In 1838, seeing political unrest in Canada as an opportunity, American extremist groups invaded at several places, thinking Canadians would arise and join them to "throw off the British yoke." One of the most ambitious expeditions was the attack in November 1838 when hundreds of members of a secret organization, the Patriot Hunters, sailed down the St. Lawrence River and landed near Prescott, Ontario, where they occupied a stone windmill.It took five days of bloody fighting by British regulars and Canadian militia to defeat the invasion and capture the invaders. The prisoners were taken to Fort Henry in Kingston and tried, resulting in 11 executions and 40 deportations to Australian penal colonies. The Windmill stands today as a national historic site.The book is well illustrated with about 100 maps, archival pictures and original artwork by renowned marine artist Peter Rindlisbacher.
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About the Author
Donald E. Graves is an internationally renowned military historian who has been described as the "master of the battlefield narrative." Among his best known books is Where Right and Glory Lead: The Battle of Lundy's Lane, 1814, which one reviewer called "an exercise in military history at its best." See also other Donald E. Graves titles distributed by Midpoint.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Battle of Windmill Point revealed.,
By
This review is from: Guns Across the River: The Battle of the Windmill, 1838 (Paperback)
I have studied the Battle of Windmill Point, the central subject of "Guns Across the River", for twenty-five years. I have visited the major landmarks in the event, the windmill, Fort Wellington and Fort Henry in Ontario and Ogdensburg, N.Y. and I have lectured on the incident. I have sifted through several archives in libraries and historical societies and I have found that while Donald E. Graves book has a definite Canadian slant that U.S. readers may find slightly disorienting (Americans are not the heroes in this book) the book engagingly recounts a forgotten 1837 instance of American terrorism visited upon Canadians. While I may quibble with the omission of some details, overall, the events are compellingly told and Graves skillfully integrates their significance into the larger picture.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Alamo of the North?,
By Daisy C. Kiley (Jacksonville, North Carolina) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Guns Across the River: The Battle of the Windmill, 1838 (Paperback)
The border between the United States and Canada is the longest unfortified and unguarded border between two sovereign nations in the world. The relations between the two countries is friendly and the countries are solid allies and trading partners. To travel to and in Canada is a joy and very rewarding (being referred to as 'English' in Quebec province is somewhat unsettling, though). It wasn't always so.American armies have invaded Canada twice-in the War of the Revolution and the War of 1812, both times for territory and loot, and have met defeat twice in the strategic aims of the invansions. Canandians defended themselves with skill and valor, though most of the credit usually went to the British regular forces which, especially in the War of 1812, robbed Canadian units of the credit due them. There was a small, completely unprovoked third 'invasion' of Canada in November 1838 when a small number of American 'liberators' (read terrorists) crossed the Canadian frontier to help 'free' Canada 'from the British yoke.' This relatively unknown incident is stirringly retold by Canadian historian Don Graves in this excellent volume which should be read by all interested in the history of the North American continent and hopefully will spark an interest in Canadian military history, which has been largely ignored by most historians. It is a rich history of devotion, valor, and selflessness by a people small in number but who have proven themselves the equal to all, and the superior to many, on the battlefields of the British Commonwealth and Empire. The author is an excellent storyteller, and his research is flawless and thorough. An authority on the Niagara frontier of the War of 1812, his books are a must for all military history buffs and enthusiasts. He has earned a reputation as the master historian of the small battle, and he certainly demonstrates that in this book. In the late 1830s, Canada was undergoing tething troubles politically, undoubtedly searching for a national identity within the constraints of British suzerainty. Agressive Americans intent on expansion again thought they could take advantage of this state of affairs and gain some of Canada for the US under the guise of 'freeing' the Canadians. What did happen was a violent incursion onto Canadian territory along the St. Lawrence, the seizure and 'siege' of a windmill along the waterway, and a bloody end to the problem, Canadians and British rallying to drive out the invaders. Royal Navy units were used in the river to bombard the American's position, even engaging in a battle in the river with a steamer the Americans had hijacked. Royal Marines, British Regulars, and Canadian militia turned out to counter the American 'adventurers, to face a foe better armed than they, and also equipped with artillery. The fighting was intense, sometimes desperate, but the invaders were defeated, and the prisoners taken were subjected to 'Her Majesty's Justice', being confined in the citadel of Fort Henry at Kingston before the final, inevitable disposition of their crimes. There are detailed appendices in the volume which give lists of those individuals and units that participated in the fighting. The book is also well-illustrated and thoroughly documented. It is a pleasure to read and study and is highly recommended. Although it is from an 'unfashionable' period of military history, it also gives an interesting and uncommon perspective of the American concept of 'Manifest Destiny.' It might also prompt the more thoughtful into a reappraisal of the Texas movement for independence and the other Alamo.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Excellent Title by Mr. Graves,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Guns Across the River: The Battle of the Windmill, 1838 (Paperback)
Having read several of Mr. Graves's War of 1812 titles, I was quite intrigued about this particular and peculiar subject when I stumbled upon it during an internet search. Placing an order here on Amazon for the book, I was not disappointed in any way when it arrived at my door. Mr Graves has an eye for detail while weaving a good story that holds the reader's attention. I literally finished this book in one (albeit long) sitting.
Not only are the major personalties discussed, but the rank and file have their place as well. Tactics, uniforms, and weapons are covered but in such a way that the layman can understand. Both the Patriot Hunters and the British/Canadian forces are given their due during the course of the battle. This is a book that no Canadian should dismiss, nor those of us who are wanna be Canucks!
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