Battle of Cook's Mills

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=The monument commemorating the battle.
conflict=Battle of Cook's Mills
partof=the War of 1812
date=October 19 1814
place= Cooks Mills, Ontario, within present day Welland, Ontario
result=Strategic British victory, tactical American victory
combatant1=United Kingdom
combatant2=United States
commander1=Christopher Myers
commander2=George Izard Daniel Bissell
strength1=750
1 cannon
strength2=1,200
casualties1=1 dead, 35 wounded
casualties2=12 dead, 55 wounded

The Battle of Cook's Mills was the last engagement between U.S. and British/Canadian armies fought in Niagara, and second-last (to the Battle of Malcolm's Mills) on Canadian soil during the War of 1812.

Background

General Gordon Drummond had lifted the siege of Fort Erie on September 21, 1814, and withdrew to a strong defensive position along Chippawa Creek. U.S. General George Izard had marched overland from Plattsburgh, New York to reinforce the Americans at Fort Erie under Jacob Brown. The more aggressive Brown wished to immediately attack Drummond with the combined forces totaling 7,000. Izard, being the superior officer, chose not to risk the casualties of attacking a strong defensive position. Angered at Izard's lack of action, Brown left with half the fort's strength and returned to Sacketts Harbor, New York. Izard finally decided on a plan to attempt to lure Drummond away from his defensive position.

Battle

Izard sent a brigade under Brigadier General Daniel Bissell to capture a British supply depot along Lyon's Creek (a branch of Chippawa Creek) at Cook's Mills. Bissell had about 1,200 men under his command. Skirmishing on October 18 led Bissell to believe a sizable British force was opposing him across the creek. In fact, Drummond had sent about 750 men under Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Myers to protect Cook's Mills. On the morning of October 19, Myers attacked and drove advance American units back across Lyon's Creek. The British kept up the attack and crossed the creek. Bissell managed to hold off the attack and immediately planned a counterattack. The Americans surged across the creek and Myers retreated in orderly fashion.

Aftermath

The battle showed the effects of Izard's well trained troops. The American forces took Cook's Mills and burned about 200 bushels of wheat intended to feed the British Army. Despite the victory, it became apparent that Drummond was not going to move from his defenses, and so Izard withdrew back to Fort Erie where he destroyed the fort and returned to the U.S. side of the river. Drummond moved to the remains of Fort Erie but chose not to rebuild it, and thus the fighting along the Niagara Frontier came to an end.

ources

*Heidler, David; Heidler, Jeanne, editors "Encyclopedia of the War of 1812"
*http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/batcooks.html