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 egotiations
for a peace treaty had started in 1813 but dragged on as each
side attempted to gain an advantage that would settle the war
in their favour.
The failure by either side to win a decisive victory led to a
peace treaty signed at Ghent in December
1814 which restored the status quo. The slow communications
of the day meant that the bloody clash at New
Orleans was fought after the war ended.
The Upper Canadian perspective on the war and its end is well
illustrated in the letter below from George Ridout to Abraham
Nelles.
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Click
to see a larger image (125K)
Gage homestead and the new Stoney Creek monument
on the battlefield of that name. It is south of the Hamilton-Niagara
Falls highway - the monument was erected by the Wentworth Historical
Society, 1913
John Boyd fonds
Black and white print
Reference Code: C 7-3, 3157
Archives of Ontario
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"…Altho'
that Peace is restored again between the States and us is
beyond a doubt, yet notwithstanding it is now a month since
we first heard the report, we can hardly credit our senses.
This so unlooked for and extraordinary. Many a jobber, speculator
and contractor will feel severely the effect of this sudden
termination to a destructive and expensive war."
Extract
from an original letter
from George Ridout (York) to
Abraham Nelles (40 Mile Creek), March 13, 1815
Abraham Nelles family fonds
Reference Code: F 543
Archives of Ontario |
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| An American observer of the war, Nathan Ford,
lamented the failure of the United States to gain a clear military
advantage in a war that was to have been a "mere matter of
marching":
"Two years war
and no conquest? The little province of Upper Canada holds
out two years against the whole force of democracy? This
is very grating."
Extract
from and original letter from Nathan Ford (Ogdensburg)
to his brother David Ford, July 16, 1814
Ford Family fonds
Reference Code: F 483
Archives of Ontario |
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