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Scarce War of 1812 battle plans showing the 3 decisive days of the Battle of Bridgewater, from Wilkinson's Memoirs of My Own Times, together with Atlas; Diagrams and Plans Illustrative of the Principal Battles and Military Affairs Treated In Memoirs of My Own Times.
The Battle of Bridgewater, also known as the Battle of Lundy's Lane, was fought on July 25, 1814 near Niagara Falls, Ontario, and was one of the bloodiest battles fought on Canadian soil.
The Americans under the command of General Winfield Scott marched out of Chippawa on the Portage Road towards Queenston. After marching for a mile or to near the tavern owned by Mrs. Wilson, they observed British officers leaving the tavern. As the Americans came within pistol range, the last remaining British officer salutes the American Commander and rode off quickly towards Lundy's Lane.
General Scott obtained information from he Widow concerning the size of the British force and then sends word back to the American camp at Chippawa that he is going to engage the British forces at Lundy's Lane. Scott moved his troops into position without first checking to see the actual size of the British force. He soon realizes that the British force in front of him is larger than he was told. Despite being outnumbered, he proceeds to fight.
When General Riall learned that a large force of American troops were headed his way he gave orders to abandon the British postion on the Hill. His advanced column was headed down the Portage Road towards Queenston when they collided with Major General Drummond's column marching at the double time towards Lundy's Lane. Drummond immediatly ordered Riall back to Lundy's Lane, and both columns hurried to take up their postions on the Hill.
At 6pm on July 25, 1814, General Scott's Force of 1500 attacked the 1700 British troops lead by General Drummond. The Americans began their attack moving directly up the hill against the British position, with his battery of cannons.
The British opened fire with a devastating artillery barrage and held their ground and repulsed the American attack. During this attack General Scott was wounded and he ordered his forces to withdraw and regroup realizing that it was impossible to advance against the British battery of seven brass cannons on the hill.
Meanwhile more British reinforcements arrived.. General Brown who had arrived with American reinforcements to see Scott's Brigade being cut to pieces, ordered Colonel James Miller to capture the British artillery position. Miller advanced with ground troops and sent a force of his horse drawn artillery in advance of his charge. Colonel Miller and his force took advantage of the melay caused by the horse drawn artillery charge, to creep up the hill to within twenty yards of the British, where they charged forward over running the startled British gunners and capturing the guns.
General Phinias Riall was wounded during in this latest action and was being lead through the woods in the rear. The General's aid de camp saw a group of soldiers barely visable in the dusk blocking their way, "Make way for General Riall" he shouted to the shadowy figures. They obliged and when the General and his aids were in their midst their commander called out, "We are Americans and now you are our prisoners."
Darkness had decended over the battle field, the British driven from the hill made repeated attacks up the hill to re-capture the cannons. By eleven o'clock both sides were exausted, General Brown and General Scott had been wounded and British General Riall was wounded and a prisoner. The Americans retreated to their camp at Chippawa taking their wounded with them. The British and Canadians were too exhausted to harass the retreating Americans.
The American troops straggled back to their camp at Chippawa, on the way they destroy the Bridgewater Mills located in what is now known as Dufferin Islands. Arriving back at their Chippawa camp they plunged into the river and drank their fill before falling into their tents. When the Americans returned to pick up their dead, they found the British entrenched along the Portage Road leading to Lundy's Lane. Deciding not to engage, they returned to their camp in Chippawa and the next day retired to Fort Erie, effectively ending the battle.