American Prisoners of War Held at Quebec During the War of 1812, 8 June 1813 - 11 December 1814

Eric E. Johnson's "American prisoners of war held at Quebec during the War of 1812, 8 June 1813-11 December 1814" represents a specialized contribution to War of 1812 scholarship, focusing on a relatively overlooked aspect of the conflict. This work examines the experiences and documentation of American military personnel held captive in Quebec during a specific eighteen-month period of the war. The book serves primarily as a research tool and historical record rather than a traditional narrative history, making it particularly valuable for genealogists, military historians, and researchers seeking detailed information about individual prisoners.

The War of 1812 produced thousands of prisoners on both sides, and the British authorities in Canada managed several detention facilities throughout the conflict. Quebec, as a major administrative center and fortified city, played a significant role in housing American captives. Johnson's work concentrates on documenting the individuals held at this location during the specified period, providing researchers with names, ranks, units, and other identifying information drawn from historical records. This type of meticulous documentation fills an important gap in the historical record, as prisoner-of-war experiences have often been underrepresented in broader military histories.

The book's value lies primarily in its function as a reference work. Rather than offering extensive narrative analysis or interpretation, it presents compiled data that allows researchers to trace the fates of specific individuals who endured captivity. For descendants researching family military history or scholars examining particular military units and their losses, this type of systematic compilation proves invaluable. The work draws on archival sources that include prisoner rolls, correspondence, and administrative records from the period, bringing together scattered documentation into a single accessible resource.

Johnson's approach reflects the painstaking nature of genealogical and military research. Assembling such a roster requires consultation of multiple archives, cross-referencing incomplete records, and resolving discrepancies in historical documentation. The period covered, from June 1813 to December 1814, encompasses some of the most active phases of the War of 1812, including major engagements along the Canadian border and attempts by American forces to invade Canadian territory. Many of the prisoners documented in this work would have been captured during these various military operations.

The conditions faced by prisoners of war during this era varied considerably depending on location, available resources, and the policies of commanding officers. Quebec's facilities operated under British military administration, and treatment generally adhered to the customs of warfare prevalent in the early nineteenth century. While prisoner exchanges occurred periodically throughout the conflict, many captives endured extended periods of confinement before being released or exchanged. The documentation of these individuals provides insight into the scale of captivity during the war and helps quantify the human cost beyond battlefield casualties.

For genealogists, this book offers concrete evidence of military service and captivity that can verify family traditions and fill gaps in ancestral records. Military pension applications and later veteran records sometimes lack complete service details, making works like Johnson's essential for establishing comprehensive biographical information. The specific dates and locations provided enable researchers to place their ancestors within the broader context of military operations and understand the challenges these individuals faced.

Historians studying the War of 1812 can utilize this compilation to better understand the prisoner-of-war system, analyze patterns in captures related to specific battles or campaigns, and assess the impact of captivity on military effectiveness. The data can support statistical analysis of capture rates, unit losses, and the duration of confinement, contributing to a more complete understanding of the war's prosecution and its effects on military personnel.

The specialized nature of this work means it appeals to a specific audience rather than general readers seeking an introduction to the War of 1812. Those without a particular research interest in individual prisoners or genealogical connections may find limited appeal in the book's format. However, for its intended audience, the work provides exactly what researchers need: accurate, documented information drawn from primary sources and organized in an accessible manner.

Johnson's contribution joins other similar compilations that preserve and make accessible historical records that might otherwise remain scattered across various archives or difficult for individual researchers to locate. The effort required to produce such reference works deserves recognition, as these projects demand extensive time in archives, careful attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. This book stands as a useful addition to War of 1812 historiography, serving the specific but important function of documenting individual experiences within the larger narrative of the conflict.