Short Hills Raid
Encyclopedia
The Short Hills Raid was a raid by the Hunter Patriots on the Niagara Peninsula
from June 21 to June 23, 1838, during the Upper Canada Rebellion
.
On June 10, 1838 in Pelham, Ontario
, James Morreau led a rebel raiding party of 26 Hunter Patriots across the Niagara River
. Morreau was aided by Samuel Chandler and reached St. Johns later that day. Their intention was to get the Iroquois
to rise up in rebellion. The patriots reached Short Hills on June 21, and were joined up with 22 other patriots from newly appointed Commander in Chief Daniel McLeod. The next day they attacked a group of 13 Queen's Lancers
led by Sgt. Robert Bailey, recently sent to Queenston to patrol the Niagara River. The patriots surrounded the house where the Lancers were lodged, and got them to surrender by threatening to burn down the lodge - but on hearing the news of the arrival of the militia sent by Col. Allan MacNab
the patriots fled westward to Hamilton
.
On June 23 MacNab sent out four militia regiments, the 3rd Gore, the Beverly Regiment, the Queen's Own and the Queen's Rangers to intercept the patriots. The militia repelled the attacks successfully, and arrested 31 patriots, bringing an end to the week long raid. Among the patriots arrested where MacLeod, Chandler, and Morreau. MacLeod and Chandler were later tried and sentenced to banishment to Tasmania
for life, and Morreau was executed on July 30 in Niagara.
Niagara Peninsula
The Niagara Peninsula is the portion of Southern Ontario, Canada lying between the south shore of Lake Ontario and the north shore of Lake Erie. It stretches from the Niagara River in the east to Hamilton, Ontario in the west. The population of the peninsula is roughly 1,000,000 people...
from June 21 to June 23, 1838, during the Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
.
On June 10, 1838 in Pelham, Ontario
Pelham, Ontario
The Town of Pelham is located in the centre of Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada.The town's southern boundary is formed by the Welland River, a meandering waterway that flows into the Niagara River. To the west is the township of West Lincoln, to the east the city of Welland, and to the north the...
, James Morreau led a rebel raiding party of 26 Hunter Patriots across the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. Morreau was aided by Samuel Chandler and reached St. Johns later that day. Their intention was to get the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
to rise up in rebellion. The patriots reached Short Hills on June 21, and were joined up with 22 other patriots from newly appointed Commander in Chief Daniel McLeod. The next day they attacked a group of 13 Queen's Lancers
16th The Queen's Lancers
The 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.-History:...
led by Sgt. Robert Bailey, recently sent to Queenston to patrol the Niagara River. The patriots surrounded the house where the Lancers were lodged, and got them to surrender by threatening to burn down the lodge - but on hearing the news of the arrival of the militia sent by Col. Allan MacNab
Allan MacNab
Sir Allan Napier MacNab, 1st Baronet was a Canadian political leader and Premier of the Province of Canada before Canadian Confederation .-Biography:...
the patriots fled westward to Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
.
On June 23 MacNab sent out four militia regiments, the 3rd Gore, the Beverly Regiment, the Queen's Own and the Queen's Rangers to intercept the patriots. The militia repelled the attacks successfully, and arrested 31 patriots, bringing an end to the week long raid. Among the patriots arrested where MacLeod, Chandler, and Morreau. MacLeod and Chandler were later tried and sentenced to banishment to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
for life, and Morreau was executed on July 30 in Niagara.