Fort Erie was a fort in Canada which, during the War of 1812, was abandoned and fired with all its stores on May the 28th, 1813, by orders of General Vincent. The same day the Americans crossed the Niagara and took possession of the ruins. After the Americans had withdrawn from the Canadian shore, the British rebuilt the fort and stationed there 170 men under command of Major Buck. On July the 3rd, 1813, General Jacob Brown, preparatory to an invasion of Canada, invested the fort, and on demand it surrendered. The fort was now strengthened, and made capable of enduring a siege. After the battle of Niagara, the British advanced against the American position. From August the 7th to the 14th the bombardment was almost incessant. At two o'clock on the morning of the fifteenth, the British, 1500 strong, tried to surprise the Americans. Attacks were made upon three points, but one only was successful. The main bastion of the fort was captured and held against all attack. Suddenly its magazine blew up with tremendous force, the attack was renewed and the British retreated, leaving 221 dead, 174 wounded and 186 prisoners. The Americans lost, all told, 137 men. The siege still continued, the attacking works were continually pushed nearer; but on September the 17th General Brown, in charge at the fort, planned a sortie to destroy the British works. An attack in three divisions was arranged and executed under cover of a fog. It was completely successful. The works were captured and destroyed, the British broke camp and gave up the siege, leaving behind over 800 men killed, captured or wounded. When the Americans finally abandoned Canada, Fort Erie was blown up on November the 5th, 1814, and never rebuilt. Research Fort Erie
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