Chronology

Timeline of the War of 1812 and the Napoleonic Wars

This timeline emphasizes some of the major event of the War of 1812 in North America, as well as other significant events worldwide. [Events occurring outside the North American theatre of operations are presented in brackets]

1811

November 11 Battle of Tippecanoe, Indiana Territory. William Henry Harrison defeats Native Americans and disperses the Native Confederacy leading to renewed American vs. Natives conflicts.

1812

January 8-12 [British army under Sir Arthur Wellesley lays siege to Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain.]
April 6 [Storming of Badajoz, Spain, by British army.]
May [Napoleon begins his invasion of Russia.]
June 16 Great Britain repeals her Orders in Council, objected to by the United States because it they interfered with American trade.
June 18 United States declares was on Great Britain.
July 5 Northwest Army under General William Hull reaches Detroit.
July 17 Fort Mackinac, Michigan Territory, falls to the British. General William Hull, commander of Detroit, fears an “invasion” of the upper lakes tribes.
July 22 [Battle of Salamanca, Spain.]
August 9-29 General Henry Dearborn agrees to an armistice with the British on the Niagara and St. Lawrence frontiers.
August 15 Fort Dearborn, Illinois Territory, [present day Chicago] captured by the Indians.
August 16 General William Hull surrenders Detroit to the British. British gain control of entire Michigan Territory.
August 19 U.S.S. Constitution defeats H.M.S. Guerriere.
September 6-12 Fort Wayne, Indiana Territory, besieged by Indians and relieved by forces under General William Henry Harrison.
Oct. - Dec. [Napoleon retreats his Grande Armee from Moscow.]
October 4 Construction begins on Fort Winchester, Ohio, near the ruins of Fort Defiance.
October 13 Battle of Queenston Heights, Upper Canada. General Isaac Brock is killed, but Americans lose the battle and fail in 2nd attempt to invade Canada.
October 18 U.S.S. Wasp defeats H.M.S. Frolic.
October 25 U.S.S. United States defeats H.M.S. Macedonia.
November 25 Battle of Mississinewa, Indiana Territory. Americans win battle and burn Native American villages forcing Natives to flee to Fort Amherstsburg, Ontario. Burdens British supply system.
December 29 U.S.S. Constitution defeats H.M.S. Java.

1813

January 18-22 Battle of the River Raisin, Frenchtown, Michigan Territory. American army under General James Winchester is defeated and captured.
February 2 Construction of Fort Meigs begins under the supervision of engineers Charles Gratiot and Eleazar D. Wood.
February 22 Ogdensburg, New York taken by the British.
February 24 U.S.S. Hornet takes H.M.S. Peacock.
April 27 York, Upper Canada, captured by an American force under General Zebulon Pike. Public buildings burnt, but Pike is killed when the British blow up the powder magazine. Americans burn York.
April 28-May 9 First Siege of Fort Meigs. Americans retain possession of fort and British retreat.
May 27 Fort George, Upper Canada, captured by the Americans.
May 28 American victory at Sackett’s Harbor, New York.
June 6 Battle of Stoney Creek, Upper Canada. Tactical draw.
June 21 [Battle of Vitoria, Spain.]
July 21-28 Second Siege of Fort Meigs
August 1-2 Failed British attack on Fort Stephenson, Lower Sandusky, Ohio.
September 10 Battle of Lake Erie. Americans gain control of Lake Erie.
September 29 Northwest Army under General Harrison retakes Detroit.
October 5 Battle of the Thames, Upper Canada. British forces defeated. Tecumseh is killed, shattering Indian Confederacy allied with Great Britain.
October 16-19 [Battle of Leipzig, German States.]
November 9 American victory over Creek Indians by General Andrew Jackson at Talladega, Alabama.
November 11 Battle of Chrysler’s Farm, Upper Canada.
December 19 British capture Fort Niagara, New York.

1814
March 4 Battle of Longwoods, Upper Canada. American raiding party repulses British attack and British withdraw. American forces withdraw shortly after and return to Detroit.
March 27 General Jackson defeats Indians at Horseshoe Bend, Alabama.
April 6 [Napoleon abdicates.]
April 26 [Napoleon exiled to Elba Island.]
May 5-6 British capture Oswego, New York.
July 2-3 Americans capture Fort Erie, Upper Canada.
July 5 Battle of Chippewa, Upper Canada.
July 20 Prairie du Chein, Illinois Territory, captured by the British.
July 25 Battle of Lundy’s Lane, Upper Canada.
July 26-27 Americans fail to retake Fort Mackinac, Michigan Territory.
August 14 British fail to retake Fort Erie, Upper Canada.
August 19 British troops land at Benedict, Maryland and advance towards Washington DC, while the Royal Navy sails up the Potomac River.
August 24 Battle of Bladensburg, Maryland. British rout Americans, take and burn public buildings in Washington, DC.
September 6-11 Battle of Plattsburg, New York.
September 12-13 British attack on Baltimore and Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key writes The Star Spangled Banner.
September 17 British repulsed a second time at Fort Erie, Upper Canada. Col. Eleazar Wood, U.S. Engineers killed.
October 9 Treaty of Fort Jackson ends Creek War in the South.
Oct. – Nov. McArthur’s Raid. U.S. forces leave Detroit on a 150 mile raid into Upper Canada.
November 7 British surrender Pensacola, Florida to Americans.
December 1 General Jackson arrives at New Orleans, Louisiana.
December 13 General Sir Edward Pakenham land near Lake Borgne, Louisiana.
December 24 Treat of Ghent signed. Ends the War of 1812 (once approved by Parliament and the U.S. Congress).

1815
January 8-9 Battle of New Orleans, Louisiana.