Siege of Fort Erie

Map of the American position and British siege lines

Date	August 4 – September 21, 1814
Location	Fort Erie, present-day Ontario
Result	American victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

United States

Commanders and leaders

Gordon Drummond

Edmund P. Gaines
Eleazer Wheelock Ripley
Jacob Brown

Strength

3,000

2,500

Casualties and losses

283 killed,
508 wounded,
748 captured,
12 missing
Total:
1,551

213 killed,
565 wounded,
240 captured,
57 missing
Total:
1,075

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

The Siege of Fort Erie was one of the last and most protracted engagements between British and American forces during the Niagara campaign of the American War of 1812. From 4 August to 21 September 1814, the Americans successfully defended Fort Erie against a British army. During the siege, the British suffered heavy casualties in a failed storming attempt and also suffered from sickness and exposure in their rough encampments. Unaware that the British were about to abandon the siege, the American garrison later launched a sortie to destroy the British siege batteries, during which both sides again suffered heavy losses.

After the British abandoned the siege, the reinforced American army followed up cautiously, but with the onset of winter and shortage of supplies they withdrew, and abandoned and demolished the fort.

The Americans under Major General Jacob Brown had crossed the Niagara River and captured Fort Erie on 3 July 1814. After defeating a British force at the Battle of Chippawa they advanced north but the British reinforced their troops in the Niagara peninsula. On 25 July, the bloody but indecisive Battle of Lundy's Lane was fought, during which Brown was severely wounded. Following the battle, the outnumbered American troops, now under the command of Brigadier General Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, withdrew to Fort Erie. Ripley advocated abandoning the Fort and retreating across the Niagara but Brown overruled him and summoned Brigadier General Edmund P. Gaines from Sackett's Harbor to assume command.

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