Sir George Prevost
George Prevost joined his father's regiment, the 60th Foot, in 1779 and by 1784 was a captain in the 25th Foot. In the NAPOLEONIC WARS he saw service primarily in the West Indies. He commanded the defence of St Vincent against the French (1794-96), was appointed lieutenant-governor of St Lucia (1798-1802) and in 1802 governor and captain-general of Dominica. He served in England from 1805 until 1808 when he was appointed lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia. In 1809 Prevost also served as second-in-command of an expedition that captured Martinique, where he demonstrated bold and swift generalship. He proved to be a popular and skillful governor in Nova Scotia as well as a capable military commander as he worked to improve its defences in case of war with the US.
As lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, a position he held 1808-11, Prevost took steps to encourage New England's violation of President Thomas Jefferson's embargo on trade with Britain by designating several "free ports" in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where American goods would be exempt from customs duties.
Prevost, Sir George
Portrait of Sir George Prevost, attributed to Robert Field, circa 1808-11. He led the Swiss de Meurons infantry in the War of 1812 (courtesy McCord Museum/McGill University).
Governor-in-Chief of British North America
Prevost seemed to British authorities well suited to exercise supreme command in BRITISH NORTH AMERICA at a time when war with the US looked imminent. He had the additional advantage of being fluently bilingual and experienced at governing a French-speaking population, as he had done in St Lucia. Under governor Sir James Craig, French-English relations in Lower Canada (Québec) had become antagonistic and Craig had, unwisely, taken sides in several controversies. On 21 October 1811, Prevost took over as governor-in-chief of British North America and commander of British forces in North America. He placated the leading Canadien politicians and won the confidence of the Roman Catholic Church so successfully that when war with the US broke out, there was widespread willingness among the people to serve in the militia and to pay for defence. However, his policies alienated many of the English-speaking group who dominated the appointed executive council and proved most vocal in their criticisms.
Prevost's Preparations for War
As commander-in-chief Prevost was preoccupied with military defence. He knew that there was little hope of reinforcements, given the British army's commitments in the Napoleonic Wars. His forces numbered some 5600 regular troops and FENCIBLES, of which some 1200 were stationed in Upper Canada.
By early 1812 Prevost was able to secure from the House of Assembly a new militia act and funds for defence. The British government ordered Prevost to act defensively in the event of war and to take the offensive only to repel invasion. His strategy, thus, was above all to safeguard Québec, the only permanent fortress in the Canadas.
He believed that the forces he had available were too few to undertake attacks on the US and that they should be husbanded for defensive purposes. He was well aware of the great dissension in the US, particularly in New England states, over the war and believed that attacks would only serve to unite Americans behind their government's war policy. After the WAR OF 1812 broke out, the heavy responsibility that he faced to preserve British North America against the larger American forces made him cautious and even pessimistic about the possibility of preserving Upper Canada.
Once hostilities started in June 1812, however, Sir Isaac BROCK found Prevost's defensive stance irritating. In fact the offensive initiatives taken by Captain Charles Roberts in capturing Fort Michilimackinac and by Brock in taking DETROIT both raised the morale of Upper Canadians and revealed American unpreparedness.
Nevertheless, in August 1812, Prevost made a truce with the US commander opposite hoping hostilities would end. It lasted less than a month. Again, in 1814 he accepted an American proposal for a ceasefire, but the British government forbad any consideration of it.
Prevost did, however, send troops, supplies and money to Upper Canada while initially discouraging offensive operations. In May 1813 he joined a raid on the American naval base of Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario, which achieved only partial success. As Napoleon went down to defeat in Europe, Prevost began urging his commanders in Upper Canada to take the offensive, but he provided very limited support.
His golden opportunity to achieve a major success came in September 1814 when he had available almost 15 000 veterans from Wellington's army and he was given orders to seize one or more major American bases.
The Battle of Plattsburgh
Prevost responded with a combined land and naval operation against PLATTSBURGH, NY, on Lake Champlain. He set out early in September 1814 with a powerful army, which for once greatly outnumbered the Americans. On reaching Plattsburgh, however, he goaded Captain George DOWNIE into joining the operation, but then inexplicably failed to provide the promised military backing. When Downie was killed and his naval force defeated, Prevost retreated with a disgruntled army to Lower Canada. His justification that Plattsburgh would be indefensible after the loss of naval supremacy on Lake Champlain was considered cowardly by Wellington's Peninsular veterans.
Criticism and Court Martial
Prevost's critics gained an ear in London and even those, like Wellington himself, who accepted Prevost's explanation agreed that he would have to be recalled for failing to accomplish what had been expected. Hence, on 2 March 1815, a day after Prevost heard that the peace treaty had been signed at GHENT and ratified in Washington, he was summoned to London to defend his conduct of the Plattsburgh campaign. In August 1815 a naval court martial decided that defeat had been caused by Prevost's urging the squadron into premature action and then failing to afford the promised support from the land forces.
Prevost then requested a military court martial in order to vindicate himself but he died of dropsy a month before the court martial was to convene. Despite his preparations for the defence of Canada and his limited resources, as well as his considerable role in preventing the Americans from conquering Canada, Prevost's temerity as a field commander has continued to tarnish his career.
Author WES TURNER and JAMES MARSH
Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.
Fort Wellington National Historic Site
The website for Fort Wellington National Historic Site in Ontario. Features an illustrated overview of the War of 1812, the 1837 rebellions, and related topics. From Parks Canada.
The Battle of Plattsburgh: What Historians Say About It
This online digitized copy of the 1914 book "The Battle of Plattsburgh: What Historians Say About It" provides an American perspective on this conflict. From the ourontario.ca website.
Sir Gordon Drummond
This biography of Sir Gordon Drummond, president of the government and commander of the troops in Upper Canada, chronicles some of the key military actions that influenced the outcome of the War of 1812. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
Battle of Plattsburgh Association
An account of British and American military actions in the final year of the War of 1812. From the website for the Battle of Plattsburgh Association in Plattsburgh, NY.
Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe
A biography of Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe, British army officer in the War of 1812 and colonial administrator. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
Sir George Prevost
A biography of Sir George Prevost, army officer and colonial administrator. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
A Collection of Contemporary Letters and Documents January to July 1813
A lengthy online collection of correspondence between military leaders that offers details of military skirmishes, intelligence reports, requests for supplies, the state of military fortifications, and some business transactions. From the Niagara Historical Society.
The Battle of Stoney Creek and the Blockade of Fort George
A very long and detailed account of British and US military planning and strategic maneuvers in the Battle of Stoney Creek and the blockade of Fort George that was part of the War of 1812. From the Niagara Historical Society.
Command Structure and Appointments in Upper Canada, 1812 to 1814
An outline of the British military command structure in Canadian territory during the War of 1812. From the "War of 1812 Magazine."
French Canadian Participation in the War of 1812
A detailed article about the trying conditions endured by French Canadians who served in the Voltigeurs Canadiens and other colonial militia units in the defence of Lower Canada during the War of 1812. With illustrations of military uniforms. From the journal "Canadian Military History."
The Final Invasion: Plattsburgh, the War of 1812’s Most Decisive Victory
A critical review of David G. Fitz-Enz's book "The Final Invasion: Plattsburgh, the War of 1812’s Most Decisive Victory." From the War of 1812 Magazine at napoleon-series.org.
The Plattsburgh Campaign of 1814
A brief overview of "The Plattsburgh Campaign of 1814." From the War of 1812 Magazine.
Leading Myths of the War of 1812
This article debunks some of the more outlandish myths about British and American achievements in the War of 1812. From the War of 1812 Magazine.
Sir George Prevost, Governor of Canada
View a print depicting Sir George Prevost mounted on his horse. From mccord-museum.qc.ca
The Western Theatre in the War of 1812
An article about apparent deficiencies in Canadian and British historiography concerning events and notable figures in the "western theatre" of the War of 1812. From the War of 1812 Magazine.
A Miniature Depicting Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo, KCB
View a miniature portrait of Sir James Lucas Yeo, commander of the Royal Navy on the inland waters of British North America during the War of 1812. From the War of 1812 Magazine at napoleon-series.org.
Francis de Rottenburg
A biography of Francis de Rottenburg, army officer and colonial administrator. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
An Account of The Battle of Châteauguay
See the full text of a detailed lecture about the Battle of Châteauguay delivered to the Châteauguay Literary and Historical Society in 1889. Includes a brief summary of the issues leading up to the 1812 declaration of war by the United States. From the gutenberg.org website.
The Forgotten Conflict - From the Other Side of the Hill
A brief review of a book that examines the relationship between the top British commanders in Canada during the War of 1812 with an emphasis on the ongoing challenges that Sir George Prevost had to deal with during the conflict. From the War of 1812 Magazine.
Dispatches: Prevost to Bathurst, November 21, 1812
See a digitized copy of one of Sir George Prevost's dispatches sent to Henry Bathurst in regard to military actions involving British forces in November, 1812. From The London Gazette.
James Lucas Yeo
A biography of James Lucas Yeo, naval officer. From the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online.
The Dominion government's advertisement asked for volunteers "able to read and write either the English or French language" with "good antecedents" who were good horsemen...
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