In October 1814, the American force of about 700 mounted riflemen under Brigadier General Duncan McArthur advanced rapidly as they left Detroit and raided the Thames Valley.

The plan was to devastate the Grand River settlements and the region around the head of Lake Ontario which supplied flour to the British forces on the Niagara frontier.

McArthur was delayed for two days in crossing the swollen Thames, but his force subsequently moved so rapidly that they reached the weak British post at Delaware on October 30 before any warning of their approach was received.

Major Adam Muir, the local British commander, ordered the Norfolk Militia to assemble, first at Culver's Tavern in Woodhouse township, then in Burford.

During the night, he learned that the American army under Major General Izard had called off its advance and was retiring across the Niagara River.

[4] Early on November 6, 1814 McArthur's men encountered 550 Canadian militia commanded by Colonels Ryerson and Bostwick at Malcolm's Mills.

The Americans destroyed the local mills and stores of grain, depriving the British and Canadian forces in Canada of their major source of flour.

The Canadian militia suffered 18 dead and 9 wounded, and 126 taken prisoner, the remaining troops escaped in the panic that ensued during the rout.

He was shadowed by over 1,100 of the combined British and Canadian forces, including a troop of the 19th Light Dragoons led by Major Peter Chambers, for a large part of their return to Detroit, but they were never able to get within seven miles of the Americans.