Battle of Cook's Mills

42°59′52″N 79°10′30″W / 42.997895°N 79.174913°W / 42.997895; -79.174913

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Battle of Cook's Mills
Part of the Welland, Ontario
Result	American tactical victory

Belligerents  United Kingdom
 Upper Canada  United StatesCommanders and leaders Christopher Myers George Izard
Daniel BissellStrength 750
1 cannon 1,200Casualties and losses 1 dead,
35 wounded

12 dead,
55 wounded

Official nameBattle of Cook's Mills National Historic Site of CanadaDesignated1921

The Battle of Cook's Mills was the last engagement between U.S. and British armies in the Niagara, and the penultimate engagement (followed by the Battle of Malcolm's Mills) on Canadian soil during the War of 1812. After about a half-hour, American forces out-maneuvered the British column and destroyed all grain and flour.

Background

General

, where a British attack was feared.

Izard finally marched north to Chippawa Creek. The creek was unfordable, and the bridge had been destroyed. During 16 October, his artillery exchanged fire with the British, without effect.

Battle

Attempting to deprive the British of their chief source of flour, Izard sent a brigade of about 1,200 men, consisting of the 5th, 14th, 15th and 16th U.S. Infantry with some detachments of riflemen and U.S. Dragoons under Brigadier General

detachment) under Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Myers to reconnoitre the American force.

On the morning of 19 October, Myers came into contact with the American picket just east of the mills. A half-hour fight ensued, but the Americans could not be lured from the cover of the woods. Observing American soldiers moving through the trees on his right and left, Myers feared his force was being out-manoeuvred. He ordered a retreat, and the Americans promptly pursued his column nearly to their camp at the Lyon's Creek settlement. Returning to Cooks Mills, the Americans destroyed all the grain and flour found in the mill, and the next day they withdrew to their camp at Black Creek.

Aftermath

The battle showed the effects of Izard's well trained troops. Despite this minor victory, it became apparent that Drummond was not going to move from his defences. Izard also heard that British ships dominated

Izard later destroyed Fort Erie and returned to the U.S. side of the river. Drummond moved to the remains of the fort but chose not to rebuild it, and the fighting along the Niagara Frontier came to an end.

The site of the battle was designated a National Historic Site in 1921, and is a unit of the national park system. A federal cairn were erected in 1923, and the current plaque replaced the original on the cairn in 1977.^[2][3] Bicentennial commemorations in 2014 included construction of a visitors’ plaza and the unveiling of interpretive markers.

(1-2 Inf, 2-2 Inf, 1-3 Inf, 2-3 Inf, 4-3 Inf, 1-4 Inf, 2-4 Inf and 3-4 Inf) perpetuate the lineages of a number of American infantry regiments (the old 5th, 14th and 16th Infantry Regiments) that took part in the battle.

Notes

Sources

• Heidler, David; Heidler, Jeanne, editors Encyclopedia of the War of 1812
• War of 1812 site