Canadian units of the War of 1812

When the United States and the United Kingdom went to war against each other in 1812, the major land theatres of war were Upper Canada, Michigan Territory, Lower Canada and the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.
Each of the separate British administrations formed regular and fencible units, and both full-time and part-time militia units, many of which played a major part in the fighting over the two and a half years of the war.

Fencibles

were military units raised on the same terms as regular troops, but liable for service only in North America.

Atlantic provinces

New Brunswick Regiment of Fencible Infantry

This regiment was raised in 1803. Although established as Fencibles, the regiment volunteered for general service, and became the 104th Regiment of Foot in the British Army in 1810. Nevertheless, they served in North America only. Their red uniforms had buff facings.
The unit was trained in light infantry tactics with the intention of being formally converted to light infantry. Like light infantry units, they used bugles instead of drums to pass commands on the battlefield. There were many skilled axe-men and boatmen in the regiment. Their pre-war training also emphasized winter manoeuvres and amphibious operations.
They made an epic winter march from Fredericton to Kingston in early 1813. Detachments from the regiment fought at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor and in the various campaigns on the Niagara peninsula. The flank companies suffered heavy casualties in a failed storming attempt during the Siege of Fort Erie.
The unit was disbanded in 1817. The regiment is commemorated within the Canadian Army by the Royal New Brunswick Regiment which also carries the battle honour awarded to the regiment in the aftermath of the conflict for its contribution on the Niagara peninsula, particularly at the Battle of Lundy's Lane.
Another unit, also known as the New Brunswick Fencibles, was formed in 1813 to garrison various posts in the Maritime Provinces, and was disbanded in 1816.

Nova Scotia Fencibles

The Nova Scotia Fencibles was raised in 1803. The unit had red uniforms with yellow facings. Although posted to Kingston in Upper Canada in 1814, the regiment did not see action and was disbanded in 1816.
Half the unit, some 210 officers and other ranks, together with 48 wives and children, were on board when she wrecked on 29 May 1816 near Green Island in the Saint Lawrence River. The regiment had marched from Kingston to Quebec and had embarked there for Nova Scotia. Four soldiers, two wives, and two children died; all others were saved. Contemporary accounts referred to the regiment as the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment, which had, however, been disbanded some years earlier.

Royal Newfoundland Regiment of Fencible Infantry

Although units had been raised in Newfoundland as early as 1795, the regiment which fought in the War of 1812 was officially formed in 1803. Its authorised establishment was 1,000, but it numbered 556 when the war broke out. Many of the regiment's soldiers were expert boatmen, and five companies were sent to Upper Canada in 1812 to serve as marines on the Great Lakes. They fought as such throughout the war, serving at the siege of Detroit, the battle of York, the siege of Fort Meigs and other engagements. A detachment from the regiment suffered heavy casualties at the Battle of Lake Erie. When not serving aboard ships, the regiment was split up into garrisons and detached companies throughout Upper Canada.
A detachment of ninety men from the regiment, with thirty officers and men from the Royal Artillery and twenty-one sailors of the Royal Navy, opened a trail from York, the provincial capital of Upper Canada, to the Nottawasaga River during the early month of 1814. The detachment subsequently took part in the Battle of Mackinac Island and the Engagement on Lake Huron.
The unit was disbanded in 1816 though its history and heritage is carried on by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, which carries the battle honours, and. As a "royal" unit, it had blue facings to its red coats.

The Canadas

Canadian Fencibles

First recruited in Scotland in 1803. The Scottish recruits feared that they were about to be "crimped" for service in India or other unhealthy posts, and mutinied. Afterwards, the regiment was re-raised amongst the Canadiens of Lower Canada, who became the majority of the men in the unit, however, the majority of the officers and non-commissioned officers were still Scotsmen. This heritage was reflected on the regimental insignia, which included a thistle. The light company fought at the Battle of Châteauguay and the grenadier company at the Battle of Lacolle Mills. A small detachment fought at the Battle of Crysler's Farm and some of the battalion companies served as marines with the squadron on Lake Champlain, in several raids in 1813. The unit was disbanded in 1816. Its red uniforms had yellow facings. The history and heritage of the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry is carried on in the Canadian Army by the Royal 22^e Régiment. A modern re-enactment unit is the re-created Regiment of the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry, operating across Canada and the United States.

Glengarry Light Infantry

Formed by order of Lieutenant-General Sir George Prévost in 1812, recruited from settlements of discharged Scottish soldiers in Glengarry district. Originally intended to wear highlander uniforms, they wore the dark green uniform with black facings of the Rifle Brigade instead, although they were armed with muskets rather than rifles.
Companies and detachments fought in several actions in Upper Canada in 1813, and the whole unit fought at the Battle of Lundy's Lane. The unit specialized in British light infantry tactics and thus was well-trained in duties such as skirmishing and concealed sentry duty.
While the unit was disbanded in 1816, its modern descendant within the Canadian Army is The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. A modern reenactment unit is based in Fort Erie Ontario, on the opposite side of the river from Buffalo, New York.

Michigan Fencibles

A small unit of 45 men raised at Fort Mackinac in 1813. They served in the west, including at the Siege of Prairie du Chien, and disbanded in 1815. The unit supposedly had a uniform of red coats with black facings, but given the distance from regular supply sources and the hard conditions in which it served, it is unlikely that they ever presented a uniform appearance.

Quasi-military units

Two militarized bodies were in existence before any of the Canadian land units that participated in the war were raised.

Indian Department

This consisted of about 100 officers, whose purpose was to act as agents, envoys or interpreters to the various Native tribes and nations.
Many of its personnel took part in actions in which the peoples to whom they were attached participated. They were supposed to wear full dress in action, to prevent them being mistaken for Americans by excited warriors. Indian Department officers were indeed often of mixed Native and European ancestry. Some claimed to speak little or no English.
The most well known victory won by Natives fighting directly under British command was the Battle of Beaver Dams in 1813.

Provincial Marine

This had been responsible since the late 18th century for military transport and police duties on the Great Lakes. When war broke out, they possessed:
In 1812, the efficiency of the Provincial Marine was described as low, not least because its senior officer was over eighty years old. Nevertheless, the Americans initially had nothing to match it, and it played a major part in the victories of General Isaac Brock. It was expanded during the war, and its officers and sailors played valiant parts in the Battle of Lake Erie and the Battle of Plattsburgh.

Full-time militia

Various full-time units were formed from members of the Canadian militia. Although usually intended for garrison duty only, several units saw action. All such Militia units were disbanded very soon after the war ended, and their men returned to their former occupations.
Particularly in Upper Canada, ordinary Militia contingents could not be kept in the field for long, especially around harvest time or the planting season when many militia would want to return to work on their farms. This was one reason for the formation of some of the full-time units.

Lower Canada

Canadian Chasseurs

After the 5th battalion of Select Embodied Militia attracted unfavourable reports in 1814, it was reorganised and reformed as a light infantry unit, the Canadian Chasseurs. Several of the flank companies of other Select Embodied Militia battalions which had already seen much service with the Light Battalions were consolidated into the Chasseurs, while the existing personnel of the 5th battalion were dispersed among the other battalions.
The Chasseurs wore substantially the same uniform as the Voltigeurs and were brigaded with them in the campaign in 1814 which ended with the Battle of Plattsburgh. The unit is perpetuated within the Canadian Army by Les Fusiliers du S^t-Laurent.
This unit should not be confused with the Independent Companies of Foreigners, which were raised from among French prisoners of war and served in Chesapeake Bay in 1813, being responsible for several acts of looting and rape, and were given the title "Canadian Chasseurs" by Major-General Sidney Beckwith without authorisation.

Canadian Light Dragoons

A mounted unit, also known as Coleman's Troop after its commander. It saw much action in Upper Canada, though mainly as picquets and despatch riders rather than cavalry.

Canadian Voltigeurs

The Canadian Voltigeurs had a slightly anomalous position, in that they were supposedly militia and subject to the militia laws and ordinances, but were listed as a regular unit during the war. They were formed from volunteers from the militia by Lieutenant-Colonel Charles de Salaberry in 1812. The Voltigeurs were trained to a high standard and fought in several actions including the Battle of Châteauguay. The unit had a grey uniform, with black facings and equipment. Though their unit contained French-speaking Canadians for the majority, their orders were given in English.
Les Voltigeurs de Québec perpetuate the history and heritage of the Canadian Voltigeurs within the Canadian Army.