HISTORY

September 17, 1814
US Sortie From Fort Erie

Trapped in Ft. Erie, Gen. Brown began to feel the pressure that his invasion of Canada was now restricted to a few 1000 yards of area inside Ft. Erie and resolved to do something about the British siege. Brown, however, did not trust his staff and keep preparations secret from them. Then on the morning of September 17th, 2,000 additional troops arrived and Brown called his staff together to discuss plans. Although most of the officers were pleased with the attack plan, Gen. Ripley demurred, thinking the attack too risky.

Brown's attack plan called for the Americans to move out at noon in three columns. One, under Gen. Porter, consisted of militia and detachments from the 21st and 23rd Infantry, was to move from the extreme left of the American camp and attack the British right flank. The second column, with units of the 9th, 11th, and 19th Regiments was to attack the British center. The remainder of the 21st Regiment was posted as a reserve near the fort under Ripley.

Troops were in position just before three o'clock. The resulting attack was a complete surprise, and the British fell back before the flank attack of the 21st and the 23rd. Two batteries were captured and a blockhouse. Cannon were destroyed, and the magazine blown up. Meanwhile the attack in the center carried four batteries, two blockhouses, and the whole line of British siege woks were taken by American forces.

Drummond sent strong reinforcements from his camp to the British position but it was too late, the entire British siege line was now in American hands.

The cost was just under 80 killed, and more than 400 wounded and missing. The British took a total of 500 casualties, but lost an additional 385 who were made prisoners. "Thus," reported Gen. Brown, in his letter to the Secretary of War twelve days afterward, "one thousand regulars, and an equal portion of militia, in one hour of close action, blasted the hopes of the enemy, destroyed the fruits of fifty days' labor, and diminished his effective force one thousand men at least."

This victory, led Wellington to conclude that the defense of Canada was not going well and with the failure of British invasions at Plattsburg and Baltimore, he recommended a favorable peace settlement with the US. Fortunes of war were turning in the Americans favor.