Ghosts of 1812 - The Raid on Port Dover Traditional Cache

Part of the "Ghosts of 1812" series.  The cache is a plastic camoed jar with a pad and pen and some small swag.  There's plenty of room for trackables and trades.  Note: this cache is located on a site of historical significance, not related to this series but interesting none the less. Now on to the story...

In 1814, the Americans firmly controlled Western Ontario and the Detroit frontier.  As a result, the American troops that were used to safeguard the shipping plants of Presque Island were no longer required.  Their commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John B. Campbell and Captain Arthur Sinclair who commanded the armed vessels of the United States Navy, devised a scheme to raid the areas around Long Point along the Lake Erie shoreline.  On May 14, 1814, an American army of 800 strong landed in Norfolk County and began a raid on mills that were supplying flour dto the British, Canadian and native troops.  On Campbell's orders, they set fire to all the buildings of Port Dover and Port Ryerse.  This included twenty homes, three flour mills, three sawmills, three distilleries, twelve barns and a few other buildings.   All livestock were shot and left to rot where they fell.  The Americans then left for their ships but returned the next day to burn several mills on the shores of Lake Erie before retreating back to Presque Island. 

After hearing what had happened to Port Dover under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, Captain Sinclair and several other commanders of the militia were enraged by Campbell's actions.  This prompted the United States Army to hold a Court of Inquiry into the affair.  It was determined that Campbell acted appropriately in the destruction of the flour mills but used poor judgement with the burning of the homes.  However, no further disiplinary action was taken. A few short months later, Campbell was mortally wounded at the Battle of Chippawa on July 5th.

Be sure to visit all the caches in this series!  So far, the series includes the following caches...

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Lundy's Lane GC3P22C

Ghosts of 1812 - Decew House GC3NVYK

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Queenston Heights GC3P0M2

Ghosts of 1812 - The Raid on Port Dover GC416XK

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Beaverdams GC3PJP9

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Stoney Creek GC3QAQE

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle for Fort George GC3R61W

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Chippawa GC3QATK

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Cook's Mills GC3WNPX

Ghosts of 1812 - The Battle of Frenchman's Creek GC424AM

Ghosts of 1812 - The Burning of Niagara GC3V685

Ghosts of 1812 - Shirmish at Butler's Farm GC3VHKE

Ghosts of 1812 - The Trek of Laura Secord GC3X4J2