Capital In Flames
The American Attack on York, 1813
- Publisher
- Naval Institute Press
- Initial publish date
- Aug 2008
- Category
- Naval, Canada, Pre-Confederation (to 1867)
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781896941530
- Publish Date
- Aug 2008
- List Price
- $72.95
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Where to buy it
Description
As Canada's central depot and naval dockyard on the Great Lakes early in the War of 1812, the capital frontier town of York (present-day Toronto) was a prime target for American forces. In April 1813 a squadron of warships under U.S. Commodore Isaac Chauncey sailed up Lake Ontario and landed about 1,800 soldiers there as the renowned explorer Gen. Zebulon Pike led his men into battle. Though the Americans took the town, their victory proved disappointing. Malcomson challenges conventionalideas about the battle as he brings to life the politicians, soldiers, and citizens whose destinies clashed at York.