Raid on Short Hills

The "Raid on Short Hills" was an attack by American and Upper Canadian republicans on the Niagara Peninsula in June, 1838.

On June 11, 1838, James Morrow from Pennsylvania led a raiding party of 26 Hunter Patriots across the Niagara River into Upper Canada. Morrow was aided by Samuel Chandler, a wagon maker from the village of St Johns in Thorold Township, Upper Canada. The party soon reached Pelham Township where they camped in the woods. Their intention was to get the locals to rise up in rebellion against what they considered repressive colonial government.

The night of June 21/22 the Patriots, in three groups, attacked a detachment of Queen's Lancers lodged at John Osterhout's tavern in St Johns. After a brief fire fight, the raiders attempted to set fire to the building - persuading the Lancers to surrender. They were released after a forced march of 3 kilometers toward the rebel encampment.

Realizing the situation they were in, and fearing capture, the raiders then fled westward, discarding their arms along the way.

At dawn, the Lincoln Militia Dragoons, Queen's Lancers, and Natives from the Grand River were deployed to hunt down the Patriots. In short order, 31 Patriots were captured, bringing an end to the invasion. The leaders were gaoled at Niagara, and the rest at Drummondville (Niagara Falls, Ontario). Among the Patriots arrested were Chandler and Morrow. Chandler was tried and sentenced to banishment to Tasmania for life, while Morrow was executed on July 30 at the court house/gaol in Niagara.

James Morrow's grave is in the Catholic cemetery at present day Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The scene of the action at St Johns is unmarked and nearly forgotten.