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HISTORY

Change in Command

General Stephen Van Rensselaer writes a letter of resignation as commander of the Army of the Centre. He will be replaced by Brigadier General Alexander Smyth . . . who refused to support him at Queenstown Heights. Smyth makes public his plan to invade Upper Canada within 15 days.

On November 17th the British respond to this plan by bombarding Black Rock from Fort Erie, destroying a barracks and a powder magazine. One cannon ball crashes through a house, narrowly missing Quartermaster General Peter B. Porter who is just sitting down to dinner.