lacolle, Lower Canada (November 20, 1812): A battle at Lacolle, where confused U.S. troops attacked each other, who were then in turn attacked by British/loyalist troops. U.S. retreated to Champlain, and Maj. Gen. Henry Dearborn called off his planned invasion of Lower Canada.
Investment of Fort Madison, Missouri Territory (September 5–12, 1812): Sauk and Fox warriors failed to capture a fort on the upper Mississippi River at the location of present-day Fort Madison, Iowa.
USS NautilusversusHMS Shannon (1806) (July 17, 1812): The American brig Nautilus was pursued and captured by the British frigate Shannon off the coast of New Jersey.
USS EssexversusHMS Alert (1804) (August 13, 1812): A battle off the Azores in which the British sloop Alert surrendered to the American frigate Essex after an engagement lasting only about eight minutes.
Wasp (1807) versus HMS Frolic (1806) (October 18, 1812): An engagement c. 300 miles north of Bermuda, seriously damaging both sloops. The British sloop surrendered after being boarded by the American sloop. Later in the day, while crews from both ships were making repair, HMS Poictiers captured the Wasp and recaptured the Frolic.
USS United States vs HMS Macedonian (October 25, 1812): A two-hour-long engagement c. 500 miles west of the Canary Islands; British frigate Macedonian surrendered to American frigate United States, and was acquired by the U. S. Navy.
Vixen (1803)versusHMS Southampton (1757) (November 22, 1812): Pursuit and capture of U.S. brig Vixen, c. 90 miles east of St. Augustine, Florida, by British frigate Southampton. Both vessels were wrecked on a shoal near Concepcíon Island on November 27; the crews were rescued and taken to Jamaica.
ConstitutionversusHMS Java (1811) (December 29, 1812): A two-and-a-half-hour battle off the coast of Brazil during which the British 38-gun fifth-rate Java suffered such serious damage that its captain ordered it scuttled.
Chesapeake campaign (March–September, 1813): British admiral John Borlase Warren tried to blockade Chesapeake Bay, gather intelligence on U.S. strength, destroy the USS Constitution, capture U.S. vessels and supplies. Vice admiral Alexander Cochrane destroyed much on-shore civilian private property. The result was status quo ante bellum.
Raid on Havre de Grace and Principio Foundry, Maryland (May 3, 1813): A British raid conducted by a flotilla of boats under George Cockburn, resisted by Maryland militia. Brits burned and looted homes, burned a warehouse and appropriated or killed livestock. At the Principio Foundry they destroyed weapons and an arms factory.
Raid at Georgetown and Fredericktown, Maryland (May 6, 1813): A British raid by HMS Mohawk on two U.S. villages on the Sassafras River, destroying uninhabited homes, four schooners and stores of sugar, lumber and leather.
Assault on Craney Island, Virginia (June 22, 1813): An important U.S. victory, in which a British landing party failed to overcome a much smaller U.S. force defending the port city of Norfolk.
Capture and occupation of Hampton, Virginia (June 25–26, 1813): British occupation and sacking of Hampton, Virginia. The British reportedly took guns, ammunition, wagons, horses, livestock and other foodstuffs, while French troops were reported to have participated in looting, vandalism, raping and killing. British casualties were 5 killed/33 wounded/10 missing.[2][better source needed]
Raid at Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina (July 11–16, 1813): A successful British naval operation in the Ocracoke Inlet, capturing a number of U.S. vessels and confiscating stores and livestock from the villages of Ocracoke and Portsmouth.
First Battle of Frenchtown, Michigan Territory (January 18, 1813): A skirmish in which a U.S. American detachment from Harrison's winter camp drove a British force (consisting of Canadian militia and Potawatomi and Wyandot warriors) out of Frenchtown.
Second Battle of Frenchtown, Michigan Territory (January 22, 1813): A British victory achieved when a force of regulars, militia and native warriors surprised the Americans in a pre-dawn attack, and after several hours of heavy fighting, accepted the surrender of the entire American command. 410 U.S. troops were killed, the largest loss of life for the U.S. military in the entire war. Harrison ended his winter campaign to recapture Detroit.
Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio (May 1–9, 1813): A British force consisting of regulars, militia and over 1,000 warriors led by Tecumseh failed to capture the U.S. fort recently constructed fort at the rapids on the Maumee River.
Siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio (July 21–28, 1813): A second unsuccessful attempt by the British to capture the fort, this time involving over 3,000 three thousand warriors from the Fox, Menominee, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Sac, Sioux and Winnebago Nations led by Tecumseh.
Ball's Battle, Ohio (July 30, 1813): A battle near Fort Seneca between a pro-British Native force and a U.S. force (including Pennsylvania volunteers under James V. Ball) en route to Fort Stephenson.
Battle of Lake Erie, Ohio (September 10, 1813): The pivotal naval battle, in which a squadron under Oliver Hazard Perry defeated the British squadron under Robert Heriot Barclay, giving the United States complete control of Lake Erie. With their supply line cut, the British in southwestern Lower Canada were forced to abandon Detroit and Fort Amherstburg and retreat eastward toward the Niagara Peninsula.
Battle of the Thames, Upper Canada (October 5, 1813): A U.S. victory at Moraviantown, on the Thames River (near Chatham, Ontario), over the British army retreating from Detroit and Fort Amherstburg. Tecumseh and Roundhead were killed in battle.
Skirmish at McCrae's House, Upper Canada (December 15, 1813): A British victory over a small contingent of American troops deployed on the Thames River c. 25 miles southwest of Moraviantown. The only time Canadian Militia defeated a regular American force.
Battle of York, Upper Canada (April 28, 1813): An American amphibious assault from Sackets Harbor captured Fort York and the town of York (present-day Toronto). The entire American force withdrew by May 8, after vandalizing and looting much of the town and burning the provincial legislature's buildings. The burning of the Capitol Building during the British raid on Washington was retribution for the American actions in York.{{cn|date=June 2024}]
Battle of Fort George, Upper Canada (May 27, 1813): British Fort George on Lake Ontario was captured during a U.S. amphibious attack across the Niagara river.
Battle of Stoney Creek, Upper Canada (June 6, 1813): A British night attack on American troops encamped along Stoney Creek west of Lake Ontario, forcing U.S. troops at Fort George to abandon further advances into Upper Canada.
Second raid at Charlotte, New York, at the mouth of the Genesee River (June 15, 1813): A British raid from James Yeo's Squadron that captured 500 barrels of flour and 1,200 bushels of corn.
Battle of Beaver Dams, Upper Canada (June 24, 1813): A successful ambush by pro-British warriors of the Six and Seven Nations of an American detachment from Fort George en route to Beaver Dams.
Blockade of Fort George, Upper Canada (July 1 – October 9, 1813): A British attempt to reoccupy Fort George following their victories at Stoney Creek (June 6, 1813) and Beaver Dams (June 24, 1813). There were frequent skirmishes (Ball Property) and raids (Black Rock) during this period. The blockade was lifted in order to redeploy troops in response to developments elsewhere along the Canada–US border, especially Wilkinson's Campaign on the St. Lawrence, which began in October, and the British defeat at Moraviantown in Upper Canada, which occurred on October 5.
Raid at Fort Schlosser, New York (July 5, 1813): A successful British raid across the Niagara River on Fort Schlosser, seizing valuable U.S. military assets.
Skirmishes at the Ball Property, Upper Canada (July 8 – September 6, 1813): A series of skirmishes that occurred just west of Niagara, Upper Canada, between the American and British lines during the blockade of Fort George (July 1 – October 9, 1813).
Raid at Black Rock, New York (July 11, 1813): A British raid on Black Rock, New York during the blockade of Fort George. After initial success, the British suffered heavy casualties during their withdrawal.
Raid at York, Upper Canada (July 31 – August 1, 1813): A brief amphibious American incursion in which the Americans freed some prisoners, confiscated military baggage and supplies and a number of bateaux. Before leaving the Americans burned buildings on Gibraltar Point in retribution for the British raid on Sodus, New York, on June 19.
Loss of the two American schooners Hamilton (1809) and Scourge (1812) (August 8, 1813): A violent storm destroyed the schooners Hamilton and Scourge.
Battle of Nanticoke Creek, Upper Canada (November 13, 1813): An expedition of Norfolk and Oxford Militia to capture American loyalist marauders who had been active in the area.
Burning of Niagara, Upper Canada (December 10–11, 1813): The unprovoked burning of Niagara by a small force of American troops under George McClure, who felt his position at Fort George untenable, and ordered that Niagara be destroyed as he evacuated his command to Fort Niagara.
Capture of Fort Niagara, New York (December 18–19, 1813): An unexpected night attack by British infantry on the under-strength American garrison at Fort Niagara at the mouth of the Niagara River, which resulted in the relatively easy capture of the fort. Fort Niagara remained under British control for the rest of the war.
Raid at Black Rock and Buffalo, New York (December 30, 1813): A British raid launched following the capture of Fort Niagara to retaliate for the U.S. burning of the town of Niagara, and to mop up all American forces on the Niagara Frontier. The raid achieved complete British control of the Niagara River region.
Raid on Brockville (February 7, 1813): U.S. troops from Ogdensburg, New York raided Brockville after a British party from Brockville crossed the St. Lawrence River to apprehend deserters on New York soil.
Second attack on Ogdensburg, New York (February 22, 1813): A successful British attack culminating in the capture of Ogdensburg, a U.S. town controlling naval movement and logistics on the St. Lawrence River.
Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor, New York (May 29, 1813): An unsuccessful British naval and amphibious attack on Sackets Harbor, intended as a diversion while the Americans were bombarding Fort George.
Capture of the Eagle (1812) and Growler (1812) (June 3, 1813): The British captured two U.S. sloops, Eagle (1812) and Growler (1812), in the Richelieu River. The British renamed them Shannon (1813) and Broke and returned them to service on Lake Champlain.
British raid at Sodus, New York (June 19, 1813): A raid from James Yeo's squadron off Sodus Bay, confiscating U.S. supplies.
Skirmish at Cranberry Creek, New York (July 1 9, 1813): The ambush of a British force advancing up Cranberry Creek to engage an American force.
Murray's Raid, New York and Vermont (July 29 – August 4, 1813): A successful British raid on American posts and towns (including Champlain and Plattsburgh) located along the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain. The largely unopposed raid resulted in the British capture of eight vessels and supplies, the destruction of a great deal of public property, and asserting British control of Lake Champlain.
First Skirmish at Odelltown, Lower Canada (September 20, 1813): A minor skirmish, following which Wade Hampton abandoned his plan to invade Lower Canada, retreating to Four Corners on the Upper Chateaguay River in New York.[3]
Wilkinson's campaign on the St. Lawrence River (October–November, 1813)': Part of an attack on Montreal by an American force from Sackets Harbor under James Wilkinson, down the St. Lawrence River, combined with an attack northward along the Richelieu River from Lake Champlain, by troops under Wade Hampton. Hampton cancelled the advance after the battle of Chateauguay and the defeat of Wilkinson's army at the Battle of Crysler's Farm.
Raid at Missisquoi Bay, Lower Canada (October 12, 1813): A raid ordered by Wade Hampton on Philipsburg. The goal of the raid was to reduce smuggling between Vermont and Lower Canada, and to divert British attention from the Richelieu River.
Battle on the Chateauguay, Lower Canada (October 26, 1813): An unsuccessful American attack on Canadien militia and First Nations warriors defending the lower Chateauguay River.
Skirmish at French Creek, New York (November 1–2, 1813): An inconclusive attempt by the British to disrupt and harass the advance guard of Wilkinson's army as it advanced from Sackets Harbor down the St. Lawrence River toward Montreal.
Battle of Point Iroquois (November 8, 1813): The first battle in Wilkinson's St. Lawrence campaign when General Macomb's brigade came ashore in Canada and skirmished with the Dundas Militia at Point Iroquois.
Skirmish at Doran's Farm (November 8-9, 1813): A small skirmish between advancing American Dragoons and Dundas and Glengarry Militia.
Battle of Hoople's Creek (November 10, 1813): A successful action by the British, which delayed the advance of Wilkinson's army on Cornwall, Upper Canada, a landing and storage point for British supplies.
Battle of Crysler's Farm (November 11, 1813): The British victory over the rear guard of Wilkinson's Division near Cornwall.
Occupation of Cornwall (November 11-13, 1813): Following their defeat at Crysler's Farm, the American army advanced and occupied Cornwall, but with no help from Hampton Wilkinson decided to abandon his St. Lawrence campaign and retreat to New York.
Hornet versus HMS Peacock (1806) (February 24, 1813): Off the Demerara River, Guyana, U.S. sloop Hornet spotted British sloop Espiegle and sloop Peacock (1806). The Peacock opened fire, and was so badly damaged that it sank shortly after surrendering.
Chesapeake (1799)versusHMS Shannon (1806) (June 1, 1813): This battle, off the New England coast between Cape Cod and Cape Ann, is noted as the war's only action between frigates of equal strength. The ships exchange broadsides at close range after which Philip Broke led a British boarding party onto the American ship, which surrendered.
Attack on HMS Junon (1810) (June 20, 1813): A flotilla of American gunboats in the Elizabeth River below Norfolk, Virginia attacked the anchored British frigate Junon, which managed to escape after 1.5 hours of engaging the Americans.
Delaware flotilla versus HMS Martin (1809) (July 29, 1813): An attack by the Delaware flotilla, consisting of eight gunboats and two blockships, on the British sloop Martin, which ran aground on a shoal near Cape May. After 2 hours, the Americans lost a gunboat and withdrew, while the Martin sustained only minor damage and was subsequently refloated.
Argus (1803)versusHMS Pelican (1812) (August 14, 1813): British brig Pelican damaged American sloop Argus (which had been attacking shipping) in St. George's Channel between Wales and Ireland so much that it was forced to surrender.
Enterprise (1799) versus HMS Boxer (1812) (September 5, 1813): An hour-long engagement off the coast of Maine, during which the American brig Enterprise caused such heavy damage on the British sloop Boxer that it was forced to surrender, and towed to Portland. Both commanders were killed in battle.
President (1800)versusHMS Highflyer (1813) (September 23, 1813): An action off the coast of New England during which the American frigate President captured the British schooner Highflyer.
Vixen (1813)versusHMS Belvidera (1809) (December 25, 1813)': The capture of American schooner Vixen (1813) off Delaware after a two-hour pursuit by British frigate Belvidera.
Battle of Burnt Corn Creek (July 27, 1813): An American ambush of a party of the Red Sticks faction of Creek Indians. The initially successful Americans were later dispersed.
Fort Mims Massacre (August 30, 1813): The defeat of the American garrison at Fort Mims by a party of the Red Sticks faction of Creek Indians.
Battle of Tallushatchee (November 3, 1813): A successful attack on the Creek village of Tallushatchee with a force of 1,000 dragoons under John Coffee.
Battle of Talladega (November 9, 1813): An action led by Andrew Jackson that broke the siege of the friendly Creek Indian town of Talladega, which was being besieged by an enemy Creek force.
Hillabee massacre 1 (November 11, 1813): An action in which Gen. White (under Major Gen. John Cocke's command) burned the Hillabee Indian villages of Little Oakfusky and Genalga.
The Canoe Fight (November 12, 1813): A skirmish fought along the Alabama River, pitting Capt. Samuel Dale's 70 militia against a larger group of Red Sticks Creeks, fought entirely in canoes.
Hillabee massacre 2 (November 18, 1813): An action conducted by troops under the command of Gen. White (under Maj. Gen. John Cocke's command) during which the town of Hillabee was burned.
Battle of Autossee (November 29, 1813): An action conducted by Gen. Floyd, with 950 Georgia militia and 400 friendly Indians, attacked the Indian town of Autossee. About two hundred Indians were killed and the town of four hundred houses burned.
Action at Nuyaka (December 17, 1813): An action conducted by troops under the command of Maj. Gen. David Adams in which the upper Creek village of Nuyaka was burned.
Battle of Holy Ground – also known as the Battle of Econochaca – (December 23, 1813):An action in which Gen. Claiborne cleared the mostly evacuated Indian town of Econochaca.
^Most of the information in this list has been extracted from Robert Malcomson's "Historical Dictionary of the War of 1812,"[better source needed] augmented in some cases .by information from other Wikipedia articles[circular reference] and from John Mahon's "The War of 1812."[better source needed]
^John Brannan, Official letters of the military and naval officers of the United States, during the war with Great Britain in the years 1812, 13, 14, & 15, Washington City: Way & Gideon, 1823, pp. 275,
