124 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
obtained another on the north side of Lake Ontario, which lies on 
Dundas Street, four miles back from Burlington and ten miles north- 
east from Hamilton. But this new and pleasantly situated home 
was not to be peacefully enjoyed very long with his wife and small 
children, as alarming rumours of war were again circulating and caus- 
ing very intense excitement and anxiety throughout the sparsely 
settled districts of Upper and Lower Canada. 
Many Americans, filled with military ambition and elated over 
successful establishment of the republic, were very desirous of 
extending its borders over the Continent, beginning with annexation 
cf Canada, which they deemed easy to obtain, and while the British 
army were again engaged in a great Continental conflict (ending in 
the Battle of Waterloo, and defeat of Napoleon in 1815) was con- 
sidered the opportune time to accomplish their design. Emissaries 
had been for some time in Canada striving to stir up discontent and 
obtain recruits without success. A variety of pretexts were assigned 
as cause for war, but it was generally understood then in the United 
States, and is since conceded by historians, that the capture of Canada 
was the real object Americans wished to attain. While the sentiment 
was not by any means unanimous among them, the war party was 
sufficiently strong to induce Congress to declare war on June 18th, 
1812. When the exciting news was received in Canada that war was 
proclaimed, towns and villages were soon resounding with bugle calls 
and clash of arms, and militia men were busy with their drill in every 
settled district. Upon them the defence of the country largely 
depended as there was only a few British troops in Canada at that 
time. 
As an officer in the militia, John McCollom took an active part 
in helping to repel the American invading forces from the Niagara 
district in the war of 1812 to 1814, and was finally in the battle at 
Lundy’s Lane, where many valiant men who had once been driven 
from their possessions fought as heroes to defend their loved ones 
and the new homes they had obtained and by hardest labour made. 
When marching into battle, a feeling of nervous timidity or anxiety 
pervaded the troops, but this was soon forgotten when first volleys 
were fired and comrades were falling. Only a bullet grazed his 
cheek, while hundreds around him fell in this the most fiercely con-. 
tested engagement during the war. The British troops and Canadian 
militia under General Drummond only numbered 2,800 and were 
opposed by an American army of 5,000 men under General Brown. 
The battle began at 5 p.m. July 26th, 1814, and continued with- 
out cessation and with telling effect on both sides till 9 p.m., when 
there was a brief respite and firing entirely ceased, and the unceasing 
