On February 26, Professor Alun Hughes of Brock University methodically retraced the famous and heroic trek of Laura Secord using primary evidence in an effort to remove the myth and to uncover what most likely happened on that historic night.

A quick retelling of the classic story: on 21 June 1813 in Queenston, Laura learned of the American’s plans to surprise attack the British forces at Beaverdams.  The next day Secord set out on foot to warn Lieutenant FitzGibbon all the while taking a harsh route through forests and swampland to avoid being detected by the American pickets.  After her harrowing journey, Secord came across a First Nation’s encampment.  These British allies took Laura to FitzGibbon at John DeCew’s house where she relayed the information.  On 23 June, the British and First Nation forces ambushed the Americans at Beaverdams and were victorious.  The story of Laura’s journey became mythologized over time and she has been honoured in countless means such as statues, monuments, postage stamps, books, plays and more.

Alun asked two questions:  1) Did Laura Secord’s walk make a difference?  2) What route did she actually take?

Question 1: In 1932, W. Stewart Wallace wrote The Story of Laura Secord: A Study in Historical Evidence in which he looked at all of the contemporary reports, histories and newspapers.  There was no mention of Secord’s acts.  The only evidence of Secord’s efforts came from Laura herself.  In 1837, Laura made a petition to run a ferry and outlined her heroic efforts.  In 1839, FitzGibbon verified Secord’s petition in a open statement.  Secord made another petition for a pension after her husband died.  Again, she states her key role in the outcome of the Battle of Beaverdam.  Wallace did not buy Secord’s statements as her need for money in both cases was seen as a motive to embellish.  When other resources started to use Secord as part of the War of 1812 narrative, details became erroneous and Laura’s role became increasingly important and detailed.  To Wallace, Secord could not complete the walk as recounted because the timing of the episode did not work out.

However, in 1934, new evidence surfaced verifying Secord’s story.  In the 1820s, James Secord, Laura’s husband, made a petition for land and used FitzGibbon as proof that she left Queenston on June 22.  He made a second petition to manage the Brock Monument that included an even more detailed account from FitzGibbon further verifying Laura’s importance to the events that transpired from June 21 to June 23.

Ultimately, we will never truly know if Laura Secord’s walk made a difference to the Battle of Beaverdams.  However, there can be no doubt that she did the walk at considerable risk and with the most noble intentions.

Question 2:  There have been a number of inaccurate maps of Laura Secord’s route created over the years.  One such map was created by Jacob Cotton in 1917.  Cotton was commissioned by J. Ross Robertson to paint the Decew House, Laura Secord’s home and other landmarks in Niagara including a map of Secord’s route.  Cotton used the verified statements by Secord and FitzGibbons as sources.  Essentially, Cotton’s route resembled most of the others.

Professor Hughes (a cartographer and historian) taking into account the landscape and history, recreated the route as follows:

• Secord left Queenston towards St. David to see her brother Charles Ingersol who was ill
• Towards Homer she went through the swamp – not true; more likely followed the First Nation’s trail south of the Swamp
• At Homer, she crossed the 10 Mile Creek over the bridge
• In St. Catharines, we went along Queenston St. and St. Paul to cross 12 Mile Creek over the bridge
• She moved down Pelham Road toward the Village of Power Glen where she would have passed the Tourney house (family friends)
•  Crossed the 12 Mile Creek again before climbing the Niagara Escarpment
•    Arriving in John DeCew’s field, she encountered the First Nations who lead her to the DeCew house.

Conclusion on the route according to Alun Hughes:  If this new route is correct, Laura Secord travelled approximately 15 miles on foot – from sunrise at about 4:30 a.m. to nautical twilight around 9:30 p.m.  Total 17 hours.

Along the Niagara Frontier (with particular interest to Grantham Township)

1812

June 18 – United States President James Madison signs Declaration of War against Great Britain

July 12 – American forces under Brig.-Gen. William Hull cross Detroit River and invade Upper Canada at Sandwich

August 16 – British forces under Maj.-Gen. Isaac Brock capture Fort Detroit

August 24 – Maj.-Gen. Isaac Brock returns to Fort George (Niagara), Upper Canada after capture of Detroit

October 9 – American forces capture British brigs Caledonia and Detroit (subsequently destroyed) in the Niagara River, off Fort Erie, Upper Canada

October 13 – Major artillery duel between Fort Niagara (below Youngstown), New York and Fort George

October 13 – Battle of Queenston Heights, Upper Canada

October 13 – Death of Maj.-Gen. Isaac Brock and Lieut.-Col. John Macdonell at Battle of Queenston Heights

October 16 – Funerals held for Brock and Macdonell at Fort George

November 10 – American Navy under command of Commodore Isaac Chauncey gains control of Lake Ontario 

November 28 – 30 – American forces under Brig.-Gen. Alexander Smyth invade Upper Canada across the Niagara River at Fort Erie

November 28 – Battle of Frenchman’s Creek, near Fort Erie

1813

January 9 – British Declaration of War against the United States

March 17 – 18 – Artillery duel between Black Rock, New York and Fort Erie

April 27 – Battle and surrender of Town of York, Upper Canada to U.S. Maj.-Gen. Henry Dearborn; American forces take control of the Great Lakes and subsequently burn Town of York

May 25 – 27 – Artillery barrage on Fort George and capture by American forces

May 27 – British forces under Brig.-Gen. John Vincent abandon Fort George; retreat along lakeshore westward toward Burlington Heights, Upper Canada (passing through Grantham Township, Upper Canada)

June 6 – Battle of Stoney Creek, Upper Canada

June 8 – Engagement at Forty Mile Creek (Grimsby), Upper Canada; American forces retreat to Fort George, passing through Grantham Township

June 9 – American forces burn Fort Erie and withdraw their forces from Fort Erie, Chippawa and Queenston to Fort George

June 22 – Laura Secord leaves her home in Queenston and walks to DeCew House, Thorold, Upper Canada to warn British forces of an American attack

June 24 – Battle of Beaver Dams (“fight in the Beechwoods”), Thorold

July 5 – British forces under Col. John Clark of the 2nd Lincoln Militia from Chippawa raid Fort Schlosser, on Niagara River, north of Buffalo, New York

July 8 – Action at Butler’s Farm at Two Mile Creek, Niagara, Upper Canada

July 11 – British forces under Lieut.-Col. Cecil Bisshopp and Col. Clark Raid Black Rock, New York

July - British General John Vincent establishes his headquarters in George Adams’ home in Grantham Township (near the bridge over the Twelve Mile Creek near the village of St. Catharines)

July 29 – Action at Burlington Beach, Upper Canada

July 31 – American forces raid and occupy Town of York for a second time

August 7 -10 – U.S. fleet battles British fleet on Lake Ontario

August 8 – USS Hamilton and USS Scourge sink in a storm on Lake Ontario off Twelve Mile Creek

August 24 – Action at Fort George

September 10 – Naval Battle of Lake Erie

September 28 – Burlington Races (Naval encounter) at Burlington, Upper Canada

October 19 – American forces destroy and pillage George Adam’s home, distillery and bake house in Grantham Township (near the bridge over the Twelve Mile Creek near the village of St. Catharines)

December 10 – American Forces under Brig.-Gen. George McClure evacuate Fort George and burn Niagara, Upper Canada and retreat to Fort Niagara

December 12 – British forces re-occupy Fort George

December 19 – British forces capture Fort Niagara

December 19 – 21 – British forces burn Lewiston, Youngstown and Manchester (Niagara Falls), New York

December 22 – British forces take Fort Schlosser

December 29 – 31 – British forces burn Buffalo and Black Rock

1814

May 23 to June 21 – Treason Trials underway in Ancaster, Upper Canada

July 3 – American forces under Maj.-Gen. Jacob Brown invade Upper Canada and capture Fort Erie

July 5 – Battle of Chippawa, Upper Canada

July 18 – American forces burn the hamlet of St David’s, Upper Canada

July 20 – Eight of the Traitors found guilty at the Ancaster Assizes are hanged on Burlington Heights

July 23 – British 104th under Lieut.-Gen. Gordon Drummond arrive at Twelve Mile Creek from Town of York

July 25 – Battle of Lundy’s Lane, (Niagara Falls), Upper Canada

July 26 – American forces burn Bridgewater Mills (Burch’s Mills, above Niagara Falls), Upper Canada

August 3 – British forces cross Niagara River and engage American forces at Conjocta Creek/Black Rock, New York and are repulsed, returning to Upper Canada

August 4 - British forces under Lieut.-Gen. Drummond begin the siege of Fort Erie; the casualties of this siege result in Fort Erie becoming the bloodiest battlefield in Canada

August 12 – USS Somers and USS Ohio captured in Lake Erie/Niagara River off Fort Erie

August 14 – British forces assault on Snake Hill Battery (Fort Erie), Upper Canada

August 15 – British forces under Lieut.-Gen. Drummond fail in assault on Fort Erie

August 25 – British forces burn Washington, D.C.

September 17 – American forces from Fort Erie launch a successful sortie against Drummond’s batteries

September 21 – British forces end siege of Fort Erie and retreat to Chippawa

October 15 – Skirmish at Chippawa

October 19 – Battle of Cook’s Mills (near Welland) on Lyons Creek, Upper Canada

November 5 – American forces evacuate Fort Erie, destroy what remains of fort and return to Buffalo

November 15 – British forces re-occupy Fort Erie after American withdrawal

December 24 - Treaty of Ghent (Belgium) signed to end the War of 1812

1815

February 16 – U.S. Senate approves Treaty of Ghent; 17th President Madison ratifies Treaty and it is proclaimed on 18th. War of 1812 officially ends

May 22 – American forces re-occupy Fort Niagara

“The Myth of Laura Secord: Seeking the Truth Beneath the Chocolate Coating” by Alun Hughes

Meeting between Secord and Fitzgibbon

Time / Place: Thursday, 26 February 2009, 7:30 P.M., Burgoyne Room of the St. Catharines Museum at Lock 3 (the Welland Canals Centre), 1932 Welland Canals Parkway (formerly Government Road). Wheelchair accessible. Free admission.  All interested persons welcome.

The Museum’s traveling exhibit gallery will be open for viewing a half hour before the meeting.

We hope to see you there.