The Battle of Cook's Mill was the last engagement between U.S. and British/Canadian armies fought on Canadian soil during the War of 1812.

Background

General Gordon Drummond had lifted the siege of Fort Erie on November 5, 1814 and withdrew to a strong defensive position along Chippawa Creek . US General George Izard had marched overland from Plattsburgh, New York to reinforce the Americans at Fort Erie under Jacob Brown. The more aggresive Brown wished to immediately attack Drummond with the combined forces totalling 7,000. Izard, being the superior officer, chose not to risk the casualties of attacking a strong defensive position. Angered at Izard's lack of action, Brown left with half the fort's strenght and returned to Sacketts Harbor, New York. Izard finally decided on a plan to attempt to lure Drummond away from his defensive position.

The Battle

Izard sent a brigade under Brigadier General Daniel Bissell to capture a British supply depot along Lyon's Creek (a branch of Chippawa Creek) at Cook's Mill. Bissell had about 1,200 men under his command. Skirmishing on October 18th led Bissell to believe a sizeable British force was opposing him across the creek. In fact, Drummond had sent about 750 men under Lt. Col. Christopher Myers to protect Cook's Mill. On the morning of the 19th, Myers attacked and drove advance American units back across Lyon's Creek. The British kept up the attack and crossed the creek. Bissell managed to hold off the attack and immediately planned a counterattack. The Americans surged across the creek and Myers retreated in orderly fashion.

Results

The battle showed the effects of Izard's well trained troops. The American forces took Cook's Mill and burned about 200 bushels of wheat intended to feed the British Army. Despite this victory it became apparent that Drummond was not going to move from his defenses and so Izard withdrew back to Fort Erie where he destroyed the fort and returned to the US side. Drummond moved to the remains of Fort Erie but chose not to rebuild it and thus the fighting along the Niagara Frontier came to an end.

Sources

• Heidler, David; Heidler, Jeanne, editors Encyclopedia of the War of 1812
• http://members.tripod.com/~war1812/batcooks.html