Battle of Stoney Creek | |||||||
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Part of the War of 1812 | |||||||
Battle of Stoney Creek as portrayed by C.W. Jefferys |
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Belligerents | |||||||
United Kingdom | United States | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
John Vincent John Harvey |
John Chandler (WIA) (POW) William H. Winder (POW) |
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Strength | |||||||
700 | 3,400 of which 1,328 engaged | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
23 killed 136 wounded 52 captured 3 missing |
16 killed 38 wounded 100 captured |
Coordinates: 43°13′07″N 79°45′52″W / 43.218493°N 79.764344°W
The Battle of Stoney Creek was fought on 6 June 1813 during the War of 1812 near present-day Stoney Creek, Ontario. British units made a night attack on an American encampment. Due in large part to the capture of the two senior officers of the American force, and an overestimation of British strength by the Americans, the battle was a victory for the British, and a turning point in the defence of Upper Canada.
On 27 May, the Americans had won the Battle of Fort George, forcing the British defenders of Fort George into a hasty retreat, with heavy casualties. The British commander, Brigadier General John Vincent, gathered in all his outposts along the Niagara River, disbanded the militia contingents in his force and retreated to Burlington Heights (at the west end of Burlington Bay), with about 1,600 men in total. The Americans under the overall leadership of General Henry Dearborn, who was elderly and ill, were slow to pursue. A brigade under Brigadier General William H. Winder first followed up Vincent, but Winder decided that Vincent's forces were too strong to engage, and halted at the Forty Mile Creek. Another brigade joined him, commanded by Brigadier General John Chandler, who was the senior, and took overall command. Their combined force, numbering 3,400, advanced to Stoney Creek, where they encamped on 5 June. The two generals set up their headquarters at the Gage Farm.