Battle of Malcolm's Mills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Malcolm's Mills
Part of the War of 1812
Date November 6, 1814 Location Oakland, Brant County, Ontario Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	United Kingdom  Upper Canada
Commanders and leaders
Duncan McArthur	Henry Bostwick Joseph Ryerson Adam Muir
Strength
800	550
Casualties and losses
1 killed 6 wounded	18 killed 9 wounded 126 taken prisoner 450 killed, wounded or captured during entire raid

The Battle of Malcolm's Mills was the very last battle of the War of 1812 fought in Canada. It happened on November 6, 1814. In this battle, American mounted troops, like soldiers on horseback, defeated Canadian volunteer soldiers called militia. The fight took place near a village called Oakland in Brant County, which is in Ontario.

This battle was part of a bigger plan by American General Duncan McArthur. He led a long journey into Upper Canada, which was a British colony at the time. This journey is often called McArthur's Raid. His soldiers traveled over 200 miles into Canada. They returned to Detroit on November 17, after 11 days of raiding the Ontario Peninsula.

McArthur's Raid: A Journey into Canada

In October 1814, General Duncan McArthur led about 700 mounted riflemen from Detroit. They moved very quickly. Their goal was to damage the farms and towns along the Grand River. This area supplied food, especially flour, to the British soldiers. These British soldiers were fighting on the Niagara frontier.

At this time, the British Army had just stopped their attack on Siege of Fort Erie. This fort was on the Niagara River. An American army was also slowly moving from Fort Erie.

McArthur's group was delayed for two days while crossing the Thames River. But they still moved so fast that they reached a weak British post at Delaware by October 30. No one there had even heard they were coming! McArthur kept up his speed by taking fresh horses from Canadian farms. He would leave his tired horses behind.

Major Adam Muir was the local British commander. He told the Norfolk Militia, a group of Canadian volunteers, to gather. They first met at Culver's Tavern, then in Burford. McArthur arrived at Oxford on November 4. His men searched the village for food and supplies. He heard that the militia were gathering at Burford. McArthur warned the people of Oxford that if they told the militia, their homes would be destroyed. However, two men still warned the militia, but they were found out, and their homes were burned down.

The militia leader, Bostwick, moved his men to Malcolm's Mills. He was joined by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Ryerson and Major George Salmon with more Norfolk Militia members. Major Muir had gone ahead to secure a river crossing over the Grand River. He also wanted to get help from Six Nations warriors. But most of the warriors had already been called to Burlington. This left Bostwick with about 400 men. They were worried because they heard the American force was much stronger.

On November 5, McArthur moved to Burford, where he met no resistance. He then went to Brant's Ford on the Grand River. The ferry there was destroyed, and the river was very high. Also, some enemy soldiers were blocking the crossing. It was getting dark, so McArthur camped for the night. During the night, he learned that the American army under Major General Izard had stopped their advance. They were going back across the Niagara River. This meant McArthur no longer needed to create a distraction for Izard. So, he decided not to attack Burlington. Instead, he chose to break up the militia at Malcolm's Mills before continuing his raid.

The Battle of Malcolm's Mills

Early on November 6, 1814, McArthur's men met 550 Canadian militia. These Canadian soldiers were led by Colonels Ryerson and Bostwick at Malcolm's Mills. The militia seemed to be in a strong position. They were on high ground behind a creek that was too deep to cross easily.

While some American soldiers started a careful fight to keep the militia busy, another group of American soldiers went quietly downstream. They found a hidden way to cross the creek using a dam made of logs. These soldiers then attacked the Canadian militia from both sides, surprising them. The Americans quickly forced the militia to run away. The Americans then destroyed the local mills and grain storage. This took away a major source of flour for the British and Canadian forces.

General McArthur wrote in his notes that his cavalry lost 1 man and had 6 wounded. The Canadian militia had 18 killed, 9 wounded, and 126 were taken prisoner. The rest of the Canadian soldiers escaped when the panic started.

More Raids: Dover and Savareen Mills

After the battle, McArthur's group went west towards Dover. They were chasing the defeated Canadian forces. The Americans captured 65 Canadians at Savareen Mills. They also burned the mills there. They continued to Dover, where 30 more militia soldiers gave up. Two more mills were burned.

American Soldiers Go Home

By November 10, McArthur realized his forces were over 200 miles from the American border. They were in a place where the local people, militia, and Native American tribes were against them. So, McArthur began to lead his soldiers back home.

Over 1,100 British and Canadian forces, including a group of the 19th Light Dragoons, followed McArthur's group. But they could never get closer than seven miles to the Americans.

McArthur's soldiers rode along the shore of Lake Erie. Then they went north back to the Thames River and along the southern shore of Lake St. Clair. They reached Sandwich, Ontario, which is across the Detroit River from Detroit, on October 16. They crossed the river the next day. The soldiers were then allowed to go home to Ohio and Kentucky.

What Happened After the Battle?

The battle at Malcolm's Mill was the very last land battle of the War of 1812 fought in Upper Canada.

McArthur's Raid destroyed many mills. These mills were important because they made flour and bread for the British army on the Niagara frontier. Only three mills in the southern part of the Niagara area were saved. This was either because the British were chasing them closely, or because some American officers asked to spare the area from hunger during the winter. Even though the British controlled Lake Ontario at the time and could use their ships to bring supplies, the area was so badly damaged that the British could not plan any attacks against Detroit before the war ended.

Also, the Americans killed, wounded, or captured over 450 of their enemies. They did this while only losing one soldier killed and six wounded. This raid has also been called "Dudley's Raid," named after Major Peter Dudley, who led 550 Kentucky mounted riflemen.

Who Fought? The Soldiers and Their Leaders

Here are some of the groups and leaders who took part in McArthur's Raid and the Battle of Malcolm's Mills:

American Forces in McArthur's Raid

• Commander: General Duncan McArthur
  • Adjutant General: Major Charles S. Todd
  • Brigade Major: Captain William Bradford, 17th U.S. Infantry
• Mounted Ohio Infantry (about 250 men)
• Battalion - Mounted Kentucky Infantry (about 550 men)
  • Major Peter Dudley, Kentucky
    • Adjutant: Captain Elisha Berry
  • Kentucky Companies:
    • Captain Thomas P. Moore - from Boyle County
    • Captain John Miller - from Hardin County
    • Captain Elijah McClung - from Montgomery County
    • Captain James Sympson - from Clark County
    • Captain Martin H Wickliffe - from Nelson County
    • Captain Isaac Watkins - from Franklin County
    • Joseph B. Lancaster - from Fayette County

Canadian Forces at Malcolm's Mills

• 1st Regiment of Middlesex Militia, led by Major John Eakins
• 1st Regiment of Oxford Militia, led by Lt. Col. Henry Bostwick
• 1st Regiment of Norfolk Militia, led by Lt. Col. Joseph Ryerson and Major William D. Bowen
• 2nd Regiment of Norfolk Militia, led by Major George C. Salmon