[BATTLE OF WINDSOR]. McNAIR, D. A. Autograph letter signed ("D. A. McNair") to Mr. A. Kerly. Detroit (opposite) the Head Quarters of the Patriot Army, 4 December [1838], 12:00pm.

3 1/2 pages, 4to, on a bifolium, addressed on integral leaf, docketed verso, small loss from wax seal opening.

Written the day of Battle of Windsor, D. A. McNair writes to A. Kerly: "Our woods...have been filled with men...they placed securely upon the Canadian shore a large supply of arms and ammunition...we rose the next morning to witness Windsor in flames!...they left the wharf to the stream saw mill about 200 in number in the L.B. Champlain (owned by that stiff old Royalist Julius Eldred). The action commenced at 1/2 past 5 O'Clk this morning. After a fire of about 30 minutes a party of her majesty's troops consisting of militia & regulars...had ensconced themselves in a large yellow building...This building was fired and was burnt to the ground together with five others...no private property was molested...a steam boat lying at the wharf, the Thames, was burnt...the loss of the royalists...17 killed 40 prisoners with arms, the wounded not known...together with 3 wagons of ammunition...the Pats stood their fire but a few moments, retreating to the woods...Col. John Prince is in command of the militia...he ordered six men out of his ranks to shoot down the 3 pat[riot] prisoners."

The Canadian rebel and American raid on Windsor, Ontario, was a direct result of the uprising led by Canadian William Lyon Mackenzie, in an attempt to gain representative government for Canadians.

Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents