When the war began, American strategists realized that Canada (still a British colony), would make a good target, since it was weakly defended. So the United States tried to invade.

It failed.

In July, General William Hull led the first attack. His troops were defeated by the combined effort of British Canadians and 1000 Shawnee braves. He retreated so fast that he was later court-martialed for cowardice.

Two other attacks on Canada were turned back, and by the end of the year, the campaign was a shambles. One newspaper wrote that it was filled with "disaster, defeat, disgrace, and ruin and death."

Ouch.