RIALL, PHINEAS
Riall, Phineas
(December 15, 1775–November 10, 1850)
English General
R
iall was a British commander of the
War of 1812 known for bravery under
fire and whose actions devastated the
Niagara frontier. However, at the Battle of
Chippawa, he was deceived into thinking that
the gray-clad soldiers opposing him were
“only Buffalo militia” and nearly lost his en-
tire army to Gen. Winfield Scott.
Phineas Riall was born on December 15,
1775, in Heywood, County Tipperary, Ireland,
into a well-to-do family. Thus situated, he was
predisposed to join the army and advance
himself by purchasing his commissions. He
became an ensign in the 92nd Regiment of
Foot in January 1794 and by the following
May had risen to captain. By December of
that year Riall was a major in the 128th Regi-
ment, but that unit disbanded shortly after-
ward; he remained on half-pay for several
years. Riall resumed his military career in
April 1804, when he joined the 15th Regiment
as a major. In this capacity he accompanied
his regiment to the West Indies in 1809–1810
and garnered some distinction by command-
ing a brigade during the captures of Mar-
tinique and Guadeloupe. Riall then rose to
brevet colonel in July 1810 before transferring
to the 69th Regiment with identical rank. Fol-
lowing another spell of unemployment, Riall,
aged but 35 years, rose to major general in
June 1813 and was sent to Canada for service
in the War of 1812. He was considered a brave
officer but somewhat rash and eager to come
to grips with an enemy. And, despite his long
period of military service, he also lacked
meaningful combat experience.
Riall arrived at Quebec that fall and was
initially posted with another newcomer, Gen.
Gordon Drummond, at Montreal. However,
insomuch as British forces at Niagara needed
new commanders to replace the ailing Gen.
John Vincent, Governor-General George
Prevostsent both Drummond and Riall to
that theater. They arrived just as American
forces had evacuated Fort George and need-
lessly burned the Canadian village of Newark
to deny its use to the enemy. Drummond im-
mediately enacted a retaliatory response by
swooping upon Fort Niagara on the night of
December 19, 1813, capturing the entire garri-
son. Thereafter, he ordered Riall to take 500
soldiers and a like number of Indians on a
raid against the settlement of Lewistown. He
accomplished this mission with little diffi-
culty, as the militia fled before he approached,
and numerous buildings were burned. How-
ever, several Indians got out of hand and mur-
dered some civilians. Drummond conse-
quently admonished him to keep a tighter rein
on operations. On the night of December 30,
1813, Riall was again dispatched across the
Niagara River with a view toward torching
Buffalo and Black Rock. This developed into
a pitched battle with the local militia, who
eventually caved under British pressure. In
short order both settlements had been razed
to the ground, and Britain’s thirst for revenge
was slaked. In both of these punitive actions,
Riall conducted himself competently and with
dispatch. Drummond subsequently appointed
him theater commander, as his own presence
was required at York to manage political af-
fairs. Within two weeks, control of the Niag-
ara frontier had been placed firmly in British
hands.
From his headquarters at Fort George,
Riall oversaw the security of a rather large
tract of land with some militia, Indians, and a
handful of stout British regulars. His meager
resources were stretched exceedingly thin,
but the general felt confident he could over-
come any invasion. Throughout the spring of
1814, he learned of a large American force at
Buffalo under Gen. Jacob Brown. The Ameri-
cans were obviously preparing to cross into
Canada, but what Riall could not appreciate