| Izzard learned of
a large store of British Army grain at Cook’s Mill on Lyon’s Creek, a tributary
of the Chippewa. The 4th was part of Brigadier General Thomas Smith’s Brigade and was
held in reserve as BG Daniel Bissell’s Brigade advanced on the mill. The 4th was
joined in their Brigade by the 17th, 10th and 12th Rt. Bissell’s Brigade of 900 men
consisted of the 5th, 14th, 15th and 16th Rt. Poor roads forced Bissell to leave his
artillery behind but on the 18th his riflemen drove off a detachment of Glengarry Light
Fencible Infantry. The next morning a force of about 800 British under LtCol Myers
returned to recapture the mill. US outposts resisted the advance giving Bissell time to
deploy. Holding the 15th and 16th in reserve Bissell ordered the 14th and 5th to attack
into the face of cannon and rocket fire. The 250 men of the 14th charged the enemy front
while the 200 of the 5th flanked the British force causing them to retire. Bissell burned
200 bushels of grain putting a strain on the already stressed British supply situation.
This was the last engagement between Regular on Canadian soil during the war. It is
impressive in that Bissell’s opposition was the 82nd Foot who had fought under
Wellington in Spain from 1808 through 1813 removing the French completely from that
country. Drummond still refused to move out. With the British now back in control of the
Lake Izzard feared enemy reinforcements and the Division tired to winter quarters in
Buffalo in late October blowing up Fort Erie before they left. The War ended on Christmas
Eve 1814. |
