The Battle of Matilda, also known as the Battle of Toussaint's Island, was an early skirmish of the War of 1812 fought on 16 September 1812 along the St. Lawrence River near the township of Matilda in Dundas County. With the outbreak of war in June 1812, the county militias along the St. Lawrence had mustered for active service, with men of the Dundas Militia and Grenville Militia guarding the shoreline from Prescott to the Long Sault rapids and providing protection for supply convoys travelling between Cornwall and Kingston. The New York militia had likewise assembled along the river and begun planning raids across it.
Soldiers from the 1st Flank Company of the 1st Dundas Regiment under Captain Michael Ault and Ensign Duncan Clark, together with soldiers under Major Rowland Heathcote of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, were escorting a supply shipment from Montreal to Kingston when they were attacked by approximately 500 American militia under Captain Griffin, who had concealed themselves on Toussaint Island. A company of the Dundas Militia under Ensign Clark landed on Presqu'ile Island, only to find an American force landing simultaneously; a sharp exchange of fire ensued. The Dundas men, concealed amongst the bushes and trees, pinned down the Americans with accurate fire and forced them to retreat back to Toussaint's Island. During the hasty American withdrawal, one of their boats drifted away and was captured by the Dundas militia, containing seven muskets, two swords, and a quantity of provisions.
Drawn by the noise of battle, additional Dundas militiamen arrived on Presqu'ile to reinforce the Canadian positions. Colonel Allan MacDonell, commanding the Dundas Militia, was joined by Captain Shaver and Captain Ault, along with two companies of Grenville Militia under Captains Monroe and Dulmage. Lieutenant Richard Duncan Fraser brought a 9-pounder artillery piece from Prescott, a gun that had originally been captured at the Battle of the Thousand Islands. After a few rounds from the cannon and muskets, the Americans abandoned the island and retreated across the St. Lawrence to the New York shore. Canadian losses amounted to one man killed and several wounded, while the Americans were reported to have suffered considerable losses.
During the engagement on Presqu'ile Island, the Dundas militia, concealed amongst the bushes and trees, pinned the numerically superior American force down with accurate fire, forcing them into a hasty retreat to Toussaint's Island; in the confusion one American boat drifted away from their force and was captured, found to contain seven muskets, two swords, and a number of provisions. The arrival of Lieutenant Richard Duncan Fraser with a 9-pounder artillery piece, originally taken at the Battle of the Thousand Islands, proved decisive, and after a few rounds of cannon and musket fire the Americans abandoned their position entirely and withdrew across the St. Lawrence to New York.
Canadian: one killed, several wounded. American: described as considerable losses.
British/Canadian: 1st Dundas Regiment (1st Flank Company under Capt. Michael Ault and Ens. Duncan Clark; sedentary companies under Capts. Adam Shaver and John Munro), 1st and 2nd Grenville Militia flank companies (Capts. Hugh Monroe and Philip Dulmadge, Lt. Richard D. Fraser), Royal Newfoundland Fencibles detachment under Maj. Rowland Heathcote, plus a 9-pounder artillery piece. American: approximately 500 New York Militia under Capt. Griffin, supported by a gun boat.
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