William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie

Canadian Military History Volume 1 Issue 1 Article 4 1992 William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie Donald E. Graves Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Graves, Donald E. "William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie." Canadian Military History 1, 1 (1992) This Feature 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]. Graves: William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie Donald E. Graves he officers and men of the British army black unit recruited in the Caribbean. Such an T that defended Canada from American appointment possibly indicates that invasion during the War of 1812 knew they Drummond's family was not wealthy, as an were "forgotten soldiers.·· Fighting in a distant officer who had the funds or the "interest" to and secondary theatre, far from the gaze of a serve elsewhere avoided service in the islands government and public pre-occupied with which yellow fever made a "white man's graveyard."3 events on the continent, especially in Spain, they took a somewhat perverse pride in their Drummond was present with the 2nd when status as outcasts. As one quipped about the it fought its first action on St. Vincent in Duke ofWellington- "thank God he managed January 1796, receiving a mention in to do without us" at Waterloo. 1 But they also dispatches for bravery. He served with it until took a particular pride in their own local heroes 1802, when he purchased a captaincy in the including such men as Gordon of the lst 2nd Battalion, 60th Foot. In January 1804, he Regiment of Foot, Robinson of the 8th Foot, enhanced a growing reputation for courage Glew of the 41st, Fitzgibbon of the 49th, when, as a passenger, "he animated the crew of Morrison of the 89th, Dawson and Tweeddale the merchant ship Fortitude, Captain Dunbar, of the l OOth, Scott of the l 03rd and - perhaps to defend themselves against two French the most renowned of all - Lieutenant Colonel Privateers off Barbadoes" and, as a reward, William Drummond of the l04th Foot.2 received a 100-guinea sword from Lloyd's of London. 4 Three months later, he received a second mention in dispatches for bravery while I serving as aide-de-camp to Lieutenant General Sir Charles Green during the Surinam illiam Drummond was born in 1779, the expedition.5 W third surviving son of John Drummond, laird ofKeltie in Perthshire, and surgeon in the It was in Surinam that Drummond met service ofthe East India Company. He entered Susanna Catharina Wohlfahrt whom he the army in August l 793 as an ensign in the married in 1807, the same year he obtained a 4th Breadalbane Regiment of Fencibles, a majority in the 60th by purchase. By this time, Scottish home defence unit, and, in July l 795, it appears that he was beginning to tire of life was appointed a lieutenant in Myer's West in the army and the West Indies where, having India Regiment (later the 2nd West India), a served for over a decade, he was cheating the 25 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1992 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 1 [1992], Iss. 1, Art. 4 actuarial tables. In 1809, he exchanged from regiment which made an epic winter march to the 60th to the New Brunswick Fencibles as a Quebec City. They arrived only to find they had preparatory move to going on half-pay. But he been ordered further west, prompting one remained with the Fencibles when they were soldier to remark that the unit was "like the brought into the line as a regular infantry children of Israel" and "must march forty years regiment, the 104th Foot, in 1810, and was before we halt."7 On 12 April1813, with about still serving with them when war broke out 800 hard miles behind it, the 1 04th reached its between the United States and Great Britain. 6 Old Fort Erie from the Lake. Photo: Paul Kelly For the first eight months of the conflict, final destination, Kingston, Upper Canada, Drummond commanded the garrison at Saint where its "merry bugles played" it into town. 8 John, New Brunswick. In late February 1813, The regiment was put to work strengthening the 1 04th was ordered to move to Lower Canada the fortifications of the town and Drummond and Drummond, along with the regimental was placed in charge of the defences at Point commander, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Frederick, the site ofthe present Royal Military Halkett, accompanied six companies of the College of Canada. 9 26 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol1/iss1/4 2 Graves: William Drummond and the Battle of Fort Erie The Kingston garrison learned of the divisions, one commanded by Lieutenant American capture ofYork, the provincial capital, Colonel Robert Young of the 8th Foot and the on 29 April. Drummond was sent out with a other by Drummond. Lieutenant John Le mixed force of regulars and Indians to Couteur of the 104th remembered driving the reconnoitre the shore of Lake Ontario as far as enemy back in "a skirmishing run" with the Bay of Quinte and assist the York garrison Drummond "running on Sword in hand" when, in their retreat to Kingston. This was his first suddenly, he fell, "apparently stone dead." His contact with the native defenders of Upper distraught men gently lifted him and Canada and the beginning of a warm Drummond said: relationship with mutual respect on both sides. An amusing but unsettling incident occurred · ... iis not mortal, I can move my legs.' No blood appeared. during this reconnaissance in force when a 'Charge on Men!' He shouted. We had induced Him to remove his Epaulettes. He had deposited them in the front Canadian militiaman, mistaking Drummond pockets of his overalls, which saved his life. The ball had "and his Party for Americans, conceiving the struck the pad and steel plate - it was a dreadful bruise Indians to be Oneida Indians [an American that He received. 14 Indian nation]", promptly provided them with a detailed description of the local defences. 10 The British advance was brought to a halt when they encountered a blockhouse and some In late May, Drummond took over command log barracks from which they could not dislodge of the 104th after Halkett, described by one the defenders. They fell back after taking subordinate as an "indolent man mellowed by heavy casualties. wine", was granted an extended leave of absence. 11 This brought him a brevet promotion Prevost decided to retreat but, at to lieutenant colonel and he commanded the Drummond's urging, he agreed to wait until regiment in its first action - an attack on the the Americans had been given the opportunity American naval base at Sackets Harbor, New to surrender. Under a white flag, Drummond York. 12 went forward to parley but, in Le Couteur's words, "brother Jonathan was too grass sharp", On 27 May 1813, every available soldier at asking why he should surrender when the Kingston, a total of about 900 men, under the British appeared to be withdrawing. 15 command of Lieutenant General Sir George Drummond's rejoinder that his comrades were Prevost, the Commander-in-Chief, British North only forming for "a fresh attack" was met with America, embarked on the ships of Commodore the firm rebuttal to "tell Sir George Prevost, we Sir James Yeo's squadron which set sail in the will await the issue of his attack." But Prevost late evening. The squadron arrived off Sackets had no intention of renewing the assault. Harbor early on 28 May but contrary winds Instead, he resumed his retreat to the landing prevented a landing and the senior officers place. spent the entire day dithering whether to cancel the operation. An impatient Drummond, The withdrawal was orderly until a rumour determined "to take the place with his own spread that American cavalry were about to regiment", transferred the 1 04th to small boats attack, when a panic broke out. Drummond "to practice pulling ... and was pulling toward personally restored order and the landing force, the landing place when ... Prevost sent an ADC having suffered over 200 casualties for no to order Him tore-embark his men instantly. "13 purpose, re-embarked safely. Le Couteur summed up the operation as "a scandalously At dawn on the following day, the British managed affair" and noted that the murmurs finally splashed ashore under fire to assault an "against Sir George were deep not loud." 16 On American garrison that had nearly 24 hours the return voyage, Captain Jacques Viger of to prepare. Pushed back from the landing the Canadian Voltiguers remembered area, the Americans conducted a fighting retreat Drummond being rowed over to the ship, on to the village and the British followed in two which Viger was a passenger, to visit the 27 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1992 3 Canadian Military History, Vol. 1 [1992], Iss. 1, Art. 4 wounded of the 104th on board. The veteran beads that the Scotsman wore until the day he took the time to talk to the young Canadian died. 20 On several occasions, Drummond was officer, who had just been in his first combat, called in to mediate acrimonious disputes and complimented him on the gallantry of his between Norton and the officials of the Indian unit.

Load more