Battle of Chippawa Anniversary Today

On July 3rd, 1814 American forces crossed the Niagara River from Buffalo to take Fort Erie marking the beginning of the Niagara Campaign of the War of 1812. British forces moved from Fort George to defend against the invasion, the main body of which stopped at Fort Chippawa on the north side of Chippawa Creek (Welland River) near its entrance to the Niagara River. On July 4th, U.S. forces proceeded north along the Niagara toward Chippawa and met a British Corps of Observation and followed in close pursuit to the Chippawa Creek. Upon arrival and seeing an assembly of British troops at the fortified bridge, the Americans returned to the south side of Street’s (Ussher’s) Creek to camp, sending pickets to watch for attack.

Early on July 5th, American pickets began skirmishing with approaching Canadian Militia and British Allied Native Warriors. Eventually American Militia and Allied Native Warriors set out to clear them, only to be met by a large body of British Regulars. In the battle that ensued a highly trained U.S. force led a devastating attack pushing the British, Canadian and Native forces back across the Chippawa Creek.

Of the 4000 British, Canadian, American and Native forces who bravely fought in the Battle of Chippawa, over 800 lay dead or wounded. Local men of the 2nd Regiment of Lincoln Militia who took part in the battle were witness to the loss of family, neighbours and comrades as well as the devastation of their businesses, farms and homes. In the engagement at Chippawa the regiment is said to have suffered the highest casualty rate of any Canadian sedentary militia unit during the war. Ensign George Rowe lost his father Captain John Rowe, a pregnant Lydia Peer lost her husband Stephen Peer, and Christopher Buchner lost his brother-in-law James Forsyth, beside whom he fought. In Chippawa, Captain Hamilton Merritt of the Militia Cavalry commented that evening, that "every house" was "filled with the wounded".

The Battle of Chippawa marked the coming of age for the American Army being the first occasion in the War of 1812 in which an equal force of American regulars prevailed against British regulars in battle on an open plain. The grey uniform worn by Scott’s Brigade at Chippawa now acts as an inspirational reminder to the United States Military Academy of the battle which is considered by some to be the birthplace of the modern American Army.

As the field returns to nature very little evidence remains of the bloody exchange. Today 300 acres (121 hectares) of the site remains as a rare example of a largely undeveloped War of 1812 battlefield and is preserved by the Niagara Parks Commission as an historic site. A memorial cairn commemorates the brave men who fought and the lasting peace enjoyed in their memory. Informative panels provide an illustrated guide to this important event in the history of North America.

A small memorial ceremony by the Niagara Parks Commission will take place this afternoon at 5:30 p.m. on the hallowed grounds located just south of Chippawa on the Niagara Parkway.