War of 1812, Part 15: Battle of Crysler’s Farm

The New Nation
Written By Tom Hand

The American fleet conveying General James Wilkinson’s army to Montreal entered the St. Lawrence River on November 5, 1813. The Americans paused near a farm owned by John Crysler, a Canadian militia Captain, to prepare for their descent through an eight-mile stretch of rapids. Recognizing the Canadian side of the river must be secured before confronting the rapids, Wilkinson dispatched Generals Jacob Brown and Winfield Scott to clear the shore ahead of the American flotilla, and General John Boyd with three brigades to drive off Colonel Joseph Morrison’s British army in the American rear. The battle, in which the Americans outnumbered their British adversaries by almost 3 to 1, was an embarrassing and costly loss for the Americans. Aware that he would be blamed for the failure of the St. Lawrence campaign and wanting to restore his damaged reputation, Wilkinson decide to capture a small British blockhouse just north of the border at Lacolle Mills. After several hours of fruitless effort, the Americans, who outnumbered the Canadians nearly ten to one, were tired and demoralized and withdrew from the field.

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses how The Battle of Crysler’s Farm and the subsequent defeat at Lacolle Mills ended an embarrassing campaign for the Americans, and why it still matters today.

Images courtesy of Internet Archive, National Portrait Gallery - Smithsonian Institution, McCord Stewart Museum, Hood Museum of Art - Dartmouth, World History Encyclopedia, New York Public Library, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Wikimedia. 

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Tom Hand
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War of 1812, Part 14: Command Issues in the American Army