HISTORY

Brigadier General John Vincent

Vincent, having server the British army in Haiti, Holland and Denmark, was sent to Canada in 1802 and was placed in command of Kingston. He had not seen combat for 12 years but successfully fought off an attack by Commodore Isaac Chauncey.

Vincent was then transferred to the Niagara frontier. Everyone on the Niagara knew the Americans were about to attack at the end of May. There had been up to three days of shelling and Vincent was only confident that we could delay a landing . . . not repulse it. Finally on 27 May 1813, his positions were attacked at Ft. George. Although his British and Canadian regulars made the planned defense, Vincent, about to be outflanked and surrounded, ordered a retreat.

Vincent's forces halted at a defensive position at Burlington Heights, where Vincent received news of his promotion to Major General. The pursuing American forces halted at Stoney Creek. Vincent's forces mounted a night counterattack. The resulting Battle of Stoney Creek was a tactical draw but badly shook the Americans. Vincent himself took little part. He was injured when thrown from his horse in the confusion of battle and was finally found wandering in the woods, seven miles from the battle scene, in a state of confusion, convinced that the entire British force had been destroyed.

The Americans subsequently retreated to Fort George, and Vincent's forces maintained a blockade of them for several months. After the British defeat at the Battle of Moraviantown, which threatened Vincent's rear, he retreated again to Burlington Heights. By this time, Vincent was ill, and was transferred first to Kingston once again, then to Montreal, before leaving for England.