Welcome to Route 1812 ~ Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor War of 1812-1814

Ontario Visited is pleased to welcome Pathways to Peace ~ Western Corridor 1812-1814 to our Article Section of Ontario Visited ~ War of 1812 Website. We thought we would start by introducing the Western Corridor 1812-1814 Projects. We welcome you to visit their website at www.westerncorridor1812.com for all details and current information.

Long Point Trail
Includes the communities of Mount Pleasant, Waterford, Simcoe, Vittoria and Turkey Point

This trail travels through Norfolk County as it goes south from Brantford to Port Dover, then over to Vittoria and Turkey Point.  It passes through farms originally owned by Nichol, Ryerse, Culver, McQueen, Rapelje, Drake, Meade, Williams, Bostwick, Finch, Montross and Harrington.

On August 7^th, 1812, Major-General Sir Isaac Brock stopped at Culver's Tavern, and gave a stirring speech to enlist the aid of Norfolk residents; 179 agreed to join the militia and accompany him to Amherstburg for the Battle of Detroit.  He spent the night with Robert Nichol, Quarter-Master General in Dover Mills (Port Dover).  The next day Brock, with his Regulars, York, Lincoln and Norfolk Militias and Six Nations Warriors, departed from Dover and sailed to Amherstburg in an odd assortment of fishermen's boats.

In May 1814, an American force under Colonel John B. Campbell sailed across Lake Erie with orders to only burn mills.  They burned all the flour and fulling (cloth) mills, except the Backhouse and Tisdale's mills.  However, Campbell did not stop there; and had his men also burn all the distilleries and homes, except for one in Dover Mills.  They then proceeded to butcher the animals, taking the choice cuts to their ships and leaving the carcasses to rot.  The Backhouse mill is now an interpetive site as part of the Bacus Heritage Conservation Area.

In November 1814, during his raid into the Grand River area, Brigadier-General Duncan McArthur learned that militia were gathering at Malcolm’s Mills (Oakland).  Thwarted in his attempt to reach Burlington Heights by crossing the Grand River at Brant’s Ford, McArthur turned south to engage the British.  Passing the settlement of Mount Pleasant on the way, McArthur looted valuables and food supplies and burned Perrin’s Mill, the store and homes of several militiamen.  At Malcolm’s Mills, the militia were greatly outnumbered and Lt-Col Henry Bostwick could not prevent the burning of the mill.   McArthur continued south to Waterford to burn mills owned by Avery and Sovereign. There is so much to see and do, plan to visit again. Join us with Ontario Visited’s next Blog issue as Route 1812 Journey continues…