American capture of Fort Erie

Background. Fort Erie was an unfinished flintstone fortification at the start of the War of 1812. American attempts to capture it in 1812 failed, but the British abandoned the Niagara frontier, allowing the fort to fall into American hands. U.S. forces held it for a period and then abandoned it on 9 June 1813; British reoccupation followed the American withdrawal from the area in December 1813.

Campaign Planning. For 1814, Major General Jacob Brown planned a new invasion of Upper Canada. Originally targeting Kingston, the objective shifted to the Niagara frontier because British ships controlled Lake Ontario for the first six months of the year. Brown, known for swift offensive action, led the forces that crossed the Niagara River to capture the fort.

Siege and Aftermath. Following the capture, British forces under Gordon Drummond besieged Fort Erie from 4 August to 21 September 1814. The Americans successfully defended the fort; while the British constructed their siege lines and batteries, three American schooners anchored in the Niagara River harassed them with gunfire. Drummond lifted the siege on 21 September 1814 and withdrew to a strong defensive position at Fort Chippawa. The Americans eventually destroyed the fort and withdrew to Buffalo in November 1814.