Windsor in Essex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Battle of Windsor

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 9, 2024

1. The Battle of Windsor Marker

Inscription.

The Battle of Windsor. . , In his diary for December 4, 1838, Col. John Prince wrote:, “A cold day. Awoke at 6 am by an alarm gun at Sandwich. Rose and saw a fire at Windsor. Proceeded there with the militia and found it in possession of Brigands and Pirates. We attacked them and killed 27 and took about 20 prisoners. I ordered the first 5 taken to be shot. We lost 4 men, and poor Dr. Hume Asst. Staff Surgeon who was cruelly Murdered by them!” , Indeed, Col. Prince ordered every prisoner he encountered to be shot on the spot that day. There was much controversy over this but no action was ever taken against him. Some even attributed the end of rebel activities (& the Patriot Wars) to Prince’s cold blooded summary execution of prisoners. There would have been no prisoners taken if it were not for intervention, as is evident in the following excerpt from a Printed Paper Published at Detroit Entitled The Battle of Windsor (transcript in PAC.R.G.5,B39):, : “After a sharp chase they succeeded in making 7 prisoners, one of whom in attempting to escape after being captured, was fired upon, wounded and retaken. When the prisoners were first brought out of the woods the cry was “Bayonet them” but Martin, one of the Indian braves, replied “no, we are Christians – we will not murder them – we will deliver them to our Officers to be treated as they think proper.” They were then brought to Col. Prince who had now commenced his return to Sandwich. When he arrived opposite the burning barracks, he ordered the wagon in which the prisoners had been placed to be wheeled off the road. As soon as it reached an open spot in the rear of the ruins, he commanded the men to be taken out and shot. At this critical moment, Charles Elliott and Robert Esqs and the Rev. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Samuel James rushed forward and entreated Col. Prince not to commit murder by shooting the prisoners, but begged him to leave them to the laws of the country. Making this appeal, Mr. James made use of the emphatic language – “For God’s sake do not let a white man murder what an Indian has spared.” Col. Prince yielded to the entreaties of the gentlemen remarking to Mr. Elliot that he would hold him responsible for his interference, as his (Col. Prince’s) orders were to destroy them all. , [from the book by R. Alan Douglas: John Prince 1795-1870]

In his diary for December 4, 1838, Col. John Prince wrote:

   “A cold day. Awoke at 6 am by an alarm gun at Sandwich. Rose & saw a fire at Windsor. Proceeded there with the militia & found it in possession of Brigands & Pirates. We attacked them & killed 27 & took about 20 prisoners. I ordered the first 5 taken to be shot. We lost 4 men, & poor Dr. Hume Asst. Staff Surgeon who was cruelly Murdered by them!”

   Indeed, Col. Prince ordered every prisoner he encountered to be shot on the spot that day. There was much controversy over this but no action was ever taken against him. Some even attributed the end of rebel activities (& the Patriot Wars) to Prince’s cold blooded summary execution of prisoners. There would have been no prisoners taken if it were not for intervention, as is evident in the following excerpt from a Printed Paper Published at Detroit Entitled The Battle of Windsor (transcript in PAC.R.G.5,B39):

  : “After a sharp chase they succeeded in making 7 prisoners, one of whom in attempting to escape after being captured, was fired upon, wounded and retaken. When the prisoners were first brought out of the woods the cry was “Bayonet them” but Martin, one of the Indian braves, replied “no, we are Christians – we will not murder them – we will deliver them to our Officers to be treated

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as they think proper.” They were then brought to Col. Prince who had now commenced his return to Sandwich. When he arrived opposite the burning barracks, he ordered the wagon in which the prisoners had been placed to be wheeled off the road. As soon as it reached an open spot in the rear of the ruins, he commanded the men to be taken out and shot. At this critical moment, Charles Elliott and Robert Esqs and the Rev. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Samuel James rushed forward and entreated Col. Prince not to commit murder by shooting the prisoners, but begged him to leave them to the laws of the country. Making this appeal, Mr. James made use of the emphatic language – “For God’s sake do not let a white man murder what an Indian has spared.” Col. Prince yielded to the entreaties of the gentlemen remarking to Mr. Elliot that he would hold him responsible for his interference, as his (Col. Prince’s) orders were to destroy them all.
[from the book by R. Alan Douglas: John Prince 1795-1870]

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical date for this entry is December 4, 1838.

Location. 42° 18.12′ N, 83° 4.521′ W. Marker is in Windsor, Ontario, in Essex County. It is at the intersection of Mill Street and Sandwich Street, on the right when traveling west on Mill Street. Marker and mural are on the wall of a building

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 9, 2025

2. The Battle of Windsor Marker

at the northeast corner of Mill Street and Sandwich Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Windsor ON N9C 1A9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Movement of Indigenous Trade (within shouting distance of this marker); The Founding of Sandwich (within shouting distance of this marker); The Story of the Anchor (The James Norris) (within shouting distance of this marker); Indigenous Movement of People (within shouting distance of this marker); Fur Trade & European Settlement (within shouting distance of this marker); Sandwich and the Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mansion on the Detroit River Frontier (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Lake Erie (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Windsor.

More about this marker. The marker appears next to a mural of the battle.

The Battle of Windsor Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, July 9, 2025

3. The Battle of Windsor Mural

The mural depicts several men appealing to Col. Prince to spare the lives of some prisoners.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 17, 2025, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.