Light Dragoons in Defence of Dover Mills
Lieutenant Campbell, an American, attempted an amphibious landing with 700 men from Norfolk County near Dover. The exact location has now been lost to history. Here they were meet by a small contingent of Dragoons from the XIX Light. The Dragoons and Americans exchanged a few volleys of shots before the Dragoons retired from the field to warn the local Militia.
The Americans secured their beach head. Once the immediate area was secure they made camp overnight at the landing site. The next day the American troops proceeded into the town of Dover. Burning down the mills and private homes of the towns people. The Americans slaughtered the livestock and upon finishing their heinous task returned to the landing site.
The next day they set to sail and landed in Port Ryerse. Here they meet with resistance again. The Americans turned the Boats cannons on the British who then left rather than contest the matter further. The Americans landed unmolested and proceeded to the Village. They Burnt the entire town down save for that of Mrs. Ryerse homestead which they left untouched. The Americans then re-embarked and sailed away
The Hamlet of Dover never recovered. It became a ghost town until after the war. In 1830 a population finally started to begin to repopulate the area. The war had taken its toll on this small area of Upper Canada.
