Come Remembrance Day, we will pause to remember those who gave up their lives for our freedoms during this past century of world conflicts. Rightfully so.

But there is another reason to pause and remember that date.

As fate has dictated, Nov. 11 can also stand as an occasion to remember those British and Canadian soldiers who, almost 200 years ago, fought against overwhelming odds, not only for our ultimate freedom, but for our very existence as a separate national and political entity.

Without their courage and sacrifice there might not have been a Canada to fight for today.

On Nov. 11, 1813, what was arguably the most strategically significant battle of the War of 1812-14 was fought at Crysler's farm, on the banks of the St. Lawrence about midway between Montreal and Kingston.

Image of a Lower Canadian militiaman in 1813, someone who would have fought at Chateauguay and, possibly, Crysler's farm. With the exception of his crossbelts and musket, issued by the British, everything else is civilian clothing. (Reconstruction by Gerald A. Embleton/Parks Canada)

This battle was the last in a larger campaign in the upper St Lawrence region that saw the U.S. shift its focus away from attacking the settlements near the north and western shore of Lake Ontario — today's Golden Horseshoe — to concentrate instead on the strategically vital communication link between Montreal and Kingston.

It was a link that, if severed, would have cut an emerging Canada in half.

The set piece

On Oct. 17, 1813 a U.S. force of over 7,000, under the command of Maj.-Gen. James Wilkinson, left its garrison at Sackets Harbour on the shores opposite Kingston and gradually made its way down the narrowing St. Lawrence towards Montreal.

It was to be part of a larger, pincer movement of Americans — the other contingent moving up the Champlain River valley — aimed at Montreal.

In pursuit of Wilkinson, outnumbered almost seven to one, was a small but experienced British force from Kingston under the command of Lt.-Col. Joseph Morrison.

While the bulk of Morrison's men were initially seasoned British regulars, it eventually came to include members of regular army regiments raised in Canada, such as the Voltigeurs from Lower Canada (Quebec) as well as the Canadian Regiment of Fencible Infantry.

Included in the mix were other local militia who, while playing a largely auxiliary role, nonetheless found themselves trading fire with the U.S. troops on several occasions in the days leading up to the battle.

By the time the two armies clashed in a classic, European-style battle on John Crysler's farm, on Nov. 11, at least 25 per cent of Morrison's force was made up of these Canadian regulars as well as some 30 Mohawk warriors plus approximately 60 local militiamen, of which Crysler himself was a lieutenant. [See map below]

Morrison's soldiers had been harassing the U.S. force for weeks, sniping and shooting up their supply boats.

By the time of the big battle, the American numbers had been reduced by illness and travel fatigue while the British and Canadian force was the more rested and maybe the more committed.

It was also able to choose the better position on the muddy fields of Crysler's farm from which to press home the advantage.

Gateway to the West

The battle lost, the Americans retreated to their winter quarters on their side of the river.

At around this time, word came that the second prong of the U.S invasion force had been defeated at the Battle of Chateauguay a few weeks earlier by a force made up entirely of Canadian troops.

Canada remained intact.

Compared to the epic battles that were then being fought in Europe at the time, the Battle of Crysler's Farm and the Battle of Chateauguay were very small indeed.

But when it comes to assessing their strategic significance, they clearly punched above their weight.

To understand just how significant this particular campaign was, we need to look at what could logically have happened had the Americans won.

Before the age of rail and the automobile, control of the narrow upper St Lawrence was the key to the survival of what was then Upper Canada, and by extension the whole of Western Canada.

Should the U.S have won the Battle of Crysler Farm, this vital line of communication between the two main Canadian provinces, Ontario and Quebec, would have been blocked.

Hemmed in

Had the invading Americans prevailed on Nov. 11, 1813, Morrison's tiny army, which took considerable casualties that day, would likely have been forced to retreat back to Kingston.

Relatively well-garrisoned at the time, Kingston may have survived but Montreal would have been another story as it had been largely depleted of regular troops.

In any such scenario, with the St. Lawrence blocked, Upper Canada — battered, partially occupied and cut off from the rest of the country — would likely not have held out very long.

Why do I believe that to be the case? Partly because it was the stated policy of the U.S. government and military at the time.

"At Montreal you hold a position which completely severs the enemy's line of operations, which shuts up the Ottawa, as well as the St Lawrence, against him, and which, while it restrains all below, withers and perishes all above," stated American Secretary of War, John Armstrong in a letter that September.

Armstrong goes on to state that "with Kingston captured the whole of the province, westward of the mouth of the St Lawrence with all the British force it contains, naval or military, falls with it."

Negotiated away?

It is also important to remember that had either Montreal or Upper Canada collapsed in late 1813 or 1814 that would have happened at around the time peace negotiations were starting up between Britain and the U.S.

Should we not reasonably assume that had the Americans controlled Montreal or the access points to southern Ontario that they would demanded more territorial concessions from the British in the negotiations of 1814?

Now, take this one step further and imagine what course the Confederation movement might have taken 50 years later had our borders with the U.S stopped somewhere east of the Montreal?

Even if we still managed Confederation could we have expanded westward as we did with the United States in control of both the north and south shores of the Great Lakes and possibly much of present day Ontario?

Should Canada have happened?

As a teacher and a student of Canadian history, it is a question that I have often asked myself. Too often, I find, we look at the landmark events in our past as if there was nothing disputing their outcome.

Of course the Fathers of Confederation were supposed to succeed in the difficult arrangements that brought our country into being. Of course the Western railway would be built. For sure the Americans would fail to conquer Canada in 1775-76 and again in the War of 1812-14.

But the political, social and military forces that shaped this country — and made it the envy of much of the world — were not necessarily ours for the taking.

Looking objectively at the pivotal points in our past, I find that Canada could easily not have happened.

But I'm glad it did and it gives me another reason to be grateful on Nov. 11.

Map of the battle at Crysler farm, a very European-style confrontation with the British and Canadian forces advancing from the west. (Government of Canada/Canadian Military History Gateway)