Geraint

A limited strategic British victory. They accomplished their objective of stopping the American invasion and planned occupation, but failed to drive the Americans back across the Niagara River. The invasion was the only large scale operation of the Americans in the summer of 1814. They had wanted to capture the Niagara Peninsula and Burlington Heights before British reinforcements from Europe arrived, the war there having ended. The Americans withdrew all the way to Fort Erie and then faced a siege. The battle took the initiative away from the Americans until the fall. This loss coupled with the subsequent need to defend Fort Erie decided the Americans to concentrate their Northern forces on the Peninsula and try again later in the year. This drew their forces away from at risk positions at Sacketts Harbor and Plattsburgh, opening opportunities for the British, and relieved Kingston from the threat of an American attack. The failure of the campaign also soured relations between the American army and navy, especially as the navy felt the army was not doing enough to protect its base at Sacketts Harbor. It also meant that the British did not have to concentrate more forces to recover the Peninsula and their territory to the west.

Who won a tactical victory is still debated. It was probably a tactical draw as the British remained at the battlefield while the Americans initially withdrew without pressure to do so. When some Americans returned to withdraw the guns, they claim to have captured but had left behind, they heard British voices and also withdrew. The next day the Americans returned in force to recover what they thought would be abandoned British guns, but when they saw the British drawn up in position they also withdrew. Memoirs by a British officer suggests that the British camped on or in close proximity to the battlefield the first night while the Americans withdrew approximately 4 miles to Chippawa. Darkness of night probably helped with the decision to mutually end the day's fighting.

It was a hard fought battle with neither side able to drive the other off the battlefield, hence my opinion that it was a draw.

Numbers engaged will depend upon which book you consult (and which side the author supports!!) You are always outnumbered. Your losses are heavy but your opponents must be grievous and so on.....

Good hunting.

Merry Christmas

Ron