Battle of Matilda
Who Fought
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.
History & Significance
The Battle of Matilda, also known as the Battle of Toussaint's Island, was an early skirmish of the War of 1812 fought on September 16, 1812 between American and Canadian militia in the St. Lawrence River near the township of Matilda, in Dundas County.
With the outbreak of the War of 1812 in June, the county militias along the St. Lawrence River began to muster and assemble for active service. Men of the Dundas Militia and Grenville Militia guarded the shoreline from Prescott to the Long Sault rapids, and closely monitored any movement on the New York shore. The militia also assisted supply convoys, providing protection for the boats travelling from Cornwall to Kingston.
The New York militia began to muster and likewise served duty along the banks of the river, and began to plan raids across the river.
On September 16, 1812, soldiers from the 1st Flank Company of the 1st Dundas Regiment under Capt. Michael Ault and Ens. Duncan Clark, as well as soldiers under Maj. Rowland Heathcote from the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, were escorting a shipment of supplies from Montreal to Kingston when they were attacked in the St. Lawrence River near Matilda by 500 American Militia, under the command of Capt. Griffin, who were hiding on Toussaint Island.
A company of the Dundas Militia under Ens. Clark landed on Presqu'ile Island just as an American force landed on the same island and a sharp exchange of fire occurred. The Americans were pinned down by accurate fire from the Dundas men, concealed amongst the bushes and trees, and they were forced to retreat back to Toussaint's Island. During their hasty retreat, one of the American boats drifted away from their force and was captured by the Dundas militia. The boat contained 7 muskets, 2 swords, and a number of necessary provisions.
Soon, drawn to the noise of battle, more Dundas militiamen arrived on Presqu'ile to bolster the Canadian positions in case of a second invasion. Col. Allan MacDonell in command of the Dundas Militia, along with Capt. Shaver and Capt. Ault were joined by two companies of Grenville Militia under Capts. Monroe and Dulmage and Lt. Richard Duncan Fraser who brought along a 9-pounder artillery piece from Prescott that had originally been captured during the Battle of the Thousand Islands. After a few rounds of fire from the cannon and muskets, the Americans abandoned the island and retreated across the St. Lawrence River to the New York side.
Canadian losses were one killed and several wounded, while the Americans suffered considerable losses.
The St. Lawrence front was quiet again until September when the Americans raided Gananoque, and the militia would retaliate in October with the Assault on Ogdensburg.
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Matilda lies on Stratheden Group, bedrock that formed in the Late Devonian. The rock here is sandstone and conglomerate, interbedded.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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