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Timeline: Rufus McIntire's Letters and Events of the War of 1812

The timeline below shows some of the major events of the War of 1812, as well as items related to events or people mentioned in Captain Rufus McIntire's letters. The dates and locations of McIntire's letters are included in the timeline, in the highlighted rows.

Date War of 1812
1811-11-04 12th US Congress convenes
1811-11-07 Battle of Tippecanoe (often considered the first battle of the War of 1812, though the War did not officially begin til the following year)
1812-06-18 War of 1812 officially begins when U.S. declares war on England
1812-07-12 General William Hull enters Canada, on the first of three failed U.S. attempts to invade Canada.
1812-07-19 Attacks at Sackett's Harbor, site of a major shipyard for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Naval headquarters for the Great Lakes.
1813-02 President Madison elected to a second term
1813-03-19 Sir James Yeo appointed Commander-in-Chief of British naval forces in the Great Lakes
1813-04-27 Battle of York (present-day Toronto) - U.S. troops attacked York, the capital of the province of Upper Canada, capturing ordnance and supplies destined for the British squadron and later burning government buildings.
1813-05-11 RM writes from Schenectady NY, en route to Sackets Harbor, and mentions the taking of "Little York."
1813-05-29 Sir George Prevost and Sir James Yeo attack Sackett's Harbor. British forces landed and attacked the village, but were driven off. Most of the American ships and forces were at the opposite end of the lake at the time.
1813-07-05 RM writes from Sacket's Harbor; references the "late attack" and British casualties
1813-09-11 Captain Perry defeats the British at the Battle of Lake Erie.
1813-09-11 RM writes from Sacket's Harbor. Briefly mentions General Wilkinson, the Secretary of War and the proposed invasion of Canada. Mentions hearing naval battle while writing.
1813-10-17 American forces under General Wilkinsen leave Sacketts Harbor. Headed initially for Grenadier Island, in the St. Lawrence River, they are one part of the two-pronged Saint Lawrence Campaign, an intended attack on Montreal. "Mid-October was very late in the year for serious campaigning in the Canadas and the American force was hampered by bad weather, losing several boats and suffering from sickness and exposure. It took several days for the last stragglers to reach Grenadier Island." (Wikipedia)
1813-10-23 RM writes from Basin Harbor, Grenadier Island; mentions this is the rendezvous point for troops (Saint Lawrence Campaign)
1813-10-26 Battle of Chateauguay (Canada) – As part of the Saint Lawrence Campaign, American forces under General Hampton invade Lower Canada, with Montreal the ultimate goal. They are repulsed at Chateauguay and retreat to Plattsburgh.
1813-11-11 Battle of Crysler's Farm (Canada) – After their defeat here, the Americans officially end the Saint Lawrence Campaign. Wilkinsen's forces withdraw to French Mills, which is intended as winter quarters. (A lack of supplies will later force them to retreat from there to Plattsburgh.)
1813-12-08 RM writes from French Mills camp; discusses the Saint Lawrence Campaign
1814-03-17 RM writes from Rome (Oneida County), en route to the Niagara Frontier
1814-04-13 RM writes from Batavia
1814-04-25 British extend naval blockade to New England
1814-05-06 British raid on Fort Oswego, an important point in the American supply route to Sacketts Harbor. One goal was to capture cannon intended for the ships still under construction at Sackett's Harbor.
1814-05-09 RM writes from Volney, Oswego Falls, providing details of the British raid on Fort Oswego.
1814-07-03 Americans capture Fort Erie (Niagara region, Ontario, Canada)
1814-07-05 Battle of Chippawa (Canada) – American victory.
1814-07-25 Battle of Lundy's Lane (present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada).
1814-08-01 RM writes from Sacket's Harbor; mentions a "late battle" where Generals Scott and Brown were wounded (Battle of Lundy's Lane)
1814-08-24 The British burn Washington, DC in retaliation for the burning of York.
1814-08-04 through 1814-09-21 Siege of Fort Erie (present-day Ontario) – Americans successfully defended the fort against the British, but then abandoned it on November 5 because of a lack of supplies.
1814-09-21 RM writes from Fort Virginia, Sacket's Harbor
1814-09-11 The Battle of Plattsburg on Lake Champlain is a major American victory, securing its northern border.
1814-09-13 Battle of Baltimore/Bombardment of Fort McHenry; Francis Scott Key writes "The Star Spangled Banner."
1814-12-14 RM writes from Sacket's Harbor
1814-12-24 The Treaty of Ghent: Americans and British diplomats agree to the terms of a treaty and return to the status quo from before the war.
1815-01-01 RM writes from Plattsburgh cantonment
1815-01-08 Andrew Jackson defeats the British at the Battle of New Orleans.
1815-02-17 U.S. ratifies the Treaty of Ghent (peace treaty), officially ending the war.
1815-03-04 RM writes from Sacket's Harbor; mentions the peace treaty, the decommissioning of the army
Last Updated: May 19, 2021