The last element of the Crown forces was the quasi military element known as the Provincial Marine or the Marine Department. During the British occupation of the Great Lakes after the French and Indian War, it had been found necessary to build a small flotilla of armed transports for the transport of supply throughout the area. This practice continued on through the eighteenth century, and by 1811 control of the flotilla was in the hands of the Army's Quartermaster Department. In 1812 the following ships were in commission on the Great Lakes:
- Lake Ontario
- Royal George - 20 guns
Earl of Moira - 10 guns
Prince Regent - 10 guns (under construction)
Duke of Gloucester - 6 guns
Lake Erie, Huron, and Michigan
- Queen Charlotte - 18 guns
Lady Prevost - 12 guns
General Hunter - 10 guns
Though often viewed as warships the Provincial Marine was first and foremost an armed transport fleet. Its prewar role and the one that its vessels were constructed, was the transport of supplies. Sailing and combat abilities were sacrificed for shallow draft and cargo capacity. In those cases, such as the upper lakes, Erie, Huron, and Michigan where no American armed vessels existed, it had total control of the area. On Lake Ontario where a single US warship sailed as well, its control was less sure.
One last point on the Provincial Marine. At the start of the war, its entire establishment on both lakes was less than 120 officers and men. By contrast. the sole US Navv warship on the Great Lakes, the USS Oneida on Lake Ontario, boasted a crew of 96 officers and men. Even then, the captain of the Oneida was looking for additional 24 sailors to complete his crew to war strength. To make up the needed crew for the Provincial Marine, five companies of the Royal Newfoundland Fencibles were sent to the Great Lakes in 1812. Additional sailors were recruited in Quebec and Montreal, and the Royal Navy was asked to help out. However once the naval war starts out the Great Lakes, the Provincial Marine will always be short of manpower.
The Organization of th Anglo-Canadian Army of the War of 1812
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© Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum
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