LACOLLE MILL, Battle of, in the War of 1812. Shortly after Gen. Wade Hampton went into winter quarters following the battle of Chateauguay (q.v.), Gen. James Wilkinson went to Plattsburg and wrote a letter to the Secretary of War demanding a review of his conduct by a court-martial. Pending a re ply he determined to strike a blow at Montreal, the road to which was barred by small gar risons at Saint John and Isle Aux Noix and by outposts at Lacadie and Lacolle. At Lacolle were 200 troops stationed in a stone mill with thick walls and solid front. On 30 March 1814 Wilkinson led 4,000 men and two 12-pound field guns against the mill. The gunfire inflicted no damage whereupon, having received reinforce ments from Isle Aux Nolx, the British garri son made two sorties, but were repulsed, and the American continued their bombardment. As the British now numbered about 1,000 troops and as his losses amounted to 200 and little damage was being done by the guns, Wil kinson ordered a retreat and returned to Cham plain. The British loss was 11 killed, 46 wounded and 4 missing. Wilkinson was then relieved of duty and Gen. George Izard (q.v.) took command. Consult Brackenridge, H. M.,
'History of the Late War) (p. 198); Dawson, 'Battles of the United States> (Vol. II, p. 337) ; Fay, H. A., 'Official Accounts> (pp. 181-183); Wiley and Rines, The United States) (Vol. V, pp. 418-420) ; Wilkinson, James, 'Memoirs) (Vol. III, chap. VII).
LACON, 1005n, Ill., town and county seat of Marshall County, on the Illinois River, and on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, 30 miles north of Peoria and 128 miles southwest of Chicago. Steamboats ascend the river as far as this point and there are a number of grain elevators and other shipping facilities here; manufactures of wagons, carriages and woolen goods; marble works, a national bank, several newspapers and numerous churches. There is a school library and a modern high school building. The waterworks are munici pally owned. Pop. 1,495.
LACONIA, 11-1co'nI-a, the name for a large tract of land granted by royal patent to Ferdinand Gorges and John Mason in 1622. It was located between the Merrimac and Kenne bec rivers, the ocean and the Saint Lawrence River of Canada. The present State of New Hampshire formed a considerable portion of Laconia.