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Upper Canada's Black Defenders? Re-Evaluating the War of 1812

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Upper Canada's Black Defenders? Re-Evaluating the War of 1812 Canadian Military History Volume 18 Issue 3 Article 5 2009 Upper Canada’s Black Defenders? Re-evaluating the War of 1812 Coloured Corps Gareth Newfield Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Gareth Newfield "Upper Canada’s Black Defenders? Re-evaluating the War of 1812 Coloured Corps." Canadian Military History 18, 3 (2009) This Canadian War Museum is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : Upper Canada’s Black Defenders? Re-evaluating the War of 1812 Coloured Corps Upper Canada’s Black Defenders? Re-evaluating the War of 1812 Coloured Corps Gareth Newfield ith the approach of the updated editions of certain seminal like Richard Pierpoint (a former slave Wbicentennial of the War of 1812, histories tend to touch briefly – if from Africa and veteran of Butler’s renewed attention is being devoted at all – upon its service as a labour Rangers) had fought for or sought to Canadian units that served in the corps later in the war.1 More recently, the protection of the British Crown, conflict. Amongst these may certainly historians seeking to correct “a thereby gaining their freedom. be counted the Coloured Corps. The shamefully overlooked chapter” have Dissatisfied by the emergence of lone all-Black unit engaged in Upper inadvertently misinterpreted sources slavery in Upper Canada, Lieutenant- Canada (today Ontario), the primary while attempting to emphasize its Governor John Graves Simcoe sought theatre of war, its service has become accomplishments as a combat unit.2 to abolish the institution in 1793. This symbolic of the experiences of African- This article seeks to present attempt met with opposition from Canadians during the conflict. Yet a more balanced history of the a Legislature concerned about the despite this fact its participation Coloured Corps during the War economic impact of abolition amid remains poorly understood. To of 1812. Utilizing primary sources shortages of labour in the developing some, its story is typical of a litany and the small range of secondary colony.4 Only a weakened version of Black units in Canada’s military literature available, it will consider history – relegated to seemingly the under-valued nature of its role Résumé : L’histoire du Corps de unglamorous support roles, its as a labour corps, and explore the couleur (Colored Corps), la seule unité contributions are subsequently mythology of its service as a combat entièrement constituée de soldats marginalized. Accordingly, even unit. It will demonstrate that despite noirs à servir dans le Haut-Canada facing racial adversity, the Coloured pendant la guerre de 1812, est devenue Corps – like many provincial units – le symbole de l’expérience vécue par Abstract: As the lone all-Black unit to les Afro-Canadiens dans ce conflit. On serve in Upper Canada during the War of played a varied and creditable role n’en sait cependant que très peu sur 1812, the history of the Coloured Corps in making the American campaigns son implication dans la défense du has become symbolic of the experiences to conquer Upper Canada more than Canada. Dans le passé, l’accent mis of African-Canadians during the conflict. just “a mere matter of marching.” sur son utilisation comme groupe de Nevertheless, its service in the defence of travail chargée de tâches peu glorieuses Canada remains poorly understood. Past a contribué à marginaliser son rôle. focus upon its seemingly unglamorous Par contre, en tentant de mettre en role as labourers has marginalized Blacks in Early Upper Canada valeur son action comme compagnie its strategic contributions, whereas d’infanterie, des chercheurs se sont recent scholarship has confused or he first substantial settlement of mépris sur ses réalisations comme unité exaggerated its prior accomplishments Blacks in Upper Canada occurred de combat, ou encore les ont exagérées. in combat. This article seeks to present T L’article analyse ces interprétations a more balanced view of the Coloured during the years immediately et présente une nouvelle histoire du Corps by exploring its history and following the conclusion of the Corps. On y fait la démonstration que mythology. It will demonstrate that American War of Independence. The ses hommes, en dépit d’obstacles the Corps’ respective achievements majority, brought to Canada either considérables, n’étaient ni des were neither so menial nor so decisive as slaves during the late war or as manoeuvres exerçant des métiers as is perceived, but rather its soldiers inférieurs, ni des soldats d’élite, mais ultimately filled both roles creditably the property of Loyalist refugees, qu’ils avaient honorablement accompli – despite considerable adversity – in a amounted to some 700 individuals by leurs tâches, tout comme les milliers manner typical of thousands of Upper 1792.3 Added to this small population d’autres militaires du Haut-Canada Canadian troops. was a minority of free Blacks who durant cette guerre. Published© Canadian by Scholars Military Commons History @, Laurier,Volume 2009 18, Number 3, Summer 2009, pp.31-40. 31 1 Newfield - Coloured Corps.indd 31 10/6/2009 1:18:31 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 18 [2009], Iss. 3, Art. 5 of Simcoe’s “Act Against Slavery” 1790s.9 Conversely, the influence passed, forbidding the further Formation and Early Service of institutional racism cannot be importation of slaves but granting ignored. Blacks were universally freedom (upon reaching adulthood) s war approached during barred from holding commissions in only to those born in the province. Athe spring of 1812, Richard Britain’s military forces during the African-Canadians occupied an Pierpoint unsuccessfully petitioned period, even within the segregated uneasy place within early Upper the provincial government of Major- Caribbean “West India” Regiments.10 Canadian society as a result of this General Isaac Brock “to raise a Corps Lastly, Pierpoint’s status as a manual ambiguous legislation. In 1794 of Men of Colour on the Niagara labourer (despite being a community Pierpiont and fellow “Free Negroes” Frontier” for the defence of the leader) may have disqualified him petitioned the government to allow colony.8 No record of why Pierpoint’s for a position ostensibly reserved for them to settle in small communities so proposal was rejected survives, gentlemen. as “to be enabled to give assistance… although there are several probable The militia’s uneven response to those amongst them,” but were explanations. Segregation following the American invasion of refused, possibly due to concerns within the prewar militia was the province in July 1812 may have about the creation of Black enclaves.5 impractical due to the small prompted authorities to reconsider Meanwhile the legal protection and dispersed nature of the Pierpoint’s proposal. By late August of slavery produced an exodus of Free Black population, and the nucleus of an all-Black company escaped slaves towards the United thus Black citizens served had formed in Niagara under the 1st States, particularly after Michigan’s alongside their White Lincoln Militia. Command was not, abolition of the institution in 1805. counterparts since the however, given to Pierpoint (who Indeed, the military implications enlisted as a private in September), of this phenomenon (sparked by but instead to Captain Robert news of their incorporation into a Runchey, a white officer and local segregated American militia corps at tavern keeper. Characterized as a Detroit) caused considerable political “worthless, troublesome malcontent” unrest in Upper Canada during and a “black sheep,” his appointment 1807.6 Nevertheless Blacks generally reflected the low status usually enjoyed greater freedoms under afforded to Black units.11 Certainly British law; even slaves were allowed his command of the “Company to own commercial businesses, while of Coloured Men” was free Blacks exercised the rights discreditable. On 15 of full (albeit socially second- September, for class) citizens.7 The prospect of example, he court- invasion by the United States martialled a (with its greater tolerance of white soldier slavery) thus represented a major for fraternising threat to these liberties in with “his nigros the minds of Upper [sic],” and was C a n a d a ’s f r e e apparently not above Black population, hiring his men out as prompting many domestics – one militia to take up arms. surgeon lodged a formal complaint that Runchey failed to fulfil a promise to supply a “black man” to act as his servant.12 Moreover, A conjectural depiction of Richard the “company’”consisted of little Pierpoint as a member of Butler’s more than a cadre until reinforced Rangers during the American War of by the wholesale transfer (whether Independence. voluntarily or otherwise) of 14 men from the 3rd York Militia in early Illustration of Richard Pierpoint by Malcolm Jones © Canadian War Museum https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol18/iss3/532 2 Newfield - Coloured Corps.indd 32 10/6/2009 1:18:35 PM : Upper Canada’s Black Defenders? Re-evaluating the War of 1812 Coloured Corps October.13 The unit drilled at Fort George throughout the early autumn, Hard Times – The 1813 gradually reaching a strength of 38 Campaigns men. Soon this training was put to its n early February 1813 first test. On the morning of 13 October Ithe company lost its 1812 General Brock’s forces received first soldier (Private John word of the invasion by Major- Jackson) to disease, while General Stephen Van Rensselaer’s illness reduced it further American army across the Niagara to approximately 30 rank River at Queenston. Runchey’s and file by spring.19 Its Company was first left at Fort George time in garrison was under Major-General Roger Sheaffe not wasted.
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