Surrender of French Mills

Last updated

Surrender of French Mills
Part of War of 1812
Date22 November 1812
Location
French Mills New York
Result British Victory
Belligerents
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Upper CanadaFlag of the United States (1795-1818).svg United States
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Col. Alex McMillan Unknown
Strength
150 50
Casualties and losses
None 50 captured

The Battle of French Mills or First Salmon River Raid was a raid and battle fought on November 22, 1812. 100 American soldiers stationed at French Mills led a successful attack against 45 Canadian voyageurs on 22 October at the Battle of St. Regis. Half returned to French Mills while the other half departed for Plattsburgh, New York. In retribution, a mix of Canadian regulars and militia amounting to 150 men attacked the 50 Americans at French Mills forcing their surrender.

Contents

Background

In early July 1812, the American soldiers began constructing a blockhouse at French Mills on the St. Lawrence River. [1] The 100 Americans at French Mills, commanded by Major Guilford Dudley Young, launched an attack against 45 Canadian Voyageurs camped outside the village of St. Regis. [2] Their purpose was to watch for American attacks as well as provide confidence to the Mohawks at St. Regis. The attack was a success killing 5 while capturing the remaining 40 at the Battle of St. Regis. [2] After the battle 50 of the Americans departed for Plattsburgh New York while the other 50 returned to French Mills.

Action

A month after the attack on St. Regis a company of Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, Stormont militia, Dundas Militia, and Glengarry Militia numbering 150 left Cornwall, Ontario for French Mills. [1] They were under command of Lt. Col. Alex McMillan of the Glengarry Militia. [1] In the middle of the night, they approached the Americans. The Americans, seeing they were heavily outnumbered, retreated to the blockhouse. They didn't fire their weapons allowing the Canadians to entirely surround them. Seeing the hopelessness of the situation the Americans surrendered. [3]

Aftermath

The Canadians looted 4 river boats and 57 muskets. All the muskets were broken in half and thrown into the St. Lawrence River. The American prisoners were escorted by the Glengarry company to Fort Coteau-du-Lac and from there to Montreal. They were released in an exchange for York Militiamen who had been captured by Americans. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Plattsburgh</span> 1814 battle during the War of 1812

The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final British invasion of the northern states of the United States during the War of 1812. Two British forces, an army under Lieutenant General Sir George Prévost and a naval squadron under Captain George Downie converged on the lakeside town of Plattsburgh, New York. Plattsburgh was defended by New York and Vermont militia and detachments of regular troops of the United States Army, all under the command of Brigadier General Alexander Macomb, and ships commanded by Master Commandant Thomas Macdonough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Crysler's Farm</span> War of 1812 battle

The Battle of Crysler's Farm, also known as the Battle of Crysler's Field, was fought on 11 November 1813, during the War of 1812. A British and Canadian force won a victory over a US force which greatly outnumbered them. The US defeat prompted them to abandon the St. Lawrence Campaign, their major strategic effort in the autumn of 1813.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor</span>

The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor, or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake. Twelve warships were built here. The British were repulsed by American regulars, militia, marines and sailors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siege of Fort Erie</span>

The siege of Fort Erie, also known as the Battle of Erie, from 4 August to 21 September 1814, was one of the last engagements of the War of 1812, between British and American forces. It took place during the Niagara campaign, and the Americans successfully defended Fort Erie against a British army. During the siege, the British suffered high casualties in a failed storming attempt; they also suffered casualties from sickness and exposure in their rough encampments. Unaware that the British were about to abandon the siege, the American garrison launched a sortie to destroy the British siege batteries, during which both sides again suffered high losses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ogdensburg</span>

The Battle of Ogdensburg was a battle of the War of 1812. The British gained a victory over the Americans and captured the village of Ogdensburg, New York. Although small in scale, it removed the American threat to British supply lines for the remainder of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders</span> Military unit

Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. It is part of 33 Canadian Brigade Group, 4th Canadian Division and is headquartered in Cornwall, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Lacolle Mills (1814)</span> Battle on 30 March 1814 during the War of 1812

The Battle of Lacolle Mills was fought on 30 March 1814 during the War of 1812. The small garrison of a British outpost position, aided by reinforcements, fought off a large American attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Voltigeurs</span> Military unit

The Canadian Voltigeurs were a light infantry unit, raised in Lower Canada in 1812, that fought in the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Mackinac Island (1814)</span> Historic site in Mackinac Island, Michigan

The Battle of Mackinac Island was a British victory in the War of 1812. Before the war, Fort Mackinac had been an important American trading post in the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It was important for its influence and control over the Native American tribes in the area, which was sometimes referred to in historical documents as "Michilimackinac".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian units of the War of 1812</span>

When the United States and the United Kingdom went to war against each other in 1812, the major land theatres of war were Upper Canada, Michigan Territory, Lower Canada and the Maritime Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton . Each of the separate British administrations formed regular and fencible units, and both full-time and part-time militia units, many of which played a major part in the fighting over the two and a half years of the war.

The series of Engagements on Lake Huron left the British in control of the lake and their Native American allies in control of the Old Northwest for the latter stages of the War of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacolle Mills Blockhouse</span>

The Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles were a light infantry unit, raised chiefly in the Glengarry District of Upper Canada shortly before the outbreak of the Anglo-American War of 1812. The unit fought throughout the war, and was disbanded shortly afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment of Riflemen</span> US military unit of War of 1812 era

The Regiment of Riflemen was a unit of the U.S. Army in the early nineteenth century. Unlike the regular US line infantry units with muskets and bright blue and white uniforms, this regiment was focused on specialist light infantry tactics, and were accordingly issued rifles and dark green and black uniforms to take better advantage of cover. This was the first U.S. rifleman formation since the end of the American Revolutionary War 25 years earlier.

Where can you find troops more efficient than Morgan's riflemen of the Revolution or Forsyth's riflemen of the last war with Great Britain?

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dundas County Militia</span> Regiment of the provincial militia of Upper Canada

The Dundas County Militia was a regiment of the provincial militia of Upper Canada that was raised in Dundas County, Ontario, in the 1780s. The battle honours and legacy of the Dundas Militia are perpetuated by the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.

Two miles outside of St. Regis, 45 Canadian voyageurs were stationed in a house to watch for American attacks and provide confidence to the Mohawks in the area. A larger American force under Major Guilford Dudley was able to surprise the Canadians and take most of them captive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupation of Cornwall</span>

The Occupation of Cornwall was the capture and occupation of the town of Cornwall following the Battle of Crysler's Farm.

The Salmon River Raid was a raid conducted by British forces in February 1814 against the recently abandoned American bases along the Salmon River near French Mills, New York. A previous raid and battle at French Mills had been conducted in 1812.

The Assault on Ogdensburg, also known as the First Battle of Ogdensburg or the Battle of Prescott, was an attack by Canadian militia on the American defences at Ogdensburg on October 4, 1812.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Glengarry Light Infantry
  2. 1 2 Hannings 2012, p. 73.
  3. Hannings 2012, p. 79.

Sources