Winfield Scott
and the War of 1812

The Niagara Campaign of 1814

by Rich Barbuto

When Scott departed Fort George with his regulars the previous October, the situation deteriorated rapidly. The burning of Newark by militiamen and volunteers was as unpardonable as it was inexplicable. The British were quick to respond with the sneak attack of Fort Niagara on 18 December. After the fall of Fort Niagara, Major General Phineas Riall crosses the Niagara with a larger force, including a large contingent of natives. Over the next two weeks virtually every structure along the river, including the villages of Black Rock and Buffalo, are burned to the ground. The citizens flee into the wintry woods. Several are scalped. Newark was avenged.

Newly promoted Major General Jacob Brown received orders to plan and execute the upcoming campaign along the water border with Canada. Meanwhile, Major General George Izard would do the same along the Lake Champlain corridor. Brown's force would eventually be called the Left Division, Izard's the Right. Brown eventually marched to the Niagara Frontier with a brigade of infantry and a battalion of artillery. Brown put responsibility for this brigade in Scott's hands while he returned to Sackett's Harbor to strengthen that foremost naval base on Lake Ontario. Thus began the legend of Winfield Scott's most famous contributions to the war of 1812.

Scott took on his new command with energy. He improved camp sanitation that resulted in an extremely healthy brigade. He formed sections of pioneers in each regiment. He built up discipline. Soldiers obeyed officers who, themselves, were held to high standards of behavior. He started a comprehensive training program that had every soldier and officer, perhaps for the first time in the war, operating from a single drill system. Week after week, in rain and snow, the troops drilled for hours each day. Uniforms were falling off their backs yet the growing pride was noticeable to all. Perhaps most of all, Scott's Brigade was developing confidence in its leaders and in itself.

Scott expected to lead the major campaign of 1814 by himself but that was not to be. Brown returned to Buffalo and two other brigades assembled there as well. A second brigade of regulars was commanded by Eleazar Ripley while militia Brigadier General Peter B. Porter, war hawk and Black Rock citizen, commanded a brigade of volunteers and natives. Scott would have difficulties working with these peers. Nonetheless, it was clear that Scott received the bulk of Brown's confidence. In those days, the commander kept his thoughts to himself. Few persons were brought into the planning process less news leak out and find its way to the enemy. Brown operated that way.

At the end of June, wagonloads of new uniforms appeared in Scott's camp. The men were eager to cast off the rags they had worn since the previous autumn. However, Scott was disappointed that the shipment did not include any standard blue jackets. Instead, the war department had sent simple gray tailless jackets and white linen trousers. These, plus the elegant leather "tombstone" shakos, became the distinctive uniform that marked one of the more famous formations in American military lore.

Winfield Scott and the War of 1812

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© Copyright 2005 by Rich Barbuto.
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