Battle of Beaver Dams

Battle of Beaver Dams
Part of the War of 1812
Laura Secord warns James FitzGibbon.
Date 24 June 1813 Location Thorold, Ontario 43°07′03.3″N 79°11′07.4″W / 43.117583°N 79.185389°W / 43.117583; -79.185389 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom First Nations	United States
Commanders and leaders
James FitzGibbon	Charles G. Boerstler (WIA)
Strength
400 Indigenous Warriors, 50 regulars	600+ regulars[1]
Casualties and losses
5–15 killed 20–25 wounded[2][3]	25 killed 50 wounded prisoners 462 captured[4][5]
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Battle of Beaver Dams National Historic Siteamericans
Designated	1921

The Battle of Beaver Dams took place on 24 June 1813, during the War of 1812. A column of troops from the United States Army marched from Fort George and attempted to surprise a British outpost at Beaver Dams, billeting themselves overnight in the village of Queenston, Ontario. Laura Secord, a resident of Queenston, had earlier learned of the American plans from several Americans billeted at her house and had struck out on a long and difficult trek to warn the British at Decou's stone house near present-day Brock University. When the Americans resumed their march, they were ambushed by Kahnawake and other native warriors and eventually surrendered to a small British detachment led by Lieutenant James FitzGibbon. About 500 U.S. troops, including their wounded commander, were taken prisoner.