List of War of 1812 battles

This is a list of War of 1812 battles, organized chronologically and by the theater in which they occurred.

Major theaters

The War of 1812 was fought in four major theaters: the Atlantic Coast, the Canada–US border, the Gulf Coast, and the American West. There were also numerous naval battles at sea, almost all of them in the Atlantic. Actions along the Canadian border occurred in three sectors (from west to east): the old Territory, the Niagara Frontier, and the St. Lawrence River.

Battles (chronological order within theater)

1812

Main article: Timeline of the War of 1812 § 1812

1813

Main article: Timeline of the War of 1812 § 1813

1814

Main article: Timeline of the War of 1812 § 1814

1815

Gulf Coast

• Cumberland Island Campaign (January–March, 1815): A diversionary expedition of Cochrane's Gulf Coast Campaign (May, 1814 – February, 1815) to the southeastern coast of the United States undertaken with the possible intent of linking up with the British army attacking New Orleans. The British force, commanded by Rear Admiral George Cockburn, occupied Cumberland Island located in the mouth of the St. Marys River between Georgia and Florida, captured the fort on the south bank of the river, and occupied the town of St. Marys in January. A plan to attack Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, did not materialize, although the British effectively blockaded the two cities and other stretches of the southern coast. Cockburn was not informed of the Treaty of Ghent, signed on December 24, 1814, until February 27, 1815, and departed the island on March 18.
• Artillery duel at New Orleans, Louisiana (January 1, 1815): A three-hour exchange of cannon fire between four British batteries, including heavy naval guns and a rocket battery, and seven American batteries in Major General Andrew Jackson's line of defense. The British ended the exchange when their artillery ran out of ammunition and failed to breach Jackson's ramparts.
• Final assault at New Orleans, Louisiana (January 8, 1815): This battle was the most lop-sided American victory of the war. While the British suffered 2037 casualties (killed, wounded and captured), the Americans suffered around 71. This battle helped drive Andrew Jackson's career forwards and gave him greater fame.
• Bombardment of Fort St. Philip, Louisiana (January 9–18, 1815): An unsuccessful attempt by the British to dislodge the American forces at Fort St. Philip, a fort about thirty miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River that would have blocked efforts to supply the British in New Orleans.
• Capture of Fort Bowyer, Spanish West Florida (February 12, 1815): The last engagement of the war along the Gulf Coast. During their retreat from New Orleans, the British first landed on Dauphine Island near Mobile Bay, then recaptured the nearby Fort Bowyer, only to withdraw soon after receiving news of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, which declared an end to the hostilities.

American West

• Battle of the Sink Hole, Missouri Territory (May 24, 1815): The last land battle of the War of 1812, an engagement between Missouri Rangers and Sauk warriors led by Black Hawk, near the mouth of the Cuivre River a few miles upriver from St. Louis.

Naval battles

• President (1800) versus HMS Endymion (1797) (January 15, 1815): The capture of the American frigate President in an attempt to break out of the British blockade of New York City. It surrendered after being severely damaged in an engagement with HMS Endymion.
• Constitution versus HMS Cyane and HMS Levant (February 20, 1815): The capture of the two British sixth-rates Cyane and Levant by the American frigate Constitution about two hundred miles northeast of Madeira. The Levant was later recaptured by the British frigate Leander.
• US privateer Chasseur versus HMS St Lawrence (1813) (February 26, 1815): The capture of the British schooner St. Lawrence which was carrying news of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent to British in the Gulf of Mexico, by the American privateer Chasseur.
• Pursuit and recapture of HMS Levant (1813) (March 11, 1815): The recapture by a British squadron under the command of Captain Sir George Collier of the British warship Levant, which had been captured, along with the Cyane, by the USS Constitution a few weeks earlier. The Levant was recaptured as the Constitution tried to flee with its two prizes from the harbor at Porto Playa in the Cape Verde Islands.
• USS Hornet versus HMS Penguin (March 23, 1815): The capture of the British sloop Penguin by the American sloop Hornet in a battle near Tristan de Cunha.
• Peacock versus East India Company ship Nautilus (June 30, 1815): The final naval engagement of the war, in which the American sloop Peacock fired on and seriously damaged the East India brig Nautilus in the Straits of Sunda off Java. The British captain, Lieutenant Charles Boyce informed the commander of the American ship that the Treaty of Ghent ending the war had been signed on December 24, 1814, but the Americans opened fire anyway.

See also

• Timeline of the War of 1812

Bibliography

• Mahon, John K. The War of 1812. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 1972. ISBN 0-306-80429-8.
• Malcomson, Robert. Historical Dictionary of the War of 1812. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-8108-5499-4.