Raid on Elizabethtown
Encyclopedia
Raid on Elizabethtown occurred on February 7, 1813, when Benjamin Forsyth
and 200 men crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River to occupy Elizabethtown (now Brockville, Ontario
, and seize military and public stores, free American
prisoners, then capture British
military prisoners.
crossed the St. Lawrence River on the ice and took a few prisoners in Ogdensburg, New York
. Two days later, Benjamin Forsyth
, a major in the United States Rifle Regiment, left Ogdensburg at 22:00 hours at the head of about 200 regulars and volunteers. He marched to Morristown, New York
, twelve miles (19 km) up the river, crossed over at 1:00 hours and took Elizabethtown by surprise. He freed the American prisoners from the Elizabethtown jail and took 52 British prisoners at a cost of one man wounded on each side and a 28-mile (45 km) march in the bitter cold. His performance convinced the British commanders that Ogdensburg had to be neutralized.
Benjamin Forsyth
Benjamin Forsyth was an American officer of Rifle troops in the War of 1812 between Britain and America.Originally from Stokes County, North Carolina, he obtained a lieutenancy in the U.S. 1st Rifle Regiment when it was formed in 1808...
and 200 men crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River to occupy Elizabethtown (now Brockville, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, and seize military and public stores, free American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prisoners, then capture British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
military prisoners.
Overview
On February 4, 1813, a British detachment from Prescott, OntarioPrescott, Ontario
Prescott is a town of approximately 4,180 people on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada. The Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge, 5 km east of Prescott in Johnstown, connects it with Ogdensburg, New York...
crossed the St. Lawrence River on the ice and took a few prisoners in Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
. Two days later, Benjamin Forsyth
Benjamin Forsyth
Benjamin Forsyth was an American officer of Rifle troops in the War of 1812 between Britain and America.Originally from Stokes County, North Carolina, he obtained a lieutenancy in the U.S. 1st Rifle Regiment when it was formed in 1808...
, a major in the United States Rifle Regiment, left Ogdensburg at 22:00 hours at the head of about 200 regulars and volunteers. He marched to Morristown, New York
Morristown (village), New York
Morristown is a village along the Saint Lawrence River in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 456 at the 2000 census...
, twelve miles (19 km) up the river, crossed over at 1:00 hours and took Elizabethtown by surprise. He freed the American prisoners from the Elizabethtown jail and took 52 British prisoners at a cost of one man wounded on each side and a 28-mile (45 km) march in the bitter cold. His performance convinced the British commanders that Ogdensburg had to be neutralized.