To Stand and Fight Together: Richard Pierpoint and the Coloured Corps of Upper Canada

by Steve Pitt

Overview

In 1812, a 67-year-old black United Empire Loyalist named Richard Pierpoint helped raise "a corps of Coloured Men to stand and fight together" against the Americans who were threatening to invade the tiny British colony of Upper Canada.

Pierpoint's unique fighting unit would not only see service throughout the War of 1812, it would also be the first colonial military unit reactiviated to quash the Rebellion of 1837. It would go on to serve as a police force, keeping the peace among the competing Irish immigrant gangs during the construction of the Welland Canal.

Pierpoint and the Coloured Corps are the central focus, but the sidebars featuring fascinating facts about the rise and fall of slavery in North America and the state of African-Canadians in early Canada provide an entertaining and informative supplement. Among other tidbits, readers will find out why "Good Queen Bess" launched the British slave industry and how Scottish pineapples are connected to the American Declaration of Independence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459721012
Publisher:	Dundurn Press
Publication date:	02/08/2008
Series:	Canadians at War Series , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	144
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	12 - 15 Years

About the Author

Steve Pitt's first children's book, Rain Tonight: A Tale of Hurricane Hazel,was nominated for the Silver Birch, Red Cedar, and Rocky Mountain awards. He has been published in many magazines and newspapers, including Toronto Life, Canadian Family, the Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star. Currently he lives in Toronto.

Stevie Pitt's first children's book, Rain Tonight: A Tale of Hurricane Hazel,was nominated for the Silver Birch, Red Cedar, and Rocky Mountain awards. He has been published in many magazines and newspapers, including Toronto Life, Canadian Family, the Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star. Currently he lives in Toronto.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements     9
Fort James: West Africa, 1760     11
Auction, Slavery, Revolution, and Freedom     32
Free Black Man in a Slave Colony     49
Only a Matter of Marching...     64
Building Fort Mississauga     84
Peace, Promises, and Pioneering     93
The Patriot Rebellions of 1837-38     100
Roads, Rivers, and Riots     115
A Victoria Cross and Two World Wars     124
Afterword     135
Timeline     137
Selected Reading and Websites     141

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“To Stand and Fight Together is an excellent resource for young readers looking too supplement standard curriculum offerings on the War of 1812 or life in Upper Canada in general. It will also help students doing research on early Canadian attitudes to race, both in the military and in society as a whole.” – Paul Challen, Quill & Quire July/August 2008

Editorial Reviews

Spilling with fascinating facts and photos, this book celebrates the bravery of a small group of men and faced terrible discrimination in their battle for freedom.

Brenda Hoerle

To Stand and Fight Together is a good read. A timeline and a list of useful websites round out a very interesting book, which also includes numerous sidebars on fascinating facts and the origins of words connected with the subject.

Cheryl MacDonald

I recommend Pitt’s book to young readers, based on its portrayal of slavery, black life in early Upper Canada and blacks in the military.

From the Publisher

To Stand and Fight Together is an excellent resource for young readers looking too supplement standard curriculum offerings on the War of 1812 or life in Upper Canada in general. It will also help students doing research on early Canadian attitudes to race, both in the military and in society as a whole.

Paul Challen

Spilling with fascinating facts and photos, this book celebrates the bravery of a small group of men and faced terrible discrimination in their battle for freedom.

Brenda Hoerle Guelph Mercury

To Stand and Fight Together is an excellent resource for young readers looking too supplement standard curriculum offerings on the War of 1812 or life in Upper Canada in general. It will also help students doing research on early Canadian attitudes to race, both in the military and in society as a whole.

Paul Challen Quill & Quire

To Stand and Fight Together is a good read. A timeline and a list of useful websites round out a very interesting book, which also includes numerous sidebars on fascinating facts and the origins of words connected with the subject.

Cheryl MacDonald Simcoe Tuesday Times-Reformer