American Sailing Ship Captured at Fort Amherstburg: 200 Years Ago Today
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On July 2nd, 1812, the Cuyahoga — an American sailing ship — was captured at Fort Amherstburg.
The commander of Fort Amherstburg, Lieutenant-Colonel St. George scored one of the first British successes of the war.
The American schooner Cuyahoga sailed up the Detroit River loaded with supplies, a military band and numerous sick troops belonging to Brigadier-General William Hull’s North-Western Army. Those aboard the vessel were unaware of Washington’s declaration of war. As the Cuyahoga passed Fort Malden, a mixed force of soldiers, sailors and natives – led by Lieutenant Frederick Rolette of the Provincial Marine – rowed out and forced the schooner to surrender.
The Americans put up little resistance. Of vital interest to the British was the discovery of Hull’s papers outlining scenarios for a campaign against Fort Amherstburg.
