Battle of Lacolle Mills - Last American invasion of Canada
- Simon Biggs
- Mar 30, 2020
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 25, 2024
Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines Location: Canada Period/ Conflict: War of 1812 Year: 1814 Date/s: 30 March 1814
The small garrison of a British outpost position, aided by reinforcements, fought off a large American attack. A few miles north of the border between Canada and the United States, the main road running north crossed the small Lacolle River.
Here, the British maintained an outpost of 80 men of the 13th Regiment of Foot in a blockhouse and the stout stone-built mill building.
The defenders also included a Congreve rocket detachment of the Royal Marine Artillery, and there were other outpost positions and blockhouses nearby
Inscription on memorial stone: Battle of the Lacolle Mill. 30 March, 1814, Major R. B. Handcock and a garrison 500 men 13th Regiment, Royal Marines, Canadian Fencibles, Voltiguers, Indians withstood attack by 4,000 American soldiers with Gen. Wilkinson.
Last American invasion of Canada
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The last American invasion of Canada was by U.S. Brig. General Duncan McArthur commanding 700 mostly Kentucky horsemen tasked to destroy mills, bridges, livestock and foodstuffs across western Upper Canada (22 Oct.-17 Nov 1814). At Brant's Ford on the Grand River (now Brantford, Ontario), his force was turned back and the next day (6 Nov 1814) defeated the local militia at Malcolm's Mills (now Oakland, Ontario). This was the last military action in British North America during the War of 1812.