Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813

by James E. Elliott

In the spring of 1813, the largest amphibious force in American history to that point - 6,000 troops aboard 140 vessels - landed near the mouth of the Niagara River, routed the British garrison and captured Fort George. It was the second consecutive American victory and a sign that events of 1813 would redress the calamities of 1812. The badly mauled British army reeled westward, its leadership uncertain where, or how, the retreat would end. The American forces were poised to deliver the critical blow the War Hawks in Congress had dreamed of when they predicted a four-week war to subdue the British province. 10 days later, in a field near Stoney Creek, the promise of that triumph was smashed in a terrifying night action which hinged on a single bayonet charge that carried the American artillery and decapitated the American force. Little understood, even by Canadians, Stoney Creek was one of the most decisive reversals of fortune in the War of 1812 and determined the fate of the colony that would become Ontario.

Genres: History

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2009

About the author

James Elliott is a Canadian journalist and author with a keen and abiding interest in early North American history. With the Hamilton Spectator he wrote widely on the War of 1812 on subjects ranging from the Bloody Assizes to the Burlington Races. He worked on several episodes of the CBCs Gemini Award winning Canada: A Peoples History both as a consultant and a special-skills extra. He is the author of the critically acclaimed If Ponies Rode Men, which should have been made into a major motion picture. James Elliott lives in Hamilton, Ontario, with his wife, Irene, four miles from the Stoney Creek battlefield."

Reviews

[Amanda Borys · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well researched and documented history of the Battle of Stony Creek during the War of 1812. No major complaints, though the story never caught me and made me want to pick up the book and keep reading. Rather, I found I only had patients for short sessions.

[James Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange Fatality is a reasonably thorough account of the Battle of Stoney Creek which occurred in May, 1813. It's pretty interesting, too, because I'm familiar with the area covered during the Niagara Campaign of that spring. In attempting to gain control of Lake Ontario, an American force invaded Ontario across the Niagara River and pushed the British forces up the Niagara Peninsula toward the western end of the lake. The British stood on Burlington Heights, now part of Hamilton, later launching a night attack on the American forces camped on Stoney Creek, a few miles to the east. The outcome was in doubt. The Americans withdrew, however, in some disarray, ending the invasion.

Elliott's book is strong on visual support for his text: good maps, many photographs of the battlefield at various times, from the mid-19th century to the present, interesting biographical accounts of the participants, and several appendices covering such topics as the weapons of the armies, the historic preservation of the battlefield, and the modern archeological examination of it. It's interesting. It's comprehensive and provides a detailed study of an action which is rather obscure. My problems with the book lie in my own personal dislike of history told in the words of those who were there. Certainly they have first-hand experience. Maybe they even have a valuable perspective on the events, a deep understanding, notwithstanding the old saw about the fog of war.... Elliott, however, includes far too much for my taste. In some sections almost every paragraph includes a contemporary comment on what happened so that Elliott's first sentence is the paragraph opening followed by an eyewitness account. I'd much rather have the modern analysis and historical commentary rather than the personal experiences of participants.

[Maxwell Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you need to know about the build up to, the events of, and consequences of the Battle of Stoney Creek. Elliott describes them fairly well and like other 1812 works, it includes a history of commemoration and research into the subject. I found the experiments using pigs' heads and bodies to simulate weapon wounds from 2000 interesting.

As a War of 1812 reenactor, I recommend the book to Canadians interested in the conflict, as well as people who specialise in 18th and 19th-century history.

[Mark Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough, intelligent and highly readable study of one of the crucial battles of the War of 1812. If a vastly outnumbered detachment of British regulars, supplemented by natives and militia, had not turned back an invading American army, the whole of what is now southern Ontario might have become part of the U.S. Elliott closely describes the battle in an exciting narrative; it's amazing how few people ultimately may have decided its outcome. He also does an excellent job, however, of describing preparations for the invasion and the ways in which memories of the battle became part of the local culture of the Stoney Creek-Hamilton area. One of those books that should leave readers not only admiring the work but thanking the author for his efforts.

[Don Cummer · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a battle that, had it gone the other way, would have changed the political map of North America, the action between British and American forces in the Niagara Peninsula in May-June 1813 has received very little attention. Fortunately, James Elliott has given us a thorough and engaging narrative of the actions that took place between the amphibious assault on Niagara-on-the-Lake to the surrender of American forces at Beaver Dams nearly a month later. Elliott is at his best bringing the detail of the action to light, including the names and backgrounds of many of the soldiers killed during the series of battles along the Niagara peninsula. I'm still looking for a good source on the American occupation of Niagara, and hope that Elliott -- or someone inspired by this well-researched book -- will fill that gap.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a common theme in all the 1812 books I've listed and read\reading\to read: English tactics are cautious due to limited resources of men and munitions; American are politically lead initially then become better as they learn from their losses.
If not for the losses on both sides, parts of Strange Fatality would be part of a comedy. The captured speech of some of the people is quite unique at times and lends authenticity to the story.
The story is well written and splits the truth between fact and the myth that became the tales once the war was over.

[Bernie Charbonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read numerous books on the War of 1812, this one concentrates on the battle that occurred at Stoney Creek. This battle happened on the evening of June 6 1813 and forever was known as the battle that changed the fortunes for the British army and the lower Canada region. If interested in the British and American war of 1812 then this is a must read.

[Don Thompson]

A must read for Canadians and war of 1812 history buffs. I had heard very little of this battle but it was a turning point and may have saved us from becoming another American state.