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December 19, 1813 After Ft. George was abandoned, defense of the Niagara region shifted back to Ft. Niagara. The post was garrisoned by a company of the 1st Regiment of Artillery and a company of the 24th U.S. Infantry. Other units were stationed at the fort, but they consisted mostly of sick and wounded men from other detachments. Capt. Nathaniel Leonard was in nominal command of the fort and he had determined that full defense of the fort was not possible. He therefore ordered his men to retreat to several of the redoubts and the "Red Barracks" in the event of an attack. This tactic was practiced on December 16. 562 under the command of Col. John Murray, the commanding officer of the 100th Regiment of Foot, crossed the river a few miles below the fort on the night of December 18. The attack had been scheduled to start several days earlier, but a lack of boats caused a delay. Seizing Youngstown, they captured a number of American pickets posted in the village. One of the prisoners revealed the American challenge and password. The British force then advanced silently towards the fort. An advance party confused the guard with this password long enough to gain entry. By the time the defenders became aware of the deception, it was too late to stop the British. One guard was killed, but the other was able to give the alarm. The defense plan of the 16th was put into action mainly from two buildings, the South Redoubt and the "Red Barracks". Some of the defenders barricaded themselves inside the South Redoubt of the fort and held off repeated attempts to break into the building. However, when they refused demands that they surrender, the British forced their way into the building and the infamous order was given to "Bayonet the whole."
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