History Browser

Annotated listing of works pertaining to or containing a pictorial history of the War of 1812. Part of the National Library website "From Colony to Country: A Reader's Guide to Canadian Military History."

This section is a collection of surviving artifacts and period artists' illustrations. Illustrated are uniform coats of officers or enlisted men from a variety of Canadian and British units that served in present-day Canada during the period 1780-1870.

This is the main page for all charts for the 1814 campaign of the War of 1812, indicating command structure and battles . The first chart is linked to the same page and appears under coloured battle maps for 1814.

The British likely introduced the military band to Canada. These regimental musicians were paid for by individual units. Instrumentation favoured flutes, clarinets and percussion. The bands played a strong role in the social life of garrison towns throughout Canada.

This report discusses the organizational features of the militia of the separate provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island prior to Confederation.

Before reforms in the mid-19th century, most British soldiers left the army only when their regiment was disbanded in the aftermath of a war. When this occurred in Canada, men were offered land to encourage them to settle in the colony. Pensions were rare, and worth little.

The 12-pounder breech-loading gun that equipped the Brigade Division, Royal Canadian Field Artillery in South Africa replaced the 9-pounder rifled muzzle loading guns that had equipped Canada's field artillery units since the 1870s.

An article about the origins of the South African War and Canada's involvement in it. Includes reading list.

British army officers were primarily responsible for supervising the activities of their men. The British took up the practice of awarding military medals only in the nineteenth century. First for officers only, then for all ranks, campaign medals became a source of great pride.

While it is called the War of 1812, many battles, raids, and skirmishes occurred in 1814. This time-line presents a brief description of the events of 1814 and the forces that were involved in both land and sea confrontations.