Capture of Fort Erie

Part of the War of 1812

Date	July 3, 1814
Location	Fort Erie, Upper Canada (present-day Ontario)
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

United States

Commanders and leaders

Thomas Buck

Jacob Brown
Winfield Scott

Strength

137

4,500

Casualties and losses

All surrendered

Less than 10

Coordinates: 42°53′36″N 78°55′26″W / 42.893351°N 78.923969°W / 42.893351; -78.923969

The Capture of Fort Erie by American forces in 1814 was an incident in the War of 1812 between the United Kingdom and the United States. The British garrison was outnumbered but surrendered prematurely, in the view of British commanders.

The United States shared a long border with British North America (present-day Canada) in 1814. During the war, the Americans launched several invasions into Upper Canada (present-day Ontario). One section of the border where this was easiest (because of communications and locally available supplies) was along the Niagara River. Fort Erie was the British post at the head of the river, near its source in Lake Erie.

In 1812, two American attempts to capture Fort Erie were bungled by Brigadier General Alexander Smyth. Bad weather or poor administration foiled the American efforts to cross the river.

In 1813, the Americans won the Battle of Fort George at the northern end of the Niagara River. The British abandoned the Niagara frontier and allowed Fort Erie to fall into American hands without a fight. The Americans failed to follow up their victory, and later in the year they withdrew most of their soldiers from the Niagara to furnish an ill-fated attack on Montreal. This allowed the British to recover their positions and to mount raids which led to the Capture of Fort Niagara and the devastation of large parts of the American side of the Niagara River.

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