With the withdrawal of Wilkinson's Army from their winter quarters along the Salmon River, the British and Canadians believed it was a good time to launch a raid and attempt to capture any supplies that had been abandoned in the American retreat.

Reuben Sherwood of the 1st Leeds Militia formulated a plan to raid the village of Madrid for any vital supplies.

There they recovered property belonging to Kingston merchants which had been seized when their seven bateaux were captured near Cornwall in late October by privateers from Hamilton.

[1] Sherwood and his men commandeered as many sleighs as possible from the area and loaded them full with supplies and stores from Madrid.

They began their return to the river on the morning of February 7, and crossed back over that afternoon in boats once again manned by men of the Dundas Militia.