The Burning of St. David's

After the defeat at the Battle of Chippawa, British General Riall orders a withdrawl to Fort George. The Americans under the command of General Jacob Brown follow the British and camp on the heights of Queenston. General Brown would like to attack Fort George but he needs the help of the American navy. From the heights the American commander can see Lake Ontario clearly, he watches for days for signs of the U.S. fleet.

Isaac Chauncey is laid up with a severe fever and will not allow the ships to sail without him. As General Brown waits, reinforcements arrive to bolster the British forces already there. The 89th, 103rd, 104th and Glengarry Regiments. And later units of the York Militia also file into the fort. On July 12th General Riall takes the main force and moves to Twenty Mile Creek leaving Forts Niagara and George well protected with British forces.

Unable to attack the forts some of the American forces begin to go from farm to farm looting and taking cattle. On July 18th 1814 an American militia party under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac W. Stone marches from Queenston to the village of St. David's. The 1st Lincoln Militia was stationed there to protect the village, and soon engage the Americans. Unable to hold the 1st Lincoln Militia fall back. Colonel Stone and his men occupy the village, and soon begin to loot and burn it. Large columns of smoke begin to fill the sky. When William Merritt and his party arrived at St. Davids forty homes and businesses were already ruined from the fire.

General brown was so enraged by the conduct of Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Stone that he officially censured and dismissed him from the service for this cruel action.

CLICK HERE to see the plaque for St. David's.