HISTORY

June 24, 1813
Beaver Dam

In June 1813 American commanders at Ft. George determined that it would be good for morale to expand the American bridgehead. They selected Lt. James Fitz Gibbon's company of the 49th Regiment of Foot as the target. Fitz Gibbon's command of 46 troopers seemed like an excellent target. Camped at Beaver Dam, the company was well known as a group of hardcore discipline cases and should have been an easy target.

Lt. Col. Charles Boerstler had been complaining up to that time of a lack of opportunity for successful campaigning . . . although he had shown absolutely no aggressive spirit up to this time, it possible he was given the command because the outcome seemed so obvious. Or perhaps just to get him out of the fort and everyone's hair.

In any case, Boerstler assembled roughly 550 men consisting of companies of the 14th, 4th, 6th and 23rd regiments. The group was accompanied by 20 dragoons, two light guns and Dr. Cyrenius Chapin's "Forty Thieves." 550 men vs. 46 should only have gone one way. Things started to go wrong at once. Poor security allowed Laura Secord to alert Fitz Gibbon's command. And that group was reinforced with 450 local Native Americans.

Boerstler sent out no scouts or side parties, allowing the command to be easily ambushed as it advanced on the Beaver Dam camp. Despite being cornered the American forces gave a good account of themselves and 484 of them forced their way into the center of a wheat field. This would have required the Native American's to move into the open to continue their attack. Good tactics from Boerstler and a bit of a surprise considering his record so far, but it would be his last wise decision. At this point, the Native Americans, not wanting to fight in the open, decided that they had their fill of fighting and left the field to Fitz Gibbon's regulars.

Fitz Gibbon then boldly approached Boerstler under a white flag and announced that the Americans were surrounded a demanded an immediate surrender or the Native American's under him would happily dismember Boerstler's entire command. With that he surrendered his command of 484 to Fitz Gibbon's 46.

British losses were 15 killed and 35 wounded. American losses were 56 Killed and 56 wounded.