The War of 1812 in the Old Northwest

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The war of 1812 in the Old Northwest: An Introduction to the Bicentennial Edition by Brian Leigh Dunnigan

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pp. vii-xiii

The occasion of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 brings briefly into the public consciousness the clash of arms characterized by historian Donald R. Hickey as “a forgott en conflict.” Indeed the War of 1812 is, at best, vaguely remembered by most Americans and . . .

I. Tippecanoe: Prelude to War

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pp. 3-22

The prelude to the War of 1812 started in the backwoods of the Old Northwest in the 1760's. The French had come and gone, the British were there then, to be replaced or challenged after 1783 by the Americans. Each occupation of the area had its . . .

II. The Old Northwest Acquires an Army

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pp. 23-43

After the Battle of Tippecanoe, Michigan Territory became the focal point for prewar preparation. At various times this area had been controlled by different European powers. First claimed by France, it was surrendered to Great Britain in 1760, and . . .

III. War

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pp. 44-62

In the changing interpretations of the causes of the War of 1812, there has been fairly general agreement that there were several powerful pressures sweeping the United States toward a Declaration of War. To simplify, these forces can be divided into . . .

IV. Invasion of Upper Canada

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pp. 63-85

Few men in Hull's army had ever seen Detroit before, and fewer still had any knowledge of the Canadian shore. While the General awaited further orders, the field-grade officers must have spent much of their time improving their knowledge of the military . . .

V. A Problem in Logistics

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pp. 86-108

On July 21 General Hull crossed to Detroit to determine the progress of preparations for the assault on Fort Malden. To avoid friction among his colonels, he took Lieutenant-Colonel Miller with him. The disappointing news that the gun carriages would . . .

VI. The Surrender of Detroit

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pp. 109-125

Whereas General Hull had hesitated and vacillated in his plans for an attack on Fort Malden, General Brock was to act boldly and decisively against Detroit. Taking advantage of Hull's withdrawal from Canada, he issued general orders praising the faithful . . .

VII. The Second North Western Army

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pp. 126-146

After Hull's Surrender, the Northwest found itself in the midst of war-without an army and with its main post lost to the British. Before the President was to appoint a new commander on September 17, Harrison-the hero of . . .

VIII. Frontier Actions and the Battle of River Raisin

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pp. 147-172

While the Second North Western Army prepared for a major engagement against the British, several independent expeditions were made against hostile Indian villages in Illinois and Indiana . . .

IX. Siege of Fort Meigs

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pp. 173-193

After more than six months of war, the Americans knew too well that the conquest of Canada was no mere matter of marching. They had met with little but reverses, and were to suffer yet another defeat before their North Western Army would be organized . . .

X. Frontier Expeditions; Battle of Lake Erie

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pp. 194-213

The presence of a fairly large main force in the north deterred large-scale Indian raids in the settled portions behind, or even west of, the American lines, as Hull and Harrison had believed. Small raiding parties did plague settlers in the interior, just as . . .

XI. Battle of the Thames

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pp. 214-234

Following the disaster on Lake Erie, General Procter was in an increasingly difficult position. His provisions were low, with little prospect of improvement. He knew Harrison's forces were assembling, while he had growing doubts about the dependability . . .

XII. Mackinac Island; Minor Actions

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pp. 235-258

The british were not content to accept without a struggle the American occupation of Upper Canada. A complete shifting of the top generals in Upper Canada during December brought fresh viewpoints concerning possible action against the Americans. . . .

XIII. Peace

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pp. 259-262

In early 1815 the british were laying plans to renew their efforts in Upper Canada, re-establish a strong navy (especially at yards to be built at Turkey Point), and induce large-scale attacks on American posts by the northern Indians. For his part, McArthur . . .

Bibliography

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pp. 263-269

Index

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pp. 271-286