The Battle of Windsor Historical Marker in front of Francois Baby House, Hiram Walker Historical Museum in Windsor Ontario
“Early on December 4, 1838, a force of about 140 American and Canadian supporters of William Lyon Mackenzie crossed the river from Detroit and landed about one mile east of here. After capturing and burning a nearby militia barracks, they took possession of Windsor. In this vicinity they were met and routed by a force of some 130 militiamen commanded by Colonel John Prince. Four of the invaders taken prisoner were executed summarily by order of Colonel Prince. This action caused violent controversy in both Canada and the United States. The remaining captives were tried and sentenced at London, Upper Canada. Six were executed, eighteen transported to a penal colony in Tasmania and sixteen deported.”
The Battle of Windsor was part of a plot by Patriots in 1837 and 1838 to seize the portion of Ontario between the Detroit and Niagara Rivers and place them under control of the United States of America.
Sources :
Battle of Windsor Wikipedia Entry
The Patriot War by the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.
The patriot war, [electronic resource] by Robert B. Ross. Pub. in Detroit evening news, 1890. Revised by the author for the Michigan pioneer and historical society. Access limited to the MSU community.