↗ View this article in the original PDF newsletter
Apr. 24 Home District Magistrates increased the salary of £10 £15 John Bazell, the town crier, from to a year. Apr. 26 “My dear Clara, We are now standing on and off the harbor of York, which we shall attack at daylight in the morning: I shall dedicate these last moments to you, my love, and to-morrow throw all other ideas but my country to the wind.” So began US General Zebulon Pike’s last letter to his wife. Apr. 26 “The enemy’s flotilla is within a few miles steering for this place all is hurry, and confusion” wrote the Reverend John Strachan on hearing that an American fleet was approaching York. “I am not afraid, but our Commandant [Sheaffe] is weak.” Apr. 27 Americans attacked York at 7 am; fighting was over by 1:30 pm. After Sheaffe ordered the Grand Magazine to be blown up (resulting in General Pike’s death from falling debris) and the burned in the Sir Isaac Brock stocks, he and his British Regulars began a withdrawal to Kingston. Apr. 28 Terms of capitulation were signed for the surrender of the Town of York but looting continued. Apr. 30 American sailors set fire to the parliament buildings for Upper Canada at Front and Berkeley streets within the King’s Reserve. May 2 General Roger Sheaffe and his British Regulars arrived in Kingston from York. May 8 The American invaders, after waiting five days for good winds, left York.
May 15 Captain Sir James Lucas Yeo, RN took command of British naval forces on the Great Lakes. May 27 Americans captured Fort George at Niagara. Jun. 5-6 British under Brigadier General John Vincent defeated Americans at Stoney Creek in a night attack. Jun. 19 Major General Francis de Rottenburg appointed Commander of British forces in Upper Canada Roger vice Sheaffe whose failures in leadership result in his transfer to Montreal. Jun. 21 Wellington defeated the French decisively at Vitoria, south of Bilbao, Spain. To mark the event Beethoven wrote which was first performed in Wellington’s Victory Vienna on 8 December 1813. Jun. 24 Warned of American plans by Laura Secord, the British won the Battle of Beaver Dams (Thorold) with strong Native support.
Original printed pages
