War of 1812: Ambush at Beaver Dams

June 24, 1813 - American troops are ambushed at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Seeking to end raids against newly captured Fort George, Brig. Gen. John Parker Boyd ordered Lt. Col. Charles Boerstler to take around 600 men to assault the British outpost at Beaver Dams. Intended to be a surprise attack, the mission was compromised when Laura Secord overheard American officers talking about the plan during a stop in Queenston, Ontario. Slipping away from the village, she warned the British commander at Beaver Dams, Lt. James Fitzgibbons. Using their Native American allies, the British ambushed Boerstler's column in wooded terrain on June 24. Wounded, Boerstler was unable to turn the tide of the Native American attack. Arriving on the scene, Fitzgibbon met with the American commander and demanded his surrender. Seeing no other option, Boerstler complied and surrendered his men.