1813: Harrison and Perry's amphibious landing in Canada

A painting of the Battle of Lake Erie done in consultation with Perry shortly after the war--supposedly the vessels are as close as we can get to the appearance of the actual fleet.

One of the most overlooked aspects of "the forgotten" War of 1812 is the experience the American forces gained in landing troops on hostile shores. Few people today realize that the Lake Erie shoreline was, over 200 years ago, the scene of a massive effort to transport men and cannons and conduct a "D-Day" style landing against what the Americans thought would be a defended beachhead. Moreover, throughout the summer of 1813 they had been preparing for these operations by building boats in a yard far, far up the Cuyahoga Valley--in a spot where few people would expect to find a naval installation today; Peninsula, Ohio near Akron. Large, flat bottomed open boats termed Schenectady boats were built, sent down the Cuyahoga River to Cleveland, where the commandant of the area, Major Thomas Jessup, sank them in the river to prevent them from being destroyed or captured by British forces. After the Battle of Lake Erie they were used to transport troops from Cleveland, the Sandusky River, and other points to Marblehead, where the army was ferried in parts to the Lake Erie Islands. Samuel R Brown's account provides a valuable picture of the amphibious operations of General William Henry Harrison's campaign:

...At the same time (as Perry's victory on Lake Erie) the general began to concentrate his forces at the mouth of the Portage River (modern day Port Clinton, Ohio). The greatest activity was visible in camp; in preparing for the descent on Canada--boats were collected--beef jerked--the superfluous baggage secured in block houses and a substantial log fence two miles long, extending from Portage River to Sandusky Bay, was built to secure the horses during the operations of the army.

On the 17th (Governor Isaac Shelby of Kentucky) with 4000 volunteers, arrived at headquarters. This formidable corps were all mounted; but it was deemed best for them to act as infantry, and leave their horses on the peninsula.  On the 20th (Brigadier General Duncan McArthur)'s brigade, from Fort Meigs, joined the main body, after a very fatiguing march of three days down the lake coast.

Colonel (Richard Johnson)'s mounted regiment remained at Fort Meigs, but had orders to approach Detroit by land and to advance pari passu (side by side) with the commander in chief, who was to move in boats through the islands, to Malden, and of whose progress, the colonel was to be daily informed by a special express.

Everything being now ready, the embarkation of the troops commenced at the dawn of day, on the 21st (of September). For the want of a sufficient number of boats, not more than one third of the army could embark at once.

There is a range of islands extending from the head of the Peninsula, to Malden. These islands render the navigation safe, and afford the army convenient depots for baggage and stores, as well as halting places. (The number of horses left on the Marblehead Peninsula, during the absence of the army in Canada, was upwards of five thousand! For the most part, of the first size and condition.)

Put-in-Bay Island, sixteen miles from Portage, was selected by the general as the first point of rendezvous--the first stage in his passage across the lake. The weather was favorable. As soon as the first division of boats reached the island, men were immediately detached to take back the boats for a fresh load. Such was the eagerness of the men to accelerate the embarkation of the whole army, that they, in most cases, anticipated this regulation by volunteering their services to return with the boats. Every one courted fatigue.

The fleet of commodore Perry, was busily engaged in transporting the baggage of the army. In the course of the 22nd the whole army had gained the island, and encamped on the margin of the bay, which forms nearly a semi circle... 

 ...The army was detained at Put-in-Bay during the 23rd and 24th (of September) by unfavorable winds. On the 24th, a soldier of the regular forces was shot for desertion. He had deserted three times--had been twice before condemned to suffer death, and as often pardoned; he met his fate with stoical indifference, but it made a very sensible impression on the troops. Two platoons fired on him, at a distance of five paces, and perforated his body like a sieve. 

(It is worthy of remark that but two soldiers were shot in the northwestern army; and so unfrequent was desertion, that from the time I joined it, till its departure from Fort George, not a solitary instance occurred; at least none came to my knowledge, although I made frequent inquiries as to the fact. I am not willing to attribute this extraordinary fidelity to the public service, to the superior patriotism of the people of the west, or a nice sense of the force of moral obligations. The cause is evident--the officers are generally, more attentive to their men, than those of the northern army.)

A typical bateau used as a transport on the upper great lakes. The bateaux, Schenectady boat, or Mackinac boat all seem to have been similar designs that were used extensively on the lake for travel and trade.

On the 25th the army again embarked partly in boats and partly on board the fleet, to take a nearer position to the Canadian shore. The flotilla arrived a little before sunset, at a small island called the Eastern Sister, eighteen miles from Malden and seven from the coast. This island does not contain more than three acres, and the men had scarcely room to sit down.

On the 26th the wind blew fresh, it became necessary to haul up the boats, to prevent their staving. The general and commodore in the (US Schooner) Ariel, made a reconnaissance  of the enemy's coast and approached within a short distance of Malden. Captain Johnny was dispatched to apprize Col. Johnson of our progress. (Brigadier General Lewis Cass, Colonel James V. Ball, and Captain John McClelland) were busy in arranging and numbering the boats. At sun set the lake had risen several feet; indeed, such was the violence of the surf that many entertained the serious fears that the greater part of the island would be inundated before morning. However, the wind subsided at twelve and relieved our apprehensions.

On the 27th at nine in the morning the army made its final embarkation. The day was fine, and a propitiious breeze made our passage a most pleasing pastime. It was a sublime and delightful spectacle to behold 16 ships of war and 100 boats filled with men, borne rapidly and majestically to the long sought shores of the enemy. The recollection of this day can never be effaced from my memory. There was something truly grand and animating in the looks of the men. There was an air of confidence in every countenance. The troops panted for an oppertunity to rival their naval brethren in feats of courage and skill; they seemed to envy the good fortune of our brave tars. They were ignorant of the flight of the enemy, and confidently expected a fight; indeed the belief was current among the troops that the enemy were in great force; for it was believed that Dixon's (Robert Dickson, an Indian Department agent who had brought 1400 western Indians to the second siege of Fort Meigs earlier in the year)  Indians as well as Tecumseh's were at Malden.

An early survey of the mouth of the Detroit River, showing the site of the landing and nearby Amherstburg and Fort Malden. 

We landed in perfect order of battle at 4 PM three miles below Malden. The Kentucky volunteers formed the right wing. Ball's legion and the friendly Indians the centre--the regulars on the left. The troops were almost instantly in line and shortly commenced their march, en echelons, for Malden. The troops had been drilled to marching in and out of boats and to forming on the beach. Every man knew his place; and so well were they masters of this very necessary piece of service, that a company would march into a boat, debark and form on the beach in less than one minute, and that too without the least confusion. (This proficiency is applicable only to the regulars and twelve-months volunteers. The militia officers did not attend to it.)

[Read the plan for the amphibious landing in General Harrison's orders here.] 

As we approached Malden, instead of the red coats and the war whoop of the Indians, a group of well dressed ladies advanced to meet us, and to implore mercy and protection. They were met by governor Shelby, who soon quieted their fears by assuring them that we came not to make war on women and children but to protect them.

The army entered Malden by several parallel streets and we marched through the town to the thunder of "Yankee Doodle."

Next: The re-occupation of Detroit and the pursuit of Tecumseh and General Henry Procter to the village of Moraviantown.