Canada and Canadian Defence: Contents: War of 1812 Bicentennial

Canada and Canadian Defence: Contents

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Chapter I	Page
National defence as a subject—The Imperial Conference of 1909 and its outcome—Relations of Canada to Great Britain and the Empire—Her past contributions to Imperial defence—Two main objects of her land forces—Some advantages of a Canadian Navy—Its sphere of action—Danger from political party pressure—The present a fitting moment to consider Canadian defence—Proposed method of doing so—Duke of Wellington as to the sine quâ non of success in war on the frontier of Canada - - - - - -	1
Chapter II
Character of the boundary-line of Canada—Her inland waters—Hudson bay, the St. Lawrence, and the great lakes—Naval combined with military power essential for her defence—The United States of America - - - - -	23
Chapter III
The war of 1812–14 on the Canadian frontier—Comparatively little known, and why—Its importance and the lessons it teaches—Origin of the war—Situation in Canada when it opened—The respective forces—Naval strength on the lakes—Principal posts—Communications—Strong and weak points on both sides - - - - - - -	33
Chapter IV
Campaigns of 1812–13, and what they teach—American plan of campaign, 1812—Opening events—British capture Fort Detroit and Mackinac—Battle of Queenston Heights—La Colle—British military policy—Campaign of 1813—British lose ascendancy on Lake Ontario—American plan for 1813—Americans capture York, Fort George, Fort Erie, and march on Burlington Heights—Stony Creek—British regain ascendancy on Lake Ontario—Americans fall back—Situation on the lakes—Sackett's Harbour—Position on the Niagara frontier—Anxiety as to pending naval battles—Reinforcements and supplies fail Barclay on Lake Erie—British defeat on that lake—Retreat of Proctor—Moravian town—Roosevelt on the opposing fleets—Americans burn Niagara—British take fort Niagara and destroy various villages—Operations towards Lake Champlain—Chateauguay—Chrystler's Farm—Situation at close of 1813—Remarks on the operations. -	48
Chapter V
Campaign of 1814, and what it teaches—American plan of campaign—Opening operations—British again in the ascendant on Lake Ontario—Changing character of the war—British offensive operations—Expedition to Maine—American invasion of Niagara frontier—Occupation of Fort Erie—Lundy's Lane—Failure of American expedition to Mackinac—British operations against Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, and naval reverse on that lake—Bladensburg—Washington—Effect of British reverse at Plattsburg—Termination of the war—New Orleans—Remarks upon the campaign and the war generally—As to ascendancy on the water, and importance of Lake Ontario—Wellington on the defence of Canada—As to naval and military co-operation, and an active, not passive, defence—Impressions left by the war - -	71
Chapter VI
Changes affecting defence since 1814, and their influence—The Canadian boundary-line—The Rush-Bagot Convention—The situation on the lakes—The general introduction of steam and electricity—Canals—Railways—Increased importance of cities, towns, etc.—Changes in modern weapons and warfare—Methods, but not necessity, of defence altered - -	105
Chapter VII
Conclusion—What the preceding chapters indicate—Some points of naval and military defence considered—Importance of a mobile, well-equipped land force—The assistance which such a force may derive from modern science in defence of a water frontier—Aeroplanes, etc.—Value of close concert in naval and military action—Facilities for defence possessed by Canada—Creation, under the Imperial Defence Conference recommendations, of a Canadian Headquarters Section of the Imperial General Staff - - - - -	140

Extracts from the Chicago Tribune of January 30, 1898 - -	153

As to Rouse's Point, at the Northern end of Lake Champlain -	164

Some Harbours and Ports of Canada - - - -	168

Arrangements and duties of the Canadian Headquarters Section of the Imperial General Staff - - - - -	177
Index - - - - - - - -	178

Maps

Map of Part of Canada and the United States, to illustrate the Events of the War of 1812–14	Facing concluding page
Map of Part of Eastern Canada and the United States between Prescott and Lake Champlain - - -	122
Map of Part of North America, showing the Character of the Canadian Frontier, with the Transcontinental Railways of the Dominion - - - - -	136

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