The War of 1812 Magazine

Issue 1: January 2006

Documents, Artefacts and Imagery

Fort Erie

A modern view of defile that stopped the British from exploiting their gains at Fort Erie in August 1814. Photo by John R.Grodinski.

On 15 August 1814, British forces under Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond commenced an assault against Fort Erie. Two of the assaulting columns failed, while the other two combined and managed to gain one of the fort’s bastions, however they were unable to exploit their success as the narrow entry into the fort proper was well covered by American infantry firing from windows, such as from where this photo was taken, against the British. Eventually the British were able to train a gun on their opponents, but the magazine beneath the bastion exploded killing and wounding many of the assaulting troops. The American continued to hold the fort until 5 November 1814, when they were finally forced to withdraw back into the United States.

[ War of 1812 Magazine Issue 1 ]

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