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BATTLE OF CRYSLERS FARM |
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BATTLE OF CRYSLERS FARM |
STORY FROM THE PICKERING TOWN CENTRE ROADSHOW; September 2008 ARCHIVE Battle of Cryslers Farm Medal
The Battle of Cryslers Farm Military General Service Medal and Clasp 1793 - 1814 Awarded to James MacAlaar (James MacAleer) of the 89th Foot Regiment
CHRYSLERS FARM MEDAL AND BAR
Photographs: Jackie Freeman Photgraphy
The Battle that Saved Canada
The Battle of Crysler's Farm (Chrysler's Farm) known as the battle of Cryslers Field - November 11 - 12th. 1813 In unbelievable conditions and facing an enemy near 6 times its own in number, some 800 men faced their enemy at Chryslers Farm. James MacAlaar was one of them, The Canadian militia of both English and French heritage and their allies, Mohawk warriors from Tyendinaga stood shoulder to shoulder with the British and guarded the woods on either side of John Crysler's field. The British regulars were drawn up in 2 lines to await the American assault. The American forces attacked the British lines first and without success being forced to retreat from the battlefield after suffering severe losses.
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Photograph: Jackie Freeman Photgraphy
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The bloody Canadian battle known as the battle of Cryslers farm that was waged and fought on the muddy ploughed fields of John Crysler's Farm near Cornwall, Ontario on a cold and wet November morning in 1813, was a monumental event in Canadian history. One which effectively ended the American campaign of 1813 and put the the British firmly in control of both sides of the St. Lawrence River.
89th Colours at Crysler's Farm. Painting by Adam Sherriff-Scott
The British and Canadian regular and militia contingent faced an unimaginable task on the lands at John Crysler's Farm near Cornwall, Ontario . To face up and hold a huge American force which vastly outnumbered them. But they were brilliantly lead by the highly motivated and tactical genius of the British and Canadian force led by Colonel Joseph Morrison, Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry in Lower Canada and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Wanton Morrison in Upper Canada, who lead the force in the field against a dishevelled and dispirited American army of over 8,000 strong.
Facing an almost impossible task, the 400 British regulars standing side by side with Canadians of both French & English decent with the native Mohawk warriors of Tyendinaga, shoulder to shoulder in defence of their new country, held and defeated the American invasion bent on sweeping up the St Lawrence and capturing Montreal, cutting British lines of communications and stopping the heart of the continent.
Mural by Adam Sheriff Scott at the Battle of Crysler's Farm Visitor Centre, Crysler Park.
Some 31 allies paid with their lives at Chryslers Farm and over 150 were wounded. But the American toll was terrible. More than 100 American dead, some 240 wounded and over 100 captured in the bitter rout.
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The Military General Service Medal 1793 - 1814: Commemorates the campaigns and battles of the British Army between 1801 and 1814. Applications were invited from the surviving eligible veterans for the medal in 1847. This was 34 years after the last battle and 47 years after the first that the medal commemorates. This medal was awarded at that time to this gentleman:
James MacAlaar / James MacAleer of the 89th regiment of Foot who fought so gallantly at Cryslers farm was born in County Tyrone in Ireland in about 1787. He was the Great Great Grandfather of a lady who came to see us at the Pickering Roadshow this September and a regular soldier who fought bravely in Canada throughout the War of 1812. He was wounded and discharged from the army at the age of 27 on the 18th of July 1814 following a gun shot wound to his thigh at the Battle of Niagara Falls.
Further excellent reading: The Battle of Crysler's Farm, 1813 by Donald E. Graves. Published by Robin Brass Studio /Toronto Photographs: Jackie Freeman Photography
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FACTS: BATTLE OF CRYSLERS FARM
Battle Cryslers Farm Commemorative Medal - MODERN
COPYRIGHT DAVID FREEMAN 2008
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Canadian and American Armies & Commanders The Americans at Chryslers Farm: Major General James Wilkinson The British at Chryslers Farm: A stunning victory for a much smaller British force, Crysler's Farm saw James Morrison's command inflict losses of 102 killed, 237 wounded and 120 captured His own force lost 31 killed, 148 wounded and 13 missing.
The Battle of Crysler's Farm is designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Morrisburg, Ontario; As a site of one of decisive battles of War of 1812. Battle of Crysler’s Farm National Historic Site of Canada is located in Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Park, near Upper Canada Village, east of Morrisburg, Ontario. The battle, which took place on November 11, 1813 on farmland belonging to John Crysler, ended the American campaign for Montréal. In 1895, the Department of Militia and Defence erected a monument on the battlefield of Crysler’s Farm. Following the First World War in 1921, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) erected a plaque on the existing monument. Worthy Associations: The Friends of Crysler's Farm Battlefield Memorial Upper Canada Village Battle of Cryslers Farm Historic site Crysler's Farm Battlefield is a National Historic site located along the St. Lawrence River in South Dundas Township. It is now part of the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and is immediately adjacent to Upper Canada Village, about 12 km. (seven miles) east of Morrisburg. Canadian Military Heritage Association The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridges has details of another Military General Service Medal, with bar for Cryslers Farm, awarded to Pvt. John St Etienne. Other Canadian recipients of the Military General Service medal and clasp for the battle of Cryslers Farm included both militiamen and Indians.
Crysler's Farm completes Grave's work on the War of 1812. In the foreword, John R. Elting, Colonel, United States Army (Ret.) admitted that Crysler's Farm, 1813, "Has always been regarded as an unmitigated disgrace, the absolute nadir of the history of the American regular army."
Cryslers Farm Battlefield site today Battle of Cryslers Farm Commemorative Monument |
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Key: Canadian, Battle, Battle of Cryslers Farm, Cryslers Farm, Chrysler's, battle of Cryslers Field, Cryslers Field, Military General Service Medal, General Service Medal, Clasp Cryslers Farm Clasp, 89th Foot Regiment, James MacAlaar, James MacAleer, 89th Colours, Painting, Adam Sherriff-Scott, Sherriff-Scott, Cornwall, Ontario, Colonel Joseph Morrison, Colonel Charles-Michel d'Irumberry de Salaberry, Lower Canada, Lieutenant Colonel, Joseph Wanton Morrison, Upper Canada, Mohawk, warriors, Tyendinaga, Chief Tyendinaga, St Lawrence, Crysler's Farm Visitor Centre, Crysler Park. Bataille de la ferme Crysler, Bataille de la ferme Crysler |
