Battle of Frenchman’s Creek

The Battle of Frenchman’s Creek, fought on the night of 28 November 1812, was a failed American attempt to raid the British positions near Fort Erie at the southern end of the Niagara River. The operation was part of the broader American effort to establish a second front on the Niagara after the disaster at Queenston Heights six weeks earlier. It failed comprehensively, adding to the catalogue of botched American offensive operations in the war’s opening months.

The plan called for a two-pronged night crossing of the Niagara. One force would land south of Fort Erie and create a diversion, while the main body under Lieutenant Colonel Charles Boerstler would land north of the fort at Frenchman’s Creek, destroy the British positions, and withdraw before dawn. The concept required precise timing and coordination between forces operating in darkness across a river — precisely the kind of operation that was most likely to fail with inexperienced troops.

It failed. The diversionary force crossed successfully but was quickly detected and withdrew without achieving its purpose. The main force, approximately 250 to 300 men, crossed the river and landed near Frenchman’s Creek, but the boats were too few and too slow, and by the time the entire force was assembled on the Canadian bank, dawn was approaching.

Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Bisshopp, commanding the local British garrison, responded swiftly. Regular troops of the 41st and 49th Foot, supported by militia and Indigenous warriors, converged on the landing area. The fighting was confused — a night action in which neither side could clearly identify the other — but the British held the advantage of fighting on familiar ground.

Boerstler’s force re-embarked under fire, losing men and boats in the withdrawal. Several boats were captured or destroyed. Total American casualties were approximately 6 killed, 14 wounded, and 35 missing. British losses were 5 killed, 19 wounded, and 35 missing. The raid achieved nothing, and the planned second front on the southern Niagara did not materialise.

Boerstler would later command the American force destroyed at Beaver Dams in June 1813, making him one of the war’s most consistently unfortunate field officers.