Raid on Elizabethtown

Raid on Elizabethtown
Part of War of 1812
Date February 7, 1813 Location Elizabethtown, Upper Canada Result American victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	United States
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Benjamin Forsyth
Strength
Unknown	200 regulars and volunteers
Casualties and losses
1 wounded American prisoners freed 52 British prisoners	1 wounded

The Raid on Elizabethtown occurred on February 7, 1813, when Benjamin Forsyth and 200 regulars and volunteers crossed the frozen St. Lawrence River to occupy Elizabethtown, seize military and public stores, free American prisoners and capture British military prisoners.^[1]

Overview

On February 4, 1813, a British detachment from Prescott, Ontario 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.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Mahon, J. (1972). The War of 1812 {Pg. 140}. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-80429-8
2. ↑ Parks Canada - The War of 1812

Conflicts of the War of 1812
Battles of the War of 1812
United States	Washington, D.C. Burning of Washington Georgia Battle of Fort Peter Louisiana Battle of New Orleans Siege of Fort St. Philip Maryland Battle of Baltimore Battle of Bladensburg Battle of Caulk's Field Battle of North Point Battle of St. Michaels Raid on Havre de Grace Massachusetts Battle of Hampden New York Battle of Big Sandy Creek Battle of Buffalo Battle of Ogdensburg Battle of Plattsburgh Capture of Fort Niagara Raid on Black Rock Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor Ohio Battle of Fort Stephenson Copus massacre Siege of Fort Meigs Virginia Battle of Craney Island Raid on Alexandria Skirmish at Farnham Church Battle of Rappahannock River
U.S. territories	Alabama Battles of Fort Bowyer Illinois Battle of Fort Dearborn Battle of Rock Island Rapids Siege of Prairie du Chien Indiana Battle of the Mississinewa Battle of Tippecanoe Battle of Wild Cat Creek Siege of Fort Harrison Siege of Fort Wayne Michigan Battle of Brownstown Battle of Frenchtown Battle of Mackinac Island Battle of Maguaga Siege of Detroit Siege of Fort Mackinac Mississippi Battle of Burnt Corn Battle of Callabee Creek Canoe Fight Battle of Holy Ground Battle of Horseshoe Bend Battle of Talladega Battle of Tallushatchee Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek Fort Mims massacre Kimbell–James Massacre Missouri Battle of Credit Island Battle of the Sink Hole
British North America	Lower Canada Battle of the Chateauguay First Battle of Lacolle Mills Second Battle of Lacolle Mills Upper Canada Battle of Beaver Dams Battle of Chippawa Battle of Cook's Mills Battle of Crysler's Farm Battle of Fort George Battle of Frenchman's Creek Battle of Longwoods Battle of Lundy's Lane Battle of Malcolm's Mills Battle of Queenston Heights Battle of Stoney Creek Battle of the Thames Battle of York Capture of Fort Erie Raid on Elizabethtown Raid on Port Dover Raid on Gananoque Siege of Fort Erie
Spanish Empire	Spanish Florida Battle of Pensacola
Naval battles	Atlantic Ocean Capture of HMS Boxer Capture of HMS Cyane Capture of HMS Epervier Capture of HMS Frolic Capture of HMS Penguin Capture of HMS Dominica Capture of USS Argus Capture of USS Chesapeake Capture of USS President Chesapeake Bay Flotilla USS Constitution vs HMS Java Sinking of HMS Avon Battle of Fayal Sinking of HMS Peacock Sinking of HMS Reindeer USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere USS United States vs HMS Macedonian Caribbean Sea Battle of La Guaira Great Lakes Battle of Lake Erie Battle of Fort Oswego Engagements on Lake Huron Engagements on Lake Ontario First Battle of Sacket's Harbor Gulf Coast Action of 13 December 1814 Battle of Lake Borgne Pacific Ocean Action off James Island Action off Charles Island Nuku Hiva Campaign Battle of Valparaiso (Capture of USS Essex)
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Coordinates: 44°36′00″N 75°40′41″W / 44.600°N 75.678°W / 44.600; -75.678