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Captains Dunham Jones, S. Fraser, and Henderson s
companies of the 1st and znd Grenville Militia, with
one company of the Dundas Militia, under Major
Clark, amounting altogether to about 150 men, being
placed under the command of Colonel Duncan
Fraser, of the’ Grenville Militia (an officer well
known in the Province for his remarkable energy
and bravery), with instructions to move round some
marshy ground, and attack the enemy in that
men of the 83rd Regiment, and commanded by
Lieutenant Johnson, and the gth Battalion Johns¬
‘own Militia, with Captain Edmondson and his
few men attached (about 16o in all), under charge
of Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan, by the high road
on the bank of the river, from Prescott to Johns¬
town, and, if successful in dislodging the enemy
from the walls behind which they were posted,
make an effort, in conjunction with Colonel Fraser s
column, to carry the mill and other stone buildings.
The charge of protecting the town, and watching
the movements on the opposite shore, was entrusted
ledge of those he had to deal with, was well
calculated for this duty. Information having been
received. about three o’clock in the morning, of the
approach of a detachment of the Stormont Militia,
under Colonels Crysler and Markley, a dragoon was
dispatched to meet and conduct them through the
intricate country they had to traverse, and, when
on the point of putting the columns in motion,
Colonel Young had the satisfaction to see them
arrive on the ground. The steamers under Captain
Sandom dropping down towards the mill, no time
Half
of them, about eighty men, were instantly attached
to each of the previously formed columns, when the
order to advance was given, and the whole moved
off towards their destined points. Both columns
advanced in silence and with marked regularity,
could be spared to refresh the weary troops.
and in twenty minutes were within rifle-shot of the
enemy, posted in force some distance in front and
flank of the windmill.
was the first to receive their fire, and the action
soon became general. The intervening ground was
open, and Colonel Young, who accompanied the
column that was advancing by the high road, being
apprehensive that every shot from the men pro¬
tected by the walls would tell, perceived at once
the advantage of closing rapidly with them, and his
order being obeyed in the most enthusiastic and
determined manner, the enemy were, in less than
an hour, dislodged in succession from all of the
walls, some houses, and a grocery which they occu¬
pied, and compelled to fly for refuge to the mill and
two or three stone buildings close to it; but, on
approaching these buildings, we found that they
were well manned, and a destructive fire, by which
several valuable lives were lost, being kept up from
the upper windows of the mill, and a strong stone
store which flanked it as completely as if built for
that purpose, the troops were placed under partial
cover, within one hundred yards, in the hope that a
breach would be made by the armed steamers,
from which an incessant fire of shot and shell
had been maintained from the commencement of
the operations.
At this time it was considered to be impracticable
to make an effectual impression by such means upon
the buildings, the balls glancing off without doing
any injury. Colonel Young, unwilling to risk the
advantage he liad already gained, and the certain
destruction of many more of his men, decided on
drawing a cordon of sufficient force round the
brigands, until heavier guns could be procured,
Accordingly, having established the necessary posts,
and removed the wounded from the field, he ordered
the remainder of the force back to Prescott at 3 P.M.
Late in the evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan's
battalion returned to Brockville.
In the engagement, the detachments of the 83rd
Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the Militia, dis¬
played most fully the characteristic coolness and
bravery of British soldiers, and the severe loss they
suffered (74 killed and wounded) is the best proof
of their determination to free their country from
the band of miscreants who had dared to invade it.
The faithfulness with which the Militia performed
various harrassing duties, being exposed to wet and
cold, was highly creditable to them. When the
cordon was about to be formed, fatigued as they
were, every man wished to remain—the entire body
actuated by the same feeling—a full determination
to prevent the escape of one of the murderous gang
in the mill, and this determination was so fully
carried out that all were eventually captured.
The service had to deplore the loss of Lieutenant
Johnston, of the 83rd Regiment, a brave and valu¬
able officer, who was killed within sixty yards of
Battalion of Grenville Militia, who was killed at the
head of his men. Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan was
slightly wounded. Lieutenant Parker, of the Royal
would not leave the field. Lieutenant Parlow, of
Dundas Militia, and Ensign A. McDonnell, of the
Lancaster (Glengarry) Highlanders, having given
ample proof of their gallantry, were also wounded.
Every officer and soldier engaged did his duty to
the utmost, Colonel Fraser and Captain George