Memorials at Stoney Creek: Battlefield House and Monument

This very British-looking castle tower was built as a monument to memorialize the Battle of Stoney Creek. Battlefield Monument was officially dedicated and opened to the public on the centennial of the battle in 1913.

Battlefield Monument is located on a rise behind Battlefield House, the restored two-storey home where the Americans imprisoned the Gage family on whose farm the battle was fought. This photo of Battlefield House was taken looking down from the Monument.

Here's the Monument as photographed through a window inside Battlefield House . . .

. . . and as it appears behind the battle re-enactment field.

[Photos by Debra She Who Seeks, except for photo #2 which comes from the internet]

Memorials at Stoney Creek: Smith's Knoll

Aboriginal and militia casualties at the Battle of Stoney Creek were claimed by their relatives and taken home for burial. But British and American soldiers did not have the luxury of a return to their home countries. They were buried where they fell.

British and American soldiers were all laid to rest in mass graves at Smith's Knoll in Stoney Creek. Here is the British memorial, replete with cannons, the Union Jack, an impressive plaque and the imperial lion on top.

The American memorial was erected later and is much more modern in appearance. The fresh floral wreaths on both monuments were recently laid in commemoration of the battle's bicentennial.

You can see that someone (an American re-enactor perhaps) has left a couple of tributes for the US fallen, including a flask undoubtedly used to toast their memories.

Although the plaque was laid on behalf of an American Legion branch, clearly it was engraved locally in Hamilton, judging from the Canadian/British spelling of "honour."

[Photos by Debra She Who Seeks]

The Battle of Stoney Creek

Two hundred years ago, Stoney Creek was a small village on the shore of Lake Ontario near the Niagara Escarpment. Today it is part of the large city of Hamilton, Ontario. In 1813, invading American forces arrived and established a camp of 3000 soldiers on the farm of James Gage. The American officers commandeered the Gage farmhouse as their headquarters, imprisoning the family in the cellar but not otherwise harming them.

Shortly thereafter on the night of June 5-6, 1813 under cover of darkness, 700 British troops who were stationed nearby launched a surprise attack. They had strict orders not to fire any muskets but to use only their bayonets when silently ambushing the American camp.

The British soldiers were accompanied by members of the local militia comprised of area farmers and merchants.

Iroquois warriors were there as well, led by Mohawk Major John Norton.

The silent ambush plan didn't really work out. Musket fire and native war cries soon filled the air and the battle was on! In the darkness, the fighting was fierce and confused. The Americans mistakenly thought they were outnumbered. Due to a couple of crucial American tactical mistakes, the British were able to capture their two senior officers. In 45 minutes it was all over and the Americans surrendered. While darkness remained, the British forces quickly dispersed back into the woods so the defeated Americans wouldn't learn how few in number they actually were.

Once again, Upper Canada was saved. And once again, may I say: Huzzah!

My Rare One and I took these photos at the Bicentennial Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek held in Hamilton on the weekend of June 1-2, 2013. We enjoyed the Re-enactment tremendously. The re-enactors are unpaid history enthusiasts who come from all over Ontario and the USA. They pay for their own uniforms, equipment and travel costs. Many set up camp at Battlefield Park and live there all weekend in an authentic period manner without cell phones, electricity or any other modern conveniences. Re-enactors talk the talk and walk the walk!

Samuel Green and the War of 1812

Two hundred years ago today on July 6, 1813, my great-great-great-grandfather Samuel Green died. He was a farmer and miller in West Flamborough, Upper Canada (today part of Hamilton, Ontario). Samuel belonged to a large United Empire Loyalist family which had fled to Upper Canada from New Jersey during the American Revolution. He was 43 when he died, leaving a wife and 11 children. Samuel died performing military service in the War of 1812 with his local militia unit, the 2nd York Regiment. His wife Margaret later received a war widows pension for his loss.

Most accounts say that Samuel Green was a casualty of the Battle of Stoney Creek which was fought during the night of June 5-6, 1813. Some accounts say he was killed in action but the later stated death date of July 6 would indicate that he must have instead died of wounds received in the battle. Or perhaps that death date on the pension application was simply a clerical error and "July" should have read "June."

Or did Samuel survive the Battle of Stoney Creek but die performing another kind of military service? An entry in the Militia Muster Roll and Pay List of the 2nd York Regiment says a Samuel Green was paid for "batteauxing to York" from June 25 to July 6, 1813. Batteauxing was how the British moved military goods, supplies and ammunition over water from one strategic point to another by the use of large flat-bottomed boats. Did Samuel in fact drown in Lake Ontario or die accidentally while loading or unloading military supplies? The pay record itself makes no mention of death while on duty. Could it perhaps have been a different Samuel Green doing that job? Records were often spotty or inaccurate in those days.

It's probably impossible to know now. I prefer to subscribe to our traditional family history that Samuel Green was a casualty of the Battle of Stoney Creek. It was on this basis that My Rare One and I went to Hamilton in June to attend the Bicentennial Re-enactment of the Battle of Stoney Creek. More on that to come!

[First photo of a Hamilton statue honouring the United Empire Loyalists comes from the internet. Second photo of militia re-enactors of the Battle of Stoney Creek was taken by My Rare One.]

Chicken Chat

When I was in Manitoba over the long weekend, I had the great pleasure of meeting up with another bloggin' buddy -- mrsduncanmahogany of October's November! We had a wonderful visit, discussing many shared interests and experiences in and around Winnipeg. Then we got on the topic of chickens.

There are many summer festivals in small-town Manitoba that are fun to attend but mrsduncanmahogany filled me in on a new one -- Chicken Daze! She blogged about it here too. It's held in a bedroom community just outside of The Peg called Oakbank.

For the life of us, we could not figure out what connection could possibly exist between Oakbank and chickens that would either justify or necessitate a summer festival but . . . who knows? Perhaps all the other good summer festival themes were already taken and only chickens remained.

Anyway, mrsduncanmahogany and I had a lovely time sitting in an air-conditioned cafe and having something cold to drink, because my gawd it was just like a blast furnace outside that day.  It's a little known fact that Winterpeg can be hellishly hot and humid in the summer. Depending on what time of year it is, Winnipeggers basically freeze or fry.

Speaking of frying, now I'm craving KFC for some reason.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a great 4th of July, all my American blog buddies! Her Royal Highness has dressed up especially for this occasion to send you her best wishes as well.

She reminds you that today is the perfect day to visit one of your many wonderful national historic sites. Have fun!

Happy Canada Day!

To celebrate our national holiday, let's get drunk and dance, everyone!

First, we have to empty a LOT of Molson Canadian beer bottles and cans in order to play the "Canadian National Canthem" --



But all that beer helps to lower our inhibitions so we can engage in some iconic Canadian folk dancing --



Beauty! Have a good day, eh?