Plaque commémorative de la Bataille de l’île Pelée

THE BATTLE OF PELEE ISLAND 1838

On February 26, 1838, a group of over 300 American supporters
of William Lyon Mackenzie's rebellion, led by "Major" Lester
Hoadley, captured this island. In response, Colonel John Maitland,
commanding the Western District, dispatched five infantry com-
panies supported by militia and Indians across the ice from
Amherstburg. On March 3, fleeing a southward sweep by the
main force, the Americans were intercepted off-shore from here
by a detachment of 126 men led by Captain George Browne.
Browne's force lost five the enemy's, at least eleven killed, in-
cluding its leader, and eleven taken prisoner. Following closely
the defeat of rebel supporters on Fighting Island (February 25),
this victory marked the second time in one week that a force
invading Canadian territory had been repulsed.

Erected by the Archaeological and Heritage Sites Board
Minisry of Colleges and University