| Lundy's Lane was one of the most violent and | | | | described as a cart track. However, for the British it |
| bloody battles of the War of 1812. The clash | | | | made an ideal position. The lane followed a ridge |
| involving about 3,000 troops took place on Canadian | | | | along the river, providing defensible high ground. The |
| soil near what is today Niagara Falls, Ontario, on July | | | | British artillery took up position in a cemetery, setting |
| 25, 1814. By the time the fighting was finished, more | | | | up two 24-pounders, two six-pounders, a howitzer |
| than 800 Americans and Canadians would be killed or | | | | and a Congreve rocket detachment. Much of the |
| wounded and the three generals involved would be | | | | fighting that followed at Lundy's Lane would focus on |
| severely injured. | | | | the capture and attempted recapture of the British |
| For many in Canada today, Lundy's Lane was an | | | | guns. |
| extremely symbolic battle in that it represented a | | | | When Gen. Scott's regulars emerged from the |
| victory for Canadian troops who were fighting | | | | nearby woods around 6 p.m. and attempted to cross |
| against a foreign invader. The battle is much less well | | | | the open ground toward the British position, they |
| known in the United States, where the most famous | | | | came under heavy fire from the guns. Led by Lt. Col. |
| War of 1812 battles are probably the Battle of | | | | James Miller, American troops finally got close enough |
| Baltimore (Fort McHenry) in 1814 and the stunning | | | | to fire a deadly volley at the British gunners, followed |
| American victory at the Battle of New Orleans in | | | | by a bayonet charge. These dry terms do little to |
| 1815. Lundy's Lane remains one of the most brutal | | | | describe the carnage that followed as American |
| battles in terms of loss of life ever fought in Canada. | | | | forces finally overwhelmed the British. |
| War had been declared by the United States in June | | | | Although night had fallen, Gen. Drummond ordered |
| 1812. From the outset, part of America's strategy | | | | several counterattacks to retake the cemetery and |
| involved the invasion of Canada, not only to bring the | | | | the guns. British and American forces stood almost |
| war to Great Britain but also with the intent of | | | | toe-to-toe, trading deadly volleys of musket fire and |
| extending American soil. Although many in the U.S. | | | | even resorting to hand-to-hand combat. The summer |
| believed that Canadians would be eager to leave the | | | | night was hot and still, so that the smoke of battle |
| British empire, that did not turn out to be the case. | | | | hung like a fog over Lundy's Lane, lit by muzzle |
| Canadians fought hard against the invading Americans | | | | flashes, rockets and artillery. Later, British officers |
| at every opportunity and later in the war would turn | | | | who were veterans of Europeans battlefields in the |
| the tables by invading the United States to contest | | | | Napoleonic Wars said they were horrified by the |
| control of the Old Northwest. | | | | brutality of the fighting. |
| Leading the American forces were Gen. Jacob Brown | | | | The Americans lost so many men that their numbers |
| and Gen. Winfield Scott. Scott had already made a | | | | had dwindled to just 700 troops against about twice |
| name for himself and would go on to become the | | | | as many British. Exhausted, the British and Americans |
| leading United States professional soldier for much of | | | | eventually fought to a standstill. The U.S. forces did |
| the nineteenth century, directing the Mexican War | | | | not have enough men to hold the position and |
| and the early days of the Civil War. | | | | withdrew, while Drummond did not press the attack. |
| The British were led by Lt. Gen. Gordon Drummond, a | | | | Drummond was badly wounded in the neck, while |
| professional soldier who also served as lieutenant | | | | Scott and Jacobs were both severely injured in the |
| governor of Upper Canada. Drummond had been | | | | fighting. Scott's wounds at Lundy's Lane sidelined him |
| born in Quebec in 1772, son of a professional soldier | | | | for the remainder of the war. |
| from a prominent Scottish family. Drummond was | | | | The British lost about 84 killed and 559 wounded, 42 |
| educated in England and had begun a military career | | | | captured and 193 missing. American losses were 171 |
| that took him to Ireland for the early years of the | | | | dead, 572 wounded, 7 captured and 110 missing. |
| War of 1812. One can only imagine how he must | | | | Although the battle was basically a draw, with neither |
| have felt, sitting out the war overseas as he heard | | | | side the clear victor, historians say it was a strategic |
| news that his fellow Canadians were fighting invading | | | | victory for Canada because the American losses |
| forces back home. | | | | were so great that U.S. troops had to withdraw from |
| Drummond got his chance to fight at Lundy's Lane, | | | | their invasion of Upper Canada and return to their |
| leading a force of British regulars, Canadians and | | | | base at Fort Erie. |
| Native troops. The Americans had overwhelmed a | | | | Drummond was knighted in 1816, in part for his role |
| British force earlier at Chippawa and were marching | | | | at Lundy's Lane. Sir Gordon went on to become |
| along the Niagara River when they encountered | | | | Governor-General and Administrator of Canada. |
| British forces at Lundy's Lane, which some have | | | | |