“This Period of Desperate Enterprise”

During the Upper Canada Rebellion of December 1837, Kingston faced vulnerability due to the absence of its main garrison and the incomplete Fort Henry. A critical period of military response led by Richard Bonnycastle of the Royal Engineers demonstrated the effectiveness of rapidly training Canadian militia and volunteers, which was pivotal in repelling a major Patriot assault on Kingston in late February 1838. This study highlights the strategic importance of Fort Henry and the Rideau Canal in defending the province's key military and naval assets during a tense period of colonial history.

Garcia, R. W. (2019). “This Period of Desperate Enterprise”. Ontario History, 101(2), 142–163. https://doi.org/10.7202/1065616ar