Battle of the Longwoods

Colonel Holmes of the 24th U.S. Infantry was traveling on the Longwoods Road with 160 men when Captain James Basden of the British army attacked them. It was March 4, 1814. The Americans reached Twenty Mile Creek, and hid behind a log barricade on the top of a hillside.

Captain Basden refused to accept the help of the local men of the Kent Militia, who wanted to surround the Americans to force them to surrender. Instead, he led a frontal attack across the river and up the hill. Among the troops were Caldwell's Western District Rangers, who fought alongside of the Native allies. The British were hampered by the snow and ice on the hillside and were unable to shoot at the Americans. The Americans, hidden behind their barricade, were easily able to shoot the British troops.

The British withdrew, but the Americans did not follow them. Instead the Americans returned to Detroit.

Native warriors

See a video: of the reenactment of the Battle of the Longwoods
(See the transcription)

Visit: The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority web site