Bicentenary Re-Enactment

Transcription

1 The Fight For Canada 1815 Bicentenary Re-Enactment Saturday 25 th and Sunday 26 th August 2012 Cardiff Castle Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 1

2 The war of saw the forces of the British nation pitted against the United States of America. It was a war fought in three theatres, at sea, on land and battles on the great lakes, with Welsh soldiers of the 41st fighting on both land and sea, and gaining battle honours for Detroit, Queenstown, Miami and Niagara. Penarth and District Wargames Society will be bringing this exciting and complex conflict to life using miniature 28mm figures and terrain to refight the battles of the North American campaign. Using descriptions of the period, the club will re fight a series of battles, that ranged from the American invasions of Upper and Lower Canada in and 1813 to the British invasions of 1814 and This latter campaign saw the burning of Washington DC in 1814 and defeat for the British at New Orleans. Players will be on hand to discuss the armies and the strategy of the period and the models themselves will present an accurate portrayal of the combatants of this time. Penarth and District Wargames Society was founded in 1976 and members play a wide variety of periods and game types including Ancients, Medieval, Renaissance, Napoleonic Wars, American Civil War, World War 1, World War 2, Modern and Ultra Modern, through to Fantasy and Sci-fi using figures from 2mm to 54mm., further details can be found at www. penarthwargames.org THE FIGHT FOR CANADA! The War of Come and visit us at Cardiff Castle August Bank holiday week-end Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August 2012 Experience the sights and smells of and watch the Fight for Canada! 2 Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier

3 THE BIG PICTURE The United States was a relatively new nation and was keen to flex its muscles. It had a number of grievances with Britain: TRADE WITH FRANCE. Britain was at war with France and had, as a consequence, introduced a series of trade restrictions which impeded the United States trade with France. The S saw these restrictions as violating its trading rights. IMPRESSMENT. The British Royal Navy needed 140,000+ sailors to man its ships. This number could not be achieved by volunteers alone, and the navy was forced to turn to impressment the infamous press gangs. Many of the pressed men deserted to American ships and became naturalised Americans. Britain did not recognise this and routinely searched US ships for deserters. This caused growing anger in the US. SUPPORT FOR NATIVE AMERICANS. The area comprising the modern states of Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin had long been an area of dispute between the Indian Nations and the US. The British saw the Indian tribes as a natural ally and one that could act as a buffer to its Canadian colonies. They provided arms to Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa. AMERICAN EXPANSIONISM. Some American officials believed that areas of Canada were dissatisfied with British rule and would greet an American invading army as liberators. There is little evidence to support this viewpoint. US POLITICAL. The US was in a period of political upheaval between the Federal Party (who favoured closer ties with Britain) and the Democratic-Republican Party (who favoured a complete break with Britain). By, the Federal Party was very weak, and the Democratic-Republican Party had both the President (James Madison) and control of Congress. Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 3

4 In June the House of Representatives voted 79 to 49 for a declaration of war. The Senate agreed by 19 votes to 13. War was formally declared on the 18 th June. At this time Britain was heavily engaged in war with France (perhaps another reason for the US declaring war at this time?) and most of the British Army was deployed in Spain, fighting against the French. It would not be until 1814 that Britain was able to redeploy troops to North America. It was therefore British policy to maintain a DEFENSIVE STRATEGY in Canada. There were some 4,000 British regular troops in Canada, supported by 2 to 3,000 Canadian Militia. The US had a regular army of around 12,000 but was experiencing difficulty in trying to expand it. Nevertheless, preceding the declaration of war, on the 12 th July, General William Hull led an invading force of about 1,000 untrained and poorly equipped militia across the Detroit river and occupied the Canadian town of Sandwich. Some Canadians did join Hull, and by August his force had increased to 2,500. Pressure from the British forced Hull to retreat to (Fort) Detroit, where he surrendered to a combined force of British regulars, Canadian Militia and Native Americans, led by General Isaac Brock and the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. THE LEGACY The war dragged on until 24 th December 1814 when a peace treaty was signed at Ghent. It was, perhaps, unfortunate that the news took time to forget to the Americas, and not soon enough to stop a disastrous British attack on New Orleans on the 8 th /9 th January Both sides had relatively minor successes and failures in the war, with the boundaries remaining at the end as much as they had started. Certainly the battle of Detroit forced the US to realise that its army needed a more professional outlook, and steps were taken to address this. The conclusion of the war against France in 1815 addressed many of the grievances raised by the US. It was also clear that there was no overwhelming desire in Canada to severe links with Britain. Copy of the original surrendered 4 th Regiment of Infantry Colour The original now hangs within the Firing Line Museum. 4 Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier

5 THE 41 st REGIMENT AND THE WELSH PERSPECTIVE The 41 st Regiment was raised in 1719 as a Regiment of Invalids - i.e. soldiers who are not physically fit enough to be in a standard marching regiment, but who could be used for garrisons and domestic duties. The Regiment was initially recruited from the out-pensioners from Chelsea Hospital. In 1787 the Regiment was reconstituted (in Portsmouth) as a normal line regiment. Briefly in 1788 the future Duke of Wellington served as a Lieutenant in the 41 st. In 1789 the regiment was posted to Cork to deal with a general unrest. In 1793 the Regiment sailed, as part of an attacking force, to the West Indies. Elements of it took part in the capture of Martinique, St Lucia and Guadeloupe. For the next four years, the Regiment then took part in the abortive campaign to capture San Domingo, suffering badly from disease. In 1796 the Regiment (or what was left of it) returned to Ireland to recruit. In 1799, still seriously understrength, the Regiment embarked for Canada. For the next few years, it gradually recruited back up to full strength. The 41 st, as a British regular regiment, contributed to the backbone of the British defence of Canada, through to the peace treaty in In 1815 the Regiment returned to Britain. In 1831 the 41 st Regiment was designated the 41st or The Welch Regiment of Infantry. This was the FIRST link the Regiment has with Wales. It was briefly stationed in Wales in The Welsh connection today is through antecedence. In 1969 The South Wales Borderers (24 th Foot) and The Welch Regiment (41 st Foot) merged to become The Royal Regiment of Wales (24/41 st Foot). In 2006 The Royal Welch Fusiliers (23 rd Foot) and The Royal Regiment of Wales (24 th /41 st Foot) merged to form The Royal Welsh (23 rd /24 th /41 st Foot). The Royal Welsh is the current infantry regiment of Wales. Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 5

6 War of Bicentenary Event Cardiff Castle August 2012 RE ENACTMENT PROGRAMME FOR SATURDAY 25 th and SUNDAY 26 th AUGUST 2012 SAT TIMINGS MAIN ARENA IN FRONT OF AMERICAN FORT BRITISH PERIOD CAMP SITE OTHER REMARKS CASTLE MAIN GATE 1000 GATES OPEN TO PUBLIC BRITISH INFANTRY DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING THE PERIOD TACTICS UASED IN DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING AND CAMP LIFE AND CAMP LIFE AND BRITISH GUARDS AND PRESENTATION BY THE MEDICAL SECTION OF THE 41 ST FOOT IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM ORDINARY BRITISH SOLDIER IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA BRITISH INFANTRY DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING AND CAMP LIFE AND ENTRIES BRITISH GUARDS AND 6 Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier

7 SAT TIMINGS MAIN ARENA IN FRONT OF AMERICAN FORT MID DAY GUN FIRED BY THE 41 ST FOOT ARTILLARY UNIT LIVE FIRE MUSKET DEMONSTRATION BY BRITISH INFANTRY LIVE FIRE MUSKET DEMONSTRATION BY MARCHING DISPLAY BY THE BRITISH INFANTRY and BATTLE OF FORT DETROIT 18 TH AUGUST LAST POST BRITISH PERIOD CAMP SITE OTHER REMARKS CASTLE MAIN GATE PERIOD LUNCH WITH COOKING DEMOSTRATIONS PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM OF BRITISH OFFICER AND PRESENTATION BY THE MEDICAL SECTION OF THE 41 ST FOOT IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA BRITISH GUARDS AND PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM OF USA INFANTRY IN THE War of AND Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 7

8 SUNDAY TIMINGS MAIN ARENA IN FRONT OF AMERICAN FORT BRITISH PERIOD CAMP SITE OTHER REMARKS CASTLE MAIN GATE 1000 GATES OPEN TO PUBLIC BRITISH INFANTRY DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING AND DRILL DISPLAY ILLUSTRATING BRITISH GUARDS AND PRESENTATION BY THE MEDICAL SECTION OF THE 41 ST FOOT IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM ORDINARY BRITISH SOLDIER IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA BRITISH INFANTRY DRILL DISPLAY ILLISTRATING AND DRILL DISPLAY ILLISTRATING BRITISH GUARDS AND 8 Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier

9 SUNDAY TIMINGS MAIN ARENA IN FRONT OF AMERICAN FORT MID DAY GUN FIRED BY THE 41 ST FOOT ARTILLARY UNIT LIVE FIRE MUSKET DEMOSTRATION BY BRITISH INFANTRY LIVE FIRE MUSKET DEMONSTRATION BY BATTLE OF FORT DETROIT 18 TH AUGUST CAMP LIFE BRITISH PERIOD CAMP SITE OTHER REMARKS CASTLE MAIN GATE PERIOD LUNCH WITH COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM OF BRITISH OFFICER AND PRESENTATION BY THE MEDICAL SECTION OF THE 41 ST FOOT IN THE 41 ST FOOT CAMP AREA BRITISH GUARDS AND PRESENTATION ON THE LIFE AND UNIFORM OF IN THE War of AND AND CAMP LIFE Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 9

10 James Madison was President from During the first year of Madison s Administration, the United States prohibited trade with both Britain and France; then in May, 1810, Congress authorized trade with both, directing the President, if either would accept America s view of neutral rights, to forbid trade with the other nation. Napoleon pretended to comply. Late in 1810, Madison proclaimed non-intercourse with Great Britain. In Congress a young group including Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun, the War Hawks, pressed the President for a more militant policy. The British impressment of American seamen and the seizure of cargoes impelled Madison to give in to the pressure. On June 1,, he asked Congress to declare war. The young Nation was not prepared to fight; its forces took a severe trouncing. The British entered Washington and set fire to the White House and the Capitol. General Hull On August 16,, Major General William Hull surrenders Fort Detroit to the British. Almost instantly his name becomes synonymous with coward and traitor. No other American during the War of is the recipient of so much public anger. Many Americans refer to Hull as the new Benedict Arnold. For Americans, who have been convinced by President Madison and his Republican Party that the conquest of British North America will be swift and almost bloodless, it is incomprehensible that Hull surrenders such a vital fortification without a desperate fight. William Hull becomes the scapegoat for all that has gone wrong with the war a war that has yet to produce an American victory. 10 Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier

11 General Brock Sir Isaac Brock KB (6 October October ) was a British Army officer and administrator. Brock was assigned to Canada in Despite facing desertions and near-mutinies, he commanded his regiment in Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) successfully for many years. He was promoted to major general, and became responsible for defending Upper Canada against the United States. While many in Canada and Britain believed war could be averted, Brock began to ready the army and militia for what was to come. When the War of broke out, the populace was prepared, and quick victories at Fort Mackinac and Detroit crippled American invasion efforts. Brock s actions, particularly his success at Detroit, earned him a knighthood, membership in the Order of the Bath, accolades and the sobriquet The Hero of Upper Canada. His name is often linked with that of the Native American leader Tecumseh, although the two men collaborated in person only for a few days.[2] Brock died at the Battle of Queenstown Heights, which was nevertheless a British victory. Tecumseh Tecumseh (March 1768 October 5, 1813) was a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy (known as Tecumseh s Confederacy) which opposed the United States during Tecumseh s War and the War of. Tecumseh has become an icon and heroic figure in American Indian and Canadian history. Tecumseh grew up in the Ohio Country during the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War, where he was constantly exposed to warfare. [1] With Americans continuing to encroach on Indian territory after the British ceded the Ohio Valley to the new United States in 1783, the Shawnee moved further northwest. In 1808, they settled Prophetstown in present-day Indiana. With a vision of establishing an independent American Indian nation east of the Mississippi, Tecumseh worked to recruit additional tribes to the confederacy from the southern United States. [1] During the War of, Tecumseh s confederacy allied with the British in The Canadas (the collective name for the colonies of Upper Canada and Lower Canada), and helped in the capture of Fort Detroit. Tecumseh was killed in the Battle of the Thames, in October 1813 Amgueddfa r Milwr Cymreig, Castell Caerdydd 11

12 Firing Line Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier The Interpretation Centre Cardiff Castle CF10 3RB Tel: Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier