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.
HMS Detroit (1812) American outposts on the upper Great Lakes including Fort Mackinac on Lake Huron. The vessel was also used to carry private cargo. By the beginning of the War of 1812, "Adams" was the only American government vessel of any kind on the upper Great Lakes. "Adams" was armed with six cannon and operated out of Detroit. On 16 August 1812, General William Hull surrendered Detroit after a siege by British forces. "Adams", which had been at Detroit, was surrendered too, and was taken into Provincial Marine service and renamed "Detroit". The brig was added to the Provincial Marine's Lake Erie