The de Watteville Regiment Arrives in North America

The de Watteville Regiment arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 17, 1813. Soldiers disembarking from the Dick, Lord Cathcart, John & Robert, Rolla, Malabar, and Golden Fleece were probably exhausted after the voyage. They had left Cadiz a little over a month before, on April 6.

A coloured print of a view of building in the harbour, with an anchored ship, hill in the background and sailing vessels in the foreground. At the bottom is written in script: Commissioners House in the Naval Yard, Halifax.

Commissioners House, in the Naval Yard, Halifax (Nova Scotia), 1804. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

Halifax Harbour was a lively British naval station. A drawing from the time depicted the imposing Commissioner’s House and naval yard. British union flags and ensigns flew from both ships and shoreline. Although there was little time to spend ashore, several disciplinary problems arose while the de Watteville regiment was there. To their credit, none of the incidents involved the Lithuanians. A few days after arrival, the regiment was on the move again. They boarded their transports and sailed for Quebec.

Vintage watercolour looking at the city of Quebec from a rough sea. A man is attempting to row a small boat past a floating log. Many sailing ships are coming into the harbour.

Arriving at Québec. Lithograph. Unknown artist, according to Coke Smyth. About 1840. Collection du Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec.

Stormy weather plagued the convoy as it made its way up the St. Lawrence River. Some ships lagged behind, but everyone made it safely to Quebec City by June 6. The regimental diary reported that “the Regiment were on the same day removed from the Transports on board small vessels, and sailed for Montreal where they arrived on the 15th.” The following day they received orders to head into Upper Canada.

The War of 1812 It’s a Long Way to Upper Canada