Four Years on the Great Lakes, 1813-1816. Don Bamford

Four Years on the Great Lakes, 1813-1816

FOUR YEARS ON THE GREAT LAKES, 1813–1816

The Journal of Lieutenant David Wingfield, Royal Navy

Don Bamford & Paul Carroll

Foreword by Barry Gough

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Edited by Jane Gibson

Copy-edited by Allison Hirst

Proofread by Jason Karp

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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Wingfield, David, ca. 1789-1863

Four years on the Great Lakes, 1813-1816 : the journal of Lieutenant David Wingfield, Royal Navy / by Don Bamford and Paul Carroll.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-55488-393-6

1. Wingfield, David, ca. 1789-1863--Diaries. 2. Canada--History--War of 1812--Personal narratives, British. 3. Canada--History--War of 1812--Naval operations. 4. Ontario, Lake (N.Y. and Ont.)--History, Naval--19th century. 5. Sailors--Great Britain--Diaries. I. Bamford, Don II. Carroll, Paul, 1944-III. Title.

FC443.W55A3 2009 971.03’4092 C2009-900300-7

1 2 3 4 5 13 12 11 10 09

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council for our publishing program. We also acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program and The Association for the Export of Canadian Books, and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Book Publishers Tax Credit program, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation.

Care has been taken to trace the ownership of copyright material used in this book. The author and the publisher welcome any information enabling them to rectify any references or credits in subsequent editions.

J. Kirk Howard, President

www.dundurn.com Published by Natural Heritage Books A Member of The Dundurn Group

Front cover: On October 14, 1814, lightning struck the HMS St. Lawrence while she sailed on a shakedown cruise. There was significant, but repairable damage, and several crewmembers were killed. Painting by Peter Rindlisbacher. Reprinted with the permission of the artist. Back cover: An aerial view of Wingfield Basin. Courtesy of Telfer Wegg.

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We humbly dedicate this work to those soldiers, seamen, and militia of both sides of the conflict in the War of 1812–14, who served King or Commander-in-Chief and country, in a foreign and somewhat hostile land. Many of these men received very little credit for their efforts and sacrifices.

Both sides produced men of high levels of bravery and excellent leadership. Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, K.B. and Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, USN, were honoured by outstanding monuments erected in memory of their battles. Others were remembered in the history books with only a few lines, or at most, a few pages.

The experiences of David Wingfield, away from the battle scenes, are unique in several respects. We hope this work will properly honour him and his compatriots.

CONTENTS

Maps

Acknowledgements

A Note About the Title of the Journal

Foreword by Barry Gough

Preface by Paul Carroll

Introduction

PART I — THE JOURNAL OF DAVID WINGFIELD

Chapter One Joining the Lake Service: Arrival and Adventures on Lake Ontario

Chapter Two Capture and Experiences as a Prisoner of War

Chapter Three Return to Active Duty on Lake Ontario

Chapter Four Ordered to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay: Commanding the Surprise