Raid on Short Hills

The "Raid on Short Hills" was an incursion and attack by the Hunter Patriots on the Niagara Peninsula from June 21 to June 23, 1838, during the Upper Canada Rebellion.

Raid on Short Hills
Part of the Upper Canada Rebellion
DateJune 21, 1838 - June 23, 1838
Location
Pelham Township, Thorold Township
Result Rebel Victory
Belligerents
Hunters' Lodges Upper Canada
Commanders and leaders
Samuel Chandler
Daniel McLeod
James Morreau		 Robert Bailey
Allan MacNab
Strength
48 Hunter Patriots 13 Queen's Lancers
4 Canadian Militia regiments
Casualties and losses
31 captured, 2 wounded 13 Lancers were captured but later released
1 lancer wounded

On June 11, 1838, 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 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, militia volunteers, 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.

James Morreau's grave is in the Catholic cemetery at present day Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The scene of the action at St Johns is, at present, unmarked.

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