The Canada War, is caused by many factors. The first of which was the meeting of Deseret and British colonial officials in Victoria about creating a "Western States of America" out of the western US. Deseret officials promise the land north of the Columbia to Britain in return for military support. Another key factor is Seward, fearing the lost of the Pacific coast, desiring to start a foreign war for the US to rally behind.
The immediate cause was the sailing of two British ships into San Francisco Bay on October 4, 1869. The commander of Alcatraz Island claims the British fired first and returns fire, the British claim the Americans fired the first shot; the incident is reported in the Eastern press as a British invasion of California and the population calls for war.
The US Army calls back all Civil War veterans. Many troops are massed on the Northern border. On October 14, the US Congress declares war on Great Britain. Britain reciprocates and declares a blockade of the US Atlantic coast (which is much shorter with the south gone). General Grant is called East to take command of the drive for Canada and is replaced by the able William T. Sherman.
In December the US capital is moved again to Philadelphia, however, the capital is still nominally Washington.
The first battle of the Canada War takes place in Windsor, Ontario as American forces take the city in January. Also that month General Grant divides his command into four armies, the Army of the Niagara, the Army of the Detroit, the Army of the Penobscot and the Army of the St. Lawrence under the command of Generals Hancock, Hooker, Howard and Grant respectively. This is in addition to Sherman's Army of the Colorado, Meade's unnamed Army guarding the Confederate Border, Sheridan's Army of the Missouri (operating in the Great Plains) and the unorganized commands on the Pacific Coast.
In February the Royal Navy shells Boston and Baltimore, the latter with almost no resistance. Then the Royal Navy attempts to attack New York but fails miserably when faces with considerable American opposition (almost the entire US Navy) in the Battle of the Narrows, British turn their attention to Brooklyn which is severely damaged. The attack's intentions were to bring the US to the table as the Confederate burning Baltimore did eight years earlier, however, the American public is galvanized by the "Triple B" attacks and enlistments skyrocket.
In March, Hancock begins his offensive and defeats Canadian militia at Welland. The plan is for Hancock and Hooker to link up and the proceed to Ottawa. With the help of a draft, the US tops 1 million men in uniform. Later in May, Hooker's forces are defeated near Hamilton and retreat to Windsor.
In September, Hancock's Army of the Niagara faces off against British Regulars at the Battle of Hamilton and the battle ends in stalemate. Grant forces his way into Canada at Cornwall, moving east he secures the area south of the St. Lawrence to Sherbrooke.
Battle of Sherbrooke (October 1870), Grant is killed in action and is replaced by his subordinate Roscrans. American Army pushed back west. Part of Hooker's Army of the Detroit is broken off under General Nathaniel Banks into the Army of the St. Clair. Both armies advance into Canada.
Howard makes a feign into New Brunswick.
Following the death of Grant, in November, Sherman is named General-in-Chief of the West, Hancock is General-in-Chief of the East. Hooker and Banks link up at London, Ontario outflanking their British enemies that withdraw to Woodstock. However at the subsequent Battle of Woodstock, Hooker and Banks are pushed back and are forced to retreat back to London.
Hancock captures Hamilton in the second battle there that month.
Roscrans attacks Montreal in December, over 10 days the fighting continues until 30,000 are dead between both sides. Montreal falls into American hands. Montreal is retaken by British forces in January 1871. Roscrans is replaced with Meade. Roscrans takes Meade's old job along the CS border. British besiege Hamilton. By March, Meade succeeds in encircling Montreal.
London retaken by British forces in February. Hooker and Banks commands given to General Sedgwick. In March, Meade surrounds Montreal.
Sedgwick leaves Hooker to keep the British occupied while he goes along the shore of Lake Erie. He comes up in between the British forces at Hamilton and London. Sedgwick's command is defeated at the Battle of Simcoe in May 1871. Sedgwick is killed in action.
Army of St. Lawrence completes encirclement of Montreal. Detachment begins marching towards Cornwall.
US Army tops 2 million as thousands of drafted troops reinforce the Armies of Niagara, Thames and St. Lawrence.
In June, Sherman is recalled east and is placed in command of new Army of the Thames built from the ruins of Simcoe. Army forms at London.
Army of the Thames advances to Woodstock. Detachment of Army of Niagara heads towards Kingston. Generals Hancock & Sherman meet to discuss strategy in Hamilton.
At the Battle of Laval, British reestablish communication with Montreal. Meade, on Hancock's orders begins sending part of his army south towards Cornwall and Kingston.
With British forces massing at Cornwall and Kingston the Armies of the Thames and the Niagara meet at Waterloo (combined about 200,000 troops). The Battle of Waterloo ensues and the British are defeated and retreat towards Georgian Bay. Victory here effectively puts the Thames Valley in American hands.
The Army of St. Lawrence is defeated outside Cornwall. Using the resuting confusion, British land and naval forces break siege of Montreal. American forces retreat into New York.
In October 1871, Canadian resistance destroys American rail bridges over the Niagara halting American operations. The Royal Navy defeats an American convoy in Lake Ontario. American offensive operations are stopped for the year.
Armies of the Thames & Niagara are relieved of occupation duties by new Army of Lake Erie full of new recruits in February 1872. Hancock is in commander of the area. Sherman heads to command forces near Montreal including Meade's Army of the St. Lawrence and the new Armies of Lake Champaign and Army of the Mohawk.
Bridge at Youngstown opens allow supplies to flow to American troops in Upper Canada. Second bridge at Grand Island opens in May.
An effort in the CSA to ally with the USA fails by near unanimity.
Battle of Oshawa (April 1872), Americans driven back to Toronto.
In May, the three month Georgian Bay expedition begins by elements of Army of the Thames, it is an utter failure with 70% casualties.
British counterattack succeeds at Aurora in June. American Army is held under siege at Toronto for a week, slowing their attack plans. British invade southern Maine, US and British Navies face off near Portland. American forces surprise the British and force them to retreat to Halifax. Land element retreats back to New Brunswick.
Army of the Thames is sent north, in July, to Lake Simcoe to cut off British supply lines but gets caught in a British trap, called the Battles of Lake Simcoe; over six weeks the Army of the Thames succeeds in going in a circle.
Battle of the Thousand Islands (September 1872), American & British forces clash. Sherman's force defeat the British allowing Hancock to take Kingston. British retreat into Montreal.
After a brief skirmish at Prescott, Hancock's Army moves to take the City of Ottawa.
In October, Cornwall falls to combined forces of Sherman. Ottawa falls to Hancock after a horrific battle and his army is renamed the Army of the Ottawa.
As 1872 closes, British begin concentrating their forces in and around Montreal . By this time, American ironclads have secured control of the Great Lakes.
After a crippling ice storm, The Siege of Montreal begins with Hancock's Army of Ottawa from the west, Sherman's Army of the St. Lawrence and Meade's Army of Lake Chanplain from the south. All troops in Montreal area are put under the operational control of General Hancock. The fighting is intense at times but little movement is made as both armies and occupy trenches around Montreal.
Battle of Vercheres (October 1873): American and British troops clash in a two week battle. British fight to the last, with American victory, Montreal is encircled. However, British ships begin gunning up the river to Montreal in November but ice proves a bigger foe than the Americans.
After nine months of stalemate, in June 1874, British attempt to relieve Montreal. The month-long Second Battle of Laval results. For a month contact between Montreal and Quebec is maintained. River gunboats help British assault. Most American boats are trapped on the other side of Niagara Falls. By July, the Battle of Laval concludes with a British withdrawal. Sherman boasts that Montreal's fall is only a "matter of time."
The Montreal garrison finally surrenders in October 1874, unprepared for another winter.
British forces enforce Quebec city. American troops begin mass in Maine while others consolidate gains in Upper Canada. Seward has to decide who will lead the attack, Sherman or Hancock. Any major strike in 1874 is ruled out do to the harsh winter.
Sherman, in April 1870, begins his advance on Deseret. An advance party under the command of General Strong Vincent secures Promontory and the Army of the Colorado moves via rail to Promontory.
The Provo Massacre (August 1870), a uprising of non-Mormons is bitterly crushed by Deseret troops. General George A. Custer detached with a corps to attack the Metis.
Custer destroys majority of Metis forces at the Battle of Lake Winnipeg (September 1870).
First Battle of Salt Lake City (March 1871), Army of the Colorado fails to take the city, but it is now effectively under siege.
Sherman begins his final offensive in April. Through the snow, the Army of the Colorado attacks Salt Lake City. The Second Battle of Salt Lake City is a bloody affair with the Mormons fighting to almost the last man. Salt Lake City falls, Deseret government retreats to Provo
Provo falls on May 7, 1871 and Deseret is no more. Half of the Army of the Colorado is being sent off to the Columbia District via the Central Pacific Railroad.
In June, the Army of the Colorado is sent to Oregon under General Daniel Sickles. A segment remains in Utah as the Army of Salt Lake under General Strong Vincent.
Sheridan's forces engage several tribes over the next five years. Notable Battles include, Salina (October 1871), Buffalo Gap (June 1872), Powder River (September 1872), Swift Current (August 1873) and Fort Laramie (May 1874).
The alliances with the British collapse in 1874.
Natives gather for one final battle in southeastern Montana June 1876. At the three day Battle of the Little Bighorn Sioux led by Crazy Horse drive back American forces until General Frederick Benteen attacks the other flank, routing Crazy Horse from behind. American victory breaks the back of native resistance ending the Plains Indian Wars.
Britain declares a blockade of American coast in June. US Navy loses a few engagements over the next few months and the merchant marine is suppressed. Trade flows through Confederate ports and many US ships move to the CS flag.
On the Great Lakes, American shipbuilding far outpaces Canadian/British efforts and the US Navy controls the Lakes by 1872.
In 1872, US launches, first Brooklyn-class cruiser. Outclasses any warship afloat.
The US Navy also supports several Army operations.
Key battle takes place in May 1876 off Maine. The US Navy surprisingly defeats the Royal Navy, isolating Halifax. At this battle an officer named Jackie Fisher dies.
In the Pacific Theater in July 1870, Army of the Columbia under George Thomas is organized at The Dalles, Oregon. Twenty-five thousand men, mostly from California. British forces take the Puget Sound region almost unopposed in August. Americans cannot react fast enough.
Reynolds' Army of California is ordered north to reenforced the Army of the Columbia.
British and American forces met at the Battle of the Cowlitz in September 1870. American forces driven back to the Columbia River.
Battle of Astoria is fought between British-led natives and Army of Columbia. Thomas drives opponents northward.
In August 1871, Army of the Columbia and Army of the Colorado under the combined command of George Thomas attack British forces at the Battle of Mt. St. Helens.
American Pacific Fleet sets headquarters at Astoria, OR in January 1872.
Army of the Colorado is moved to Walla Walla in May constantly harassed by native attacks and supply problems, the Army cannot move.
Having to be supplied by ships from California, the Army of the Columbia remains immobile as well, holding the Cowlitz river valley. Limited skirmishes happen up and down the Columbia River until 1874. Fort Columbia is established where the Cowlitz joins the Columbia.
In September 1874, a railroad from Sacramento to the Willamette Valley is opened. With new supplies and reinforcements Thomas moves from Fort Columbia northward but is unable to approach the mountain passes to the Puget Sound.
Later in October, the American Pacific Fleet is defeated at the Battle of Greys Harbor, the American survivors are harassed and forced to sail to San Francisco.
A native attack on Walla Walla, paralyzes the Army of the Colorado. General Sherman orders that an attack be made from Kennewick, over General Thomas' vehement objections.
The Army of the Columbia engages British forces at the Battle of Chehalis in June 1875. With the new railroad from Fort Columbia to supply them Thomas goes down the Chehalis to Aberdeen.
Under General John Reynolds, the new Army of the Yakima leaves, Kennewick. Supplies have to be floated from Fort Columbia up the Columbia & Yakima Rivers. The army is constantly harassed. In July 1875, General Reynolds is killed by a sniper; the Battle of Yakima, occurs under his subordinate, General Gibbon. The Battle of Yakima is the worst one-sided victory in American history and the bloodiest day in American history. The army is destroyed in detail with 40,000 deaths. Only 951 arrived back at the Kennewick base camp.
In August, Royal Navy shells the Army of the Columbia's position, this leads to the Battle of Aberdeen. The American forces withdraw for Aberdeen but maintain control of the Chehalis River.
After Aberdeen, the Pacific Theater enters a phase of stalemate, nether side can budge the other in a series of unremarkable skirmishes.
After a year of stalemate and false starts in 1875, in March 1876 the forces of the Eastern Theater are reorganized. In Montreal, General Sherman is given 200,000 men in the Army of the St. Lawrence; the goal is to feign Quebec to draw of British forces. In Bangor, General Hancock is given 500,000 men in the new Army of the St. John. These armies are so large, that their corps are further organized into several "wings" which operate more or less independantly.
Sherman begins his campaign up the St. Lawrence in April, but British commanders are not fooled and concentrate their forces in the Maritime provinces. Sherman takes Trois-Riveres without much resistance.
Hancock moves in April as well, quickly taken Saint John. On April 26, the Battle of Fredericton takes place, the overwhelmed British fall back. In mid-May the Battle of Sussex takes place as the American forces slow push up through New Brunswick.
On June 2, Sherman reaches Quebec. Half his force is quickly sent to reinforce Hancock. The rest surround Quebec, which is being supplied by sea.
On June 10, the Siege of Moncton begins. The British forces, reinforced by Canadian militia, Australian troops, and displaced natives all form a huge defense works. Hancock attempts a frontal assault, resulting in 100,000 American casualties. Then a slow progressive battle takes place which each side digging trenches. On June 29, American forces finish a mine under the British forces; on June 30 it is filled with powder and exploded, a huge American force under General Ferraro enters British lines. By July 2, 200,000 British & allied forces are caught in a pocket. The commander of Moncton orders an evacuation to make a stand in Nova Scotia. Remaining British forces surrender on July 4, and Hancock takes Moncton; he has suffered 250,000 casualties.
On July 4, 1876, British commanders in Halifax wire for armistice which is quickly approved, the Canada War is over.
Last Modified August 7, 1999
Copyright 1998 John Mullervy