Memorial service in Niagara Falls for one of the bloodiest War of 1812 battles

One of the bloodiest battles during the War of 1812 will be commemorated in a memorial service tomorrow (July 5) at Chippawa Battlefield Park in Niagara Falls.

The Battle of Chippawa saw the British side severely outnumbered as an invading American army of about 3,500
men, under Major-General Jacob Brown, completely overtook the British and Indigenous force of about 2,000 men,
under Major-General Phineas Riall.

Two days after the battle, Brown completed his original intended maneuver and crossed the Chippawa upstream of Riall’s defenses, forcing the British to fall back to Fort George.

It was not possible to attack this fortified British position because a key American naval officer stationed on Lake Ontario was still failing to support the American army on the Niagara peninsula.

At the same time, the British were able to rush reinforcements to the Niagara front and soon became too strong for Brown to risk a direct attack. Eventually, a series of feints and maneuvers led to the equally bloody (and again, American-won) Battle of Lundy’s Lane a few weeks later.

The Chippawa battle took place on the fields of Samuel Street’s farm, near the banks of the Niagara River and the historic battlefield grounds have since been preserved by Niagara Parks, comprising 121 hectares (300 acres) adjacent to the Legends on the Niagara Golf Complex.

Hosted by Niagara Parks, in partnership with the City of Niagara Falls and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 396, the annual memorial service will begin at 7 p.m.