War of 1812, 18Th

WARWAR OFOF 18121812

1.0 MAPBOARD 2.12 Combat Rating 3.0 GAME SETUP The Combat Rating is indicated on the 1.1 TOWNS blocks. It is either F1 or F2. The number 3.1 MAP SETUP There are 15 American towns (blue indicates the maximum roll to hit. The American player faces north; the names) and 12 British towns (red names) Strength determines how many six- British player faces south. defining each player's Home Territory. sided dice (d6) are thrown for a block Blue towns, even if vacant, are during combat. A block at strength 4 3.2 STARTING FORCES Remove the warships and the Indian friendly to and controlled by the American rolls 4d6 (four six-sided dice); a block at block from the mix. player, except when enemy occupied. strength 1 rolls 1d6. Each player places their remaining Red towns, even if vacant, are friendly Example: a block rated F1 only scores blocks face-down, mixes them together. to and controlled by the British player, a hit for each “1” rolled, but a block The British player draws 10 red blocks; the except when enemy occupied. rated F2 scores one hit for each 1 or 2 American player draws 12 blue blocks. Towns have a value from 1-5. These rolled. Blocks begin the game at their values limit how many blocks can be 2.13 Movement Rating supplied in that town over the winter. The maximum strength and are not revealed to Movement ratings are shown in the values also determine victory points. the enemy player. lower-left corner of a block. This is the Note: Surplus blocks are kept off Army blocks move from one town to maximum distance a block can move. another via the roads/trails of the period. the mapboard, and blocks eliminated 2.2 BLOCK TYPES during the game are also returned to 1.2 LAKES this draw pool. These blocks will be The mapboard has three main lakes 2.21 Infantry available as future reinforcements. There are two types of on which warships may operate. Each 3.21 US Deployment player has one naval base per lake. Infantry: Regulars and Militia. Regulars have a US or British The American player deploys first. Warships are located on a lake or in a At least one block must be deployed in lakeside town. flag while Militia have crossed muskets. Infantry every American town rated at 2 or more BRITISH AMERICAN move one (1) town and have F1 combat. supply value; the remaining blocks may be LAKE deployed as desired. BASE BASE US Militia sometimes refuse to enter Erie Amherstburg Erie enemy territory. See 10.0. 3.22 British Deployment Ontario Kingston Sacket’s Harbor 2.22 Dragoons The British player now deploys in British towns under the same conditions Champlain Lacolle Plattsburg Dragoons have a crossed as the Americans. sabre symbol. They can 2.0 ARMIES move one (1) or two (2) 3.23 Warship Deployment towns and have F1 or F2 The wooden blocks represent British Each player deploys three (3) combat. They have deadly (red) and American (blue) forces. There warships, one per naval base. Warships pursuit fire (2 dice @ F3) if unopposed by are twenty-five (25) blocks of each color. begin play at 1 Strength. enemy dragoons. The American Kentucky One label must be attached to each Dragoon is militia. 4.0 SEQUENCE OF PLAY block: British (tan) and Tecumseh (green) labels on the red blocks; American (light 2.23 Artillery 4.1 CAMPAIGN YEARS blue) labels on the blue blocks. Both sides have 2 artillery The game is divided into three blocks with F2 combat. campaign years: 1812, 1813, and 1814. 2.1 BLOCK DATA Artillery move 1 town and Each campaign year is divided into 10 Blocks have numbers and symbols cannot move amphibiously. Campaign Turns followed by a Winter Turn Artillery has no pursuit fire. defining movement and combat abilities. (Victory and Supply check).

2.11 Strength 2.24 Warships 4.2 CAMPAIGN TURNS Each player has 6 warships The current strength of a block is the A Campaign Turn track is printed which operate on the three number of pips on the top edge when the along the south edge of the mapboard; lakes. Warships only fight block is standing upright. Block strengths use a coin or other marker to record the other warships with F1 are only revealed to the enemy in battles. passage of time. combat. Blocks have a variable strength of 4, 4.21 Initiative 3, 2, or 1. For each hit taken in combat, 2.25 Indians Every Campaign Turn has two the block’s strength is reduced by rotating The Tecumseh Indian block alternate Player Turns. To start each it 90 degrees counter-clockwise. fights on the British side, but Campaign Turn, both players roll two six- When a block is reduced below 1 enters play only if Detroit is sided dice (2d6). High total (re-roll ties) strength, it is eliminated and returned to captured. See 9.0. has the choice of first or second Player the draw pool. Turn for this Campaign Turn.

4.3 PLAYER TURNS 6.0 ARMY PHASE 7.0 BATTLE PHASE In each Player Turn, there are three If there are several battles, they phases, played in this sequence: 6.1 ARMY MOVEMENT are resolved in any order the Attacker Naval Phase: A player either builds Each Army Phase a player can move wishes, but each battle must be resolved one step on a new or existing warship, any/all blocks located in one town to one (including retreats) before starting another. OR makes one naval move. If a move or more adjacent towns connected by a brings opposing warships onto the road/trail. There is no limit to the number 7.1 NAVAL BATTLES same lake a naval battle is resolved in of blocks that may be located in one town. A naval battle occurs when one player the Battle Phase. Example: A player with army blocks moves warships onto a lake (Attacker) Army Phase: A player can make one in Kingston may move any number of occupied by the enemy (Defender). Naval army move. If a player moves blocks them to one or more of Smith’s Creek, battles cannot occur in lakeside towns. to a town containing enemy blocks a Prescott, or Sacket’s Harbor. Naval Combat is resolved battle is resolved in the Battle Phase. Dragoons and Indians can move two simultaneously. Each player rolls 1 Note: A Naval and Army Phase can be towns, but must stop in a town containing die for each warship step in the battle. combined for one Amphibious Move. enemy blocks (even a warship). Warships have F1 combat so each “1” scores one hit on the opposing fleet, Battle Phase: Naval battles are 6.11 Force-Marcher reducing it by 1 step. Hits are applied resolved, followed by army battles. Infantry and Artillery may attempt to the highest strength warship block to Force-March one additional town. (owner's choice with ties). A warship 5.0 NAVAL PHASE Dragoons and Indians cannot Force- reduced below strength 1 is permanently March. Roll 1d6 for each block attempting: 5.1 NAVAL BUILDING eliminated from the game. Build one step on a new or existing 1-3: Block does not move and loses 1 step. 7.11 Warship Retreats warship, OR makes one naval move. After each round of naval combat, the 4-6: Block completes move with no loss. Building may only take place in one of Attacker has the first option to retreat. If a player’s three naval bases, never in an the Attacker chooses to stay, the Defender 6.2 AMPHIBIOUS MOVEMENT enemy naval base even if occupied by then has the option to retreat. friendly army blocks. Players may combine navy and army phases to make one amphibious move. Warships retreat to any friendly 5.2 NAVAL MOVEMENT lakeside town(s). If none exist, they may Instead of building a warship, a player 6.21 Prior Lake Control not retreat. Partial retreats are not allowed. already may elect to move any/all warships Only warships occupying a Retreating warships are not subject to for one lake. Warships can move from lake may take part in an amphibious move. pursuit fire. lakeside towns onto the lake, or vice-versa. 6.22 Infantry Only If neither player retreats, another EXAMPLE: the American player has An amphibious move consists of round of combat is conducted. two warships in Sacket’s Harbor, and moving infantry (only) from one lakeside 7.12 Warship Capture one in Oswego. All three warships move town directly to any other lakeside Warships may be captured when an onto Lake Ontario. If these warships town (or towns) on the same lake. One enemy army moves to their lakeside town. were already on the lake, they can infantry block may move for each warship The warships may not participate in army move to one or more friendly lakeside block on the lake (regardless of warship combat, but may seek to retreat before town(s). strength). every friendly battle turn. Warships can never move from one Note: the warships involved do not Roll 1d6 for each warship: lake to another lake, nor move directly actually move; they stand in position to from one lakeside town to another escort army transports. 1-3: Warship Docked. Block fails lakeside town. to retreat. If alone in the town, it is Amphibious movement of some army captured. Exchange for a friendly Warships can never move to an blocks and land movement of other army Warship (same Strength), unless all enemy town. They can move to (and blocks from the same group is allowed. friendly Warships are already in play. control) an enemy lakeside town that is Warships on the same lake, which are currently friendly, but see 7.12. 4-6: Warship Escapes to the lake. not involved in the amphibious move, can If there are enemy warships on 5.21 Lakeside Towns make any normal move. the lake a naval battle is resolved Lake Erie: Amherstburg, Detroit, EXAMPLE: The British player controls immediately. Sandusky, Erie, Buffalo, Fort Erie, Port Lake Ontario with three warships. Three Dover. Infantry blocks located at Kingston may Lake Ontario: York, Dundas, Fort George, move to any other lakeside town(s) of Fort Niagara, Oswego, Sacket's Harbor, Lake Ontario. If only two army blocks Kingston, Smith's Creek. move amphibiously, one warship can move normally. Lake Champlain: Lacolle, Plattsburg, Ticonderoga.

7.2 ARMY BATTLES 7.22 Pursuit Fire An army battle occurs when one The 'victorious' player gets Pursuit player moves blocks into a town (Attacker) Fire, rolling one die per block at F3 8.2 WINTER TURN which is occupied by enemy blocks (each 1, 2, or 3 rolled scores a hit). Indians 8.21 Winter Attrition (Defender). Each battle is resolved in the pursue with 2 dice. Dragoons also pursue The maximum number of army blocks following sequence: with 2 dice per block unless the enemy which may winter in a town without (a) The Defender may accept battle or has dragoons. Artillery blocks have no penalty equals the numerical value of that retreat all blocks and take pursuit fire pursuit fire. town. (see 7.22). If battle is accepted, both 7.23 Retreat Destinations Excess blocks located in a town players reveal the strengths of their within their own territory are reduced blocks by tilting them forward (face- Blocks must retreat to the same town; no division of forces. by 1 step each. Excess blocks located in up) so that the current strength of enemy towns are eliminated. The owner each block faces the opposing player. The Defender may retreat to any decides which blocks will be reduced or Neither player may retreat at this time. adjacent town, except to a town occupied eliminated. (b) The Defender fires each block by enemy blocks, a town containing an by rolling dice equal to its current unresolved battle, or a town that the Example: two army blocks winter in strength. Hits are scored on rolls equal Attacker came from. If no such town Sacket’s Harbor; two in Utica. The to or lower than the block's Firepower exists, the Defender may not retreat. Sacket's Harbor blocks are supplied, but one Utica block is not. If the (F1 or F2). For each hit the highest Attacking blocks may only retreat strength attacking block is immediately Utica blocks are American, one block to the adjacent town they came from. reduced by 1 step (owner's choice with loses one step; if British, one block is Dragoons and Indians may not retreat two ties). eliminated. towns. Blocks may never retreat off-board. (c) The Attacker now has the option to 8.22 Warship Withdrawal retreat or to fire all blocks in the same Except as noted in (7.31) players may All warships on lakes must be manner as the Defender. not retreat by amphibious movement. withdrawn to friendly lakeside town(s) (d) Alternating battle turns are 7.3 AMPHIBIOUS ATTACKS during the winter turn. If none exist, the repeated until one player takes his In amphibious battles the Defender warships are eliminated. option to retreat, or until all blocks of fires each block twice during the first one player are eliminated. When the 8.23 Reinforcements round of battle (only). battle ends, surviving blocks are stood The number of blocks each player upright at their current strength. A player conducting an amphibious receives for the next campaign year is EXAMPLE: Three British blocks attack attack may retreat to one friendly town printed on the mapboard where they two American (defending) blocks. The amphibiously after taking double Pursuit enter play: Quebec (British); Albany and American player accepts battle and Fire (roll twice), or to one Friendly lakeside Pittsburgh (American). Reinforcements are rolls seven dice for his 7 steps (all F1 town after taking normal Pursuit Fire. drawn from the face-down draw pool and combat). enter play at full strength. The American

8.0 VICTORY player may choose which reinforcements

2 1 F1 F2 1

F2 ♦ LINCOLN

RA–1 DRAGOONS After the 10th Campaign Turn is appear at Albany and which at Pittsburgh. ♦ ♦ played, check if either player has 10 VPs

♦♦ Example, the British player receives

more than the other (not just 10 VPs). ♦♦♦ ♦♦ ♦♦ three (3) blocks for 1813, all at Quebec. The American player receives 4 blocks ♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦ 8.1 VICTORY POINTS in 1813: 2 at Albany, 2 at Pittsburgh. ♦♦♦

♦♦ • 1 VP for each army block in play.

♦ Warships and Indians have no VP value. 8.24 Reinforcement Delays

SCOTT NEW YORK ♦

1 ♦♦ F1 1 F1 • 2 VP for each Lake a player controls. If a reinforcement town is occupied by enemy blocks, reinforcements may • The VP value of all Enemy towns If 1 hit is scored, the artillery (highest not enter play in the Winter Turn. They occupied by Army blocks; warships block) is immediately reduced by 1 step may use a future Army Phase to move cannot hold enemy towns for VPs. (now strength 2). If 2 hits were scored, into one entry town. If the entry town is For example, American occupation of the second hit could be taken on any still occupied by enemy blocks, this move Kingston would give that player 3 VPs, block since all are now at strength 2. starts a normal battle, except the Attacker and British occupation of Detroit would The Attacker could now retreat (taking has no retreat. Reinforcements that are give that player 3 VPs. Do not count pursuit fire) or return fire by rolling for still off-board at the next Winter Turn are VPs for towns in Home Territory. each block. The artillery and dragoons forfeit. have F2 combat, the infantry F1. Note: If neither player obtains the 10VP margin, play the Winter Turn and 7.21 Army Retreats the next year. VPs are recounted in the A player must retreat before firing any next winter (1813 and 1814). If neither blocks in a battle round. Determine pursuit player wins after 1814, the game is a fire and then retreat. draw.

9.0 INDIANS 11.2 DEFENSE 12.0 STRATEGY NOTES The Indian block (Tecumseh) With Simo-Move it often occurs that Some division of forces is necessary enters play at Detroit if the both players seek to enter the same town to control key towns such as naval bases, British player captures this or lake at the same time. wintering and reinforcement towns, town. Once in play, this block If one player already has one or more etc. However, it is generally better to will only fight if accompanied blocks present, that player is the Defender concentrate forces. This allows a player by at least one British block. If alone, or if If both players move warships onto to attack or defend in strength. Beware accompanying British blocks are the same empty lake, the Defender is the of wintering attrition, especially in enemy eliminated in battle, the Indian block player who wins a 2d6 roll. territory. retires from the game (permanently). If both players move blocks to the The burden of attack generally falls The Indian block may not make an same vacant town, the American player is on the American player in 1812. It is best amphibious move. the Defender in American towns and the for him to concentrate his efforts on one The Indian block may not be rebuilt if British player is the Defender in British or two of the four major fronts: Detroit, eliminated. VPs are never awarded for this towns. Niagara, Kingston, and Champlain. Trying to mount an attack on three or four fronts block, but it can hold and count VPs for an If both players move blocks to a town American town it solely occupies. simultaneously is usually futile. During each is moving from (e.g. American blocks 1813, the American must make decisive During battles the Indian block fights in Sacket’s Harbor and British blocks in gains because of the large number of like any other block, but has deadly Kingston move to each other’s town) the British reinforcements in 1814. pursuit fire (2 dice at F3). player who wins a 2d6 roll decides where the battle is fought, the Defender being the The British player is usually forced 10.0 AMERICAN MILITIA player originally occupying that town. to remain on the defensive, at least until American militia were only mid-1813. However, some limited offense If a player controlling a lake orders an to force the American to respond, such required to fight on American amphibious move and his opponent orders soil and often refused orders as an aggressive western campaign with his warships onto the lake, the naval battle the assistance of the Indians may buy to cross into Canada. The is resolved first. Losing control of the lake Kentucky Dragoon is militia. valuable time. Protection of Montreal and cancels the Amphibious Move. If control Quebec is crucial since they are worth 9 The American player must roll one die of the lake is maintained, a player may VPs. Control of the lakes is often decisive. for each militia block attempting to move cancel the amphibious move or continue into Canada. A roll of 1, 2, or 3 means with the attack as desired. that block refuses to move; otherwise it moves normally. The American player 11.3 ORDER OF BATTLES must complete the planned move with all If there are multiple battles, both blocks that do move. players roll 2d6. High roll gets to choose Note: the militia rule does not apply the order of battles. to blocks already in British territory, or to blocks moving back to American territory. It does apply for amphibious movement. INDEX Movement Army Movement 6.1 11.0 SIMO-MOVE (Optional) Amphibious Movement, 6.2 Army Movement, 6.1 Movement Rating, 2.13 Simultaneous movement adds tension Army Phase, 6.0 Naval Movement 5.2 to the game, but requires writing orders. Army Battles, 7.2 Naval Bases, 1.2 Battle Phase, 7.0 Naval Phase, 5.0 11.1 WRITING ORDERS Naval Building, 5.1 For Campaign Turns both players Battle Turn, 7.2 (d) Deployment, 3.0 Naval Movement, 5.2 write their army and naval moves and Naval Battles, 7.1 orders are revealed simultaneously. Orders U.S. Deployment, 3.21 British Deployment, 3.22 Pursuit Fire, 7.22 written must specify which blocks are Reinforcements, 8.23 moving to which town or lake. Warship Deployment, 3.23 Combat Fire, 2.12 Retreats, Amphibious, 7.3 Examples: Home Territory, 1.1 Retreats, Army 7.21 (a) Build warship at Kingston. Indians, 9.0 Retreats, Warship 7.11 2 Army: Montreal to Malone Lakes, 1.2 Simo-Move, 11.0 2 Army: Montreal to Lacolle. Lakeside Towns, 5.21 Step-Reduction, 2.11 Towns, 1.1 (b) Warships: Kingston and York to Militia, 10.0 Victory, 8.0 Lake Ontario. All army blocks stand. Winter, 8.2 NOTE: Players must also record when Dragoons, Indians, or Artillery move.

Copyright © 2008 Columbia Games Inc. 5 Version 3.0 WARWAR OFOF 18121812 HISTORY OF THE WAR than 12,000 had been raised and more Upper Canada, reacted quickly to the than half of these were raw recruits. invasion by reinforcing the west from Fort Background to War Although the American militia had an George. Hull, plagued by supply problems, impressive theoretical strength of 400,000 chose to avoid battle by retreating back On Christmas Eve 1814, American men, rarely were 10,000 available at any to Detroit. Brock then took the initiative and British diplomats signed the Treaty one time, and these were always untrained by surrounding Detroit and managed of Gent. This brought an end to a thirty and undisciplined. to bluff Hull into surrender on August month struggle known as the War of 1812, 18th. It was an important victory for the the result of which has been disputed ever The British were equally unprepared. British. The western Indians, who had since. Committed to the struggle against Napoleon, they had less than 4,000 numerous grievances against American The British, fighting against Napoleon regulars in Canada in 1812. However, expansionism, now gave their support to at the time, tend to forget the war ever man for man, these troops were far the British cause. occurred. When they do remember, they superior to anything their opponent The conflict then focused on the see it as a minor colonial affair they won could put in the field at the time. This Niagara frontier. General Brock, flushed handily. The Americans did win a small strength was augmented by about 2000 with his success at Detroit, prepared to naval engagement or two, but the Royal Canadian regulars and the same number mount an offensive across the Niagara Navy still dominated and easily imposed of “embodied militia” who had a minimum River before the Americans could build a naval blockade that brought chaos to of 90 days training. Although there was up strength in the area. To his disgust he a prosperous economy. The Americans, a potential militia strength of 60,000, the found that Prevost, not anticipating the on the other hand, regard the war as a few thousand raised saw very little action. British success at Detroit and seeking to successful defense of their Revolution, but buy time, had negotiated a truce with since their primary objective, in a war they The obvious battleground for the war the Americans which lasted two months. declared, was to invade and annex the was British North America, a vast and Brock could only watch the Americans British territory now called Canada, to see sparsely settled land now called Canada. build up strength on the opposite bank of the war as a defense of anything is very At the time this territory was divided the river and prepare for their inevitable interesting. It should also be noted that into three administrative areas: Upper invasion. the famous American victory, The Battle Canada (now Ontario); Lower Canada of New Orleans, actually took place two (now Quebec); and the Atlantic Colonies. The attack came on October 13th. weeks after the war ended. The latter area was relatively safe from About one half of an American force attack because of British sea-power and of 6000 crossed the river at Queenston The United States declared war on the antipathy of the New England States (near Fort George). Brock quickly brought Britain on June 18th 1812. The main to the war. Hence Sir George Prevost, reinforcements to the scene and a fierce grounds for the declaration were stated Governor and Military Commander, only battle developed. Brock was killed early to be a violation of American neutrality had to worry about Upper and Lower in the battle and the demoralized British caused by British interference with their Canada, where he committed his forces defenders were hard pressed to hold commerce and shipping. This was the to a strategy of defense. Two thirds of their position. At the critical moment, result of a British decree intended to his army was deployed in Montreal and British reinforcements arrived while the prevent neutral countries from trading Quebec. The remaining one third (about American militia, the remaining half of with France in the Napoléonic Wars. A 3000 men) had the task of defending the the American army, refused to cross the secondary excuse was British impressment vulnerable frontiers of Upper Canada. river, claiming they were only required of a few dozen American seaman to to fight on American soil. This refusal to serve in the Royal Navy - a result of over- The American war-aim was to move resulted in a total defeat for the zealous attempts by the undermanned annex British North America. American Americans. British navy to recapture deserters who strategists decided on an invasion of had enlisted on American ships. Upper Canada. It was widely believed that Later that month, the Americans numerous American settlers in the area launched their third campaign when Nationalist and expansionist would welcome U.S. troops as “liberators”. General Dearborn led a force of 6000 politicians from the southern and western The pro-war west also saw greater regulars and militia from Plattsburg states argued for war not in defense of opportunity for expansion here than in the against Montreal. The advance proved to maritime rights, but because the British more densely populated, mainly French- be a fiasco. Again the American militia supported the Indian resistance to speaking Lower Canada. refused to invade Canada and Dearborn American expansion. This and other long had no choice but to retire to winter standing territorial disputes dating back to quarters without a shot being fired. the Revolution are unquestionably the real Campaign of 1812 This ended American activity for 1812. motives for war. Unlike the pro-war West American strategy for 1812 called for They had failed due to poor generalship, and South, New England (which had most attacks in three areas: Lake Champlain (a unreliable militia, and poor planning: it is to lose by British naval policy) was anti- feint); the Niagara frontier; and the Detroit generally conceded that a concentrated war and voted against it. frontier. On July 12th an American force of 2000 men led by the aging general attack in one area rather than on three Neither side was prepared for the William Hull crossed the Detroit River fronts would have been a better American ensuing struggle. On paper, the U.S. army and occupied Amherstburg. General strategy. had a strength of 36,700 regulars, but less Isaac Brock, the military commander of

Campaign of 1813 Struggle for the Lakes Both sides received reinforcements Throughout the War of 1812 poor land communications meant that the prerequisite in the spring of 1813. British strength to a successful campaign was control of the Lakes. This was clearly demonstrated on increased to about 12,000, American Lake Erie where British control in 1812 gave them mastery of the West and American strength to 18,000, although many of control in 1813 reversed this situation. these were new recruits. To this end, naval commanders on both sides evolved similar strategies; to out- Brooding over their failure of 1812, build opponents, seek battles when stronger, and avoid them when not. On Lake the Americans planned a more ambitious Ontario in particular this translated into a classic arms race which escalated until the campaign for this year. General Harrison British launched at Kingston in 1814, HMS St. Lawrence, a three deck 112 gun ship-of- (a future president) fought a British the-line bigger than Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar. advance from Detroit to a standstill at Sandusky. In September, a naval squadron The fleet that was temporarily inferior generally remained in port. Both naval commanded by Captain Oliver Perry won commanders were unwilling to gamble because a severe loss would be catastrophic; a decisive battle over the British Lake Erie wood was plentiful, but guns and seamen were not. The crucial American naval squadron. victories on Lake Erie in 1813 and on Lake Champlain in 1814 occurred mainly because British naval officers were hounded into action by army officers who outranked Proctor, the British general in the them. west, cut off from lake-borne supplies, decided to retreat. Harrison was then able to recapture Detroit and overtook an ambitious plan. One force of 6000 men British strength to about 25,000. The the retreating British at Moraviantown led by General Hampton (an alcoholic) problem for the United States was no (near London). The resulting battle was was to advance down the Chateauguay longer the conquest of Canada, but the a decisive victory for the Americans. River from Malone. Another force of 8000 defense of its own territory. Fortunately, Tecumseh, the brilliant Indian leader, was men led by General Wilkinson, whose capable American officers had replaced killed in the battle and the discouraged greatest claim to fame was that he never the incompetents of 1812 and 1813. Indians deserted the British cause. won a battle but never lost a court martial, Harrison did not follow up his victory The campaign opened with a was to simultaneously advance down the successful British amphibious attack on but returned to Detroit with the west St. Lawrence River from Sacket’s Harbor. completely under his control. Oswego. The Americans quickly retaliated As was now becoming customary, most on the Niagara Peninsula when a force of The second American objective - to of the militia under Hampton’s command 5,000 men captured Fort Erie and defeated capture York (now Toronto), Kingston, and refused to cross into Canada. Undaunted, a nearby British force at Chippewa. the Niagara Peninsula was less successful. Hampton pressed on and blundered The retreating British were reinforced, During a temporary naval supremacy on into a British force halfway down the however, and in the bloodiest battle of the Lake Ontario a force of 1800 Americans Chateauguay River. After a brief skirmish war at Lundy’s Lane near Niagara Falls, attacked York in April. The outnumbered the Americans retreated back across the fought the invaders to a standstill. The British garrison promptly retreated to border. Americans retreated back to Fort Erie, Kingston after a brief resistance. Before Wilkinson met a similar fate. His which they then destroyed and withdrew departing, the Americans burnt part of the army crossed the St. Lawrence River at to Buffalo. town including the Parliament Buildings of Prescott and advanced along the north Upper Canada. Kingston was not attacked, All that remained to be settled now bank towards Montreal. He was pursued was the British threat from Montreal. In however, because the Americans believed by a British force from Kingston. They it to be too strongly guarded. early September Sir George Prevost led overtook the American rear guard and 11,000 British regulars into American On the Niagara front the Americans defeated it at the Battle of Chrysler’s territory. At Plattsburg he waited idly for moved on Fort George which they Farm. Wilkinson now had a British army a supporting naval squadron to secure his occupied after the British retreated to in his front, another in his rear, and had flank. Instead, the British squadron was Dundas. This effort was soon wasted little choice but to retreat back across the annihilated by an American fleet and with when the same American force advancing border. With the exception of the west, his communications exposed, Prevost towards Dundas was surprised by a American strategy had again been foiled timidly retired back to Montreal. night attack. Two American generals and, as it turned out, they had also lost the were captured and their army retreated opportunity to win the war. TREATY & PEACE in confusion back to Fort George. The Throughout 1814, British and Americans then withdrew to Sacket’s CAMPAIGN OF 1814 American diplomats met in Ghent, Harbor to take part in an assault on The balance of power now shifted Belgium, to work out a peace. Both sides Montreal. The British quickly recaptured to the British. With the Napoléonic Wars demanded territorial concessions. The Fort George, attacked and captured Fort in Europe winding down, thousands American economy by this time was Niagara, and laid waste to Buffalo in of British troops and dozens of ships in danger of total collapse. Faced with retaliation for the destruction of York. became available for service in North rumblings of New England succession, Meanwhile the third American America. Nearly 16,000 Peninsula veterans American diplomats came close to objective, Montreal, was to be attacked by disembarked at Quebec, bringing total accepting British demands. However, news

Copyright © 2008 Columbia Games Inc. 7 Version 3.0 WARWAR OFOF 18121812 of the American victory at Plattsburg undermined the British position. The The ‘Atlantic War’ Americans pressed for a return to the During 1814 the increased availability of British troops and the dominance of the pre-war situation to which the war-weary British navy produced two amphibious operations of note that were designed primarily British agreed. to ease pressure on the Canadian frontier. The first of these, in August, saw a force of 4000 British regulars sail into Chesapeake Bay and attack Washington. 5000 militia And so this dirty little war ended turned out to meet the invasion, but at the Battle of Bladensburg most of them fled in with nothing settled, nothing changed. panic after the first British volley, hotly pursued by the redcoats in the “Bladensburg Maritime rights were not even mentioned Races”. Washington was then occupied and several public buildings set on fire. The in the treaty. But the indirect results of the White House owes its name to this event when its fire scarred walls were later covered war were significant, far more significant up with a coat of white paint. than many people realize. The British thrust soon faltered. A naval attack on Baltimore was canceled after Had the pre-war influx of American it became apparent its defenses were too strong. The British then timidly withdrew settlers into Upper Canada continued to Jamaica. Inspired by this repulse, Francis Scott Key, a young Baltimore lawyer, for a few more years, it is likely that this wrote the words of what later became the U.S. National Anthem - “The Star Spangled territory, and all of western Canada, would Banner”. have drifted into political union with the United States, and French speaking Later in 1814, a major assault by 7000 regulars was launched by the British against culture in Quebec would have vanished as New Orleans. Led by General Packenham (brother-in-law of Wellington), a prompt it did in Louisiana. But as a result of the assault on the city might have succeeded, but this was not done. The Americans, led war, hostility towards the United States by a future president, Andrew Jackson, were given time to prepare a strong defensive prevailed in the north for many years, and position. On January 8th, 1815, Jackson inflicted a crushing defeat on the advancing reinforced the British connection. This British which cost Packenham his life and forced the British to retreat “down the attitude was buried in time, but not before Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico”. Ironically, the treaty ending the war had been it gave birth to an independent Canada. signed in Europe two weeks before the battle, but news of the peace had not yet reached the two armies. Pragmatically, the Americans celebrated a victory at New Orleans and came to see the war as a successful CREDITS defense of their Revolution. This fostered Game Design: Tom Dalgliesh the isolationism of American foreign Development: Grant Dalgliesh, Ron Gibson, policy for the next century, during which Lance Gutteridge, and Jim Lawler. the United States grew into a world power. Contributors: Charles F. Bryant II, John Teixeira, Justin Thompson Historical Commentary: Tom Dalgliesh Copyright © Columbia Games Inc., 1973, 2001, and 2008.