Raid on Black Rock

British Empire

United States

The Raid on Black Rock took place during the War of 1812 between Great Britain and the United States on July 11, 1813, in northern New York State, U.S.A., near the Niagara River. The British objective was to capture supplies and equipment from the U.S. military store depot at Black Rock, New York. The raid was a success but the British force suffered substantial casualties as they returned to their landing-point.

The Raid

Lt. Col. Cecil Bisshopp set out in the early hours of July 11, 1813, with 20 of the Royal Artillery, 40 of the 1st Battalion, 8th (King's) Regiment, 100 of the 1st Battalion, 41st Regiment, 40 of the 49th Regiment and 40 of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of Lincoln Militia. This force crossed the Niagara River, landed below Black Rock and moved “with great rapidity to the attack of that post”. 150 New York Militia under the command of a Major Adams, who had been stationed at Fort Gibson to defend Black Rock, fled and Bisshopp’s men set to work. They spiked two 12-pounder and two 6-pounder guns at the batteries and made off with another 12-pounder, two 9-pounders, 177 muskets, several ammunition kegs, quantities of round-shot and canister-shot, a large amount of army clothing and seven large bateaux and a scow which were loaded with 180 barrels of provisions. They burned the blockhouse and barracks at both the batteries and the navy-yard, and also a schooner.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Peter B. Porter of the New York Militia, whose own house was nearby, had gathered a force to oppose the invaders; comprising Captain Cummings’ company of U.S. regulars, 80-90 men rallied from Major Adams’ garrison, 50 Buffalo Militia under Captain Bell, 30 American-allied Seneca warriors and a field-piece. The American force ambushed Bisshopp’s column in the dark as they marched along the beach. The British force re-crossed to Canada with all of their plunder but not without significant casualties. The worst loss for the British was the “able and enterprising” Lt. Col. Bisshopp, who later died of his wounds.

Casualties

The British official casualty return gave 13 killed, 25 wounded, 4 “wounded and missing” and 2 missing. Captain Saunders of the 41st Regiment was returned as “wounded”, although he was also taken prisoner.[3] However, the Americans captured 17 prisoners, 4 of them wounded,[2] which would indicate that 10 of the men who were thought to have been killed were in fact captured. The fact that the American report detailed only 4 wounded prisoners, including Captain Saunders, would indicate that one of the men returned as “wounded and missing” was captured unwounded. This gives a revised British casualty total of 3 killed, 24 wounded, 4 wounded prisoners and 13 other prisoners.

The American loss was 3 militiamen killed, 4 militiamen and 2 Seneca warriors wounded.