--- title: "The US accidentally built a fort to repel Canada… in Canada" description: "President Madison ordered a fort to be built to prevent invasions from Canada, but the fort was built on the wrong side of the border." date: "2021-03-05" modified: "2021-03-05" authors: - name: "Shannon Corbeil" job_title: "Contributor, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/scorbeil/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/us-accidentally-built-a-fort-to-repel-canada/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "War of 1812" --- # The US accidentally built a fort to repel Canada… in Canada ![]() [The War of 1812]() was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain, though it could be argued that Canadians and Native Americans were most affected by it. The northern theater of the war, especially near the border of Canada and the Great Lakes, saw some of the most intense fighting — so much so that, after the Treaty of Ghent, [President James Madison decided to build a fort at the northern end of Lake Champlain]() to prevent future invasion. --- The only problem... was that the fort was built on the wrong side of the border. The Americans didn't discover the error until two years later, when a surveyor found the fort was being built north of the 45th parallel. ![the us built a fort on the wrong side of the border]() *Oops.* Construction halted on the fort, which earned the moniker "Fort Blunder," until 1842, when the U.S. moved the boundary line north (see the current boundary in the image above) — because pride. ### Also read: [This War of 1812 veteran saw the Battle of Gettysburg from his porch – then joined it]() The Webster-Ashburton Treaty resolved a number of border issues between what would one day become Canada and the United States, who promptly began to build another fort — this one named for [revolutionary war hero General Richard Montgomery](). The fort was built from the same limestone slabs that helped raise the Brooklyn Bridge, and, though it was never fully garrisoned, it was armed and ready for action. As the United States' relationships with Great Britain and Canada flourished, Fort Montgomery's function dwindled. In 1926, it was auctioned off by the U.S. government and sold to a private bidder. ### War of 1812: [This is the only time since the War of 1812 that enemy forces occupied US soil]() Today, it's actually for sale... [but no one wants it]() (except for me — I absolutely want it and I am currently looking for a $3 million donation for this cause. The parties there will be epic. Bring your boat and everyone you know...), though in 2009, it was [placed on The Preservation League of New York State's list of *Seven to Save*](). ## Author Shannon Corbeil has worked for We Are The Mighty as a digital video producer, writer, and host, as well as a staff writer covering military history, trivia, and valor. Shannon is a fierce veteran advocate, covering the achievements of members of the military community and volunteering in multiple veteran non-profit organizations, including Pin-Ups for Vets and Warriors for Peace Theatre. Her undergraduate degree is in Humanities and Philosophy and her Masters is in Strategic Intelligence. A screenwriter and actor recently seen on SEAL TEAM and THE ROOKIE, Shannon writes about exciting projects in the entertainment industry. She is an alum of the Writers Guild Foundation Veterans Writing Project, a Finalist in the Disney TV Writing Fellowship, an inaugural fellow for the STARZ/VME #TakeTheLead Program, and has performed at the Geffen Playhouse and Kennedy Center as a writer, dancer, singer, and actor. As a U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer, Shannon supported the 25th Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and conducted Cyber Threat Analysis at the National Security Agency. Her work has been seen in Business Insider, Task & Purpose, Military.com, and various other publications. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()