Plaque at the River Canard |
On July 16, General Hull sent a troop of Americans under the command of Colonel Cass to see how close they could get to
Amherstburg. Two British soldiers, James Hancock and John Dean, defended the bridge over the River Canard. Hancock was killed and Dean taken prisoner. Hancock was the first British casualty of the war. The Americans captured the bridge. Hull refused to give Col. Cass the supplies he demanded and Cass had to withdraw his troops to Sandwich. On July 19 and 20, the Americans tried to advance again. By this time, the British had destroyed the bridge and stationed the warship Queen Charlotte at the mouth of the river. They were able to hold the Americans off. Native warriors ambushed some American soldiers near Turkey Creek on July 25. Six American soldiers were killed. |
(from the Journal of Major John Norton, p. 299)
| Immediately on the declaration of war being notified, the militia assembled as they had done on the Niagara frontier, but when the Americans began to demonstrate their intention of coming across, -- the whole body made room for them by a timely retreat, -- So they landed on the Canadian shores without opposition, -- but their scouts advancing to reconnoitre Amherstburg, were always checked at the River Canard, (three or four miles from that place) - by a small detachment of troops and Indians. |
Skirmish at River Canard |