Battle of Cook's Mills - Oct. 19th 1814

, The Battle of Cook's Mills , On September 27, 1814, U.S. Major-General George Izard's First Division arrived on the Niagara Frontier from Sackets Harbor. On October 18, after becoming frustrated at finding British Lieutenant Major-General Gordon Drummond's army strongly entrenched behind their defences at Chippewa, he dispatched Brigadier-General Daniel Bissell's brigade from their Black Creek encampment to Cook's Mills. About 900 strong, this force was comprised of four infantry regiments; the 5th, 14th, 15th and 16th, supported by a company of the 4th Rifles, and a squadron of light dragoons. His mission was to reconnoitre the British right flank and to seize or destroy provisions thought to be stored there. , On October 19, Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Myers, commanding a British force of about 750 men composed of the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles, the 82nd Regiment, the 100th Regiment, and supported by flank companies of the 104th Regiment, a rocket detachment and a Royal Artillery cannon, approached Cook's Mills. His instructions were to determine the purpose and direction of the invading force. , The battle began when advanced troops engaged in a bitter hand-to-hand fight in a wooded ravine leading into Lyon's Creek east of the present day cairn. The American defenders were at first forced back but with reinforcements, were able to push the British back out of the ravine. The U.S. troops, not venturing beyond the edge of the woods, opened a heavy musket fire from a distance while the British responded with their rockets and cannon. Bissell's men then attempted to out-flank Myers, convincing him to break contact and withdraw back to Chippewa. , Rather than pursue, the Americans continued to occupy Cook's Mills, buried the dead and destroyed a quantity of grain found at the mill. Leaving Cook's Mills on October 20, 1814, they fell back to Frenchman's Creek, having fought the last battle between regular forces in Canada. , On November 5, 1814, Fort Erie was destroyed and the last American troops evacuated Canada, which ended the gruelling 1814 Niagara campaign. On December 24,1814, the War of 18 12 ended with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent ensuring the USA would never again have designs on Canada. In 2014, the United States and Canada celebrate two centuries of peace. , 1. About 8 a.m., in a wooded ravine running into Lyon's Creek, the Glengarry Light Infantry engaged the Americans in battle. Their commander, Colonel Battersby, divided his troops into two parties. The first advanced toward the enemy at the head of the ravine; the second flanked them on the right, forcing the American troops back. , 2. The light troops of the U.S. 5th Infantry and the 4th Rifles sustained the attack while reinforcements were hurried over a temporary bridge crossing the creek. As the American line gained strength, Captain Leonard's company of the 104th New Brunswick Regiment were sent to assist the Glengarries. , 3. Supported by about four hundred fresh troops including U.S. Major Bernard's 14th Regiment, the British retreated a short distance out of the ravine. They formed behind a rail fence and were the light companies of the 82nd Regiment reinforced them. , 4. Bernard's U.S. troops attempted to charge and capture the British cannon, but were stopped by a timely rocket volley. Then began a heavy musket fire from their position at the edge of the woods fronting the ravine, about 500 yards from the British line. , 5. The remainder of U.S. Colonel Pinckney's 5th Infantry Regiment was ordered to skirt the woods north of the field and strike the British right flank. This move was noticed by Colonel Myers who ordered a tactical retreat about 10 a.m. ,