It would take several decades for this feeling to manifest into separation from England, but the War of 1812 birthed this idea into the Canadian consciousness. They began to feel that perhaps they didn’t need the protection of the English empire as much as they thought they did before the conflict. The people of the Canadian colonies, saw their role in the War of 1812 as crucial to the protection of English interests in that region. While the people that brought about the victory of Beaver Dams were at the time English citizens, their stories would add to a sentiment that would coalesce into the Canadian national identity. While there would be continued action in this area, the battle of Beaver Dams would serve as the end of the Americans advance into the Niagara Peninsula. Outnumbered by the collective force of soldiers and natives, the Americans surrendered. Two days after Laura’s arrival, the Americans were ambushed on their way to Beaver Dams. With this knowledge he was able to gather together some British troops and a force of about 400 natives. The chief then took her the rest of the way, ensuring she made it to the British outpost undetected.Īrriving at Beaver Dams she informed the Lieutenant of the planned attack.

Frightened at first, once she explained what she was doing, she discovered the natives were allies of the British. Along the way she stumbled into an encampment of Native Americans. Laura was afraid of being captured by American scouts, and being unable to warn the local English troops. She followed the Twelve Mile River in an attempt to avoid any roadways. Laura continued on her own, making her way through the woods, not sure of the exact path. Initially she set out at night with her niece, who tired quickly and turned back. The outpost that was in danger of being attacked was twelve miles away by road. With her husband indisposed, Laura took it upon herself to warn the local Lieutenant. One night with some American soldiers in their house for dinner, Laura overheard the soldiers discussing a surprise attack on a nearby English outpost. The following year, the battle-lines having moved, the Americans presently occupied the countryside where the Secords lived. Laura herself rescued him from the battlefield and took him home to care for him. He had been wounded in the first year of fighting. Laura was the wife of James Secord, an English citizen who served in the 1st Lincoln Militia, an English militia fighting in the Great Lake area. After capturing the Fort, the Americans turned their attention westwards to gain control of this crucial landmass. They had been successful in their initial thrust and had captured Fort George, the fort guarding the river flowing out of Lake Ontario. The Americans began an offensive into the Niagara Peninsula in the spring of the second year of the war. There were three forts in the area that would be highly contended and all of them would switch hands at some point in the fighting. It served as the gateway between upper New York and Canada. The stretch of land between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario was highly strategic. The city of Detroit was lost to the English and the battle for the Niagara Peninsula began. Battles erupted all around the Great Lakes area. At the time of the war Canada was still a colony of England and was attacked by U.S. The main factor that caused the war with the U.S., was the British Navy capturing American sailors and forcing them to serve in the war against the French. It would be fought against England, who at the onset were embroiled in the Napoleonic wars with France. The War of 1812 is not the most publicized war from American history.

An identity that would eventually mirror the identity of the early United States in calling for its autonomy as a sovereign nation. It would play a vital role in the development of a collective Canadian identity. Secord not only speaks to the strength and endurance of the female character in the Americas at the beginning of the 19th century. Lesser known is the story of Laura Secord, a British citizen in colonial Canada, who would undertake a very similar journey during the War of 1812. Paul Revere is infamous for his famous ride warning colonial forces of who the British army would march on them.

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