British and Canadian Army

The British and Canadian Armies 1812-1815

British Units 1812-1813

19th Light Dragoons Regiment (1813 on)

8 Regular Battalions; not all saw action 2 were just garrison troops

3 Foreign battalions; garrison troops, former French pows or former french loyalist Swiss (1813 on)

Several Foot Artillery Batteries

2 Marine Battalions; each with a rocket battery (1813 on)

Lower Canadian Units (Quebec) 1812-1815

*these were French troops; besides the Voltigeurs, these did not fight as much as the troops in Upper Canada; they defeated three American invasion attempts (La Cole Mills twice and Chateauguay)

4 to 5 Troops of Militia Light Dragoons (300 total) (half were provincial regulars)

1 Light Infantry Battalion; Canadian Voltigeurs (Regulars) *also fought in Ontario

2 Irregular Light Infantry Battalion; Voyageurs *involved in all areas of the war

2 Battalions Native Warriors (equivalent)

6 Battalions Embodied Militia (these were Provincial Regulars) 

1 Bat Light Infantry Embodied Militia; Canadian Chasseurs; these were brig.with the voltigeurs

80 Battalions Lower Canada Militia (French) *16 mobilized during the war; were not needed French forces easily defated invasion attempts with just vanguard; only small elements saw action. 1/4 of militia was formed into "flank companies" which were called into service first. A typical unit would have 150 to 200 flankers (estimate 10 000 flankers, 40 000 total)

*7 battalions were Urban uniformed militia which would have been fully uniformed (conscript quality)

"Car Brigades" Provincial regulars used to make foot into horse artillery

Upper Canada Units (Ontario) 1812-1815

*these were Engish, Scottish and former American Canadian troops, these were heavily involved in fighting for the course of the war

2 Troops of Canadian Light Dragoons (Provincial Regulars)

4 or 5 troops Militia Light Dragoons (300 to 400 total)

1 Light Infantry Battalions (Regulars); Glengarry Light Infantry *excellent

4 Regular Canadian Fencibles Battalions; used as Marines, Lights or line troops

Several Irregular Light Infantry Companies (Caldwell's Western rangers, Kent Rangers, Coloured Corps)*these light infantry forces fought heavily

8 to 10 Battalions Native Warriors (equivalent)

1 Battalion Embodied Militia (Provincial Regulars; conscript quality) 

32 Battalions Upper Canada Militia (English) *half of these saw action; many wore british line uniforms; about half saw action *note 4 or 5 battalions flank companies would make up an actual battalion 1/4 were flank companies, it was these units which were usually used.

6 Battalions highland militia (2 dundas, 1 Stormant, and 2 glengarry); Glengarries dressed similar to 93rd highlanders, the other units had bagpipes and Scottish regalia was popular

*total Upper Canada militia 2500 flankers, 11 000 total.

1 Provincial Regular Artillery Unit

"Car Brigades" Provincial regulars used to make foot into horse artillery

Maritime Units (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland) 1812-1815

*there were no land battles in the maritimes, none of these saw action

2 Canadian Fencible (regulars) Battalions; New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

30 Battalions of Militia

British Invasion Force 1814-1815

The following Forces attacked the US plus much of the regulars described above in 2 armies, each of about 11 000. A smaller third force occupied parts of Maine at the end of the war (1500 men)

6th Inniskilling Dragoons Detachment; served as guard for command

14th Light Dragoons (2 squadrons) *never acquired horses, fought dismounted

1 95th Rifles Battalion

1 60th Light Battalion (occupied Maine)

2 Highlanders Battalions (both were 93rd Highlanders; 1st bat wore tartaned pants, the 2nd never left Nova Scotia)

19 Veteran Foot Battalions

4 West Indies Battalions

West Indies Colonial Marines

Additional Foot Batteries

Royal Horse Artillery Rocket Battery