Question 4: Who were some of the Heroes of the War?
Sir Isaac Brock, 1769-1812
Sir Isaac Brock was born in St. Peter Port, England on October 6, 1769, and was governor of New England during the war. When preparing Canada for war, he was very frustrated due to the lack of resources. However, he managed to bring forward a very aggressive strategy even though he was told to be defensive. One of Isaac’s most famous victories was at Detroit, alongside Tecumseh. He captured the fort by demoralizing the American forces and by making his army look bigger than it actually was. After this, he continued to launch another invasion, which would sadly be his last: he was to recapture the Battery Position at Queenston Heights. He rallied his troops up to the heights, but when he charged up, he was shot dead in the chest by an American marksman and killed instantly. After this, the rest of his troops charged up in a storm of vengeance and made the 1,000 troop American force retreat and surrender the Battery Position. Isaac has since been recognized for his sacrifice and how he was able to consequently push back the American force.
Charles de Salaberry, 1778-1829
Charles de Salaberry was born in Beauport, Quebec on November 19, 1778. He was the one who raised the Canadian Voltigeurs, a group of Canadien Militia-men who fought with the British. In October of 1813, he went with his Voltigeurs and Mohawk Warriors to the Chateauguay River to fight of the attacking American force at Montreal. He, like Brock, created the illusion of making their force look bigger than it actually was, and then they proceeded to take up arms against the Americans. It was ended on the 26th of October, when the Americans thought they heard a high-ranking officer yell “Retreat”. In fact, Charles’ army was still ready to fight, but the Americans willingly retreated. So in theory, a small force fought of an American force several times its size.
James FitzGibbon, 1780-1863
James FitzGibbon was born in Ireland and served in the 49th Regiment. He was present when Brock went down, and also when the Americans ambushed and launched a siege on Stoney Creek on June 6 1813. However, James is best known for being the one who received Laura Secord’s message about the planned American ambush at beaver dams. James took immediate action and when the American army did approach the fort, they were demoralized in an instant and surrendered just as fast.
Tecumseh, 1768-1813
Tecumseh was a Shawnee war chief and leader of a tribal confederacy with the British. He believed strongly that the First Nations should return to their old ways, that they should have all their previous territory returned, and that they should forget intertribal rivalries. He also fought alongside Brock when they captured Detroit. Their strategy was to, when formally advancing, to make people at the front of the line double back to make it look like an endless force was approaching. This tactic alone made the Americans surrender. Afterwards, Tecumseh led 2,000 troops to the Battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh was ultimately killed. Brock said that “A more sagacious or more gallant warrior does not exist. Tecumseh was the admiration of everyone who conversed with him.”
Laura Secord, 1775-1868
Laura Secord was born on September 13, 1775 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She rescued her husband, James Secord, from the battlefield of the Battle of Queenston Heights. Shortly after, she overheard the Americans talking about an ambush at the fort at Beaver Dams. Since her husband was still healing, she decided to take the message herself. It was a dangerous, 12-mile journey, but she made it, and told James FitzGibbon about the Americans’ plans. FitzGibbon took action, and Dominique Ducharme led the force that made the Americans surrender.
Dominique Ducharme, 1765-1853
Dominique Ducharme was born in Lachine, Quebec on May 15, 1765, and is famous for leading the troops sent by James FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams. He led 300 British warriors and 100 First Nations allies to meet the American force, and almost immediately, the Americans surrendered and retreated. Dominique also commanded Charles de Salaberry at the Battle of Chateauguay and won a medal for it. Sadly, Charles and Dominique did not get along together very much.
Sir Isaac Brock, 1769-1812
Sir Isaac Brock was born in St. Peter Port, England on October 6, 1769, and was governor of New England during the war. When preparing Canada for war, he was very frustrated due to the lack of resources. However, he managed to bring forward a very aggressive strategy even though he was told to be defensive. One of Isaac’s most famous victories was at Detroit, alongside Tecumseh. He captured the fort by demoralizing the American forces and by making his army look bigger than it actually was. After this, he continued to launch another invasion, which would sadly be his last: he was to recapture the Battery Position at Queenston Heights. He rallied his troops up to the heights, but when he charged up, he was shot dead in the chest by an American marksman and killed instantly. After this, the rest of his troops charged up in a storm of vengeance and made the 1,000 troop American force retreat and surrender the Battery Position. Isaac has since been recognized for his sacrifice and how he was able to consequently push back the American force.
Charles de Salaberry, 1778-1829
Charles de Salaberry was born in Beauport, Quebec on November 19, 1778. He was the one who raised the Canadian Voltigeurs, a group of Canadien Militia-men who fought with the British. In October of 1813, he went with his Voltigeurs and Mohawk Warriors to the Chateauguay River to fight of the attacking American force at Montreal. He, like Brock, created the illusion of making their force look bigger than it actually was, and then they proceeded to take up arms against the Americans. It was ended on the 26th of October, when the Americans thought they heard a high-ranking officer yell “Retreat”. In fact, Charles’ army was still ready to fight, but the Americans willingly retreated. So in theory, a small force fought of an American force several times its size.
James FitzGibbon, 1780-1863
James FitzGibbon was born in Ireland and served in the 49th Regiment. He was present when Brock went down, and also when the Americans ambushed and launched a siege on Stoney Creek on June 6 1813. However, James is best known for being the one who received Laura Secord’s message about the planned American ambush at beaver dams. James took immediate action and when the American army did approach the fort, they were demoralized in an instant and surrendered just as fast.
Tecumseh, 1768-1813
Tecumseh was a Shawnee war chief and leader of a tribal confederacy with the British. He believed strongly that the First Nations should return to their old ways, that they should have all their previous territory returned, and that they should forget intertribal rivalries. He also fought alongside Brock when they captured Detroit. Their strategy was to, when formally advancing, to make people at the front of the line double back to make it look like an endless force was approaching. This tactic alone made the Americans surrender. Afterwards, Tecumseh led 2,000 troops to the Battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh was ultimately killed. Brock said that “A more sagacious or more gallant warrior does not exist. Tecumseh was the admiration of everyone who conversed with him.”
Laura Secord, 1775-1868
Laura Secord was born on September 13, 1775 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She rescued her husband, James Secord, from the battlefield of the Battle of Queenston Heights. Shortly after, she overheard the Americans talking about an ambush at the fort at Beaver Dams. Since her husband was still healing, she decided to take the message herself. It was a dangerous, 12-mile journey, but she made it, and told James FitzGibbon about the Americans’ plans. FitzGibbon took action, and Dominique Ducharme led the force that made the Americans surrender.
Dominique Ducharme, 1765-1853
Dominique Ducharme was born in Lachine, Quebec on May 15, 1765, and is famous for leading the troops sent by James FitzGibbon at Beaver Dams. He led 300 British warriors and 100 First Nations allies to meet the American force, and almost immediately, the Americans surrendered and retreated. Dominique also commanded Charles de Salaberry at the Battle of Chateauguay and won a medal for it. Sadly, Charles and Dominique did not get along together very much.
Sir Isaac Brock.
Charles de Salaberry.
James FitzGibbon.
Tecumseh.
Laura Secord.
Sadly, no pictures of Dominique Ducharme. Sorry :(