{"id":186,"date":"2013-03-19T06:57:53","date_gmt":"2013-03-19T10:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/07\/project1812-the-battle-of-malcolms-mills\/"},"modified":"2024-11-27T11:11:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T16:11:31","slug":"project1812-the-battle-of-malcolms-mills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/19\/project1812-the-battle-of-malcolms-mills\/","title":{"rendered":"Project:1812 &#8211; The Battle of Malcolm&#8217;s Mills"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Thames Valley Raids, which ended with the instead grandly named Battle of Malcolom&#8217;s Mills, were some of the final actions of the Anglo-American War of 1812 in Upper Canada. After the capture of Amherstburg and the American victory at the Battle of Moravintown (Battle of the Thames), the Americans had done little to extend their control beyond the tiny sliver of territory along the Detroit River. Content with maintaining a garrison at Fort Malden and Fort Amherstburg, both sides had settled to a series of raids often conducted by militia or irregular forces. By the summer of 1814, Brigadier-General Duncan McArthur had been itching to get back in the fight, having been assigned to Garrison duty since September 1813. McArthur planned a series of raids across the western reaches, then turned south to threaten Burlington Heights. Forcing Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond to split his attention between Major-General Jacob Brown and Burlington Heights. Eventually, riding to support General Brown in the Niagara region.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/8570543791\/\" title=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.staticflickr.com\/9\/8240\/8570543791_ea84b13b54_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" alt=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>During the War of 1812 the small settlement of Malcolm&#8217;s Mills took it&#8217;s name from the family that started the settlement, today it&#8217;s Oakland, Ontario<br \/>\nNikon FM2 &#8211; AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 &#8211; Kodak Tmax 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Rodinal 1+50 12:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On 26 October 1814, a force of Raiders began their ride across the Thames River Valley, 750 mounted troops from Ohio and Kentucky Militias under the command of Brigadier General Duncan McArthur. McArther&#8217;s force created havoc throughout the region, burning mills, crops, and warehouses. Any attempt at resistance saw the poorly trained and equipped militias forced to run or die. McArther turned his attention to the Grand River, but by this point, the local militia troops supported by irregular British units and Native Allies had learned of his plan. The Grand River had swollen over its banks, and the local population scuttled their boats, forcing McArther to attempt a crossing at Brant&#8217;s Ford (today Brantford, Ontario). When McAurther arrived, he found that the heights on the opposite side of the river were occupied by a large force of British troops and made a turn back towards Fort Malden at Amherstburg. It was exactly what the British had hoped would happen.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/8570544079\/\" title=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.staticflickr.com\/9\/8389\/8570544079_f2cc5162e0_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" alt=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>The historic plaque in the town&#8217;s centre tells of the action.<br \/>\nNikon FM2 &#8211; AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 &#8211; Kodak Tmax 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Rodinal 1+50 12:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Members of the Oxford, Norfolk, and Middlesex militias supported by Native troops had gathered at the village of Malcolm&#8217;s Mills while only 150 troops, they hoped that surprise would be on their side. Unfortunately, McArthur learned of their ambush and decided that rather than go around the small force, he would attack it and hope that the lesson would prevent any further attempts at resistance. On 6 November 1814, McArthur rode into town to face the ragged line of militia troops positioned to defend the main grist mill in the town, around where Vivian\u2019s pond is today, the fight did not last long. The American General had split his forces and while he rode down the main line, his second detachment quickly outflanked the British line. The fight was over before it even began. The British would suffer 18 dead and nine wounded, to the one dead and eight wounded on the American side. The militia who ran were quickly rounded up and forced to watch as the Americans destroyed the town&#8217;s mills, warehouses, and crops.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/54150555996\/\" title=\"Frugal Film Project - November &#x27;24 - Living History\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/54150555996_7ac667356a_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"677\" alt=\"Frugal Film Project - November &#x27;24 - Living History\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>Westbrook House \u2013 Completed in 1810 by Haggai Westbrook in Brant County, it witnessed the Battle of Malcolm\u2019s Mills in 1814 &#8211; The home can be found at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton, Ontario.<br \/>\nCanon EOS 3000 \u2013 Canon Lens EF 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 II \u2013 Arista EDU.Ultra 200 @ ASA-200 \u2013 Diafine (Stock) 4:00 + 4:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But the word of the events of Malcolm&#8217;s Mills got out, and as McArthur rode further south before turning back west for Detroit, he soon faced a hostile population. And while he was able to do damage still, he was forced to flee with an army of angry civilians at his back riding back across the river 17 November 1814. The damage to the local economy would cripple the area for several years after war&#8217;s end, with five mills reduced to ruins not to mention the cost of human life and barns, warehouses, and crops.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/axle81401\/8571639488\/\" title=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.staticflickr.com\/9\/8251\/8571639488_8a86414116_b.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" alt=\"Project:1812 - The Battle of Malcolm&#x27;s Mills\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>There is little left of the battle site today as it&#8217;s mostly parkland, you can see evidence of the mill at the outflow of Viviane&#8217;s Pond.<br \/>\nNikon FM2 &#8211; AI-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8 &#8211; Kodak Tmax 100 @ ASA-100 &#8211; Rodinal 1+50 12:00 @ 20C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Today much of the battlefield is Lion&#8217;s Park in Oakland, Ontario. Malcolm&#8217;s Grist Mill would be rebuilt after the war as Vivian\u2019s Mill; it remanded in operation until the 1970s when it was dismantled and stored with hopes of being rebuilt although it&#8217;s current status is unknown. The battle took place near Viviane&#8217;s Pond, and some of the old mill infrastructures can still be seen at the pond&#8217;s outflow at the end of Malcolm Street and McKenzine Lane although this appears to be private property. The town has a plaque in the old UEL Cemetary at the center of town.<\/p>\n<p>Written with files from:<br \/>\nGuidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812 Second Edition by Gilbert Collins \u2013 2006 The Dundurn Group Publishers<br \/>\nLossing, Benson John. The Pictorial Field-book of the War of 1812. Gretna, LA: Pelican Pub., 2003. Print.<br \/>\nHickey, Donald R. The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict. Urbana: U of Illinois, 1989. Print.<br \/>\nBerton, Pierre. Flames across the Border, 1813-1814. Markham, Ont.: Penguin, 1988. Print.<br \/>\nWeb: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.discoverbrantford.com\/war_of_1812\/local_connection\/Pages\/MacarthursRaid.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.discoverbrantford.com\/war_of_1812\/local_connection\/Pages\/MacarthursRaid.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Thames Valley Raids, which ended with the instead grandly named Battle of Malcolom&#8217;s Mills, were some of the final actions of the Anglo-American War of 1812 in Upper Canada. After the capture of Amherstburg and the American victory at the Battle of Moravintown (Battle of the Thames), the Americans had done little to extend their control beyond the tiny sliver of territory along the Detroit River. Content with maintaining a garrison at Fort Malden and Fort Amherstburg, both sides had settled to a series of raids often conducted by militia or irregular forces. By the summer of 1814, Brigadier-General Duncan McArthur had been itching<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/2013\/03\/19\/project1812-the-battle-of-malcolms-mills\/\"><span>Read More &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[444,1436,22,107,665,32,1541,451,1540,29,706,106],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7291,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186\/revisions\/7291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.alexluyckx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}