On September 21, 1812, the 2nd Regiment of the Leeds Rifle Company, a local militia commanded by Colonel Joel Stone, defended the village of Gananoque during an American raid led by Captain Benjamin Forsyth and the 1st Rifle Company from Ogdensburg, N.Y. The opening shots of this raid were the first heard along the St. Lawrence River frontier, bringing the War of 1812 to this community's doorstep. The militia dared to defend their new homeland from attack and fought to save Canada.