poems 1812 
With any war
There is a great need for diversion
For bells and concerts
For good conversation
And enduring poetry
Stan Skrzeszewski,
“Contemporary Poems From Another Era”
The War of 1812 between the United States of America and Great Britain and its colony of Canada began on June 18, 1812, and was ended by the Treaty of Ghent, December 24, 1814. However, the last battle in North America was fought on February 11, 1815 at Fort Bowyer, Alabama. The war had a significant effect on the Niagara Region on both sides of the border, with significant battles taking place in Beaverdams, Chippawa, Fort Erie, Fort George, Lundy’s Lane, and Queenston Heights, and skirmishes, raids, and clashes taking place all along the Niagara River and its environs. For information about the war visit History.com and the Canadian Encyclopedia. In February 2012 Canadian Geographic Magazine published a War of 1812 map showing battles with dates & locations. This is the “Bloodied Niagara” section of the map – click on it to see a larger version
A number of poems describe the battles, the commemorative services, and the battlegrounds after the war. These are listed in the Author and Title Search pages, but have been gathered here, under the name of the battle, for ease of access.
Battle of Beaverdams
Beam, Betty J. A Cow and Ice Cream (children’s poem)
Blewett, Joan. Laura Secord
Curzon, Sarah Anne Visit of the Prince of Wales to Laura Secord
Machar, Agnes Maule. Laura Secord
Mair, Charles. A Ballad for Brave Women
A Traveller. Glen Albert Near DeCew Falls
Wilkinson, Lieut.-Col. J. R. Laura Secord; or, The Battle of Beaverdams
Battle of Black Rock*
Turner, Elder A. Poem of the Death of Mr. Job Hoisington
Battle of Lundy’s Lane**
Anonymous The Battle of Bridgewater
Anonymous Bloody Battle Near Niagara
Burwell, Adam Hood (Erieus) The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Carnochan, Janet. Battle of Lundy’s Lane, 25th July, 1814
Erieus (Burwell, Adam Hood) The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Erieus (Burwell, Adam Hood) Journal of a Day’s Journey in Upper Canada in October, 1816 (section beginning But yonder is that bloody field)
Fuller, Ada Elizabeth. Lines Written in Drummond Hill Cemetery
Jones, Charles L.S. The Hero of Bridgewater
Kirby, William. Sonnet Read at the Unveiling of the Lundy‘s Lane Monument, 25th July, 1895
Liston, James K. Niagara Falls: A Poem in Three Cantos
Logan, John Daniel Drummond: Indomitable Soldier
Miller, Edward W. On the Erection of a Monument On the Battlefield of Lundy’s Lane
Moberly, T. E. Lundy’s Lane — 1814-1914 (July 25)
Neal, John. The Battle of Niagara
O’Regan, Myles. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Scott, Duncan Campbell. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Stark, Caleb. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Tucker, James Alexander. Lundy’s Lane
Wilkinson, Lieut.-Col. J. R. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane
Battle of Queenston Heights
Banker, William, Jr. The Battle of Queenstown (October 13, 1812)
Beam, Betty J. Brock’s Monument (children’s poem)
Burwell, Adam Hood (Erieus). The Death of Brock
Burwell, Adam Hood (Erieus). A Dream
Erieus see: Burwell, Adam Hood
Grol, Lini. Fondly Remembered Old Queenston
Hughes, James L. Upon the Heights at Queenston
Logan, John Daniel. Brock: Valiant Leader
McIntyre, James. Reminiscences
Murphy, A. J. Ode to a Bytown Youth
Rogers, Stan. MacDonnell on the Heights
A Soldier. Poem to Commemorate the Battle of Queenston Heights
White, William Thomas. The Battle of Queenston Heights
Wilkinson, Lieut.-Col. J. R. The Battle of Queenston Heights
Multiple Locations
Edgar, James David. Arouse Ye, Brave Canadians!
Emmons, Richard. The Fredoniad; or Independence Preserved
Lee, John B. The River None Believe
Skrzeszewski, Stan. Monuments
Skrzeszewski, Stan. To the Year 1812
Occupation of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Macdonald, John. Niagara in 1882
Siege of Fort Erie (including the Attack on Snake Hill)
Harper, J. M. The Siege of Fort Erie
Skrzeszewski, Stan. Monuments
Skrzeszewski, Stan. Snake Hill
*The Battle of Black Rock was also known as the Battle of Buffalo
**The Battle of Lundy’s Lane was also known as the Battle of Bridgewater, The Battle of Niagara, and the Battle of Niagara Falls.
poems 1812