Old Fort York, D barracks flanked by two other buildings, circa 1899—1902. Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives.
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Resource ID
8402
Access
Open
Credit Line
Toronto Public Library
Date of Creation
1902
Keywords
Fort York, Waterfront, Upper Canada, waterways, Sir Isaac Brock, American Revolution, War of 1812
Program Category
Tours
Rights
Public Domain
Caption
Old Fort York, D barracks flanked by two other buildings, circa 1899—1902. Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives.
Description
In April 1813, disaster came to the small town of York, arriving via the lake. War with the United States had started the previous June, and now a force of over 1,700 American soldiers had been spotted aboard several ships passing the Scarborough Bluffs. The Americans hoped to capture the HMS Sir Isaac Brock, a ship being built in York's harbour. Resisting the Americans was a force of roughly 700, including members of the Mississauga and Ojibwe nations whose warriors suffered the first casualties of the battle. The American troops were ultimately victorious. British commander, Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, and his troops retreated. Before leaving town, they burned HMS Sir Isaac Brock to prevent it from falling into American hands.