Title

Chapter 3

Identifier

http://www.nflibrary.ca/nfplindex/show.asp?b=1&ref=oo&id=298194

page

22-34

Bibliographic Citation

The origin and official history of the Thirteenth Battalion of Infantry and a description of the work of the early militia of the Niagara Peninsula in the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837 / by Ernest A. Cruikshank.

10165325

The origin and official history of the Thirteenth Battalion of Infantry and a description of the work of the early militia of the Niagara Peninsula in the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837 / by Ernest A. Cruikshank.

Type

Text

extracted text

CHAPTER III
THE MILITIA OF 18 3 7-8

HE POPULATION of the province increased more than
five fold during the course of the next quarter of a
century, but as usual in a time of profound peace the
militia force was much neglected, although a nominal
organization was maintained and the regiments were still
assembled for inspection and what was termed " general
training " once a year.
Dissatisfaction with the administration of the affairs of the
province had grown pronounced from the conviction that power
and patronage was concentrated in the hands of a number of
selfish and arbitrary persons who exercised their authority in an
arrogant and despotic manner for the aggrandizement of themselves, their relatives and adherents, and had in consequence become odious under the name of the " Family Compact." The
prevalence of this feeling gave the opposition a decided majority in the Legislative Assembly at the elections of 1835, but the " Family Compact " still controlled the Legislative Council which was constituted by appointment. The
leaders of the popular party, however, soon became involved in a controversy
with the new Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Francis Head, who had convinced
himself that they were republicans at heart and that independence or annexation
to the United States was their ultimate aim. He dissolved the Assembly and
issued a manifesto in which he appealed to the loyalty of the inhabitants and
denounced his " Radical " opponents as seditious and revolutionary. For some
ti me afterwards the Lieutenant-Governor was kept busy answering " loyal "
addresses which poured in upon him from the " Constitutionists " or " Tories.
In one of these replies which was printed and widely circulated as a campaign
document, he pointedly referred to a letter from Mr. Papineau to Mr. Bidwell,
speaker of the Assembly, which had lately been published, calling upon the
people of both the Canadas to " unite as a man."
22

Lieutenant-Governor Head declared that :" The people of Upper Canada detest democracy ; they revere their constitutional charter, and are consequently staunch in allegiance to their King.
" They are perfectly aware that there exists at the Lower Province one or
two individuals who inculcate the idea that this province is about to be disturbed
by the interference of foreigners, whose power and whose numbers will prove
invincible.
" In the name of every regiment of militia in Upper Canada, I publicly
promulgate let them come if they
dare."
This of course was an obvious
reference to some hint of invasion
from the United States, which even
then must have been talked of.
At the elections which followed,
his triumph was complete, and there
can be little doubt that it was largely
due to his direct and opportune appeal to the ingrained loyalty of the
mass of the people, who were willing
to condone the misdeeds of the
Family Compact, rather than seem
to endorse sedition.
The result of this election made
the Lieutenant-Governor feel so secure of the loyalty of the inhabitants, that when he was asked by Sir
John Colborne how many of the
regular troops he could spare for the
maintenance of order in Lower Canada, he unhesitatingly replied, " all
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES A. SKINNER,
of them," and even refused to retain
COMMANDING 13TH BATT. 1866-1886.
two companies as a garrison for
the city of Toronto.
The standard of rebellion was raised at Montgomery's tavern on the 4th of
December, 1837. The time and place seemed well chosen. A serious rising
was known to have taken place near Montreal. All the regular troops had
been sent to Lower Canada, and four thousand stands of arms were deposited in
the Toronto city hall, only three miles away, over which the LieutenantGovernor had declined even to set a guard. In the country to the northward,
Mackenzie, the leader of the rebellion, had many adherents, and some of his
23

most ardent supporters who were prepared to go any length, assured him that
fifteen hundred men were already enrolled and prepared to take up arms. As
it was, he never succeeded in assembling more than five hundred wretchedly
equipped, and as the result proved, anything but stout-hearted men. This,
however, was amply sufficient to throw the city into a state of indescribable
alarm and confusion, and had he promptly advanced he might have taken it.
But the militia soon assembled and was rapidly reinforced by volunteers from
the country.
On the 6th, Colonel Allan McNab, then speaker of the House of Assembly,
came in from Hamilton with sixty men from Gore District, whom he had assembled at half an hour's notice. Next morning, having upwards of a thousand
well armed men at his command, Head determined to march out against the
rebels, whose numbers were steadily diminishing. The chief command was
vested in Colonel James FitzGibbon, well known from his services at Beaver
Dam and elsewhere in the war of 1812, who was then Acting Adjutant General
of Militia. The main body was headed by Colonel Allan McNab, the right
wing being commanded by Colonel Samuel Jarvis, and the left by Colonel
William Chisholm, assisted by the Honorable Justice McLean, late speaker of
the House of Assembly ; the two guns by Major Carfrae, of the Militia
Artillery. The assistance of two officers and eight artillerymen, the sole representatives of the regular troops left in Toronto, was resolutely declined, as the
Lieutenant-Governor had determined that the contest should be decided solely
by the Upper Canada militia.
When they came in sight of Montgomery's tavern, Mackenzie's supporters
at once dispersed. There was scarcely a show of resistance, and happily little
bloodshed.
The militia continued to march into Toronto in great numbers from all
quarters.
From Gore, Niagara, Lake Simcoe and various other places brave men,
armed as well as unarmed, rushed forward unsolicited, and according to the
best reports from io,000 to 12,000 men simultaneously marched towards the
capital to support Lieutenant-Governor Head in maintaining the British constitution for the people of Upper Canada.
As their services were not required, they were directed to return to their
homes and disband, and in response to a demand from Sir John Colborne an
order was issued authorizing the militia of the Bathurst, Johnstown, Ottawa,
and eastern districts, to march out of the province and give their assistance to
the government of Lower Canada. Colonel Allan McNab was instructed to
advance against Dr. Duncombe, who was reported to have assembled a small
party in arms at Scotland, in the township of Burford. At his approach, Duncombe's followers dispersed without firing a shot, and McNab scoured the
24

neighboring country in pursuit of them for several days, making numerous arrests of suspicious characters.
Mackenzie made his way in disguise to the house of a sympathizer, named
McAffee, who lived on the bank of the Niagara, within sight of Buffalo, and
was ferried across the river, narrowly escaping capture. A committee of thirteen
prominent citizens of Buffalo had been formed to aid the revolutionary movement in Canada as early as the 5th of December, before it could possibly have
been known that an outbreak had taken place in the upper province, and a mass
meeting had been called for the
evening of the r rth, the very day
that Mackenzie arrived in the city, a
fugitive and alone. The meeting is
described as one of the largest ever
held there, and when Dr. Chapin
announced that the leader of the
Canadian insurrection was then a
guest at his house there was a demonstration of wild enthusiasm. A
guard of honor of young men was
formed for his protection, and it was
announced that he would address a
meeting on the following evening.
The theatre was crammed to hear
him. Mackenzie spoke for two hours
with his habitual fluency and vigor
of invective. General Thomas Jefferson Sutherland followed him, anouncing their intention of invading Canada
at once and calling for volunteers
and contributions of arms and supplies. At the time there were many
LIEUT.-COLONEL THE HON. J. M. GIBSON A. D. C.
laborers, seaman and dockhands idle
COMMANDING I3TH BATTALION 1886-1895.
in the city and consequently recruits
promised to be plentiful. Within twenty-four hours a band of armed men were
assembled at Whitehaven, on Grand Island, under the leadership of General
Rensselaer Van Rensselaer, a profligate son of one of the most respected citizens
of the state. Mackenzie joined him there and on the 13th they landed with
between twenty-five and fifty followers on Navy Island, then quite uninhabited
and densely wooded. A proclamation ih the name of the Provisional Government was printed in the form of a handbill, stating that " three hundred acres
of the most valuable land in Canada and one hundred Llollars in money will be
25

given to each volunteer who may join the Patriot forces on Navy Island." They
instantly began to erect huts and to fortify their camp. Within a week the
patriot flag, bearing two white stars on a blue ground, was said to be waving
over the heads of five hundred well armed men. Contributions of arms and
provisions came in from many sources.
As soon as the invasion of Navy Island became known, a considerable body
of militia was assembled at Chippawa under Colonel Cameron, and the river
carefully patrolled. On the 25th, Colonel McNab came in with 500 volunteers
fresh from his his successful expedition against Duncombe, and took over the
command. Within a few days his force was swelled to 2, 500 by volunteers from
all quarters. Among them were a company of negroes and a body of Six Nation
Indians, from the Grand River, led by Colonel William Johnson Kerr, who had
been one of their officers in the War of 1812.
Among other distinguished volunteers who had joined McNab on his march
to Burford, was Andrew Drew, a commander in the Royal Navy on half-pay,
who had been settled for some years on a farm near Woodstock. Several other
naval officers and a number of seamen having come in, a naval brigade, under
Drew's command, was soon formed, and vessels and boats collected with the
view of attacking the island.
Mackenzie's forces, however, had not been idle. They had cut a road
quite around the island, thrown up formidable-looking entrenchments, and
obstructed the approaches on the western front. Their numbers were said to
have increased to upwards of one thousand, most of whom a Buffalo newspaper
described as ruffians " who would cut any man's throat for a dollar."
A desultory artillery fire was opened on the Canadian shore, by which two
or three militiamen were killed or wounded and a few houses damaged.
Drew was engaged in preparing boats for crossing, when late on the afternoon of the 29th, while standing in company with McNab at the look-out post,
they saw a small steamer put out from Schlosser and cross over to the island.
With their field glasses they could see that she was crowded with men, and
thought they could distinguish one or two cannons on deck. " This won't do!"
exclaimed McNab, " I say Drew, do you think you can cut that vessel out ?"
" Oh, yes," Drew replied, " nothing can be easier, but it must be done at
night." " Well, then," said McNab, "go and do it ! "
Sir Francis Head, who had arrived at Chippawa a few days before, was of
course consulted, and readily gave his consent to the enterprise. The steamer
they had seen was the Caroline, of Buffalo, which had been specially chartered
to carry troops and stores to the island.
She tied up on the east side of Navy Island, where she landed- her passengers, and seems to have returned to Schlosser after dark, unseen from the Canadian bank. Drew immediately called for volunteers, simply saying that he
26

wanted a few fellows with cutlasses who would follow him to the devil."
Sixty men were selected from the large number that offered, and about midnight
they put off in seven boats.
It was bright moonlight, and when he passed the upper end of Navy
Island, he saw that the Caroline lay at Schlosser wharf. He was then in no
mood to turn back, and directed his men to row across the river. When his
boat came within twenty yards of the steamer, it was hailed by the watch on
deck, who demanded the countersign. Drew quietly replied, " I will give it to
you when I get on board," and
urged his men to pull alongside.
He scrambled up the side at the
starboard gangway, carrying his
cutlass between his teeth, but such
was the anxiety of his crew to
follow that they impeded each
other's movements, the boats
swung off, and he remained alone
on the Caroline's deck for more
than a minute. Brandishing his
weapon over their heads, Drew
said to the watch, which consisted
of three men, " Now I want this
vessel, and you had better go
ashore at once." They ran across
the deck, and Drew supposed they
were about to obey, when one of
them snatched up a musket and
and fired it within a yard of his
head. The shot missed, and Drew
struck the man down with a savage blow of his cutlass. Another
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. H. MOORE
COMMANDING 13TH BATTALION 1895-97.
man then snapped a pistol in
his face but it missed fire, and
he was instantly disarmed by a quick cut on the arm, and with his remaining companion was driven ashore. By this time the remainder of the boarding
party had reached the deck, and in a very short time gained entire possession
of the vessel, driving the crew and passengers on the boat ashore. Drew
mounted the paddle box and gave orders to cut her moorings and send her
adrift. She was found to be attached to the wharf by chains, and some delay
occurred before these orders could be executed. A body of men from a tavern
near the wharf assembled apparently with the intention of attempting to retake
"

2

7

the vessel, and began firing. Lieut. Elmsley advanced with sixteen men, armed
only with cutlasses, and took up a position across the street, where he held this
party in check until the chains which secured the Caroline were cut loose. The
steamer was finally towed into the current of the river, where she was set on
fire and cast adrift. After passing through the rapids, wrapped in flames, she
grounded on a small islet near the brink of Niagara Falls, where she subsequently went to pieces. Besides Lieut. McCormack, several others of Drew's
party were slightly wounded, while twelve persons out of thirty-three, said to
have been on board the Caroline when attacked, were reported missing. Of
these, however, only one, Amos Durfee, a negro, was certainly known to be
killed. Drew himself believed that there could not have been more than two
killed and four or five wounded.
After the destruction of the Caroline the force under McNab was augumented by the arrival of fresh bodies of militia until it exceeded 5,000. The
filibusters were also considerably reinforced and for some days a body of them
was encamped on Grand Island. Dissensions, however, soon arose among
them, for Van Rensselaer was a drunkard and incompetent to command in many
ways. On the i3th of January, 1838, Navy Island was finally evacuated by
them, having been in their possession exactly a month. Late in December
Brigadier-General Sutherland had been sent by Van Rensselaer to Detroit to
create a diversion in his favor by an attack on the Canadian frontier from that
quarter. On the 7th of January, 1838, Sutherland arrived in Detroit with
200 men. He found three or four hundred men assembled under General
Roberts and assumed the command under the authority given him by Van
Rensselaer. It was determined to remove to the island of Bois Blanc, in
Canadian waters and thence make an attack on Amherstburg in conjunction with
the schooner Ann, a gift from an enthusiastic supporter which they had armed
with three pieces of cannon. The landing on Bois Blanc was effected without
opposition, and during the night the schooner, commanded by General Theller,
passed between the island and the Canadian shore, firing into the town.
I mmediate preparations were made for an attack upon Amherstburg under
cover of the guns of the Ann. In passing down the river by moonlight to take
up her position, the vessel was fired upon by a party of Essex militia, under
Lieut.-Colonel Radcliffe, who occupied the town. The man at the helm was
either shot or deserted his post, and the schooner drifted towards the Canadian
shore, where she ran aground. Some of the militia led by Captain Ironside,
and Ensign Baby, waded out in the water, which took them up to their armpits, and boarded her. One of her crew had beeri killed, and they took eight
wounded and twelve unwounded prisoners, including all the officers, three pieces
of cannon, and 200 stand of arms. This event greatly dispirited Sutherland,
who instantly gave orders for a retreat to Sugar Island in American waters,
28

where he was joined next day by General Handy, who came down the river in
the steamer Erie with reinforcements and supplies. The number of men under
their command was estimated at 700. In a few days the ice began to flow,
provisions were falling short, and Handy summoned the Governor of Michigan
to his assistance, requesting him to come to Sugar Island, accompanied by a
single staff officer, and go through the form of dispersing his forces.
Early in February, Brigadier-General Donald McLeod and Colonel Vreeland arrived at Detroit with a body of men whom they had enlisted in Ohio.
On the the night of February 24th they took possession of Fighting Island,
below Sandwich, with two or three hundred followers, but were promptly
attacked and driven out next day by a detachment of the 32nd Regiment, with
a loss of five men wounded. After evactuating Navy Island, Mackenzie and
Van Rensselaer planned a movement upon Kingston, where they seem to have
anticipated a rising in their favor. In the prosecution of this enterprise the
United States Arsenal at Watertown, N. Y. was broken into and robbed of a
large quantity of arms, and on the 22nd and 23rd of February a body of men,
supposed to number from 1,500 to 2,500, under Van Rensselaer, took possession of Hickory Island, in the St. Lawrence, about sixteen miles below Kingston and only two miles from Gananoque, where there was a small garrison of
regulars and militia. A smaller party crossed from Buffalo to Point Abino at thesame time. There was no movement, however, to co-operate with them anywhere
in Canada. On the contrary, the militia assembled with great alacrity to repel
them and in the course of a very few days the invaders retired. After his
repulse at Fighting Island, McLeod removed his headquarters to Sandusky,
Ohio, whence he despatched four hundred men under Colonels Seward and
Bradley across the ice in sleighs to take possessien of Pelee Island. After
being there a few days they were attacked by Colonel John Maitland with five
companies of the 32nd Regiment and nearly 200 Essex Militia and some volunteer cavalry under Lieut.-Colonel John Prince. Advancing in person at the
head of the main body against their position at the north end of the island,
Maitland detached Captain Brown with two companies of the 32nd by a circuitous route to the south end to cut off their retreat. Retiring before Maitland's force in their sleighs much more rapidly than it could follow, the
invaders came suddenly upon Brown's detachment, which they greatly outnumbered, and taking shelter behind the piles of ice along the shore, they
opened a most effective fire. Brown gallantly charged their position with the
bayonet, dislodging them with the loss of Captains Van Rensselaer and McKeon
and eleven men killed and nine prisoners. The remainder ran to their sleighs
and escaped across the ice, carrying with them a considerable number of
wounded men. Brown had lost two men killed and twenty-eight wounded in
this very gallant affair. The same evening Colonel Prince captured General
,

.

29

Sutherland and his aid-de-camp, Captain Spencer, on their way to the
island.
Early in June an attempt was made to raise the standard of rebellion in the
Township of Pelham, in the County of Lincoln. Benjamin Wait, a native of
the United States but a naturalized British subject, who had fled from Canada
to escape arrest, was the chief organizer of this enterprise. A body of 526 men,
well armed and equipped, was assembled in Buffalo, and small parties were
.• sent secretly across the river with instructions to assemble at Aaron Winchester's
farm, in the region known as the Short Hills. They took possession of a commanding position, which they rudely fortified, and spent eight days there beating for recruits and collecting provisions before their presence became known to
the officers in command on that frontier. Their movements were generally
made by night with the utmost secrecy and caution. Winchester and some of
his immediate neighbors were active sympathizers, and the exact locality of the
camp could not be easily ascertained. Their attempts to subvert the loyalty of
the mass of the inhabitants proved quite unsuccessful, and they were joined only
by a few settlers and some dissolute fellows who were probably attracted by the
hope of plunder. After they had been there a few days, Colonel James Morrow,
or Moreau, a tanner by trade, who was said to have had some military training,
arrived and took command. A detachment of lancers advanced about the same
ti me from Niagara to observe their movements, and pushed forward an outpost to
occupy the little village of St. John's, about three miles from their position in
the Short Hills. Having ascertained the strength of this party, and that it was
quite unsupported, Morrow advanced with his whole force on the night of June
i8th. Fourteen lancers, under Cornet Heath, were quartered in Overholt's
tavern, a small wooden building, where they defended themselves obstinately
until it was riddled with bullets, and preparations were made to set it on fire,
when they surrendered.
The rapid advance of the remainder of the lancers and a troop of militia
cavalry from St. Catharines next day, forced them to release their prisoners,
abandon their camp and disperse. Many succeeded in escaping to the United
States. A few were killed in the pursuit, and Morrow, Wait and thirty-seven
others were apprehended. Twenty were found guilty and sentenced to death,
but only the unfortunate Morrow was executed.
Between the 1st and loth of November, about twenty of the Hunter's
Lodges, in the State of New York, nearest the St. Lawrence River, began concentrating their forces for an attack upon Prescott, where fortifications were in
course of construction. On the morning of the tith, two schooners, in tow of the
steamer United States, having about 600 men on board, with a quantity of military
stores, left Millen's Bay below Sackett's Harbor. They touched at Ogdensburg, where General Bierge, who commanded, opportunely fell ill and went
30

ashore. When they again started, one of the schooners, commanded by the
notorious Bill Johnson, grounded on a shoal, and the steamer United States was
prevented from entering the river by the British steamer Experiment, commanded by Lieut. Forvell, R. N., which lay in wait for her below. The other
schooner alone, conveying 17o men, under Colonel Van Schultz, a Polish
refugee, crossed the river and landed this party at the windmill below the town
of Prescott. The windmill itself was a circular stone building, eighty feet in
height, with walls over three feet in thickness. Near it were several other stone
buildings surrounded by a low stone wall, forming an extremely defensible position against any force unprovided with artillery. The steamer Paul Pry afterwards attempted to tow across the schooner that had run aground, but as soon as
she fairly got within Canadian waters the Experiment opened fire upon
her with grape and canister. The Paul Pry left the schooner to her fate, and
put back to Ogdensburg. Lieut. Forvell then ran his vessel down upon the
schooner with the intention of taking possession of her, when he found himself
in shoal water, and saw the steamer United States bearing down upon him. A
brisk interchange of shots followed, during which the schooner escaped into
Ogdensburg, and the United States soon followed, having received a cannon
ball through one of her engines and several others in her hull. That night
Captain Sandom, R. N., arrived from Kingston with the steamers Queen Victoria
and Cobourg, having on board seventy marines and regulars. A detachment
of the Glengarry militia, under Captain George Macdonell, came from below,
and lay on the ground amid' a heavy rain all night. Lieut.-Colonel 0. R.
Gowan, with 140 men of the gth Provincial Battalion, also marched into Prescott during the night. Next morning the and Battalion of Dundas militia,
commanded by Lieut.Colonel John Crysler, nearly 300 strong, and detachments
of the 1st and and Grenville Battalions, under Lieut.-Colonel R. D. Fraser,
also arrived. Colonel Plomer Young, Inspecting Field Officer, assumed the
command, and determined upon an immediate attack. The left wing, composed of thirty marines under Lieut. Parker, Captain Macdonell's Glengarry
militia, and some of the Grenville and Dundas militia, commanded by Lieut.Colonel Fraser, drove the enemy's picquets out of the woods on that flank in
gallant style. The right column, commanded by Colonel Young in person,
consisting of forty men of 83rd Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Gowan's battalion,
and the remainder of the Dundas militia, advanced along the bank of the river,
driving the enemy from behind the walls of the enclosures until they took
shelter in the mill and adjacent buildings, but being much exposed during their
operations their loss was severe. As they approached the mill the fire from its
upper windows became very steady and accurate, and his men fell so fast under
it that Colonel Young resolved to discontinue active operations until artillery
could be obtained.
31

The mill was closely blockaded on the land side by Colonel Young, while
the Experiment continued to patrol the river. Von Schultz sent a man across
the river on a plank during the night to ask that boats should be sent to take
off his men. Twenty-four hours later the Paul Pry actually crossed the river
for that purpose, but a council of war decided to maintain the position, and
instead of bringing away the invaders a small reinforcement was landed. At
noon on the 16th, Colonel Henry Dundas, R. A., arrived from Kingston with
a detachment of Royal Artillery in charge of three heavy guns, and five companies of the 83rd Regiment. The guns were planted on a rise of ground
about 400 yards from the mill and their fire soon became effective. At the same
ti me Captain Sandom, with two gunboats and a steamer began a bombardment
of the enemy's position from the river. As it grew dark the troops gradually
advanced,- and Von Schultz, who had undertaken to defend one of the stone
buildings outside the mill with only ten men, because none of his subordinates
would venture to do it, was driven from his position and obliged to seek shelter
among the bushes at the water's edge, where he was taken prisoner with some
others. Every building near the mill that would burn was then set on fire, and
as the flames blazed up fiercely about them the trembling garrison hung out a
white flag. By this time all the troops were terribly exasperated and Colonel
Dundas appears to have had great difficulty in restraining their fire. " To his
determined resolution indeed," wrote Sir George Arthur, the LieutenantGovernor, " it is to be ascribed that the militia of the country gave any quarter
to the brigands ; nothing, I believe, but the presence of the regular troops having saved any of them from being cut to pieces. The prisoners numbered one
hundred and fifty seven, and upwards of forty of the invaders were supposed to
have been killed. Their flag, on which was embroidered an eagle and a single
star with the inscription "Liberated by the Onondaga Hunters," was captured.
The British loss in these operations was two officers and eleven rank and file
killed and four officers and sixty-three non commissioned officers and men
wounded. Lieut. Delmage, of the 2nd Grenville Militia, four of the Loyal
Glengarry Highlanders and four of the 2nd Dundas Militia were among the
killed, and Lieut.-Colonel Gowan of the Ninth Provincial Battalion, Ensign
Angus Macdonnell of the Loyal Glengarry Highlanders, Lieutenant John
Parlow and seven men of the 2nd Dundas Militia were wounded.
One object of the descent upon Prescott was undoubtedly to create a diversion in favor of insurrection at Beauharnois and simultaneous invasion from the
United States at Odelstown and Rouse's Point. To restore order and repel the
the invaders Sir John Colborne had again summoned the militia of the Eastern
districts of Upper Canada to his assistance. Between the 5th and 9th of November three regiments of Glengary militia, under Colonels Donald Macdonnell, Alexander Chisholm and Alexander Fraser, and a regiment of Stormount
-

32

militia under Colonel Donald JEneas Macdonell, assembled and marched to
Coteau du Lac. On the loth of November these regiments, numbering more
than moo men, crossed the St. Lawrence to Hungry Bay, and marched upon
Beauharnois in conjunction with 150 regulars. The insurgents were dispersed
with trifling loss, and a steamer they had seized was retaken.
Four days later, when the landing of the enemy at Prescott became known,
they were ordered to return to Upper Canada, but they arrived too late to take
any part in the attack on the windmill ; they were, however, stationed as a garrison at Prescott and Cornwall during the winter.
" Hunters " in considerable numbers had assembled at or near Detroit, not
only from other parts of Michigan, but from the principal cities in the States of
Ohio and New York. The steamer
Champlain was engaged and stores
collected for an expedition. On the
night of December 3rd four hundred
men marched openly through the
streets of Detroit, within sight of the me
sentinels at the armory, and embarked
without hindrance. At 3 a. m., next
\
morning, they landed at Pelette's farm, 1:
four miles above Windsor, which was
then occupied by one company of
Essex militia, commanded by Captain
Lewis. The invaders advanced rapidly,
and were not discovered until they were
within a quarter of a mile of the barracks, which they immediately surrounded. The militia fired briskly
upon their assailants, but were soon
driven back into their barracks, which
were then set on fire. Ten or twelve rushed out and made their escape, thirteen
were taken prisoners, and two wounded men were supposed to have perished
in the burning buildings.
The enemy had advanced to the centre of the town in two columns, under
Colonels Putnam and Howell, and occupied a position in 'Francis Baby's
orchard. Bierce remained with the reserve some distance in the rear. After
firing a single volley, Captain Sparke charged the invaders, who were believed
to number about 13o, and drove them headlong through the town. Both
Putnam and Howell were killed, and their flag was captured by Ensign Rankin,
of the Incorporated Militia. Sparke lost only one man killed and one wounded
in this gallant attack. Colonel Prince, being then informed that a body of the
-

.

33

enemy were advancing upon Sandwich, recalled his men from the pursuit and
marched back to that place, affording General Bierce a welcome opportunity to
escape to the American side of the river with most of his men. Twenty-one of
the invaders had been killed. Four, who were brought in as prisoners at the
close of the action, were shot as outlaws by Prince's orders. Forty-six others
were afterwards taken, and numbers were supposed to have perished in the
woods. The whole loss of the militia was four killed and four wounded.
Between the 5th of December, 1837, and the 1st of November, 1838, including the prisoners taken on the schooner Ann, at Point au Pelee, and the
Short Hills, 885 persons had been arrested on a charge of treason or insurrection ; of these, three, Peter Matthews, Samuel Lount and James Morrow, had
been executed, sixty-five had been sentenced to terms of imprisonment, or to be
transported or banished from the Province, forty-seven had been tried and acquitted, twenty-seven (chiefly persons taken in arms at Pelee Island or the Short
Hills) were yet in custody, and 743 had been dismissed without trial or pardoned. Sixty-one persons who had left the Province were indicted.
The militia called into service at this period has been estimated at not less
than 40,00o. Besides io6 regiments of country militia there were five battalions
of Incorporated Militia, which were not finally disbanded until 1843, twelve
Provincial Battalions on duty for a stated period, and thirty-one corps of
artillery, cavalry, and rifles.

+

34



CHAPTER III
THE MILITIA OF 18 3 7-8

HE POPULATION of the province increased more than
five fold during the course of the next quarter of a
century, but as usual in a time of profound peace the
militia force was much neglected, although a nominal
organization was maintained and the regiments were still
assembled for inspection and what was termed " general
training " once a year.
Dissatisfaction with the administration of the affairs of the
province had grown pronounced from the conviction that power
and patronage was concentrated in the hands of a number of
selfish and arbitrary persons who exercised their authority in an
arrogant and despotic manner for the aggrandizement of themselves, their relatives and adherents, and had in consequence become odious under the name of the " Family Compact." The
prevalence of this feeling gave the opposition a decided majority in the Legislative Assembly at the elections of 1835, but the " Family Compact " still controlled the Legislative Council which was constituted by appointment. The
leaders of the popular party, however, soon became involved in a controversy
with the new Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Francis Head, who had convinced
himself that they were republicans at heart and that independence or annexation
to the United States was their ultimate aim. He dissolved the Assembly and
issued a manifesto in which he appealed to the loyalty of the inhabitants and
denounced his " Radical " opponents as seditious and revolutionary. For some
ti me afterwards the Lieutenant-Governor was kept busy answering " loyal "
addresses which poured in upon him from the " Constitutionists " or " Tories.
In one of these replies which was printed and widely circulated as a campaign
document, he pointedly referred to a letter from Mr. Papineau to Mr. Bidwell,
speaker of the Assembly, which had lately been published, calling upon the
people of both the Canadas to " unite as a man."
22

Lieutenant-Governor Head declared that :" The people of Upper Canada detest democracy ; they revere their constitutional charter, and are consequently staunch in allegiance to their King.
" They are perfectly aware that there exists at the Lower Province one or
two individuals who inculcate the idea that this province is about to be disturbed
by the interference of foreigners, whose power and whose numbers will prove
invincible.
" In the name of every regiment of militia in Upper Canada, I publicly
promulgate let them come if they
dare."
This of course was an obvious
reference to some hint of invasion
from the United States, which even
then must have been talked of.
At the elections which followed,
his triumph was complete, and there
can be little doubt that it was largely
due to his direct and opportune appeal to the ingrained loyalty of the
mass of the people, who were willing
to condone the misdeeds of the
Family Compact, rather than seem
to endorse sedition.
The result of this election made
the Lieutenant-Governor feel so secure of the loyalty of the inhabitants, that when he was asked by Sir
John Colborne how many of the
regular troops he could spare for the
maintenance of order in Lower Canada, he unhesitatingly replied, " all
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES A. SKINNER,
of them," and even refused to retain
COMMANDING 13TH BATT. 1866-1886.
two companies as a garrison for
the city of Toronto.
The standard of rebellion was raised at Montgomery's tavern on the 4th of
December, 1837. The time and place seemed well chosen. A serious rising
was known to have taken place near Montreal. All the regular troops had
been sent to Lower Canada, and four thousand stands of arms were deposited in
the Toronto city hall, only three miles away, over which the LieutenantGovernor had declined even to set a guard. In the country to the northward,
Mackenzie, the leader of the rebellion, had many adherents, and some of his
23

most ardent supporters who were prepared to go any length, assured him that
fifteen hundred men were already enrolled and prepared to take up arms. As
it was, he never succeeded in assembling more than five hundred wretchedly
equipped, and as the result proved, anything but stout-hearted men. This,
however, was amply sufficient to throw the city into a state of indescribable
alarm and confusion, and had he promptly advanced he might have taken it.
But the militia soon assembled and was rapidly reinforced by volunteers from
the country.
On the 6th, Colonel Allan McNab, then speaker of the House of Assembly,
came in from Hamilton with sixty men from Gore District, whom he had assembled at half an hour's notice. Next morning, having upwards of a thousand
well armed men at his command, Head determined to march out against the
rebels, whose numbers were steadily diminishing. The chief command was
vested in Colonel James FitzGibbon, well known from his services at Beaver
Dam and elsewhere in the war of 1812, who was then Acting Adjutant General
of Militia. The main body was headed by Colonel Allan McNab, the right
wing being commanded by Colonel Samuel Jarvis, and the left by Colonel
William Chisholm, assisted by the Honorable Justice McLean, late speaker of
the House of Assembly ; the two guns by Major Carfrae, of the Militia
Artillery. The assistance of two officers and eight artillerymen, the sole representatives of the regular troops left in Toronto, was resolutely declined, as the
Lieutenant-Governor had determined that the contest should be decided solely
by the Upper Canada militia.
When they came in sight of Montgomery's tavern, Mackenzie's supporters
at once dispersed. There was scarcely a show of resistance, and happily little
bloodshed.
The militia continued to march into Toronto in great numbers from all
quarters.
From Gore, Niagara, Lake Simcoe and various other places brave men,
armed as well as unarmed, rushed forward unsolicited, and according to the
best reports from io,000 to 12,000 men simultaneously marched towards the
capital to support Lieutenant-Governor Head in maintaining the British constitution for the people of Upper Canada.
As their services were not required, they were directed to return to their
homes and disband, and in response to a demand from Sir John Colborne an
order was issued authorizing the militia of the Bathurst, Johnstown, Ottawa,
and eastern districts, to march out of the province and give their assistance to
the government of Lower Canada. Colonel Allan McNab was instructed to
advance against Dr. Duncombe, who was reported to have assembled a small
party in arms at Scotland, in the township of Burford. At his approach, Duncombe's followers dispersed without firing a shot, and McNab scoured the
24

neighboring country in pursuit of them for several days, making numerous arrests of suspicious characters.
Mackenzie made his way in disguise to the house of a sympathizer, named
McAffee, who lived on the bank of the Niagara, within sight of Buffalo, and
was ferried across the river, narrowly escaping capture. A committee of thirteen
prominent citizens of Buffalo had been formed to aid the revolutionary movement in Canada as early as the 5th of December, before it could possibly have
been known that an outbreak had taken place in the upper province, and a mass
meeting had been called for the
evening of the r rth, the very day
that Mackenzie arrived in the city, a
fugitive and alone. The meeting is
described as one of the largest ever
held there, and when Dr. Chapin
announced that the leader of the
Canadian insurrection was then a
guest at his house there was a demonstration of wild enthusiasm. A
guard of honor of young men was
formed for his protection, and it was
announced that he would address a
meeting on the following evening.
The theatre was crammed to hear
him. Mackenzie spoke for two hours
with his habitual fluency and vigor
of invective. General Thomas Jefferson Sutherland followed him, anouncing their intention of invading Canada
at once and calling for volunteers
and contributions of arms and supplies. At the time there were many
LIEUT.-COLONEL THE HON. J. M. GIBSON A. D. C.
laborers, seaman and dockhands idle
COMMANDING I3TH BATTALION 1886-1895.
in the city and consequently recruits
promised to be plentiful. Within twenty-four hours a band of armed men were
assembled at Whitehaven, on Grand Island, under the leadership of General
Rensselaer Van Rensselaer, a profligate son of one of the most respected citizens
of the state. Mackenzie joined him there and on the 13th they landed with
between twenty-five and fifty followers on Navy Island, then quite uninhabited
and densely wooded. A proclamation ih the name of the Provisional Government was printed in the form of a handbill, stating that " three hundred acres
of the most valuable land in Canada and one hundred Llollars in money will be
25

given to each volunteer who may join the Patriot forces on Navy Island." They
instantly began to erect huts and to fortify their camp. Within a week the
patriot flag, bearing two white stars on a blue ground, was said to be waving
over the heads of five hundred well armed men. Contributions of arms and
provisions came in from many sources.
As soon as the invasion of Navy Island became known, a considerable body
of militia was assembled at Chippawa under Colonel Cameron, and the river
carefully patrolled. On the 25th, Colonel McNab came in with 500 volunteers
fresh from his his successful expedition against Duncombe, and took over the
command. Within a few days his force was swelled to 2, 500 by volunteers from
all quarters. Among them were a company of negroes and a body of Six Nation
Indians, from the Grand River, led by Colonel William Johnson Kerr, who had
been one of their officers in the War of 1812.
Among other distinguished volunteers who had joined McNab on his march
to Burford, was Andrew Drew, a commander in the Royal Navy on half-pay,
who had been settled for some years on a farm near Woodstock. Several other
naval officers and a number of seamen having come in, a naval brigade, under
Drew's command, was soon formed, and vessels and boats collected with the
view of attacking the island.
Mackenzie's forces, however, had not been idle. They had cut a road
quite around the island, thrown up formidable-looking entrenchments, and
obstructed the approaches on the western front. Their numbers were said to
have increased to upwards of one thousand, most of whom a Buffalo newspaper
described as ruffians " who would cut any man's throat for a dollar."
A desultory artillery fire was opened on the Canadian shore, by which two
or three militiamen were killed or wounded and a few houses damaged.
Drew was engaged in preparing boats for crossing, when late on the afternoon of the 29th, while standing in company with McNab at the look-out post,
they saw a small steamer put out from Schlosser and cross over to the island.
With their field glasses they could see that she was crowded with men, and
thought they could distinguish one or two cannons on deck. " This won't do!"
exclaimed McNab, " I say Drew, do you think you can cut that vessel out ?"
" Oh, yes," Drew replied, " nothing can be easier, but it must be done at
night." " Well, then," said McNab, "go and do it ! "
Sir Francis Head, who had arrived at Chippawa a few days before, was of
course consulted, and readily gave his consent to the enterprise. The steamer
they had seen was the Caroline, of Buffalo, which had been specially chartered
to carry troops and stores to the island.
She tied up on the east side of Navy Island, where she landed- her passengers, and seems to have returned to Schlosser after dark, unseen from the Canadian bank. Drew immediately called for volunteers, simply saying that he
26

wanted a few fellows with cutlasses who would follow him to the devil."
Sixty men were selected from the large number that offered, and about midnight
they put off in seven boats.
It was bright moonlight, and when he passed the upper end of Navy
Island, he saw that the Caroline lay at Schlosser wharf. He was then in no
mood to turn back, and directed his men to row across the river. When his
boat came within twenty yards of the steamer, it was hailed by the watch on
deck, who demanded the countersign. Drew quietly replied, " I will give it to
you when I get on board," and
urged his men to pull alongside.
He scrambled up the side at the
starboard gangway, carrying his
cutlass between his teeth, but such
was the anxiety of his crew to
follow that they impeded each
other's movements, the boats
swung off, and he remained alone
on the Caroline's deck for more
than a minute. Brandishing his
weapon over their heads, Drew
said to the watch, which consisted
of three men, " Now I want this
vessel, and you had better go
ashore at once." They ran across
the deck, and Drew supposed they
were about to obey, when one of
them snatched up a musket and
and fired it within a yard of his
head. The shot missed, and Drew
struck the man down with a savage blow of his cutlass. Another
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. H. MOORE
COMMANDING 13TH BATTALION 1895-97.
man then snapped a pistol in
his face but it missed fire, and
he was instantly disarmed by a quick cut on the arm, and with his remaining companion was driven ashore. By this time the remainder of the boarding
party had reached the deck, and in a very short time gained entire possession
of the vessel, driving the crew and passengers on the boat ashore. Drew
mounted the paddle box and gave orders to cut her moorings and send her
adrift. She was found to be attached to the wharf by chains, and some delay
occurred before these orders could be executed. A body of men from a tavern
near the wharf assembled apparently with the intention of attempting to retake
"

2

7

the vessel, and began firing. Lieut. Elmsley advanced with sixteen men, armed
only with cutlasses, and took up a position across the street, where he held this
party in check until the chains which secured the Caroline were cut loose. The
steamer was finally towed into the current of the river, where she was set on
fire and cast adrift. After passing through the rapids, wrapped in flames, she
grounded on a small islet near the brink of Niagara Falls, where she subsequently went to pieces. Besides Lieut. McCormack, several others of Drew's
party were slightly wounded, while twelve persons out of thirty-three, said to
have been on board the Caroline when attacked, were reported missing. Of
these, however, only one, Amos Durfee, a negro, was certainly known to be
killed. Drew himself believed that there could not have been more than two
killed and four or five wounded.
After the destruction of the Caroline the force under McNab was augumented by the arrival of fresh bodies of militia until it exceeded 5,000. The
filibusters were also considerably reinforced and for some days a body of them
was encamped on Grand Island. Dissensions, however, soon arose among
them, for Van Rensselaer was a drunkard and incompetent to command in many
ways. On the i3th of January, 1838, Navy Island was finally evacuated by
them, having been in their possession exactly a month. Late in December
Brigadier-General Sutherland had been sent by Van Rensselaer to Detroit to
create a diversion in his favor by an attack on the Canadian frontier from that
quarter. On the 7th of January, 1838, Sutherland arrived in Detroit with
200 men. He found three or four hundred men assembled under General
Roberts and assumed the command under the authority given him by Van
Rensselaer. It was determined to remove to the island of Bois Blanc, in
Canadian waters and thence make an attack on Amherstburg in conjunction with
the schooner Ann, a gift from an enthusiastic supporter which they had armed
with three pieces of cannon. The landing on Bois Blanc was effected without
opposition, and during the night the schooner, commanded by General Theller,
passed between the island and the Canadian shore, firing into the town.
I mmediate preparations were made for an attack upon Amherstburg under
cover of the guns of the Ann. In passing down the river by moonlight to take
up her position, the vessel was fired upon by a party of Essex militia, under
Lieut.-Colonel Radcliffe, who occupied the town. The man at the helm was
either shot or deserted his post, and the schooner drifted towards the Canadian
shore, where she ran aground. Some of the militia led by Captain Ironside,
and Ensign Baby, waded out in the water, which took them up to their armpits, and boarded her. One of her crew had beeri killed, and they took eight
wounded and twelve unwounded prisoners, including all the officers, three pieces
of cannon, and 200 stand of arms. This event greatly dispirited Sutherland,
who instantly gave orders for a retreat to Sugar Island in American waters,
28

where he was joined next day by General Handy, who came down the river in
the steamer Erie with reinforcements and supplies. The number of men under
their command was estimated at 700. In a few days the ice began to flow,
provisions were falling short, and Handy summoned the Governor of Michigan
to his assistance, requesting him to come to Sugar Island, accompanied by a
single staff officer, and go through the form of dispersing his forces.
Early in February, Brigadier-General Donald McLeod and Colonel Vreeland arrived at Detroit with a body of men whom they had enlisted in Ohio.
On the the night of February 24th they took possession of Fighting Island,
below Sandwich, with two or three hundred followers, but were promptly
attacked and driven out next day by a detachment of the 32nd Regiment, with
a loss of five men wounded. After evactuating Navy Island, Mackenzie and
Van Rensselaer planned a movement upon Kingston, where they seem to have
anticipated a rising in their favor. In the prosecution of this enterprise the
United States Arsenal at Watertown, N. Y. was broken into and robbed of a
large quantity of arms, and on the 22nd and 23rd of February a body of men,
supposed to number from 1,500 to 2,500, under Van Rensselaer, took possession of Hickory Island, in the St. Lawrence, about sixteen miles below Kingston and only two miles from Gananoque, where there was a small garrison of
regulars and militia. A smaller party crossed from Buffalo to Point Abino at thesame time. There was no movement, however, to co-operate with them anywhere
in Canada. On the contrary, the militia assembled with great alacrity to repel
them and in the course of a very few days the invaders retired. After his
repulse at Fighting Island, McLeod removed his headquarters to Sandusky,
Ohio, whence he despatched four hundred men under Colonels Seward and
Bradley across the ice in sleighs to take possessien of Pelee Island. After
being there a few days they were attacked by Colonel John Maitland with five
companies of the 32nd Regiment and nearly 200 Essex Militia and some volunteer cavalry under Lieut.-Colonel John Prince. Advancing in person at the
head of the main body against their position at the north end of the island,
Maitland detached Captain Brown with two companies of the 32nd by a circuitous route to the south end to cut off their retreat. Retiring before Maitland's force in their sleighs much more rapidly than it could follow, the
invaders came suddenly upon Brown's detachment, which they greatly outnumbered, and taking shelter behind the piles of ice along the shore, they
opened a most effective fire. Brown gallantly charged their position with the
bayonet, dislodging them with the loss of Captains Van Rensselaer and McKeon
and eleven men killed and nine prisoners. The remainder ran to their sleighs
and escaped across the ice, carrying with them a considerable number of
wounded men. Brown had lost two men killed and twenty-eight wounded in
this very gallant affair. The same evening Colonel Prince captured General
,

.

29

Sutherland and his aid-de-camp, Captain Spencer, on their way to the
island.
Early in June an attempt was made to raise the standard of rebellion in the
Township of Pelham, in the County of Lincoln. Benjamin Wait, a native of
the United States but a naturalized British subject, who had fled from Canada
to escape arrest, was the chief organizer of this enterprise. A body of 526 men,
well armed and equipped, was assembled in Buffalo, and small parties were
.• sent secretly across the river with instructions to assemble at Aaron Winchester's
farm, in the region known as the Short Hills. They took possession of a commanding position, which they rudely fortified, and spent eight days there beating for recruits and collecting provisions before their presence became known to
the officers in command on that frontier. Their movements were generally
made by night with the utmost secrecy and caution. Winchester and some of
his immediate neighbors were active sympathizers, and the exact locality of the
camp could not be easily ascertained. Their attempts to subvert the loyalty of
the mass of the inhabitants proved quite unsuccessful, and they were joined only
by a few settlers and some dissolute fellows who were probably attracted by the
hope of plunder. After they had been there a few days, Colonel James Morrow,
or Moreau, a tanner by trade, who was said to have had some military training,
arrived and took command. A detachment of lancers advanced about the same
ti me from Niagara to observe their movements, and pushed forward an outpost to
occupy the little village of St. John's, about three miles from their position in
the Short Hills. Having ascertained the strength of this party, and that it was
quite unsupported, Morrow advanced with his whole force on the night of June
i8th. Fourteen lancers, under Cornet Heath, were quartered in Overholt's
tavern, a small wooden building, where they defended themselves obstinately
until it was riddled with bullets, and preparations were made to set it on fire,
when they surrendered.
The rapid advance of the remainder of the lancers and a troop of militia
cavalry from St. Catharines next day, forced them to release their prisoners,
abandon their camp and disperse. Many succeeded in escaping to the United
States. A few were killed in the pursuit, and Morrow, Wait and thirty-seven
others were apprehended. Twenty were found guilty and sentenced to death,
but only the unfortunate Morrow was executed.
Between the 1st and loth of November, about twenty of the Hunter's
Lodges, in the State of New York, nearest the St. Lawrence River, began concentrating their forces for an attack upon Prescott, where fortifications were in
course of construction. On the morning of the tith, two schooners, in tow of the
steamer United States, having about 600 men on board, with a quantity of military
stores, left Millen's Bay below Sackett's Harbor. They touched at Ogdensburg, where General Bierge, who commanded, opportunely fell ill and went
30

ashore. When they again started, one of the schooners, commanded by the
notorious Bill Johnson, grounded on a shoal, and the steamer United States was
prevented from entering the river by the British steamer Experiment, commanded by Lieut. Forvell, R. N., which lay in wait for her below. The other
schooner alone, conveying 17o men, under Colonel Van Schultz, a Polish
refugee, crossed the river and landed this party at the windmill below the town
of Prescott. The windmill itself was a circular stone building, eighty feet in
height, with walls over three feet in thickness. Near it were several other stone
buildings surrounded by a low stone wall, forming an extremely defensible position against any force unprovided with artillery. The steamer Paul Pry afterwards attempted to tow across the schooner that had run aground, but as soon as
she fairly got within Canadian waters the Experiment opened fire upon
her with grape and canister. The Paul Pry left the schooner to her fate, and
put back to Ogdensburg. Lieut. Forvell then ran his vessel down upon the
schooner with the intention of taking possession of her, when he found himself
in shoal water, and saw the steamer United States bearing down upon him. A
brisk interchange of shots followed, during which the schooner escaped into
Ogdensburg, and the United States soon followed, having received a cannon
ball through one of her engines and several others in her hull. That night
Captain Sandom, R. N., arrived from Kingston with the steamers Queen Victoria
and Cobourg, having on board seventy marines and regulars. A detachment
of the Glengarry militia, under Captain George Macdonell, came from below,
and lay on the ground amid' a heavy rain all night. Lieut.-Colonel 0. R.
Gowan, with 140 men of the gth Provincial Battalion, also marched into Prescott during the night. Next morning the and Battalion of Dundas militia,
commanded by Lieut.Colonel John Crysler, nearly 300 strong, and detachments
of the 1st and and Grenville Battalions, under Lieut.-Colonel R. D. Fraser,
also arrived. Colonel Plomer Young, Inspecting Field Officer, assumed the
command, and determined upon an immediate attack. The left wing, composed of thirty marines under Lieut. Parker, Captain Macdonell's Glengarry
militia, and some of the Grenville and Dundas militia, commanded by Lieut.Colonel Fraser, drove the enemy's picquets out of the woods on that flank in
gallant style. The right column, commanded by Colonel Young in person,
consisting of forty men of 83rd Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Gowan's battalion,
and the remainder of the Dundas militia, advanced along the bank of the river,
driving the enemy from behind the walls of the enclosures until they took
shelter in the mill and adjacent buildings, but being much exposed during their
operations their loss was severe. As they approached the mill the fire from its
upper windows became very steady and accurate, and his men fell so fast under
it that Colonel Young resolved to discontinue active operations until artillery
could be obtained.
31

The mill was closely blockaded on the land side by Colonel Young, while
the Experiment continued to patrol the river. Von Schultz sent a man across
the river on a plank during the night to ask that boats should be sent to take
off his men. Twenty-four hours later the Paul Pry actually crossed the river
for that purpose, but a council of war decided to maintain the position, and
instead of bringing away the invaders a small reinforcement was landed. At
noon on the 16th, Colonel Henry Dundas, R. A., arrived from Kingston with
a detachment of Royal Artillery in charge of three heavy guns, and five companies of the 83rd Regiment. The guns were planted on a rise of ground
about 400 yards from the mill and their fire soon became effective. At the same
ti me Captain Sandom, with two gunboats and a steamer began a bombardment
of the enemy's position from the river. As it grew dark the troops gradually
advanced,- and Von Schultz, who had undertaken to defend one of the stone
buildings outside the mill with only ten men, because none of his subordinates
would venture to do it, was driven from his position and obliged to seek shelter
among the bushes at the water's edge, where he was taken prisoner with some
others. Every building near the mill that would burn was then set on fire, and
as the flames blazed up fiercely about them the trembling garrison hung out a
white flag. By this time all the troops were terribly exasperated and Colonel
Dundas appears to have had great difficulty in restraining their fire. " To his
determined resolution indeed," wrote Sir George Arthur, the LieutenantGovernor, " it is to be ascribed that the militia of the country gave any quarter
to the brigands ; nothing, I believe, but the presence of the regular troops having saved any of them from being cut to pieces. The prisoners numbered one
hundred and fifty seven, and upwards of forty of the invaders were supposed to
have been killed. Their flag, on which was embroidered an eagle and a single
star with the inscription "Liberated by the Onondaga Hunters," was captured.
The British loss in these operations was two officers and eleven rank and file
killed and four officers and sixty-three non commissioned officers and men
wounded. Lieut. Delmage, of the 2nd Grenville Militia, four of the Loyal
Glengarry Highlanders and four of the 2nd Dundas Militia were among the
killed, and Lieut.-Colonel Gowan of the Ninth Provincial Battalion, Ensign
Angus Macdonnell of the Loyal Glengarry Highlanders, Lieutenant John
Parlow and seven men of the 2nd Dundas Militia were wounded.
One object of the descent upon Prescott was undoubtedly to create a diversion in favor of insurrection at Beauharnois and simultaneous invasion from the
United States at Odelstown and Rouse's Point. To restore order and repel the
the invaders Sir John Colborne had again summoned the militia of the Eastern
districts of Upper Canada to his assistance. Between the 5th and 9th of November three regiments of Glengary militia, under Colonels Donald Macdonnell, Alexander Chisholm and Alexander Fraser, and a regiment of Stormount
-

32

militia under Colonel Donald JEneas Macdonell, assembled and marched to
Coteau du Lac. On the loth of November these regiments, numbering more
than moo men, crossed the St. Lawrence to Hungry Bay, and marched upon
Beauharnois in conjunction with 150 regulars. The insurgents were dispersed
with trifling loss, and a steamer they had seized was retaken.
Four days later, when the landing of the enemy at Prescott became known,
they were ordered to return to Upper Canada, but they arrived too late to take
any part in the attack on the windmill ; they were, however, stationed as a garrison at Prescott and Cornwall during the winter.
" Hunters " in considerable numbers had assembled at or near Detroit, not
only from other parts of Michigan, but from the principal cities in the States of
Ohio and New York. The steamer
Champlain was engaged and stores
collected for an expedition. On the
night of December 3rd four hundred
men marched openly through the
streets of Detroit, within sight of the me
sentinels at the armory, and embarked
without hindrance. At 3 a. m., next
\
morning, they landed at Pelette's farm, 1:
four miles above Windsor, which was
then occupied by one company of
Essex militia, commanded by Captain
Lewis. The invaders advanced rapidly,
and were not discovered until they were
within a quarter of a mile of the barracks, which they immediately surrounded. The militia fired briskly
upon their assailants, but were soon
driven back into their barracks, which
were then set on fire. Ten or twelve rushed out and made their escape, thirteen
were taken prisoners, and two wounded men were supposed to have perished
in the burning buildings.
The enemy had advanced to the centre of the town in two columns, under
Colonels Putnam and Howell, and occupied a position in 'Francis Baby's
orchard. Bierce remained with the reserve some distance in the rear. After
firing a single volley, Captain Sparke charged the invaders, who were believed
to number about 13o, and drove them headlong through the town. Both
Putnam and Howell were killed, and their flag was captured by Ensign Rankin,
of the Incorporated Militia. Sparke lost only one man killed and one wounded
in this gallant attack. Colonel Prince, being then informed that a body of the
-

.

33

enemy were advancing upon Sandwich, recalled his men from the pursuit and
marched back to that place, affording General Bierce a welcome opportunity to
escape to the American side of the river with most of his men. Twenty-one of
the invaders had been killed. Four, who were brought in as prisoners at the
close of the action, were shot as outlaws by Prince's orders. Forty-six others
were afterwards taken, and numbers were supposed to have perished in the
woods. The whole loss of the militia was four killed and four wounded.
Between the 5th of December, 1837, and the 1st of November, 1838, including the prisoners taken on the schooner Ann, at Point au Pelee, and the
Short Hills, 885 persons had been arrested on a charge of treason or insurrection ; of these, three, Peter Matthews, Samuel Lount and James Morrow, had
been executed, sixty-five had been sentenced to terms of imprisonment, or to be
transported or banished from the Province, forty-seven had been tried and acquitted, twenty-seven (chiefly persons taken in arms at Pelee Island or the Short
Hills) were yet in custody, and 743 had been dismissed without trial or pardoned. Sixty-one persons who had left the Province were indicted.
The militia called into service at this period has been estimated at not less
than 40,00o. Besides io6 regiments of country militia there were five battalions
of Incorporated Militia, which were not finally disbanded until 1843, twelve
Provincial Battalions on duty for a stated period, and thirty-one corps of
artillery, cavalry, and rifles.

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