The story of Billy Green the Scout, and his pivotal role in the Battle of Stoney Creek on June 5, 1813, stands as one of the more dramatic and defining moments in the War of 1812—a conflict that would shape the future of Canada and its sense of identity. Born in 1794, Billy Green was just a young man when he found himself thrust into the maelstrom of war, his bravery and quick thinking helping to change the course of the battle and, by extension, the war itself. The Account of Billy Green the Scout highlights the unassuming heroism of a local farm boy who used his knowledge of the land and his daring spirit to lead British forces to a crucial victory. The story of Green’s scouting efforts and the victory at Stoney Creek, located near present-day Hamilton, Ontario, is not only a tale of wartime heroics, but also a reflection of the resilience and determination of early Canadians in defending their homes and territory against American invasion. The implications of Green’s actions, and the battle itself, reverberated far beyond that moment, contributing to the preservation of British North America and its future evolution into modern Canada.
To understand the significance of Billy Green’s role, it is essential to place the Battle of Stoney Creek in the broader context of the War of 1812. The war, fought between the United States and Great Britain, was largely sparked by ongoing tensions over trade restrictions, British impressment of American sailors, and the desire of some American leaders to expand their territory into British North America. The American invasion of Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario) began in 1812, with early successes that included the capture of Fort Detroit and control over much of the Niagara Peninsula. By the spring of 1813, the situation had grown even more precarious for British forces, particularly after the Americans captured Fort George in May, a key British outpost near the mouth of the Niagara River. Following this victory, the American forces, numbering around 3,500 troops, pursued the British westward, hoping to consolidate their gains and potentially strike at more vulnerable British positions.
Amid this backdrop of uncertainty and retreat, the British military command found itself outnumbered and struggling to regroup. In early June 1813, the American forces advanced towards the small village of Stoney Creek, their goal being to cut off British forces retreating toward Burlington Heights. It was at this critical juncture that Billy Green’s remarkable story begins. A local boy from Stoney Creek, Green was not a professional soldier, but a young man with an i
ntimate knowledge of the surrounding terrain. He would use this knowledge, along with a captured password, to help turn the tide of the battle.
The key to Billy Green’s involvement came from a fortuitous encounter. On the night of June 4, Green’s brother-in-law, Isaac Corman, who had been captured by American forces earlier, managed to escape and return to his home. Corman had overheard the American password—“Wil-Hen-Har”—a contraction of the names of American generals William Henry Harrison and Winfield Scott. Corman shared this information with Green, who immediately recognized its potential value. Determined to warn the British about the size and intentions of the advancing American force, Green set off to find Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey, the British commander at Burlington Heights. His decision to act swiftly and his deep familiarity with the local geography would prove critical in what was to follow.
Arriving at the British camp on the morning of June 5, Green provided Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey with the crucial password and detailed intelligence about the American encampment at Stoney Creek. Harvey, who had been monitoring the American advance with concern, realized that the information Green had brought could give the British a significant tactical advantage. The Americans had grown complacent, believing that the British forces were in disarray and unlikely to launch a counterattack. Harvey, however, saw an opportunity to strike, and Green’s knowledge of the terrain was essential to this plan. Green led the British troops to the American camp under the cover of darkness, guiding them through wooded areas and over hills, which allowed the British to approach the camp undetected.
The Battle of Stoney Creek, which began in the early hours of June 6, 1813, was a brief but intense engagement. Using the element of surprise to their advantage, the British launched a nighttime assault on the much larger American force. The Americans, caught off guard and confused by the sudden attack, struggled to organize a coherent defense. Green’s knowledge of the password allowed the British forces to penetrate the American lines with minimal resistance in the initial stages of the assault. What followed was a chaotic melee, in which British forces captured two senior American officers, Brigadier Generals John Chandler and William Winder, further disorienting the American troops. Despite the numerical superiority of the Americans, the surprise and leadership of Harvey, combined with Green’s crucial role in guiding the British to the battlefield, led to a decisive British victory.
The implications of the British victory at Stoney Creek were far-reaching. Militarily, it marked a turning point in the American campaign in Upper Canada. The American forces, already overstretched and uncertain in their control of the Niagara Peninsula, were forced to retreat toward Fort George. The victory helped to stabilize the British position in Upper Canada, and it boosted the morale of both the British soldiers and the local militia. The defeat of the American forces at Stoney Creek, combined with subsequent British victories later in the war, ensured that the American invasion of Upper Canada would ultimately fail. While the War of 1812 would end in a stalemate, with the Treaty of Ghent in 1814 restoring the pre-war boundaries, battles like Stoney Creek helped to preserve British North America from American conquest.
For Billy Green, the scout’s role in this victory became the stuff of legend. Though initially just a local farm boy, Green’s actions during the Battle of Stoney Creek earned him a lasting place in Canadian history. His quick thinking and bravery were celebrated in the years following the war, as his story came to symbolize the contributions of ordinary Canadians—farmers, traders, and militia members—who had helped defend their homes and territory against foreign invasion. Green’s ability to navigate the landscape, his familiarity with local geography, and his willingness to take decisive action all reflected the importance of local knowledge and individual initiative in the war effort. In many ways, his story represented the broader experience of Upper Canadian settlers, who were often called upon to defend their land in the face of overwhelming odds.
The broader influence of Billy Green’s actions, and the victory at Stoney Creek, on Canadian history is profound. The War of 1812 is often seen as a foundational moment in the development of a distinct Canadian identity, separate from both Britain and the United States. For the people of Upper Canada, the successful defense of their territory during the war helped to foster a sense of pride and unity. Figures like Billy Green, who exemplified the resilience and resourcefulness of the local population, became symbols of this emerging Canadian identity. The war demonstrated that British North America, though still a collection of colonies, was capable of defending itself and its way of life.
In the years following the War of 1812, the legacy of the conflict, and the contributions of individuals like Green, would continue to shape Canadian identity. The war had solidified the importance of local militias and volunteers in the defense of the colonies, and it underscored the need for strong, self-reliant communities. While the relationship between British North America and Britain remained strong, the war also marked the beginning of a gradual shift toward greater autonomy and self-government. Figures like Green, whose actions helped secure victory at critical moments, embodied the spirit of independence and self-determination that would eventually lead to the formation of the Canadian Confederation in 1867.
The Battle of Stoney Creek, and Billy Green’s role in it, also serves as a reminder of the complex nature of the War of 1812. While the war is often remembered for its major battles and diplomatic consequences, it was also shaped by the actions of individuals like Green, whose knowledge of the land and commitment to defending their homes played a crucial role in the outcome. The war was not fought solely by professional soldiers or politicians, but by ordinary people whose lives were directly affected by the conflict. Green’s story highlights the importance of local knowledge and initiative in a war that was often fought in remote and difficult terrain.
In conclusion, Billy Green the Scout’s account of the Battle of Stoney Creek in June 1813 stands as a powerful example of how individual bravery and local knowledge can influence the course of history. Green’s actions, in guiding British forces to a surprise victory over a larger American force, helped to secure one of the most important victories of the War of 1812. The implications of this battle were far-reaching, both for the outcome of the war and for the future of British North America. Green’s story, like that of many ordinary Canadians who fought in the war, became a symbol of the resilience, resourcefulness, and determination that would come to define the Canadian spirit. His legacy endures as a reminder of the pivotal role that local heroes played in shaping the course of Canadian history, ensuring the survival of a British North America that would eventually evolve into the modern nation of Canada.
I was the first white child born at Stoney Creek, being born February 4, 1794, and at the time of the Battle of Stoney Creek I was 19 years old, my home being in Stoney Creek up to that time. My father, brothers and sisters lived there also. We heard that the American army were camping down east below the Forty [Forty Mile Creek, now Grimsby, Ontario), so my brother Levi and I went down the road on top of the Mountain about 6 o'clock in the morning on June 5. We got to the Forty and stayed out on the Peak of the Mountain above the Forty until noon, when we espied the troops marching up the road. We stayed there until all the enemy but a few had passed I through the village. Then we yelled like Indians. I tell you those simple fellows did run. Then we ran along the Mountain and took down to the road that the Americans had just passed over. Levi ran across a soldier with his boot off, putting a rag on his foot. The soldier grabbed for his gun, but Levi was too quick for him, hitting him with a stick until he yelled with pain and some of the scouts fired at us. We made our way to the top of the Mountain again. I whooped like an Indian and Levi answered. By this time the settlers came out to the brow of the Mountain to see what was going on. Among them were the Lee brothers who lived near the brow of the Mountain at that time. They went home and the rest of us went to brother Levi's place on the side of the Mountain. When we heard them [the enemy) coming through the village of Stoney Creek, we all went out on the brow of the hill to see them. Some of them espied us and fired at us. One ball struck the bars where Tina, my brother Levi's wife, was sitting holding I Hannah, her oldest child, on her arm. We all went back to the Mountain to one of Jim Stoney's trapping huts. Tina went to the house with Hannah, her child. Not long after, two American officers came up to the house and asked her if she had seen any Indians around there. She said there was a band of Indians on the Mountain. The officers left, and Tina came out to where we were hiding and whistled. I answered her and told them I would go down to Isaac Corman's. When I got there I whistled and out came Keziah, my sister [Corman's wife). I asked her where Isaac was, and she said the enemy had taken him prisoner and taken the trail to the beach.
I asked her how she knew. She said Alf had followed them to the swamp. [Alf was their oldest son.) I asked, "Where is Alf?" and she said he was in the cellar with Becky and Jane, his two sisters. I went down to the cellar and Alf told me where to go to find his father. I started and ran; every now and then I would whistle until I got across the creek. When I heard Isaac's hoot like an owl, I thought the enemy had him there, but he was coming back alone. I was going to raise an Indian war-whoop to scare them when I saw Isaac coming. I asked him how he got away and he said, "The major and I got a-talking, and he said he was second cousin to General Harrison. I said I was first cousin to General Harrison and came from Kentucky. After talking a little longer a message came for the major; he said, 'I must go; you may go home, Corman.' I said I couldn't get through the lines. 'I will give you the countersign,' and he did."
Isaac gave the countersign to me; I got it and away I came. When I got up the road a ways I forgot it and didn't know what to do; so I pulled my coat over my head and trotted across the road on my feet and hands like a bear. I went up the hill to Levi's house and got Levi's old horse "Tip" and led him along the Mountain side until I could get to the top. Then I rode him away around by the gully, where I dismounted and tied old Tip to the fence and left him there, making my way on foot to Burlington Heights.
When I got there they took me for a spy, and I had to tell them all I knew before they would believe me. It was about 11 o'clock p.m. I explained to Colonel Harvey where and how the American army were encamped near Stoney Creek. He suggested a night attack on the enemy. After Colonel Harvey had a short interview with General Vincent, it was decided to start at once for Stoney Creek, and they commenced to hustle.
We got started about 11.90 p.m. Colonel Harvey asked me if I knew the way, and I said, "Yes, every inch of it." He gave me a corporal's sword and told me to take the lead. Sometimes I would get away ahead and go back to hurry them up. I told them it would be daylight before we got there if we did not hurry. Someone said that would be soon enough to be killed.
We got down the east side of the Red Hill Creek, near William Davis', when three sentries fired at us, and then ran over to the south side of the creek. Then we came on more carefully after that. I espied a sentry leaning against a tree. I told the man behind to shoot him, but Colonel Harvey said, "No, run him through!" and he was dispatched. The next sentry was at the church. He discharged his gun and demanded a pass. I commenced to give him the countersign and walked up to him. I grabbed his gun with one hand and put my sword to him with the other. His old gun had no load in it. He had shot the ramrod away.
Then we could see the camp fires; we cut across and got in Lewis' lane, when the order was given to "Fix flint! Fire!" and we fired three rounds and advanced about one hundred yards. Then we banged away again. There was a rush in our middle flank. Their south flank charged, then came orders for our flank to charge. This is where we lost most of our men. We got bunched right down under them. The centre rank captured two of their guns, then the general order was given to charge and we drove them back. We could hear them scampering. We were ordered to fire and we shot all our powder away. When it commenced to get daylight we could see the enemy running in all directions.
In the flat just across the creek near Lewis' Lane about five hundred American soldiers were encamped in advance of their artillery, which was situated on a hill directly in front of the road that our troops must pass. The five hundred on our left were the first that were discovered excepting those that were taken prisoners in the church. Two thousand of their men were on the hill to the right and about one thousand on the hillside just east of the James Gage house. They were burning James Gage's fence rails for their camp fires.
Major Plenderleath, with thirty men of the 49th, and Major Ogilvie, with the 8th or King's Regiment, charged and captured four field pieces in very gallant style. Generals Chandler and Winder were captured near their cannon. Our General Vincent came in the rear of his army to Stoney Creek that night, and somehow got lost in the bushes and the dark foggy night. He was found in the morning after the battle, down near Van Wagner's. He had lost his hat. Seth White and George Bradshaw found him. We lost about eighty killed and one hundred and forty wounded. Their loss was two hundred killed and two hundred and forty wounded. The settlers held to scare the enemy by giving war-whoops from the top of the hill. After the battle was over we got William Gage's oxen and stoneboat and his son Peter, John Lee, John Yeager, I and several others buried the dead soldiers on a knoll near the road where the enemy had placed their guns and where the road then turned south towards the Gage house; the road then went south of the Gage house and south of the cemetery, also north of Red Hill past William Davis' house. William kept a hotel there at the time, and it was used as a hospital for some of the wounded soldiers after the battle was over. The old Dr. Case homestead, near Hamilton, was also used for the same purpose. John Brady kept hotel at Stoney Creek at the time of the war of 1819, and the Americans refreshed themselves and their horses at his expense and did not leave his premises until they had eaten and drunk all that they could find around his place.
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Source: "Billy Green, The Scout" by Mabel W. Thompson, Ontario History, October 1952