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General Dearborn followed up on his victory at York with a general assault on the British position at Fort George in May 1813. The American assault was led by Colonel Winfield Scott who would later become the highest ranking officer in the American forces. Again The Royal Newfoundland Regiment found themselves engaged in close bayonet fighting as they resisted the American landing. The
Grenadier Company of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 21 killed and 12 wounded slowing the American advance on Fort George. Suffering heavy losses the British Commander General John Vincent ordered the artillery pieces to be spiked and the fort abandoned to the Americans. The Royal Newfoundland Regiment were tasked with rearguard action as the British Army retired to Beaver Dams west of the Niagara River ahead of the advancing American army. While the British regrouped at Beaver Dams another British Force led by Governor Prevost himself decided upon a preemptive strike on the American shipbuilding site at Sackett’s Harbour. With three ships of the Royal Navy, crewed by the 230 members of The Royal Newfoundland Regiment stationed at Kingston, and a number of transport boats, the British force departed Kingston intent on the capture of Sackett’s Harbour. Due to the hesitancy of Governor Prevost, the assault wasted a golden opportunity eary in the engagement, gained little military advantage, and resulted in the loss of nearly three hundred British soldiers including four men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
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