was still dark. Another brigade under Eleazar Wheelock Ripley crossed the head of the river to the south of the fort, although they were delayed by fog. Meanwhile, New York militia demonstrated opposite Chippawa to distract the British troops in the area. As Scott's and Ripley's forces approached Fort Erie, Buck fired only a few shots at the Americans from the fort's cannon and then surrendered. The Americans had captured an important fort at little cost. The fort's garrison had bought the British little time and Buck was later court martialled for his hasty surrender. Aftermath From their new base at Fort Erie, Brown next marched up the Niagara River and met the British at the Battle of Chippawa. The British commander at Chippawa, Major General Phineas Riall, believed that the garrison of Fort Erie was still holding out, which contributed to his decision to launch a hasty and ill-fated attack. Following the Battle of Lundy's Lane in July, British forces under the command of Gordon Drummond advanced and unsuccessfully besieged the fort. However, American commanders decided to abandon the fort, which was evacuated and blown up in November 1814. Notes Sources John R. Elting, Amateurs to Arms (Da Capo Press, New York, 1995, ) Joseph Whitehorne, While Washington Burned: The Battle for Fort Erie 1814 (1993) See also Siege of Fort Erie 1814 in Upper Canada Battles of the War of 1812 in Ontario Battles on the Niagara Frontier Battles and conflicts without fatalities July 1814 events Military history of the Great Lakes