Raid on Gananoque
Encyclopedia
Text from Gananoque Plaque: "On September 21, 1812, during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
force of some 200 regulars
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
and militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
under Captain Benjamin Forsyth
Benjamin Forsyth
Benjamin Forsyth was an American officer of Rifle troops in the War of 1812 between Britain and America.Originally from Stokes County, North Carolina, he obtained a lieutenancy in the U.S. 1st Rifle Regiment when it was formed in 1808...
attacked Gananoque, Ontario
Gananoque, Ontario
Gananoque is a town in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario, Canada. The town had a population of 5,287 year-round residents in the Canada 2006 Census, as well as summer residents sometimes referred to as "Islanders" because of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River, Gananoque's most...
. The village was an important forwarding point for supplies moving up the St. Lawrence River from Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
to Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and was garrisoned by a detachment of the 2nd Leeds Militia under Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Joel Stone
Joel Stone
Colonel Joel Stone was a United Empire Loyalist, and the founder of Gananoque, Ontario.-Background and early life:Joel Stone was born in Guilford, Connecticut to Stephen Stone and Rebecca Bishop. When he was two, his family moved to the growing town of Litchfield, Connecticut...
. After a spirited resistance, Colonel Stone withdrew his force comprising two subalterns and about forty soldiers, and the Americans seized the stores and burned the government depot. As a result of this raid, a blockhouse
Gananoque Blockhouse
Gananoque Blockhouse was a fortification located near present-day Gananoque, Ontario. Within a month of the Raid on Gananoque construction of a blockhouse was begun, with completion in 1813. It had an octagonal log parapet containing five guns...
was begun in Gananoque the following month and completed in 1813."
The actual number of American riflemen was closer to 100. British and Canadian sources indicate that there were around 60 militia defending the outpost. Colonel Stone was absent at the time of the attack.