Army of the North (United States)

Not to be confused with United States Army North.

Army of the North
Active	June 1812 – June 1815
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	Field army
Engagements	War of 1812 Battle of Lacolle Mills (1812) Battle of York Battle of Fort George Battle of Crysler's Farm Battle of Plattsburgh
Commanders
Notable commanders	Henry Dearborn

The Army of the North, also known as the Northern Army ^[1] was a United States Army formation formed at the outset of the War of 1812.

History

In 1812, the United States Secretary of War organized the United States Army into three field armies. These were the Army of the North, the Army of the Northwest and the Southern Army.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Northern Army was under the command of Major General Henry Dearborn, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Dearborn planned to launch an assault on the city of Montreal. ^[2] However, Dearborn's worsening heath delayed the invasion plans. ^[3] On the morning of 19 November 1812, Dearborn's Adjutant General issued order: "the General embraces the earliest opportunity to express his confidence in the troops composing the army of the North. Their bravery and patriotism will supply any deficiency in military discipline and tactics which time and experience will render perfect." ^[3] However, Dearborn's forces were defeated by a numerically inferior force of Canadian militia under the command of Charles de Salaberry during the subsequent First Battle of Lacolle Mills. ^[4]

In 1813, John Armstrong Jr., the new Secretary of War, ordered Dearborn to launch an attack on the city of Kingston in coordination with Commodore Isaac Chauncey. However, both Dearborn and Chauncey thought that Kingston was too fortified and instead suggested to attack York, the capital of Upper Canada. ^[5] On 27 April 1813, American forces of the Army of the North successfully attacked York. Brigadier General Zebulon Pike (the officer who was leading the Army of the North's landing party during the battle) stating that any American soldiers who looted civilian buildings would be executed. ^[6] However, after Pike was killed during the battle by a magazine explosion, American sodiers of the Northern Army started to loot and burn the town. ^[7]

In July 1813, Dearborn was relieved of command due to repeatedly suffering from illness. ^[8]

The Northern Army was under the command of Major General George Izard during the Battle of Plattsburgh. ^[9]

Commanders

• Henry Dearborn (June 1812 - July 1813)
• James Wilkinson (July 1813 - January 1814)
• George Izard (January 1814 - 1815) ^[9]

Reference

1. "War of 1812 Primary Documents | NYSL". www.nysl.nysed.gov.
2. Gary H. Nobbs Jr. (May 2021). "Failure On All Fronts: The United States Army in the First Year of the War of 1812" . Retrieved 12 October 2025.
3. "The First American Invasion of Quebec in the War of 1812 by Robert Henderson". www.warof1812.ca. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
4. "Battle of Lacolle Mill". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
5. "The War of 1812 on the Niagara River". The Army Historical Foundation. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
6. Blumberg 2012, p. 82.
7. Blumberg 2012, p. 84.
8. "Henry Dearborn". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca.
9. Elting, p. 256.

Bibliography

• Blumberg, Arnold (2012). When Washington Burned: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812. Casemate. ISBN   978-1-6120-0101-2.