HISTORY

British Territorial Claims

The British did have territorial objectives in the United States. There were laid out in the following order from Lord Bathurst to Lt. Gen. Prevost in June 1814. Portions off that letter read:

SECRET
Downing Street
3rd June 1814

. . . The object to your operations will be . . . to obtain if possible ultimate security to His Majesty's possessions in America. The entire destruction of Sackets Harbor and Naval Establishment on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain . . . The maintenance of Fort Niagara and so much of the adjacent territory as may be deemed necessary, and the occupation of Detroit and the Michigan Country. Your success shall enable us to terminate the war by the retention of the fort of Niagara, and the restoration of Detroit and the whole of the Michigan Country to the Indians. . .

I have the honor to be
Sir Your most obedient Humble Servant
BATHURST

Several other letters suggested that Prevost advance down the Hudson valley to the capture of New York, allowing His Majesty to separate the New England states from the enemy, to become the autonomous colony of "Columbia."