The New Student's Reference Work/Secord, Laura

Secord, Laura, a heroine of the war of 1812. On June 23, 1813, Col. Boerstler, U. S. A., with 550 men and two cannon, advanced upon the little outpost at Beaver Dam near old Fort George. News was borne to the garrison under Lieut. Fitz-gibbons by Laura Secord, whose husband lay wounded in Queenston. She set out at dawn, driving a cow by way of pretext to pass the American sentry, ran and walked through the wildest of woods for 20 miles, and late in the day arrived with her intelligence. As a result 200 Indians succeeded in ambushing Boerstler's command, which surrendered, laying down their arms to a British lieutenant with 260 Indians, militiamen and regulars.