War Stories: Toronto and the War of 1812-14 — Invasion of York, 27 April 1813
On April 26, 1813, sentries stationed on the Scarborough Bluffs first alerted the garrison that the American fleet had been sighted and was heading toward the town. By dawn, the fleet was lying off the shore of the town.
The American attack on York (present day Toronto) had begun. By 7 am, U.S. ground forces landed west of the town and garrison, near present day Dunn Ave., and the fleet commenced a bombardment of the garrison fortifications. The American force totalling 14 ships and 1700 troops was vastly superior in numbers overwhelming the British regular troops and local militia, which only had a combined force of no more than 660 troops and fewer than 100 First Nations allies.
British Commander General Roger Hale Sheaffe quickly realized that his position was untenable, and that to continue the fight would risk all the forces at his command. He ordered the British regular troops to retreat to Kingston, and left the local militia commanders in charge to surrender the town to the Americans and negotiate terms. It was all over by early afternoon.
Sheaffe’s last and perhaps most significant military act was his order to destroy the garrison’s magazine, rather than leave the large supply of munitions to fall into enemy hands. The ensuing explosion was catastrophic for the U.S. forces, killing and maiming 250 American soldiers, and mortally wounding Zebulon Pike, field commander of the American ground forces. With the withdrawal of the British troops American forces seized York and occupied it from April 27 to May 1, 1813. In that time they commandeered public stores and destroyed most of the military and government buildings in the town, but sparing private dwellings.
While the end of the occupation provided an immediate relief for the inhabitants of York it would not be lasting. New tensions embraced the population. Citizens of York remained in a constant state of unease about an American return — and they did return, briefly later that summer. Alarms were frequent, resulting in a fear that would linger for the balance of the war. Tension and suspicion was directed at certain citizens of the town who had secretly and in a few cases openly collaborated with the American invaders. In September 1813, charges were laid against 32 residents of York and the surrounding area for sedition.
While this incident forever changed nature of York, the town continued, rebuilt with a new fort, and when news of peace did finally arrive in February of 1815, the inhabitants recognized that the Town of York had survived the war.