BATTLE
OF THE WINDMILL
A
stone mill building, now a National Historic Site, 3 kilometres east
of Prescott, along the St. Lawrence River
Almost
a year after the defeat of the 1837 Rebellion in Upper Canada, in
November 1838 this was the site of an attack mounted by rebels who
had fled to the United States and sympathetic Americans. The
original plan was a three-pronged attack on Prescott, taking the town
and then capturing Fort Wellington. The rebel forces actually landed
at Windmill Point, about a mile and a half below Prescott. There they
took possession of a stone mill and together with local Canadians
kept up a spirited defence until overwhelmed. James Philips was
killed in this battle. The actual stone windmill is still on the
site, which is operated by the Friends of Windmill Point, in
co-operation with Parks Canada.