Battle of

River Canard River Canard is a hamlet of roughly 500 people in the northern part of Amherstburg, Ontario and the southern part of Lasalle, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Canard River and is approximately 12 miles south of Windsor, Ontario. It is home to ...

( French ''Bataille de Rivière aux Canards'') was the site of an engagement between British and American forces on July 16, 1812, during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

. Though it is called the "Battle" of River Canard, it should be thought of as a series of skirmishes. The defined Battle of River Canard is the first skirmish that occurred in a series of small fights, and was the first example of armed conflict in Canada resulting from the War of 1812. An American force of 280 men under Colonels Cass and Miller skirmished with a British force under Lieutenant-Colonel T.B. St. George, consisting of the British 41st Regiment,

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

s and Canadian militia, near the bridge. A generalized account of the battle would model after the outcome of the War of 1812, the Battle of Canard technically yielded no winner. American forces drove British soldiers back into a nearby fort, Fort Malden, but the next day Americans abandoned the ground gained. However, a more specific account suggests American victory. Before the battle, American General William HulI ordered Colonel Cass to scout for British troops. Cass encountered British outposts, and quickly maneuvered to flank the British allied forces consisting of members of the 41st Regiment, under the command of Colonel T.B. St. George. Cass's quick flank proved successful, and forced the British troops to retreat to Fort Malden. Cass's flank also opened a route to British controlled Amherstburg, but aware of the distance between the American main force and the troops that won the battle, General Hull ordered American retreat. During the first skirmish, two British soldiers, James Hancock and John Dean were captured. Hancock would die of his wounds later in the day, becoming the first British casualty of the war. Dean was taken prisoner to Detroit where his left arm was amputated due to wounds. He would be liberated with the capture of

Fort Detroit Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit or Fort Detroit (1701–1796) was a fort established on the north bank of the Detroit River by the French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and the Italian Alphonse de Tonty in 1701. In the 18th century, Fre ...

by the British one month later. Both Hancock and Dean were commended by the presiding administrator, Sir Isaac Brock. By proving a skilled soldier and administrator, Sir Isaac was commonly known as "The Hero of Upper Canada." Sir Isaac died later that year, on October 13, 1812, and is remembered as a war hero. A second skirmish took place at Turkey Creek in present-day LaSalle, where 4 Americans were killed and dismembered by First Nations allied to the British.

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1812 in Lower Canada

July 1812 events

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