January 6 1812: Sir Isaac Brock

Sir Isaac Brock arrived in Canada in 1802. 

He was promoted to Major General in June 1811. In October of the same year and the departure by Lieutenant Governor Francis Gore for England, Brock became  the senior military officer and President of the Executive Council of Upper Canada. Civil and military authority thus rested with him as war approached.

On January 6, 1812, writing from York, Major General wrote to Colonel Baynes the following letter reflecting on his attempts to raise troops:

MAJOR-GERAL BROCK TO COLONEL BAYNES.

"YORK,January 6, 1812.

"Capt. Macdonell, accompanied by the priest, arrived here some days ago. The badness of the weather has prevented his return as soon as he first proposed. All the junior commissions being already disposed of among the youths of Glengarry, I fear that little will be done in this part of the Province towards recruiting the intended corps. A few idlers may be picked up; but, without the aid of persons of influence, no great number can be expected, unless indeed the militia be called Out, and land promised.

"Understanding from Captain Macdonell that the Commander of the forces had applied to the Prince Regent for permission to offer some of the waste land of the Crown as an inducement to the Scotch emigrants to enlist, I stated the circumstances to Council, and have much pleasure in assuring His Excellency, that should he be of opinion the Present aspect of affairs calls for prompt measures, and that a direct promise of land would accelerate the recruiting, this Government will readily pledge itself to grant one, or even two, hundred acres to such as enlist on the terms proposed by His Excellency. This will be deviating largely from the King's instructions; but in these eventful and critical times, the Council conceives that an expression from His Excellency of the necessity of the measure will be sufficient to warrant a departure from the usual rules. Should His Excellency think it expedient to act immediately, and authorize a direct offer of land, I have no doubt that a number of young men might be collected between Kingston and Amhertsburg, in which case His Excellency may sanction the raising of two additional companies under my superintendence.

I have, &c.,

"ISAAC BROCK."

January 5 1812 Siege of Tarifa

The Siege of Tarifa ended on January 5, 1812. 

The French forces were unsuccessful in their attempt to capture this small coastal town in Andalusia, Spain. The town had been occupied by a small British garrison since 1811. There about 4,000 British and Spanish soldiers in the town.

In November, 1811, the British garrison had attacked the French lines around Cadiz which was also under siege by the French. Marshal Soult, the French commander, then decided to attack Tarifa. He dispatched Marshal Victor with about 15,000 men taken from the troops around Cadiz.

The siege began on 20 December 1811. The French made quick progress and breached the walls of the town on the first day. The French continued to attack through to December 30 1811. They were able to establish a sixty feet wide breach in the defensive wall. At this point the weather intervened. Severe rainstorms and flash floods caused havoc for both sides but more so for the French forces. French trenches and camps were overrun by the flash floods. The French plan to attack on dawn on December 31, 1811 had to be delayed allowing the British and Spanish defenders to carry out some crucial preparations. 

The French attack began at 9 a.m. but rain again slowed the advance until the French were forced to retreat suffering between 210 to 400 casualties. In contrast, the British lost 36 men and the Spanish 20 men.

The weather continued to play a major part in the siege. Rain meant that the besieging forces was cut off from the main French armies in Cadiz. Later, the French forces in Tarifa were cut off from each other. Supplies began to run short. 

Marshall Victor tried on 1 January to reopen the attack but a heavy rainstorm hit the area on the night of 3 and 4 January. Victor had to admit that the French cause was hopeless. On the night of 4-5 January, 1812, after spiking nine of their twelve heavy guns, the French abandoned the siege.

The above is based on the information found here and in the interesting Journal of Colonel Skerrett, the British commander at Tarifa, which can be found here here .