The military history of Dundas County dates back to the early settlement days, when Loyalist veterans of the American Revolution were granted plots of land in Upper Canada and raised a local militia.

The first Loyalist settlers landed in Dundas on the banks of the St Lawrence River in June 1784 and almost immediately raised a local militia force.

[2] The Spanish Armament of 1793 caused fear throughout the British colonies, and many militias were raised in the Canadas in case of the outbreak of war.

By 1803, the regiment had grown in size, and a report from that year lists the following officers: The 1808 report, resulting from the war tensions due to the Chesapeake–Leopard affair, gives the following statistics of the regiment: 1 Lt-Colonel, 1 Major, 4 Captains, 5 Lieutenants, 6 Ensigns, 1 Adjutant, 1 Quartermaster, 1 Surgeon, 14 Sergeants and 238 rank and file.

Duncan Clark, as well as the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, were escorting a shipment of supplies from Montreal to Kingston when they were attacked near Matilda by 500 American Militia who were hiding on Toussaint Island.

The Americans were driven back and retreated to Toussaint's Island, and soon more Dundas men arrived on Presqu'ile in case of a second invasion.

Ault were joined by Grenville Militia and a 9-pounder artillery piece from Prescott that had originally been captured during the Battle of the Thousand Islands.

[3] In early 1813, Thomas Fraser took command of the Dundas Militia from Col. Macdonell, who retired due to old age, having first seen battle at Culloden.

Ault's Flank Company of the 1st Dundas Regiment, was on duty on the shoreline and under orders to raise the alarm upon any American movements.

Seeing the mass of boats moving down the river, Lieutenant Clark commandeered a sturdy plough horse from a nearby farm and rode the length of the front from Elizabethtown to Prescott alerting the local militia and civilians with the cry "The enemy is at hand!".

On November 7, a piquet of Dundas Militia at Point Iroquois discovered the American forces moving up the St Lawrence, and Ptes.

As more Dundas Militiamen were brought up to the point, 1,200 American soldiers under Alexander Macomb, Winfield Scott, and Benjamin Forsyth landed on the shore and began to engage the outnumbered militia.

Instructions were given to those in charge of the boats to drop down the river as far as Hoople's Creek, while the handful of Glengarry and Dundas Militia, already worn out with fatigue, started eastward to meet the foe.

John Crysler was now in command of the Dundas Militia and, with Major Henry Merkley, led the regiment bravely at the battle, where they served as stretcher bearers, skirmishers, and helped supply ammunition.

Salmon River Raid – In February 1814, the American forces near French Mills began leaving their supply depots and garrisons for Plattsburgh and Sackett's Harbor.

From September 1812 until the end of the war, the 1st Dundas Regiment was engaged in building and garrisoning earthworks and blockhouses along the St. Lawrence River.

[8] When the Crysler's Farm Monument was unveiled on September 25, 1895, the Morrisburg High School Cadets carried a flag that had been borne by the 2nd Dundas Regiment (Battalion) at the Battle of the Windmill.

31, 1847, John Parlow - Sep. 25, 1850 Lieutenants David Coons, George Carman, Alonzo C. H. Shaver, James Doren, Nicholas N. Brouse, Isaac Keeler, Alex.

31, 1847 Quarter Master George Robertson - Aug. 2, 1847 3rd Battalion (Winchester and Mountain):[9] Lt Col. Peter Shaver - Nov. 5, 1846 Major Jacob Brouse - Mar.

24, 1847, Elijah Van Camp, Andrew Summers, Peter Smith - May 12, 1847 Lieutenants William Shaver Jr., Henry H. Boulton - Mar.

24, 1847, Marcus (Mark) Redmond, Robert O. Mullen, Joseph Hindman, James Slater, Thomas Armstrong, George Fitchell, Charles Parker, Alex.

Two such volunteer companies were formed in Dundas at this time: During the early 1860s there was much fear in the Province about a possible war between Great Britain and the United States.

According to the book Troublous Times in Canada: A History of the Fenian Raids of 1866 and 1870: "On the 15th of November, 1865, the following volunteer corps were called out for Frontier Service, and were stationed at the following places, the whole force being under the command of the Lieutenant-General commanding Her Majesty's Forces in North America:"- "At Prescott:- The Morrisburg Garrison Battery of Artillery: Capt.

[16] In the spring of 1866, an attack on Prescott and subsequent advance to Ottawa was prevented by the presence of a considerable force of volunteers, including two companies from Dundas, and a British gunboat on the river.

Theodore F. Chamberlain of Captain Rose's Dundas Infantry Company was sent by personal orders from Sir John A. Macdonald to follow the Fenians and report back on their positions.

In 1899, veterans of the Fenian Raids were awarded the Canada General Service Medal and the following are names of the men from Dundas County who received the medal for service in 1866 with: The Morrisburg Garrison Artillery:[1] The Iroquois Garrison Artillery:[1] Another Fenian Raid was launched on May 24, 1870, and Cornwall was again filled with soldiers.

Dr. Robert Reddick (1848-1930), a prominent physician in Winchester, served as a Private with the 56th Grenville Regiment (Lisgar Rifles) during the Fenian Raid of 1870, and later as a Field Surgeon with the Midland Battalion in the North-West Rebellion.