Military history of Canada Washington, DC, in September at the Battle of Bladensburg, the British troops burned down the White House and other government buildings, only to be repulsed as they moved north for the Battle of Baltimore, while the forces attacking during the Battle of New Orleans were routed after suffering severe casualties. During the War of 1812, Nova Scotia’s contribution to the war effort was made by communities either purchasing or building various privateer ships to lay siege to American vessels. Three members of the community of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia purchased a privateer schooner and named it "Lunenburg" on August 8, 1814.
USS Ontario (1812) USS Ontario (1812) USS "Ontario" was a lake schooner in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. "Ontario" was built as a merchant ship on Lake Ontario; purchased in October 1812; and placed in service in 1813, Sailing Master Joseph Stevens in command. Part of Commodore Isaac Chauncey's tiny Lake Ontario squadron protecting upstate New York from a seaborne British and Canadian invasion, "Ontario" supported an attack on York, Canada, on 27 April 1813. General Zebulon Pike landed 1700 troops to raid the town while the U.S. squadron destroyed large quantities of stores and burned a schooner under