The Raid on Short Hills (June 21–23, 1838) was an incursion and attack by the

Hunter Patriots The Hunters' Lodge was the last of a series of secret organizations formed in 1838 in the United States during the Rebellions in the Canadas. The organization arose in Vermont among Lower Canadian refugees (the eastern division or Frères chasse ...

on the

Niagara Peninsula The Niagara Peninsula is an area of land lying between the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario and the northeastern shore of Lake Erie, in Ontario, Canada. Technically an isthmus rather than a peninsula, it stretches from the Niagara River in the ...

during the

Upper Canada Rebellion The Upper Canada Rebellion was an insurrection against the oligarchic government of the British colony of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) in December 1837. While public grievances had existed for years, it was the rebellion in Lower Canada (p ...

. On June 11, 1838, Irish American James Morreau led a rebel raiding party of 26 Hunter Patriots across the Niagara River into Upper Canada. Morreau was aided by Samuel Chandler, a wagon maker from the village of St Johns in Thorold Township, Upper Canada. The party soon reached Pelham Township where they camped in the woods. Their intention was to get the locals to rise up in rebellion. The night of June 21/22 the Patriots, in three groups, attacked a detachment of Queen's Lancers lodged at John Osterhout's (Inn and) tavern in St Johns. After a brief fire fight, the raiders attempted to set fire to the building - persuading the Lancers to surrender. Realizing the threat of imminent capture, the Patriots then fled westward towards Hamilton. At dawn, the Lincoln Cavalry, Gore District militia volunteers sent by MC Nab (3rd Gore Regiment, 11th Gore (Township of Beverley) Regiment, Queen's Own Regiment Incorporated Militia and the Queen's Rangers), Queen's Lancers, and Natives from the Grand River were deployed to hunt down the Patriots. In short order, 31 Patriots were captured, bringing an end to the invasion. The leaders were gaoled at Niagara, and the rest at Drummondville (Niagara Falls, Ontario). Among the Patriots arrested were Chandler and Morreau. Chandler was later tried and sentenced to banishment to Tasmania for life, while Morreau was executed on July 30 in Niagara. Chandler escaped back to the United States, settled in Michigan and Iowa where he lived out his life.https://brocku.niagaragreenbelt.com/listings/70-monuments/774-samuel-chandler-monument.html James Morreau's grave is in the Catholic cemetery (Saint Vincent de Paul) at present day

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Niagara Peninsula at the point where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, across the river from New York, United States. Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the Niagara Region of O ...

. The scene of the action at St Johns on Holland Road is unmarked. The Inn has been demolished along with many buildings in St Johns.

References

External links

Chronology of Events of the 1837 rebellions

{{coord, 43.10, N, 79.29, W, display=title 1838 in Canada Short Hills Upper Canada Rebellion Short Hills Short Hills June 1838 events Short Hills