Siege of Fort Erie

Siege of Fort Erie
Part of the War of 1812

The British night assault on Fort Erie
DateAugust 4 – September 21, 1814
Location
Fort Erie, present-day Ontario
42°53′36″N 78°55′26″W / 42.893351°N 78.923969°W / 42.893351; -78.923969
Result American victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom United States
Commanders and leaders
Gordon Drummond Edmund P. Gaines
Eleazer Wheelock Ripley
Jacob Brown
Strength
4,800[1] 2,800
Casualties and losses
At least 285 killed
508 wounded
748 captured
12 missing[nb 1]
Total:
1,551
213 killed
565 wounded
240 captured
57 missing[nb 2]
Total:
1,075

The siege of Fort Erie, also known as the Battle of Erie, from 4 August to 21 September 1814, was one of the last engagements of the War of 1812, between British and American forces. It took place during the Niagara campaign, and the Americans successfully defended Fort Erie against a British army. During the siege, the British suffered high casualties in a failed storming attempt; they also suffered casualties from sickness and exposure in their rough encampments. Unaware that the British were about to abandon the siege, the American garrison launched a sortie to destroy the British siege batteries, during which both sides again suffered high losses.

After the British abandoned the siege, the reinforced American army followed up cautiously and forced a second retreat at Cook's Mills but, with the onset of winter and shortage of supplies, they withdrew. They demolished Fort Erie before leaving the area. The attempted siege ended one of the last British offensives along the northern border, the other being the failed British assault on Plattsburgh.

  1. ^ Graves, Donald E. And All Their Glory Past: Fort Erie, Plattsburgh and the Final Battles in the North, 1814. Robin Brass Studio, 2013.


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