COLOURED CORPS

Plaque entitled “The Colored Corps (1812-1815)”, located at the Queenston Heights battle site, on the walkway circling the Brock monument in the park at Niagara Parkway and Portage Road

When the War of 1812 began, people of African descent in the Niagara peninsula feared an American invasion. They were anxious to preserve their freedom and prove their loyalty to Britain. Richard Pierpoint proposed to raise a Corps of Men of Colour on the Niagara frontier. His offer was turned down, but a small Black corps was raised locally by Robert Runchey in October 1812. Pierpoint volunteered immediately, serving as a private. The Coloured or Black Corps, as it was sometimes called, varied between 27 and 30 men, excluding sergeants and officers. It saw action at the battle of Queenston Heights on 13 October 1812 and was involved in heavy fighting during the siege of Fort George (Niagara-on-the-Lake) on 27 May 1813. For the remainder of the war the Blacks were used for labour or garrison duty, stationed either at Fort Mississauga (Niagara-on-the-Lake) or Fort George and possibly seeing action at Lundy’s Lane on 25 July 1814. The corps was disbanded soon after the peace, but had nonetheless set a precedent. Separate Black units were a feature of the Canadian military as late as the First World War.