Raid on Black Rock

Raid on Black Rock Part of War of 1812 Date 11 July 1813 Location Black Rock, New York 42°55′41″N 78°53′53″W / 42.928117°N 78.898058°W[1]Coordinates: 42°55′41″N 78°53′53″W / 42.928117°N 78.898058°W[2] Result Pyrrhic British Victory Belligerents  United Kingdom  United States Commanders and leaders Cecil Bisshopp Peter B. Porter Strength 240[3] c. 230[4] Casualties and losses 3 killed 24 wounded 4 wounded prisoners 13 captured[4][5] 3 killed 6 wounded[4]

The Raid on Black Rock took place during the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the United States on 11 July 1813, near the Niagara River in western New York State, USA. The British objective was to capture supplies and equipment from the U.S. military store depot at Black Rock, New York. The raid was a success but the British force suffered substantial casualties as they returned to their landing-point.

The Raid

Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Bisshopp set out in the early hours of 11 July 1813, with 20 men of the Royal Artillery, 40 of the 1st Battalion, 8th (King's) Regiment, 100 of the 1st Battalion, 41st Regiment, 40 of the 49th Regiment and 40 of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Lincoln Militia.^[6] This force crossed the Niagara River, landed below Black Rock and moved "with great rapidity to the attack of that post".^[3] One hundred and fifty New York Militia under the command of Major Parmenio Adams, who had been stationed at Fort Gibson to defend Black Rock, fled^[7] and Bisshopp's men set to work. They spiked two 12-pounder and two 6-pounder guns at the batteries and made off with another 12-pounder, two 9-pounders, 177 muskets, several kegs of ammunition, quantities of round shot and canister shot, a large amount of army clothing and seven large bateaux and a scow which were loaded with 180 barrels of provisions. They burned the blockhouse and barracks at both the batteries and the navy yard, and also a schooner.^[8]

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Peter B. Porter of the New York Militia, whose own house was nearby, had gathered a force to oppose the invaders. Porter's force was composed of Captain Cummings' company of U.S. regulars, 80–90 men rallied from Major Adams' garrison, 50 Buffalo Militia under Captain Bell, 30 Seneca warriors allied to the United States, and a field-piece. The American force ambushed Bisshopp's column in the dark as they marched along the beach. The British force re-crossed to Canada with all of their plunder but not without significant casualties.^[9] The worst loss for the British was the "able and enterprising" Lieutenant Colonel Bisshopp, who later died of his wounds.^[10] It was said that the British withdrawal was unduly delayed to secure several hundred prized bags of salt.^[11]

Casualties

The British official casualty return gave 13 killed, 25 wounded, 4 "wounded and missing" and 2 missing. Captain Saunders of the 41st Regiment was returned as "wounded", although he was also taken prisoner.^[5] However, the Americans captured 17 prisoners, 4 of them wounded,^[4] which would indicate that 10 of the men who were thought to have been killed were in fact captured. The fact that the American report detailed only 4 wounded prisoners, including Captain Saunders, would indicate that one of the men returned as "wounded and missing" was captured unwounded. This gives a revised British casualty total of 3 killed, 24 wounded, 4 wounded prisoners and 13 other prisoners.

The American loss was 3 militiamen killed, 4 militiamen and 2 Seneca warriors wounded.^[4]

Notes

1. "Black Rock in July 1813". Western New York Legacy. Western New York Library Resources Council. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
2. "Black Rock in July 1813". Western New York Legacy. Western New York Library Resources Council. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
3. James, p. 228
4. Cruikshank, p. 224
5. Cruikshank, p. 218
6. James, p. 228, for composition of force. Cruikshank, p. 217, for the regimental numbers of the Lincoln Militia detachment
7. Cruikshank, p. 223 and volume index for Major Adams' first name.
8. James, p. 229
9. Cruikshank, pp. 224–225
10. Quimby, p. 302
11. Hitsman, p.164

References

• Cruikshank, Ernest (1971). The Documentary History of the Campaigns upon the Niagara Frontier in the Year 1813. Part II: June to August, 1813. New York: Arno Press Inc. ISBN 0-405-02838-5.
• James, William (1818). A full and correct account of the military occurrences of the late war between Great Britain and the United States of America – Volume 1. London: Published for the Author. OL 6918202M.
• Hitsman, J. Mackay; Graves, Donald E. (1999). The Incredible War of 1812. Toronto: Robin Brass Studio. ISBN 1-896941-13-3.
• Quimby, Robert S. (1997). The U.S. Army in the War of 1812: An Operational and Command Study. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University Press. ISBN 0-87013-441-8.

External links

• "War of 1812 web site".