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The Newfoundland Regiment of Fencible Infantry 1803-1816
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 ome eight short months later England found itself at war with France yet again. In June, 1803 Brigadier-General John
Skerrett, still in command of His Majesty’s troops in the Colony, was ordered to raise a fencible regiment in Newfoundland.
This call to arms was consistent with similar arrangements throughout the British Empire in response to aggression by Napoleonic France.
 Skerrett was ordered to raise ten companies many of whom were recruited from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment that had
been only recently disbanded. The new Regiment was to be the Newfoundland Regiment of Fencible Infantry. Officers who
joined the Regiment and who had previous service with the recently disbanded Royal Newfoundland Regiment included Captains
Van Cortlandt, Tremlett, Lelieve, Hierlihy and Lieutenants LeBreton, Weeks, Skinner, Gethings and Walsh.
By 1806 the Regiment numbered nearly seven hundred men and were renamed the Royal Newfoundland Regiment when the
title “Royal” was conferred by King George III. The next year they were loaded aboard transport ships and sent to
Halifax, Nova Scotia where they remained in garrison for one year before being sent to Quebec in 1807.
That same year the British Government began the practice of stopping all ships on the high seas fearing that some
might be providing supplies to France. The Americans were outraged and by 1812 war was declared between the United
States of America and the British Empire.
Because of their extensive experience as both soldiers and sailors over half of the Regiment consisting of five
companies were posted to Kingston, Upper Canada for service aboard ship, the remainder were assigned to detachments
at Quebec, Prescott, Fort George and Fort York on the Niagara Peninsula.
Fort Detroit - 1812
In July, 1812, General Isaac Brock, Commander-in Chief of British Forces in Upper Canada, ordered an assault on the
American fort on Mackinac Island. This engagement marked the opening of hostilities between American and British forces.
A small detachment aboard the armed brig Caledonia which was manned by members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment successfully
convinced the American defenders to surrender the fort effectively closing the American gateway to the northwest of
Upper Canada. A detachment of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment would defend this post throughout the duration of the war.
 In August 1812, American General William Hull arrived at Fort Detroit with about 2500 troops intent on the capture of
Canada. General Issac Brock assembled a force of 600 Indians under the famous chief Tecumseh, 400 militia, and 300
regular troops. This force included over fifty of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment and they crossed over the river
in boats manned by members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment assigned as marines. After one night of bombardment,
General Hull surrendered Fort Detroit to the British. Three members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were later
issued General Service Medals for their involvement in this engagement while others were mentioned in a number of
dispatches. Members of the Regiment, under the Command of Captain Mockler, served as seaman aboard the Hunter and
Queen Charlotte, and were landed ashore to participate in the assault on Fort Detroit. General Brock wrote that the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment is “ deserving of every praise for their steadiness in the field as well as when
embarked in the King’s vessels.”
General Hull returned to face a court-martial for his conduct of the campaign, was sentenced to be shot, and was immediately pardoned.
With the fall of Mackinac and Detroit the entire territory north and west of Ohio fell under British control.
Queenston Heights - 1812
 On October 13th, the Americans launched their first great offensive of the war. The American commander,
General Van Rensselaer, commanded a force of nearly 6500 troops. On October 13th, 1812 he was able to
position his army atop Queenston Heights despite a spirited defense by its British defenders which
included elements of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. General Brock departed Fort George and led a
force which attempted to dislodge the Americans. The first attempt failed and General Brock was killed
by an American sniper. British reinforcements from Fort George were later able to outflank the Americans
who eventually surrendered marking Queenstown Heights as a glorious victory for the British despite the
loss of their beloved commander.
The Lake Eerie Campaign
 The Newfoundland Regiment found itself ordered from Kingston to Fort Erie to support the garrison there. Fort
Erie gave the British strategic control over the upper Great Lakes. An American attempt to take Fort Erie
on 1 December failed as the garrison refused to surrender to the numerically superior American force. The
onset of winter and the stubborn resistance by the garrison which included the Royal Newfoundland Regiment
convinced the Americans to end the winter campaign and go home.
The campaign in the Fort Erie area continued. Two companies of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment participated in
the recapture of Frenchtown from the Americans under General James Winchester in January 1813.
The Newfoundlanders formed the sleigh establishment that dragged the British cannons across the frozen lake.
Those Americans that were able to retreat across the Raisin River survived. Those who resisted were hunted
down and slaughtered by the Indians in what turned out to be a massacre. All but 50 of the nearly 100 Americans
were either killed or captured. The action by a company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, led by Lt Rolette
who was killed by a musket ball to the head, in assaulting the American guns was perhaps a defining point in the heated engagement.
Fort York - 1813
In 1813, Major Heathcote, Commanding Officer of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, was ordered to move his
headquarters in Kingston to the Provincial Capital of Upper Canada at York. The Regiment now had the Flanking
Company at Fort Erie under Captain Whalen and another company under Captain Mockler at Fort Amherstburg with
the remainder of the Regiment at York.
 The Americans were intent upon a spring offensive to reverse some of the defeats they suffered throughout 1812.
They settled on York which had less defenses than Kingston and was the seat of government.
On April 26th Major General Henry Dearborn lead a force of 1700 troops across Lake Ontario intent on the
capture of York. York was defended by about 800 British troops which included two companies of the Royal
Newfoundland Regiment under command of Major Heathcote. The Americans landed at Humber Bay several miles
from York. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment were sent out to delay their march toward York. Thirty six of
the Newfoundland Regiment were killed or captured by the advancing Americans.
The British were entirely outnumbered and decided to blow up the powder magazines in Fort York to ensure that
the Americans could not use it. The British then evacuated to Kingston.
Fort Meigs - 1813
While the British were evacuating Fort York another British Army was attacking Fort Meigs on the western Detroit
frontier. A relief column led by General Clay attacked the British position at Maumee Falls in April of 1813.
Le LeBreton of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment led a bayonet assault to recapture a British Artillery position
which had been gained by the advancing Americans. The Americans were soon in full retreat back to the safety
of Fort Meigs. General Proctor wrote” besides by obligation to
Captain Chambers, I have to notice his gallant conduct in attacking the enemy near the batteries,
on which he was well supported by Lt LeBreton of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment... Lieutenant LeBreton by his
unswerving exertion rendered essential service. The Royal Artillery were well assisted by the Royal Newfoundland
Regiment as additional gunners under Lieut Garden...to Captain Mockler of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment,
who acted as my aide-de-camp, I am much indebted for the assistance he afforded me.”
Fort George - 1813
General Dearborn followed up on his victory at York with a general assault on the British position at Fort George in May 1813.
The American assault was led by Colonel Winfield Scott who would later become the highest ranking officer in the American forces.
Again the Royal Newfoundland Regiment found themselves engaged in close bayonet fighting as they tried to resist the American
landing.  The Grenadier Company of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 21 killed and 12 wounded attempting to slow the American
advance on Fort George. Suffering heavy losses the British Commander General John Vincent ordered the artillery pieces to be
spiked and the fort abandoned to the Americans. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment were tasked with rearguard action as the
British Army retired to Beaver Dams west of the Niagara River ahead of the advancing American army. While the British
regrouped at Beaver Dams another British Force led by Governor Prevost himself decided upon a preemptive strike on the
American shipbuilding site at Sackett’s Harbour. With three ships of the Royal Navy, crewed by the 230 members of the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment stationed at Kingston, and a number of transport boats, the British force departed Kingston
intent on the capture of Sackett’s Harbour. Due to the hesitancy of Governor Prevost, the assault gained little military
advantage but did result in the loss of nearly three hundred British soldiers including four of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
Stoney Creek - 1813
 An immediate pursuit after the capture of Fort George might have sealed a larger victory but Dearborn, after
occupying Fort George, waited several days and then sent about 2,000 American soldiers after the British. The
detachment advanced to within ten miles of the British and camped for the night with slight regard for security
and even less for the enemy's audacity.
On the night of July 5th the British decided on a night attack. The American sentries were located by a force
which included the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and were bayoneted with quick dispatch. The British then
charged the American lines sending the enemy into full flight. The British troops then returned to Burlington
Heights while the Americans retreated all the way to 40 Mile Creek.
The Battle of Lake Eerie - 1813
 During the summer of 1813 over 100 of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were assigned as gunners and marines on the
British Fleet on Lake Erie. In September 1813 Commodore Barclay led the British Fleet from the Detroit River to
Put-In-Bay. He had with him six ships and 407 officers and men. The American Fleet commanded by Captain Oliver
Perry, totaled nine ships with 532 officers and men including a number of Kentucky sharpshooters.
On the morning of 10 September both fleets opened fire just off West Sister Island in Put-In-Bay. The battle
of Lake Erie lasted about three hours. Although the British pressed the attack they lost the Battle of Lake Erie
to a superior American naval force.
 The battle itself was a complete disaster for the British. It was the first time in history that an entire British
fleet was defeated and completely captured by an enemy. Barclay was badly wounded and lost full movement in his one
remaining arm. At his inevitable court martial, Barclay was absolved of all blame for the Lake Erie defeat. He had
to wait another ten years however, to be promoted to the rank of full navy captain.
Fourteen members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment including Lieut Garden were killed and their remains committed
to Lake Erie. Another twenty five were wounded and were held as prisoners of war and forced to march through Ohio
to Frankfurt, Kentucky where they spent the remainder of the war under appalling conditions.
The Battle of the Thames
 The loss of the British Naval Fleet on Lake Eire exposed the entire British Army to attack. General Proctor,
the British Commander, decided to burn Fort Detroit and to retreat to the Canadian side despite the protests of
Tecumseh and the Indian allies. A week later the British burned and departed Fort Amherstburg ahead of the
advancing Americans. At Moraviantown on the Thames River the Americans caught up with the retreating British.
The Shawnee Chief, Tecumseh was killed as the Indians provided the British time to reach Burlington Heights.
Proctor’s force, which included elements of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment had been driven from the entire
Detroit Frontier and had only a tenuous hold on the Niagara frontier.
Chryler's Farm - 1813
 The year 1813 ended with an American Force defeated at Chrysler’s Farm. The Americans had assembled an invading
force of some 8000 troops under General James Wilkinson intent on striking at Montreal and then Quebec.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment manned the gun boats which were sent out from Kingston charged with
following the American advance down the St. Lawrence River. The British caught up with the American
rearguard at Chrysler’s Farm. The gunboats blasted the American position sending them into confusion.
The loss of his rearguard forced General Wilkinson to postpone his assault on Montreal and return to the
American side of the border. Two officers of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who commanded gunboats, Lt
Andrew Bulger and Captain John Hierlihy gained citations for their heroics in this engagement.
Fort Mackinac & Disbandment - 1814
In May 1814 two companies of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were sent to Fort Mackinac to repel an expected
American assault. The Regiment helped stop the advance forcing the Americans to give up the plan. Two
American ships, the Tigress and the Scorpion were left to harass the British position. A handpicked raiding
party which included Lt Andrew Bulger and other members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was sent out with
the intent of capturing both vessels. They rowed downstream and under of cover of darkness were able to board
and overcome the surprised defenders. The Scorpion was taken the next night under a similar plan and both vessels
were returned to Mackinac as prizes of war.
 Lt Bulger and fifty other Newfoundlander were next sent to organize Fort McKay situated at the junction of the
Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers. From Fort McKay the recently promoted Captain Bulger planned to harass American
forces in the Mississippi Valley. This plan was disrupted by news that the Treaty of Ghent had been signed on
Christmas Eve in 1814 effectively ending the war.
The remnants of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were sent to their homes in St.John’s and given garrison duties.
In 1816, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was disbanded under British orders concerning the reduction of Fencible Regiments.
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